2013 Book Challenge: A Book Series To End The 2013 Book Challenge With A Bang

Oh yes, finally I have succumbed. I finally decided to get my own copy. Saw this book months ago but decided not to get it because, umm, I don't know, hindi mo masyado feel yung blurb. And I have this thing when I get annoyed when people spell MALAKI as MALAKE, MALUPIT as MALUPET, PANGIT as PANGET. I get it, kung ano'ng bigkas ay siyang baybay pero naninindigan pa rin ako na ang spelling ng pangit dapat at PANGIT. But when I saw (in Facebook) that one of our clients is reading the book, I thought maybe it's worth giving the book a chance.

So Eya, the protagonist in our book, is an orphan, poor but smart enough to get into a prestigious university, Willford Academy, under a scholarship. Most of the students in the said university are rich, superficial and very judgmental to the have-nots, meaning Eya. She tries to blend into the crowd, go unnoticed to avoid ridicule but during one fateful day, her path has crossed with Cross Sandford, Willford Academy's crush ng bayan.

It was a cute story and you know how much I'm a sucker for bantering this book has LOTS of it. Actually, the book reminds me so much of Meteor Garden and a little of Got 2 Believe, the telenovela. I live for kilig, you know, that feeling of getting butterflies in your stomach? Haha. Pathetic, I know but that's how I roll. Haha. So anyway, Eya has a crush on Chad. Chad likes Lory. Lory likes Cross. Cross likes Eya. Too formulaic but I enjoyed it just the same and since it's so much like Meteor Garden, I kinda knew how it's going to end. Pero linshak lang talaga ang na ending yan.

Even if I did enjoy the book, I noticed that there were, umm, a lot of grammatical errors both in the English and Filipino language. Aside from spelling PANGIT as PANGET, the author used words such as maglangoy which should have been lumangoy. Another error, this time in English, is this statement: Grabe, she makes my blood boils! Grabe talaga. They should have proofread the book before publishing it because most of the readers are kids and if these books contain these grammatical errors, they'd think that these errors are indeed correct.

Pero bukod dun, masaya siya. Haha. Hello! Aabot ba ako ng Book 4 kung pangit? Well, sabi lang naman ng ate ko ay ang jologs ko pero WALANG BASAGAN NG TRIP. Corny minsan pero remember, kilig ang main factor na habol ko dito.

It was good year for me and my books. My original goal was just 35 books but I have finished 52 books. FIFTY-TWO! Not including pa the books I reread like This Is A Love Story, Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings and Charmed Thirds. I plan to finish the entire Jessica Darling series before the year ends :)

2013 Book Challenge 46/35: Something Like Normal

Another book I finished in record time but not because I REALLY liked it but because I think it only has 200+ pages. Haha. Seriously, this book reminded me of this Catfish episode I saw where the guy was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. So... anyway, Travis comes home from Afghanistan where he also lost his best friend. So mega PTSD and guilt-tripping on his best friend's death si Travis. He longs for something normal again and being home does not give any semblance of normality. He meets Harper, this girl he had wronged way back in middle school, and he's attracted to her but she turns him down with a snarky remark. So we thought our boy Travis is going to have a hard time wooing our mysterious girl, but no, she's actually very easy to persuade. Of course, I am for giving second chances but not that easily when this boy is the exact same reason she got the slut reputation. Well technically, it wasn't Travis' fault but when he garnished the story of what really happened inside the closet, he's also culpable.

I do not blame Harper for forgiving Travis so easily- I guess she was hypnotized by the 'abs.' Plus, she really like-likes him and if the universe is giving them this second chance at love, then why not take it? My point is that she should have made him work for it a little harder. She bumps into him thrice coincidentally and immediately all's forgiven?

Make. Him. Work. For. It. Seriously. She lived with the slut reputation for years and she let's him off the hook in a heartbeat. Am I being too self-important here? Haha. It's just that I believe if he really likes her, he won't be bogged down by obstacles. But then again our author here is working within a deadline- Travis has to be back in action in 30 days- so there better be development. Which makes me realize just now that everything happened in less than 30 days- sex included- and seriously...

Prude. Haha.

2013 Book Challenge 45/35: The Distance Between Us

Apparently, Philippine cinema and telenovelas do not have patent over langit-ka-lupa-ako storylines. However, I am very skeptical when it comes to romances like this because seriously, they are worlds apart. The meeting is the easiest part because although I think that people who belong to different social strata do not go or hang at in the same places, it still is possible. But maintaining the relationship is the hardest part. I am talking about a relationship just like Caymen and Xander. Caymen lives from paycheck to paycheck with her mother; while, Xander is a trust fund kind of kid. I expect that his parents will go berserk when they find out he likes and is kind of dating someone "insignificant." I was surprised that is was actually the other way around- Caymen's mom didn't like boys like Xander and would prefer tattooed and/or pierced musicians like Mason.

I like Caymen. She's relatively angst-free and even if she hasn't known her father, she's sort of okay with it and not making it an excuse to self-destruct or pimp her body away to fill in the "emptiness." Not that I am disregarding other people's feeling of emptiness because I know that happens, I just think that when one self-destructs, they do not see the the bigger picture which actually entails them having to live up to consequences of their bad choices. Anyway... So Caymen doesn't sulk away her life and just makes do with what's in front of her and I'd have to commend her mother for bringing her up well albeit lying to her about her grandparents.

Xander, also, is a character I like very much. Definitely one of the best fictional boyfriends- good-looking, nice and loaded (Ha!). He's definitely a boy you could take home to mom except if your mom is Caymen's. I actually liked Xander's subtlety when it comes to 'courting' Caymen. He didn't say it outright that he likes her or asked her out on dates. Style ;)

I really liked the story and super swoon-worthy. I actually broke my record time and finished reading this in a day. I, too, cannot believe it. Although I think medyo madaya ang ending which I will not divulge here. 4 out of 5 stars.

2013 Book Challenge 43 and 44/35: Pushing the Limits and Dare You To

Both titles are from the same author, Katie McGarry. I think I have put off reading these two books regardless of the high ratings on Goodreads because I felt I've had enough of the heavily sexed-up YA books. I just want plain swoon-worthy. So I chose Pushing the Limits in random- closed my eyes and read the title my finger points to.

