THIRTEEN REASONS WHY BOOK REVIEW

I just finished Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher for about 2 hours ago, and I have the feeling that I need to share what I thought about the book right now. I have been eyeing this book for about some time, I never had the courage to read it before because the idea of suicide really freaks me out because I'm about young adult romance/magical plot kind of reader, but I just can't get away from this book, every time I browse in goodreads on what to read next, I always stumble on this book for some reason and I always read the description and reviews of this book. About a week ago, I talked to my cousin who already have read this book, and she told me, that the book was "okay", and some told her that the book was heavy (with drama I guess), but in her point of view, it was just "okay", not heavy in her opinion. 

So after 2 days of resting my eyes and looking for a book to read (I almost forgot what book I read before TRW, oh it was The Boy who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window), I finally pluck up the courage to read the first few pages of Thirteen Reasons Why yesterday, and I just can't seem to stop. 

The story goes like this, there's this girl named Hannah Baker, she made a bunch of tapes, stating the thirteen reasons why she decided to kill herself. That's the story, that's it.

I haven't really dissected my feelings about this book, but I'm trying.

How to start... I'm thinking, you can't control what other people think of you, and you don't have any control how people reacts with rumors people are spreading about you. I mean it's just rumors, and in this world that we're living in, there are lots of people who will make your life miserable, taunt you, make rumors about you, BUT you need to face them yourself and deal with it because if every person is like Hannah Baker who blames everyone in what her "reputation" is, maybe everyone will commit suicide.Even the most innocent person makes fun off sometimes, I even knew some who are really nice persons but still they have haters even though they don't do bad.

In elementary, high school and even in work places, I knew people making fun of other people, spread rumors about them and I even have some personal experiences myself, and you know what I deal with them and move on from them.The real losers in these kind of situations are the bullies and rumor spreaders because they don't have anything good to do with their miserable lives other than making other people miserable as their own.

Maybe this book are for people who are like Hannah. People who need to breath fresh air or have some hobby to take their minds out of pathetic bullies like the people in Hannah's tape. I mean some of them don't even have direct impact on Hannah, she just uses them as an excuse to end her miserable life, like Mr. Porter at the end (SPOILER ALERT), where she finally seeks for help but use Mr. Porter's words as an excuse finally end it all. She didn't even try to make her life better, she didn't even reach out, talk to her parents or anything. She's just so shallow and I'm sorry for her (or for her kind). I think she's just one of those poor people who surrounded themselves with the wrong people.

I'll give this book 2 out of 5. Maybe some people are like Hannah, so maybe this will be a help for others, a point for that and it made me read all the way through the end in a very short amount of time so another point for that, hence the 2 points.

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THE ACADEMY BOOK REVIEW

The first time I saw the cover of this book, the first thought that came to my mind was, she girl looked like Diana Agron! Then I searched for it in goodreads and some of the reviews said that it reminded them of Hana Kimi, the japanese series wherein the lead female went to study in an all boys school to take her brother's place and she fell in love with her roommate. 


THE ACADEMY by Emmaline Andrews is a story about Kris Jameson who's a student in The Academy, an all-boys school, Kris is a mode student, the problem is Kris is a girl. 

This book is similar to the Hana Kimi series, the difference is this setting of this as I would say, post apocalyptic, they live on other solar system and on different planets, it amazing how you would visualize the locations. Kris Jameson has this roommate North, who as described is the ice prince of the Academy. What Kris is fearing is that she would be found out that she was a girl but the most unexpected ( or maybe expected) is that she would fall in love with her roomamate (much like in Hana Kimi). 


You are the brother of my heart, the brother of my soul. I swear here and now to be true to you, to stand ever at your side in times of peace and times of danger. I will let nothing come between us-not war, nor women, nor wine. I will live by your side and die by your side, true even to death. So swear I this sacred pact by blood we now share.
-The Academy, sworn brothers oath


I'm getting familiar with me saying the words "I loved it", in every verdict I give in every book, but what ELSE can I say? I LOVED it! I enjoyed reading it, it made me giddy all the time. I recommend this book!
I'll give it a 5 out of 5!

