BOOK SIGNING: Jennifer Niven

Hello!

I'm so excited to share with you all the 2nd book signing event I got to attend.

On May 29, 2016 (Sunday), National Bookstore held a book signing for Jennifer Niven here in Manila. 

It's for promoting her book "All The Bright Places" even though it was published over a year ago... because we always get to meet authors very late. We still get to meet them, though! 

But of course, she was here to promote her upcoming new book "Holding Up The Universe" which will be released on October 4, 2016. 

I was lucky enough to have attended this book signing with a friend of mine whom I've known and been classmates with since we were in pre-school! I also got to meet up with my new friends whom I met at Victoria Aveyard's book signing event last March. It was really good to see them again. And of course, I got to spend time with friends whom I just met that day. 

That's what's really amazing about book signings: you get to meet new people who share the same passion as you! 

Although this particular book we were celebrating over is about depression, there was laughter everywhere. Everyone was happy and excited! It's contagious.

It didn't matter that we had to wait in line under the blazing hot sun in the middle of summer. It didn't matter that we had to still wait in line and stand up for hours for registration and the waiting for the arrival of Ms. Jennifer Niven. 

It was all worth it in the end!

The author was really nice! She answers even the most stupid, star-struck induced questions that my friends and I probably blurted out. Hahaha. I cringe now when I think about what I asked her. Not gonna share it with you!

We also got a surprise by the end of the book signing. 

We were all given a sneak peek copy of her new book!

Now, I've been reading a ridiculous amount of hate about this book even though it hasn't been released. 

The thing I love about the book community is we all talk about books in a civil manner. We discuss our likes and dislikes and we tend to accept others' opinions about our favorite books and vice versa.

But holy crap, this book has been bashed and judged without even being read!

I am suddenly ashamed for the book community. 

Of all people, we should be the ones who are capable of understanding what message the authors are trying to convey. They worked hard on the books we so often enjoy and are the reasons why we write on blogs, post photos on Instagram, and shoot videos for YouTube. 

Can we please stop for one second about being offended by every single thing? 

So what if it's about a fat girl? Or a mentally ill boy?

There are people who will find this book helpful and inspiring because they're going through the same thing.

I'm pretty sure that if the characters end up together as a couple or not, we'll get to read that something happy happens to them. That they'll somehow get through their ordeals.

Why is that such a bad thing?

If you don't want to read it, the least you can do is just not bad mouth it. Do you really have to promote that people shouldn't read the book? 

*end of rant*

I've read "All The Bright Places" before but I honestly can't remember all the details of the story. All I know is the very sad ending.

I think this is a good thing that I don't remember because then I'll have the motivation to reread it after buying this physical copy that I had signed! 

Plus, it's always a great thing to have a contemporary waiting in your bookshelf after reading a couple of fantasy books/series to buffer your brain out a bit and avoid falling into a reading slump. 

Jennifer Niven signed the books with a VIOLET pen! 

I find it adorable and fitting because of the character's name.

GOODREADS 2016 READING CHALLENGE

Can you tell I'm excited to say hello? *wink wink*

I'm just really excited because I just accomplished something today:

I FINISHED MY GOODREADS READING CHALLENGE FOR 2016!

With 216 days left.

To be fair, I've only commited to reading 50 books for this year. It's not that many considering I knew I'd just be at home reading the entire year. 

It's just that 2014, I signed up for reading 100 books but I only managed to read a measly 12 books that year! It was really sad and embarassing. I didn't even have an excuse why I didn't read book because I had all the time in the world afte graduating college that year.

But I lowered my goals by 2015 and signed up for reading just 30 books. I finished it... But I almost didn't make it! I read the 30th book on December. It was a close call.

So for 2016, I decided to commit to just 50.

And now we're not even halfway through the year and I'm done with it! So happy. 

Here are the books I've read:

*From Latest book I've finished reading to the ones from the start of the year

If you're interested to see my ratings for each book. feel free to add me on Goodreads! Click HERE.

I'm really happy to say that 2016 has been a great reading year, so far. 

I've read some of the books that were great enough for me to consider putting them on my Top Favorite Books Of All Time list!

