Book: The Universe of Us by Lang Leav

★★★/★★★★★

 “Sometime the loneliest place to be is in love.”

I think me and Lang Leav's books have a very strange connection. I mean, I was totally in love with her words but as a whole this book failed to amaze me. Again, the words are beautifully woven together but I was emotionally detached and at times I didn't feel anything at all. And I really really wanted to love it more but it didn't do the magic like it did to others.

Conversations

You may be powerless now, but there will be a time when you won't be. Don't you see? And that's the time for you to be loud, to tell the world about the changes you want to see, to set them in motion.

Crying

You're still crying about him, aren't you? Silly girl. What good will it do to you to spill those sky blue tears? You meant either everything to him or absolutely nothing at all.

Having read all four books/collections of Ms. Lang Leav, I can say that I was a bit underwhelmed. The first time I heard about her books I was so excited for everyone seemed to love them and so I decided to grab a copy for myself. Don't get me wrong, Leav did a good job putting these poems together and they're beautiful but I guess they didn't wow me as much as I expected them to.They're fine and there are some I really loved but most of them failed to impress me. But again, it's just me and I hope the next person will love it more than I did.

Nonetheless, people who love poetry will definitely enjoy this!

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.

December 2016 Music Videos

Bad Things - Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello (Dec 1)

Let's Hurt Tongiht - OneRepublic (Dec 6)

 My Favorite Part - Mac Miller ft. Ariana Grande (Dec 12)


Million Reasons - Lady Gaga (Dec 14)

Blame - Bastille (Dec 15)

Seventeen - Alessia Cara (Dec 15) 


Years & Years - Olly Murs (Dec 16)

Life Goes On - Fergie (Dec 16)

Faith - Stevie Wonder ft. Ariana Grande (Dec 20)
  

Safe Inside - James Arthur (Dec 25)

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :D

Hello, guys!

Just want to greet you a Merry Merry Christmas!! :D Hope everyone’s enjoying the day and God bless us all! :)

🎄🎄🎄

#5 Christmas Movies

"9 Things I Love About Christmas"

Well, other than listening to Christmas songs, I also love watching Christmas movies!! Who doesn't, anyway? And honestly, I enjoy watching Christmas themed movies even when it's not Christmas. Because who says I can't? Some of my favorites are Home Alone 3 (I watch this one with my sisters every year!), Magic Stocking (a Hallmark Christmas movie) and A Christmas Carol (a classic movie adaptation of the book I always enjoy!) I know there are more other Christmas movies to discover and one of these days I'm going to reward myself by having a Christmas Movie Marathon! :)

#6 Christmas Songs

"9 Things I Love About Christmas"

Of course, what's Christmas without its music? Today I'll tell you another thing I love about Christmas and it's Christmas Songs!! ♫♪ I've made dozens of Christmas playlists before but I'll share the most recent one I enjoy.

Since I'm having problems with my Spotify, I'll just give you a list of the songs included in my most recent favorite Christmas Playlist.

♫ My Grown Up Christmas List by Kelly Clarkson ♫

♫ The First Noel by Pentatonix ♫

♫ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Michael Buble ♫

♫ Mistletoe by Justin Bieber

♫ Christmas Everyday by Simple Plan ♫

♫ Let It Snow by Christina Perri ♫

♫ Santa Baby by Taylor Swift ♫

>♫ Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande ♫

 ♫ Winter Wonderland /Don’t Worry Be Happy by Pentatonix (ft Tori Kelly) ♫

That's it. I know it's short but I can always give you another playlist!  

And we're only 6 days away from Christmas, you guys! :D

#7 Wishlist

"9 Things I Love About Christmas"

I always always love making wish list and what's more exciting than writing your Christmas Wish list? I know we all have a long list of things we want to receive this Christmas but my list for this year only contains 3 things. These three things are what I would really love to receive this year and I think I've been nice enough for Santa to surprise me by granting these wishes.

Number three on my list is The Lunar Chronicles Boxed Set! I've been wanting to buy one for myself but wouldn't it be nicer if Santa would give me this boxed set instead? (And whoever my generous Santa is, I'd be grateful if you'd actually give me one!) :D

Number two on my list is a roundtrip ticket to Palawan! I miss my mom so seeing her this Christmas would be the perfect gift! And I'd love to see my Nanay (grandmother) too! :)

And the number one thing I've been praying to have this Christmas... a new smartphone. Yep, just a smartphone. I just disposed my old one (I'll miss you!) and now I'm looking for a brand new one. 

