Oops! I Read A Book Again

INLAND is utterly beautiful, with an absolutely stunning prose. It is the poignant tale of women powerless to the sea, ending up sucked into its hungry mouth, even as they helplessly claw to cling inland, trying to build roots that will never hold. Not when your love is as present, now and forever, and as powerful as the ocean. As Callie finds the sea insidious, one will find Rosenfield's words calling out to them, begging to be read without stopping. INLAND will sweep you away into the tide, swallow you up whole into its deep, murky depths, drown you in the eerily creepy atmosphere Rosenfield has masterfully weaved, and then let you float up changed. It is reminiscent of Elizabeth Fama's MONSTROUS BEAUTY, all at once both chillingly dark and poetically sublime. I highly recommend INLAND to fans of E. Lockhart, Lauren Oliver and Tahereh Mafi.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Edelweiss for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I've had a lengthy debate with myself whether to give this 2 stars or 3. Ultimately, I've decided on 3 but I refused to post my review during the tour. Because although I've enjoyed reading Magnolia, I found a lot of things I didn't quite like. The most superficial thing I didn't like is the cover. Now, don't get me wrong, the cover is actually cute and very apt, given that this is a Southern romance with a hurricane involved. All those dark clouds are very foreboding in nature. Really, I just don't like that the guy looks like Liam Hemsworth. Haha!

I like the reverse Romeo and Juliet plot and the forced close proximity trope used during the hurricane. Close proximity, even if it's a cheap trick, never fails to bring a smile on my face. However, I find Ryder a bit of a flat character and Jemma kind of superficial? I mean, sure, Jemma's cool, what with her being the best shot (as in target shooting) in Magnolia Branch, but meh, I just couldn't place myself in the characters' shoes and see what they like about each other. Ryder's hot, Jemma's beautiful, both have their own strengths (Ryder in school and Jemma in film). But nothing. I got giddy at times because they were all alone in Jemma's house during a hurricane but in general, I wasn't down with the pairing. There were hot scenes too, MEHEHE, so that is appreciated, thank you very much. Then I wasn't a fan of the randomness of the events in the novel too. SPOILER ALERT: What the heck? Why did Patrick have to die? We get a death scare with Nana's disease and I thought she'd die to give depth to the novel but then Patrick died without so much as a footenote. I don't get it. It just felt so out of field and the way they dealt with his death was very fleeting and simple. It was like, let's kill Patrick off so Jemma and Ryder can ride off into the sunset. Whuuuuttt??? That was really random and blase. END OF SPOILER

So while I enjoyed reading it for all the shenanigans and the teen rebellion where they could get it (Jemma and Ryder sneaking out because they don't want to give their families the satisfaction of seeing them together), I wasn't convinced with the romance and the story. This was just a bit over-the-top to me. Maybe with a different set of characters or a different set of plot devices, I would have loved this reverse Romeo and Juliet set-up to bits.

Thank you to Monica Murphy, Kelly Simmon of InkSlinger PR and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had fits to strangle someone while reading this book. Too sad and too bad because this is my first book by Monica Murphy and I was pumped to read it because I've been wanting to try her books. The blurb intrigued me because WHY CAN'T THEY BE TOGETHER so I eagerly started it. Oh boy, the disappointment. It didn't help that I just read a book with the same set-up which was obviously better than HIS REVERIE. So what exactly did I abhor about this book?

In one word: Reverie. Oh goodness, I hated Reverie's character. Too naive, too it's-been-my-dream-to-fall-in-love kind of girl. Aaaaaaa, I was so frustrated with her character!! I appreciated the Murphy writing this in both Nick and Rev's perspectives but Rev's was written in a diary format. She's just too childish and innocent (in that grating way but not that being innocent is bad) then she just turned into a sexy kitten where Nick is involved. I mean, sure, everyone expects her to be shy and clueless and I get that she's not that. She's just sheltered and inexperienced but really, she went from very naive and innocent to being super game and a go-getter. Plus, I like my heroines to not be damsels in distress. Confession: I mostly skimmed Reverie's half of the book because I absolutely cannot stand her.

Then we have Nick. Honestly, since this is only a mature young adult book, Nick gets a pass from me with all his angst. I know, what a double standard, but I love angst and brokenness in YA but I hate it in NA. What he went through was intense and harrowing. However, I don't like it felt like he was only ruled by his dick. He just saw Rev and WOAH. Tsk tsk. I mean, sure, teenagers are always horny but it was always about lust then a bit of how Rev is different and amazing and all that. I need more than that. I need to understand why you two are falling in love.

