u/_Its_Nyx_

Just finished A Nation of Idiots by Daksh Tyagi, and honestly, I enjoyed it way more than I expected to.

At first, it felt like a light, easy read. It wasn't throwing endless information at me or trying too hard to sound intellectual. But as I kept reading, I realised why it worked so well for me.

It genuinely feels less like reading a book and more like having a conversation with the author.

He jumps between different topics, observations and opinions, but somehow it never feels messy. Just when I thought I knew where a point was going, he'd throw in a punchline or an observation that made me stop and appreciate what he was saying.

And yes, the man spends 200+ pages ranting 😭 but somehow it never feels like a lecture. It feels like listening to that one friend who puts thoughts you've had for years into words before you even realise you agree with them.

The book touches on a surprising number of topics and makes you think, but it never became boring or preachy for me.

Will everyone agree with everything in it? Definitely not. I didn't either. But I was still interested in hearing what the author had to say.

Low expectations → genuinely loved the experience.

Anyone else read it? Did the conversational, rant-heavy writing work for you?

Just finished A Nation of Idiots by Daksh Tyagi and honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy it this much.

I went into this book with almost no expectations. At first, it felt like a light and easy read. It wasn't trying to overload me with information or sound intellectual just for the sake of it. But as I kept reading, I realised what makes this book work so well.

It doesn't feel like you're reading a book. It feels like you're having a conversation with the author.

The writing is incredibly flowy. He jumps between different topics, observations and opinions, but somehow it never feels messy. Every time I thought I knew where a point was going, he'd slip in a punchline or an unexpected observation that genuinely made me stop and appreciate it.

What's funny is that the author spends a lot of time ranting about things, but it never really feels like a rant. Instead, it feels like listening to that one friend who somehow puts thoughts you've had for years into words. Half the time, I found myself agreeing before I even realised it.

The book brings up a surprising number of topics and questions that force you to think, but it never becomes boring or preachy. That's probably what impressed me the most. A lot of books that try to make readers think end up feeling like lectures. This one never did.

Will everyone agree with everything in it? Probably not. But even when I didn't completely agree, I was still interested in what he had to say.

Overall, this was one of those rare books where the writing style itself became the main attraction. I picked it up with very low expectations and ended up enjoying it far more than I thought I would.

Has anyone else read it? Did the writing style work for you, or did you find the author's ranting annoying?

I just finished The Silent Patient and have pretty mixed feelings.

Before anyone comes for me 😭, I don't think it's a bad book. For a debut novel, it's honestly impressive. But I had seen so many people calling it the best psychological thriller they'd ever read that I went in expecting something completely mind-blowing.

And maybe that's exactly what hurt the experience for me.

For most of the book, I felt like everything revolved around Alicia not speaking. After a while, that alone wasn't enough to keep me invested, and finishing the book started feeling more like a task than something I was excited to pick up.

The Theo reveal did genuinely catch me off guard. I never suspected him.

But after finishing, I realised something: I wasn't sure whether I hadn't guessed it because the clues were cleverly hidden or because the book simply didn't give readers enough information to figure it out.

That's usually what I love about mysteries — looking back and realising the clues were right there. With this one, I felt like some information was just being held back until the reveal.

I can absolutely see why people enjoyed it, and the twist is definitely memorable. It just didn't live up to the massive expectations I had going in.

Did this book completely work for you, or did the hype affect your experience too?

Just finished The Silent Patient and honestly, I have pretty mixed feelings about it.

Before people come for me, I don't think it's a bad book at all. In fact, for a debut novel, it's pretty impressive. My biggest problem is probably the hype around it.

I'd seen so many people call it the best psychological thriller they'd ever read that I went in expecting something mind-blowing, and maybe that's what hurt the experience for me.

For most of the book, I felt like the entire story revolved around one thing: Alicia not speaking. And after a point, that alone wasn't enough to keep me invested. Finishing the book started feeling more like a task than something I was genuinely excited to pick up.

I also wasn't particularly attached to any of the characters. After reading books with more layered, manipulative characters, the characters here felt a little too linear to me. I never felt like there was much to uncover beyond what was already on the page.

