ARC Blog Tour: In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen

Good morning lovelies!

I am proud to share with you today's stop on the In the Key of Nira Ghani Blog Tour, hosted by HBG Canada. I read this one last month, and it surprised me how much I enjoyed it.

Tour Schedule:

Book Details:

Title: In the Key of Nira Ghani
Author: Natasha Deen
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Release Date: April 9th, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary


Synopsis:

Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira's grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it's now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion.

As if fighting with her parents weren't bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie "Mac," take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira's much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. Is she trying to wiggle her way into the new group to get closer to Noah? Is McKenzie trying to steal Emily's attention away from her? As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira's trusted trumpet "George" remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama.

But it isn't until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she's not the only one struggling to find her place in the world. As painful truths about her family are revealed, Nira learns to accept people for who they are and to open herself in ways she never thought possible.

A relatable and timely contemporary, coming-of age story, In the Key of Nira Ghani explores the social and cultural struggles of a teen in an immigrant household.


Q & A with Author:

Kat asked: Would you like "In the Key of Nira Ghani" to ever become a movie? Why or Why not?

Goodness, that’s a great question! The answer is yes. It would be wonderful to see Nira as a movie, for a few reasons.

Not that I’m at **all** biased (cue laughter) but I love Nira’s story. I love everything it has to say about pursuing your dreams, honoring your heritage, and finding the quiet to hear voices other than your own. I’m up for Nira in many mediums—movies, plays, radio broadcast. Ha! Can you imagine a video game with Nira? She’s being chased by Grandma, who insists on giving her tea and feeding her and players can level up by avoiding Uncle Raj. :P

I’m also a visual person and there are a lot of stories that I can’t read because they just don’t engage me in literary form. But put those same stories in a visual form, and I can’t get enough! It would be wonderful to see Nira in movie format so story lovers who are more visual could have a chance to fall in love with her. 

Of course, a movie Nira is different than a book Nira. With Nira’s story, as with all books, there’s a shift in the story-telling when we change mediums. How Nira tells her story on the page may not be the same way she tells the story in a visual form. Other characters, plot lines, and settings may also shift in order to better engage with the audience.

There would probably be changes to Nira’s story once we transition from page to screen. And that’s an exciting thing to consider—how the story essence stays while other factors shift. From a writer’s perspective, it’s a lovely thought experiment.

In the meantime, I’m grateful she’s on bookshelves, in the hands of readers, and I’m thankful I had a chance to tell her story.


My Review: 4.25/5 ⭐

In the Key of Nira Ghani is a contemporary novel following Nira, a Guyanese girl with a passion for music. Her parents do not approve of her talent, forcing her to take a stand against her parents, who she loves, for what she loves, playing her trumpet. And with a competitive cousin, Farah, and mean girl, McKenzie, trying to push their way into her friend group, and a new found crush on Noah, Nira begins feeling like an outsider among her closest friends. Nira must balance others expectations and her own plans in this culturally diverse story about growing up. 

I really enjoyed this book, Nira was an easy character to connect with. The reader followed her struggles fitting in, and felt for her as people continued to disappoint her. The family dynamics were interesting, and more secrets were revealed as the story continued that drew the reader in. I have not read a book with a Guyanese main character before, so that was unique too. It is important to have books share these cultural and social topics, as diversity a key part of today's culture.

At times I did find Nira a bit passive, and there were a couple slow points in the story line, but it was a great quick read. Overall, contemporary fans will adore this sweet novel!

Review on Goodreads


Thank you HBG Canada for the opportunity to be apart of this blog tour!

Blog Tour: The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena

Good morning everyone!

I am proud to share with you today's stop on the Beauty of the Moment Blog Tour, hosted by Penguin Teen Canada. I read this one last month, and it truly surprised me how much I enjoyed it.

Tour Schedule:

Book Details:

Title: The Beauty of the Moment
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Publisher: Penguin Teen
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary


Synopsis:


Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.

Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer.

Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.

Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.


My Review: 4.25/5 ⭐

The Beauty of the Moment is a modern novel following Susan, the new girl in town, who just arrived from Saudi Arabia. She dreams to be an artist, but her family has different plans for her. While she is trying to meet exceptionally high academic standards and dealing with her parents her inevitable divorce, she meets Malcolm. He's a bad boy type and has a quick temper, ever since his mom died of cancer a few years ago. As they get to know each other, trust, family, and their own hearts are on the line.