Echo is full of angst and for once I understand and fully accept why this character is just reeking of drama. After all, her brother died in action, his father left her mother and married the babysitter and her mother tried to kill her.

Noah hates the world. He lost his parents to a fire, he got separated from his brothers and he was put under shitty foster care arrangements. He used to have the perfect life but suddenly it's all gone.

Noah and Echo, two broken people, meet. At first it was just a means to an end- they have conspired to work towards a common goal which is distract their social worker/guidance counselor to access their files which contains the answers to their questions.

First of all, I didn't believe that there are "broken" people. I used to think they just brought it upon themselves and they could snap out of it if they decide to. Not until I met a couple who, individually, were broken, met each other then found solace with the other. So that is why I think that Echo and Noah's ordeal is legit and I am not whining here how I think they're just being emo.

At first, I gave the book a 4-star rating because I thought I really liked it but then I read Dare You To which I liked even better than Pushing the Limits, but I feel it doesn't deserve 5 stars. So I reduced its rating to just 3 stars. I feel it's more of a 3.5.

Remember when I said that I like frustrating? Well, maybe frustration is not what I like. It is the anticipation of things to come.

"Beside, taking it slow creates build-up. I like anticipation."

I really like how these books are interconnected to each other, like with Pushing the Limits, we do not understand why Beth is hard on Echo and why she's being a super bitch. Well, in Dare You To, we totally get where she's coming from.

When I found that that this book was Beth's story, I assumed this was her and Isaiah's story. But when I read the synopsis on Goodreads, it involves another guy, Ryan. I was hesitant to read this at first because I really liked Isaiah and Beth together and when she didn't choose Isaiah, I felt really sorry for the guy. But Ryan is the type who grows on you, you eventually learn to like him.

In my opinion, Ryan is more swoon-worthy than Noah. Well, maybe because he's less angsty. Although maybe it is unfair to compare the two because they're coming from different backgrounds. Ryan is more privileged and he has more means to help the girl; while Noah barely has enough so even if he wants to help the girl, the means are limited to what he can afford.

So one of my favorite moment here in Dare You To was when Ryan was busted by his parents. Beth was already planning on running away with her mom and she wanted to leave a memory of her behind so she thought what better way to leave her mark than be his first time. So they did it while Ryan's parents were away on vacation. But one day after they came back, his mother confronted him, "I counted them, one is missing. Who's the girl?" Mega uh-oh moment. Sobrang parang BUSTED moment a la Gossip Girl. Parang ako yung kinabahan para sa kanya, haha!

Loved the two books! And it was not just all about sex as I thought it would be. I just feel it's more romantic when these characters do not jump on each other on the first opportunity they get. Prude. Ha.

2013 Book Challenge 42/35: How My Summer Went Up in Flames

When Rosie found out her boyfriend, Joey, was cheating on her, she went to his house, burned the mementos of their relationship in his front yard which accidentally caused Joey's car caught fire. The result- a restraining order saying that Rosie could not be anywhere near Joey and that there be no any form of communication between them. But Rosie wants him back and she feels the need to explain to him what really happened (that she didn't set his car on fire intentionally) but that is against the restraining order; so, the parental units let her go on a road trip to Alabama with three boys- Matty, the boy next-door who obviously has the hots for Rosie and two boys who, until the day they left for the road trip, were complete strangers.

I get that Rosie's parents want her to stay out of (legal) trouble but letting your daughter go on a road trip with complete strangers? At least they should have let his younger brother come, right? So they trust Matty but what if in the event that Spencer and Logan (that's their names) aren't pure of heart, Matty may not be able to protect her. So maybe I'm just paranoid. I guess her parents must have done some background check on the boys or something. Well, my "greatest fear" didn't happen and Logan and Spencer are actually nice boys.

Obviously, a love triangle was bound to happen among Rosie, Matty and one of the two brothers. Although at first I was sure it would be between Matty and Logan, there were moments where Spencer might have been a contender. We know right from the start that Matty likes Rosie but she doesn't feel the same way about him and when Logan entered the picture, super etchapwera na si Matty. It was an entertaining read, only I felt that Rosie and Logan's relationship started a little abruptly. At first, they were always fighting and there weren't even sweet moments between them and then suddenly they just realized they were into each other?

It wasn't really that swoonable and after reading all of Rainbow Rowell's books, certainly I found this lacking although not bad ;)

2013 Book Challenge 41/35: Fangirl

{image via Goodreads}

Because my experience with the first two Rainbow Rowell books was SOOO GOOD, I just had to read her last existing book as of the moment which is Fangirl. Actually after Attachments, I was deciding between this title and Eleanor & Park on which to read next. More raved about Fangirl so I saved the best for last. I loved it just the same just not with the same intensity as Attachments and E&P, so I gave it only 4 stars. I guess I forgot to throw my expectations out the window before I started reading. Or, I just got super bored on the Simon and Baz parts.

I know, I know... the Simon and Baz angle of the story actually has its own following but personally, I got bored reading those parts. It's like, I want to know NOW what's happening with Cath and Levi and not what is happening with Simon and Baz's love life. Snippets (which should be very short, imo) of the Simon Snow story are okay but please not that lengthy. Like for example, there's this part where Cath is reading snippets of fan fiction to Levi and something's happening (sounds pervy, I know, but it's so not like that LOL). Not something like a tangible thing, but something as in something happening in the moment. Argh. So hard to explain.

What I really really like about Rainbow Rowell's books is that relationships develop over a period of time. Sure, there was attraction-at-first-sight but they didn't act on it right away. I loved how the story builds up to that moment of Cath and Levi's first kiss, like you have been waiting for it to happen for forever and finally the moment is here and then your life is changed forever. Haha. Wala lang, affected lang talaga ako. But seriously, I liked the fact that the characters got to know each other first by being friends or in their case, her roommate's best friend which makes him her friend. There was no wanting to jump each other's bones at first sight. There was no I've-loved-you-since-we-were-three-years-old either. I liked that.

And Levi. Okay, I was a little bothered with his receding hairline (at 21!) but that boy is so nice that I have decided to accept him, receding hairline and all. If Paula Cole wants to know where have all the cowboys gone, I seriously want to know where have all the nice boys gone. Are nice boys like unicorns (mythical, never really existed) or just dodo birds (have gone extinct)? Well Levi might have had his momentary lapse in judgment at one point but he is only human and he did redeem himself, right? If I were to judge Levi in comparison to all the YA teenage/adolescent boys, he is way far better than the most of them. He's right there with Marcus Flutie, Park and Nick.

