Book Review: Ivan, Boris and Me by Suze Leonie

24/05/202530/06/2025Comedy, Contemporary Fiction, Drama, Literary Fiction, noir, Surreal FictionLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Suze Leonie
Release Date: May 1, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Comedy-Drama
Format: E-book
Pages: 219 pages
Publisher: Fidessa Literary
Blurb:
Illustrator Elodie Ginsburg and her spendthrift best friend, Boris, are inseparable. Taking care of an audacious yellow-haired clown in a red-and-white-striped onesie and oversized black shoes can be a challenge. However, Boris means the world to Elodie. He is a handful, but he’s her handful. Their symbiosis is disrupted when Ivan Lennard, a former professional cyclist with a closely guarded secret, moves into the house next door and becomes a regular occurrence in their lives. Each encounter is a catalyst for Boris to spiral more out of control and increase his outrageous demands, until Elodie finds herself at a crossroads and has to make the most difficult decision she’s ever made.

“A stylish parable about the disconnect between inner and outer worlds.”
— Kirkus Reviews

Review

Suze Leonie’s Ivan, Boris and Me is a whimsical, whip-smart, and refreshingly unconventional story that’s as colorful as its cover suggests. It’s a delicious blend of chaotic friendship, identity crises, and the beautiful messiness of adulthood. This book thrives on character over plot — and what unforgettable characters they are!

The story’s narrator is neurotic, sincere, and effortlessly funny, making her way through life with two eccentric friends, Ivan and Boris — who are not just foils, but deep reflections of her fractured sense of self. The novel feels like an extended existential stand-up routine, complete with emotional gut-punches when you least expect them. It reminded me of the raw vulnerability in modern literary fiction, but with the comic sharpness of a Wes Anderson screenplay.

What works incredibly well is author Leonie’s voice — self-aware and brutally honest — capturing the absurdity of daily life and the unraveling of one’s sense of purpose. There’s a certain European charm and melancholy in the backdrop, and the prose carries a lyrical cadence even when it’s describing the mundane.

If I were to nitpick, the pacing occasionally falters in the middle, where introspection teeters on indulgence. But honestly? That’s a small price to pay for a narrative so richly textured, funny, and authentic.

It’s an unclassifiable gem — part literary fiction, part comedy of errors, part psychological excavation. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven stories brimming with wit, self-discovery, and emotional nuance.

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Book Review: The King’s Pen Pal by Peter Osterlund

23/02/202524/02/2025Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Surreal FictionLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Peter Osterlund
Release Date: November 14, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Format: E-book
Pages: 181 pages
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press
Blurb:
For years, King Deveric’s health has dwindled, confining him to his quarters with no hope for a cure.
Despite this and the demands of his kingdom, Deveric remains hopeful with the promise of one day meeting his pen pal, Karness, a woman he has never met, nor revealed his identity to.
But when his illness begins to worsen, Deveric decides to seize control of his remaining time.
Through the help of his Sorcerer, Deveric embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery, uncovering the hidden wonders of his kingdom and the simple pleasures prevented by royalty.
With time running out and his last days close at hand, Deveric must determine if he’ll be able to find Karness before it’s too late.

Review

Sometimes, the simplest premises can hold the deepest emotional weight, and The King’s Pen Pal by Peter Osterlund proves just that. This is a beautifully written tale of longing, legacy, and the need to truly live before time runs out.

At its heart, The King’s Pen Pal is the story of King Deveric, a ruler bound by duty and sickness, whose only escape comes through letters exchanged with a mysterious pen pal, Karness. As his illness worsens and his days are numbered, Deveric makes a daring decision, to shed his title, leave the walls of his castle, and experience the kingdom he’s ruled but never truly known. With the help of his trusted sorcerer, Geris, he embarks on a journey that is as heartwarming as it is bittersweet.