 So, that's all for my Christmas Wish list. How about you, what's on your list?

#8 The Joy of Giving

“9 Things I Love About Christmas”

“Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.”
-Jim Rohn

Today I’m telling you about the joy of giving. It’s another thing I love about Christmas because it’s really heartwarming everytime you know that you make someone happy by giving them gifts without asking something in return.

Aside from attending Simbang Gabi, it’s also become a tradition to us to pledge to give something for the kids in our church every year. At the beginning of Simbang Gabi, the people in our church put up a simple Christmas Tree where they hang pledges and here, people can choose what they want to pledge to give. These pledges are for the less fortunate kids and we really hope that these gifts we will be giving on Christmas Eve will somehow make them happy! :D

My sister and I chose these pledges (a new shirt and a new bag) and we’re really excited to give these to the kids!!

#9 Chirstmas Tradition "Simbang Gabi"

“9 Things I Love About Christmas”

I know this has nothing to do with books but since Christmas is only 9 days away, I decided to do “9 Things I Love About Christmas” starting today. Each day I will be posting something that makes Christmas extra special for me and today I will be telling you all about a Christmas Tradition called “Simbang Gabi” that we Filipinos very much practiced.

Simbang Gabi is a nine-day/night series of Masses we attend to in anticipation of Christmas Day. It starts from the 15th to 23rd of December at four o’clock in the morning but those who can’t attend this can attend the nine o’clock in the evening mass from the 16th to 24th which is called the Anticipated Mass. My sisters and I have started the Simbang Gabi today, we attended the four a.m. mass, and it’s been a yearly tradition to us to attend and never miss a day for they say that if you complete these nine days of masses, then one of your wishes will come true this Christmas Day.

We’ve been attending Simbang Gabi for 11 years and we used to attend with our Grandmother but now that she’s gone, it’s just me and my two sisters. And I always love attending Simbang Gabi because completing it is like an accomplishment and the excitement of counting down the days until Christmas is fun! With these masses, we also get to become closer with God and his words.

They also say that attending the Simbang Gabi is like a sacrifice for you get up early for nine days just so you can celebrate with everybody else and with them you anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ.

That’s it for my favorite Christmas Tradition and tomorrow I will be back to tell you another thing I love about Christmas!🎄🎄🎄

Book: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

3.75/5stars

“All children, except one, grow up.”

  
Peter Pan movie has always been my favorite and I love Peter and Wendy! I admit I found their story a bit heartbreaking but it's a wonderful story nonetheless!! :) And I know it rarely happens but I also found the movie better than the book. 

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” 

I really enjoyed Peter's story as well as his and the Lost Boys' adventures in Neverland. Wendy showing up with Michael and John just made it more exciting and bizarre. For me, Peter Pan is really an interesting character for he never wants to ever grow up, always wanting to just have some fun and adventure. He's arrogant, he fights pirates, flies around, befriends mermaids and run things around Neverland. The Lost Boys look up to him and together they make their adventures. Tinkerbell is also one of my favorites! She's ill-tempered, jealous, and I liked it everytime she's pissed off at Peter and spits out, "You silly ass!" She's mischievous but very fond of Peter and helps him everytime. 

I somehow feel sad for Peter for he has no strong ties to reality. He thinks that as long as he stays as a boy, then he can be free of any responsibility. He forgets important things and people and he's always carefree, not taking things seriously. With Wendy, he found a mother figure, one that could tell them thrilling stories, tuck them to bed and help them clean. Wendy is a wonderful character for she really cares for Peter and the Lost Boys. She might have enjoyed Neverland and wanted to stay, but she knew what's real and that they must come home to their parents. 

“You won't forget me, Peter, will you, before spring cleaning time comes?”

I'll also mention Captain Hook because a tv show I'm watching, Once Upon A Time, has him as one of the main characters and there I love him so much! He's not as callous as novel-Hook but he's still a pirate and he's, well, gorgeous (played by Collin O'Donoghue). I can also understand Hook's hatred for Peter and as he said, it's Peter's cockiness that puts him off, because Peter, really, can be cocky most of the time.

Like I said earlier, Peter and Wendy's ending broke my heart. It's really sad and the fact that Peter did forget Wendy somehow, oh my god! :( How could you, Peter! 

 

Peter Pan and Wendy will always be my favorites and no matter how sad their ending is, I'll never get tired watching the moving over and over again. Lol.

