Poem: One Lie Then Goodbye

Those were the days when we still smiled to each other
You would hold my hand and I'll blow you a kiss
Everything was so simple, things were working out
But now look at us, always screaming and things are going south

Those were the memories we treasured most
We were walking down the street with love in our eyes
Everything was dear to us, our words were enough
But we've changed, now we walk away when things get rough

Those were the good old times we thought would last
I promised to love you a lifetime and you did too
Everything felt so right, we thought we'd stay forever
But what happened to forever when you couldn't even stay longer?

That... was us
You and I... and our great love
Everything... everything was so perfect until that lie
Now I'm fighting for our love while you prepare to say goodbye

Those are my tears I can't stop anymore
Because you choose to walk away while I choose to fight
Everything I did, and yet you're still leaving
When you were the one who lied and left me hurting

Now this is my goodbye
It still hurts but I don't deserve this
Everything... everything will still lead me to you but...
I'll try to unlove you after this lie then I'll be fine

Book: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

 ★★★★/★★★★★
 
you've touched me
without even
touching me

 

I wasn't prepared to read this book. I didn't expect it to be this powerful, to be overflowing with emotions. Now I'm not sure what to feel because I'm so overwhelmed. This book has touched me and it's very beautiful. The words, the messages, the illustrations, everything. It's meant to be read.

The book is divided into four chapters; the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing, and each page will surely make you feel something, if not tug at your heart.

you might not have been my first love
but you were the love that made
all the other loves
irrelevant

***

i don't want to have you
to fill the empty parts of me
i want to be full on my own
i want to be so complete
i could light a whole city
and then
i want to have you
cause the two of us combined
could set it on fire

***

nothing is safer
than the sound of you
reading out loud to me
- the perfect date

Poem: Waiting Still

I'm not the kind of girl you fall in love with

Not the kind you'll ever notice

Maybe not the one you'll ever need

But can you just give me a chance, please?

I will try my best to be that girl you like

Because I can be like her too

I can be funny and sweet and loud

I can be everything she is to you.

You just have to look my way and see me

Notice the girl who's been waiting

'Cause I've been loving you patiently

All these years I've been hurting.

Book: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

★★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

“I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together-knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.”  

I knew the moment I finished Six of Crows I had to read this book right away! I loved the first book but Crooked Kingdom took my love for it to a whole new level. I mean, oh my god Kaz and his crew! It's been a crazy ride this book and every twist and turn will make you love it more. Like seriously!

So we're back with Kaz and his crew after they broke in and out of the Ice Court. It was a suicide mission, an impossible heist, but thank all the Saints they got what they came for (more or less) in the form of Kuwei Yul-bo. They were to get their reward that could make them rich beyond their wildest dreams when Van Eck crossed them. Uh-oh, not a good idea. But Kaz is smart and he'd somehow expected that to happen so he had a plan. The only problem was he made a teeny tiny mistake that caused them to lose Inej. Now they're plotting to get Inej back and make Van Eck regret crossing them. And when the news about jurda parem spreads and reaches the leaders around the world, Kaz needs all the help (and tricks) he can get to protect Kuwei and rescue Inej at the same time. To make things a lot messier, Van Eck teamed up with Pekka Rollins and if Kaz gets lucky, he can get Inej back, can protect Kuwei, make Van Eck pay and finally get his revenge to Pekka Rollins all at the same time.

My gahd! This book is a masterpiece! If the first book managed to wow me, this book, this book!!! has blown me away. The character development is superb and every character deserves a round of applause! *clap clap clap* We have a wonderful and awesome world building and of course there's Bargudo's brilliant writing style.

“Have any of you wondered what I did with all the cash Pekka Rollins gave us?” 
“Guns?” asked Jesper.“Ships?” queried Inej.“Bombs?” suggested Wylan. “Political bribes?” offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. “This is where you tell us how awful we are,” she whispered.

Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper and Wylan. These six people has grown so much in this book, each carrying a role that is crucial to the group. Their every action affects the group and I think that's why I love them so much because they work perfectly together and yes, they might've done some mistakes but they regret and learn from it because they knew that their lives depend on every action they do. Kaz is as cunning as ever, still giving the orders and running things around. When Ketterdam turns its back on him, he makes sure to make every person responsible pay and to get his home back. Inej is braver and more determined after what Van Eck did. She's still that strong-willed girl who believes in her friends. Nina and Matthias are lovely in this book! I love those witty banters Nina always throws Matthias and I have to admit that Matthias has somehow started to sound like one of them everytime they plot something. Jesper still has his sense of humor and I don't think I can love him any more than I already do. Wylan becomes more confident now (latter part) and he's still adorable. It made me laugh every time Jesper teases him and I love them both, you guys!! I think they're cute together. Six people, several cons, hundreds enemies, this book is crazy exciting and I dare you not to get hooked after everything!

“How many times have you told me you're a monster? So be a monster. Be the thing they all fear when they close their eyes at night.”

Cons upon cons, trick after trick, this book has a lot of twist and turns that will surely surprise you. There were times when I thought I knew how things will turn out but of course, Leigh Bardugo will prove me wrong. She made Kaz so cunning it was impossible to predict what he's thinking. And I'm in love with him because of that.

“Nina glanced from Inej to Kaz and saw they both wore the same expression. Nina knew that look. It came after the shipwreck, when the tide moved against you and the sky had gone dark. It was the first sight of land, the hope of shelter and even salvation that might await you on a distant shore.”

Dark, violent, entertaining and brilliant, Crooked Kingdom just proves to be one of the best sequel ever! It's a bit lengthy but I didn't mind because I enjoyed every page of it. I rooted for them every step of the way from rescuing Inej to auctioning Kuwei. Honestly, I want more of Kaz and his crew but well, can't do anything about it. This book is truly a page turner, something you won't be able to put down because you're eager to know what happens next. It'll make you laugh, excited, frustrated, will give you the feels and yes, it'll make you cry because of Matthias, oh Matthias! My heart broke for Nina and after everything they'd been through, I can't believe Matthias didn't make it to the end. *sobs*

“Go home to Ravka, Nina. Be free, be as you were meant to be. Be a warrior, as you always have been. Just save some mercy for my people. There has to be a Fjerda worth saving. Promise me.”

Now let's talk about Kaz and Inej. Oh my god, those two! I'm not sure whether I should be satisfied with their ending or not because I want mooooore! I know the two of them touching (holding hands) is already too much for the both of them but come on! A hug, maybe? But either way, I'm really really glad for Inej and Kaz, well, may the Saints guide him as he build his empire now that he got his money! And revenge.

Overall, this book is one of the best I've ever read and I can't recommend this book enough! So do yourself a favor and pick up Six of Crows then READ this book! :D

Poem: One Day

'I'm over you.' I tell them.
But I don't know how long I can fool everybody.
'I'll find someone else.' Another lie.
Because I know there wouldn't be someone else.

'We'll be fine.' I convince my heart.
But I'm not sure how long I can lie to myself.
'It's okay.' I try to hope.
Because I'll be over you–eventually.

'One day.' I promise.
Because I can't be miserable forever.
'I'll be over you.' I tell myself. 
But for now let me hurt so badly.

Book: Memories by Lang Leav

★★★★/★★★★★

I related so much with this book and there were times I had to stop and appreciate how wonderfully written these pieces were. I love that most of them really tugged at my emotions and they struck straight through my heart. And though some were from her previous collections, I loved the added ones!

To be honest, I was disappointed with Leav's first two books but I love this one much better! It's sad and though they hurt, the words were honest and beautifully woven together.

Acceptance

There are things I miss

that I shouldn't

and those I don't

that I should.

Sometime we want

what we couldn't—

sometimes we love

who we could.

The Stranger

Does it make you crazy? To think he saw you—his eyes passed over you and if only there had been some small mishap in that pivotal moment. A spilled drink, a stumble through the door—his hand reaching out to steady you and it would've happened. A whole new world would've opened up like a vortex to swallow you both into blissful delirium. But you turned away, out of shyness or indecision and by the time you turned back, he was gone.

