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The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad
From award-winning, #OwnVoices author Natasha Deen comes a new funny, honest, YA novel following one girl as she tries to win over her crush before she leaves for college.
Let’s be clear. No matter what her older brother, Robby, says, aspiring screenwriter Tuna Rashad is not “stupidstitious.” She is, however, cool with her Caribbean heritage, which means she is always on the lookout for messages from loved ones who have passed on. But ever since Robby became a widower, all he does is hang out at the house, mock Tuna for following in their ancestors’ traditions, and meddle in her life.
Tuna needs to break free from her brother’s loving but over-bearing ways and get him a life (or at least, get him out of hers!). Based on the signs, her ancestors are on board. They also seem to be on board with helping Tuna win over her crush, Tristan Dangerfield. The only hiccup? She has to do it before leaving for college in the fall. A ticking clock, a grief-stricken brother, and a crush who doesn’t believe in signs. What could possibly go wrong?
Let’s be clear. No matter what her older brother, Robby, says, aspiring screenwriter Tuna Rashad is not “stupidstitious.” She is, however, cool with her Caribbean heritage, which means she is always on the lookout for messages from loved ones who have passed on. But ever since Robby became a widower, all he does is hang out at the house, mock Tuna for following in their ancestors’ traditions, and meddle in her life.
Tuna needs to break free from her brother’s loving but over-bearing ways and get him a life (or at least, get him out of hers!). Based on the signs, her ancestors are on board. They also seem to be on board with helping Tuna win over her crush, Tristan Dangerfield. The only hiccup? She has to do it before leaving for college in the fall. A ticking clock, a grief-stricken brother, and a crush who doesn’t believe in signs. What could possibly go wrong?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2022
5 people are currently reading
2068 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Deen
55 books183 followersNatasha Deen's family moved from Guyana, South America to Canada to escape the country's political & racial violence. She loved growing up in a country of snow & flannel, but often felt out of place. Thank goodness for books that showed her being different could also mean being awesome. Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her family where she spends A LOT of time arguing with her cats and dogs about who’s the boss of the house. Visit her at www.natashadeen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 25, 2022
Soo... this was the first arc (advanced reader copy) I've ever gotten, so thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this opportunity. Unfortunately I did not love this book.
Let's start with the positives:
+deals with a spiritual/superstitious character and I'm religious so could relate to that a bit.
+main character that has a hobby other than reading (she wants to be a screen writer and love movies so kinda similar but still.)
+tackles serious topics like grief
Negatives:
-didnt care for the romance
-didn't like that Tristan made fun of her beliefs and she still liked him
-this might just be a personal preference but I hate when the girl fights wayyyy harder to get the boy, than the boy does for her, you know?
-jokes weren't funny and over explained
-i didn't like the main character at all towards the end
To conclude it was an easy read maybe give it a chance and I hope you have better luck with it than I did.
Let's start with the positives:
+deals with a spiritual/superstitious character and I'm religious so could relate to that a bit.
+main character that has a hobby other than reading (she wants to be a screen writer and love movies so kinda similar but still.)
+tackles serious topics like grief
Negatives:
-didnt care for the romance
-didn't like that Tristan made fun of her beliefs and she still liked him
-this might just be a personal preference but I hate when the girl fights wayyyy harder to get the boy, than the boy does for her, you know?
-jokes weren't funny and over explained
-i didn't like the main character at all towards the end
To conclude it was an easy read maybe give it a chance and I hope you have better luck with it than I did.
Want to read
December 3, 202102.12.2021 i've heard this book is going to be funny and i mean, trying to win over your crush while being on the lookout for messages from ancestors does sound entertaining.
January 22, 2022
Originally posted at dearnicay.com
A huge thank you to the Author, the Publisher, and Netgalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings after I finished reading The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad. But before I break down my points and opinions on this one, I want to tell first the overview or what is the story all about.
The story was all about the life and adventure of Tuna Rashad, and how she depends her decisions on her “ancestors”, “signs” and “superstitious beliefs”. But her beliefs will become a challenge as she will try to win the heart of her “smart and not believing in any signs” crush. It was not all about her “shenanigans” adventure towards her crush, but also all about helping her brother Robby to accept and move on with his life after David died.
Based on my overview, I know you already knew what will happen to the story, right?
As mentioned, I have mixed feelings about the story. For the story/plot, it was okay for me, but it didn’t leave a remarkable spot after reading it, but it was good at least. There were questions I have in my mind that I tried to find throughout the story, but I didn’t find any.
For the characters, there were times that I find Tuna annoying. She has this “rebellious” type character that didn’t think her actions very well, and there were times that she was selfish especially to her brother’s feelings.
To her crush, at first his character was okay for me, but during the last few chapters he became an annoying one too. If you are a real person, I will tell you honestly that you are infuriating because if you didn’t like a person tell her immediately and don’t give the hints that will make her think that you will end up as a couple. Well, that’s my opinion from the last few chapters, but well since this is a story… it still ends happily.
Well, the story was okay and has potential, but I rated it 3 stars because of the characters in the book. My favorite character here is Tuna’s best friend – Fi. She tells good opinions about the decisions or actions of Tuna, and here is the quoted opinion from her:
Yeah, she made a good point there.
So overall, my rating is 3 out 5 stars. It’s a good story, I liked it but not the characters.
A huge thank you to the Author, the Publisher, and Netgalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings after I finished reading The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad. But before I break down my points and opinions on this one, I want to tell first the overview or what is the story all about.
The story was all about the life and adventure of Tuna Rashad, and how she depends her decisions on her “ancestors”, “signs” and “superstitious beliefs”. But her beliefs will become a challenge as she will try to win the heart of her “smart and not believing in any signs” crush. It was not all about her “shenanigans” adventure towards her crush, but also all about helping her brother Robby to accept and move on with his life after David died.
Based on my overview, I know you already knew what will happen to the story, right?
As mentioned, I have mixed feelings about the story. For the story/plot, it was okay for me, but it didn’t leave a remarkable spot after reading it, but it was good at least. There were questions I have in my mind that I tried to find throughout the story, but I didn’t find any.
For the characters, there were times that I find Tuna annoying. She has this “rebellious” type character that didn’t think her actions very well, and there were times that she was selfish especially to her brother’s feelings.
To her crush, at first his character was okay for me, but during the last few chapters he became an annoying one too. If you are a real person, I will tell you honestly that you are infuriating because if you didn’t like a person tell her immediately and don’t give the hints that will make her think that you will end up as a couple. Well, that’s my opinion from the last few chapters, but well since this is a story… it still ends happily.
Well, the story was okay and has potential, but I rated it 3 stars because of the characters in the book. My favorite character here is Tuna’s best friend – Fi. She tells good opinions about the decisions or actions of Tuna, and here is the quoted opinion from her:
“I always wondered why you’re such a fan of screenwriting and movies. Now I get it. It’s because you’re useless in a real-life crisis.” – An honest opinion from Fi to Tuna.
Yeah, she made a good point there.
So overall, my rating is 3 out 5 stars. It’s a good story, I liked it but not the characters.
June 11, 2022
Altuna (or Tuna) Rashad is about to leave for college, and she decides she wants at least one date with Tristan Dangerfield before she leaves.
Let's start with the main character, Tuna. Her voice was certainly unique, oscillating from hilarious to vaguely annoying at times, but it never got so irritating that I stopped reading. The juxtaposition of her religious beliefs to the maths and science of Tristan was interesting but never really explored enough for me. There were lots of pop culture references, some of which I didn't understand because I didn't know Sleepless in Seattle (though I'll be checking it out after reading this!).
I liked Tuna's family and the way she considered her ancestors. It was actually a really big highlight for me to see a religious character who took signs really seriously not drop her beliefs in the book and "convert" to being less religious. Though I personally am an atheist, I thought that was super cool! The fact that this story was also #ownvoices was a big plus for me, too.
My main issue with the book was Tuna, though. Some of the things she thought, said, and did really annoyed me. For example, at one point her older brother, Robby, is hanging out with her crush, Tristan, and Robby has recently lost his husband, who he had known for 30 years, since he was in pre-school. Tuna's inner monologue gets annoyed that Robby keeps stealing time from her with Tristan (to some extent, that's fair enough) but then she has the audacity to suggest that Robby has only befriended her crush to make sure she, Tuna, stays single??? Because her brother is so grief-stricken about his loss that he wants to sabotage her happiness? Girl what? After Robby has gone through so much?? Literally almost every thing this girl did annoyed me; she goes on a friendship hangout with her crush and before he arrives orders for him?? That would really annoy me if I was him, but Tristan just kind of goes with it but then she finds out she ordered it at a different restaurant across town? First of all she orders for him and somehow, SOMEHOW, gets it across town?? This girl.
