The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding

Blurb: 

Things I know about Reece Malcolm:

1. She graduated from New York University.
2. She lives in or near Los Angeles.
3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week.
4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon.
5. She’s my mother.

Devan knows very little about Reece Malcolm, until the day her father dies and she’s shipped off to live with the mother she’s never met. All she has is a list of notebook entries that doesn’t add up to much.

L.A. offers a whole new world to Devan—a performing arts school allows her to pursue her passion for show choir and musicals, a new circle of friends helps to draw her out of her shell, and an intriguing boy opens up possibilities for her first love.

But then the Reece Malcolm list gets a surprising new entry. Now that Devan is so close to having it all, can she handle the possibility of losing everything?

The Reece Malcolm List is a coming-of-age novel that appeals to YA contemporary fans of various backgrounds. As the author, Amy Spalding, writes about growing up and adjusting to new environments, she also dabbles into what it's like to find yourself amidst the halls of high school.

What made this book stand out from other YA books are the friendships formed throughout its plot. The main character, Devan, used to be what some would call a "loner" in her old school. Upon moving, she gains a bunch of friends. Why? It's because of their shared interests and experiences. If there's anything that I learned from the friendships in this novels, it's that real and sincere relationships (both platonic and romantic) stem from a shared understand and passion about anything. For Devan, her new friends formed from their shared love of theatre, performing, and music. 

The second aspect of this novel that I enjoyed the most was the dynamic of Devan and her mother. Amy Spalding crafted a mother-daughter relationship that was not sugarcoated. She encapsulated teenage angst, doubt, and frustration within Devan, while portraying her mother as a figure who took a very little part in the preceding years of Devan's life. And when Devan reunited with her mom, it wasn't melodramatic. In fact, I find a scarce number of their conversations together melodramatic because they felt so real. 

If you're looking for a YA novel that has a realistic mother-daughter portrayal with a hint of comedy and a whole lot of theatre kids, then pick up The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding. 

“It's hard to do that, to completely let go of who you are, even for only a few minutes. I'm not even completely sure of who I am sometimes and I still find myself hanging on to me when I act.” 
― Amy Spalding, The Reece Malcolm List

*photo is from Goodreads

Smart Girls Rule the World

High school sophomores Gigi Dubois, Bea Honeycomb, and Neerja Padwami are straight-A-overachievers who aim to enter an Ivy League school upon graduation. They aren’t that concerned about their popularity status, or the parties that they’re missing. After all, they have each other. But when an unexpected twist (which you’ll have to find out for yourself) occurs, the trio faces a reformation like no other.

Upon making a pact to tackle their biggest challenge, Gigi runs for student rep, Bea joins the ski team, and Neerja steps out of the sidelines and into the spotlight in the drama department.

With high-flying ambitions and a bunch of homework to do, will this triumvirate be able to achieve their goals, score high GPAs, and rock their sophomore year in high school? Read the book to find out.

I picked up Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer thinking, “Overachievers, best friends, and girl power—what’s not to love?” But oh, it was so much more. The book deals with your typical high school hierarchy, but from the point of view of fabulous and goal-oriented Gigi, who dreams of getting into Brown. Not only was I in love with her extremely relatable and comedic character, but I also enjoyed the personalities of her best friends. Bea, the brimming future-lawyer, had hilarious amounts of sass. No conversation was boring with her in it while Neerja, whose “golden” sister is now studying in Princeton, impressed me with how she strived to leave her sister’s shadow and sterling reputation and make a name for herself. The three main characters were a powerhouse like no other, each with equally interesting and witty dialogues, problems, and great attitude.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Sarah-Strohmeyer-238x300.jpg

The author
Sarah Strohmeyer

What struck me most about Smart Girls Get What They Want was how relatable the book was. The scenarios were very realistic—Gigi’s late-night homework sessions and Bea’s debates on feminism reminded me of how my high school experience has been so far. The author, Sarah, gave readers a peek inside the brain of overachievers. She perfectly depicted Gigi and her friends’ needs to be more than just pretty faces, and to excel not just academically but also in extra-curriculars. Throughout the book, the rollercoaster that were the lives of Gigi, Bea, and Neerja would not fail to put a smile on anyone’s face.

