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

Book: Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell

 

★★★★/★★★★★

in the end
we
as in you and me
were never
meant to be

This is one sad, heartbreaking but honest and at the same time lovely poetry collection. It's divided into sections like when you're in love or feeling sad or need encouragement which I think is convenient since you can just flip to the section you feel like reading and be lost in the words.

I like the simplicity of it, the rawness and the flood of emotions you will feel when you read something that completely touches you. I really liked this one and if you need a good poetry book, try this one.

You can be in love at 3am or 5pm,
and sometimes it is with someone else
and other times it is with the way the sky looks
on a Saturday afternoon.

***

We should kiss.
Not because you passed my way by chance,
but because you stopped
and I haven't been the same since.

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.

Anchor by Cailee Rae ♫♪

Hey! 

Everybody try to warn me 

You were poison from the start

We had a love just like the movies 

Put a spell right on my heart 

Hey! 

I guess that I was too blind 

I was too dumb to see it 

I didn't wanna be right 

Guess I didn't wanna believe it 

 I was going too slow 

Watching life just pass me by 

Hey 

And now I'm going nowhere 

You're the reason why 

It's something like an anchor 

That won't let go of me 

It's something like an anchor 

Now I can barely breathe 

I don't wanna go down 

 If I do I'm gonna drown 

It's something like an anchor 

I can't 

I can't 

Now we're sitting at this table 

With nothing left to say 

Say you wanna stay together 

But I think it's just too late 

Oh 

Cause I just wanna be free 

I cannot do this forever 

No 

No this is not me 

I deserve something better 

 I was going too slow 

Watching life just pass me by 

Hey 

And now I'm going nowhere 

You're the reason why 

It's something like an anchor 

That won't let go of me 

It's something like an anchor 

Now I can barely breathe 

I don't wanna go down 

If I do I'm gonna drown 

It's something like an anchor 

I can't 

I can't 

Take these chains off me 

I don't wanna go under 

Take these chains off me 

I don't wanna go under 

Take these chains off me 

I don't wanna go under 

Take these chains off me 

No no no no no 

It's something like an anchor 

That won't let go of me 

It's something like an anchor 

Now I can barely breathe 

I don't wanna go down 

If I do I'm gonna drown 

It's something like an anchor 

I can't I can't 

Breathe

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.

KDrama: Descendants of the Sun 2016

Main characters:

Song Joong ki as Yoo Si jin

Song Hye kyo as Kang Mo yeon

Jin Goo as Seo Dae young

Kim Ji won as Yeon Myeong ju

I remember when Descendants of the Sun made a buzz when it was aired back in February and people went crazy over it! It was what everyone was talking about, how the scenes were sweet and how hot and handsome Song Joong ki was. Even my friends who don't really watch kdrama watched it and became addict since then. My sister and I didn't watch it until two months later when all the episodes were already aired and I admit it was addicting. But then we thought it was over-hyped since we've seen better dramas.

So the story revolves around the lives of Yoo Si jin, the Captain of Team Alpha, an elite special forces in South Korea, and Dcotor Kang Mo yeon, a cardiothoracic specialist. These two accidentally meet in the hospital where Mo yeon works and there Si jin quickly falls in love with Mo yeon's assertiveness. At first, Mo yeon is skeptical towards Si jin but soon sees that Si jin is really a soldier. They then begin dating but every time they go out something comes up. It's Si jin who usually needs to go because of his job and soon Mo yeon realizes how different the two of them are. Si jin is a soldier who kills to protect lives while Mo yeon is a doctor who saves lives. Eventually they stop seeing each other. 

Mean while, Sergeant Major Dae young (also Si jin's friend) struggles with his feelings towards Myeong ju, an army surgeon. He likes her but he can't risk being removed from the army by Myeong ju's father who is the commander of the South Korean Special Forces Brigade. 