How do you explain it without sounding unsound? That click you felt when your eyes met his, like the switch of the train, transporting you for one miraculous moment, to what might have been.

Then reality intervenes and with a shake of your head, you tell yourself to stop chasing shadows. But I can tell you now—that click you felt, it was real—and you must not ignore it. For it is the sound of your fate beckoning. It is the voice of your destiny calling. Sometimes it only calls once.

Book: I Wrote This For You by pleasefindthis

★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

 The City Rises and Falls

You were a dream. Then a reality. Now a memory.

I'm obsessing with poetry these days so I decided to pick this one up and it's fine. I mean, it has pictures and I love the first part of the book but gradually lost interest towards the latter part. I don't know what happened but as I read on I found myself unimpressed with the words and pictures. There were some that I really connected with but some I just didn't get. Maybe it was because they felt too cliche and I think the angsty-teen-vibe has gotten too old for me early in the book.

THE SHAPE OF IT

They want me. I want you. And you want someone else. But none of us want to turn around.

THE WAY GLASS BREAKS

This is the song I only sing when you're sleeping. These are the words I say when you can't hear me. This is the way I look when you can't see me. And you will never know.

THE TRAIN OF LIES

I say that I won't touch you.

But my fingers are liars.

I tell you how I won't hold you.

But my arms are going to hell.

I promise I won't kiss you.

But my lips break it.

I let you that I won't love you.

But y heart has no conscience.

And no part of me will apologize.

THE POINT PAST PEAK FEELINGS

I know you have feelings left somewhere.

But they're all hard to reach.

Book: The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

★★★★★/★★★★★

when
someone
offers to
save you
make it
your
mission
to
save yourself.

  —i believe in you.

Wow. I mean, wow. Okay, maybe what I'm really trying to say is that this book is so emotional and powerful and oh my god I can't stop crying when I was reading it! I think this book just hit me so hard because it's so damn beautiful! Like, seriously, read it!

The Princess Saves Herself in this One is a poetry collection divided into four parts; the princess, the damsel, the queen and you. I loved all the parts but I guess the one that really got to me was the YOU part! And at some point I didn't notice but I was already crying and well, some just really hurt.

There's nothing really to tell except for you to read this book to know what I mean. And I'm sharing some of my favorite ones here.

once upon

a time

the princess

rose from the ashes

her dragon lovers

made of her

&

crowned

herself

the

mother-fucking

queen of

herself.

―how's that for a happily ever after? 

he

opened me up

like a book

& poured the

poetry

back into

me.

―my personal pen & paper

the princess
locked herself away
in the highest tower,
hoping s knight
in shining armor
would come to her
rescue.

―i didn’t realize i could be my own knight 

I'm pretty sure you have stardust running through those veins.
―women are some kind of magic.

An ex-almost...

“No, we didn’t date. Technically he wasn’t an ex-boyfriend. But he was an ex-something, an ex-maybe. An ex-almost.” 

He used to tell her everything. From his crappy morning to where he'd go to bed and why he can't fall asleep. They used to laugh at every funny joke he loved to tell and at all the crazy things he always did. He was sweet. He was stubborn. He wasn't the nicest person in the world but he can be at times.

He was a guy who once confused my feelings.

She always knew he wanted them to get closer but she wasn't ready. They were friends, she though that was enough. They enjoyed each other's company and they were happy. She knew in herself that she never hinted him that she wanted to get their friendship to the next level (she was even verbal with it) but as they spent more time together they grew closer and closer. She never said she didn't like him, she did because he was a good guy, a bit difficult at times and super flirty but an okay guy nonetheless. She thought they clicked because she was a bit crazy like him and they had the same circle of friends in school.

Sometimes she tried turning down his offers of eating out or accompanying him somewhere but he was persistent. He had his ways of always making sure she said yes. Days went by and she was feeling more and more uncomfortable with their friendship because he started asking her (in texts and chats) more personal things about relationships and stuff. It was when things between them started getting awkward because she knew that sooner or later he'd eventually ask the can we be more than friends? question. They would see each other in the morning but not talk about the stuff they'd talked about the night before which just made everything worse. It was really awkward that their friends have started asking questions. Of course, she told them everything and that was when they started teasing them. Well, that's what friends are for, right?


