Review: WHERE WE BELONG

The author of five blockbuster novels, Emily Giffin, delivers an unforgettable story of two women, the families that make them who they are, and the longing, loyalty and love that binds them together

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her.

For the precocious and determined Kirby, the encounter will spur a process of discovery that ushers her across the threshold of adulthood, forcing her to re-evaluate her family and future in a wise and bittersweet light. As the two women embark on a journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever. 

"Even if we no longer have much in common, we would have always had the past, which, in some ways, is just as important as the present or future. It is where we come from, what makes us who we are."

Despite the fact that I have complete copies of Emily Griffin's books, this is the first time I've read one and I couldn't hide my delight that I am not disappointed nor irritated that I put my time and effort into reading one.

What triggered me to read this is the protagonist. Believe it or not, I got interested in the story because we share the same name. I put myself in the protagonist's shoes, you know, I imagined this was my story which made things or the whole experience a lot more interesting for me. I mean, I wanna be a TV producer and live in New York City after I graduate, so, yeah. Feels like a whole jump into my future, except the whole kid though.

"Whats not to love is hardly a reason to love. And the catch of your life is not the same thing as the love of your life. Be careful of that subtle but rather crucial distinction."

Everyone will agree to me that the story isn't fresh or unique, it's something we've seen on TV or movies or basically have read. The author's treatment is pretty much the same to others who have similar plots too but that doesn't mean that it's not worth the time.

I love that it didn't shy away from the reality. People who has or had the same experience would definitely relate with the characters. Marian is the typical 'i don't know how to deal with a child I put in adoption' kind of birth mother. I understand why she had to put the past behind her but at least she didn't totally deprive the child to at least get to know her coz she still used the same contact address she gave to the adoption center so that's saying a lot.

I didn't exactly appreciate the character of her boyfriend. I get it that he has the right to get upset that she didn't tell him right away but weighing everything down, he should be the more understanding one. Marian has tons of reasons why she didn't exactly tell him. It's not some lame secrets that you could just blurt out. It's something way bigger than anything else.

I love that Marian's character is dynamic. I have seen how she grew as the birth mother. She totally tried her best to at least bond with Kirby. Her awkwardness was not because she didn't like Kirby's presence but simply because she didn't really know how to deal with such situation and that's pretty normal. I just didn't like that she kept the whole pregnancy a secret to the birth father. I mean, cmon, he has the right to know. 

Kirby, on the other hand, I totally understand her attitude. Her feeling of indifference with her family. There's no deprivation of love and care from her family. They all love her equally but being an adopted, it's pretty normal to not find a single common interest with the members of the family. Her rebellion and the way she kept pushing them away is normal and I didn't get annoyed by it because she's also a developing character. She's going through a lot of 'finding herself'. I am just completely amazed that she went through her way to locate her parents and didn't exactly blame them for anything but just, you know, looking some closure and looking for that missing part of her life.


This book is not entirely magical or amazing of some sort. It's a good quick read, nothing fancy though. 

Review: THE GEOGRAPHY OF YOU AND ME

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.  

I have been in a long distance relationship for like a year and a half now so maybe that's why at some point I was able to appreciate this story and its sentiments. I have voiced out my opinion towards This is what happy looks like and it turned out to be This is what boring looks like to me. It was pretty much harsh but it spoke truth on my part. Jennifer E. Smith's books have made quite a buzz which made the cat curious.  

 "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

When I learned what this story is all about I was keen to know how  she'd be able to pull it all off. I mean, they're basically strangers, they only met once and apparently that meeting turned out be like sparks flying. And as you may all notice that's the starting point of all J.Smith's story. What I was looking forward to was how they'd be able to develop a relationship with such little and inconsistent communication with each other. Their means of communication was through postcards and emails which isn't exactly an ideal way to use when you're in a long distance relationship so it got me saying, I wanna know more. I feel like this is some sort of a good challenge for the protagonists. How would they work this all out considering Lucy moved out all of a sudden to a new country?

"How long could a single night really be expected to last? How far could you stretch such a small collection of minutes?"

It was all of a sudden. It was like, they suddenly met and then they suddenly just went apart from each other. And those all happened in the first few chapters of the story. It's like we were forced to love and admire a relationship or couple with such little amount of moments between them.  And that was such a challenge for us too because we had to decide whether we wanna move forward with this story or not and I'm proud that a lot have taken the challenge like me. 

