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theengineerisreading's reviews
780 reviews
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
5.0
First of all, I want to express my gratitude to the great Erin Entrada Kelly herself for giving me a signed copy of this book during her visit here in the Philippines last August, and for hosting an epic giveaway party on Twitter. Now, let’s hop on to my review.
If there’s one word that will embody the overall plot of Hello, Universe, that will be DIVERSITY. So, if you’re looking for a diverse read featuring people of different races with numerous thoughts from various walks of life— then Hello, Universe is a perfect fit for you.
Generally focused on the story of Virgil Salinas, a middle grade Filipino who is described as shy and the only one in his family who can’t come out of his shell hence the nickname ‘Turtle,’ and his struggle along middle school, this book introduced us how wonderful the universe is for giving us great things in the most unexpected ways.
Highlighting the struggle of being a shy middle grader, Virgil, together with his only friend who is fond of reading stars and telling fortunes— Kaori Tanaka and her little sister, Gen Tanaka, and unexpected ally in the name of Valencia Somerset, a deaf middle grader who is described as both clever and stubborn and a big fan of hanging out in the woods and praying for Saint Renatus ‘Rene’ Goupil, manage to dodge an unanticipated curveball thrown by the universe on their way.
Aside from friendship stories, Hello, Universe also gave an overview of how powerful imaginative minds are via the inclusion of the character of Lola, Virgil’s grandmother who is into telling stories about dreams and Philippine myths; and seriously, Lola is my favorite character in this book. And I won’t spoil you with the details.
I’ll stop spilling facts about how good this book is but I urge you to read this book and support Erin in any way possible because this is the third book I read from her and all of it are amazing in their own ways. That’s it for this review. Ciao.
Best Quote:
“Friends. Something about the way she says it makes me feel like I found something. I know it sounds corny, but in that moment, with that one word, I already feel like a different person.”
If there’s one word that will embody the overall plot of Hello, Universe, that will be DIVERSITY. So, if you’re looking for a diverse read featuring people of different races with numerous thoughts from various walks of life— then Hello, Universe is a perfect fit for you.
Generally focused on the story of Virgil Salinas, a middle grade Filipino who is described as shy and the only one in his family who can’t come out of his shell hence the nickname ‘Turtle,’ and his struggle along middle school, this book introduced us how wonderful the universe is for giving us great things in the most unexpected ways.
Highlighting the struggle of being a shy middle grader, Virgil, together with his only friend who is fond of reading stars and telling fortunes— Kaori Tanaka and her little sister, Gen Tanaka, and unexpected ally in the name of Valencia Somerset, a deaf middle grader who is described as both clever and stubborn and a big fan of hanging out in the woods and praying for Saint Renatus ‘Rene’ Goupil, manage to dodge an unanticipated curveball thrown by the universe on their way.
Aside from friendship stories, Hello, Universe also gave an overview of how powerful imaginative minds are via the inclusion of the character of Lola, Virgil’s grandmother who is into telling stories about dreams and Philippine myths; and seriously, Lola is my favorite character in this book. And I won’t spoil you with the details.
I’ll stop spilling facts about how good this book is but I urge you to read this book and support Erin in any way possible because this is the third book I read from her and all of it are amazing in their own ways. That’s it for this review. Ciao.
Best Quote:
“Friends. Something about the way she says it makes me feel like I found something. I know it sounds corny, but in that moment, with that one word, I already feel like a different person.”
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
5.0
RATING: 4.5 stars
If you are a fan of The Fault in our Stars or Everything, Everything, then you should probably add Five Feet apart in your TBR pile. A sure tearjerker that will leave you in awe because of its heart-wrenching storyline about two young adults who suffer from the terminal cystic fibrosis or CF, an infectious disease that attacks lungs and lowers its functionality that usually leads to death.
The main characters Stella Grant and Will Newman will surely capture your heart for their unique personalities and clicking on-the-page chemistry that will surely make you feel how awesome it is to fall in love amidst all the hardships, even deadly disease like CF.
I also love how informative this book is, opening an avenue for the world to know the necessary information about cystic fibrosis and Burkholderia cepacia. Kudos also to Rachael, Mikki, and Tobias for making it a light read set with a light pace for us to fully enjoy every scene with Stella and Will and the gang.
I think the real deal with this book is how it opened up the reality of life and death, the whole idea of being a CF patient and the possibility of death anytime soon that will surely awake the human being in you.
Overall, I enjoyed this new release (though I had a bit of disappointment with the finale since I’m somehow a fan of sad endings) and I strongly recommend this one to you who are looking for a fresh tearjerker novel that appeals to the fans of TFIOS and the likes. That’s all.
BEST QUOTE/S:
“When you have CF, you sort of get used to the idea of dying young. No, I’m terrified for my parents. And what will become of them if the worst does happen, now that they don’t have each other.”
“I’ve never been in love before. But even if I had the chance, dating is a risk that I can’t afford right now. I have to stay focused. Keep myself alive.”
“Nothing’s gonna save my life, Stella. Or yours. Everyone in this world is breathing borrowed air.”
“For the first time I feel the weight of every single inch, every millimeter, of the six feet between us. I pull my sweatshirt closer to my body, looking away at the pile of yoga mats in the corner, trying to ignore the fact that the open space? It will always be there.”
“And I realize I’m doing the one thing I’ve told myself this whole time I wouldn’t do. I’m wanting something I can never have.”
“When you have CF, you don’t know how much time you have left. But, honestly, you don’t know how much time the ones you have left either.”
“I’m tired of living without really living. I’m tired of wanting things. We can’t have a lot of things. But we could have this.”
“I didn’t know it was possible to want something so bad you could feel it in your arms and your legs and in every breath you take.”
