[REVIEW] Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

So much for galaxy porn. I freaking adore this book. I'm officially a Perkins fangirl. If you think Anna and the French Kiss was good, this is 10 times better. I can't even imagine Isla now.

Goodreads synopsis: Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the negihborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

I'm currently so contemporary-deprived that every book I picked up in my TBR list is a contemporary. 

This book... AWWWW... (with caps and !!!!) Lola and Cricket's interactions were just SO ADORABLE. Most of the time I was just squealing and rolling on my bed. Stephanie did that to me again. The feeling was so heart-warming and happy. 

Yes, the story is still very cliché but contemporary is all about the feeling. I was grinning all the while reading this book and that matters. It feels like a RomCom which could be watched again and again and you'll still laugh at the same joke. It's a wonder Cricket being all geeky, he could snuck up some cheesy pickup line. 

One thing - I really like Lola's parents. Yes, they're gay and they're so cute. It reminds me of the Modern Family. Gosh, everything's so cute and fussy, even the parents. I ran out of words. 

"So you believe in second chances?" I bite my lip.
"Second, third, fourth. Whatever it takes. However long it takes. If the person is right," he adds.
"If the person is... Lola?"
This time, he holds my gaze. "Only if the other person is Cricket."

GOD. I CAN'T TAKE IT. EVEN IT'S THE SECOND READ. I SHOULD REALLY CALM MYSELF NOW.

At this rate, everyone will stop reading my reviews. 

The other thing about self-discovery. As the story goes, Lola grows to learn more about herself. How she should be honest to her feelings and how to just being herself - how to be Lola. It's beautiful when Cricket is there to assist her, asking her to be herself. Cricket is so sweet in his geeky way.

A self-discovery journey. An adorable budding romance. What do you need more in a book?

Summer

Read this and you'll love it: Lola and the Boy Next Door

[REVIEW] Fangril by Rainbow Rowell

My first Rainbow Rowell's book was Eleanor & Park and I absolutely adore it. I like Rainbow's writings, her humour and those cutesy scenes in the book. They made me feel so good. However, I was quite disappointed with this book. Almost all book tubers love this book. It was so hyped-out that it made me wanna read it. So I did but I didn't enjoy it as many other readers did.

Goodreads synopsis: A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan... But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

To be honest, I was let down by all those high reviews out there. I'm pretty sure every comments about this book were a straight 5-stars. I had my hopes up before reading it. It was a huge let down. I really didn't expect to be let down but it happened.

Firstly, the plot was a huge mess. Most of the time I did not know where is the focus point? Is it the fan fiction writing? Or the twins relationship? Or their dad? Or their mother? Or even the relationship between Cath and Levi? They were all jumbled up. I felt that some parts were too draggy while some other parts were too rush. When I reached the end, I was feeling like "huh? What?", and it just ended like that. 

However, the story is unique. Fanfiction is hardly a topic to write about in a fiction. It was impressive that Rainbow did a story within a story. To me, it's practically hard to even write a story and she mashed up two stories. 

Overall it was a leisure read. I was just not attached to it as many other contemporary or even Rainbow's e&p. Maybe I am not fangirl-ing enough. But since many readers do enjoy the book, maybe they do find something they really like about it. I would still recommend this book because of Rainbow Rowell. Her writings are light and fun read. 

Summer 

I will still have a link to purchase the book even if I did not enjoy that book as much because I believe in challenging someone's opinion. Everyone should listen and accept people's opinion but form your own. 

FANGIRL (my version is not available)

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

This book killed me. In every way possible. Ms Jenny Han, you've done a great job on that. *round of applauses*

I was introduced to this book by Regan (the booktuber: peruseproject). The title might sound cheesy but it's definitely not a cheesy book. It has its cute moments.

Goodreads synopsis: What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them... all at once? Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

This is not your typical contemporary reads. First off, the story is cute and "troublesome". I read the synopsis and it was immediately added to my TBR list. It was that intriguing. Not to mention, the cover was gorgeous to the maximum level.

