REVIEW: CHASING MR. PREFECT BY KATT BRIONES.

Title: Chasing Mr. Prefect
Author: Katt Briones
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: February, 2017 by Anvil
Source: Finished copy provided by the author
Pages: 136
Genre: New adult, Romance

Synopsis:
For the first time in her life, Vinnie finds herself on the brink of academic suspension.

While standing up to a bully is something she'll never regret, she has to take on additional responsibilities in lieu of punishment for the offense. This unfortunately involves working with Cholo, the head disciplinary prefect, who seems to take delight in other people's blunders. Her determination to match his expectations eventually leads her into a crazy chase to keep up.

Will Vinnie be able to carry on and eventually catch up? Or will the chase be too much for her to handle?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ Anvil

A college student struggling to graduate on time, Vinnie just became one of my ultimate favorite female characters. She wouldn't let anyone bully her by putting them in their right places and because of this, she got involved in a brawl that landed her butt in the Head Prefect's Office. She can't afford to get suspended so she has to join an org to make up for it. Having a temper and a mouth she cant control, I am simply fascinated by Cholo - the org head and her crush - was able to tolerate and jive with her.

Feeling like her dad didn't grieve her mother enough, Vinnie treats her step-mom and step-sister ill. (SHOUT OUT TO THESE TWO AMAZING PEOPLE) No matter how much they empathize, Vinnie's so angsty that her behavour towards them is unbelievable. In the middle of a study sesh one night, she got hungry so she went out grab a quick bite. She and Cholo started to become close friends after they ran on each other in McDonald's. He learned her family situation and got a glimpse of why she's nasty to her family and what I absolutely adored here is how Cholo's being illegitimate child made Vinnie reassess herself. It was such a balanced approach and the level of connection I had with that scenario just caused a ton of waterworks. I mean, it was the best approach ever.

GOOOD!! I LOVE THIS STORY!!! I'm foul-mouthed too (it's so nice to finally see a character who talks like you lolol) and Vinnie's angsty and sarcastic retorts made me snort so much! She mirrors me (at least) because I used to get involved in brawls in gradeschool because I won't let people bully me. And I get it, I get how it could be hard to accept things and loosen up to people you think didn't do enough and this book validated like, my entire life. It isn't only a matter of relating to it but like, I AM IT. It was told in such a heartwarming way I couldn't thank Katt enough for writing this. This story is so raw and the reflects such real, unpolished portion of this life in a brilliant way.

I tried seven times to draft this review but I kept failing. I won't - ever - be able to give justice to how amazing this story is. I won't. But I won't stop pushing this book to people because it has everything I need in it: family dynamics, real life struggle (acads as an example), friendship bumps, relationship growth, M/M relationship (ASHER AND CHAD, YESSS GURL!), travel (ANNYEONGHASEYOOOOO!), behavioral assessment (Cholo being a control freak) and success through hardwork. It gives perfect balance to romance and every day life and that made it even better! The banters will make you giggle and the pick-up lines will make you swoon. Duuuuude, Cholo is life!

This is one of the books that I wish I could read for the first time all over again! Chasing Mr. Prefect will move you to tears. One of the unputdownables, this story will get you hooked from page one till the end!

Thank you super duper, Katt, for sending this copy for review!

"'You sould spend Christmas with us. Cris makes awesome pasta, plus Liana's sans rival is crazy delicious. You'll love it.'
'Seriously?' he asked, looking excited. 'God, I love you!'
'Sabay ganon?'"

"'Don't you ever get tired of me? All that anger and angst?'
'Nah. You're a good person, just doing a good job of hiding it.'
'Tarantado.'"

"'All I could think of now is you and how to free you from this pain but I couldn't. I'm just as wounded and no matter what you might think, that makes me just as scared as you are about things. That makes me feel that I'm not good enough for you either, but enough or not I want to be here, with you."

REVIEW: RULES OF NON-ATTRACTION BY ANDREA SOTO-PIONILLA.

Title: Rules Of Non-Attraction
Author: Andrea Soto-Pionilla
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: February 2017 by Spark Books
Source: Bought from National Bookstore
Pages: 80
Genre: Romance, New Adult

Synopsis:
It wasn’t love at first sight. It wasn’t even lust at first, or second, or third. Alexa and Ivan are just friends—roommates, at that. For him, she’s a scheming, social-climbing she-devil. For her, he’s a stiff, boring know-it-all. Should be fun, right?

Of course, things don’t ever go as planned.

Quitting the high-paying dream job, squandering rent money, and getting unceremoniously dumped pale in comparison to the bigger problem of falling in love with the most unexpected person.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ Anvil

Social climbers are old news. You can easily spot them in action every day, everywhere. I don't mind though. So when I read Rules of Non-Attraction and it highlighted how Alexa do it, I couldn't help of course, think about those people who try so hard to live a life they couldn't afford. It was so risky but impressive if I may say.

Alexa's personality is strong, loud and she's brutally straight to the point. She says literally what she thinks and it comes off as a problem, in my opinion. There's nothing wrong with sticking to the truth but calling people names and hating people for how the look are things that are just simply wrong in so many levels. I cannot justify her hurtful words with her immature/bitchy personality because hurtful words are hurtful words, period. The synopsis says "scheming, social-climbing she-devil" as a head's up for readers but I cannot and will not approve of her attitude. I know there's a possibility of character redemption if given the right amount of time to develop but right now, that knocked off two stars from my rating.