"There was no point in waiting for someone who hadn't asked, and there was no point in wishing for something that would never happen."

As much as I doubt the postcards and emails as being effective means of communication I have found it quite more endearing, more intimate and more meaningful than receiving texts. I'm not against texting or calling, I mean, my boyfriend do that a lot but I don't know, postcards and emails just screams effort to me. And you get to have something from that person you love that you can keep. I mean, you'd be able to hold postcards, it's cute and with the emails, not everyone is bold enough to use them nowadays but you know, its cute too and its different. Its like bringing the old times back. You know what I mean? But hey, when you're in a long distance relationship, every means of communication is important and special to you. 

"Maybe they were never meant to have more than just one night. After all, not everything can last. Not everything is supposed to mean something."

What I also love about this book is that, there was no instant love between the characters. The relationship they have are a product of a challenged long distance friendship.

The character aren't very dynamic. There was little development. I love how they were introduced and how I was able to learn so much about them, their relationship with their family and how they dealt with issues surrounding them. The idea of them having different relationship with other people was nice. I felt like it helped a lot for them to actually work on what they felt towards each other and to finally come terms to what they have between them.

"When there was nothing but space between you, everything felt like a leap." 

The story is obviously fluffy, just cute and romantic in a very light way kind of a contemporary. It's not exactly life-changing, it doesn't make you wanna have a Long Distance Relationship with anyone but I can  guarantee you that it's a quick read you'd definitely love and enjoy. It may not be the kind of book that would stick with you but it's definitely worth the shot.

Review: LANDLINE

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now. Maybe that was always beside the point. Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her. When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything. That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts... Is that what she’s supposed to do? Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

“I love you more than I hate everything else.” 

I love Eleanor & Park that's why I have high expectations for this book and I have great respect for Rainbow Rowell but I just can't hide my dismay upon reading Landline.

In all honesty, I wasn't able to finish the whole book. Shocker? Nah. I just really can't put myself into that kind of misery so I had to stop and make this review for once and for all. I tried to give it a chance a couple of times but nada, there's no connection between me and the story. I found myself just skimming the pages the whole time. 

"Even if your heart is broken and attacking you, you're still not better off without it."

The premise is just horrible. The characters are barely tolerable. Not a single character appealed to me. People may say, it's not a YA novel, you couldn't connect with them because you just can't relate to them being that they're adults and married couple. In my defense, YA or not, if a book really has a WOW factor in it everyone could totally feel a connection one way or another. I guess what happened here is that, the idea is interesting, it's promising but sometimes, the great idea stays as an idea. When you try to put it in work, it's not what you actually visualized and it all just flunk. Like a "what you want is not always what you get" kind of thing. But at least Rainbow was brave enough to try and make a story like this to happen just not in the standards it was supposed to be.

Review: THE LOVER'S DICTIONARY

A modern love story told through a series of dictionary-style entries is a sequence of intimate windows into the large and small events that shape the course of a romantic relationship.  Anyway, I love this book and I've read this like a couple of times ever since I've bought a copy. It's a very interesting read. For starters, it's not your average story constructed in paragraphs. This one is in a dictionary form. For some that may encounter it for the first time, it may look like an ordinary dictionary that has little story in each words but it actually follows a story of a couple and how their relationship have progress/developed, complications that came along the way and the sweet moments they had. 

“Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how many words there are, there will never be enough.” 

What I love about this is that the protagonist may not be introduced in a way that other books do, it still did not became a hindrance for the story to evolve. It's a different kind of approach, unique and unconventional flavor but still gives you the feels that you are looking for. It's realistic, any person that are and were part of a relationship may relate to. I would go far and say that even those who aren't in any relationship would actually enjoy the entries. This book basically have let us peek into a relationship with real ups and downs.

It's raw, emotional, poignant, funny, infuriating, heartbreaking and just beautiful in any sense. It's like reading poetry or little snippets of a show but the thing is, it's not selfish. The reader can still fully understand the situation. It's romantic nonetheless and I am always left sighing in amazement and contentment when I finished it. I highlighted all the entries because they're just gorgeous and clever.

But here are some of the entries that hit me.

“misgivings, n.

Last night, I got up the courage to ask you if you regretted us.

"There are things I miss," you said. "But if I didn't have you, I'd miss more.” 

