Review: RANDOM

Who's the real victim here? This tense and gripping exploration of cyberbullying and teen suicide is perfect for fans of Before I Fall and Thirteen Reasons Why.

Late at night Tori receives a random phone call. It's a wrong number. But the caller seems to want to talk, so she stays on the line.

He asks for a single thing—one reason not to kill himself.

The request plunges her into confusion. Because if this random caller actually does what he plans, he'll be the second person connected to Tori to take his own life. And the first just might land her in jail. After her Facebook page became Exhibit A in a tragic national news story about cyberbullying. Tori can't help but suspect the caller is a fraud. But what if he’s not? Her words alone may hold the power of life or death.

With the clock ticking, Tori has little time to save a stranger—and maybe redeem herself—leading to a startling conclusion that changes everything.

“Don’t let your mouth write checks your heart can’t cash,” 

The short description of what the story is all about is not as intense as the story itself. The fact that it is recommended to fans of Before I Fall and Thirteen Reasons Why is enough to tickle my curious cat. I adore both books so it isn't a surprise that I have a soft spot for this one too.

What made it even more intense and gripping would probably be the fact that the whole thing happened in a span of 24hours.  I became invested to it from the very beginning and it escalated even more at the end.

I could only imagine the thoughts going on in the mind of a sixteen-year-old girl when she received some strange call from a person thinking of doing suicide. It's already bad that she had to go to a trial because of a felony act and now, she was  given such huge responsibility for another person or life.

I simply love the smooth twists and turns. It was beautifully sewn together. It wasn't cluttered or confusing. It all made sense.

I have also a strong objection against bullying in any form or type so clearly I am not happy with Tori's character. I just can't accept the fact that she wasn't aware that she was practically goading someone to bully another person or the fact that she was actually bullying someone. So the whole dropping of another suicide situation on her lap made me thought that she kinda deserves it at some point. It served as a lesson to her actually, in my opinion though. I mean, she's obviously too selfish, inconsiderate and plain insensitive. I just hate people like her that doesn't think twice about the consequences of their actions as long as other people thinks that they're cool.

This book is amazing in its own ways. The protagonist may not have killed the bullied person but that doesn't make her an innocent at all. And that's what this book is all about and what it teaches. It teaches us how a simple act could become something big and could ruin someone else's life. It may be a joke to you or your friends, you may not see the person you commented with something bad but it doesn't mean that that person isn't hurt or not taking it seriously. We have no idea what each person is going through in their lives so we gotta be careful with how we talk to them or how we deliver those unnecessary jokes.

The ending is priceless, its something I did not see coming. I was left speechless and my eyes widened. It made perfect sense and I loved it.

It may sound boring to some because it is consisted mostly of phone conversations but I do believe that it is what made the whole story intense and thrilling, like you're on a thread with Tori too. And as I've mentioned, Tori is selfish and it made the readers jittery because there could be a possibility that she might not help him and would more likely not be involved with it.

I highly recommend this to all. It's a must-read. A different treatment about cyberbullying because we get to see the other side of the story. It's in the perspective of one of the bullies. It would teach all the readers the value of being responsible with their actions and words. Kudos to Leveen!

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.

ANNE WNDR READS: JUST ONE DAY (JUST ONE DAY #1)

Goodreads

“Sometimes the best way to find out what you’re supposed to do is by doing the thing you’re not supposed to do.”

Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.

A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the “accidents” of fate, Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.

The first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

"We are born in one day. We die one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day

Exactly! Gayle Forman just proved to all of us that anything is possible. That it's not about the time, it's about how much you want something to happen. This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions. There may not be some heavy drama scene that have transpired in the pages but I have experienced more than just sadness and happiness. There is so much to this book that not everyone could see and read. Gayle was able to give us such promising story.

"Traveling's not something you're good at. It's something you do. Like breathing."

I must say I really like this book a lot. For a moment I imagined myself as Allyson and at some point, I feel like we have something in common. I actually wanna be her, you know, take a day off from everything, pretend I'm someone else, be lost in a foreign city and for once, not care where my feet takes me. It's something one would want to experience for once in their life.

"He showed me how to get lost. And I showed myself how to get found."

It's basically a slice of Aly's adventure and we just can't deny that her character developed so much throughout the story and we've seen it (I'm guessing we all did). I actually didn't expect that Willem would be her love interest. I usually don't read synopsis. I go for the "Judge the Book by its cover". It's thrilling and exciting because it's like reading with your heart and not with your eyes.

