“All I can say is that you make me… you make me into someone I couldn’t even imagine. You make me happy, even when you’re awful. I would rather be with you – even the you that you seem to think is diminished – than with anyone else in the world.”

― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You

 Jojo Moyes is the author of the romance book Me Before You. The book was initially released in the UK on January 5, 2012. On September 24, 2015, After You, a sequel, was made available by Pamela Dorman Books. Still Me, the second installment, was released in January 2018.

Me Before You is a heartbreakingly romantic book that asks: What do you do when making the person you love happy also means shattering your own heart? It is a love story for people today and is ideal for readers of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

My reaction to this novel...

This novel’s plot is the most touching I’ve read at any time in my life. This book provides insight into what life may be like for individuals who have actual handicaps as well as those who have everyone around them. This is not the type of book I usually read. Indeed, I typically avoid “sickness”-related novels, and I also sought to avoid tales of physical incapacities, because I have a direct family with me who can’t walk, and as a result, I am quite sensitive about the subject. However, I lament holding this book unread on my iBook for up to a year.

Given that there isn’t any actual physical touch in the plot, I might claim that this novel is entirely different in sentiment from anything else I’ve read. Everything revolves around Lou and Will’s ardent friendship. The main characters, rather than the odd ones you typically see in love novels, seem to be growing closer to one another. This is the sensation you have when you no longer dare to hope for a relationship like this. A few times while reading this book, I really burst into tears, and I had to put the book down for a moment so that I could let all of my emotions out, especially in the final chapter.

Me Before You is a superbly emotional tale which will make us read till the early hours of the morning with a stack of folded tissues on our bedside. Effectively, people will perceive people with disabilities in a clearer light than they previously did. I can’t recommend this book enough. It is really astounding and certainly a must-read for anyone. Please give it a chance; I didn’t feel that this sort of book was for me, but it will always be on my list of favorite novels. To all book readers out there, I wholeheartedly suggest this book. 

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)

“I hadn’t realized that music could unlock things in you, could transport you to somewhere even the composer hadn’t predicted. It left an imprint in the air around you, as if you carried its remnants with you when you went.”

True magic exists in music. Just hearing the words and the music you are listening to might trigger memories, whether they are pleasant or unpleasant. It can take us back in time. It may also be a vital component of worshiping God and convincing the person we love. Music has the power to transport us back to a moment when we experienced both joy and sorrow firsthand. 

“It's just that the thing you never understand about being a mother, until you are one, is that it is not the grown man - the galumphing, unshaven, stinking, opinionated off-spring - you see before you, with his parking tickets and unpolished shoes and complicated love life. You see all the people he has ever been all rolled up into one. I look at him and see the baby I held in my arms, dewing besotted, unable to believe that I'd created another human being. I see the toddler, reaching for my hand, the schoolboy weeping tears of fury after being bullied  by some other child. I saw the vulnerabilities, the love, the history.”

This phrase definitely speaks to me even though I am not a mommy yet but I do hope to be one day. A mother finds it extremely difficult to watch their kid suffer. The mother still has memories of the young boy even though he has grown into the man his parents anticipate him to be. Even though the mother is aware that her grownup child would eventually be able to overcome his difficulties, she finds it impossible to imagine not doing anything she can to support him and prevent him from feeling alone. 

Where to buy this book...

Historical fiction may also help the reader understand history. Retelling history through the eyes of fictitious characters can foster an emotional connection to historical events. We obtain a better grasp of different historical periods through seeing history through the perspective of characters. Historical fiction books give more than just a personal frame of reference; they also provide insight on a community and societal level. Here are some historical fiction novels that will be released in May 2023.

1. A History of Burning by Janika Oza

An enormous, grand historical debut that covers many countries and a century, showing how one act of survival may have long-lasting effects. The evocative masterpiece A History of Burning is an intimate family narrative of complicity and resistance about the lies we tell each other, the ones we keep to ourselves, and the never-ending search for home. This book is scheduled to be released by Grand Central Publishing on May 2, 2023.

2. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

A breathtaking and magisterial new epic of love, religion, and medicine, set in Kerala and following three generations of a family searching for the answers to a peculiar truth, is the latest work from the New York Times bestselling author of Cutting for Stone. The Covenant of Water, a beautiful depiction of a vanished India and of time itself, is a humble homage to the struggles endured by earlier generations for the benefit of those who are alive today. It is also a hymn to medical and philosophical advancement. One of the most accomplished literary novels to be released in recent years is this one. This book is scheduled to be released by Grove Press on May 2, 2023.