“abstraction, n.

Love is one kind of abstraction. And then there are those nights when I sleep alone, when I curl into a pillow that isn't you, when I hear the tiptoe sounds that aren't yours. It's not as if I can conjure you up completely. I must embrace the idea of you instead.”

“breathtaking, adj.

Those mornings when we kiss and surrender for an hour before we say a single word.”

“flux, n.

The natural state. Our moods change. Our lives change. Our feelings for each other change. Our bearings change. The song changes. The air changes. The temperature of the shower changes.

Accept this. We must accept this.” 

Review: LOSING IT (LOSING IT #1)

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

“Sex.

I was going to have sex.

With a boy.

A hot boy.

A hot BRITISH boy.

Or maybe I was going to throw up.

What if I threw up on the hot British boy?

What if I threw up on the hot British boy DURING SEX?”

The cover didn't give much impact and so did the plot. I guess I already predicted what was going to happen and I've read a bunch of novels where a 20s virgin girl is determined to lose her V-card with the help of a very liberated bff. Shocking? Nah. I blame the synopsis coz it actually gave off everything so there's not much of a surprise there. 

It's just so weird how they met. I mean, the guy was reading in a bar. For starters, no one could be able to read in a bar. There's no chance for him to focus on what he was reading coz it's a bar. I'm pretty sure he looked absolutely stupid reading there. He could've just went some place if he really wanted to read and kill time at the same time. Just saying.

I didn't get much connection with any of the characters. Well, I guess I had with Garrick since he reminds me so much of my boyfriend. I only meant the British blood and the fact that his first name is my beau's last name. It's so weird. 

Anyway, Garrick lacks character. Aside from his British accent there seemed to be nothing more about him. There is no chemistry between him and Bliss. I felt like it was too fast.I don't see any development. I mean, they only met in a bar and wanted to have a one night stand but failed miserably. They don't know each other that much. They're completely strangers and yet, the author wants Garrick to just have this sort of jealousy streak in him. I'm thinking that it would be rational for him to feel the need to be possessive or territorial over Bliss if the both of them actually had the chance to build some sort of relationship/connection/intimacy between them aside from awkward "was-supposed-to-have-sex".

And don't let me start with the dropping of I love you's. That's just ridiculously stupid for me.

“Some relationships just end. Like a star, they burn bright and brilliant, and then nothing in particular goes wrong, they just reach their end. They burn out.”

Bliss's came out to me as cliché. She is described as awkward but the only thing that's making her awkward was the fact that she was a virgin 20 something girl (which btw, is not an awkward thing for me). Her description contradicts her actions in the story. She's actually perfect in the story. She's gorgeous without knowing it (cliché), gets the man (cliché) and has a good circle of friends. I just think she's a tad stupid. I mean. the lie with her nonexistent cat? It was funny for a moment but hey, a five year old kid could really come up with a better one than her. I feel like it's the author's way of making her seemed awkward but then failed miserably. I just didn't feel any passion and want and need in either of the characters. I mean, this is a forbidden love story. A professor and a student. I am supposed to feel as if this is a guilty pleasure, some exciting breaking of rules. Some sort of a promising taboo story. 

Although I could say that the first few chapters made me chuckle a little. I could picture the scene it was a little bit funny for me and there are some funny lines too that I could actually use as a reference in the future. But basically, that's all of it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Review: HOPELESS

 Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies… That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried. Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

“Fuck all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.” 

This book is the first book of Colleen Hoover that I got and I've read this like years ago. I remember just going through Goodreads and looking for something worthy to hoard/read when I came across with this title. Most of the time when I look for new reads, I usually go after the high ratings of the book followed by good reviews then the plot. The first two were promising and the latter part was a bit off for me. I wasn't instantaneously hooked with the plot but you know, when people are making a buzz out of something, you tend to become curious. That was what happened to me.

"And once again in my new world full of heartache and lies, this hopeless boy finds a way to make me smile." 

While the rest of the readers of this book were moved, teary-eyed, overpowered with such sadness upon reading it, I was not entirely impressed. I guess at the back of my mind I already knew the twist coming my way. Holder is intense and mysterious and not in a good way for me. I mean, if I were Sky, I'd prolly be so uncomfortable with him around and would kick his ass. I would not let some guy come up to me and demand things from me as if I owe him big. I would not even let that guy pass without making a dent on his face. And I would NEVER fall in love with him too because I'd probably be more cautious around that guy and would look after my well being first than thinking of how gorgeous he is.