Eight months later, these four meet again this time in Urk carrying their own mission. Si jin, together with Dae young, was sent there earlier to lead his team on a peacekeeping mission while Mo yeon is sent there to lead a medical team. Myeong ju, on the other hand, followed so she can be with Dae young. There, the four of them fall in love again and together they help save lives. 

I actually enjoyed this drama with all its kilig moments and funny scenes. I also understood why girls went crazy over this drama because the writers surely did a good job developing the relationship between Si jin and Mo yeon who had a great chemistry and of course, the intense feelings between Dae young and Myeong ju. And though they did a good job building the relationship between the characters, they did little to the sub-plots and to the plot in general, for me anyway.

 They also have good and funny secondary characters. Sang hyun (Lee Seung joon) and Ja ae (Seo Jeong yeon) were my favorites and Onew as Chi hoon was a surprise to me but nonetheless did a good job.

Descendants of the Sun surely captured a lot of hearts but I still think it was over-rated. Don't get me wrong, I loved it and enjoyed every single episode but like I said, I've seen better drama with better plot. I mean, the plot of this drama had lots of potential with its military and medical stuff going on but they settled on melodrama which is really not a bad thing. I'm just saying that maybe they should've developed the military and medical sides of the show which would be more interesting since I, myself, am a huge fan of action-romance! But either way, I guess DotS's magic worked on a lot of people seeing that the drama's ratings were higher than expected.

Overall I give it a 3-star rating out of 5! It wasn't that bad but it wasn't that great either. I guess people were just too excited to see Song Joong ki in uniform which I admit was really manly and sexy! This drama was also his first role after getting out of the army which I think also helped on gaining viewers since people were waiting for his comeback.

And, oh, I forgot to mention about the bromance in this drama because there was!

♥

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)

Book: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

★★★★★/★★★★★

“Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak.”

 I'm okay. I told myself after reading this book. But no, I wasn't! I am not! Because it's been days and I still want to cry everytime I remember Connor. I've been warned many times that this book will break my heart and it did! It wasn't what I expected but it turned out to be more, better! It was my first book of Patrick Ness but definitely wouldn't be the last.

This book hurt. So much. Like, seriously. It's heavy and really heartbreaking. It tells the story of Connor whose mother is receiving treatment for cancer. Right about the same time his mother started the treatment, he also started having this night mare. The nightmare that always wakes him up in the middle of the night. In the nightmare there's a monster, but it's very different from the one that visits him that night. It's not the monster he expected, not the typical hideous-looking-sharp-teeth-red-eyes monster but more like a yew tree. No, it's definitely a yew tree. And this monster likes to tell stories and is determined to know the truth.

More than anything, this book is dark. It's not only about cancer that you'd feel all sort of emotions reading but it's more than that. It deals with loss, grief, and much more important things in life. My heart broke for Connor because as if watching his mother gets eaten away by cancer is not enough, he also has to go to school every day where everyone either tiptoes around or bullies him. It's like the monster that visits him is nothing compare to the everyday life he's having which is really not easy. And no, I am not crying!

And the illustrations, however creepy they are, make it more enticing. They're unbelievably beautiful!

I recommend this book to everyone, no matter how old, or young, you are! You can be 10 or 30 or even 50 but I'm sure this book will still touch you. It's heartbreakingly beautiful and unbelievably sad! So read this one people!!

Because humans are complicated beasts, the monster said. How can a queen be both a good witch and a bad witch? How can a prince be a murderer and a saviour? How can an apothecary be evil-tempered but right-thinking? How can a parson be wrong-thinking but good-hearted? How can invisible men make themselves more lonely by being seen?

Book: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

★★★★★/★★★★★

“Just because someone hurts you doesn’t mean you can simply stop loving them. It’s not a person’s actions that hurt the most. It’s the love. If there was no love attached to the action, the pain would be a little easier to bear.”

Naked truth:  This book is probably the best book I've read this year!

