Black Friday 2025 - Top Deals on Trending Books and Accessories!

I love buying books. I read a lot from the library but there's certain books I simply MUST buy. Whether it's a long-time anticipated read, anything from my favourite authors, or when I'm using up some "me time" browsing an Indigo bookstore (a new one just opened right in my office building and I've never been happier!). And then there's times we see book deals that are too hard to ignore, so after salivating over discounts I don't see all year other than Black Friday, I decided to shortlist the trending books readers can buy at lower prices. Or simply good stuff that must be taken advantage of!

1. Dan Brown's latest, The Secret of Secrets - I've mentioned this one before but for Black Friday, Amazon has this at 50% off!! If you've been looking to buy it, this is THE time.

2. Mel Robbins' The Let Them Theory - I've seen more of this book everywhere I go, online or offline, than anything else lately. For some reason (I suspect approachable writing style and relatable content, from the glimpses I have stolen), this book is going off the charts in self-help, motivational category.

3. Suzanne Collins' Sunrise on the Reaping: A prequel for The Hunger Games, this one went straight to cart! It's been doing the rounds since its release in March this year, and it has really high Goodreads ratings (the only ratings I actually trust). Win win!

4. Frieda McFadden's The Intruder: The latest from this new-age mystery bestseller writer - I bought this from a store at full price but it's now at 50% off on Amazon. I THINK I'm going to be a fan of this writer as I've recently started reading her books and have enjoyed every single one of them! Some others I can recommend include: The Crash (hopefully, review coming soon), The Housemaid and it's sequel The Housemaid is Watching. 

5. This one is special - because umm... it is MINE! Which means I MADE it and loved it so much I have made it available on Amazon to share with others (it's under the name EverNoted)!! ** DRUMROLL**

30-Day Holiday Mindfulness Journal - it's a giftable Holiday/Christmas Journal with daily writing prompts, affirmations, and reflection pages designed to help you feel gratitude and appreciate the positive around you. It's thoughtfully designed (trust me, I would know), focusing on the season of giving but also, let's be honest, a lot of work and stress. What's supposed to be a winding-down season and time to rest and relax is sometimes not what it's supposed to be. This book not only has prompts for reflection, but also additional exercises I have tried and tested, mindfulness pages, and space for creativity. Highly recommended. ;)

6. Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing: Currently a bestseller in the romantic fantasy category, the first in The Empyrean series (followed by Iron Flame and Onyx Storm). I'm always seeing it every place that sells books. High on my TBR list and in my Amazon cart. :D

I see they have a boxed set of the trilogy too, in case you want to give yourself an early Christmas present (hardcover, on 50% off).

Finally. check out these cool accessories and related products, also on sale at the moment:

1. This LED book light with impressive battery life and a range of features.

2. This super-cute Harry Potter Metal Snitch bookmark!!

3. I have been eyeing this rotating bookshelf for months now, and it's currently on sale! Works perfectly for a tight space.

4. AND this adorable, absolutely gorgeous booklover's gift pack! 

Book Talk: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: 2025 Updated Edition!

2025 Update: I recently watched Netflix's latest release, the movie Frankenstein, and I have to say it is SO GOOD. "I loved it" would be an understatement, which is saying a lot because I usually do not enjoy renditions of classics especially when they take liberties with the storyline to make it, well, like a movie. BUT this one is amazing - the gothic setting, the characters, the dialog - everything's top notch. BUT before you go watch, I'd highly recommend getting your copy from Amazon and reading the book first. :)

***

Everyone must have heard of Frankenstein, even if they never knew that it is a book by Mary Shelley, who started writing it at the age of eighteen, and publishing it when she was twenty. Even fewer people would know that the idea for this book came from an evening's pass-time activity when Mary, her fiance and poet Percy Shelley, friend Lord Byron and John Polidori were sitting in Geneva during a tour of Europe, and had to invent a way to spend their evening. They came up with a contest among themselves for the best ghost story, and the idea of Frankenstein was conceived in Mary's dream that night.

