the_lectorem's reviews
31 reviews

"Embracing Release" is an emotional journey that follows Sarah and John as they confront their individual vulnerabilities and shortcomings as human beings. They navigate their struggles by choosing acceptance, forgiveness, and self-compassion. Both characters carry past issues and emotional wounds that have the potential to disrupt the peace of their relationship, but their courage to embrace change and choose one another over their past makes this book deeply relatable.

The author remarkably captures the true essence of a relationship, which is never a smooth road but filled with ups and downs. Through Sarah and John's story, we understand the importance of communication, recognizing each other's emotional needs, and having the passion to grow together despite temporary setbacks.

I wouldn’t have picked up this book if it had been a cliché traditional romance, but Embracing Release focuses on raw and grounded emotions, making it an accessible and engaging read for everyone. At times, I found the language slightly repetitive, but overall, it was a meaningful read that delivers valuable lessons through its storytelling.

According to the World Health Organization, almost 4% of the population suffers from anxiety disorders. Unraveling Anxiety is written in a way that breaks down different types of anxiety, its causes, and its impact on mental and physical health, making it easy to understand. The author explains how anxiety manifests in a person and the key factors that contribute to it. I particularly liked the section where the author discusses the psychological and physical effects of anxiety, including how it can lead to negative thinking patterns, body pain, and digestive issues.

In addition to explaining the nature of anxiety, the author provides practical and actionable strategies such as cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques to help manage anxiety symptoms. I personally found this helpful because the book encourages readers to become aware of their thoughts, reframe them, make necessary lifestyle adjustments, and seek professional support when needed. The author makes it clear that this book is not a replacement for therapy but rather a tool to help individuals in the early stages of anxiety.

Although this book is written in very simple and precise language, its compact size makes it an excellent handbook that can be read in just a few sittings.

People-pleasing comes with its own set of consequences that can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being, and this book does a wonderful job of explaining the complexity and psychological roots of people-pleasing, such as childhood experiences, societal conditioning, and the fear of rejection and abandonment. Even though this book is written in a very simple and straightforward way, the author doesn't shy away from deliberately explaining how people-pleasing can result in emotional exhaustion, resentment, and a loss of self-worth.

A major part of this book focuses on providing productive strategies and developing the habit of saying NO without feeling guilty. What I loved the most about this book are the chapters where the author explains the significance of boundaries, types of boundaries, and various ways to communicate them assertively. All people-pleasers must be aware that even setting boundaries is the kryptonite of people-pleasing, and there are always some kinds of pushbacks from others even after saying NO. The author provides self-reflecting suggestions to reinforce boundaries in the face of pushbacks.

This book is very insightful, and people who find it hard to say NO will find it very helpful because it doesn't just teach helpful steps but also uses real-life examples and case studies to emphasize the discussed topics.

Shattered Earth is a gripping exploration of a global catastrophe caused by massive earthquakes that reshape the world, forcing humanity onto a survival path and redefining civilization as we know it. Dr. Evelyn Harper, a leading seismologist, warns the government—much like in every classic disaster movie—but, as expected, her warnings are ignored until disaster knocks on their door. This book presents the possibility of large-scale environmental destruction and its devastating impact on humanity.

At times, Shattered Earth feels like an anthology of several small stories, following individuals and survival groups as they navigate destruction, resource scarcity, and the struggle to rebuild a functioning society. Alongside these stories, the book maintains a consistent narrative thread following Evelyn and James, who embark on a research expedition with the goal of understanding the seismic phenomenon, predicting future disasters, and laying the groundwork for future generations. A significant portion of the book explores how both urban and rural populations cope with the challenges they face, demonstrating how mutual cooperation and collaboration lead to survival and renewal. What was once a familiar world quickly collapses into dystopia, and the author does a commendable job of portraying humanity’s resilience and collective efforts to rebuild.

Unlike traditional novels that rely heavily on dialogue and character interactions to tell the story, Shattered Earth leans more toward an overarching narration, almost like a documentary-style commentary on the catastrophic events. While this approach offers a broad and insightful perspective, I personally believe the book could have been even more engaging if it had focused more on character development and revealed the story through their experiences rather than describing events in a generalized way.

Fans of dystopian fiction will likely appreciate this book for its large-scale disaster narrative, its depiction of human resilience in the face of catastrophe, and its environmental themes, which serve as a wake-up call. In the end, the book reminds us that no matter how dire the circumstances, the bond of humanity is what holds us together.

Doom Phage is a supernatural horror fiction with a classic trope and setting, where seven friends decide to sneak out of their summer camp and explore an abandoned prison—only to unknowingly release a nightmarish creature that starts hunting them down. What begins as a carefree summer camp adventure soon turns into a killing ground, forcing the characters into a desperate survival game of hide-and-seek—and running for their lives.

It's been a while since I wanted to read horror fiction just to experience a different premise, apart from my usual thrillers and non-fiction. Doom Phage turned out to be a bullseye hit with the way the author brilliantly executed the story. The first 60% of the book takes its time setting up the main characters—Maddy, Sasami, Eva, and Marianna—along with three boys who, I was sure, were included just to meet a dreadful end.

As I mentioned, there isn’t much horror until the latter half of the book. But once it starts, the mayhem takes over with full-fledged chaos that kept me on edge, and some atmospheric details even gave me chills. The author certainly knows how to use darkness and eerie details to heighten the horror, making this a gripping and fast-paced read.

