Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

It’s been three years since the devastating accident…three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever. Now living in opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to this new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other - Goodreads

Where She Went is the much anticipated sequel of If I Stay told from Adam’s perspective. Although it’s a sequel, I believe it can be a standalone book. If you haven’t read the first one, it’s okay for the plot will never confuse you.

As opposed to the first book, I didn’t finish this one in single sitting simply because I wanted to relish Adam’s thoughts and how he devastatingly dealt with the aftermath of Mia’s departure.

Rock stars somehow have this haughty and tough façade but Adam totally let his guards down and unshackled his pent-up emotions. His fury is understandable because it’s definitely more painful to be left without any explanation and to know that you’re unworthy of a closure.

On the other hand, it’s an irony that while Mia’s departure wrecked him, such leaving also prompted him to write songs which catapulted him to fame. Music aficionados will appreciate the fact that meaningful lyrics are sprinkled all throughout the chapters.

I’m blown away by how raw and powerful the emotions are in this book. Adam’s sarcastic remarks made me chuckle but more than anything, I felt every bit of his pain. I felt his loss, his powerlessness, and his wistfulness for all the wonderful things that transpired between him and Mia.

“You know, I thought about that a lot these last couple of years. About who was there for you. Who held your hand while you grieved for all that you’d lost?”

When Mia said this, I totally lost it. I simply wanted to hug Adam! I’m likewise in awe of Mia and how she was able to surpass the scars brought by that horrifying accident.

This book makes one think that regardless of how wounded two souls are, a love rekindled is still possible. I have nothing but praises for Gayle Forman for creating characters so believable that you can’t help but get emotionally invested in them.

Simply put, I will never forget how hauntingly beautiful this story is.

5/5

“Only You” by Matthew Perryman

How can I forget you?

Memories come and go

You’re all I've ever wanted

You’re all I've ever known

Can I be happy living with your ghost?

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

 

This is truly one of the best reads that I've had this year although it was initially the book's quirky title which attracted me. :)

It's about the serendipitous meeting of two teenagers in an airport who likewise happen to share the same flight to London. I like how Oliver and Hadley talked to each other during the flight. From the nonsensical banters down to the seemingly serious "secrets of the heart", it's as if they have known each other for years. Not that I have a partiality for British men and their accents but who can resist being seated beside an unassuming gentleman who speaks with so much meaning?

After the flight comes the dreadful question: What happens next? I momentarily lost hope though when no exchange of numbers took place right after the flight. All I could say was, "Wow, that's it?" Then again, if love is true, it will find its own unexpected way (and yes, this is the romance-sucker in me that's speaking).

However, I think that the book's title is quite deceiving because more than being a love story, it's actually about Hadley's tarnished relationship with her Dad. Nonetheless, I love that the book tackled forgiveness and acceptance - issues which you rarely see in teen novels these days.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is indeed a proof that a love story does not need to be filled with grandiose events and steamy scenes (hello, Fifty Shades!) to be endearing. It's a type of book that's apt for a rainy day paired with Ron Pope's soothing voice. It will make you think that perhaps if you're in love, even the shortest encounters (like a 7-hour plane ride) can seem like a lifetime.

 “Is it better to have had a good thing and lost it, or never to have had it?”

 

 5/5

Our Song by Ron Pope

"I promise to never stop dancing once we start."

Review: This is What Happy Looks Like

 

 

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?- Goodreads

If what you’re after is a light read that will leave you in a radiant mood, then this book definitely fits the bill. I particularly love the beginning wherein an e-mail mishap becomes the precursor of an unexpected teenage relationship. Why unexpected? How probable is it for a girl to end up being pen pal with someone who’s not just a random guy but actually Tinseltown’s hottest star?

With an array of blockbuster films, Graham is indeed one of his generation’s famed icons. However, going around the world signing autographs and prancing in red carpet affairs just do not satisfy him. He feels like a stranger with no definite purpose not until he fortuitously met Ellie.  

While I’m already 21, I can’t help but let out a little scream upon finding out that Graham is Ellie’s mysterious e-mail buddy. Graham putting that much effort (find out how) just to search for Ellie is likewise heartwarming. I’m drawn to Ellie’s character as well. She’s not your typical fantard who will go around broadcasting her blossoming relationship with a movie star. She’s a simple unperturbed girl who basically wants to know Graham away from the glare of publicity.

The story is not free from bumps such as family secrets, friendship quibbles, and paparazzi issues. Nonetheless, expect that This is What Happy Looks Like is an absolutely adorable read. Oh well, with a title like that, it would be an oxymoron to fill it with melodramatic pages, right? :)

The only letdown is the part wherein Graham and Ellie avoided each other like plague for three weeks. Knowing that Graham is about to leave town soon, they could’ve made the most out of those weeks. In the end, it feels as if they are rushing to create treasure-worthy moments when they’ve actually wasted weeks pining for each other.