“So, if the beginning is death and death is also the end, then what’s the real beginning?”
“I’m not afraid of being dead. But the actual dying part. You know, what it feels like?”
“What’s the point? I’ll die or they will, and this cycle of people dying and people grieving will just continue.”
“If this is all we get, then let’s take it. I want to be fearless and free. It’s just life, Will. It’ll be over before we know it.”
“People in the movies are always saying, ‘You have to love someone enough to let them go.’ I always thought that was such a bullshit. But seeing you almost die… I don’t want to leave you, but I love you too much to stay.”
If you are a fan of The Fault in our Stars or Everything, Everything, then you should probably add Five Feet apart in your TBR pile. A sure tearjerker that will leave you in awe because of its heart-wrenching storyline about two young adults who suffer from the terminal cystic fibrosis or CF, an infectious disease that attacks lungs and lowers its functionality that usually leads to death.
The main characters Stella Grant and Will Newman will surely capture your heart for their unique personalities and clicking on-the-page chemistry that will surely make you feel how awesome it is to fall in love amidst all the hardships, even deadly disease like CF.
I also love how informative this book is, opening an avenue for the world to know the necessary information about cystic fibrosis and Burkholderia cepacia. Kudos also to Rachael, Mikki, and Tobias for making it a light read set with a light pace for us to fully enjoy every scene with Stella and Will and the gang.
I think the real deal with this book is how it opened up the reality of life and death, the whole idea of being a CF patient and the possibility of death anytime soon that will surely awake the human being in you.
Overall, I enjoyed this new release (though I had a bit of disappointment with the finale since I’m somehow a fan of sad endings) and I strongly recommend this one to you who are looking for a fresh tearjerker novel that appeals to the fans of TFIOS and the likes. That’s all.
BEST QUOTE/S:
“When you have CF, you sort of get used to the idea of dying young. No, I’m terrified for my parents. And what will become of them if the worst does happen, now that they don’t have each other.”
“I’ve never been in love before. But even if I had the chance, dating is a risk that I can’t afford right now. I have to stay focused. Keep myself alive.”
“Nothing’s gonna save my life, Stella. Or yours. Everyone in this world is breathing borrowed air.”
“For the first time I feel the weight of every single inch, every millimeter, of the six feet between us. I pull my sweatshirt closer to my body, looking away at the pile of yoga mats in the corner, trying to ignore the fact that the open space? It will always be there.”
“And I realize I’m doing the one thing I’ve told myself this whole time I wouldn’t do. I’m wanting something I can never have.”
“When you have CF, you don’t know how much time you have left. But, honestly, you don’t know how much time the ones you have left either.”
“I’m tired of living without really living. I’m tired of wanting things. We can’t have a lot of things. But we could have this.”
“I didn’t know it was possible to want something so bad you could feel it in your arms and your legs and in every breath you take.”
“So, if the beginning is death and death is also the end, then what’s the real beginning?”
“I’m not afraid of being dead. But the actual dying part. You know, what it feels like?”
“What’s the point? I’ll die or they will, and this cycle of people dying and people grieving will just continue.”
“If this is all we get, then let’s take it. I want to be fearless and free. It’s just life, Will. It’ll be over before we know it.”
“People in the movies are always saying, ‘You have to love someone enough to let them go.’ I always thought that was such a bullshit. But seeing you almost die… I don’t want to leave you, but I love you too much to stay.”
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
4.0
RATING: 4.2 stars
A promising fantasy read that will surely appeal to the fans of Harry Potter, The Crowns of Croswald is an up-and-coming book that can be bracketed to the likes of JK Rowling’s popular series.
Revolving on the story of Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid from Castle Plum who befriends an ancient wood dwarf in the name of Rimbrick and becomes one of the towns’ powerful sqwinch, The Crowns of Croswald is one of those must-read fantasy for readers who are into books that has a lot of characters, information, and history. Hinted with the classic poor-protagonist-is-the-right-heir-to-the-throne trope, D.E. Night managed to add a whole lot of spice to this cliché by introducing a whole new world of royal magic practice and scriventure.
What I really loved about this book is the different attack on each characters’ development like there’s a dynamic approach which made it evident to see who the main characters are and who are the supporting ones— which will hugely benefit the entire series since I guess there will be a lot of sqwinches, royal bloods, and scrivenists that will be introduced in the upcoming books. I also love how rich the Croswald history is and how the entire world of Croswald was cleverly crafted by D.E. Night herself. Everything about the Halls of Ivy—the exciting news from the Scriven This, the enchanted faunas like Didley and Restoro, the magical stones of each royal blood, and the amazing rags-to-riches adventures of Ivy Lovely – all of these is what make this book awesome and honored enough to be lined up in my Harry Potter shelf.
On the other wand, the only downside I noticed in this book (just like in any other fantasy book I read) is the dull pacing at the first twelve chapters since there’s a whole lot of history and backstory that needs to be introduced. But I’ll be honest, my rating for this one is pretty high considering that the ultimate perfect 5-star read for me is the one with the boy who lived.
So, to make it clear, I love the general idea of The Crowns of Croswald and I am looking forward to the next books in this series and I hope that Ivy Lovely will avenge for her family and be the badass princess that she is and take the Dark Queen down and be the rightful heiress and claim the throne. That’s it! Ciao.
Best Quote:
“It is funny isn’t it? A potential scrivenist who has spent her younger years as a chambermaid surrounded by all that slurry.”
A promising fantasy read that will surely appeal to the fans of Harry Potter, The Crowns of Croswald is an up-and-coming book that can be bracketed to the likes of JK Rowling’s popular series.
