DEWEY'S READATHON REVIEW: SONGS TO GET OVER YOU BY JAY E TRIA.

Title: Songs to Get Over You
Author: Jay E. Tria
Series: Playlist #2
Edition: Paperback
Publication: August 22nd 2015
Source: Bought from the author
Pages: 149
Genre: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
It's harder to get over someone who was never really yours.

They say rock stars get all the girls. But Miki knows that's not always true. He, for one, though the guitarist of popular indie band Trainman, just can't seem to get the girl. It's kind of his fault, really. No one told him to fall in love with Jill. No one told him to stand still and watch as she moved on from a terrible breakup into the arms of another guy—a Japanese celebrity with the face of an angel and the body of a god.

So when someone else comes along, someone who finds him cute, smart, and funny (sometimes in the haha sort of way), will Miki finally move on? Or will he continue to pine for Jill?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ Romance Class ▴ Author's Website

I will just make this one quick, go read my review of Book 1 here. Now, you've basically heard of Miki the wallflower best friend, right? Well, this book is about HIM and how he handled... everything! I MEAN, I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MUCH FEELS THERE IS IN THIS BOOK. SO SO MUCH!! Yes, I am incoherent because I WAS ONCE *THAT* BEST FRIEND HUHUH SO FORGIVE ME IF THIS WON'T MAKE SENSE - BUT I AM TELLING YOU NOW, GET THIS BOOK!

I wish I read it sooner than later, it could have saved me from being lonely when I was in *THAT* best friend-ish situation. HAHAHAHUHUHU

TRIA IS JUST SO AMAZING IN WRITING ABOUT HOW LOVE CAN RUIN, BUILD, OR BLOOM A FRIENDSHIP. AND SONGS TO GET OVER YOU WILL PROVE THAT SOMETIMES, YOU JUST SHOULDN'T CROSS THAT FINE LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP ANYMORE. THAT SOMETIMES, IT'S BEST TO JUST BE A FRIEND. I DON'T KNOW, IT HURT HAHAHAHA

"Maybe it's the kind of love that you get used to, because it's there. Not the kind of love you need."

DEWEY'S READATHON REVIEW: SONGS OF OUR BREAKUP BY JAY E TRIA.

Title: Songs of Our Breakup
Author: Jay E. Tria
Series: Playlist #1
Edition: Paperback
Publication: August 22nd 2015
Source: Bought from the author
Pages: 145
Genre: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
Every breakup has its playlist.

How do you get over a seven-year relationship? 21-year-old Jill is trying to find out. But moving on is a harder job when Kim, her ex-boyfriend, is the lead guitarist of the band, and Jill is the vocalist. Every song they play together feels like slicing open a barely healed tattoo.

Jill’s best friend Miki says she will be out of this gloom soon. Breakups have a probation period, he says. Jill is on the last month of hers and Miki is patiently keeping her company.

But the real silver lining is Shinta. Having a hot Japanese actor friend in times like these is a welcome distraction. This gorgeous celebrity has been defying time zones and distance through the years to be there for Jill. Now he is here, physically present, and together he and Jill go through old lyrics, vivid memories, walks in the rain, and bottles of beer. Together they try to answer the question: what do you do when forever ends?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ Romance Class ▴ Author's Website▴

Songs of Our Breakup is an easy 5-star read. Its unique take on tropes, superb writing style, subtle love triangle, devastating heartbreak and amazing music are elements I loved tremendously. It also right away captured me because I have a thing for singing, I used to jam and mostly have guy friends. You can easily see yourself flipping through the pages with passion because the story is that amazing. Plus, Tria did mention Mobile Suit once so SOLD!

