Forget You by Jennifer Echols

 
To tell you the truth, I read this book a couple of times already. It was good, but there are some things that until now, I can't still figure out or understand.
The main character, Zoey, is the daughter of two well-known individuals in their town. But her parents is divorced and her father got his 24-year-old girlfriend pregnant. Zoey's mom had a nervous breakdown and her dad was furious. He sent her to the local asylum and Zoey was kind of embarrassed by that so she hid her mom's condition from her friends and from her co-swimming team members.
(That was the part that I did not understood much. Because probably when something happened to me or to my loved ones, I will immediately go to my friends and seek for comfort.)
Doug is the team's best swimmer and Zoey hate him. Not because he's good but because of an incident that happened years ago between them. But an event has led them to be together again.
That was another part that I don't get (haha). I do not understand how Doug and Zoey got together after a party when Zoey was always saying that there's nothing between them. How did Doug convinced Zoey to come with him and not with Brandon (Zoey's boyfriend)?
Well maybe you need to find out for yourself.
All in all, I do love Doug and his chemistry with Zoey. On the other hand, I do not like Zoey and can not understand the way she thinks and decides (huu).
This is a very YA-ish and Chick Lit-ish book (which has many fans mind you) so I'm very certain that if you're a fan of both (or not), you will like this all the same.


Rating:
B+

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

In some way, I did liked this book because of the story, but the one that did not appealed to me was the way the author conveyed it. It felt like the author just used synonyms of certain words in order to make the book not sound too redundant.
I love books with stories like this (haha the chick lit side of me) and as a matter of fact, when I read the description of the book I automatically liked it and expected a funny and romantic read. It did meet my expectations on some occasions but not most of the time.
Charles, the father of Ashlyn (the protagonist), is one of the things that I dislike. I think the way he restricts Ashlyn to do things her peers can do is kind of... annoying. How can a father be so obsessed with his daughter's safety? A sixteen year old can already keep herself safe right?
Anyhoo, the romantic side of the story is the one keeping me from grading this book too low. Good thing that Colin is charming and his chemistry with Ashlyn is expressed well.
For fans of rich-kid-falls-in-love-with-bodyguard or First Daughter-ish (Katie Holmes movie)  kind of stories, you might like this one.


Rating:
 C

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Right now, I'm telling you that I am doing my best not to compare books to their movies or to movies with similar stories but this book reminds me so much of the Hannah Montana movie! Gah. But I like the cover of this book though, it really gives you an insight of the story.
I don't want to make criticisms because being an author and selling books are so hard, so I'll just keep it slight. Let's start with what I "don't" like in the book.

• Corinne is definitely a spoiled brat. I'm waiting for her to change a lot in the story but based on what I have read, she did not.
• If a book is supposed to be romance, there should be a lot of mushy stuff between the protagonists. Bubby (if remember the name correctly) and Corinne did not have a lot of scenes together "alone".
• I understand that the story revolves around Corinne and her "embracing the recessionista life" but I find it annoying. Sorry.
• I could go on and on and on about what I didn't liked but as I've said, I'm trying to keep it down because writing is a tough job.

What I "like" about the book.

• Um... Oh yeah, I definitely loved Kitsy. Finally, a character who's not selfish.
• Corinne's grandparents and her brother.

I'm sure there are still many good things about the book but maybe I'm not the one to appreciate them. For readers of Chick Lit and for people who like quick reads, add this to your to-be-read lists. :-)

Rating:

C

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin

Okay, the first thought that came to my mind when I finished this was: So like Bride Wars. I mean, come on. The only differences were the way of living of the two protagonists and that they stole each other's boyfriends. But beside that? Nada. It will left you thinking of Bride Wars, I'm telling you.
And I can't believe that in the movie, Kate Hudson is playing the role of Darcy! I told you it's so much like Bride Wars. Even the producers of the movie (Something Borrowed) thought so too.
I don't know if Something Borrowed came out after Bride Wars or vice versa but the two has some very significant similarities.
Anyway for fans of Chick Lit, I think you'll enjoy reading this.