Written nearly 200 years ago, Frankenstein is the story of a young and ambitious man who is taken to the natural sciences at a very young age. Contrary to popular thought (and this is why it is crucial to read books), Frankenstein is the name of that young man rather than that of the creature (or 'monster', 'devil', 'demon', 'fiend') he created. The story has no name for the creature, and probably that's why the cartoon and film versions have named the monster Frankenstein for convenience (and it hurts to know that movie versions would, naturally, differ from the text). Victor Frankenstein belongs to a well-bred family, and his keen curiosity, facilitated by two professors at University, brings him to his doom. He discovers the secret to life, and attempts to create a being to whom he would provide life. The story takes a turn when the creator is appalled by his own creation as soon as it comes to life, and Victor abandons it. 

Frankenstein is not really a story of a monster and his evil deeds. It's more about the side-effects of knowledge, meddling with nature, trying to play God, and how unkindness and being loveless can turn one into a monster. The creature is at first loving, and very much like a new-born (except for the minor defect that he looks like an eight-feet tall and gigantic man). However, he has no one to take care of him, and his creator has abandoned him, so the creature goes out into the world on his own and realizes how man would despise him because of the way he looks. He learns to live in the wilderness, and gradually facing rejection from every kind of being he meets, he turns bitter and seeks revenge against his creator. 

The story follows the acts of the creature and Victor's increasing despondency. Though the creature acts cruelly, one can't help sympathizing with him. When you read about how much the creature craved love, and how frequently he was denied the basic need for existence, you do feel that his acts were justified and, strangely, human.

Frankenstein is a compelling read. It's written in an epistolary form - that is, in the form of letters. The initial introduction is made by a third observer, a Captain called Walton, who is travelling in the North in his ship. He comes across Victor Frankenstein, lost and barely surviving, and that's how he gets to know his story, and records it in his letters to his sister. 

I found Victor's lamentations to be a bit tiring towards the end and too frequent, but apart from that I couldn't help reading all the way. I was also amazed that the author was so young when she wrote the novel, which, apart from being Gothic in theme, also addresses topics like intolerance, delicateness of human nature, and effects of knowledge and ambition. I'm also listing facts about Frankenstein I got to know as a result of reading the book:

1. Frankenstein is the creator, not the monster. His full name is Victor Frankenstein, and he is not a mad scientist either. He's just an ambitious man driven over the edge.

2. Mary Shelley's father was the philosopher William Godwin, and her mother was feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. 

3. Frankenstein created the creature in a makeshift laboratory in his hostel room. Unlike the movies, there is no lab on a cliff, nor is there a hunchbacked assistant. 

4. In the book, the creature neither has green skin nor bolts protruding from his neck. The physical description describes him as a gigantic, eight-foot tall man. Frankenstein had chosen handsome features for him, but his eyes were white and his skin stretched across his body in a contorted manner so that it made him look very much like an anomaly. 

5. The creature was never evil from the beginning, nor was it in his nature. It was the circumstances and lack of empathy that led to him being a monster inside.

6. The novel was originally called: Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus. It was first published anonymously in London in 1818.

7. There is really a Frankenstein Castle around Germany, where it was known that a scientist (alchemist) was engaged in experiments. Mary Shelley had traveled there with her group, and had thus come across it before writing her novel. 

8. The first theatrical production of Frankenstein was a twelve-minute silent film, in 1910. (Watch on YouTube here) 

Cool, isn't it? If this is not enough, let me share some quotable quotes too:

“How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to be greater than his nature will allow.” 

“I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.” 

“The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature.” 

“What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?” 

“How many things are we upon the brink of discovering if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries?” 

Mary Shelley

Book Title: Frankenstein

Author: Mary Shelley

Published: 1818 (and many subsequent editions)

Pages: 273

Buy it at: Amazon

Genre: Classics/ Gothic/ Horror

My Rating: 4.5/5

Meanwhile, check out the delicious cover in this special edition hardback copy!!