3. The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

The Secret Book of Flora Lea, which is deft, poetic, and profoundly rewarding, is less of a departure for Patti Callahan Henry than it is a culmination of her strengths as a novelist. This book is about everyday magic in the shape of love, painful history, unflappable hope, and how our tales can save and sustain us during our most challenging circumstances. Even as Callahan's characters win the readers over, her narrative will keep them on their toes. This book is scheduled to be released by Atria Books on May 2, 2023.

4. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul

A intergenerational narrative where secrets divide a family tree into Black, White, and Something in Between as it travels through the Jim Crow South, the glitz of old Hollywood, and the tempting lure of contemporary showbiz. The epic story "Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?" examines the celebrity industry, the difficulties of being Black, the advantages of being white, and the ability of family secrets to undermine and muddle the lives of future generations. Henry Holt and Co. anticipates releasing this book on May 2, 2023.

5. Good Night, Irene: A Novel by Luis Alberto Urrea

A thrilling World War II drama in the vein of The Nightingale and Transcription follows the brave frontline duty of a remarkable young lady in the Red Cross. With its moving and inspiring portrayal of friendship and bravery in trying circumstances, Good Night, Irene powerfully demonstrates once more that Urrea's gifts as a narrator are stupendous. Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women's heroism in World War II, drawing inspiration from his mother's own Red Cross service. This book is anticipated to be released by Little, Brown and Company on May 30, 2023.

Where to buy these books...

In addition to giving readers hope and teaching some important lessons along the road, romance novels are a celebration of love. At their core, romance novels are an examination of love that frequently highlight the strength and achievement of women. No other genre portrays happiness, commitment, and love in in the same manner as it does in these books, yet there is a lovely charm to it. These romantic fiction books will be available in May 2023.

1. Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

A lovely friends-to-lovers story from the author of When in Rome and The Cheat Sheet begins to blossom when the proprietor of the neighborhood flower shop in Rome, Kentucky, enters into a dubious deal with a tattooed bad boy. This book is anticipated to be released by Dell on May 2, 2023.

2. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

In this breath-taking new book from the New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of Every Summer After, a chance encounter leads two strangers on a daylong excursion where they make a promise that one keeps and the other violates, with life-changing consequences. A lovely, touching love story about miscommunication, missing opportunities, and second chances. This book is filled with the comfort of summer and the sense of home, set against the picturesque setting of a family hotel on a remote lake. A beautiful and moving read. This book is anticipated to be released by Berkley on May 2, 2023.

3. Love Buzz: A Novel by Neely Tubati Alexander

Serena Khan's orderly life is thrown into disarray by an accidental sexual meeting that occurs at a raucous Mardi Gras bachelorette party. Neely Tubati Alexander challenges us all to consider if the life we're leading is a life worth loving in her incisively humorous, profound, and passionate debut, which blends the melancholy of Rebecca Serle with the brilliant sizzle of Emily Henry. This book is anticipated to be released on May 2, 2023, by Harper Perennial.

4. The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

Sparks flare when a romance author and a documentary filmmaker team together to create the ultimate Hollywood love tale and propel both of their professions forward—but only if they can keep their chemistry from blowing the entire thing off script. Since Fizzy's debut in The Soulmate Equation, fans have been anticipating The True Love Experiment. The happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on may, however, be just behind the camera when the lights come on and all eyes are on her. This book is anticipated to be released on May 16, 2023, by Gallery Books.

The mystery and thriller subgenres are particularly alluring. Thriller books are compelling and difficult to put down because they make the reader think rather than just witnessing the narrative develop. The reading experience becomes more engaging as a result. The biggest benefit is that it encourages intellectual engagement, and if you can figure out the revelation moment before the book ends, all the better. It also helps to appreciate the journey and observe how the details develop naturally. Here are a few thrilling books that will be published in May 2023. 

1. The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters

For readers of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Last Thing He Told Me, this twisting and riveting first novel about a young lady who goes missing in Lagos, Nigeria, and her estranged auntie who would do anything to learn the truth is ideal. The Nigerwife is a brilliantly written and astutely observed mystery that explores the ties that bind families, the reverberating effects of secrets, and if we can ever fully escape our past. On May 2, 2023 Atria Books is anticipated to release this book.

