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The Beauty of the Moment

Tanaz Bhathena (Goodreads Author)

3.70 · Rating details · 782 ratings · 200 reviews

Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.

Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer.

Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Ma ...more

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Hardcover, 354 pages

Published February 26th 2019 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

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Average rating 3.70 ·

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· 782 ratings · 200 reviews

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May 25, 2019 Elena May rated it really liked it

I was trying to break out of a reading slump, and so I resorted to my usual strategy—try something outside my usual genres. It always works!

If you’ve read my review of A Girl Like That, you know that contemporary teen romance is not my genre. And, if you’ve read my review of A Girl Like That, you must also know that there’s no way I’d miss a book by Tanaz Bhathena.

There is a lot to like about this book, and again we’re treated to realistic, developed characters that pop out of the page. Sadly, h ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 Tanaz added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: favorites, i-wrote-this

No one dies in this one, I promise.

flag 87 likes · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2019 Vicky Again rated it it was amazing

Shelves: wishlist, favorites

4.5 stars

This book managed to tick every single box on a romance list that I had no idea I even had. It was sweet and endearing yet spicy and a bit forbidden and wonderfully balanced with real life.

In short, this is one of my favorite romances ever.

I just–the new girl/bad boy trope has so much potential to flop given all the bad tries from the late 2000s, early 2010s. From aggressive to almost abusive love interests to just plain bad to trashy and cliche, there’s a lot of ways to go wrong.

Yet ...more

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Apr 16, 2019 ♛ may rated it did not like it

Shelves: asian-authors, bye, clichéd-to-death, meh, 300-pgs, contemporary, yawn, standalones

there's nothing objectively //bad// with this book but it really didn't fulfill the 'cute romcom' contemp for me

i feel like i've read this story a million times and aside from the amazingly descriptive portions dedicated to food, it was pretty bland and predictable

also i would have preferred the conflict to revolve around the characters and their family issues rather than the b*tchy ex who is after the mc just because the guy likes her 🙄

1.5 stars ...more

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Jul 06, 2019 Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell rated it liked it

Shelves: poc-interracial, les-arcs-de-triomphes, ya-ya-land

Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest

I wanted to read this book because I loved her debut novel, A GIRL LIKE THAT. I didn't care that this book would be completely different in tone (cute instead of soul-destroying) and setting (Canada instead of Saudi Arabia); she had won me over with a brilliant and powerful effort, and I was eager to get my hands on anything else this woman wrote.

Susan is the new girl at her Canadian high school, having just transferred from a fancy aca ...more

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Jan 29, 2019 Samantha (WLABB) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, outside-us, diverse, arcs, romance, ya

This was an utterly interesting and engaging tale. There are so many ways to classify this story. It's an immigrant experience story. It's a love story. It's a story of heartbreak. It's a coming-of-age story. Whichever the case, I thought Bhathena did them all quite well, and I really enjoyed meeting Susan and Malcolm.

Both Malcolm and Susan were well written and multidimensional characters, who I grew to care for. On the surface, they seem so different from each other, but both were dealing with This was an utterly interesting and engaging tale. There are so many ways to classify this story. It's an immigrant experience story. It's a love story. It's a story of heartbreak. It's a coming-of-age story. Whichever the case, I thought Bhathena did them all quite well, and I really enjoyed meeting Susan and Malcolm.

Both Malcolm and Susan were well written and multidimensional characters, who I grew to care for. On the surface, they seem so different from each other, but both were dealing with some issues, which were keeping them from moving forward.

Susan had been the perfect daughter back in Saudi Arabia. She got top marks, and would never dream of running around with boys or lying to her parents. Then, she found herself in a new country with an absent father and a mother who was growing more and more distant. She was struggling to adjust to this new learning and teaching style, hiding her collegiate dreams from her parents, and engaging in a secret relationship with Malcolm. Her parents' arguing and impending divorce was the straw that broke the camel's back, and forced Susan to evaluate her dreams and needs. It was a really meaningful journey with took with her, as she learned to assert herself more, learned to appreciate the grey areas, and also come to terms with the fact, that nothing was guaranteed.

