Read Reviews & Buy Books : August 2025
This August, Chaifry.org invites you to unwind with a cup of chai and our handpicked collection of page-turning gems. Whether you’re craving bestselling thrillers, heartwarming romances, or hidden literary treasures, we’ve curated the perfect reads to fuel your sun-drenched adventures and lazy summer afternoons.
The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea
By Liz Eeles
The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea (2023), the sixth book in Liz Eeles’ Heaven’s Cove series, is a heartwarming standalone novel set in Devon’s idyllic coastal village. Estranged sisters Caitlin and Isla reunite after their grandmother Jessie’s death, tasked with solving a family riddle from her will. Joined by Caitlin’s stepdaughter Maisie, they uncover a generations-old love story while navigating personal secrets and reconciliation. Eeles’ vivid prose paints a cozy seaside escape, blending family drama, romance, and mystery. Praised by The Guardian for its emotional depth, it’s perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published October 19, 2023
348 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
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Double Tap on Life
By Arwa Baldiwala
Double Tap on Life (2025) by Arwa Baldiwala is a refreshing self-help guide tackling the pressures of modern life. Baldiwala, inspired by her own journey, explores finding balance amid social media’s validation traps and relentless competition. The book delves into mental health, toxic comparisons, and societal expectations, offering practical steps like journaling and mindfulness to prioritize self-care over hustle culture. Its relatable tone and actionable chapter-end exercises empower readers to break free from perfectionism and embrace contentment. Praised for its honesty, it’s ideal for those seeking equilibrium without toxic positivity. Available on Amazon.in in paperback or Kindle.
Published January 11, 2025
192 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
Waist Deep
By Linea Maja Ernst
Waist Deep, Linea Maja Ernst’s 2024 debut novel, a Scandinavian bestseller translated by Sherilyn Nicolette Hellberg, is a sultry comedy of manners set in rural Denmark. Five university friends reunite for seven days at a lakeside cabin, hoping to recapture their radical youth. Sylvia, nursing a decades-long crush on Esben, who’s marrying Karen, grapples with her monogamous relationship with Charlie. Quince, embracing his trans identity, navigates tensions with Gry’s husband, Adam. Ernst’s lush, Virginia Woolf-inspired prose explores desire, queerness, and millennial ennui, though some find its multiple perspectives pretentious. Praised by Vogue as a “quintessential millennial novel,” it’s a vibrant read. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published May 8, 2025
224 pages
Average Rating : 3.2 out of 5
The Sisters
By Jonas Hassen Khemiri
The Sisters, Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s 2025 novel, a New York Times Best Book, is a vivid family saga spanning three decades and continents. Translated from Swedish by Khemiri, it follows the Mikkola sisters—Ina, Evelyn, and Anastasia—Swedish-Tunisians navigating a supposed family curse. Ina, the responsible eldest, marries after a New Year’s rave; Evelyn drifts into acting; Anastasia, the wild youngest, finds love in Tunisia. Jonas, a writer sharing their mixed heritage, intersects their lives from Tunis to a Stockholm jet crash. When Evelyn vanishes in New York, Jonas helps break the curse, unveiling a shocking revelation. Khemiri’s tender, time-bending prose explores identity and belonging. Praised by The Guardian as a “masterpiece,” it’s available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published July 17, 2025
656 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
The Benefactors
By Wendy Erskine
The Benefactors, Wendy Erskine’s 2025 debut novel, a BBC Best Novel and Observer Best Debut, is a polyphonic portrait of modern Belfast. Centered on a teenage girl, Misty, assaulted by three wealthy boys, it explores class, power, and parenthood through the mothers—Frankie, Miriam, and Bronagh—who defend their sons, leveraging privilege. Misty, raised by her taxi-driver stepfather Boogie and matriarch Nan D, fights back with resilience. Erskine’s sharp, Virginia Woolf-inspired prose blends humor and heartbreak, capturing flawed, vivid characters and societal inequalities. Praised by The Guardian as “brimming with humanity,” this 336-page work is a must-read despite occasional narrative overwhelm. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Erskine.
Published June 19, 2025
320 pages
Average Rating : 3.7 out of 5
So Far Gone: A Novel
By Jess Walter
So Far Gone, Jess Walter’s 2025 novel, a New York Times bestseller, is a witty, poignant road-trip thriller set in a fractured America. Rhys Kinnick, a retired environmental journalist, lives off-grid in a Washington cabin after punching his conspiracy-obsessed son-in-law, Shane, at a 2016 Thanksgiving dinner. Seven years later, his grandchildren, Leah and Asher, arrive, fleeing their mother Bethany’s absence and Shane’s ties to the Army of the Lord militia. When the kids are kidnapped, Rhys embarks on a madcap quest to rescue them, joined by ex-girlfriend Lucy and eccentric ex-cop Chuck. Walter’s sharp prose blends humor and heartbreak, tackling Christian nationalism and family rifts. Praised by Ann Patchett as an “American original,” it’s available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published June 10, 2025
272 pages
Average Rating : 4.4 out of 5
Great Black Hope
By Rob Franklin
Great Black Hope, Rob Franklin’s 2025 debut novel, a New York Times bestseller, is a gripping coming-of-age tale. David Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate from Atlanta’s Black bourgeoisie, faces turmoil after a cocaine arrest in the Hamptons. Reeling from his roommate Elle’s overdose death, he navigates New York’s nightlife, Atlanta’s elite, and a racialized justice system. Franklin’s lyrical, humorous prose explores race, class, addiction, and identity, blending satire with heartbreak. Praised by The Guardian as a “love letter” to New York, it’s a must-read. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published June 19, 2025
320 pages
Average Rating : 3.7 out of 5
Flashlight
By Susan Choi
Flashlight, Susan Choi’s 2025 novel, longlisted for the Booker Prize, is a sweeping saga of a Korean-American family’s unraveling. In 1978, ten-year-old Louisa and her father, Serk, a Korean émigré academic, walk a Japanese beach. Serk vanishes, presumed drowned, leaving Louisa traumatized and her mother, Anne, distant. The narrative spans decades and continents, weaving Serk’s Zainichi Korean roots in Japan, his American life, and the geopolitical shadow of North Korean abductions. Choi’s intricate prose explores exile, memory, and identity, with shifting perspectives revealing family secrets. Praised by The New York Times as “gorgeous” and “heartbreaking,” this poignant tale captivates. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.