2. The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine

A D.C. In this intriguing psychological thriller book from the globally acclaimed author of The Last Mrs. Parrish, philanthropist believes that her seemingly ideal employee is really planning to take her spouse, her reputation, or perhaps her life. The Senator's Wife is a psychological thriller that upends the private homes of those who walk the halls of power. It is captivating, fast-paced, and full of astonishing turns. Because you have everything to lose when you have everything. This book is anticipated to be released by Bantam on May 23, 2023.

3. Sing Her Down by Ivy Pochoda

In this gritty, feminist Western thriller from the These Women award-winning author, No Country for Old Men and Killing Eve collide. Award-winning novelist Ivy Pochoda writes a razor-sharp Western with scorching, piercing writing. Two irreplaceable women are put on a path to inevitable catastrophe and an epic, spectacular showdown in the gripping and absorbing drama Sing Her Down. This book is anticipated to be released by MCD on May 23, 2023.

4. The New Mother by Nora Murphy

A compassionate, spine-chilling, relevant, and nerve-wracking tale with a brand-new perspective on suburban murder and parenting. On May 30, 2023, Minotaur Books is anticipated to release this book.

5. Drowning by T.J. Newman

An ex-flight attendant who is now a No. 1 bestseller T. J. Newman returns with her second book, an exciting thriller about a commercial jetliner that crashes into the ocean, sinks to the bottom with passengers trapped inside, and the extraordinary rescue operation to save them. Her first book, Falling, was an instant #1 national bestseller and the biggest thriller debut of 2021. Drowning is an extraordinary thriller about a family's desperate struggle to save themselves and the individuals imprisoned with them—against insurmountable odds—with devastating emotional impact and heart-stopping suspense. This book is anticipated to be released on May 30, 2023 by Avid Reader Press/Simon Schuster.

Where to buy these books...

Even while exploring imaginary worlds through fictional works, reading fiction may have numerous positive effects on one's development. It is a very effective technique to comprehend people, unleash our creativity, and challenge our intellect. Here are some fiction books that will be published in May 2023 that we are all eagerly anticipating.

1. The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

Most anticipated book of the year, according to publications including Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, BookPage, and LitHub. A brilliant story about a small-town couple who must manage the intricacies of marriage, family, and desire comes from the popular author of Ask Again, Yes. The Half Moon meticulously examines a marriage in crisis, what it takes to establish a life with another person, and the actual meaning of family over the course of one turbulent week. A softly wonderful tale of hopes, setbacks, second chances, but primarily of love. This book is scheduled to be released by Scribner on May 2, 2023.

2. Homebodies: A Novel by Tembe Denton-Hurst

A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, them, Bustle, and The Millions Homebodies is an exciting debut novel about a young Black writer whose world is turned upside down when she loses her coveted job in media and writes a searing manifesto about racism in the industry. It is urgent, propulsive, and strikingly insightful. Homebodies is a testimonial to individuals attempting to be heard and loved in a world that refuses to make space and presents a notable new author. It is passionate, humorous, and profoundly erotic. This book is anticipated to be released by Harper on May 2, 2023.

3. The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

For lovers of The Midnight Library, Mikki Brammer's The Collected Regrets of Clover is a big-hearted and life-affirming debut about a death doula who, in tending to others at the end of their lives, has lost how to live her own. The Collected Regrets of Clover is a probing, witty, and upbeat book that makes the typically taboo subject of dying into a cause to celebrate life. This book is anticipated to be released on May 9, 2023 by St Martin's Press.

4. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

What is wrong with using a pseudonym? In this terrifying and hilariously cutting novel by RF Kuang in the style of White Ivy and The Other Black Girl, the New York Times bestselling phenomenon Juniper Song is not who she claims to be, she didn't write the book she claims to have written, and she is most definitely not Asian American. Yellowface tackles issues of cultural appropriation, racism, and diversity in the publishing industry as well as the ongoing marginalization of Asian-American voices and history by Western white culture in its completely immersive first-person narration. The novel by RF Kuang is topical, razor-sharp, and extremely readable. The Borough Press is slated to release this book on May 25, 2023.

5. The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

The author of the blockbuster Filthy Animals and the Booker Prize contender Real Life is back with a gripping new book about young people facing difficult choices. The Late Americans is Brandon Taylor's deepest and most compelling literary work to date, solidifying his status as one of our most insightful chroniclers of modern life. It is a novel about intimacy and precarity, friendship, and chosen family. On May 23, 2023, Riverhead Books is anticipated to release this book.

Where to buy these books...

