Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern

I’ve seen the trailer, I’ve heard friends talk about the book, and I’ve seen it a lot of times on Goodreads, so I got curious and gave it a try.

I had fun reading it. It’s like someone is talking in my head, chatting with me, sharing their experiences and feelings. The conversation format of the book gives you that engaging feeling that you are part of the book or that you are the one talking. Also, everyone can relate to teenage experiences that the characters are sharing. So it was fun and it was humorous… at first, until it became annoying.

The cute little voices you hear while reading the book started to become annoying. And the plot started to get boring.

Everyone knows that Rosie and Alex is in love with each other except the two of them. There are even instances that proved how they are meant for each other. At first, these instances are just heartbreaking. But as you progress with the story, it becomes annoying and dragging.

It took the author 486 pages to tell and retell instances why the two characters can’t be together. It was dragging. I thought I’ll be able to finish the book in two weeks or in a month, but I got bored and put the reading on hold because of how disappointing the story has become. And it took me four long months to go back again into reading and finally finishing it.

With a fresh eye and a fresh mind, I thought the ending was kind of sad. How could they possibly waste almost all their life thinking of what could possibly happen if they just became honest with their feelings?

It was just crazy.

I find the ending hopeless romantic.

And I find the characters of Rosie Dunne and Alex Stewart annoying.

There are so many details in the book that I think is unnecessary.

I have enjoyed the movie more than reading the whole book.

The story

Rosie and Alex are best friends, They’ve been friends since they were little. They share their thoughts and secrets until they grow up. However, they are unaware of the budding feelings that is growing between them. And because of this, they make decisions that are total opposite of what they feel.

Everyone knows that they are for each other, that they love each other, except the two of them. Because for them best friends can’t possibly date. And it took them a whole lifetime to realize that they were wrong.

Ratings: 2 out of 5.

It was in the middle of okay and boring.

P.S. I Still Love You By Jenny Han

“Just like the first book, it is a typical and ordinary teenage romance story.”

It is not as exciting and as fun as the first one. I did enjoy the first book. (Plus the factor that it was a major cliffhanger.) So I have to admit that I’ve been expecting more from this one. But it turned out that the second book is not as good as I thought.

So here are the reasons why PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han is a bit of a turn off:

1. Lara Jean’s (heroine) character started to be annoying

She was a loving sister and a funny girl at the first installment. She was a bit funny, lovely, pretty, understanding, and a cute over thinker. She was a bit of all those things. But in this book, she became too crazy. She overthinks everything too much. She also became too sensitive and selfish. Reading her thoughts became a bit of a drag.

2. Gen and Lara’s friendship

In the first book, there was minimal mention about Gen and Lara’s friendship. So I thought they were not that close. But it turned out that their relationship is so much deeper, which was described in every part of this second book (which I guess is good). There was also a revelation on why their friendship fell apart (which by the way is so petty). So knowing their past, there should be at least a part in the book where there is closure. But no. There’s nothing about it. Did they become friends again? Did they stay frenemies? I don’t know. If there is a chance of a book three, I think I don’t want to see any of the Gen and Lara drama anymore.

3. Peter Kavinsky vs. John Ambrose Mclaren

I was team Peter in book one. I’m still team Peter in book two. But it’s hard to love a character where the opposing one (John Ambrose) is so better. The book even suggested that Lara and John Ambrose is a good pair. The reason about them “not being on time” is just heartbreaking. I don’t know what to feel. Is this part of the story? Well, I love to hate this part.

And by the way, seriously another boy?

I don’t usually fangirl over a teen novel. I’m too old for this. But I guess, there’s still that magic in teen novels that are very captivating. I’m still captivated by the works of Jenny Han and I think she is a great teen book writer. But I had enough of this story.

Again, just like what I mentioned in the first book, if you are looking for a feel good easy reading book and a throwback to your high school life, then this book is probably for you.

 

Ratings:

2.5 out of 5. I don’t like it.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

A very typical young adult romance story and yet it makes you excited.

I’m married and on my late 20s, so I assumed that these kinds of stories won’t really get me. And yet, here I am feeling all thrilled after reading this book. It makes no sense to me as I recall how this book made me feel. Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is a simple hopeless romantic tale of a teenage girl whose love letters got accidentally sent out to all the boys she likes.

It has a simple plot, realistic setting and very relatable characters. Well, I guess the reasons that this book is very appealing is because:

 

• Lara Jean, is the reflection of every girl’s teenage life

 

As I read the book, I can’t help but be transported back to my high school days. Lara Jean may be a fictional character, but she is the bits and pieces of every high school girl in the world. From dealing with her family, school, and most especially with the boys she likes, her character is as real as a live person.

