Tanazmasaba - The Keysmash Blog

Book Corner, Adult, Contemporary, Diverse Books, Home, Reviews, Romance

Book Review: Much Ado About Nada By Uzma Jalaluddin

March 11, 2024March 9, 2024 tanazmasaba

The older I grow, the more appreciation I have for sweet and swooning romance novels, and Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin has everything that I could possibly love–inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, this is a Muslim love story about a second-chance romance with just the right amount of angst, sizzle, and sweetness.

That being said, Much Ado About Nada does come with certain shortcomings, and as much as I loved the story, there are some important criticisms that I could not overlook by the time I finished the book. Dive in for a more detailed review below.

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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Top 5 Book Series I Will Finish In 2024

January 30, 2024January 23, 2024 tanazmasaba

Last week for Top 5 Tuesday (hosted by Meeghan Reads and originally created by The Bionic Bookworm), I shared the top 5 book series I wanted to start this year. This week’s post is about the top 5 book series I will finish in 2024–and if I am being honest, I am not 100% sure how much I can commit to this because I am SUCH a moody reader! 😂

In fact, 2024 is turning out to be such a moody reading year for me that I still don’t have a TBR list ready for this year. So instead, here’s a list of 5 book series that I hope to finish reading in 2024 (fingers crossed!)

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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Top 5 Book Series I Will Start In 2024

January 23, 2024January 20, 2024 tanazmasaba

Happy Tuesday again friends! This week, I am doing one of the Top 5 Tuesday prompts created and hosted by Meeghan Reads (originally it was created by The Bionic Bookworm). This week’s topic is about the top 5 book series to start in 2024, and I am already stressing which ones to pick because there are so many amazing new series coming out this year!

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Home, Misfit Muslim Musings, Stray Thoughts

My Problems With Organized Religion

January 21, 2024January 20, 2024 tanazmasaba

I have been drafting this blog post for what has been months now. Even though this website is my safe space, it’s a little difficult to find the courage to talk about something as controversial as my problems with organized religion. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a traditional and conservative Muslim society. Maybe it’s because in general Southeast Asian communities tend to be unaccepting of ideas that question their norms. Either way, my complicated relationship with Islam is a topic that I have always wanted to talk about but found very few people willing to hear me out.

So, here it goes.

Problems With Organized Religion Blog Banner Showing a Girl Watching The Sun Set Over A City

~5 Big Problems With Organized Religion~

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Home, Book Corner, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Reviews, Romance, Young Adult

Book Review: Foxglove (Belladonna #2) By Adalyn Grace

January 19, 2024January 15, 2024 tanazmasaba

In 2022, Belladonna by Adalyn Grace was one of my favorite books of the year. Naturally, I had high hopes for the sequel, Foxglove, to blow me away as well.

And while Foxglove by Adalyn Grace was definitely a fun and engaging read, it lacked the charm, the gothic intrigue, and the sizzling romance that Belladonna did. Here’s my full review

Book Review: Foxglove (Belladonna #2) By Adalyn Grace

Warning: this review of Foxglove by Adalyn Grace contains a few spoilers for the first book, Belladonna. If you have not read Belladonna yet, consider reading my spoiler-free review of it here.

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Book Corner, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Bookish Goals For 2024: Read More Diverse Stories

January 16, 2024January 15, 2024 tanazmasaba

Happy Tuesday friends! This week’s Top 10 Tuesday topic is about our bookish goals for 2024 and for the first time in a long time…I am actually a bit unsure of what my reading resolutions should be.

Usually, I always have a TBR list for the new year prepared months in advance, and despite being a moody reader, I usually know what books I want to dive into. But in 2024, I kind of want to go with the flow and read stories that spark my interest from page 1.

So I guess this week, I won’t really be able to make a 10-point list of bookish goals for 2024 because I honestly still don’t know what I really want to read this year.

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Home, Stray Thoughts

Patiently Persevering: Things I Am Learning

January 14, 2024January 9, 2024 tanazmasaba

The first week of 2024 is over, and honestly, it feels a little surreal. There’s so much that I want from this year. I have so many hopes, dreams, and prayers that are waiting to be answered in 2024.

It’s been more than five months since I last saw my parents, and while I think I have learned to accept that maybe this is how it has to be for another year or so, I can feel how much they miss me even across the sea.

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Book Corner, Contemporary, Diverse Books, Home, Own Voices, Reviews, Young Adult

Book Review: Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad

January 12, 2024January 8, 2024 tanazmasaba

To be honest, I don’t know where to begin with this book. It’s one of my favorite books of 2023, but I feel like no matter how succinct I try to be with my review, I will not be able to do it justice.

I’ve had Aisha Abdel Gawad’s debut novel, Between Two Moons, on my most anticipated summer releases list last year and finally got the chance to pick it up from the library a couple months ago. As someone who loves coming-of-age stories, I was super excited to see a book that featured not only Muslim main characters but an entire novel full of Muslim people and the Muslim community at large.

And I knew this book would break my heart, simply after reading the blurb. And yet, I couldn’t stop the tears when I reached the end of the story.

A gorgeous, and truly authentic story about what it means to grow up as Muslim teenagers struggling with identity and faith in a country where Islamophobia runs rampant, Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad is a shockingly realistic novel about family, girlhood, and the immigrant experience.

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Book Corner, Bookish News & Releases, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Most Anticipated Book Releases Of 2024

January 9, 2024January 7, 2024 tanazmasaba

2024 is looking like a great year for some amazing books. In fact, I really hard time trimming my list of most anticipated book releases of 2024 to just 10 books this year (I’d love to make this longer though–so I might add more books here over time).

Personally, I am super excited to read more diverse books this year, especially ones that are written by Muslim authors and have Muslim main characters. I am also trying to keep some diversity in the genres as well–though I will always end up reading mostly YA books, I have also added several exciting adult titles in this compilation of book releases of 2024.

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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Favorite Books of 2023

January 7, 2024January 6, 2024 tanazmasaba

2023 has been…quite an interesting year for me. And an overwhelming one too. And while I could not complete my reading challenge of 50 books, I definitely read some wonderful stories last year that I am always going to cherish. Here are some of my favorite books of 2023.

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