Until he finally asked her. He dropped the I like you. Can we be more than friends? speech and she gave him the Can you wait? Because I'm still not ready... speech. It worked just fine because the following days they were back to their old selves. And in the following weeks he started to confuse her feelings. That was when she decided to finally give him a chance. She was ready.

I was ready but he'd already moved on.

She never told him but she was kinda falling for him. She also didn't tell him about the decision she made because she wanted to see if he would actually wait until she was ready. He told her he would and a part of her actually hoped he would. But one of her problems with him was that he was extra friendly with girls. She wasn't the jealous type but people were saying bad things about his being flirty with girls and she saw that herself. It was also one of the reasons why at first she didn't want them to be more than friends. It'd been four months since he asked her and things between them were fine if not great. They still spent time together just eating, laughing and having fun all the the time. They would see each other in the morning, text at night and tease each other all the chance they got. Things were working out for them. Another month passed and she was ready to tell him. She was excited, if you believe it. 

 Until she found out about this other girl. Maybe it was her fault for making him wait too long. Maybe it was her fault for not telling him sooner. Maybe. But that moment she was more relieved than angry because then she knew it was right that she didn't tell him her feelings right away. Then she knew he couldn't wait. Or maybe he wasn't really planning to. Who knew? She was hurt, of course. And she would be lying if she tells you that she didn't expect him to find another girl while he'd been telling her that he liked her because she did. Deep inside her she knew he was that kind of guy but somehow she was hoping, and praying, he wouldn't do that to her. Turned out, he already had. Because while she was falling for him, he'd already moved on to the next girl

 He was a friend who was an ex-almost.

They drifted apart after a while and she can't believe he just stopped texting her. She was mad because he could've at least told her that he can't wait anymore and be man enough to tell her he liked another girl. She would've forgiven him if he was honest to her and blamed her for making him wait too long because then she'd understand it was her fault. But to just leave and not say anything was a jerk move. Because all those times he was acting like he still liked her but in truth he was already making a move to another girl. It was like one day he was confessing his love to her but the next all his feelings were gone and he didn't know her anymore.

She was pissed because she should've known. She shouldn't have let her feelings get the best of her because she knew the guy! He was her friend and she knew him. But the funny part was she really hoped he would change for her. That was foolish, she knew, but you can't blame her for hoping. He was her friend after all. The guy who was an ex-almost.

 (8-25-15 /8-21-16/10-17-16)

Lost at Twenty

She didn't know what else to do.

She didn't have a job, her family thought little of her and her friends were all doing great. At twenty she felt so lost and it might be cliché but she felt alone in a sea of people. She felt like drowning in her own tears. She felt useless. She felt embarrassed. She didn't know what else to do. What could've she done?

She fought.

She strived harder. She endured pain. She pushed herself to do better. From then she told herself she was the only one who can help herself. She needed to be strong. She needed to work harder. She needed to trust herself. So she fought.

And she's still fighting. 

Poem: How You Break My Heart

 (c) BlogTruyenMe 

You tell me I'm beautiful and I believe every word you say
And it's when you hold my hand that brightens up my day
You say you love it whenever I dance to our favorite song
I never thought I could fall even more as I sing along

It's when you start talking then running your fingers through your hair
And my heart skipping a beat whenever you stop and stare
Now you're looking into my eyes with a smile that can melt a heart
And other's might fall for it but this is how you break my heart

This is how you break my heart for you will never be mine
You tell me we're just friends because that's where you draw the line

-dez

Book: A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

★★★/★★★★★

“Live hard, love harder. Chase dreams, seek adventures … capture moments. Live beautifully.”

When I started reading this book I didn't have any idea it would be full of heartbreaking moments. The first few pages were lovely and I loved Poppy and Rune's instant and special bond. They were bestfriends since five, shared their first kiss at the age of eight and by fifteen they were inseparable. Poppy and Rune were those teenagers who fell in love instantly and promised to love each other forever. Well, that was the plan if only things were different.