There aren’t any extreme gory descriptions that might make readers uneasy, but the sense of survival, psychological tension between the characters, and the helplessness they feel while being chased by the creature—amid the piling bodies of their friends—deliver a frightening and entertaining reading experience. It’s a short book, with less than 150 pages, but that was a bit of a downside for me. I would have liked a more elaborate buildup, exploring the characters of Maddy, Sasami, and Marianna separately—where they come from, their families—and a more detailed origin of the supernatural creature.

In conclusion, I would certainly recommend this book for its immersive premise and suspenseful supernatural horror. If you’re looking for a quick and gripping horror fiction to get your adrenaline pumping, Doom Phage is definitely a book worth trying.

Dealing with a narcissistic relationship can be emotionally draining and challenging, where the narcissist confuses a person and makes them doubt and question everything. This book stands out for how directly the author educates readers about the nature of narcissism, behavioral patterns, and its consequences for those on the receiving end of such relationships.

The author has done a commendable job of clarifying manipulation techniques such as gaslighting, triangulation, love bombing, and projection, which can severely impact a partner’s self-esteem, cause emotional injury, and, in extreme cases, lead to anxiety and depression. This book also explains what makes a person a narcissist and how to identify their behavior patterns. It is indeed written with compassion, as at certain points, I felt deeply for those suffering through such relationships.

I also liked how this book provides a safe space and empowers its readers by offering practical suggestions for making conscious decisions and taking action to break free from such relationships. Though this book is not a replacement for professional help, it strongly advocates therapy and seeking support from mental health professionals. Overall, this is a short yet insightful read that can help those looking to understand the dynamics of narcissistic relationships.

Most of us have that inner critic or self-saboteur that questions our decisions and choices, holding us back from achieving our true potential and goals by making us doubt ourselves and our capabilities. In this book, the author brilliantly addresses the root causes of self-doubt, such as a lack of external validation, fear of failure, societal conditioning, and past experiences. This book helped me understand the consequences of self-doubt and the significant impact it can have on self-esteem and confidence.

I appreciate how the author keeps the writing and tone of this book very simple, making it easy for people of all ages to understand and relate to. The author encourages readers to embrace their uniqueness and cultivate cognitive restructuring to overcome self-doubt. There are many helpful techniques and strategies, such as ways to challenge the inner critic, reframe negative thoughts, practice affirmations, and use mindfulness techniques, which can significantly help those struggling with self-doubt. The only minor demerit that I noticed is that some topics were a bit repetitive.

This is a short book that I finished in two sittings, and I found it very self-affirming and assuring.

A mindset is one of the most powerful and crucial aspects responsible for a person's success, failure, or happiness. In this book, the author explains two types of mindsets—fixed mindset and growth mindset—in the simplest and most subtle way. I really liked how the characteristics of both mindsets have been explained with utmost clarity and how they influence our lives.

Through practical explanations and examples, the author illustrates how a fixed mindset is responsible for self-sabotaging opportunities, happiness, success, and relationships in life. The points mentioned in this book serve as a wake-up call to recognize our shortcomings and consciously make choices to shift toward a growth mindset. Positive perception, continuous effort, adapting resilience, being patient with the process, seeking help when needed, reframing failures, implementing self-reflection techniques, and celebrating small wins are just a few of the strategies the author discusses for adopting a positive mindset.

I believe that people with their interest in personal development will like this book. It is quite insightful and informative, providing a deeper understanding of the nature of mindsets and how, by applying some actionable steps, we can change our thinking patterns and work toward growth.

In my review of the second book in this series, I mentioned finding it repetitive, but with this third book, I feel the author overcompensated by adding too much to the story. This book picks up right where the second one left off, following the aftermath of a massive storm and exploring its impact on both humans and marine life. While the main plot revolves around Samantha and Peter’s trip to Cuba for the Summer Reef Symposium—where things take a drastic turn, leading them into seemingly inescapable situations (avoiding spoilers here)—it added a thrilling element to the story. The sense of helplessness experienced by Samantha and Peter, combined with the efforts of Charlie, Mark, and Jerry, made for a compelling and well-rounded read.

I also appreciated how this book presents two parallel storylines—Samantha’s and Charlie’s—each contributing significantly to the main plot. Charlie, Runt, and Learner made a great team as they worked to understand and teach the wild broods, ultimately playing a crucial role in the book’s satisfying conclusion. The bond between Samantha and Peter also strengthened, and I can see where it's heading. I’m not usually a fan of romance and wouldn’t have enjoyed it if their relationship had been overly emphasized. However, the author handled it naturally, keeping it minimal and ensuring it didn't overshadow the main storyline.

Overall, this was a fantastic read—more fast-paced than the previous book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated how well the story was executed from beginning to end. I hope the next book maintains the same level of engagement and consistency.

We all have inner saboteurs or an inner critic that sometimes makes us question our choices, decisions, and even doubt ourselves. This book doesn't just generically discuss self-limiting beliefs but remarkably delves into their nature and roots. The author explains how past experiences and societal conditioning contribute to the development of self-limiting beliefs, which often function as self-fulfilling prophecies, leading to low self-esteem, lack of confidence, diminished self-worth, and a fear of failure.

I found the structure of this book very effective and helpful. Through its six chapters, the author explains various ways to identify self-limiting beliefs, their causes, and patterns. The practical and actionable strategies provided in this book make it particularly beneficial for people struggling with self-doubt and low confidence. Strategies like cognitive restructuring and thought analysis, visualization, affirmations, and realistic goal-setting offer tools to combat the inner critic and nurture a growth mindset.

Overall, I liked this book. It is written in a very simple and affirming language, making it easy for readers to connect with. The author creates a safe space to embrace vulnerability while addressing subjective shortcomings, encouraging readers to change their mindset with the provided suggestions and strategies.