𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝘆 𝗖.𝗠. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀

Some meetings change more than you expect.

Rhiannon arrives in Ohio with one simple plan: keep to herself, get through her final year and eventually leave everything — and everyone behind.

Austin has a completely different life. He has the parties, the popularity, the talent and the kind of future that seems already mapped out.

Until they meet.

What begins as an unexpected connection slowly becomes something neither of them can simply walk away from.

But there is more beneath the surface.

A girl trying to escape what happened to her.

A boy who has everything except a clear sense of where he belongs.

And a relationship that brings both of them face-to-face with the things they have been avoiding.

The Night at Times Square is a story of romance, healing, growing up, and finding an unexpected person who makes you question the life you thought you wanted.

💫 A romance with heart.

💫 Characters with more beneath the surface.

💫 A story about losing your way — and finding a reason to stay.

Will Rhiannon let herself love again?

And can Austin finally figure out what he wants?

✨ Turn the pages and meet them in The Night at Times Square.

 

Missed by Siva Prasad

 

What happens when the meaning of a moment becomes clear only after the moment is gone?

That question runs quietly through MISSED, and it is what makes this book so compelling. Siva Prasad brings together a series of stories about love, family, friendship, loss, missed opportunities and things left unsaid, but what makes them stand out is the way they are rooted in ordinary, recognisable moments rather than dramatic situations. 

At the centre of the book is Arush, whose life & memories gradually reveal how easily we overlook the people who matter most. His relationship with his father is particularly powerful. The bicycle rides he once took for granted acquire an entirely different meaning when viewed through the eyes of the adult Arush. His father had been expressing love through actions that Arush understood only much later. 

That idea of realising too late appears in different forms throughout the book. A friendship that was never given enough attention. Words that were always going to be said “someday.” A hug that seemed insignificant at the time but becomes unforgettable later. The story of Arush & Seshu captures this beautifully, particularly through the regret of having understood the importance of their friendship only after there was no longer an opportunity to say it. 

What stayed with me was how quietly emotional the book is. It doesn't rely on excessive drama to create an impact. Instead, it takes familiar experiences & makes you look at them differently. Even something as simple as a bicycle ride or a hug can carry an entirely different meaning when you realise what it represented.

And that, to me, is what makes MISSED different from many books dealing with loss and regret. It isn't simply telling us to value people; it shows us how easily we fail to do it.

This is a book I would genuinely recommend to readers who enjoy emotionally rich, thoughtful fiction with stories that stay with you after you've finished reading. More importantly, it is the kind of book that makes you want to pick up your phone, call someone you love, and not wait for another day.

Definitely worth reading !!

Ek Dawa Mil Jaye Jo by Lavika Sharma

 

Have you ever read something and suddenly thought, “Someone finally put this feeling into words”?

That was my experience with Ek Dawa Mil Jaye Jo

This book is a collection of poetry, but while reading it, I never felt like I was simply going through one poem after another. It felt more like stepping into someone’s thoughts - messy, vulnerable, honest and sometimes painfully familiar.

There were quite a few moments where I stopped and reread a line.

One that really stayed with me was:

“मुझे शाबाशी दो,

मैं अब तक सब लिए बैठा हूँ।”

There is something so simple yet heavy about these words. We often talk about surviving difficult phases, but rarely about how exhausting it can be to carry everything quietly.

Another thought that stayed with me was the book’s recurring feeling of falling, getting hurt and still finding a reason to continue. In “On My Way,” the writer talks about falling in different ways - sometimes because life pushes you, sometimes because someone else does and sometimes simply because you are already tired.

And then there are poems about memories, solitude, blame, loss and those relationships where the silence somehow says more than words ever could.

What I personally enjoyed most is the rawness. The writing doesn't always try to make pain sound beautiful. Sometimes it simply lets pain be pain.

By the end, I felt that the title Ek Dawa Mil Jaye is more than just a title. The book itself becomes a kind of emotional space - a place where feelings that are difficult to explain finally get a voice.

❤️ This is a book I would recommend to readers who find comfort in poetry that feels personal rather than polished.

Because sometimes, you don't need someone to fix what you're feeling.

You just need someone to put it into words.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗿: 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗱

Reading The Brave Little Dinosaur: Achoo with my little niece was such a heartwarming experience. From the very first page, she was completely drawn to the adorable illustrations and kept calling Achoo "the cute red dinosaur." 🦖💚 The story follows a curious little dinosaur whose love for adventure often lands him in trouble, but when his mother needs help, his courage, quick thinking, and love shine through in the most beautiful way. 

