Thirteen Reasons Why- Jay Asher: Review

Before I start typing the review in here, I want to tell you all that I'm really sorry. I've missed a lot of Friday Feels, and I'm sorry, I think I'm cancelling the feature. I posted nothing in more than a week, and all that without some notice.

There are some breaks in school, and in those breaks, I read books, but unfortunately, I find no time to post my reviews. It's either I'm busy, or our computer's busy. I just got a little lucky this weekend. Again, I am truly very sorry.

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Format/s I have: Paperback from Fully Booked
Summary:
You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret is to press play.
Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her. 
Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on the tapes- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.
All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town...
...and what he discovers changes his life forever.

Review/Reaction:

First of all, big thanks to three of my batchmates and my sister who contributed a lot in making me want to grab a copy.

Thirteen Reasons Why is an eye opener, and for some reason, it made me cry.

This book is just brilliant. Ellen Hopkins is right, this is a book that you can't get out of your mind.

Jay Asher delivers a great thought as the book goes on: We should be aware of how we treat others. How our actions affect them. Because of this book, I shall be more sensitive with what I do.

This book also deals with trust. Hannah just trusted that one person, and BAM, her life was ruined. And she just needed a break from it. But, the people around her just won't give her that.

But, some people might think that the book is unrealistic.

Yes, I agree that most of her reasons happen to many people, but there's this thing they call the snowball effect. I got the term itself from the book. Her reasons may seem light, but the combination isn't. Say, Hannah has been wounded by that reason, and before it heals, another stab comes, and then another, and another, you get the thought. As I see it, one of the biggest things that teens want, is acceptance. Some leave value for acceptance, but Hannah got neither. 

Her family either wasn't mentioned, or were too gone to be significant. I've read a review on Goodreads saying, where is her family to help her? Look, not all people open up fully to their family. I think it's in tape 12, Hannah requesting the people on the list to hide the reasons why to her parents. (Correct me if I misunderstood)

Each one of us is different, some people are strong enough not to make a big deal out of those, but Hannah is that type of person who's easily hurt, and we should be aware that there are people like her. People handle situations differently.

I see the book as a sad and beautiful one. But hey, I'm not saying that suicide is right. In fact, I think it is, in a way, selfish. As I see it, they want an escape to their problems, and just end life. Don't they see that their suicide adds problems to the people who care? Plus, yes, they ended their life. But, they won't even feel like their troubles are over. It's actually better to find a way to solve the problems than to just take it in until you explode.

This book, therefore, opens up a lot of talking. 

I started looking more at the positive side when I started trying to give reactions with what I read, and what I can say is:
I see this book as a help for my stronger self, and a reminder for me to have some more filtering with what I do. I don't see it as Jay Asher telling us it's okay to commit suicide!!!. Because this book was meant to reduce the number of suicidal people.

My Rating: 5 potatoes c:

Birthmonth June: Only Everything- Kieran Scott: Review

Title: Only Everything

Author: Kieran Scott

Publisher: Simon BYFR

Format/s I Have: Paperback from Fully Booked

Summary:

Sometimes the gods can be so unreasonable.

Like Zeus, the king, who thinks the proper reaction to finding me kissing a mortal is to threaten my boyfriend Orion's life, banish me to Earth, and force me to inspire true love between three couples without my powers. I know! Elders! I'm Eros, a.k.a. Cupid. The Goddess of Love. Until this morning, anyway.

Now I'm stuck on Earth with no clue how to function as a human, and I can't even conjure up my magical bow and arrows to help me do my job. I've already met this amazing guy—Charlie, a new kid in school like me—but matching him up isn't as easy as I thought. Turns out opposites don't attract, nearly identicals don't attract, and giving a guy what he seems to want is just one big disaster. My sweet new friend Katrina might work, but she's got more complications than Medusa's hair, and a live-in boyfriend with a serious mean streak. Probably not the best idea to go there.

If I don't make a match, I may never see Orion again. I have so much to lose, and only everything to gain. 

Review/Reaction: 

Mythology meets modern world. Very original.

Let's start with the cover: Perfect.

Next, the summary. I find the summary too personal because it looks like Eros wrote on a diary and then BAM, a summary. Plus, the summary was really a summary. To be honest, it gave out too much information. It was too obvious that Charlie and Katrina would get matched up. But still, I bought it because I really wanted to get a copy so bad since Stay Bookish posted about it.

Then, the most important part, the body. Things happened really slowly at the first half of the book, then for the second half... BAM. BAM. BAM. This happened. That happened. Many things happened. What I mean is, most of the thrill were found at the second half. But, lucky for me, I got to feel the thrill. Some bloggers/reviewers won't finish the book since they found the earlier parts boring. But, I'm not that type. :) (YAY)

I found some things confusing.
Note that the stuff after the questions are not answers, they are stuff that explain the question. Here are some of the stuff that I don't understand about the book:

• How did Orion live? When Artemis accidentally killed him, she hung him in the sky. 
• Why did Aphrodite suddenly start being not-so-lazy when Hephaestus came? She used to be a drunk lady in her bed, not even doing anything. But, when Hephaestus suddenly appeared, she started doing stuff. 
• Related to that, was Hephaestus an upper god? If not, did he have some sort of matter with Aphrodite? Like did Aphrodite owe Hephaestus something? Or are they very close friends? Etc.
• Does Artemis know about the Eros-Orion relationship? 