And then, there was Malcolm. He was still dealing (poorly) with his mother's death, as well as his father's past abuse and infidelities. Though, he was no longer as self-destructive as he had been in the past. he still bore the reputation he earned. By being with Susan, he started seeing things through a much more mature lens. He started believing the praise and recognition he was receiving, and started working harder to achieve at the level people thought he could achieve. I really loved watching Malcolm grow, chapter by chapter. I don't know, maybe it's because he was an underdog, or maybe it's because I am all about second chances, but his story really warmed my heart.

For me, this book was really about growing up, and the way maturing changes us and the way we navigate relationships. It was about making mistakes and owning up to them, but obviously, I also adored all the way love was integrated into the story. Bhathena showed the upside and downside of love. She showed how it can be really messy, but still really beautiful. I definitely appreciated the way Malcolm and Susan's romance played out, because I thought it was very realistic.

And, wow! What a fabulous ending. I absolutely loved what Bhathena did there. I knew she wouldn't make it easy for me, but she left me super happy in the end.

Overall: A fantastic look at love, growing up, and taking chances to achieve one's dreams.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS ...more

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Feb 08, 2019 Paige rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-physical-arc

Very sweet and as always, I'm forever in love with Bhathena's writing style. ...more

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Mar 16, 2019 Kate Olson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, aoc

Ahhhh, my favorite type of young adult story! Smart, fierce female lead with a complex life outside of her romantic life, BUT there's romance too. And such a great cast of characters! The storyline of an Indian teen who moved from Saudi Arabia to Canada for her senior year of high school addresses being an outsider and fitting into a new world, but not so much the "POC vs white" dynamic that is typically written. The community she lands in has a very diverse population, and the discussion of all ...more

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Apr 07, 2019 Merline rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-of-2019, young-adult, poc-authors, reviewed-on-blog, 2019

I picked up this book on whim while I was at Barnes & Noble. I read the first two lines in the synopsis…

“Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—

…and immediately abandoned my magical readathon TBR to read this.

I love a good good girl/bad boy/forbidden love trope and this book delivered in such a mature way. This book follows two characters, Susan and Malcolm. Susan recently moved to Canada and has a lot goi ...more

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Mar 16, 2019 Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

5⭐️ for this strong YA novel following an Indian girl, Susan, who moves from Saudi Arabia to Canada where she forms a friendship with certified “bad boy,” Malcolm.

This one surprisingly grew on me! I loved that the main characters form a genuine friendship and that this novel addresses so many themes. Susan is a talented artist whose immigrant parents want her to pursue a “professional” degree, and Malcolm’s issues with his dad are serious issues I haven’t seen tackled by many YA books.

I also enj ...more

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May 15, 2020 Romie rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, 2019-releases, contemporary, owned, read-as-an-audiobook, young-adult, poc

I enjoyed this book so much! I liked how it was completely adorable and yet dealt with tougher subjects and didn't shy away from the harsh reality. I really liked the romance aspect of this book, it was the perfect amount of cuteness and drama mixed together, which made my reading experience truly enjoyable. completely recommend it! also, I will forever love the way Tanaz Bhathena writes, can't help it (4.25) ...more

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Mar 07, 2018 Savannah marked it as to-read

um yes, please ~ and tanaz promised that nobodies dies so maybe less crying

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Mar 30, 2019 Rendz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I absolutely adored this book.

Me.

Someone who rarely reaches for contemporary.

I completely, whole-heartily loved it!

The characters were phenomenal!

Susan! Oh Susan! We are literally carbon-copies of one another other than that we come from different types of brown cultures and family experiences. I have never related to a character so much in a contemporary novel like I did with Susan. Her shyness was so wonderfully depicted, but she most definitely had some fire. Her loyalty was admirable, but th ...more

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May 01, 2022 M. Reads Often rated it really liked it

Super cute and quick read. I like this author a lot. It does have some heavier subject matter, but that’s handled well.