The most irritating thing in here is the noble idiocy. UGH. Oh no, the most irritating thing with HIS REVERIE is that I still want to read the next book because I wanna know what happens. GAH, I hate it.

Anyway, so, I only recommend this if you're a big fan of Monica Murphy and I don't know who'll enjoy this. The writing was good but I just can't stomach everything else. I'm so sorry for being so mean but I read this a month ago but my blood is still boiling while writing this review!

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the review copy! Having received one did not affect my views of the novel.

I've read Before You before reading His Reverie and this is definitely better than the latter. Waaaaay better. I had to compare because both have the same premise and spoiler alert for His Reverie, both have heroines that are daughters of a church pastor. Glad to say that Before You has more depth and has more dimensional characters you'll root for.

My feelings for this book have been very confusing. It was like teetering on a three-way seesaw if ever there is something like that. I was so excited for this book that I even featured it as a Waiting on Wednesday. It's just that I read the first chapters and damn, I was hooked. So when I finally started it, I already felt that I'll give it four stars. Then le slump happened and I couldn't keep my attention and interest with the book. I kept finding reasons why it's not working for me and why I'm not liking it. In the interest of fairness, I dropped the book for a bit and picked it up when I was in a better mood. Then it was smooth sailing after that. It went to a four-star again then something happened and I was shouting at home and I was ready to give the book five stars even with all the things I didn't like at first but then meh, Amber Hart didn't follow through the shocking and shattering plot arc so it went back to four stars. Then after some time, my loving views regarding the novel petered out and it went back to three stars.

Don't get me wrong, I love the characters. I thought they were dimensional and I was rooting for each of them. Faith is the pastor's daughter and she has been dressing very conservatively and has been dating the same boring guy for the longest time. Everything she does is calculated as she doesn't want to bring shame to her father. The only real thing she shows is her love for dance. She has been harboring a secret too that only her family and her best friend know. Because Faith Watters is not perfect. She is so far from perfect.

Then we have Diego Alvarez. His family fled Cuba after the mob killed his mother and almost killed him and his father. He's the quintessential thug-looking Hispanic with all his scars and tattoos but of course, inside, he just loves his family. I especially love Diego's scenes with his cousin Javier and his very large extended family. Sure, the characters aren't exactly unique but they check all the boxes: motivations, secrets, wants, needs, and everything else.

One of the main themes of Before You is expectation. Faith is expected to be conservative, nice and perfect, when she isn't. Diego is expected to be bad and even if he didn't start a fight, he's always the suspect. I love how Amber Hart tackled the very real divide race incurs. It's the 21st century, yes, but ethnic and racial discrimination is still everywhere. We might not be doing it purposefully but it is so ingrained on our minds. Really, this novel touched upon a lot of subjects, such as drugs, poverty, and a whole lot more. I applaud Amber Hart for dealing with social issues, making them innate into the story, which allows time for romance. However, it just felt like Faith's preachy and all. Oh, yes, it's in dual POV so yay!

Now, I think Before You lost me in the romance department. Sure, Faith and Diego have crackling chemistry but yes, it is a wee bit instalove. All my issues are rooted in there so I can't really discuss it. Plus, I really don't approve of using other people to make the other person jealous.

Anyway, there's this big twist at the end which made me hyperventilate and which broke my heart. But then, Amber Hart didn't push through with it so we can get our HEA. I already admitted defeat and that this is a heartbreaking novel but [spoiler] HOW MANY TIMES CAN A PERSON DIE BUT NOT REALLY DIE??? TWICE IS TOO MANY TIMES ALREADY.[/spoiler] I had issues with the ending bit. But it was still a four-star at this point.

It got to three stars when I remembered how forced the writing was to me, especially Faith's perspective. Just, while I was reading it during my slump, it felt like it was trying too hard to be poetic? To be lyrical? It was full of short sentences, with all that italics. It was so angsty that it felt fake to me. I don't know, maybe it's just me and that slump talking.

Even though I didn't fully love this book, I still recommend it. I think I would have loved it if I read it at a different time. I'm a fan of Katie McGarry and Amber Hart's writing is reminiscent of Katie's. I even think Before You is like the heightened and more frighteningly real version of Crash into You. We have actual mobs and gangs in here who are old and really scary. Real danger alert! Anyway, Before You would be perfect for fans of Katie McGarry and those who love angst in YA.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children's and NetGalley for the review copy! Having received one did not affect my views of the novel in any way.