Review: She Didn’t See It Coming, by Shari Lapena

This is the first book by the Canadian author Shari Lapena that I read, thanks to my local Book Club! I’m always down for a twisty mystery and this book seemed promising, based on incredible reviews and ratings. 

Title and Author: She Didn’t See It Coming, Shari Lapena

Publisher: Random House, July 2025

Pages: 448

Find it at: Amazon

My Rating: 3.5/5

Blurb:

When a beloved wife and mother disappears, a luxurious condo building transforms into a potential crime scene, and the investigation begins: can the detectives find her before it's too late?

Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.

Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden—working from home that day—has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.

Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.

My thoughts:

Overall, I thought the storyline was a simple, confined murder mystery, with slow revelations and testimony to how one cannot know from appearances what is beneath the surface. What appears to be perfect and normal is gradually revealed to have layers of complexity which adds to the tension and drama in the story. The writing style is fast-paced, multiple-POVs, short no-nonsense sentences, allowing readers to go through it really fast. It worked to keep me hooked and wanting to keep reading way past a reasonable bedtime, but it also somewhat annoyed me. I felt the “writing” lacked finesse. At some point it felt like reading a succession of tweets, short and to-the-point. When I’m reading a book, it is because I do have the attention span longer than that required for instagram reels, and I WANT to read well-written sentences. This made it really hard to actually relate to any of the characters (in addition to all characters at some point being suspicious and unreliable) or feel much emotion. There was very little background, internal dialog was nearly non-existent, and something key was overall lacking. 

I will definitely appreciate the storyline - it was unique, and I can only imagine it would have been hard to create a long-ish book out of a confined mystery. The drama and new revelations keep you engaged, with themes of deception, betrayal, and conflicting actions adding to the tension. The story starts very well and I love the “air” of mystery throughout, but it also starts to feel abrupt very quickly. The characters were made out to be not likeable (everyone has a mad history) or reliable, which added to the suspense but was also a bit frustrating. It also mentions social media addiction which makes the story relevant to today’s time (something I appreciate books having). 

I found the ending surprising (which is definitely a plus), but not as “shocking” as one would imagine. You know what I mean? Like you felt, “ohhh I see, hmm”, and not “ohmygodwhatingodsnamehappened”, which, honestly is an actual high! Nevertheless, if you’re into mysteries I would recommend reading for fun as a fast-paced quick read (it’s a bestseller for a reason), but if you’re looking for a high quality, deeply engrossing mystery that will take your breath away, you could skip it.  

Best deals on books and reading accessories on Amazon Prime Days 2025!

 It's officially time for me to expand on my book haul - so many popular and trending books are discounted right now with the Amazon Prime Days Sale! (To be fair, any sale is a valid excuse to stock up but let's be discreet about it ;) )

The "trending" must-haves:

1. Dan Brown's latest - The Secret of Secrets! This was on my TBR anyway and OBVIOUSLY if it's 40% off, I HAVE to get it. It's another around-the-world fast-paced thriller, diving deep into symbolism and Robert Langdon's life (probably the first time showing an actual love interest, huh). Plus, the words "mythology" and "human consciousness" along with murder is reason enough. Hopefully we'll have a review here soon-soon. 

2. King of Wrath by Ana Huang: Okay, this one is not 'me' in the strictest sense. I mean, "arranged marriage billionaire romance" is enough to keep me away BUT it's the next read for my local book club which I'm committed to stay in, so I'm *kinda* forced into reading this one. BUT ALSO, it's a New York times recent bestseller and has rave reviews so gotta try it out. 

3. The Intruder by Frieda McFadden: The latest by Frieda McFadden, the top trending and popular psychological thriller author. Her Housemaid series became hugely popular and has also been turned into a movie coming out in Dec 2025! This was another book-club pick, most likely a review coming soon. :D AND it's 30% off right now!

