In This Life: Book Review and More!

 

*No. of pages: 382

 *My Rating on Goodreads: 4/5

*Date of Publish: January 22, 2016 by Christine Brae

*Format: eARC (Provided by Christine Brae for the blog tour)

Via Goodreads

 SYNOPSIS:

“Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere,

They’re in each other all along.”

Rumi

 

They say that life is full of choices. When you’re young and idealistic, you believe that the path you choose is the road that will lead you to your destiny.

But what if, along the way, fate decides to step in, and no amount of logic or rationality or even prayers can save you from your fortune? When the sacrifices you make, the love that you find, and the bright promise of the future are all snatched away from you, you’re left alone to pick up the pieces of your life.

This is a story about love, found in a faraway place by two very unlikely people. It is also a story about friendship and loyalty and fighting for what you have despite the illogical mystery of fate. It is a story of faith and acceptance, and learning that even the best-laid plans are powerless against the alignment of the universe.

From the beaches of Thailand to the streets of New York, three friends, Anna, Dante, and Jude will learn the hard way that once providence steps in, there is nothing in the world that can change what is truly meant to be.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. Christine is the author of The Light in the Wound, His Wounded Light and Insipid. Her new book, In This Life, is set to release in January 2016.

 

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago.

 

Christine’s Social Media Sites

Website || Goodreads || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram

Here are some amazing quote edits by Sayyeda of Christine Brae Philippines!!!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

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Review:

 

Have you ever looked forward into a huge plan of yours? Where everything is set and you are working hard day by day to make it all come true? Have you ever had that plan and you were just waiting for everything to fall into place when all of a sudden, it all crumbles down instead? If this happened to you just like most of the people in this world, then this is a book that you should really grab and read.

In This Life is a story about three protagonists, each having their goals and dreams that they are determined to reach. But when life gets in the way, they realize that fate and destiny are stronger than all these perfectly laid-out plans.

This is one among my tons of favorite quotes in Christine Brae’s In This Life:

“We were burglars in the night, stealing someone else’s laughter for our own and replacing it with tears.”

While reading this book, you will see the beauty of life, and of course with it, is all of its nasty, disgusting, and filthy parts. Yet despite its entire flaw, life maintains all of its glorious. However, each person, just like what the characters in the story symbolizes is that we are nothing but mere pawns in this chess game in the so-called life. We struggle to be happy and there are times in which others must suffer for us to get that joy. One being hurt for another’s happiness is inevitable—the art of life in its oddest form.

Anna is a woman who is running away from a problem bigger than hers; little did she know that running away would only cause her more trouble and more pain. She was bold, has so much passion in her yet at the same time she is filled with anger and guilt resulting to her need of something grand and spontaneous. Yet as the story develops, she turns into a woman who is no longer running away from the past, but holding on to it. She cannot settle down in her life and keeps yearning for something that she could not grasp. Dante is fierce and wild; he is a true friend and a great man who would give anything for the one he loves unconditionally. Jude is a passionate man who has his plans laid out perfectly for him, little did he know that it would only take a perfect and irresistible woman to sway his unwavering faith.

These three characters are helpless against time and love—so little time yet so much love to give. In the end, they must decide what is best for their lives, what would make them truly happy. I must say, dear readers, that this book has shocked me to no end! Every turn of the event was unpredictable, just like life itself. You’ll never know what’s coming for you.

Christine Brae’s new novel is her best so far, her writing has not only improved together with her technique, but she made a story that anyone could relate to—because we are all experiencing or have experienced what is happening on the pages of this book one way or another. For this novel tells a lot that is so beyond the story of the three protagonists: it shows life’s cruelty, of time’s way of giving us so much and taking it, of losses, of dealing with grief, and how it seems so hard for joy to find us. And love, life is full of so much love.

If you want a book that will teach you a lot of lessons about life, how to deal with a loss, how to accept life’s many challenges, or a book that teaches you to voice out what you feel before it’s too late—or if you simply just want to cry, then this book is highly recommended.

 

“In this Life, it is only through sadness that one could truly experience joy.”

 

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BUT WAIT, THERE’S SO MUCH MORE IN STORE!!!

Excited for In This Life yet? Wait until you read below what is in store for all the fans and readers out there on the release date of In This Life which is set on January 22, 2016!!!

PLANNING FOR BOOK RELEASE:

PRE RELEASE DAY:

Christine Brae PH Only:

1. Trivia Questions – Gift of 3 books a day from January 11 to January 21 – total 33 books to be gifted on Release Day
2. January 20 – Grand Trivia or Contest – Win a T Shirt
3. January 21 – Grand Trivia or Contest – Win Book Marks and 3 signed copies
4. January 22 – RELEASE DAY – Grand Prize (Trip)

 

BLOG TOUR PRIZES:  RELEASE DAY

 Christine Brae PH Blog Tour

1. 3 Signed Copies of In This Life
2. GRAND PRIZE:

Trip for 2 to Cebu from anywhere in the Philippine – up to a P10,000 value

Two (2) night stay at any resort in CEBU – up to a P15,000 value

• Philippine Residents Only
• Dates to be Chosen by Winner

 

LOGISTICS: GRAND PRIZE

• Copy and paste your gift links and purchase links on Googledoc with number of books
• Enter your name in Rafflecopter – a tweet will be required that says – “@christinebrae I have your book!”
• Entries will be checked against purchase links

 

Rafflecopter Link:

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2ebcda956/&#8221; rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”2ebcda956″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_dryy2v0d”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

 

 

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Pre-order Christine Brae’s In This Life to get a chance to win these amazing giveaways from Christine Brae herself!!! Do not forget to read the wonderful novel entitled In This Life set to to be released two days from now!

Xoxo,

Bookstore Bug

 

 

 

His Wounded Light: Book Review + Excerpt

This blog tour is organized by the Bookish Diaries Book Tours managed by Amanda of Fandomly Bookish and Jothee of The Bookwhore Diaries!

