MOTI ON THE WATER by LEYLAH ATTAR

‘I liked the idea of a soul mate, but most days I was lucky if I found a hair tie that was compatible with my big, curly hair. So no, I didn’t believe in the stars or destiny or all the stuff my mother tried to impress upon me.’

Moti on the Water by Leylah Attar was just hilarious, sweet and so rich with lessons in love, life and different cultures. It really read like those romantic comedies we love to watch and this book is a prime candidate to be made into a movie. Leylah Attar grabbed us from the get-go with a quirky family dynamic, an adorable heroine, a passionate hero and an engaging storyline which, whilst quite predictable, had us furiously turning the pages with a huge smile on our faces. What a wonderful summer read on the beach or by the pool! Just make sure, if like Moti you can’t swim, that you wear a swim vest as you’ll be swept away in the pages.

‘Sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing until you find it. And when you do, you want to pause and relish it forever.’

We felt Moti’s journey in our hearts all the way through. She had us laughing, blushing and wishing for her dream to reveal itself, as well as for Moti to realise that she needed to live for herself not anyone else. Moti was a strong slightly eccentric girl, but where it really counted she felt insecure, hence why she was an easy target to be either forgotten or used by others for their own personal gain. Her inner musings were both comical yet they were laced with such frustration and unhappiness it broke our hearts.

“You’re hungry,” he said. “People don’t take things unless they’re hungry. For food, for love, for a buzz, for attention. For whatever they feel is missing.”

We immediately felt like Moti was at a crossroads between making her Mum happy and truly finding herself by following her heart, hopes and dreams. There’s such a difference between living for yourself and living for someone else. You know what you should be doing but sometimes family expectations dictate almost clinical robotic behaviour, which strays far from the heart. Actions become predetermined and other outlets are found in order to ground yourself with a falsely perceived self-control. It only takes that one special person to see through it all and Moti couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful and oh so talented man than Alex, who had his own emotional and inspiring story to tell. Such a wonderful man!

‘Alex had a dream. He had talent and drive and ambition. Every night, under the light of the moon, he cast his net toward the heavens to catch the stars.’

Leylah Attar writes with such beauty and poise. Her words flawlessly transport you into her world, where the scenery and food serve as their own rightful and stunning characters. Its peace and tranquillity forming the landscape for the utter chaos of family relationships. Moti on the Water was quite the shift from what we’ve read previously from this wonderful Author, however, the message of love, family and self-worth is prevalent once again, as is the importance of different cultures and the traditions that go hand in hand. This romance was swoon-worthy beyond words and whilst it was very low on angst, love did not find its way easy for Moti and Alex.

‘I don’t know if I’m ever going to be okay. I’ve fallen in love with the wrong guy. But it didn’t feel wrong. It felt fantastic.’