Rating:
C

About That Night (FBI/US Attorney #3) by Julie James

My first impression of Kyle Rhodes when I first read about him in A Lot Like Love, I imagined him as a nerdy and geeky kind of guy. But in this book, expect the exact opposite. And what I like about Miss James is that she never fails in making great heroines, and Rylann Pierce is no exception.
Kyle and Rylann first met nine years ago, after meeting in a college club. They're supposed to have a date the next day but surprisingly, he stood up... with no reasons at all. So when they both met again, Kyle just released from prison, in a courthouse nine years later they were both stunned by the undeniable chemistry they have for each other despite the years that have gone by.
Let me tell you about the main characters. First Kyle Rhodes. Despite being a half-billion-dollar heir, an ex-con, the Twitter terrorist, and a Tech God, he is a sweet and old-fashioned guy, and a true gentleman. And in all of the heroes in the FBI series, he's the funniest and the most lovable! You'll definitely fall in love with him the first chance you've got. And Rylann Pierce. She's strong, independent, funny, smart, beautiful... (insert all wonderful adjectives here) haha!
Well from the sentences I've written above, you probably know by now that I loved this book! All the FBI series, at that.
And if you're looking for a very sweet and funny read, this is a complete package for you. You will laugh (I'm 100% sure of that) and you will die of "kilig" (that's Filipino for blush).


Rating:
A+

Take This Regret by A.L. Jackson

The minute I read the description of this book, I made a mental note in my mind to read this the next time I ran out of books to read. So when I finally got nothing to do, I sat down and start reading this.

The story is about Elizabeth who got pregnant by her steady boyfriend, Christian, when they were in undergraduate school. Both dreaming of becoming lawyers, the news was pretty a bad blow for them. Christian asked Elizabeth to make a choice — him or the baby.

Five years later, Elizabeth had done a good job raising her daughter... alone. But an incident suddenly made Christian a part of Lizzie's life and Elizabeth's life again. Feelings and emotions well buried inside the heart but not really erased are now resurfacing again...

I really liked it. The story, the emotions, the dialogues... I can really feel the regret and Christian's self-reproach when he choose his career over Elizabeth five years ago. And on the other hand, I also understand Elizabeth's pain and sufferings when Christian made her choose and was left to raise her daughter alone.

The way the author separated both Christian and Elizabeth's point of views is ingenious. That way, we can relate and understand what the other has to say. I understand that Elizabeth needed time to heal and she can't just let Christian be a part of their lives permanently when she suffered and faced her heartaches alone. Of course I hated Christian in the beginning. Every girl around the world, would.

But this book is a great story about forgiveness, second chances, happy endings and of course — love. So if you want to be moved (and cry), I'm definitely recommending this book to you! :-bd

Rating:

A+

Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

(I already made a review of this book last March 4 but since I reread it last night, my point of view suddenly changed and so I planned to revise my review. So this post is the refreshed edition. )

I wasn't intending to start a book before our trip to Manila but boredom struck and reading was the best thing to do. Kiss an Angel was next on my to-read list at that time so I sat down and start reading it.

The female protagonist is named Daisy and just like any other rich Dad's daughter, she doesn't know how to survive in life basically, without the help of money. Her circumstances led her to a marriage with Alex Markov, a prestige college professor slash consultant of the biggest museums in the U.S. and slash the leading authority of Russian iconography also in the U.S. But he doesn't want Daisy to know so he made her believe that he's a circus performer so that she will give up their marriage.

An event led Daisy to be the main suspect of the lost $200 in the circus thus labeled her a thief by her co-workers and her husband as well. Alex thought she would call it quits while bestowed a job of shoveling animal poop but well... he was wrong. And I was too. Because Daisy was tougher than we all expected. And after reading it the second time, it actually made me appreciate that certain aspect of Daisy more because when I read it for the first time, I was actually reading in a fast pace since I want to finish the book before our trip.

I also cried while reading the book which surprised me because I didn't felt that way two weeks ago.