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HAPPY LEMON MILKTEA

Now it sounds very pathetic but Happy Lemon is the second tea shop I've ever been, so it doesn't make me a tea expert, not to mention I've got two friends Dora, and Alwin with me who also are no milk tea experts either, but we still have our taste buds working so we'll rely on our tongue to taste and tell the verdict. 

My company was more familiar with this tea shop, located in SM Megamall, and I haven't even had a clue that this store exist until we walked by it and decided to spend money on milk tea that afternoon. Alwin kept telling us he always sees his friends posting pictures of Happy Lemon on facebook so it was time for him to try it. Dora said she saw this shop being featured on one of GMA shows, I think it was Jessica Soho's shows  she even mentioned having teens buying stocks of Happy Lemon milk tea so when the Milk tea cravings attack in the middle of the night, they will have Happy Lemon tea nearby ( I mean in the fridge). On the other hand, I was clueless and don't have an idea for what the fuss is all about. 

So Alwin ended up buying the Matcha with Adzuka Beans, Dora had Oreo Cookies and Cream Coffee and moi had the Royal Milk Tea with Pudding. They all costs 100 php. If you're planning to go, the price ranges from 80php to 110php and they also serve hot tea. The place is a little small, so when there'e a lot of people, you are (I think) expected to stay shorter and not have the perks of lounging around.

So here's how we taste it, Alwin said his' tasted like fish (no kidding!), and had the assumption that the tea is so strong that it tasted like Bisugo. Dora said, hers tastes like a leaf, Lasang Dahon was her exact words, and for mine, it was okay, I don't have anything to compare it from but it was bland, very bland, even though 100% sugar (or something like that) was written on the cup. 

SO there. No offense to those who loved it, it wasn't just out cup of tea (get it? hahaha!) And we all three agree to say, WHAT WERE THOSE PEOPLE STOCKING HAPPY LEMON THINKING?!

Lastly, the one that added to our confusion was the Happy Lemon Boy, who we thought was a girl, you know the Logo, the one that winks. 

Well, we wouldn't come back, that's for sure.

matcha with adzuka beans

 Royal Milktea with Pudding

   the very confusing lemon boy/girl

                           

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THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER BOOK REVIEW

I've been seeing great reviews about this author SARAH DESSEN, and after seeing a list of books of hers, I didn't hesitate to have them, and wasn't surprised that I liked it. THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER is my first Sarah Dessen book, at first I found this book in the family section and I'm all about the romance and I've read the synopsis of the book, it's about family, friendship and a hint of young love in the book. Still I took a chance to read this book.

The book is about overcoming grief of the Macy Queen. Everybody faces grief in different ways, I personally won't know about it but reading this book gave me ideas about grief. Macy lost her father, her mother busies herself with work, her sister cried everything out during the funeral and somewhat became the most normal among them, while Macy is stuck, she didn't know how to deal with grief and she tried to be the best daughter she could be (like the book Perfect Chemistry of Simone Elkeles), perfect is the word she wants to portray. And being fake perfect that she is she had a boyfriend who wants her to be everything he wants her to be (the goody goody perfect may I add). Then he sort of broke up (means, they had a break) with her and found herself having new friends in the form of the Wish Catering. Kristy, the flamboyant and straightforward girl that she is, then there's Wes Baker, the extraordinary talented and gorgeous male specie that he is (insert girl drooling, hahaha!). Now my favorite part, Macy and Wes' very honest friendship which turned something more... because they play this game where they need to tell the truth, (and surprise surprise!) named Truth.

The Verdict, I don't have the first hand experience of really feeling grief (and hopefully not experience it anytime soon), but I think it is very important to for those who is experiencing it to read to book. Having friends will also help. 

