Twelfth Book of Christmas: Before I Fall

You wanna know a secret? Well, the reason I picked this book for my twelfth and last book (for a supposedly year-ender personal reading challenge) is that I am head-over-heels in love with Lauren Oliver. And her writing prowess. I mean, have you read the Delirium Trilogy yet? No? Well, you're the lamest person EVER. Seriously, you have to read it. And this book, too! :)

So...

"What if you only had one day to live? What
would you do? Who would you kiss? And how
far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity,
the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12,
should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.
The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next
morning. Living the last day of her life seven
times during one miraculous week, she will
untangle the mystery surrounding her death—
and discover the true value of everything she
is in danger of losing."

Ok, I must admit I didn't like it at first. What, with all the high school drama when popularity and partying and drinking and smoking and being included in the "cool" crowd and losing your virginity and all-the-other-prohibited-things-that-teenagers-shouldn't-do-but-still-do-anyway were the first priority, I almost gave up on it. And the fact that Samantha Kingston or Sam─the heroine─was a little mean and conceited and self-centered (at least at first) didn't help much, either that I thought of just throwing the book in the corner and move on with my life. It was lots-of-grumbling-hair-pulling-and-tsk-tsk-ing frustrating.

But as I kept reading it (what, did you really believe I'd give up on it just like that?), I understood that Sam was on a life-changing transition. It was hard enough for her to accept her death let alone to live her last day on earth over and over and over again. Soon the frustration was slowly morphing into excitement then love. As Sam realized─little by little─the whole getting stuck in a "limbo" and why she was given seven chances to relive February 12, as soon as she realized that it was not even her story to tell, I, too am enlightened and I just couldn't help but be dumbfounded by it. (Tip: Stick through the rocky first chapter because until you see the whole scenario will you understand why it was written there and while you're at it, ponder on the things you're reading. Ask yourself, are you the Sam or Lindsay or Juliet or Kent of this world? Just think about it.)

I was completely blown away by this book. I love that Sam underwent change in a rather slow manner because that's how changes suppose to take place, right? It is a series of self-development and realizations and it most certainly doesn't happen overnight. And Sam truly changed for the better not until on the seventh Cupid Day.

Reading this book was like one emotional roller coaster ride. It made me frustrated (mostly Sam's fault), made me roll my eyeballs too many times (Lindsay's), made me cringe (Alex's), chuckle (Mr. Daimler's), smile (Kent's), wistful (Juliet's and Sam's), cry (Izzy's), and cry some more (Kent's and Sam's) at the ending. I loved how it ended by the way─I couldn't think of a better ending than that─but then I was actually, secretly kinda rooting for Sam to have a second chance in life. To live again and be the good sister/daughter that she was to Izzy and her parents, the better girl friend  to Lindsay, Ally and Elody (who wouldn't tolerate but would call crap on their stupidities), and to be the best person to everyone (without thinking highly of herself).

I highly recommend Before I Fall for everyone. I know I said in my previous post I don't particularly like reading about teenagers doing horrible things, though we can always make an exception to the rule, right? And this Lauren Oliver debut completely deserves the exception. I dunno if it is possible to fall in love even more with  someone (rather with her writing style) but I think I do now. Lauren Oliver is the prodigy.

Respect,
Joey

PS. I wrote this review in between breaks from work so excuse if my thoughts were all over the place as well as the grammatical errors. :)