Sometimes, you read a book that charms you so much that you don’t mind how unrealistic and how overused the storyline is. The whole famous-boy-falling-for-a-small-town-girl might be a cliché but Jennifer Smith’s style of writing is so refreshing. This book just goes to show that at times, happiness is situated in the simplest of things.

 5/5

 

I Must Be Dreaming by Maine

"And she watches the sun but she's the only one I have my eyes on."

Review: The Fault in Our Stars

What if your days are numbered already yet the opportunity of being in love awaits you? Will you resist it and go on with your life smoothly? Or will you enter love’s battlefield and take the challenge of making the most out of the days that you have?

This is the biggest conundrum of Hazel Grace, a 16-year-old girl diagnosed with stage four thyroid cancer that has similarly affected her lungs. As the novel’s storyteller, she seems to be very complacent with the severity of her condition not until the charismatic Augustus Walters entered the picture. Hazel wants to be a self-sufficient cancer patient whose death will not affect anyone. She tries to be distant even from her parents so that her loss will not be mourned for. However, despite the contradiction of her feelings, she simply cannot resist Augustus’ charm and bravado. The two crossed paths in a cancer support group session. This meeting immediately sheds light to the fact that Augustus is similarly battling a terminal illness – ostracoma in his case.

While The Fault in Our Stars might seem to be a typical dramatic tale of star-crossed lovers, Augustus and Hazel’s journey stands out because it doesn't try hard to be a tearjerker. In a stereotypical world wherein cancer patients are often viewed as victims, two teenagers show that it’s still possible to have witty conversations, play video games, go on spontaneous trips, and most importantly, embrace the unpredictable wonders of an unfolding love.  I love how natural this book is. It's not the type of book that shows people fighting cancer heroically. It gives you the real deal - the emotional jumble that comes with the reality of fighting Death.

A lot of readers have commented that the way Hazel and Augustus speaks opposes their age. For me, that's the whole point. These teenagers have been through a lot making them more insightful. I appreciate how most of their lines prove that cancer should not be deemed as an ending to happiness. They do not deny the existence of cancer yet the illness not define them. 

I'm giving this book a perfect rating not just for the depth of the characters but more importantly for the underlying themes that it has. After all, it isn't everyday that you encounter books that present the harshness of reality without compromising the value of hope and acceptance. 

 

5/5

Brave by Tawgs Salter

"I think I'll be brave and say how I've wanted you."

Preserve Mankind with Kojie.san Men

Remember Mr. Darcy? In the world of literature, no one can attest that he’s a heartthrob. He’s a true-blue gentleman who makes women swoon because of his simple yet heartfelt acts. 

In the prehistoric times, men were viewed as the panacea to most dilemmas of the society. While women played significant roles, such roles varied from what the men were supposed to do. From security against wild animals down to the provision of food, men were anticipated to be as robust as they could be. However, as time evolved, the concept of manliness likewise underwent a few alterations. 

The beauty tools which used to be untouchable and flagrant now became normal. Having the consciousness that being busy is not an excuse to looking sloppy, men now go through hair treatments and facials to name a few. One can now walk brandishing a pink shirt without being called names. 

Despite the convenience of this concept alteration, it’s still best not to totally deviate from some of the things left by men in the past. For me, a man should not gauge his manliness based on what others dictate. Men-should-be-like-this statements should be used as mere guidelines but what matters is if such statements speak for someone’s identity and aspirations. I have no problem with men doing things befitting women because in today’s age, interchanges in roles are regarded as normative. 

Just like in the film Taken 2, it’s Kim’s turn to save her father from the hands of a man yearning for revenge. If you will remember in the preceding film, former CIA operative Bryan went through a perilous schlep to save his daughter Kim who was abducted and trafficked. One of the reasons why Taken 1 became a hit was its depiction of a father’s unremitting love for his daughter. 

The film’s a reminder that regardless of today’s liberal views, men can still preserve the concept of manliness by being chivalrous or compassionate to other people. It does not mean that one has to be a doormat. At times, it’s the simple things that matter like opening the door for an elderly or resisting the need to raise one’s voice in the midst of heated arguments. I believe that being a man does not equate to being Mr. Stone. Instead, manliness is radiated when one shows concern and courtesy. 

 Like Kojie.san Men’s advocacy, to be a man is to be a lover and fighter – both. For more information on how to be an applaud-worthy man, head on to Kojie.san Men’s Facebook page.

How do you define manliness?