“Sometimes, the unexpected happens. Sometimes, someone makes you break your own rules.”
180 Seconds is the first Jessica Park novel that I've read. The intriguing blurb was the one that pushed me to read this. In a word, this book was captivating. However, it didn't go where I thought it was heading and I kind of expected something a little different.
Allison Dennis left the foster care system at the tender age of 16. She has lived with seventeen different families and transferred from one home to another, but nobody seemed to adopt her permanently. Until the gentle, kind-hearted gay Simon. Her situation allowed her to become aloof and unwilling trust anyone but her childhood best friend Steffi. When she began her third year in College in Andrews College, she didn't plan to make new friends. One day, she was involved in a social experiment led by the famous social media icon Esben Baylor and found herself sitting in a chair, face-to-face with him, for 180 seconds.
“It's going to hurt until it doesn't anymore.”
The book started out, well, amazing. There were cute and sweet scenes that made me swoon. And I can't deny it, I was wowed by the intense way the 180 seconds interaction was written. Simon and Allison's heart-to-heart talk also made me bawl my eyes out, as well as Allison's hardcore friendship with Steffi.
"And when you're lucky enough to find one-- just one-- person in this unforgiving life who makes everything worth it, who you love and trust and would kill for, then you hold on damn tight, because that's probably all you get.
I loved Jessica Park's writing style. It wasn't that perfect and flawless for me, but it was good. The things that I didn't quite like in this book include the romance which moved way too quickly and the predictable twist in the near-end. I saw that twist coming right from the beginning so when the bomb dropped, I wasn't shell-shocked at all.
The last remaining chapters were kind of a let-down. Somewhere around 80%, the scenes went unrealistic for my taste and hard to believe. And is it just me or there was something off with the writing from this part? When it comes to the ending, it was satisfying but I'm not sure if I liked the cheesy parts.
If there is one thing that I am most grateful for in this book, it's the absence of bullying. I kind of expected the worst kind of cyber bullying here knowing that Esben is a social media star and all that. But thankfully, there was none.
“It is allowed, I remind myself, to be wholeheartedly in love.”
The message in this book was deep and heart-wrenching. It dealt with subject matters in a balanced, real-world way. There were unrealistic scenes, but to be fair, the book had its cute, sweet, and beautiful moments.
“Life happens. Shit happens. And it happens a lot. To a lot of people.”
I loved that the book focused on the stages of grief and the3 Stars
“Life happens. Shit happens. And it happens a lot. To a lot of people.”
I loved that the book focused on the stages of grief and the significance of healing other than the romance. However, I feel like I would've enjoyed this book so much more if there wasn't the infamous insta-love. I lost my connection with the book the moment Layken "Lake" Cohen and Will Cooper became emotionally attached to each other in an instant. Would it have been better if they started off as "friends" rather than having their relationship fast-forwarded to "forbidden love"?
The best parts of this book were Lake and her family's interactions. There were times when I found myself having the difficulty to take everything in because of the tear-jerking exchange of dialogues between her and her mom. And oh, I loved the poetry that the characters rendered. And Kel and Caulder are adorable kids, too.
I conclude that Slammed wasn't one of those Colleen Hoover books that gave me such an indefinable feeling. It wasn't as good and unforgettable as November 9 and Confess, but I loved the life lessons that it inspired as a whole. But please, no more insta-love. Please.
"I know now that things are always more than what they mean. Things mean different things to people. People are the ones who give m
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"I know now that things are always more than what they mean. Things mean different things to people. People are the ones who give meaning to things."
4 Meaningful Stars!
For most us, searching for the meaning of a particular word in the dictionary is as easy as looking for a certain thing that is missing in our room. For our 14 year-old heroine Olive Guerrero, however, it's not about that. Every time she runs into a particular word or thing, she contemplates its meaning on the deeper side and not just on its literal definition.