Some recent books I have read and recommend you buy (especially if you love mysteries)

1. The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware: A follow-up on The Woman in Cabin 10 which I read ages ago, this one is just as thrilling, fast-paced, giving creepy vibes, and an ending one can actually understand. Writing style gets A+, storyline maybe a B, BUT a recommended read for thrills and fun nonetheless. Plus, it's 42% off, yikes.

2. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson: A heart-warming, heart-wrenching coming-of-age story with themes of grief, loss, friendship, relationships and society. Very well written, and an ending you did NOT expect. This was a book-club pick as well. Detailed review to be up very soon! Micro review says, buy it and read it!

Now this might be new, but because I have a kid now, I'm also into children's books (:D). Below are some I have read over and over to my toddler - they're so fun and engaging and we just love them! Also some activity books that have been game-changers for a busy mom life.

Top Children's Books to get on Prime Day at Amazon:

1. Llama Llama Red Pajama: If the title doesn't sell it to you, let me! It's so fun, adorable, and an absolute experience to read. I don't know about my kid but I love reading this one out, lol.   

2. Little Blue Truck: An adorable, well-written, rhythmic experience sending messages of friendship and kindness. I've memorized this one and so has my little one. We both love it and highly recommend it! There's also a sequel called Little Blue Truck's Halloween that I'm getting for us to read this month and so looking forward to it!

3. Goodnight Moon: This was our most-read and longest-read book in our reading journey (which started when my kid was a newborn). It's age-old and wildly, so enjoyable for a literal 2 year old. Scratch that, I have videos of my baby turning its pages and staring at the unique illustrations even before she turned 1. I highly recommend this as one of the first books for kids - get a hardcover, board-book version and it's gonna last years!

4. The Leaf Thief: This is on our TBR and we're getting it now. Fall season = fall themed stories and squirrels are my toddler's current favourite, win-win! Also this book is trending currently and is a New York Times bestseller, which is literally all the motivation I need to add to cart. :D

5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Funny, I bought this book like 10 years ago before I even dreamed of having a child, just because I knew it's an amazing, very popular, highly regarded children's book. The tears and satisfaction I had once I read it to my kid and she enjoyed it - priceless!

6. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? Another top favourite that I haven't been able to bring myself to put in the "outgrown books" box, because even I love it, and enjoy taking it out time to time to read it. We have a board book version with little sliding flaps which makes it more interactive (could not find a link for that one), and it's one book your child can "learn" because it has repetition, EASY to understand, brings colours and animal recognition all at once, and SO simple. I love the simplicity of children's books - it seems at first glance to be a no-brainer but the way children interact with books and stories is worth another post altogether. HIGHLY recommended.

7. Paint by Sticker, Halloween: Another recommended and popular activity book we're looking forward to using in the following month. Keeps kids engaged, and great for keeping them occupied for car rides (those stickers aren't gonna harm your car seat). Love this one.

LASTLY, some adorable reading accessories I came across that scream: GET ME NOW.

1. This reading night-light: I've been using this the past few months - perfect amount of light without disturbing anyone else, AND comes in different light settings (warm, cool, neutral). I can attest to its longevity. Personally, I think it's a steal.

But, if you want something more fancy (like I'm now eyeing this one): Amber light, apparently emits a strain-free blue light-blocking light and much more flexible. Lots of good reviews on this one too. 

2. These leather bookmarks: Outside of magnetic bookmarks, these are my current favourites. They look SO cute and I love the minimalism, the ease of use and their soft colours.

3. The Ember-Mug: This mug became popular about a couple years ago when I bought one for my partner to use while he was working, because this amazing mug keeps your tea/coffee/whatever at a certain temperature for about an hour or even longer, depending on the settings. I was SO in awe of this that I basically started using it myself and have been ever since! (Yes, it does need to be charged so that's a bit of pain, but still. No pain, no gain, right). It's 20% off on Prime Day so if you're not interested in having meh coffee anymore, I suggest you get this.