Eleventh Book of Christmas: The Spectacular Now

Disclaimer: This is not a review. More like a rant.
　　
　　
　　I have a confession to make. I totally have no clue what this book is about when I read it. All I know is that it was adapted into a film (of the same title) that premiered in the Sundance Festival last year which starred Shailene Woodley─who is going to play Tris Prior AND Hazel Grace Lancaster for the film adaptations of the nothing-short-of-amazing books of Veronica Roth's Divergent of the Divergent Series and John Green's The Fault In Our Stars─so I immediately included it into this list with the hope that it would be a satisfying read; after all, it wouldn't be made into a film and wouldn't made THE Sundance if the story behind it wasn't, right?
　　
　　
　　So you could just imagine my utter dismay when I read the book and found out that it was about a guy─who is a teenager and is still in high school, by the way─who likes to distinguish himself as "God's own drunk," and who─for the whole time I kept telling myself to just stick with him because for sure he has a story to tell─couldn't seem to last a day without a flask of 7Up-mixed-with-whiskey in hand (or within reach) and who doesn't have any plans of going college (or anywhere for that matter) AND is probably content with just folding men's shirts for the rest of his alcoholic, hedonistic life. That's Sutter Keely for you.
　　
　　
　　Now, will you take it against me if I say I didn't finish (I stopped halfway through the book and read the last chapter before I totally ditch it, in hopes that there would be something good coming out of it) reading it? Well, I am sorry to disappoint you but I don't read something I don't believe in and I can't believe the "Sutterman." I don't tolerate his teenage drinking-partying-smoking-pot and glorying in it even if it's just in a book. I mean, a lot of kids can have an access to his story and what is the message it conveys? That life is crappy and effed-up already so let's just go drink, party, smoke and just forget about tomorrow's repercussions but just live in "the spectacular now?" Right. That just won't work for me.
　　
　　
　　You know I hate giving negative reviews but I can just call things the way I see it. And this is how I see this Tim Tharp's novel: A beautifully-told story. Funny, even. But that's just it. Yes, the story-telling is great, however I can't say the same with the plot and the characters. Sutter is still his alcohol-drinking self in the end as he was in the beginning. No character development, whatsoever. He is particularly happy with his "Spectacular Now" until the very end which is sadly, disappointing. I really kind of rooting for him to define his spectacular now in a different, more sober light but I guess we can only wish happy endings for everybody, right? It's up to us to choose happiness and actually work for it.
　　
　　
　　Joey

Tenth Book of Christmas: The Beginning of Everything

"Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them─a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra's knee, his athletic career, and his social life.
No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl, Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike Ezra's ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.
But Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one's singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when misfortune strikes?
Robyn Schneider's The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings."

I was sincerely excited to read this book─what with all the hype it has received last year and have been getting until now from the social media─that I put it on the latter part of my 12-Books-of-Christmas list just to build a little bit more anticipation. And now that I've finished reading it, my emotions and thoughts about it were all over the place (for days now!) that I've been sitting here in front of the computer, writing this very review and I still couldn't find the words to say. Maybe because I was a little disappointed because I really expected so much from it and those expectations weren't met?

Since I don't know what to say, I'll just list down the things I liked from the story (because, really? I don't want to focus on the negative aspects and come on, it's more fun to read about the good stuff, right?): firstly, I liked the opening paragraph.

"Sometimes I think that everyone has a tragedy waiting for them... That everyone's life, no matter how unremarkable, has a moment when it will become extraordinary─a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen." 

Thought-provoking stuff right there. Though I think the story went dragging from there. But I truly did enjoy reading Ezra and his story. He's the second thing that I liked most about this book because he was so realistic and I thought Ms. Schneider did a good job writing him. I could easily picture him in my head most especially when he was with his "misfit" friends (even when wasn't or alone) and I found myself chuckling on some parts. Speaking of which, I specifically loved Toby─the awesome, bow-tie-wearing, Doctor-Who-quoting best friend of Ezra. Haha. He was one of the few reasons I continued reading this book, actually. *ducks under the computer table*

Above all, I loved the ending nevertheless I admit that I wished there could have been "more" from it. But I liked how Ezra realized that his maturity was all his own doing and not Cassidy's. I dunno why but I just couldn't motivate myself to like Cassidy no matter how much I wanted to. I mean, I just didn't find her as a real teenage girl, at all. The whole time I was reading the novel and learning more about the characters, I didn't see myself attached to her─which is saying a lot because I could easily do that (at some point) with every heroine I came across with─and I think that was the major disappointment. Or maybe Ms. Scneider wanted to prove a point here and I just failed to get a hold of it? Or was it possible I just misread her entirely?

Anyway, it was an okay read. It has a few similarities to John Green's Looking for Alaska, I realized, so if you enjoyed that one I think you'd like this one, as well. Though I can see myself reading Alaska, again, in the near future, I'm afraid I can't say the same with Ms. Schneider's debut. :(

However, I would love to read more of her works,
Joey

Ninth Book of Christmas: Cinderella Screwed Me Over

I have been waiting for this book since I can't remember and now that I have finished it, I must say that it was worth the wait. And, what a great way to kick-start my 2014 Reading Challenge! Woot!  (I know the title says otherwise and I'm still very much stuck on my 2013 personal dare, but you must understand I can't–won't be able to carry out any other goals I have set for myself this year without accomplishing this one first. A girl needs some closure. Lol. So, okay, moving on…)

　　
　　"Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She's sworn off love, Prince Charmings and happy endings and she's happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she's culled from her years spent with so called "princes," and starting something with Jake would break all of them.
　　Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn't fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?
　　Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp."

