Book: Salt by Nayyirah Waheed

 ★★★/★★★★★

even the small poems mean something. they are often
whales in the bodies of tiny fish.

Well, it took me a long time to finally get around this book but now I know why a lot of people loved it.

This poetry collection is beautiful but it hurts at the same time. It touches the subject like racism, sexism and those are difficult but important topics. Some pieces hit me hard but some I just didn't connect with.

you
are
your
own
standard of
beauty.
–– mirror work

knowing your power
is what creates
humility.
not knowing your power
is what creates
insecurity.
–– ego

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.

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. 

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: 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.

Movies based on books that will make you believe in love

1. A Walk To Remember (2002)

"Our love is like the wind... I can't see it, but I sure can feel it."

The story of two North Carolina teens, Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan, who are thrown together after Landon gets into trouble and is made to do community service.

 

  Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks

Title: A Walk To Remember

PubDate: October 1999

Page count: 240

2. Love, Rosie (2014)

 “Life is funny isn’t it? Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, just when you finally begin to plan something, get excited about something, and feel like you know what direction you’re heading in, the paths change, the signs change, the wind blows the other way, north is suddenly south, and east is west, and you’re lost. It is so easy to lose your way, to lose direction. And that’s with following all the signposts”

Rosie and Alex have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn't possibly be right for one another...or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.  

 Based on a novel by Cecelia Ahern

Title: Love, Rosie

PubDate: 2004

Page count: 592

3. The Fault In Our Stars (2014)

 “Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

 Based on a novel by John Green

Title: The Fault In Our Stars

PubDate: January 2012

Page count: 313

4. The Last Song (2010)

 “Sometimes you have to be apart from people you love, but that doesn't make you love them any less. Sometimes you love them more.”

A rebellious girl is sent to a Southern beach town for the summer to stay with her father. Through their mutual love of music, the estranged duo learn to reconnect. 

Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Last Song

PubDate: September 2009

Page count: 405

5. The Best of Me (2014)

“Don't take my advice. Or anyone's advice. Trust yourself. For good or for bad, happy or unhappy, it's your life, and what you do with it has always been entirely up to you.”

A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.

 Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Best of Me

PubDate: October 2011

Page count: 304

I love all these films(novels) and I hope you'll enjoy them too!

Movie Trailer: Me Before You

I've been waiting for the trailer since forever and now it's finally here!
Are you ready to cry? 

Coz I'm ready to cry, Will. I am.

Me Before You + Ed Sheeran = A bucket of tears! 

I remember when I was reading the book and my heart was breaking throughout. I was like, 'Why, will? Why?' :"( I'm feeling the same with the trailer and now I can't wait to see the whole movie. 

“You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.” 

Read my full review of Me Before You here.
 

#liveboldly

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

Poem: A Woman Who Cries

No one notices because she always smiles
No one even asks if she's doing alright
Coz all they see is a woman who is fine
All she shows is a woman who doesn't cry

She laughs so nobody could tell that she's sad
She even sings so they would all believe her
Coz all they see is a woman who is strong
All she shows is a woman who doesn't cry

And everyday she always tries to move on
Everyday she tells herself to go on
Coz all she wants is to be okay again
She wants to be a woman who doesn't cry

But all of her friends think that she is happy
All of them believe the smile on her face
Coz all she shows is a woman who's moved on
But like the others, she's a woman who cries.

Book: My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

★★★★★/★★★★★
“Maybe we all have darkness inside of us and some of us are better at dealing with it than others.”

I've always liked reading books like this. Books about death and depression and dark sides of life. It's maybe because I'd like to know how a person can feel so sad and depressed and hurt all at the same time when there are so many things to be happy and grateful about. But then I guess there are also so many things, reasons, to be sad and depressed and hurt about. 

Aysel is a fan of plotting her own death. She is determined to die. Reason: Her father killed someone and she's afraid she inherited that part of her father's brain that told him to kill someone. But Aysel is not her father. Only she's not convinced and the people around her are not so good at convincing her too. Hell they act like she's her father! So she thought there's only one way to end that misery, to off herself. Now she's looking for a partner, suicide partner, so she won't chicken out when time finally comes to do it. Then she meets Roman. He's determined to die too. And you know what happens when suicidal girl meets suicidal boy. They give each other a reason to live.

This one is a very sad one. And it's definitely a good one. 
I found myself crying for their pain and for the things I want to tell Aysel and Roman. :(
And I want to tell those Aysels and Romans out there to keep holding on. Because somewhere, somehow, you will find that reason for you to keep going on. :)