“He’d hurt me so much, I couldn’t tell the difference between love and pain any more.”

― Sue Watson, The Sister-in-Law

A shockingly surprising, suspenseful thriller about Clare, a woman with a secret that might potentially ruin her family and all she values. Twisted, irresistibly readable, and another winner from a writer who belongs on the list of authors we really must read. An absolutely compelling psychological thriller with twists and turns that will appeal to fans of Before I Go To Sleep, The Girl on the Train, and Date Night.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

‘You don’t think Jamie and I have secrets, do you? No, we tell each other everything.’ She smiled. ‘Including your dirty little secret. So, thinking about it, maybe it’s time to start being nice to me?’

THE WIFE: Clare is ready for a break. It’s been a tough year and now she wants to put her feet up. Arriving at the Italian villa for their summer holiday, she decides it’s high time her husband and his family did some of the work. After all, her husband owes her…

THE HUSBAND: Even though Dan had his head turned by someone else, he’s realised the error of his ways. He’s here now, and he says it’s for keeps. Clare can trust him, can’t she? At least he’ll have his brother there, to keep him in line…

THE BROTHER: Jamie is the prodigal child, back in the family fold again, after years of travelling abroad. But when he gets to the villa, he’s not alone. He’s brought a wife, someone none of them have met before.

THE SISTER-IN-LAW: Ella is everything Clare isn’t. Glamorous. Young. Influential. But she knows a secret about Clare. Something that has the power to break the whole family apart.

And there’s someone who will do whatever it takes to make sure that this deep secret never comes to the surface.

My reaction to this novel...

I've thought about reading this book before, but I've always ended up reading something else instead. After finishing the book I was reading at the time, I picked this one up off my shelf and started reading it right away. I couldn't put it down and had a great time reading it. Every page of this book was filled with drama. I gave practically all the characters a lot of emotions in this, notably being annoyed all at once. In actuality, I adore the narration of the story, and I believe the author did it in order to anger and perhaps convey to her readers the injustice of the tale of those two distinct ladies residing in the same home. And it's really kind of a blast.

Additionally, I saw that the author's writing style was really pleasant and simple to follow, which immediately drew me in. I had the impression that I was in the villa, witnessing the proceedings from an appropriate distance. I had a lot of questions about how the narrative will develop while reading this book. Even though I properly predicted the outcome of the narrative around halfway through the book, I was still a bit surprised when it was revealed. Since it's summertime here, reading this novel made me long for those warm summer evenings spent with loved ones—although not the same plot as in this book.

Anyhow, I could definitely feel the depth of my annoyance at Ella while reading the novel. I become irritated and truly want to fight her as if I were Clare every time she appears in the narrative. Her attitude is very nasty, and I firmly believe that she ultimately received what she deserved. Even if some of her arguments are reasonable, I simply don't like her as a whole. Ella is an arrogant, self-centered girl who is cruel to Clare; if I had been Clare, I would have cut short my vacation and gone back home. I truly did not like Ella at all. Actually, it did give me the impression that it would be a simple choice. Even if I am there with my family, I could forget about the lovely villa and consider returning home rather than spending my summer evenings battling with a nasty woman like her. In fact, I hoped that her tale would be different and that it would have a more terrible conclusion. In this author's thinking, it doesn't work that way, yet after she was gone, I felt incredibly satisfied.

While I don't like Ella, the same goes for the main character, Clare. She doesn't appeal to me as much as the others do. She recently revealed something that showed how brittle and changeable her mind can be since she plots something but exposes it suddenly. She resembles a toddler whose toy has been snatched. She struggles with clear thinking, which causes many difficulties in her life. Her portrayal of purity belies the filth that will never be erased, and I am very disappointed in her character. Furthermore, I dislike the way she constantly criticizes what she sees when she looks in the mirror.

I really do think that there is an aura of danger there in that lovely place. It is quickly clear that something is wrong. As I read it, I occasionally noticed that my heart was pounding frantically. As the narrative progressed, I sensed the chain around my own body straining in typical psychological thriller fashion. I couldn't put it down despite how cramped and tense it was. The Sister-in-Law is ideal for individuals who enjoy a slow-burning place that entices you with its splendor until closing the door behind you. By the time it was ended, my emotions were all over the place, and that is all due to the skillful writing. I heartily urge everyone who appreciates thriller books to read it.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)

Where to buy this book...

"Fairy tales are another kind of Bible, for those who know how to read them.”