Scenes that made me teary-eyed:

•     The scene when Daisy was crying while shoveling dirt and Alex was asking her to give up but she refuses.
•     When she was looking in their bathroom mirror and Alex found her crying and told him,"I was never really pretty, not like my mother, but now I'm ugly." I know this should irritate me because of her vanity, but it didn't. At all. It actually moved me in a way.
•     When Alex saw Daisy that she couldn't lift her spoon toward her mouth because she was so tired and eating became an enormous effort for her. God, it broke my heart.
•     When Daisy told Alex that she was pregnant and he got mad because he doesn't want to have kids. He said he's not capable of loving somebody with all his heart. I know, he's so blind and so... stupid. *rolling my eyes here*
•     When they were doing their "spec", Alex accidentally hit Daisy with his whip because of his rage. Then he suddenly told her all his secrets, blah blah blah...

I know I should list all the sweet moments too but that would be like telling the whole story of the book because I already told the half. Haha! Find out for yourself then. :p

YOU SHOULD READ THIS! For those people who're looking for a sexy, sweet, and funny read!

Rating:

A+

A Lot Like Love (FBI, #2) by Julie James

Can I just say that Julie James is a great author? I mean, really. Something About You was fantastic but this book was downright awesome!
The greatness of this book:

•     Nick McCall. Tall. Dark. Handsome... Smoldering. And can I just say he's on the sarcastic side, too? Just the perfect hero for a story like this.
•     Jordan Rhodes. Blonde. Rich. Beautiful. And down-to-earth. I mean, how many billionaire heiresses in the world are actually nice these days?!
•     The story! Nick "needed" to pretend to be Jordan's boyfriend but after a while, they began developing feelings for each other and it was so sweet!
•     The additional facts about wine and the FBI. They made the book very realistic.

I don't have any other comments about this one, but needless to say, YOU REALLY NEED TO READ THE FBI SERIES! Hahahahaha. Well... I think that's good enough.

Rating:

A+

Something About You (FBI, #1) by Julie James

So, one word... AWESOME. It's been a long time since I read something this good.
Things I love about this book:

1.     A hot, sarcastic, and rugged FBI agent. Eherm... what more can you ask for? Hell-o Agent Jack Pallas.
2.     I imagine our female protagonist as a sexy, beautiful, and intelligent lawyer who's equally sarcastic. And funny. That's Cameron Lynde everyone.
3.     They are both made for each other!
4.     The plot, the mysteries and the thrill while reading it. Geez. I've got goosebumps.
5.     The second characters especially Collin and Agent Wilkins!
6.     This book made me laugh.
7.     And blush. Because of the sweet scenes Cam and Jack had.
8.     And I was smiling like a freaking idiot all throughout the book! That's how good it was. And you know you've read a good book when it left you speechless after the last word, right?

Enough said.

I highly recommend it! The scenes weren't exactly requiring parental guidance so young adults ages 15 and above can also read this.

Rating:

A+

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Payton Gritas is a 15-year-old girl who's living a good life when  suddenly it became... not-so-good. She found out that her Dad has multiple sclerosis and her family hid it from her for a long time. Feeling betrayed and left-out, she decided to ignore her family and refuse to speak to them unless needed. So her parents told the school's guidance counselor to help Payton deal with their problem at home and her guidance  counselor told Payton to choose a focus object (something to concentrate her emotions on) and she decided to choose the thing that she's been staring at since third grade: Sean Griswold's head. The focus object exercise seems to be working since Payton find herself focusing more on Sean Griswold rather than her problems at home.

So...

The very first thing that I liked about this book was the sarcastic humor of the main protagonist. And the romance between Gritas and Griswold is very cute, so this is a book for all ages. I also like Jac, Payton's bestfriend and although there are obstacles in the book for them, I still loved her. The family bonding between the Gritases was also very good, and you can feel the love they have for each other even though Payton refused to speak to them at first, you can feel that she loves her family so much. And it's also a tear-jerker for those who like a little drama in their reads (like me!).

All in all, this book is a very touching story about dealing with family problems and sickness, friendship and love all combined in one! Highly recommended! ;)

Rating:
 
A

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

I can say that I'm a fan of Ms. Higgins because I already read 5 of her books and I enjoyed all of it. So when I heard that she released a new book, I grabbed a copy and sat down (or lie in my bed) to read it. Just like any other Higgins book, Until There Was You is more of an Adult book so there are scenes that require parental guidance, although not harshly.