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Jan 20, 2019 michelle (magical reads) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019, arcs, reviews

4.25 stars

read on my blog

Nothing lasts forever. Not this snowflake. Not our homes, not our families. But it doesn't mean you can't live in the beauty of the moment.

I'd read Tanaz Bhathena's debut, A Girl Like That, and I was so excited for her sophomore novel. It didn't disappoint! The Beauty of the Moment was a beautifully poignant book that speaks to all of us.

While reading this book, I could perfectly picture it as a movie or a tv show. Yes, it's a slice of life book, but honestly, the way Bhathena writes evokes such vivid scenes in my head. I couldn't stop thinking about how this book would translate to the screen. I mean, the lighting, the calmness! All in the likes of an indie film or a la the Norwegian tv show Skam.

Anyways, the first half of the book was good, but the last half, specifically the last third, is when I really fell in love with this book. At this point, the characters really reach the peak of their character arcs, something we've been waiting for throughout the entire book. They grow so much, and I just. Love the two main characters sososo much.

There is so much representation in this story! Susan is a Christian Malayali Indian, who moved to Saudi Arabia, and now Canada. Malcolm is a Zoroastrian Parsi Canadian (I'm not sure if that's the correct order of adjectives, please correct my mistakes!), and there are other Indian and Parsi characters.

The Beauty of the Moment actually takes after A Girl Like That; Susan, one of the two protagonists, went to the same school as Zarin. It's been a while since I've read the latter book, so I don't remember if she's mentioned in the narrative, but it was interesting to touch on those events in this book. I will say that The Beauty of the Moment is very different, purely in the fact that no one dies in this book, as the author says. Also, this book is definitely more of a heartfelt rom-com compared to AGLT's nuanced story about double standards and religions.

One thing that I really loved was that, although Susan's parents are strict, they aren't like obviously overbearing at all times. I really related to that, as a child of immigrants; when you grow up with Expectations, they just become ingrained in you, to the point where you don't know if you personally want to accomplish them or if they're just something you think you have to accomplish. I think that when YA books show this, they usually only show the parents only ever talking about school and whatnot, but in reality, the Expectations are piled on you so gradually that they don't have to bring them up constantly.

And what was so great to me was that the ending wasn't so cut and dry because that's just life sometimes. It was so perfectly bittersweet and realistic to the characters' growth. Although it wasn't necessarily the happy ending I wanted, it was definitely the one I needed for the story to hold its meaning.

The Beauty of the Moment was such a delightful, moving, heartwarming novel. The characters are so great and real, and the writing was so beautiful. Overall, this book was so realistic and so vivid; I could definitely envision it as a movie or tv show. Pick The Beauty of the Moment up this Tuesday; you won't regret it. ...more

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Apr 11, 2019 Lisa (Remarkablylisa) rated it liked it

Shelves: april-2019

MY RATING: 3/5 STARS
I received a copy from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for a honest review.

The Beauty of the Moment will be the next read that hits the shelves with a fantastic representation of diversity and culture. Heavy with important topics youth can relate to, this book is a fun ride from page one to the last.

The story follows Susan, a new girl, born in a different country and highly distinguishable because of the way she acts, her clothes, and accent. Raised under strict paren ...more

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Apr 08, 2019 Chitra Ahanthem rated it liked it · review of another edition

I will have to say this: Tanaz Bhathena sure knows how to write about young people and their angst, their journey through emotional landmines and keeping readers invested in the world she creates. In ‘The Beauty of the Moment’ we have Susan Thomas and Malcolm Vakil as the main protagonists and narrators from whose point of view, the reader is taken to a world of school grades in the last year of senior high school, bunking, trying to fit in, falling in love, falling grades, jealousy and uncertai ...more