--Theodora Goss, Red As Blood And White As Bone

In Theodora Goss's dark fantasy Red as Blood and White as Bone, a kitchen maid who is infatuated with fairy tales takes in a ragged lady she finds outside the castle after a storm, sure that the woman is actually a princess hiding in disguise.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

The only place Klara finds to express her creativity is in fairy tales. She is the daughter of a woodcutter and currently works as a kitchen maid in the castle of a wealthy baron. She could be a princess in disguise, or at the very least be able to assist one eventually. In order to prepare for the next night's ball honoring the engagement of the baron's son, Klara brings a mysterious, lovely, and naked woman inside the castle. She shows her around and assists her with preparations because she is convinced that the woman is a princess who has come to dance with the visiting Prince Radomir and win his heart.

My reaction to this novel...

I’ve never read a short story like this and I haven’t read any novels by Theodora Goss before, but I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews of her work, so I’m eager to read this novel. I discovered this novel while searching for book titles to read, and after learning the title and synopsis, I immediately read and finished it. I initially thought I had downloaded the wrong book because it only had 32 pages, so I looked it up online and unearthed it was really a short story.

I like fairytales, and I never get tired of reading about princes and princesses, witches, and other mythical creatures. Red as Blood and White as Bone is another fairy tale retelling, however unlike the customary tales of this subgenre, Ms. Goss’ novel seethes with the horror of reality and unfulfilled hopes. The ability of this gifted writer to weave rich storylines into a condensed amount of pages and paragraphs is really astounding in my opinion. The story’s progression was wonderful. This story was made sense and creative by the smooth transitions from imagination to a reality and then setting up a written tale with fantasy aspects of fate smoothly woven in. Although there is no surefire method to foresee fate, it might sometimes feel a little predictable. Although it can be random, it can also exhibit connections that may indicate what is beyond. I believe that the fact that both of these components were there is what made this story so appealing to me.

I finished reading this book in just an hour in one sitting. It’s an entertaining narrative that keeps me turning the page. Even though I knew how the tale would end, I still loved reading it and wish there had been more to it. The narrative was originally drawn to me by the captivating book cover. I initially thought that this book would belong to the history genre because it reminded me of the picture of Monalisa, but I was mistaken. It went beyond that.

If you enjoy fairy tales, it is well worth your time to read this short book. Goss did a fantastic job of magically and subtly combining realities with fairy tales. The time I invested in reading this story has been well worth it. The incredibleness of this as a short story piece is beyond my imagination.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)

 "The wrong relationships teach you how to recognize the right one when it arrives."

--Mandy Hale

The Happy Couple is a compelling, nail-biting tale that will have you wondering how well you actually know the people you care about. Anybody who like The Wife Between Us, The Girl on the Train, or Gone Girl will enjoy this book.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Me and Will. Will and Me. A perfect match. He said he would always be there for me, but it’s been a year since he drained his coffee, walked out the front door and vanished.

Did he leave me? Or did something terrible happen? I’m scared someone finally found out about what happened on the drive home that night…

I lie awake at night trawling the internet for rental properties, desperate for an escape. Until I see my husband’s gorgeous face smiling back at me from a photograph on the fireplace in someone else’s home, and something inside of me snaps.

At the house, I find no trace of him and the woman who lives there has no idea who I am. But I’m certain she’s hiding something behind the locked door upstairs. I know that if I want answers, I have to stay.

You might think that what’s inside that room is the answer to all my questions and the end of all my pain. But it’s only the beginning…

My reaction to this novel...

I have finally finished this book. I really purchased this since I had read in several reviews that it would be perfect for me if I like Gone Girl, so I made the decision to buy it right away. I truly enjoyed the book's cover; it piqued my curiosity and made me want to read it more. I haven't read anything by Samantha Hayes before, but I had high hopes for this one because it was compared to one of my favorite books. So I started getting lost in the narrative. I truly focused my head so that I could properly grasp and visualize what was going on in the tale.

I was fascinated after reading the first few chapters. I didn't realize I was reading it so quickly until I noticed that I had already finished numerous chapters. Given that the first few pages of this book resemble those of Gone Girl, I became really intrigued in what was happening. The moment the missing husband was brought up, my mind quickly began to think of all the possible outcomes for the narrative.

