Book Tour and Review: The Door is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices Edited by Hana Khan

Book Info:

The Door is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices Edited by Hana Khan

Genre: Middle Grade Short Stories

Publishing Date: April 24, 2024

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

Synopsis:

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center.

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won’t make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji– he just can’t eat it).

These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.

My Thoughts:

This book was simply amazing, and right on time with AANHPI month starting next week.  It is a great read and resource for children and everyone with many lessons in each story.  I enjoyed all of the stories, and some of my favorites include Check yourself, Alok at the Dance, The Map of Home, Answered Prayers, and Out In The Open.  It has South Asian American representation and was written so beautifully, I could imagine each and every story.  It is a must read.

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195820800

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Door-Open-Hena-Khan/dp/0316450634

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-door-is-open-veera-hiranandani/1144296493

IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-door-is-open-hena-khan/20348333

About the Author:

Hena Khan writes books in a multitude of formats, including picture books, middle grade fiction, pick-your-path adventures, and graphic novels. Her stories are often centered around community, friendship, and family, and draw from her own experiences and culture. Hena’s novels include AMINA’S VOICE, MORE TO THE STORY, and DRAWING DEENA. She is the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara’s Rules, and Super You! series. Hena’s picture books include GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS, UNDER MY HIJAB, and IT’S RAMADAN, CURIOUS GEORGE, among others.

Author Links:

Website: https://henakhan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henakhanbooks/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/170644

Tour Schedule

https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2024/03/24/tour-schedule-the-door-is-open-stories-of-celebration-and-community-by-11-desi-voices-edited-by-hana-khan/

Blog Tour: Kicked Out by A. M. Dassu

 

Title:  Kicked Out

Author:  A. M. Dassu

Genre:  YA

Publisher:  Lee and Low Books

Publication Date:  April 23, 2024

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

About The Book:

In this companion novel to the acclaimed Boy, Everywhere, A.M. Dassu returns to extend the story of Sami's best friend Ali, who organizes a charity soccer match for their friend Aadam while his whole life is privately unraveling.

After their friend Mark's mum wins the lottery and gets a giant house with an indoor pool, Ali and Sami have been having the time of their lives hanging at Mark's house. Even their friend Aadam gets a job there, which means he can make more money for his legal battle for UK residency. But when some money goes missing, Aadam is accused of stealing it--and all three boys are unceremoniously kicked out of Mark's house in suspicion.

On top of that, Ali's dad, who abandoned the family when Ali was little, is suddenly turning up everywhere in town, and a half-brother Ali never knew has shown up at Ali's school. Ali feels miserable and resentful about it, making it hard to be a good friend.

The boys know Aadam is innocent, and if he doesn't raise thousands of pounds right away, he could get deported back to Syria amidst its civil war. At least Ali has a plan: they'll host a charity football penalty match to raise money for Aadam so he can stay in the UK.

But can Ali pull together the match--even if he feels his whole life at home is falling apart?

My thoughts:  

Wow.  I started this book before I went to sleep this morning, and got back started on it as soon as I woke up.  This was such a simply amazing read that kept me wanting to devour it until I was finished.  There were many lessons, ( and not just for teens, but adults as well)  including how just because they're not blood related, they're still family, as well as the importance of a good and solid friend group, one that will be there for ypu when needed as well as to hold ypu accountable, also when needed.  Although the book tackles tough situations, it was one that I couldn't put down.  This is another new to me authors that will be on my list of authors to look out for.  

About the Author 

A. M. DASSU is the internationally acclaimed author of Boy, Everywhere and Fight Back, which have collectively been listed for forty-six awards, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Carnegie Medal, The Little Rebels Award for Radical Fiction, the American Library Association Notable Book List and Jane Addams Peace Book Award.

She is a director at Inclusive Minds, which is an organisation for people who are passionate about inclusion, diversity, equality and accessibility in children’s literature; a patron of The Other Side of Hope, a literary magazine edited by immigrants and refugees, which serves to celebrate the refugee and immigrant communities worldwide, and one of The National Literacy Trust’s Connecting Stories campaign authors, aiming to help inspire a love of reading and writing in children and young people.

A. M. Dassu grew up in the Midlands dreaming of becoming a writer but studied economics instead and worked in marketing and project management before realising her dream. Her work has been published by The Huffington Post, Times Educational Supplement, SCOOP Magazine, Lee and Low Books, Scholastic, Old Barn Books, DK Books and Harper Collins, Hachette, Oxford University press and Scholastic. She writes books that challenge stereotypes, humanise the ‘other’ and are full of empathy, hope and heart. Her most recent book, Boot It! was a bestselling World Book Day novel.

