French Braid by Anne Tyler

French Braid by Anne Tyler

French Braid by Anne Tyler is a historical novel that digs deep into what makes families tick. This book has lots of drama and some interesting moments that are relatable and beautifully written, and as it spans 60 years, the story of the Garrett family is told from many different perspectives. While I enjoyed the family focus, the story’s slow pacing didn’t capture my attention as much as I had hoped, and I was left feeling disappointed. Continue reading

Review: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

Review: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli is a Persuasion retelling set in the world of figure skating. As a fan of pretty much any sports book, I enjoyed the strong main character and the accessible way the author works in details about skating. While I struggled with some of the character dynamics, I still found this to be a cute sports romance that demonstrates Jennifer Iacopelli’s strength in writing the sports genre. Continue reading

Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance, Nisha Sharma

Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance, Nisha Sharma

Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma combines food and dance in this comforting story about finding yourself. With mouthwatering descriptions of food, exciting dance scenes, and two complex main characters, this book checks many boxes for me. I especially enjoyed the realistic family dynamics and both Radha’s and Jai’s grapple with family expectations. This is an entertaining read that is filled with culture and charm. Continue reading

Review: Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

Review: Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li combines literary fiction with the beloved heist genre in a story of five college students who plan to steal back Chinese art from western museums. I found the book’s premise and anti-colonial messaging engaging, but I had some issues with the one-dimensional characters and the lack of excitement to the heist itself. The execution may not have lived up to my expectations, but this is still a clever read that tackles some important topics. Continue reading