More New & Wonderful Books To Add Your TBR <3 | Anticipated Reads of July 2021

We are 6 months into 2021 – and I still can’t believe this unbelievably traumatising year has actually been flying away like it’s on space travel and needs to reach another inhabitable planet to save the freaking human race!

But on the bright side; I have been actually getting through the previous months anticipated reads – slowly but surely, what is not helping the whole new list of books cropping up and me adding them to my reading TBR *grins*

As always, this is not the total list of all the books being released in this particular month; these are the books that I am looking forward in this month – and maybe just maybe update, the list with my review links at the end of the month, so that ya’ll can access to the reviews without any issues (I know.. I know! I have a whole lot of reviews to be updated, and I will be doing that, hopefully soon!)

If you would like to, you can also check out the previous months – January 2021, February 2021, March 2021, April 2021, May 2021 and June 2021 Anticipated Reads as well.

Two Wonderfully Emotive Novels That Touch Topics So Frequently Hidden in Indian Society <3 |ARC Review: Inheritance & Sugarbread by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Today, I would like to talk about two absolutely wonderful novels based on Indian Diaspora settled in Singapore – two novels written simply, yet evoke such empathetic response within their readers. 

If you have been looking to give Indian Fiction a try; I would definitely recommend picking up these beauties’ – they would definitely have you hooked right from the start ❤

Deliciously Scandalous Historical Fiction To Add To Your TBR Immediately <3 |ARC Review: The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

An Interesting Combination of Philosophy + Twisted Thriller From a Debut Author | ARC Review: Greed Lust Addiction by Ravi Dabral

The book covers the journey and encounters of an investigative journalist, thrillingly revealing mysteries of the corrupt material world, who believes in following the virtuous, righteous and spiritual path in life but is lured by a society dominated by corrupt politicians, unscrupulous greedy businessmen, puppet media, insensitive police, and even a biased judiciary. It leaves the readers wondering: Will the protagonist survive in the midst of the powerful lobbies who have scant regard for human life? Or will he be crushed like a beetle under a booted foot, as everyone predicts? Or will he be able to stand up just with the help of a handful of yogis of the Himalayan ashrams and their spiritual followers?

The book talks about Materialism Vs Spiritualism. Materialism is the mantra of the modern generation, whose motto is to ‘eat, drink and be merry’. This philosophy gives rise to ‘greed, lust and addiction’ which are vices within us. As against this, spiritualism believes in having ‘virtues, values and morals’ to live a contented, stress-free and purposeful life.

ARC Review: City of My Heart by Rana Safvi

In September 1857, the Indian way of life changed for ever, after the overnight downfall of the Mughal Dynasty, with the capture and exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar. This book, translated by Safvi, presents translations of four texts that talk about Dilli (today, Delhi) on the eve of the downfall and the fate of royalty following the uprising of 1857. Invoking nostalgia, chronicling both beauty and hardships, it is a gemstone to understand exactly how the royal household functioned and how it ceased to be.

ARC Review: Don’t Tell The Governor by Ravi Subramanian

On 8 November, when the clock strikes 12, your money will be no good. Somewhere on the India-Nepal Border, a car full of passengers swerves off a highway and plunges into a valley, its trunk full of cash.

In the UK, a Bollywood starlet wins Big Survivor, the most popular reality TV show in the country. In Panama, Central America, a whistle-blower at a law firm brings down billionaires across the globe.

And in India, a new RBI Governor is appointed. Aditya Kesavan is dynamic, charismatic and ambitious. And he’s been handed the reins of the RBI on a platter. His only job: to make sure he doesn’t rock the boat. But, unknown to him, the wheels have begun to turn, as the country heads towards the biggest financial event in modern Indian history.

Governor Kesavan is about to carry out the most brazen act of his life – and, perhaps, his most foolish. Will he be able to pull himself out of the mess he has got into or will he have to surrender to the manipulative forces behind the scenes? Running desperately out of time, the Governor must set things right.

ARC Review: Eleventh Hour by S. Husain Zaidi

New Delhi, 2017. It is nine years since the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and the wounds have still not healed. Especially not for Superintendent of Police Vikrant Singh, who ends up landing a slap on the High Commissioner of Pakistan’s face when he meets him at an event. Meanwhile, in Bhopal, five members of the Indian Mujahideen, arrested by Vikrant, break out of the Central Jail. Vikrant, suspended for the diplomatic disaster, is unofficially asked to assist the team tracking the escaped terrorists. In another part of the country, a retired tycoon, a heartbroken ex-soldier and a young woman dealing with demons of her own embark on a journey of self-discovery aboard a cruise liner from Mumbai to Lakshadweep. Fate, however, has other plans, and the cruise liner is hijacked. Racy and riveting, this is Hussain Zaidi at his best.

ARC Review: A Murder on Malabar Hill (Perveen Mistry #1) by Sujata Massey

Bombay, 1921. Intrepid and intelligent, young Perveen Mistry joins her father’s prestigious law firm to become one of India’s first female lawyers. Her tumultuous past also makes her especially devoted to championing and protecting women’s rights.

When Mistry Law is appointed to execute the will of Omar Farid, a wealthy mill owner, Perveen’s suspicions are aroused by a curious provision which could disinherit Farid’s three widows and leave them vulnerable. Are the Farid widows—who live in strict seclusion, never leaving the women’s quarters or speaking to men—being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous guardian?

Perveen decides to investigate, but when tensions escalate to murder, it becomes clear that her own life is in mortal peril and she will need to use everything in her power to outwit a dangerous criminal.

ARC Review: Pretty Vile Girl by Rickie Khosla

Everything she touched turned to gold, everything she said turned to scandal, everyone she wanted out of the way…died.

Beautiful, talented and wildly sexy, Jazmeen is Bollywood’s most in-demand starlet, and in a relationship with to one of the country’s most powerful politicians. Even though she’s known for her outrageous candour in interviews, no one could guess at the dark secret she’s carried for years. And no one will escape her vengeance, not even the prime minster.

Following her journey from her loving family to an orphanage run by a sadistic matron, from the fringes of the Mumbai underworld to the casting couches of Bollywood and beyond, Rickie Khosla crafts a racy, pacey and explosive debut about a woman who’ll do anything to settle scores and get what she wants.

ARC Review: Man of Her Match by Sakshama Puri Dhariwal

Kicked off the team for a series of misdemeanours, Indian cricket’s bad boy Vikram Walia finally has a chance at redemption. The only problem: it involves collaborating with his childhood best friend turned sworn enemy, Nidhi Marwah.

Once a tomboy, now a gorgeous, self-assured marketing professional, Nidhi must put aside her personal dislike of Vikram and leverage his unparalleled fame and poster-boy good looks for her latest campaign.

But the ensuing battle of sardonic jibes and veiled slurs only heightens their blazing chemistry. Soon memories of their past fill their present, pulling them back to that fateful day when a heartless act destroyed their friendship.

Can Vikram and Nidhi put their stormy history behind them? Will their partnership have a second innings?