 

• The story is a realization of our unfinished business with the boys we have loved before

 

Once in our high school life, we probably went through some of Lara Jean’s experiences. But unlike Lara Jean, there are feelings in our past that are still hidden up until now. And what we have right now, are “what ifs”. This book gives us the answer to all our “what ifs”. This is probably the reason why we (or I) became particularly attached to the book. It’s as if reading a part of my life that could have happened.

 

• We wished we have a Peter who rescued us from a bad heartbreak

 

And of course, one of the main reasons why romantic young adult books hit is because they are still crafted with the same formula of having an alpha male hero. A not-so-perfect handsome hero who will save the heroine and give her unconditional love. It’s the oldest formula, but it still works.

 

These are just some of the reasons why I think this book is a good read. I know many won’t agree with these, but this is how the book made me feel.

It was a fun and relaxing read, but I won’t probably read it again. On the other hand, I am so excited to read the second part as the book is a major cliffhanger.

 

Ratings:

3 out of 5. I like it.

 

The Secret life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

I’ve heard good things about this book. And the title is really catchy and will definitely pique your interest. So, I decided to borrow my friend’s copy and give it a shot.

The book was not my cup of tea. No matter how much I try to like it, I just can’t. The only reason I finished it is because I hate the idea of leaving a book unfinished.

But in all fairness, the story is good. It has sense and humor. It has a little tinge of suspense and a lot of drama.

I like the element of using a white teenager and how she found love with black Americans. The irony is so good.

My sympathies to the characters who have experienced terrible discrimination. I’ve never thought that blacks would be treated that way – it’s very unfair and inhumane. I hate reading the parts where they get to be discriminated, or how weird it is for a white teen to be living in the house of black people. It’s not comforting.

I know people will curse me for not appreciating the book. It’s not I don’t appreciate it. I do. As I’ve said the story is good. But it is not the type of book that I would enjoy.

So if you like reading drama, coming-of-age, theme with racism or discrimination, this book might be a pearl to you.

Even though it’s not my cup of tea, I would still recommend this to everyone and would give this a good review rating.

 

P.S.

Just saw the trailer of the movie, and I would probably like it on screen.

 

About the book

With the death of her mother at the age of four, Lily has been living with her cruel father. Now, that she is 14, she dreams of escaping and finding some clues about the previous life of her mother and with the hope that she’s somehow alive.

When her black caretaker, Rosaleen, arrested for pouring snuff juice on a white man’s shoes, Lily finds a way out of her father’s home. She rescued Rosaleen and journeyed away from her father.

With a few saved pennies, a photo of a black Madonna with “Tiburon, S.C” written on the back – a memento from her mother, Lily with Rosaleen tried to find a home that would take them in. Until they discovered that the photo belongs to August Boatwright, the proprietor of a honey farm. Together with her sisters, June and May, decided to welcome Lily and Rosaleen under their roof.

Having a runaway white teenager under the roof of black women, there’s only trouble to be expected.

 

Rating: 3 out of 5. It was okay.

The One by Kiera Cass

It has been a long time since I finished The Elite. I was a bit disappointed with it, so it took me this long to read the third one. The book, and the whole series, are good. What I don’t like about this, specifically The Elite, is how the heroine is portrayed. America Singer is weak, flirt and the worst female character I’ve ever read, except for Anastasia Steele. But I’ve overcome my hatred for this character when I decided to read the third installment – The One.

And thank goodness, this book was able to redeem the character of the heroine.

Among all the three books in the series, The One is my favorite. It has an exciting plot, well-developed old and new characters and a really cheesy and romantic tone. I fell in love with it more compared to the other two. My hatred for America’s character is still there, but I fell in love more with Maxon.

America’s character is still the same, indecisive and very spontaneous. However, her indecisiveness and spontaneity helps her to become a strong character. And this character is needed to support the solid plot of the story.

On the other hand, Maxon’s character shows a lot of weakness. He is not the typical alpha hero. He’s a beta, very warm and comforting personality. It’s a bit ironic since he is bound to be the king. But as you read the story, you will understand why he is like this.  

Finally, with this last installment, the series was able to proved that it is not just a typical romantic young adult book. It has a deeper back story that makes the whole story more colorful and unique. Readers should pay attention to some hidden clues in preparation for a bigger twist at the end of the book. Oops spoilers!

