A review by Nalini Haynes Ellen flees a domestic violence situation with her brother to pose as a Miss Smith, lady’s companion. When arriving in …
Romance
You’ll Be Fine by Jen Michalski
A review by Nalini Haynes Alex is in a kind of limbo. She’s still grieving her ex leaving abruptly. Then her mom dies. She flies …
I write “all the feels” romances – Paige Toon
Nalini Haynes talks to Paige Toon about romance, “all the feels”, research and more in this podcast. Paige Toon grew up between England, Australia and …
An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi
A review by Nalini Haynes Shadi is a Muslim teenager living a couple of years after 9/11 while America gears up for war in the …
Someone I Used To Know by Paige Toon
A review by Nalini Haynes Someone I Used To Know centers Leah, whose parents foster troubled teenagers and, when necessary, some gorgeous little children too. …
Sister of the Bollywood Bride by Nandini Bajpai
A review by Nalini Haynes In the interests of full disclosure: I am not Indian although my name hints otherwise. Mini is an Indian American …
Nancy Business by RWR McDonald
A review by Nalini Haynes The Nancys introduced Chinese Kiwi Tippy Chan, her white uncle Pike and his boyfriend (and possibly a person of color) …
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (2021)
A review by Nalini Haynes Looking for something easy to watch while my eyes recover from yet another trip to the ophthalmologist with even more …
Shadow and Bone (Book 1: The Grisha) by Leigh Bardugo
A review by Nalini Haynes After reading The Ninth House, I promised myself some more Bardugo books. Then came her Wonder Woman story. Now Rule …
Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
A review by Nalini Haynes Nix Song lives on a time travelling tall ship (hence the title, the Girl From Everywhere) with her father and …
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
A review by Nalini Haynes Princess Amora turns 18 so faces a rite of passage where she must publicly kill a prisoner with magic. She …
The Breakup Artist (2009)
A review by Nalini Haynes Britney (Amanda Crew) had a bad breakup when she was in primary school so now she runs a hugely successful …
The Arrangement (2013)
A review by Nalini Haynes Billy Whitley (Brian Greenberg), a Kennedy-type, needs a Latina wife to succeed as a politician, so his manager advises him …
Love Letter (1999)
A review by Nalini Haynes A small American coastal town has quirky characters played by big name actors. A bookshop owner, Helen MacFarquhar (Kate Capshaw) …
Fin & Rye & Fireflies by Harry Cook
A review by Nalini Haynes Fin kissed a boy who baited him. It was a trap. When Fin’s dad finds out, he moves the entire …