Book Review : Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl
Rainbow Rowell
Young Adult Contemporary
Paperback, 433 pages
10th September 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin

Goodreads Ratings : 4.20/5
My Rating : 4.5/5

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

From Goodreads

I just finished reading this book like an hour ago and now I’m staring blankly at my laptop screen for almost 10 minutes now, not knowing where and how to start.

/takes a deep breath/

Okay, first thing first, if you said you’re not in love with the cover art, youre lying to urself. THE COVER ART IS SUPER CUTE AND BRILLIANT AND IT HAS THE PERFECT  COLOUR SCHEME AND THE AWESOMEST FONTS. I just have to give a credit and one huge shiny star to the cover art.

/takes another huge breath/

I’m having a hard time doing this review actually because EVERYONE loves Fangirl. Like literally every single person that has read this book. Don’t get me wrong. I like Fangirl. Adores it even. But I wouldn’t go as far as giving this book 5 huge shiny stars. There are a few flaws that disturbs me but overall, Fangirl is brilliant.

Fangirl tells the story of a twin sisters (Cath and Wren, but mostly Cath) who are in their freshman year of college. New friends, new environment etc. This is somewhat relatable to me which it kinda reminds me of my first time in college. Truth be told, I had a hard time liking Cath in the first place. Her anxiety irritated me. I understand what it feels like to have a new environment to settle in, being homesick and all that (I even say ‘I don’t belong here’ in my head on a daily basis during the first 2 weeks of college. It was like a mantra of some sort lol) but she’s just too much. She doesn’t socialize. She eats protein bars instead of proper meals everyday simply because she’s too shy to ask where the cafeteria is. WHO DOES THAT ?! But as the story unfold, Cath grew on me. I like her even. So that’s not a problem anymore.

Another reason why I cant give this book a 5 star rating is because of the relationship between Cath and her mother.  It doesn’t end right. I want to know whether Cath will ever forgive her mother and stuffs but it just ends that way and im not satisfied.

I think the best part of this whole book is how there are a lot of conversations going on rather than paragraphs and paragraphs of descriptions. I have to admit here, books with excessive description lines bore me. Oh and another best part is the romance.

OH MY GOD THE ROMANCE GOT ME LIKE

 ALL. THE. FREAKING. TIME.

LEVI IS WONDERFUL. HE’S ALL SMILES AND RAINBOWS AND SUNSHINES AND BUTTERFLIES AND ALL THE SUGARY SPICE. I CAN TALK ABOUT LEVI ALL DAY. HE’S THAT GOOD.

And and and I like it so much when Levi calls Cath ‘sweetheart’. It’s like I could imagine/hear how sweet and soft his voice would be when the word rolls out of his mouth. (it’s like I’m the one he called sweetheart lol ok no)

Just read this

“Levi was all smiles and fond glances. “Sweetheart, get the door. I’ve got this.”

Cath pressed her fingertips into her temples. “Did you just call me ‘sweetheart’?”

He grinned. “It just came out. It felt good.”

And this

'Levi moved his arms around her waist until he was holding her properly. Then he pushed his mouth into her hair. "Read to me, sweetheart."'

And this

“Levi smiled gently and shrugged. “I’m not angry, sweetheart.”

EEEEEEEEEPPPPP !!!!

/faints/

Cath writes fanfiction on Simon Snow. Basically a yaoi between Simon and Baz. Which is a bonus for me because I love fanfics. I read a FREAKING LOT of EXO and 1D fanfics. Fanfics are awesome. Fanfics are life. End of story.

Overall, Fangirl is one awesome book. How Rainbow Rowell managed to write 3 stories in one book (the actual Cath story, the original Simon Snow and Carry On, Simon) totally amazes me. She’s just that good a writer.

Would I recommend it ?

Totally ! If youre looking for a light read yet you still want to be attacked with feels and tingles and squeals, Fangirl is a perfect book for you.

 “Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy,” Wren said. “It’s the noblest, like, the most courageous thing two people can shoot for.” 

― Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

p.s. i had a hard time choosing which quotes to put down here. They are all so good !

Book Review : The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins
Thriller
Paperback, 319 pages
15th January 2015 by Doubleday

Goodreads Ratings : 3.92/5
My Rating : 3/5

'Gripping, enthralling - a top-notch thriller and a compulsive read' S J WATSON, bestselling author of Before I Go To Sleep

Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. ‘Jess and Jason’, she calls them. Their life – as she sees it – is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough.

Now everything’s changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar.

Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train… 

From Goodreads

I can see why people are comparing this to Gone Girl. Its got the same basic storyline—the whole issue of a problematic woman went missing, the husband was suspected etc. But it ends at that. The rest is different. The main reason I pick this up actually is because of the hype its been getting, the whole is-this-the-next-Gone-Girl considering they have the same genre, psychological thriller. Gone Girl is amazing and the plot twist just got me right in the head. Which, I was expecting the same to happen with The Girl on the Train. Unfortunately, not so much.

I have to admit that I’m not an expert on this genre. However, I’ve read a lot of Sidney Sheldon’s books to appreciate thrillers and mindfucked plot twists.

