Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Synopsis: This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster. 

RATING: 3 stars
A 3.5 but more on the three. 
Note this: I originally gave it a four when I read it a month ago and gave it a five the day after. But now, after giving much thought to this, I decided that it was just a three for me.

My reaction before: 

It's beautiful. 

WHY I DIDN'T GIVE IT A FIVE:
1.) I felt the romance between Olly and Madeline was kind of rushed (and to be honest, forced, too.) Rushed because they like, started liking each other like almost instantly and before I knew it Olly was in Madeline's house and boom, the romance begins. Forced because, what if Madeline only loves Olly because he was the only one she was able to talk to? I don't know. The main character seemed desperate for love because of her alleged inability to go outside for it might kill her. 


2.) Madeline's mother
Plot twist, though. Plot twist. You wouldn't think she's paranoid but she IS. Trust me. Don't judge a book by its cover. Madeline's mother might be smart and decent-looking, but she's paranoid.

WHY I LIKED THIS BOOK:
1.) Humour
I laughed every now and then. The ebook copy I had contained some sketches by Madeline which were funny and cute.

2.) Carla
I missed my old yaya when I thought of Carla. This woman should seriously be Madeline's mother. She's more understanding and supportive of Madeline's decisions and I felt that she really loved Madeline.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Come to think of it, this book was really just meh for me. But a lot of popular reviewers here liked it. It was nice and funny and sweet and all, but meh. That's why my review this time wasn't really lengthy because I ran out of problems with this book as well as good things with this book.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Rating: 2 stars

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love John Green. But this book just wasn't... my thing. 

TEN YEAR OLD ME'S REVIEW

OHHHMYYYYGAWD THIS BOOK IS DA BOMB I LOVE IT BUT WHY DID AUGUSTUS DIE? HAZEL AND AUGUSTUS WHERE SO KAYOOT I CANNOT EVEN. I WANT A LOVE LIKE THEIRS BUT ONLY NO DYING PLEASE THANK YOU. THIS BOOK WAS SUCH A GIFT FROM GAAAWD.

Of course, I loved it when I was ten. I was a kid then, blinded by the oppurtunity to be considered a book nerd by reading THE Fault in our Stars. So I gave it a five.

But then, when I turned thirteen, I decided to read it again. For the sake of fully understanding what the book is all about and why many, many people seem to like it.

And when I finished reading it, I had a very different opinion about TFIOS. 

It was okay. It had a great love story between two people and a great ending despite Augustus dying. But it was just so... monotonous. I didn't feel any 'omGGGGmyheartisbrokencantbreatheineedmyinhaler' moments. At the end of the book, I was just like, 



MEHHHH.

Augustus and Hazel had the same personality. They were both sarcastic, highly sophisticated people and half the time I don't even know the shite they're saying. It was hard to get in to their world, and it was hard to get inside of Hazel's heart. The ending was predictable. Of course one of them will die. 

The only other thing I liked about this book was how realistic it is. We can't always get happy endings in life, and there isn't a thing such as Forever (but then, there is always Poreber in Slovenia)

I really respect your opinions, so please respect mine. I liked this book, but again, it just wasn't for me. Maybe I'll try reading this when I'm sixteen. 

Actually a 2.5 

Chasing Connor by Sam Ayers

A 2.5, but more on the two. 

DNF=50%, jumped on 80% and ended it

SYNOPSIS: Love is a friendship that has caught fire.

Connor Taylor was having a great life till his brother’s wedding invite arrived. He knew his brother didn’t want him there and there was no way he was going. But then comes the emotional drama and, he ends up in California.

Enter Harley Evans, the bride. Harley’s life clashes with Connor’s and boom – opposites attract. They make each other laugh. They make fun of each other. Their friendship blooms and love happens.

When these two worlds collide, Harley has to choose between the two brothers. Will she choose her fiancé or the guy whom she’s in love with head over heels?

Note this before you read my review: I don't revel in giving books a lot of unpleasant comments since I know that it's really hard to create a published book. I am still a fan of all authors, even authors whose books I didn't exactly like, because, without them, I won't know what to do with my life. Possibly only this:

And this:

So authors, I salute you. Very much. And I don't really like writing bad reviews, okaaaaay?

So, on with the review.

THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS BOOK 

1.) The 'marriage' thing
So, the main character (Harley) is going to be married to Carter. Everything is hunky-dory, except for one thing: Harley doesn't love Carter. Later in the book, she tells us that the reason she was marrying Carter was because her parents were forcing her. I am disappointed at this for reasons, namely:
* HEH ANO BA NAMAN TO 2015 NA ARRANGED MARRIAGE PA RIN ITU WTF (Translation: What the actual fudge? It's 2015, guys. No one forces their children to people they don't like to marry. What is this, the Victorian era? But let me clarify this: If the reason behind the arranged marriage was for business purposes, I would have been less disappointed. But the only reason behind this was because the parents were best friends with Carter's parents!
* I am very disappointed of Harley because she isn't one of those women who will fight to the death for what they believe. So, she's just going to let this happen? She isn't even going to do anything about it? 

Wow. If I was Harley, I'd think of something. I would give up anything (heck yeah, I can start another career) rather than growing old with someone I despise. I won't wait for a time when I'll finally be in love with the guy. Do, or do not. There is no try.
* This isn't actually a reason but.. FACT: Harley and Carter were neighbours. Frickin' neighbours. Parents were best friends. Yet she only met him, like, twenty-something years later?


2.) The extremely predictable ending


If you read the synopsis, you could guess. My eight year old brother could predict this. 
OF COURSE SHE ENDS UP WITH CONNOR. OF COURSE. THIS IS AS OBVIOUS AS HERMIONE GETTING AN OUTSTANDING AT HER O.W.L.S.


3.) The romance
As much as I actually hinted a smile during reading, the romance was just kind of... forced. It's as if the author was yelling, "NOW KISS!" at the top of her lungs whilst writing this book. Aaaaand, insta-love! Heck.. no. 
"Why did he have such an effect on her? Heck, she had only met him this morning. 
LOL OKAI FASTEST LOVE AWARD GOES TO HARLEY AND CONNOR!!!!
No surprises at all. No plot twists. As already said above, extremely predictable.

4.) The writing
Usually I don't really mind the writing, only the emotional impact of the book. But the author used a lot of exclamation points to the point that I actually started being uncomfortable while reading this book. And I don't really want to say this, but it actually felt like it was written by my 7th grade classmate (who is, by the way, ten years old). And I didn't actually learn a thing in this book. I've read two hundred books in the whole thirteen years of my existence (not only two hundred, maybe three hundred, I'm actually just really embarrassed to put here on GR the books I read when I was four) and I learned many things from a huge percentage of these books. But I didn't learn anything here. Well, except this: You can fall in love within five hours of meeting a person.

5.) THE CHARACTERS.
*Carter: You are very clueless, sorry, Do you not realize that your fiancée and your brother are actually busy being in love with each other and.. they're just right in front of you?
No? No?

Obviously a no then.
And he's kinda... harsh. Even if my brother and I don't really get along very well, I won't act like that. Because he's still my bro and nothing can change that. But you, you actually let your brother almost starve?

And it was all because of some irrational argument? I can't believe you.
But.. at least they made up at the end of the book.
*Lillian 
I don't understand you. You mean to tell me, that you broke up with Liam just because he didn't arrive for a dinner? And you didn't even ask him why? What if his father died? Or he actually got hurt? Or what if his friend needed his help? Before you judge, before you act harshly upon something or someone, think about it first.
*Harley
Again, for just being like a pet. A pet that does anything its master commands it to do. Don't you have a brain of your own?

6.) Meaningless, childish dialogue
Don't make me even start about this.

7.) Eerily similar plot to We'll Always Have Summer (The Summer I Turned Pretty #3) by Jenny Han
Okay. Harley is basically Belly, Connor basically Jeremiah, Carter basically Conrad. Only difference is that the Jeremiah of this book was the one for the Belly of this book. At least Jenny Han's book was...!!! I won't compare.

FINAL VERDICT: Definitely a no for me. If you're looking for a cheesy, light read, read this. I don't know if you'll like it though. But still, I am clarifying, I am not a HATER of any author. Only speaking my mind.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

RATING: 4 EMPIRE STARS

“ You are an ember in the ashes , Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.” 
“You are full, Laia. Full of life and dark and strength and spirit. You are in our dreams. You will burn, for you are an ember in the ashes .” 

