BOOK REVIW: If I Should Die (Revenants #3) by Amy Plum

It has definitely been a long long time since I last wrote a proper review and I must say that I actually missed it. Anyhow, I'm so sorry for not updating my blog but here I am now. I recently finished reading Amy Plum's If I Should Die and I must say this is one of those books that you wouldn't want to put down. Anyhoo, the novel is told in Kate's POV again.

Got this from The Book Depository a few days ago. I was just so excited to get this one since this is one of my favorite series. I had this happy-sad moments when I finished reading it. This is definitely my favorite in the entire series. I think Kate developed into an awesome character as the story progressed. I didn't expect the ending though. I was clutching my chest halfway through the book. I really didn't know what to expect. And Vincent as usual made my heart melt every now and then. I love the fact that Kate's and his love is one of those epic love stories that you wouldn't forget for a very long time. 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. It was definitely very entertaining and unputdownable. I was really excited for this one and had it pre-ordered a couple of months before its release. It had a bittersweet ending though with deaths on both the Numa and Bardia sides. The events in the book were very unexpected for me but all in all it was just awesome in every way. Two thumbs up Amy!

Rating: 5/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER BY SOPHIE KINSELLA

Sophie Kinsella strikes again with I’ve Got Your Number! I’ve always been a fan of Sophie Kinsella’s books since I was in high school and now that I’m an adult in my early twenties I still am. There’s just something about the way she writes her novels that I can’t seem to find in other books. This book is not an exception at all. The novel’s main protagonists are Poppy Wyatt and Sam Roxton.

I love this novel as much as I loved her Shopaholic series, which by the way is my favorite chick lit series of all time. Seriously, I have two copies of the books since most of my copies are either battered or MIA already. A friend of mine borrowed some of the books and refused to give it back. Pfft. Anyhoo, the first few chapters made me laugh so much I ended up reading it in one day.

What I love about this book? hmm. Honestly, I don’t really know why but it’s probably because I fell in love with the characters and the story itself. First there’s Poppy. Poppy somehow reminds me of Becky Bloomwood minus the shopaholic part. I adore Poppy. She’s funny and witty and everything that you could ever ask for in a chick lit heroine. Seriously, she made me laugh so much from the get-go. I think her only flaw is the fact that she wanted everyone to like her even if it meant compromising her beliefs and standards. Oh well, I guess that’s what makes her believable as a character. She’s human and her flaws make her a real person in my opinion.

Then of course, Ms. Kinsella’s novel would not be complete without the almost-perfect-male-protagonist Sam Roxton. I love Sam because he reminds me of Luke Brandon from the Shopaholic series. Oh for crying out loud this book somehow reminds me of the Shopaholic novel series and I honestly loved that series. haha. He’s not a CEO per se but he is definitely one of the “Big Guns” in their company. I’m not even sure what his position in the company is. All I know is he’s one of the big shots and that’s it. Cut me some slack though, I’m not a company person, I work in a hospital and I’m not sure about the hierarchy in the corporate world.  Anyway, I just love the way Sam Roxton’s character was written. He was witty, funny, hot and everything that a girl could ever wish for. Another book boyfriend as one might say. Yes, he’s flawed and everything but that’s what makes him more believable and lovable for me.

Overall, I loved this novel. It made me laugh and feel giddy at the same time. I love the fact that that this reminded me so much of the Shopaholic series. I know the “important corporate guy-ordinary girl” formula has been used by Ms. Kinsella a gazillion times already but somehow she still knows how to make it refreshing for her audience. She has not lost her touch as one might say. Her side characters were amazing as well. I love the fact that she made Wanda and Antony seem so mean and evil but in the end made them oh so adorable. I also love Felix and Ruby. Both are so innocent in their own ways. I wanted to smack Annalise during the first  few chapters but Magnus tops my list of Annoying Character of the Book. I seriously wanted to throw this guy in the ditch. I also love her references to Google and the popular Magnum ice cream today. Anyhoo, I’d give this book a 5/5 star rating just because it’s Sophie’s book. Haha. Kidding! I love this book it made me laugh, cry and feel giddy all at the same time. Recommending this to chick lit and Sophie Kinsella lovers.

I would love to see this made into a movie.

BOOK REVIEW: HEREAFTER BY TARA HUDSON

I finished Hereafter by Tara Hudson a few days ago and I must say that I loved this as much as I loved the last few books that I’ve read this past few weeks. I was actually a bit hesitant at first since this book had mixed reviews on Goodreads. The story’s protagonists are Amelia and Joshua.

To start with, the story is really good. The concept is refreshing for me as this is only my second Ghost YA book. To be honest, I thought I was getting bored within the first few pages and I didn’t even realize that I was already half way done after a few hours. It’s the type of book that would seem boring at first but as I got deepr into the story I found myself immersed in it completely. First of all, I loved Amelia from the very first page. I think she is one of those very well written characters. Though I did find her character a little bit “dry” at first but Ms. Hudson developed her well as the story progressed. There were moments when I wanted to give her a hug since almost everyone around her seems to have a hidden agenda or something.  I actually liked the fact that she decided to fight for what she believes is right in the end. Anyhoo, she’s one of those heroines that would hopefully turn for the better and not the worst like most heroines in some YA novels.