Revolving on the story of Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid from Castle Plum who befriends an ancient wood dwarf in the name of Rimbrick and becomes one of the towns’ powerful sqwinch, The Crowns of Croswald is one of those must-read fantasy for readers who are into books that has a lot of characters, information, and history. Hinted with the classic poor-protagonist-is-the-right-heir-to-the-throne trope, D.E. Night managed to add a whole lot of spice to this cliché by introducing a whole new world of royal magic practice and scriventure.
What I really loved about this book is the different attack on each characters’ development like there’s a dynamic approach which made it evident to see who the main characters are and who are the supporting ones— which will hugely benefit the entire series since I guess there will be a lot of sqwinches, royal bloods, and scrivenists that will be introduced in the upcoming books. I also love how rich the Croswald history is and how the entire world of Croswald was cleverly crafted by D.E. Night herself. Everything about the Halls of Ivy—the exciting news from the Scriven This, the enchanted faunas like Didley and Restoro, the magical stones of each royal blood, and the amazing rags-to-riches adventures of Ivy Lovely – all of these is what make this book awesome and honored enough to be lined up in my Harry Potter shelf.
On the other wand, the only downside I noticed in this book (just like in any other fantasy book I read) is the dull pacing at the first twelve chapters since there’s a whole lot of history and backstory that needs to be introduced. But I’ll be honest, my rating for this one is pretty high considering that the ultimate perfect 5-star read for me is the one with the boy who lived.
So, to make it clear, I love the general idea of The Crowns of Croswald and I am looking forward to the next books in this series and I hope that Ivy Lovely will avenge for her family and be the badass princess that she is and take the Dark Queen down and be the rightful heiress and claim the throne. That’s it! Ciao.
Best Quote:
“It is funny isn’t it? A potential scrivenist who has spent her younger years as a chambermaid surrounded by all that slurry.”
Be Good Be Real Be Crazy by Chelsey Philpot
5.0
RATING: 5 stars
THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!
And yes, I am screaming right now because how did it happen that I ignored this book for months when I should have read it the moment I got my hands on a copy of this Chelsey Philpot gem. But before my emotion overflows, I’ll write an honest review for this read first.
Chelsey Philpot’s Be Good Be Real Be Crazy is the whirlwind adventure read that will make its way to the heart of the readers. A light read with realistic punch and take on friendship, love, and finding purpose her in this gigantic planet, this book is a well-crafted contemporary that will appeal to the fans of John Green’s Looking For Alaska and Adi Alsaid’s Let’s Get Lost.
Generally, the story circles on the struggle of Homer Finn, an adopted teen characterized as tall, shy, apologetic, and gentle giant, on confessing his hidden affection for Mia Marquez, a beautiful stranger-slash-tourist who stayed in the small island in Florida. The plot started with the introduction of Homer’s love to Mia—how it started and how it bloomed— and the adventure took off when Mia announced that she’ll be coming back to her orphanage bestfriend Dotts in a place called Glory-to-be.
With this revelation, Homer initiated to drive Mia off to her destination but Christian and D.B., Homer’s foster parents, agreed with the deal that Einstein, Homer’s younger brother who is a big fan of Apollo Aces and science, particularly in the study of probable doom, existential risks, and apocalyptic possibilities on the significant dangers and slim rewards of the giant atom accelerators, will accompany them in their trouvaille. And there began the compelling story of wandering, unexpected friendships, and life-altering decisions that changed, be it good or bad, the main characters’ view on life.
What I loved about this book is how light the entirety of this book’s storyline is. I mean, who would imagine that a simple plot like the abovementioned one (together with an extra scoop of science theories and a whole lot of parables) will create a book that has a huge impact on its readers.
Though the shy-boy-secretly-loves-the-queen-bee trope seems a bit of a cliché, Chelsey made her own way of adjusting the colors to create a wonderful masterpiece. For example, the addition of Einstein and his nerdy fondness with giant atom accelerators and the world’s end surely added a comedic punch to the Homer-and-Mia tandem. I also noticed the introduction of diverse characters in the names of Christian and D.B., Renata, and Sid, and how it successfully complemented with the flavors of the MC’s character development.
Also, I also highlighted the inclusion of parables in each of every character introduced in the plot like it was a sort of a short story breather in every sub-plot narrated in this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book especially that last part where the gang attended the I-9 conference, particularly that scene with Dr. Az’ speech. That heartrending scene will be one of the best scene in my entire reading experience this 2018. So before I spoiled with what happened with this book, head off to the nearest bookshop or check their website and order a copy of this book because this book is, literally, life-changing. That’s it. Ciao!
BEST QUOTE/S:
“Most places aren’t like the island. The real world isn’t as accepting of people who don’t fit its models. May people see ‘different’ as danger. This scares them. And when people get scared, they do stupid things.”
“If you believe in gravity, you already believe in something higher than yourself.”
“It’s a beautiful desperation, really, to need to believe, to actually believe, that it’s right there, just on the horizon, and it will be ours someday.”
“Love. The greatest man-made disaster in a world that’s full of them. Poets say love is forever. Country singers, that it’s something you drown in beer and cheap whiskey. Meanwhile, the men in white coats blame love on hormones, evolution, and chemicals in our brains. You could ask every person here what love is, and you’d get a different answer each time.”
“Human beings are like planets. We have individual orbits that overlap in places, but whether or not we meet at the overlaps is all about timing and chance. But that possibility is enough to keep us spinning in circles.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps, more often than not, suffering has no meaning and cannot be anticipated. Perhaps the future, the present, and the past are all full of unknowable unknowns. Perhaps this is not a problem we can solve. It’s a paradox we need to accept.”
THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!
And yes, I am screaming right now because how did it happen that I ignored this book for months when I should have read it the moment I got my hands on a copy of this Chelsey Philpot gem. But before my emotion overflows, I’ll write an honest review for this read first.