Olive grew up in a Filipino community, embracing its beautiful tradition and way of living. All throughout her childhood, she didn't have any knowledge who her father is because every time she asks her mom about him, her mom would just dodge her question and wouldn't talk about him. At home and in her school, she's also aware that she's quite different especially when it comes to her physicality. She often even wonders why she doesn't share the same traits with her cousins. These things lead to a lot of questions in her mind and bring us to her beautiful perspective.
Reading this book felt like living in a teenager's foot again. It was simply refreshing. I was once an Olive Guerrero. In my younger years I was so curious about a lot of things. But of course, Olive is a lot more enthusiastic than I am because she focuses on the certain things' relevance to her life. On what they do to her and what they make her feel. She's an old soul living in a 14 year-old body and for that, she has my admiration.
What Things Mean was simply a sensible book and I think every teenagers need to read this. It teaches life lessons and more importantly, it tackles the importance of family relationships and ties. I loved that the concept also focuses on the traditional Filipino values which for me is quite comforting.
"Don't be afraid to fall down. Most of the big things in life are on the other side of hurt."
I especially loved how Olive learned a lot of things from her relatives. I think she's lucky more than she'll ever know because despite the absence of her father, she has a supportive mom, uncle, and grandmother and her relationship with her cousins is great, so it's not so bad at all. As a whole, I did enjoy this book. It was a quick read with relatable characters. The setting, which is my homeland, also makes me feel proud of this book. I can also say that the author, who is a Fellow Filipina, writes incredibly. Her words are so smooth and so easy to get into. I highly recommend this book to all the youngsters who are looking for a wholesome read!
(Thank you to the author Sophia N. Lee and Scholastic for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!)
"All humans make mistakes. What determines a person's character aren't the mistakes we make. It's how we take those mistakes and tu
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"All humans make mistakes. What determines a person's character aren't the mistakes we make. It's how we take those mistakes and turn them into lessons rather than excuses."
More than 5 Stars!
(I buddyread this book together with my sissy Bea. Click her name to read her beautiful review!)
It Ends with Us proved to be a big surprise in the best sense possible. I'm telling you guys, this book is Colleen Hoover at her very best!
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I have read Colleen Hoover books in the past and they really have such a huge impact to me, but nothing compares to this novel. It's a different take on sensitive issues. And somewhat personal. Colleen Hoover did an amazing job in giving us a glimpse of what it is to have a different outlook in life, family, and relationship. To live in constant struggle. To hate someone dear to your heart and to even feel an ounce of compassion to that person despite your remorse. It very much pucks an emotional punch.
"I fell like everyone fakes who they really are, when deep down we're all equal amounts of screwed up. Some of us are just better at hiding than others."
Lily's character amazed me the most here. What she's been through in her childhood... it was awful. But I can say that she grew up as a strong person despite it all. I was awed by her determination to live a life far away from her mom where there are so many painful memories that correspond. She didn't want to experience a life similar to her mom's so she kept reminding herself never to become like her in the future.
This book delivered such a deep and sensible message that particularly targets women. I thought this is a very important book and everyone should read it because it has a say on something so personal. I fell into the story so easily and at times, I found myself taking a break in the middle of some chapters to reflect and... sob. There were just so many different kinds of emotions emanating from the pages which is of course, typical Colleen Hoover's magic.
"You make me want to be a different person, but what if I don't know how to be what you need?"
And when I learned in Colleen Hoover's note that this story is inspired from her mom's experience, I fell harder and I wept. I haven't read as good and as personal as this book and this is really remarkable for me. It's something special.
"Not everyone is homeless because they chhoose to be. They're homeless because there isn't enough to help to go around."
Atlas's character was also unforgettable here. I loved him. Every time I think about him my heart squeezes up so bad I feel like crying. And Ryle... I thought he's also a character that felt real to me. I especially loved his naked truths. I also thought Lily's write-ups in her journal are one hell of an emotional ride.
"No one is exclusively bad, nor is anyone exclusively good. Some are just forced to work harder at suppressing the bad."