Then there’s Joshua. I don’t know what it is with dark haired boys and their blue eyes. haha. I love Joshua. The fact that he’s not a jerk even if he is one of those “IT BOYS” in school is something that  I definitely liked about his character. I love the fact that he loves Amelia even though their love seems to be doomed in the end since everyone seems to be against their relationship. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, right?

Overall, I loved this book and I can’t wait to read Arise. I’d definitely recommend this to those who are into sappy tragic romance stories. But I am warning you this is not a scary ghost story per se. The pacing was okay for me. I can’t really explain it but it seems slow at the beginning but as the story builds up I found myself completely captivated by it. I’m giving this a 4.5/5 rating.

BOOK REVIEW: INSURGENT BY VERONICA ROTH

Insurgent by Veronica Roth is amazing. I love it but not as much as I loved the first one. Probably because of the fact that somehow Tris managed to annoy me a little. Anyway, the main characters of the story are still Tris and Four.

The story picks up right after the events from the Divergent.I honestly loved that book and that’s probably why I had very high expectations with this one. But I have to say that I didn’t like this as much as I liked the first one. I kinda’ missed the tough Tris. She was just too mopey for me in this book.I mean, I get it. She lost her parents. She killed Will. She went through a lot for a teenager and somehow managed to survive and all that.But I honestly still don’t get why she has to constantly lie. She has her reasons I know but that does not mean that she has to be Miss-Gloomy-I’m-On-A-Suicide-Mission-All-The-Time. Anyway, she redeemed herself in the end. I think she almost went back to being the Tris that I love from the first book.

And of course, there’s Four a.k.a. Tobias. I seriously liked him here. He’s probably one of the nicest book boyfriends out there. He was understanding and supported Tris through her Gloomy Bitch Phase. And I honestly admire him for that. I love the fact that he didn’t feel the need to be gentler to Tris just to get her back on her feet and his methods of getting inside her head somehow worked. Bottom line is I love Four and I hope he remains the same until the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but not as much as the first one since Tris annoyed me a bit. Not as much as Clary from TMI does.I still think she’s one bad-ass chick and I admire her for that. I’m giving this a 4.5/ 5 star rating and I’m recommending this to everyone. This is probably one of the best dystopians I’ve read which includes The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

BOOK REVIEW: CITY OF LOST SOULS BY CASSANDRA CLARE

I finished City of Lost Souls the fifth book in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I could probably say that this is one of the best books in the series even if Clary managed to annoy me up to the very end. haha. Seriously, how can a main character be that annoying? Anyway, the story’s main characters are still Clary and Jace plus Sebastian a.k.a. Jonathan Morgenstern, Simon, Izzy, Alec and Magnus.

First of all, I loved the way this books was written. I think Clare focused on the development of the characters relationships with each other. She didn’t stick to the Jace and Clary storyline that much which to be honest I think is kinda overrated by now.Don’t get me wrong, majority of the pages still involved Clary and Jace but still I liked the fact that Ms. Clare decided to spice things up with Simon and Izzy. I am more of a IzzyXSimon fan since Clary just can’t help but piss me off every single time.There were parts that just broke my heart but still I loved this book as much as I loved the third book which is my favorite in the series btw.

Anyhoo, moving on to the characters. Seriously, Clary annoyed me so much in this book there were moments when I just wanted to hurl the book out the window. I think she was just too immature for her own good in this book. She’s just too hormonal for a teenager. When she wasn’t with Jace all she managed to do was mope around and pretend that the world has stopped because her Jace is gone. Seriously girl, the world has moved on and she should to. I’m not saying that she should just give up on Jace but I think she should also think about the people around her. She’s not the only one who lost someone. And by the time she decided that she should follow Jace wherever he’s going just to find out what he is up to all she managed to accomplish was think of how intimate the two of them can get. And not just that, somehow based on what I read she also had this tension (Don’t ask me if that “tension” is sexual or not because I am not sure myself but there is definitely tension.) with her own brother,Sebastian. Incest much?Anyway, I honestly don’t care if she has an incestuous relationship with her brother or whatever I just wanted her to forget her hormonal urges for just a second and focus what she’s supposed to do. Seriously, Clary just infuriated me every single time.

Then there’s Jace. I honestly could not find myself to like him as much as I liked him in the first four books. I miss the sarcastic and self- absorbed Jace. Well, yeah he was possessed or something but still I missed the old Jace. I didn’t hate him as much as I hated Clary though.
Then of course, there’s Sebastian a.k.a. Jonathan. This boy is seriously evil reincarnate. He’s so evil and Ms. Clare managed to make me hate him but not as much as I hate his sister.He is just so evil it’s just too difficult to like him. And I think he’s very effective as a villain. I’m so intrigued by whatever it is that awaits him in the last book.