Around halfway through the book, I started to become bored and realized how absurd the plot is. Although I don't particularly enjoy this weird narrative, I find it to be very aggravating. At times, the primary female character is slightly sidetracked by the thought of her missing spouse, and those instances also left me perplexed. There is no effective method for the tale to tell its plot without confusing the reader about to whom the characters are speaking. It was unsettling that the main character, Jo, was always seeing her spouse and talking about something in her head that she kept unwittingly blurting out. Given how frequently such situations occur, it is so irritating that I became really annoyed. It was revolting.

Suzanne and especially Simon's contributions to the narrative are unclear. It appeared as though the author was unsure of where to put them or how to effectively tell the story. Halfway through the novel, I also really guessed the twist right, albeit it did not startle me or even make my pulse race as much as the book had promised. In my opinion, the tale was a failure. Simply put, I had the impression that the author tried too hard to make the tale exciting and unpredictable so that readers would enjoy it, but as a result, the story fell flat in terms of evoking strong feelings in me. That seriously confused the reader in me and drove me to finish the book as soon as possible in order to go on to other novels to completely forget this one.

Anyway, I was disappointed and because of that I was unable to enjoy this book, which was contrary to what I had anticipated beforehand. I also purchased a few of the author's works because I had high hopes for how well I would respond to this one, but I was mistaken. Even yet, I'm still holding out hope that her other works will differ from this one and be much, much better. As the plot made me frustrated and perplexed and caused me to regret reading it, I am unable to suggest this book to anyone.

My Overall Rating: ⭐✨(1.5/5)

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”

― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

John Green is the author of the book The Fault in Our Stars. It is his sixth book altogether and fourth book written by himself. The article was released on January 10, 2012. Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar served as inspiration for the title. On June 6, 2014, Josh Boone's adaptation of the book into a major American motion picture, starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, and Nat Wolff, was released. Both the American movie version and the book had significant critical and economic success, with the latter ranking among the all-time best-sellers.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My reaction to the novel...

I had no desire to read The Fault in Our Stars when I initially bought it and started reading the first part of it. In actuality, I stopped because I was exhausted after reading the author’s last work, which I could have done without. However, it is relatively unusual in this book. Fortunately, I finished this book after several efforts. It’s a narrative of a young cancer patient who has virtually given up her life. The young lady then meets someone, and… The rest is history. I’ve read a few books on death, some of which are outstanding, including this one.

This isn’t a book about illness, as far as I’m concerned. It tells the story of a high school student navigating life with cancer. It is a story of love, tragedy, disappointment, profound camaraderie, assurance, death, and life. It was an easy and pleasant read. It was also one of those books where, as you near the conclusion, you ponder whether or not to go any more because you genuinely don’t think the tale should come to an end.

Despite the fact that some readers knew the outcome of the story from the beginning, some readers cried a lot while reading this book. It isn’t exactly an academic work of art, but it doesn’t mean you won’t become emotionally immersed in it; in fact, some people did cry while reading this story since it caused them significant pain. I believe that the more emotionally charged the themes in the book are, the closer you are to them. I’ll say it like it is. I wasn’t as as emotional as I had anticipated. Even though I read novels like these voraciously, there were a few moments when I thought I would cry, but did not happen. I didn’t once get the impression that this was a novel written solely to bring me to tears. But I learned a lot from it.

Yes, it didn’t have the same profound impact on me as Nicholas’s writings did, but it got you thinking about life and death and what they mean for people. People who have never experienced death or any lasting consequences lose the ability to understand and behave appropriately around people who genuinely know what it’s like to have this sort of condition directly. This book suggests that no matter what happens in your daily life, you should continually express your love to your family and friends since you never know what the future may hold.

I suggest this work to those who have not yet read it because it will give you the courage to discover more about the lives of teens and other cancer patients.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

“There will come a time when all of us are dead. All of us. There will come a time when there are no human beings remaining to remember that anyone ever existed or that our species ever did anything. There will be no one left to remember Aristotle or Cleopatra, let alone you. Everything that we did and built and wrote and thought and discovered will be forgotten and all of this will have been for naught. Maybe that time is coming soon and maybe it is millions of years away, but even if we survive the collapse of our sun, we will not survive forever. There was time before organisms experienced consciousness, and there will be time after. And if the inevitability of human oblivion worries you, I encourage you to ignore it. God knows that’s what everyone else does.”

This is absolutely true. One day, no one in this planet will be aware of your presence. since everyone's life on Earth is only transitory and will inevitably come to an end. There will come a moment when nobody will care that you formerly existed, which may seem frightening but is real. Even though we die, the planet will go on evolving even without us. Hence, we should cherish each day of our life.

