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The Beauty of the Moment
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. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.
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. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.
354 pages, Hardcover
First published February 26, 2019
39 people are currently reading
4357 people want to read
About the author
Tanaz Bhathena
7 books660 followersTanaz Bhathena is an award-winning Zoroastrian author of contemporary and fantasy fiction. Her young adult books include Hunted by the Sky, which won the White Pine Award and the Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize, 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, Seventeen, and The Times of India. Her debut adult fantasy, Witch Daughter, will be published in fall 2026 by Grand Central.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
May 25, 2019
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, however, the book doesn’t come anywhere near the greatness of the author’s debut.
For one thing, we see a good portrayal of how immigration works. In real life, it’s not always a simple move from Country A to Country B, where you adapt and integrate and stay forever. Often, things don’t work out, or you get a different opportunity somewhere else, and you move again. And again. Sometimes, you might return to places where you’ve lived before, or even go back to your home country, disillusioned by the whole thing. We see similar scenarios happen in Susan’s family, and it feels closer to my own experience and the experience of most people I know than what we usually see in books.
Susan’s struggles with culture shock were done well, especially seeing her adjust to a new education system, which values different qualities. She was doing great in her old school, but what was considered important there doesn’t matter anymore and she needs to learn and adapt.
The one thing that didn’t ring true for me was how easily Susan chose to go to art school against her parents’ wishes. In my experience, people in her position who immigrate at her age or later go for the hard sciences, and it’s not a matter of money or career—it’s a simple question of survival. You need to pay rent, you need to have a steady job for your visa, and there is no safety net at all if things go wrong, no family or social support. And, as strange as it may sound, it’s often easier for a recent immigrant to find a job as a software developer than as a babysitter. Not only is there less competition, but in the technical fields one is judged more objectively. Susan’s decision was painted as a moment of triumph without addressing all the consequences and examining her parents’ view.
Messages of chasing one’s dreams are all good and nice, but in real life these stories usually only work out after there is some basic security, which only happens after one or two generations after immigrating. Of course, I realize Susan’s situation is a bit different since she didn’t move by herself; her mother is with her, and her family seems to have some money and be able to support her. Also, she is already a Canadian permanent resident, so there seems to be no need to worry about visas or deportation. So I’m not sure why her choice didn’t work for me here. I normally love stories about chasing one’s impractical dreams against all odds (3 Idiots is one of my favorite movies), but somehow the decision here wasn’t handled with the necessary gravity.
While a lot about the romance worked well, I wasn’t a fan of the insta-love. Especially on Malcolm’s side—he catches a glimpse of Susan and is instantly obsessed. He doesn’t know who she is, he doesn’t know her name, he hasn’t heard her voice, but he’s already in love. Also, while I liked Malcolm as a character, I didn’t like him as a person. He was angry at everyone and treating people terribly, while all he had to do was stop and listen and see no one was as bad as he thought. I realize why he reacted this way, but it wasn’t the best reaction. Overall, I’m not sure he’s the best match for someone like Susan.
I was a bit disappointed by the portrayal of Malcolm’s ex, Afrin. She came close to being a cardboard villain, and I kept hoping to see some more depth from her. At a few points in the book it looked as if we’d get there, but it never happened.
Susan’s friendship with her best friend Alisha was one of the highlights for me. All the excitement, the joy of growing up and discovering the world together, the quick, weird fights born of misunderstanding which are resolved even more quickly.
The other thing I loved was the depiction of how families work—all the messiness, all the hurt, and all the love and support.
The book is extremely light and easy to read (I was literally reading while watching the Eurovision final and was easily able to follow both). However, it’s not as catchy and addictive as A Girl Like That. A Girl Like That was new, bold, risky, disturbing, experimental, haunting, exciting. This book felt almost formulaic in comparison, and although it was a formula that worked, it lack the spark that made the author’s debut so memorable.
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, however, the book doesn’t come anywhere near the greatness of the author’s debut.
Why fit in, I wonder, when you can stand out?
For one thing, we see a good portrayal of how immigration works. In real life, it’s not always a simple move from Country A to Country B, where you adapt and integrate and stay forever. Often, things don’t work out, or you get a different opportunity somewhere else, and you move again. And again. Sometimes, you might return to places where you’ve lived before, or even go back to your home country, disillusioned by the whole thing. We see similar scenarios happen in Susan’s family, and it feels closer to my own experience and the experience of most people I know than what we usually see in books.
Susan’s struggles with culture shock were done well, especially seeing her adjust to a new education system, which values different qualities. She was doing great in her old school, but what was considered important there doesn’t matter anymore and she needs to learn and adapt.
The one thing that didn’t ring true for me was how easily Susan chose to go to art school against her parents’ wishes. In my experience, people in her position who immigrate at her age or later go for the hard sciences, and it’s not a matter of money or career—it’s a simple question of survival. You need to pay rent, you need to have a steady job for your visa, and there is no safety net at all if things go wrong, no family or social support. And, as strange as it may sound, it’s often easier for a recent immigrant to find a job as a software developer than as a babysitter. Not only is there less competition, but in the technical fields one is judged more objectively. Susan’s decision was painted as a moment of triumph without addressing all the consequences and examining her parents’ view.
Messages of chasing one’s dreams are all good and nice, but in real life these stories usually only work out after there is some basic security, which only happens after one or two generations after immigrating. Of course, I realize Susan’s situation is a bit different since she didn’t move by herself; her mother is with her, and her family seems to have some money and be able to support her. Also, she is already a Canadian permanent resident, so there seems to be no need to worry about visas or deportation. So I’m not sure why her choice didn’t work for me here. I normally love stories about chasing one’s impractical dreams against all odds (3 Idiots is one of my favorite movies), but somehow the decision here wasn’t handled with the necessary gravity.
