Book Review: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Author: Morgan Matson

Published: May 8th, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 468

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis:

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

Deskynowsky's Review:

I cried at the end, coz the pain was too much..

There were three parts of story in this book, Romance, Friendship, and Family.. As for the Romance and Friendship, it was kinda typical for me, and predictable.. So am not going to write much about it.. it was okay.. it was cute..

But the family story in this book was really hit me close to the heart.. this book deals with issue of losing an important member of your family.. In this book, it was Taylor's dad.. In my life, it was my dad.. all the feels that were described in the book were pretty much the same painful feels that I had experienced in real life.. I was crying towards the end.. it was too spot on.. I can relate to Taylor and her family..big time...

And I just feel I can't write more, coz I am kinda emotionally drained.. Read the book, if it's Morgan Matson, it is a guarantee that it will be a perfect (summer) contemporary read...

Book Review: Swimming at Night (or also known as The Sea Sisters) by Lucy Clarke

Author: Lucy Clarke

Published: October 9th, 2012

Publisher: Touchstone

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Katie’s world is shattered by the news that her headstrong and bohemian younger sister, Mia, has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. The authorities say that Mia jumped—that her death was a suicide.

Although they’d hardly spoken to each other since Mia suddenly left on an around-the-world trip six months earlier, Katie refuses to accept that her sister would have taken her own life. Distraught that they never made peace, Katie leaves her orderly, sheltered life in London behind and embarks on a journey to find out the truth. With only the entries of Mia’s travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister’s life, and—page by page, country by country—begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death. . . .

Weaving together the exotic settings and suspenseful twists of Alex Garland’s The Beach with a powerful tale of familial love in the spirit of Rosamund Lupton’s Sister, Swimming at Night is a fast-paced, accomplished, and gripping debut novel of secrets, loss, and forgiveness.

Deskynowsky's Review:

I really enjoyed this book.. I think I was in the right mood to read this kind of book.. a good choice for an Adult Contemporary Summer Read..

I bought this book without knowing what it was all about, the cover of the book drew me in and when I read the synopsis at the back, this book promised an adventure of traveling to some summery places in the world.. (well, the mentioned of Bali won me over tho.. haha).

Basically this book was about two sisters, Katie and Mia Greene. And one day, Katie received a phone call at night then a visit from some officials that informed her about her sister, Mia who was found dead in Bali. Long story short, Katie and Mia were not in the best relationship situation and for the last six months (when Mia started her traveling journey) were kinda no-significant-communication and cold. Then after the death of Mia, Katie got Mia's travel journal, marking and answering some important events in these sisters life that lead to Katie who then decided one day to follow her sister's journey, traveling around the world to find some answers following Mia's death which by officials announced as an act of suicide.

I really liked these books mainly because of the characters, the twists, the drama, and the plot. The characters were really intriguing and how then the story shaped the addictive drama plot that untangling the mystery surrounding Mia's death layer by layer. Some of the twists were pretty unpredictable too. At the end, I really enjoyed the traveling adventure story in the book. It was kinda Eat, Pray, Love but with mystery and drama and also someone died in this book.

At first I thought this book was going to be a crime mystery kind of book, but it was not.. It was more mystery, drama, contemporary read and it was perfect to read at the pool-side or at the beach.. :)

This book has other name too, I think Swimming at Night is the title for the American Market. The book's original name is The Sea Sisters, I think this one is for the UK market. And I really enjoyed Lucy Clarke's writing style, recently she has new book published called A Single Breathe, it sounds amazingly intriguing, I might check that out soon ;)

Book Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Published: April, 12th 2012

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 324

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.

Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-Shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor...never to Eleanor.

Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.

Deskynowsky's Review:

OMG!

Possibly the best Rainbow Rowell's book I have read so far (the only book that I hvn't read from her is Landline, but I will read it soon)..

The story, the characters, the development were so hypnotizing.. There was something really classic, timeless, and super attractive about Eleanor and Park.. I can't say anything more, coz I personally found this book flawless! And the ending, tho it was kinda abrupt, but I couldn't help to smile and think what I think that would be.. It got to be it! *wink*

I WANT THIS BOOK TO BE MADE INTO A MOVIE! I even made this super quick fanvid of who I think will picture Eleanor and Park.. Check it out! Haha and tell me what you think XD

Book Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio and The Julian Chapter (Wonder Novella) by R.J. Palacio

Author: R.J. Palacio

Published: January, 3rd 2013

Publisher: Corgi

Pages: 315

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

My Name is August.

