MY JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2025 READING WRAP-UP

Eiyo Fadneiras, 

Welcome back to Fadima Mooneira. Since this week is the last week of February, it's time for me to share my January and February 2025 Reading Wrap-Up. Yay!!! Let's geek together about the books I've read during January and February. 

Okay, let's not waste time. Let's start now...

#1 TIGA HERO MENCARI JODOH

AUTHOR: Norshiemah Md. Yasan

PUBLISHER: Kaseh Aries

GENRE: Romantic Comedy

LANGUAGE: Bahasa Melayu

PAGES: 377 pages

THE STORY

Three best friends who are also housemates are looking for love. But three of them have problems. Nadim is a teacher with a stable job. But he is very shy with ladies. Nadim likes his next-door neighbor, Indah. Indah is beautiful and friendly. She is also a teacher and works in the same school as Nadim. But Indah has a fierce mother that Nadim is scared of. Oh dear!

Arjuna is the brooding one among the trio. He was once wounded by a woman he loved with all his heart. Arjuna's past experience makes him doesn't trust women. But his thoughts changed after he met a bright baker named Rindu. Adam is the happy-go-lucky one among his piers. He is also a sweet talker and good with ladies. But his charm does not work on Dahlia. Oh dear, how come? Dahlia is such a tough cookie. 

Are Nadim, Arjuna, and Adam on the right track for love? Will they win the women of their dreams?

MY REVIEW

This novel is good for light reading. The plot and storyline are simple. It doesn't have too much conflict in it. At first, I find the story quite slow and boring. But as the plot evolves, the story becomes enjoyable. I like the author's writing style. It's very simple and catchy. I like the way the author portrays Nadim, Arjuna, and Adam's friendship. It reminded me of Ross, Joey, and Chandler in Friends. Hehehe ^_^

Besides the author's writing style and friendship, I also like the way the author portrays Arjuna and Rindu's relationship. These two are a very cute couple. Their chemistry is so sweet. And Arjuna is quite swooning. I like the way he shows his love for Rindu. It melts my heart ^_^

The chemistry between Nadim and Indah is ok. But not as sweet as Arjuna and Rindu. At first, I didn't like that the author paired Adam with Dahlia. Adam is a very lovable character, while Dahlia is bitchy. But as the plot evolves, Dahlia's character evolves too. I started to like Dahlia towards the end of the story. So Adam and Dahlia are a lovely match. Plus, I like the plot twist in Adam and Dahlia's story. You have to read the book if you want to know. I'm not going to share it here. Sorry :P

Overall, I rate this novel 7/10. It's a very enjoyable read and good for light reading.  But it is not a book I plan to read again in the future. However, I'm still recommending it to fellow bookworms who are looking for something light to read. Plus, this novel is a good book to tag along during vacation/staycation.

#2 DREAMLAND

AUTHOR: Nicholas Sparks

PUBLISHER: Dell/Random House

GENRE: Contemporary Romance/Slice-Of-Life

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 413 pages

THE STORY

A 25-year-old farmer named Colby Mill has a strong passion for music. When Colby was a teenager, he used to have the ambition of becoming a songwriter and singer until tragedy intervened.

One day, Colby decides to take a break from his responsibilities. He travels to Miami just to play a short gig at a beach bar. His performance caught a beautiful girl's attention. The girl's name is Morgan Lee. Morgan is enjoying a vacation with her galpals. They recently graduated from college.

Like Colby, Morgan is also into music. And she is determined to move to Nashville to pursue her career as a country singer. Morgan's zest and enthusiasm reminded Colby of his long-forgotten dream. Colby begins to question his choices in life for the first time. 

While Colby and Morgan starting to fall in love, Beverly back in North Carolina is on a heart-pounding journey of another kind. The young single mother is struggling to build a new life in a small rural town after fleeing her abusive husband. She also has to be strong for her infant son, Tommie. Will Beverly survive her battle?

Back in Miami, Morgan suggests Colby move to Nashville with her. They can build their dreams together there. At first, Colby thought Morgan's idea was awesome. But unfortunately, tragedy hits Colby's family back in North Carolina. So Colby needs to return home. Can Colby move to Nashville with Morgan? Is music the right path for Colby?

MY REVIEW

Like all of Nicholas Sparks's novels, Dreamland also captures my heart deeply. Sparks's stories are not just about romantic love or fairytale romance. His stories are also about family, friendship, life, hope, faith, and the long journey ahead. 

I like everything about Dreamland: the plot, storyline, premise, characters, Colby and Morgan's chemistry (their sparks are magical), and the moral messages in it. Sometimes in life, we are required to do things we don't want to do first before we can do things we desire. But everything has a silver lining. So be patient and trust Allah SWT's timing. The right path is never easy. In fact, it's the hardest and the one less traveled by. But it leads you to beautiful destinations. More beautiful than you can imagine. I believe these are the moral messages that Sparks wants his readers to bring home.