Colleen Hoover sure knows how to break hearts! Because this books just managed to break mine and my tears just won't stop pouring for the most part of the book. Like, seriously! It was like I was feeling Lily's pain and oh my god it hurt! :'( But that ending was perfect! ♥

SOMETIMES THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU IS THE ONE WHO HURTS YOU THE MOST

It Ends With Us is a powerful, emotional and beautiful story that gives us an outlook of life, family and relationships with some of their ugly sides. Colleen was able to write a story we can all relate with and what I loved most in this book was its honesty. It was very sad and painful but very honest. EVERYONE should read this book! The story doesn't only give us an inspiring story but it teaches us how to have the strength to make right choices especially in the hardest situations.

[Warning: This review contains some spoilers!]

Lily Bloom, just like some us, didn't have the perfect family. And really, who has ever had a perfect family? She grew up with her father occasionally hitting her mother and she hated her father for that. As a child she didn't understand why her mother stayed but as she became older she realized that sometimes the people we love are the ones who hurt us the most.

Now in her early twenties, Lily is living in Boston in hope of starting her own business. She moved out of her parents' house after graduating and somehow she just wants to see if everything is really better in Boston. On the night of her father's funeral, she meets Ryle Kincaid on some rooftop she Googled and right there and then they just start telling each other naked truths. Their meeting didn't end there and next thing they knew they are falling in love with each other. But as Lily and Ryle begin to get serious, someone from Lily's past just suddenly reappears. Someone who held, still holds, a piece of her heart. Atlas.

I have so many things I liked in this book and let me start with how much I loved the characters! Lily is such a brave and lovely and talented and amazing character. She's smart and she likes making bold decisions because she trusts herself to succeed. She's able to start up her own business; a flower shop with the help of her new bff, Allysa, Ryle's sister. Everything is going right for her and she can't believe how things are turning up. She has her own business, she's married Ryle and she's in good terms with her mother. Until things from her past start to hunt her. What she went through wasn't easy; seeing her mother getting abused by her father and now she's experiencing the same in the hands of her own husband. She told herself she's not going to be like her mother but soon she finds herself in the same situation, not being able to just walk away. And now she understands why her mother chose to stay: because it's not that easy especially when you truly love the person.

Ryle is the kind of character you easily fall in love with. He's straightforward and ambitious and maybe a bit arrogant but just like the rest of us he's got his issues. He may be successful and looks so perfect on the outside but he's just as broken. His childhood had done some serious damage on him and now it's threatening his relationship with Lily. I actually loved him because he's very sweet (and sometimes cliché) but I didn't care because he loves Lily! And he loves her so much to let her go! :'(

“I feel like everyone fakes who they really are, when deep down we’re all equal amounts of screwed up. Some of us are just better at hiding it than others.”

 Some of my favorite parts were of Ryle because he's just so in love with Lily it hurt. He might have told her that he prioritizes his career more than anything else but he's willing to put it second just for Lily.

“If you don’t want to be with me . . . please tell me right now, Lily. Because when I saw you with him . . . that hurt. I never want to feel that again. And if it hurts this much now, I’m terrified to think of what it could do to me a year from now.”

Now, now, let's get to Atlas Corrigan. While I loved Ryle, I really really loved Atlas! Atlas showed up in Lily's life when she was fifteen. He was homeless then, finding shelter in the abandoned house at the back of Lily's  house. When Lily found out about his situation, she began to worry and eventually decided to help him. As they spent time together, they got to know each other and feelings started to grow. But Atlas had to leave. He didn't have a choice and like it or not he had to leave Lily. Before leaving, he made a promise to find her when he knew he's already good enough for her and told her that if she ever though of finding him in the future then she knew where to look; in Boston where everything is better.

Atlas's story is as heartbreaking as Lily's and Ryle's. He ran away from home and his mother didn't care much. He was actually ready to end his life but when he saw Lily, it gave him hope. And I guess that's a really powerful scene.

“You saved my life, Lily,” he said to me. “And you weren’t even trying.”