　　
I really liked Darby's character. She's smart, witty, honest, has too many rules about love and relationship, and she's through with happily-ever-afters. (I really, really like her. I think I can be friends with her, actually. Haha. ) Why, she had her heart broken way too many times that she swore she's over with Prince Charmings now. She even devised each one of her failed relationships and ex-boyfriends to case studies of Disney's leading men (which I absolutely loved! ) –from Prince Charming, to the Beast, to Alladin and Flynn Rider–to learn from those and so she wouldn't commit the same mistakes again. But then, of course, fate intervened and she captured the interest of Jake Knight –who has a princely name which is so ironic–and sparks fly between them. He had all the qualifications she was looking for a guy-not-to-date but he's persistent, determined and very much irresistible.

I loved this guy. If I haven't met Gray Porter (from Anne Eliot's "Almost") I would say Jake's the perfect book boyfriend BUT! He's on the second spot. He's definitely one of my favorites! He's sweet, sexy, turns up everywhere she went, loves to hold her by the waist (smooth, man, smooth), but most especially, I love the way he always seemed to know when to tell her the right things at the right time. Especially when he says stuff like: "I'm so crazy about you that if you asked me to give up watching sports for the rest of my life, I would." *sighs*  

　　
I knew from the very first time I saw this book on Goodreads that it was going to be an interesting read and true enough–from the eye-catching cover to the attention-grabbing title, to the fascinating-and-very-intriguing plot made all the more interesting with the Disney princesses references, to the remarkable-and-loveable characters, even the secondary characters were pretty awesome, too–it was definitely a fun read! I really enjoyed reading this book, and I think I am in love with Cindi Madsen's writing style now.  This is the first time I've read her work and I am. Totally. Hooked.

　　
"I hope you learn that you don't need a prince charming to make all your dreams come true, but that you find one anyway." – Cindi Madsen

　
Couldn't ask for a greater book to begin 2014,
Joey

Eighth Book of Christmas: Almost (A Love Story)

Can I just reiterate how much I adore the cover of this book? (And as if that isn't cool enough, they released a new edition of it that is just as awesome as the original! ♥

Well, I totally love it! It's what first got my attention, actually. I was about to pick Unmaking Hunter Kennedy (one of Anne Eliot's, as well) when I saw the cover and I got really curious because it has a mysterious feel to it so I chose it instead. I even wished to myself that it wouldn't turn out to be another sad, depressing story (because, come on! I can only take so much pain in my chest. I am formally on a hiatus for such kinds for the meantime) and thankfully, it wasn't in any way one of those kinds! It is in fact the cutest, sweetest, and (lemme borrow the words of my Facebook friend) all great-coined-adjective-words-in-the-dictionary-est thing EVER!!!!! Yes, that was me screaming it out in case I didn't stress it enough. I completely, from-start-to-finish loved this book and if I ever had a Books-I-Would-So-Totally-Read-Over-and-Over-Again-Without-Getting-Tired-Of-It List (and I am so going to write one after this!), Almost would so make the top spot! Honest.

　　

Here's the blurb:

"At a freshman party she doesn't remember, Jess Jordan was almost raped.

　　…Almost. Very nearly. Not quite. Three years later, Jess has managed to make everyone believe she's better. Over it. Because she is.

　　…Almost. Very nearly. Not quite.

　　Unfortunately, until Jess proves she's back to normal activities, her parents won't discuss college. So, she lands a summer internship and strikes a deal with hockey jock, Gray Porter. He gets $8, 000. She gets a fake boyfriend and a social life.

　　Jess has no idea she has signed on for reasons other than money. She also never expects to fall in love. But Gray's amazingly hot, holds her hand all the time, and makes her forget that he's simply doing his job. It's like having a real boyfriend.

　　…Almost. Very nearly. Not quite.

　　Gray Porter is hiding secrets of his own. About Jess Jordan. About why he's driven to protect her, why he won't cash her checks, or deny anything she asks."

　　

Oh, don't let that piece of information discourage you from picking this book! It doesn't even remotely do any justice to the awesomeness of the book at all! So, do yourself a favor, read this book and let us all swoon over Gray Porter!!! LOL. Seriously, Gray has got to be the sweetest, cutest, most adorable, most charming, most selfless, most gentlemanly honorable boyfriend ever in the history of YA fiction! I am officially, irrevocably, unbelievably, undeniably, utterly, head-over-heels in love with this guy. *swoons all over again* :D

　　

So, review? Gaaaahd, I don't even know where to start! Haha. I love everything about this book. Have I mentioned it yet?  And I love Jess' character. Yep, she was stubborn sometimes, but for the most part she was strong and real and honest and just plain geeky (which totally rock!). And I love every scene of her with Gray. They are literally the cutest book couple! Until now whenever I think about them, I am all smiles and giggles and butterflies!!! I can't think of any other book that had me swooning from the very beginning until the very end and that's a huge a deal for me. And don't even start with all the geek stuff (special mention: Jess' bumper stickers!!! ♥) and all the Jane Austen-Twilight-The-Hunger-Games-Star-Wars references! (UGH. GO GEEKS! :D) I seriously can go on and on about it for a good seventy-six-hours and I think that will never be enough. Haha.