The plot, storyline, and premise of Dreamland are interesting and intriguing. When I was reading the novel, I was eager to find out who Beverly is. Does she have a connection with Colby or Morgan? The characters in Dreamland are make-believe people. All have their strengths and flaws. My favorite character in this story is Morgan Lee. She's a go-getter. Her zest and enthusiasm make her so beautiful and attractive. She's really a source of positive energy. Plus, Morgan is kind-hearted, not judgmental, and humble.

Morgan's chemistry with Colby is so amazing. I like the way Sparks hints at romance in the story. There are no spicy scenes or any cringe moments in the story. He only makes Colby and Morgan's feelings toward each other grow stronger as the plot evolves. I find that classy ^_^

Overall, I rate this novel 10/10. I absolutely love Dreamland and will read it again. I also highly recommend my fellow bookworms to check out Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks. This novel is a must-not-miss, guys!

#3 KING OF WRATH

AUTHOR: Ana Huang

PUBLISHER: Piatkus

GENRE: New Adult Romance

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 383 pages

THE STORY

Ruthless, meticulous, and arrogant young billionaire, Dante Russo only wishes to be married to his work. It's always business, business, and business for Dante. But his younger brother, Lucca put him in a rash situation. Lucca's clumsiness allows Francis Lau to blackmail Dante. To save his brother, Dante agrees to marry Francis Lau's daughter, Vivian.

The Laus are wealthy and they own a jewellery business. But they aren't blue-blooded.  Vivian and Dante's marriage will put the Laus in the New York elite society. That's what Francis Lau is hoping for. Even though Vivian agrees with this arranged marriage, Dante isn't the ideal partner that she has in mind.

Vivian and Dante quarrel a lot during their early days as a soon-to-be-married couple. But as days go by, they begin to develop feelings for each other. However, they still refuse to surrender. Will Vivian and Dante learn the meaning of love and surrender to fate?

MY REVIEW

I believe King of Wrath (KOW) is the best Ana Huang novel I've read. This novel is beautifully written. Plus, Huang blends the enemy-to-lovers and forbidden love tropes together well for this story.  I believe KOW is more than just a romantic story. It has deep meaning about love and being with the right person. Being with the right person gives you epiphany and homecoming. I like how Huang uses the invisible string theory and astronomy as the story's romance elements. It makes the story so beautiful.

I absolutely love Dante and Vivian's chemistry. It's intense yet beautiful and intriguing. It makes you wonder, how is Huang going to make these two lovebirds admit their feelings for each other and surrender to fate? It seems impossible for Dante and Vivian to fall in love at the beginning of the story. But Huang makes it well. She even develops her characters well as the plot evolves. Good job, Ana Huang!

KOW is a beautiful twin-flame love story. Overall, I rate this novel 10/10 and highly recommend it to fellow bookworms who are into the new adult romance genre. Trust me, guys, you are going to love KOW. But this novel has some spicy scenes in it. And language is quite explicit. So KOW is not suitable for those who are under 18 years old.

#4 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

AUTHOR: Harper Lee

PUBLISHER: Arrow Books

GENRE: Southern Gothic

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 309 pages

THE STORY

The story is set in Alabama during the 1930s. Jem and Scout Finch are told by their neighbors that their father, Atticus is a negro lover. Atticus Finch is a lawyer. And he recently took a job as a defender to Tom Robinson, a black man charged with raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell.

Scout and Jem ask their father: was it true that he is a negro lover? Atticus says he's a human lover and a man of justice. Atticus strongly believes that Tom Robinson is innocent. In fact, the black man is also a handicap. How can a handicap do violent conduct? Atticus also tells his children that it is wrong to kill a mockingbird. Lee uses a mockingbird to symbolize innocent people.

Will Atticus Finch succeed in this court case? Can Atticus save Tom Robinson? Can Atticus change the world?

MY REVIEW

To Kill A Mockingbird (TKAM) is different from all the novels I've read before. TKAM is the first Southern Gothic novel I've read. This novel is very mind-blowing. It makes me see the world differently. Reading TKAM makes me interested in learning Black History and the art that lawyers use to win court cases. I also like Lee's writing style. Her writing style is very unique and expressive. It makes me able to feel her character.

Overall, I rate this novel 9/10. I highly recommend TKAM to my fellow bookworms who are looking for a classic read. Plus, TKAM is already a legendary novel. So you guys must not miss it.

#5 CINTA TIDAK MENIPU

AUTHOR: Amshida Ahmad Rani

PUBLISHER: Self-published

GENRE: Slice-of-life with a mixture of thriller and romance

LANGUAGE: Bahasa Malaysia

PAGES: 306 pages

THE STORY

Cinta Tidak Menipu (CTM) follows a homeless young man named Han. One night, Han is saved by a kind-hearted old man named Pak Hassan. Like Han, Pak Hassan is homeless too. Since Han has nowhere to go, Pak Hassan invites Han to live with him under the bridge.

Later in the story, Han meets a pretty NGO named Adura. Adura is not just a pretty face. She's also intelligent and kind-hearted. Adura likes helping the homeless and those who are in need. After Han and Adura became friends, so many strange things happened to the homeless community. Pak Hassan is found dead near a dumpster. The police believe Pak Hassan was bitten to death. 