I really enjoyed this book, Susan and Malcolm were easy to connect with as characters. I actually enjoyed Malcolm's character a bit more, I found his development more prominent. However, the family dynamics and the varying cultures were engaging either way, and I liked how realistic it felt. Some contemporaries have a lot of fluff, but this one was genuine and reflective of youth in Toronto. It is one of the only books I remember reading that was set so close to me. I loved being able to know the landmarks and malls that they discuss in the novel, and I have even been to a few of the locations that they highlight. The racial differences were well written, and it is important to have books share these topics, as diversity a key part of today's culture.

I do wish readers could have found out a bit more about if they ended up together, or their feelings afterwards. I loved that there was an epilogue, and it might have been too long with more details, but I did want to keep reading about their story.

Overall, contemporary fans will adore this sweet novel, and for readers in the GTA, it will be easy to connect with for sure!

Review on Goodreads

* Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the opportunity to be apart of the blog tour *

Spring 2019 ARC Reviews

Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

RATING 3.75/5 ⭐

Once & Future is a gender-swapped retelling of King Author - oh, and it is set IN SPACE. This fast paced plot follows Ari, the newest incarnation of King Author, and Merlin, the great wizard who has aged backwards and now is a scrawny teenager. With a round table of diverse characters and the entire galaxy at stake, it's now or never for this misfit band of knights.


Ari was a great character to follow, and I liked her development throughout the novel. I am very impressed with the diversity represented in the novel and how natural it felt. That was one of my favourite parts of the novel, it was well written and it is significant in today's society to have books with different gender identities and sexuality represented.

Unfortunately, I was not as familiar with the King Author tale, so being immersed so quickly into the story was a bit confusing, and I found myself struggling to connect with the story. For fans of King Author, it is the perfect retelling though. It ends on a cliff hanger, leaving readers anticipating the next in the series.

* Thank you HBG Canada for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review *


Stealing Home by Becky Wallace

RATING: 4/5 ⭐

This story followed Ryan Russell, who's divorced parents own the minor league baseball team, the Buckley Beavers. Her goal is to one day become one of the only female General Managers in the sport. Their first round pick, Sawyer Campbell, is more charming than he appears, she is thrown a major curve ball. As challenges threaten the teams ownership, and its existence, Ryan is concerned that her team, her heart, and her future, is crumbling away.

What a cute and simple contemporary. I am a huge sports fan, so the baseball references made sense, and were explained well by the author. Ryan and Sawyer had chemistry right away, and once sparks fly, the reader cannot wait to see if they will end up together.  Besides being busy hiding feelings for each other, it was engaging to see the challenges that Ryan and Sawyer faced to find a way to save the team.

The realistic ties of patriarchy in a male dominated industry were well done too. I liked that it brought a more serious issue into a typically fun read, to make it more meaningful. At times it was a bit slow paced, but as a summer read, it was great. Overall, I would recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary reads with some female empowerment aspects.

Link to Goodreads Review

* Thank you Manda Group for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review *



The Sword & the Dagger by Robert Cochran

RATING: 4.5/5 ⭐

This novel follows three main characters: Elaine, Christian Crown Princess of Tripoli, her betrothed, Conrad, the Crown Prince of Antioch, and Rashid, a Muslim assassin preparing to kill. They go on a dangerous journey, risking their lives and their kingdoms, for a chance to know the truth, while facing some of most deadliest warriors in the land.

I loved this book, it totally surprised me. I read it in 24 hours, and it got me out of a reading slump. The mixed reviews on it had me skeptical, but I personally enjoyed it. The setting was magical, with lush worlds and a historical twist that was subtle yet relevant. The mix of races and religions was very well written and I liked the diversity it brought to the novel. Royalty in a novel is a guilty pleasure for me, so that aspect was also enticing.

The characters I enjoyed most. Each was easy to connect with, and had strengths that would serve them well throughout the story. Elaine found a newfound confidence and courage that she could not have inside the palace walls. Conrad was physically strong, but throughout the novel his emotional side was tested through challenges, both physical and mental.

The plot was a bit slow or predictable at times, but the novel was a quick read so I did not mind. I do wish the novel had not ended as soon as it did, as I would have liked to see how the kingdoms reacted following all the events that occurred, and the potential dangers that still could threaten the kingdoms.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would recommend to fantasy fans looking for a quick read with some historical aspects.

Link to Goodreads Review

* Thank you Raincoast Books for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest opinion *