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Cindy 🇦🇺 | Book Reviews

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📚Book reviews, screen adaptations and thrifty finds
👋 41yo working mum
📍Perth 🇦🇺

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📅 What I read in OCTOBER

This month I had less time to read than usual. I started a new job which is fantastic news, but it's challenging and I've had to work longer hours, including into the evening 🥲. The Hunger Games series and Harry Potter were re-reads.

Only 2 months left and there's no way I'll read 25 books to get to my goal of 100. But I'm aiming for 10 more.

#monthlyreading #readingwrapup #whatireadthismonth #octoberreading #readinggoals2026 by @ccreads

📱 The Lucky Son (2026) by Li Cunxin 🇦🇺
• Genre: Memoir
• My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Has it really been more than twenty years since Mao's Last Dancer? Li Cunxin returns with this deeply personal sequel. I actually think his greatest achievement and contribution is during his 11-year tenure as artistic director at Queensland Ballet, which went through a significant transformation during his leadership. It is inspiring to me that you can be in your prime during your 50s. Maybe he's had some luck but it's clear his success is from his grit, dedication and passion - the same needed for his rigorous training as a young boy at the Beijing Dance Academy. There are a lot of lessons in love, life, family, health, business, leadership, resilience, friendship, community, advocacy and chasing your dreams. It surprised me that reading it felt more like a self-help book than the feel-good fairy tale story that Mao's Last Dancer was. It's a less entertaining read but I was left inspired by what an extraordinary life he's had.

Thank you @penguinbooksaus and NetGalley for the digital advanced readers copy. The Lucky Son is out now.

#TheLuckySon #LiCunxin #BookReview #NetGalley #AustralianAuthors by @ccreads

10 Until the End 📅📖

I recently got promoted and I'm finding a lot less time for reading with the demands of the new role. I won't achieve my goal for the year, but 10 feels like a great number for the final quarter. Being specific about which books I'll read feels good (like setting homework I'll actually want to do). Other than 2 NetGalley arcs, the rest are from my physical bookshelf.

Comment if you've also got 10. I'd love to know what you're excited to read for what's left of the year.

#tenbeforetheend #10beforetheend #readinggoals #slowreader #bookstagramaustralia by @ccreads

Book vs Adaptation - The Love Hypothesis

It's a cute enough story. I thought the actors were great - they felt like friends. The awkward and tender moments were sweet to watch. I enjoyed watching the adaptation more than hearing Olive's internal dialogue in the book. I've said a few times before, I'm not a fan of fake dating, though I do like the STEM setting.

#TheLoveHypothesis #AliHazelwood #BookVsAdaptation #BookToScreen #PrimeVideo by @ccreads

📚 The Midnight Library (2020) by Matt Haig
• Genre: Magical Realism
• My Rating: 4⭐️
• 📍Bedford, England

Between life and death lies a library filled with books containing all the lives Nora Seed could have lived. As she explores her alternate paths, she discovers what truly gives life meaning.

I'm fascinated by the sliding doors concept and often find myself fantasizing about how my life would be if I made different choices. This is ends up being unhelpful. A life is not lived by mulling over past regrets. It's still fun to do that through Nora. Her mediocre and pathetic life is nothing like she imagined for herself. Her relationships are in tatters, if they're even exist. At the brink of death, she gets to try on many lives. It's introspective and I liked being in her head, following her journey of realisation and growth. Reading it was cathartic and impacted me personally. I think readers will get some meaning from it regardless of what life stage you're in.

🎬 Film adaptation in development

❓ What did you think of the book? How did it make you feel about your own regrets? by @ccreads

📚 Verity (2018) by Colleen Hoover
• Genre: Psychological Thriller
• My Rating: 2.5⭐️

When Lowen is hired to complete a bestselling author's unfinished series, she moves into the author's home to review notes and research materials. While there, she uncovers a manuscript that raises disturbing questions about the family she is living with.

Although the (very slow) reading of the auto-biographical manuscript points to Verity being extremely unhinged and psychopathic, I felt like Lowen could have read it on the first night and just ran off or something. My main prediction about the unexplained incidents proved correct, however I didn't expect the ending. It was rather anti-climactic, happened fairly abruptly, and to me reveals Lowen as a weak character and someone I came to pity. This bonus chapter solidified this for me even further. Most of the novel kept me turning the pages, but I simply didn't like the ending.

🎬 Film adaptation is out now in theatres. The trailer made it look better than the book, which may well be the case, so it's in my soon-to-watch list.

#Verity #ColleenHoover #BookReview #Bookstagram #ThrillerBooks by @ccreads

I just finished watching Off Campus on Prime and this is how I think it compares to the book.

I rated both the book and tv series 3.5 ⭐ but preferred the book. Honestly, it'll be a personal preference as there was great things about the show too. It had a great vibe and soundtrack, and the main characters are similar to how I pictured them.

There were quite a few differences. The obvious ones are expanding Allie and Dean's scenes and omitting a part of the storyline involving Graham's dad. I didn't like the inclusion of Jules.