I won't describe what i look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

Deskynowsky's Review:

there are only few books that have made me cry so far or as far as I can remember..... TFIOS by John Green, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, and now... I can proudly add Wonder by R.J. Palacio to the gloriously tear-jerking reading list..

Not like TFIOS or A Monster Calls which cause more sad-tears and then post-reading it, you feel like you need a self-reflection time to kinda absorb everything.. Wonder is so self-liberating.. It causes happy-tears and you are just touched and can not help to just feel loved..

Reading this book and knowing this character named August Pullman (Auggie), I love him so very much, it feels like you grew up with him throughout the story.. The story is beautiful, well-paced, great development on every character, and the writing style is wonderful, I just flew through it..

This book is told in multiple perspectives but with Auggie as the main POV, so other characters POVs are more like companion. But it works for the story, and it's so fascinating to read what is inside Auggie's head and others too.. How much love these characters have and give to one another...

It's such heart warming and happy tear-jerking kind of book.. Another perfect summer read.. highly RECOMMEND IT!!! Oh, I wish this book will be made into a movie.. it will be AMAZING!!!!

Author: R.J. Palacio

Published: May, 13th 2014

Publisher: Knoph Books

Pages: 84 (ebook)

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Over 1 million people have read Wonder and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Now readers will have a chance to hear from the book's most controversial character—Julian.

From the very first day Auggie and Julian met in the pages of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder, it was clear they were never going to be friends, with Julian treating Auggie like he had the plague. And while Wonder told Auggie's story through six different viewpoints, Julian's perspective was never shared. Readers could only guess what he was thinking.

Until now. The Julian Chapter will finally reveal the bully's side of the story. Why is Julian so unkind to Auggie? And does he have a chance for redemption?

Deskynowsky's Review:

Julian... I have mixed-feelings about him... I didn't like him and just thought him as a plain bully with no remorse, and her mom too.. But post-reading Wonder, I just kinda want to know what happen to him.. I know this novella just came out recently, and I decided to get it and read it instantly... and I am happy I did it...

In this novella, we get to know more of The Albans family, Julian's Mom and Dad.. and then, my favorite, Julian's Grandmere... I love her!

This book is pretty short, I think it is less than 100 pages (I read it on my IPhone, so I'm not really sure), we can see the development of Julian's way of thinking, right from the first time he met Auggie until after the last scene at the end of Wonder.

What really happen of Julian, What was he thinking when he was being so mean to Auggie, What really come upon him after everything, Did he regret what he did to Auggie, etc etc etc.. This Novella will give the answer to you :) and at the end, I am kinda proud of Julian too <3

Book Review: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Author: Robyn Schneider

Published: August 27th, 2013 

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Int'l Paperback Edition)

Pages: 335

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Ezra Faulkner was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with new girl Cassidy Thorpe.

Deskynowsky's Review (Free Spoilers)

I was considering 3.5 stars, but I thought about it again, and decided to give it 3 stars.. It was Ok, definitely a coming of age story, about a boy who used to be The Golden Boy, The Popular Boy, but then he had a car accident that changed his life forever... And in the state of his changed life, he found another life that he had been overlooked... He started to find the true meaning of being a life etc etc etc... I like the premise of the story... The writing style was a bit slow and kinda long (in a way) and yeah..... it was really Ok, I didn't feel any particular feelings after finished reading this book..... The characters were Ok, well-developed, thou I could not say the same to a particular female character who helped the main male character in the book post-car accident.. But I thought she had served her purpose in the boy's life here.. So.. yeah... and on-to the next read!!! :)

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Author: Morgan Matson

Published: May 6th, 2014 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (hardback)

Pages: 449

Rating: 5/5

Deskynowsky's Review (Free Spoilers):

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!

This is definitely my favorite summer read so far! A very very very perfect Summer-Read! HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

This book somehow reminded me of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (in a way). These two are totally different story, but I think similar in how I feel about the female lead characters.. Although, I have to admit I love Emily Hughes more, the main female in Since You've Been Gone.. and Gosh.. can I have a Frank Porter!??? WE NEED TO CLONE THIS GUY!!!