“Oh, all right,” he said at last, and gulped. Then he unbarred the window. “Come on, Tink,” he cried, with a frightful sneer at the laws of nature; “we don't want any silly mothers;” and he flew away.

There could not have been a lovelier sight; but there was none to see it except a little boy who was staring in at the window. He had had ecstasies innumerable that other children can never know; but he was looking through the window at the one joy from which he must be for ever barred.

Book: I Wrote This For You: Just the Words by pleasefindthis

★★★/★★★★★

 

THE WAY SATURN TURNS

All I can do, if I feel this way, is trust that somewhere in the universe, there's a you that feels the same.

 

Really wanted to love this book but I didn't want to force myself to. It's fine and I related to some but like the first book, I wasn't really drawn to it. Have my favorites though.

THE CLOSER

You lie in bed, staring at the ceiling and counting crows.

Someone.

Anyone.

 But anyone could be someone if only you looked a little closer.

THE FOREST OF STARS

There's no point in me saying I miss you.

(I miss you).

THE WAVES PUT YOU TO SLEEP

I love you like I love the sea. And I'm ok with drowning.

THE AGONY OF BEING OTHER PEOPLE

 I keep wondering, how many people do you need to be, before you can become yourself.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE LIGHTHOUSES

You can join the millions talking int he dark. Or you can stand up and scream light, out into the night.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKING THINGS AND PEOPLE

Just so you know, there are certain people who were out here to break you.

So you could learn how  to pull yourself back together again.

THE FORWARD

Always have something to look forward to. Make something up right now. Something you want to do. Someplace you want to be. Someone you want to meet.

And look forward to it.

Poem: Please Be Mine

Would you
...take my hand?
Would you
...fly with me?
Don't worry
...I'll understand
If I'm not
...your Wendy.

I'll find myself
...fairy dust.
I'll teach myself
...to fly.
Then I'll soar
...away fast.
So I can
...be up high.

But won't you
...take my hand?
Please be
...the one.
Then I'll take you
...to Neverland,
So you can be
...my Peter Pan.

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.

Perfectly Perfect by Simple Plan ♫♪

You might not think you're a supermodel
But you look like one to me
I'd rather have your picture on my phone
Than on the cover of a magazine
It's hard to think that a girl like you
Could have any insecurities
It's funny how all the things you would change
Are all things that are cute to me

And I know you don't believe me
And you think that I'm a fool
But I don't care

Maybe
You'll never see in you what I see
The little things you do that make me go crazy
I'm not crazy
You're perfectly perfect to me

You brush it off every time I tell you
Your smile lights up the room
And I'm guessing that you don't even notice
The whole world notices you
You think you're clumsy
I think you're cool
You say you're typical
But I think you rule
Sometimes I wonder if you'll ever believe
That I wrote this song for you

Maybe
You'll never see in you what I see
The little things you do that make me go crazy
I'm not crazy
You're perfectly perfect
Someday
You're gonna see you're beautiful this way
And that you're always gonna make me go crazy
I'm not crazy
You’re perfectly perfect to me

You don't have to try
Change a single thing
‘Cause just the way you are
Is sweeter than anything
Maybe I’m a fool but it’s always been you
‘Cause no one ever makes me smile the way you do 

- azlyrics

November 2016 Music Video

 Better Man - Little Big Town (Nov 1)

Guys My Age - Hey Violet (Nov 2)

 Dangerously - Charlie Puth (Nov 2)

All Night - The Vamps & Matoma (Nov 3)

 Stars in the Rain - Aimer & One Ok Rock (Nov 3)
 

Labor of Love - Bon Jovi (Nov 4)

Still Breathing - Green Day (Nov 7)

Champagne Problem - Hick Jonas (Nov 7)

Still - Kyuhyun (Nov 9)

Blah Blah - Kyuhyun (Nov 9)

 Love Me Now - John Legend (Nov 11)

By Your Side - Jonas Blue ft. RAYE (Nov 16)

Sleep On The Floor  - The Lumineers (Nov 17)

Numb - David Archuleta (Nov 17)

 All We Know - The Chainsmokers ft. Phoebe Ryan (Nov 17)

Play That Song -Train (Nov 18)

Slumber Party - Britney Spears ft. Tinashe (Nov 18)

Do You Miss Me At All - Bridgit Mendler (Nov 18)

FAB - Jojo ft. Remy Ma (Nov 29)

Perfectly Perfect - Simple Plan (Nov 29)

True Disaster (Part of Fairy Dust) - Tove Lo (Nov 29)

Let Me Love You DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber (Nov 29)

All Night - Beyoncé (Nov 30)

Book: Lullabies by Lang Leav

★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

 I don't write to you anymore. Nor do I write for you. But I do write—and every word still aches for you.