So if you are looking for a fun, lively, and inspiring read, Smart Girls Get What They Want is just for you. Who knows, maybe you’ll even want to hit the books, too.  Available at National Book Store.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/smart-girls-rule-the-world/#DIgPSpJ16tqcQC6h.99

Book Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean Song writes love letters to boys. They are letters that she will never send. She pours her heart into them by writing all the thoughts and feelings (for the guys) that she would never reveal or say to anyone. Her system goes like this: fall for the guy, write the letter, and slowly get over him. But one day, all of the letters get sent, including the one to her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. In a desperate attempt to convince Josh that she doesn’t like him anymore, Lara Jean creates a “fake” relationship with one of her past crushes, and letter receiver, Peter Kavinsky. From there on, Lara Jean’s (love) life turns upside down.

            In my opinion, this is one of the best young adult contemporary novels in the business. This is because of many, many reasons. The characters are realistically flawed. They’re not perfect, far from it actually. But when you read their dialogue or immerse yourself in their persona, one can’t help but think that s/he can relate to each and every single character in this novel.

            Jenny Han, the author of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” has set her story in contemporary America, while still adding on to her main character’s Korean roots. Although Lara Jean Song lives in the USA, she very well incorporates her Asian culture into the food that she eats and clothes that she wears. But aside from the iridescent setting and resilient characters, the most outstanding things about “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” are the morals that you grasp throughout the book. Similar to the other people in the novel, Lara Jean is flawed. But what makes her such an amazing character is that she embraces her imperfections and insecurities while striving to set a good example for her little sister, Kitty. When faced with rigid times and perplexing decisions, Lara Jean always thinks of her family, and does whatever it takes to support them. Her ability to empathize with her siblings and do what is right are two traits that we should all strive possess. After all, boys and crushes may come and go, but family is forever.

FUN FACT: The second book in this duology, entitled P.S. I Still Love You, comes out this May 26^th! 

Points that I Liked:

-diverse characters

-unpredictable plot

-page-turning dialogue

-witty humor

Rating:

5/5 hearts

Movie Review: The Fault In Our Stars

Hazel and Gus are two cancer bitten teens who share a love for certain books, a contempt  for the conventional, and a kind of a love that sweeps both them—and us—on a roller coaster of a journey. Their relationship was extraordinary given that it started at a cancer support group. The Fault In Our Stars, based on the number one award winning novel by John Green, explores the ups and downs of being young and in love. 

Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was thirteen years old. She’s sixteen now, and still on medical treatment. She also attends a cancer support group wherein she meets the funny, witty, and (at times) metaphorical, Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort). He’s been in remission for about a year and a half and purchases cigarets but doesn’t light them. 

“It's a metaphor, see: You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing.” 

He and Hazel share a love for a certain book that ends in (somewhat) a cliffhanger. When Augustus contacts the author’s assistant in hope of getting a reply to get some closure on the story, what happens when they do get a reply? Find out on this whirlwind of a story.  

The Fault in Our Stars is one of my favourite young adult books of all time. Like any great book, the Fault in Our Stars has not only been limited and recommended to the young adult audience. Many adults have read and enjoyed this book as well. So, of course, I had very high expectations for this book-to-movie adaptation. I was definitely not disappointed. At all. I love this movie as I loved the book. I cried and laughed throughout this movie. I learned many lessons from it, and can say that this book (and movie) changed my perspective on life, to appreciate the world we live in and to see the beauty of it. Even the little things from the hellos from people you greet, to the goodbyes to things that you just can’t change.

I’d recommend watching this movie with your mom, or any feminine figure in your life. Hazel and her relationship with her mom was just so heartbreakingly realistic that I couldn’t help but hold on to my mom’s hand while watching the movie. 

Inspired by Esther Earl, a young girl who died from thyroid cancer in 2010, her story provided John Green the direction that he needed to tell the story. You can read more about Esther and her story in her recently published book entitled “This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl.” 

Shailene Woodley, who plays Hazel, is also the young star of Divergent and the Descendants. She says that the Fault In Our Stars will forever leave “a lasting impression on her.” She quotes, “It was truly one of the biggest honors of my life to be a part of this project.  Both the film and novel explore the most powerful and universal themes.  The story taught me that all is fleeting, that nothing is guaranteed, and that however long or short a life you live, it is the small moments that mean the most. 

“I wanted the role so badly I sent John Green a long, long email about how much I loved the book, and how I had to play Hazel,” Woodley continues.“So I sat down with the studio executives and producers and said, ‘I’ll be a P.A. or an extra, just please, please let me be a part of it!’”

Ansel Elgort, who stars as Gus, got to work with Shailene in the movie Divergent as her brother. Shailene notes that this previous onscreen pairing was “a blessingfor our work together in the Fault in Our Stars because we already knew each other and had this on-screen chemistry, so it was easy to connect as Hazel and Gus. Ansel’s like my brother; he’s so curious about the world and everything excites him.”