When I read the blurb for Not in the Script, I knew I had to read it. HOLLYWOOD. It's one of my auto-read topics. Hollywood romance? That even sets it higher in the priority list. Hollywood teen romance? OH GIMME THAT NOW AND DON'T TALK TO ME FOR HALF A DAY. Which is what happened with Not in the Script. I read it immediately after getting it and only resurfaced after bouts of giggling giddiness and swooning and yet another crush on a fictional boy. And a girl crush on a fictional girl. Oh, the glee this book has brought me during my slump!

So to make this a tad bit easier for me, I'll just list the reasons why you should read Not in the Script in 3... 2... 1...!

1. Hollywood. Duh. But even better, we get a view of the process and all the tabloid nonsense (and sometimes, the truth) in here. We're not dealing with a film production, but with a TV show. Love it! From auditions, test screens, lessons, awards, getting back in the public's good graces, having your mom as your manager, wanting to do your own thing, dating a co-star, so many topics were covered! Especially for a Hollywood fiend like me, this is gold.

2. Emma frickin' Taylor. Geez, Emma's such a sweetheart but she's also sarcastic and witty and totally... NORMAL. It's like she's not this amazing actress and all that. Sometimes, while reading the book, I even forgot that she and Jake were celebrities. They're just doing their best on their job and it so happens that some of the problems they face where of Hollywood in nature. But the rest? Purely personal. Plus, Emma finished her high school early and she's taking college classes. A girl who puts as much importance to education when she can just ditch it gets so much awe from me.

Moreover, I love love how Emma's issue before filming started is that she's gonna act with her Ultimate Crush Brett Crawford. A star has a huge crush on another star! So cute. To the point that he's her wallpaper. I guess that's why I can relate so much to Emma. It's because I'm such a fangirl and she is too!

3. College age! They are all college-aged and thank you! I mean, I know, I'm reading YA and I shouldn't be giving extra points to books that I can relate to more because of the characters' ages but I can't help it! I was reveling while I was reading it because yay, college woes!

4. Okay, I won't prolong this any longer but JAKE "THE BOD" ELLIOTT. What a gentleman, which greatly contrasts with Brett's asshole tendencies (more on that later), what a sweet and filial son, what a determined and dedicated and smart person, I mean, I can go on and on. But I don't want you to think that I'm completely being over the moon with this book just because of a boy (although mostly it's Jake's plain awesomeness that made me like this) so I'll just say that Jake is worth knowing so YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.

5. Side characters! Oh boy, the joy I had with all the side characters. Sure, Brett was in over his head most of the time and he was kind of a dick, but I am fairly sure that we can unearth more of how deep his character is if given the chance. Those glimpses in the book hinted at more and AMY!! Please write a book with Brett as a main character? Please? Or maybe just a short story? I actually really really like Brett, in that, I like to read bad boys with issues. Kimmi was such a stereotypical diva though but she entertained me and I like her plot arc too.

6. But really, the conflicts were gold. Emma has been burned too many times from dating her co-stars. But Jake seems different. Could it be different this time? Jake's mother needs him but he needs to work too. How can he balance everything? Emma's mom as her manager isn't working anymore. How can she fire her mom as her manager? There are a whole lot more that tackles college, business, career, friendships, family, everything. Not in the Script is so jam-packed but in the best way because there's enough time for everything, nothing is rushed but nothing is taking too long either. Amy Finnegan sure knows how to toe that line.

7. Lastly, of course, the ROMANCE. This review has become too long but JUST. READ. IT. Haha, I'm such a tease!

Amy Finnegan's Not in the Script is even more addicting than your favorite TV show. You'll empathize and root for Emma the whole ride, swoon not only from Jake's hotness but contract diabetes from his sweetness and all around honesty and humility. Most fiction books set in Hollywood play all the stereotypes and tropes to an exaggeration but in here, it feels like we have real people and they're just, oh, you know, worth a million bucks and so famous. I highly recommend Not in the Script for teens and teens at heart. Have fun!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children's and NetGalley for the review copy! Having received one did not affect my views of the novel in any way.

