Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Review: My Oxford Year

My Oxford Year My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay. I was originally gonna rate this 3.5 stars. However, it did gave me a lot of feels and a little heartbreak.

But honestly speaking, I was kind of disappointed. And that's because I had high expectations for this book because of the feedback of those people I know who have read this. But then it wasn't what I was expecting.


(view spoiler)


I'm not that satisfied with the ending but I'm happy as to how the book ended. :D

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Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Review: Someone I Used to Know

Someone I Used to Know Someone I Used to Know by Patty Blount
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

***I received an ARC of this bookvia Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence my review in any way.***

Disclaimer: I was triggered when I read this book. And because of that, I cannot guarantee that this book will be “curse-free”. If you are uncomfortable reading curses, I apologize in advance. This book has a sensitive topic, which is rape. If you are uncomfortable talking about that too, you are free to not proceed and read the review. Please read at your own risk.

Let’s get started.

This book is about two siblings who are trying to recover from a traumatic experience, an experience that scarred their bond as brother and sister. One feels hate towards the other, and one feels guilt. Both are willing to do anything just to forget what happened. They will test if blood in indeed thicker than water.

Okay. Where do I even begin???

Let’s just skip first thoughts because I can’t remember my first thoughts about this book.

When I started reading this, I was immediately sucked inside the world. I immediately felt the feelings Ashley, the rape victim, felt. It was around the 2nd chapter where the triggers started. I don’t know what to feel! And the feelings I’m feeling, I don’t know where to put it.

Ashley hated her brother, Derek. She said he was one of the reasons she was raped. But Ashley blamed him for other reasons. I understand Ashley’s side. Not being a rape victim side but the side where it’s hard to recover from a traumatic experience. I know that feeling so well; that feeling where when you experience a very traumatic experience, it’s very hard to recover and move on from that. She’s healing. And she needs all support she can get even though she kind of feels like she’s alone. She feels like there’s no one who truly understands her. And that alone is a struggle. Dealing with your own emotion, your own self, is already a struggle. Add to that the uncontrollable emotions, like anxiety and fear, is another level of struggle.

When it is already difficult to deal with yourself, what makes you think it’s easier to deal with other people?


And there’s Derek, Ashley’s older brother.

I don’t know why but my initial feelings I had towards Derek’s character was not hate but curiosity. I want to know why he’s involved in his sister’s rape. And when I found out about it, bes, I almost hurl my phone. I was that triggered. I understood Ashley’s rage towards him then.

In a way, I understood why Derek wants to have some of his own “Me” time and own stuff to do that is not shared with Ashley. However, what I don’t understand is the way he handled getting it. Ashley was attached to Derek; they were close when they were little. And so when Derek started pulling away from Ashley, of course Ashley would cling even tighter because she thought that she’s not wanted anymore. Derek just got his approach wrong.

When Derek started showing signs that he wants to change, like he really was sorry for what happened to his sister, that he is willing to do anything, as in disappear from Ashley’s life, to help his sister, I felt somewhat proud of him. He was so ready to be out of Ashley’s life just for her to recover.

I have one issue though. I feel like their parents kind of blame Ashley too. It does not say but that’s what I’m feeling. Especially when the mother explained that Derek sure deserves some of his own time and do his own thing. However, why did they not explain these things to Ashley when they were little?

Derek loves playing football with their daddy. And Ashley who wants to do everything with Derek also wants to play football. But their dad won’t allow it. So why not explain to Ashley that she is not allowed to play football because it’s what Derek wants to do and there are things that Derek wants for himself that he doesn’t want to share. Is that so hard to do as a parent?

Maybe one of the reasons why Ashley felt like Derek doesn’t want her anymore is because of the lack of guidance from their parents. They did not let Ashley understand that Derek and her are two different people and that there are things that one wants to do without the other and accept those reality.


This book is the only book that made me cry every time I read it. And I mean every time. When I reach halfway in the book, I started crying. And when I reach the end, I’m still crying. This book hit me with so many emotions I needed to let some of it out because I felt like I’m close to explosion. This is so heavy!

I love that this book hit all the crucial parts of reality about society and rape culture. I love that this book talked about something as sensitive as rape and give readers lessons about how to deal with it and what is what around this stuff. I want to commend the author, Ms Patty Blount, for being so brave in writing about a topic like this.

The ending of this book is what made me cry real hard. I had to put my phone down to recover from that feels. I’m not gonna talk about the ending to avoid spoilers. But know that I cried cats and dogs after reading the last chapter before the epilogue.