An epub material was provided for free by the author, Christine Brae, for review purposes in helping her promote her book, The Light in the Wound, here in the Philippines. Christine Brae is set to visit the country on September 2015 along with two other authors, Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher.

His Wounded Light (#2) by Christine Brae: Book Review

*Warning: May contain spoilers*

 

  *No. of pages: 344

 *Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.44/5

 *My Rating on Goodreads: 5/5

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

The perfect life.

The perfect marriage.

The jilted lover.

Their worlds collide.

Fate intervenes twelve years later and their paths intersect once again. All three will question whether the heart is truly capable of dividing and being divided; each will decide whether it matters who you loved first or who you love last.

Together they will learn that in the end, there can always only be one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. She is currently working on her third book which she hopes to release in June, 2014.

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago

—–

Review:

The first book, entitled The Light in the Wound, started off with an intense prologue that bothers you all throughout the story. It makes you grip the book as you turn every page, waiting to see if the hypothesis you’ve thought about would be true. And yet every possibility that you have guessed comes across wrong. In His Wounded Light, we already know who the characters are, we know their personality, their principles, their story. Some readers may have been hurt with the ending of the first book, but we must admit that it was indeed, a happy ending. But a happy ending followed by a sequel screams: “The happy ending is not meant to last!” and the fear accompanied with it as you read on, praying that the story of the characters won’t be a tragedy. And with Christine Brae’s prologue, she already confirmed our fears, building the tension even more.

What I loved the most about the book following The Light in the Wound is that we seem to be meeting the new characters in a different light. They are older, much more mature and their experiences mold them into a completely different person. I, on the other hand, loved what I saw with the characters on this book more than I loved them on the first book. In The Light in the Wound, readers got to know them, and with a fully understanding on how each characters think and act the way they do, you can’t help but feel as if every happiness and every struggle they’re going through is happening to someone close to you. But you see, no matter how challenging the characters lives are already in the first book, don’t forget that their lives are just beginning. The challenges get harder, the road gets bumpier and now more than ever, they have more to lose.

Christine Brae proves to us once more how effective her writings are and how it can affect you no matter what you’re going through—whether your life is carefree or rough at the moment, you’ll feel the heaviness of life. Christine once again teaches us a lot of life lessons and it is very inspirational, a good and wise read for teenagers and adults alike.

The characters are stronger; characters who you would aspire to be—and while you’re at it, you would aspire to be as an amazing writer as Christine Brae is.

EXCERPT

“I don’t want him to regret. I want him to get better so he can move on and be happy. It hurts to accept that I wasn’t enough for him. Just like I wasn’t enough for you.”

“No, Issy. I’ve spent twenty years of my life loving you. You were always enough. I took you for granted and lost sight of what we had. When I lost you, I lost my focus. My sole purpose was to get you back and I lost so much time. I should have realized that you chose him because you wanted to. Because you belong to him.”

TEASERS

Stephanie Perkins’ Book Signing Event: Such a great experience!

National Bookstore, together with Powerbooks, has been hosting a lot of book signing events of amazing authors. Just last June 21, Jenny Han came to the Philippines for a book signing held in Manila and Cebu. Then the American author of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins,visited Cebu yesterday (July 5)! And here I am, writing my experience right after I left her book signing here in Manila!

So let me share my epic experience! Since I’m an incoming college student and my first day starts tomorrow, I really wanted to make this book signing event extra special for myself. All thanks to my dad, we asked some friends to fall in line last night at around 10pm even if the registration for the book signing event wouldn’t even start in 12 hours. The reason? My best friend, Kiana, and I really wanted to get the Advance Reader’s Copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After, which is not for sale until August 14; and the only way to get that is to be the first in line. Unfortunately, when we arrived at National Bookstore at 10pm to help our friends settle down, nine freaking bookworms were already there! Obviously, we wouldn’t be able to get an ARC anymore… and believe me when I say I felt my heart break. The first person to arrive had set foot in National Bookstore at 1pm, unbelievable! Despite being devastated, Kiana and I bonded with them for a while and we really had a great time with them. At around 10:30 though, we head back to the hotel we were checked in for the freaking book signing, yes, we were crazy enough to book a hotel besides the Glorietta Mall (all thanks to my dad by the way). Then when it was thirty minutes before midnight, we couldn’t help the strong urge to go back to National Bookstore and bond with the fellow crazy readers. So we did, and we were having a really good time by just getting to know each other and talking about books. When all of a sudden, something amazing happened…

We were there outside the mall, sitting down on the side of the street like crazies when this really gorgeous and sexy lady came walking towards us with her husband beside her…

Yes! It was Stephanie Perkins!!!

            We all stood up in excitement even though we couldn’t believe our eyes! She surprised us by visiting us in the middle of the night because she saw all of our tweets to her about us already lined up for her event! Stephanie was really amazing guys. There we were, eleven plus two of our friends lining up for us, shrieking and jumping and telling her how much we love her as we overwhelm her with our hugs. Stephanie and her husband, Jarrod, took loads of selfies and group pictures with us. They even signed anything we wanted them to sign except for the books of course. And since I don’t have anything with me except my phone, I took out my The Fault In Our Stars slash Ansel Elgort casing and made her sign the interior part! She was amazing guys, Stephanie and Jarrod probably stayed with us for twenty minutes or probably more. I can’t put into words the rush of exhilarating bliss we were all feeling and by the time it was time for them to leave, we were left there jumping and shrieking and hugging each other. It was a wonderful moment that I could never ever forget. Only Stephanie Perkins has done something like that to her Filipino fans and I couldn’t thank her enough for being so kind and wonderful. And at that moment, ARC was left forgotten for a while because seriously, who gets to experience being surprised by the author?! Thank goodness Kiana and I had that strong urge to go out of the hotel and join the ones lined up outside National Bookstore for a while! Eventually, Kiana and I went back to our hotel rooms. We went back to National Bookstore the next morning at around 9am. And wow! The line was so, so long already by then! I was dumfounded!

We got our books registered on time; we proceeded on settling on our seats and yes, took tons of pictures together. I was having a pretty good time meeting new people who I share interest with.