Some of those favorites from this list are: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, The Dream Thieves and The Raven King both by Maggie Stiefvater.

What are your favorite 2016 reads???

I'm excited for what else I'm going to read for the rest of the year. 

I will try to read another 50 books.

REVIEW: Carry On By Rainbow Rowell

Carry On

By: Rainbow Rowell

Published: October 2016

Publisher: Macmillan

Pages: 528

Edition: Paperback

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here -- it's their last year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery, and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story -- but far, far more monsters.

For so long, I have taken pride in the fact that I've read everything that Rainbow Rowell has published. But then one day, I remembered that I haven't read "Carry On" yet. 

It's just that based on the snippets about Simon and Baz from "Fangirl", I kind of wanted to cringe whenever their characters were mentioned.

I was, at first, insulted by the fact that it's sort of a parody to Harry Potter and that did not sit well with me, being the Potterhead that I am. 

I also really disliked "Fangirl" so out of spite to Cath, I didn't want to read anything she loved! (Yes, I know that's crazy because she's a fictional character and she doesn't care about my opinion of her).

BUT I AM GLAD I GOT OVER ALL THAT PETTINESS AND READ THIS MASTERPIECE!

Ask anybody who is close to me and they'd tell you that this is my 2nd favorite book of all time -- right after "Eleanor & Park" which is also by Rainbow Rowell.

You can never go wrong with a Rainbow Rowell novel.

I'm not good at describing or commenting about an author's writing style, but I will try.

Rainbow Rowell writes beautifully, if you ask me. She gets people. She knows how to write about people like they're actually real and not just characters she made up in her brilliant mind. 

When you read her books, you can't help but feel alongside the characters and not just read about them. What they go through, you go through. It's either you become the character yourself or you're a close friend who sympathizes -- you're no longer the reader who is just watching from afar. 

You get sucked into their world and become one of them.

How many authors can you honestly say create the most authentic fictional characters ever? For me, there's only ever been Rainbow Rowell. I have yet to read a book of hers where I don't feel like crying when the characters are sad, laugh when they are laughing, and to fall in love while they themselves are falling in love too.

It's magical.

I really loved the story of "Carry On"! You can very clearly see where and what the references to Harry Potter are but you learn to just read over it because it's also different and beautiful in its own right, especially with Rowell's writing style.

I admit, I find the concept of magic in this story a bit ridiculous. But because of that, I laughed. And once a book gets me to laugh out loud and have people look at me weirdly as I was just silently reading a while ago, rest assured that I will remember and love that book for a very long time... because I can count with my fingers just how many books have accomplished making me laugh.

There were a lot of moments where the story got predictable and usually I really hate it when that happens (because I love a good mystery!) but then the characters will do something stupidly crazy and say something really funny and I'd forget to hate it for its predictability and go back to loving it all over again.

If you're looking for a typical high fantasy book, this isn't the book for you.

It's really just a book to read when you want to have fun while reading, to laugh, and to fall in love with the characters! Keep in mind that it was meant to be the way that it is, not because Rowell is lacking the imagination to create an entirely new magical world for us readers.

I found the beginning a bit slow because we were only just reminiscing all the previous years of Simon at Watford. But when Baz showed up, I did nothing but flip page after page after page! 

Another thing I loved about this book? The abundant and sometimes not-so-subtle sexual innuendos! That just made the story funnier for me. 

It's a 500-page smile, giggle, snort, and laugh until people look at you weirdly kind of book.

The best part of this novel is definitely the set of characters!

Rainbow Rowell is really great with creating characters. Not only do they have distinct individual characteristics, they are also really easy to relate with.

My favorite character is Baz. No competition.

Since the very first sentence he uttered, I have done nothing but laugh and swoon. It didn't even matter if we're reading from his point of view. So long as his character is conversing with the person we're reading as, you know it's a great chapter!

He is smart, funny, ridiculously sassy, and handsome. He's also mean and snarky but that just adds to his charm, if you ask me. What more can you ask for?

Whenever Baz is around, I smile like an idiot. I just know that sooner or later, he'll say or do something so smart or stupid that it'll leave me in awe. 

