[REVIEW] How To Fall In Love by Cecelia Ahern

First off, this is my first Cecelia Ahern book. I admit I have not yet read PS, I Love You (her best selling book). A friend highly recommended How To Fall In Love to me while we were book-shopping. The story was captivating and I trusted my friend to give it a go.

Goodreads synopsis: She has just two weeks. Two weeks to teach him how to fall in love – with his own life. Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Halfpenny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump. Adam is desperate – but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him she can show him that life is worth living before then. Despite her determination, Christine knows what a dangerous promise she’s made. Against the ticking of the clock, the two of them embark on wild escapades, grand romantic gestures and some unlikely late-night outings. Slowly, Christine thinks Adam is starting to fall back in love with his life. But has she done enough to change his mind for good? And is that all that’s starting to happen?

I'm a huge contemporary-romance reader and this book is the book for readers of my kind. It's romantic (obviously), adorable and heart-wrenching (not severe). It always touches me when the main character is acting as the third-wheel and helping the person he/she loves to get back to her/his lover. It's always heart-breaking and brings me to tear when the main character could no longer endure the pain and broke down. (I think this is kinda spoiler-y)

This story was written from the first person's view, Christine Rose. It's about how her life intertwined with the attempted suicide man she saved, Adam. Christine was broken (in a way) but that did not stop her from always reaching out to help others. Her father said she is always thinking while he and Chrstine's other two sisters do. I think that's what really touches me. I don't think it's her guilt towards  Simon Conway, it's her genuine kind heart which made her helped Adam all the way.

The other really interesting part was (what I called) 'the outburst'. I wouldn't want to spoil anyone reading this but I couldn't help to not talk about it also. If you're afraid of being spoilt or anything, just skip this paragraph. It was about the discovery of Christine's mother's suicide attempt. I was shocked to read about this part, when Christine was near to break down. The author played well at this explosive part. I felt that Chrsitine's trying to help because she had gone through it. She didn't want anyone to turn out to be like her mother. Also, Adam's sudden change of behaviour. That was really unbelievable, almost too fake.

This book was, to me, incredibly heartfelt. The references to self-help books are such a metaphor to tell us to follow our hearts and not everything can be formulated. A very satisfied 5-stars romance.

Summer

I hope you'll read this book: How to Fall in Love

[REVIEW] Sophie Kinsella European Weeks

I've read 4 books by Sophie Kinsella and so far, I've not rate any of them below 4-stars (not Wedding Night). I dare say that she's an amazing writer who knows how to grip my sense of humour. Additionally, I've been in the contemporary-chicklit mood and Sophie Kinsella just made all my days. There ain't no any particular reason for this double reviews mashed-up. Both books are from the same genre and author, thus, it'll be easier. 

1. Can You Keep A Secret? 

Goodreads synopsis: Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: 
Secrets from her boyfriend: I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. 
Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. 
Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. 
Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her...

I'M SO INSANELY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. The feeling was so attached that I had a book hungover again. I never expect it to be that hilarious and cheesy and embarrassing at the same time. And yes, I agree that it is indeed very cliché and predictable. However, this book is capable of making me laughing out loud in public in every turn pages. It was so freaking hilarious, how can you not-

Sophie Kinsella's writings has the power to make you feel embarrass for her main girl character. I don't know how she does it but all the time you'll feel like telling the character 'oh god no', I swear. Plus, it's no secret all Sophie's books are freaking fun to read. But, this book actually made me laughed out loud. Those little thoughts of Emma were just so funny. 

The relationship between Emma and Jack is the reason I could not put this book down. I practically flew through this book, during my brother's graduation ceremony (yes, I was reading while all the choir and speeches were on-going). I love how the story unfolds and how Emma deal with all the problems. 

I'm surprised I didn't have much to say for a book I rated 5-stars. Overall, it was fun and enjoyable read. The only complaint I've got is that "it's not real", and that's not really a complaint. 

2. The Undomestic Goddess

I bought this book from an Italian bookstore because I needed something to read after CYKAS? hungover. 

Goodreads synopsis: Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She's made a mistake so huge, it'll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she's mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they've hired a lawyer-and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can't sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope-and finds love-is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does...will she want it back?

This is not as fun as CYKAS? but it still have all the fun elements. This book still makes me laughed but not as much? However, Samantha's life is very much relatable to me (even though I ain't IQ 158 but I'm a pathetic law student). I would be almost a Melissa, still struggling in law school. 

No matter how I convince myself that this is just a fiction, I still wouldn't believe that a high-pay lawyer would choose to be a domestic worker. It's insane. I would prefer an ending of Sam being with  Nathaniel and helping him with his job or something, not being a domestic worker. But, that's the whole point of the insane plot of the book. 

Usually all law-themed fiction or movies made me uneasy, as if people trying to make fun of the subject, like the movie Legally Blonde. I do believe lawyers do get a life. However, in the Acknowledgements page, Sophie did mentioned that she'd consulted the real lawyer and such, so I guess the story ain't that fiction after all. 

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the book very much and I highly recommend both books (in fact all Sophie's books). I've always loved a happy book. 

Summer

Nothing goes wrong with a Sophie Kinsella: Can You Keep A Secret? / The Undomestic Goddess

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