There are so many things that I wish to say in this review but I'm afraid they will serve as spoilers so to wrap it all up, I'm in love with this book. It's everything and then some. The plot was fairly unpredictable and there were so many lessons entwined that will shake you emotionally and ruin you and turn you into a mess. Another spectacular job, Colleen. Thank you for sharing to us this wonderful piece of journey!
"And when I whisper, 'I love you, too,' it's the most naked truth I've ever spoken to him."
Talk about an amazing book at its most extreme! This book is a rare gem. You know it's crafted to tear your heart into a million(More than) 5 Stars!!!
Talk about an amazing book at its most extreme! This book is a rare gem. You know it's crafted to tear your heart into a million pieces but you still read it anyways 'coz it's beautifully written and heartfelt!
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"Maybe everyone represents a piece of the puzzle. We all fit together to create this experience we call life. None of us can see the part we play or the way we see are just the tip of the iceberg. And maybe we just don't recognize the blessings that come as a result of terrible things."
Making Faces is a story about a girl named Fern Taylor. She's one of those protagonists people call an 'ugly duckling' because of her frizzy wild red hair, crooked teeth, a million freckles on her face, and huge eyeglasses. But even though she grew up with a knowledge that she's not physically attractive like the rest of the girls in Hannah Lake, she was well-loved by her parents and her cousin and best friend Bailey. While in high school, she developed this infatuation to Ambrose Young, Hannah Lake's golden boy and the most popular guy and most looked-up to. Ambrose has all the things young girls will fall in love with. He's beautiful, strong, smart, talented, athletic, perfect. But when 9/11 happened in the U.S. which urged him to sign up for military together with his close friends, his life changed and he returned home with a tortured soul and a ruined physicality.
I can't believe I haven't read it sooner.Amy Harmon is such a genius and a talented author and I knew it just by reading the first few paragraphs of the book. She did a wonderful job in this novel because of the way she chose words that absolutely hit home. All throughout the book I found myself hanging on to every word because I'm afraid I'll be missing out a tiny detail.
What struck me most about this book was how the author inspired everything based on real life. The characters she featured were so raw and without any pretense. The main setting she chose was also peaceful and quiet and in a way, very comforting. I also loved the fact that the book tackled some inspiring and religious concepts which made me ponder my own reality. It also gave us the glimpse about the experiences military men face outside the country and what it would be like to work in those areas away from home and from loved ones.
I cried a lot of times all throughout the book because of the deep and meaningful messages it instilled and how it portrayed the importance of being close to God as much as being close to your family and friends. I also learned from this book that inner beauty is more important than physical beauty and what matters most is the good things you impact to someone's life.
"I think sometines a beautiful face is false advertising too, and too many of us don't take the time to look beneath the lid."
The book also has a good romance in it. Ambrose and Fern's romantic development-- from childhood strangers to friends to lovers-- was so remarkable. It developed naturally and beautifully. Their love was so inspiring I don't think I would ever forget it. I am forever thankful that authors like Amy Harmon exist. An incredible book like this deserves the spotlight. It's one that I wouldn't trade for any book.
In Making Faces, the emotions emanating from the pages and the overall impact was truly worth the ride. So if you're looking for a book that will provide you a good cry, do yourself a favor and put this on top of your tbr! :')
"Thank you for making even ugly things beautiful."
Questing for a Dream is a Young Adult contemporary book about Nadie, a teenage Native American Indian girl who lives in Manitoba Cree and is a 4 Stars
Questing for a Dream is a Young Adult contemporary book about Nadie, a teenage Native American Indian girl who lives in Manitoba Cree and is a member of the group called Nehiyaw. She's responsible for taking care of the children in the band and she's happy about it, until her beloved cousin Luyu died. She wasn't able to move on from her grief which led her to "rebel" and find herself somewhere far away from her native land. When she arrived in Winnepeg, her view towards life changed. She started to dream about enjoying the city lights and the places that are different from her home. However, life wasn't that good for her when she was away because she met people who took advantage of her vulnerable situation. She experienced abuse and racial discrimination.