Chelsey Philpot’s Be Good Be Real Be Crazy is the whirlwind adventure read that will make its way to the heart of the readers. A light read with realistic punch and take on friendship, love, and finding purpose her in this gigantic planet, this book is a well-crafted contemporary that will appeal to the fans of John Green’s Looking For Alaska and Adi Alsaid’s Let’s Get Lost.
Generally, the story circles on the struggle of Homer Finn, an adopted teen characterized as tall, shy, apologetic, and gentle giant, on confessing his hidden affection for Mia Marquez, a beautiful stranger-slash-tourist who stayed in the small island in Florida. The plot started with the introduction of Homer’s love to Mia—how it started and how it bloomed— and the adventure took off when Mia announced that she’ll be coming back to her orphanage bestfriend Dotts in a place called Glory-to-be.
With this revelation, Homer initiated to drive Mia off to her destination but Christian and D.B., Homer’s foster parents, agreed with the deal that Einstein, Homer’s younger brother who is a big fan of Apollo Aces and science, particularly in the study of probable doom, existential risks, and apocalyptic possibilities on the significant dangers and slim rewards of the giant atom accelerators, will accompany them in their trouvaille. And there began the compelling story of wandering, unexpected friendships, and life-altering decisions that changed, be it good or bad, the main characters’ view on life.
What I loved about this book is how light the entirety of this book’s storyline is. I mean, who would imagine that a simple plot like the abovementioned one (together with an extra scoop of science theories and a whole lot of parables) will create a book that has a huge impact on its readers.
Though the shy-boy-secretly-loves-the-queen-bee trope seems a bit of a cliché, Chelsey made her own way of adjusting the colors to create a wonderful masterpiece. For example, the addition of Einstein and his nerdy fondness with giant atom accelerators and the world’s end surely added a comedic punch to the Homer-and-Mia tandem. I also noticed the introduction of diverse characters in the names of Christian and D.B., Renata, and Sid, and how it successfully complemented with the flavors of the MC’s character development.
Also, I also highlighted the inclusion of parables in each of every character introduced in the plot like it was a sort of a short story breather in every sub-plot narrated in this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book especially that last part where the gang attended the I-9 conference, particularly that scene with Dr. Az’ speech. That heartrending scene will be one of the best scene in my entire reading experience this 2018. So before I spoiled with what happened with this book, head off to the nearest bookshop or check their website and order a copy of this book because this book is, literally, life-changing. That’s it. Ciao!
BEST QUOTE/S:
“Most places aren’t like the island. The real world isn’t as accepting of people who don’t fit its models. May people see ‘different’ as danger. This scares them. And when people get scared, they do stupid things.”
“If you believe in gravity, you already believe in something higher than yourself.”
“It’s a beautiful desperation, really, to need to believe, to actually believe, that it’s right there, just on the horizon, and it will be ours someday.”
“Love. The greatest man-made disaster in a world that’s full of them. Poets say love is forever. Country singers, that it’s something you drown in beer and cheap whiskey. Meanwhile, the men in white coats blame love on hormones, evolution, and chemicals in our brains. You could ask every person here what love is, and you’d get a different answer each time.”
“Human beings are like planets. We have individual orbits that overlap in places, but whether or not we meet at the overlaps is all about timing and chance. But that possibility is enough to keep us spinning in circles.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps, more often than not, suffering has no meaning and cannot be anticipated. Perhaps the future, the present, and the past are all full of unknowable unknowns. Perhaps this is not a problem we can solve. It’s a paradox we need to accept.”
Legend by Marie Lu
5.0
RATING: 4.5 stars
This is my third re-read of this book and now, I can finally finish the entire series since I got a copy of both Prodigy and Champion so, Marie Lu marathon it is again!
Even though it’s my third time to enter the world of the dystopic America where two warring sides — Republic and Colonies — dominate the most powerful country with more than 20 million populace, I can still find Legend a fresh and riveting read since it has a lot of flavors to offer than a typical fiction novel.
In this book, the main characters Daniel ‘Day’ Altan Wing, fifteen year old outcast-tagged-criminal who works in his own to protect his family against the cruelty of the Republic, and June Iparis, Republic’s teen prodigy who historically aced the Trial exam with perfect 1500 score and became the youngest soldier who became an official of the army forces, came across each other in the most unexpected way after June’s brother, Metias, was killed in an army operation where Day was primarily involved.
Fueled with hatred and rooting for revenge, June stepped up to lead the investigation and track the primary suspect that is Day. With the crossing of their path in a mob-infested Skiz fight in the outskirt of the Republic’s slum sector, Day and June will unknowingly embark on a journey of mystery, action, and revelation.
What I primarily loved about this book is the fact that it gave the bookish community a new flavor of dystopia by isolating itself in the stereotyped plots patterned in the likes of The Hunger Games and Divergent. I don’t have any tea about these two dystopian classics and I honestly loved both as well but it’s pretty evident that Legend is of a different bracket of dystopia aside from THG because the Legend’s storyline simply feasted on the main-character-versus-main character trope with an extra serving of clever twists and turns in the name of character-altering revelations.
Marie Lu, with this as her debut novel, still amazed me with the way she wrote every scene and if it’s not obvious, we’ll I’ll say it again that she is one of the best author of this generation.
I also want to highlight how emotional I was with everything that happened with John’s character in the conclusion because I know Marie dropped hints in previous chapters before the finale that there’ll be a massive expose involving one of the beloved character but I was still caught off guard when John made the sacrifice for Day.
Overall, I enjoyed the entirety of this book— the storyline, pacing, vibe— and I’m already starting Prodigy so that’s it for now. Ciao.