Author Osterlund’s prose is fluid and immersive, effortlessly pulling the reader into Deveric’s world. The banter between the king and Geris adds humor and warmth, making their companionship one of the book’s strongest elements. Deveric’s letters to Karness are particularly moving, revealing his deepest regrets, dreams, and desires in a way that makes their connection feel realistic and personal.

The novel beautifully balances introspection with adventure, blending fantasy elements seamlessly into its character-driven narrative. The worldbuilding is understated but effective, allowing the reader to focus on the emotional depth of the story rather than being overwhelmed with lore.

If I had to nitpick, the pacing in the middle slows down a bit, and I wished for a slightly deeper exploration of Karness’ character beyond her role as an unseen anchor for Deveric’s journey. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise moving and heartfelt novel.

For readers who love stories of self-discovery, poignant friendships, and a touch of magic, The King’s Pen Pal is a memorable story worth reading. It’s a beautiful book that stays with you, reminding us all to embrace life before it’s too late.

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Book Review: The Adventures of Lord Bolingbroke by Joshua Catchatoor

18/04/202318/04/2023Adventure, Historical, Humor, Joshua Catchatoor, Nancy Maloney-Mercado, Noureddine HifadLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Joshua Catchatoor
Release Date: 3rd November 2022
Series: A Comedic Tudor Tale (Book #1)
Genre: Adventure, Humor Fiction, British Humor, Novellas, Historical, and Tudor Period
Format: E-book
Pages: 105
Publisher:
Blurb:
Herein you will find a comedic romp through the English Renaissance, in which the titular Elizabethan courtier finds himself under increasing pressure to keep both himself and his country out of trouble.
Great men and women have throughout the ages clung on to the swinging tailcoats of history, their deeds nonetheless holding profound significance for centuries to come.
Such is the case with Lord Bolingbroke, a man able to shape the destinies of nations; the hedonistic courses of an evening at the local pub; and contemporary impressions of England’s 16th century populace.
This is the first part of his grand tale.

‘A hilarious adventure guaranteed in all but actual law to have you laughing out loud, as you witness a man attempting to navigate such thrilling matters as: various heads of state (and several horses) of questionable intelligence, political conspiracy, dodgy brewing standards, zealots of diverse persuasion and shenanigans bawdy enough to make a grandmother blush. And that’s just for starters.‘

Review

The Adventures of Lord Bolingbroke by Joshua Catchatoor is a brilliant dose of British humour, especially for those who actively seek and admire the Elizabethan era. The author’s wit is really commendable and his insertions of current events into the historical plot made the story all the more interesting. I liked the author’s writing style and his sense of humour which was neither too subtle nor too over the top.

The extremely well-done characterisation is the bane of this story and the author has done an amazing job with it. Not only the main character of Lord Bolingbroke but also the secondary characters are extremely well-developed and rounded making this book a really fun and interesting read.

I’d strongly recommend this book to all readers, no matter what genre of books they prefer to read, as this book has a lot to offer to its readers.

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Book Review: Infernal Relations: A Quintessential English Comedy by P.S. Rover

14/05/202214/05/2022Comedy, Humor, Literary Fiction, P.S. RoverLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: P.S. Rover
Release Date: 4th April 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Literary Comedy, Humour
Format: E-book
Pages: 270 pages
Publisher: Forte Books
Blurb:
Eloping Has Never Been So Criminal
Another academic season is in the offing at Lockwood Institute, the eclectic finishing school for those who’ve been barred elsewhere. When Spencer and his interloping cousin, Monty, are summoned back for a special assignment they quickly find themselves in the thick of it with a trophy-hunting Brigadier on a quest to slay a mysterious beast, while his daughter, Natalia, proves a temptation too much for the fantastical Monty. This heady concoction provides the perfect ingredients to rock institute life to its foundations.

As one staggering revelation unfolds after another, does Spencer have the fortitude to cope? Monty couldn’t possibly have done what people think, could he? Is he culpable? Is he capable? As Spencer desperately tries to pull Monty’s chestnuts out of the fire, a head-spinning discovery awaits them. Skulduggery is afoot!