Poppy Litchfield was an adventurous and free-spirited girl who loved to go to different adventures with her Mamaw. When she was five, a new family transferred to the house next to them and that was when she met Rune. Five years old Rune Kristiansen hated that his family had to move to Georgia from Norway because of his father's job. He didn't like it at first but when he met Poppy, the girl next door, he started to soften up and eventually fell for her. Years after, Poppymin (meaning My Poppy) and Viking Rune (because he kept his hair long and was from Oslo) were the best of friends and they always had to be together. When they were eight, Poppy's Mamaw (grandmother) passed away but before she said her goodbye, she gave Poppy an adventure she knew she'd love. Mamaw gave her a mason jar full of a thousand blank little pink paper hearts. She said that it was time for Poppy to have her own adventure and she wanted her to fill those blank paper hearts with her own boy-kisses. Boy kisses were the kisses given by Poppy’s grandfather to her Mamaw and it’s her Mamaw’s favorite thing.

I loved the concept of the thousand boy kisses and it was actually sweet. I already suspected that there would be a lot of kisses involved by just seeing the title and true enough with the jar and the thousand little pink paper hearts, a lot of kissing happened.

“I'll give you a Thousand kisses, Poppymin. All of them. No one will kiss you ever, but me.”

As the story went on, it became more and more poignant. Rune's family had to go back to Norway because of his father's job again and Rune hated his father because of it. They were fifteen by then and because he was young and in love and foolish, he didn't understand that his father didn't have a choice and that it was also hard for his family to move again. Now with Rune in Norway and Poppy in Georgia, they tried to keep their relationship and communication for the first few months until Poppy just suddenly stopped talking to Rune and her family moved away too. Rune tried everything to reach her through her friends and everyone else but no one seemed to know where Poppy and her family had gone too. Two years later, Poppy and her family was back in Georgia and few weeks after they moved back, Rune and his family also moved back from Norway. Poppy didn't expect to see Rune again and Rune didn't expect to still love Poppy after all those years.

Attending the same school, Rune and Poppy can't avoid but to see each other again. But this time Rune was different. He was cold, he was smoking and he didn't take pictures anymore. Before, he used to be calm and sweet and he loved photography. But two years had changed him and being away from Poppy surely ruined him. Poppy, on the other hand, was still the same. She still played cello, she was still warm and she still loved Rune. But this time, she had cancer and she only had months to live.

“Because I still loved him as much as I always had. Even if the boy I loved no longer loved me back.”

It was hard not to feel sad for Poppy and Rune because their love for each other was pure and undying. And though they were still young, they believed that there wouldn't be anyone else for either of them because their feelings were strong and cancer can't stop them for having the best love of their lives. Poppy lived her remaining days with Rune and Rune stayed by Poppy's sides, giving her the best things in life. They also had the support of their family and friends.

The reason why I'm giving this book a 3-star is because while I loved the thousand boy kisses, there were times when I found myself waiting for it to just end. I mean, I knew what would eventually happen and things were just dragging on. The twist came early in the book and when I realized what would happen next, I think that was when I started to disconnect myself. Aside from few scenes that were able to tug at my emotions, I felt emotionally detached most of the times. Don't get me wrong, it was sweet and beautiful and full of emotions but I think it was too cheesy and too cliché for me.

A lot of people loved this book and I'm happy for them. I liked it and it was a lovely book and I hope the next person who would read it would like it too.

“The one-thousandth kiss... with my Poppy. When she returned home... my heart completely burst.”

KDrama: Bubblegum 2015

Main Characters: 

Lee Dong wook as Park Ri hwan

Jung Ryeo won as Kim Haeng ah

Lee Jong hyuk as Kang Suk joon

Park Hee von as Lee Yi seul

Bubblegum centers around the lives of Park Ri hwan an oriental medical doctor who comes from a wealthy family and Kim Haeng ah who is a radio producer. Haeng ah's parents both died when she was young so she was taken care by Sun young, Ri hwan's mother, because Sun young was close with Haeng ah's father. 