To wrap this up, this book is seriously amazing. I love reading books that has sensitive topics even if it’s fiction. It says a lot about the author, writing books like this. They are brave and they see the harsh and cruel reality of the world. And they use books to open our eyes and see those as well. I totally recommend this book, bessies. I just want to warn you, there are a lot triggering situations here. This book should come with one, so consider this a warning. But if you are not comfortable reading about sensitive topics as rape, then please don’t force yourself to read.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Review: Heartless

Heartless Heartless by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bes!

I am drained!

I feel like my energy was drained after closing the last page. I don't even know how to deal with the loss, the shock, the heartbreak, everything!

I want to cry so hard right now.



This book left me hurt, heartbroken, and probably hung over! I can't deal with the pain! Like wtf!

Seriously! I don't think I can handle something like that. I didn't expect it to be like that. I thought it was just a typical YA book but no! It was a painful YA book! GAAHH!!

I can't deal with this pain! So I'm just gonna go and cry in the corner now! Bye!!!



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Monday, June 25, 2018

Review: Counterfeit Boyfriend

Counterfeit Boyfriend Counterfeit Boyfriend by Cindi Madsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

***I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. This doesn’t influence my review in any way.***

This book is about two people falling in love. Lol. It is a romance book so there is falling in love involved. Anyway, it’s about a guy, Ethan, who pretended to be his twin brother, Evan, to accompany his girlfriend, Gwen, on a road trip. At first, he didn’t agreed to do it but then because he was drunk and easily persuaded, he end up saying yes to his brother. However, he intended to end the relationship that morning of their first meet with the girl but then his plans were blown when finally got to meet Gwen, his twin brother’s girlfriend. Ethan’s plan of breaking up with Gwen flew out of the window when he was met with a hurricane of energy and brains and hotness. So he went with her on that road trip. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Well, a lot.

First thoughts about this book, there’s a twin. I love twin stories! I think it’s one way to get my attention towards books! If there’s twins in it, sign me up imma devour that baby! And then it’s a road trip, dang! I’m sold!

I was immediately hooked the moment I read the first sentence. Well, knowing that there’re twins in it already had me hooked.

Onto the characters now.
Let’s start with the male protagonist, Ethan.

I like Ethan’s character. He’s gentleman, sincere, thoughtful, sweet, and very, very naughty. I mean he is like a cinnamon roll kind of character but with a very wild imagination when it comes to Gwen. His thoughts were not a secret both to the reader and Gwen. He vocalized his want towards Gwen a handful of times that I sometimes find them cute with their teasing and stuff.
I appreciate every effort Ethan did for Gwen. I mean, he’s the type of guy you wouldn’t want to let go. Definitely a keeper, that guy! Up till the end, his efforts were awesome and I feel like I appreciate his efforts more than Gwen did. Haha! Anyway, despite Ethan being a handsome, irresistible munchkin I didn’t swoon to him like I usually do whenever I met a guy like him. I don’t know. He’s a great character but I guess I just don’t want to be on Gwen’s bad side. xD
I actually felt bad for him for being in the situation he was in and the circumstances of his relationship with Gwen, how they started the wrong way but also the perfect way. I can’t imagine him and Gwen meeting any other way. You could say that it was a blessing in disguise despite the pain they both suffered when all was revealed around the end.


Next is Guinevere, commonly known as Gwen.

I love Gwen! She was described as “a redheaded hurricane of energy and brains” and also very hot. But that’s not what I loved about her. I love her because she’s very talkative. She talks a lot and really fast. Sometimes she makes sense most of the times she just rambles. And I know that is a weird trait but I love that about her because I can relate to her in that department. Talking a lot of time most people would eventually get tired of hearing your voice. And she’s not a pathetic heroine! She’s not a weak type of heroine. She’s actually pretty strong and independent and feisty. She’s not dependent on men either. I like that she has a strong persona. She and Evan is a perfect pair!


Their story is very close to reality and actually has the possibility of happening to real people. And what’s amazing is the delivery of the story of this book feels like it was based on true events.
I love the story so much. There’s not much mushy, cheesy scenes aside from Ethan being a nerd. There’s no excessive drama either. It felt like everything is chill about this book until the bomb exploded and even then the drama doesn’t feel too heavy. Just a light drama but drama nonetheless.
There are also times that I’d laugh out loud while reading. In all honesty, the only book that could make me laugh out loud while reading was Rick Riordan’s books. And this made me laugh like I was actually a movie instead of reading a book. The kilig moments I felt while reading this are real. Even though there are only few kilig moments in this book (huh. Funny, I just noticed that while writing this review).

The narration of the book is also great. It is told in a first person POV and it was written so amazingly that I read them very fast. I managed to finish this book around more or less 5 hours. And it was narrated so great that I indeed felt like I watched a movie instead of reading. I seriously had fun reading this.

Also, I love the ending so much. And I have some suspicions about those two people who went missing on the epilogue part of this book. I wonder if they got to have a book of their own.