The last parts were amazing. As I've told you before, the thrill was mostly in the second half. And I want to read the second book for that. 

My rating: 3 potatoes

By the way, I'm sorry for missing last week's Friday Feels. School started last last week, and I'm getting really busy. Sorry! :'(

Birthmonth June: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Review

Yesterday, I kind of decided that I would read and review books written by John Green, since it's June, like June Green.

I just decided a while ago that it would piss some fans off if I put June Green at the title of every post. It might be annoying, right?

So, I finally decided that I would use this month's template: Birthmonth June, even though it's some kind of corny and uncool, but since the June Green concept might annoy some fans... Okay, okay.

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books (Penguin)

Synopsis: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Don't get mad at me or anything for saying this, but I watched the movie before I read the book. I actually thought that the book was boring at first, but because of my sister, I got to watch the movie, and I cried a lot.

Because I cried a lot, and enjoyed it too, I decided that I would read the book. And I thought of the June Green project of mine. So, I read it.

There was so much sarcasm in what Hazel says, and I enjoyed it. It was the right amount of sarcasm, more than enough for you not to get bored, and it wasn't annoying at all. I laughed a lot. Agustus was like a Jollibee to me, like making everyone happy. And Hazel was some sort of a bored teenager to me, which is natural, who would want cancer, anyway?

While I was reading, a thought came to my mind. John Green must have been really good. The story isn't that deep, but it had something in it, that got most of the teenagers' hearts. 

I like it how Hazel didn't deny everything. I mean, she felt what teenage minds would feel. Or at least what I would feel, or what people with minds like me would feel. There's this part in this book that goes like when unattractive people look at you endlessly, you would feel incredibly awkward, but when hot boys do-- oh well. It's true. Like how on Earth did John Green know what girls with minds like me felt like? Agustus' metaphors put some laughs on my face, like the cigarette one. (To be honest, I don't actually remember other metaphors haha) 

I cried and cried at the eulogy part, it's actually where most of the quotes are, remembering their memories.

***SPOILER*** In the movie, I cried at that part too, but it was the last of the Gus days, I cried while reading that part. I'm with some sort of a cold right now for crying. But in the book, It wasn't exactly the last, but the remaining days were some sort of boring. Like, the book would be alive without those boring days. ***SPOILER*** 

Anyway, the book is full of quotes, so I'll be designing bookmarks with those quotes! *yay*

I might be including it in my birthday giveaway if I finish it on time! :)

But, I'll be designing the blog header and blog button first. 

I don't have much to say. If this was a simpler matter, I would just say Hey, this book is awesome, read it. But I simply can't just put that in a review right? Reviews aren't describe a book in one word. So yeah.

4.5/5

Birthmonth June: The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch- Review

Since It's my birthmonth, my first review this June will be what really pushed my love for books—and chocolate. The Secret Series. The series with five books, but reading one book makes you crave more for the next. The book that changed how my mind worked. The magical book, I say.

Spectacular box with the covers spines from Wikipedia 

I put all of them in just one review, because I'm afraid I'll just say the same thing five times.

I like it how Pseudonymous Bosch knew how I felt. What the readers felt. (Or at least, his little trick worked on my sister, too.) His footnotes are amazing and entertaining. He kept me reading with this mix of mystery, drama, and comedy, should I include magic, too?

The way he narrates things, the way he denies your access to the books, it's just brilliant. All the mysteries, how he played with them, I could say that this book is somehow educational. Well, there's that kind of educational that's waaaay to boring for you to read, but in The Secret Series, your mind becomes faster, more open to mysteries. It amazes me how the mysteries and codes are solved. In fact, because of the series, I knew how to spell pseudonym. And I was one of the few people in our class who got it.

You might find it corny, but this book really got to me. I had such a massive book hangover, and I always wanted to find ways to associate The Secret Series to everything I hear. For example, if I hear someone say Pietro, my eyes light up, as if I saw Taylor Swift. (Well, until now, I still find ways to associate the series to anything)

So before I forget, I'd like to tell you how the love began. Once upon a time, in a bookstore, not so far away, my sister saw a book titled This Book Isn't Good for You and got really curious. She discovered that it was the book three of a series, and tried to find the book one. We visited that bookstore again, and she bought the book one, where it all began, The Name of This Book is Secret. That time, I bought the book two of Dork Diaries, being my nine-year-old self. Time passed, and I got to collect Dork Diaries, while my sister didn't push buying The Secret Series. There came a time that I gave up Dork Diaries, and she sold me the book one. I could tell that she was good at sales. So, I read it. And loved it. And bought the rest one by one.