BEST QUOTE:
“Forever and ever, kid. Until you’re sick and tired of seeing me.”
This is my third re-read of this book and now, I can finally finish the entire series since I got a copy of both Prodigy and Champion so, Marie Lu marathon it is again!
Even though it’s my third time to enter the world of the dystopic America where two warring sides — Republic and Colonies — dominate the most powerful country with more than 20 million populace, I can still find Legend a fresh and riveting read since it has a lot of flavors to offer than a typical fiction novel.
In this book, the main characters Daniel ‘Day’ Altan Wing, fifteen year old outcast-tagged-criminal who works in his own to protect his family against the cruelty of the Republic, and June Iparis, Republic’s teen prodigy who historically aced the Trial exam with perfect 1500 score and became the youngest soldier who became an official of the army forces, came across each other in the most unexpected way after June’s brother, Metias, was killed in an army operation where Day was primarily involved.
Fueled with hatred and rooting for revenge, June stepped up to lead the investigation and track the primary suspect that is Day. With the crossing of their path in a mob-infested Skiz fight in the outskirt of the Republic’s slum sector, Day and June will unknowingly embark on a journey of mystery, action, and revelation.
What I primarily loved about this book is the fact that it gave the bookish community a new flavor of dystopia by isolating itself in the stereotyped plots patterned in the likes of The Hunger Games and Divergent. I don’t have any tea about these two dystopian classics and I honestly loved both as well but it’s pretty evident that Legend is of a different bracket of dystopia aside from THG because the Legend’s storyline simply feasted on the main-character-versus-main character trope with an extra serving of clever twists and turns in the name of character-altering revelations.
Marie Lu, with this as her debut novel, still amazed me with the way she wrote every scene and if it’s not obvious, we’ll I’ll say it again that she is one of the best author of this generation.
I also want to highlight how emotional I was with everything that happened with John’s character in the conclusion because I know Marie dropped hints in previous chapters before the finale that there’ll be a massive expose involving one of the beloved character but I was still caught off guard when John made the sacrifice for Day.
Overall, I enjoyed the entirety of this book— the storyline, pacing, vibe— and I’m already starting Prodigy so that’s it for now. Ciao.
BEST QUOTE:
“Forever and ever, kid. Until you’re sick and tired of seeing me.”
Pushing Perfect by Michelle Falkoff
3.0
RATING: 2.5 stars
I was hooked in the overall storyline of this mystery thriller YA novel but at some point, the sudden explode of all the sub-plots made it wearisome to comprehend; don’t get me wrong, I still finished this book but the ending worsened the general rating for the book.
I don’t want to sound like I really *HATE* Pushing Perfect by Michelle Falkoff for I am not a fan of spreading animosity and I think, at the beginning, I kind of liked the premise of this novel so let me clarify my stand and explain at what part did this book fail.
First of all, this book is a story about a senior high school teen named Kara who studies at Marbella High. Being a top achiever since her elementary days and having the pressure from her successful, Stanford alumni parents, Kara often tend to exert too much effort in all that she does which lead to episodes of anxiety and depression. But with the upcoming SATs that will determine whether she’ll make it to an Ivy League school or not, Kara tried her best to sooth and calm her mind to avoid another panic attack which she already experienced during one of the practice SATs in Marbella. With all these happenings, Kara met a new friend in the name of Alex Nguyen, a Vietnamese, techie teen who admits being addicted to online poker after her gambler uncle taught her some skills, who stepped up to be her confidante and study buddy. During one of their review session, Alex mentioned a way to help Kara steady her mind during the SAT and that is through an illicit drug named Novalert. Desperate to ace her final chance on the SAT, Kara veered from the perfect course and wildly accepted Alex’s help and tried Novalert. But with this decision comes a series of unanticipated consequences that will surely bring her down to hell if it’s not addressed as soon as possible. With the help of the unexpected friends she met along the way, Kara will find a way to escape the dark maze she led herself into. The catch it, will she make it out alive or will her secrets be spilled to the rest of the world and unravel how imperfect ‘Perfect Kara’ is?
What I liked about this novel is how it focused on the premise of teen/student mental health and how toxic perfectionist environments can be. I kind of relate to her character since there were instances in my life when I felt so ‘pressured’ of what other people will say to me if I made this or that decision. Which is kind of a good avenue to venture (though it’s risky as well since we know how sensitive this topic can be) if handled carefully.
Another thing I liked about this book is the pacing. It was set in a ‘not-too-fast-that-it-will-make-you-forget-some-details-but-not-too-dull-that-you-almost-DNF’ pace; I mean, it was in a good pace that is great enough to make you want to flip another page and finish another chapter before turning the nightlamp.
Let’s go the the DARK SIDE… first, there’s a lot of sub-plots that were not justified enough throughout the book like the Kara-Becca-Isabel’s triangle friendship, the Blocked Sender’s insane history, Alex-Justin backstory. This is one of those book that could have been so GOOD but it went downhill because there was a lot of information to take in when it can actually focus in fewer important highlights, in the first place.
Last thing that I kind of did not like with this novel, which is the most influential factor in my book rating, is the ending. I have read a good mystery novel this year like Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes and its realistic ending made a huge impact in my reading journey but this book’s ending is totally unacceptable. At first, I thought that there will be some major twist in the last five chapters after the blackmailed squad decided to finally meet the Blocked sender but nothing good happened for the narrative focused on the idealistic anecdotes of the characters. What I mean with this is that a whole lot of mess was made within this novel but not a single person will clean up the chaos? That is just unfair. Ciao.
I was hooked in the overall storyline of this mystery thriller YA novel but at some point, the sudden explode of all the sub-plots made it wearisome to comprehend; don’t get me wrong, I still finished this book but the ending worsened the general rating for the book.