The next amazing part of this book signing event has no relation with Stephanie Perkins but I really needed to share it with you guys. Anyway, I always write a letter for the author while waiting for the event to beging… I had to go to the second floor of National Bookstore to buy a card; since the line was really long, it went all the way up to that floor! I was on the cashier when this girl suddenly called me, as far as I could remember; this was how our conversation went:

Girl: Feather Casilan?

(I gave her a confused look because I didn’t know her)

Girl: I’m Charmyan Galo, I’m a fan of your blog.

Me: Really? Oh… Omg… Th-thank you so much!

Girl: I’m a friend of— (I have no idea what she said next, and I smiled uncontrollably)

Me: Thank you, thank you so much!

(The line started to move and I have to turn my attention back to the cashier…)

Okay so I know that’s not really much for some of you but it was such a big deal for me because she was the first ever to approach me because of my book blog, and I only started last June 23. So a shout out to Charmyan… You added up to my awesome day, thank you!    
So going back to the event… Like I said, I met a lot of great new people but the “First 11” are the ones that I won’t forget because they were the ones I were able to really bond with! So, guys, I hope I’ll get to meet you again! I love you tons!

When Stephanie and Jarrod arrive at National Bookstore, the crowd went seriously wild! Stephanie was just so touched with all of the signs, the ones who put so much effort by wearing costumes, and with just the mere presence of everyone. I’m telling you, the place was such a beautiful sight! Stephanie went on telling how Anna, Lola and Isla somehow reflected her and how everything beautiful about St. Clair, Cricket and Joshua are found in her husband! But when asked on whom among those three guys really represents Jarrod, her answer was Cricket Bell from Lola and the Boy Next Door. Plus, Stephanie Perkins loves our mangoes so much that she says it’s like tasting heaven itself!!! She’s so adorable! She loves Philippines so much that she said she’d do her best to make her author friends come and visit us! I’m crossing my fingers on that!

So the painful part was when National Bookstore gave the Advance Reader’s Copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After to the first seven who arrived! And I’m number 10… Ugh… Oh anyhow, even I’m devastated over that, I’m happy for my new friends for being able to snag an ARC! Plus, nothing can compare to the epic experience I’ve had.

The time for the book signing itself eventually arrived and Stephanie Perkins was adorable as ever. We had a great chat and she was so so so so sweet guys! Meeting her was so amaze-balls and I wish all the best for her and her cute hubby who also signed some books and took loads of selfies with the fans!   So yeah… It’s pretty obvious how happy I am. Thanks to my dad, Kiana, and all of my newfound friends for giving me the best book signing experience so far. I love you all!

Oh and for those who were asking me… This is only the fourth book signing I have attended. Here are the authors I’ve met, in order:

1. Becca Fitzpatrick: March 29, 2014.
2. Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs & Veronica Rossi: April 26, 2014.
3. Jenny Han: June 21, 2014.
4. Stephanie Perkins: July 6, 2014.

 

Here are the other photos I’ve got from Stephanie Perkins’ book signing event:

Were you at the event? Or do you simply love Stephanie Perkins and her books? Then please comment below, it would mean a lot! Thanks guys!

Alienated (#1) by Melissa Landers: Book Review

*No. of pages: 344
*Average Rating on Goodreads: 3.97/5
*My Rating on Goodreads: 5/5

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

 

—–

 

Review:

 

Ever since reading the Lux Series by Jennifer Armentrout, I found myself wanting to read more alien-related stories that of course, have some freaking out of this world love stories, which is actually literal in every means!

First of all though, I want to express my genuine affection for the book cover of Alienated… I have no idea why but seeing the cover made me want to read it even more! It was like when I saw These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, the cover is so amaze-balls, I had the strongest urge to read it! Going back, obviously, the cover of Alienated represents the planet that our main characters have come from, but seeing the guy’s world that seems so dull and lifeless made me think how their system works. Forming a theory from the synopsis, I get this idea that the L’eihr kind is much more evolved than us. But what’s with the gloomy planet and what could they possibly need here on Earth? What could us humans possibly offer them that they don’t already have?

I really love the concept of the exchange student program of a human and a L’eihr… As Melissa Landers joked about, “a seriously foreign exchange”! I mean, how cool could that be to have an alien be a guest at your home for eight months? And have I mentioned how hot and handsome the alien our main character would be hosting? Well, you have that to be giddy about!

However, Cara Sweeney saw this exchange program as something horrible at first, not a chance of a lifetime. Cara is a grade-A student, valedictorian, captain of the debate team, star student and has a lot of followers on her blog, which makes her even more set to be a journalist. Being chosen to be one of the only three persons on Earth to be a part of the L’eihr exchange program would be good on her already explicit transcript and of course, there’s the college scholarship. Yet even before Aelyx have lasted for more than a few months, Cara loses two of the most important people in her life… Then why couldn’t she just back out of the program despite the danger lurking with the protestors of the alliance?

Aelyx came from a different world where everything is just truly different from Earth. So adjusting at the Sweeney’s humble home was hard, but not as hard as he expected it to be. When he arrived on Earth for the exchange program, he and two of his L’eihr friends have a goal: Stop the alliance between their planet and Earth. They don’t trust humans; they could see how Mother Earth slowly dies at their hands, and Aelyx just couldn’t let them do that to his own planet. So why is his plan to sabotage the alliance becomes so hard as he grows to know Cara Sweeney?

The first thing that made me fall for this book so hard was our female protagonist—Cara Sweeney. She’s intelligent; she has her goals straight and she’s in control of the course of her life. So the very first page was so amusing because her life is somehow being jeopardized at the arrival of the L’eihrs. But even in a state of shock at the news that she’ll be one of three teenagers who’ll represent Earth because of her impressive background, she just couldn’t turn down the chance of her lifetime. So even if her three-year boyfriend Eric loathes the L’eihrs and even if her best friend doesn’t find the idea appealing at all, she set her goal to give her L’eihr the comfort that he needs during his stay. Cara is strong and strong-willed, I admire those characteristics so much because one thing I hate about main characters is their low self-esteem, insecurities and hiding who they really are; Cara is the opposite of that.