Okay, so this is it, I LOVED it, no surprises there! I love how the book is written, careful, good for light reading, and even though it is a little slow paced, it will still keep you reading and finding yourself HOOKED. It kept me reading the whole night (which I now don't usually do nowadays for the pimples in my face keeps multiplying), having giddy moments and muffled laughs. Macy and Wes' relationship is slow but playing the Truth game made it more meaningful, I mean saying things you don't usually tell your friends, even your closest friends, no holds barred, and their honesty made them closer with each other than with anyone else. 
Then there'e Macy's mother being all workaholic and after years of her husbands' passing, she haven't grieved properly and finally letting everything go as they may when she finally realized she could control everything even her own emotions because sometimes, you just let thing happen as they happen. 

As for the title, The Truth About Forever, it just simply states the question, what will you do with the forever you have in your life? The long or short span of your living is your forever, and how you're going to spend it is in your own hands and in everything that surrounds you.

All in all, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5. 

Looking forward to reading my second Sarah Dessen book. 

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THE NEXT BEST THING BOOK REVIEW

I've grown fond of Kristan Higgins' books ad I think this is my 4th or 5th book of the author. My expectations are quite high, not that I LOVED every book she's written but I've been expecting a little more from her, and from what I've known, this book, THE NEXT BEST THING is published 2010 and it has more pages that from her previous books. And having high expectations made me more disappointed with this book. 

This book is about Lucy Lang, a widow who's now looking for a new husband, a husband that she will not fall deeply in love with, since losing her love of her life made her world fall apart. The twist is that she's but having a friends with benefits relationship with her dead husband's brother, when she decided she wanted to get married, she kinda broke up with him, and him is named Ethan Mirabelli ( I like the name Ethan, there's also an Ethan in Emily Griffin's Something Blue, just sayin'). Oh and there's also this thing about their family losing every guy they married before they turned 50. Her mother and two aunts both lost their husbands before they reach thirty and her sister Corrine is also scared that her husband will die anyday and her fate will be like Lucy's. 

There's so much drama, there's a lot of stories within a story, it will make you impatient like it did me and just be plain angry for how's Lucy is reacting to everything, she's so blind, and I think wanting a husband who you will not love is just plain twisted. Then there's Ethan, waiting, waiting waiting, always waiting, who didn't have the guts to tell Lucy how he really feels.Then there's the dime, the Doral-Anne situation, the weird Jimmy (her dead husband) look a like and the dead whisperer. Check the toast! 

I'll be giving this book a 2 out of 5. 

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STREET FOODS: LITID AND BOPIS

Three years ago, on the bus on our way to Iloilo from Boracay, we heard some foreigners talk about how they only eat "good meat", and I assume after hearing that conversation that we Filipinos eat "bad meat". Maybe bad meat means eating laman loob (intestines, blood, heart, liver and the likes).
Being a Filipino means meating laman loob once in a while. 

The other day I was craving for isaw (chicken intestine), then I saw this orange piece of meat in a stick beside the isaw vendor. I've been seeing these street food since I was in high school and never bothered tasting them. SO the other day, I just pluck up the courage and bought myself these for sure cholesterol infested meat in a stick. It's rubbery and oily and it only costs 3php for the litid (the orange meat) and 2php for the bopis (dark brown meat). The vendor told me it's a beef meat, litid according to my mom are ligaments and the bopis is beef lungs. 

HA! Filipinos can't seem to throw leftovers away and we find ways to make a living out of it and miraculously we LOVE eating it. 

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PERFECT CHEMISTRY BOOK REVIEW

I

I have a thing for bad boys in books, although I don't think it's a good idea being with them in real life. Perfect Chemistry is the first book of Simone Elkeles (author of How to Ruin Trilogy) and it is about the oldest of the Fuentes siblings. 

I only get a glimpse of gangbangers in the Mexican community in television shows and documentaries but I don't have much knowledge about it. By reading this book I get the idea of how Mexicans in America face the tough life dealing with gangs, drugs and guns.