During those times Lily was with Atlas, she was also writing to Ellen DeGeneres. She never sent them but it was her form of journal in which she wrote to Ellen and told her everything that's happened to her including Atlas. Especially Atlas. Later, Lily introduced The Ellen DeGeneres Show to Atlas and it somehow became a big part of their lives. So when Atlas left, Lily stopped watching it. She just can't watch Ellen without Atlas. She also stopped writing. Because what's the point if she can't tell Ellen about Atlas anymore. After some years, Atlas reappears in Lily's life and it's when her relationship with Ryle is threatened. Lily still remembers everything about Atlas and how could she forget him when he was her first love—her protector.

Lily,

Atlas says just keep swimming.

—Ellen DeGeneres

Now that Atlas and Lily have met again and Ryle found out about it, things between Lily and Ryle start to go south. Ryle starts to do things he doesn't mean to do and he ends up asking for Lily's forgiveness over and over again. The first time it happens, Lily lets it slip. The second time she tries to convince herself it won't happen again but the third time, it's too much. She has to walk away. And Atlas is there when she needs someone the most.

I knew what Ryle did to Lily would permanently damage their relationship but I was actually hoping for Lily to give him one last chance! But at the same time I wanted to punch Ryle and tell him to fudge off! And then some parts of me were rooting for Atlas to just grab Lily and take her away where no one can hurt her! I know it's a little fuck up but I just wanted everything to be fine with Lily! She didn't deserve that shit and someone just please hand me a tissue because I feel like crying! Again! :'(

 Naked truth: Atlas is just so perfect I want to marry him! 

“In the future . . . if by some miracle you ever find yourself in the position to fall in love again . . . fall in love with me.” He presses his lips against my forehead. “You’re still my favorite person, Lily. Always will be.”

 Other characters that I loved are Allysa and Marshall! They are just as endearing and they are a lovely and funny couple. I liked that Allysa became Lily's bestfriend and together their girl power is just too much! And let's not forget Lily's mother. I loved that she and Lily are in a good relationship and that they take care of each other.

 “Sometimes even grown women need their mother’s comfort so we can just take a break from having to be strong all the time.”

I can't imagine how hard and painful it must be for Lily's mother all those times. She's been a very strong mother, enduring her husband's beating just because she loved him. My heart broke for her. :'( And Lily must've not understood before but now she knows how brave and strong her mother has been. But unlike her mother, she chose to walk away because she knew it's for the best. Both for her and Emerson!

“It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us.”

 

Gahhh! I still can't get over this book. Maybe not for another week. Or month! It's just soooo good that I'm forcing my sister to read it. YOU SHOULD READ THIS!! Colleen managed to give us a very powerful story and I hope everyone gets the message she wanted to deliver. It's heavy and painful but let's learn from it. 

This book is really especial and I hope it reaches more readers! Good Job, Colleen for writing a book that will forever be in my heart. ♥

 

- - - - -

People say that teenagers don’t know how to love like an adult. Part of me believes that, but I’m not an adult and so I have nothing to compare it to. But I do believe it’s probably different. I’m sure there’s more substance in the love between two adults than there is between two teenagers. There’s probably more maturity, more respect, more responsibility. But no matter how different the substance of a love might be at different ages in a person’s life, I know that love still has to weigh the same. You feel that weight on your shoulders and in your stomach and on your heart no matter how old you are.

Poem: Me. You . Her.

I fall for you, you fall for her
I try to run away but couldn’t get anywhere
I give you my all, you give her your all
I try to look away but I still fall

My eyes on you, your eyes on her
Everyone knows your feelings but her
You ignore my heart then she ignores you
Everyone knows my feelings but you

And then she is gone, now you’re gone
I still ask myself what could have I done?
I gave you my love, you gave her your love
Why did I give you everything I have?

Now I feel lost coz you are gone
How could I believe you were the one?
Guess you and I weren’t meant for each other
Just your luck you and her weren’t either

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. 