“It IS funny. Just what we all need”

Cassandra Clark (Acclaimed author of the Brother Chandler trilogy and more.)

“A great story.”
– LoveReading

“An intricate and well-written book. Filled with atmosphere … I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to other literary fiction fans.”
– LoveReading

“The beauty of this book is in the writing. Rover has a wonderful way with words and I found myself laughing out loud at several lines where Spencer gave his unusual views on life around him. I thoroughly enjoyed Infernal Relations by P.S. Rover which I have awarded 4.5 stars.”
(Whispering Stories)

“Rover is excellent at crafting unique sentences … with a poetic touch… Readers will leave the book impressed by his ability to squeeze all the juice out of the English language.”
(Independent Book Review)

“A rollercoaster ride”
(Independent Book Review)

This book will especially delight fans of:
The Ransom of Red Chief (O’Henry), The Harpole Report (J.L. Carr), The Ascent of Rum Doodle (E.W. Bowman), Diary of a Nobody (Grossmith), Augustus Carp Esq., James Thurber, Mark Twain, Wodehouse.

Review

Infernal Relations by P.S. Rover is a brilliantly crafted booking roaring with intricately woven English humour.

I recently happened to re-read The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer for my book club’s genre challenge and reading this book right after that one was like stepping into a different version of the same book. I don’t mean that both the books are the same, but what I do mean is that the author of Infernal Relations heavily draws from the sense of nostalgia that is invoked while reading Mark Twain’s masterpiece. I might not have noticed it so acutely had I not just finished re-reading TDOTS right before picking up this one! But I am glad that happened because it made the reading experience of this book even more enriched. The differences in both the books were pretty evident and both the books are very different, yet they are very similar (again you’d notice it only if you’re very observant or, like me, had recently, read both the books so close to each other.)

Moving on from comparing the two books, I loved this book a lot. The writing was marvellous and I enjoyed the lyrical quality of the prose, which is so rare these days, to find in contemporary fiction. I liked how the author used his brilliant sense of humour and an acute sense of using phrases to his advantage to bring out the subtlety of satire in the best possible ways. I chucked more than I was expecting and giggled probably more than I should have. The story had a great flow and the pacing was really good and kept the flow very smooth. I enjoyed reading this book right from the beginning to the very end.

I am not a literary expert, although I am somewhat of a self-proclaimed book aficionado, and hence I’d like to say that, for me at least, the author’s style resembles a lot to that of the revered Mark Twain and therefore, I really really enjoyed his writing and in fact, I am looking forward to reading more of his works in the future (hopefully soon!)

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Book Review: The Great American Jew Novel by Michael Kornbluth

10/10/202028/10/2020Comedy, Humor, Michael KornbluthLeave a Comment

Author: Michael Kornbluth
Release Date:
Genre: Family Life, Humour
~~Series~~:
Format: E-book
Pages: 110 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:

The Great American Jew Novel is a religious based, midlife crisis, reinvention tale, about a 9-year old daughter who becomes her Stay At Home Comedian Dad’s Talent Agent, to ensure he doesn’t give up on making money off his special brand of funny, in his pursuit to make his Do It All Dad Year come true. Along the way, Do it All Dad develops life altering friendships with female members of the Jewy Manhattan Book Club, a Jewish Super Angel, a new age Kosher butcher from Crown Heights and his younger plant based cheese wiz inventor brother, to form the Do It All Dad Hero Kosher Cheesesteak Food Truck, which proves Do It All Dad, isn’t the last self-loving Jewish New Yorker after all.

Book Review

The Great American Jew Novel by Michael Kornbluth is a heart-warming tale of exploring relationships of a father and daughter, who’s plight is also explored in trying to help her Daddy who is seemingly different from the rest and of friendships that get tested and of finding one’s self.