Can we also talk about the height of the characters in this story, please? Tria and I stand tall (5'8"-ish) and I AM SUPER THRILLED TO ENCOUNTER GROUP OF FRIENDS WHO ARE ALMOST THE SAME HEIGHT BECAUSE HELL YESSSSSS THAT IS ME IN THERE, ALRIGHT?! THANK YOU, TRIA, FOR REPRESENTING US TALL PEOPLE. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

I was straight rooting for Shinta. Aside from his jaw dropping looks, I loved his values. He's thoughtful, respectful and he's the kind of guy worth waiting for. Not sure if my ship will sail but I hope it would (though I still have 2 books to read so I don't really know what's gonna happen). Miki on the other hand is the best friend you can always rely on. The love triangle was put in there in the subtlest way and to be honest, I didn't see it if it weren't for Nico and Son's convo. Yeah, I am that dense. Miki's like, a wallflower in Jill's life. He's so scared to come fight for Jill because he doesn't wanna gamble it -- he can't lose his best friend -- which is a thing I am all too familiar with. FAAAAAK!!! SO MUCH FEELSSSSS!

The breakup between Jill and Kim (seven years together!) was a nasty one. But Jill handled it professionally for the sake of their band. I WAS LIKE, GURRRRL, HOW DO YOU DO IT? When they talked and legit shook on it, it was the most painful part because how could you not hurt by officially saying goodbye to the person you literally grew up with? I wish they worked on their differences instead of separating but Kim is absolutely right at one thing, some things just don't work anymore. OUUUUUUCHHHHHH. Tria, get it together!!! You are breaking me apart!

Lastly, the songs reflect the character's emotions in such a hardcore level I cannot even explain. The depth just hits the heart. I wanna hear these songs and wallow in my misery. DAMN, SOMEONE PICK UP THE PIECES OF MY SHATTERED HEART, PLEASE.

A story of moving on and living life one day at time, Songs of Our Breakup gives another level of meaning to forever. YOU NEED THIS BOOK YESTERDAY!!!!!

"She had grown up with this boy, shared B-sides, long nights, test answers, pajamas, and shawarma with him, a collection of things and moments that changed them both...Jill still knew the face, but no longer the boy behind it."

DEWEY'S READATHON REVIEW: THE ART OF SHIFTING GEARS BY CHI YU RODRIGUEZ.

Title: The Art of Shifting Gears
Author: Chi Yu Rodriguez
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: April 2017 by Anvil Publishing
Source: Copy provided by the publisher
Pages: 120
Genre: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
Rae de los Santos was en route to a perfect adult life. She knew what to major in, she knew what career path she was going to pursue, and she knew who she was going to be with all the way to the realization of her dreams—until her seamless journey made a turn for the unimaginable and skidded to a stop.

All of a sudden she was facing every roadblock possible, and the people she held dear ended up running over her heart.

For a year, she distracted herself with hot lead and burnt rubber, using karting as a lifeline until she was strong enough to face the world that shunned her.

But during Rae’s junior year in college, she was again blindsided by signs that weren’t supposed to be there. Will Rae go full speed ahead? Or will the seduction of the past slow her down?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ Romance Class ▴ Anvil

The Art of Shifting Gears is another #romanceclass book that I enjoyed! I think this is the first book in the history of MY ever that I met a racer/mechanic female protagonist! Though our Rae is set to become a teacher, her hobbies and abilities are not limited to it and that's a character arc I've tremendously loved.

I was just a little bit - for the lack of a better term - unsatisfied. The story happened within a year and it left so many questions unanswered. Not sure if it was intentional to keep the readers imagining. As a reader however, I would like to have an understanding of what have happened in the past in order to have better judgement. But I was left guessing the following:

a) What really happened to Tessa, Rae and Mike? (Like, I get the gist but shouldn't there be more to it)
b) When did the parents pass? Money started to become an issue? (From the looks of it, yes. But it also sounded that they're well-off in the beginning, so what happened?)
c) What Jason supposed to be an LI as well?
d) Where is the follow-up on the racing encounter with Mike?
e) How did Rae end up with Jason when there is really no chemistry? Wait, what? REALLY?
f) What's the podcast for, to be honest?

and more. The fluidity of the story wasn't as smooth as I expected, it really felt like half of the story is missing and tropes that were mixed up just didn't work well together. But what I loved most are family dynamics, diversity and the rawness of life struggles. I want more racing, I want more car scenes and I want more girl power.