Second, the whole plot… it’s amazingly and creatively done—hands down to Melissa Landers! Seriously, I just loved the whole system she has done with, well, the whole freaking universe! It was so realistic that you could just completely get lost in Melissa’s words without being disturbed by the sucky reality. Although I have to admit, the first time Aelyx’ point of view came up, it was such an overwhelming burst of information and there are a lot of times that it wasn’t explained in an instant and I was just like, “Um, what?” but still, when you finally get the hang of the terms and understand all of the the information, you’d fall in love with it.

Third: I adore the point of view! We always get the usual only one point of view, and it’s really okay but it’s kind of limited. I think that a book needs at least two POVs if it’s a fantasy, science fiction or dystopian novels. It’ll give the readers a more distinct insight to what the author was actually imagining when she was writing the story so thank you Melissa for providing us Aelyx and Cara’s deepest thoughts and emotions.

Another reason why I love Alienated so much is how real the perspectives and opinions are; Melissa conveyed true and interesting messages to her readers through the lines of her characters. For example is how many times she mentioned in different ways how humans act on defense when something enters in their lives that are unfamiliar to them. We humans can’t accept the fact that other species from other planets may be superior to us, that they are evolved in ways that we are not; that we are inferiors ones. As said in the latest Transformers movie, “You species are all the same, you want to believe you’re at the center of the universe”. In Alienated, people rallied against the alliance of Earth with another planet, simply because they are afraid of the unknown. Another message (my favorite), is when two characters tackled the topic about the religions of humans and their God: “If you believe God’s powerful enough to create the Earth in seven days, then why can’t He create other worlds too?”. If you are a believer or non-believer of aliens, I firmly believe that this line from Alienated is so striking. A friend of mine once asked me if I believe that there are other beings outside Earth. Instead of asking, I threw the question back at him… He said, “Yes. The universe is so big and unexplored. Why would we even think that we’re all alone when the Earth is so small?”

Lastly, I love the way the story flows so smoothly that you’d practically be in a trance while reading it. When I was reading this book actually, it devoured me so much that I haven’t even noticed that it was already three in the morning! I didn’t get sleepy or anything! And even though the story’s progression was a bit slow on reaching the rising action, it wasn’t boring and there weren’t any drag part. The way Aelyx and Cara’s relationship was even sailed smoothly and besides the fact that their love story is really unlike any other, Melissa found a way to make it even more special—I am so not going to tell you how! You have to read it to find out yourself!

On the other hand, this is the first book and the sequel is not due until next year so that’s the catch. But I’m telling you, there’s no rude or heart bursting cliffhanger in the end of Alienated, don’t worry! The only problem is that you’d be yearning for more and more and more!

So when you’re done reading Alienated and get so frustrated on waiting for Invaded, I suggest you to read other alien-related books that has out of this world love stories like:

• Lux by Jennifer Armentrout
• These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
• The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy
• Across The Universe by Beth Revis

And so… Thank you guys so much for reading my book review. I hope this helps!

Comments? Suggestions? Requests? Or do you simply want to have an “Alien talk” with me? Then please do leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you! 🙂

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern: Book Review

 

*No. of pages: 352

 *Average Rating on Goodreads: 3.87/5

 *My Rating on Goodreads: 4/5

 

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

 

John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern’s insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

 

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can’t walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

 

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other’s lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

 

—–

 

Review:

This book debut of Cammie McGovern really does meet John Green’s The Fault In Our Stars and Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park. It could have been just another tooth achingly sweet chic-flick story about two misfits wanting to be together but there are complications at hand, but Cammie turned that complication like the ones in The Fault In Our Stars: complications caused by sickness.

 

Amy never got to really feel how to live a normal life. And there was a point in her life wherein she thought she was the luckiest teenage girl in the world for being limited unlike everyone else who worries about who to go to prom with or if the guy they have their eyes set on likes them back… Amy thought she’s blessed until Matthew pointed out that she really doesn’t feel that way and deep inside, she wants just to be like everyone else.

 

Matthew used to have a life… He used to kiss girls and hangout with the guys back in middle school, but it all changed when his OCD attacked, disrupting his everyday life.

 

Matthew was the only one who has been honest to Amy, he was the only one who didn’t sugarcoat things. Amy was ready to be there for Matthew, she was the only one who would try to make him better when no one else cares. And now that Matthew is assigned to be one of Amy’s peer helpers, they become each other’s best friend who accept each other flaws and fixes one another.

 

Can a friendship really turn into something more than anyone could expect despite all of the odds?

 

So…

 

I read this book because of the title, Say What You Will. It was a title with a message to everyone: say what you must while you have the chance. That really took my attention!

 

Okay, when I started reading this and got to at least the first five chapters, I was annoyed… This was yet another story wherein the girl’s life is all upside down and the “guy” sweeps into action and changes her life for the better. It’s so mainstream and then someone seemed to knock on the door of my brain, telling me that there is a big complication in this story! I really think that without Amy having cerebral palsy and without Matthew having OCD, this would be just a story like any other. Removing the complications would mean that Cammie McGovern’s book debut would be raw, and I’m so happy it didn’t turn out that way!

 

However, no matter how sweet and challenging the whole “we would help each other with our flaws and we’d fall in love because of it” thing, I don’t just don’t approve. The main characters being sick cannot be used an excuse anymore that this book should be given a second thought on its being mainstream.

 

Guys, I really just want to remind you that you just CAN’T love someone yet when you’re still insecure of who you are and if you’re still struggling to find the person that you are meant to be. You have to feel, if not whole, then at least contented. Know what you want and know the course of your life’s journey before devoting to another. And falling in love with another person because you think you can fix them is just a big no. Yes, we all have flaws and the right person should see and then accept that. But being in love while you’re still broken and empty is absurd. That’s what annoys me the whole time I’m reading this book.