While a lot about the romance worked well, I wasn’t a fan of the insta-love. Especially on Malcolm’s side—he catches a glimpse of Susan and is instantly obsessed. He doesn’t know who she is, he doesn’t know her name, he hasn’t heard her voice, but he’s already in love. Also, while I liked Malcolm as a character, I didn’t like him as a person. He was angry at everyone and treating people terribly, while all he had to do was stop and listen and see no one was as bad as he thought. I realize why he reacted this way, but it wasn’t the best reaction. Overall, I’m not sure he’s the best match for someone like Susan.
I was a bit disappointed by the portrayal of Malcolm’s ex, Afrin. She came close to being a cardboard villain, and I kept hoping to see some more depth from her. At a few points in the book it looked as if we’d get there, but it never happened.
Susan’s friendship with her best friend Alisha was one of the highlights for me. All the excitement, the joy of growing up and discovering the world together, the quick, weird fights born of misunderstanding which are resolved even more quickly.
The other thing I loved was the depiction of how families work—all the messiness, all the hurt, and all the love and support.
The book is extremely light and easy to read (I was literally reading while watching the Eurovision final and was easily able to follow both). However, it’s not as catchy and addictive as A Girl Like That. A Girl Like That was new, bold, risky, disturbing, experimental, haunting, exciting. This book felt almost formulaic in comparison, and although it was a formula that worked, it lack the spark that made the author’s debut so memorable.
Read
June 27, 2017No one dies in this one, I promise.
March 23, 2019
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 Bhathena did such an amazing job of getting it all right? It feels like it suits 2019 with its diverse characters (YESSS) and a romance that’s sweet and gentle yet balanced with life and forbidden-ness and so much more.
The romance was definitely my favorite part, and since it’s February, I was in the best mood to read this book and swoon over Susan and Malcom.
Ugh. Adorable.
The dual POVs were so awesome, and I loved reading both Sarah and Malcom’s side of the story and found them to be so well balanced.
And even more than that, they’re their own people. The whole ending solidifies that (though I promise you a happily ever after) and they have agency and weren’t just made to be the other person’s other half.
Susan has things going on with her mom & dad’s marriage, as well as art and potentially going to art school instead of engineering.
Malcom has a lot to handle and unpack with his dad and his relationship with his sister and friends.
It was all very well balanced, and that’s another highlight of this book. How well Bhathena juggled romance and real life problems for all the characters.
I took of the .5 star ultimately because . . . I wanted more. So much more. I wanted to devour 5 books of just Malcom and Susan.
And also because I feel like there could have been a little more exploration of Malcom and his father, but also we don’t want a 400 page contemporary so it’s still cool.
But yeah!!! I want so many more contemporary romances from Tanaz Bhathena and I also really really loved the Easter Eggs she left in the story about characters from A Girl Like That. (You don’t have to read A Girl Like That to read this, though.)
Basically, I had a really fantastic time reading and just got all the fluffy, happy, feel-good feels from this book. I was in the perfect mood for this and devoured the whole thing in less than a day.
I would definitely recommend The Beauty of the Moment if you like
- fresh takes on classic tropes
- adorable couples who have agency
- diverse casts and West Asian rep!
- a lighthearted read that will make you swoon
- artists! also gorgeous covers!
Overall, I had the most fantastic time reading, and this feels like one of the rare books that I’ll be rereading in a time of need. So yeah. Please read it, so you can gush with me about it after!
Thank you so much to Macmillan and The FFBC for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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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 Bhathena did such an amazing job of getting it all right? It feels like it suits 2019 with its diverse characters (YESSS) and a romance that’s sweet and gentle yet balanced with life and forbidden-ness and so much more.
The romance was definitely my favorite part, and since it’s February, I was in the best mood to read this book and swoon over Susan and Malcom.
Ugh. Adorable.
The dual POVs were so awesome, and I loved reading both Sarah and Malcom’s side of the story and found them to be so well balanced.
And even more than that, they’re their own people. The whole ending solidifies that (though I promise you a happily ever after) and they have agency and weren’t just made to be the other person’s other half.
Susan has things going on with her mom & dad’s marriage, as well as art and potentially going to art school instead of engineering.
Malcom has a lot to handle and unpack with his dad and his relationship with his sister and friends.
It was all very well balanced, and that’s another highlight of this book. How well Bhathena juggled romance and real life problems for all the characters.
I took of the .5 star ultimately because . . . I wanted more. So much more. I wanted to devour 5 books of just Malcom and Susan.
And also because I feel like there could have been a little more exploration of Malcom and his father, but also we don’t want a 400 page contemporary so it’s still cool.
But yeah!!! I want so many more contemporary romances from Tanaz Bhathena and I also really really loved the Easter Eggs she left in the story about characters from A Girl Like That. (You don’t have to read A Girl Like That to read this, though.)
Basically, I had a really fantastic time reading and just got all the fluffy, happy, feel-good feels from this book. I was in the perfect mood for this and devoured the whole thing in less than a day.
I would definitely recommend The Beauty of the Moment if you like
- fresh takes on classic tropes
- adorable couples who have agency
- diverse casts and West Asian rep!
- a lighthearted read that will make you swoon
- artists! also gorgeous covers!
Overall, I had the most fantastic time reading, and this feels like one of the rare books that I’ll be rereading in a time of need. So yeah. Please read it, so you can gush with me about it after!
Thank you so much to Macmillan and The FFBC for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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April 19, 2019
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
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
February 21, 2019
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.
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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.
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February 8, 2019
Very sweet and as always, I'm forever in love with Bhathena's writing style.
March 16, 2019
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 the differences among this multicultural community, as well as within the Indian community, is so welcome. Highly recommended for readers of YA and for purchase for libraries serving teens.
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NOTE: while this is about a high school senior and does have several mentions of drugs and alcohol, these are not shown in a positive light and there is not sexual content. Definitely appropriate for middle school readers who like YA as well.