The Art of Shifting Gears is 5% cars, 50% life problems and 45% boy drama. But banters are to look forward to. The story has so much potential but needs a little bit polishing in my opinion. Would have been a lot better if 'sub-scenes' (or back story) have follow-ups and if prose didn't just jump over one another.

Thank you, Anvil Publishing, for the review copy!

"When things left unsaid and emotions left unexpressed have been stewing for so long, they become dense. They weigh a person down, the grime of pain sticks to their skin, forms a permanent lump in their throats that keep them from breathing normally ever again."

REVIEW: THE PROBLEM WITH BEING LAURA BY AVA FELIZ.

Title: The Problem with Being Laura
Author: Ava Feliz
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: February 2017 by Spark Books
Source: Finished copy provided by the publisher
Pages: 104
Genre: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Laura Bayani is the most rigid person you’ll ever meet, from her white long-sleeved blouses with starched collars to her knee-length black skirts to her three-inch high heels. While her colleagues value her efficiency, it hasn’t won her any friends. For a promotion at work, Laura is advised that she has to prove she has the social skills to be an effective manager. Her colleague, Mikaela Perez and her brother, Miguel, agree to help. However, her every effort is met with disaster, and Laura feels increasingly unsure as she tries to break free from her self-imposed chains.

Will Laura have the courage to find herself, and maybe even love, to achieve things beyond her wildest dreams?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ National Bookstore ▴ Anvil

Laura is an achiever and a breadwinner. She cannot afford to lax due to her responsibilities at home and this pushed her to be serious at work. She was then bullied, called 'Ice Queen' and she's always the center of rumors. These made her keep to herself and not talk to anyone, it's like she's always sarcastic or mad when she does. She learned not to smile and shut the world around her. Until social skills is her key to get that promotion.

I absolutely enjoyed The Problem With Being Laura. From seeing her get bullied to freeing herself slowly with the help of her friends, it's something remarkable and definitely a thing I could relate to. It's always magic to witness how love (in any form) can transform lives. Laura showed me the side of life where lemons make people so salty they turn to stone and she also showed me how it could be undone. Laura's determination and open-mindedness helped her find the real her which led her to her happiness and I kinda envy that. The 'steps' she took cracked her hard core shell bit by bit and that is so fascinating to watch her development unfold. It's practically seeing a cocoon be a beautiful butterfly. (I cannot think of a better analogy, sorry)

I love her ways of getting what she wants and I truly understand why she sometimes snaps at her friends. She's lucky she has friends - namely Mikaela and Miguel.

Speaking of Miguesl.. Ahem, Miguel, ahem!!!! Miguel is not only dreamy but I think he exists only in fiction and dreams! The way she pursued Laura IS. EVERYTHING! He's such a big help in cracking Laura's armor and their "dates" (Kart racing, plane riding etc) are all drool-worthy. I mean, GOALS.

The Problem with Being Laura is such a feel-good read and definitely recommendable! Adventurous and quirky, this book is magic!

Thank you Anvil Publishing for the copy!

"She looked at him, standing so close to her. This guy who leaped from being a stranger to someone who could read her and her wishes, and tried to make them come true. This guy whose brown eyes and actions had been telling her something the past few weeks."

REVIEW: MOMENTS OF JOY BY YSA ARCANGEL.

Title: Moments of Joy
Author: Ysa Arcangel
Series: Moments to Remember #1
Edition: Kindle
Publication: April 25th 2017 by Ysa Arcangel
Source: Freebie from Romance Class News Letter
Pages: 177
Genre: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
With her family history of Alzheimer's and at great risk of acquiring the disease, Brandy Curtis always plays safe. She had always avoided commitments like the plague.