I am done with all Rainbow Rowell books, now what? Her next book doesn't come out until June of next year and I seriously need an awesome book to distract me from the wait.

2013 Book Challenge 40/35: Eleanor & Park

It's been a few hours after I was done reading Eleanor & Park and somehow I still find myself wanting to cry. Oh yes I am that affected. I enjoyed Attachments TREMENDOUSLY and although against my will (and that is because I needed to do an awful lot of grown-up things to do like work and, seriously, starting a really good book won't let you do that), I picked up another book from the same author (Rainbow Rowell). Thank God for the down time while manning my booth and also that whole day I got sick so staying in bed the entire day and reading was justifiable, I got to finish another awesome awesome read.

{goodreads}

Honestly, if I have never picked up Attachments, I would never had attempted reading this. I judge books by their covers and this cover doesn't make me want to pick it up and read it. Plus, Goodread's blurb goes like this~

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

What first love?  Unfortunately (or fortunately), this 30-something manang didn't have a first love and there was no pulling under whatever ever happened. So okay, I do read these YA books because we aim to live vicariously but the blurb just didn't make me want to read it. Basta thank God I did because then I would have missed out on this super awesome book.

Set in 1986. Eleanor met Park in a school bus and the their first meeting wasn't pleasant at all. Because Eleanor looked weird, Park tried to steer clear of her at first- he didn't want to share his bus seat with her, didn't want to talk to her, didn't want to have anything to do with her- to avoid being made fun of or bullied. Being the only Asian in school, Park already felt different and he didn't want to further complicate things by having the "wrong" associations. But something happened during the course of sharing a seat of an hour-long bus ride.

"He tried to remember how this happened- how she went from someone he'd never met to the only one who mattered."

 You see, this is what I love in stories such as this (and This Is A Love Story), love that has slowly developed into something beautiful. I happen to like love-at-first-sight stories, so what I sort of frown upon is how teenage couples in most YA reads are so sexually active and at times, promiscuous. With the exception of The Duff because I really liked that one. But you see the beauty of how their relationship evolved, that it's not just about sex, baby.

For Eleanor, I have the girl from Brave in mind. The Brave girl may not be fat but I guess it's the hair. I can't think of any peg for Park because I seriously cannot imagine a half-Korean guy with green eyes. I think of my Hallyu crushes and I really put a face or at least borrow a face for my Park. I usually have a vivid imagination but I really cannot imagine an Asian guy with green eyes. My imagination has been challenged.

Park. Seriously, I should stop crushing on fictional characters. Actually, someone told me I should stop reading romance novels/ love stories because they are ruining reality for us. WHAT? You mean there are no nice guys in real life? But you see, I really really REALLY want a nice guy like Nick (TIALS) or Lincoln (Attachments) or Park. Props to Park's Korean mom for raising such a nice boy. Nice, cute and unassuming.

{via Siminiblocker.com}
one of the best art work based on the book ♥

Eleanor has legit reasons to sulk her life away. Her biological father isn't much of a father, her mother is putting up with the abuses from his stepfather and her stepfather is a drunkard who lusts after her and writes inappropriate things in her books. None of those "I want freedom" angst (I am referring to you, Bailey Gray, ranting about your college scholarship and that your mother buys your underwear. Bailey, Eleanor doesn't have and can't even afford a toothbrush, for crying out loud!). You can see how Park became a big part in her life, how he became the sunshine after the storm.

"Nothing was dirty. With Park.
Nothing could be shameful.
Because Park was the sun, and that was the only way Eleanor could think to explain it."

"Ever since the first day they'd met, Eleanor was always seeing him in unexpected places. It was like their lives were overlapping lines, like they had their own gravity. Usually, that serendipity felt like the nicest thing the universe had ever done for her."

and he was always there for her. He never intended to be her hero, he just did what he thought he had to do. I love him and his family for how they were to her. This time, I think I understand why she was clinging to him like that. And it wasn't even the annoying kind of clinging. You see, words really aren't enough to relate my experience while reading this book. Usually I do not think highly of young loves but with this one, I did. Omigaaahd, especially the last few chapters of the book- I was already crying.

Universe, how could you split up this adorable couple? Why why why!?!?

'I just can't believe that life would give us to each other,' he said, 'and then take it back.'
'I can,' she said. 'Life's a bastard.'

This story, I can imagine how it could affect you until old age, unless you meet another great love, hehe. Three year olds falling in love with each other, that I will never ever get in a million years. But this, omigaaaah, this is beautiful. I really am super affected. Plus, that it's sort of an open-ended ending and those three words could be anything. I'd like to believe it's "I love you," but it could also be, "I am sorry."

"He'd stopped trying to bring her back. She only came back when she felt like it anyway, in dreams and lies and broken-down deja-vu."

this is me after finishing the book, only with tears in my eyes

 P.S. Please throw all expectations out the window to fully appreciate. Remember, expectation is the root of all disappointments.

2013 Book Challenge 39/35: Attachments

So cute. Reminds me so much of This Is A Love Story which happens to be also one of my favorite books, but still it's entirely different. It's also frustrating but not as frustrating as TIALS so no it didn't make me want to throw the book (and I wouldn't since I am reading it on my Kindle). It's very entertaining and fun and of course, nakakakilig. So I really really loved the story and relatable- they're the same age-ish as me! A deviation from my usual YA reads and guess what, they're not as horny as those teens.

Makes you wonder if guys like Lincoln exist in real life. I super want my own good guy like Lincoln or that lead male character in About Time. I seriously don't know why girls are attracted to the bad boy types. I never liked bad boys. Actually, I think my types eventually turned out to be gays. Most of them. So is it time to throw in the towel and accept the probability of spinsterhood because even the boring, good guys do not like me. Haha. Going back... I'm crushing on Lincoln even if in my imagination he looks like Wreck-it Ralph. He's just so nice. I was rooting for him the entire time and I really wanted Beth to leave his boyfriend, Chris, judging from all the stories about him. However, there was this brief moment where Chris became this sweet and nice boyfriend to Beth and I wouldn't really want them to break up (just so she could be with Lincoln) plus, he reads her movie reviews everyday. But then that was just momentary.