Who did such a cruel thing to Pak Hassan? Why was Pak Hassan killed? Who is Adura? And who is Han?

MY REVIEW

This novel is really a page-turner and a fast read indeed. Every chapter ends with 'What's next?' I can't believe it only took me five days to read it. 

I like the way the author blends human trafficking and drug issues into her story. This shows that Puan Amshida is a very knowledgeable person. Even though CTM is not a romance novel, the chemistry between Han and Adura makes the story so sweet. Plus, Han is a swoon-worthy hero. He is intelligent, kind-hearted, responsible, and caring. Woah! I like these qualities in men ^_^ I also like the way Puan Amshina hints at romance in the story. Very sweet and simple.

Besides romance and thriller, CTM also features good family values. I like the way the author portrays Han's relationship with family, especially with his younger brother, Haziq. Very adorable. Besides the thrills, romance, family values, and social issues, I also like Puan Amshida's writing style. Very sharp and precise.

Overall, I rate this novel 10/10. I highly recommend my fellow bookworms to read CTM. Trust me, guys, you are going to love this novel. This novel deserves to be a bestseller and win awards. I also hope that CTM will be adapted into a drama/movie one day. And I believe Syafiq Kyle is the best actor to play Han. Hehehe ^_^

#6 PRIDE & PASSION

AUTHOR: Charlotte Featherstone

PUBLISHER: Mills & Boon

GENRE: Historical Romance

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 378 pages

THE STORY

Lucy Ashton grows up wealthy but lonely. When Lucy was a teenager, she became friends with a butcher boy named Gabriel. Gabriel was Lucy's only true friend. But unfortunately, their friendship did not last long. Lucy's father found out about their friendship. So Gabriel was chased away from the Ashtons' home. They were separated.

As years pass by, Lucy becomes a beautiful young woman. But she is also bitter and cold. One day, a handsome young man named Adrian (the Duke of Sussex) comes to the Ashtons' home and proposes to Lucy. Lucy's father is delighted. Adrian is very rich. Adrian is the kind of son-in-law he always desired.

Lucy is not happy with the engagement. To Lucy, she can only love Gabriel. But to Lucy's surprise, Adrian is also someone from her past. He is someone she misses and longs for...

MY REVIEW

Pride & Passion is quite an enduring twin-flame love story. At first, the story is kinda boring. But as the plot evolves, the story becomes intriguing and exciting. Although Pride & Passion is a love story, it is also packed with mysteries and thrills. The mystery and thriller elements make the book a page-turner.

The chemistry between Lucy and Adrian is undeniable. Adrian is quite a swoon-worthy hero. He is responsible, protective, loving, caring, and romantic. He is also very dreamy-looking. Love those grey eyes. Auuwww! Overall, I'm giving this novel a 9/10. I love it and highly recommend it to fellow bookworms who are into the historical romance genre. Trust me, guy, this book won't disappoint you at all.

#7 LEYLA'S QUEST: ECHOES OF UTHMANIYAH

AUTHOR: Ninot Aziz

PUBLISHER: Hikayat Fandom

GENRE: Historical Retelling + Thriller

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 234 pages

THE STORY

Leyla, a professional gamer of Malaysian-Turkish descent is invited to try a new game that is based on world history. The game connects Leyla to the fallen Uthmaniyah Empire. Playing the game, makes Leyla challenge everything she thought she knew about world history. 

The game is more than just a game. Leyla also discovers a connection to her past that is deeper and more significant than she ever imagined. It leads her to the truth that her mother's death was not just an accident. It was stage. The Turkish woman was a target and she was murdered. But why was she murdered? Who is Leyla's mother actually?

As Leyla continues her quest in the game, she must confront both the shadows of the past and the uncertainties of the future. Will Leyla be able to unlock the secrets of the Uthmaniyah treasures and help reshape the world? Or will the forces arrayed against her prove too powerful to overcome?

MY REVIEW

This novel gives me Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code déjà vu. It's a very intriguing read. Every chapter ends with 'What's next?' This novel is a page-turner indeed. Leyla's Quest is also an eye-opener read for me. Reading this book gives me new knowledge of world history. It also challenged me in everything I thought I knew about world history. This novel is mind-blowing indeed. It makes me interested to learn about Turkish history. And it makes me want to travel to Turkey pronto. Hehehe ^_^

I like Puan Ninot's writing style for Leyla's Quest. It's very sophisticated and artsy. It shows that Puan Ninot is very passionate and knowledgeable in world history. Leyla's Quest has a cliffhanger ending. I hope this novel will have its sequel soon.

Overall, I rate this novel 10/10. It's a brilliant read. I highly recommend it to all bookworms in the universe. This novel is really a must-not-miss. Plus, it won't disappoint you at all.

Okay, so these are the novels I've read during January and February 2025. So how many novels have you read during the first and second months of 2025? And what is the best novel you read so far this year? I can't decide between Dreamland, King Of Wrath, Cinta Tidak Menipu, and Leyla's Quest. All are just too good for me ^_^

Okay, this is all for now. I'll see you guys again next week. Take care.

XoXo,

Fadima Mooneira ^_^

(Authorpreneur, Novelist & Crafter)

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