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NOTE: while this is about a high school senior and does have several mentions of drugs and alcohol, these are not shown in a positive light and there is not sexual content. Definitely appropriate for middle school readers who like YA as well.
May 16, 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 going on with her family. Malcolm is still processing his mother’s death, his relationship with his father, and a recent breakup. We follow them as they handle these issues until eventually their paths cross.
I loved the romance in this book. It was so cute and fluffy. There were times when I thought the author was going to make this super cliche, but most things were handled well (except for the jealous ex subplot). I also liked that this book was more than just a cute story. It tackled important topics like immigration, refugees, heartbreak, and more. After I finished this book, I wished it had been longer because I wanted more of Malcolm and Susan. Definitely keeping an eye out for more cute romcom books from this author.
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“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 going on with her family. Malcolm is still processing his mother’s death, his relationship with his father, and a recent breakup. We follow them as they handle these issues until eventually their paths cross.
I loved the romance in this book. It was so cute and fluffy. There were times when I thought the author was going to make this super cliche, but most things were handled well (except for the jealous ex subplot). I also liked that this book was more than just a cute story. It tackled important topics like immigration, refugees, heartbreak, and more. After I finished this book, I wished it had been longer because I wanted more of Malcolm and Susan. Definitely keeping an eye out for more cute romcom books from this author.
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June 4, 2019
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 enjoyed all the minor characters and their storylines, especially how Susan’s parents navigate their marital relationship. Refreshingly, also, the characters in this novel deal with problems more important than the romance in this book.
Overall, a remarkable YA novel! And I stayed up until 2am to finish this. For someone with a 10pm bedtime, that says a lot.
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 enjoyed all the minor characters and their storylines, especially how Susan’s parents navigate their marital relationship. Refreshingly, also, the characters in this novel deal with problems more important than the romance in this book.
Overall, a remarkable YA novel! And I stayed up until 2am to finish this. For someone with a 10pm bedtime, that says a lot.
May 15, 2020
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)
March 23, 2023
-YA
-Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
-A girl just moved to Canada with her mom and she wants to study art but her parents don’t allow her, she meets a guy, and uh… drama, basically
-Just by reading the synopsis you can already tell what’s about to happen, you can even predict the plot twists
-It is literally a story of wattpad with all clichés together
-classic Bad GuY WiTh daDDy iSsUes and GOoD Girl trope 😒
-There wasn’t a single character that I liked, I despised all of them. However, Malcolm was just a tiny bit tolerable
-Dual POV where so many chapters were just to make the book larger, and so many of them were completely unnecessary as well
-They address many problems (as in drama) that don’t even develop or have any progress on them, they’re supposed to get focused on and they only last for like 3 pages, or even less
-I gave it 2 stars because Susan is also scared of studying her wished career like me, so I kinda saw myself reflected on her just in that aspect
-“Why fit in, I wonder, when you can stand out?” ⭐️
-Plot: 2/5
-Plot twists: 1/5
-Characters: 1/5
-Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
-A girl just moved to Canada with her mom and she wants to study art but her parents don’t allow her, she meets a guy, and uh… drama, basically
-Just by reading the synopsis you can already tell what’s about to happen, you can even predict the plot twists
-It is literally a story of wattpad with all clichés together
-classic Bad GuY WiTh daDDy iSsUes and GOoD Girl trope 😒
-There wasn’t a single character that I liked, I despised all of them. However, Malcolm was just a tiny bit tolerable
-Dual POV where so many chapters were just to make the book larger, and so many of them were completely unnecessary as well
-They address many problems (as in drama) that don’t even develop or have any progress on them, they’re supposed to get focused on and they only last for like 3 pages, or even less
-I gave it 2 stars because Susan is also scared of studying her wished career like me, so I kinda saw myself reflected on her just in that aspect
-“Why fit in, I wonder, when you can stand out?” ⭐️
-Plot: 2/5
-Plot twists: 1/5
-Characters: 1/5
Want to read
March 7, 2018um yes, please ~ and tanaz promised that nobodies dies so maybe less crying
May 16, 2019
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 the trials she faces are so tough because of it. Her compassion and her charisma are lovely, but she most definitely has a meaner nature. Not to mention her love for art and her secret–or maybe not so secret–resentment of science and math. She is literally me and I am literally her. Except she got a boyfriend and I do not. O-O
Still…I JUST FREAKING LOVED HER. Her journey, her growth, her setbacks, her heartbreak and her stunning resilience and courage through it all. I wish I had as much guts as she did.
Malcolm. ANOTHER WONDERFUL CHARACTER THAT ABSOLUTELY BLEW ME AWAY! I mean it’s a typical bad boy story with a tragic–very tragic–past and I ate it all up!! Charming, dangerous, and a class-skipper! To be very fair though, Malcolm went through a lot and his decision making was not always that great. There was a lot of growing on this journey. Growth in self-respect, in learning to let go and in learning to move forward. It was really hard for him, and while I have never been in his situation, I can only imagine how hard it must be to even consider forgiving. And he messes up…a lot. But that’s okay. It’s all about the journey, it’s all about the learning.
Other characters…I loved Malcolm’s best buds! They added in the perfect comedic moments and were such goofs. I would have loved to have Susan’s friendships to be further developed, but I understand that the whole point was to show how hard it can be for someone, especially an introvert, to get the guts to talk to people and keep talking to them.
The Family Dynamics
I don’t want to give anything away, but this was some tough stuff. Both characters had to go through a lot in their familial life. Parents can honestly suck sometimes. (I love you Ma and Pa 🙂 ) But they totally can. We’re all human, we all make mistakes but sometimes the mistakes that parents make can have bigger repercussions. Overall, I thought it was a great representation of what it’s like to be in a real, dynamic family.