Things I liked:

-the transition of the book to script

-the amazingly accurate and talented casting

-the beautiful musical screenplay

-the loyalty of the movie to the book

I’d give this movie:

5/5 stars ;)

A Cupcake Adventure

Today, my family (including some relatives) and I went to the Vanilla Cupcake Bakery. In this cute and eye catching cafe, we tried cupcakes and hung out on this Easter Sunday.

These are the cupcakes that we tried! :) The delights above are chocolate, cotton candy, and strawberry with lemon flavored.

The ambiance of this place was wonderful! With comfy seats and pretty wall art, you won't get bored.  

Happy Easter! :) 

Book Review: I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Cody and Meg have been best friends since kindergarten. Basically, they have been inseparable; two peas in a pod. Until one day, they weren't. Until one day, Meg decides to take her own life.

In this moving and heart-warming story of two best friends, you get a glimpse of what it is like to lose someone you love, and face the repercussions.

        "I Was Here" by Gayle Forman is a book that prompted me to think about people, and how they interact with others. It also made me wonder about how everything has an iceberg effect, wherein you only see a small portion of the problem/situation. As Cody visits Meg's dormitory, she sees the bottom of the iceberg, and wonders if she really knew her friend at all.

        I found that the most important lesson of the book was that you can't help someone that doesn't want to be helped; but you can try. The people who try, even when knowing that you might not let them in, are the true friends. They are the ones who believe that friendship is more than time; it's support.

Photo credit: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R7Hut8NgL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

The Statistical Probability

 by Jennifer E. Smith

Excerpt from the book: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

I LOVED this book. It was funny, sad, quirky, and BRITISH. YES PLEASE. Hadley and Oliver are both travelling to Heathrow, London, which is one of my favourite places in the entire world. I seriously wish that I'll get to live there in the future. Besides the beautiful setting, I really enjoyed the plot and the characters, Hadley and Oliver were on both the kind of relationship wherein they may squabble and debate over things but in a cute and fun way. It's really refreshing to read a book with such characters. It's wonderful. 

I've read two other of Jennifer's books which are the Geography of You and Me and This is What Happy Looks Like. I didn't fully enjoy the latter one because of the flow of the plot and some problems that didn't need to be overhyped. Nonetheless, I LOVEDLOVEDLOVED the Geography of You and Me. Maybe it was because I could relate to Lucy at some point and have always wanted to travel as much as the two main characters have. If you've enjoyed any or even both of those books then I highly recommend that you read this one. :) 

Stay bookish!

Audrey 

T-SWIFTIE

Okay. So this article (originally written for MB) isn't book related, but fandom related! ;) I went to the super-beyond-words-awesome Taylor Swift concert last June 6th and screamed like a crazed fangirl. Because I technically am one. But that's besides the point. If you wish to know more about my Swiftie experience, click the link down below! :D
http://www.mb.com.ph/red-y-for-taylor/

The One by Kiera Cass: A Book Review

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Source: ebook

Rating: 3/5 stars

 

   If you're like me and love YA books so much that you'll practically read any popular NY times bestselling one, you've probably read/heard of the Selection Series by Kiera Cass. If not, here's a short summary of the past two books namely: The Selection and The Elite.


 *SPOILERS DOWN BELOW*

     The Selection is basically a competition wherein a group of "selected" young teenage ladies are chosen to wed the Prince of the land. This country is called Illea and has what is known as the castes system. This system ranks people based on its wealth. The Royal Family are Ones while our protagonist, America, is a Five. Throughout the competition, Prince Maxon will slowly eliminate ladies until he's down to THE ONE. America Singer is in the Top 4. With her ex-boyfriend who wants her back as her guard and three more girls wanting too be Maxon's bride the competition is getting fierce. Will America make it through and be the princess or will she and her dream of eliminating the castes system start a rebellion? Read the books to find out.


   My thoughts:

     Let's be clear with this. I am Team Maxon. I do not like Aspen. So to say that Aspen has irritated me greatly during the previous books would be an understatement. In the One, I found myself getting more frustrated in America then I did with Aspen. The whole America-Aspen thing gave me a headache. I was extremely happy to find out that Aspen and Lucy end up together. My frustration hit a point when America and Aspen got caught by Maxon and Kriss. And that was after they had a romantic moment. Sigh. The plot was kind of mixed up and the characters were developing a bit weirdly but all in all the One was a three-out-of-five-stars kind of book. I wasn't even one of those ginormous fans but I still think that to the right person, this book is enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this to princess fans and girls who need a hook into reading YA. This would be the perfect series to start their book addiction.