I don’t want to sound like I really *HATE* Pushing Perfect by Michelle Falkoff for I am not a fan of spreading animosity and I think, at the beginning, I kind of liked the premise of this novel so let me clarify my stand and explain at what part did this book fail.
First of all, this book is a story about a senior high school teen named Kara who studies at Marbella High. Being a top achiever since her elementary days and having the pressure from her successful, Stanford alumni parents, Kara often tend to exert too much effort in all that she does which lead to episodes of anxiety and depression. But with the upcoming SATs that will determine whether she’ll make it to an Ivy League school or not, Kara tried her best to sooth and calm her mind to avoid another panic attack which she already experienced during one of the practice SATs in Marbella. With all these happenings, Kara met a new friend in the name of Alex Nguyen, a Vietnamese, techie teen who admits being addicted to online poker after her gambler uncle taught her some skills, who stepped up to be her confidante and study buddy. During one of their review session, Alex mentioned a way to help Kara steady her mind during the SAT and that is through an illicit drug named Novalert. Desperate to ace her final chance on the SAT, Kara veered from the perfect course and wildly accepted Alex’s help and tried Novalert. But with this decision comes a series of unanticipated consequences that will surely bring her down to hell if it’s not addressed as soon as possible. With the help of the unexpected friends she met along the way, Kara will find a way to escape the dark maze she led herself into. The catch it, will she make it out alive or will her secrets be spilled to the rest of the world and unravel how imperfect ‘Perfect Kara’ is?
What I liked about this novel is how it focused on the premise of teen/student mental health and how toxic perfectionist environments can be. I kind of relate to her character since there were instances in my life when I felt so ‘pressured’ of what other people will say to me if I made this or that decision. Which is kind of a good avenue to venture (though it’s risky as well since we know how sensitive this topic can be) if handled carefully.
Another thing I liked about this book is the pacing. It was set in a ‘not-too-fast-that-it-will-make-you-forget-some-details-but-not-too-dull-that-you-almost-DNF’ pace; I mean, it was in a good pace that is great enough to make you want to flip another page and finish another chapter before turning the nightlamp.
Let’s go the the DARK SIDE… first, there’s a lot of sub-plots that were not justified enough throughout the book like the Kara-Becca-Isabel’s triangle friendship, the Blocked Sender’s insane history, Alex-Justin backstory. This is one of those book that could have been so GOOD but it went downhill because there was a lot of information to take in when it can actually focus in fewer important highlights, in the first place.
Last thing that I kind of did not like with this novel, which is the most influential factor in my book rating, is the ending. I have read a good mystery novel this year like Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes and its realistic ending made a huge impact in my reading journey but this book’s ending is totally unacceptable. At first, I thought that there will be some major twist in the last five chapters after the blackmailed squad decided to finally meet the Blocked sender but nothing good happened for the narrative focused on the idealistic anecdotes of the characters. What I mean with this is that a whole lot of mess was made within this novel but not a single person will clean up the chaos? That is just unfair. Ciao.
First & Then by Emma Mills
4.0
This is my first Emma Mills read and my 44th book I read for 2018 and I'm happy with my choices that I picked this book to wrap up my year!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
If you love to invest on a feel-good contemporary book, then this is one of the books you might want to pick because this book delivered the goods in all aspects.
Enemies-to-lovers trope. CHECK. Relatable main characters. CHECK. High school fluffy scenes. CHECK. Family issue involvement. CHECK. Self-improvement tips. CHECK. Jane Austen. CHECK.
If you are a fan of Jane Austen, then this one is a must read because Emma Mills wrote Devon Tennyson based on Jane Austen's female lead stereotype and Devon's lover, Ezra Lynley, reads book (Pride and Prejudice & Sense and Sensibility!!!) by Jane Austen so this is actually a heavensent couple for us booklovers!
Anyways, I didn't rated it 5 stars because I had a hard time finishing it (mostly my fault because I just began with my first job) but I the entirety of the First & Then story will surely hit you in the right angles.
Moving forward, I'm sorry if I can't write a decent review for this because I'm planning to re-read it on February 2019 and I hope I can write a good review by then.
Anywho, this book is a recommendable read for contemporary fans! That's it for now. Ciao. 😉
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
If you love to invest on a feel-good contemporary book, then this is one of the books you might want to pick because this book delivered the goods in all aspects.
Enemies-to-lovers trope. CHECK. Relatable main characters. CHECK. High school fluffy scenes. CHECK. Family issue involvement. CHECK. Self-improvement tips. CHECK. Jane Austen. CHECK.
If you are a fan of Jane Austen, then this one is a must read because Emma Mills wrote Devon Tennyson based on Jane Austen's female lead stereotype and Devon's lover, Ezra Lynley, reads book (Pride and Prejudice & Sense and Sensibility!!!) by Jane Austen so this is actually a heavensent couple for us booklovers!
Anyways, I didn't rated it 5 stars because I had a hard time finishing it (mostly my fault because I just began with my first job) but I the entirety of the First & Then story will surely hit you in the right angles.
Moving forward, I'm sorry if I can't write a decent review for this because I'm planning to re-read it on February 2019 and I hope I can write a good review by then.
Anywho, this book is a recommendable read for contemporary fans! That's it for now. Ciao. 😉
Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
5.0
"Loving someone was traumatizing. You never knew what would happen to them out there in the world. Everything precious was also vulnerable."