 Continuing with Ms. Leav's sequel to Love & Misadventure, I was hoping to love this book even more but just like the first, it let me down. I really wanted to like it, to love it like others did, but I just didn't feel any connection with the words. Okay, maybe I did with some but most I didn't care. Maybe I felt something at times but more than a little tug, there was nothing more. But hey, it's just me. 

Love's Inception
I did not know
   that it was love
   until I knew.

There was never
   another to compare
   with you.

But since you left
   each boy I met
   will always have you
   to compete.

Forewarned
If a boy ever says, you remind me of someone—don't fall in love with him. You will never be anything more than second best.

Almost
Do you see
   how I love him true—
   it could've been you.

As for you
   and your love for she—
   it could've been me.

But we were a maybe
   and never a must—
   when it should've been us.

Book: Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav

★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

Do you remember the song that was playing the night we met?

No, but I remember every song I have heard since you left.

 

I've been wanting to read this one for quite some time now and finally, finally, got to now! I was expecting to love it much more than I did but unfortunately it didn't wow me that much. I have my favorites and, don't get me wrong, it's wonderful, but I've read better ones. 


Always
You were you.
   And I was I;
   we were two
   before out time.

I was yours
   before I knew,
   and you have always
   been mine too.

Closure
Like time suspended,
   a wound unmended-
   you and I.

We had no ending,
   no said goodbye.

For all my life
   I'll wonder why.

   

Book: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

★★★★★/★★★★★

“We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if'.”

I've had the audiobook version of this book  for over a year now but just managed to listen and get around it last week. And if I had known that this book is a gem, I would've read it the same day I got it! Because A Man Called Ove is the kind of book you will love no matter how grumpy and inflexible Ove was! It'll make you contemplate life, time and the people around you. The kind of book that will make you smile and think and laugh and cry. Absolutely a thought-provoking and must read!

I actually didn't expect to love Ove this much since, I think, this is the only book I've ever read with a protagonist older than 50 years old. I was expecting it to be light, a few giggles here and there, but there were times when I found my cheeks wet with tears, my heart aching. Honestly, it's a sad book but with its great humor and compelling characters, Backman was able to make us laugh despite the heaviness of the story. 

“She just smiled, said that she loved books more than anything, and started telling him excitedly what each of the ones in her lap was about. And Ove realised that he wanted to hear her talking about the things she loved for the rest of his life.”

One thing I love most about Ove is his love for his wife, Sonja. Ever since Sonja died, Ove believed that there's no reason to continue his life anymore. Being grumpy and all, Ove is the kind of guy who thinks he's always the wisest man in the room and he refuses to adapt to the modern world of technological advancement. But despite his cranky attitude, Sonja loved him. Sonja was his sun, his colors, and without the one person who truly understood him, Ove sees no point in living anymore. So he's determined to follow her, he's even prepared everything from cleaning the house to his letter with instructions, but everytime he tries, something comes up that postpones it. It all starts when a family moves in next door and accidentally flattens his mailbox. Ever since that family moved in Ove finds himself tangled with their business and one after the other, problems and issues happen. And of course, everyone needs Ove's help to solve those problems.

Throughout the book we see Ove's life before and after Sonja. Through flashbacks we see parts of his past starting with his kind father who taught him how to be honest, decent and fair. We also come to see Ove's kindness in several occasions and those times really warmed my heart! But it's also sad how some people only took his kindness for granted. And then he fell in love with Sonja.

This book is really heartwarming and sad and lovely and heartbreaking! I love Ove and though he's rude to his neighbors, or to anyone for that matter, he can't help but lend a hand everytime they need one. He shows them kindness despite acting all cranky. And Parvaneh is such a funny and lovely character! She's the only one beside Sonja who can order Ove around and I liked it everytime Ove finds her irritating! Lol. And all the characters in this book will surely warm your heart and each one of them is special to Ove in a away.

This wonderful story of Ove really moved me. It's funny, deep and will surely warm your heart. I enjoyed every second of it and I guess there's really power in the ability of people to touch each other's lives.

“Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it does not exist, and yet it's often one of the great motivations for the living. Some of us, in time, become so conscious of it that we live harder, more obstinately, with more fury. Some need its constant presence to even be aware of its antithesis. Others become so preoccupied with it that they go into the waiting room long before it has announced its arrival. We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.”

Book: Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

3.75/5 stars! 

“He hurt me, and I  hurt him, but shit happens and love doesn't change. He makes me happier, he makes me stronger, and he knows everything and still wants me. If he can say the same, then this is it. The real thing.”

This is my second book from Penelope Douglas, the first was Bully which was disappointing, and I really think she and I have a very peculiar relationship! I mean, I like her writing style and her characters but there's just something about her stories that, I don't know, doesn't really get into me. With Bully, I really wanted to love it because I liked Tate but Jared confused me so much and there was something about the story that didn't impress me. It was okay but it could've been better, I think. Now with Punk 57, the characters felt real to me but Ryen sometimes irritated me, which is not a bad thing. I don't have a problem with the plot, it's actually good, but then again I don't know why I'm not giving it a higher rating! See? That's my problem. I like her books but I can't bring myself to give them a higher rating because *shrugs* something is missing? Or is it too much? Either way, I enjoyed Punk 57 and I think Misha is the reason for the added .75 star!

 “Those letters are everything. They're her and me, kids just trying to figure themselves out and going through our growing pains. They're where I first started to fall for her and need her. They're my fucking songs and a part of me.”

Ryen and Misha are childhood pen pals. They began writing to each other in fifth grade as part of a school project but even though it already ended, they continued writing their letters with a few conditions; no social media, no pictures and no phone numbers. For seven years they write to each other, confiding and saying everything they can't tell other people. They are best friends and they feel like everything is okay as long as they write to each other. Until Misha breaks his promise.

It's no doubt Penelope Douglas can write a good NA and there's something about her stories that's compelling and intriguing. Her characters are also not hard to sympathize with and I love how she can make grade A assholes like Misha that you can't help but love anyway! I admit I had a hard time liking Ryen but Misha won me over. He can be mean to Ryen but I think it's his way of punishing Ryen for not being what she made him believe she is. But then I understand Ryen because really, who didn't have a hard time in high school? I guess we all went through that phase when we felt all the insecurities inside and around us and we struggled to find our place in the crowd. That's why Ryen turned out to be a bitchy cheerleader so that she can be popular because it makes high school bearable. And she might've found a way to fit in but it makes her feel guilty. She doesn't really want to be one but she knew what it feels like to be an outcast, to not fit in. It's hard to pretend but she decided to put up with her bitchy friend, Lyla, the asshole Trey and high school, as long as she can. That's the reason why she writes to Misha. Because though she pretends to be a bitch in front of her friends just to keep her status, with Misha she can be just herself. She can talk about lyrics and poems and everything and Misha is her safe place. The person she can tell everything to. That's why when Misha stops writing her letters, she needs another outlet.

Don't change, Ryen wrote in a letter once. There's no one like you, and i can't love you if you stop being you. I guess I shouldn't say that, but I'm a little drunk right now-just came back from a party when I saw your letter-but what the hell? I don't care. You knew I love you, right? You're my best friend. 

So don't ever change. This is a big ass world, and when we leave our small towns, we're going to find our tribe. If we don't stay true to ourselves, how will they recognize us? (Both of us, because you know we're on the same tribe, right?)

And even if it's just the two of us, it will be the best. 

 Misha, Misha, Misha! Well, I might be in love with him! Unlike Ryen, he fights for what he knew is right, he protects the people he loves and he doesn't put up with other people's bs! He cares for Ryen and his family and I liked that he makes mistakes that he regrets. It may be his decision to lie to Ryen but he has his own reasons. And oh my god that sexy romance between him and Ryen!

This book has a complex story but I love how everything ends. It's very high school but I think that's what makes it more relatable because it feels real. The high school drama, the angst, the chemistry between Ryen and Misha, I think they're all perfect! Though I admit I've guessed some turn of events earlier in the book. And aside from the main characters, some of the secondary characters are also endearing. I liked Ten from the start and J.D. and Dane as well. They're funny and I liked that Ten and J.D. stick with Ryen in the end. I also like the lyrics and the letters and the vandals, in short, I like the art in this book!

Overall I enjoyed this book! It doesn't only focus on Ryen and Misha's romance (though it's my favorite) but it also deals with the issues of acceptance, belonging, betrayal, loss and love. It talks about high school pressure, insecurities and finding your true self. But like I said earlier, the author and I have a peculiar relationship because no matter how much I enjoyed this book, I feel like there's something missing and I can't give it a higher rating than 3.75. But, but! That's only me. I see that others have really really loved it and I'm glad they did.