 

Fortunately, Cammie McGovern somehow brought some justice into that aspect, that’s why I gave this book a rating of 4 on Goodreads instead of only 3.

 

Another weak point of Say What You Will is how halfway through the book, I kept asking, “Where is this going again?” or “What was the point of this and that?”. There were a lot of unnecessary parts that bored me out because I really think the author could have done a lot of ways to make everything seem more exciting and meaningful because the main characters were really interesting. Thank goodness there was a great and unexpected twist in the events or else I would’ve really given this a rating of 3.

 

On the other hand, there was just something about Amy that I didn’t like. It gets pretty hard for me too see where she’s coming from because there were just a lot of scenes wherein I wanted to slap the hell out of her… sorry but it’s true! Although, maybe that’s what actually makes her different from some of the books I read. She’s realistic. She’s this girl who has a lot of obstacles in her life and the usual protagonist in books are such a saint or determined or optimists despite everything. Amy is not like that. She’s lost, confused, pessimist and insecure; she was real. True emotions were conveyed in her and not some heroine everyone expects.

 

I suggest everyone to read this book debut of Cammie McGovern simply because there are a lot of morals in this story. Like,

 

1. You don’t need a lover to help you find who you are. Sometimes all you need is a true friend.
2. Find who you are and discover what you truly want before committing yourself to another.
3. Being a person with desires and dreams can be the beginning of a journey that’ll definitely be worth taking.
4. There are circumstances where you have to give up colossal things; you have to be ready for that.
5. Face your insecurities, deal with your fears and let everyone see that being different is good because everyone else is taken.
6. Yes, you always have to say what you really want before you lose the chance. But always know if the moment is really right or if it really is the right thing to say.
7. Don’t let your faults and flaws be the judge of you.

 

 

That’s all everyone, thanks a lot for reading my book review! Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern is available wherever books are sold!

 

Any thoughts? Comments? Requests? Suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment! You can ask me on twitter too: @fdzcsln

If you feel up to it, you can always email me on fedz.0726@gmail.com 🙂

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han: A Quick Book Review + The Big News + News Reaction

 

Great news everyone! Another book to movie adaptation is coming our way!

 

* No. of pages: 288

* Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.05/5

* My Rating on Goodreads: 5/5

 

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

 

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh.

 

As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

 

—–

 

Quick Review:

 

The plot of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han spiked an interest in me because seriously, how humiliating can it be to have the love letters you’ve written a long time ago be sent out unexpectedly?

 

As Lara Jean faces the changes of the departure of her older sister, she does her best to be the big sister to Kitty and to be the responsible daughter for her father. Yet with her feelings out in the open to the five guys she ever loved, Lara Jean Song takes an impulsive decision to avoid the inevitable: the confrontation she’ll have with her older sister’s semi-ex boyfriend, Joshua, the boy Lara Jean is in love with.

 

Trapped in a deal with the dangerous Peter Kavinsky, Lara Jean finds herself being hunted by her past while she’s doing everything in her will to go back to her plain, boring but normal life.

 

This might be a love story, but it is also about the importance of family and in this case, the bond and love of the Song girls. I fell in love with the characters of this story and even though I couldn’t relate with just about anything here, I felt what I needed to feel; Jenny Han really knows how to make her readers feels connected in the best and disturbingly way she could muster. I found myself devouring every chapter and wanting more and more and more.

 

If you want a chill and a chic-flick Young Adult novel, this work of Jenny Han is a must yet rest assured that intense feels would be present all throughout! I am seriously dying for the second book entitled P.S. I Still Love You… And who’s the guy Lara Jean would still be in love with by the end of the first book? If you want to know, then you’d better read now to find out and die of feels as you wait for the second book to come out next year! (Jenny Han, I am so frustrated, please spare me and give me the second book already!)

 

The best part about this book? It’ll make you realize that there will always be a silver lining.

 

Because who knew that an embarrassing and a please-let-the-ground-open-up-and-swallow-me incident can turn into something achingly beautiful?

 

—–

 

The Big News:

 

Only less than three months after the release of Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Overbrook Entertainment has picked up the rights to the book to turn it into the big screen!

 

Below is the full article from: http://m.deadline.com/2014/06/to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-movie-annie-neal-overbrook/

 

 

EXCLUSIVE: Novelist Jenny Han’s YA book To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is en route to the big screen just two months after it hit shelves.

Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment has picked up rights to the NY Times bestseller about high schooler Lara Jean Song, who writes love letters to the five boys she’s ever loved and keeps them locked away in a hatbox until the day her letters are mailed, upending her real-life love life. Adapting the book will be writer Annie Neal, who made the Black List last year with her script Beauty Queen, about an unhappily married woman who road trips to Vegas with her bestie to compete in the Miss Married America competition.

Han is the hot YA author behind the Summer I Turned Pretty lit series. The deal was sealed with funds from Overbrook’s discretionary fund with Caleeb Pinkett overseeing for the company. Neal is repped by Benderspink and CAA. CAA also reps Han and Overbrook.

—–

 

News Reaction:

 

Just oh-my-freaking-gosh guys! I can’t believe that my new favorite book is already on its journey to the big screen, I am so excited! Most especially out of the fact that just last June 21st, I met the amazing author, Jenny Han at a book signing event! She’s so cool and I’m most excited to see the actress playing as Kitty because Jenny said that Kitty Song was inspired by her little sister.

 

I know that most people think that a movie adaptation ruins the book itself out of the reason that it is not exactly like the book. I, on the other hand, think that it is something that everyone should expect and it is something not to worry about as long as the important aspects of the book are not changed drastically. I just couldn’t wait any longer for the script to be over with, for the final cast to be announced and of course, for the movie!

 

I’m really happy with this news and had to share it with you guys as soon as I found out. That’s actually all thanks to the Jenny Han Philippines page on Facebook, thanks wonderful people!

 

Please do grab a copy of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before wherever books are sold!