Anyway, it also annoyed me how she kept being like "we're such nerds" when they were just being... people? Like they spoke once in an old-timey Victorian way to make a joke and she was like "omg we're such nerds" like girl sorry?
Also, a lot of the jokes were not that funny... and there were a lot of them.
I've been a little harsh. Tuna wasn't great but she had a couple of good moments. Fleeting ones.
Tuna and Tristan's relationship, also, didn't work for me. They just didn't gel together and none of their conversations ever indicated them liking each other, really, and it was just so flat. A lot of the things he said to her were total red flags and there was a lot of telling that they liked each other but no showing.
The ending was very unexpected and I didn't like it. I thought the end should have been about a chapter or 2 before where it really stopped.
You may have different opinions to me, but while I loved the family dynamics I just couldn't deal with Tuna's BS. The casual rep in this, though, was so good.
Thank you Netgalley and Running Press for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and very, maybe brutally, honest.
Let's start with the main character, Tuna. Her voice was certainly unique, oscillating from hilarious to vaguely annoying at times, but it never got so irritating that I stopped reading. The juxtaposition of her religious beliefs to the maths and science of Tristan was interesting but never really explored enough for me. There were lots of pop culture references, some of which I didn't understand because I didn't know Sleepless in Seattle (though I'll be checking it out after reading this!).
I liked Tuna's family and the way she considered her ancestors. It was actually a really big highlight for me to see a religious character who took signs really seriously not drop her beliefs in the book and "convert" to being less religious. Though I personally am an atheist, I thought that was super cool! The fact that this story was also #ownvoices was a big plus for me, too.
My main issue with the book was Tuna, though. Some of the things she thought, said, and did really annoyed me. For example, at one point her older brother, Robby, is hanging out with her crush, Tristan, and Robby has recently lost his husband, who he had known for 30 years, since he was in pre-school. Tuna's inner monologue gets annoyed that Robby keeps stealing time from her with Tristan (to some extent, that's fair enough) but then she has the audacity to suggest that Robby has only befriended her crush to make sure she, Tuna, stays single??? Because her brother is so grief-stricken about his loss that he wants to sabotage her happiness? Girl what? After Robby has gone through so much?? Literally almost every thing this girl did annoyed me; she goes on a friendship hangout with her crush and before he arrives orders for him?? That would really annoy me if I was him, but Tristan just kind of goes with it but then she finds out she ordered it at a different restaurant across town? First of all she orders for him and somehow, SOMEHOW, gets it across town?? This girl.
Anyway, it also annoyed me how she kept being like "we're such nerds" when they were just being... people? Like they spoke once in an old-timey Victorian way to make a joke and she was like "omg we're such nerds" like girl sorry?
Also, a lot of the jokes were not that funny... and there were a lot of them.
I've been a little harsh. Tuna wasn't great but she had a couple of good moments. Fleeting ones.
Tuna and Tristan's relationship, also, didn't work for me. They just didn't gel together and none of their conversations ever indicated them liking each other, really, and it was just so flat. A lot of the things he said to her were total red flags and there was a lot of telling that they liked each other but no showing.
The ending was very unexpected and I didn't like it. I thought the end should have been about a chapter or 2 before where it really stopped.
You may have different opinions to me, but while I loved the family dynamics I just couldn't deal with Tuna's BS. The casual rep in this, though, was so good.
Thank you Netgalley and Running Press for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and very, maybe brutally, honest.
June 15, 2022
This is an underwhelming book. Although the plot and premise were okay, the characters were difficult to relate to. I loved the heroine at first because of her amusing internal monologues, wonderful sense of humor, and beliefs - she's superstitious to the core. However, as the tale progressed, she got increasingly annoying and insufferable. Her superstitions and repeated requests for signs from the ancestors began to wear me down. I understand and respect her views, but the fact that she was completely reliant on them was both absurd and irritating. Her superstitious nature was also the source of friction between her and her crush and brother. Not to mention she became this self-centered and insensitive individual. There were times when I wanted to slap some sense into her 😂. And I literally screamed when her brother put her in her place. I was so exhilarated and she fcking deserved it!! I read this book in two days, but it felt like 30 EXCRUCIATING. BORING. DAYS. For any consolation, there were some good scenes (at the very least!!) too that made me smile, chuckle, and feel a little emotional.
This is my first read by the author, and I'm not sure whether I'll read any of her previous books. Perhaps I'll need a long time to heal before reading any of her works again. Sorry not sorry.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first read by the author, and I'm not sure whether I'll read any of her previous books. Perhaps I'll need a long time to heal before reading any of her works again. Sorry not sorry.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2022
Bring on the ethnic drama! Tuna Rashad took me by surprise in the best way possible! I love how bubbly and refreshingly unapologetically original she is as a character.
I knew this book wormed it's way into my Caribbean heart when I read, "If any jumbee come in tonight and harm you, I'll apologize for the shoes." Like sis, this is my entire childhood in this one statement- superstitious much?
I enjoyed that there were so many layers to this book- not only Tuna but her brother and parents and crush Tristan. I think Tuna is all of us growing up looking for a sign or divine intervention to signal that something is right instead of listening to our instinct and gut.
The realism heightened the enjoyment and seeing Tuna try to be "normal" but casting it aside to live her truth was something I wish I could tell younger me- "just wait, there's going to be books about us!"
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an arc. I highly enjoyed this book!
I knew this book wormed it's way into my Caribbean heart when I read, "If any jumbee come in tonight and harm you, I'll apologize for the shoes." Like sis, this is my entire childhood in this one statement- superstitious much?
I enjoyed that there were so many layers to this book- not only Tuna but her brother and parents and crush Tristan. I think Tuna is all of us growing up looking for a sign or divine intervention to signal that something is right instead of listening to our instinct and gut.
The realism heightened the enjoyment and seeing Tuna try to be "normal" but casting it aside to live her truth was something I wish I could tell younger me- "just wait, there's going to be books about us!"
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an arc. I highly enjoyed this book!
June 22, 2022
3.5 stars.
Altuna “Tuna” Rashad has been crushing hard on a classmate of hers for years, and as she has only some weeks left of the summer before she moves to Georgia for college, she plans to date him.
But she can’t just ask him as the signs and ancestors all have to be in accord before she can ask Tristan out on a date. Tuna, and her Caribbean mum and dad respect that there could be ancestors watching over them, though Tuna’s older brother Robby, a successful surgeon and grieving husband, pooh poohs these notions.
Robbie’s husband David died suddenly, and everyone in the family loved him. Problem is, Robby isn’t coping all that well, and to help him, everyone has hidden pictures of David in the family home and don't talk about him so as not to send Robby into a worse state.
So, shenanigans, tension, arguments, horrid indie movies and a dog appearing in their lives all happen while Tuna tries to find the opportune moment to ask Tristan out, while also trying to get her brother to reach out and connect with others, instead of spending all his free time with Tuna and their parents.
I liked Tuna, even when she did a couple of things I didn’t like. She's got a huge heart, confidence, forthrightness, a vivid imagination, and a tendency to create drama where ever she goes. She’s also deeply caring, and does not always use common sense. This gets her into trouble, particularly in her efforts to help her brother. Much as her heart was in the right place, I didn't like her methods.
The book started out well, but I found it dragged in parts. That aside, I liked the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Running Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Altuna “Tuna” Rashad has been crushing hard on a classmate of hers for years, and as she has only some weeks left of the summer before she moves to Georgia for college, she plans to date him.
But she can’t just ask him as the signs and ancestors all have to be in accord before she can ask Tristan out on a date. Tuna, and her Caribbean mum and dad respect that there could be ancestors watching over them, though Tuna’s older brother Robby, a successful surgeon and grieving husband, pooh poohs these notions.
Robbie’s husband David died suddenly, and everyone in the family loved him. Problem is, Robby isn’t coping all that well, and to help him, everyone has hidden pictures of David in the family home and don't talk about him so as not to send Robby into a worse state.
So, shenanigans, tension, arguments, horrid indie movies and a dog appearing in their lives all happen while Tuna tries to find the opportune moment to ask Tristan out, while also trying to get her brother to reach out and connect with others, instead of spending all his free time with Tuna and their parents.