And lastly, I would like to commend how Ms. Clare wrote Izzy, Simon, Alec and Magnus Bane’s storyline. I just love these characters. I love the way their relationships were developed especially Simon and Izzy’s.Damn! It’s about time.I love the intimacy between these characters although there were definitely heartbreaking moments but still I love the fact that their stories were given time to develop. Oh, almost forgot about Jordan and Maia. I think it was pretty obvious from the fourth book that they would somehow end up the way they did in this fifth installment.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed reading books 1-4. It’s just that this time around Clary managed to annoy me up to the very end. Don’t get me wrong. I am not being biased. I am trying to like her as much as I can but I simply can’t find myself to do it. She’s annoying and selfish as hell and she never learns. I actually liked her more in the first trilogy. I think this character was able to redeem herself in City of Glass but somehow managed to go back to being annoying as the books continued. I’d still give this a 4/5 star rating though since I seriously loved the way the relationships and the other characters developed. I can’t wait for the last book. :)

BOOK REVIEW: REVENANTS #1: DIE FOR ME BY AMY PLUM

So, I finished reading Die For Me by Amy Plum and I just couldn't wait to write my review. First of all, I would like to say that I think the concept of the entire novel is just soooooo unique. I mean, yeah, undead/ zombies/ ghosts and all but seriously, how can the undead/ zombies/ ghosts be so damn sexy?! Well, I guess only Amy Plum can do that. Anyway, the protagonists of the story are Kate Mercier and Vincent Delacroix, who is a very sexy revenant!

 Okay, so let's officially start this reviewing by dissecting the characters. So, there's Kate. Well, to be perfectly honest I didn't really like her that much in the beginning. I think she was just too mopey. Well, don't get me wrong, I know she lost her parents only a year ago but she could have made an effort to try to "live" instead of just being Ms. Gloomy and all. But she redeemed herself as the story progressed. I think meeting Vincent was probably one of the best things that happened to her. She seriously grew up and became a stronger character. I think she was also very good for Vincent since she brought life into whatever state his in. But even if I kinda didn't like her a bit in the beginning, I have to say that I loved the fact that she knows exactly what she wants even if her choices weren't exactly the best of the best. I respect her for being decisive unlike other characters from certain books that are just soooooo confused. That tends to annoy me a lot. In short, I like Kate as a character.

Then of course, there's the oh-so-sexy Vincent Delacroix. Man, he puts the sexy in zombie! haha. I seriously fell in love with this character. I know he's almost but barely similar to Edward Cullen from Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Saga but I like Vincent more. He's stalker-ish in a not so creepy way. Not that I find Edward creepy. But seriously, this guy just drove me up the wall. I loved Vincent. He is a revenant who is trying to live a normal life as much as possible. And then he meets Kate. I have to say I think the two of them were just meant to be. I love their chemistry. There's something about them or probably more about him that's just so captivating. I simply love everything about Vincent.

I also love the supporting characters. Georgia, Kate's sister is someone I absolutely adore. I actually liked her more than I liked Kate in the beginning. Mamie and Papy were absolutely hilarious and at the same time touching in a way grandparents can make you feel. And of course, the other revenants Ambrose, Gaspard, Jules, JB, Charlotte and Charles were just adorable. Jules and Ambrose made me laugh the hardest. I love the fact that even the supporting characters were really involved in the story. They weren't just added there to add more people. They were actually part of it.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I honestly could have finished this in one day but I was trying to prolong reading this because I wanted to wait until my orders from the Book Depository arrived. There's some delay somewhere here in the Philippines so yeah, I simply couldn't wait and I ended up finishing Die For Me faster than I was expecting to. I love the way it was written especially the romance between Vincent and Kate. I especially love the scene in Vincent's room where Katie almost devoured him. Well, who wouldn't? A hormonal girl alone in a room with a cute guy? Seriously who could resist something like that? You could either be frigid or just too prim and proper for your own good. haha. That scene made me laugh so hard. I also love the fact that it was set in France, the City of Lights. The way it was described simply made me want to fly to France right now. Anyhoo, I'm recommending this to anyone who likes paranormal reads that's unique in it's own way and I'd give this a 5/5 star rating. And I can't wait to get my hands on its sequel which is Until I Die.

BOOK REVIEW: ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS BY STEPHANIE PERKINS

Obviously, I had nothing better to do today so I just ended up reading Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I’ve been itching to get my hands on a paperback copy of this book but it always seems to be avoiding me. Anyhoo, I got my copy a few days ago with my cousin. The novel’s main characters are Anna and Etienne/ St. Claire.

I loved this book from the get-go. I loved the way it was written. I love the way it makes me feel giddy and happy as I flipped through the pages. I fell in love with Anna’s character. She’s just so adorable and believable as a character.And I could definitely relate to her in some ways except for the neat freak part. She’s a neat freak and as much as I want to be one I just can’t. I’m a messy person and that’s that. haha.Anyway, I loved the way she was written. There were definitely times when I just wanted to smack her or something. She likes keeping things to herself even if she’s very transparent in some ways and somehow that made things a little bit harder for her and Etienne. Anyhow, I still love her. I think she’s one of those adorable heroines in contemporary YA novels.

Then there’s Etienne St. Claire.Oh, Mr. St. Claire where are thou in this real world of ours?How can anyone picture someone this dreamy? Kudos to Ms. Perkins for creating this character. The Brit/ American/ French guy who swept Anna of her feet. I just love Etienne. I love the way he seems to be Mr. Perfect even if he has his flaws. I think the flaws made him more adorable for me.

The book is not just about young love. It’s about conquering your fears and admitting to yourself that no matter how strong or brave you are that a part of you will always be afraid to be alone. And sometimes you just have to fight in order to get what you want. I honestly loved everything about this book. The characters even the supporting one’s were just adorable. It’s one of those reads that I just can’t put down. I definitely see myself reading this again and again in the near future. I liked the fact that it made me smile as I flipped through the pages. There were no dull moments as I kept on reading. I’d definitely recommend this to everyone out there who is in love or at least wants to remember how it feels to be in love. I think I’m part of the latter though. I’d give this a 5/5 star rating. I can’t wait to get my hands on its companion novel which is Lola and the Boy Next Door.