 

My signed copy ❤

The Death Cure (The Conclusion of The Maze Runner Trilogy) by James Dashner: Book Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64-iSYVmMVY 

 

*No. of pages: 325

 *Average Rating on Goodreads: 3.82/5

 *My Rating on Goodreads: 3/5

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

 

Thomas knows that Wicked can’t be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they’ve collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It’s up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

 

What Wicked doesn’t know is that something’s happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can’t believe a word of what Wicked says.

 

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.

 

Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

 

—–

 

Review:

 

The final conclusion of the epic and thrilling The Maze Runner Trilogy of James Dashner, The Death Cure, is where things would finally fall into place. And like The Scorch Trials, circumstances would waver friendship, love and trust into a much more different and shocking ways. Lies and memories would be uncovered but being in the dark has never been much safer than knowing the dangerous truth. WICKED says that the time for lies is over and now, they need to fully work with the Gladers to complete the blueprint that they need for the cure, but Thomas couldn’t just see the good in WICKED. With a shocking turn of events, an old foe might be more of an ally than the ones Thomas spent the entire time in the maze and the outside world fighting with.

 

Every question left unanswered from the first two books would no longer be a mystery. A goodness would be seen at the most unexpected source; sometimes those who wants to save humanity, might be the very cause of its extinction; and sometimes you have to go back where you started before you reach the end, even if it’s the last place you want to return to.

 

It has been such an amazing ride with James Dashner, the world he created and his characters but…

 

If you’ve read my reviews for The Maze Runner and for The Scorch Trials, you’ll know how much I loved the first two books. And sadly, The Death Cure gave me such a disappointment; I’ll give you specific reasons on why so as not to prevent you from reading it! I don’t want to scare off people who want to read the trilogy, I don’t discriminate books guys, but you can count on me on giving honest reviews.

 

If you haven’t noticed, I gave a perfect rating of 5 on Goodreads for the first two books but on The Death Cure, I only gave a rating of 3/5.

 

Don’t get me wrong, this book was amazingly done as usual, the only problem was the ending. It was weak. James Dashner created this complicated, interesting story with a lot of twists that I really wondered how he’d solve everything. How would he be able to solve such miserable and tragic problems?

 

And that, guys, was the dilemma. James Dashner wasn’t able to give a solution. It was like he himself didn’t know how things would end and just created a basic solution that was kind of pointless, causing the amazing level of the story to drop in a snap.

 

I really don’t want to give spoilers so I’d say this as vague as possible… So here’s the deal: Let’s face it, a lot of characters die when it’s a dystopian novel, no surprise there. Yet the issue with this book is that important deaths were left off like it was no biggie, making it seem that those were deaths that you could shrug off. I know that deaths always come unexpectedly, that you couldn’t always get a reconciliation or a proper goodbye, that is reality and Dashner did a great job at making it realistic. However, what I didn’t like was the aftermath of it, James Dashner should’ve put more importance to it then left it to be ignored like nothing colossal occurred.

 

It hurts me to say all of these guys, believe me, I don’t like to say negative things about a book, but I gave my oath to be honest.

 

Furthermore, please remember that I only hated the way things end with this trilogy. We all know how important the endings are but what matters is that James Dashner provided a consistent thrill and epic journey to all of his readers. That’s what counts the most and the adventure he has given to everyone was still worthwhile. Just because I don’t approve of the ending, that doesn’t mean everyone don’t. Who knows, maybe you’ll love the way it end so don’t let me prevent you from reading The Maze Runner Trilogy, I still love it deeply!

 

If you want to know my specific reactions on the book that yes, contains spoilers, feel free to ask me. You know where to talk to me!

 

Watch the book to movie adaptation of The Maze Runner, coming out this September!

 

The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner: Book Review

 

 

 *No. of pages: 360

 *Average Rating on Goodreads: 3.99/5

 *My Rating on Goodreads: 5/5

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

 

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.

 

—–

 

Review:

 

You think that when the Gladers managed to get out of the maze, the questions tackling your mind since the first chapter of The Maze Runner would finally be answered? So you think that book one is so intense and thrilling already? Well sorry Greenies, but The Scorch Trials is much more exhilarating and heart throbbing than you’d ever expect. Wherein The Maze Runner is on the second level of being extreme, it is safe enough to say that The Scorch Trials is on the fourth level of extremity.

The maze is just the first phase of WICKED’s trials, the Scorch is the second one that the Gladers have to face. Out in the world where they thought would be better than the maze; they are set off to a dangerous journey wherein the Grievers are no longer their problem, but the Cranks. And this time, there’s a group of girls just like them who they cannot decipher if they are friends or foe.

No one can be trusted outside the real world, not even your own sight. With Teresa missing and a whole bunch of new characters, you’d find yourself questioning everything once more. Despite some questions getting cleared up and some things getting explained, more unanswered questions gets add up, you’ll just never know with WICKED.

WICKED manages to convince the Gladers to travel all the way to the Scorch with the promise of being cured from the Flare (wide-spreading disease) and the chance to even save humanity if they oblige with the Trials and let the WICKED throw “variables” at them. WICKED declares to do only all of they have done for the well being of everyone: To save the world from catastrophe.

So, is WICKED good?

You decide.

Trust, friendship, strength and love will be tested more than ever.

With a bunch of new characters and a borderless, unsafe world in front of them without the maze, things are only heating up. Phase one was for kids. Phase two is for adults; it is time for the dangerous task.

I simply love The Scorch Trials as much as I love The Maze Runner despite them being different. The Maze Runner is more of a huge question mark to all the readers whilst The Scorch Trials is action-packed, still a lot of deliberate thinking but more of finally putting the puzzle pieces together.

My emotions were definitely tested on the second book and even my strength on reading because honestly, sometimes I just want to drop my phone (I read on iBooks) and stop reading because of all of the feels and excitement it has been giving me continuously. I never placed my phone down though, you just can’t stop reading, I love James Dashner so much for that!

The author created such a wonderful story. He managed to create a lot of twists and turns that are not easy to predict unlike other dystopian science fiction novels. And I believe that this trilogy would not only be enjoyed by young adults, even older audience as well.