I liked Tuna, even when she did a couple of things I didn’t like. She's got a huge heart, confidence, forthrightness, a vivid imagination, and a tendency to create drama where ever she goes. She’s also deeply caring, and does not always use common sense. This gets her into trouble, particularly in her efforts to help her brother. Much as her heart was in the right place, I didn't like her methods.
The book started out well, but I found it dragged in parts. That aside, I liked the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Running Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
February 20, 2022
First let me say I totally relate to Tuna as she does a rewrite of her life as it is happening, doing an interdialogue of how things should go, and then correcting herself. I love that bit of her.
While I can relate to being driving crazy by a brother who is trying to forget his husband, and eradicate him from his life, I do relate to wanting to rewrite life as it is happening.
This leads to thoughts like:
The problem with Tuna is that she is not paying attention to how other people are feeling around her, which leads to heartache and conflict in the novel, as it well should.
I'm a little torn on the story. I love the character. Not sure if I love how it all ends. Probably three and a half stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
While I can relate to being driving crazy by a brother who is trying to forget his husband, and eradicate him from his life, I do relate to wanting to rewrite life as it is happening.
This leads to thoughts like:
It's like watching a puppy try to tie its shoes. Not that a puppy would wear shoes. Or they might. Who am I to judge the fashion choices of the canine set?
The problem with Tuna is that she is not paying attention to how other people are feeling around her, which leads to heartache and conflict in the novel, as it well should.
I'm a little torn on the story. I love the character. Not sure if I love how it all ends. Probably three and a half stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
March 10, 2022
I love when it pays off to take a chance on a book. I downloaded this because it was "read now" on Netgalley and it sounded interesting, and this was so worth the read! I don't understand why I haven't seen this around more, because it was really great!
The one thing that made this stand out immediately was the voice of the book, which is so strong and so fun to read. Because of this the book never feels heavy, even though it deals with grief as a central storyline.
And I loved that storyline as well. All the characters were just really great, but Tuna's brother especially stood out to me. I thought his grief, and his family's grief, about losing his husband was handled in a very nuanced way, full of empathy but also showing that none of these characters handle things perfectly.
The one thing that made this stand out immediately was the voice of the book, which is so strong and so fun to read. Because of this the book never feels heavy, even though it deals with grief as a central storyline.
And I loved that storyline as well. All the characters were just really great, but Tuna's brother especially stood out to me. I thought his grief, and his family's grief, about losing his husband was handled in a very nuanced way, full of empathy but also showing that none of these characters handle things perfectly.
March 16, 2022
This was a unique and fun read at first glance, then, you look a little closer and see a portrait of grief the heart that beats within. Beneath the traditions and superstitions, the often light banter and ticking clock as college looms lays the gentle reminder that every journey with grief is different, as demonstrated by the intricate threads woven within the Rashad family’s tapestry.
I loved the premise set forth by the blurb and I just knew I wanted to read this story. And, for the most part, I enjoyed it. The sibling dynamics between Tuna and Robby was captured well, and I enjoyed the communication and teasing that went on between them. My heart harboured a soft spot for Robby and the struggle he was going through, aching for the love he’d lost, and I believe Fi was the perfect best friend to ground Tuna and deliver those much needed reality checks when her plotting went too far.
I loved seeing Tuna take pride in her heritage and her ancestors throughout the story even when others, her crush included, didn’t understand their value to her. The diversity that made up this story was great to see and I liked the different perspectives this allowed on Tuna’s world. I did, however, wish to see Tuna taking some responsibility for the choices she made and wanted to see her making some decisions for herself without expecting a sign or two to support it. It did get a little wearisome after a while when everything needed to be rooted in a sign from her ancestors.
Unfortunately, I personally wasn’t a fan of the romance pushed between Tuna and Tristan (and at times Tuna herself) and the narrative style and internal dialogues Deen utilised did take some getting used to. This narration style, however, was a great reflection of Tuna and her ambitions, and the almost stream of consciousness vibes it gave did end up working well in this regard, so good choice author 👏
While this may not have met my expectations or ended up being the perfect read for myself, The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a fun story about chasing signs in pursuit of love amidst this particular scene stained with grief that the right reader is just going to adore. A light and easy read filled with ambition and superstitions, with a strong and quirky style of voice - which many can attribute to that same voice in our own head - this is sure to have young adults and adults alike laughing and face palming as they share in this snapshot of Tuna’s journey, while relating themselves in many ways.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book, thanks to NetGalley and Running Press, in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the premise set forth by the blurb and I just knew I wanted to read this story. And, for the most part, I enjoyed it. The sibling dynamics between Tuna and Robby was captured well, and I enjoyed the communication and teasing that went on between them. My heart harboured a soft spot for Robby and the struggle he was going through, aching for the love he’d lost, and I believe Fi was the perfect best friend to ground Tuna and deliver those much needed reality checks when her plotting went too far.
I loved seeing Tuna take pride in her heritage and her ancestors throughout the story even when others, her crush included, didn’t understand their value to her. The diversity that made up this story was great to see and I liked the different perspectives this allowed on Tuna’s world. I did, however, wish to see Tuna taking some responsibility for the choices she made and wanted to see her making some decisions for herself without expecting a sign or two to support it. It did get a little wearisome after a while when everything needed to be rooted in a sign from her ancestors.
Unfortunately, I personally wasn’t a fan of the romance pushed between Tuna and Tristan (and at times Tuna herself) and the narrative style and internal dialogues Deen utilised did take some getting used to. This narration style, however, was a great reflection of Tuna and her ambitions, and the almost stream of consciousness vibes it gave did end up working well in this regard, so good choice author 👏
While this may not have met my expectations or ended up being the perfect read for myself, The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a fun story about chasing signs in pursuit of love amidst this particular scene stained with grief that the right reader is just going to adore. A light and easy read filled with ambition and superstitions, with a strong and quirky style of voice - which many can attribute to that same voice in our own head - this is sure to have young adults and adults alike laughing and face palming as they share in this snapshot of Tuna’s journey, while relating themselves in many ways.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book, thanks to NetGalley and Running Press, in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2025
Annoying, somewhat unlikeable main character who doesn't learn from her mistakes or have any character development? ✅️
A basic plot that is both predictable, underdeveloped, and somehow all really minor problems? ✅️
Shallow, one dimensional characters all around?✅️
"Dripping" with cliches? (see what I did there?)✅️
But then, although I felt like I was reading a grade 9 creative writing story, there were some redeeming qualities:
Super funny with some great lines and hilarious moments?✅️
Clean with almost no swearing or sex?✅️
An easy read for a tired brain and helped put me to sleep? ✅️
So not the worst. But clearly not the best either.
A basic plot that is both predictable, underdeveloped, and somehow all really minor problems? ✅️
Shallow, one dimensional characters all around?✅️
"Dripping" with cliches? (see what I did there?)✅️
But then, although I felt like I was reading a grade 9 creative writing story, there were some redeeming qualities:
Super funny with some great lines and hilarious moments?✅️
Clean with almost no swearing or sex?✅️
An easy read for a tired brain and helped put me to sleep? ✅️
So not the worst. But clearly not the best either.
November 9, 2022
This story dragged out for entirely too long but I finally made it to the end! Woohoo! LOL!
January 17, 2022
This is a story of Tuna and her family. She believes in signs from her dead ancestors and lives her life around it. She is an aspiring screenwriter and wants to date her crush Tristan before she moves to college.
This book deals with a lot of grieve. Tuna's brother Robby loved a boy since he was 5, they both grew up together through everything. Now Robby is a widower and spends all his time at his parents house.
This book deals with a lot of grieve. Tuna's brother Robby loved a boy since he was 5, they both grew up together through everything. Now Robby is a widower and spends all his time at his parents house.
April 8, 2022
The premise for this book sounded rather promising at a first glance, but this YA contemporary romance left some to be desired.
The plot of this book wasn't bad as it was centered on Tuna and her ancestral beliefs, her desire to help her brother Robby overcome grief, and her goal to date her crush Tristan. I loved how Tuna was passionate about her beliefs and seeing signs from her ancestors in every little thing and how so many incidences did seem tied to them, but like Tuna's best friend Fi pointed out, Tuna is rather detached from reality and treats everything in life as one of her screenwriting scripts. I also really liked how grief was portrayed differently in the characters and how it addressed how differently people experience it. It was more of the romance portion that I didn't care for as it didn't feel genuine and it felt like the friendship/relationship was forced at times between the two characters. I just didn't really see the connection there, especially after Tristan disregarded Tuna's beliefs so much and she still liked him despite their major personality differences and clashes in beliefs. The end felt a little off and just didn't seem to resolve as much as I had hoped and I disliked the characters more by the end than I did at the beginning.