And spiraling off the family talk comes the discussion on Academic Pressure
THE BEST REP THAT I HAVE READ SO FAR. Susan was born to Indian parents and was raised in Saudi Arabia, where life from ages 4 and up basically revolved around school. Susan was under the impression her whole life that in order to have her parents be proud of her, in order for her to be someone, she had to do well in school. Scratch that. Not “well” she had to be near or at the top of every class!
And I saw myself in that. I truly did. I may not be Indian or Saudi, but I come from a Latinx household where doing amazing in school was an undisclosed demand. There was no room for a B+ on the report card, not once you head into middle school. But Susan (like me!) has a love for art and that is what truly makes her happy! The problem? No brown parent that I can think would ever encourage their child to pursue an arts degree. They may not discourage its practice, but it will forever be a “hobby.”
I just related to Susan so much. Every time she decided to not join a club so she could study, I have done that. Every time she doodled in her school notebook, I have done–and still do–that. Every time she took a Friday night or a weekend to get ahead on homework, I HAVE DONE THAT!!! Every time she complained and felt ashamed about getting a B on an assignment/test/quiz, I FELT THAT. Every time she tried to talk about pursuing art and the shrivelling of her spirit that came with thinking about how her parents would react. THAT. WAS. ME.
It got real personal for me, which I won’t divulge into anymore because this is just a review, but wow. It hit me.
Moving on…
CANADA.
It’s set in a city, outside of Toronto, Mississauga. (Which is part of the Greater Toronto Area…but not Toronto) Anyways, enough geography. NOW THIS IS A HIGH SCHOOL I CAN ACTUALLY RELATE TO. Four periods per day. One lunch hour. Crowded buses. Toronto Maple Leaf references. Malls I have actually been to. Like I was living my best life. I don’t travel to Mississauga often, but it’s not too different from where I grew up!
Still. Just the references and overall layout of the city structures were something I actually recognized.
And of course we get to see some ugly Canada. This story takes place during the heat of the Syrian crisis (which is still ongoing) and has a lot of discussion on immigration and the reception of immigrants in Canada, which is not the bestest. Trust me. We have bigots here too. So while it can be bitter to read about the ugly ideologies in Canada, it is truth that needs to be told.
The Romance
This was a love story in part and I think I just about melted of cuteness. It took a while for these two to get together, and when they did finally come to, they were just ahhh so cute. The fluff moments were a total overload! And hooweee do we get some great drama! I don’t want to spoil, but I adore how Bhathena handled the drama and the ending that she gave them. I really did.
Overall, I adored this book. I stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish reading the last 150 pages because I was so engrossed! There were never truly any dull moments. There is always something going on whether it be about Susan and Malcolm’s personal growth, their family lives, or their relationship. It is a story about family, love, loss, trust and courage to face the everyday. It is 100% one of my favourite contemporary books yet!
Rating: 5 / 5 stars
Recommend: ABSOLUTELY!
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 the trials she faces are so tough because of it. Her compassion and her charisma are lovely, but she most definitely has a meaner nature. Not to mention her love for art and her secret–or maybe not so secret–resentment of science and math. She is literally me and I am literally her. Except she got a boyfriend and I do not. O-O
Still…I JUST FREAKING LOVED HER. Her journey, her growth, her setbacks, her heartbreak and her stunning resilience and courage through it all. I wish I had as much guts as she did.
Malcolm. ANOTHER WONDERFUL CHARACTER THAT ABSOLUTELY BLEW ME AWAY! I mean it’s a typical bad boy story with a tragic–very tragic–past and I ate it all up!! Charming, dangerous, and a class-skipper! To be very fair though, Malcolm went through a lot and his decision making was not always that great. There was a lot of growing on this journey. Growth in self-respect, in learning to let go and in learning to move forward. It was really hard for him, and while I have never been in his situation, I can only imagine how hard it must be to even consider forgiving. And he messes up…a lot. But that’s okay. It’s all about the journey, it’s all about the learning.
Other characters…I loved Malcolm’s best buds! They added in the perfect comedic moments and were such goofs. I would have loved to have Susan’s friendships to be further developed, but I understand that the whole point was to show how hard it can be for someone, especially an introvert, to get the guts to talk to people and keep talking to them.
The Family Dynamics
I don’t want to give anything away, but this was some tough stuff. Both characters had to go through a lot in their familial life. Parents can honestly suck sometimes. (I love you Ma and Pa 🙂 ) But they totally can. We’re all human, we all make mistakes but sometimes the mistakes that parents make can have bigger repercussions. Overall, I thought it was a great representation of what it’s like to be in a real, dynamic family.
And spiraling off the family talk comes the discussion on Academic Pressure
THE BEST REP THAT I HAVE READ SO FAR. Susan was born to Indian parents and was raised in Saudi Arabia, where life from ages 4 and up basically revolved around school. Susan was under the impression her whole life that in order to have her parents be proud of her, in order for her to be someone, she had to do well in school. Scratch that. Not “well” she had to be near or at the top of every class!
And I saw myself in that. I truly did. I may not be Indian or Saudi, but I come from a Latinx household where doing amazing in school was an undisclosed demand. There was no room for a B+ on the report card, not once you head into middle school. But Susan (like me!) has a love for art and that is what truly makes her happy! The problem? No brown parent that I can think would ever encourage their child to pursue an arts degree. They may not discourage its practice, but it will forever be a “hobby.”
I just related to Susan so much. Every time she decided to not join a club so she could study, I have done that. Every time she doodled in her school notebook, I have done–and still do–that. Every time she took a Friday night or a weekend to get ahead on homework, I HAVE DONE THAT!!! Every time she complained and felt ashamed about getting a B on an assignment/test/quiz, I FELT THAT. Every time she tried to talk about pursuing art and the shrivelling of her spirit that came with thinking about how her parents would react. THAT. WAS. ME.
It got real personal for me, which I won’t divulge into anymore because this is just a review, but wow. It hit me.