I know I am flooding The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials with bunch of praises but I vow to you, I’m being completely honest with my reviews. So yeah.

Action-packed. Messes with your mind. Takes you into a stirring roller coaster ride. Devours you into the pages of the book.

James Dashner would own you!

Read on guys, and get lost into a bittersweet journey of The Maze Runner Trilogy and when you’re done with The Scorch Trials, wait for my book review of the final conclusion of James Dashner’s epic novel: The Death Cure.

The Maze Runner (#1) by James Dashner: Book Review

 

 

The Maze Runner (#1) by James Dashner: Book Review

 

 *No. of pages: 374

*Average Rating on Goodreads: 4/5

*My Rating on Goodreads: 5/5

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

 

“If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.”

 

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers–boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stonewalls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out–and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

 

—–

 

Review:

 

The Maze Runner will give you a surge of adrenaline at the very beginning of the thrilling trilogy. That is a promise. However if you’re the type of reader who wants to lie down, chill by the sunset as you read a calming book… well you better close The Maze Runner and put it down. But if you’re flexible enough and can survive the intense happenings and thrilling journey in this dystopian novel, then read on fellas, because TMR would give you a brutal jolt of excitement in every chapter!

Everything is a huge question mark in this book. You’d question why this is like this or why that is like that and there’d be a plausible reason to be confused at every turn of the page, simply because it is a mystery and a complicated puzzle you have to figure out. You’d be anything but bored because rest assured, there is definitely no drag part. I’m telling you, I’m hyped all throughout that I get jitters out of anticipation, because something awesomely good would always happen. You can trust James Dashner to provide you that!

Thomas wakes up in the Glade, a place where everyone tries to live their normal lives after waking up surrounded by the walls of the maze. The ones who live in the Glade are called the Gladers, Thomas is one of them now.

Thomas, the main character of the story, knew from the very beginning that he is different from the other Gladers. The question is: Will his being “different” be enough to see him and everyone else out of the intricate maze, or is there something much deeper lurking in the history of Thomas and the only girl who arrived after him, named Teresa?

Thomas is your usual main character whose purpose is to set about big changes in a place where all seems lost. Before anything else however, he needs to know who he truly is. The only difference with our protagonist is that he really does need to know who he is beyond his name. Like the rest of the Gladers, Thomas has no recollection of anything before he found himself in the maze. It was like they only came into awareness when they were already being lifted up by a junky elevator of some sort, to the maze that’s apparently designed to devour them in their confusion. Yet Thomas is different, and his memories may hold the key out of the colossal and ever-changing maze.

The maze changes constantly. At night, its walls seal up to prevent creatures from inhabiting their safe haven. Creatures called the Grievers, would be the death of anyone when they stay even for just a night trapped inside the walls of the maze. No one ever survived a night inside, supposedly. That’s why being a Runner is not a joke, not something one should take delight in volunteering for. Runners are the ones who go out when the sun is up, to study the maze and seek a way out for everyone. It is a dangerous job, a risky duty. So why does our Greenie (means newbie), Thomas, have this extreme urge to be a Runner?

As marked changes occur since Thomas got into the maze, everyone in the maze began to either doubt or think ill of him, and he does everything he can to prove them wrong. Yet the question still remains: is he, let alone Teresa, really innocent?

 

It is one thing to be doubted by others… it is entirely different to doubt yourself.

 

This book offers its readers a shock or at least a cause for bewilderment at every turn. And the best part? James Dashner is such a remarkable author that even though he created a surreal and disorienting place inhabited by creatures that are as novel and startling, his way with words and masterful execution effectively captures the imagination of his readers; it’s like you’re seeing everything through Thomas’ eyes.

Another great aspect of this book is how ingenious the whole plot is. Nothing is unessential, every happening is either justified by or related to events yet to unfold, and thinking how seamlessly he has laid down this intricate weave of a novel … just wow! This is nothing like the dystopian novels that I have read, and this is most certainly neither chic-flick nor mainstream. Guys, just wow!

 

The important questions you’d be asking when you’re inside the maze:

1.) Where am I?

2.) Who put us here?

3.) How do we get out?

4.) What is the purpose of all of this?

5.) What world lies outside the maze?

6.) Do we really want to get out?

 

Yes, yes, I know! It is definitely exciting and I can’t help but fangirl uncontrollably while I’m writing this. And this is me being honest… there was nothing in this book that I didn’t like, and that is pretty unusual for me. I’m the type of reader who wants to see more romance in a book, even if the story itself is set in a world ravaged by war or death or starvation. Yet with this one, I didn’t seek even a morsel of love. I only wanted more action, more mystery; more thrill… and I got it!

Surprise would be your new best friend, all the way to the last couple of chapters. And when you think that nothing can surprise you any further, well I hate to break it to you but this is merely the first book… and there are two more!

So sit back… um, you won’t be able to relax… but you’d definitely enjoy! I promise!

The Maze Runner book to movie adaptation is out on September 17, 2014!

 

 

 

The Fault In Our Stars: Book to Movie Adaptation Review

 

*WARNING: May contain intense feels and uncontrolled fangirling.*

 

So, you read the book and watched the movie? So, you haven’t read the book and watched the movie? So, you haven’t read the book, watched the movie and now reading the book?

Whatever it is, The Fault In Our Stars is a beautiful book. And yes, a beautifully heart-wrenching movie. Josh Boone (director of the movie) managed to transform John Green’s (author of the book) words unto the big screen, honored the book and lived up to the expectations of the readers, thereby capturing the hearts of the non-reader viewers.

Let’s narrow this down, shall we?

 

1.) The Cast

John Green admitted to have doubted the main characters of the film, Ansel Elgort (who played Augustus Waters) and Shailene Woodley (who played Hazel Grace), at the beginning. Certainly not because he questioned their acting skills, but because Ansel Elgort and Hazel Grace acted as siblings in their last film together, Divergent. For those who don’t know, Divergent is another Young Adult book-to-movie adaptation that was released on March 21, 2014.