This book technically has no flaws until the last page which literally made me so angry with Jenny Han. Please, why did you do this to me? OMG. I almost saw it coming and the last page slapped me into reality. If this isn't a duo-logy/series, I'm officially writing a letter to Ms Jenny Han insisting for an epilogue. I really don't mind an entirely new book just for an epilogue, just please give me an ending because there was none. The problems in the book aren't solve and I'm pretty annoyed and I couldn't sleep peacefully tonight without an answer.

Despite that pissful ending, I love this book. It was a fast read. The chapters spacing (whatever you call that) was so perfectly structured. It stops at the right time and begins with a good start.

DID I EVER MENTION THE GASTRONOMY? Jenny Han, despite everything I've written above, you're an amazing food-writer. I always have a thing for books which write about food, in details. I didn't see it coming from a YA contemporary fiction. It was a great surprise. The korean foods, the cookies baking and all those dinners. If Jenny Han writes like that in all her books, I'll eat all of them.

I stay quiet for all of ten seconds and then say, "Wait, were you wanting me to be quiet too?"
"No, I just didn't want music. You can talk as much as you want."

That was my favourite LaraJean-Peter scene. It was hilarious with cute-ness overloads. I love their cutesy moments. (on the repeat mode) I just love everything about this book except for the delirious ending. I love so many things I can't describe them in words.

I hope Jenny writes more about Chris. She's very interesting.

It would be a 5-stars if not for that ending. However, I highly recommend this book for anyone, especially contemporary readers. YOU'LL LOVE IT.

Summer

I bought it: To All the Boys I've Loved Before (new cover paperback) (hardback)
p.s My edition was out of order.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Almost everyone in the book world has been raving about this book and I cannot NOT check it out. There must be a reason for the whole hype, right? 

Goodreads synopsis: Can Anna find love in the City of Light? Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken —and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?

Yes, it is an adorable-makes-you-feel-so-cuddly-and-good book. A book for remedy situations, for after break-ups (maybe?), for book-hangover, for RomCom desperate moments, for dateless measure and for Paree-lovers. If you are any of the above, you'd to pick this book up. 

First off, I love that Stephanie Perkins describes about the settings. Many RomCom books do not care for anything other than the two main characters. But when I was reading this book, I did feel like I'm actually with Anna in Paris and speaking français all these while. You can't help it. It's written everywhere. I could even smell the croissants.

Next, the storyline. Despite everything being perfectly structured in this book, the storyline was very cliché. It's another a-new-girl-in-school-meets-perfect-guy-but-with-family-problems kind of book, the "perfect-ending" book. If it's the book alone, the story is perfect but if you compare with the other RomCom around, the storyline will not standout. 

But I don't think the storyline is the aim of the book. This book is supposed to make you feel good and feel real. There's no save-the-world-apocalypse and no unsolvable-Will-Tessa-Jem, it was just simple romance and friends-family drama. 

In fact, the middle part of book was pretty heart-wrenching. (page 259) God, I cried a bucket for Anna. Maybe it's because I understand her feelings. It was awful, her narration sounded like she's going insane (metaphorically). I was almost shouting at the book, 'no Anna, you can't do that! You can't you can't!'. That's how deep the book affects me. 

However, one part really did annoyed me. I didn't know what the hell was St. Clair doing. The book explains the reason but me myself don't really comprehend it. Why? Why won't he break up with Ellie? I was as confused as Anna. 

Overall, it's a RECOMMENDED 5-stars YA contemporary read. I will definitely get Lola and the Boy Next Door and Isla and the Happily Ever After (coming out on 14th August 2014). I'm pretty excited for Isla and the Happily Ever After because Josh (from AaTFK side character) will be the main character of the book.   

READ THIS BOOK,

Summer

i'm getting it: Anne and the French Kiss