The-things-that-I-liked-about-the-book:

1.     Posey. She has this very likable character and has a very kind heart. There were times in the book when I wanted to hug her so tight!
2.     Liam. Of course, who wouldn't admire Mr. Murphy? He's a very responsible father to his daughter who's in the "adolescent stage" and I admire him for that although he's having a hard time dealing with it (being a widower and all).
3.     Nicole. She's the daughter of Liam and although she's just a secondary character, I liked her. I understand her in a way that a girl can understand a fellow girl (Does it make sense?). And I love how she wanted her Dad to be happy.
4. It made me cry on several occasions and laugh at other times!

This book will tug your heartstrings so for those who're in for a little romance reading, this book is the one for you!

Rating:

A

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

It's plain awesome. I read it from the first page up to the last and I don't even noticed the time when I'm reading it. I finished it at 4 o'clock in the morning (Yep, that's how addicting it is) and it's the first time that I put it down.

So... the Vincent boys. These are my views on the characters!

1.     The moment that Beau was mentioned, I just knew that he's going to be my favorite Vincent boy! He's a perfect male protagonist for the story. He has this bad boy exterior, but is sweet and caring (and everything else in between) inside! He's making me blush just by thinking about him. I love that he's always there for Ashton and knows his limits. And I also like how he loves Sawyer, even though he's (Sawyer) dating the girl he (Beau) loves.
2.     Ashton. I like her. Not because I have to, but because I really do. She never  concealed her feelings for Beau and that's what I like about her. And I like how she never lets herself be affected by the people from their neighborhood and how she protects Beau's reputation from them.
3.     Sawyer. I never liked him. He's so... abnormal? I mean, who doesn't want to have sex with a gorgeous girlfriend who's serving herself in front of you? Ugh. Does he have hormones at all?

The story and the setting were great. I love the Southern feel of it! For me? There's no flaws at all. There's not a thing that I don't like about it. So for those who're suckers for Chick Lit (like me), this is the book for you! ;)

Rating:

A+

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

What can I say? The title speaks for itself. Beautiful Disaster is indeed, a beautiful disaster. It's... wonderful in a different kind of way. Some people don't like it though, as I've seen the reviews in Goodreads, but I liked it.

At some point, I want to stop reading it because there's so much booze, cursing, and everything in between... but! I can't stop myself from reading it anyway.

My issues. I liked Travis and Abby's  first meeting. The moment he called her Pigeon, I know I'm going to really love this book. But when they became a couple, I can say that I hated Travis's "obsession" towards Abby. I understand that he really loves her and it's the first time that he felt something like "love" towards a girl but, what the fuck bro? It was really, really annoying! And that's the point when I really wanted to put it down...

...and I'm glad I didn't! Good thing I continued reading because that's when I understand that it's the first time that Travis was loved by a woman after his mother died. And he really made it up to me by performing (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones in the school cafeteria! I was laughing really hard and that made me like him even more (obsession issues aside)!

Then Abby. I like her, but it was so hard to understand what's on her mind. Seriously! She's a very confusing person. Good thing that America and Shepley were always there to lift my annoyance towards her (And Travis). And Finch! I really love his character because he lightens the mood of the book and he's always there for her. And of course, the mystery about Abby! It's a good twist, I might say. It's my first time to read with something like that.

I'm not encouraging this to YA readers, though. To those who don't like excessive cussing and doesn't like booze and smoke, it's not for you. But to those who don't mind (like me), I highly recommend this! :)

Rating:

A+

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

It's fanfreakingtastic! It's my last book for 2011 and I've been wanting to read this way back then, but I think destiny wanted me to save the best for last! It's awesome. I am a Filipino, and I don't know a thing about football. At all. So I was hesitant to read this until one day, Ms. Miranda Kenneally herself and Lauren (of Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf) tweeted me in Twitter and told me that you don't have to understand football to love this book. And so I did.

Let's start with Jordan Woods. She's captain and quarterback of their high school football team. Even though I'm Asian, I know that being a quarterback's the highest position in a football team. So I was surprised and astounded that she got the position. I really love her and (secretly) want to be like her. There's a cloak of hierarchy that surrounds her and will make you respect her on a different level.