BOOK REVIEW: WHERE SHE WENT BY GAYLE FORMAN

I was able to finish Where She Went by Gayle Forman yesterday and I was seriously touched by this book. It follows the journey of Adam and Mia from If I Stay by the same author. It is set 3 years after the events from the first novel.

I've been looking for this book for quite some time now and I'm just so happy that I was finally able to get my own paperback copy. Anyhoo, the story is told in Adam's perspective 3 years after the events from the first novel.

First of all, I am seriously in love with Adam right now. I know, he's broken with all the angst of a rock star but I just can't help but love him despite his flaws. I loved him in the first novel and I loved him even more here. The book allowed the readers to dissect the way he thinks. I wanted to hug him from time to time. His interaction with Mia was just so heartbreaking I just couldn't help but cry in some scenes. Anyway, I loved the way things were written and I love him despite everything. He deserves whatever which I won't tell it is that he got in the end.

Then of course, there's Mia. I honestly have to say that I wanted to strangle her in some parts of the book. I just couldn't get why she did the things that she did. Adam did not deserve the things that Mia did to him. But then again, when she explained herself I simply could not help but sympathize with her. She was angry and she should be. She lost her entire family in a blink of an eye and somehow she needed someone to blame in order to live. Anyway, I still love her even if she did things that she shouldn't have.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first one. Adam's perspective was somewhat refreshing and it helped the readers get to know him even more as a character. The book was simply stunning, heartbreaking, mesmerizing and everything else all rolled into one. I loved this book and I love the way everything wrapped up. I wouldn't mind reading it again and again so I'm giving this a 5/5 star rating.

PS: I just got home from work and I'm just too lazy to take out my phone and use it to take a photo of my paperback so I'm just using something that I got from Google. Thank God for Google Images!

BOOK REVIEW: DEMONGLASS BY RACHEL HAWKINS

I just finished the second book from the Hex Hall Trilogy by Rachel Hawkins which is Demonglass a few minutes ago. And I have to say I’m loving this as much as I loved the first one. Anyway, the novel centers around the adventures of Sophie Mercer and the Prodigium.

Sophie meets her father, James, for the first time in her seventeen years of existence and she’s less than thrilled to be spending some time with him after all these years. I actually sympathized with her in this aspect since my relationship with my own father is not exactly all roses and bunnies. Anyway, as head of the Prodigium Council her father came to Hex Hall to meet his daughter due to the events that took place in the first book. And off she flies to England!

Again, I can’t help but love Sophie. I just love the way her character grew up from the first book. Her smart mouth and sarcasm never fails to make me laugh. I also think she’s one of those heroines that you can’t just help but love. A lot of things were revealed that somehow shocked me.It was a pleasant kind of shock though.I love the fact that she didn’t just mope around like some other female characters after everything that she went through. I just love Sophie.

Then there’s Cal. He had a bigger role in this book and I definitely liked that. It always seemed to me that Cal is not just your typical groundskeeper/ healer/ white warlock.I always believed that he had his own story to tell. Anyway, it turns out he is actually connected to Sophie through…….No, I won’t say it! I don’t want to spoil anyone who has not read this awesome book yet. I seriously loved Cal and I am utterly confused right now because I cannot choose who to root for. Will it be Archer? Or Cal?

And of course, there’s Archer. I missed him in some parts of the book. It turns out he’s actually a warlock raised by The Eye.But even so, I am still in love with him. He’s just so dreamy and everything. haha. I am so confused right now. Will it be Cal? Or Archer? Seriously, how can Ms. Hawkins right two awesome male characters. Anyway, I love Archer and I just can’t wait to read the last novel.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book as much as the first one. I love the fact that Ms. Hawkins did not turn Sophie into a mopey character after everything that she’s been through. Plus, the fact that Jenna is still the pink loving vamp! She’s just so adorable!Anyway, I somehow hated the fact that the ending is such a cliffhanger! haha. Now, I need to get my hands on the third book. I need a paperback soon!

Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommendations: Everyone! :)

BOOK REVIEW: HEX HALL BY RACHEL HAWKINS

I finished Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins yesterday and I've been dying to write a review since. Unfortunately, work got in the way. Again. Haha. Anyhoo, the story is about Sophie Mercer and some other magical/ mystical/ paranormal/ whatever friends of hers who live in Hecate Hall a.k.a. Hex Hall for short.

First of all, I read the book because it was recommended by Sylvia a.k.a. Heinzypop from Goodreads. Haha. I didn't really have plans of reading this book the first time I saw it but since Sylvia said that it was an excellent read I decided to give it a shot. I honestly loved the book from the get-go. There were no dull moment as I started reading it. I loved Sophie. The fact that she is not your average lame protagonist extraordinaire made her really likeable for me. I love the fact that she has a smart mouth! haha. She seriously made me laugh every time she decided to open that mouth of hers. Anyway, I love the way she developed a a character as the story progressed. 

Then there's Archer Cross, one of the magical/ mystical/ paranormal/ whatever friend of hers. I love Archer. He kinda' reminds me of a less brooding Jace Wayland and Will Herondale from the TMI and TID series by Cassandra Clare. I honestly loved Archer. I don't know why but I just love my book boyfriends when they're bad! Anyway, I love his character from the very first time he entered the picture.