There are just so many current and upcoming adaptations to keep up with. Adaptations are often what gets books added to my TBR. I'd love to continue sharing these book vs adaptation posts in future.

If you've read and watched both, what did you think of the adaptation?

#OffCampusSeries #TheDeal #BookVsAdaptation #BookToScreen #AdaptationFidelity by @ccreads

📖 The Deal (2015) by Elle Kennedy
• Genre: Romance
• Series: Off-Campus (1 of 5)
• My Rating: 3.5⭐️
• Spice Rating: 3🌶️

College hockey star Garrett Graham convinces fellow student Hannah Wells to tutor him. Their arrangement soon evolves into a fake dating scheme.

I read this because when Off Campus came out on Prime, it was blowing up my feed and I had to go along for the ride. I'm not a fan of the fake dating trope, but glad it ended early enough. They supported each other with their own demons - Hannah finding intimacy and trust after a sexual assault in high school, and Garrett dealing with an abusive father - who is particularly despicable when he tries to break them up.

🎬 TV adaptation (Off Campus) is streaming on Prime Video, which I'm finishing soon.

#ElleKennedy #TheDeal #OffCampus #SportsRomance #BookstagramAustralia by @ccreads

~~arc book review~~
📱The Neverfear (2026) by Katherine Rundell
• genre: middle grade fantasy
• my rating 5⭐️

This is the 3rd book in the ‘Impossible Creatures’ series. It follows the adventures of Christopher and Anya in the world of the magical Archipelago. Christopher is from the real world and has an affinity to all creatures. In the first book, readers are introduced to a whole host of magical creatures based on folk lore, but by the third book Christopher knows the world just as much as a native. He’s now showing a magical gift of his own where he understands the creatures he connects with, starting with the opening scene where he assists with the birth of a unicorn. In this installment, the child protagonists go on a quest to fulfil a series challenges with impossible odds across the Archipelago to save a friend. The villain is the scariest and cleverest yet. Unlike the first two books, this villain will probably stick around until the end of the series. There was a twist I didn’t see coming that will make you gasp. The fast-paced plot, action and mystery will scare and excite children in the best way. Some kids may find it hard to follow with so many magical creatures to remember, which is why the inclusion of the illustrated bestiary is essential.

I rated all three books 5-stars, but ‘The Neverfear’ is the best yet. It’s confirmed another 2 books will be published and a screen adaptation from Disney is also in the works.

Thank you #NetGalley and @bloomsburychildrens for the advance reading copy of #TheNeverfear. by @ccreads

📅 What I read in SEPTEMBER

This month I had more time to read than usual because I was on gardening leave. It was actually a blessing getting some paid time off work to rest and reset.

My favourites were:
⭐The Poisoned King
⭐The Neverfear
⭐The Cairo Bridal Shop

We're now heading into the last quarter of the year and I'm planning to fill it with fantasy series, books adapted to screen and tackling my physical TBR.

#monthlyreading #readingwrapup #whatireadthismonth #septemberreading by @ccreads

This week's thrifty book haul consists of:

⭐ The Institute by Stephen King
⭐Under the Dome by Stephen King
⭐Billy Summers by Stephen King
⭐Bag of Bones by Stephen King
⭐Missing You by Harlan Coben

I figure second-hand books is a great way to start Stephen King. I have not read a single book from him yet, so I better read one before I start buying more. I also have a copy of Skeleton Crew. Which should I start?

Missing You is now my second Harlan Coben book, also someone I haven't read yet. There is plenty of pre-loved books around, but I'm only getting one that have been adapted to screen (and there is a whole collection already on Netflix).

I've got quite a lot of pre-loved books now, but where to start?

#thriftedbooks #prelovedbooks #secondhandbooks #stephenking #harlancoben by @ccreads

~~arc book review~~
📱The Cairo Bridal Shop (2026) by Tess Woods 🇦🇺
• genre: contemporary fiction
• my rating 4.5⭐️

This book is about three sisters in Cairo. Sarah runs a bridal shop inherited from their late mother, who lives with her awful mother-in-law whilst her husband mostly works overseas. Aya is a journalist, who’s attracted to an Australian colleague, but soon after they both agree to go out on a date, he’s arrested and Aya may never see him again. Lola is in love and hiding her sexuality, putting herself and others in danger.

Local author Tess Woods writes from her heart and heritage - it shows and it’s gorgeous. I was totally invested in the lives of each of the sisters. Their sisterhood wrapped around me like a warm hug. Aya's story in particular, was nerve-wracking, because of how real it is when we hear about people in detention on the news. The bridal shop, the beautiful gowns named after ancient pharaoh queens, and the pyramids were like characters themselves. There are references to middle eastern culture, food, events, politics and political figures - all of which I was intrigued with and looked up. The writing transported me there in Cairo (I'd love to visit one day). I also read this along with the audiobook to hear the occasional Arabic and the narration was superb.

Tess Woods is an #AustralianAuthor. I loved The Venice Hotel (which I also recommend) and I loved The Cairo Bridal Shop even more.

Thank you #NetGalley and @penguinbooksaus for the advance reading copy of #TheCairoBridalShop. by @ccreads