This book is indeed a page turner.

 

The Story

As the Selection was nearing its end, new conflicts arise in Illea. The Southerners rebels have become more violent and continue to attack the crown. On the other hand, new allies were formed with the Northerners rebels who are bound to serve the current crown if the current caste system will be abolished. With the same aim, Maxon with America, helped the Northerners rebels and use them to fight the Southerners. But their new allies did not prevent the Southerners to continue to attack the crown. Furthermore, with the Selection, everything becomes so complicated, as Maxon needs to choose who will be the next queen of Illea. And choosing has never become so difficult, even though he knows who he wanted all this time. And America still has a lot of issues that needs to be taken cared of.

 

Ratings:

4 out of 5. I liked it.

The Last Girlfriend On Earth By Simon Rich

This is the funniest book I’ve read so far this year. All the stories here are the best and very entertaining. Simon Rich is a very intelligent humorist and writer. His ideas are very unique and fresh, I’ve enjoyed each story in this book. Here are the other reasons why I enjoyed this book so much.

 

1. The very catchy title.

I found this book, randomly placed on a shelf of classics and award winning novels. The title was very funny and interesting and the fact that it is located in a wrong shelf made me more interested to read it. The title is very witty and eye catching. Even though it is not located in the classic section, I would still pick it up, open and browse. The title is genius.

 

2. The front cover graphic is so cooooool!

A graphical image of a girl falling from a cliff with creepy shadows following her is really something interesting. It is very appealing and attractive. And if you are a millennial or a teenager, you will probably pick this one even though it is located alongside John Green’s work. The graphic really complimented the very beautiful title.

 

3. Unique and funny characters.

I was surprised to find Adult Hitler, Mother Theresa, Santa Clause, Bill Clinton and many more influential people in this book. And what makes it more amazing is that these influential people were described in the book as normal people living a normal life. It was hilariously funny.

 

3. The funny metaphors

Simon Rich is a very good writer. His imagination is unbelievable. He can create wonderful worlds on simple things and situation, may it be a wallet, a day to day talk from a stranger, a repair shop, from dining tables, and many more. And it was not just a wonderful world, it was also funny and very entertaining.

 

4. The humor

There are humorous stories that are funny because of the use of words and puns. But this book, the humor is pure intelligence. It gives you more. It doesn’t only entertain, but it will also make you think. And the humor is very relatable. These are probably the reasons why this book is so entertaining and interesting.

 

5. The chapters

I like how the stories were divided into three parts – “Boy Meets Girl”,  “Boy Gets Girl”, and lastly, “Boy Loses Girl”.

 

All the stories in the book are great and interesting. There were some that stood out, while some doesn’t have that same appeal as the others. But all in all, this book is a good read.

 

Here are some of the stories that I love:

 

Boy Meets Girl

1. Unprotected.
2. Occupy Jen’s Street
3. Cupid
4. I Love Girl

 

Boy Gets Girl

1. Scared Straight
2. Girlfriend Repair Shop
3. The Adventure Of The Spotted Tie
4. Celebrity Sexceptions
5. Wishes
6. The Important Thing
7. The Last Girlfriend On Earth

 

Boy Loses Girl

1. Is it just me?
2. I saw mommy kissing santa claus
3. The Present
4. Trade

 

Doing this list is useless, this is basically all the titles in the book.

 

Ratings: 5 out of 5. I really, really loved it.

The Elite by Kiera Cass

I enjoyed reading the first book and it was an obvious cliffhanger so I was looking forward to part two. The start of the story was really good, the participants of the Selection were down to the Elite. I did enjoy reading it at first, but as the story progresses, my gosh, I grew to hate America!
She’s a slut! I really don’t like her character. She is the worst thing that happened to this book. Her character is selfish and slutty. How can she be so sweet and loving towards Aspen when she also feels the same with Prince Maxon. She’s fortunate that Maxon really likes her, if not, she would be kicked out in the palace at the start of this series. She’s just too much. She is the reason why it took me so long to finish this book. I hate reading her. I really, really hate her character. I hate the writer for making a weak, selfish and lame heroine like her.
The only thing that I probably like about this book is the unfolding of the many secrets that lie in the history of Illéa. The way the government hides all history books is very intriguing. It was like the whole kingdom is living under the dark shadows of the past and everyone is oblivious of the truth. This part is really exciting. This is the only reason why I started reading this book again. Without this plot, I would have thrown this book with all its female drama and annoying heroine.
The Story