Anyhoo, the other characters were loveable for me. None of them annoyed me. Even the Evil Barbie Trio were likeable. I also loved Jenna. She's Sophie's roommate at the dorms, BTW. The story was okay for me. Not too fast paced and not too slow either. I loved the cliffhanger ending at the end and it made me want to read the second book immediately which I did by the way. Overall, I'd give this a 5/5 stars and I'd definitely recommend it to anybody.

BOOK REVIEW: HIS EYES BY RENEE CARTER

So last night I decided to try reading more contemporary novels after I finished Because Of Low by Abbi Glines since I've got nothing better to do. haha. Nah, it's the holy week and it's time to reflect but I can't actually reflect on anything since I'm pretty much distracted by a lot of books so yeah, holy week=epic fail. And besides, I've been reading too much dystopian novels these past few months it's time to change genres. And that's when I found His Eyes by Renee Carter. The story's main characters are Tristan, a blind equestrian player/ rider/ whatever and Amy, his hired babysitter.

Truth be told, I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading this book and I decided to put it on hold for a while since I'm not really into contemporary YA's. I'm more of a Sci-Fi, Paranormal and Dystopian kind of girl but then I needed a change of pace and thus I decided to read this one. I actually enjoyed reading this book and I ended up reading it in one sitting. Haha. That's been happening a lot lately actually.

First of all, I liked Amy. She's a regular girl who is simply trying to make her way and somehow I could relate to her. She's not whiny and she's definitely not pathetic like some female heroines from novels that I've read in the past. She was honest and she had this conflicts and stuff but somehow the author made her believable. I found her personality very refreshing after reading a lot of dystopians these past months. I honestly enjoyed reading from her POV. I did want to smack her at one point but as the story progressed I actually found myself loving her character even more.

Then of course, there's Tristan. Oh boy, did I want to smack him in the beginning. But somehow, I found myself falling for this character. I mean he went through a lot of things in the past year and I do believe that those things can definitely change a person. As the story progressed I think my love for Tristan's character grew. He acted the way he did because he was hurt, afraid, hopeless and a lot more other things that I can't even begin to comprehend. I wanted to get in there and hug him and tell him that everything would turn out all right. I think Amy helped him cope in a lot of ways.

Bottom line is, I liked the novel. I sure did. I ended up reading it in one day. haha. I know it's kinda' cliche like the typical RICH-BOY-FALLS-IN-LOVE-WITH-POOR-GIRL kind of thing but somehow stories like these have worked for me. I love cliche love stories. I am a girl after all and I love happy endings. I think this is a breath of fresh air after reading heavy dystopians these past few months. The book is not just about a teenybopper love story. It's about living life itself. Learning that it can be difficult and rough but we all just have to deal with it.

Rating: 5/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: BECAUSE OF LOW BY ABBI GLINES

Another Abbi Glines novel that made me love her more. Because of Low is the second book from Ms. Glines’ Sea Breeze series. And it centers around the lives of Marcus Hardy, the unrequited lover of Sadie from Breathe,and Willow.

I was actually expecting a lot from this book since I fell in love with the Marcus Hardy in the first novel.Well, not as much as I loved Jax but you get the picture.I loved all of the characters from Breathe and I did believe that Marcus had his own story to tell. I loved Marcus from the get -go. He certainly deserves to fall in love and be happy. This novel made me love him even more as a person. His charms were definitely irresistible. But for me, I think his most lovable trait is his love for his family. His family is a mess and that’s the reason why he came back after his heartbreak in the first place. Anyhoo, I loved Marcus a lot and I’m kinda leaning towards him at this point.haha.Jax still rocks my world though.

And of course, there’s Willow, Low for short, I really wanted to love her as much as I loved Sadie in the first book. I have mixed feelings regarding this character. I tried to love her as much as Sadie but I just couldn’t. I think she was selfish at times. I think she took advantage of Cage’s(He is Marcus’ roommate and Low’s childhood best friend, btw.)”feelings” for her. There were times when I simply found her too selfish for her own good. I mean I get it you’re a broken girl blah blah blah, she had a lot of fears and everything but she simply could not stand on her own two feet. And she would always run into Cage’s arms whenever she had problems with anything. I just couldn’t like her that much. She could not even decide anything on her own. Like there was this part there when she wanted Cage to “release” her whatever but when she opened his fridge and found out that her drinks weren’t available at once she suddenly freaked out which I believe is contradictory to whatever it is that she wanted to happen. I don’t hate her or anything though, I simply couldn’t love her as much as Sadie. Anyhoo, I think she was able to redeem herself in the end. She grew up and I think that’s good enough for me.