“Uncertainty leaves us open to doubt, yes, but it also opens us up to splendor and joy and wonderful surprise. To the beauty of hope. Nothing is certain, nothing is known, but it is in those moments of our greatest uncertainty that miracles happen.”

― Kimberly Belle, Dear Wife

In this gripping suspense thriller by the bestselling author of The Marriage Lie and Three Days Missing, a woman must choose how far she would go in her struggle for survival to get away from the man she once loved.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Beth Murphy is on the run… For nearly a year, Beth has been planning for this day. A day some people might call any other Wednesday, but Beth prefers to see it as her new beginning–one with a new look, new name and new city. Beth has given her plan significant thought, because one small slip and her violent husband will find her.

Sabine Hardison is missing… A couple hundred miles away, Jeffrey returns home from a work trip to find his wife, Sabine, is missing. Wherever she is, she’s taken almost nothing with her. Her abandoned car is the only evidence the police have, and all signs point to foul play.

As the police search for leads, the case becomes more and more convoluted. Sabine’s carefully laid plans for her future indicate trouble at home, and a husband who would be better off with her gone. The detective on the case will stop at nothing to find out what happened and bring this missing woman home. Where is Sabine? And who is Beth? The only thing that’s certain is that someone is lying and the truth won’t stay buried for long.

My reaction to this novel...

I bought this book years ago when I was still working overseas. I had ordered it from Amazon to be sent to our home in the Philippines, so I wasn’t able to read it. So I was quite pleased to begin this novel because it was in my favorite genre, a psychological thriller. I was drawn into the plot right away. The author’s writing style initially struck me as being as easy as abc. For me, the pages turned smoothly. I felt like I was expecting a quick rush of shock, so I restrained myself from taking a step back since I was getting Gone Girl feelings.

I needed more time than usual to finish this novel. I liked the concept, but towards the middle I felt that I was losing interest. I waited a very long time to find out the twist they were referring to because it moved so slowly. I was thinking that this should be better. It ought to be darker. Even after 200+ pages, the tale is still dragging. I sped up my reading to check whether I was right because I was confident that I understood what was happening. I was correct, but the tale had a little more to it. I understand how the story’s major turn will play out. I have every hint the author provided. I didn’t experience the astonishment they were referring about. Perhaps because I became bored and thought there might be more, only to discover that I had already guessed it halfway through.

The tale just doesn’t seem to go together, as well, I noticed. There were points when I kept expecting surprising disclosures and secrets, thinking that perhaps some other characters may have played a significant part in making the plot dramatic, but they don’t. There were instances when Jeffrey’s point of view was there, but by the time the story was halfway through, his point of view vanished, leaving you with the impression that Jeffrey isn’t all that exceptional.

Whatever the case, I really appreciate the idea, but I didn’t have the same level of anxiousness and heart palpitations as I had when reading the other novels. I’ve read a number of thrillers like this one, and sadly, this one didn’t stand out. Although I appreciated the final twist, I thought there could have been more to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I wish to suggest this book to anybody who enjoy psychological suspense novels like Gone Girl. Even if the novel didn’t particularly impress me, the story is nonetheless interesting and should be shared.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(3/5)

“Not every question has an answer. Not every problem has a solution.”

Sometimes we think we can fix everything, so when we can't fix the difficulties in front of us, we get discouraged and even depressed. Certain issues are not designed to be handled on our own; in these cases, we seek support from another person. We must always have confidence in God since He will guide us through the entire process.

Emily Henry has secured her position as the supreme authority on rom-coms for beach reading. Readers have been pleased by her books' blend of romance, comedy, and witty dialogue in titles like Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, and Book Lovers. The ideal pair, Harriet and Wyn, are the focus of her most recent novel, Happy Place. They have been together since college and are what the youths like to refer to as "couples goals" since they are fortunate to have friendships that have lasted a long time in addition to their romantic relationship.

Henry says it's still odd for her to be one of the year's most anticipated novels. She claimed that it is both frightening and exhilarating. Every year when a new book was published, she seemed to experience a slight increase in strain. Her desire to maintain a positive relationship with her readers has grown. She is thrilled to be a part of other people's summers, and she experiences a plethora of emotions on a daily basis, but overall she feels tremendously honored.

She also mentioned during her interview the reading genre she enjoys most. In the beginning of the epidemic, when she really needed that escape and that assurance of a happy ending, she did read romance books pretty much entirely. She has, however, just started to gradually get back into her love of reading suspense, horror, and sci-fi. She reads everything, but she believes that during the summer months in particular, she develops a need for the types of books with a very enjoyable setting that seem like their own holiday, like a frivolous, enjoyable story.