As for the characters themselves, I found them all to be rather interesting, but I didn't really love any of them. Tuna was annoying quite often and was very selfish in her treatment of others. With Robby handling his grief so differently from Tuna, she had no respect for it and took it upon herself to attempt to push him along and therefore causing chaos in the midst of it all. I did like her interest in screenwriting and found that trait rather unique. Tristan was okay, but I just never felt like he was putting his all into anything, and while he claimed to like Tuna, it didn't really show in his actions or even a lot of the dialogue. I did like Fi and how she was the voice of reason for Tuna (even if Tuna rarely listened) and helped keep her grounded.
The writing itself was okay, but so many of the descriptions were lengthy, unnecessary, and even deterred from the scenes themselves. So many jokes were overexplained, and while I understand the narrative is from Tuna reflecting and "editing" her story, her rambling made it feel like a chore to read some parts. There were some good scenes though that I did enjoy, but not enough to make it a read to really connect with.
Overall, this book is okay, but not something I would jump to recommend. I am glad I read it as it did have some good qualities like strong cultural beliefs, conveyed the series topic of grief well, a little bit of LGBTQ+ rep, and a BIPOC main character. It just didn't have a "wow factor" or anything notable that made me love it as a YA coming-of-age story.
(Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for honest feedback!)
The plot of this book wasn't bad as it was centered on Tuna and her ancestral beliefs, her desire to help her brother Robby overcome grief, and her goal to date her crush Tristan. I loved how Tuna was passionate about her beliefs and seeing signs from her ancestors in every little thing and how so many incidences did seem tied to them, but like Tuna's best friend Fi pointed out, Tuna is rather detached from reality and treats everything in life as one of her screenwriting scripts. I also really liked how grief was portrayed differently in the characters and how it addressed how differently people experience it. It was more of the romance portion that I didn't care for as it didn't feel genuine and it felt like the friendship/relationship was forced at times between the two characters. I just didn't really see the connection there, especially after Tristan disregarded Tuna's beliefs so much and she still liked him despite their major personality differences and clashes in beliefs. The end felt a little off and just didn't seem to resolve as much as I had hoped and I disliked the characters more by the end than I did at the beginning.
As for the characters themselves, I found them all to be rather interesting, but I didn't really love any of them. Tuna was annoying quite often and was very selfish in her treatment of others. With Robby handling his grief so differently from Tuna, she had no respect for it and took it upon herself to attempt to push him along and therefore causing chaos in the midst of it all. I did like her interest in screenwriting and found that trait rather unique. Tristan was okay, but I just never felt like he was putting his all into anything, and while he claimed to like Tuna, it didn't really show in his actions or even a lot of the dialogue. I did like Fi and how she was the voice of reason for Tuna (even if Tuna rarely listened) and helped keep her grounded.
The writing itself was okay, but so many of the descriptions were lengthy, unnecessary, and even deterred from the scenes themselves. So many jokes were overexplained, and while I understand the narrative is from Tuna reflecting and "editing" her story, her rambling made it feel like a chore to read some parts. There were some good scenes though that I did enjoy, but not enough to make it a read to really connect with.
Overall, this book is okay, but not something I would jump to recommend. I am glad I read it as it did have some good qualities like strong cultural beliefs, conveyed the series topic of grief well, a little bit of LGBTQ+ rep, and a BIPOC main character. It just didn't have a "wow factor" or anything notable that made me love it as a YA coming-of-age story.
(Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for honest feedback!)
June 7, 2022
CW: death/loss, ableism
I would like to thank NetGalley and Running Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Altuna “Tuna” Rashad is aiming for her chance of dating long-time crush Tristan before heading off to Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall. Following the guidance of her ancestors, she spends the summer trying to get Tristan’s attention while dealing with her recently widowed brother’s grief.
While the plot may sound a bit cliche at first, Deen provides an excellent twist to the standard trope of the main character trying to win over their crush. Utilizing Caribbean heritage as a focal point for moving the story along, it was interesting to see a fresh point of view through Tuna’s perspective. Her commentary throughout the book is not only hilarious but relatable and that really allowed me to keep rooting for Tuna till the end.
The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is an excellent #OwnVoices read for this summer and Deen is an author you should be keeping an eye on in the future.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Running Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Altuna “Tuna” Rashad is aiming for her chance of dating long-time crush Tristan before heading off to Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall. Following the guidance of her ancestors, she spends the summer trying to get Tristan’s attention while dealing with her recently widowed brother’s grief.
While the plot may sound a bit cliche at first, Deen provides an excellent twist to the standard trope of the main character trying to win over their crush. Utilizing Caribbean heritage as a focal point for moving the story along, it was interesting to see a fresh point of view through Tuna’s perspective. Her commentary throughout the book is not only hilarious but relatable and that really allowed me to keep rooting for Tuna till the end.
The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is an excellent #OwnVoices read for this summer and Deen is an author you should be keeping an eye on in the future.
June 8, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Running Press for the eARC.
Tuna Rashad has a very close relationship with her family. Her Caribbean heritage is important to her, and she is constantly on the lookout for signs from her ancestors. Her continuous comments to her ancestors who have passed on were charming, and I really enjoyed the bond she shares with her parents and brother Robby (no matter how much he annoys her). After Robby loses his husband, the whole family is left coping with their grief in their own ways, and there were several touching moments throughout the novel that portray the different ways grief can impact a person.
Before going to college in the fall, Tuna wants to find love with her long-term crush, Tristan. Their nerdy banter was charming and entertaining, but I didn't love Tristan's comments about Tuna's beliefs. It doesn't seem like the kind of relationship that will last long-term, but the one thing Tuna's experience with loss has taught her is to value all of the time you have with the people you care about, and make the most of it.
Tuna Rashad has a very close relationship with her family. Her Caribbean heritage is important to her, and she is constantly on the lookout for signs from her ancestors. Her continuous comments to her ancestors who have passed on were charming, and I really enjoyed the bond she shares with her parents and brother Robby (no matter how much he annoys her). After Robby loses his husband, the whole family is left coping with their grief in their own ways, and there were several touching moments throughout the novel that portray the different ways grief can impact a person.
Before going to college in the fall, Tuna wants to find love with her long-term crush, Tristan. Their nerdy banter was charming and entertaining, but I didn't love Tristan's comments about Tuna's beliefs. It doesn't seem like the kind of relationship that will last long-term, but the one thing Tuna's experience with loss has taught her is to value all of the time you have with the people you care about, and make the most of it.
January 8, 2022
This book was so fun and entertaining! The main character was so fun and I absolutely loved her! It wasn't the most poetic or deep book, but it deals with grief in a very real way that I could relate to and understand. If you're looking for a fun and adorably one-of-a-kind read, this is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
January 28, 2022
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
2.25 (2 stars)
The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a contemporary novel about Tuna, an aspiring screenwriter who is about to go to college. Before she goes to college, she wants to win over the boy she been hopelessly crushing on, Tristan. But this comes to a challenge as she believes in making decisions from signs from her ancestors.
I found myself having mixed feelings about this story.
I enjoyed the chemistry between Tuna and Tristan and I found some parts funny. However, I couldn't relate to characters, and at times found them annoying. The plot of the story is not memorable for me. The pacing of the book is decent and the book is quite short, but it took me forever to read. I found myself bored towards the end, as I was not really connected to the story.
Overall, this story was okay but has potential.
Also, I would love to say how gorgeous the cover is.
2.25 (2 stars)
The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a contemporary novel about Tuna, an aspiring screenwriter who is about to go to college. Before she goes to college, she wants to win over the boy she been hopelessly crushing on, Tristan. But this comes to a challenge as she believes in making decisions from signs from her ancestors.
I found myself having mixed feelings about this story.
I enjoyed the chemistry between Tuna and Tristan and I found some parts funny. However, I couldn't relate to characters, and at times found them annoying. The plot of the story is not memorable for me. The pacing of the book is decent and the book is quite short, but it took me forever to read. I found myself bored towards the end, as I was not really connected to the story.
Overall, this story was okay but has potential.
Also, I would love to say how gorgeous the cover is.
May 21, 2022
Very slow, I don't like the love interest, he was so disrespectful and it was just written off. Boring, repetitive and dragging.
April 20, 2022
First off, THIS COVER!!! Gorgeous!!!