This book was such an inspiration. P.D. Workman presented a very compelling and realistic story about how Native American Indians live their simple ways and how they view life in general. In this book I learned a lot about their culture. How they take care of their sick in a form of medicinal plants and herbs. They even have what they call the medicine woman who serves as their adviser and who talks about how spirits affect their health.
I especially loved the plot in this book. Things were very interesting in the beginning and it even became a lot more interesting in the second half of the book when Nadie went to Winnipeg and Calgary where she experienced real life. What happened to her-- being abused in a form of drugs and being racially degraded, was cruel and horrible, but it happens in reality.
The author's writing was so good. At first I thought this book would be a difficult read since I don't normally read books with cultural substance but the way it was written in an engaging way made the experience enjoyable for me. It was fun to read Nadie's journey and her self-realizations. I became intimately involved and sympathetic to her as she took decisions after decisions.
This book, in addition, also has its strength in weaving in life lessons. It made me realize that there's always no place like home. If you live away from your home and your loved ones, one day you will still look back and dream of going back to where your heart belongs. As a whole, this book was a good read. It provides knowledge about other cultures and it's something that portrays about living, enduring, and moving on. :)
(Thank you to the author P.D. Workman for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!)
Back To Us is a story about two broken characters who started as strangers and who eventually became friends until they realized that they fell4 Stars
Back To Us is a story about two broken characters who started as strangers and who eventually became friends until they realized that they fell in love with each other. Things were not that easy for Justin and Jessica though, because these characters have inner battles they're fighting and their issues were the main reason why getting into a relationship was difficult. Jessica's parents abandoned her and her brother when she was 14 and since then, she has been living independently. Justin's life, on the other hand, changed when he came back home with a broken soul after he experienced an accident in the military.
This book is not your typical love story with broken characters. It has something more than romance. It was emotionally-driven and it narrated true-to-life situations. I loved that it tackled family dilemmas and life after horrible accidents, too.
What made this book remarkable was the strength of the characters. Jessica awed me. She's very dependent and tough and despite everything that happened to her, she didn't lose hope.
"That's what happened when your parents decided to dump you before you even started high school. Sink or swim, and I was one of the best swimmers I knew."
And although Justin was vulnerable at the start (He constantly wallowed in self-pity), he developed in the later parts and decided to stand up on his own which made me teary-eyed.
It's also quite amazing how Back To Us reminded me of the book Me Before You. You know, stories with physically and emotionally scarred heroes. :'((
When it comes to the ending, it was emotional and beautiful. I just wished that things between Jessica and her parents were settled. It could have been better if there was a resolution with her family in the end. As a whole, it was a great and a heartfelt read and full of life lessons, too. I loved the author's writing which was simplistic and easy. I definitely recommend this book if you love emotional romance stories like Me Before You or Nicholas Sparks books. And oh, before you start wondering if it has a sad ending, nope. Your heart is safe. :)
(Thank you to the author Teresa Roman for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!)
When books give you so much realizations after reading it... that's the time when you know they're making a difference. This book is one of the3 Stars
When books give you so much realizations after reading it... that's the time when you know they're making a difference. This book is one of them.
All We Have Lost is an adult fiction that tells a story about Kim Waters, a very successful career woman who particularly works as an editor. She has a caring husband and two beautiful kids and her life has been perfect, until she decided to leave her job and follow her dreams of becoming a novelist. That's the time when all things change-- including her relationship with her husband.
This book was reality-based and it hit home. What happened to Kim all throughout her career-change journey was sad yet remarkable because it happens to some women especially those who experience career and relationship failures. It's a rare experience for me to encounter books like this that's why I was moved.