* * *

You're not alone, it gets better.

You are important, and you can't be replaced.

Hang on.

COLDPLAY LIVE IN MANILA 2017

Finally, finally, finally! Coldplay is heading to Manila for their A Head Full of Dreams Tour! Presented by MMI Live and Globe, Coldplay will be performing live at MOA Concert Grounds on April 4, 2017. 

When the British rock band released a teaser video for their upcoming Asian Tour three nights ago, everyone was happy to see that Philippines is included and that was when it became official. We've been patiently waiting for them to visit our country and now, they're finally coming! Though it's not until April of next year, everyone is very excited and though some are complaining about the ticket prices, I'm sure we're all going to make a way just to see them. Right?

The Scientist ♫♪

A Sky Full of Stars ♫♪

Yellow ♫♪

For more details visit Philippine Concerts.

Book: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

★★★★/★★★★★

“And the prince did know her now, sort of. He'd been kind to her at the market. Perhaps he would ask her to dance. Out of politeness. Out of chivalry when he saw her standing alone."

Cinder has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while now and since I was determined to finish off some series this year, I decided to put the it on my list of top 5 series I'll finally, finally, read in 2016! So there I was reading this book and oh my god did I love it! It's probably one of my best reads this year! And to be honest, I didn't expect to love it this much. Maybe a little but not this asdfgfdjhfkdghlhg much! If you know what I mean. ♥

“She was a cyborg, and she would never go to a ball.”

The book centers on Cinder, a sixteen year old mechanic in New Beijing. She can fix anything tech-related and is the best in the field. Also, she's a cyborg. She doesn't really remember her life before the surgery but she knows that she's from Europe and her father, adoptive father, took her home with him five years ago. But it was not long after that her father died because of Letumosis, a plague that's been killing both human and cyborgs alike. Now Cinder lives, works, to be exact, for her stepmother Adri and stepsisters Pearl and Peony. Fortunately she has her very useful android Iko who accompanies and helps her get through everyday. Peony is actually kind to Cinder and they get along well. But when Peony gets infected by letumosis, Adri blames Cinder and soon volunteers her for the cure trials against her will. Meanwhile, Prince Kai has his own problems and is mourning the death of his father caused by the plague. He'd met Cinder on her booth before to ask her to fix his android and obviously there was attraction between them, though Cinder tried to deny it. And now that Cinder is brought to the labs for the trials, she and Prince Kai meet again. Enters Dr. Erland, the scientist conducting the trials. No one survives the trials but surprisingly, Cinder does. It makes Dr. Erland curious and after some research here and there, he finally realizes why. But he keeps his findings to himself only sharing a little to Cinder because he knew it could be dangerous once people learn about this information. After explaining to her, Cinder voluntarily agrees to do the trials thinking it could help Peony and other people. Dr. Erland also lets her leave the labs but to check in once in a while. On the other hand, Queen Levana, the Lunar Queen everyone hates, is visiting the Earth to pay respect to the late Emperor. For so long she and her kind has been threatening the people of Earth and the leaders of the Earth have been trying to make a peace agreement with her but her demands are unbelievable. And now that Kai is to become Emperor, she wants to be Empress. But of course there's no way Kai will agree to marry an evil Lunar like her. That's why Kai is nagging Cinder to finish fixing his android because there's information in there he badly needs that can somehow help him dethroning Queen Levana. And while he's at it, he also starts working his charms on her. Cinder knew she can't accept anything from the Kai, not his princely manners, not his ball invitation, especially not a gift! Besides, Cinder thinks that once Kai finds out that she's a cyborg (yes, he didn't know because neither Dr. Erland nor Cinder has informed him about it), he'll probably be disgusted at her just like everyone else. But when a crucial information gets passed down to her that can probably save Kai from Queen Levana, she doesn't really have much of a choice but to attend a ball and meet the new Emperor even if it means facing the evil Queen Dr. Erland warns her about.

He met her gaze, surprised, as if he'd forgotten who he was speaking with . Then, “You can call me Kai.”
She blinked, “Excuse me?”
“No more 'Your Highness.' I get enough of that from... everyone else. You should just call me Kai.”
“No, that wouldn't be―”
“Don't make me turn it into a royal command.” He hinted at a smile.