There's also this some kind of bonus content at the end of each book, where you get to learn stuff. The entertaining way. In book two, I got to learn a magic trick. (Trust me, that trick worked for some people)

In book one, for the first chapters, it gets a little boring, but read on. Trust me, you'll regret not getting to read the story of the Bergamo brothers. After the story, you'll most likely find yourself craving for more.

In book two, ***SPOILER*** when the homunculus died, and the Bergamo brothers saw each other again***SPOILER*** in just one chapter, I was like Oh.My.God. Pseudonymous Bosch, you are killing me. Seriously.

In book three, all the chocolate analysis happened. Without book three, everything in the next books would be such a blur. *claps for book three*

To be honest, book four was a little boring. But, some important details are in there, so read on. Just like in book one. (Yes, yes, I ruined the format)

In book five, many things happened in a big bang. The ending was so shocking. And the Secret...!

Totally recommended. 

Rating: 4.5/5

Kiera Cass: The One (The Selection #3) Review

SUMMARY:

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

REVIEW:

This book is just so great. Right now, I still can't get over the series. I don't want it to end! I've still got a whole tank of feels. Honestly, this book has the best cover ever. 

What I wanted to happen in The Selection and The Elite all happened here. 

Celeste stopped being such a brat, and finally explained everything, then said sorry.

The king also stopped jerking around ***SPOILER*** because he died. (yes he did.) ***SPOILER***

My questions about the rebels were answered in this book. Shocking things were revealed.

I seriously love the rebels right now. It's like they're always the turning point. The rebels go inside the palace, Maxerica hides together, they talk, and yay, they're okay again.

I also loved Maxon's letters while America was gone. So sweet... <3

I think the last parts of the book were the best. (but please don't skip to the end) The book made me cry. It also made me kick our walls because of feels.

I have nothing much to say, and my rating is pretty obvious. It's perfect. And certainly, I don't want it to end yet. I know it's a trilogy, and this one's the last, but I can't deny it. I simply can't take it out of my mind. This is a masterpiece.

"This isn't happily ever after. It's so much more than that."

The Elite- Kiera Cass: Review

SUMMARY:

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

REVIEW:

This book was disappointing. But still, just to see what happens to my little luxury cruise ship with Maxon and America, I read it. 

I liked the first book more. But still, I liked this book, too. This book revolved around America being confused who to pick. And rebels. Rebels and rebels. And her problems. But to be honest, I mentally thanked the last rebels mentioned in the book. (Woohoo, Maxerica time)

The Kriss situation kinda crushed me. But still, it had to be fair in my eyes because if America has Aspen, Maxon has Kriss. (Do you get what I mean?) 

^ That leads me to a conclusion that Kriss and Aspen were just second choices.

It wasn't direct, but technically, America promised that she would marry Maxon.

Moving on...

America. Where's the brave America? Where's the self- confident America? In this book, she basically just told us I have a problem and I don't know how to solve it. She was always nervous and scared. 

Maxon. I see almost nothing wrong with him, except that I hated how he wouldn't eliminate Celeste even though it was common knowledge that Celeste was a brat. He eliminated a girl who just said something bad about America, so why wouldn't he eliminate a girl who made America beyond angry?

The King. Like a typical father of the richer-person-in-a-relationship, he was stupid. As stupid as Kriss.

The story flow was a little bit too slow, but it's fine. 

This book made me cry. But, I still think that it's a little bit ugh-able, so my final rating is 7/10.

I'd recommend this book if you loved book one.
I'll definitely read The One, because my feels covered the annoying feeling. ;)

The Selection- Kiera Cass: Review

SUMMARY:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


REVIEW:

The Selection. It's really good, thank you Kiera Cass! <3
From around chapter 1-3, almost everything was a blur. I didn't know what was a caste, and also, I was a little confused with America being her name, and her being a singer and her surname being Singer at the same time, but I continued because I wanted to understand.

As I continued, I started getting feels. It was like "Aspen and America against the world" to me. They break the rules just for them to be together. I started to ship them, and I shipped them even more the moment Aspen's mother talked about him being happy these days, and he's even "saving up" for the girl he loves. America knew that it was her. But when they met at the tree house, Aspen freaking didn't propose to her! I was a little broken with that part, but I continued to ship them.

I was annoyed with Celeste, but the other girls were fine. The story flow was just slow enough for me to grow feels. And I started to feel something annoying with Aspen. (was I annoyed with him or I was just starting to ship Maxon and America?) But that little undecided part of me kept me reading. And then I realized, I felt both. I was annoyed with Aspen and I shipped Maxon and America.

Maxon was the most awkward fictional character I've ever known. (Yes, America, you're right with that calling-me-my-dear-is-awkward.) He is just so dramatic and formal while America talks informally. (Maxon, you're the prince, and America's the one who should be more formal.) But... his awkwardness made me become more interested in their awkward little "friendship".

I'd definitely recommend this book. 

My rating: 9/10