valenxi's reviews
28 reviews

OK. What the actual fuck??? I have no words.

Miss Colleen Hoover could stop writing after the manuscript ended, but she decided to write another letter with Verity’s point of view. Who am i supposed to trust at this rate? I’m definitely team manuscript because well for most obvious reason she would’ve wrote the letter right after Jeremy knew about the manuscript instead she only wrote it after Lowen came, so I deduce she might’ve been threatened with her presence. If the manuscript turns out to be true though, I can only say Verity is sick. like PSYCHOPATICALLY SICK. It honestly scares me if there are actually some women who acts or thought that way of her family. I know in the letter she said that it was a training for her writing? BUT HELLO GIRL? I don’t think anyone in their right mind would write something like that for “practice”. Not to mention, I think every character is a little deranged except for little boy Crew. Y’all say you want Jeremy but did y’all forget that he killed Verity brutally and possibly the one responsible for her accident. I mean I know she has done bad things to him and his children, but I think killing her does not make him any better. Lowen bad bitch but yeah unhinged too in some scenes. Maybe the house is contagious, but absolutely hands down, this book’s writing was phenomenal. Every incident was depicted very vividly full of details that you can’t help but just feel that stimulating atmosphere as if you are living in the Crawford family house too. It had me on the edge of my seat on every chapter. Ah, and I also think the spicy scenes were very hot.

This thriller romance novel with a touch of suspense will leave you speechless and tongue-tied after you read it. Please always check TWs before reading!

BEST BOOK OF THE FUCKING YEAR😫

I always had the greatest expectation from this book, since the moment I decided to buy it, and to say I was overly satisfied would be an understatement. This book made me felt all the kinds of emotions I've never felt before while reading. I was happy, I was sad, I was screaming, I was laughing, I was angry. The only thing I could imagine was a whole 5 star movie playing inside my head. Yes, I do flutter sometimes, but this is the first time I literally had butterflies while devouring each word printed in the book. The quotes served was also so memorable that I can't help but write down each one. The diversity in each character made me fall in love more with this book as well as the old money, vintage setting. I can't help but also just be mesmerized with the writing of Ms Jenkins Reid. It was so unique and a bomb ass page turner.

Harry is THE ONLY MAN I'll bow down to. He's so handsome, and supportive. A literal angel. I also loved how hilarious it was when Evelyn manipulated Mick Riva, her third husband in order to have a life with Celia. The angst and the goddamn sexual tension in this book was like no other's. I did not expect the plot twist in the ending, but it was not a very shocking one. Regardless, couldn't thought of a better way to end the story. I bawled my eyes out and smiled intensively reading this book. It was really that good, and I'd offer my life to be able to read it for the first time again.

If I had to criticize was probably the bad representation of the Latinas and biracial here, Evelyn being a Latina, and Monique a biracial person. 

The novel also improvised the statement of how important a family is, and act as a reminder to always take that chance, and live life to the fullest.

People who love character driven books + sapphic relationship with vintage setting and high fashion please read it! You'll love it!

One word, PORN! 

Don't fucking read unless you're feeling horny and willing to feel corrupted, cause honestly the whole book is literally about getting teased, degraded, and extreme weird kinks you name it. 

Definitely not my favourite work of Murakami. I think the plot was spellbinding, but he did not managed to work the plot fully. I have no idea whether he intentionally made the book short, or was he unable to continue it, so he just chose the most decent ending, or for other reasons. There are so many unanswered questions in the story. This cause it to be boring and hard to keep up by the last few chapters of the book. The characters are also a bit bland due to his short elaboration on each of their personality. Therefore, making them unlikeable.

What I liked about the book though, Murakami never disappoints with his writing. It is still immaculate asf. The choice of the songs he chose to put, especially the ones at Denny's or the cafe Takahashi and Mari went to was prime excellence. It matches the vibe of and made the script more dreamy. The way the gleamy night setting was portrayed with lights, and other sensory details was also impeccably perfect, but I wished he'd put more intricate details on each scene. 

I expected a way lot more from this book, so was I disappointed? Yes, A bit. The plot was beautifully written, the message was spread with profound. Characters are compelling with each owning a different characteristic background and trauma of their own. Forgot to mention, Murakami's writing is astoundingly immaculate as always, but somehow I cannot enjoy this book as I do with Murakami's other books. I found it boring and overwhelming in some chapters that I needed more time to digest the content and it for sure did not hook me until the end like the rest of his books. The slow burn was too much, and I think I am just not used to Murakami's slow paced books, but overall it was not hard to continue reading it each day, but I did wish I enjoyed it more. I'm looking forward in reading this again when I'm older as I will own possess understanding of serious topics like suicide and death to feel the emotions filled in the book. 

The comedic stupidity in some scenes are very entertaining. I love how Murakami made Midori into such an iconic character. She is the weirdest, most peculiar, blunt, frank, and idiosyncratic fictional woman I've ever read, but she was definitely the light of the story. The contrast between Naoko's quiet and broken self and Midori's eccentric personality that Toru had to choose whether to play safe or take a risk was a form of literature genius. 

I think this classic is a GENIUS. One of my favorite classics for sure, and what's ironic was that I never had an excitement or a great interest to read this book. I just randomly picked it up from my shelf for a quick read, and I'm so glad I did. Unlike most classics, the story isn't slow paced. Although of course when it comes to classics, there will be boring unnecessary descriptions of settings and atmosphere with advanced words used in the 60s, it was actually an easy read. 

The dark element of the story was enchanted nicely, and the feelings of each character in each scene was written with many imagery that we can automatically make us feel indulged. 

The many different varieties of character traits also made this book exciting to continue. We have Dorian Gray who's naive, and clever, but in the end couldn't stand his own self. There was the charming Henry Wotton who I think is actually the main antagonist of the story, because he never realize how his words can greatly influence someone, and at that time it turned into many awful predicaments, including murder. 

I don't like the way they portray Harry as a sexist, but it is the 1800s. I couldn't blame Wilde for his choice of character, but I think it was important to complete Harry's appealing personality to both men and women. Basil is just a down-to-Earth kind of guy, but he is very sweet and I wished he was given more screen time and character development.