I finally got myself a kindle! After I got back to reading (thank you It Ends With Us), I made sure I won’t have any more excuse to be on hiatus again, so I got myself a Kindle Paperwhite 4. And oh my goodness it’s LOVE!!

Anyway, let's talk about my kindle some other time and let us focus on this wonderful book - The Roommate.

It's a very unique book. It's a story about a young socialite and a porn star who fell in love. It talks about sex and orgasm ALOT but it is one of the most honest books I ever read. It talks about the struggles to fit in, to be the perfect daughter, to be accepted, and to be  shameless or shame less.

I love that story arc about the porn star's mother saying, "I am hurt not because you choose to have sex on camera, but because you did not trust us enough to love you despite your chosen career". And really, how many times have we gotten hurt or hurt the people we love just because we assume. Because we did not trust them enough to know that they would love us and accept us no matter what.

I love the way this book talks about sex. The two sides of it. One that is all about the physical side of it. Because really, for some it's just it. A physical need. And probably it's okay. As long as you are safe and you are doing it on your freewill, then who are we to judge those people who wants casual sex? But of course there's the side of sex that is more intimate. More... felt. And you have to be careful because it's so easy to get swayed. And it is important that you know yourself, understand yourself and is honest with your partner. I mean, this book would really open your eyes on a lot of things. And it'll give you different perspective on issues and topics that is less talked about. I find it, refreshing.

So if you are looking for a light read, this book is just for you. Lately, I have been consuming light reads as a way to destress.

When I saw Kathryn Bernardo (a Filipina actor) post about this in Instagram, I got curious.

I’m just glad I went with my gut feel and got myself a copy of this book.

It.

Was.

Worth.

It.

Without too much spoiler I can say that this book talks about self love above anything else. It talks about courage. It talks about kindness. It tackles an aspect of humanity that is barely touched, barely discussed. It would make you look at love in a different way.

As a mother, it made me realize a lot of things. Again, I am in awe of how much a mother’s love could conquer. I’m glad that this book speaks of love in the right way. The rawness. The pain. The confusion. The acceptance. The courage. Love, in all it’s glory.

I think I have never rooted for a heroine this much. I cry with her. I cry for her. I understand her. I feel her. And at the end of the day I am awe of her courage.

I found myself ugly crying as I near the end of the book. I felt grief for the love lost. I felt joy for the love found. I felt pity for the boy who was destroyed by a stupid accident. And I felt relieved that finally, a book says that it is okay to choose not to love to show your love.

I already forgot how much a book could affect my life. Probably the main reason why I love reading so much. But this book seems like a good way to find my path back to reading…

The bestfriend has been bugging me to read a Mina Esguerra book for the longest time now. She’s already a fan, having read a couple of her works. I must admit I’m a bit curious but the pregnancy and the baby has kept me away from my beloved books for so long. So now after telling me that a Mina Esguerra book is actually on Wattpad, I immediately obliged and read up. Glad I did!

Fairy Tale Fail is probably a typical love story. A girl got her heart broken by “I thought Mr. Right”. Girl wanted to get back to her "prince charming” and along the way, she met The One, which is soooo far from the Prince Charming she had on her mind. Typical. But written in such a nice way that you’d find yourself so engrossed on the story.

Mina Esguerra is a good writer I must say. She has this way of telling her story in a straight forward kind, without the hoolabaloo. Unnecessary details are omitted. Not providing too much information and yet gave details that are refreshing and engaging. It’s such a fast read but it’ll make you smile after reading the last chapter. The way you’d feel after a nice, yummy meal. Or a nice movie.

I love that it’s an easy read. I find that reading helped me relax a lot. I read everytime I pump and the good pumping output is a proof. I also think that reading is the main reason why I’m not suffering from post partum. All tiredness, all depression, every crazy is forgotten the moment I read up. And this book being an easy read helped me a whole lot.

I can’t wait to read on other Mina Esguerra books. The one’s highly recommended by my bestfriend. I honestly need to get my hands on them soon. And I hope I can get an ebook. I prefer ebooks now.

So yeah, if you’re a bookworm like me, do support our local authors and buy a Mina Esguerra. You won’t regret it. And yep! Grammars are all a-okay.

xoxo,

Reigne

This book was recommended to me by my friend. She gave me a copy of it months ago and I was only able to read it last week. Talk about being busy! That pregnancy and the baby kept my hands full. Pero keri lang! This bookworm is so back! So so so back!

