Review: Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, and Evelyn Skye

Today's read is an early shout-out to a cute romance coming out the end of August. I found the idea of a love potion sweet and decided to give it a go. To my surprise, this is a collection of three stories with the combining factor of friendship and the love potion. But that makes it perfect for quick, evening reading, right?

Well, let's find out if it does!

THREE KISSES, ONE MIDNIGHT

by Roshani Chokshi,

Sandhya Menon, and

Evelyn Skye

Wednesday Books

Young Adult Romance

288 pages

COMING...

AUGUST 30th!!!

New York Times bestselling authors Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye, and Sandhya Menon craft a spellbinding novel featuring a teenage trio who discover the magic of true love on a fateful Halloween night in Three Kisses, One Midnight.

Four hundred years ago, the town of Moon Ridge was founded on Halloween. Everyone born and raised there knows the legend of the young woman who perished at the stroke of twelve that very same night, losing the life she was set to embark on with her dearest love. Every century since, on All Hallows’ Eve, the Lady of Moon Ridge descends from the stars to walk among the townsfolk, conjuring an aura upon those willing to follow their hearts’ desires.

“To summon joy and love in another’s soul
For a connection that makes two people whole
For laughter and a smile that one can never miss
Sealed before midnight with a truehearted kiss.”

This year, three best friends, known around school as The Coven, will weave art, science, and magic on a Halloween unlike any other. Onny, Ash, and True believe everything is in alignment to bring them the affection, acceptance, and healing that can only come from romance—with a little help from Onny’s grandmother’s love potion.

But it’s not so simple to boost Ash’s confidence, nurse True’s heartache, or open Onny’s eyes. And as midnight approaches, the friends learn that it will take more than a spell to recognize those who offer their love and to embrace all the magic that follows.

GOODREADS   /    B&N    /    BOOK DEPOSITORY    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Balancing on the edge of magic without every truly crossing over, this is a collection of three friends and their very individual experiences with one love potion.

When I picked this one up, I didn't realize that it was a collection of three, individual tales. The first one concerns Onny, the creator of the love potion from her grandmother's recipe, and the other two center around her best friends, one a guy and one a girl, as they use their portion of the potion to find the loves of their lives. It's set in a high school setting, but, obviously, branches to each individual's surroundings. They are sweet, each one taking a slightly different direction, and each one with its very own plot and atmosphere.

From all of the tales, the first one is the one that won me over. I was a little disappointed to find that this swung into three separate tales and, I think, because of that, I had trouble sinking into the second two. Plus, the Onny's tale is what sets the background, one with plenty of heart, and gives her a depth the other two simply can't reach. Plus, the first one is a enemies to lovers situation, something I prefer over the standard, tropes. Still, even these were well done, and it'd be wrong to say they weren't enjoyable. 

Fans of romance, high school drama, true friendship, and all of that with a tinsy-dab of magic are going to enjoy this one quite a bit.

Review: 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT PINKY

Dimple and Rishi, #3

by Sandhya Menon

Simon Pulse

YA Romance

368 pages

COMING...

JULY 21st!!!

The follow-up to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something about Sweetie follows Pinky and Samir as they pretend to date—with disastrous and hilarious results.

Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny-tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few . . . quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions (aka boyfriends) she’s made, she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy, Samir—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer. As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they'll never forget.

       

MY TIDBITS

Hearts will be touched thanks to a cute couple, who can't seem to agree on anything...and yet, they agree on so much.

Pinky is trouble pure. Or at least, that's what her mother thinks. But then, her parents are both powerful lawyers and have their expectations set way too high. When Pinky is again accused of doing something awful, which she's totally clueless about, she decides to take action. Unfortunately, her mouth acts faster than her brain, and she ends up claiming someone, who can't stand her, is actually her boyfriend. Luckily, fate is on her side, and she's able to convince him to jump in on her scheme. But oil and water get along better than these too, and things take turns neither could have ever seen coming.

Note: This is the third book in a series. I did not, however, read the first two and had absolutely no trouble diving into this book. In other words, it can easily be read as a stand alone.

Anyone who loves romances, where opposites attract, and enjoy tons of humor along the way are going to enjoy this one. Pinky is a handful with her colorful hair, piercings and lots of attitude, especially since her parents are polar opposites and aren't sure what to do with her. I mean, who has a boyfriend named Pistachio? Her rebellion is a bit over the top, but that makes Pinky so much more likable, especially since it's clear she isn't as naught as her parents might think...oh, but that doesn't mean she's flows with the usual stream, either. Simply said, she's a handful and a lot of fun.

The romance is very predictable, but that's always the case when it's clear that the pair will end up together. It's the humorous path which makes this one fun, and it's filled with heart. Her fake boyfriend is everything her parents love, and he packs clever wit. The come-backs are snort worthy and make both easy to like.

As far as pacing goes, this is one of those books which digs deep into the characters and lets them take over. We get to know Pinky and the BF very well and slide right into both worlds. Each has their own issues—giving the plot all the depth needed to make it stick—and both come across very natural. But it's this depth which also makes the plot run a little slower at times than I prefer. But it's a lovely read, through and through, and I can't imagine rom/com fans won't love every single page of this tale.


And here she is...

Sandhya Menon is the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi, Of Curses and Kisses, and many other novels that also feature lots of kissing, girl power, and swoony boys. Her books have been included in several cool places, including the Today show, Teen Vogue, NPR, Buzzfeed, and Seventeen, A full-time dog servant and part-tie writer, she makes her home in the foggy mountains of Colorado. Visit her on Twitter @smenonbooks. Instagra @sandhyamenonbooks, and at SandhyaMenon.com