When I read the blurb for Not in the Script, I knew I had to read it. HOLLYWOOD. It's one of my auto-read topics. Hollywood romance? That even sets it higher in the priority list. Hollywood teen romance? OH GIMME THAT NOW AND DON'T TALK TO ME FOR HALF A DAY. Which is what happened with Not in the Script. I read it immediately after getting it and only resurfaced after bouts of giggling giddiness and swooning and yet another crush on a fictional boy. And a girl crush on a fictional girl. Oh, the glee this book has brought me during my slump!

So to make this a tad bit easier for me, I'll just list the reasons why you should read Not in the Script in 3... 2... 1...!

1. Hollywood. Duh. But even better, we get a view of the process and all the tabloid nonsense (and sometimes, the truth) in here. We're not dealing with a film production, but with a TV show. Love it! From auditions, test screens, lessons, awards, getting back in the public's good graces, having your mom as your manager, wanting to do your own thing, dating a co-star, so many topics were covered! Especially for a Hollywood fiend like me, this is gold.

2. Emma frickin' Taylor. Geez, Emma's such a sweetheart but she's also sarcastic and witty and totally... NORMAL. It's like she's not this amazing actress and all that. Sometimes, while reading the book, I even forgot that she and Jake were celebrities. They're just doing their best on their job and it so happens that some of the problems they face where of Hollywood in nature. But the rest? Purely personal. Plus, Emma finished her high school early and she's taking college classes. A girl who puts as much importance to education when she can just ditch it gets so much awe from me.

Moreover, I love love how Emma's issue before filming started is that she's gonna act with her Ultimate Crush Brett Crawford. A star has a huge crush on another star! So cute. To the point that he's her wallpaper. I guess that's why I can relate so much to Emma. It's because I'm such a fangirl and she is too!

3. College age! They are all college-aged and thank you! I mean, I know, I'm reading YA and I shouldn't be giving extra points to books that I can relate to more because of the characters' ages but I can't help it! I was reveling while I was reading it because yay, college woes!

4. Okay, I won't prolong this any longer but JAKE "THE BOD" ELLIOTT. What a gentleman, which greatly contrasts with Brett's asshole tendencies (more on that later), what a sweet and filial son, what a determined and dedicated and smart person, I mean, I can go on and on. But I don't want you to think that I'm completely being over the moon with this book just because of a boy (although mostly it's Jake's plain awesomeness that made me like this) so I'll just say that Jake is worth knowing so YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.

5. Side characters! Oh boy, the joy I had with all the side characters. Sure, Brett was in over his head most of the time and he was kind of a dick, but I am fairly sure that we can unearth more of how deep his character is if given the chance. Those glimpses in the book hinted at more and AMY!! Please write a book with Brett as a main character? Please? Or maybe just a short story? I actually really really like Brett, in that, I like to read bad boys with issues. Kimmi was such a stereotypical diva though but she entertained me and I like her plot arc too.

6. But really, the conflicts were gold. Emma has been burned too many times from dating her co-stars. But Jake seems different. Could it be different this time? Jake's mother needs him but he needs to work too. How can he balance everything? Emma's mom as her manager isn't working anymore. How can she fire her mom as her manager? There are a whole lot more that tackles college, business, career, friendships, family, everything. Not in the Script is so jam-packed but in the best way because there's enough time for everything, nothing is rushed but nothing is taking too long either. Amy Finnegan sure knows how to toe that line.

7. Lastly, of course, the ROMANCE. This review has become too long but JUST. READ. IT. Haha, I'm such a tease!

Amy Finnegan's Not in the Script is even more addicting than your favorite TV show. You'll empathize and root for Emma the whole ride, swoon not only from Jake's hotness but contract diabetes from his sweetness and all around honesty and humility. Most fiction books set in Hollywood play all the stereotypes and tropes to an exaggeration but in here, it feels like we have real people and they're just, oh, you know, worth a million bucks and so famous. I highly recommend Not in the Script for teens and teens at heart. Have fun!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy! Receiving a copy did not affect my views.

Like most anthologies, some stories in here were gems and some were hmm-okay and I thought one was why-is-this-even-included. In general, I enjoyed reading this anthology as evidenced by the four stars I'm giving it. However, I was also close to giving it only three stars but I just love some of the stories so much (I squealed, I cried, I smiled that crazy smile, etc.) that it elevated my reading experience and general feelings about the whole anthology up a notch. In the spirit of pinpointing what I loved about this Christmas short story collection, I shall review each story. Here goes!