Now, the Theo reveal did genuinely catch me off guard. I never suspected him. But after finishing the book, I realised the reason I didn't guess it wasn't necessarily because I missed brilliant clues. It felt more like the book simply wasn't giving readers enough information to piece it together themselves.

That's usually what I love about a great mystery or thriller — looking back and realising the clues were right there. Here, I felt like information was being held back until the reveal.

Again, I don't think The Silent Patient is a bad book. I completely understand why so many people enjoyed it, and the twist is definitely memorable.

It just didn't live up to the massive expectations I had going in.

Did the twist feel cleverly set up to you, or did you also feel like the book withheld too much information for readers to actually figure it out?

If you're going into this right after The Last Mrs. Parrish, don't expect the same immediate pull.

Personally, I found the first book so addictive that I devoured it from the start. This one, though, dragged for me because of one main thing: Daisy Ann's character.

Compared to Amber, Jackson, and Daphne — characters who are constantly moving with calculated manipulation and ulterior motives — Daisy felt flat to me. She seemed randomly dropped into the story without much background, and instead of adding tension, her chapters slowed the momentum.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about her chapters because I just wanted more of the Parrish universe 😭

That said, her character does eventually justify itself — but not until you're past around 60–70% of the book. By the end, though, it does come together with a satisfying conclusion.

So, would I recommend it?

Honestly, that's subjective.

If you loved The Last Mrs. Parrish but are completely fine stopping there, I don't think you're missing much. But if you want to dig deeper into these characters' lives and see where the story goes next, this sequel will give you that closure.

For those who've read both: was The Next Mrs. Parrish worth it for you?

Honestly, I really enjoyed this one.

What made it extra satisfying for me was that I went into full detective mode while reading, constantly guessing where the plot was heading. I kept trying to figure out what was really going on, and by the time the final reveal came, it felt so rewarding — like the book had been in conversation with me the whole way through.

The chapters are short and bite-sized, which made it super easy to keep turning pages. I never felt bogged down or overwhelmed; the pacing kept me hooked throughout.

Overall, it's not just about the twist but about how the book builds tension and keeps you engaged the entire time.

If you like thrillers with manipulative characters, secrets, and a payoff that makes the ride worth it, this one's a solid pick.

Anyone else read it? Did you figure out where the story was going before the reveal?

I don't even know where to start.

This book felt so real that it made me overly aware while reading. There were moments where I had to stop and sit with what I had just read because they were too disturbing to take in all at once. And the fact that all of it actually happened? That makes it hit even harder.

Tara didn't just deal with physical pain; she went through years of emotional manipulation, denial, and abandonment. The people who were supposed to protect her — her family — turned their backs on her when she needed them the most.

Still, she fought her way through it all.

The way she slowly outgrew the environment that kept trying to define her and gradually developed a mind of her own is nothing short of inspiring. You can't help but respect her.

She didn't just get an education; she built a whole new identity out of the rubble of everything she was told to believe.

This isn't a book that shocks you with big plot twists. It's the slow, painful truth that stays with you long after you're done.

Absolutely worth reading.

Anyone else read it? What did you think?

I genuinely don't even know where to start with this book.

It felt so real that it made me overly aware while reading. There were moments where I had to stop and just sit with what I'd read because they were too disturbing to take in all at once. And knowing that all of it actually happened somehow makes it hit even harder.

Tara didn't just deal with physical pain. She went through years of emotional manipulation, denial, and abandonment. The people who were supposed to protect her — her own family — repeatedly turned their backs on her when she needed them the most.

And still, she fought her way through it.

What stayed with me the most was watching her slowly outgrow the environment that had spent her entire life trying to define her. She gradually developed a mind of her own, questioned what she had always been told to believe, and built an identity separate from everything she had been taught.

You can't help but respect her for that.

She didn't just get an education; she built a whole new identity out of the rubble of everything she was told to believe.

This isn't a book that shocks you because of some huge plot twist. It's the slow, painful truth of it all that stays with you.

Absolutely worth reading.

Has anyone else read Educated? What was the moment or part of the book that stayed with you the longest?

This book is very easygoing and character-driven.

Eleanor, in the beginning, feels too odd — almost like she's overdoing things just to fit into society. But as the story progresses, you slowly start to understand why she is the way she is.