This was a story about Emily who had a bestfriend named Sloane and then Sloane kinda disappeared at the beginning of Summer. Emily was a girl, a pretty much socially awkward and unconfident about herself and Sloane was exactly the opposite of Emily. Their friendship worked so well, and Emily was pretty dependent on Sloane in terms of social-interactions with a general-similar-age-group-of-people. The disappearance of Sloane had such impacts on Emily's life. She was like a ship without a captain. Then suddenly she received a list from Sloane sent by mail, a list of things that Emily would not normally do. But she really wanted to find Sloane, so she was hoping by doing the things in the list would put her closer to find Sloane. And this was the start of very many intersting, loving, heartwarming, funny, romantic adventures....

This book is so perfect and I really love it.. I love the writing style, the development of characters (yes, all characters in this book developed, not just the main one), the plot, the scenes, the drama, the romance, the adventures, the comedy.... oh man.. it's awesome....

If you like contemporary books, I am 100% sure that you will enjoy this book! So GO READ IT!!! <3

Current Reads for June 7th to 14th 2014 (or I hope I can finish it during this timeline) xp

Book Review: This is WAR by Lisa Roecker & Laura Roecker

Author: Lisa Roecker & Laura Roecker
Published: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Soho Teen (paperback)
Pages: 276
Rating: 2/5

Synopsis:

This is not a story of forgiveness...

The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Emily Thorne would be proud.

Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return.

Alone.

They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.

Enter the W.A.R.— the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.

Deskynowsky's Review:

So after reading this book....I decided to give it two stars..

Well, it was not horrible, I found myself enjoyed reading it.. It was okay, thou there were things that I want to question... Because somehow it was just left me more confused...

These characters in the book were mostly unlikeable, but the writers did a pretty good job on how to make them pretty interesting when they put them in dramatic situation. The drama, mystery, and how they act in that situation, well it was quite intriguing.. The story was told in 5 parts.. And divided based on 4 characters POVs (part 4 & 5 from one particular character POV).. I think it meant for readers to get more understanding and relate to these characters, well tbh I still didn't like them and I couldn't sympathize with them as well..

In summary of everything about this book in one sentence, it would be "there was something happened, then nothing at all".. Yeah it was confusing.. I feel in a way, these characters didn't do much, and the mystery kinda unraveled in not very spectacular way..

It was meant to be a YA mystery summer book, and I was drawn to the mysterious cover, intriguing synopsis, and that sticker telling the book to be "TeenVogue YA hottest read"..

Oh well...

2014 April Book Haul!

So guys, I decided to make a book haul video for April 2014. This is the first time I did it.. hope you guys enjoy! :)

ARC review: Stay With Me (With Me #1) by Elyssa Patrick

Author: Elyssa Patrick

Expected Publication: August 30th 2013

Pages: 216 pages

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Synopsis:

New Adult/Contemporary Romance - recommended for ages 17 and up.
With one look, I’m his . . .

With one touch, he’s mine . . .

With one kiss, it changes everything between us . . .

I’ve been famous since I can remember. Singing, acting, dancing—I’ve done it all. The tabloids cover my every move, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to be normal, whatever that is.

When I leave Hollywood for college in Vermont, I’m on my own for the first time in my life. This is my chance to figure out who I am and what I want in life.

But it’s a lot harder than I expected. I can’t escape my image. Classes are difficult, and I’m struggling. And then there’s Caleb Fox.

Sexy, intriguing Caleb Fox.

Caleb is the one man who doesn’t want to use me. He breaks down my walls. He challenges me. He wants me. And I just don’t know if I can give him the same—or if he’ll stick around when he finds out my shameful secret that the tabloids haven’t managed to uncover.

Dating him is risky enough, but loving him could break me.

Deskynowsky's Review:

first, I want to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me with the ebook, really appreciate it. I really want to like this book, I forced myself reading it in couple of hours (I am challenging myself this week anw). I almost did not finish reading this book, but somehow I kept forcing myself coz I want to know the "big secret" that has been mentioned from the start.. So, the positive thing about this book is the cover. I love it! really well done! The negative things, I have to say I don't like the execution of the story plot and the writing. Is this really New-Adult? I know in simple way new adult is YA + Sex, but this book is like too many sex and less focus in the development of the story. There is development, but it is just (how to say it) not there.. It just feels flat..(I think this book can be categorized as erotica?). And it is an instant attraction (insta-love) starting from the very first sentence of the first chapter.. And I don't really feel the connection (I don't understand) the main character nor other characters in the book. Everything is just so instant. I feel nothing.. Empty is the right word to describe my feeling after reading this book.. Hah.. I am a bit disappointed, but hope other people will find more joy in reading this book than I did..