This book is narrated in the first person POV which alternates between 3 characters namely Rachel, Megan and Anna with Rachel being the biggest part of the story. All 3 women are related in some ways.  Each person has a story to tell, and has secrets to be kept hidden. It all revolves between the lives of 5 people; Rachel, Anna, Megan, Tom (Rach’s ex husband, Anna’s current husband) and Scott (Megan’s husband).

I hate all the characters. There, I’ve said it. I truly hate all the characters in this book. This is a book where you just cant trust anybody. And that’s how I felt about everyone in this book. Nobody can be trusted. Nobody has the purest heart. Nobody is kind enough to at least be respected. Everyone is just, so…. suspicious ??? To make it worse, Rachel and Megan’s behaviors are both so irritating that there were times where I just want to close this book and be done with it.

The Girl on the Train is said to be full of suspense, dark and mysterious. Amazingly enough, the book did give me some creeps, but I am a scaredy-cat by nature so that doesn’t really count lol. It’s not entirely full of suspense though as the whole book is quite slow-paced. There are some surprising and thrilling scenes, but most of the time it is too slow that I had to force myself to finish it. It is, however, very depressing. Right from the start till the end.  It was all so dark, brooding and tiring.

Thrillers are famous for their plot twist and mindfucked ending. As for this book, the ending is surprising, you can almost say “I didn’t see that coming”. The way everything was revealed  though, didn’t satisfy me enough. A ‘scene’ happened along the way—which I have to say, if it were made movie, this ‘scene’ is gonna be thrilling. I can almost imagine it in my head.

The book over all for me, isn’t ‘’un-put-down-able” as some would say. But its okay enough. The ride isn’t entirely enjoyable, but I survived.

Would I recommend it ?

If youre into thrillers and fucked-up characters then this might be it for you.

“Who's to say that once I run, I'll find that isn't enough? Who's to say I won't end up feeling exactly the way I do right now-not safe, but stifled? Maybe I'll want to run again, and again, and eventually I'll end up back on those old tracks, because there's nowhere left to go. Maybe. Maybe not. You have to take the risk, don't you” 

― Megan Hipwell, The Girl on the Train

Book Review : Beautiful Secret (Beautiful Bastard #4) by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Secret
Beautiful Bastard #4
Christina Lauren
Ebook, 400 pages
14th April 2015 by Gallery Books

Goodreads Ratings : 4.33/5
My Rating : 3.5/5

AN UPTIGHT BRITISH EXECUTIVE. AN ADVENTUROUS AMERICAN NEWBIE. A SEXY INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL IN THE MAKING.

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Christina Lauren’s Beautiful and Wild Seasons series hook up in Beautiful Secret for an erotic intercontinental romp that celebrates the best of both worlds!

When Ruby Miller’s boss announces he’s sending her on an extended business trip to New York City, she’s shocked. As one of the best and brightest young engineers in London, she knows she’s professionally up to the task. The part that’s throwing her is where she’ll be spending a month up close and personal working alongside—and staying in a hotel with—Niall Stella, her firm’s top urban planning executive and The Hottest Man Alive. Despite her ongoing crush, Ruby is certain Niall barely knows she’s alive…until their flirty overnight flight makes him sit up and take notice.

Not one for letting loose and breaking rules, recently divorced Niall would describe himself as hopeless when it comes to women. But even he knows outgoing California-girl Ruby is a breath of fresh air. Once she makes it her mission to help the sexy Brit loosen his tie, there’s no turning back. Thousands of miles from London, it’s easy for the lovers to play pretend. But when the trip is over, will the relationship they’ve built up fall down?

From Goodreads

So, Beautiful Secret.

Niall Stella and Ruby Millers.

The anticipation was real ok. 

When i was first introduced to Niall in Beautiful Beloved, i was ecstatic ! Like I just knew, hes going to be as amazing as Bennet, Max and Will. And he is !

But i have to be honest tho. This isnt the best from Christina Lauren and im slightly disappointed because i love their books so much. Theres a lot of things in this book that got me went all, 'eh ????' This book is just so different from the rest of the series i have to say. One being that Niall is a closed-off, reserved kind of guy -- so different from the whole Bennett, Max and Will attitude. The other is Ruby. 

I dont like Ruby as much as i love Hanna, Sara and Chloe. I lost my respect to her since the beginning of the book. There's sth about her -- that i cant put into words -- that annoys me. Yeah, shes intelligent and funny and whatever but shes just so..... gosh ive been trying so hard for 2 days to find a suitable word to describe Ruby but i just couldnt find it. I'm sorry but i guess i give up. /sigh/ 

One of the reason why im giving this a low rating compared to their other books is that, I couldnt imagine the whole plot in my head. Like when I was reading the other Beautiful series, i could see where they are all headed. I can even imagine myself on those situations. But with Beautiful Secret ? I just cant. I cant imagine the big picture in my head. I dont even know whats wrong with me. (I'm blaming this on me because everyone else seems to love it but me) ((Theres this one Christina Lauren fan -- the Debookroom owner, to be specific -- she doesnt like Ruby either, so im not the only one with the problem here))

Its sad actually to give this book a rating of 3 (believe me its tough because it's christina lauren we're talking about here) but since i don't fully enjoy it as much as i hoped it would be, I think its well deserved.

p.s. I JUST COULDNT WAIT FOR DARK WILD NIGHT !!! LOLA AND OLIVER ??? IM ALL SET !