So as a non-religious person, I should agree with some of the other reviews on this book that the signs and ancestors bit was overdone. But I couldn’t disagree more. I absolutely loved those parts even though they aren’t aspects of my own life or culture. I thought the integration of the culture in this way was unique and unlike other books that use food or language to share cultural references. I appreciated learning about this aspect of the character’s heritage and upbringing. It really warmed my heart each time it was referenced. It also may seem a little overblown, but for an 18 year old, I think it seems reasonable.
There were a few parts of the writing that took me out of the story. There was a reference to a certain color and sign being missing from a cake but I didn’t understand the significance and spent 5 minutes backtracking to see if I missed something. It turns out I hadn’t and the significance of these two things were explained later, but separately and like a solid 50 pages later. There was also a reference to being “in cement” that I’m unfamiliar with and left me a little confused but I’m not sure if this is a cultural reference, or if it’s because I’m an elder millennial and am officially out of touch now.
I loved the sibling relationship, though I do agree with other reviewers in that the main character did seem a little too obsessed with her older brother's grieving process, but maybe that's just her way of coping with her own grief. I thought all of the narratives and portraits of their grief as a family were very authentic. It makes me think this is something the author has been touched by and I definitely cried at one point.
Where it started to fall apart for me was the lack of self reflection on Tuna's part. She was so busy psychoanalyzing everyone else and trying to orchestrate their lives, that she never did any growth on her own. She also blamed everyone else for the messes she got into. But...thinking back to how I was acting at 18, I probably acted and thought much the same. Even when confronted with her poor behavior, she blamed the person she hurt. Her brother lost his spouse and she acts like it had more of an impact on her than him. She claims she tried to respect how he mourned, but we didn't see any evidence of that anywhere. It was all complaining.
I also didn't love the part where a kid's mom was going to remove him from a situation where he was being bullied and she basically told the kid to stick it out. Yikes. What was this supposed to demonstrate to us?
The resolution to the romance also seemed immature (but again, 18 year olds so maybe it tracks). She is upset for how he calls her beliefs quirks but her best friend and brother both say the exact same things and she wants them in her life. She said she can respect Tristan's different view but she can't accept that he doesn't follow hers? And she calls him a coward while she has kept up a lie to him the entire duration of their friendship?
Also the dog ownership/reclaiming thing towards the end was....very bizarre. That really just pulled me out of the story and I kind of gave up and flipped through the rest.
Overall, I liked the connections to ones culture and ancestors, I think the grief was really well done, but the rest of the plot lines just kind of fell apart for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a free copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
So as a non-religious person, I should agree with some of the other reviews on this book that the signs and ancestors bit was overdone. But I couldn’t disagree more. I absolutely loved those parts even though they aren’t aspects of my own life or culture. I thought the integration of the culture in this way was unique and unlike other books that use food or language to share cultural references. I appreciated learning about this aspect of the character’s heritage and upbringing. It really warmed my heart each time it was referenced. It also may seem a little overblown, but for an 18 year old, I think it seems reasonable.
There were a few parts of the writing that took me out of the story. There was a reference to a certain color and sign being missing from a cake but I didn’t understand the significance and spent 5 minutes backtracking to see if I missed something. It turns out I hadn’t and the significance of these two things were explained later, but separately and like a solid 50 pages later. There was also a reference to being “in cement” that I’m unfamiliar with and left me a little confused but I’m not sure if this is a cultural reference, or if it’s because I’m an elder millennial and am officially out of touch now.
I loved the sibling relationship, though I do agree with other reviewers in that the main character did seem a little too obsessed with her older brother's grieving process, but maybe that's just her way of coping with her own grief. I thought all of the narratives and portraits of their grief as a family were very authentic. It makes me think this is something the author has been touched by and I definitely cried at one point.
Where it started to fall apart for me was the lack of self reflection on Tuna's part. She was so busy psychoanalyzing everyone else and trying to orchestrate their lives, that she never did any growth on her own. She also blamed everyone else for the messes she got into. But...thinking back to how I was acting at 18, I probably acted and thought much the same. Even when confronted with her poor behavior, she blamed the person she hurt. Her brother lost his spouse and she acts like it had more of an impact on her than him. She claims she tried to respect how he mourned, but we didn't see any evidence of that anywhere. It was all complaining.
I also didn't love the part where a kid's mom was going to remove him from a situation where he was being bullied and she basically told the kid to stick it out. Yikes. What was this supposed to demonstrate to us?
The resolution to the romance also seemed immature (but again, 18 year olds so maybe it tracks). She is upset for how he calls her beliefs quirks but her best friend and brother both say the exact same things and she wants them in her life. She said she can respect Tristan's different view but she can't accept that he doesn't follow hers? And she calls him a coward while she has kept up a lie to him the entire duration of their friendship?
Also the dog ownership/reclaiming thing towards the end was....very bizarre. That really just pulled me out of the story and I kind of gave up and flipped through the rest.
Overall, I liked the connections to ones culture and ancestors, I think the grief was really well done, but the rest of the plot lines just kind of fell apart for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a free copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2022
Tuna Rashad is an aspiring screenwriter and she believes in looking out for signs and messages send from loved ones who have passed on. But after her brothers husband died all he does is hang out at their family’s house and mock Tuna for her following in their ancestors’ traditions. She only got a few weeks to win over her crush Tristan. She believes that her ancestors will help her with that. But will it work out even if her crush doesn’t believe in signs and her brother driving her insane?
The book was a real rollercoaster for me. There were aspects of the story I really enjoyed but overall it was just not it for me. After I read the description I thought it would be a sweet story about family and love and it still was a cute story abut family and love but not what I expected.
For me Tuna was a unlikeable protagonist and I just couldn’t really connect to her. I really enjoyed the cultural aspects and that she believed in the signs but sometimes it was just to much. But I think it would have been better and even a character development if she would have admitted that she misread the signs and also that not everything she sees is a sign.
As I mentioned before Robby’s husband died and he needed some time time to learn how he can deal with the situation. Tuna was very mean to her brother and didn’t gave him the time he needed and also she was extremely selfish about it because his husband was also one of her friends. For her it didn’t made a difference that her brother lost the love of his life because she also lost a friend but that’s just not the same. She said things to him that were just very unfair.
And for me there were no chemistry between Tuna and her crush Tristan. He always seamed uninterested in her and she was so desperate to win him that I couldn’t believe she really had a crush on him.
I really enjoyed the idea of the story to believe in signs from ancestors but it was a bit overdone. Not everything is a sign and even it’s a sign it doesn’t has to be a good one.
I also really enjoyed to learn more about screen writing because I knew basically nothing about it. It was a nice variety from her love life.
My favorite character was definitely Tunas best friend Fi because she was super kind and she didn’t hold back to tell Tuna that she did something bad and she also didn’t sugarcoat it to make Tuna feel better. The book really needed a character like Fi!
“The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad” is a cute story about family, how to deal with grief and also about love. If I wouldn’t had that high expectations I would probably have enjoyed it more than I did now. I still think that it’s a good book but sadly not my new favorite of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Deen and Running Press for giving me an EARC!
The book was a real rollercoaster for me. There were aspects of the story I really enjoyed but overall it was just not it for me. After I read the description I thought it would be a sweet story about family and love and it still was a cute story abut family and love but not what I expected.
For me Tuna was a unlikeable protagonist and I just couldn’t really connect to her. I really enjoyed the cultural aspects and that she believed in the signs but sometimes it was just to much. But I think it would have been better and even a character development if she would have admitted that she misread the signs and also that not everything she sees is a sign.
As I mentioned before Robby’s husband died and he needed some time time to learn how he can deal with the situation. Tuna was very mean to her brother and didn’t gave him the time he needed and also she was extremely selfish about it because his husband was also one of her friends. For her it didn’t made a difference that her brother lost the love of his life because she also lost a friend but that’s just not the same. She said things to him that were just very unfair.
And for me there were no chemistry between Tuna and her crush Tristan. He always seamed uninterested in her and she was so desperate to win him that I couldn’t believe she really had a crush on him.
I really enjoyed the idea of the story to believe in signs from ancestors but it was a bit overdone. Not everything is a sign and even it’s a sign it doesn’t has to be a good one.
I also really enjoyed to learn more about screen writing because I knew basically nothing about it. It was a nice variety from her love life.
My favorite character was definitely Tunas best friend Fi because she was super kind and she didn’t hold back to tell Tuna that she did something bad and she also didn’t sugarcoat it to make Tuna feel better. The book really needed a character like Fi!
“The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad” is a cute story about family, how to deal with grief and also about love. If I wouldn’t had that high expectations I would probably have enjoyed it more than I did now. I still think that it’s a good book but sadly not my new favorite of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Deen and Running Press for giving me an EARC!