This book is hands down, phenomenal. It had everything I'd wanted, a little bit of Romance, Action, Mystery. It made me change my perception of fear, bravery, and selflessness. Showed me, once again (in Divergent, first), that selflessness doesn't interpret weakness at all. Selflessness is bravery, for you have saved people who cannot fend for themselves.

An Ember in the Ashes is a thought-provoking story told by two different yet similar point of views. The story of Laia - a scholar under the merciless rule of the Empire - starts when soldiers, accompanied by a Mask, a very ruthless person slash master assassin, raid their house, killed her grandparents, and took away her brother, who was accused of being part of the Resistance, a group of Scholar rebels who defy the Empire. She then joins the Resistance, and she asks them to help her find her brother. The Resistance sends her on a nearly-impossible mission, and as she carries out her tasks, she becomes more and more dubious of the Resistance plans.

Elias' - Blackcliff Academy's finest Mask-in-training - story starts with him planning to desert Blackcliff, for he is disgusted of the Empire and refuses to be one of them, a ruthless mass-murderer of innocent Scholars. But suddenly, Emperor's' line fails, and the Empire is in search of a new Emperor. He becomes one of the aspirants, chosen to compete each other in the Trials, a series of almost-insurmountable events that will determine the rightful person to have the title of an Emperor.

I liked how these two main characters hm.. connected. I prefer them together instead of Keenan - Laia and Helene - Elias. Keenan is still a Resistance rebel, and he's hardly done anything to prove that he's on Laia's side. Elias falling in love with Helene would ruin their great friendship. By the way, that scene on the Trial of Strength is really.. gah! If I was in Elias' place, would I kill Helene? Probably. Because if I didn't, Elias' and Helene's platoon members would die further. I wouldn't want that.

I admire Elias the most because of his way of thinking. He doesn't want to be one of them. He doesn't want to kill people. He's guilty of all the people he killed. He believes that the Scholars need to be set free. He was just one step ahead of being Emperor, but he didn't choose to kill Laia. Even if it meant disappointing his grandfather. Even if it meant being a disgrace to Gens Veturia. Even if it meant his death. I really, really like his perception of death: Death is a way to set you free. He faced death with his head held high, and, like Harry Potter, he greeted death like an old friend.

Second on my list is Helene. She's just badass and all. She doesn't let being a girl be a hindrance to being one of Blackcliff's best Masks. She doesn't let being a girl hinder her from being Empress. Helene should've killed Laia, but she didn't. She fought Marcus and she let her best friend, Elias, kill Laia instead (but he didn't). She became Blood Shrike instead. On the moment of Elias' execution, I really though she would KILL Elias. But to my surprise, Laia saved Elias and Helene brought Elias his Teluman blades and distracted the legionnaires and the soldiers for Elias to escape. She was still Elias' friend after all! =)))

This book made me cry and rage all over. 4 Empire stars for this book. I wish there was a book two.. oh please! I want to know what happens to Elias and Laia and Helene and the Commandant. AA! I can't wait!

Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan

An exact four stars, because this book is really good. 

Love and Other Foreign Words isn't really a romance book, it's more about family and the relationship between sisters, and for that, I picked it up. It's rare to find something special nowadays given that every romance book is often like 50SOG and every ya contemporary is often like Eleanor and Park and/or TFIOS. I don't really come across books that are as unique as this. There are only a few clichés in it, and I'm very happy with the ending.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE THIS BOOK 
1.) Josie (at first)
Well, I just didn't like that she was really determined to keep hating Geoff. Why don't you just give the poor guy to meet and know you properly before you judge? There are a lot of good things about Geoff and that easily covers up the bad things. If she really wants her sister to be happy, why didn't she act nicely when she first met him? But....(view spoiler)
2.) Rough start (at least for me). I kept finding ways to avoid this book until I ordered myself to get my shite together and face this book like a man. 

THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK 
1.) Josie's relationship with Kate and Maggie
Seriously. This book made me long for an older sister, again. Dammit. 

