Second Chance By Liliana Rhodes: A Review

*I haven't read anything for a long time but took the challenge of reviewing books from Love's a Beach bundle from Mina cause really, I want to refresh my brain from the stress of reviewing for boards. Nevertheless, here's my honest review of one of the books:

I picked up Second Chance by Liliana Rhodes, aside from it's the first book in the bundle, I thought I could start from something I'm quite familiar to (*ahem* reading-wise I mean). Writing about second chance to love is really complicated as getting into it as in relationship. No joke. First you have to write their history, how they met and became together, why they broke up and most especially DO THEY NEED TO BE BACK TOGETHER AND WHY? You have to convince the reader of that. Especially if it took a lot of years for you to make up for the lost time. When I wrote a novella in-line with it, I regret it. It was really hard and if you don't convince the reader, your story won't just make sense til the end.

So did this book convince me? I do believe from the writer that they are really meant to be and it really was a waste of 15 years of time for them to realize that. At first third of the book the writer kept my interest. The setting was refreshing (I don't read much stories around billionaire's mansion and horses and whatnot), the plot's stable and convincing. The thing I would like to nitpick even from the start is the main character, Tara. She's in her late 20s but she can be naive and immature at times, the writer didn't even bother making her grow from what she had been when she was a young adult falling in love with a hot, cocky billionaire guy like Mason. Not to mention  the Cinderella-like situation with Mason's mother. Oh she's poor and not good for my son blah blah. Please we had enough of that in teleseryes.

The story has promising start but it end up revealing to be a cliche with lots of plot holes and characters I thought have a big roles in the conflict of the story but ended up to be just distractions. I don't think Tara and Mason breaking up cause Mason's mother threaten her, not keeping the conversation because of the evil mother again and waiting for 'fate' to bring them back made sense. Yes it's the 90s but if you love the person across the other-half of the world then do something about it. What's more disappointing is how they easily make up by just one phone call.

The story doesn't just make sense as a whole. The writer might thought readers will going to buy the plot but sadly it ended up being a flop. Shame that I was getting excited at first.

Two stars.

Finding X: A Review

"Only, rubber erasers don't work on ink."

Way to start my #romanceclass marathon. Picked this novella as the curiosity got into me (clever title). The story was about Carlisle struggle in moving on (after a 7 years relationship) and trying again in love. And true to itself, second chance in love only happens for those who are willing to put the past behind.

I love how the author plays the story, with no red herring and in a straightforward path since page one. Love the cheesy, toe-curling scenes between the MC and LI. Love the geographical puns (even if sometimes it's too much). Love the hair. and most especially love the awkward nerd yet hot guy with a passion in Science named Mateo (heehee). This is a novella worth reading. Thumbs up!

Bests of 2013

My top ten reads for 2013 (and the reason/s why I swoon over it.) in at-the-top-of-my-head order:

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Way to end 2013. This book is a work of genius. Well for those who writes, fangirls over anything/someone and/or struggles in college.This made me revert to Rainbow Rowell works.
2. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. Ahhh, the feels. First love and all. Yes, I did say that I was fairly disappointed (note: never over-expect a book. or in anything for that matter) but I also did enjoy it (thanks to cute ol' Park,hihi). Really. Definitely not your conventional YA novel.
3. If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern. Ahern is one of the... (continue reading)

Fangirl: A Review

You know the magical feeling when you found the shoes for you after searching around, even if it isn't the most gorgeous pair of shoes in the store, and then you fit it and it's just right? That's exactly how I felt when I devoured in Cather's world. Fangirl is my bookmate. Totally relatable and funny. Being a fangirl-slash-writer weird nerd college freshman who have a (twin)sister for a best friend. All of Cather are was how I were two years ago. 

All the things that I've learned (from reading, experience, high school, romance class) about being a frustrated writer where there and I couldn't help say 'I know right?!' Plus the book puts a light to fanfiction writing and it wasn't your typical cliche, superficial story about fandom (which I thought it was at first).

The scenes are real and totally captivating. Now I truly appreciate Rowell's works (in fact I couldn't wait to read 'Attachments'). She wants to let the whole world knows that not only the pretty, sophisticated girls gets the opportunity to be a main character in a love story and will become the apple of they eye of a cute, charming love interest. You too can. Everyone can. Each one of us has a story to tell and that, in a way, can inspire others. Like how Cather proved that she was more than an antisocial girl with a dream world around Simon Snow. That someone like Cather could be accepted by someone like Levi and Reagan. And that there was more to her and Levi (oh Levi, cute Levi) actually loved her because of that. 

The Simon Snow excerpts (both from the original fiction and Cather's fanfic) made the story interesting. I actually didn't squeamish at the thought of Simon-Baz love team. Although I'd hope that the author elaborate how Cather came up with the idea. Not that I'm against it, but I'm not quite open-minded to homosexual relationships to the point that I am willing to read a whole book about it.

The longevity of the story is out of the question if you will enjoy it from page one. Everything about the book is unconventional. Not your typical young/new adult novel. 

Eleanor & Park: A Review

3.5/5 stars actually.

When I first heard about this book, I was so excited it was already in my Christmas wishlist. Who wouldn't love the innocent, catching cover plus the promising premise? Incidentally, I got this book just last week as a gift out of monito/monita in our school's Christmas party. 

All I could think about the whole time I was reading this: Ahhh, the feels.

I couldn't remember how many times I giggled and smiled to Eleanor and Park most-of-the-time-awkward-sometimes-sweet interactions.

But then again some things had me bugging and prevented me to rate this book a perfect 5 stars.