"But I'm not falling in love with her piece by piece anymore. I'm in love with the whole girl. Every single piece of her."

The story is not hard to understand. There's not much of a surprise or a big BANG in the middle. 

I really cringe every time a female protagonist salivates over a "handsome" or "hot" guy in the story. I mean, can't for once the guy be a little bit not so attractive to the point that not all the girls in the story wants to lick him up? Excuse my French. And to make matters worst, he's abusive and more of a stalker. And this guy is her love interest? Oh dear. Help this poor girl. But guess what, she describes him as "scary but beautiful." Another female protagonist to fell on to the palms of another abusive YET handsome guy. Bravo!

"I need to know how to rely on myself to stay strong because I'm the only one I can trust."

I also am not a big fan of Sky because I've noticed that she keeps on criticizing other girls and comparing herself to them. Then she keeps on saying that she's not a slut because she haven't slept with anyone even the "lots of people I made out with". And take note, she keeps on slut-shaming them after, of course, she stereotype them. It's as if she's the only girl in the story that is pure and chaste and could not and never be associated with the term "slut" because why? She freaking reads! What's up with that? 

I know protagonists are not perfect and all but could you please make her character a little bit nicer? Her character is not really someone that should be somebody's favourite.

The story lacks a lot in the consistency department, people and yet everyone is just swooned. There's a lot to consider before falling in love to such book. It's a shame that this book are read by young readers because it basically promotes unhealthy relationship. The message that this book basically wants to tell everyone is if you have an issue or something, just find yourself a hot (and abusive) guy to fix you because later on, you two would have sex to make you feel better. Again, excuse my French.

Review: REASON TO BREATHE (BREATHING SERIES #1)

"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?" In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection while pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises - not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth - but at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide.  Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

This book is intense, beautiful and dang powerful. My emotions were haywire. I have never experienced lack of sleep because of a book. I mean, I was up the whole night because I just couldn't stop reading and my eyes, oh my eyes. I was a cry-baby. My heart shuttered into million tic-tac pieces and I felt like punching a wall because of full on rage. In other words, I was disoriented and lost after reading this book.

"In the balance of love and loss, it was love that made me struggle to breathe."

I have never felt extreme anger towards a character. Her aunt is someone I would want to use my steel bat on to. What she does to her is unacceptable and no amount of apologies could change the scars, the welts of the leather belt, the tears and the feeling of wanting to die. The way the antagonist is portrayed and written is powerful to the point that it's terrifying how effective her character is. I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who sympathize with Emma and want to help her. Her aunt screams cruelty beyond repair. I don't even wanna think about her because it only makes me feel like strangling someone. I crave for justice for Emma. No person deserve such treatment. I tell you. No person should feel inferior towards these kind of people but rather stand and take all the courage to tell someone. I mean, you're never alone. Never think that.

“Love helped me live life instead of just survive it.”

I found myself crying through every page I read. I even sobbed. And I'm not even a crier myself. It just proves how the story, the struggles and pain of the character really cuts deep through every reader's heart and soul. I know that there are people who goes through this kind of  situation in their life that's why this makes it even more hurting to read because at the back of my mind, I feel so helpless to those people in actual need like this. This is why no one should judge anyone. No one knows what the other is going through. People should be aware of other people. Be more sensitive. Gosh, I'm really preaching here. This just really hits right in my heart. And counting days til she leaves for college? BAM! More tears and piece of my heart stomped over and over again.

I salute Emma for being so strong, I know there is a downside on her character in this first book. People would say she didn't show much of a bravery because she didn't fight back or anything but we can't really judge her. We're not in her shoes so it's hard to tell. It's easier said than done. There are things to consider.

I love how Evan just sweeps in the picture. He might be considered as the "Knight and shining armor" but this is the kind of cliche stuff I love because Pete knows how Emma badly needs someone to be there for her, see right through her and even if she wants to be invisible, I bet a 100 bucks that she, at least, want someone to be her shoulder. And that, ladies and gents, is Evan's purpose.