What I loved most was how naturally the story opens up conversations about listening to parents, being brave, helping others, and understanding that sometimes rules are made to keep us safe. My niece especially loved the exciting rescue part and couldn't stop cheering for Achoo as he searched for his mom. By the end, she told me, "He was brave because he wanted to save his mommy," and honestly, that simple takeaway made the reading experience even more special. ❤️

The illustrations are vibrant, expressive, and full of charm, making it easy for young readers to stay engaged from beginning to end. It's the kind of bedtime story that entertains while gently teaching meaningful life lessons about courage, family, responsibility, and kindness.

If you're looking for a delightful children's book that your little ones will enjoy while also learning valuable lessons, I would definitely recommend adding 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗿: 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼 to your bookshelf. It's a lovely read to share together and one that children are likely to remember long after the last page. 🦕✨

 

𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗦 & 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 𝗔 𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗟 📖✨ 𝗕𝘆 𝗝𝗩 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗨𝗟𝗨

 

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲? ❤️

Set in the sleepy Indian town of Devlali, 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 & 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 follows Vijay and Hema, an elderly Hindu couple, whose lives take an unexpected turn when they welcome Zara, a ten-year-old Muslim orphan.

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆. 🫶

As the world comes to a standstill during COVID-19, their bond grows stronger, proving that 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 — 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲. ❤️

But when legal challenges threaten to pull this unlikely family apart, their story takes a deeper and more emotional turn.

✨ A story about 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆

✨ A look at 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗲

✨ A touching exploration of 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

✨ And above all, a story about the 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁, 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴.

The characters feel remarkably real, while the simple, smooth writing makes the story easy to connect with. The novel also explores societal norms, adoption laws, cultural differences and the many questions a curious child brings into the lives of those around her.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂:

🌿 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 — 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.

If you enjoy heartwarming stories with emotional depth, meaningful social themes and characters you can genuinely connect with, 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 & 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 is a book worth discovering. 📚🤍

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲. 🏡❤️

📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 & 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝗩 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗹𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱.

My Good Life: The Man Who Refused to Quit by Dr. Gregory M. Lee

 

“What does a good life really look like when you look back on it—not through achievements, but through everything it took to get there?”

That question sits quietly at the heart of My Good Life: The Man Who Refused to Quit 

Presented as a memoir, the book traces the author’s life across several remarkable chapters. It begins with his early years and education, moves through his experiences in the U.S. Air Force, and follows his transition into technology, education and research. Along the way, readers encounter military assignments, professional challenges, academic pursuits, family experiences and the many decisions that gradually shaped his life. His journey eventually includes becoming a lieutenant colonel, earning advanced degrees and completing a Ph.D. after years of work and study. 

What gives the memoir its depth is that it doesn’t present success as a straight line. The story includes setbacks, uncertainty, difficult choices and periods of change alongside its accomplishments. There is also a strong emphasis on family, including reflections on his parents and an extensive look at his ancestry, giving the book a sense of personal history and legacy. 

The closing chapters move beyond the events of his life into the principles he has taken from them: kindness, courage, gratitude, self-discipline, facing fears, learning from others, accepting yourself and making the most of each day. 

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. It is not simply a record of accomplishments; it is an account of the experiences, choices and values behind them.

A compelling read for anyone interested in memoirs, personal journeys, perseverance and the lessons that emerge from a life fully lived.

Suffering Leads to Hope by James Velissaris

 

Some books are easy to read & forget. Others make you stop midway, think about something in your own life, and come back to the pages with a completely different perspective. Suffering Leads to Hope was that kind of read for me.

What immediately stood out to me was how personal this book feels. The author doesn't talk about suffering from a distance. He opens up about his own journey through ambition, success, failure, prison, divorce, loss, anger, uncertainty & eventually, surrender. His story gives the book a very real emotional foundation. You can see how his understanding of faith changes as his circumstances change.

I also loved that the book doesn't try to give us a simple “everything happens for a reason” answer. Instead, it explores what suffering can actually do to a person. At different points, the author talks about things like hidden anger, pride, control, repentance, forgiveness, faith, Scripture, fasting, generosity & learning to listen to God. These aren't presented as disconnected lessons—they gradually become part of a larger journey toward spiritual growth. 

One of my favourite aspects was the honesty. There are moments where the author admits things about himself that aren't particularly comfortable or flattering. That vulnerability made the book feel much more human to me. His reflections on surrender especially stayed with me—the idea that sometimes freedom begins when we stop trying to control the outcome and learn to trust God instead. 

The book also does a beautiful job of bringing everything back to hope. Not the shallow kind of hope that says everything will immediately become perfect, but a deeper hope rooted in faith, patience and trust even when we can't see what's ahead. 

✨ What I took away from this book: sometimes the seasons we desperately want to escape can become the very seasons that reshape us.

If you're looking for a deeply personal, faith-centered and thought-provoking read—especially if you're going through a difficult chapter of your own life—I would definitely recommend purchasing this book.