Beth and Jennifer are funny. If I were in Lincoln's place, I would also read their emails. They are hilarious. It'll be just like reading a funny person's blog only it's not. Gosh, I found myself laughing every now and then over their email thread exchanges and I do not care whether or not the lady sitting next to me finds me weird cos I'm laughing all by myself.

Here's my favorite part- Lincoln likes Beth and Beth likes Lincoln back. Well, maybe Beth doesn't like-like Lincoln that much at first, she just thinks he's cute. I just want them to be together because they'd be so perfect for each other because really, they liked each other without knowing that they liked each other. Actually, alam pala ni Lincoln. But still he didn't make a move on her because there is a boyfriend in the scene. Well, even if there was no boyfriend, he is too shy to take the first step. Gaahd, all those kilig moments~

Just. Like. This.

There was a time when I thought that this book wasn't going to end well for Lincoln but it still did and at the time he expected it the least. Actually, if Beth hadn't done what she did, they'd probably wouldn't end up together. To which I say, for everything there is a season.

I give five stars ☺ Man, I really am a sucker for secret crushes. Maybe because that is the story of my life. Hoho.

P.S. I am SOOOO tempted to start Fangirl (also by Rainbow Rowell). I think I need an intervention.

2013 Book Challenge 38/35: Waiting for You

Alternate title: So So So Scandalous. Oh yes, the prude in me is alert alive awake and enthusiastic. A lot of 'sexy times', if you know what I mean, but very serious ha, unlike The Duff which is also heavily-sexed up but fun. Well, this is medyo serious stuff which I think they're too young for.

I may have said this before but I just do not get it when three year olds fall in love, like, for realzzz. I can't even remember what happened when I was three, what more romantic feelings towards someone.

I loved you then, you know that, right? We were only three but I loved you then.

My three year old nephew barely even knows how to construct one coherent sentence and I swear maloloka ako pag sinabi niyang in love na siya. And what's more nakakaloka is that these supposed young love has affected these two, Dylan and Bailey, until their adolescent years. Bakit?? How much impression would a fellow three year old have on your life? So really there have been lots of books where this happens and seriously, I just don't get it.

So I get it, Bailey hates her life. She feels like a puppet and her parents are the one pulling the strings. She can't even choose what underwear to wear so I guess it's really easy to feel suffocated in such a set up. But she's already 17, 18 and off to college, meaning living in a dorm, away from her parents and free to do whatever she pleases and if that includes Dylan, so be it. Another thing I do not get is letting go of the opportunity to pursue higher learning in photography which is what she really wants to do. She has endured seventeen years of manipulation, what's three more months? I guess nauna ang tawag ng laman. Haha.

With Dylan, gets ko pa ang angst niya. His mother was killed by the next-door neighbor, his father isn't much of a father to him and his brother ran away. But you see, I just don't get it why these people choose to self-destruct. Well, maybe not in Dylan's case because he turned out okay. Marami lang siyang issues but he really just a free-spirited artist who just goes whereever the wind takes him. There was an opportunity for him to pursue college but he didn't take it as well but then again it wasn't him who applied for that scholarship.

Another thing, why is one's virginity an issue? So I'm still shocked how these teenagers are very makamundo whilst still very, very young, but why is there a stigma to those who haven't done it yet. Actually, it's weird because if you've done it, you're a slut and people who haven't yet, are so atat to get rid of it. So one of the items in Bailey's summer bucket list is to lose it to Dylan. What's funny is that she (and Dylan) still consider herself innocent when they have practically done everything except "it." Innocent and pure mo mukha mo.

It still is a cute love story just with very angsty and horny teens. Keeps you wanting to know what happens next and why Dylan is holding up on Bailey, nyahaha. Currently reading Attachments by Rainbow Rowell and I swear it is going to have a five-star rating from me. Ending this now so I can get back to the awesome book.

Some people who believe eighteen is young are the same people 

who think true love doesn't happen that young. They don't believe

there's a love strong enough to last through tragedy.

[I am that person. Ha.]

2013 Book Challenge 37/35: Stealing Parker

Omigosh, read this one in record time! I started it Sunday night and I was done with it Monday night. That's fast. Maybe for some, a day or two is just enough to finish a book but for me, that is a feat. I consider myself a slow reader.

I liked this better than Chasing Jordan, the first book I read by Miranda Kenneally. These book heroines, they're always intelligent and beautiful. Can't they write something with a normal-looking girl who still gets the guy? So yeah, that's just me complaining. Whatever.

Parker is this pretty, smart (she's the valedictorian), sporty (she's one of the best softball players in campus) girl who has just recently underwent a life-changing event which was her mother leaving them for another woman. That alone is already distressing and tough for a 17 year old, add to that the ridicule she and her family get in church. This totally reminds me of Amanda Bynes in Easy A

And to make matters worse, her bestfriend Laura is one of the those people who ridicule her. But who cares about Laura when you have hot guys with sexy abs as your friends, right? Well, maybe except for his best boy friend, Drew, who turned out to be gay. But you get my drift- who needs an insecure bitch for a friend when you're surrounded by hot guys? Mamatay silang lahat sa inggit. Haha. But kidding aside, she should be thankful for the "scandal" because she was able to weed out the fair-weather friend. Drew has been a good friend but of course later in the book we find out what his Achilles' heel is.

This is the second book I've read this year wherein the mother left her family in search of her own happiness. My sister understands this wholly, while I do not. My sister is also pro-divorce. I am not. She says why punish people by not granting them freedom to get out of a situation they're not happy with. I get that but sometimes there are other factors to consider such as collateral damage- when there are kids involved. I think that before you think of your own happiness, consider your children's happiness first. You can at least talk to them before just exiting from their lives or wait a little longer until they're older and (maybe) more understanding of the situation. Look what happened to Ryan as a result of the mom leaving.