July Multiple Books Review: 6. Paper Towns by John Green

6. Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Published: September 22nd 2009

Publisher: Speak

Pages: 305 pages

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

Deskynowsky's Review:

okay, I like this book obviously..

It is an amazing story filled with mysteries, puzzles/riddles, and adventures..

hmm, I am not so sure if this book gives me feels like other two John Green's books (looking for Alaska and TFIOS) do.. but this book does bring out my curiosity.. I think it is a very good read and very interesting one.. I like it in a way that it's an awesome YA adventure and mystery book.. I really love parts where John Green put some poetry references in it.. really nice touch..

What I like the best from this book is the conversation between Margo and Quentin, Quentin and his bestfriends, Quentin and his parents, Quentin and other students.. It's just obvious that I like Quentin as a character.. Tho I also have to say that Margo is definitely very unique and the way she's thinking no matter how odd that is, I somehow can understand and relate to it xp

I think that'd be all for now.. :)

July Multiple Books Review: 5. Faking It (Losing It #2) by Cora Carmack

5. Faking It (Losing It #2)

Author: Cora Carmack

Published: June 4th 2013

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 352 pages

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

The hot new, New Adult title from New York Times bestselling author ofLosing It, Cora Carmack.

Deskynowsky's Review:

Haha.. I tend to give all books that I read in one day which completely enchanted me from the beginning to the end and also that made me doesn't want to stop reading it, freaking 5 stars or maybe 4.5 stars..

Okay so I read Losing It in January 2013, and I didn't like it, I thought I gave it 2 stars or 1.5 stars? I forgot, the story for me was kinda meh and I don't like the girl also pretty much very typical.. Well the whole thing is just booorrinng..

BUT THE SEQUEL!!!!! Oh my goodness.. It's just as awesome as cherry candy and strawberry pie with awesome icing of rainbow chocolates and ferrero roche ice cream (okay, I don't know what I am writing abt)..

Obviously I AM IN LOVE with this story! I love the girl and the boy! Their issues are definitely more intriguing and significant.. Their relationship is sooooo touching, toes-curling-worth, rolling back and forth on the bed worth, swoon worth, fangirl worth, and other love sick puppy symptoms worth!!!

Faking It is a whole different story than Losing It, it's about Cade (if U have read Losing It, he is the male best friend of Bliss who was in love with Bliss and then get dumped for a hot british teacher) who happened to meet with this awesome fearless rocker badass tattooed girl named Max (or Mackenzie) that at first they were faking the relationship for the sake of Max's super conservative all happy parents which happened in super random universe, they came to Philly unannounced and Max was with her super irresponsible and brainless boyfriend who is everything that her parents hate.. Sooooo in a very limited time she just spotted Cade (they were at a coffee shop) who happened sitting alone with a book and also has this good boy vibe neon pointed at him. So she came to him with the proposal to be her faked boyfriend, andddddd BAM! There, I just could not stop reading the rest of the story..

Thank God I decided to buy the ebook and read it, I wasn't sure at first, but the synopsis was just tooooooo good, it just sounds like awesome opposite attract love story that I really like.. And I DO LIKE IT A LIL BIT TOO MUCH..

Okay there.. Haha.. I am happy :D 

What's New #8: Kinokuniya's temptation!

It was like last week since I posted a book haul post.. Well this time, it's a different story.. I've been avoiding to come to this bookstore, but there was just this pull that calling me to go there and I have been so stressed-out lately at the office, therefore I think I need to reward myself a bit.

So I went to Kinokuniya Bookstore at Grand Indonesia after the office.. I basically got myself (or bought myself) SIX books! hahaha..

Here they are!

Fragments and Unravel Me are sequels to Partials and Shatter Me which I have not yet reading xp well, I just can't let them hanging there, and I will read them eventually, so I decided to get them anw..

Pushing The Limits, I only hear good things about this book, it sounds like a good romantic story with a twist. I had put this book down two times at Kino, I was not so sure I want to read it, but then I was just "what the heck" and decided to buy it.. Because I am just too curious about it, what is the buzz about this book.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Everybody Sees The Ants by A.S. King, and Life After Life by Kate Atkinson are probably books that I am really most excited about.. XD I've been wanting to get them for so long, and I saw them at Kino then I was like "put them in the basket!!!", so happy..

Okay, so that'd be all for today, I will probably back with reviews after this.. I am expecting The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey to be posted within this week.. and The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson also The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman..

Alright then, see ya!