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BOOK REVIEW OF 5 NOVELS BY ANDALEEB WAJID
HOW, WHEN AND WHY YOU COULD USE LIP AND FACE SCRUBS SOMETIMES
January 11, 2023
Blogaberry Dazzle Registration
January 21, 2023BOOK REVIEW OF 5 NOVELS BY ANDALEEB WAJID
Last year, when I read a few books by Andaleeb Wajid, like The Nikah, It Waits, They Moved and All Drama No Queen, I wasn’t really intrigued by her work. But as I started reading her romance novels, I was smitten. So, this review (of 5 different books) is a compliment to that. Oh! And, I loved the cover of ‘Will the Oven Explode?’.
BOOK DETAILS
Name: An Evening to Remember/A Night to Cherish/Will the Oven Explode/Forever Yours/The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove
Author: Andaleeb Wajid
Format: Softcopies
Number of pages: 302/272/218/290/217
Availability: Amazon (Check Amazon Kindle Unlimited for her books)
Rating: 4/5
TITLE & SUBTITLES
The titles were apt for their respective storylines.
LANGUAGE
The English language used is simple and can be understood by anyone. The fun new word for today is gobsmacked.
BLURBS
An Evening to Remember – This is a story of Dhruv and Nayantara in Karimbagh. They spend one evening together, as a result of a blind date set up for them by a common friend, and then the Pandemic strikes. With no surname or contact details exchanged, Nayantara makes a few inquiries and takes a step forward to visit Dhruv. Amid misunderstandings, love, siblings, Dhruv’s hotel and her unpublished book, Nayantara is wondering if they were really meant to be.
A Night to Cherish – As a sequel to the above story, Sitara (Dhruv’s twin sister) and Naveen find it difficult to be together despite their desire for each other. With several memories of the past, confusion and secret meet-ups, Naveen is hoping that she will eventually come around and proclaim her love for him.
Will the Oven Explode – This is a cute story of a married couple where the wife, Ayn, transforms from someone who was a kitchen disaster to someone whose recipes are a hit with her followers. But when she receives information that she is nominated for an award, she goes to inform her husband, Ehan, only to find that he is planning to leave her and their house, after 5 years of marriage.
Forever Yours – This book is split into three parts.
- Part 1 – Hatefully Yours – by Alisha Kay – The story revolves around Manan who fights his feelings for Aditi, whom he hates because she is the reason his younger cousin, Mihir, committed suicide a few years ago. Despite their differences, Manan and Aditi organize a bachelor party for Karthik, their best friend, in Goa. Manan is baffled, hurt, upset, confused and feels foolish when Mihir’s older sister, Anju, reveals the truth that her father was trying to hide in order to protect his reputation; the truth that Aditi knew all along. You can also read The Maharaja’s Fake Fiancé by Alisha Kay.
- Part 2 – Sinfully Yours – by Shilpa Suraj – This story is about how a rich Bollywood star, Sidharth Singhal, falls in love with a pretty and strong bartender, Dani (who is unaware of his fame), in Goa. He initially pukes on her due to his excessive drinking. They get together soon enough but he is shocked when he finds out who she really is.
- Part 3 – Deceitfully Yours – by Andaleeb Wajid – This story is the climax of the bachelor/bachelorette party organized in Part 1. The bachelorette party was hosted by Sid, for his best friend, Sanjana. While Sanjana and Karthik are confused about their feelings for each other, the end is a shock to everyone present at the party.
The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove – This is a story of a housewife, Iqra Ahmed, who shifted base to a new community along with her husband, Saad, due to his work. While settling into her new life, the old lady next door yells at her for creating a ruckus. Iqra makes a few friends and learns that the old lady doesn’t like anyone in the neighbourhood. Though she is upset by her rudeness, Iqra, who is home alone all day, snoops around and feels determined to find the old lady’s killer. This is when she finds out sad truths and secrets that overwhelm her.
REASONS I LIKED THE BOOKS
*All the above-mentioned books were easy to read, fast-paced and had no boring chapter in them. Though I mostly guessed what the romantic ends would be, I was curious to know about the flow of events that would lead to them.
*The books had very few words for which I had to use Google.
*All the books had a unique story, different from one another. Even the lovey-dovey scenes were distinct.
*I loved the perfectly coordinated stories by the three authors in Forever Yours.
* The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove had an unexpected end with good twists and turns. I found the book to be very well written.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
There were very few negligible errors that could have perhaps been edited more efficiently.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Firstly, I was amazed that all the above books, and more, were released in 2022. An Evening to Remember, Will the Oven Explode & A Night to Cherish were released just a month apart from each other.