I freaking love this novel! It has everything I look for in a story. It's a definite recommend. Seriously, get a copy of it. It will make you swoon, worry, laugh, smile, swoon, cry, laugh all over again and swoon just as much, again. ♥

　　

5 stars, 2 thumbs up, a gazillion likes, and whole lots of giggles,

Joey

Seventh Book of Christmas: V Is For Virgin

For the record, I chose to read this book because I was captivated by the cover (rather, mostly by the lips of the girl on the cover. What? This is not me being a perv, ok? Eeew. I just want to have a pair of lips like hers! Haha. Inggitera much? :D) and simply because it has a very interesting blurb. 

　　

Anyways, here it is:

　　"When Val Jensen gets dumped for her decision to stay a virgin until marriage, the nasty breakup goes viral on Youtube, making her the latest internet sensation.

　　After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy.

　　As if becoming nationally recognized as 'Virgin Val' isn't enough, Val's already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band, Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

　　How can a girl stay true to herself when this year's Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over?"

　　

I super liked this story that I could even remember some of the scenes – special mention: the concert scene in the school when Kyle dedicated a song he wrote himself for Valerie! I still find that scene insanely funny and surprisingly sweet! What? You couldn't possibly blame me here if I swoon a little! What girl wouldn't want to have a song written solely for her by the most gorgeous, sexiest-man-alive, rock-band-singing and incredibly hot piece of specimen like Kyle Hamilton? Even if it was meant to embarrass you? Yeah. Excuse me while I drool over here like a lapdog. LOL! :D And oh, the song! That song cracked me up and made me feel sorry (with a tinge of embarrassment) for Val! However, if that would ever happen to me, I would so totally ink those words all over my body just to preserve the memory! Not all girls can get that lucky!! HAHAHA. Kidding. You have to read the book to understand what I am saying here. :-p – like I read it just yesterday!

　　

Ok, enough of Kyle. He got himself enough exposure already.  Another thing that I love about this book is that it conveys a much-needed message to everyone, not just to the teens: that it's ok to wait until marriage to have sex. There, I said it. Not because some or most of the people you know seemed doing it, didn't necessarily mean that you have to actually do it, too. And I admire how Val stood up for that particular belief despite the ridicules and mockery she got from it. She really did stick with her cause and her resolve even with all of Kyle's sexual innuendos and advances. And not everyone have the guts to do that. Add in the fact that Kelly Oram managed to tell the story in a way that is funny and not too preachy or anyhow that would denounce those who believe otherwise. It's a fun read! However, I do not suggest for the minors to read this… yet, because of the nature of the topic and it has some serious name-callings and lotsa sexual innuendos in there, too. So, nah. But I must admit, for a book that is all about sex, there's nothing even close to a sex scene in it, which is a plus! 

　　

I highly recommend it,

Joey

Sixth Book of Christmas: I Heart Christmas

This is the first book that I've read from Lindsey Kelk's "I Heart Series" and apparently, it is the sixth installment following "I Heart New York" already! (OMG. What have I been doing in my life? Lol!) I didn't know it then obviously but as soon as I saw this book (and the word, 'Christmas' in the title! What? I love everything Christmas-ey! It is my most absolute favorite time of the year!! :-p), I knew I had to get my hands on it and what a perfect holiday read it was (I actually read it during the wee hours of Christmas morning and my entire Christmas afternoon)! :D

　　

Here's the blurb:

　　"Angela's planning her very own fairytale of New York…

　　• Enormous Christmas tree

　　• Eggnog

　　• Eccentric British traditions

　　• Gorgeous man

　　But Santa's throwing her a few curveballs – new job (as if it's not mental enough already), new baby-craze from her best friend Jenny, and Alex determined they should grow up and settle down. Once friends start to turning up uninvited on her doorstep (and leading her astray), can Angela really have a merry little Christmas? So much for happy holidays – something's got to give…"

　　

This book is the classic chicklit. With tons of fun and lotsa laugh-out-loud moments while Angela tries to navigate her way through Christmas and various dramas that she suddenly finds herself involved in – thanks very much to her friends and family – when all she really wants is a perfect Christmas and a little quality time with her hubby! Haha. I just love the secondary characters of this story. Most especially Jenny! The girl sure is crazy! :D

　　

After reading the story, I knew what I have to do – besides gushing about in Twitter – I have to read the five previous books because I couldn't go on with my life feeling left out on truly a great series! I am really looking forward to reading more of the "I Heart" this year! 