Haeng as and Ri hwan grew up together so they are close and as time passes by they begin to have feelings for each other. Haeng ah tries to deny it because she knows how Sun young would feel but eventually Ri hwan confesses that he feels the same way. Together, with the help of the people around them, they find a way to fight for their love. But it wouldn't be that easy because later they find out that Sun young has Alzheimer's which makes everything harder. Yi seul, a chaebol, turns out to have feelings for Ri hwan too after Ri hwan showed her kindness. She wants to have him but Ri hwan politely turns her down. Haeng ah's ex-boyfriend, Suk joon, is also involved and now he wants her back, telling her that he would try his best to be what Haeng ah deserves.

It's a really good story about family, friendship and healing. I liked that it focuses on the issue of Haeng ah and Ri hwan's family and friends. It shows us that as long as we know what's good for us and we do the right thing, then everything will be fine. It also tells us to treasure our family and friends because no matter what happens, they are the ones who will always ALWAYS be there for us.

[FAMILY]

Tae hee, Ji hoon, Chef Noh, Aunt Princess, Ri hwan, Dong hwa, Sun young, Haeng ah, Se young, Joon soo

Screencaps:

 They look cute together! :")

 I know it's hard for Haeng ah to keep her feelings towards Ri hwan because she doesn't want to disappoint Ri hwan's mother who doesn't want them to have any romantic relationship. She likes him but she can't accept his feelings because she doesn't want to hurt Sun young.

 Ri hwan really cares for Haeng ah and though he knows the consequences of his actions, he still wants to protect Haeng ah.

Ri hwan: If you don't like me, you can tell me that. We can go back to the way things used to be. But if you're just scared... let's be together.

Haeng ah: When were you the happiest?

Ri hwan: For me, it's right now. 

Haeng ah: Me too. 

Book: Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

★★★★/★★★★★

"One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter." - James Earl Jones

This book gripped me so good I didn't want to stop reading. The first few chapters broke my heart because of Quinn's grief but when Colton showed up at her door, I knew it would be so much harder for her and it broke my heart all over again.

The story is about Quinn after she lost her boyfriend, Trent, in a car accident. It was so sudden she wasn't able to say goodbye and next thing she knew, she was reaching out to the people who received Trent's organs. I think it's her way of getting closure that's why it's so important to her. Others replied to her but the guy who got Trent's heart never responded. In desperation, she looked for the guy with only little hints she knew about him and finally, luckily, she found a blog that tells everything about Colton Thomas. Quinn was resolved to just see Colton, not making contact or anything, but some things just don't work the way we want them to. Next thing she knew, she's having a good time and feeling alive again in Colton's company. And it's all she needs to feel guilty over and over again.

My heart ached everytime Quinn feels guilty by being with Colton. I can't blame her because to her it felt like she's betraying Trent but what can she do when Colton makes her alive again? It isn't unfair, I think, because I knew that Trent would want her to be happy again. So I really think that Quinn is just being too hard to herself by tormenting herself with Trent's memories. But I hated that she kept it secret from Colton that long even though she knew that it would eventually come crashing down to her.

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.” -Plato

I also loved the way it was written. I mean, I love words and how Kirby weaves words together makes me love it even more. So much more!

"We lie there watching the fireworks explode and fall around us, and I can feel the boom-crackle of them in my chest, and the heat of his legs tangled up with mine, and with each moment that ticks by, something else grows together. A thing I couldn't have predicted, and now something I can't control over or explain. It's a pull I don't want to fight anymore—I can't fight anymore."

Overall I loved it because it tells us that losing someone shouldn't stop us from living, from feeling alive, and it may be hard but eventually we should learn to move, to let go. It was hard for Quinn but at least she's one step closer to healing by being with Colton now.

“There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue those.” —Michael Nolan”

Book: The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

★★★★★/★★★★★

 Beautiful. Whimsical. Lovely. Magical.

There are so many words to describe this book but I think PERFECT is the best word to describe it.