This book is plainly amazing. When I first read the blurb I was intrigued as to how the author would re-tell the story of Cinderella with cyborgs and Lunar people and a plague but surely Marissa Meyer made it work. With the dystopian world she created where there are humans and cyborgs living together and yeah, moon people, she definitely nailed it! It's actually creative, the worldbuilding fantastic and the concept is refreshing for me. The characters are also great and I love Cinder. She's a strong protagonist and Kai, oh my god, Kai! Isn't he charming? Well, he's a prince for one and even if he's not, I think he'd still be charmingly princely!

“Not that I have anything against dancing. I can dance. If you want to dance.”

 I can talk about Kai all night long about how he's sooo cute and funny and hot and everything but let's move on with the other characters. Iko is another I really love! She's very entertaining and I actually felt really sad for what happened to her. Curse Adri!  Queen Levana, on the other hand, is quite evil but I'd love to read more about her. And maybe I will in the next book. And I know I've talked about Cinder and Kai already but I just really love them both! Together! I love how Kai flirts with Cinder and asking her to the ball is really sweet of him. Those moments they're together are my favorites and though Cinder ends up hurting Kai, we all know what will happen next. Cinder is Cinderella after all.

“I know this is stupid, but part of me felt like if I could come see you today, if I could convince you to go with me tonight, then maybe I could still change things. It's dumb, I know. It's not like Levana cares if I, you know, might have actual feelings for someone.”  

Like I said, this book is one of my best reads this year. It's very engaging and had me all hooked up from the very beginning. There are twists and turns though I've guessed right about some of them early on. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every page of this book and with that kind of ending, who wouldn't get excited to find out what happens next? I have tons of books lined up this month but I don't think I can wait longer to read the next book.

Movie: A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits 2016

Main Characters:

Sofia Carson as Tessa/Bella

Thomas Law as Reed West

Jennifer Tilly as Divine

Amy Louise Wilson as Athena

Jazzara Jaslyn as Olympia
Nicola Fortuin as Georgie

In a Cinderella musical competition, Tessa is forced to accompany her evil stepmother Divine and stepsisters Athena and Olympian to become their personal assistant. As much as Tessa hates it, she can't do anything but follow their orders. While at the competition, Tessa finds herself wanting to take part in the musical and realizes she has what it takes to be the next Cinderella. With the help of her new friend (and fairygod mother) Georgie, she reluctantly agrees to disguise herself so she can audition. The problem is, she gets the part and now she has to play Cinderella and become Bella (her disguise name) while trying to avoid getting caught by Divine and her crazy daughters. In addition, she starts to like Reed West, the one playing Prince in the musical. Tessa and Reed unexpectedly became close when Reed asked Tessa's help on fixing the motorbike needed for the musical since Tessa is a mechanic like her father. As they spend more time together, fixing the motorbike, Tessa struggles to play her role as Tessa and Bella at the same time. Soon it's time for the actual musical but Tessa's evil step-sisters learn her secret and they're determined to ruin her.

A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits is the fourth installment in the A Cinderella Story series. The first one, A Cinderella Story is actually my favorite of all but I always love a Cinderella story! I love Sam and Austin but the other characters from the series are also wonderful.

Sam and Austin from A Cinderella Story 2003

 Joey and Mary from Another Cinderella Story 2008

 Luke and Katie from A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song 2011

 And now we have Tessa and Reed from A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits 2016.

I'm hoping for more Cinderella movies because I don't think I'll ever get tired watching one! :)

Book: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

“If this were a Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movie,” Lincoln said, “I'd just kiss you, probably in the middle of a sentence. That would fix everything.”

I really think this book is cute. It's my third Rainbow Rowell book and like the first two (Fangirl and Eleanor & Park), I enjoyed it. Even before picking this book up, I'd been hearing a lot of buzz about it from my online friends and having it recommended to me several times, I decided to finally give it a go. It was just right that I did because I was totally entertained by this book. And honestly, I like Rowell's writing style and Eleanor & Park was surely a good read for me.

So, Attachments is about Lincoln who works at The Courier, a newspaper company that pays him to monitor its employees' e-mail accounts for inappropriate usage. In short, he's being paid to read the employees' e-mails. Lincoln doesn't really like it, he feels guilty for reading the e-mails but a job is a job. And if only he knew that 'internet security officer' really meant 'reading other people's e-mails' then he shouldn't have accepted the job in the first place. But there he is, reading and flagging everyone who writes rude, dirty or what-not contents to each other. He's close to finding a new job but when Beth and Jennifer start to entertain him with their bizarre e-mail exchange, he suddenly looks forward to doing his work every night. He also knew he has to flag them but since they seem nice and their conversations are harmless, he doesn't. And soon, Lincoln finds himself falling for Beth.