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell (4/5): Confession: This is my first time to read Rainbow Rowell's work. No kidding. Yeah, I started Fangirl but I'm not yet done with it (third person POVs aren't exactly my best friends except for Jennifer E. Smith's) so this story freaked me out. What if I don't love Rainbow Rowell? What if??? Good thing I didn't have to wonder about that because good lord was this story so cute! It's a best-friend romance too and just, I don't want to tell the plot because it's a short story! You'll know everything!

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link (2/5): I admit, I'm not a huge fantasy reader so when the fantasy element came up, I felt that I wouldn't really enjoy this. I was also honestly shocked that there was a non-contemporary story and I realized that nowhere was this anthology promoted as a contemporary Christmas romance short story collection. #expectationsvsreality However, I wouldn't say "it's not you, it's me" with this short. I didn't connect with any of the characters and once again, I shipped the wrong guy. Which pretty much dulled my whole reading experience. I just wanted it to end. So sorry, Kelly!

Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Pena (4/5): First story in a male's point-of-view and what can I say, I love this! The characters in here are college-aged as well and are away from their family and I can definitely relate to that. Plus points for Shy (yes, that's the guy's name) being Mexican (I think) and being quite poor. I just get his issues about pride (prideful person in here) and how he can't stop being a filial son. I think Matt infused his own knowledge into this character and seriously, I dig it. Plus, Shy and Haley were so cute. Haley, especially. Attagirl!

Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han (3/5): Now, I've only read To All The Boys I've Loved Before of all of Jenny Han's books and I loved it. I love it so much I will bake and sacrifice fruitcake cookies for it. It kinda owns my heart. So I tried to lower my expectations with this because expectations kill! So I quite liked this story though it kinda broke my heart too. (Or maybe that was the steak I was eating while reading this short.) Still, diversity in characters! Natalie is Korean and the general premise of the story was unique and ingenious. I wasn't just swept away into it all.

It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins (5/5): Sooo, another confession. Geez, this review seems like a gun full of bullets to fire for all the must-read books I haven't read. I've only read Steph's Lola and the Boy Next Door and I didn't love it. Moreover, I'm still not done with Anna and the French Kiss because I have certain dealbreakers only a few characters have crossed... So I was once again super wary of this but fear not because Stephanie Perkins' contribution to this anthology will make you blush with joy, giddiness and shipping feels. Seriously. I was like "OH CUTIE PIES EEK EEK OKAY GET IT ON THANK YOU EEK EEK". This is still YA of course but hey, kissy-kissy, THANK YOU STEPHANIE PERKINS.

Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan (3/5): Being in the list of my favorite authors, this is quite a low rating honestly and I feel bad. But then, I guess it was just suddenly a bit gloomy and I didn't feel as much as I usually do with David's books. Still, it features a gay guy couple, half of which is Jewish, and some realistic concerns/feelings about those in relationships.

Krumpuslauf by Holly Black (3/5): Another fantasy so yes, you should understand that I am not too keen on those. But then, I actually pretty liked this, and the subliminal message and theme I thought it might be sending. Cool concept though but things went pretty WHAT at the end with the fantastical element coming up.

What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman (5/5): I've only read Gayle's IF I STAY and I loved that one and so wow, Gayle Forman is really a rock star. THIS. SHORT. STORY. THAT BANTER. A diverse character and yes to college-aged teens! And yes to college problems and yes to everything about this short. I went "What the hell, why is this only a short story???" with this. I'd love to read more!

Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire (4/5): I am weak with prankster guys (e.g. Louis Tomlinson). I just love that brand of mischief and that glint in their eyes that they get when they're plotting something naughty. Soooo, yes, I enjoyed this one! Then we have a pastor's daughter who just kicked the stereotypical walls surrounding her with her quick, witty and forward lines and comebacks. Cute!

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White (5/5): Oh gods, this short. It. broke. my. heart. in. the. best. way. I cried. I CRIED. Kiersten White, what have you done? Love the characters, love quirky Ben, love the internal conflicts, the external ones, EVERYTHING. The reveal, the touching moment, the resolution, the ending, EVERYTHING. Just, love. So much love for this.

Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter (4/5): Hulda! The voice of the MC is fun and I had fun reading this. The premise was that Hulda and Lydia switched flights and now, Lydia's with Hulda's boyfriend. So quirky, so yes, I enjoyed the heck of it.