At some point, honestly, I even kind of conceded to my friend on the fact that Josie really loved Kate so much that she didn't want Geoff to be the right guy for her. Also, I liked the constant bickering and the girl-time, but Kate criticising Josie's appearance was too much. And sometimes, Josie just does not know when is the right time to literally shut up. (though if I'm asked, I'm more of a Josie than a Kate)
P.S.: Maggie and Ross are just too cute.
2.) Josie and Geoff's hate-love relationship
Well, I also kind of didn't like Geoff the first time, but I concluded that his nervousness might have prompted him to say offensive things about Josie (which aren't really offensive if you know it's not true, Josie) and talk about ticks (Tick-tanic, loved that). But in the end, they got along, and the goat plushie scene, I was just like, 

Not kidding. Really.

SO LET'S NOW TALK ABOUT JOSIE'S ROMANCES..
Stefan. 
Eh.

Everything is kinda wrong about his name. His name came from the bonkers king from Maleficent (you know, like King Stefan) And he's like an American boy stereotype whose only known word is 'cool'. He's boring and also a potential match for pancake girl.

Ethan. 
#perfectisboring
And besides, a ten year age gap.

Stu. 

I want a Stu.
Well, I might have found a Stu, but he moved schools. I crei.
He's imperfectly perfect.

This is a really nice book, and I do not know enough words to properly describe this book. I'd actually want to own a physical copy, and that surprises me because oftentimes when I finish the book, right away I delete it on the kindle database.

So if you're looking for a light, not so cheesy read, I recommend this.

Queen Kate sitting on the Throne HAHAHAHA.

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

I'm giving this one of my full five stars. FULL. 

My reaction to this book:


It was one of those books that I stayed up for. This is rare because I love to sleep (because school stress, lolz)
I finished it around 1 a.m. and listened to Ed Sheeran afterwards (to match the mood)

THE ONLY THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK 
1.) The Watkins couple's toleration of Celeste parading around the house with a cardboard cutout of her older brother. If I was Julie, I will totally be creeped out. Because seriously, who hangs out with a cardboard cutout and talks to it (I'm not using the pronoun him on Flat Finn, soz) like a normal person?



I'm alarmed. Why are they not doing any action on this? If Julie hadn't arrive, Celeste would probably be like that forever. The kid talks like a woman in a Victorian movie, dresses like a six-year old, carries a cardboard cutout of her older brother everywhere, and has meltdowns almost everyday. The mother is literally a robot, and the father just smiles and smiles and smiles like him smiling would solve the problem.

2.) Julie's relatives

No. Just no.
They're like those relatives that give you a dollar or two in hopes that you will like them. 
They make annoying small talk.
Their arguments are lacking coherent thoughts.

THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK 
1. MATTHEW WATKINS. 
Matthew Watkins made me rethink my decision to maybe-put Michael Moscovitz in the top place for my list of the Best Book Boyfriends to walk the face of the earth. This guy is perfect (although skinny and without a social life)

I will find a Matthew Watkins at my school. I will not stop until I find my own Matthew Watkins.
I really felt bad for him because he shouldered all the burdens. He's basically Celeste's mom. I don't know how he manages to be a great student at M.I.T. (hashtag dream school hashtag school goalz) while he takes care of his family and tries to keep up with the family's web of lies so Julie wouldn't know. He even (view spoiler) Like, how hard is it to pretend to be completely another person? (great photoshop skills, bro). And he's constantly pressured by his mother because he knows that his brother Finn was the golden boy.

*whispers* I feel you too, Matt.

2. PLOT TWISTS
I did not see that plot twist coming. That plot twist whooped me in the ass because I was expecting a pain free ending (which, by the way, if that happened instead, I was going to give it a four). But look. 80% percent into this book, I'm biting my pinkies to nubs and my teeth are chattering (even though here in the Philippines the sun is scorching hot). All the fam drama is rada rada.


3. The romance
Me in the first half of the book:

All because I liked Matt more than Finn (I also liked Finn, but I don't like long distance relationships). 
MY DIALOGUE: AH JULIE WHY CAN YOU NOT LOVE MATT INSTEAD HE'S GEOGRAPHICALLY AVAILABLE AND HE'S A GENIUS PLUS HE'S HOT 
Sometimes I wish that I had the ability to go inside the book and tell the clueless protagonists what to do instead. So I can save all the drama and they can live happily ever after.

Me in second half on the book:

MY DIALOGUE: EHEHEZ NOW GO FORTH MY DARLINGS and reproduce and love each other 'till the end of time

Overall, this book was amazing. It was full of funny quotes, random trivia, good romance, and the right amount of family drama. If you're going for a light read, I recommend this one.