When it comes to the writing, I loved the style of the author especially because there was humor in it, but let me be honest. There were some scenes that I thought were unnecessary which made it difficult for me to enjoy. Otherwise, it was still a good adult fiction and very sensible. It taught valuable life lessons. The heroine, Kim, was also a great character to read about because of her strong-willed personality. (I actually loved the way she took notes in everything she did. I wish I'm organized like that!)
If you're in for some meaningful contemporary reads with family relationships as the main subject, I recommend you to check this book! :)
(Thank you to the author Aimee Alexander for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!)
This book makes me want to read more sports romance books. It's a Young-Adult-slash-New-Adult read that is all kinds of cute an4.5 Jason Brody Stars!
This book makes me want to read more sports romance books. It's a Young-Adult-slash-New-Adult read that is all kinds of cute and adorable. I enjoyed every bit of it not just because everything was swoony but because the book also depicts life lessons and narrates a touching family drama that will make your heart melt. It wasn't just all about falling in love with someone but it also deals with family issues and morals.
When 17 year-old Annie Lucas met the gorgeous 19 year-old baseball pitcher Jason Brody, she didn't expect herself to get infatuated with him after their series of encounters. Annie's dad is Jason's and his teammate's new coach, and she's just a high school student. Thus, falling in love with him meant she's on her way towards forbidden love.
I had a very great time diving into this book. The connection I had with the cute characters, the beautiful settings, the drama aside from the romance, and the sporty theme was so unexpected. It didn't fail to hold my attention and got me all wrapped up more than I thought I could. In the end, it put a smile on my face.
I especially felt connected to the characters. Both Annie and Jason Brody are likable characters. Annie is one responsible girl. Her attitude is typical 17 year-old but I like her because everything she says and does are on-point and the way she cares for her dad makes me want to hug her. Jason, on the other hand, is amazing. Apart from the fact that he's seriously a hot athlete, he's very different compared to some dudes in sports romance books that act like they own the world. Although Jason was every girl's target in this book, still, he doesn't abuse his popularity and play around women. He's just... so perfect! And very ideal.
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When it comes to the romantic aspect, well.... I really loved the fact that there was NO INSTA-LOVE. The romance was developed naturally. Annie and Jason's chemistry here was off the charts as well. I was literally rooting for them all throughout the book!
What I also loved was how Julie Cross described the dynamics of baseball game here. I was impressed. I mean, I'm not a baseball fan and I only know few basic rules about this sport but it felt like I was watching a real live baseball game because of the way the action in the field was being described. Bravo to that!!!
All in all, Whatever Life Throws at You is a great sports romance book that I will highly recommend to everyone. It's quickly engaging and with likable characters and side characters (Lenny London included).
"Life is funny sometimes... the worst possible things can get you to the best possible places. If you just enjoy the game."
A beautiful, moving story about two orphaned siblings named Fyolka and Danilka and a cobbler named Terenty who were together in the woods after TerentA beautiful, moving story about two orphaned siblings named Fyolka and Danilka and a cobbler named Terenty who were together in the woods after Terenty rescued Danilka when his hand was stuck into a hole in a tree. In just one day, Danilka's life changed after learning a lot of things from Terenty.
This short story is touching. Anton Chekhov's powerful prose explores a child's desire to learn more about the world and to live in a normal society where childhood experiences should be explored. It's a real life expressed through every spectrum, with deep and entertaining dialogues that will somehow give you unexpected emotions. The writing is simplistic yet the message imparted in the story tugs the heart. :)
"Recent events in my life have made me realize that our choices are not always as black and white as they may seem, especially the most complex ones-
"Recent events in my life have made me realize that our choices are not always as black and white as they may seem, especially the most complex ones-- the ones involving family and love."
There is something so incredibly beautiful about this memoir of Howard Shulman, the man whose face was devoured by an infection when he was born. It's a story that inspires. It's an eye-opener and a reminder that life is sometimes cruel but nevertheless, amazing because of the imperfections that somehow make us human.