After being called for the Selection, America Singer, was able to stay in the competition and be part of the six Elite. With them narrowed down, the competition gets harder. The princesses in the waiting have become more competitive and challenges have become more serious and difficult. On the other hand, Prince Maxon was also getting pressured by the turn of events. With the many numbers of attack towards the castle and threats to the whole royal family and participants of the Selection, he needs to make a decision who will be the next princess, as soon as possible.
But he knows who he wants. He wants America. But America is still confused about her feelings for Maxon and her ability to become a princess. With Aspen, as a royal guard now, her feelings have become more complicated.
On the other hand, even though Maxon wants America to be the one, he can’t just simply force her to be with him. So in order to find the best choice in the Selection, Maxon has made himself more available and accommodating to the other participants which made America feel alone and unloved.
And with the thought that Maxon doesn’t like her anymore, she made an unexpected move that puts the whole kingdom at risk and that made the King very cautious with her.
Ratings:

1 out of 5. I hate it. Super.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

This is a long overdue book review. But despite the long period of escaping in doing this, I can still remember how I enjoyed this book.

 

Just like any other YA or teen novel, this book is easy to read and very entertaining. The plot is very interesting. It’s not really a modern day fairy tale. But it is a story with a fairy tale plot formula that is dedicated to an older audience. It can be a good bedtime story for teen and young adults.

 

What I like about this book is the chemistry that the main characters (America and Maxon) have for each other. I like how princely and regal Maxon’s character is. Unlike the fairy tales that we’re used to, where the prince just pops out from nowhere and rescue the princess, in this book, the prince actually interacts with the heroine.

 

The readers will also have a glimpse of what kind of prince he is based on his interaction with the other characters and based on his motivations and decisions. I don’t usually fall in love with fictional characters, but, I have to admit that Maxon’s character is really handsome and charming. I like reading his scenes not only with the heroine, but also with the other characters.

 

On the other hand, despite showing strength and uniqueness, I’m not amused with America’s character. She’s very indecisive. She doesn’t know what she likes and she just simply goes with the flow. She’s selfish. And I hate reading her. I don’t like this kind of heroine.

 

Aside from having a nasty heroine, there are still other interesting characters that I know readers will love – like America’s sister, May, or the other participants in the Selection like Marlee.

 

The number status in the story is also very interesting. Well, the whole Selection world is interesting. To be categorized in the society based on your ability and root of origin are serious socio-civic issues which give more meaning and essence to the story. This part of the story raises questions and encourages critical thinking and will make you want to keep reading.

 

The Story

In a society where social status is defined by numbers, America Singer was born a 5 since she belongs in a family of musicians. Her talent for music has allowed her to perform for events participated by people from higher numbers. Being a 5 is not as bad as being an 8, which is the lowest category in the hierarchy of Illéa.

 

As a young girl, America was chosen to join the Selection, an event where 35 eligible young ladies in Illéa will have to compete with each other and win the heart of the Prince. An opportunity to help her family, America joined the competition and was picked to be part of the 35 candidates.

 

Even though it is every young girl’s dream to be part of the Selection and be a princess, joining the competition is not that easy for America, for after joining, her boyfriend Aspen, who is an 8, broke up with her.

 

She was so heartbroken from what happened to them, that she vowed to give her best in the Selection so she can help her family instead. However, meeting Prince Maxon, has changed her life.

 

Now, instead of just staying in the competition for her family, she found a new purpose to stay and maybe win in the Selection.

 

Ratings:

3 out of 5. I actually enjoyed it. I was entertained.

 

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

The story plot is good. Having a notebook to communicate may sound a little strange but it is interesting, especially considering the popularity of electronic communications today.  

However, even though it is interesting, I still don’t find it appealing. Mainly because I’m not its intended audience. But if I had been 12 or 15, I would probably like it.

 

Lily

I don’t like her character. She’s whiny and demanding. She’s the least bit supportive when her parents decided to leave to Fiji and have their honeymoon. I know it may sound selfish for parents to leave their kids alone, but their son and daughter (Lily) are big enough to look after themselves. If the writers’ intention is to have a heroine like this, then they’ve succeeded.

Perhaps, having this kind of heroine is good. Because, I think her character is the complete opposite of the hero in the story.

 

Dash

I find Dash’s character a bit charming. Today, it’s very rare for a guy to be interested in books and yogurt. He is not a perfect character and he doesn’t try to be one. But the way his character developed is really good. Living with divorced parents, hating Christmas, being snarky – he was vividly and aptly described. He is also a bit romantic and he is passionate about what he likes, which is really a cute thing. Though, it was hard to read his POV (just saying).