For my first read this year, I chose Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi because
1. The book's blurb interested me
2. Mixed review on Goodreads
3. Asian representation
4. The cover is aesthetics 💯
And honestly, the book did not disappoint. Technically, the story revolved on two teens, Penelope 'Penny' Lee, a Korean teen girl who loves writing science fiction, and Sam Becker, a young adult outcast who runs a coffee and pastry shop. The premise is simple, girl meets boy through a friend and after an unexpected meeting at the most unexpected time, Penny and Sam became unexpected friends and text pals. But the catch with the plot is how will they make their ends meet knowing how awkward she is with actual human interaction (aside from her mom and her feew friends) and how effed up his life is (after having a devastating breakup with the girl of his dreams.)
What I love about Emergency Contact is how raw the characters are. Penny and Sam are the embodiment of our fragile teenage and young adult stage when most of us choose to remain a prisoner of what the society thinks of and be paranoid on every big life-changing decisions we make. My general observation is that Mary's writing style greatly reflects with the characters because Penny and Sam felt so real and alive while I binge on their everyday struggle within the story.
Another thumbs up for the Asian representation because the world really needs a lot of diverse reads featuring our unique culture and character. (*there's a lot of Asian references in this book including Filipino and I found that Imelda Marcos fun fact hilarious*)
Moreover, I also adore the light vibe and pacing this book has. It's the kind of read that has a not-that-fast-and-not-that-slow pace but not tedious at alm because the chapters are filled with a balance of fluffy and heart-wrenching scenes.
Lastly, multiple POVs! I love stories that has multiple point of views because it allow us to explore the minds of the characters through their punto de vista so I find it great to read what Penny and Sam thought of that certain scenario and with that, another great job!
Anyway, try this feel-good, fluffy and know if your a cake or pie person. 😉
P.S. I saw that the most liked review for this book is a 1-star featuring commentaries on how the characters were written incorrectly but I think the reader did not get the point of Penny's character in the story because the author wanted to develop her as an awkward teen and knowing how disconnected Penny is with her mom, that should have been an easy feel. So, I don't want to spread hate with this message but maybe we should stop sending hate messages just because the storyline did not lined well with our taste and please read between the lines.
RATING: 4.5 stars
For my first read this year, I chose Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi because
1. The book's blurb interested me
2. Mixed review on Goodreads
3. Asian representation
4. The cover is aesthetics 💯
And honestly, the book did not disappoint. Technically, the story revolved on two teens, Penelope 'Penny' Lee, a Korean teen girl who loves writing science fiction, and Sam Becker, a young adult outcast who runs a coffee and pastry shop. The premise is simple, girl meets boy through a friend and after an unexpected meeting at the most unexpected time, Penny and Sam became unexpected friends and text pals. But the catch with the plot is how will they make their ends meet knowing how awkward she is with actual human interaction (aside from her mom and her feew friends) and how effed up his life is (after having a devastating breakup with the girl of his dreams.)
What I love about Emergency Contact is how raw the characters are. Penny and Sam are the embodiment of our fragile teenage and young adult stage when most of us choose to remain a prisoner of what the society thinks of and be paranoid on every big life-changing decisions we make. My general observation is that Mary's writing style greatly reflects with the characters because Penny and Sam felt so real and alive while I binge on their everyday struggle within the story.
Another thumbs up for the Asian representation because the world really needs a lot of diverse reads featuring our unique culture and character. (*there's a lot of Asian references in this book including Filipino and I found that Imelda Marcos fun fact hilarious*)
Moreover, I also adore the light vibe and pacing this book has. It's the kind of read that has a not-that-fast-and-not-that-slow pace but not tedious at alm because the chapters are filled with a balance of fluffy and heart-wrenching scenes.
Lastly, multiple POVs! I love stories that has multiple point of views because it allow us to explore the minds of the characters through their punto de vista so I find it great to read what Penny and Sam thought of that certain scenario and with that, another great job!
Anyway, try this feel-good, fluffy and know if your a cake or pie person. 😉
P.S. I saw that the most liked review for this book is a 1-star featuring commentaries on how the characters were written incorrectly but I think the reader did not get the point of Penny's character in the story because the author wanted to develop her as an awkward teen and knowing how disconnected Penny is with her mom, that should have been an easy feel. So, I don't want to spread hate with this message but maybe we should stop sending hate messages just because the storyline did not lined well with our taste and please read between the lines.
RATING: 4.5 stars
We Regret to Inform You by Ariel Kaplan
4.0
A story about an overachiever teen who looks forward to taking the next big step to college life only to found out the that her future is somehow ruined by someone she's completely clueless who, We Regret to Inform You is a novel that deals on how to overcome the pressure with applications and rejections for college and what's in between.
The main character, Mischa Abramavicius, is the image of an A+ student who works hard to get excellent grades in all her subjects at Blanchard High, an exclusive school for elite students where she was given a chance to study under the financial aid program of the school. As her senior year slowly comes to conclude, Mischa, together with all the Blanchard graduating students, put all the effort to file their own application letters to their selected schools. With Mischa being a consistent top student who easily breezed past every AP tests and got a remarkable mark in the SATs, her future school for college will surely be not a big of a problem to ponder on. However, the tables turned as the Admissions day came and Mischa started receiving rejection letters not just from the Ivy schools, but from all the seven schools she applied including a safety community college in her hometown. With this, our MC starts gaining help from her few friends who are determined to aid her in unravelling the mystery of Mischa's case. The catch is how far will they go as soon as the truth are exposed to their own faces?
What I liked about this book is how real and believable MC Mischa is. Being able to give justice to such a unique character with a pretty specific characteristics and attributes is not an easy task and for that, praises are up for A.E. Kaplan.
I also like the build-up this book has because the twist at the end was totally unprecedented (in my own opinion) and I absolutely love how the characters made their decisions at the end. The moral of the story is to fight and be firm in making the stand if you are certain that you're fighting for what is right.