I appreciated Willem's character so much. He's that kind of a person you want to be free with. I love how reckless and impulsive everything seemed to be. His spontaneity is what made me love him and how peculiar he visions the world and everything around him. Being with him means taking risks and just letting go. It may sound crazy if it were acted in reality but the idea itself is something to look forward to.

"Accidents. It's all about the accidents"

I actually love this quote. Again with all the spontaneity. This book feels so liberating. And for once, I felt as if I could let destiny take over of the whole journey. I know, that sounds so cheesy (and maybe crazy) but hey, it's what books do to us, right?

Ally's character is not very positive. She has a different way of dealing with  herself, people around her and the situation she is in. I would say that she is like most people in the world. She's this lost girl that just needed time to finally find herself. She doesn't help, she's no damsel in distress. She's smart, She just need work things out on her own for her to able to learn.

 

"He showed me how to get lost and then I showed myself how to get found."

I could get annoyed at Ally for expecting something more from someone she just met but I refused to. I cannot exactly blame her for feeling that way. She just shared something special with someone, There was a bond, an intimacy between them. It's like, she finally have found someone who could truly show her how to appreciate life then she got overwhelmed.

"You have to fall in love to be in love, but falling in love isn't the same as being in love."

For a moment I learned how to hate Willem. Why? Obviously, she left girl he just slept with in a foreign place. Aly was lost. She put her trust to him. Again, I don't wanna blame her.

But I'll be a spoiler now. You may wanna read Just One Night to restore your faith and love to Willem. It would finally makes sense now. The ending, I mean.

Anyway, this book certainly deserves a. . .

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: EVERY DAY

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere. It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day. 

“If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: We all want everything to be okay. We don't even wish so much for fantastic or marvelous or outstanding. We will happily settle for okay, because most of the time, okay is enough.”  

I remember coming across this book because it somehow struck me as different from all the other books I've read and not a big fan of SciFi, I wouldn't know if there's a book/story similar to this. Anyway, because of the presence/existence of this book, I came to love David Levithan to the point I bought all his books in paperback and like what I've mentioned before in one of my reviews, I don't just buy paperbacks, I make sure that that book is worthy of my penny/buck and that I am totally in love with it that I just really need a physical copy of it sitting in my shelf.

“It's one thing to fall in love. It's another to feel someone else fall in love with you, and to feel a responsibility toward that love.” 

Twistedly, I love this book despite it's flaws, as people would say. Yes, I am one of those people who just felt something in us move upon reading this. Cheesy? I know. I'm sorry. Reading this book irritated me. Why? Simply because I was imagining myself as A, going through all those situations, lacking sexual identification, lacking a real life, basically lacking the means of being a real person/identity. It's infuriating. 

"The past and future are what's complicated. It's the present that's simple."

I must say, A's character is not unlikable. You could get fond of him/her and I like how we are able to see how he lives the lives of the host and at the same time, create meaningful moments or help the host at some point.  It's like story after a story after a story within a bigger story. I admire how the author made us feel that we could never be lost in those throngs of stories, that we are still intact with the big picture.  The stories varies, there's humourous, downright sad and tragic so it's never dull. There's something new to look forward to.

I got frustrated when it came to the end because I was looking for answers, wanted answers as to why A's is experiencing it/this but as I come realize, the questions left unaswered are what makes this book different and special. I mean, the whole point of the story is not knowing who A is or where A came from, the whole point is philosophical and could vary on how the reader perceives it.

“I wake up thinking of yesterday. The joy is in remembering; the pain is in knowing it was yesterday.”

With A's love interest. I'm just not quite ecstatic about it. I have no idea what makes Rhiannon different from the others, was it her relationship with the self-centered jerk? But who knows, it may not be as understandable to readers like me (A's relationship with her) but I guess A have found some kind of connection with her that he/she never found from anyone all throughout his life situation. I'm totally gonna read Six Days Earlier.

“I love you-I do-but I am afraid of making that love too important. Because you're always going to leave me, A. We can't deny it. You're always going to leave.” 

I kind of pity her because I could only imagine how overwhelming it was to have a bomb dropped into your lap out of  nowhere. It's fantastical and it would be hard to absorb but at some point she did. And I'm glad she did because I know how hard it might be for A to not find someone who would understand his/her situation and be acknowledged as something/someone he/she really wants. I just love the idea that A was not alone anymore and that there was someone he/she could confide into. That is refreshing.