Anyhoo, I enjoyed reading this book but not as much as I enjoyed Breathe. There were times when I simply couldn’t stand Low but in the end I think she grew up and developed her own backbone. I fell in love with Marcus in this book though. And I think Amanda, his sister, is a very adorable character. I also liked the fact that Sadie and Jax did cameos of some sort. Haha. Cameos?? It’s not even a movie. Anyway, I loved this book. Abbi Glines is one of those authors that I simply love. Her writing style makes everything so easy to read. I’m giving this a 4/5 star rating though since Low annoyed me at times. I can’t wait for the third book which will tell us more about Cage. :)

BOOK REVIEW: DIVERGENT BY VERONICA ROTH

Finally! I was able to finish Divergent by Veronica Roth after a week of “interrupted” reading. I had work. I was always I asleep. I just could not squeeze it in. I even had this strange thought that maybe it’s not actually as good as everyone says it is. But! But! But! I beg to defer! I think it’s one of the best dystopians out there.Haha.I simply could not find the time to read it. Anyhoo, the main characters of the story are Beatrice “Tris” Prior and “Four”.Hahahaha. Read the book so you’d know what “Four’s” real name is!

I honestly loved this book from page 1.I just had to work and train this newbie at work since I’ll be changing patients in a few days. And thus, the lack of time to actually read while on duty. haha.The concept of the story is just like any other dystopian novels where tyrant leaders are involved. But somehow, the author made it into something unique. The faction concept somehow confused me in the beginning.Seriously, I had to look up the meanings of each name. haha.But still, I liked that. It helped broaden my vocabulary.

I liked Beatrice “Tris” Prior as a character. She’s different and she knows it. And again, since I don’t want to spoil anyone I won’t mention the reason why she’s different. haha. Just read it.Somehow, deep inside of her she always knew that she was different from everyone from her faction which is Abnegation. And when the time came for her to decide whether to stay or leave I think she was at least able to choose the right faction for her. I am no longer biased when it comes to judging female characters. I seriously liked Tris. She’s not annoying. Not the typical damsel in distress. I actually liked the brute side of her. Not a weakling per se.  I liked the fact that she’s not your average girl-in-love or stupid-whiny-girl character. I seriously loved the tough chic there.

Then of course, there’s Mr. Hottie himself, Four. I am seriously, in love with Four right now.Haha.I love his I-am-so-tough-and-yet-I-am-sensitive persona. I just can’t help but love him. I seriously understand why Tris likes him. I seriously have no idea why I like men who can treat a woman with brute force and gentleness at the same time. I just don’t know. I think Four is one of those characters that I just can’t help but fall in love with.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Divergent as I got deeper into the story. The fact that there are no lame characters in the book makes it oh so awesomefor me. Plus, the fact that Tris can actually hit Four without being such a girly girl. haha. Love that part. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I’d give this a 5/5 star rating. And I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one.

REVIEW: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE BY BETH REVIS

I recently finished reading Across The Universe by Beth Revis since I was on nocturnal duty as always. To be honest, I was a bit hesitant about it at first since it had mixed reviews but I’m glad that I read it. Anyhoo, the protagonists of the story are Elder and Amy.

The story starts of as Amy and her parents were being frozen so that they could  be shipped to another planet and reanimated after 300 years. Amy’s parents were essential for this project and she was just an excess baggage during their trip. Anyway, while Amy was in a frozen state she did manage to think and narrate the story. I have mixed feelings with regards to Amy. There were times when I wanted to smack her or something. I mean yeah, you woke up 50 years earlier but seriously girl you’re not alone and at the same time there were times when I just wanted to hug her. I think what happened to her; waking up without her parents is probably something I would not be able to handle. Anyhoo, I think Amy grew up as the story progressed. She wasn’t the type who’d just cry and be annoying. She did manage to become a strong heroine and that’s probably why I like her.

And of course, there’s Elder. To be honest, I never really got attached to Elder as much as I wanted to be. Usually, when I read novels I find myself drawn to the male characters but that didn’t happen in this case. It’s not that I don’t like him or anything I just cannot find myself drawn to this character. I do think his obliviousness to everything that’s going on is refreshing. I love his interactions with the people around him. As an individual character his appeal is somewhat lost to me but as a character with another character there’s just something about him and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I do love Elder but there’s just something about him that did not appeal to me as much as Adam from Shatter Me and Gale or Peeta from The Hunger Games did.

Overall, I think this is the type of novel who would definitely appeal to sci-fi and romance lovers even if there were only a few romantic scenes. The alternating POV’s is something that I liked about this book since we got to know Elder and Amy equally. There were parts that were just difficult to read but other than that I enjoyed the story. I wouldn’t mind reading A Million Suns though.

RATING: 4/5 stars

REVIEW: IF I STAY BY GAYLE FORMAN

I finished reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman yesterday. To be honest, I wasn’t really expecting to like it as much as I did. I’m not exactly a fan of contemporary novels.haha. I’m not even sure if it should be under that category.Anyhoo, the story is narrated by Mia Hall who is also the main protagonist.

The day started like any other day in the Hall’s household. The parents and children having breakfast while bickering with each other since school is cancelled and thus, Mrs. Hall decided to call in sick from work to spend more time with her family. Then of course they decided to visit a friend of theirs and that’s when everything changed.

Mia had an almost perfect life. Cool parents. A cute brother. A possible Julliard acceptance. A nice best friend, Kim. A hot rocker boyfriend, Adam. And of course, family and friends who love her unconditionally. Bottom line is Mia’s life was almost perfect until everything was taken from her by an accident. Anyhoo, I really liked Mia. She didn’t act like the typical whiny heroine from other contemporaryor whatever category novels.I enjoyed seeing things through Mia’s eyes. There were lots of times when I just wanted her to give up but then again I still wanted her to live because of everyone around her. I just love Mia. I love the way her character was written. She did not annoy me in any way.