The book is about Alex Fuentes, the oldest of the Fuentes boys. Since their father died when he was 6 years old, he has to deal being the father figure of the family, taking all the responsibilities and above all, being a member of the Latino Blood to protect his family.Then there's Brittany Elles, the rich white girl from the north side of town where the rich American people live. She's all about hiding the truth about her family and making it seems everything is perfect while everything is falling apart. Brittany and Alex found their undeniable connection in Chemistry class and they both can't ignore it.

Well, I don't want to go on and on about the story and spoil everything, so here's the verdict.

I think the book is perfect in the star-crossed lovers category. Both Alex and Brittany found what they least expect in each other while they are the opposite of what they are expected to be with. I came from the Philippines so I don't know much about being in high school in the US, from what I've read, you should always stay with your own kind, and with Alex and Brittany, they broke all the rules so they can be with each other. PLUS, there is Alex's affiliation with the Latino Blood which makes it more interesting and how love can change Alex's outlook in life with the Latino Blood. I know it's cheesy but I know everyone wants to feel giddy once in a while and this book will surely make you feel giddy after all the drama.

I also love the epilogue, having an epilogue means having a happy ending and not wondering how the characters end after the book. It's like having closure. 

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PUPCET APPLICATION

One of the nation's largest and most grueling college admission test -- The PUPCET.

Are you above the cut?

According to Ms. Liwanag Maliksi, ARO Mabini Campus Chief, PUPCET 2012 attracted 56,637 applicants have successfully registered through PUP iApply 2012, the Web-based PUPCET registration system. 

The quota for college freshmen is 8,000. Abeleda and Maliksi explained that the target number of new recruits is limited because of budget constraints.

“The examination usually consists of 170 to 180 items, and the cut off score varies every year depending on the performance of the examinees,” Ms. Abeleda said. “Last year, the cut off score was 96 percent,” she added.

PUP provides quality education at a very low tuition fee, still P12 per unit, the rate it has been collecting since 1979.”

Who are qualified to take the Exam?

-Graduating high school students of the current school year

-High school graduates who have not enrolled in any technical/diploma/degree program immediately after high school graduation

-A Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) passer, eligible for admission to college with an average rating of 82 or higher in its five subject areas:  Mathematics, Communication Arts (English), Science, Communication Arts (Filipino), and Araling Panlipunan

-An Alternative Learning System Accreditation & Equivalency (ALS A & E) Test for Secondary Level passer, eligible for admission to college and has 100 or higher Standard Score (SS) and an essay writing proficiency level of 2 or higher

visit
http://iapply.pup.edu.ph/(S(c5vhoh55gxyr1enqaeeokq55))/RequestVoucher.aspx

online application for PUPCET

Information for Sta. Mesa Campus:

PUPCET ADVISORY: Slots for January 29, 2012 PUPCET online application have been filled-up. Those who registered online from September 20 to December 4, 2011 must see the Admission and Registration Office (ARO) on or before December 8, 2011 for the issuance of the PUPCET Permit.

However, those who cannot secure test permit until December 8, 2011 shall be considered for the PUPCET Second Batch schedules on February 19, 2012.

Issuance of test permit will resume on January 3 to February 15, 2012.

HUNDRED ISLANDS PANGASINAN

 It has been a dream of mine to go to the hundred islands for as long as I can remember (along with the Chocolate Hills), I remembered it being discussed during my elementary days and I am always amazed how these little islands would look like in person. 

Hundred Islands is in the northern part of Luzon, in Alaminos, Pangasinan, it is only a few hours away from Manila.

When we went to Pangasinan last summer, we were in a tight schedule, and only had a few hours to tour the islands, there are three islands popular to the tourists, the Quezon island, Governor Island, and the Children's Island, and since it was summer when we got there, the place was packed with tourists! We arrived around 11 in the morning, so the sun is burning our skin by the time we got to the boat to go to the islands, we didn't want to be in an island filled with tourist so we looked for a strip of white sand in another island. We found that little strip of sand on the other side of an island of cuenco cave. The place was amazing, white sand, there are no other tourists, good for sunbathing and swimming.