June 7, 2022
Utterly refreshing!
Canadian author Natasha Deen was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada where she has become a prize -inning author of books for children, teens, and adults. She has both an innate talent for storytelling and the gift for introducing her passion to others, in schools, libraries, and other organizations. Her motto, ‘Change the world one story at a time.’ She has published over twenty books to date! Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
In this new Young Adult novel, Natasha celebrates her heritage with a story that embraces family, sibling relationships, those timorous months before going to college, and young love. Her writing continues to be near conversational, as the opening lines convey – ‘The planets are in precise alignment, the moons are in their proper houses, and the auspicious signs can’t be denied. Okay, okay. So maybe a five-year-old student pooping in the pool during my summer class at Ontario Rec Center isn’t the most glamorous – or attractive – good omen. But – BUT – class ended early (thank you, ancestors!), which meant my shift ended early. Which means I have just enough time to oh-so-casually get to the soccer field behind the building for a “goodness, what a coincidence” meet-cute with the future Mr. Altuna Kahmir Rashad, aka Tristan Dangerfield. Don’t let his last name mislead you. Tristan’s not dangerous or a bad boy, or anything like that. Actually he’s this kind, double helping of boy-treat who loves science and math, and who’s been lighting up my days since freshman year at Woodbine High.’
With that entry into the life of Tuna, the story takes on greater meaning, as the following summary reveals: ‘Let’s be clear. No matter what her older brother, Robby, says, aspiring screenwriter Tuna Rashad is not “stupidstitious.” She is, however, cool with her Caribbean heritage, which means she is always on the lookout for messages from loved ones who have passed on. But ever since Robby became a widower, all he does is hang out at the house, mock Tuna for following in their ancestors’ traditions, and meddle in her life. Tuna needs to break free from her brother’s loving but over-bearing ways and get him a life (or at least, get him out of hers!). Based on the signs, her ancestors are on board. They also seem to be on board with helping Tuna win over her crush, Tristan Dangerfield. The only hiccup? She has to do it before leaving for college in the fall. A ticking clock, a grief-stricken brother, and a crush who doesn’t believe in signs. What could possibly go wrong?’
Natasha Deen captures the flavor of this age group with facility and warm humor, creating a story that further proves she has become a standard bearer for the art of meaningful (and entertaining) novels. Very highly recommended for abroad audience.
Canadian author Natasha Deen was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada where she has become a prize -inning author of books for children, teens, and adults. She has both an innate talent for storytelling and the gift for introducing her passion to others, in schools, libraries, and other organizations. Her motto, ‘Change the world one story at a time.’ She has published over twenty books to date! Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
In this new Young Adult novel, Natasha celebrates her heritage with a story that embraces family, sibling relationships, those timorous months before going to college, and young love. Her writing continues to be near conversational, as the opening lines convey – ‘The planets are in precise alignment, the moons are in their proper houses, and the auspicious signs can’t be denied. Okay, okay. So maybe a five-year-old student pooping in the pool during my summer class at Ontario Rec Center isn’t the most glamorous – or attractive – good omen. But – BUT – class ended early (thank you, ancestors!), which meant my shift ended early. Which means I have just enough time to oh-so-casually get to the soccer field behind the building for a “goodness, what a coincidence” meet-cute with the future Mr. Altuna Kahmir Rashad, aka Tristan Dangerfield. Don’t let his last name mislead you. Tristan’s not dangerous or a bad boy, or anything like that. Actually he’s this kind, double helping of boy-treat who loves science and math, and who’s been lighting up my days since freshman year at Woodbine High.’
With that entry into the life of Tuna, the story takes on greater meaning, as the following summary reveals: ‘Let’s be clear. No matter what her older brother, Robby, says, aspiring screenwriter Tuna Rashad is not “stupidstitious.” She is, however, cool with her Caribbean heritage, which means she is always on the lookout for messages from loved ones who have passed on. But ever since Robby became a widower, all he does is hang out at the house, mock Tuna for following in their ancestors’ traditions, and meddle in her life. Tuna needs to break free from her brother’s loving but over-bearing ways and get him a life (or at least, get him out of hers!). Based on the signs, her ancestors are on board. They also seem to be on board with helping Tuna win over her crush, Tristan Dangerfield. The only hiccup? She has to do it before leaving for college in the fall. A ticking clock, a grief-stricken brother, and a crush who doesn’t believe in signs. What could possibly go wrong?’
Natasha Deen captures the flavor of this age group with facility and warm humor, creating a story that further proves she has become a standard bearer for the art of meaningful (and entertaining) novels. Very highly recommended for abroad audience.
March 23, 2022
I want to thank the author and netgalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange of an honest review.
I loved our not stupidstitious narrator Tuna Rashad and her ever over the top shenanigans.
We meet Tuna, a future screen play writer, trying to make her own meet cute happen with the guy she's been crushing on for years before heading off to college in the fall. But, Tuna is worried about her overbearing widower brother, Robby, and her eccentric parents ruining any chance she has of getting together with Tristan, the guy of her dreams.
I really enjoyed this, it was my first experience with Deen's writing. Tuna's narration style cracked me up throughout the novel. I enjoyed her sidebars, her directness, and overall her obviously just turned adultness. Watching her try to navigate the 3 months prior to college where everyone is cramming full of memories and trying to hold on to the last shards of high school watching her feels real.
Grief was a major topic of this book, and as someone who lost a loved one recently it was a good reminder that grief is not linear. Each person handles loss differently, and for some it may be harder to over come than others. However, it also speaks to the situations where sometimes it becomes impossible to grieve because you're protecting others and that is not okay either. I liked seeing Tuna try to understand but needing to vent her own grief and not knowing how because they aren't supposed to.
At first glance I might think that this book is all about tuna and what she finds in the signs and wonders of the world, this is far from that. I think the grief and navigating that is the focus of this book as much as the family. Sure I'm rooting for Tuna to get her meet cute and man, but I'm also looking to the growth that happened. The diversity being included, but not necessarily talked about its just there felt nice because it was just accepted and not ever questioned.
Overall this was a quick read and would be great for learning how to handle grief, or even how to approach it with others. I would absolutely recommend this to my friends.
I loved our not stupidstitious narrator Tuna Rashad and her ever over the top shenanigans.
We meet Tuna, a future screen play writer, trying to make her own meet cute happen with the guy she's been crushing on for years before heading off to college in the fall. But, Tuna is worried about her overbearing widower brother, Robby, and her eccentric parents ruining any chance she has of getting together with Tristan, the guy of her dreams.
I really enjoyed this, it was my first experience with Deen's writing. Tuna's narration style cracked me up throughout the novel. I enjoyed her sidebars, her directness, and overall her obviously just turned adultness. Watching her try to navigate the 3 months prior to college where everyone is cramming full of memories and trying to hold on to the last shards of high school watching her feels real.
Grief was a major topic of this book, and as someone who lost a loved one recently it was a good reminder that grief is not linear. Each person handles loss differently, and for some it may be harder to over come than others. However, it also speaks to the situations where sometimes it becomes impossible to grieve because you're protecting others and that is not okay either. I liked seeing Tuna try to understand but needing to vent her own grief and not knowing how because they aren't supposed to.
At first glance I might think that this book is all about tuna and what she finds in the signs and wonders of the world, this is far from that. I think the grief and navigating that is the focus of this book as much as the family. Sure I'm rooting for Tuna to get her meet cute and man, but I'm also looking to the growth that happened. The diversity being included, but not necessarily talked about its just there felt nice because it was just accepted and not ever questioned.
Overall this was a quick read and would be great for learning how to handle grief, or even how to approach it with others. I would absolutely recommend this to my friends.
May 3, 2022
I received an ARC from Running Press via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Be sure to check out more reviews at Katherine's Book Reviews.
The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a novel that will remind you what it’s like to be a teenager with a huge crush. The main character of the book, Tuna, has a big crush on Tristan and tries her best to get his attention so that they will start dating. While doing this, she is connected to spirits whom she believes will guide her and tell her what to do with her love life. My favorite part of this book are the themes of spiritualism and love. The spiritual aspect of this book is certainly unique and I know people will enjoy getting to see Tuna’s thoughts, joys, and fears. Tuna is a fun protagonist; she is a determined teenager and I could see myself here and there in her character, although we are not much alike. I didn’t love Tristan because he was not fully supportive of Tuna’s beliefs, and that was a major turn off for me. Although I am not particularly fond of their relationship, love is seen in a lot of different ways in this book. I especially enjoyed Robby’s story as it added a deeper layer to the story overall. I can see people really relating to his experience, as life is not always black and white. Spiritualism is probably the biggest theme in this book, and although it is overdone at times, I think it makes the plot and Tuna’s thought processes more interesting.