Anna-Marie McLemore really did a good job with this book. I love love love it and I can say that it's one of my favorites now. There are so many things I loved about this book and let me start with the cover. Isn't it beautiful? Looking at it already made me fall in love and knowing Lace and Cluck ruined me even more. In a good way, of course. I mean, I ached when they did, I cried when they did, I flew when they did, and at some point I just wanted to tell both their families to back off so that they could live happily ever after! I also liked how it has a touch of both Spanish and French languages that I had to stop once in while thinking if I knew the words or not. Most times, I didn't. 

The magical realism in it, the Corbeaus growing feathers at the back of their hair and the Palomas with their scale-like birthmarks, didn't sink in to me at first but when I finally realized they're really there, I just had to love it even more. And the romance between Cluck and Lace, it was lovely and perfect. I liked that they needed to be sure first before they do something with each other. I liked how Cluck taught Lace how to climb a tree, always making sure to tell her that he got her and he'd never let her fall. I liked how Lace always pulled Cluck to the river even though he didn't like to swim. I liked how Cluck is beautiful and kind and how Lace is fierce and strong. I liked that even though their families are enemies, even though the Corbeaus fly and the Palomas swim, Cluck still taught Lace to fly and Lace taught Cluck to swim. I liked that they made each other's wings lighter by loving each other.

"She was there to pull Cluck to his feet and keep him there if he couldn't stand. To make sure none of the pieces of him got lost if he broke."

"Cluck had brought her so high she thought she could brush her fingers against the moon."

Book: What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

★★★/★★★★★

"Why don’t I ever seem to know what the right thing is? I hate you, brain."

Three Reasons Why I Read This Book

1. The Title -- From the moment I saw the cover, I knew someone died (is dying).

2. Ryden Brooks -- Being a teenage single father/mother is always a good read.

3. A friend's review -- She gave it 5 stars!

 What You Left behind is the story of Ryden Brooks being a teenage dad. What's worse is, his girlfriend, Meg, had cancer and died right after giving birth to their daughter. Now Ryden is a single father trying to make sense of everything that just happened -- why Meg had to die, why Meg left a notebook for him to find and Hope.

What I like most about this book is that it's so realistic people can easily relate to him. I mean, it's hard being a teenage single parent and Ryden shows us this by not knowing how to balance his time anymore, grieving for Meg and having a hard time figuring out how to take care of Hope. 

 Now Ryden has to manage his time between Hope, work, school and more importantly, soccer practice. He's struggling because Hope seems not to like him at all, always crying when she's with him, he's trying to do his duties as a father but seems to be failing (miserably!) school starts in a week and he has to figure out a way on how to work his time for soccer practice, school, work and Hope. Fortunately he has his very supportive mother (I love her, btw!) and friends like Alan and Mabel. Having Hope also affected his social life. His friends tiptoe with regard to Meg and his daughter and Ryden doesn't seem to know how to talk to them anymore. Then there's Joni. The single person in Ryden's life who knows nothing about his past. And Ryden likes it that way.

The notebook Meg left also makes Ryden go crazy. It adds to his frustrations because he knew Meg had left more for him to find. But everywhere he looked, he found nothing. Until he's stopped looking and everything seems to be going fine again. Until he's found his resolved by trying to be happy again and moving on with Joni. Until the goddamn notebook finally appears!

“Why does everything have to suck so bad? Even when you think it's getting better, it's not. Life's building up suckiness, getting ready to hit you again, at the worst possible moment.” 

While reading this book, there were times I felt like Ryden, stop looking for the damn notebook! and Ryden, tell her about Hope! and What the hell? Meg just died and now you're kissing her? 

 It's a 3-star for me and don't ask where the other two went. I don't know either. I just feel like 3 is all I can give.

Book: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

★★★★★/★★★★★

“There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that's a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be your fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It's damaged but it's there. Don't let them take it from you.”

First of all, I want to say that I have my new favorite series. 

Second, Laia is a strong and brave girl.

Third, Elias is a good person.
Fourth, Commandant is a wicked, heartless woman.

Lastly, I applaud Sabaa Tahir for writing this wonderful book.