To wrap this up, this book is a very great read in contemporary, romance, adult genre. I don’t usually give so high a rate on adult contemporaries because for some reason, I find them lacking despite being so satisfying. (I hope that makes sense.) But this book is really a great read. I recommend this bessies! Read it!

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Monday, June 18, 2018

Review: The Diabolic

The Diabolic The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First thoughts, this book has great storyline. It’s the kind of book that is set in the space but doesn’t feel like it was set in space. Haha! It was great. I was having good time reading it. Until I realize that this got politics in it.

Bes, I’m not someone who hates politics being a subject inside a book. But I’m the kind who avoids it as much as I can because I do not like talking about politics. Like, I just want me some good, cozy and maybe an action-packed book with romance, lots of romance if possible. I want to enjoy my reads but I feel like if there’s politics in there, I can’t enjoy it because I’m not the type who understands deeper politics. I’m not ignorant to it either, I understand enough.

When I realized that this book is 80% politics and only got 10% bad-assery, 10% romance I was considering being biased and not love it. However, that would be unfair. So I didn’t change any feelings I have towards this book. I kept reading and I’m glad I did.

The characters are great. They have great personalities and I’m blown by how cunning and clever they are.

Let’s talk about Nemesis, the main character of this book.

She’s great, bad-ass, and an amazing diabolic. She’s a good friend too and very devoted kinds as are diabolics are supposed to be. And I like that she’s suspicious to every single person she met when she arrived in Chrysanthemum, where the Emperor resides. It’s good that she’s got trust issues. I have trust issues myself with the villainy types of characters in this book. I feel like anyone can be her enemy and she might not find an ally or two. It’s good that I’m not that worried about her safety while she’s in Chrysanthemum because she’s already doing things that prevent her to be betrayed by other characters. She’s smart and clever too. I like that about her. One thing that I don’t like though is that she’s aggressive and really impulsive. She thinks things through a bit late and she’s easily deceived because of her trust issues. I hate her reaction around the last scheme she’s experienced in the book. But I’m glad she’s got to her senses and recovered and didn’t do anything rash and even went as to take a risk again despite what happened to her.

Now let’s talk about Tyrus Domitrian.
Can I just say that when his character first appeared, I felt something towards him? It’s a weird feeling but out of all the people living in the Chrysanthemum, he’s the only one I actually kind of trusted. I mean, I think I saw through him. I saw, or rather felt in my gut, for who he really is. And I trusted his character immediately. And I never doubted him. I just hope I wasn’t wrong.

I didn’t quite like Sidonia Impyrean’s character.
Is it so mean that I was glad about what happened to her? I don’t know, I guess that’s mean. But I can’t help it. I was glad of what happened to her. :P Sorry not sorry.


The story doesn’t have that very huge, mind blowing plot twist. (Oops!) However! The story reflected a lot about what’s happening in our society technology-wise. There’s this line that Cygna, Tryus’ grandmother, said that why do we still need to learn things when we can just let the computers do it for us. And that right there is a very big slap about the reality of our society about technologies.

The people in this story became so dependent on machines and automation stuff that they actually banned studying math and science. And if people in real aren’t becoming that kind of people, bes, I might be living in another planet. I admit myself that I became dependent on technologies too. And reading this book, realizing just that thought that we rely too much on techs, made me want to commend this book! This is indeed great!

The characters in this book are cunning, clever, and very smart. It was somehow the battle of the most cunning and clever. Everyone is planning a scheme towards each other to overthrow this and that. It was such a fun time reading it.

The narration is told in a first person POV, Nemesis’. And I’ve always say this, first person POV makes me read the book even faster than third person POV. However, I couldn’t understand why it felt like it took me longer to actually finish this book. I feel like whenever I read this, I’m flying through the pages and reading pretty fast. But I have very small progress every time I read. Like how is that even possible? XD I guess I just can’t ride Nemesis’ way of narration sometimes. Plus whenever I get to the parts where she’d just explain the political stuff in the book, I’d just float. I mean, my mind floats and doesn’t really absorb properly the words I’m reading. Haha! I don’t know. That always happens to me whenever I read political stuff in a book.

The ending didn’t left me wanting to read the second book. The teaser to the second book is the one that made me want to read the second book. I don’t know how to place the ending of this book. It wasn’t really a cliffhanger but it still felt like a cliffhanger. Lol! Still, I can’t wait to read the second book. I’ve heard that it’s not as good as the first one but I guess I’ll just have to wait and find it out myself.

To wrap this up, this book is really good. It didn’t blow my mind in a usual way but it blew my mind at how it was so blunt about the reality of the world. If you’re the type of reader who loves politics, a lot of scheming, and a bit of romance while all those are happening in space then this read is very perfect for you. I totally recommend this, bessies! Read this!

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