I like this book. Natasha Deen writes well; I especially like the dialogue and the inner thoughts of Tuna. The plot is interesting and the pacing is well done. Before I read the book, I assumed this story was going to go deeper than it actually did. Although I do like the themes; I believe the author could have made the story more intense, especially because Tuna has so many superstitions. I like Tuna but I did find myself frustrated with her at times, but that is just my own preference. The writing is good overall, but I can’t put my finger on it; I do think something is missing from this novel. I think the premise is good and the plot is interesting but it did not blow me away. Even though it was not for me, I suggest this book to anyone who is interested in spirits or spiritual things. This book teaches you that if you believe in something, it’s okay to stand up for your beliefs even if no one else understands them.
The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a novel that will remind you what it’s like to be a teenager with a huge crush. The main character of the book, Tuna, has a big crush on Tristan and tries her best to get his attention so that they will start dating. While doing this, she is connected to spirits whom she believes will guide her and tell her what to do with her love life. My favorite part of this book are the themes of spiritualism and love. The spiritual aspect of this book is certainly unique and I know people will enjoy getting to see Tuna’s thoughts, joys, and fears. Tuna is a fun protagonist; she is a determined teenager and I could see myself here and there in her character, although we are not much alike. I didn’t love Tristan because he was not fully supportive of Tuna’s beliefs, and that was a major turn off for me. Although I am not particularly fond of their relationship, love is seen in a lot of different ways in this book. I especially enjoyed Robby’s story as it added a deeper layer to the story overall. I can see people really relating to his experience, as life is not always black and white. Spiritualism is probably the biggest theme in this book, and although it is overdone at times, I think it makes the plot and Tuna’s thought processes more interesting.
I like this book. Natasha Deen writes well; I especially like the dialogue and the inner thoughts of Tuna. The plot is interesting and the pacing is well done. Before I read the book, I assumed this story was going to go deeper than it actually did. Although I do like the themes; I believe the author could have made the story more intense, especially because Tuna has so many superstitions. I like Tuna but I did find myself frustrated with her at times, but that is just my own preference. The writing is good overall, but I can’t put my finger on it; I do think something is missing from this novel. I think the premise is good and the plot is interesting but it did not blow me away. Even though it was not for me, I suggest this book to anyone who is interested in spirits or spiritual things. This book teaches you that if you believe in something, it’s okay to stand up for your beliefs even if no one else understands them.
February 6, 2022
“Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgallery for providing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.”
The Signs & Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a YA Romance book which traces the journey of a superstitious teen – Altuna Kashmir Rashad. Sure, the genre is YA Romance but I got a sense that the author wanted it to be more than a cliched, cheesy romantic story of two teenagers.
Honestly, I had conflicted feelings after I finished reading this book. On the one hand, it was a light read, definitely a fresh aberration from my more recent reading-scapades. For one, it was a story that featured a diverse lead and two, it had been a while since I read a YA book. The story-line had immense potential. I entered this book chuckling at the hilarious premise of a semi-normal high-school girl wanting to date her crush. But, it makes me sad to admit that this book tipped a little towards the disappointment side.
I absolutely adored the premise which showed our diverse female protagonist as a superstitious girl of Caribbean heritage who has a pretty vociferous family. Her brother is a recent widower and he carried the grief of losing his husband which is affecting all his relations. Though I was into the premise, the story quickly lost interest. I found Tuna a little too overbearing for my taste and while I respect her beliefs, I found them to govern her life a little too much.
The chemistry between the main characters was alright – not too much and not too less – but it was a little more hot-one-minute-cold-the-next. In addition, I also found Tuna was way too selfish and conceited. Especially when it came to her brother’s life. I do not stand by any of her actions in the book and it was more like she’s an 11-year-old girl in the body of an 18-year-old.
I wanted to enjoy this book, I really did. But the characters didn’t set well with me at all. I couldn’t relate to them and hence, I didn’t really grow up to care about them. In a nutshell, it was a one-time read but I don’t see myself picking it up again anytime soon.
The Signs & Wonders of Tuna Rashad is a YA Romance book which traces the journey of a superstitious teen – Altuna Kashmir Rashad. Sure, the genre is YA Romance but I got a sense that the author wanted it to be more than a cliched, cheesy romantic story of two teenagers.
Honestly, I had conflicted feelings after I finished reading this book. On the one hand, it was a light read, definitely a fresh aberration from my more recent reading-scapades. For one, it was a story that featured a diverse lead and two, it had been a while since I read a YA book. The story-line had immense potential. I entered this book chuckling at the hilarious premise of a semi-normal high-school girl wanting to date her crush. But, it makes me sad to admit that this book tipped a little towards the disappointment side.
I absolutely adored the premise which showed our diverse female protagonist as a superstitious girl of Caribbean heritage who has a pretty vociferous family. Her brother is a recent widower and he carried the grief of losing his husband which is affecting all his relations. Though I was into the premise, the story quickly lost interest. I found Tuna a little too overbearing for my taste and while I respect her beliefs, I found them to govern her life a little too much.
The chemistry between the main characters was alright – not too much and not too less – but it was a little more hot-one-minute-cold-the-next. In addition, I also found Tuna was way too selfish and conceited. Especially when it came to her brother’s life. I do not stand by any of her actions in the book and it was more like she’s an 11-year-old girl in the body of an 18-year-old.
I wanted to enjoy this book, I really did. But the characters didn’t set well with me at all. I couldn’t relate to them and hence, I didn’t really grow up to care about them. In a nutshell, it was a one-time read but I don’t see myself picking it up again anytime soon.
May 30, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Running Press Kids for the e-ARC to read and review. I'd say my rating is more of a 3.5 stars rounded up because the writing and reading experience itself was so enjoyable.
I really wish that this book didn't start the way it did. While it was fun to see our main character, Tuna, in her element working with little kids at the pool, the intro chapter definitely makes it seem like the book ahead is a summer rom-com where the teenage girl chases after the guy she's crushing on before they head off to college. It's kind of true, but this book is definitely more about family and the incredibly complicated nature of grief -- I think some readers may be turned off by the fluffiness of the intro and not read further, while others would be surprised to find it's not a straightforward romance plot. Not that we lead with grief and gloom, but Tuna's tone is very bubbly and boy-obsessed right from the get-go.
What this book does best is show the ripple effects of grief, and how loss just continues to radiate throughout families and friend groups. We work through who really gets to "own" that loss - the person closest to the one gone? The family they leave behind? Everyone and everything because their existence altered everything and their loss does too? It's striking and powerful and extremely well done.
I also enjoyed how Tuna's own beliefs - a mix of cultural traditions, superstitions, and science-backed beliefs - are all what make her up, and that they're all equally important to her. She never once flinches when someone questions her blend, and it's my favorite thing about her - that no one is ever going to come in and make her feel bad for caring about butterflies or memories of her ancestors as signs for her next moves. It may be a little silly on paper that Tuna thinks her ancestors will intervene at exactly the right serendipitous moment to win over her crush, but I think it more shows how she is learning to make her own decisions and feel like she has the confidence and backing to deal with their consequences.
I really wish that this book didn't start the way it did. While it was fun to see our main character, Tuna, in her element working with little kids at the pool, the intro chapter definitely makes it seem like the book ahead is a summer rom-com where the teenage girl chases after the guy she's crushing on before they head off to college. It's kind of true, but this book is definitely more about family and the incredibly complicated nature of grief -- I think some readers may be turned off by the fluffiness of the intro and not read further, while others would be surprised to find it's not a straightforward romance plot. Not that we lead with grief and gloom, but Tuna's tone is very bubbly and boy-obsessed right from the get-go.
What this book does best is show the ripple effects of grief, and how loss just continues to radiate throughout families and friend groups. We work through who really gets to "own" that loss - the person closest to the one gone? The family they leave behind? Everyone and everything because their existence altered everything and their loss does too? It's striking and powerful and extremely well done.
I also enjoyed how Tuna's own beliefs - a mix of cultural traditions, superstitions, and science-backed beliefs - are all what make her up, and that they're all equally important to her. She never once flinches when someone questions her blend, and it's my favorite thing about her - that no one is ever going to come in and make her feel bad for caring about butterflies or memories of her ancestors as signs for her next moves. It may be a little silly on paper that Tuna thinks her ancestors will intervene at exactly the right serendipitous moment to win over her crush, but I think it more shows how she is learning to make her own decisions and feel like she has the confidence and backing to deal with their consequences.