An Ember in the Ashes is one heartbreaking and powerful book. It captivated me the moment I started reading it and now that I finished it, I can no longer wait for the next book!

The story is told alternately by Laia and Elias, a slave and a Mask in Blackcliff.
Laia is a strong-willed, brave girl who will do everything, even to be a slave to the heartless Commandant of Blakcliff, just so she could help break her brother, Darin, out of prison. Elias, on the other hand, is one of the best Masks at Blackcliff where power, loyalty and brutality rule everything. It's the one place he doesn't really want to be in but doesn't have a choice since he was chosen to be there. He's been inside Blackcliff almost all his life, training and planning his escape one day. These two characters will show us how to fight, to be brave, to stand for what we believe in, to fail but stand again and to never stop having hope. Because as long as there's life, there's hope.

This book made me realize how lucky I am to be living in a world like this and not inside a world like Blackcliff. Because I really don't know how I could survive like Laia or Elias or anyone in the book if I were them. But then I realized that there are actually places in this world like Blackcliff where people suffer and die on the hands of brutal and heartless people. It's sad to think that there are really people who abuse their power and enjoy the pain of others.

Heartbreaking it may be, this book is one hell of a book. I can't imagine how Sabaa Tahir managed to write a book as good as this. It's definitely a must-read!

Veturius smiles that knife's-edge smile. "Look at us," he says. "Scholar slave and Mask, each trying to persuade the other they're not evil. The Augurs do have sense of humor, don't they?" 

Movie: The Kings of Summer 2013

 ★★★★★/★★★★★

This movie left me heartbroken. For what reason? I'm not sure. I just found myself still crying even after it ended and I guess I should stop being so effin' emotional about everything! :"(

I recommend this film not only to teenagers but to everyone for it not only teaches us a thing or two or a lot about being a teenager but it also shows us how the lack of parental guidance affects us and how people around us contribute so much in our upbringing.

I connected so much with Joe because when I was younger I also felt the need to get away, to move far enough so no one could find me. And I guess there's really a time when everyone feels that way. When we feel like we need to get away from everyone else to find ourselves, to find want we want and to know if we really want it.This film got me so emotionally engrossed and I love how it teaches us things about life, friendship, love and self-sufficiency.

Poem: That Girl

she doesn't care whatever people say
she doesn't say when she had a bad day
she tries to smile even if she's hurting
because she's that girl and she keeps on fighting

she always cries but she hides her tears
she always screams but no one hears
she tries to fl even if she's falling
because she's that girl and she keeps on trying

she used to keep all the pain to herself
she used to believe that no one could help
she tries to be brave even if she's breaking
because she's that girl and she keeps on living

she's that girl who knows how to fight
she's that girl who always wants to try
she's that girl who'll always strive to live
she's that girl and she will never give up

Book: November 9 by Colleen Hoover

★★★★/★★★★★

“You’ll never be able to find yourself if you’re lost in someone else.”

First reaction: Insta-love

After Second Nov 9th: Who cares if it's insta-love?

After Third Nov 9: Ben is an idiot!

Reading the Plot twist: I knew it!

When I finished the book: Asdfghjfdglhdfgnbkjnjkh :")

This book got me like "what the hell Colleen? seriously?" I have so many things to say about this book but now that I'm writing this all I can say is "good job colleen hoover". The only reason why I'm not giving it a five star is because of the plot twist (read it if you want to know what I'm talking about).

Like her other books, this one is funny and unique and poetic and heartbreaking.

Fallon meets Ben on her last day in New York. She's having lunch with her father when Ben suddenly butts in, pretending to be her boyfriend. And we all know what happened when a girl and a boy pretend to be in a relationship. Shit gets real.

I enjoyed this book so much I laughed and cried and smiled and got my heart  broken. I loved how Ben fell in love with Fallon but of course that's before I knew what really happened. Somehow I wonder if Ben really fell for her the first time he met her or only because he knew she was Fallon. But either way, I loved how he didn't give up on Fallon.

“I’m not finished falling in love with you yet.”
-Ben to Fallon