　　

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Joey

Fifth Book of Christmas: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Okay, I've finished reading this book, days before the big Christmas Day. It's just that I was a bit preoccupied with all the oath taking madness and all the Christmas rush and holiday preparations that’s why I wasn't able to post this right away. And oh, I know this is way too late to make my 12 Books of Christmas Challenge and that I failed to finish it (I was able to read just the 8 of the 12 books I listed for this particular personal dare) I’m gonna do this anyway! :)

Though, lemme just share to you how I find a book interesting even without reading first the blurb on the back cover. Can I do that? Well. You know what really catches my eyes first when I’m out book-hunting? It’s not really the name of the author (though I do that sometimes) but the cover that in fact captures my attention. But in this case, the thing that totally lured me into buying it is guess what? The title. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. What? I can’t help it, ok? I am such a geek like that. Throw in a mathematical term or any big word in the title of a book and I am sold. Goner. Hahaha. You can even check this trivia on my previous book reviews. I totally dig complicated titles (and this one I absolutely absolutely love!!) and so far, they haven’t disappointed me yet. All of the  books that I bought/read because of the sole purpose that they did have unique names, they were all good. Very good even.

Like this one! Can I just reiterate how much I love this book? I super loved it I immediately recommend it to my friends and Twitter followers to read as well! I know, oh I know that the plot is not that complex and that the falling-in-love-in-twenty-four-hours part is too unrealistic BUT what the hell! It really worked for me and not just because I’m swooning over Oliver and his sexy-Bristish-accent-speaking, gorgeous self! :D

The story has a depth and some serious heartbreaking moments in there (and trust me, there are swoon-worthy ones, too!) that will keep you from putting it down. It is literally the cutest thing I’ve ever read (by far) I just don’t want it to end! And I just love how Jennifer E. Smith writes very likeable characters I swear I am but all giddy and butterflies the whole time I was reading this novel --- because their scenes together are just too sweet it was so very hard not to like them --- which is one of the reasons why I so much enjoyed it. I love being invested in the characters and being thrilled when reading the story. Who doesn’t, right? :)

5 stars, 2 thumbs-up and a bazillion likes for TSPoLaFS,

Joey

Fourth Book of Christmas: Thirteen Reasons Why

Honestly, I was kinda hesitant to read this book. Having read the synopsis and learning that it’s a book about suicide, I admit I had second thoughts. Not really a fan of death-pain-grief-themed book, and all that. But after reading some reviews (and very good ones, at that!), the bookworm in me just could not resist a good read to just slip out of my hand, and really Jay Asher did not disappoint.

　　

Thirteen Reasons Why is the tragic and heart-breaking story of a teenage girl named Hannah Baker, who was a victim of false rumors and eventually committed suicide due to depression. Prior to taking her own life, Hannah made tape recordings explaining and stating thirteen reasons (which apparently pointed to thirteen people who made her life miserable and made her feel so alone) why she did what she did. She then proceeded to mailing the first set of tapes to the first person on the list and specifically asked that person to pass the recordings to the next person until the last person on her list hears it.  She wanted people to understand what she went through with the help of the records. The story was narrated through the dual perspectives of Hannah and Clay Jensen - who was included in the list but somehow managed to be on the good side of Hannah and who always had a crush on her but didn’t know how to pursue his feelings because of her reputation in the school.

　　

I dunno why some people didn’t like it - said, Hannah’s reasons were lame and weak to end her life just like that. But for me it wasn't about her reasons in any way. It was about her story and what happened to her life that needs to be told over and over again because teenagers should never feel or even think about committing suicide at all. Yes, it was a sad (and really heartrending) book but it was a good sad. You know what I mean? I really encourage everyone to read it. It will show you just how much the littlest of things we do or say to another person can affect that person’s life.

　　

　　“You can’t stop the future, you can’t rewind the past, the only way to learn the secrets is to press play.” –Hannah Baker

　　

Let's all think before we act or even speak, yes?

Joey

P.S. I just found out that this book actually has a website and you can hear Hannah's records there yourself which is so cool and a little creepy. Haha. I'm hoping I will find the time to read this again (because really, it's that good!) while listening to it. Now, that's a plan. :)