Read
March 22, 2022The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad was a memorable book about loss, balancing different belief systems, and family. This book truly shines in how it depicts grief and loss.
Tuna Rashad is an aspiring screenwriter with a propensity to see her life as a screenplay. She’s constantly seeking out dramatic moments and looking for how her storyline will build and grow when reality disrupts her plans and shows her that life and Hollywood are two different things. Dramatic fights with your family don’t get resolved over a day, perfect Hollywood meet-cutes don’t play out like you’d hope, and there is no happily ever after because you are in the mix of life. Tuna is growing as the story progresses and realizing a lot of things in life are more complicated than she might like them to be.
This is a book about grief. Yes, it is also about Tuna’s crush on a boy and growing older and going to college, but at the core this is a book about grief. It’s a book about how grief shapes us and how we all grieve differently and how hard it can be to grieve alongside your loved ones. The synopsis did not adequately prepare me for how much this book was about grief and so I want to warn you because as lovely as it was, it was also hard. At the core of this book is David, Tuna’s brother-in-law who has passed away recently and how everyone impacted is coping, or not coping, with the tragedy. The brightest and most beautiful parts of this book are when the grief and loss are discussed honestly and I appreciated how Deen brought together the myriad of emotions that accompany grief.
Tuna Rashad is an aspiring screenwriter with a propensity to see her life as a screenplay. She’s constantly seeking out dramatic moments and looking for how her storyline will build and grow when reality disrupts her plans and shows her that life and Hollywood are two different things. Dramatic fights with your family don’t get resolved over a day, perfect Hollywood meet-cutes don’t play out like you’d hope, and there is no happily ever after because you are in the mix of life. Tuna is growing as the story progresses and realizing a lot of things in life are more complicated than she might like them to be.
This is a book about grief. Yes, it is also about Tuna’s crush on a boy and growing older and going to college, but at the core this is a book about grief. It’s a book about how grief shapes us and how we all grieve differently and how hard it can be to grieve alongside your loved ones. The synopsis did not adequately prepare me for how much this book was about grief and so I want to warn you because as lovely as it was, it was also hard. At the core of this book is David, Tuna’s brother-in-law who has passed away recently and how everyone impacted is coping, or not coping, with the tragedy. The brightest and most beautiful parts of this book are when the grief and loss are discussed honestly and I appreciated how Deen brought together the myriad of emotions that accompany grief.
June 7, 2022
It's the summer before Tuna Rashad leaves for college, and she decides that this is her last chance to date her longtime crush. As a budding screenwriter, Tuna pictures this love story following the arcs and beats of a feature film, but the B plot keeps getting in the way.
This book started out with promise--a creative trying to forge a relationship with a science and math guy, a theme of family and chosen family, and deep-seated family and ancestral beliefs--but something just didn't work for me. I liked learning about Tuna's beliefs. I appreciated Robby's grief journey and how that impacted the grieving process for the rest of the family. I liked the dog.
I didn't really feel a connection or sparks between Tuna and Tristan. The relationship felt flat to me, and, although they each say they liked each other in the book, that feeling did not leap off the page.
Partway through, the storyline and arc began to feel like they lost consistency. I'm not sure how believable the ending between Tuna and Tristan feels considering how they treat each other during the rest of the book.
Also, I'm not sure that all the pop culture references are relevant to the intended YA audience. Are teenagers today very familiar with Sleepless in Seattle and Dante's Peak?
I was rooting for Tuna and her family. In the end, it just wasn't the book for me.
Content Warnings: grief, ableism, death of a loved one
Thank you to Running Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
This book started out with promise--a creative trying to forge a relationship with a science and math guy, a theme of family and chosen family, and deep-seated family and ancestral beliefs--but something just didn't work for me. I liked learning about Tuna's beliefs. I appreciated Robby's grief journey and how that impacted the grieving process for the rest of the family. I liked the dog.
I didn't really feel a connection or sparks between Tuna and Tristan. The relationship felt flat to me, and, although they each say they liked each other in the book, that feeling did not leap off the page.
Partway through, the storyline and arc began to feel like they lost consistency. I'm not sure how believable the ending between Tuna and Tristan feels considering how they treat each other during the rest of the book.
Also, I'm not sure that all the pop culture references are relevant to the intended YA audience. Are teenagers today very familiar with Sleepless in Seattle and Dante's Peak?
I was rooting for Tuna and her family. In the end, it just wasn't the book for me.
Content Warnings: grief, ableism, death of a loved one
Thank you to Running Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
February 12, 2022
A wholesome sibling relationship. Even though this is a rom-com novel, the book, to me, focuses much on the siblings' relationship rather than the love interest. The siblings quarrel just feels so real and I can feel the intensity. For a moment, I am worried that they are both gonna fight for the same person. I hate that trope. Because yeah, your siblings should be the last person you thought you would get jealous of when it comes to love life. And I hate to ever imagine them fighting just for love. But the humor is really good. I had a good laugh.
For me the storyline is a bit rushing but somehow clicks with Tuna's personality. She is somewhat an impulsive person and also stubborn at the same time. I think it is rather interesting to find a writing style that matches the character personality so I will give that a bonus. The conflict resolution is a bit unsatisfying. Like Tuna just went through a lot in one day but everything just disappeared on the next day. Yeah, it doesn't satisfy me but since it is a rom-com maybe it kinda a normal thing? But the messages that the author tried to deliver really hit my soft spot. If someone happens to be in the same situation as Tuna, trust me it is hard to resolve or even try to.
I kinda don't talk about the love much but don't worry their love progress is just wholesome. There are gonna be some cute moments that you won't be able to forget forever. Trust meee
For me the storyline is a bit rushing but somehow clicks with Tuna's personality. She is somewhat an impulsive person and also stubborn at the same time. I think it is rather interesting to find a writing style that matches the character personality so I will give that a bonus. The conflict resolution is a bit unsatisfying. Like Tuna just went through a lot in one day but everything just disappeared on the next day. Yeah, it doesn't satisfy me but since it is a rom-com maybe it kinda a normal thing? But the messages that the author tried to deliver really hit my soft spot. If someone happens to be in the same situation as Tuna, trust me it is hard to resolve or even try to.
I kinda don't talk about the love much but don't worry their love progress is just wholesome. There are gonna be some cute moments that you won't be able to forget forever. Trust meee
Read
March 12, 2022Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have very mixed feelings about the book and it’s quite disappointing.
*spoiler warning*
Tuna- I liked her character at the beginning. But she drove me crazy through the rest of the story. I understand her cultural beliefs and I have many superstitions of my own that I follow. But everything was a sign and her own family and friends told her that she couldn’t rely on them. She blamed her own problems on her ancestors and didn’t take responsibility for her actions. She was selfish and didn’t understand her brother’s grief. She lived in her own world and it was all about her.
Tristan- He was an alright love interest. Tuna just always had a crush on him. But he didn’t respect her views, going so far to call them fourth grade. He was condescending and rude. Tristan strung her along the whole summer. While Tuna thought they could be more, he pushed off their dates and when she said she liked him, he said he did too, but she was moving. He had the audacity to tell her that they could stay friends still and disrespected her views again. They got together in the end but I don’t know if they’d last.
All the characters in this story especially her best friend Fi felt like they existed to be there for Tuna. I wish they had been more fleshed out.
Overall, I think while this book had potential, it really just wasn’t for me.
I have very mixed feelings about the book and it’s quite disappointing.
*spoiler warning*
Tuna- I liked her character at the beginning. But she drove me crazy through the rest of the story. I understand her cultural beliefs and I have many superstitions of my own that I follow. But everything was a sign and her own family and friends told her that she couldn’t rely on them. She blamed her own problems on her ancestors and didn’t take responsibility for her actions. She was selfish and didn’t understand her brother’s grief. She lived in her own world and it was all about her.
Tristan- He was an alright love interest. Tuna just always had a crush on him. But he didn’t respect her views, going so far to call them fourth grade. He was condescending and rude. Tristan strung her along the whole summer. While Tuna thought they could be more, he pushed off their dates and when she said she liked him, he said he did too, but she was moving. He had the audacity to tell her that they could stay friends still and disrespected her views again. They got together in the end but I don’t know if they’d last.
All the characters in this story especially her best friend Fi felt like they existed to be there for Tuna. I wish they had been more fleshed out.
Overall, I think while this book had potential, it really just wasn’t for me.
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