First thing I noticed was the third POV which to say I was fairly disappointed. Why? If you were going to write a she-said-he-said novel why talk in third person? Because of that I wasn't able to fully know the main characters more. Yup, I felt related to their stories but I didn't felt that Eleanor or Park could be a friend of mine (like all the books must achieved).

Next was the blatant curse after curse after curse. Which perhaps I wouldn't mind if I didn't see it almost every page. Yeah, I think cursing is generally usual but the author didn't have to depend on it just to convey a very strong emotion.

The racist statements. Really? Minus points to that.

The setting, 1986, Omaha, Nebraska. While I didn't know where this place is, obviously, I didn't exactly know too how that year went but this book was a revelation to that. The music, bullying, pain-in-the-ass stepdad and the fashion getup. Thumbs up to that!

The characters:
Eleanor--- red-haired, plus-sized (look at the picture of the author at the back of the book. *sigh* Couldn't she think of other MC besides herself?), always-bullied girl with a weird fashion taste and weirder family. Yeah, I could put up with that. Tho her sometimes immaturity and shallowness made her less reliable as the main character. One example was the little, she-started-it, where-it-came-from fight with Park. Totally Mary Sue.

Park--- a cute Asian kid with a good taste in music and a wealthy family. When Eleanor first describe him, I thought "Finally a change in the YA novel." We have to admit that he and Eleanor were one of the oddest (and not just because of their physical flaws) characters ever written. But I really like Park and I wouldn't mind if I'll meet someone like him. Park is so cute I wished he was near me when I was reading this book so I could pinch his cheek.

Their love story:
This was the winning point. I love their two-against-the-world story. Although I think their from-strangers-to-lovers relationship was a bit abrupt, I loved that the author shows what it was reallylike to be in love for the first time. The bliss. The giggles. The fights. Even the risks of it. The school bus definitely represents their love story.

The ending:
The twist of all the twists in the story. Couldn't it be more heartbreaking? I have to say that was totally unexpected but remarkably enough to close this novel.

All in all:
Fine. Could have been in my favorite-books shelf tho their are a lot of buts.It would have been a very beautiful novel if not for the author's lack of grasp and more-tell-than-show style and unstable plot. So I think it deserves 3 stars from me (it's still a 'i liked it' rate, right?:)).

Queen of the Clueless: A Review

Cliffhanger! Couldn't wait to find out who will Hannah choose Quin (is she the one for him? Or is he really toying with that young teacher?), the Son of God (and wet blankets)? Robbie (he totally deserve Hannah. She need someone like him!), the super cute, romantic human? Or maybe Diego (what the hell was the kiss supposed to mean? That was a surprise!), the God of Sea (and fistfight) has a chance. I don't know with the rest but I'm 100% Team Robbie, woohoo! Plus what will happen about her being an Interim Goddess of Love (and where the hell is the original goddess?). I couldn't wait to grab a paperback of Icon of the Indecisive eeep.

3.5 stars actually. The chess code in the end was very clever(although I didn't 'totally' get how it works.haha). Tho there were parts in the story that I thought weren't necessary to the main plot. Plus I only got excited on the last part. And still, I don't get the meaning of Hannah's dreams (or dreams were not suppose to be discern?)

Nevertheless, I think this is one of the best books of Ms. Mina. A break through for her as a fantasy-paranormal writer. *clap clap*

Where She Went: A Review

As soon as I finished 'If I Stay', I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book. Although nothing like this was the sequel that I was expecting for it. If you haven't read the book then you should definitely stop reading any reviews or this mere book. It would definitely spoil the fun of reading 'If I Stay' (which is one of the few YA novels that I really enjoyed).

<spoiler> Yes, it was refreshing to read Adam's POV this time but I have to admit that the first-half was as slow and cliche as it could get. The story, for the most part, was about the reality of being well known (well in the case of Adam, of being a rock star). A gloomy reality of loneliness, panic attacks and invasive paparazzi. I kept having this question in my mind, 'What happened?'. I was getting frustrated until finally Mia showed up in the story. It was disappointing that they broke up (Why???) because I really thought they had a connection in the first book so strong, even Mia's family was closed to Adam. Did the connection ceases when her family died? I couldn't seem to understand why they have to separate just because Mia was going to pursue her dreams in Julliard while Adam was left behind. Then Mia dropped the bomb by saying he hated Adam because he made him stay and that he made a promise he didn't live. That seems unfair for Adam.

They they finally talked about it. About the past they left behind I knew how hard it is to left something behind without a proper good bye then opened it again like some unhealed wound.

As Adam said it 'Closure. I loathe that word.' Yup Adam, I loathe that word too. For what it seem something easy for most to say good bye to a relationship, it turns out that sometimes it is not. Especially if you were left behind clueless. If you were still clutching to some frail thread of hope that someday she/he would come back. That's how I understood Adam's grief.

The last-half of the story gave Mia and Adam the opportunity to explain their sides. It was the most frustrating part of the book. I mean, from their words, I knew that the connection was still there but they kept on cutting it with all the excuses they could get to defend their own side. Then finally, rekindle romance and all, they kept their guard down and practically ran back to each other's arms. 

So it was all about pride! They started to adjust their time for each other and do everything they could even if it means flying halfway across the globe just to made up for the lost time. Why didn't realize it in the first place? Why did they had to sunk in the otherworldly of fame before realizing what was really important? 

Oh right, this book was written with 'reality' all over it. And I praised the author for putting up with it without losing the creativity of the story. Gayle Forman is such a good storyteller and I couldn't wait to read her other works. 

As much as I'd wanted to pull my hair in frustration, I still bitterly realized and admitted a lot of things. Thanks to the bittersweet love story of Adam and Mia.</spoiler>