Have I told you that this book is cute? It is! I loved Beth and Jennifer's e-mail exchange and Lincoln is a charming one! Throughout the book we get to see Lincoln's life, working as the IT guy, having no social life except playing Dungeons & Dragons on Saturdays with a bunch of guys he knew ever since, having no girlfriend since Sam (which was years years ago!) and having to live with his mother which his sister, Eve, thinks is ridiculous. I know it sounds like Lincoln is a loser but he's more than that. Maybe he's a little lost, not knowing what he really wants to do in life, but he's trying and making small steps one at a time. And I loved that he gets to finally move on from his first love Sam after so many years because Sam didn't really deserve him. And he deserved someone better! Like Beth?

Beth and Jennifer are both fun characters. We get to know them through their exchange of e-mails, talking about everything under the sun. They're lively, quirky and they don't care whether they get flagged or not for writing some not-work-related stuff in their e-mails! They talk about their work, Beth's boyfriend, Jennifer's husband, movies, cute guys, their families and at some point about their personal problems. It actually reminds me of the e-mails/chats I send with my friends and makes me realize how embarrassing it must be if someone other than us reads them! Because we all talk about some stuff with our friends, right? :D

From: Beth Fremont
To: Jennifer Scribner-Snyder
Sent: Wed, 09/22/1999 2:38PM
Subject: Roo-ah-rooo-ahhh.
Roo-ah-rooo-ahhh.

{{Jennifer to Beth}} What's that?

{{Beth to Jennifer}} It's the Cute Guy Alarm.

{{Jennifer to Beth}} It sounds like a bird.

{{Beth to Jennifer}} There's a cute guy working here.

{{Jennifer to Beth}} No, there isn't. 

{{Beth to Jennifer}} I know, that was my first response, too. I thought he must have come in from the outside, a repairman, perhaps, or a consultant. That's why I waited for two confirmed sightings before sounding the Cute Guy Alarm.

 Aside from the cute stories of our characters, I also love the mention of some 90's movies and that Beth is actually a film critic! The movie references are so cute that it suddenly made me miss watching good 90's romantic movies! The family aspect is also present in this book and it was nice to see that Lincoln and his mother somehow get to work out their relationship in the end. And, there are a bunch of good secondary characters in this book. Eve, Lincoln's sister, is one of my favorites and also Justin! I don't know what, but there's just something about Justin that I really like! Lol. Doris is also a sweet heart. She works at The Courier with Lincoln and somehow she and Lincoln become friends. They share foods with each other spend breaks together. 

Well, other than that, this book is a fun read! And if you like light, fun, and lovely stories, this one is for you! Not at all cheesy but really cute! :)

From: Beth Fremont
To: Jennifer Scribner-Snyder
Sent: Thurs, 09/30/1999 3:42 PM
Subject: If you were Superman …

…and you could choose any alter ego you wanted, why the hell would you choose to spend your Clark Kent hours—which already suck because you have to wear glasses and you can’t fly—at a newspaper?

Why not pose as a wealthy playboy like Batman? Or the leader of a small but important nation like Black Panther?

Why would you choose to spend your days on deadline, making crap money, dealing with terminally crabby editors?

 

{{Jennifer to Beth}} I thought we agreed not to swear in e-mails.

{{Beth to Jennifer}} We agreed that it would probably be a good idea to stop swearing in e-mails.

{{Jennifer to Beth}} Still thinking about Lois Lane?

{{Beth to Jennifer}} Sort of. I mean, I get why Lois Lane went to journalism school. I know her type. Wants to make a difference, wants to uncover great truths. Nosy. But Clark Kent …why not Clark Kent, sexy TV weatherman? Or Clark Kent, mayor of Cincinnati?

{{Jennifer to Beth}} Aren’t you missing the point? Clark Kent doesn’t want to be famous. He doesn’t want people to look at him. If they really look at him, they’d see that he’s just Superman with glasses.

Plus, he needs to be someplace like a newsroom, where he’s the first to hear big news. He can’t afford to read “Joker attacks moon” the next day in the newspaper.

{{Beth to Jennifer}} You make an excellent point. Especially for someone who doesn’t know that Superman never fights the Joker.