Then there's the rest of the Woods family. First is the "great" Donovan Woods. I really like it every time Jordan mentions him like that (Lol).  Even though he's a jerk, I really like him. I think it's because I knew from the start that the reason he doesn't want Jordan to play football is because he loves her so much and is scared that she might get hurt someday. Next is Mike. I want a brother like him! So supportive and you can feel that he wants the best for Jordan. And then her Mom, the one who's always there for Jordan. The one to get to see all of her games. Always present and encouraging. I love her.

And of course, the Hundred Oaks High Football Team. My favorite is JJ. He reminds me of my oldest brother. You can see him as this tough and huge character, but behind that is a guy who loves crossword puzzles and loves to hang-out with Jordan. Then Carter. I also like him, although his part was not until half of the book.

Then Ty. I hate him. I know that he's this hot and cute guy, but I don't like him from start to finish. I hate that he's so emotional and protective (Probably because I hate boys that cry), especially when it comes to Jordan. And I hate it when he feels like he's the captain of the football although he's just the back-up quarterback. He's stealing the spotlight from our football hero. Hear me, hear me.

And we can't forget about *insert awesome background music here* Sam Henry. Oh. My. God. He's like, my favorite male character of all the books that I've read this 2011. Seriously (I'm blushing right now. Shit.). He never fails to make me laugh! Especially the scenes with Jerry Rice (Lol).  I can imagine him as this cute and comical guy, with green eyes of course. You will DEFINITELY fall in love with him from start to finish. You can hold my word on that.

So yeah, Catching Jordan is by all odds one of my favorite books of all time. And I love how approachable the author is! I can't wait to read her next release next year. Once again, this book is a must-read. Happy New Year guys!

Rating:

A+

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Caution: This is not a review. It's more of like, me expressing my thoughts on a wonderful book that I've finished reading last night and left me lying on my bed completely speechless.

And so here's the deal, I'm going to verbalize all my feelings for this book (spoilers and all) and no one's going to complain.

When Julie Seagle, a college freshman in Whitney who's from small-town Ohio, discovered that her "supposed to be" apartment in Boston was a, uh... burrito restaurant, she instantly called her mom home for help. The help turned out to be Erin Watkins, an old friend of her mom from college, and decidedly invited her to their home.

Despite the warm welcome and their good nature, the Watkins are a little bit... not normal for the typical household. The parents, Erin and Roger, are both academically driven to certain extremes and definitely love their professions to a large degree. Then there's Matt, the middle-child who enjoy Physics, theories, and the like. And then, Celeste. I picture her as a fragile, sweet girl who has a heartwarming smile and of course, with the genes of Erin and Roger, she's frighteningly bright for her age. But there's a catch. She carries a cardboard cutout of oldest brother. And yes, it's life-sized.

Finn, the oldest, is supposed to be funny, handsome, smart, adventurous, and loves to help people that are in need. But he's away, travelling around the world for wonderful causes, and is only available in Facebook and e-mails. And you know what? I fell in love with him, just like Julie did. And that's what I loved about the author. The story, it's efficacious. It's addicting. It's everything I like about a book.

And of course, let's not forget Julie has a family of her own... Sort of. Her parents are divorced since she was five, and her dad is always away for business. But something came up, her father asked her to go to California with him on Christmas break. Her old hopes were lifted high again. But you know what they say, "Those who rise the highest, falls the hardest."

She did. Her dad backed out from their trip and promised to be in Boston for New Year's Eve instead. Julie didn't had the guts to tell the Watkins that she wasn't going to Cali after all, so she decided to stay in the apartment of her friend Dana, who went home for Christmas. But things went a little rough with her father again, because their "supposed to be" dinner was off. He forgot to tell her that he's going to be in New York and Julie was left in a freaking expensive restaurant. Thank God her father's secretary backed her up and took care of things. And that's when Julie gave up setting hopes for her dad.

Desperate to talk to someone, she e-mailed Finn but didn't respond and thought that he's already asleep. So she called Matt. They talked and blabbered (in Julie's case, because she got drunk in the restaurant) throughout the night until Julie went to sleep.