Howard was left by his parents right after they discovered that he's suffering a staph infection and his face quickly disappeared. Believing that he will barely make it, his parents handed him to the hospital and later on, he was sent to a foster family where he grew up normally despite his appearance.
This story centers on the importance of a child's growth and development, of one's self-esteem and a sense of belonging. Going through the pages, I felt so bad for Howard for being able to carry such burden from his birth right until he continued to grow up. Being bullied and being the center of one's animosity and loathing... it wasn't that easy to handle for him. But he was able to, even though he also had some bad decisions that turned his life into a mess at some point.
I love the message behind this autobiography. It simply tells the readers that despite your imperfections, you are still worthy to live and to be loved just like anybody else. Overall, this book is inspirational. If you fancy real life stories that can make a difference in your life, I highly recommend you to read Howard's life story.
(A copy of this book was given to me by Sandra Jonas Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)
Einstein's Beach House surprised me! I didn't know what to expect from this book and from this author but the overall impact it brought me was beyond Einstein's Beach House surprised me! I didn't know what to expect from this book and from this author but the overall impact it brought me was beyond my expectations. This book consists of 8 short stories, each with different themes but all in all, coming up with one thing -- life experiences.
The writing style of Jacob M. Appel is so impressive. He has this unique plot and great, three-dimensional characterization and he laces everything with humor and emotional conflict that even if each story was short, I felt as if I was reading a regular-length book.
I made a brief review for each story because I was too overwhelmed with everything in this book and here they are:
1. Hue and Cry
This is the first short story of Einsten's Beach House. It's a dark and twisted story, with an underlying sensitive issue that centers a man who is a sex offender. How he was treated by the people around him totally describes harsh reality. I don't know exactly what to feel about this but I can say that the author very well establishes a great reality-based story.
2. La tristesse des hérisson
This second short story held a very heavy topic which was handled perfectly with humor. It's about a couple who adopted a hedgehog. Sounds a bit normal but the moment they took the hedgehog home, their relationship slowly went downhill because of some psychological issues that were focused on the hedgehog. If you read this book blindly, you will appreciate the hidden message the author was conveying. This short story is beautiful and gripping. It's psychological and an eye-opener. We tend to blame other people for the fault which is entirely done by ourselves and act this defense mechanism which is so-called displacement.
3. Strings
"It's much better to not be okay when you ought to be fine, than to be perfectly content when you really should be falling to pieces."
Well this third short story hits home. It's about a 40 year-old woman who was approached by her ex-lover who's a musician, for a favor. At first I didn't get the message behind the story but when I reached the ending-- wow! The story sent a deep, powerful message that hit straight to the core. It's about defining the value of success and failure and how each person's approach towards these things vary. It's also more about moving on and forgiveness.
4. Limerence
The fourth short story of this book completely stole my heart. It's heartbreaking. It's a flashback story about a teenage boy and a girl whose friendship started right when they were in high school. Despite the girl's imperfections and issues in life, the boy slowly developed feelings for her, which was unfortunately not returned due to the girl's circumstances and misfortunes. I love how this short-length of a story felt longer than I've thought. There was so much emotional depth in this story. The melancholy tone also made me feel like I'm reading a Nicholas Sparks book. From the beginning up to the end, I was pleasantly moved because of the great characterization the author was able to distinguish and the emotions being poured that tugged at my heartstrings.
5. Einstein's Beach House
Now this fifth story is more about the things that usually happen in the family household. It's about a couple with two kids who live in a beachfront house which was perceived as Albert Einstein's beach house. As they later on made the house a source of their income through the tourists that usually visit because of their curiosity, they later on learned that in fact, the house was originally owned by Einstein's niece. What made this short story brilliant was how the author emphasized the essence of sentimental value for a particular thing and how a person values childhood and family relationships. The ending of this short story was so touching!