Movie: Mockingjay Part 2

★★★★/★★★★★  

Characters:

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark

Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne

Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair

Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy

Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin

Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow

Director: Francis Lawrence

I haven’t read The Hunger Games series so I was okay on watching the movies. My sister loved the series so much and she said I should read it but since I’ve watched all the movies already, I think I’ll pass on it.

And though I haven’t read the series, I loved the movies! Especially Catching Fire! The last installment, The Hunger Games: Mocking Part 2 was released last year and it surely became a box-office since everyone loved Katniss Everdeen.

Mockingjay Part 2 picks up as Katniss brings together an army and marches towards the Capitol to bring down President Snow. As the war continues, she tries to do what’s right, to save even those who side with the Capitol and to protect those who are dear to her, even Peeta who now hates and wants to kill her after getting tortured at the Capitol.

 The movie was really thrilling and I loved the characters. I liked that Katniss is brave and determined and she would do anything to save others just as long as she can. And I think that’s one thing only a good-hearted person can do. I also loved Finnick and it broke my heart when he died! Why did he have to die? WHY? He was my favorite since Catching Fire and seeing him die was hard. *sob* Poor Annie. I’ve also grown to love Boggs and Prim and they had to die, too. Anyway, what’s important is these people were a part of the revolution that helped in liberating Panem in the hands of Snow.

The movie ended with  Katniss and Peeta back in District 12 with their two children. And well, it was happy ending.

Based on a novel by Suzzane Collins
Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)
PubDate: April 24, 2010
Page count: 392

Book: The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

★★★/★★★★★

While it was gripping and intriguing, The Girl On The Train was complex and somehow depressing. I liked that it kept me on edge at first but at some point I just felt frustrated with everything that was happening.

I haven't read a lot of thrillers and as I've mentioned before, I prefer watching than reading them. But since there's been a fuss going around about this book, I gave it a go. 

The book is centered on the narration of three women; Rachel, Megan and Anna, their lives got intertwined when a murder occurred and Rachel just happened to decide she had to get herself involved because she thought she knew and saw something she wasn't quite sure about that might help the police solve the mystery around it.

Rachel is the girl on the train who likes to watch people especially Jess and Jason, the ideal couple she wishes she and her ex-husband could be. When the train stops at the same red signal everyday, she would just look outside the train window and she would see them, two happy couple having coffee on their terrace. She has this image of Jess and Jason inside her head, a perfect couple who love each other very much. Until one day when her train stops at the red signal and she sees Jess on their terrace with another man.

Megan is Jess. She's the woman Rachel sees on her terrace with her husband, Scott (Jason). She and Scott are not really the perfect couple Rachel thinks they are but they're not unhappy either. They are just normal couple who fight until it gets too much. Megan also has a dark past which she hasn't talked about with Scott.

Anna is Rachel's ex husband's new wife. She hates Rachel for bugging them and she hates that they live in the house her husband (Tom) used to live in with Rachel. 

 What I liked most about this book was the thrill of guessing who did it. While Rachel gave me blurry details from her blurry memories, I worked my mind and tried to weave everything she'd given me so far. And when I was almost sure of who my bet was, something else would happen that would completely point to another suspect. It was kinda infuriating but it was what kept me reading until the end.

As for the characters, honestly, I didn't like any of them and Rachel frustrated me so much. I knew she just wanted to help but the lying and drinking and the regrets, everything just made things more complicated. And while she wanted to make things right, her actions and decisions failed to support her. 

Overall, it was a good thriller with twisted plots and depressing characters. It was interesting enough to get my attention but I'm afraid I didn't like the ending. Argh. I love a good omg-I-didn't-see-that-coming feeling when reading the ending of a book but this one failed to give me that feeling. But still, it was engrossing and I think I would've given it a 4-star if only Rachel's character became less annoying and frustrating.

“I have lost control over everything, even the places in my head.”

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.