She really enjoyed this year's release by one of her favorite authors, Emma Straub, This Time Tomorrow. Indeed, she is one of her favorites. She believed the book to be amazing.

Kennedy Ryan is one of her top recommendations for romantic books in particular. She also adores Denise Williams since she believes that each of her novels reads like a cuddle. She also enjoyed Christina Lauren, who is another well-known figure.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is another one of her favorite authors. She has been a writer whose novels she eagerly anticipates each year. Another is Mhairi McFarlane, whose works are so excellent that every time she reads one of them, she becomes jealous.

When asked why she likes romance, she responded that she loves everything about it, but she believes what draws her back to it is its sincerity and earnestness. She enjoys reading much and writing greatly as well. Yet creating a love tale for her has a particular quality all its own since it forces the author to confront their own skepticism and truly embrace the notion of a happily-ever-after. Whether or if this is something that merits their time and effort. She finally experiences the same sense of comfort and optimism from writing them that she does from reading them. And she believes that bringing that into the world at any moment is a really worthwhile thing. 

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”

― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

The epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by American author George R. R. Martin has seven planned novels, the fifth of which is titled A Dance with Dragons. The paperback edition was released in two parts, Dreams and Dust and After the Feast, in various regions. Throughout the eight-season run of the HBO version of the series, Game of Thrones, it was the only novel in the collection to be released.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance—beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys’s claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone—a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

My reaction to this novel...

Alas! I completed the book. Due to the household duties I had to do during the past few days, I haven't read for a while. My reviews of books went behind, but I am now up to date on the fifth Game of Thrones book. Thus, this work is a complement to Feast of Crows. Despite the fact that I really read this book immediately after finishing the fourth because I couldn't get enough of it, his most current book that has been published so far doesn't offer the answers I was looking for.

Although his five novels have received a lot of unfavorable reviews, I enjoyed reading them. Based on what I’ve read, I genuinely desire a remake of the TV show. I want to go back and start the series over. I’m not sure why Benioff and Weiss made the decision to remove a lot of fantastic characters from the show since in my opinion, these characters are crucial to the success of Game of Thrones. I’m terribly sorry guys, but this review could include spoilers if you haven’t yet watched the series or read the book. I’m at a loss for what to do, especially if the actor who identified himself as Aegon, along with Princess Arianne, Val, Quentyn, and even Jeyne Poole, were dropped from the TV show. They are all likeable individuals who had significant roles to play in the story. Prior to reading this, I first believed that the series was fine, but it is now an absolute mess. As a die-hard fan, I was annoyed.

Anyway, I never cease to be in awe of how George R.R. Martin created the entire series of books. He made me feel as though I knew every person and every house, just like they were real. My reading experience is so strong that as soon as he just explains a character’s behavior, I begin to make an educated guess as to which house the character belongs in. He constructed a brand-new realm that I had the opportunity to experience and continue to be curious about. In each book in this series, he will let us experience how different families play the game of thrones and how they continue their game in order to attain the throne, which continuously involves betrayal and in which they cannot trust anybody, not even their own children.

I may say that Theon is my favorite character in this book. With each turn he says, my enthusiasm increases. When he turned into the turncloak, I had the same feelings of despair, dread, and regret that he did. I will undoubtedly read George’s book, even though it is terrible to read, if it is about Theon’s life when he was taken by Ramsay.

I will definitely recommend this novel to those who watched the HBO series and to those who haven’t. These 5 novels are definitely a must-read novels. Now I am waiting for his 6th one. I hope it will release soon. 

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)

“The past remains the past. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it.”

Many of us sincerely desire to alter the past. in order to alter the events that produced their present and future. I occasionally wish certain things in my life would be different, but there is no turning back; we must go on and take lessons from the past. We should cherish it and remember what we learnt so that we may appreciate the wonderful things that come our way in the present.

“Some allies are more dangerous than enemies.”

I concur with this remark as well. We shall be in serious problems if we turn our allies against us since they are quite knowledgeable about us. They are well aware of your capabilities and shortcomings, making it simple for them to focus on the things that are most important to you. We also don't anticipate being harmed by allies since we have faith in them, but ultimately, some of them could turn on you. Hence, exercising care and learning to not place all of your faith in them is preferable; on occasion, this will be the best course of action.