The Girl Who Woke The Dreamer by Laini Taylor (4/5): Fantasy alert! But geez, Laini Taylor's prose is captivating. It reads like an epic, an oral story passed centuries after centuries. It had that old vibe and that sleepy tone which I don't know how she achieved but yeah, this is the kind of fantasy I can get into. The ending? I had goosebumps. I think it was perfect to end this collection of holiday-themed short stories with this.

So that's it! Be sure to get your copy NOW. It's out now! Get it, get it, get it!

Thank you to Mary Elizabeth Summers and NetGalley for the review copy! This in no way affected my views of the novel.

What a solid read! I was hooked right from the first sentence. Who wouldn't be with this?

"I can't say I have much personal experience with conscience."

You got me, Julep Dupree, hook, line and sinker. Reading this book was a blast! I've always been a fan of mysteries and thrillers, whether in literature, film or TV, especially those involving spies. But what I even love better than spies? Grifters. Con artists. Swindlers. Yes, those are my favorite characters of all time. Neal Caffrey from White Collar definitely made me a full-fledged grifter-loving person (not firsthand though but in medium). Julep explained it so good, that con artists make people believe that something that doesn't exist exists. They're making people trust them only to POOF, you've been duped.

We start the novel on the job, of course, where we get introduced to Julep's best friend and sidekick, Sam Seward. They both go to this super swanky private school and Julep's known there, hush hush of course, as a fixer. In fact, we get to meet Murphy right after, a geek, hiring her to make the hottest girl in school, Bryn Halverson, to be his date in the upcoming dance. He has liked her ever since middle school, when she was far from hot. His earnestness is so cute.

But then, when Julep goes home, her apartment is ransacked and she's sure it has something to do with her dad, the grifter who taught her all she knows. All she has is a gun and what might be a clue. It is now up to Julep, and Sam, and all her wits and smart and the favors she has racked up, to solve the mystery. Where is her father? Why is he missing? Who are they up against with?

And that's how we get all the gears rolling in this high-staked novel. Don't even think that just because we have a sixteen year-old lead that the dangers in this book are petty. No missy, they aren't. The clues were really hard and dangerous to find and even then, they aren't really clues. They're just riddles that don't make any sense. Another thing I love? Sleuthing. Oh good lord, Nancy Drew was my hero back then and as Julep channels her inner Nancy Drew, I end up sucked even more to this book.

With that in the clear, I guess I shall discuss the romantic bits then. As expected, I'm #TeamSam because he's the best friend! He's the sidekick! He's the underdog. Even if we all know that Julep only sees him as a friend. However, I can't deny though that Tyler was really sweet and helpful and very concerned about Julep's situation. He brought her pizza! He helped her forge fake IDs! Yes, Trust Me, I'm Lying could be a little bit cheesy at times but I didn't really care because Julep's sixteen and she never really thought about fluttery stomach and tachycardia feelings before. She's just keen on getting to Yale and I wouldn't blame her to like Tyler because let's face it, Tyler is so likable. I really like the teens and actually, all of the characters in here. The dean, Mike, Murphy, Heather, Dani, everyone! Sure, they could be a bit stereotypical but they were all full of heart.

And if you think this novel is all rainbows and unicorns at the end, you're wrong. I was actually shocked at how the author went far with the plot and I just applaud Mary Elizabeth Summer because DAMN, THAT WAS GREAT. It didn't bode well for my heart but that was freakin' amazing. No spoilers here but guys, this is not fluff. Moreover, Juleps' ruminations about her family, her past, her future, her priorities, they were legitimately issues you can relate to. Sure, not everyone wears disguises to get into private clubs but Julep's wants and dreams are very realistic of someone who wants to move on from her status quo.

The end of the novel wasn't a cliffhanger but it definitely ended wherein there can be a next book and this could be a series. And I say, YES, MAKE IT A SERIES. For once, I actually want more. I highly enjoyed Julep's voice and I want to read more of her antics and scams and jobs.

I'd hate to use the actual blurb to pitch this book but it sums it up perfectly. Fans of Ally Carter will really dig this book. We got a Ukrainian mob, a hacker sidekick best friend who just might be in love with our heroine, the hottest guy in school who insists on helping her, and a missing dad. Add to that the stress of making the hottest girl in school go with a nerd for a dance, making fake IDs for high school kids to party with, oh you, should I list them all? Julep will win you with her affinity for the sarcastic, her street smarts and her heart. Mix in lots of action, scheming, sleuthing and grifting and I am fawning all over Mary Elizabeth Summer's debut novel. It's just her freaking debut novel and it's this addicting! Trust Me, I'm Lying is another great addition to mystery thrillers in YA! I definitely recommend this book to everyone!