6. The Rod of Asclepius
By far, this sixth short story is my most favorite of all. I loved the dark theme in which a father and a daughter bonded through some twisted kind of activity. In this story, the father was introduced by the author in a very mysterious way. He pretended to be a doctor whenever he enters the hospital and when he's inside a particular room, he injects random patients, basically killing them. But he always did it together with her daughter who was a seven year-old. As the girl grew up, the memory of what happened still lingered and even served as a traumatic experience to her. This is such a brilliant, dark story. It's cringe-worthy and as usual, very well-written. It also gives a reader something to ponder in the end.
7. Sharing the Hostage
This short story is particularly funny! It's about a divorced woman who wanted her tortoise, which was already in the hands of her ex-husband, back. The ex-couple didn't have a child but the way they value the turtle, sharing a joint custody, as if it's their own child, was so hilarious and strange. The woman and her lover planned to abduct the tortoise from her ex-husband but when they've already had it, they realized that maybe after all, they shouldn't have took it because it won't survive in their planned trip. All throughout the story, I was laughing because of its unrealistic but hilarious approach. In the end, I realized that the story itself shows the importance of giving value to a certain thing-- no matter how small or big it is.
8. Paracosmos
The last short story of Einstein's Beach House is charming. The story centers around a small family consisting a couple and a daughter. The daughter had an imaginary friend whom the couple thought was alarming. This short story is realistic in a way because having an imaginary friend is part of childhood. The message behind the story was also amazing. It emphasizes importance of family bonding and of course, the importance of fidelity.
As a whole, Einstein's Beach House is a masterpiece and a real gem! I am so thankful to have been given a copy of this book from the author because it's a book that I will forever treasure. The contents are all unique, amazing, and very well-written, in a can't-put-it-down way. It's a powerful anthology that explores every sensible and even psychological aspect of life. If you want a wholesome, thought-provoking reads, I highly recommend this anthology!
I've listened to this novel in audiobook and I've enjoyed every bit of it. The voice of the narrator and main character Charlie, is so lively and engaI've listened to this novel in audiobook and I've enjoyed every bit of it. The voice of the narrator and main character Charlie, is so lively and engaging, it actually gives the story a lot of entertainment.
The story is told in Charlie's perspective in a form of series of letters to someone. It's like listening to someone read a diary-- but in a deeper and more dramatic sense. Throughout the book, Charlie conveyed everything about his life as a freshman and the inner struggles he had-- trying to fit in to everyone even though deep inside he just wanted to settle in the corner and just hide. Until he met his new friends who basically changed his life-- Patrick and Sam, his life as a wallflower became meaningful.
First, I really love Charlie. I saw how his character grew and how he managed to change himself for the better. With the help of his friends, he was able to shine and get out of his shell and just live as an ordinary high school guy. What I also love about him is his amazing intellectuality. A 15 year old guy with such deep and sensible thoughts? I'm really awed. There were (a lot of) times when he also tested my heart's vulnerability and totally made me teary-eyed. His story is hard to explain because it's too emotional and it screams painful reality about the imperfections of life, family, friendships, and relationships.
“What about when someone doesn't need a shoulder? What if they need the arms?”
I also admire Sam and Patrick. They are one of the best side-kick characters I've met in a book. They are perfectly flawed but they make the greatest friends ever! I really love how they give meaning to Charlie's life and how they made everything light and easy for him.
“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.”
I cannot express more about my feelings toward this book. It's too good and realistic. A moving and incomparable story that teenagers and even adults can relate to. This book will not be easily forgotten, for sure.
"We accept the love we think we deserve."
Rating: 4 Stars
------- THE MOVIE --------
I've watched the movie right after listening to the audiobook and I was really hooked. I love the casting and I love how everything was delivered well. It wasn't like any other film adoptations that seemed to be hurried. The film was neatly done and all the important parts and dialogues from the book was shown on screen. I also think that the soundtracks are amazing. (My favorite was Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House).
Aaahhh so many feels after watching the film! I could not find any flaw in it because it's one of the best film adaptations I've watched in my entire life. So if you haven't watched the film yet, go watch it now. But make sure you read the book first. ;)...more
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