Book Review: The Burnt Sugar Club

The Burnt Sugar Club introduces us to the exhaustion, competition, and emotional burdens carried by five women — Iris, Emerald, Emma, Ava, and Hope. Each of them is struggling with issues of her own, and the author beautifully explores the idea of perspective throughout the narrative. Often, we assume someone else’s life is easier or better than ours, without truly knowing the battles they are fighting behind closed doors.

Beyond the usual “grass is greener on the other side” idea, this story focuses on women who silently carry responsibilities, emotional fatigue, and expectations that the world rarely notices. The book begins by addressing one of the most important realities in many women’s lives — burnout. It captures the unexplained exhaustion that never really allows women to stop working, caring, or fulfilling responsibilities. No matter what happens, there is always this silent expectation to keep going.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is the absence of a specific location, ethnicity, city, or country. The story feels universal because it could belong to women anywhere in the world. The experiences of Hope, Emerald, Ava, Iris, and Emma are relatable irrespective of where the reader comes from. Their emotions and struggles feel familiar, making the narrative deeply personal and comforting at the same time.

The five women meet by chance and gradually form a friendship that becomes the emotional backbone of the story. As the author herself describes them, they are chaotic yet comfortable, burned, scarred, and changed. Their shared meeting place becomes symbolic of the larger theme of the novel, and I loved how this space slowly transforms into a place of safety, healing, and understanding for all of them.(read the book and find out the place)

While the book mainly explores female friendships, it was refreshing to see men portrayed as allies as well. The author does not dismiss the individuality of a character, irrespective of gender, and allows every person in the story to contribute meaningfully to the narrative.

Each woman brings something relatable to the table and, in many ways, makes readers reflect on themselves. As the story progresses, something much more drastic comes to light, and The Burnt Sugar Club becomes more than just a group of women finding solace in one another. It evolves into a story about survival, emotional support, and rediscovering oneself.

The novel beautifully captures the essence of female friendships — women lifting each other up even when they themselves are struggling. Mental health and the idea that “it’s okay to not be okay” are addressed naturally and sensitively throughout the book. The author also does not shy away from awkwardness, flaws, and imperfections that are often hidden or ignored.

Talking about the writing style, especially considering this is a debut novel, Akoparna B delivers confidently with a distinct narrative voice. I appreciate how she remains consistent with her storytelling style and avoids unnecessary dragging or over-explaining. The writing stays engaging and emotionally grounded.

One character experience that stayed with me the most was Hope’s journey. She represents every “good girl” learning to finally choose herself — someone creating boundaries, taking up space, and no longer constantly giving pieces of herself away for others.

There were moments where I wished for slightly more character development for Emerald, but overall, the book flows smoothly and keeps you invested till the very end. The Burnt Sugar Club is an emotionally relatable debut that celebrates friendship, vulnerability, healing, and the quiet strength women carry every single day.

The Republic of Cedar Key by Michael Presley Bobbitt

In their biggest battle yet, the people of Cedar Key band together to fight for the one thing that means the most to them—their community.
The post The Republic of Cedar Key by Michael Presley Bobbitt appeared first on Independent Book Review.
https://independentbookreview.com/2026/05/21/the-republic-of-cedar-key-by-michael-presley-bobbitt/

#bookreview #AphroditoisBooks #bookblog #CedarKey #indieauthor

Book Review: Death Comes To Matheran by Shabnam Minwalla

Tara and Sameer lost their father in an accident 11 years ago. After living through several difficult circumstances over the years, they return to their high-end area of El Camino in Mumbai from Oxel, Goa. The Jhaveris belonged to the rich and affluent — the kind of people nobody could touch, the ones who dined in the same restaurants as famous movie stars.

As the story begins, Tara and Sameer book an Airbnb in Mumbai after being invited by Pramila’s brother-in-law, Nimesh, to get their family wealth in order while the family feud remains divided into two sides. As the story moves ahead, more secrets unfold and the intentions of several characters are revealed.