However, everything changed when she met Ivo, a gorgeous doctor with irresistible charm. He was just supposed to be another hookup, but he quickly became so much more.

It started as a one night stand which was followed by another, and another. The more nights they spent together, the more Brandy felt that life had given her something to live for.

The timing couldn't be worse. As her heart gets closer to Ivo, her memories begin to fade.

Will Brandy be able to actually have moments of joy with Ivo against the odds of losing herself into the recesses of her tangled brain?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ iBooks ▴ Kobo ▴

What I didn't like about Moments of Joy:
- The father in the beginning of the story just woke up from coma and the first thing he did? Ask his kids to read someone else's diaries.
- The parts medical prose felt off.
- This novel is 177 pages and almost 8-10 pages were all about the detailed sex (which I have nothing against). They have the hots for each other I know but instead of letting the readers know how they fuck each other four separate times, the two times they had fucked could have been used for more character arcs or story development. But what do I know, right?
- Too little time for character development
- Everything was legit in a rush. This one felt like the story is limited to only 177 pages.
- Confusing as to who is the one narrating. (But this one could just be me haha)
- Should have at least translated the Italian lines to English because not everyone is fluent in Italian language.
- Cliches. There's just too much that even the names of the characters threw me off. God. From Romeo and Juliet, to the names of the siblings, to the ending? I am gonna faint.

What I absolutely enjoyed about this book:
- I really, really, realllllyyyyyy love this cover!
- Brandy is so freaking hilarious and scary at the same time. Her fear of inheriting Alzheimer’s was understandable and I adore her for being so so selfless in her decision not to get too close to anyone she could inflict the impending pain to. I mean, if that isn't brave enough then I don't know what is.
- The alternating POV narration. Ivo's POV is my fave!
- Verona. I am swooning because this place is OMG.
- The pain of losing your mother to Alzheimer is something I cannot hope to happen to anyone but Brandy was trying to hold it together and just be there for her family. It was bittersweet and emotional.
- Ivo's commitment to Brandy was remarkable.
- How the plot twist was revealed gave me all the chills!
- The family dynamics is well executed and I love the fights between the siblings - something real!
- The deployment of the entire story is intriguing despite the eye-rolling cliches.

Moments of Joy surely filled me with joy. Despite the cringe-inducing cliches, it balances it with the way the story unfolded and how the characters had given justice to their parts. Moments of Joy is addictive, catchy and oozing with sexy.

"If you think being friends with the source of your pain will help you through an emotional crisis, you're mistaken. Once you've had an opportunity to heal, it may be possible to be friends, but not before."

#MIBF2017 SHOPPING EXPERIENCE!

This is my fourth time attending the Manila International Book Fair and as expected, it was tiring BUT SO MUCH FUN! This year I only get to roam the ground floor with Gavin. I stayed for about 2 hours but damn son, my mortal body could no longer endure it. I was only planning to get TWO books but who am I kidding, right? Brought home 6 books and I could die happy.

I just went directly to FullyBooked's booth because the number one book I was hoping to get was there and I crossed all crossables that it's still there! GLAD TO REPORT I BAGGED THE LAST (HB) PIECE OF MORE HAPPY THAN NOT! WOOOOOOT!! When Dimple Me Rishi was the second book I was hoping to buy but according to the lovely staff, they didn't get any HBs yet and they aren't sure when they would get stocks. So I think I'll just order from Book Depo. Then Crooked Kingdom was just on the other shelf so I also got a copy. QUEEN LB YO! Anyway, I went then to National Bookstore (of course, I would) and was seriously contemplating about buying books for Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian's signing but I realized I had to buy like 6 books for the signing so meeeh, I didn't push through with it. Instead, I grabbed 3 Anvil Books and Strange the Dreamer!

BOUGHT:
ANVIL BOOTH
- Kids These Days (Stories from Luna East Arts Academy Vol. 1) by various Filipino authors
- The Year We Became Invincible by Mae Coyiuto
- Simply Joei by Clare Elisabeth Marquez

NATIONAL BOOKSTORE:
- Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor

FULLYBOOKED:
- Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo
- More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera (!!!!!!!!)