Thank you not for everyone who has shoved this book to me. I didn't know this was a six-book series and I am not happy to be reading a six-book series. I hate commitment! Haha, what am I even saying?

I never had plans to read this book. EVER. I am not into fantasy and Shadow and Bone was probably the only YA fantasy I've read. But then everyone seems to love it and has read it and I feel SOOOO out of the loop not knowing who the heck Celaena is and Chaol and Dorian. And to not understand all the love for Sarah J. Maas. So I bought a pre-loved copy but never touched it. Then Sab told me she was going to read ToG for real this time (we moody readers tend to not read books we say we'll read) so I told her to give me updates if it's as good as everyone tells us. And she thought it wasn't. That it was overhyped. I got curious, alright. What will I think of this novel? So I read it too, maybe a week after Sab did. And sorry guys, but I agree with her.

The great thing about Throne of Glass is its readability. I stay away from fantasy because I suck at visualizing completely new things and thought-up places, which is why I prefer my dystopia and anything grounded in today's reality. But I was so surprised with ToG because it didn't read like fantasy. It was easy to read and my nose wasn't bleeding from the court stuff. Not only that but it was addicting. Heck, obviously, I didn't love the book and found too many flaws by my standards, but I couldn't stop reading. I was like, oh, I'll just read more, I need more Chaol, THEN I WAS DONE. How did that happen? I think Sarah J. Maas cast a spell on ToG. And I haven't even mentioned the most surprising part yet. It was written in a third person point-of-view, which I really find hard to read. I stay away from third person POV unless it's one of my favorite authors. So, really, how Sarah J. Maas made me read ToG that quick was a feat in itself.

Sadly, that's pretty much what I liked about the novel. Oh, and Chaol. But later on that. For now, I'll be listing the things that didn't fly with me and why so.

1. Celaena's apparent badassery. Everyone and their mother kept on saying that Celaena was a strong and a kickass heroine. Uhm, sorry to say I didn't catch the note showing that. Because that's what happened for me. We're constantly told in the novel that she's badass but when was it exactly shown? Sure, she's THE assassin everyone fears but it felt like I was just constantly reminded of that but it was not clearly demonstrated. She thought of all the ways she can escape or how she can incapacitate anyone who's within reach? Please, THE most feared assassin can do better than that. I'm not saying one should be emotionless or unfeeling if she's the best assassin because I actually appreciated how human and vulnerable Celaena is. But I thought there wasn't much enough evidence for her cred to ring true to me. I mean, come on. You're an assassin and you claim to have been in tight situations and all that but you are grossed out by your wet feet? Celaena's characterization just doesn't compute in my opinion. And that's a fatal flaw for me in a book. You need to make sense as a person!

2. How obvious and early the romance angle was introduced. By the second chapter, Celaena was checking Dorian, the Crown Prince, out. Uhm, shouldn't we first establish how badass Celaena supposedly is than drooling over guys? Fine, most readers loved that Celaena was "such a girl" with her love for dresses and pretty things but it was so blatantly obvious that the author was building up the romance angle from the second chapter. FROM THE SECOND CHAPTER. Pretty much turned me off right there and then. In fact, I stopped reading, rolled my eyes, and texted Sab before I plowed on. Because, really? REALLY?

3. Action scenes (or the lack thereof). For an assassin as the main character, this book pretty much didn't have action at all. Except at the end, which was still so short and uninspired in my opinion. And honestly? The tournaments were lame. You'd thought that elaborate and tricky challenges would be up ahead for those battling to be the King's Assassin but archery? Which wasn't even described as anything remotely exciting or hard? And some others not described at all? Celaena's dresses got more description than the tournaments! Than the battle itself. The world building was fine, it was described but not completely, but that's fine because it's the first novel and we've barely scratched the surface. I'm sure there will be more world building in the next books. But seriously. For an action fan like me, I am certainly not impressed with the supposed action in here. Which cycles back to my first point, in which, nah, not much badassery and kickassery around here.

4. That thing at the end to keep both ships afloat. I want to talk about this deeply but then spoilers! If you want, we can chat up at the comments section or on Twitter. In short, I know Celaena won't be choosing a guy early in the series but it just felt rushed to me how the author resolved to keep Celaena single in the end. COME ON.