 Bat Island

 Governor Island

 Cuenca Cave

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MOONLEAF ANTIPOLO

My high school buddies and I usually spends time together over weekend, whether watching jdoramas, talking kpop, cooking spaghetti, making maki, watching movies, then, they discovered yogurt, then THE FAMOUS MILKTEA. The discovery of MOONLEAF in Antipolo was made by one of my dear friend (lets just call her) Maria Joy, who resides in the area.

The place is cozy, if you're looking for a place to relax and have an alone time, or a hangout for your barkada, this is THE place for you.  The milktea/fruit tea costs around 45php to 75php and 10php for the add-on (pearl, pudding, nata, and yes, aloe vera). The place has wifi, and if you think you'll be staying for a while and you brought with you your gadgets (laptop and the likes), you may ask for an outlet but I think they charge extra peso for that. There's also a shop next to Moonleaf where they serve pasta, nachos,and cakes if you're hungry which would go well with your milktea. 

Their bestseller is the Wintermelon milk tea, one of my friends (Maria Joy) loves Peppermint milk tea, I haven't decided what I like best but I've recently tried Passion Fruit Black Tea and it tastes like guyabano.

How to get to Moonleaf Antipolo:
Just ride a jeep going to Antipolo or Tanay via Antipolo, tell the driver to drop you off at Beverly Hills Subdivision. There an establishment beside the subdivision,Moonleaf is located beside Shoppersville.

Village Corner Bldg. Ortigas Extension corner Beverly Hills Ave., Antipolo,

Lychee Nata 

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JUST ONE OF THE GUYS BOOK REVIEW

 This is my second book of Kristan Higgins, Just One of the Guys is one hilarious book. Being freakishly tall and being the baby of four older brothers, Chastity O'Neil is considered one of the boys since the day she was born. A fan of the yankies, spending nights in a pub playing pool and drinking with the boys of the fire department, no one messes with her knowing she has five boys in her life (including her father, who is the chief in the fire station). Chastity has been in love with Trevor since she was ten, Trevor treats Chas as a little sister, but the unthinkable happened one night in the university dorm. And it changed everything for Chastity, the whole 72  hours of their "little" relationship meant the whole world to Chastity until reality strikes, she's one of the boys for Trevor. 

The Verdict: 

I LOVE THIS BOOK! From the name Chastity Virginia to her love interest, Trevor. Chastity's character is what every woman should be, honest, vulnerable but still strong, says what's in her mind, and and she has no drama. I loved how her brothers always have her back and how caring her family is even though her parents are divorced and how they managed to be in each other's life and even letting each other go to be happy with other people. I think this is how every family should be. 

I can see the pattern of Kristan Higgins' books, she always has a dog in the book (I'm currently reading Higgins' Until There Was You, and surprise, surprise, the female lead also owns a dog!). Like the first book, there is still lot's of characters in the book and some don't even have importance like the one from EMT class whom Chastity supposed to teach rowing.

I'll give this book a 4.5 out of 5.

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TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE BOOK REVIEW

 I have just finished my first book of Kristan Higgins, Too Good to be True. I've had four other book of Higgins and I'm thinking this won't be the last book for me to read. 

How to start, well, I'm the kind of person who gets irritated when reading about people who just can't get the truth out, and when one single lie is out, it keeps on multiplying because of nosy people, AND in this books case, Grace can't seem to stop lying to her family so that her family won't feel sorry for her.

Grace had a fiance, Andrew who fell in love with her younger sister, Natalie whom she loved ever so dearly, so she let her fiance break their engagement, and being the good sister that Grace is, urged the romance between Natalie and Andrew. Grace, had this hunk of a neighbor named Callahan whom she thought as a burglar at first when he moved in next door, and later she found out was an ex-con. Seems there's so much going on in Grace's life, so she just thought of a simple way to deal with ALL of it, CREATE AN IMAGINARY BOYFRIEND, Wyatt Dunn, the pediatric surgeon, who's a workaholic, saves children and kittens' life!