So mabalik tayo sa hot boys and a hot teacher. Let's talk about the hot teacher first. Brian, the 23-year-old assistant coach for the baseball team, may be the adult but what man would resist when a beautiful, hot and young girl is practically throwing herself at him

Parker started it. She kissed him first. He resisted her advances. He gave in eventually, though. But you see, he's only human and maybe a bit of a perv but still he's like just six years older than her and if she were 25 and he's 31, it's perfectly okay. But then again she's only 17 so it's not. But I guess he also kind of encouraged her by flirting. So it was nakakakilig at first when it's just harmless flirting but when they their relationship advanced into something physical, he became scary demanding more than what Parker is willing to give. So kahit gaano pa siya ka-pogi, he automatically became this creepy old guy taking advantage of a young girl.

Before it was confirmed that Drew is actually gay, I thought he may have feelings for Parker and he was interested in her and just didn't want to spoil their friendship because that's what almost always happens, right? Plus, I thought Drew confided in Will (Corndog) that he likes Parker which made Will tell her not to hurt Drew's feelings. That is why I really really thought Drew liked Parker. Turns out it was Will/Corndog who Drew was interested with which is not-so-good news for Parker who started to liked Will. It's complicated talaga. Haha. I momentarily hated Drew for hating Parker for liking Will. I mean, what if she really likes Will and Will also likes her, does she stop liking Will who also likes her back just because of Drew even if Will is not interested in Drew in any way? Unfair lang.

I gave it four stars because I liked-liked it. I super enjoyed reading it and I really liked Parker. And Will.

2013 Book Challenge 36/35: The Moon and More

The third Sarah Dessen book for the year. Gosh, am I in a roll. Reading books is both a good and a bad addiction. Good because when is it ever not good to pick up and read a book? NEVER. I actually regret that I started late. But it is also bad because once I have started one, consider me useless. And the worst part is I am not a fast reader so it could pretty take up most of my time. When I completed my goal of 35 books this year, I vowed to only read books when I actually have free time, meaning only when in long lines or waiting for someone or something. Well, I wasn't able to keep my part of the bargain because I just finished two more books. Though I have an excuse for that- I've had this recurring, debilitating headache for two days, so I had time.

Not my favorite Dessen book but I enjoyed it still. Sarah Dessen's books are not only just about teenage crush/love, they're also about other problems teens undergo such as parents' divorce, school, dealing with death, etc. Though I have nothing against cutie patootie love stories such as Meant to Be (remember, I live for the kilig, ha!).

Another thing I am not very happy about Dessen books, the characters' names. In Lock & Key, there's Ruby and Cora. Here, it's Emaline. Trivial, I know.

So it's Emaline's last summer before she goes to college. She's lived seventeen years of her life almost the same day in, day out and for the summer, she wants to spice it up a little. She overhears tourists' conversations and thinks her life is boring compared to theirs. As they say, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it and in Emaline's case she did. Although she wanted something different, she didn't really planned for.

First issue: the father. I really hate it when people do not reply to my messages be it text messages, emails or PMs. I mean, please have the courtesy to acknowledge receipt, diba? I hate it when people make me deadma. With Emaline's case, her father sort of ignored her graduation invitation, wasn't even there, didn't even bother to send her a congratulatory message and what's worse, he left her high and dry regarding her Columbia application.

Riight??

So I really really hate her father for being a tight ass and I don't think his jerkiness is because of Emaline because he is also like that to Benji who is only ten years old. She realized that her father's attitude towards her has actually nothing to do with her, it's just the way he is.

Second: boy troubles. In most of the YA books I've read, the new boy is always the better choice, the better guy. So when Theo entered the scene and we found out that Luke sort of cheater on Emaline, I thought that Theo would be the one. But eventually, he became this annoying guy who gives everything an annoying title. Meanwhile, while I was first annoyed with Luke in the beginning because he was always shirtless and it seems that he likes the attention he gets from being shirtless, he eventually came around and showed his sweet, non-jerkface self. I was sort of vying that Luke and Emaline get back together but I guess it's better that they decided to be just friends as of the moment.

I may have not liked Emaline's name but she is a likable person. Another character I loved was Benji. Seriously, who would not like Benji? He's really sweet that Emaline has been endeared to his little brother even if she wasn't planning on it in the beginning. Even if her father was a big disappointment, the good thing she got from him was Benji. If Columbia had pushed through, it would've been Benji and Columbia, but Columbia fell by the wayside so it's just Benji.

I gave it three stars. I liked it but I didn't like- like it. If I liked-liked it, I'd give it four stars and five stars if I loooved it. So although I enjoyed reading it, I just liked it; ergo, the three-star rating.

"Life is long. Just because you don't get your chance right when you want or expect it doesn't mean it won't come. Fate doesn't punch a time clock or consult a schedule."

2013 Book Challenge 35/35: My Life Next Door

I guess congratulations are in order.  ENHORABUENA to me because...

Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 35 books for the 2013 Reading Challenge!

35 of 35 (100%)

I just hit my goal for 2013.  I know 35 is too little for all of you book fiends out there but for me who has just discovered the wonderful world of leisurely reading, it is a BIG deal. Before I learned to appreciate chick-lits and before I discovered the genre that is Young Adult, I liked reading books about psychology and spirituality and also essays, trivia and self-help books. I still enjoy reading those kinds of books but gaahd, YA books are this shizz, y'all! What did I ever do before YA? Haha. But seriously, these books are very fun to read, well maybe except those about teen suicides and terminal illnesses. I guess I have never moved on from Young Love, Sweet Love and Mr. Kupido. 

So my 35th book is My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. Another one of 'em YA reads. I know I should throw out the window any expectations I might have before reading a book but this book has a nice cover and I sort of judge books by their covers. Fortunately, it was at par with my expectations.

Pretty, smart and rich girl Samantha Reed comes from a very uptight household. Jase lives next-door, one of 'em Garretts, the family that her mother sort of dislikes for being rowdy, loud and disorganized. The summer before Sam's last year in high school, her moms's busy busy busy with the elections and sister, Tracy, is at the Vineyard with the boyfriend, working and making the most out of her summer vacation before starting university. In other words, Sam is alone and lonely. She retreats to her secret place which is the ledge just outside her bedroom window where she watches the Garrett family go on with the daily grind. One night, Jase goes up to her. The rest, as they say, is history.