I love his relationship with his family. How he threatened his little sister that he will close of all chimneys at their house during Christmas Eve so Santa Clause can't come in; how he calls his stepmother Mom; how close he is to his aunt Fiona (who is kind of the Bellatrix to his Draco).

Honestly, I would've disliked Simon if it weren't for Baz. I got the whole feels I had when I was reading about Malec (because I would've never liked Alec if it weren't for Magnus). I only really started to like him after he kissed Baz! I literally almost threw the book across the room when that happened. I kid you not. 

But I learned to love Simon when throughout the book, he just kept coming back to Baz and just wanting more for the two of them. I'm so happy he didn't go through all the typical denial stage that teenagers (gay or straight) go through whenever they realize that they like the person they swore to forever hate or keep their distance from. He was just so cool with everything and was so sweet to Baz. It melted my stone cold heart.

Penelope, is, of course, the stubborn smart friend. You can't not have a character like that in a book where there's a magical school.

Agatha, is, of course, the pretty girl who snitches on her friends and flees. Again -- can't not have one of those.

Special mention to that guy Gareth who has a magical belt buckle! The one who has to thrust his pelvis around to cast a spell or make magic work. Hahahahahaha! 

Best part, though?

Simon & Baz together.

I ship them so hard. 

I can't believe this is a standalone novel.

Especially since we didn't get to find out what really happened to Mage and Lucy and Simon never got to learn about his past.

Okay, but I'm NOT done yet! Allow me a few more moments to gush about Simon & Baz!

I really loved how they just yell "Anathema!" at one another whenever one of them appears to want to physically attack and/or injure the other. You'd think that they're afraid of being roughed up but when you think about it, they just don't want to lose one another as a roommate!

I also loved how when Baz was comforting Simon after he lost his magickal powers. How Baz was thinking of and said that he will turn Simon into a vampire and keep him and love him forever.

I loved how Simon felt so insecure when he lost his powers and said that he isn't good enough for Baz anymore because he's no longer the Chosen One. To which Baz replied "Simon Snow, I choose you."

And honestly, ALL the Simon and Baz moments have killed me. (This is my ghost typing the blog post)

I highly recommend this book!

I can't gush enough about it. I'm literally fangirling as I write this post.

Now I want to reread it.

WHAT BOOK HAS TOTALLY TAKEN YOU BY SURPRISE AFTER READING IT WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATIONS FROM IT???

Happy reading!

BOOKISH NEWS: Magnus Bane and Six of Crows

Hello!

You may be wondering what is going on with this title's post.

Magnus Bane and Six of Crows???

In what universe do those two even cross, much more be together?? 

Well, note the "Bookish News" part. From this point on, I decided to post news about the book community -- specifically about the things that I can't help but fangirl over!

And Magnus Bane and Six of Crows are two very different things I seriously fangirl over.

I stumbled upon these two announcements/news on Twitter and I literally squealed upon reading them. Ask my sisters, they looked at me weirdly and as if they aren't used to my being like that.

A Trilogy About Magnus Bane

Where do I even begin with this? According to an article posted by Entertainment Weekly, Cassandra Clare will publish an adult series based on our beloved and favorite glitter-obsessed warlock.

Click HERE for the complete article.

They said that it's going to revolve around Magnus' past, present, and future! 

I don't know about you, but I am as obsessed about Magnus' past as Alec always has been. And I sure as heck am obsessed about his present and future with his family! 

Malec is one of my ultimate OTPs. 

The obsession about them hit me like a brick to the face after watching Episode 11 entitled "Malec" of the Shadowhunters TV series. I don't care what people say: I love Harry Shum Jr. and Matthew Daddario together as Malec. I will continue watching that show as long as those two are in it.

I went to read "The Bane Chronicles" a day after just so I can read more about Magnus and hopefully, a little bit about Alec. 

Then I skipped over the other short stories of "Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy" so  I can read the specific short story revolving around Malec. 

I've always loved Magnus as a character. He was really entertaining and kind of cooled my ever growing hate towards Alec. I never liked Alec as a character. Not until Magnus came into the picture. 

So reading about this warlock is something I'm really looking forward to! 

November 2017 can not come any sooner!!!