5. Characters. I like both Chaol and Dorian but they were unsurprisingly, two-dimensional. One's a guard who knows Celaena is bad news but can't help liking her anyway. One's a prince who knows Celaena is bad news but can't help liking her anyway. They are best friends. Because, of course, raise the stakes in here! They're best friends! I hate it when a girl/boy gets between a friendship.Because, I usually love both and I want them both to be happy and I end up hating the subject of their affection because he/she is driving a wedge in their friendship! Which is obviously happening to me with ToG.

And this puts me in yet another minority because people loved Princess Nehemia but I was irritated at her at times. Sure, she's assertive and a go-getter but stop saying you can do whatever you want because you're a princess. Uhm, that's bratty for me.

However, I did like the banter. ALL OF THE BANTER AMONG ALL THE CHARACTERS. And I'm one of those people who can get by and read a novel just because of the banter. So maybe that's what happened.

Fiiiiine, this review sounds like I hated the book. I didn't really. I gave it three stars. But with ToG, I seriously just enjoyed it enough to warrant a three but it's still piled under the I-could-have-done-without-reading-this-book. I know the world loves this series but Throne of Glass failed to impress me. However, I am putting a lot of hope to what all those people who didn't love Throne of Glass but loved Crown of Midnight said that it gets infinitely better. In fact, I am buddy reading CoM with Sab this November and I'm trying to not expect but I am definitely expecting a much better installment than this.

And fine, for all my rants about this book, I still have strong feelings about it. Know why? It starts with a C and ends with HAOL. CHAOL. What is it with military men and I? I know, it's the usual quiet guy but whatever, I just inexplicably love Chaol and I will be in this ship whatever happens. CHAOL. Chaoooooollll. Just ask Ly, my Chaol spazz buddy, how much we just WANT Chaol.

Thank you to Jean for the wonderful recommendation! Jean is a non-blogger friend and I try to read whatever he tells me to but I suck at actually reading them. I prioritized this because the movie would be out soon at the time I started this but it sucks because the movie wasn't shown here in the Philippines. Bummer. But I am still so glad Jean pushed this to me so much because THIS. BOOK.

Most of the blurbs of Before I Go To Sleep described it as a page turner. Was it a page turner? Absofuckinglutely. I am not kidding. The title should probably be Before I Never Get Any Sleep because you won't stop reading until you know. Know what, exactly? You see, the novel is centered on Christine, a forty-seven year-old woman who wakes up every day with her memories erased. A clean, fresh slate. Every time she goes to sleep, her brain lets go of the memories she formed that day. Bad enough as that is, she wakes up thinking she's still twenty-two and sometimes a child, panicking who she's in bed with, who's actually her husband. Tough life, I know. However, she started keeping a journal with a doctor's suggestion and she finds that her husband Ben isn't being completely honest with her. Why is he telling her another version of the past when her sudden flashbacks tell another? So, what exactly, is Ben hiding? Why is he lying? Can Christine trust her? Christine wants to know and I WANT TO KNOW, dammit.

It frustrated me even more because I read this during a week-long vacation and my family and I went to tons of places so I couldn't read as much as I wanted to. If you follow me on Instagram, you'd see that this book was in tons of pictures because I read it in a week. Do you know how hard it is to read a pageturner in twenty thousand sittings? IT WAS TORTURE. When I did finish it while waiting for the plane back home, I actually had goosebumps all over my arms.

Truth be told, I think I would have loved this even more (like, five stars and all the exclamation points) if I didn't know anything about it. My friend Jean told me that he might love this book even more than Gone Girl and that's a big thing to say because we love Gone Girl. Moreover, he told me that the twist was insane. So I knew that there was a twist or that the reveal would be shocking and so, the whole time I was reading the book, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was anticipating everything, so in the end, I wasn't as shocked as I might have been. Or maybe I just judged early, stuck by it, and ended up right. Oops, yeah, I just realized I might have ruined the whole experience for you guys too. I shouldn't have reviewed this!

Lastly, the resolution of the novel kind of felt flat and rushed and too convenient for me. The previous reason I stated for me not loving the book is because of me. But this is the only criticism I have for this book. Still, I had so much fun (and by fun I mean being glued to the page and getting excited, curious, and hypothesis-crazy) riding along with Christine's story. I highly recommend this to fans of mystery and suspense thrillers.