This is my second book by the author and I loved reading his familiar style of writing which has the quality of touching your heart without being too overdramatic and then smoothing out the potentially heavy emotions with undertones of quality humour. The characterisation was good and I loved reading about even the secondary characters. The overall concept was brilliant and enjoyed reading this book a lot.

Would definitely recommend it to everyone, no matter the genre preference. It is about relationships so I am sure most of the readers will be able to relate to this engaging book.

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Book Review: Controlling My Kids With Comedy, A Love Story by Michael Kornbluth

30/09/2020Comedy, Humor, Michael KornbluthLeave a Comment

Author: Michael Kornbluth
Release Date: 13th June 2019
Genre: Satire, Humour
~~Series~~:
Format: E-book
Pages: 137 pages
Publisher: Stand Up Staffer
Blurb:

Controlling My Kids With Comedy, A Love Story, is a collection of essays and poems about an unplanned father of three falling for fatherhood and working from home as host of the Do It All Dad Year Podcast to score laughs with his shadow banned jokes from Twitter. Teaching us how controlling our kids through comedy, can make our kids great again. His fuss free children are living proof of it.

Book Review

Controlling My Kids With Comedy, A Love Story by Michael Kornbluth is an endearing compilation of various forms of literature that were presented with an impressive sense of humour.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and ended up totally loving every bit of it! It is a short book which proved to be a very smooth read with brilliant writing accented with terrific comedy and endearing characters. The story told in pieces was excellent and had a really good sense of pacing and comic timing. I am really looking forward to reading author Kornbluth’s next book (which is already resting on my Kindle.)

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who likes to read quality humour.

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Book Review: Tales of Adventure With Nap Lapkin by Lance Manion

22/10/201925/10/2019Comedy, Cosy, Humor, Lance ManionLeave a Comment

Author: Lance Manion
Release Date: 17th September 2019
Genre: Cosy Mystery, Humour, Comedy, Short Story Collection
Series:
Edition: E-book
Pages: 156
Publisher:
Blurb:
Finally! All of the stories under one cover. Nap Lapkin, America’s top agent, respected and feared by every agency in Washington, is both a lover and fighter and so much more.
And less.
But mostly more.
There can be no argument that this is the funniest book ever written.
No argument whatsoever.

REVIEW

★★★★

Tales of Adventure With Nap Lapkin by Lance Manion is a hilarious new book with a charming lead, who happens to be an agent, you will fall in love with! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book mostly because of the unique way it was written. The narration is in the second person and it completely blew my mind. The author’s sense of humour was out of the world and it made me chuckle more than a million times throughout this short and sweet book.

The lead character was very funny and I was able to form a connection with him right from the first story itself. I enjoyed all the story and surprisingly had no complaint from this book whatsoever. Again, the writing style is very unique and commendable and the author has done a brilliant job in keeping a tricky reader like me engaged throughout the book with the same level of interest I started reading this book. The stories were kind of cosies and I loved them all.

I’d highly recommend this book to all readers as you really can’t categorise such a good and read-worthy book.

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Graphic Novel Review: Plagued: The Devil Did It by Shakil Somani

05/07/201907/07/2019Comedy, Fantasy, Graphic-Novel, Shakil SomaniLeave a Comment

Author: Shakil Somani
Illustrator: Mark Superales
Release Date: 4th June 2019
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Graphic Novel
~~Series:~~
Edition: PDF
Pages: 58
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Lukas “Kas” Green, a successful British filmmaker and billionaire living in Los Angeles, takes the wrong girl home one night – she turns out to literally be the daughter of the Devil.The Devil punishes Kas by overrunning his brain with the creativity his film career has been built upon.
Consequently, anytime Kas even thinks about sex, his mind is overcome with sketches and hallucinations.Kas attempts to cure himself of this plague of ideas and distractions, whilst balancing his movie-making career, the overpowering sketch-like stories in his mind and of course, trying to rejoin the population of Bonetown.