Anyway, the story is not just about a girl’s struggle for survival. It’s about a lot of things. Unconditional love. Letting go. Moving on. Family. Friends. And of course, wanting to live. I love the way Ms. Forman incorporated all of these themes in one story. I enjoyed reading the novel and ended up finishing it in one day. The lines and the messages were all written wonderfully. I loved all of the characters. Her family, friends and even her boyfriend truly defined what unconditional love is. Bottom line is I enjoyed reading this book a lot and I can’t wait to get my hands on the second novel which is Where She Went. Recommending this to everyone.

RATING: 5/5 stars

REVIEW: PANDEMONIUM BY LAUREN OLIVER

I was able to do a couple of things on my very rare day off yesterday. First of all I had to catch up on a lot of sleeping and reading. I finished Pandemonium which is the second book from the Delirium trilogy by Lauren Oliver. And I have to say that I enjoyed this book as well. And yes, I’ve been reading a lot of dystopian novels this year. Anyway, the story is told in Lena’s POV which is told in two different chapters which is the Then and Now. Watch out for new characters as well.

The story takes off a few months after the events from the first book which is Delirium. Lena is now with the Invalids in the Wilds after Alex sacrificed his life for her survival. I appreciated Lena even more in this second novel. I think she grew up to be a very strong female character. A survivor or a fighter as one might say. I wanted to comfort her during the first parts of the novel since she was sullen and moody most of the time because of her loss. Anyway, I still love the fact that after everything that she’s been through she still managed to grow up and become a strong heroine.

There were new characters introduced in the novel as well. The other Invalids plus a new male character called Julian that would probably add a twist in the third novel which is Requiem. I actually like Julian. His innocence is somehow refreshing and I’m actually leaning towards him in a way. Oh, don’t get me wrong I absolutely adore Alex but I am currently in love with Julian after reading Pandemonium.

Anyway, to sum it all up I think the first half of the novel was little slow for my taste but as I got deeper into it I just found myself immersed in it completely. The subtle hints of romance between Julian and Lena was just so adorable and I can’t help but root for them up until the very end. I think the latter half of the novel made up for the slowness of the first few chapters of the book. I also liked the fact that even if this book is about love and all that stuff it wasn’t written in this typical cheesy kind of way. Ms. Oliver didn’t write a story about a maiden who is just smitten and in love. She wrote about a strong female who is a fighter and a lover as well. Anyway, I’m giving this a 4/5 star rating.

Oh yeah, the ending is just something to die for. What a cliffhanger! haha.

Oh BTW, since Lauren Oliver is coming to the Philippines I bought another copy of Delirium for her to sign.hehe.

 
The cover is just so gorgeous don’t you think?

REVIEW: BEWITCHING BY ALEX FLINN

I was finally able to finish Bewitching by Alex Flin yesterday before going to work. Yes, I have been that busy. 7 night shifts straight. I just want to read and sleep. Anyhoo, this is the story of Kendra, the witch form Beastly by the same author and the stepsisters Emma and Lisette. It tells us how much immortality sucks and the the story of a misunderstood person.

Truth be told, I didn’t exactly enjoy this during the first half of the novel. But I did like it as I neared the ending. I think Kendra’s just adorable. And I liked the fact that she’s not the typical evil witch bitch. I honestly enjoyed reading her story. There were teary eyed moments during the first half but still not enough to call this a melodramatic novel. I liked the fact that I was able to understand Kendra’s character even more.

Then there were two stepsisters involved.No, they are not her stepsisters. They’re just stepsisters.There’s Emma. The plain Jane. I liked the fact that Ms. Flinn made this into another modern re-telling of a fairytale,which is of course Cinderella, with a twist. Just read it since I don’t want to spoil anyone.

Then there’s of course the other stepsister, Lisette.Yes, she is the pretty one.I think the twist is their sisterhood is kinda cute in a way. I don’t want to say anything else other than I enjoyed flipping through the pages because of their dynamics and interactions.

Basically, I enjoyed reading this book but not as much as I enjoyed Alex Flinn’s A Kiss In Time. That is probably my most favorite Alex Flinn novel. But as I got deeper in the story I actually found myself immersed in it completely. I liked unpredictable ending BTW. The story was told in Emma’s POV with some inputs from Kendra. Either way, I’d recommend this book to fans of Beastly and other modern day fairytale re-telling.

RATING: 4/5 stars

REVIEW: FORBIDDEN BY SYRIE & RYAN JAMES

I finished reading Forbidden by mother and son tandem, Syrie and Ryan James. The novel is about Claire and Alec, who are both different in their own ways. I don’t want to mention why because I might spoil the story for future readers.

Claire and her mom are constantly on the move because her mom believes that she’s constantly in danger and she’s kinda’ paranoid about it. Although, her paranoia actually has a basis. haha. Anyway, the story is told in alternating POV’s, Claire’s and Alec’s.
I liked Claire a lot. She’s a girl who just wants to be normal but somehow she feels like she does not actually fit in anywhere even if she has two best friends. Claire did not annoy me at all BTW. I’ve been constantly reading YA novels without the annoying heroines and I like it. She’s not exactly a tough chic or anything but somehow the authors made it work. She’s definitely not annoying as hell and I like the fact that she does not make all her friends and Alec do all the work just like *coughs* some other female heroines that I’ll refuse to name. haha. I hate it when female characters become dead weight. Plus, her best friends are just adorbs. I like the fact that they support Claire with whatever it is that she’s going through.