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Feb 21, 2019 USOM rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

What I loved about The Beauty of the Moment was how it could deliver on so many levels. It touched a nerve in my heart with its romance and comedic elements - I am a sucker for some good banter. But what's more, The Beauty of the Moment delivers two extremely thoughtful main characters who are dealing with issues of identity, family, and fear of getting hurt. There was something so ...more

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Feb 20, 2019 Simant Verma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: age-young-adult

Full review on: Flipping Through the Pages

The Beauty of the Moment was such an interesting and delightful tale. Initially, I thought this to be a simple YA contemporary romance novel but once I dived into it, it proved to be way more than that. Tanaz Bhathena has handled all the different themes in the story quite well and I fell in love with it.

WONDERFUL MAIN CHARACTERS
This book has a wonderful set of characters. Our main characters are truly likeable and relatable, though they are complex ones ...more

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Mar 18, 2019 Tapasya rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: forbidden-class-religion, genre-ya, genre-desi, 3-stars-okay-reads, ow-drama

This is a typical forbidden ya romance.
A girl and boy from different religion fall in love.
(view spoiler)

Malcolm, the hero, is not likable to me. A typical rebel and bad boy.
In the beginning of the book, he was heartbroken due to his breakup from a very ‘Hot’ girl, the typical high school mean girl. Apparently she has moved on with another guy.
Then he meets Susan, the new girl in the school and f ...more

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Oct 14, 2020 Ris Sasaki rated it did not like it

Toxic, no chemistry and unnecessary romance.
And a completely pointless plot.

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Apr 20, 2019 temi rated it liked it

Shelves: new-2019, contemporary

characters: 3/5
pacing: 2/4
actual substance of the story: 5/5
romance and/or significant friendships: 4/5
the writing: 3/4
creativity: 0.5/2

- 1 because I found this extremely boring.

16.5/25 | 3.3 STARS

I went to a young adult book festival a month ago where I listened to Bhathena talk about the plot of this book and her inspiration behind writing it. I figured it seemed cute, and I was kind of intrigued. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with it, and here's why.

So we have Susan who just moved from Sau ...more

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May 06, 2019 Gayatri Saikia | per_fictionist rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Review : The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena is exactly the type of fluffy Young adult Rom-Com, delivering an important message we definetly want more of.

Susan, has just moved from Saudi Arabia to Canada with her mother to upstart her education carrer as this new country ptovides her varied opportunities. She has always been a brilliant student back home in Arab, and hopes to continue her streak. Life so far has been an easy ride for her, and while in Canada she expect nothing less.

Malcol Review : The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena is exactly the type of fluffy Young adult Rom-Com, delivering an important message we definetly want more of.

Susan, has just moved from Saudi Arabia to Canada with her mother to upstart her education carrer as this new country ptovides her varied opportunities. She has always been a brilliant student back home in Arab, and hopes to continue her streak. Life so far has been an easy ride for her, and while in Canada she expect nothing less.

Malcolm,on the other hand hasn't been offered a simple life. With the unfortunate death of his mother, battling his addiction and also with a non-existent relationship with his father, his only source of joy is his sister,Mahtab.

Tanaz Bhathena has crafted two very contrasting and likeable protagonists that we can easily fall in love with. The characters are multi-layered and even though the book classifies as a rom-com it doesn't only deal with their relationship but rather they tackle their problems together. Malcolm, as a charcater became indeed really close to my heart and seeing his relationship bloom with Susan, definetly was my my favorite part.

The Beauty of the Moment is a story about second chacnces, of doing what makes you happy and keeping your loved ones close. The already strained relationship between Susan's parents hits the ivceberg when her father decides to separate to them. Susan and her mother is devastated, but it was so beautiful to see how Susan deals with the problem later on, as she learns that separating from someone doesnt' mean you stop loving them. There were many themes like this that were some highlights of the story.