With Divergent having a lot of fans, John Green feared that people may find it really awkward to see the stars playing out as siblings then, and now as lovers. Fortunately, the feedbacks after the announcement of the final casting has been very positive, dissolving John Green’s negative thinking and grew to love Ansel Elgort, Shailene Woodley and even Nat Wolf (plays Isaac) during the set. Fans are now even shipping Shansel, even if they are just really great friends off-screen.

Shailene Woodley, on the other hand, really fought for the role of Hazel Grace, for Josh Boone was uncertain that she could portray a 16-year-old girl with her matured looks, and add up to the fact that Ansel Elgort (who is 20 years old) is two years younger than her. Obviously, Josh Boone saw Shailene’s unquestionable acting skills and being 22 years old didn’t matter. To be honest, I didn’t like Shailene Woodley to be our Hazel Grace. Yes, because she looks older, but also because she really doesn’t have that vibe of a Hazel Grace Lancaster. Even though I didn’t approve then, seeing the movie for the first time had me thinking, “Wow Shai, you have awesome acting skills and I’m sorry I didn’t liked you as Hazel at first!” Keyword there: liked. Shailene really deserved that role.

It is very safe to say that Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley awed us with their on-screen chemistry, and the cuteness of it when they are with their co-star, Nat Wolf, who played Augustus Water’s best bud. These three very important characters from the book really brought out the personalities that the readers were really looking for. And for those who didn’t read the book, I am sure that these three stars managed to let everyone see what they needed to know about the characters’ unique personalities, and made the audience love the trio almost as much as they love Augustus and Hazel.

As for the other characters like Peter Van Houten… Come on! Who doesn’t agree with me that William Defoe is the best choice for this role? He has strong characters, hard features, and he’s a really great actor. The appearance of Van Houten in the movie should give out a “thump” to the audience, and Mr. Defoe well-delivered the Peter Van Houten from the book. He managed to make us hate and pity him, all with just two scenes!

The parents of Hazel Grace, played by Laura Dern and Sam Trammell, were really how I imagined them. When I saw the trailer for the first time, I was like, “Geez, they practically came out of my mind!” Their acting didn’t disappoint, and I really am thanking the cast directors for the perfect casting.

Isaac, the best friend of Gus, doesn’t have that many scenes in the movie. Yet Nat Wolf up lived the personality of Isaac and his presence in each of his scenes were tremendously felt. However, I’m mildly disappointed on how the movie focused so much on Hazel and Gus that they weren’t really able to make the audience see the value of friendship that Gus and Isaac have. It was saddening because what the two of them shared really was beautiful in every way and I really think it’s important that those who haven’t read the book get to see how remarkable their connection is.

Hazel Grace was portrayed very well, thanks to the great acting skills of Shailene Woodley, who really had her pretty hair chopped off for this film; the smart, witty, strong and brave Hazel Graze that readers were expecting was witnessed by everyone. And of course, Augustus Waters… Isn’t he dreamy? I mean, guys, seriously! Ansel Elgort is this dreamy guy that would make you swoon the very first time he pops in the movie, just the way Augustus Waters really should be. Only he could pull off those smooth lines and voice out his weird thoughts without looking like an axe-wielding murderer! He was literally a brought-to-life Gus who could pull off that so-called “prosthetic leg” swag. If you don’t know, John Green absolutely adores Ansel Elgort so much and I think that’s the cutest part!

 

2.) The Script

As of June 23, 2014, the book got 4.48 ratings on Goodreads (that’s pretty high). On IMDb, the movie got a rating of 8.5/10, which is also pretty high!

For me, I think the reason why The Fault In Our Stars has a lot of fans is because of the words, the lines, and the quotes that John Green used. He mastered the art of tugging the hearts of his readers, the power of stabbing their weak points, and the control over the emotions all through those letters that formed a word, words that formed a sentence, and sentences that made up the book.

My utmost thanks to Josh Boone who gave John Green a power over the movie, and all thanks to the writers of the film. they managed to stitch-in all of the famous and most loved quotes from the book, making the fans of the book die of feels, let alone prompt the non-readers to tweet those quotes or post it on Facebook!

Although I know that three of the much-awaited lines were not heard in the film (comment if you want to know), let’s just stop and appreciate how everyone in the crew did their best to squeeze in all that we were looking for into a 126 minute film. And for those who are complaining that they changed a few stuff or that it wasn’t exactly like the book… may I remind you that again, the movie is only 126 minutes and the book has 313 pages. As much as we want to see every page of the book come to life, it is not meant to be. Let’s just be glad that they gave us such a great movie.

By the way, let’s not forget how the wonderful script wouldn’t really be oh-so wonderful without the cast delivering it almost perfectly. Honestly, some important or awesome quotes were left ignored by the viewers simply because they did not highlight it much the way it should have been. In some instances, a quote just rolled off the actors/actresses’ tongue like it’s just a plain sentence without any deeper strum to it. That disappointed me, because I believe that those quotes have great power over the audience’s emotion, and should have been under the limelight. On the positive note, a lot of the quotes were perfectly delivered and I have that to be happy about.

 

3.) Over-all Film

It is safe for me to say that Josh Boone honored and respected John Green’s work and most, if not the entire fandom witnessed that. It is not easy to transform a novel loved by many into the big screen, and it is definitely not easy to please a big crowd, more so, gain their support.

The Fault In Our Stars is such a beautiful movie and maybe not everyone thinks that, but please, watch it first before you give it a final verdict.

I recommend you not to bring some tissue when you watch this movie. Bring a handkerchief or maybe a towel. The latter is highly recommended. If you don’t cry or even tear up just a little bit, you seriously need therapy for that insensitivity!Or perhaps you could see yourself in the mirror and check if you’re really human… So read the book or watch the movie, whatever works for you!

Lastly, The Fault In Our Stars might be a movie about cancer… but it is also a movie about love and being young, on how one can still do whatever one wants, even if cancer is steadily consuming you.

 

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”  -Shakespeare