rahafhelmi's reviews
125 reviews

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It all started when Louisa, a twenty Six year-old woman, is left with no job, as the cafe she used to work in, ends up closing all too suddenly. With limited knowledge and ability. She soon finds herself unable to decline the only job at hand, which is both the best and worst job you could ever think of.. 
a Care Giver to a Thirty Five year-old quadriplegic. With Will, being Very rude, arrogant, challenging, impossible to bear and so closed of! Mind you, she had to be around him for 8 hours a day, five days a week, for six months!! 
How will it go? What do you think could happen in six months? 


Let me just say: WOW!! Oh My Goodness!! 
I mean, I did watch the movie long time ago but still.. this book got to me like it’s my first time I’ve ever known this story! And let me tell you straight away: this book got so many lumps in my throat! And it made me cry my eyeballs out! It is very inspiring yet very emotional! 

I was just saying this the other day; 
We often take our lives and health for granted, to the point we forget to stop for a second, just to take it all in and truly appreciate it. And only until we are, or a beloved ones in bed or a wheelchair that we begin to grasp the idea of it all ending, within a blink of an eye! 
And I could never, in a million years, understand how it feels to be disabled, to think you’ve become a liability to others, to not have the ability to do anything yourself not decide for yourself. 
And I get it, being in Lou’s shoes would’ve been difficult, being in Will’s shoes must have been even worse.. 
and I’ve seen it with my own eyes.. 
how in a blink of an eye, your life can turn upside down! 
And so, part of me LOVED this book because of the simply complicated way Jojo Moyes had put each and every word, each and every scene of this book. 
But also part of me LOVED and Connected with it because I’ve been there! Not necessarily having to make a decision as much as having to stand there, while one was made, where I waited.. for what I knew the inevitable. 
And no matter how prepared you are, now matter how much you make of the time you had left with the loved ones.. 
It was never enough ..
It was never easy .. 
It still hurt as much .. 

And so, my advice to you is: 
DO NOT TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED 
DO NOT TAKE YOUR HEALTH FOR GRANTED 
DO NOT TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED 
DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

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challenging mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

“Did he love her? He loved parts of her. But the question isn’t whether or not he loved her. The question is… did he kill her?” 
Imagine waking up in the morning thinking: today’s gonna be an amazing day. An hour later, there’s two police officers at your doorstep, accusing you of the murder of the girl you’ve been cheating on your wife with? 
Imagine being dragged to the station, have your wife called in, and she ends up your lawyer too? 
                                     .. .. .. .. 
Imagine getting out of a courtroom, defending a case and winning. You’re out to celebrate but.. you get called to the station to be investigated and find out your husband is a cheater. And possibly, a murderer! 
And, you are his defence attorney! Conflict of interest?? 
Or his best chance at beating this? 

And although, to me it had quite a handful of mistakes, I loved it still. It’s a quick-paced crime/thriller type of book. Could have been written a bit better though. 

The writer goes in the style of the POV of both Adam & Sarah Morgan. And each tell you their side of the story. 

As I said, I loved it. But still, it was a bit too long with a lot of unnecessary “obstacles & debacles”. 
There were a lot of obvious plot holes that should’ve been corrected. 
Adam is an annoying, arrogant, cheating, typical Alpha male. His mother is a B… the type of women that will always shame other women for not doing their job, and that they’re always to blame. And the fact that Sarah put up with it for whole 10 years of her marriage, then some more, says a lot about her. 

The writer does give A LOT of hint throughout the book, and her style of writing gives it away, kinda.. 
I think it’s a beginner’s type of book. Or if you want something fast to get you out of a reading slump.
The Book Club by C.J. Cooper

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challenging tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

It ends with us 

Let me start by saying: I’m not into Romance novels, whatsoever! 
But I’m reading this for two reasons: 
1. I’ve read a couple of Co-Ho books from her early days of writing and I absolutely love the way she writes 
2. I have the worst FOMO and I just had to know why this has suddenly become so popular on BookTok & Youtube! 

… 

It all starts when Lily meets Ryle on a rooftop in Boston and they play a game of “Naked truths” - which in my opinion, what this book name should have been. But I understand the reason behind the chosen Title. 

I love this book. Yet, I hate it just as much. Growing up in an abusive household with an abusive parent is not something easy. Having someone to rely on is very important! But what if that person is suddenly gone? 

While I completely understand why this book was a big deal allover the networks, I can only give it 3 stars. 
This was an extremely emotional, dark, heartbreaking journey! Yet, I felt it was rather rushed at the last few chapters. 
What I do love is: there is no Cliffhangers!
Cupboard Boy: Dare you Read? by P.T. Saunders

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2.0

While the book was touching in a way, the typing mistakes and the mal-publishing of the book ruined it a little for me.


But needless to say, no child deserves to be hurt, abused, or brutally treated, no matter what the reason was!
I Miss Mummy by Cathy Glass

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5.0

First of all, i’ve always loved the books written by Cathy Glass.

The love and care she puts into writing a book show her dedication to the children she fosters and cares for.
It’s is such a noble thing she does for children and teenagers.

Second, the book was very touching and the journey Alice and her family have been through was very heartbreaking.

I don’t wanna spoil anything but the book is a must-read