Secondly, the stories are all so different from one another that I just wanted to read more. It has been years since I’ve read a Mills&Boons novel (despite the several that are present in my library). But here, I noticed that unlike in the Mills&Boons books, these heroes are mostly aware that they must use a condom as a safety measure. I also noticed that the women are more independent than the ones in the previous generation of romance novels. Therefore, I’m quite a fan of this writer and would definitely read more of her books in the coming months.
Have you read her novels yet? What’s your take on them?
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.
26 Comments
Thank you for the recco of Andaleeb Wajid’s books. I have read her stories on a few blogging platforms, but never a book by her. The last one ‘The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove’ seems interesting, I’ll surely give it a read.
I also like the cover page of the book “Will the Oven Explode”. This author is new to me. As you said they are free with kindle unlimited, I will try to read them.
These stories are like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get! From blind dates to secret meet-ups, kitchen disasters to Bollywood stars, and even a murder mystery, these books have something for everyone. I think I will grab some chai and curl up with one of the amazing reads you have shared
I LOVE Andaleeb Wajid; Will the Oven Explode is one of my favorite books by her. In fact, my current read is also one of her just released paperbacks, One Way to Love from the Jasmine Villa series
I’ll check that out, Nikita.
The blurbs gave me a Mills and Boons throw back. I used to read Mills and Boons back to back. I would love to read these books too. Will get my soft copies immediately. Thanks for the short and compiled review of so many books in one go.
Your review s so direct and one undertstands what to expect in a book. I am a sucker for romances. I will surely read them as I think they are short stories.
The way you have given a brief abt each book simply says how interesting they are, definitely none of them had a boring note as per the way the whole situation in different stories are created.
Very interesting would love to read them.
I have heard a lot about Andaleeb’s books. My daughter enjoys reading them. Will the oven explode sounds like something different. I will try to pick that one first.
I love to read Romance and will oven explode intrigue me. This is new author to me. I never heard about it. Your review are always perfect. Not too much not to less. The perfect word and presentation. I added in my kindle. Thank you Cindy.
Long back, I used to be in an Fb writer’s group where writers would write and we had to review and give feedback. I have forgotten the name of the group. Andaleeb was a regular writer there and I have read some of her amazing works. I haven’t read any of her romance though. Must give it a shot now. Thanks for the reviews.
I have always enjoyed reading Andaleeb’s books and short stories. She is indeed a powerhouse. I have yet to pick up her The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove and will probably be picking it up next.
Have never read reviews of five books together. Will the oven explode I am looking forward to read after reading the review , blurb and the attractive and colorful cover.
Wow , I loved the plots of each book , very unusual and different than each other’s. Especially Forever Yours and it’s three parts. How amazingly the flow goes and each part are so unique for sure. M&B books are kinda same patterned and you are right these day’s new gen authors very uniquely write their plots.
Andaleeb’s books haven’t yet found a reader in me although I’ve been reading great reviews for them for a long time. Taking a cue from this post, I’ll dive into one now! Forever Yours sounds good.
I was never a Mills and boons fan and neither a romance novel reader. However I like the perspective that the women in these stories are more headstrong. Fiction is a big reflection of reality.
True, Mandira!
I am very choosy or you may say selective when it comes to picking of a book. But I found the books you shared with little synopsis are very interesting and worth a read. From the above list I found the plot of Will the Oven Explode very interesting as I am the one who was a disaster in kitchen few years back and now a confident cook with interest in trying and discovering new recipes. Another from the list which I am definitely going to read is The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove … I go mad when I get to read such murder mystery thriller books… You can say my first love is always thriller and now romance is taking a back seat in my preferred list . Thanks a lot for the awesome recommendations.
You’re welcome, Samata! I love thrillers, too! Then romance!
The concept of blind date is really a sweet gesture and for the very first time I am reading it through a book. Seen, serials or cinemas where such moments take place and the love blooms out of it and then much more events or consequences for leading to either happy-ending or a sad one. The concept where Dhruv’s twin sisters and her partner had desire but cant lice together really made me feel sorry for them.
I can never tire of reading romance but even I haven’t read an M&B in years although i have a pile of it at home. All these books look interesting Cindy and since they are easy reads all the more so. Would love to get my hands on some.
Try them. They are available on Kindle Unlimited for free.
This is a new author for me. I love romantic books and the titles are fun too. Will surely check the books.
I may have taken a long break from reading romance genre books but this intrigues me. The photo of the cover of the book you’ve attached is really interesting and made me want to read it now. The fact that you were able to read not only one but a couple of books is really a testament that the novels are a must read!
For me, she is a new author… Although all the books looks interesting but frist I’m going to read ‘The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove ‘ because, as you mentioned, it had an unexpected ending with wonderful twists and turns.
loved the suggestions!! i actually shared it to my husband who shares the same madness with me when it comes to books. I would love to read the forever yours! Its for sure my next read.