Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Publication date: 1991

My rating: 5/5 (more like 5 billion)

Goodreads page

Summary:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

My thoughts:

There are some books that you know you'll love before you even pick the damn thing up. It's not only that the summary intrigues you, it's almost like the book draws you towards itself and makes you restless to the point that unless you have successfully devoured the pages, you don't feel at peace. Needless to say, this book did just that. Why you ask?

Historical fiction - check.

Time travel aspect - check.

Hot Scot in a kilt - check.

Mindblowing steamy scenes - check.

Heartbreaking moments - check.

This book has it all. After finishing this book, I felt like my outlook on life itself had changed somehow. Maybe I'm exaggerating here but sue me. I was a bundle of nerves, ugly crying towards the end.

On having finished this book, I literally thanked Diana Gabaldon for being born and the universe for making this a longass series. I don't know about you but I need more Jamie. Even 8 books aren't enough. The TV show has done a fantastic job casting Sam Heughan. Let me demonstrate why.

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Publication date: Nov 25th, 2014

My rating: 3.75/5 stars

Goodreads page

Summary:

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship - forever.

My thoughts:

Let's just get the controversy out of the way, shall we? Ever since this book released last year, many have claimed that this is ghostwritten, i.e. it's been written in part by someone else. Now, I don't know whether that is true but I do know it's been highly edited at least. Am I surprised? Of course not. We need to keep in mind that Zoe is a beauty vlogger and fashion guru. She wanted to write a book and so she did, with some help. Personally, I don't mind it. At the end of the day i got to read a good book and that's all that matters to me. Not everyone who has an idea can put it into words as beautifully as some great writers who have the knack for it. So should we not express our thoughts or publish our story? We should and we will. I don't condone what Zoe has done if the result has contributed a good piece of work to the field of literature.  So keep your controversy to yourself!

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

                                                       

Publication date - 27th May 2010 by Definitions

My rating- 5/5 stars

Summary:

She is pretty and talented- sweet sixteen and never been kissed.

He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future.

And now, they have fallen in love.

But.... they are brother and sister.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

Goodreads page

My Thoughts:

My physical state after finishing this book-

The first thing you need to know about this book is that it revolves around the very dark and controversial theme of incest. If that topic makes you uncomfortable in any way, i suggest to let this one go even though i personally didn't find myself squirming at any point of time; something i was expecting to do a lot in this book.

This book is an emotional roller coaster and when i read the summary on Goodreads and saw so many people rave about this book, i just had to pick it up. The best thing about this book for me was the way the author drew us into the story and made us witness their home life and everyday travails which helped to justify the relationship between Lochan and Maya. Tabitha didn't force their love on us but very effectively made us realise how in their situation it was not only possible but also their only option. 

The ending of this book made me wail for two hours straight and i couldn't function properly for a long period of time.