These are the books I sacrificed my allowance for two weeks for but hell, these are worth it! AND THE HAPPINESS I FEEL WHENEVER I GET NEW BOOKS IS BLOODYDAMN (I just referenced Red Rising!) PRICELESS! WOULDN'T EXCHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING ELSE! I've titled this "Shipping Experience" because I think this is the first time IN A WHILE that I have spent this much on books? HAHA OMGGGGG WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE

Here is my live-tweet thread: MIBF2017

My 2012 and First MIBF Experience!

My 2013 MIBF Experience!

My 2015 MIBF Experience!

How many books did you get?

REVIEW: THE LAST TIME I'LL WRITE ABOUT YOU BY DAWN LANUZA.

Title: The Last Time I'll Write About You
Author: Dawn Lanuza
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: 2016
Source: Bought from the author
Genre: Poetry

Synopsis:
Should I be
Thankful
Or
Regretful
That my only idea
Of love
Is
You?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

 ▴ Amazon ▴

This is the first poetry book I owned and I quite enjoyed it. It wasn't as deep as opposed to what I am accustomed to but it still pinches the heart greatly. The lines are written as if you wrote them yourself in the middle of the night while nursing your broken heart and this one is absolutely relatable!

Made these by the way:

"I meant to keep you but I didn't want to be kept. You see the problem?"

"You are the dream but I've had wake-up calls"

REVIEW: FALL LIKE RAIN BY ANA TEJANO.

Title: Fall Like Rain
Author: Ana Tejano
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: September 29th 2014 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Source: Bought from the author
Pages: 164
Genre: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Rain De Castro has been in love with her best friend, Mark Velasco, for almost the entire time she has known him, but she's clearly in the friend zone because he's happily in a relationship. Or so she thought, until the news of his break-up reaches her. Now that Mark's single again, she decides that it's time to get out of the zone. But when her cousin Lissa comes into the picture and sets her eyes on Mark, Rain feels troubled when he gets a little too friendly with her. Rain is determined to fight for what she feels this time, but is it worth the effort if it's a losing battle from the start? Will she back off to give way for her best friend's happiness, even if it means losing him to someone else again?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ Romance Class ▴ Book Depository ▴ Author's Website

THAT ONE STORY THAT MADE ME WANNA GET DRUNK.. TO KILL THE FEELINGS.. BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.. AND IT FUCKING STINGS TOO MUCH...

So ummmm. Man, this is heavy (for me, at least). I'm sobbing so hard right now because this book is my story. I wish I wrote this but thankfully Ana did because I just got no writing talents. Oh, gosh, I'm trashed. This story is so freaking familiar I wanted to change Rain's name to Kate. I looooooved it. I'm so disgustingly incoherent right now omgggggg what am I even trying to say

*inhales, exhales*

Fall Like Rain is a book that made me feel waves of emotions that were all too familiar to me: dancing around a feeling I have been trying to deny to myself, reading too much into simple things, at war with myself all the time, weighing two sides of a story to justify a certain action, jealousy, disappointment, expectations and a lot more. After reading this, it felt as if I was drowning with my own feelings. Like I said, I wanted a drink after I read this. It's so SO real to me because this is MY experience. Ana, what are you doing to me? My heart is so fragile stop breaking it (also don't stop?).

I related so much to Rain and Mark's story because six or seven years ago, I was in the same exact place as Rain. Holding everything back to save a friendship that is too important to me is one of the hardest things I ever had to endure. OMG I can go oooooon about this but no, I won't. #SoMuchHugot There's really this magic in the way Ana writes and I think I've said that over and over but you can't go and be wrong when it comes to Ana's books.

This is the ending I have hoped for myself. Only it didn't happen. Ouch HAHA. Thereby the slight bitterness and the reason for the tsunami tears.