Six of Crows Duology Boxed Set

"Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo has become one of my Top 10 Favorite Books Of All Time after I read it earlier this year. 

So it's not a surprise that I am looking forward to finally reading the 2nd and final book to the duology.

I loved all the characters (which is really rare of me), the setting, the plot, the banter, even the villains.

It also didn't hurt that the physical hardbound copy of the book is such a work of art!

The cover and the freaking black pages just tugs at the inner bookworm in you. Try as you may to not judge a book by its cover, it's really hard to do it for this book. 

Now that "Crooked Kingdom" is on its way to being published and released, we all can't help but be excited about it. 

But then Leigh Bardugo posted a photo of the Duology boxed set and once again today, I squealed.

Not only is the cover for the second book as beautiful as the first one... it has freaking red pages!

I can't even deal with this right now. I mean, look at it!

How can you not want something so beautiful to be in your bookshelf? 

Especially for a series that's so well loved and approved of by majority of the bookish community.

September can not come any sooner!

These are the bookish news I've heard and fangirled about today. 

What book-related news/announcements have you heard today?

BOOK BUY: A Court of Mist and Fury

A Court of Mist and Fury

By: Sarah J. Maas

Hello!

You may be wondering what this whole "Book Buy" thing I'm starting up on my blog is.

I know many BookTubers and book bloggers tend to post book hauls. But the thing is, sometimes (most of the time, really), I don't buy enough books in a month to be considered as a haul. I don't have a job so I ask my parents, grandfather, and sometimes my sisters to buy me the books I want. I highly doubt they'll be supportive when I ask them to buy me 5-10 books a month! 

So far, they've been supportive, though. I'm really grateful. 

All things considered, I'm actually blessed with my family. I've read a blog post by a bookish girl who says that her parents don't allow her to buy books! That they say "books are a one-time thing" so it's better that she just borrow books from the library. 

I can't imagine how that must feel. 

So yeah, BOOK BUY! Just one. 

For the month of May, this is the only book I've acquired. And it actually has a funny (for me) story behind it. 

Yesterday, while we were eating dinner at a restaurant, I asked my grandfather to buy me a book. I intended to buy a copy of "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven. She'll be having a book signing here in Manila this weekend and I want to attend it. I've read this book before in eBook format but I can't have my cellphone signed, now, can I? However, the bookstore in the mall we were at didn't have a copy of the book. 

But before I even got the chance to go inside the bookstore and look for it, I saw THIS book on the window display! 

I ran to the bookstore. Literally. 

You see, when the entire bookish community was celebrating the birth of the 2nd book to "A Court of Thorns and Roses"  by Sarah J. Maas, I was sitting at home wondering why the social media accounts of Philippines' local bookstores weren't posting anything about the book. It's a known fact that this book will be a best-seller around the world, so how come we don't get to celebrate alongside everybody else?

I waited a week. Maybe the shipments were late? Still, nothing. I almost went ahead and order online which would've cost a lot more money. Thankfully, I didn't.

After running to the bookstore, I searched high and low in all of the store's bookshelves! I found nothing. I started wondering if maybe I was hallucinating. So I went out the store again and looked at the window display -- it was there. I went inside and searched the shelves again and found nothing. 

I then asked one of the employees if I may buy the book on their window display. I know that sometimes they don't sell the books on display yet because it hasn't been inventoried or priced yet. But I sweet talked the employee, nonetheless, in case they weren't officially selling the book yet. 

Thankfully he was kind enough to go to the window and take out the book himself. 

I was allowed to buy and take the book home!

You won't believe how happy and excited I am right now. It doesn't matter if this is the only book I got to purchase this month (May is almost at its end). ACOMAF is one of my most anticipated releases for 2016. 

I may be late on having and reading it, but you better believe that I will fangirl as hard as all you people have. 

Rhysand has always been my OTP.

And I know that this book will have lots of him.

It's probably going to take me a while, though. I have this weird thing where I need to be in a certain mood to read through a Sarah J. Maas novel. I mean, her books are thick as heck! 

Have you ever looked forward to getting a certain book but was disappointed that they didn't release it in your town, city, or country alongside every other place? 

I know I have.