But the mom clearly and explicitly disapproves of the Garretts next door so when Sam gets more than friendly with Jase, she kept it a secret from everyone who belonged in her world- her mom, sister and best friend. Wow, ang liit pala masyado ng mundo niya. So anyway, I think it's unfair on Jase's side because Sam is in his world whereas he remains to be Sam's little secret. I know it's better said than done because when you're in Sam's shoes and here is cute and hot Jase Garrett in front of you, hell I would do exactly what she did. Though if I were Sam, I wouldn't be intimate with the guy right away when I'm not being 100% honest with him. Then again, could you really blame Sam?

So aside from giving too much of herself too early in the relationship, Sam and Jase are so cute together and I am a sucker for anything secret crushes or relationships. There may not be a lot of bantering between Jase and Sam, actually there is no bantering between them, but still works for me. Didn't even notice that these two were always sweet and lovey-dovey to each other.

But I still can't bloody believe that Sam told on her mom. I can't even think it. I'd rather carry the burden that my mother may have ran over and hurt/killed somebody than have her go to jail. Well, it's a different story if my mom wanted to come clean with it. Cos you know in real life, not everyone is like the Garretts and your mom could end up in jail. Mom vs. boyfriend? No-brainer. Always mom over the boyfriend. Always.

Jase is soooo nice. Seriously, do boys like these gorgeous and hot fictional boyfriends exist in real life? Now I think I know why we're hooked on YA novels #sabikonga

Even if I am not stopping my reads just because I already reached my goal, I decided to lay low though. If before I though that my TV series paralyze and stop me from being productive with my time, books are much, much worse. Cos with my TV series, I can still do something while watching. Full attention is only required with a chosen few. But books, man they're evil. They suck you in and before you know it, another day has gone. Starting now, will be limiting reading when waiting for my turn in the bank or before sleeping at night. It's almost Christmas and I really need to keep it moving. So, toodles! Friendzone is on TV :P

2013 Book Challenge 34/35: The Kissing Booth

Hmm... first let me justify why I gave this book a rating of three stars on Goodreads. I was actually teetering between a 2-star and a 3-star rating with this one. I felt that it was a more superficial than most YA books I've read well maybe because it was written by a 17-year-old and that it didn't give me a definite ending and I really hate open-ended endings BUT I got the kilig fix I needed though and sometimes that is enough for me. Well I didn't really expect that much from a book written by a teenager. Not to be judgmental or anything, but the last time I read a book that was written by someone of the same age as Reekles when she wrote this book, I also found it a bit superficial. However, I still gave it ★★★  because it had me glued to my e-reader the entire Saturday.

So I can't help but notice that li'l Miss Elle seems to be so perfect- got decent grades, not only popular like with the popular kids in school but popular as in popular with EVERYONE and pretty gorgeous (in Noah's terms) and got curves in all the right places. I was rolling my eyes at her, like, the entire time I was reading the book. This was definitely written by a 17-year-old who wanted to be just like Elle. Haha. And not only was Elle all that, the hottest and unattainable boy (Noah) in school just happened to be smitten with her. Ikaw na, Elle! Ikaw na ang pinagpala. Ikaw na!

Aside from that, everything was A-OK. Nakakakilig and definitely a page-turner. Although Noah wasn't exactly the most swoon-worthy fictional boyfriend there is, I still am giddy over the fact that he was honestly head-over-heels in love with Elle. In love? Seriously, these kids are so careless with the term. Oh well, I used to think I was in love with Darren Hayes. Haha. However, Noah did keep their relationship and according to Mr. Oprah Winfrey (Stedman Graham), if a man is keeping your relationship under wraps, he is not so serious about you. But Noah did redeem himself towards the end with the flowers and the fireworks and the hotel.

**PRUDE ALERT** Speaking of the hotel room reservation, how are their parents okay with it? Are kids these days really that uncontrollable that all their parents could do was tsk-tsk at the fact that their kids didn't sleep at home? Spoken like a true-blue Manang. Haha.

Anyway... another thing I liked about the book was that Elle didn't end up with his BBFF (best boy friend forever). Usually these YA books with male and female leads who are best friends aren't just friends and usually have a longstanding history of 'tension' between them (or at least one of them has). Think Friendzone. And with Kissing Booth, I was worried that this would take that path and I feel that Noah and Elle are already good together and if Lee did have those kind of feelings for Elle, he already had an awful lot of opportunities to tell her and now that his brother and best friend has a good thing going on between them, he spoils it all by professing undying love for her. Well, that didn't happen and I am relieved.

I am ending this post with a quote I got from the book:

Man, I really have got to stop reading so many of those cheesy romance books!

How apt, no?

2013 Book Challenge 33/35: Perfect Chemistry

I'm only two books away from hitting my goal this year! Yay yay yay! And it's only September ☺ Anyway...

Read Rules of Attraction (which is actually the second book in this book series) way before Perfect Chemisty (which is book #1) and at the time I checked Goodreads for ratings (which now I know better and I know now not to rely on it too much), Perfect Chemistry rated higher than Rules of Attraction and I really liked that book, so when I picked up Perfect Chemistry, I was expecting a more swoon-worthy guy and more kilig moments. Now, didn't I say that to fully enjoy reading a book (and life in general), we've got to keep our expectations at bay. Sometimes, I forget. Bah.

Well yes it is a cute love story which reminds me so much of Grease and The West Side Story down to the leather jacket-wearing bad boy Alex to the sweet and fluffy Brittany Ellis. Cliché, yes but we live for these clichés, don't we? Before YA, I was into non-fiction, psychology books but after picking up my first YA book, I am hooked and that is because of these clichés. Pero even after reading a lot of these books, I still am not used to with all these sexual activities among teens. Yup, still a prude. Pero unti na lang, I think I'll get used to it eventually. Haha. But you see, what makes these books so swoon-worthy is all the sexual tension between the male and female leads, most especially when there are an awful lot of bantering, to which Colin has something to say about-

"Get off it, Brit. So some girl pays attention to me in chemistry. Obviously you don't because you're too busy arguing with Fuentes. Everyone knows it's all foreplay."

Fair dinkum, Colin, fair dinkum.

Alex was described as uber hot Latino so if I hadn't watched the book trailer, I'd think he'd look like young Ricky Martin or Jay Hernandez. But I was able to watch the book trailer and man, was I ever disappointed

Actually, medyo cute naman si Alex but I was expecting someone waaaay cuter if girls are swooning over him big time. Carlos Fuentes is so not cute, btw. So even if I could, like, assign a different face to Alex, Alex in the book trailer still keeps coming back in my head. This is just like the Rock Chick case where no matter how they describe the characters as hot and sexy and handsome or beautiful, they all look like Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife, Beth, to me. Bummer. 