A few pages in, we notice a change in formatting and design as letters and transcripts enter the storyline. The only giveaway is that they are specially written and saved for Sameer and Tara Jhaveri.

Then begins the puzzle of the Matheran accident — or was it really one? Tara was too young to understand, while Sameer is haunted by memories of losing two parents: one to death and one to memory. As their mother, Pramila, slowly starts recovering, things are no longer the same in El Camino. Throughout the story, we are introduced to several characters through conversations, phone calls, and passing moments.

In this book, Shabnam Minwalla makes the reader aware that somebody was collecting information. Somebody was gathering evidence. Somebody else, like Tara Jhaveri, wanted answers about what exactly happened on the fateful night when their father lost his life.

The beauty of the book lies in everything happening between the lines — the cracks, the hidden tensions, and the layered characters. Every character is written with finesse, and the reader constantly keeps guessing who is responsible and who is hiding secrets.

As Tara Jhaveri returns to her world in Mumbai and feels left out, the author introduces us to the affluent, the rich, and people living in a bubble. Shabnam Minwalla captures the behaviour of the well-off extremely well, especially their inner circles and the dynamics among young adults. Many readers may recognise behaviours similar to those in their own social circles, and the little nuggets Minwalla leaves in certain situations speak volumes about the elite.

The book does not end with a happily-ever-after. The world demands proof and evidence, and that is exactly what Shabnam Minwalla succeeds in portraying.

Aside from solving a crime, the author also dives into the relationship between a daughter and her mother, along with the emotional realities of being 17 years old.

The book becomes even more interesting because of the characters’ development and the realisations that slowly dawn upon them.

Towards the climax, the book becomes a tad theatrical, but it definitely grabs your attention again.

Shabnam Minwalla likes to tie things together well and does not leave behind invisible details.

That is exactly why the author remains on my auto-buy list. Thanks to HarperCollins for the media copy.

The Kind Bunny by Evelina Ruimy

A useful story about pride and learning with the cutest little critters
The post The Kind Bunny by Evelina Ruimy appeared first on Independent Book Review.
https://independentbookreview.com/2026/05/20/the-kind-bunny-by-evelina-ruimy/

#bookreview #bookblog #Childrens #EvelinaRuimy #indieauthorreview

𝘛𝘩𝘦 2026 #AnthonyAward 𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.

Read the nominee list at our 🔗 link in the comments.
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#BookThreads #booksky 💙📚 #bookstodon Not Always Clowning Around. My #bookreview for "700 Sundays" by Billy Crystal, on my #bookblog now! Yes, THAT Billy Crystal and yes it is non-fiction AND a memoir! I think you'll want to order what I just had! #BeatTheBacklist #OOCZ2026

http://tcl-bookreviews.com/2026/05/18/not-always-clowning-around/

I’m excited to have re-released my 2010 book, Paddling with a Naturalist. If you’re interested in the natural world I think you’ll enjoy it. Have a look.
https://hodnettcanoeguides.ca/paddling_with_a_naturalist.php

#WhatToRead #BookBlog #Readers #BrettHodnett #WritersOfMastodon #Science #Author #Writer #Writers #Books #Livres #Bookstodon #BookCover #Evolution #EPUB #Ebook #FreeBook #FreeBooks #GiveAway #FediHUMAN #Nature #Wilderness #Outdoors #Summer #Canoe #Canoeing #Paddling #AlgonquinPark #Travelogue #Ontario #forest #trees #Naturalist #Outside #Outdoors #Wildflowers #Wildflower #Flora #Fauna #SilentSunday

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Hello beautiful people! Welcome to a new review! For this review, I get into the second Josh Malerman book I have checked out, Incidents Around the House. Having enjoyed Bird Box quite a bit I was expecting to enjoy this one much more than I did. Overall, the plot isn’t terrible, but it was executed in a way I just did not enjoy, with characters I struggled to follow.

