Fatty Fatty Boom Boom

"What I didn't realize at the time was that the cooking I thought was so ordinary was the talk of the town with the others." ~ pg. 292

The popular co-host of Undisclosed podcast and executive producer of The Case Against Adnan Syed documentary has taken her voice to the pages in a new memoir titled Fatty Fatty Boom Boom. She shares stories of her Pakistani immigrant family, growing up in the United States, her intimate relationship with food and the controversial topic of body image.

By the time I received the galley from the publisher, I had already reserved and checked out the new hardcover edition from my local library. It was a treat to read Fatty Fatty Boom Boom while on the go and at home relaxing thanks to two editions. Yet it still took a couple weeks for me to finish reading. It was good, but not ooh-I-cannot-wait-to-keep-reading good. I am so used to hanging on to every word Rabia speaks on the podcasts that I expected her memoir to draw me in too. 

"The reality of what my pictures showed me was too embarrassing." ~ pg. 250

While the subject matter of food, fat, weight struggles and family were relatable, I still did not feel a connection to Rabia. Memoirs are my favorite genre to read but only when I feel that connection to the author through their words. I felt a sense of Rabia holding back at times and glossing over parts of her life that could possibly inspire other women. 

Nevertheless, the most enjoyable parts were her universal truths that I found myself nodding my head in agreement to, and the recipes at the end of book. I am so looking forward to trying the chai recipe as it's my favorite tea, and cooking with the divine ghee. Readers will find Fatty Fatty Boom Boom to be worth the slow read. It will resonate with women of all ages and sizes. And hopefully bring awareness to self-love, acceptance and healthy eating.

Happy Belated Pub Day, Rabia! Fatty Fatty Boom Boom is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, & Family
Author: Rabia Chaudry
Published: November 2022
Pages: 342
Edition: Galley & Hardcover
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: It Starts With Us

(It Ends/Starts With Us #2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"There are so many feelings that come out in this moment, I'm not sure I've ever experienced anything so chaotically beautiful when we're finally connected." ~ 60%

My Series Sunday pick is It Starts With Us, the sequel to It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. Seemingly out-of-order but appropriate titles. It begins right where the first book concluded. (So stop here if you have not read the first book, It Ends With Us).

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have settled into coparenting when she bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. Timing seems to finally be on their side. But her excitement is quickly hampered by Ryle's jealousy. Even though they're divorced, Atlas is the one man he will hate being around Lily and his daughter. There's just too much hurt history there.

Second chance love. Jealousy. Abuse. Love wins. These are the major themes of It Starts With Us. 

"Your friendship gave me worth." ~ 29%

It Starts With Us is a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Best Romance 2022 with over 350,000 ratings of an average 4⭐️. While I loved the return of Atlas and the healing of Lily, my overall rating was a bit lower. The story was good but I expected more feels in this follow-up. Perhaps it was the build-up and the hype. CoHo fans on #BookTok (the literature corner of TikTok) had me thinking it was the best romance she'd ever written. So not so! But indeed worth the read and happy ending!

Title: It Starts With Us

Author: Colleen Hoover

Published: October 2022

Pages: 332

Edition: eBook

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"Suzanne Liu lived for days like this, days when her world seemed like a great game and the sweet smell of opportunity and cash hung in the air like lavender and sage."

~ Triple Cross by James Patterson 

Daily Devotions from Psalms

"It is important to stay active and be a blessing to others while we are waiting for a blessing for ourselves." ~ 29%

I love a good daily devotional! A scripture along with an inspiration is the best way for me to start the day. It sets my mood. It assigns a goal for the day. And it helps me keep a positive attitude. 

Joyce Meyer is well known for her spiritual guidance and books. So when I saw a new Daily Devotional available for advance reading, I pushed download so fast that I almost broke a nail. Psalms is one of my favorite books of the Bible too. With every read, it is a new interpretation. 

Daily Devotions from Psalms provides a powerful and positive mindset for each day of the year. Each entry begins with a scripture from Psalms followed by a brief practical teaching and ends with a short prayer. The format makes it almost impossible to fall behind on reading. For review purposes, I read ahead but intend to revisit my highlights.

This daily devotional is meant for readers to grow closer with God. No doubt you will look forward to starting your day reading selected Psalms and applying to your life. Pssst...tis the holiday season as this will make a great bookish gift! 

Happy Belated Pub Day, Joyce Meyer! Daily Devotions from Psalms is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Daily Devotions from Psalms
Author: Joyce Meyer
Published: October 2022
Pages: 384
Edition: Galley
Genre: Christian Nonfiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Pride and Protest

"Those labels—African, Black, whatever—don't define you." ~ 14%

A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by a debut author featuring characters of color and vibrant book cover?! Count me all the way in! 

Liza "the only DJ who gives a jam" wants to reclaim the neighborhood from a soulless property developer. There are unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. She plans a protest but it takes a turn for the worse when she mistakes the CEO for a waiter. Dorsey Fitzgerald realizes this revolutionary woman is probably the realest he's ever met. The protest results in a viral meme and sparks fly between the two headstrong main characters.

Perhaps the book fell short when the author decided to make Dorsey a billionaire who cares. I get making him likable but it seemed forced (and necessary) for Liza to fall for him. Or maybe it was the inner monologues that became annoying. I soon found myself skipping whole paragraphs. The foundation is there but it just needs fine tuning. Nothing a good edit cannot fix.

Happy Belated Pub Day, Nikki Payne! Pride and Protest is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Pride and Protest
Author: Nikki Payne
Published: November 2022
Pages: 416
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance Retelling
Rating: 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Soul of a Killer

(Books & Biscuits Mystery #2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"Murder. With the same cast of main characters. In the same place." ~ 10%

My Series Sunday pick is Soul of a Killer, the second book in the Books & Biscuits mystery series by Abby Collette. Fraternal, separated twins Keaton and Koby now run a combined bookstore and soul food restaurant. Though when it comes to solving mysteries in the small town, it is do or dine.

Books & Biscuits, located in the pacific town of Timber Lake, is open. Business is booming! Mama Zola, Koby's foster mom, has even become a resident of the small town and quickly becoming familiar with the other folks. Until Mama Zola and Pete, one of the bookstore's employees, bring a peach cobbler over to a local Bible study group and discover a dead body. Having both quarreled with the victim, they are both suspects.

What a major letdown! I was all ready to get lost in this cozy mystery only to be disappointed. Keaton and Koby were not in sync or even likable this time. The supporting characters like Mama Zola and Pete took over the story and was more entertaining but not enough. I don't understand why it just didn't vibe. Books & Biscuits is like the textbook cozy mystery setting. Yet this was such a struggle to finish. As a result, I am undecided whether I will continue reading this series. Phooey!

Title: Soul of a Killer

Author: Abby Collette

Published: October 2022

Pages: 320

Edition: eBook

Rating: 🖤