Review

★★★★

Plagued: The Devil Did It by Shakil Somani is a new fantasy comic book which is equal parts engaging and entertaining. The book was really engrossing and I enjoyed reading it a lot! The story was good with a nice and smooth flow, the concept was unique and interesting and the characterization was pretty good complimented well with well-written dialogues throughout the book.

The illustrations were very detailed and visually very appealing. They made the book extremely enjoyable. I’d recommend this book to all comic books and graphic novel readers and to anyone who is interested in exploring works from a new author.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

You can read this book for free here: WebToons
Please note that this link was provided by the author himself and is in no way an illegal or pirated source.

Book Review: Our Frail Disordered Lives by Mary M. Schmidt

26/08/2018Comedy, Cross-genre, Horror, Mary M. Schmidt, SupernaturalLeave a Comment

Author: Mary M. Schmidt
Release Date: 1st June 2018
Genre: Horror-Comedy, Supernatural
~~Series~~:
Edition: e-book
Pages: 188
Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
Blurb:
Larry Kavanaugh is an ordinary kind of guy. He’s got a nagging wife and two kids, both annoyingly gifted. No matter what he does, there is no end to what his family needs. What’s a regular, everyday guy to do? Well, he cuts a few corners, obviously—one very big corner in particular. He sells his soul to the Devil. Maybe it’s not the actual Devil, but Larry is ready to make a deal with one of the Devil’s minions. He meets some demon whose name he can’t remember. Funny, it was right on the tip of his tongue, a name of something you step on. Roach the Demon has sort of good intentions. He just wants a re-write of Dante’s Inferno with himself as the star. Roach goes after Larry as a rogue operation. He needs to make a point to his boss, Satan, so he uses the body of a human to follow Larry around and stir up trouble. He offers Larry an airtight guarantee that nothing could possibly go wrong. After all, Larry doesn’t feel like he has much to lose—or does he? Even Roach might be in over his head this time.

Review

★★★

Our Frail Disordered Lives by Mary M. Schmidt is a unique story about a guy who sells his soul to ~~the devil~~ a demon in order to make his life better and what follows is a litany of situations one could do better to stay away from.

A very unique story with lots of drama and twists and turns to keep the readers entertained throughout the book. Overall speaking, I liked the idea of the book, the main concept that is, but felt that it needed more polishing in terms of the execution of that concept. The writing was okay but the characterization, for this kind of story, felt weak, and that was my biggest issue. The pacing was good and the plot progression okay, but I really felt that if I would have been able to connect with the main character, Larry, a bit more then the story would have meant even more to me.

Still, it proved to be a pretty quick and easy read. So if you’re looking for a fresh quick read then this might be for you if you’re okay with reading stories with not very relatable characters and care about the story more than characterization.

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Book Review: Caina by Joe Albanese

23/08/2018Comedy, crime, Joe AlbaneseLeave a Comment

Author: Joe Albanese
Release Date: 5th July 2018
Genre: Crime Comedy
~~Series~~:
Edition: e-book
Pages: 124
Publisher: Mockingbird Lane Press
Blurb:
Twins tend to be closer than typical siblings. They often share a bond that is oftentimes unexplainable.*
For some reason that bond didn’t apply to Grant and Lee Tolan. Grant was always the responsible one. Lee, on the other hand, was always in trouble and in jail, self-destructing to the point the twins hadn’t seen or spoken in years.
In trouble with the Irish mob who wanted him sleeping with the fishes, finding Grant dead of an apparent suicide, Lee did the only thing that made sense. He switched identities.
Instead of making life easier, Lee is plunged into a world the Irish and Italian crime families, the Mexican cartel and the DEA. Pitting one against the other, Lee enlists the help of friends to save his own life. He will need a miracle.
But Grant’s secret is the biggest shock of all for Lee and he must re-evaluate his entire life.