Well she can't keep lying forever, can she? Until everything went so right with his gorgeous ex-con neighbor, she must set everything straight!

Here's the Verdict. 

The story is a wee bit slow paced, it made me skip some lines (yes, lines and not pages unlike the fifty shades trilogy), there's so much "describing" and "retelling" going on, the Grace-Callahan love affair was short (and I have to admit, I'm expecting more...), and the story is a bit mixed up, I think that's the trouble of having a lot of story in one book or maybe it's just me that I couldn't keep up with the story. There's lot of names to remember, or you think you should remember at first, then had no roles in the end, like Grace's students (Grace is a teacher), and there's this career of teaching that just make the book longer and boring.  BUT the fact that I managed to read it until the end, shows that the book is interesting enough to read in a few hours time.

I'll give it a 2.5 out of 5.

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FRENCH KISS (DIARY OF CRUSH #1) BOOK REVIEW

 I was looking for an escape from reality in a form of a book when I started reading French Kiss (Diary of a Crush #1) of Sarra Manning, I didn't know that it is a trilogy until I finished the book and go to goodreads to update my profile and look for other's feedback about this book. 

It is a good book if you like a little drama and boys who're very hesitant to being with girls, even though you know he likes you but still denies it. I like it, I didn't say I love it, the first part of the book is boring, I was confused, but it keeps getting a little better in the middle part of the book. 

There's this mysterious guy who you just scrambling to get to know what he's thinking. Then there's a lot of girl drama, I know almost everyone has gotten to this point in their life, whether, friends betraying you, having friends YOU thought you're friends with, and having to deal with your ex-lovers ruining your life, you know, ALL THAT DRAMA. 

All THAT drama is in Edie's life when she and her family moved to a new place, she now has to face being in a new school, having a huge crush to Dylan, dealing with two faced bitch Mia, and being jealous to Dylan's best girl friend Shona, who eventually became Edie's friend in the end. It seems shallow but it's not if you're 16 years old and discovering things and friendship and being in love is the center of your universe.

I guess, I better find and read the sequel.

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MY LIFE NEXT DOOR BOOK REVIEW

  I'm in the middle of finding the third book of "How to Ruin Trilogy", the How to Ruin your Boyfriend's Reputation when I came across with this book by Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door.

It got my attention because it was so different from what I was reading (How to Ruin My Teenage Life), the main Character, Samantha Reed. Samantha is a good girl, calm, observant and she doesn't have any teenage angst (any at all), she follows what her mother tells her and doesn't blame her father for leaving them. 

Everyday she observes her next door neighbor, the Garrets, she watches them from their roof for ten years. The Garrets have a big family, A family of ten, until one day, one of the boys, Jase Garret came to Samantha and became friends with her and eventually became her boyfriend. 

I don't want to tell you about the whole story, so this is what I think about the book.

This is such a refreshing book, no heavy dramas, and I think I relate to Samantha in some ways, being a good girl (ahem!), keeping secrets, and falling for a boy, who your parents have no idea you're even seeing or talking in the first place, not telling anyone about it and eventually confessing about it in the end. Having  a friend or best friend fell out of love (I know the "fell out of love" part is for lovers but you get the point) with each other, having your boyfriend's family bigger than yours, and having other friends who is always there for you and supporting you till the end. 

The boy, Jase Garret is also refreshing as a male leading in the book, he takes his time with Samantha, loves his family unconditionally, understands his parents in every way, doesn't blame them for having lots of children, ever so helpful with his younger siblings and changes diapers (which is a PLUS PLUS PLUS!). I think he's the perfect boy to be in love with and everybody will be in love with him reading this book.

What I didn't like was the ending, it was a little short for me, I was looking for more, expecting for more, but I guess, it's up to your imagination what happened next.

I'll give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

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