 

The Story

It’s Christmas time, and Lily found herself feeling alone with her parents gone for their honeymoon and her brother too occupied with his boyfriend. To help her divert her attention and loneliness this holiday season, her brother gave her a red notebook and wrote a dare in it and left it in a library.

Dash accidentally found the red notebook and immediately got curious about it. Then, he followed all the notebook’s instructions and decided to also give a dare to whomever owns the notebook.

Lily didn’t expect the turn of events, and she gladly took the next challenge, until both of them were intertwined in the games of dares.

Even though they are strangers to each other, they find comfort in their words and they were able to express their thoughts and sentiments.

However, because of this, both had conjured the ideal image of one another. And so with an unexpected turn of events, they found out that no one among them is the ideal person they’ve been thinking about all this time.

This could have ended everything between them. However, both of them decided to start over again and continue what they have started and create the most happy ending to their story.

 

Ratings: 2 out of 2. It was ok only because of the plot story.

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

It is very intense and shocking. It’s a good read if you are looking for a serious, brutal, gore post-apocalyptic YA book. However, you might feel some traces of The Hunger Games in the story.

I’ll try my best not to have a comparative analysis of the two. The book has charm. So let me just amuse you with the things that I find nice and cool about the story.

Plot

The story is amazing. I didn’t read the back cover for the synopsis, or any reviews about it. I just grabbed it in my book shelf and started reading. I really don’t know anything about it (I don’t even know that there is already a trailer for the movie adaptation). So, I was a bit lost at first. But as I progressed in the story, I was like one of the characters trying to figure out what’s really happening.

I have my fair share of outrage for the well-defined waves, deaths and betrayal in the story. I don’t remember how many times I said “sh*t”, or paused just to rerun the scenes in my head. The story is huge. It is good. I’m actually running out of words just to describe how I feel about it. At first you thought everything is going fine, but then suddenly a head of some teenager blows up.

Characters

The characters were amazing. I like how the story was split in different POVs to show the different angles of the story. You can also know the characters through the scenes.

Ringer’s character is my favorite. She was so strong, brave and smart. I thought she’s a villain, but then, voila… twist in the story.

The heroine, Cassie, is good too, but I’m a bit skeptical about her character. She gets influenced too much by her feelings. Everyone is dying, and she still thinks about her crush. I can smell some misguided motivation here.

On the other hand, Ben Parish’s character is also cool. He is not the ultimate strong teenage boy, he is weak, but he tries to be strong and sane despite all the things that have happened.

Meanwhile, Evan’s character is a salvation. He is, I think, a critical part of the story. (As a reader, I don’t know if I can trust him, but I want to trust him.)

Ending

The book is a major cliffhanger. It’s unfair, but, go ahead and read it.

 

The Story

Aliens invade earth by bringing death and destruction through five (5) waves. The first wave is the blackout where an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) destroyed all electronics on earth. The second wave is controlled tsunamis that brought physical destruction. The third wave is a deadly virus that killed billions of people. Then the fourth wave, the Silencers (humans with aliens inside them) who murder people.

After the death of her parents, Cassie promised herself that she will save her little brother, Sammy. (During the third wave, all kids age 8 and below were taken to a refugee camp.) However, being alone with a Silencer who’s after her, she thought she’s going to die. But she was surprised to find herself in a pristine farm house with a mysterious man named Evan. Even though, Evan saved Cassie’s life, she can’t fully trust the man. But after Evan revealed his true self and true feelings for Cassie, she was left with no choice but to trust him. Evan helped and taught her to fight.

On the other hand, on Camp Haven, where Sammy was brought, kids were being tagged and bagged and taught military training. To be tagged and bagged means that they are putting trackers inside the kids’ head to prepare them in killing the aliens. One of the kids here is Ben Parish, Cassie’s childhood crush and school mate.

Ben lost his family. So he promised that he will avenge them by training hard. Ben has made a fond attachment with Sammy since he reminded him of his little sister. So when Ben graduated from their training and was deployed to their first mission, he promised Sammy that he will come back.

However, on their mission, Ben found out the truth about the fifth wave. They are the fifth wave. Camp Haven that trained them to be strong, is actually a death camp that teaches them to kill their own kind. With this, Ben embarked on a suicide mission of going back to Camp Haven to save Sammy.

With the same purpose of saving Sammy, Cassie ran into Ben. Both of them can’t trust each other, but they don’t have a choice.

Ratings: 3.5 out of 5.