His entrance doesn't focus on wooing her but rather helping her and that's what is amazing with this. The development of their relationship is slow, concrete and well-adjusted. Rebecca didn't hurry them. She build them thoroughly and that what's makes their relationship much more appealing and lovable. Despite the darkness of the issue, there are rays of light and hope. His determination and willingness to know more of her are extremely something to be noticed and take pride of.  I enjoyed their little moments. I was happy for them. That even though the situation is brutally terrifying, they have found peace with each other. I feel like I was part of every scene like I was living them with them. My heart raced because I know that at the end of the day, she has to go back to that house and face the evil music. The situations are very realistic. I love how it is played because I could actually walk through the scenes in ease with the characters and I could understand them full and feel every bit of it.

I love Rebecca's writing style because the writing may not be as graphic (to the point that it would scare you) but it sure still gives you the full context and essence of the story and it works your imagination just like a snap of a finger. I commend Rebecca and I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has the heart and soul to take up this challenge of reading such "serious but not too dark but definitely heartbreaking story". Please do prepare your eyes and heart for some serious damage.

I was left breathless here.

Review: THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE

If fate sent you an email, would you answer? 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?

“There are different kinds of happy,” she said. “Some kinds don’t need any proof.”

Upon writing this review, I kept on wondering, "What do I really feel about this book?'. I mean, I was interested before as like everybody else. Some of the bookworms I know were gushing about this so, what did the bookworm inside me do? I got a copy because I just can't stop thinking, "What's the fuzz about?".

“Exactly. How can you know it makes you happy if you’ve never experienced it?” 

Well, it's a typical "girl meets and falls in love with a handsome famous boy who happens to have personal issues", blah, blah, blah, blah. I gotta say it's cliche and in my opinion, this is what boring and legitimately uninteresting story looks like. No offence to the fans and all but I'm not impressed. Aside from the fact that I've heard stories like this a bunch of times so, it's not exactly unique per se, it's just not the kind of book you'd get hooked on to or to the point that you don't get to sleep because you can't stop reading.

It's plain boring. I wasn't moved. I wasn't hooked. I didn't fall in love with the characters nor did I come to love their connection to each other coz I believe there's no connection or chemistry. What I did notice is that it is fast. The whole L-O-V-E is too fast. It's like *snap* I'm in love. It's instantaneous. 

They met online. They talk to each other using email. That's it. They didn't even talk over the phone or see each other via Skype or something to at least feel that there is an attraction going on between them. I mean, how would u know that you actually like this person from the other side of the World Wide Web/Internet? He/she is basically a stranger and more importantly, might be a serial killer or a pedophile. You don't even know if those things in that email are completely true. The default thing to do to actually verify if that person you're talking to online is, at least, who he/she really is, to see the person via Skype. And from that point, you don't instantaneously fall in love. That's crazy. Sure you feel like you two have a connection, share the same interest and all but L-O-V-E? Nu-uh! Don't be too gullible. This is not "Love at first click/email".

It's funny. How they knew that it must be something more or that Graham wanted to kiss her instantly. I mean, you don't know the person. Your information is basically unverified and verified by one person only and that's her/him.

Honestly, I only liked the first few chapters. The emailing and stuff were cute but that's it. Beyond that, it's blah. No climax. Nothing to get excited about. No hype. I mean, I'm supposed to get excited to the fact that they'd meet for the first time but since the characters are delusional, thinking they feel more about each other, I just yawned. 

The personal issues of the characters are realistic but not well thought of. I guess I'm pointing to Graham's issue with his parents. Doesn't make any sense to me. There are contradictions with how their characters are established or how the situation is established. I get it that the author wants to, you know, make things happy and all so at the end she claims that his parents are keeping tabs on him. 

“Childhood memories were like airplane luggage; no matter how far you were traveling or how long you needed them to last, you were only ever allowed two bags. And while those bags might hold a few hazy recollections—a diner with a jukebox at the table, being pushed on a swing set, the way it felt to be picked up and spun around—it didn’t seem enough to last a whole lifetime.” 

And don't get me started with Ellie and her mom's financial issues. Her mom is completely selfish. I mean, I get it she has pride and dignity that's why she refused money from the biological father but c'mon, if you know that you can't fully support your kid then shove that pride away and think about what's best for your kid's future. Money is important. Let's not lie. And in Ellie's case, it is proven. 

“Maybe growing up was really nothing more than growing away: from your old life, from your old self, from all those things that kept you tethered to your past.” 