The story is a little bit predictable due the tropes but I felt like it was executed amazingly. The writing style is smooth and believe me when I say this, it was such a huge relief that I didn't see any typos at all! Alexa was so in denial about her feelings from page 1 but the romance was given ample time to mature. As I have said above, her character is redeemable but in this short story, I didn't appreciate how she treated Ive. It felt abusive to me. There's this thin line between a character whose personality is strong and an abusive one and Alexa definitely is the latter.

A romance that is admirable with a redeemable character, Rules of Non-Attaction is an enjoyable and swoony read that is worth your moment.

"But Alexa flet her pulse slow and her head begin to clear. She slowly felt the courage she had been praying so hard for fill her body. It spread through her torso and settled in her chest.
Past that, she detected something else she didn't completely recodnize. It was wild and fiery, but happy. It overpowered the nagging doubts and anxious questions scratching at her heart. It was wonderful.
And that was the bright neon sign saying that it was the time to get carried away.
"It's more like... more like I love you," Alexa said quietly."

REVIEW: DON'T TELL MY MOTHER BY BRIGITTE BAUTISTA.

Title: Don't Tell My Mother
Author: Brigitte Bautista
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: April 23rd 2017 by Spark Books
Source: Bought from National Bookstore
Pages: 94
Genre: Romance, New Adult, LGBTQIA+, F/F

Synopsis:
With an overly zealous mother as her guide, 19-year-old Sam has never had problems navigating through Christian suburbia before. But, all that changes when she befriends and becomes intrigued with Clara, her widowed neighbor and the village’s social outcast. When their friendship grows into the “unnatural”, Sam is forced to examine her upbringing and come to terms with who she really is.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon ▴ Anvil

Don't Tell My Mother is an exquisite story about a girl coming to terms with her sexuality. It was a rough road Ava had to go through but that didn't stop her from being true to herself. Growing up in an all girl's catholic school and being in a hardcore self-righteous "christian" community, Ava fought hard and endured so much just to be with her first love, Carla. It wasn't the "boy+girl" relationship so her surroundings made it too difficult for her. But you see? LOVE FUCKING WINS.

I was a first hand witness to these kinds of homophobic/self-righteous people. It was and is sickening. God did tell us to love one another but these people are just so extremely close-minded and selfish I couldn't help but feel this fiery rage that they have to be so stupid like that. But I gotta respect people and be gentle in making them realize how wrong they perceive my LGBTQIA+ friends. I wasn't around anymore to know if they'd eventually come to their senses but my friends are happy and that's what matters to me most.

The writing for Don't Tell My Mother is superb but also slow. I hate slow-paced stories in general but this book felt like it needed the slowness. It has to have time to develop and I could say I am satisfied with how events turned out and how it ended. The backstory of Ava's dad gave the entirety of it all a huge and strong kick and I loved how heart-wrenching it was. I wish though that Ava kept in touch with her dad. I just feel like it would mean the world to him if she did.

I also wish that some goodness in the Christian Community could have graced the pages, even just a little bit. To balance it out.

Don't Tell My Mother is a journey to acceptance and self-love. It is another story that champions how love wins. It feels heavy in the heart but surely puts bright lights in the mind.

"I mean, what do you do when you don't have to be you?"

REVIEW: ALL THAT GLITTERS BY INES BAUTISTA-YAO.

Title: All That Glitters
Author: Ines Bautista-Yao
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: 2017 by Spark Books
Source: Bought from National Bookstore
Pages: 124
Genre: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
hen they have nothing better to do, college students Billie Santiago and Carlos Angeles enjoy imagining what their lives will be like five years into the future. It’s never serious—just a whole lot of teasing and poking fun at each other. Until blindingly handsome, PR professional Iñigo Antonio saunters into the university bookstore where Billie works. All of a sudden, she finds herself face to face with the physical manifestation of the very dream she tells Carlos about.

Captivated by Iñigo’s magnetic personality, Billie is lured into his dazzlingly glamorous world—much to Carlos’s frustration. But as Billie notices Iñigo might not be playing by the rules, Carlos begs her to stay away from him. When Billie doesn’t listen, she realizes too late that she is in over her head and it may take a miracle (or a boy who cares deeply about her) to help get her out of it.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

▴ National Bookstore ▴ Anvil ▴

Bulleted thoughts:

• Bestfriend turns lovers trope. Was absolutely stoked about this but then I was just underwhelmed.
• The plot is too predictable.
• Typos here and there (siiiiiigh).
• Carlos Angeles, the bestfriend, is another character that is just too good to be true.
• Billie, the female lead, the female-jealous-and-girl-hating lead. Why would you hate someone just because they like glittery things?
• And then we have Iñigo, the hunk who Billie fancies the first time she saw him and then she started stalking him on social media.
• Practically skimmed sixty pages of it because a) predictable and b) too flowery.
• What happened (SPOILERY): Billie practically is drooling over Inigo. Carlos is with glittery girl Patricia (she's nice to be honest, she didn't deserve the hate and cold treatment from Billie). Billie hates Patricia. Inigo offered Billie a part time job but only to bust Inigo's extortionist ass. Billie is jealous with Patricia. Carlos is jealous with Inigo (and it's as if he used Patricia for distraction/diversion which is so unfair). Then Billie had undergone makeover. Carlos fell for her. Dafuq.
• How shallow it is for a person to realize he's in love with someone right after her makeover. Women are more than their physical appearance so fuck you po Carlos. You could have assessed yourself in the middle of the story but no, you waited till she had her makeover. So fuck you po Carlos.

I definitely won't read this again. Sigh. I wish I loved it like a lot of people did but I just can't. Here's hoping Ines' other books would redeem me because this one certainly let me down.

"Now, I'm not content. I want more than this with you. So much more than this But I... I know you don't."