A. M. Dassu used her publishing deal advances for Boy, Everywhere to assist Syrian refugees in her city and set up a grant to support an unpublished refugee/recently immigrated writer. ‬She has donated a part of her advances for Kicked Out to Baca, a UK charity that supports young people who arrive in the UK alone seeking asylum (www.bacacharity.org.uk/about), and to Syrians in Idlib, who lost everything once again due to the devastating earthquake in 2023.

Twitter @a_reflective

Instagram @a.m.dassu

www.amdassu.com.

Book tour and review: The less you know by J. F. Sims

 Title:  The Less You Know

Author: J. F. Sims

Genre:  Christian Fiction

Publisher: J. F. Sims publishing 

Publication Date:  October 17, 2023

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

About the Book

In “The “Less You Know, The Better,” the past comes back to haunt LaShaun Delaney, the First Lady of an Atlanta mega ministry whose life has been a rollercoaster of turmoil and uncertainty. Following a year marred by terrifying trauma and the shocking revelations surrounding Sweet Dreams Boutique, she believed the worst was behind her. Little did she know that the darkest secrets are often the ones that refuse to stay buried.

After months of intensive therapy, LaShaun is finally regaining her footing, determined to rebuild the life that was nearly torn apart. But just when she believes the storm has subsided, a mysterious caller shatters her newfound stability. The voice on the other end of the line delivers chilling threats that send shivers down her spine, and it becomes clear that the past refuses to release its grip on her.

LaShaun's marriage to Bishop Langston Delaney is teetering on the brink of collapse, unable to withstand the tumultuous eighteen months they've endured. Instead of seeking solace in his arms, she flees to the comforting presence of an old friend, a man who has been a steady anchor in her life. However, as they reunite, a spark ignites between them, complicating her fragile emotional state even further. The passion that simmers between LaShaun and her confidante will unearth long-held secrets, forever altering the course of their lives.

As he takes it upon himself to help LaShaun unmask the identity of her tormentor, they navigate a treacherous web of deceit and mystery. With each revelation, they come closer to the truth, and as the stakes rise, so does the strain” on her marriage.

”The Less You Know, The Better” is a suspenseful journey through the shadows of the past, where secrets and lies intertwine to create a tapestry of suspense, betrayal, and newfound passions. Will LaShaun uncover the identity of her tormentor before it's too late, and will the revelation of long-hidden secrets lead to redemption or ruin? In this heart-pounding suspense novel, the only certainty is that the truth will set her free, even if it shatters her world in the process.

My thoughts 

Wow.  This was such an emotional and enjoyable ride.  Although the subject matter is way different than Christian Fiction that I started off reading in the past, this book was such a great combination of faith and reality of being humans.  It at times can become a delicate balance, and the author did a good job showing how hard it can be at times, and being truthful.    My favorite part of the book was when one of the characters humanity was acknowledged,  but they were also prompted to not go in that direction emotionally.  Hopefully the last book will wrap everything up. And I can wait for it.  

About the Author 

Joyce Sims is a highly accomplished individual with a diverse background. She obtained her law degree after migrating to Houston, Texas from Mercer University, where she met her husband, Pastor Larry B. Sims, Jr. With fifteen years of experience in the legal field, Joyce decided to retire and pursue her passion for helping couples fortify their marriages. Together with her husband, she co-founded The Move Forward Ministry, Inc., an organization dedicated to this cause.

When Joyce isn't busy writing, she enjoys indulging in her love for reading, crafting, and binge-watching crime dramas. However, her true joy lies in spending time with her children and grandchildren, traveling with her husband, and exploring various cuisines.

Blog Tour. The good ones are Taken by Taj McCoy

 

Title:  The Good Ones Are Taken

Author:  Taj McCoy

Genre: Contemporary romance 

Publication Date: April 23, 2024

Publisher:  Harper Collins 

About the Book

When Maggie's best friend admits he's in love with her, she'll have to decide whether it's worth giving up something good for something that could be amazing in this laugh-out-loud friends-to-lovers rom-com. 

After a bad breakup, Maggie wants to find her Prince Charming, but all she’s finding are frogs. When her best friends, Savvy and Joan, apply pressure and demand she find a date worthy of attending their respective weddings, she agrees to take her own advice and try online dating. Since she's the maid of honor for both weddings, her bridal party duties are massive, but both brides insist that Maggie prioritize finding a date. After an onslaught of maybes, noes and hell noes, she’s close to giving up, when she meets a handsome doctor at the gym who just might be the one.

Meanwhile, her college bestie, Garrett, throws salt in everyone’s game. At every turn, he points out the red flags and tells Maggie to keep looking. Things come to a head when Maggie demands that Garrett be happy for her, and he finally admits that he can’t. Not when he’s not with her. When he blurts out his feelings, Maggie’s world is turned upside down. Now she must choose between the perfect guy and a friendship that is the foundation for everything she’s ever wanted.