Moving on…
CANADA.
It’s set in a city, outside of Toronto, Mississauga. (Which is part of the Greater Toronto Area…but not Toronto) Anyways, enough geography. NOW THIS IS A HIGH SCHOOL I CAN ACTUALLY RELATE TO. Four periods per day. One lunch hour. Crowded buses. Toronto Maple Leaf references. Malls I have actually been to. Like I was living my best life. I don’t travel to Mississauga often, but it’s not too different from where I grew up!
Still. Just the references and overall layout of the city structures were something I actually recognized.
And of course we get to see some ugly Canada. This story takes place during the heat of the Syrian crisis (which is still ongoing) and has a lot of discussion on immigration and the reception of immigrants in Canada, which is not the bestest. Trust me. We have bigots here too. So while it can be bitter to read about the ugly ideologies in Canada, it is truth that needs to be told.
The Romance
This was a love story in part and I think I just about melted of cuteness. It took a while for these two to get together, and when they did finally come to, they were just ahhh so cute. The fluff moments were a total overload! And hooweee do we get some great drama! I don’t want to spoil, but I adore how Bhathena handled the drama and the ending that she gave them. I really did.
Overall, I adored this book. I stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish reading the last 150 pages because I was so engrossed! There were never truly any dull moments. There is always something going on whether it be about Susan and Malcolm’s personal growth, their family lives, or their relationship. It is a story about family, love, loss, trust and courage to face the everyday. It is 100% one of my favourite contemporary books yet!
Rating: 5 / 5 stars
Recommend: ABSOLUTELY!
March 2, 2019
4.25 stars
read on my blog
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.
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.
April 12, 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 parental control, Susan doesn’t rebel. She tries her best to get the greatest grades and to always succeed in everything she does. But when she meets Malcolm for the first time, her world is suddenly tilted. Malcolm is someone her parents would absolutely hate. He’s a typical bad-boy character with teachers and principal’s on his back for mischief and disruptions in school. Malcolm is automatically intrigued by Susan. She’s beautiful and manages to make his broken heart beat again.
What I really liked about this book was that the author did not shy away from showing the messy dynamics of a family. Specifically how a family breaks down or how a divorce can hurt everyone and not just the two parties involved. It was realistic to read as Susan and Malcolm slowly revealed their sides to each other and to the readers themselves.
It also did not shy away from depicting real current issues taking place right now around the world. It brought attention to the Syrian refugees entering into Canada and the difficulties it may entail.
What I didn’t like included the insta-love/attraction that went on between Susan and Malcolm. Pretty much from page one did readers quickly realize they were completely smitten with each other or at Malcolm was just based off appearances. I mean, it’s been done a lot before in other books and I just wanted the slow-burn kind of love YA novels are known for. The ones that make ME work for it. You know?
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 parental control, Susan doesn’t rebel. She tries her best to get the greatest grades and to always succeed in everything she does. But when she meets Malcolm for the first time, her world is suddenly tilted. Malcolm is someone her parents would absolutely hate. He’s a typical bad-boy character with teachers and principal’s on his back for mischief and disruptions in school. Malcolm is automatically intrigued by Susan. She’s beautiful and manages to make his broken heart beat again.
What I really liked about this book was that the author did not shy away from showing the messy dynamics of a family. Specifically how a family breaks down or how a divorce can hurt everyone and not just the two parties involved. It was realistic to read as Susan and Malcolm slowly revealed their sides to each other and to the readers themselves.
It also did not shy away from depicting real current issues taking place right now around the world. It brought attention to the Syrian refugees entering into Canada and the difficulties it may entail.
What I didn’t like included the insta-love/attraction that went on between Susan and Malcolm. Pretty much from page one did readers quickly realize they were completely smitten with each other or at Malcolm was just based off appearances. I mean, it’s been done a lot before in other books and I just wanted the slow-burn kind of love YA novels are known for. The ones that make ME work for it. You know?
April 8, 2019
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 uncertainty, negotiating through emotional baggage with parents and living with the weight of expectations.
Susan and Malcolm’s narration takes us into their respective background story: Susan, the one with great scores in Saudi Arabia before she moved to Canada with her mother, now trying to fit in without much success in a new country, a new school; Malcolm, the one who wouldn’t care less about school and has an enormous cross to bear with his father and the loss of his mother to cancer. When the two cross paths and fall in love, they learn about themselves and how to find their way of the turmoil they have in their own lives. This is a coming of age story with a lovely romance that has its moments with a subtle thread of cultural alienation thrown in.
There are various moments when it feels like you have lived through the exact circumstances as described in the book. I would recommend ‘The Beauty of the Moment’ for the beautiful nostalgic journey it takes you to and the way romance amongst teens has been portrayed with a natural flair.
Susan and Malcolm’s narration takes us into their respective background story: Susan, the one with great scores in Saudi Arabia before she moved to Canada with her mother, now trying to fit in without much success in a new country, a new school; Malcolm, the one who wouldn’t care less about school and has an enormous cross to bear with his father and the loss of his mother to cancer. When the two cross paths and fall in love, they learn about themselves and how to find their way of the turmoil they have in their own lives. This is a coming of age story with a lovely romance that has its moments with a subtle thread of cultural alienation thrown in.
There are various moments when it feels like you have lived through the exact circumstances as described in the book. I would recommend ‘The Beauty of the Moment’ for the beautiful nostalgic journey it takes you to and the way romance amongst teens has been portrayed with a natural flair.
March 2, 2019
(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 relatable and empathetic about their struggles with relationships, with their parents, and their own futures.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
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 relatable and empathetic about their struggles with relationships, with their parents, and their own futures.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
February 22, 2019
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.