Fall like Rain is an amazing take on how fate finds ways to connect hearts that are meant to be. It's a story of uncertainty and dispair turned to happy the-best-thing-ever and it-is-finally-happening moments.

"Because you're here and I don't have to look for you anymore."

"But what if this doesn’t work out?" I asked, my voice cracking a little. "What if he still doesn’t choose me?"

"Only best friends can keep this dancing game on for so long."

REVIEW: THIS IS HOW IT STARTS BY DAWN LANUZA.

Title: This is How it Starts
Author: Dawn Lanuza
Series: Standalone
Edition: Kindle
Publication: June 24th 2017 by Indie Sisiw Books
Source: Bought from Amazon
Pages: 62
Genre: Poetry

Synopsis:

Not all
heartbreaks
have to end
with you
broken.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon

Another short masterpiece by my lovely Dawn! This is my second poetry book by her and I loved it! I just feel so sorry for my heart after reading this. The things you read in here would either rip you apart or uplift you (but mostly rip you apart). Don't be fooled by how quick this read is because the feels could probably smack you down. Exquisite book! The cover and illustrations are cute and I know this would be perfect once printed! Can't wait for the print copy!

"We're no longer present in the future
We once imagined in the past."

THE THING ABOUT HEARTBREAKS..

"The thing about heartbreak, I realized, is it's not really about waiting for things to stop hurting before you start moving. A broken heart can and will heal in time, but for time to actually do its job, I needed to acknowledge what I had lost and move on. However, I knew it was going to take a while - that the road would be littered with bumps and possibly smaller heartbreaks that would punch me in the gut and make me grieve again.

Even with all the truths I held in my heart, there were so many uncertainties left and so many things that I had to learn over again on my own. I didn't know if things would turn out the way I wanted then to, until I got there. For now, all I needed to do was to keep moving, because at the one of the day, uncertainties were simply an exercise in faith."

The title of this blog post is from a book I loved so much. This post is more than the heartaches I got from reading her stories but actually an appreciation post for Ana Tejano. So Ana, this one's for you.

I know this is so weird because we just finally met in person few months back. But here's something for you. Please don't be weirded out.

The first time I ugly cried over a book was when I read The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand. It was literally a snot fest (HAHA gross, sorry) because ughhh it was so emotionally invested I couldn't contain the pain and sadness in my heart. So my tearducts took over. It was that mind-blowing good that I posted a photo of myself while I was crying (I didn't think at that time it would eventually be embarrassing so I removed it).Then I read your book Keep the Faith and let me tell you this, it was snot fest all over again and some.

There's something in your writing that legit captivated my reader heart that I wanna devour your books - even your grocery list - right away. Keep the Faith was too short, as in too short to pick me up on the floor. There's a need in me for Keep the Faith to be longer (PLEASE MAKE SOME MORE SEQUELS) and well, all your novels should be longer because aside from it's torturing my heart, I NEED more feels. You see, I recently reviewed your new book, You Could Be the One and man, it gave me serious cheek cramps so you gotta write more. You just gotta do it, man. For the sake of my sanity, please do.

Your characters give me so much life I could not even begin to tell you how much they mean to me. Especially Faith. It's as if you picked her from my past and you wrote her to torment me (I love it, don't worry). She encapsulated all those mysterious emotions I wasn't able to name and now I fully recognize them. THAT cry was such a good cry, Ana. I didn't expect I would still feel a hint of pain from losing people and it made me rethink how I value things. If I didn't read your book, I would still be in that floating zone where I deny what I felt. Thank you for validating my 'old' feelings and for making me realize they were real. Your book helped me get to that level of acknowledgement and put the much needed closure in a way, so thank you. Thank you so much.

You are instantly added to my Auto-Buy Authors list and you legit deserve that spot. The way you mold words into cardiac-arrest inducing stories is just magical to me. Not only that, your stories are all delightful and packed with delicious twists. It's always nice to look forward to reading something from you and get my heart broken again.