My thoughts

The author did her thing again with this book.  I absolutely enjoyed this story, not to mention catching up with the characters.  Maggie went through a lot, and the scenes with her going on dates are so accurate.   This story had me laughing out loud in public, including when I was at the laundromat.   I loved the way this story flowed.  Not only was this such a great romance, it shoecased what can happen when you have a good and accountable friend group.  I am team Garrett.  Great job and I can't wait for the next book.

About the Author 

Oakland-born law grad, Taj McCoy, is committed to writing stories championing Black and biracial women of color, plus-sized protagonists, Black love, Black joy, and characters with a strong sense of sisterhood and familial bonds.

Taj started writing as a small child, enjoying the success of her first publications in elementary school. Since then, her dream has always been to become a professional writer. As a law student, she attempted her first novels and joined the Twitter writing community. Though Taj has spent more than ten years working in higher education administration, she continued to pursue her goal and ultimately finished her first novel in 2018, securing her agent in 2019.

When she’s not writing, Taj may be on Twitter boosting other marginalized writers, trying to zen out in yoga, sharing recipes on her website, binge-watching her favorite reality tv, or cooking private supper club meals for close friends. Catch her producing and co-hosting the Fat Like Me Podcast, which celebrates body diversity in publishing and entertainment, or watch her join forces with several writer friends on Sundays for the Better Than Brunch video podcast. When time permits, she serves as the #DVdebut Program Manager for Diverse Voices, Inc. and as a mentor for 2020 Pitch Wars.

Blog Tour: Songs of Lost Things Sonata for the Sun by Monica Mccollough

 Title:  Songs of Lost Things

Author:  Monica McCollough

Genre: Coming of Age

Publisher: The Writing Tree LLC

Publication Date: September 11, 2023

Rating: 💥💥💥💥💥

About the Book

The summer Lavender turned twelve, she was eager to dip her toes into the world of make-out sessions with her school crush and late-night misdeeds with her best friend in their raucous Newark, NJ neighborhood. Instead, her father had other plans…musical plans. He wanted to continue cultivating her gifted melodic mind and nudge her to begin preparing to apply to the local Arts Magnet High School.

Lavender suddenly finds herself cast into an unrecognizable and dispiriting world where she fights to maintain her sense of self, connection to her musical gifts, and footing inside her own family dynamics.

Years later, as a woman in her thirties who never reckoned with how much of herself she’d relinquished in her tumultuous adolescence, Lavender meets a younger man who reminds her of what she’s lost…and what she’s surrendered. Captivated by his charm, yet apprehensive of his interest, she’s upended in unexpected ways. The mental health struggles she’s managed to mildly overcome is ever present as ghosts from her past continuously appear. Love tries to find her as she finds herself.

• Will she reemerge from it all with her full self: stable, whole, and accepting of the love she deserves?
• Or will she fall back into the cycle of old habits and questionable choices that persisted and framed her reality for decades?

If you’re looking for a coming of age story focused on self-acceptance, overcoming trauma, and letting go of the past to move forward to the future, then this is the book for you!

My Thoughts:

This book was beautifully written and heartbreaking.  Lavender had to go through so much, and I think It truly stunted her.  And unfortunately this happens to a lot of black girls, especially if they are the oldest/only daughter. Many times throughout the story, she had to be older than she really was, and some of her childhood was taken away from her, although it wasn't her fault.   I felt like I was going along the journey with Lavender.  Many parts of the story made me sad and teary.  I could not put this book down.  I engulfed it in one day.  If you're looking for an emotionally charged read, then this is the book for you

About the Author:

Monica "MG" McCollough is a visual artist and emerging author. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, and a native of Alabama, Monica enjoys steeping much of her fiction writing and artwork in Black southern heritage and its ties to modern culture. As a student of history, she aspires to convey the connecting fibers of the past and the present and how they coexist within the contemporary human condition. Whether in a spirit of rebellion against systems or reflected in the psychological struggles we carry and struggle with daily. “Songs of Lost Things...” is her first novel and will also feature a series of original art pieces to accompany the story and its themes.

Instagram: @moni_shywriter
TikTok: @moni_shywriter
Facebook: @moni.shywriter
Website: www.monicamccollough.com

Blog tour and Review: Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja

 

Title:  Maya's Laws of Love

Author:  Alina Khawaja

Genre:  Romance

Publisher:  MIRA

Publication Date:  March 26, 2024

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

About the Book

A bride-to-be convinced she’s cursed in romance finds her luck changing—at exactly the wrong time.