Susan Thomas is an Indian Girl who moves from Saudi Arabia to Canada for her final year of high school. She faces all kind of challenges while trying to fit into her new school and the new culture. She always had been the perfect daughter – achieving the highest scores in all subjects and always tried to meet her parents’ expectations. Her parents wanted her to be a doctor or engineer, but secretly she wished to be an artist. Malcolm Vakil is a Parsi boy dealing with his own problems and reputations. He is trying to come out of his bad reputation which he got because of his indulgence in drugs and alcohol after his mom died. He also has a father who has been abusive to him in the past and now they have a tough relationship.
There are many amazing side characters too. I adored Mahtab, Malcolm’s younger sister. She always took care of Malcolm as if she was his elder sister instead of another way around. Alisha, Susan’s best friend back in Saudi Arabia, is the BFF we all want in our lives. Though now she and Susan were countries apart, their relationship also got affected but I loved how the author has handled this change. Susan’s mother was quite a strict one and to some level, she showed the strictness of a typical Indian woman. She wanted to live her unfulfilled dreams through her. Malcolm’s uncle, Mancher, certainly was a favourite character. He was funny and gave some really good advice to Malcolm about love and life.
IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE AND DIVERSITY
The immigrant experience has been handled quite well by the author. Susan lived in Saudi Arabia till now and suddenly when she moves to Canada, she struggles to fit in the new culture. She constantly compares her life in Saudi Arabia with Canada, how her school was different, how the courses and teachers were different, how girls were not allowed to do certain things.
These lines are really impactful. Though I don’t have any immigration experience, I was totally able to relate to it. In India, it’s not just about the country. Even with the different states, we often get to hear this thing.
I am really happy to see the number of diverse characters YA books have these days. This book too has almost all the diverse characters and it makes the story more relatable to me. Susan is an Indian Christian, Malcolm is an Indian Parsi. Malcolm’s friends are also from different religions. Having all these different religions in a single story truly represents my country which is so diverse.
COMING-OF-AGE ELEMENT
This story is definitely a coming-of-age story. I loved the character growth of both Susan and Malcolm. Susan wanted to be an artist but always was afraid to talk about this to her parents. But the differences between her parents’ relationship finally make her realise what she wants to really do and stand out in front of her parents. She learned to accept herself. She learned to make new friends and finally understood the fact that nothing in the world is guaranteed.
Malcolm’s journey was quite amazing too. After he met with Susan, he started seeing things differently and tried to be mature. He started working harder towards achieving his goals. I loved the way he tried to improve his relationship with his step-mother and father. That really gave him the push he needed for appreciating himself more.
BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE
I totally adored the romance between Susan and Malcolm. It was not the typical high-school romance. It was amazing to see how they both proved to be a good influence on each other. They made each other strong and made each other realise their own worth. Within each other’s company, they tried to be better and encouraged each other to achieve the goals they wanted to.
The author has beautifully shown the hard way of love too. She showed that love is not always easy and it doesn’t necessarily give you what you always want. Rather it’s a difficult path to follow. And I loved the way the author has played out the ending of the story.
OVERALL
I totally loved this story and I applaud the author for including so many important things in the story. This is a fantastic story about first love, loss, relationships and achieving your dreams and to grow up in that process. I would definitely recommend this if you love YA contemporaries 🙂
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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.
Susan Thomas is an Indian Girl who moves from Saudi Arabia to Canada for her final year of high school. She faces all kind of challenges while trying to fit into her new school and the new culture. She always had been the perfect daughter – achieving the highest scores in all subjects and always tried to meet her parents’ expectations. Her parents wanted her to be a doctor or engineer, but secretly she wished to be an artist. Malcolm Vakil is a Parsi boy dealing with his own problems and reputations. He is trying to come out of his bad reputation which he got because of his indulgence in drugs and alcohol after his mom died. He also has a father who has been abusive to him in the past and now they have a tough relationship.
There are many amazing side characters too. I adored Mahtab, Malcolm’s younger sister. She always took care of Malcolm as if she was his elder sister instead of another way around. Alisha, Susan’s best friend back in Saudi Arabia, is the BFF we all want in our lives. Though now she and Susan were countries apart, their relationship also got affected but I loved how the author has handled this change. Susan’s mother was quite a strict one and to some level, she showed the strictness of a typical Indian woman. She wanted to live her unfulfilled dreams through her. Malcolm’s uncle, Mancher, certainly was a favourite character. He was funny and gave some really good advice to Malcolm about love and life.
IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE AND DIVERSITY
The immigrant experience has been handled quite well by the author. Susan lived in Saudi Arabia till now and suddenly when she moves to Canada, she struggles to fit in the new culture. She constantly compares her life in Saudi Arabia with Canada, how her school was different, how the courses and teachers were different, how girls were not allowed to do certain things.
“I have been called too Saudi for India even though I don’t have a passport from the Kingdom, and too Indian for Saudi Arabia even though in my birth country I am treated like a foreigner.”
These lines are really impactful. Though I don’t have any immigration experience, I was totally able to relate to it. In India, it’s not just about the country. Even with the different states, we often get to hear this thing.
I am really happy to see the number of diverse characters YA books have these days. This book too has almost all the diverse characters and it makes the story more relatable to me. Susan is an Indian Christian, Malcolm is an Indian Parsi. Malcolm’s friends are also from different religions. Having all these different religions in a single story truly represents my country which is so diverse.
COMING-OF-AGE ELEMENT
This story is definitely a coming-of-age story. I loved the character growth of both Susan and Malcolm. Susan wanted to be an artist but always was afraid to talk about this to her parents. But the differences between her parents’ relationship finally make her realise what she wants to really do and stand out in front of her parents. She learned to accept herself. She learned to make new friends and finally understood the fact that nothing in the world is guaranteed.
Malcolm’s journey was quite amazing too. After he met with Susan, he started seeing things differently and tried to be mature. He started working harder towards achieving his goals. I loved the way he tried to improve his relationship with his step-mother and father. That really gave him the push he needed for appreciating himself more.
BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE
I totally adored the romance between Susan and Malcolm. It was not the typical high-school romance. It was amazing to see how they both proved to be a good influence on each other. They made each other strong and made each other realise their own worth. Within each other’s company, they tried to be better and encouraged each other to achieve the goals they wanted to.
The author has beautifully shown the hard way of love too. She showed that love is not always easy and it doesn’t necessarily give you what you always want. Rather it’s a difficult path to follow. And I loved the way the author has played out the ending of the story.
OVERALL
I totally loved this story and I applaud the author for including so many important things in the story. This is a fantastic story about first love, loss, relationships and achieving your dreams and to grow up in that process. I would definitely recommend this if you love YA contemporaries 🙂
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March 18, 2019
This is a typical forbidden ya romance.
A girl and boy from different religion fall in love.
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 falls in love with her.
Susan was sweet if not rebel at times. The restrictions she had is something I can totally relate to.
Overall, the romance is cute. I loved their initial interactions. The forbidden aspect was well written. I’m sure I would have rated this 4 or 5 star if I was a teenager.
A girl and boy from different religion fall in love.
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 falls in love with her.
Susan was sweet if not rebel at times. The restrictions she had is something I can totally relate to.
Overall, the romance is cute. I loved their initial interactions. The forbidden aspect was well written. I’m sure I would have rated this 4 or 5 star if I was a teenager.
October 15, 2020
Toxic, no chemistry and unnecessary romance.
And a completely pointless plot.
And a completely pointless plot.
December 31, 2019
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 Saudi Arabia to Canada. Susan likes art, but her parents believe it's an unreliable career choice. She has always excelled in school, kept away from boys, and obeyed her parents' rules.
Malcolm is a bAd bO y. He smokes, parties, kisses a lot of girls, and–oh my God, somebody call 911 for this–gETS DRUNK. Wow, he's so cool. Such a bad boy.
This book is basic. So basic I could only connect it to one song with very straightforward lyrics.
♫ girl like you - toro y moi ♫
Ohhhhh my God,,.,.,.,it's so boring. Susan is shy. Malcolm talks to her. Something dramatic happens. Susan's like [crying emoji], I guess I'll give up on love or something. Then someone who's close to Malcolm is like you know, Susan, he really cares about you, and Susan's like, lemme.....lemme try it again and woo woo yee. Everything is better and everyone has been made a better person in the process. Mix in some family issues and rebellion and that's the whole book.
It's also extremely unoriginal. It's actually exactly like any high school movie from the 2000's. We have a bad boy who everyone finds attractive. We have the new shy girl who the bad boy likes. We have the popular girl who's the ex of the bad boy who wants the bad boy back. We have the crowd of high-schoolers who're like, wow, I can't believe the new girl and the bad boy are a thing. The only "originality" I could see in this was the ending. I can say the ending was nice.
Some nice things:
➤ Malcolm is ethnically Zorostranian! He doesn't really practice it, but it's cool to see someone of that religion in a book.
➤ A lot of South Asian characters represented.
Some annoying things:
➤ The way these people talk is...stupid. They say, "Crap, man," and someone has probably had the audacity to call something "sick." Nobody–at least no teenager–talks like this in real life. They haven't since 2012. And I understand if the author doesn't like cussing, but if she wanted to make these characters seem more real, she could've just replaced, "Crap," with, "He cursed."
➤ Most characters are dumb, flat, and stereotypes.
➤ A lot of the scenes in this book played out like scenes from–and here it is again!–a high school movie from the 2000s. Super unrealistic.
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 Saudi Arabia to Canada. Susan likes art, but her parents believe it's an unreliable career choice. She has always excelled in school, kept away from boys, and obeyed her parents' rules.
Malcolm is a bAd bO y. He smokes, parties, kisses a lot of girls, and–oh my God, somebody call 911 for this–gETS DRUNK. Wow, he's so cool. Such a bad boy.
This book is basic. So basic I could only connect it to one song with very straightforward lyrics.
♫ girl like you - toro y moi ♫
Ohhhhh my God,,.,.,.,it's so boring. Susan is shy. Malcolm talks to her. Something dramatic happens. Susan's like [crying emoji], I guess I'll give up on love or something. Then someone who's close to Malcolm is like you know, Susan, he really cares about you, and Susan's like, lemme.....lemme try it again and woo woo yee. Everything is better and everyone has been made a better person in the process. Mix in some family issues and rebellion and that's the whole book.
It's also extremely unoriginal. It's actually exactly like any high school movie from the 2000's. We have a bad boy who everyone finds attractive. We have the new shy girl who the bad boy likes. We have the popular girl who's the ex of the bad boy who wants the bad boy back. We have the crowd of high-schoolers who're like, wow, I can't believe the new girl and the bad boy are a thing. The only "originality" I could see in this was the ending. I can say the ending was nice.
Some nice things:
➤ Malcolm is ethnically Zorostranian! He doesn't really practice it, but it's cool to see someone of that religion in a book.
➤ A lot of South Asian characters represented.
Some annoying things:
➤ The way these people talk is...stupid. They say, "Crap, man," and someone has probably had the audacity to call something "sick." Nobody–at least no teenager–talks like this in real life. They haven't since 2012. And I understand if the author doesn't like cussing, but if she wanted to make these characters seem more real, she could've just replaced, "Crap," with, "He cursed."
➤ Most characters are dumb, flat, and stereotypes.
➤ A lot of the scenes in this book played out like scenes from–and here it is again!–a high school movie from the 2000s. Super unrealistic.
May 12, 2019
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.
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.
April 10, 2019
* 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 quick temper, ever since his mom died of cancer a few years ago. As they get to know each other, trust, family, and their own hearts are on the line.