And then there’s Alec. Alec who makes me swoon. Alec, the sexy soldier/ warrior whatever. I don’t exactly know what to call him without giving his identity away. haha. He’s sexy. Period. Anyway, I loved Alec from the get -go. Plus, the Scottish accent is just to die for. haha. I know, I didn’t exactly hear it but I can only imagine how sexy he sounds with that accent. I like Alec not just because he’s sexy or whatnot. I like the fact that he is constantly protecting Claire, her friends and her family while trying to hide what he really is and constantly breaking the rules that he has lived by for so long. I loved the part wherein he’s trying to act all mundane and everything. Can you believe it? A guy who does not eat junk food? I found that really funny.

I enjoyed reading this novel. I think the trying-to-act-normal-thing is cliche but somehow it worked in this novel. There was a possibility of a love triangle but I like the fact that Claire did not just run into the other guy’s (Neil) arms whenever she had the chance. I actually liked the writing style. The fact that it was written by two people without making it pretty obvious is just amazing. And the fact that they made the readers guess what these two were up until the middle of the novel made me want to read it even more. I’m not really sure if it’s gonna be a series or whatever but I think the authors gave it a nice closure with endless possibilities. They wrote it in a way that left it with enough loose ends to make it a series but still enough closure to make it a stand alone. Confusing? I know. Just read it so that you’ll understand what I mean. Anyway, I’d give this a 5/5 star rating.

REVIEW: FEVER BY LAUREN DESTEFANO

Recently finished the second book from The Chemical Garden Trilogy which is Fever by Lauren DeStefano. The story takes place right after Rhine and Gabriel’s escape from Linden’s mansion.

Some people hate this cover but I kinda like it. Don’t ask me why I like it though. I just do. Anyhoo, I’ve been reading a lot from this genre these past few weeks and I was very excited when this particular novel came out early in the Philippines. haha. But sadly, I was a little disappointed with this one. I honestly enjoyed reading the first novel which is why I had very high expectations with this one.

First of all, Rhine kinda’ annoyed me a little. Seriously, where is the spunk from the first novel? I missed the old Rhine who is wise and manipulative but compassionate all rolled into one. She turned into a damsel in distress in this novel and I seriously disliked it. I don’t know why but I just didn’t like her as much as I liked her in the first one. I like my girls tough and not too princess-y!

As for Gabriel, well I am still leaning towards Linden. I find Gabriel a little bland. He was sweet and all but somehow he lacked something. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I honestly like Linden more. And somehow, the first 3/4 of the book made me miss him.

And lastly, there’s Linden, who by the way only appeared in the last 3 or 4 chapters of the book. I’m still leaning towards Linden. haha. I want Rhine to end up with him instead of Gabriel. I have no idea why but I really prefer Linden over Gabriel. Gabriel is just too dry for me. I love Linden’s kindness and innocence because it somehow makes him a very refreshing character.

Overall, I liked this novel just not as much as I liked the first one which I ended up finishing in one sitting. haha. I mean, I get it they are on the run but how many times can a girl get into trouble in a few days? Seriously, I think they’re troubles were seriously exaggerated which ended up making the novel a little less believable. Anyway, I’d still give this a 3.5/5 star rating. And I would definitely read the last one when it comes out.

REVIEW: SHATTER ME BY TAHEREH MAFI

Finished Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi a few hours before my duty started. And I have to say it’s one of those books that I could not put down. I enjoyed reading every bit of it. I loved the characters. I loved the way it was written. I simply loved everything about it. Anyway, the main characters of the story are Juliette and Adam.

The story starts of almost a year after Juliette was locked up in an asylum because of her power. I won’t say what it is because I don’t want to spoil anyone. I am so not a SPOILER! haha. Anyway, I loved Juliette from the very start. I loved the way she developed into a strong person. Truth be told, I think she’s actually a very strong person even if all she did during the first part was succumb to her fears. Well, actually she did it to protect herself and everyone around her. I think she’s such a good person it simply makes it too hard for me to hate her. I think she represents everything that’s good in this planet and I simply love her for that.

But, but, but I am so jealous of her at the same time. haha. You’re asking me why? Why, indeed? Simple answer: ADAM! haha. Man, that guy is just so hot. I love Adam. I think he’s one of those characters that you just can’t hate. Loyal, kind -hearted, strong, good looking, hot, hot, hot and did I mention hot? Anyhoo, I think Adam was essential in making Juliette stronger than she already is. And I love him for being there for Juliette after all that she’s been through. I just love Adam. I love loyal men. I think it’s very difficult to find one these days. haha.

Then there’s Warner, the antagonist of the story. It actually came to a point that I got attracted to this guy but seriously, when you think about it he’s actually creepy. haha. I mean yeah, he’s good looking and all but he’s just a little bit creepy for my taste. But still, I honestly can’t wait to read more about him in the next novel.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I honestly couldn’t put it down. The pacing of the story is actually very good. Not too fast and not too slow. I loved every minute of it. It’s a work of art for me. There was never any dull moments and I just can’t wait to get my hands on the next novel. The story is not just about super powers, teen angst whatever. It’s about acceptance and finding your place in the world. I’d give this a 5/5 star rating. I wouldn’t mind re-reading it again and again.