Malcolm's confrontation with his step-mom that corrected their bitter relationship was an added lesson to be learnt. How miscommunication ruined the tie between Malcolm and his father after the death of his mother, that leads to an unhealthy and abusive relationship between the two is straightrmedn just by a heart to heart conversation.

Culture also plays a prominient part in her new release and it is always mesmerizing to watch Bhathena's way with words. This coming of age story stands out from its counterparts also in terms of shedding light to career decisions that are rather a challenge for people just out of highschool and how you should always opt for something that you are sure you would put your full heart to.

...more

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Mar 11, 2019 Kat rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-releases

* Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the opportunity to be apart of this blog tour, see the full details on my blog *

- actual 4.25/5 stars -

The Beauty of the Moment is a modern novel following Susan, the new girl in town, who just arrived from Saudi Arabia. She dreams to be an artist, but her family has different plans for her. While she is trying to meet exceptionally high academic standards and dealing with her parents her inevitable divorce, she meets Malcolm. He's a bad boy type and has a qui ...more

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Apr 11, 2019 Flavia rated it really liked it

Like I mentioned in the introduction for this post, the moment I heard about The Beauty of the Moment, I knew that I had to read it. There are so many things that I was excited about (like the author and the location). And once I started reading, there were a few other things that I really liked that I didn’t know about beforehand. As is the case with all books before reading them, I didn’t know if I’d like the characters (no matter how awesome they may sound in the synopsis).

And while it took m ...more

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Mar 25, 2019 Aimal (The Devils We Find) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, young-adult, read-2019, indigenous-or-authors-of-color, contemporary, romance

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

Tanaz Bhathena’s A Girl Like That was my absolute favorite book of last year, so it’s safe to say I had high expectations – which were met, for the most part, with her sophomore novel. This follows the stories of Susan and Malcolm – two Indian-Canadian teenagers trying to live their daily lives and make it through each day as best as they can. When their paths collide, they feel an immediate pull towards each other, and so begins a love story with two characters you can’ ...more

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Feb 21, 2019 Kali Cole rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book was definitely an adorable and refreshing contemporary romance filled with tons of diversity and set in Canada! The fact that it takes place in Canada had me geeking out so much! Anyways, back to the actual book, we follow Susan and Malcolm and their intertwining love story as well as family drama. It takes a lot to fall in love against parents wishes or to be the perfect poster child. Sometimes life becomes too stressed out and as the title says we have to live in “the beauty of the m ...more

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Oct 11, 2018 Meghan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: collection

This book really reflects the proverb of whatever is meant to be will be and the love of Susan and Malclom really signifies just that. Things happen for a reason and if a couple is meant to be together, they will find a way despite what their families might think and even if they do not make sense on paper as the "perfect couple." What if Jenny Han and the Director of Serendipity decided to collaborate on a novel? The Beauty of the Moment is the direct spawn of the answer to that question.

Thank ...more

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Feb 28, 2019 Laurie rated it it was amazing

A warm, lovely romance between two Canadian teens, Susan Thomas (a recent immigrant from Saudi Arabia) and Malcolm Vakil (a boy with a bad reputation who is dealing with an abusive father). The book is beautifully diverse and strikingly poignant in how it deals with themes such as serious illness, parents having marital problems, struggling to fit in when feeling like an outsider, and finding the courage to pursue your true dreams. Another wonderful book from a favorite author (don't miss Tanaz ...more

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Apr 26, 2018 Carlie Sorosiak rated it it was amazing

This book is EVERYTHING. Susan and Malcolm are such complex, believable characters, and I was completely drawn into their world. Get ready for a stunning sophomore novel.

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About Tanaz Bhathena

Tanaz Bhathena

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Tanaz Bhathena is an award-winning author of young adult fiction. Her books include Of Light and Shadow (forthcoming in 2023), the White Pine Award winning novel, Hunted by the Sky, and The Beauty of the Moment, which won the Nautilus Gold Award for Young Adult Fiction. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Sevent ...more