I'll admit that this is not a too-relatable read because the setting's educational system was way too different with the country's academic system but it is still a good read worthy of being recommended to every student who are always put under pressure--be it by their family, or parents or by the society.
Anyway, I think I enjoyed this book because I finished it in a day considering that I also made a lot of personal errands today so overall, We Regret to Inform You by A.E. Kaplan is a good second read of the year.
RATING: 3.5 stars
The main character, Mischa Abramavicius, is the image of an A+ student who works hard to get excellent grades in all her subjects at Blanchard High, an exclusive school for elite students where she was given a chance to study under the financial aid program of the school. As her senior year slowly comes to conclude, Mischa, together with all the Blanchard graduating students, put all the effort to file their own application letters to their selected schools. With Mischa being a consistent top student who easily breezed past every AP tests and got a remarkable mark in the SATs, her future school for college will surely be not a big of a problem to ponder on. However, the tables turned as the Admissions day came and Mischa started receiving rejection letters not just from the Ivy schools, but from all the seven schools she applied including a safety community college in her hometown. With this, our MC starts gaining help from her few friends who are determined to aid her in unravelling the mystery of Mischa's case. The catch is how far will they go as soon as the truth are exposed to their own faces?
What I liked about this book is how real and believable MC Mischa is. Being able to give justice to such a unique character with a pretty specific characteristics and attributes is not an easy task and for that, praises are up for A.E. Kaplan.
I also like the build-up this book has because the twist at the end was totally unprecedented (in my own opinion) and I absolutely love how the characters made their decisions at the end. The moral of the story is to fight and be firm in making the stand if you are certain that you're fighting for what is right.
I'll admit that this is not a too-relatable read because the setting's educational system was way too different with the country's academic system but it is still a good read worthy of being recommended to every student who are always put under pressure--be it by their family, or parents or by the society.
Anyway, I think I enjoyed this book because I finished it in a day considering that I also made a lot of personal errands today so overall, We Regret to Inform You by A.E. Kaplan is a good second read of the year.
RATING: 3.5 stars
Warcross by Marie Lu
5.0
For my first fantasy read of 2019, I chose to re-read Marie Lu's Warcross for I have an upcoming copy of Wildcard and I intend to finish the duology right off the bat. And again, Marie Lu did not disappoint.
Reasons why you should read Warcross:
1. Strong female lead
2. Clever world building
3. Character diversity
4. Fast-paced
5. Action-packed
And it's an easy 5-star read for me because of the abovementioned reasons.
This book is the modern sci-fi novel every new generation gamer has to read. Set in the future world where a sort of an RPG mixed with virtual reality game swept the world like a hurricane, Warcross is an exhilirating read that will make you grip the edge of your seat so hard because of its immersive storyline.
I know I said it a lot of times already but ICYMI, Emika Chen is the perfect definition of strong, independent woman, and it's pretty obvious that BADASS is her middle name. I loved how Marie Lu developed her character from a loving daughter who lost everything before her eyes up to the one heck of a hacker/bounty hunter who preys on illegal gambler for a living.
Everything in Warcross fits perfectly. From the introduction of Emika as this scrappy bounty hunter in New York, her fascination with Warcross creator Hideo Tanaka, her desperate move and accidental glitch during the openig WC game, her overnight fame, and her experience as the no. 1 pick in Wardraft. Every scene tops up the other and it just makes sense because we deserve this kind of augmenting intensity.
Character diversity also adds a point in my rating and it's justified since Warcross has taken the world by storm hence top international players are chosen to participate in the Championships. I love Roshan and Tremaine most. And ofc,who would miss the subtle appearance of Daniel Wing as Asher's renowned actor-brother.
Lastly, THE TWIST. Since the entirety of the storyline focus on the buildup for a major curveball, the final chapters manage to unravel an unexpected turn to the sinister plot I personally never expected. After all, Marie Lu's expertise is writing an appealing novel with an explosive ending so here's another work from her you should definitely not miss out! Can't wait to read Wildcard! Ciao.
Reasons why you should read Warcross:
1. Strong female lead
2. Clever world building
3. Character diversity
4. Fast-paced
5. Action-packed
And it's an easy 5-star read for me because of the abovementioned reasons.
This book is the modern sci-fi novel every new generation gamer has to read. Set in the future world where a sort of an RPG mixed with virtual reality game swept the world like a hurricane, Warcross is an exhilirating read that will make you grip the edge of your seat so hard because of its immersive storyline.
I know I said it a lot of times already but ICYMI, Emika Chen is the perfect definition of strong, independent woman, and it's pretty obvious that BADASS is her middle name. I loved how Marie Lu developed her character from a loving daughter who lost everything before her eyes up to the one heck of a hacker/bounty hunter who preys on illegal gambler for a living.
Everything in Warcross fits perfectly. From the introduction of Emika as this scrappy bounty hunter in New York, her fascination with Warcross creator Hideo Tanaka, her desperate move and accidental glitch during the openig WC game, her overnight fame, and her experience as the no. 1 pick in Wardraft. Every scene tops up the other and it just makes sense because we deserve this kind of augmenting intensity.
Character diversity also adds a point in my rating and it's justified since Warcross has taken the world by storm hence top international players are chosen to participate in the Championships. I love Roshan and Tremaine most. And ofc,who would miss the subtle appearance of Daniel Wing as Asher's renowned actor-brother.
Lastly, THE TWIST. Since the entirety of the storyline focus on the buildup for a major curveball, the final chapters manage to unravel an unexpected turn to the sinister plot I personally never expected. After all, Marie Lu's expertise is writing an appealing novel with an explosive ending so here's another work from her you should definitely not miss out! Can't wait to read Wildcard! Ciao.