She’s extremely observant and notices the slightest details, but often fails to connect with or understand the “normal” world around her. That makes her feel out of place, but in a very human and believable way.

It’s not a rollercoaster of a book. There’s no big twist or dramatic peak. Instead, it slowly uncovers its layers, and the emotions come in gentle waves.

I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for something intense or fast-paced, but if you enjoy quiet, character-driven stories that slowly make you understand the person you're reading about, this is a thoughtful and well-written read.

Anyone else read it? What did you think of Eleanor as a character?

Hey everyone, I recently finished Samsara by Saksham Garg, and honestly... it just didn't work for me.

I picked it up because the cover looked absolutely amazing, and I'd also seen people calling it the “Indian Harry Potter,” so I went in pretty excited. But for most of the book—until around Chapter 20—I felt completely disconnected.

The writing felt shallow to me, the characters didn't have much depth, and a lot of the backstories seemed to be dropped in randomly instead of unfolding naturally. The world itself sounded interesting, but somehow still felt kind of empty, and the plot jumped around a lot. At times, it felt like the rules changed whenever the story needed them to.

After Chapter 20, it did become a bit more readable, but by then I was already over it. I also found parts of it a little preachy, like it was trying too hard to push moral ideas instead of just letting the story speak for itself.

I can see why some people might enjoy it, especially because of the Indian mythology angle, but for me, it just never had that magic spark I was hoping for.

And honestly, I don't think I'll bother picking up the sequel.

Has anyone else read it? Did it get better for you, or did you have a similar experience?

I just wrapped up Can We Be Strangers Again? and I'm curious what others thought about it.

For me, the book definitely had a very Wattpad-ish style — simple writing, lots of short chapters, and quite a few random quotes or poetic lines sprinkled throughout. It’s not “high literature,” but it is very accessible and easy to breeze through.

Why I can see people loving it:

1. The emotions around breakups and heartbreak feel raw and relatable

2. The simple language makes it a really quick read

The characters can feel vulnerable and real, especially if you've been through something similar

3. It has a slice-of-life vibe without relying on huge dramatic twists

But why it might not work for everyone:

1. The writing can feel too simplistic or immature

2. Some of the random quotes and inner monologues can come off as cheesy

3. The plot is fairly predictable

4. It can start feeling repetitive if you're not emotionally invested in the characters

Overall, I think it's one of those books you'll either connect with deeply because of the emotions... or find too basic and cliché.

What did you guys think?

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I finished this book and honestly, it was a really weird book to read. Not weird in a bad way, just… not at all what I expected it to be.

When I first started it, for some reason the only face I could imagine as Evelyn was Marilyn Monroe. 😭 I actually had to look up whether this was based on Marilyn's life because the whole old-Hollywood image immediately gave me that feeling.

And going into it, the title The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made me think I was going to get this extremely calculated, manipulative woman who had somehow played seven men and built her entire life around getting whatever she wanted.

But the more I read, the more I realised that's not really what the book is about.

It's about Evelyn's life, and more importantly, why she made the choices she made.

She's obviously no saint. She's selfish, she's cruel at times, she uses people, she wants things and she's willing to do a lot to get them. But at some point, the book makes you sympathise with her because you're just sitting there thinking, what else was she supposed to do?

A lot of her decisions aren't necessarily good decisions. They're just the decisions that make the most sense given the situation she's in.

And honestly, I think most of the characters are pretty grey. They throw tantrums, seek validation, make selfish decisions and hurt each other. Nobody really feels completely good or completely evil, and I liked that. They felt more like actual people than characters put into neat little boxes of "good" and "bad."

When you pick up a book called The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, obviously your first thought is going to be, "Okay, seven husbands. This should be interesting."

But eventually you realise it's also about why each marriage mattered, what Evelyn was trying to get from it, and how difficult it was for people at that time to simply live openly.

I especially liked Evelyn's confusion around her own sexuality. She isn't immediately given a neat label and suddenly everything makes sense. You actually get to see her trying to understand herself, and I thought that was handled really well.

Another thing I really liked was how much you could feel the characters ageing throughout the book. At the beginning, you're seeing these young, glamorous people making decisions and living this huge Hollywood life. Then eventually they get older, people around them die, and you can feel the exhaustion and weight of all those years in the way they talk about their lives.