Things That I Liked:

-Maxon. :-)

-How Celeste became a good person

-The flaws of the characters made it realistic

-Parts made me laugh and smile


Things I Didn't Like:

-How the Dad was killed for absolutely no apparent reason

-How Celeste was also killed for no apparent reason

-The Northeners and Southerners story and basic info was hanging

-Anne and Aspen thing

-The predictability of the epilogue

"WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT MAKES YOU DANGEROUS."

DIVERGENT: THE MOVIE

a review 

Based in a post-apocalyptic world wherein society is divided into five factions*, Beatrice Prior struggles to decide her place in society. 

 *Erudite (the knowledgeable), Amity (the kind), Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), and Dauntless (the brave)

My rating: 8.5/10 stars

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS MOVIE. Although it wasn't a "Catching Fire," it comes brings on a lot of excitement and some major feels. 

The chemistry between Four and Tris was AMAZING. Is it possible that I ship them even harder now? Even in real life? 

As similar to the book, Divergent, it Was action packed and never boring. Hey, I even watched it twice and still found it thrilling! Now, some people say that the cast is really old but think about it. Do we expect 16 year old actors and actresses to do hand to hand combat and shoot people? Either way, Theo (Four), Zoe (Christina), Shai (Tris), and Ben (Will) did their characters justice. 

By the way, watch out for Veronica Roth's cameo during the movie! Hint: She's exploring new heights. ;) 

That's all for now, Initiates! Remember: Be brave. 

 

 

I'm Flipping Out For Flipped!

        Meet Julianna Baker, aka Juli. And meet Bryce Loski, aka well.... Bryce. When Bryce moves into Juli's neighborhood, nothing is ever the same. Some might call it love at first sight, or very friendly children, to even Juli is stalking Bryce. Sorta. As Juli develops this HUGE crush on him, she fails to realize how he doesn't return these feelings back. Years later, everything has literally, FLIPPED. Juli gives up on Bryce while he finds himself falling for her. With Juli's rival, Shelly Stalls, aiming for Bryce, will anything change? And with the events of the Bakers and the Loskis having family dinner, chickens, and some salmonella theories, will Juli ever truly loose interest in Bryce? You'll just have to read Flipped to see for yourself. :))

Keeper of the Lost Cities: a book review

(C) to ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com

Keeper of the Lost Cities is a YA novel by Shannon Messenger. 

Sophie Foster, a 12 year old with photographic memory, thought that she was absolutely normal....Until a strange (and cute) boy shows up and tells her that she is an elf. Not Christmas elf, but LEGOLAS elf. In all his glory. So when Sophie and Fitz go on a journey to help Sophie discover her past and learn about the elven world, will she accept the truth about her family and the fact that she is ANYTHING but normal. 

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. THE SHIPS, THE PLOT AND THE CHARACTERS ARE SWOON WORTHY. 

This has been a very refreshing read for me. Overall, it contains easy-to-read writing and a good balance of seriousness and fun. Throughout the book, I couldn't help but remember Harry Potter. The similarities are striking but Keeper still has it's own twists and turns.i highly recommend this book to fantasy and adventure lovers who adore ships and more. I am on the border between Team Keefe and Team Dex so tell me your thoughts in the comments below! Ciao! :D 

The Name of This Book Is Secret... A book review!

If you`re interested in mysteries, adventure, and secrets, then you`ll surely love this book.

 Cassandra  ,or  Cass  if  you  prefer,  is  a  survivalist.    She  never  leaves  a  place  without  her

backpack  which  contains  a  flashlight,  rope,  and  many  more  interesting  things  that  she  might

need. Her goal: Always be prepared. She can also predict disasters like earthquakes, typhoons,

and many more.  One day, she stumbles across a set of scents called the Symphony of Smells

at her Grandfathers`  shop. Together with her new found friend Max-Earnest, the boy who can`t

stop talking, they discover that the previous owner of this peculiar set was a magician who was

said to be dead. When they find a note that calls for help by the Magician, they begin their quest

where they put everything at stake. Upon reaching  the Magician`s house, they discover  that the

he  is  not as he seems  and that something very valuable is at stake.  And  from there the real

adventure  begins.  They  do  an  investigation  of  the  Magicians`s  house.  They  encounter  cats,

secret passages, and a lot of odd things. Then they  realize that they`re not the only ones trying

to solve the mystery.

