Meera Nair's Blog, page 2

Growth Hacker Marketing by Ryan Holiday

A step-by-step guide on growing a business with a limited marketing budget, in this book, Ryan Holiday draws inspiration from the success stories of brands like Hotmail and Airbnb to show you just how vast the possibilities are when you adopt the growth hacking mindset.

Read if you like: nonfiction books about marketing, business case studies, guides for launching a product/ service

This is a quick read, around 140 pages long. If like me, you had only heard of the term “growth hacking” wit...

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco

The island of Kisapmata is home to an ancient power lying dormant, biding its time. But when a film crew arrives to produce a documentary, revealing the truth behind the murders and disappearances on the island, they irrevocably draw its wrath upon themselves.

Read if you like: YA fantasy novels, books set on an island, Asian novels, stories about local legends, themes of horror, film production & man vs. nature, linear storytelling

Narrated from the perspective of Alon, a Filipino local ...

The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James

Single mom and aspiring actress, Silvia Whitford has no alternative but to knock on her estranged aunt’s doors, seeking help.

When a film crew arrives at her aunt’s castle, Silvia knows she must get the job. But as the filming begins, the horror movie she is a cast of pales in comparison to the terrors that lurk in the castle.

Read if you like: gothic historical fiction, books set in Europe, female protagonists with an acting job, themes of family estrangement, World War & film production...

The Summer Girl by Jenny Blackhurst

Claire and Holly’s sisterhood has become strained after their mother’s demise. So when Holly moves to Martha’s Vineyard, Claire doesn’t try to patch their relationship.

Little does she know that working for the millionaires on the island could prove to be dangerous for Holly. When her little sister’s silence grows deeper, Claire goes looking for her, holding out hope that everything is fine.

Read if you like: mystery novels about a disappearance, non-linear storytelling, main character bec...

The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall

Aria’s wonky magic has cost her dearly again – out of a job and with no place to stay in London, she is in dire straits when her grandma visits her. Their potion shop back in Charming Cove will shut down if Aria doesn’t participate in a competition and win.

Having no choice left, she follows her grandma back to their family home but is forced to confront a betrayal of the past as she strives to safeguard their family business.

Read if you like: light fantasy novels, representation of a fl...

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

Isadora Bentley has just turned 30. She doesn’t have friends, her birthday celebration was her binging on candy and coke, and she doesn’t know what it means to be happy.

When she stumbles on an article titled “31 Ways to Be Happy”, she decides to conduct a personal study to prove the writer wrong.

Read if you like: women’s fiction, a witty protagonist who works as an academic researcher, books that are full of feels, the exploration of themes such as found family, loneliness & personal gro...

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely

A nonfiction book that is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology or marketing, Predictably Irrational explores the many ways in which people make irrational decisions.

Through chapters brimming with numerous examples, Dan Ariely stresses the idea that various principles are at play when we are confronted with taking decisions.

Read if you like: nonfiction books about psychology, the fields of behavioural economics, business, sales or marketing, scientific texts or experiments ...

We Don’t Swim Here by Vincent Tirado

When Bronwyn’s grandmother’s health deteriorates further, her dad moves them back to Hillwoods for a year. Already on the fence about this, she notices that there’s something odd about the town and its people.

From a cousin who keeps warning her to not ask too many questions to all the pools and lakes being off-limits, Bronwyn can’t help but dive deeper into the secrets that others don’t want her to know.

Read if you like: YA paranormal mysteries, books about women of colour, revenge plot...

The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses by L.V Russell

Theodora can feel the black spectres waiting for the inhabitants of her home, Woodrow House. With her grandmother being her only living relative, she can’t fathom leaving her behind.

But when the position of governess opens up, Theodora is driven further from safety and into the suspense-ridden halls of Broken Oak Manor.

Read if you like: gothic mystery novels, a protagonist who works as a governess, old secret-filled mansions,

Why did I not see that coming? WHY?

I am usually very ...

Bad Moon Rising by Luisa Colón

Two lives entangled by years of resentment and chaos, Bad Moon Rising explores the stories of Elodia and Gabriel as they seek answers to their troubled past.

A student living with her father, Elodia is withdrawn and can’t pinpoint what happened in her childhood that has left a mark on her. Gabriel, on the other hand, is adamant about finding his birth parents and learning why he was abandoned.

Read if you like: YA mystery novels, dark themes, narrative with two parallel storylines, fantas...