1Q84 was my main read last month, but I managed to squeeze in some light fluff reading as well. I don’t have enough thoughts on each book to create individual book reviews, so I thought I’d write one post with my thoughts on all these books mashed in together.
Angels by Marian Keys
Angels by Marian Keyes is actually a reread. This is one of her books in the Walsh sisters series, and it’s a great chick-lit. I may have mentioned it before, but one thing I really like in Keyes’ books is that the romance is generally secondary to the heroine’s character arc. So, they are stories about the heroines, their families, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, husbands, and so on, with some romance tacked on to it.
To me, these types of stories are the best kind. I can’t stomach a romance that’s just a love story and nothing else.
In Angels, the heroine Maggie discovers her husband is having an affair. She packs up her bags and on an impulse books a vacation with her friend who lives in LA. However much she tries to evade reality though, it’s not possible, and she slowly comes to terms with the failure of her marriage and the acceptance that both of them were at fault.
I really liked this story. The concept is mature, but the treatment is light (Keyes’ signature style), and there are some hilarious bits.
Be warned though, that this book might seem a bit dated. It’s written before the era of the internet, and it shows!
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
To be honest, this book wasn’t on my radar at all. There was just a tinge too much hype over the book and the movie for my taste. However last month I started looking for Chinese books and authors – to immerse myself into Chinese culture (for our trip to China next month).
Of course, this book is primarily Singaporean, but when I saw it in the library, I thought this would be a fun read about the super-rich Chinese.
And it is. No need to take it too seriously. I speed-read this book in a couple of hours time and thought it was good fun!
That said, I highly doubt I am going to reads its sequels – China Rich Girlfriend, and Rich People Problems. Of course, if I get raving recommendations from you guys, well then I will definitely carry these books with me to China for airport reading.
I definitely do plan to see the movie though. It looks fun and glam and campy. Have you seen the movie?
A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber
Sigh! This was a non-starter. This story about a middle-aged divorcee going on a road trip with her mother-in-law and daughter (and finding love along the way) was a big snooze. I normally don’t mind these type of stories, but I found the plot threadbare, and the characters two-dimensional.
Debbie Macomber has some real hardcore fans, one of them who urged this book on me. I can understand why she is popular, but I don’t think her style works for me.
The last fluff book I read was The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. I was surprised to like it quite so much, and I am planning to devote a separate post to it. I don’t think it’s fair to tag it at the bottom of this already long post.
What are some of your favorite fluff reads? Which ones would you kindly steer me away from?
