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: 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: 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: 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: 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! 

Review: ALIENATED

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.  Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

 Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking. But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.  Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. 

"Vibrant colors didn't exist on L'eihr, and she reminded him how oh how alien this new world was."

I'm not really a big fan of aliens and stuff like that but I gotta give points to the illustrator who did the cover because it is the main reason I read this book. It just piqued my curiosity. And the fact that tons of people really love this book. It has a high rating and readers reviewed this with such admiration so I was like, "What's the big deal here?"  

"I'm not be your intergalactic booty call." 

I didn't really put much expectation on this one because reading the gist of the story already made me feel that this book is as cliche as the other books but the difference is, this one use aliens (that look like humans). The story seems very predictable, there's not much to be excited about.  The characters aren't so likable. No character to look up to. They don't possess great values and attitudes. I expected more from the protagonists but nada. I don't like Cara as much as the next person. And what's with her boyfriend and best friend? I think their "romance" is unnecessary. Writing that part of theirs seemed to be just trying too hard to make the story a lot more interesting but failing miserably. 

"He watched her with that loosed a swarm of fireflies inside her belly." 

There are parts that I really don't get like when she got bullied. It doesn't make any sense. Why is she being bullied? It's not like she's obsessed with Aliens or she is the one who picked herself to take an alien in their home. So much confusion on that part and it's like the school didn't make such effort to stop the bullying or at least make a damage control coz I gotta tell you, it's their fault in the first place, they picked Cara and it's their responsibility to make everyone understand the whole situation. I really don't like that everyone is so "in love" with Aelyx. It's like his character is so much empowered. He is described as if he is the most good looking creature in the universe. I mean, if he looks like human then there is a greater chance that there is nothing special about him except the fact that he's an alien and there are small things that make him different from the humans but c'mon, I bet there are who are a lot good looking than him.The romance is...meh. I didn't feel it. I didn't fall in love or gushed about it. There is not much connection. And it's predictable. I mean, in the beginning it is damn obvious that Care is smitten over Aelyx because of how handsome he looks. 

 And I believe the concept of L'eihrs aren't fully elaborated and there are so much more to put to help the readers fully understand or grasp the idea of them. But that's my opinion, I don't know about you guys.It's not something I would recommend and I'm not discriminating the book because it has aliens and stuff. Not really much of a sci-fi for me.

Review: CROSSFIRE SERIES

Bared to You

He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

Reflected in You

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want to. He was my addiction… my every desire… mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful… except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity. We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession…

Entwined with You

From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn't resist. I also saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside—so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat. No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become. Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession...

Captivated by You

Gideon calls me his angel, but he’s the miracle in my life. My gorgeous, wounded warrior, so determined to slay my demons while refusing to face his own.

The vows we’d exchanged should have bound us tighter than blood and flesh. Instead they opened old wounds, exposed pain and insecurities, and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows. I felt him slipping from my grasp, my greatest fears becoming my reality, my love tested in ways I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to bear.At the brightest time in our lives, the darkness of his past encroached and threatened everything we’d worked so hard for. We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we’d had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream...

Let me just outright tell you guys that I liked this book and I even bought a paperback of the first book and it was a first time for me to buy an erotica and I was like 16 during that time. Honestly, I enjoyed the first three books but I guess (and feel) like Sylvia is just dragging the whole story and it becoming less and less interesting. In my opinion, it would be better if the story ended in the third book. Its now coming out as trying-too-hard.

"I must've wished for you so hard and so often you had no choice but to come true."

I actually like this series better than Fifty Shades (which I believe is poorly written and lacks context and meaning). The first time I came across this book I felt relieved because I was expecting it to turned out to be a completely and utterly disaster and disappointment but it wasn't. It's actually the polished version. It's just sad that it's very similar to the Fifty Shades. Although I have mentioned that I have enjoyed the first three books, it doesn't necessarily state that its something worth reading. Its a book that you'd probably read when you're trying to kill time or alone in some place and wants to not look too weird for being alone so you pretend to read a book.  

"You are mine, Angel." 

There is a lack of consistency in the characters. Ava is indecisive. And their issues, the portrayal of their issues are too unrealistic, unbelievable and downright insensitive. The step-by-step process of dealing with their issues aren't shown. It seems as if they have been blinded with high level of libido that they both have forgotten about their traumatic pasts that, may I point out, are both in relation with sex. I just want issues like these to be treated with respect and made believable because there are actual people that went or going through with these sort of stuff. The sex scenes are funny. I never felt hot and horny. I'm not also sure if those sex scenes are supposed to be funny or romantic or sexy coz they're definitely the first one. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to expect something more from a smut disguised as a contemporary romance but hey, a girl can dream, can't she? 

I was expecting some kind of connection between the two protagonist but there isn't. There is sexual tension though.I guess all I'm saying is, if the author wants to drag the story, she could've at least slowed down a bit. Let her characters develop, build a connection between them and make things a bit more realistic.I gotta say, the fourth installment is plain drama that it's not worth dealing with anymore. Again, just dragging.