“This is what love does: It makes you want to rewrite the world. It makes you want to choose the characters, build the scenery, guide the plot. The person you love sits across from you, and you want to do everything in your power to make it possible, endlessly possible. And when it’s just the two of you, alone in a room, you can pretend that this is how it is, this is how it will be.” 

I don't know but at the end of reading this, I felt comfort and sadness and I just found myself daydreaming for a few minutes. Some may not understand what I mean but it was what it was. It sure made an impact in me and I'm pretty sure to most of its readers too. It's just bittersweet. I may not be a fan of Rhiannon but A saying goodbye to her was just so heartbreaking for me. The story may sound aggravating or confusing but I'd like you guys to give it a shot, take a moment and learn to know its meaning.

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: 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! 

Review: TROUBLE WITH FLIRTING

Franny's supposed to be working this summer, not flirting. But you can't blame her when guys like Alex and Harry are around. Franny Pearson never dreamed she'd be attending the prestigious Mansfield Summer Theater Program. And she's not, exactly. She's working for her aunt, the resident costume designer. But sewing her fingers to the bone does give her an opportunity to spend time with her crush, Alex Braverman. If only he were as taken with the girl hemming his trousers as he is with his new leading lady. When Harry Cartwright, a notorious flirt, shows more than a friendly interest in Franny, she figures it can't hurt to have a little fun. But as their breezy romance grows more complicated, can Franny keep pretending that Harry is just a carefree fling? And why is Alex suddenly giving her those deep, meaningful looks? In this charming tale of mixed messages and romantic near-misses, one thing is clear: Flirting might be more trouble than Franny ever expected. 

"You know, if you're going to take me aside when I'm behaving badly, I may start behaving worse. Just to get some attention from you."

Basically, I'm in love with this book. I can't quite remember how I came across with it but I sure remember visiting a local bookstore and finding this book like 90% off (I know, I can't still believe it) and it's the only copy left so yeah, I was squealing like a pig, hugging the book so tight as if someone would try to steal it and took a picture of myself with it. What? I got excited. It's 90% off baby! What's not to get your panties in a twist?

All I can say is, this book is something you'd love to crack open while you're enjoying a cup of tea and a plate of muffin or brownies coz it's the perfect book for that kind of mood. It's light and sweet, underrated but oh-so fluffy and funny kind of contemporary. It would give you mix of emotions like you just don't know what do anymore, it's like you want to jump inside the book.

Obviously it's a typical teen romance book, you know the whole girl has a huge crush with this gorgeous guy but then he likes this girl who is bestfriend with this equally gorgeous guy who happens to be a bad boy who falls with the first girl. So yeah, it's like a giant love square/triangle. And teens could defo relate with the characters at some point. There's drama, swoon-worthy guys, jealousy, cuteness and girls who hates other girls. What's not to like?

I definitely love the friendship between Isabela and Harry. They're like friendship goals. They're so sweet in a friendly way.  Franny's character is just so indecisive, gullible and too blinded with "love".  I mean, c'mon girl, Alex is obviously just screwing you, playing with your feelings so move on and just kiss Harry!

From the very beginning, I knew I wouldn't like Alex. There is just something about him that screams "trouble!". And of course, my gut feeling was right.  I definitely hate him. I mean, it has been what two years since I have read this and every time I remember him, I still have that feeling of wanting to strangle him and knee him in the balls for being such a butthole.

I like Isabela's character. I think it suites her name, she's pretty but defo strong. She may be a little bratty but she at least knows what she wants. The girl knows how to stake her claim.

Marie's character is definitely good. She's an effective antagonist. She totally fires up the whole drama thing. I hate her so much too. She's the kind of girl I'd love to shave the hair off. And even though she's the most hated (because let's face it, she came between my Franny-Harry ship!), she helped Franny's character to get her feelings straight. And of course, Harry's character. Sweet, romantic, caring, completely cute Harry.  Who wouldn't fall in love with his character? He's the gorgeous friendzoned guy. He's the kind of friend you'd love to be BFFs with and the kind of guy you want your parents to meet. And his love-hate relationship with Franny is just too cute. 

Obviously, I recommend this to everyone who wants to get rid of their stress and wants a new crush (Harry!). I recommended it to all of my friends and so far, they love it as well. I've heard good reviews about Epic Fail so I'd probably try to read that next.