Review

★★★★

Caina by Jow Albanese is a very entertaining crime comedy about a guy who knows only one thing – how to get in trouble.

It was a very interesting read. The narration was good because more than a book it felt like a movie running in the head. The writing was solid, the characterization was decent and the plot was very exciting. The well-placed twists and turns kept the story engaging and the high action kept me entertained throughout the book.

The ending was really good and felt apt tot he entire plot build-up. The dialogues were good and made the book, again, feel like a film.

A very quick read in which the author’s sense of humour shone through quite well. Overall, this book is a complete action-comedy package and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining quick read.

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Book Review: The Phoenix Syndrome by Claire Gem

06/02/201706/02/2017Chick-Lit, Claire Gem, Romance1 Comment

Author: Claire Gem
Release Date: 29th September 2016
Series: –
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Edition: Ebook
Pages: 267
Publisher: Erato Publishing

Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb:

Rock Star Contemporary Romance
Turning forty rocks a research technician’s world. Her husband leaves her, and then she’s bitten by a mouse at work. She snaps, taking off to chase after her old dream of a music career and her new crush: a rock band drummer.
Turning forty, for Lannie Marvin, is rough. It’s the day she discovers her marriage has been over for awhile. . .she just never got the memo. At work, a crazed lab mouse brutally bites her–one being treated with a libido-enhancing drug. Lannie snaps and takes off for a wild weekend.
Allard, drummer & songwriter for a metal band, lost his wife and muse to breast cancer five years ago. So when the sexually charged Lannie literally plows into him at the backstage reception, Tristan is ready to learn more about her–and her long-buried interest in musical composition.
But their frenzied affair can’t last. Tristan is headed to the UK to audition his next album. And Lannie soon learns an elevated libido isn’t the only effect of that experimental drug.
The treated mice have gone deaf.

Review

The Phoenix Syndrome by Claire Gem is a fun and light romantic comedy that is a highly pleasant read.

The book started out at a steady pace, but before I knew it I was so engrossed in the plot that I found it difficult to put it down even to make a cup of coffee! This book is one of those books that gives you a feel-good feeling about the story and makes the time go by in the blink of an eye. I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly and found myself chuckling quite often owing to the author’s witty, sarcastic and intelligent\remarks.
I’ve previously read Hearts Unloched by the author and loved her writing style, but this book was even better and I found the writing style even more engrossing. I’m really looking forward to reading her next releases.

I loved the characterization and was able to connect to the main character, Lannie. Even though I rarely read books about characters above 30 years of age, this book proved to be a pleasant experience. I also loved the other secondary characters and enjoyed the background stories of them all. The ending of the story was perfect too.

I’d recommend this book to all the romance and chick-lit lovers and also to those who won’t mind reading a warm funny read.

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Book Review: Skive

24/11/201421/01/2015Books Reviews (by Author), Paul Adam levy13 Comments

 
 Author: Paul Adam levy
 Release Date: April 19, 2014
 Series: None
 Genre: Dark-Comedy | Fiction 
 Edition: mobi
 Pages: 114
 Publisher: Self-Published
 Interest: Requested by author
 Source: Author (Thanks a lot Paul!)
 Buy it here: Amazon

Blurb

Skive is a black comedy that introduces a dysfunctional man who, disillusioned with his boring, hum drum life working in a supermarket, is thrown into panic when an unexpected opportunity is offered to him. Suddenly, he feels trapped in a life he wishes to escape.

Continue reading ➞ Book Review: Skive

Movie Review: Just Go With It

02/09/201412/09/2014Comedy, Movie Reviews (by Genre)4 Comments

Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker & Nicole Kidman
Release Date: 11 February, 2011
Running Time: 117 minutes
Language: English

Plot Summary

A prominent plastic surgeon meets the woman of his dreams only to find their future thrown into jeopardy when his playboy past comes back to haunt him. Danny (Adam

Continue reading ➞ Movie Review: Just Go With It