That was probably one of my favourite parts because it made their entire history feel heavier.

And then there's Monique.

Even while I was reading, I kept thinking, Why did Evelyn choose Monique? Why is she telling HER all of this?

It's one of those questions that stays somewhere in the back of your mind even when you're completely focused on everything else happening.

The final reveal didn't completely blow my mind or have me staring at the wall at 3 AM. 😭 It was actually much more peaceful than that. It gave me closure rather than trying to shock me, and I think that suited the book.

Overall, I think this is a really well-written book. I wouldn't say it's the kind of book where you're desperately searching for clues on every page or trying to figure out some massive twist. It's more about slowly understanding the characters and the lives they've built, and eventually understanding why they became the people they are.

It's layered, emotional, and it definitely made me think more about the people behind the decisions rather than just judging the decisions themselves.

If you want to pick up a book that looks like it's going to be about seven husbands but turns out to be about a whole life, the choices people make, and the things they sacrifice to become who they are, I'd definitely say give it a try.

Just finished Nation of Idiots and honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy it this much.

​

After my previous read, I went into this book with almost no expectations. At first, it felt like a light and easy read. It wasn't trying to overload me with information or sound intellectual for the sake of it. But as I kept reading, I realized what makes this book work so well.

​

It doesn't feel like you're reading a book. It feels like you're having a conversation with the author.

​

The writing is incredibly flowy. The author jumps between different topics, observations, and opinions, but somehow it never feels messy. Every time I thought I knew where a point was going, he'd slip in a punchline or an unexpected observation that genuinely made me stop and appreciate it.

​

What's funny is that the author spends a lot of time ranting about things, but it never feels like a rant. Instead, it feels like listening to that one friend who somehow puts thoughts you've had for years into words. Half the time I found myself agreeing before I even realized it.

​

The book brings up a surprising number of topics and questions that force you to think, but it never becomes boring or preachy. That's probably what impressed me the most. A lot of books that try to make readers think end up feeling like lectures. This one never did.

​

Will everyone agree with everything in it? Probably not. But even when I didn't completely agree, I was still interested in what the author had to say.

​

Overall, this was one of those rare books where the writing style itself becomes the main attraction. I picked it up with very low expectations and ended up enjoying it far more than I thought I would.

​

Curious what others thought of it.

Just finished The Silent Patient and honestly, I have pretty mixed feelings about it.

Before people come for me, I don't think it's a bad book at all. In fact, for a debut novel, it's pretty impressive. My problem is mostly with the hype around it. I'd seen so many people call it the best psychological thriller they've ever read that I went in expecting something mind-blowing, and maybe that's what hurt the experience for me.

For most of the book, I felt like the entire story revolved around one thing: Alicia not speaking. And after a point, that alone wasn't enough to keep me invested. Finishing the book started feeling more like a task than something I was genuinely excited to pick up.

What surprised me is that I wasn't particularly attached to any of the characters. After reading books like Little Secrets and The Last Mrs. Parrish, the characters here felt a bit too linear. I never felt like there were many layers to uncover beyond what was already on the page.

Now, the Theo reveal did genuinely catch me off guard. I never suspected him. But after finishing the book, I realized the reason I didn't guess it wasn't because I missed some brilliant clues. It felt more like the book simply wasn't giving readers enough information to piece it together themselves. In a great mystery, I usually enjoy looking back and realizing the clues were right there. Here, it felt more like the author was holding information back until the reveal.

And before anyone thinks I'm comparing it to Verity because I'm some huge Colleen Hoover fan, I'm really not. I've criticized plenty of her books myself. But one thing I think Verity did well was create tension around a character who couldn't tell their side of the story. Verity's silence felt unsettling. Alicia's silence just felt like the plot's central gimmick from the very beginning, and I never completely bought into it.

Again, I don't think The Silent Patient is a bad book. I can absolutely see why so many people enjoyed it, and the twist is memorable. It just didn't live up to the massive expectations I had going in.

Maybe if I'd picked it up without all the hype, I would've enjoyed it a lot more.

Curious if anyone else felt the same way or if this book completely worked for you.