Ang superficial ko, no? 

These teens are given way too much on their plates and for that, I truly am thankful for my life, haha. So I don't know if these scenarios happen in real American teenager lives then I feel for them. When I was 17, my only problems were getting good grades at school and getting home in time for Hey! Arnold on Nickelodeon. Seriously, these kids are forced to maturity way ahead of time. That or I'm just retarded for my age. Haha. Whatever. 

Will read the last book in the series soon and for that I should remind to not expect too much. Let's just hope that the youngest Fuentes brother will not commit the same stupid mistake Carlos did. 

And oh, I can't bloody believe Brittany Ellis' college major is Chemistry.

Not only am I superficial, I also am judgmental. And on that note, I bid you adieu :)

2013 Book Challenge 32/35: Meant to Be

This is cute. Since I've always been a fan of bantering, I easily fell in love with the book and the lead characters, Julia and Jason.

Julia has always been this goody two-shoes girl who always gets good grades and plays by the rules. While Jason is this fun-loving boy who knows how to have a good time but still knows his Austen and Shakespeare. On the class's trip to London for a cultural exposure trip, Julia was abhorred that she has been paired with Jason who she caught was trying to be funny at her expense. Even from the start, Julia has been hostile toward Jason, while Jason has always been cordial to her albeit how antagonistic Julia was towards him, which leads me the question of whether he already liked her even before. Because if he has been one who knew his way around the rules, I'm sure he could have went to the party all by himself, but did he want Julia to come with him? Diba? I'm sure he was already interested in her.

I know Jason has got to be cute but because of the description, this is who I have in mind

{image source}

Travis from Clueless. I knooow. Although I would have loved imagining a much cuter Jason, he is who first came to mind.

So yeah, Julia tries to shed her inner prude and with Jason's help, explores London and see how it could mean to her the same way it did to her parents. Mark was her MTB (meant to be) but the mystery of this Chris guy she met a party appealed to her. And Jason was by her side all this time- helping her discover the mystery that is Chris and 'warning' her of Mark's 'charming' ways. Which really brings me back to the question of whether he already liked her in the first place. Now I am going in circles. Damn you, incoherence.

Again, I really really feel that Jason was already into her right from the start. It is not his personality to stand by her and help her with things but he did; therefore, I think that he did all those because he cared about her. I'm just gonna stop here because I'm not making sense anymore. I should really write my thoughts as they come because I really get scatter-brained if I don't.

This non-review sucks but don't let it discourage you from reading it.

2013 Book Challenge 31/35: Forever My Girl

So Liam left Josie to pursue his dreams of being a musician instead of attending university and doing college football. At the time, it seemed that it was all-or-nothing for Liam- it was either he leave everything behind, including Josie, or stick to what his father had planned for him. What he didn't know what Josie was already with child when he left, so for ten long years, he was totally oblivious that he has spawned another being in this earth. Fast forward to ten years after, tragedy strikes and he was forced to come home. He wanted to remain inconspicuous, pay his respects unnoticed but when he sees Noah and notices the uncanny resemblance, he knew he has to confront her.

But of course old feelings die hard, most especially that there was no closure between Liam and Josie [cue in April Boy's Muling Ibalik and Tamis ng Pag-ibig]. Even if those two clearly still has got the hots for each other, things aren't the same and are, as they say, complicated. Nick is now with Josie and is assuming Noah's father figure. Actually, if Nick hadn't gone uber insecure, Josie would've stayed with him. Nick shouldn't have given her reason to kick him off their lives because he has the girl's loyalty for staying with her and the boy all those time that Liam wasn't there, but seriously, I don't know how long Josie could keep her loyalty with Nick. Although again, I feel the author employed a very easy way to resolve the conflict- Nick left on his own. Well, I guess there's no need for hardcore drama every time.

What I loved about this book is that the story's told both from Liam's and Josie's POVs. As a reader, I know right away what the two lead characters in the story are feeling as opposed to when only told from one POV. Frustration galore since I, as the reader, know that they both are still head over heels over each other but since things are, well, complicated, they can't act on these feelings right away and think about the consequences of their actions. And I love books like this one. However, I only gave it three stars because in my opinion, Josie forgave Liam so easily. I expected for her to, at least, woo her back- ipagsibak niya ng kahoy, ipag-igib ng tubig, the works! Eto naman si girl, nadadaan sa tingin. Haha.

Also, what's with Burberry colognes? This is the second book that described the male lead wearing a Burberry cologne, the other one being Wesley (The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend), which reminds me to include it in my product line ;)

2013 Book Challenge 30/35: The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Now, this book reminds me so much of Awkward. They're not entirely alike, just that part when Matty and Jenna kept their "relationship" a secret from everyone else. So okay, just a disclaimer before I start gushing- in the last book I read, I was gushing about the innocence of the main characters' love for each other, proving that it's not always about sex. SO ANYWAY, I picked up The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend without any expectations. I didn't check Goodreads for the reviews, ratings or synopsis so I totally had no idea what the book is all about. Turns out it is mainly about sex. Yep, not that innocent love I get giddy about but whaddya know, I liked it. Well, it's not really about sex-sex, just teenagers having a lot of sex. Kind of the same thing, harhar. Usually, I'd be all prudish and renouncing all these teenage sex happening all around but in this book, I get giddy when Bianca and Wesley do the deed. Sick, I knoooow.

I have a knack for guessing book endings and I sort of felt that this non-friends with benefits relationship between Bianca and Wesley would somehow eventually turn real. Actually even from the start, I felt Wesley already liked Bianca and telling her that she was a duff was his way of flirting with her. Like you know how boys tease girls they like? But I guess he truly meant it at that time. Well, mabilis ang karma and look where it got him. Still, I love love love the witty banters between the two. Ack!

I liked it but I hoped they could given the Toby Tucker more role in this love story. I would have loved seeing Wesley all jealous over this boy and actually do something about it and not just creepily stare at her in a club. Also, I felt that they resolved this Bianca- Wesley- Toby love triangle too easily. Yun lang naman ang reklamo ko. I felt they should have played the love triangle angle longer.