Anyway, I really can't believe I finished the book. But it wasn't easy since it's not something I'd love to sit through the very end. Obviously, I am looking for more than just cuteness. More concrete plot, I guess. But I'd definitely recommend it to those who are just into fluff and this kind of cliche story. But you know, I'm not closing doors to Jennifer's book. I'm actually liking her The Geography of You and Me. Just kudos to her illustrator. The covers are pretty. Hooking, actually.

Review: THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME

"My heart didn't fail, someone failed my heart."  

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.  Brie's life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.  But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.  With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?  

“You can obsess and obsess over how things ended—what you did wrong or could have done differently—but there's not much of a point. It's not like it'll change anything. So really, why worry?” 

This is one of the few books I just love the most. I am completely and utterly head over heels in love with this book. I spent money just to have my own copy of this book and I don't spend much to just ANY book. This is just outrageously beautiful and awesmazing. I've read this book countless of times and I still get tingly inside. I still get the same emotions as when I first have read it. This book makes you feel the roller coaster of emotions and leaves you dumbfounded in the end because you just can't believe it is finished. And who did not see the plot twist coming in the end? I was like an OMG moment.

“When you're in love, the world is brighter. Sunnier. The air smells flowerier, and your hair is silkier, and suddenly you find yourself smiling at babies and strangers and old couples walking down the beach holding hands.” 

What I love about this book is that it's not cliche. You'd think it is but it's not. I expected something light and girly but I got more than that. It's full of humour, you'd laugh, you'd fall in love with the characters, you'd cry, sympathize. Basically, a silver platter of roller coaster ride of emotions. It's all sugar and spice and everything nice.  And one can easily relate to Brie's struggles and pain. And c'mon, the cover? It's so pretty. I love it better than with a girl in a purple dress. This one screams romance and cuteness and something mysterious.

At first, I wasn't buying the whole "literally died of broken heart" coz I've never heard such thing so I was thinking that maybe the author was just too over the top with the description. I also got heartbroken when Brie's boyfriend told her he doesn't love her anymore. I mean, what person would wanna hear that from a person he/she loves a lot and for someone so young? I already expected she wouldn't take it lightly. I mean, teens are more likely to take love "seriously". And then she died because of that? I was like, "Man, now it's hard to dump people coz you'll never know if they'd die of broken heart too". I seriously got worried for people who'd get dumped. We don't really know things like this, illnesses like this, so it's really scary. Thank heavens for the heads up, Jess!

"My yesterday, my now and my always and my forever." 

I got curious about the whole "I don't love you anymore". I had the gnawing feeling to know what had happened and how did it come to that point of no love anymore. And the fact that her bestfriend came into the picture, things started running in my mind and all I wanna do is know if what she and I are thinking are true coz damn, if my best friend do that, she wouldn't wanna know what I'd do to her, So yea, I felt betrayed along with Brie. We both assumed which was a bad thing. I'm just relieved, like Brie, that it's not what we assumed. And I guess, I can't feel anger towards the boyfriend because for starters, his intention is to not hurt her (which happened anyway, and even worst) but I think things would be different if he just trusted her and told her what was really going on. I mean, she was his girlfriend anyway.

When Patrick came into the picture, I liked his character right there and then. He's witty, humourous, annoying (to Brie), his character is simply lovable. And his relationship to Brie is just so cute. Love-hate? Who doesn't like that? They just balance each other out. I just love how he had the growing urge to help her through the stages and guide her along the way. And the nicknames? So cute. I could almost imagine him, 80's look with that jacket? Hmmm.

I like the little story about her friends. It's good that the book also give way to friendships. I like the stages and how they are well-written (in my opinion). It's something you could also relate to other situations in life which is great. I actually took notes about it. And my most favourite part of the book is the setting of the afterlife. Pizza parlor? Pizza all you want? Damn, I want to visit that place. Lol. This book is simply a page-turner. You'd want more and more from it. It's not predictable. You'd think you know what's gonna happen and them BAM! you're lost and dumbfounded because you did not see that coming. The twists are great. That's what I love about a book, it makes me narrow my eyes in confusion and be like, "What just happened?". I love being surprised. It only shows how well-written and well-thought of a book is. 

I have recommended this to my friends and they loved it. We gushed about it and we all felt the same emotions so now I'm recommending it to you guys!