I really enjoyed this book, Susan and Malcolm were easy to connect with as characters. I actually enjoyed Malcolm's character a bit more, I found his development more prominent. However, the family dynamics and the varying cultures were engaging either way, and I liked how realistic it felt. Some contemporaries have a lot of fluff, but this one was genuine and reflective of youth in Toronto. It is one of the only books I remember reading that was set so close to me. I loved being able to know the landmarks and malls that they discuss in the novel, and I have even been to a few of the locations that they highlight. The racial differences were well written, and it is important to have books share these topics, as diversity a key part of today's culture.
I do wish readers could have found out a bit more about if they ended up together, or their feelings afterwards. I loved that there was an epilogue, and it might have been too long with more details, but I did want to keep reading about their story.
Overall, contemporary fans will adore this sweet novel, and for readers in the GTA, it will be easy to connect with for sure!
- 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 quick temper, ever since his mom died of cancer a few years ago. As they get to know each other, trust, family, and their own hearts are on the line.
I really enjoyed this book, Susan and Malcolm were easy to connect with as characters. I actually enjoyed Malcolm's character a bit more, I found his development more prominent. However, the family dynamics and the varying cultures were engaging either way, and I liked how realistic it felt. Some contemporaries have a lot of fluff, but this one was genuine and reflective of youth in Toronto. It is one of the only books I remember reading that was set so close to me. I loved being able to know the landmarks and malls that they discuss in the novel, and I have even been to a few of the locations that they highlight. The racial differences were well written, and it is important to have books share these topics, as diversity a key part of today's culture.
I do wish readers could have found out a bit more about if they ended up together, or their feelings afterwards. I loved that there was an epilogue, and it might have been too long with more details, but I did want to keep reading about their story.
Overall, contemporary fans will adore this sweet novel, and for readers in the GTA, it will be easy to connect with for sure!
April 11, 2019
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 me a bit to warm up to Susan and Malcolm, I really really liked them! I really felt for Susan and how she’s an immigrant to Canada (as I experienced some of what she went through myself when I first moved to this country as a child…though I will say that I moved here while I was in grade school and had some time to adjust to things before having to face high school).
And Malcolm. Where do I begin? He’s definitely the kind of bad boy that would have stolen my heart in high school! Especially once I would have gotten to know him better. I also really liked Susan and Malcolm’s interactions, as well as some of the more minor characters. Another thing that I loved (as I mentioned) was the location! The story of The Beauty of the Moment takes place in Toronto, which I have visited quite often in the past.
So, I recognized a lot of the spots/landmarks that were mentioned (which is quite awesome). I also loved learning about the other city that both Susan and the author lived in; Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. I had never read about Saudi Arabia before, so that was definitely a new experience. I recommend this book to all fans of contemporary YA romances (especially ones that have some depth to them)!
And while it took me a bit to warm up to Susan and Malcolm, I really really liked them! I really felt for Susan and how she’s an immigrant to Canada (as I experienced some of what she went through myself when I first moved to this country as a child…though I will say that I moved here while I was in grade school and had some time to adjust to things before having to face high school).
And Malcolm. Where do I begin? He’s definitely the kind of bad boy that would have stolen my heart in high school! Especially once I would have gotten to know him better. I also really liked Susan and Malcolm’s interactions, as well as some of the more minor characters. Another thing that I loved (as I mentioned) was the location! The story of The Beauty of the Moment takes place in Toronto, which I have visited quite often in the past.
So, I recognized a lot of the spots/landmarks that were mentioned (which is quite awesome). I also loved learning about the other city that both Susan and the author lived in; Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. I had never read about Saudi Arabia before, so that was definitely a new experience. I recommend this book to all fans of contemporary YA romances (especially ones that have some depth to them)!
April 1, 2019
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’t help but fall in love with.
Bhathena writes with such ease, it’s impossible not to get lost in her world. Both Susan and Malcolm are beautifully developed characters, each with hopes and ambitions, each with complicated family lives, and each trying to find their way through life. Their relationship felt very believable, and you become immediately invested. Bhathena’s ability to weave sociopolitical commentary into her narratives is also incredible; she touches upon immigration, the refugee crisis, racism, domestic violence and loss all in one book and does so really well. Her portrayal of how Susan moving to Canada takes a toll on her friendships and how she misses her past life resonated a lot with me.
My main issues with the novel was that I felt it dragged at times. It could have been shorter, and it would have been more impactful had it been about 50 or so pages shorter. But I would still highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good contemporary.
I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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’t help but fall in love with.
Bhathena writes with such ease, it’s impossible not to get lost in her world. Both Susan and Malcolm are beautifully developed characters, each with hopes and ambitions, each with complicated family lives, and each trying to find their way through life. Their relationship felt very believable, and you become immediately invested. Bhathena’s ability to weave sociopolitical commentary into her narratives is also incredible; she touches upon immigration, the refugee crisis, racism, domestic violence and loss all in one book and does so really well. Her portrayal of how Susan moving to Canada takes a toll on her friendships and how she misses her past life resonated a lot with me.
My main issues with the novel was that I felt it dragged at times. It could have been shorter, and it would have been more impactful had it been about 50 or so pages shorter. But I would still highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good contemporary.
I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2019
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 moment.” I thought that this book was a very inspiring read and the representation was spot on, I hope even though I’m not Indian or Saudi Arabian. I found that there could have been more added to this and some chapters were pretty slow, but those are just some criticism. Overall, a decent contemporary for romance lovers.
October 11, 2018
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 you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider this title for our YFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider this title for our YFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars!
February 28, 2019
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 Bhathena's debut, A Girl Like That - I was surprised and delighted to see that story referenced here). Looking forward to her foray into fantasy :) #TeamMancherMama
April 26, 2018
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.
July 20, 2019
Dnf at 33%, not a terrible book just not for me. I was kinda bored and didn’t care for the love interest in the book, romance/contemporary/ya are always hit or miss for me
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