*sigh* I've spent the better half of today browsing the store and there's a whole lot more than I can fit into this post. Do your research, and let me know if there's anything fun I may have missed! We have until Saturday to get 'em. :D

Book Review: The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith

My current-favourite investigator Cormoran Strike is back this season in the newest installment of the Strike series by J.K. Rowling (Robert Galbraith). Like the top-fan I am, obviously I HAD to read it as soon as it came out. (More apologies for my lateness and being awol later!) After many stolen hours and furious turning of the pages later, I can say that I'm satisfied in having finished it (feels like I've done my duty and re-starting the wait for another 2 years to get the next one), but did I absolutely love it or was it mostly devotion giving me the satisfaction? I had to introspect that for 2 days straight before realizing, the Strike series has had better books than The Hallmarked Man. Trust me, once you're a hardcore fan, it is hurtful to think you may not have enjoyed something as much as you expected (total betrayal!). 

Title: The Hallmarked Man (Strike series #8)

Author: Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling

Find it on Amazon here

Pages: 1440 (about 950 for regular print)

Publisher: Mulholland Books / Little, Brown and Company

My Rating: 4/5

For context, here's the blurb from the book's cover: 

A dismembered corpse is discovered in the vault of a silver shop. The police initially believe it to be that of a convicted armed robber – but not everyone agrees with that theory. One of them is Decima Mullins, who calls on the help of private detective Cormoran Strike as she’s certain the body in the silver vault was that of her boyfriend – the father of her newborn baby – who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. 

The more Strike and his business partner Robin Ellacott delve into the case, the more labyrinthine it gets. The silver shop is no ordinary one: it’s located beside Freemasons’ Hall and specialises in Masonic silverware. And in addition to the armed robber and Decima’s boyfriend, it becomes clear that there are other missing men who could fit the profile of the body in the vault.

As the case becomes ever more complicated and dangerous, Strike faces another quandary. Robin seems increasingly committed to her boyfriend, policeman Ryan Murphy, but the impulse to declare his own feelings for her is becoming stronger than ever.

Overall, it has all the hallmarks (tee-hee) of JKR's amazing writing and storytelling, especially characterization. We revisit Strike and Robin's past as it is entwined with the present situations, and stay with the core characters as they (slowly) evolve and make decisions to move forward in their own lives. The mystery is complex, many-layered, gradually revealing, NOT predictable, and had decent explanations once solved (which is a big miss in a lot of mysteries in general). It was a fairly long book (900 pages approx.) so I appreciated the intertwining of many stories and angles - it did feel like Strike and Robin solved 4 cases at once instead of just the one they set out for (or maybe that was the point, lol).

Having said that, it felt a bit forced and drawn for the same reason. Was it necessary to have so many "mini-mysteries" running simultaneously that needed solving to solve the bigger crime? But again, I doubt the main crime could have been solved in as many pages, which is what is characteristic of this series, so perhaps it was needed. There were a couple of side-characters that were very annoying (Kim and Murphy, for instance), and did not feel super original (Murphy was drawn as an almost-equivalent of Matthew). Moreover, we did not get much insight into their other cases, and for the one that did drag over most of the book, it seemed to have been dragged extremely longer than necessary. I thought the problem was not focusing on main sub-characters and introducing too many new ones all at once. If I picked up the book and came across a name I couldn't recall, I had to go back trying to understand what their significance was! ALSO, I have been a strong shipper of Robin and Strike throughout the series and FINALLY they're getting somewhere but could it have not been dragged SO MUCH? ALL throughout the book Strike's trying to find the right time and place to express himself, and we literally get no closure even by the end of this book. That's just cruel! C'mon - a bit of romance won't harm the vibe. 

Despite everything, this series still remains one of the best I've ever read, mostly because of how memorable the characters have become to me. I recently also binge-watched the TV shows - SOOO good! (C.B. Strike Series on HBO). Plus, I read that JKR's planned a total of 10 books for this series, so yay! We have 2 more to look forward to. 

Side note: The other, recent Strike series that I enjoyed VERY much include Troubled Blood (so unique), and The Running Grave (excellent story-telling and unputdownable read!).