  Pseudonymous  Bosch  is  a  New  York  Times  Best  Selling  author.  He  enjoys  eating  dark

chocolate and smelly cheese. His identity is also a secret. There are 4 more books to the Secret

Series: If You`re Reading This It`s Too Late, This Book Is Not Good For You, This Isn`t What It

Looks Like, and You Have To Stop This.  They`re all  wonderful books that have very peculiar

titles.  All of these books are a continuation  of the mysteries  of the first book..They`re all very

thrilling that once you start reading, you can`t stop.

I  especially enjoyed this book because of the writer`s view of how he doesn`t reveal to o

much about the story, but still keeps the plot ongoing and thrilling. It kept me guessing the whole

way. Cass inspires me because of her discipline and her motivation to solve this nerve wracking

mystery. She has a very interesting way of thinking which I like.  This book has also taught me

that to know a secret,  you must learn how  to keep it. I recommend this book to kids who love exciting mysteries and   intriguing adventures.

(image from Google)

INSURGENT COLLECTOR'S EDITION (Basic Run-through)

 In celebration of the Allegiant (the sequel of Insurgent), and the Divergent movie, I am presenting to you my product review on the Insurgent: the Collector's Edition. In the photo above you shall see the very glossy cover of the book.

 In here, there is a pull out poster which has a quote from the book.

And there we have the faction tattoos that come in two rows of five.

The best part has to be this EXTRA chapter called "Free Four" which tells the knife throwing scene in Divergent from Four's point of view. 
Until next time, BYE!

The Fault In Our Stars (a book review)

The Fault In Our Stars

(A book review) 
“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” 

This is how I feel about the Fault In Our Stars. 

   Hazel Grace is an American girl with terminal cancer. She looks at life in a different way from others. You may call it depressing, but I call it philosophical. Every week she goes to a cancer support group wherein they share stories and talk about how to well... support each other. Everything was normal (as normal as cancer can get) until Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor, came into the support group. Augustus was different. He thought differently from the others and they started hanging out. As they talked and talked through thick and thin they soon realize that to help Hazel survive from cancer, they must find what matters to them the most, each other.

  This book immensely inspired me because of how John Green, the writer, was able to create a story so delicate and beautiful. Hazel has taught me to never give up while Augustus told me that there is always something worth fighting for because:
"That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt."

A Despicable Me 2 Review

HE'S SO BAD, HE'S GOOD.

Gru and his friends are out to save the world (again).

      Ever since Gru, an ex-villain (voiced by Steve Carell) adopted his three girls, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), his life as an evil villain has been changed to a struggling hands-on parent. After the whole “stealing the moon” fiasco and ultimately saving the day in Despicable Me, Gru and his family try to live life like normal people, with the exception of having hundreds of yellow minions and a mad scientist living in their underground lair.  But what happens when Gru gets kidnapped by an absurd and wacky secret agent named Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig) who brings him to meet the Anti-Villain League’s Director, Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan)?   Well, it turns out that they want to recruit him to go undercover and find an unidentified villain that has in their possession a VERY dangerous chemical that could threaten the world by turning anything and everything BAD.  

 Since Gru knows how a villain thinks and acts, he is the perfect man for the mission. Who would be a better man for the job if not a former villain like Gru?  He accepts and goes on an exciting and hilarious adventure together with agent Lucy and the lovable minions. Will they find the mysterious villain, save the world, and come back in one piece?  Will Gru be able to manage being a secret agent AND a single parent?  Let’s find out! Think epic chases, silly song routines, zany gadgets, gizmos and much, much more.  As the movie gets more thrilling and adventurous, you’ll soon realize that Gru is SO bad, that he's good.

     

 I really enjoyed this movie because it has the overall family fun experience. Not only is Gru back in business doing what he does best.  This movie is filled with action, adventure, and even romance!  With comedic voices of different actors and actresses, and unforgettable punch lines, Despicable Me 2 matches up to its prequel, Despicable Me. The minions (to me) are the most adorable characters in the whole movie. Not only do they wear cute little worker outfits, but they can sing and dance too!  Gru and the girls’ father-daughter relationship scenes were so charming that I couldn’t help but say: “Awwww.” No matter how old or young you are, you'll surely appreciate the artwork and load of talent put into making this animated masterpiece of entertainment. The moral of the story, taught by Gru, is that:  It’s never too late to do the right thing.

  Points I Enjoyed:

-adorable MINIONS!

-epic battle scenes

- impressive art

-YMCA!

This movie is awarded 4.5/5 because it never made me stop laughing. (hahaha)

Images from zonters.com and escapepod.org :)