Skip skip. She went to the Polar Plunge which Matt knew and thus fetched her in her frozen state along with Celeste. So she finally told the truth about her not going to Cali and all.

Skip skip. Then there's the coming-out-of-the-shell phase for Celeste. She finally  pulled out from her old world and is slowly learning to be a normal teenager. With the help of Julie, of course. So when Celeste got invited for a party, everyone got ballistic. But of course, Celeste's parents and Matt agreed for her to come because she told them that she really want to go. But at the end, it went all bad. Celeste got a breakdown and asked for Matt to pick her up. Matt got so mad at Julie that she blamed herself entirely for this. But when Celeste calmed up a bit, she told Julie that it wasn't her fault and she really did wanted to come. Matt got all riled up and protective about Celeste that he said miserable words to Julie. So she e-mailed Finn and told him all about the incident, but he's nowhere to be found. Of all the wrong timing.

But Julie wanted Matt's forgiveness and went to his room and asked for it even though she knew he's still mad and frustrated. But he told her he didn't meant all those words and he was sorry, too. (It's my favorite scene, just so you know.) Then they kissed. (I know! I can't believe it either. I was always pinning for Finn that I totally forgot how sweet and lovable Matt is. I fell in love with all his e-mails and the way he talks to Julie that I totally forgot about Matt.)

Skip skip. Julie felt something's missing from the story. With the way everyone talks about Finn, and the way that Celeste has withdrawn from the outer world? There's really something.

Until, Erin told her that the room she's staying in is Matt's room, and the woodcraft "Wow" that's supposed to be "Mom" was from Matt, not Finn. And when Julie found out that the barrette Finn gave to Celeste that's supposed to be (Yeah, there's a lot of "supposed to be" in this novel) from somewhere distant and far away, was locally made.

And then there we are. The missing piece of the puzzle. The one-of-the-greatest-twists-in-YA-history. I know. It's great. I cried a lot while reading this. And laughed, too. I loved those parts. Especially when Matt's talking. And sorry! For uncovering the suspense for you! But I really can't help it because it was just so good. I'm going to leave it just that, so you still need to read the book. Ha! Enjoy! I know I did. Happy Holidays!

Grade:

A+

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

I loved it! It's the second book that I've read from the author, and I'm so happy that I stumbled upon this.

Let's start with Lola, a 17-year-old girl who believes in dressing-up, costumes, asking advice from the moon, and everything in between. I like her point-of-view and the way she talks, but I don't like the way she respond to things and how she solves a certain problem. She has a boyfriend, Max, a cool musician who's 22 (Or is it 23?). And that's the main reason why her "fathers" (Her uncle and his boyfriend that are both gay and took care of her because her mother, Norah, is incapable of the job) doesn't like her current relationship with Max.

And of course, there's the Bell twins. Lola's neighbor in which the male twin Cricket, has a window opposite of her window. Lola suffered a heartbreak from him when they left, thus causing everyone who cares about Lola to not talk about him for two years, until their arrival one day.

Cricket. I love him. For me, he's goofy and cute, with that killer smile that make your toes curl, and of course a genius. He loves mechanics and is taking up Mechanical Engineering in Berkeley, where Anna (I know, Anna from Paris and is Lola's co-worker) and her boyfriend St. Clair are currently attending.

Skip skip. The main problem is Cricket still likes Lola and Lola still likes Cricket BUT Lola has a boyfriend. Period. And then there's Calliope, the female twin who's overly protective of her brother and is one heck of a figure skater and does not like Lola, at all. Probably because she thinks that Lola is stealing Cricket from her. So skip skip skip.

Everyone knows that Cricket and Lola are meant for each other, but there are complications like Max. But you know, Lola tries to find herself, with the help of everyone she loves, including her biological mother Norah, and her bestfriend Lindsey, and her Dads.

The ending was great! I also love how things fall into place. How the characters changed throughout the story. And I also love the funny parts which made me laugh, and the romantic scenes which made me blush! So I am really recommending this for you to read. Happy Holidays!

Rate:

A+