Main Characters:

Bela – A young girl and our main character in the story. The book is told through the perspectives of herself and her family, and her character addition added a very childish nature to the book. Bela and her family have their lives turned upside down when Bela tells her parents that a woman named Other Mommy has been living in her room for a long time and is looking for something from her that she isn’t sure she can give.

Ursula and Russ – Bela’s parents, who have their own secrets just like their daughter. Struggle to navigate how to protect their family from this paranormal being that is looking to destroy them.

Other Mommy – The paranormal entity haunting Bela is genuinely creepy in concept. The idea itself is strong and definitely has the potential to be deeply unsettling.

My Review

I really, really, thought I was going to like this one so much more than I did. Sadly, Incidents Around the House goes wrong in so many ways, and not in an enjoyable way. I found myself so aggravated by the tone of the book, the childish aspects, and just how these characters were handling themselves. It also just ended up being kind of boring and repetitive as it went on. Given that Bela is a young girl, I understood why it was written this way; she’s a young child trying to process terrifying things happening around her, but personally, I just could not connect with the childish narration style. Overall, I landed on rating the book a 4/10, and while I wouldn’t really recommend this one to others, I do encourage checking out some of Josh Malerman’s other stuff, because it is much better.

The story follows young Bela, whose life becomes increasingly terrifying when a paranormal entity she calls “Other Mommy” begins haunting her home. As the presence grows more invasive and dangerous, Bela’s family struggles to understand what’s happening and how to protect her. Told through Bela’s childlike perspective and her untrustworthy parents’ eyes, the story leans heavily into psychological and supernatural horror as reality becomes harder to trust.

I enjoyed Bird Box by Josh Malerman, so I went into this expecting another creepy, tension-filled horror story, but this honestly came close to being a DNF for me. The frustrating part is that the premise itself isn’t bad at all. A young girl being hunted by a horrifying paranormal being? That should absolutely work for me. And there are moments where the concept of Other Mommy feels genuinely unsettling.

The execution just did not land for me personally. The biggest issue was the narration style. Since the story is told through Bela’s perspective, everything is written with a very childlike voice and understanding of the world. I completely understand why Malerman chose to do that; it makes sense for the story, but I just couldn’t get immersed in it. Instead of making things feel creepier or more emotionally impactful, it mostly just frustrated me and made the book feel repetitive.

And honestly, I didn’t find it scary. At all. Which is rough for a horror novel built around atmosphere and tension. The way the characters handled the paranormal situation felt oddly boring to me instead of suspenseful, and I kept waiting for the story to really go there in a way that never fully happened.

I also found myself annoyed with basically everyone in the book, which made it even harder to stay invested emotionally. The pacing didn’t help either. It felt like the story kept circling the same ideas and conversations without enough progression, so instead of tension building, I just found myself losing interest.

The ending was okay. Not terrible, not amazing, just kind of there. It didn’t completely ruin the book for me, but it also didn’t do enough to redeem the reading experience overall.

I don’t think this is an objectively awful book, and I can absolutely see why some readers would connect with it more than I did, especially if the child narration style works for them. But for me, it just never came together.

Definitely not the first Josh Malerman book I’d recommend, but don’t write him off from this review because he is a fantastic writer with lots of good ones to check out. I just hit a dud.

Thank you for checking out this review. I hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to subscribe to the page to be one of the first to know when I release a new review.

Dark Fiction
Macabre Fiction
Cautionary Tales

The "Machinery of Fate" is the latest volume of #shortstories by Humphrey Archer and for readers who enjoy Poe, Dahl, Gorey, and like speculative, folklorish, darkly ironic tales. The stories are similar to “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O’Connor, and “The Cask of Amontillado,” by Poe, or TV production such as "Black Mirror."

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The 2026 British Book Awards have wrapped up for another year, and there were plenty of big moments across the ceremony.

Read about this year's winners at our 🔗 link in the comments.
#bookblog #BritishBookAwards 📚 #bookstodon