Maya Mirza is so convinced she’s unlucky in love that she’s come up with a list of laws to explain it. Most importantly…

• Maya’s Law #1: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

But that’s about to change. Maya’s headed to Pakistan for an arranged marriage with a handsome, successful doctor who ticks all the right boxes. First comes marriage, then comes love—she’s sure of it. Except…

• Law #4: When you think you’re lucky, think again.

From the start, Maya's journey is riddled with disaster, and the cynical lawyer seated next to her on the plane isn’t helping. When a storm leaves them stranded in Switzerland, she and Sarfaraz become unlikely travel companions through bus breakdowns and missed connections.

• Law #6: Trips are never smooth sailing.

And before long, Maya’s wondering whether she’s just experienced the ultimate in misfortune—finally meeting the right man a few days before she marries someone else. And Maya might just be the worst person to keep a secret.

• Law #18: If you’re overtired, you’ll always spill your guts.

But maybe, if she’s willing to bend some laws, this detour could take her somewhere totally—and wonderfully—unexpected.

My Thoughts

This was such a heartwarming and romantic read.  I really enjoyed Maya's growth and her realizing the strength she had and how she finally realized it.  In standard romcom fashion, there were a lot of laughs and surprising moments.  I especially love how going to therapy is normalized and not villianized, like in some stories.  And that the characters represent their culture unapologelically.  The author kept me engaged from beginning to end and I could not put it down until I was finished, then had to sleep on it  so   could let the story marinate in my thoughts.  This author is now on my radar and I will be looking for more works from her in the future.  

About the Author

Alina Khawaja is a Canadian-Pakistani author. A graduate from the University of Toronto with a BA in English, History and Creative Writing and from Toronto Metropolitan University with an MA in the Literatures of Modernity, it’s been clear from day one that the only thing Alina could be is a storyteller. Alina lives in Ontario, Canada, where she spends the summer at theme parks and the winter cozying up inside with a ridiculously expensive coffee. When she’s not writing, she’s either reading or trying to keep up with her endless list of k-dramas.

Blog tour and review: Nearly all the men in Lagos are mad by Damilare Kuku

 Title:  Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad

Author:  Damilare Kuku

Genre:  Short Stories

Publisher:  Harper Collins

Rating: 💥💥💥💥

About the Book:

The anti-rom-com debut collection that took Nigeria by storm, featuring twelve “bewitching and revelatory” (The New York Times) and “ridiculously entertaining” (Booklist starred review) stories about the perils and pitfalls of dating men in Lagos, from a rising star of Nollywood

“Sharply observational, funny and profound, this book is dynamic sociological satire that is as universal as it is specific.” —Bolu Babalola, author of Reese's Book Club pick and national bestseller Honey and Spice

*INCLUDES A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SNEAK PEEK OF DAMILARE KUKU'S FORTHCOMING NOVEL*

One night, you will calmly put a knife to your husband's private part and promise to cut it off. It will scare him so much that the next day, he will call his family members for a meeting in the house. He will not call your family members, but you will not care. You won’t need them.

 In this remarkable short story collection, Damilare Kuku takes us deep into the heart of modern Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, and the lives of a collection of audacious women who cope with romantic difficulties by brilliantly turning the tables on the men who wrong them.

One hardworking married woman calmly threatens sharp-edged revenge on her lazy, hypocritical husband. Another skillfully protects her own business interests by shielding her pastor-husband from allegations of cheating that may or may not be true. A group of wealthy wives deceived by their husbands join forces in a WhatsApp support group called the Virtuous Wives Guild. And a discerning dater fed up with Nigerian men makes a vow to date only oyibos before discovering that white men can act just as badly.

A bestseller in Damilare Kuku’s native Nigeria, Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad is a raunchy, satisfying, and outrageous read steeped in the chaos and allure of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest city. It’s also a love letter to Nigerian women: the women in these stories may be confronted at every turn with liars, scammers, and cheaters in their quests for love, but they always figure out how to come out victorious.

My thoughts

These were some interesting stories.  Some thought provoking, all of them injected with a bit of humor and are showing women that they don't have to stay stuck and several red flags to run from.  My favorite stories are Cuck Up, Ode-Pus Complex and First times.  I really enjoyed.  The stories evoked all kinds of emotions as I was reading and I was not able to put it down until I was completely finished 

About the Author

Damilare Kuku has worked as a radio presenter, scriptwriter, film producer, actor and director. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in the arts. Her debut collection of stories, Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad, became a runaway bestseller in Africa upon its release in 2021, and was named the bestselling fiction title of 2022 in Nigeria, with international editions following in the UK (Swift Press), US (HarperVia) and Germany (Peter Hammer Verlag). Her first novel, Only big bumbum matters tomorrow, will be published in July 2024 by HarperVia in the US and Simon & Schuster in the UK.

According to Damilare- "Stories make the world a little less lonely. This is why I love storytelling."