I think I have already mentioned in here that I like putting faces into the characters when reading books and as for Wesley, I have Nolan Gerard Funk in mind

mainly because he was sort of the flirty boy in Awkward and I have that TV show in mind while reading. Plus, he's also cute and has a nice body (ahjumma moment! haha) just as how he was described in the book. As for the girl, I do not have Jenna in mind. Not even frumpy Jenna. Who I have in mind is Schmidt's ex-girlfriend in New Girl

because they said she's fat. However, I have totally no idea how fat is fat cos sometimes the standards differ from person to person. I even doubt it that Bianca is that fat. She may be not just as thin as her friends are.

So I'm pushing aside the prude in me and rating this book 4 stars because I

Huzzah!

2013 Book Challenge 29/35: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

This book was a lovely surprise- just a perk for keeping my expectations low. I don't remember from where I read it but there was a review or something that said that this was a shitty book. Although it has a 3.79 rating on Goodreads, I now know better than to rely on Goodreads. Actually, I don't even know why I decided to read this book.

So Hadley's dad went all the way to London for work and then one day told her mom that he's fallen in love with someone else and wanted a divorce. Fast forward several years after, Hadley is on her way (against her wishes) to her father's wedding to that British woman. She was four minutes late to her flight and the rest, as they say, is history.

Four minutes is all that made the difference. If it weren't for those four short minutes, Hadley wouldn't have met Oliver and I am sure that she wouldn't be accepting of her father and his new wife that quickly.

It was on during the wait for the next flight that Hadley met Oliver. He was being helpful and initially, she sort of rejected his help because she was too absorbed in her own bubble like how she's angry with her dad and that she doesn't want to meet Charlotte (who is, by the way, that British woman) and how she wishes she chose not to go at all. So I guess Oliver liked what he saw and no matter how many pre-emptive supalpal were thrown at him, he went for it anyway. See girls, if a man wants you, nothing can keep him away; but, if he doesn't, nothing can make him stay. That one I learned first from watching Hotelier. So, I don't remember from which moment Hadley noticed that, hey this British guy is kinda cute. They started talking and from then on we knew where all this would lead to. Like duh, the title suggests that already.

I guess I liked the book because, of course, kilig-inducing.

Yes. Just like this.

and you know I sort of like this innocent-ish type of stories. With the proliferation of highly-sexed up YA books or just any other highly-sexed up book for that matter, it's always a breath of fresh air when it comes to pa-tweetums books like this one. Aside from being a prude, there's something about this kind of stories, like, say, the concept of true love as opposed to lust at first sight. This book reminds me of This Is A Love Story (Jessica Thompson) because of the innocence of their feelings toward each other. There was no mention of any desire to shag. I say I am a cynic but obviously, I still am a hopeless romantic deep down inside. Hey, it's just me using reverse psychology on the Universe. Har-dee-har-har.

Anyway, this thing with Oliver actually helped Hadley in two ways. First, the obvious, which was having a boyfriend with a sexy accent; and second, it totally took her focus away from her father, the other woman and their wedding. Although, in my opinion, that was real quick of her to finally be accepting of them. Mr. Andrew Sullivan still has to thank Oliver for that.

So yeah, I pretty much liked it. It was such a nice and easy read and I want another book very similar to this. I therefore conclude, hope is not dead. Haha.

You wait for ages, and then two come along at once.

2013 Book Challenge 28/35: Rock Chick Redemption

Another one of them Rock Chick books. I'm not the biggest fan but it is kilig-inducing, which I like. Like the first and second books in the Rock Chick series, it pretty much is the same. Just a different girl and different boy.

Roxie came to Denver for two reasons: 1) to run away from his ex-boyfriend, and 2) to reconnect with his Uncle Tex.

Like in the first two books, it was lust at first sight.
Like in the first two books, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, happened within a week.
Like in the first two books, the girls were held against their wishes but eventually they find out that they couldn't resist. Please! Don't! Stop! to Please don't stop!

But even if it's a little repetitive, I still read it for the will-they-or-won't-they moments (but we're sure that they girls could never resist) but I don't think I can read all books in the series one after the other. There should be a good number of other titles in between para medyo nakalimutan ko na kung ano nangyari sa huling libro.

P.S. I really regret watching one (one!) episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter because every time I read this Rock Chick books, all the men (in my imagination) look like Dog and all the girls, I imagine, look like Beth. Kahit anong describe pa nila na sexy si girl, si Beth pa rin ang nasa isip ko. Damn you, Dog. Damn you.

2013 Book Challenge 27/35: Gone Girl

A lot of good reviews made me get a copy of Gone Girl but what made me read it already was recommendation from Cindy Crawford. Siyempre, hindi personal recommendation. I just read it from a magazine interview.

Gone Girl was a thrilling read. One day, Nick's wife of five years suddenly goes missing and all evidences leads to him.

After watching a bazillion crime & investigation shows on TV, I have therefore concluded that it's always the husband (of the wife, sometimes). In the earlier part of the book, I was so sure that it was Nick who was responsible for Amy's disappearance but there's this little voice inside my head suggesting otherwise. I even thought this might be similar to El Zahir where the wife left the husband. But upon nearing the 50% mark, I just had this inkling that maybe it was Amy who was responsible for all this.

In the beginning, I thought that this is just Amy's little game just so Nick would pay more attention to her but after a few days, I thought if the police were involved maybe she would have come out and say everything's just a joke. But she didn't. This little voice niggling in my head was right. And because I was able to predict it, I am afraid to find out my own psycho-factor (I still remember that little psycho test Karl did back in college and it was only I who gave the 'correct' answer which qualifies me as psychotic. Pero wala naman basis. Haha ---> turns out may basis siya. Read here. As of 6-3-15). PSYCHO BITCH.

It was an interesting read but it got a little slow for me when I reached the second part of the book. Maybe because I was waiting for Nick's vindication but it never came. I felt sorry for him but at the same time, he brought it to himself. He has awoken the monster inside his wife, so to speak.

I give it three stars. It was interesting at first but it didn't hold my interest until the end. There came a point in the book where I was just reading just so I could already move on to my next. That, plus seeing if Nick will ever be vindicated.