And so…about the book.

Honestly, I am not sure if I love it.

Sure, the author is a great story-teller. I obviously can’t seem to put it down. And the story itself is kinda unique. The book talks about love and death. In this very weird and yet, so casual and common way. Maybe that’s why I can’t decide if I love it or not.

So, the book started with that common rich guy scenario. Rich guy woke up beside this gorgeous lady and prepared for work. The girl talks about the guy’s super busy schedule and how she wanted to have dinner with him minus the blackberry. Oh diba? Sounds family! Kaloka! I was kinda bored with it actually. But I kept on reading because that friend never failed with her suggestions.

Anyway, the first chapter ended with the guy getting hit by a motorcycle on the busy street of London. Everything went black. Na-shock ako ng slight. From the kinda boring first paragraphs, I was caught off guard. Mixed feeling agad first chapter palang!!!

And then the second chapter was written on Lou’s point of view. Naloka din ako ng slight cz I was wondering what the heck happened to the guy on the first chapter. And so this Lou is a typical poor girl. The parent’s income are not that okay. She has a sister with a baby but no husband and a sickly grandfather. And worst, the cafe she’s working at just closed leaving her jobless. Typical poor girl scenario again.

And then one day, poor Lou got an interview. The job is to take care of an invalid, a very rich invalid. And yep! That rich invalid is the guy on the first chapter. Yun pala yun. The accident left him paralyzed from chest down. He can’t really move most of his body parts and thus needed a 24/7 assistance. The moment I read this part, I was already imagining a Cinderella type of story. I know of course that they’d eventually fall in love. But I was wondering how Will (the rich guy) will get better. A miracle drug perhaps?

But the thing is, Will’s plan is go to this place in Switzerland where they’d give you a drink which will end your life in 15minutes. A suicide. But they’d allow it only on people like Will who’s life is kinda not okay. Where they think there’s no reason to live anymore. And the book focused on Lou’s attempt to change Will’s mind.

But the thing is, Will’s decision didn’t change. And he even asked Lou to be there. I mean! How twisted is that right? Until now I still can’t wrap my head around it. I just can’t. Although I know this review is a spoiler and all but I’d still recommend you read it. Just so you’d understand where I’m coming from. Why I can’t decide if I liked it or not.

I know where Will’s coming from. I mean, it’s his decision to end his suffering and the suffering of the people around him. But hello?! That’s life. I mean, right? You just don’t end it like that. And Lou. OMG! Lou. Such a brave girl. Such a brave brave girl.

Read it. It’s one of those books worth debating over. Hahahahaha! I’m writing a review and yet I still can’t wrap my head around it. Crazy book. Crazy.

xoxo,

Reigne

Okay. During that crazy low supply week (read about it here and here) I came across an FB status of a friend reading this book. And she also happens to be my e-book supplier. So yeah! You know what happened next, I found myself loading it in iBooks! Just exactly what I need. Exactly what this little bookworm needs. :) Tanggal stress ko, promise!

Now, let’s discuss the book shall we? Off topic na naman ako. Harhar!

First things first… I LOVE IT! Nakakaloka ang mga young adult books ngayon ah. The Fault In Our Stars, Every Day. All great books. And all of them has something that even adults like me can relate and learn a lot. Bonggels!

I won’t tell you about the plot anymore. You can read that on Wikipedia. Just let me share with you my thoughts…

This is a book you can’t put down. I finish it within 3 days. And I’m a nursing mother for crying out loud. If I’m single, I’d definitely finish it within a day. Would skip meals if I have to. That’s how hooked I am on the book. Rainbow Rowell is a great story-teller. I always find myself imagining a world where Eleanor and Park exists. And it’s so engaging. It made me want to read more, to know what happened next. And that’s something I love about a book.

I love the storyline. The deep meaning. The lightness of the way it was told. I love that not everything is spoon-fed. This book will make you think. Will allow your imagination to work. No wonder my bff and fellow bookworm friend loves it.

I love how the characters of Eleanor & Park was written. Eleanor’s hunger for love and acceptance. Her fear. Her crazy family. Park’s perfect home. His wonderful and happy family. That he was exposed to so much love thru his parents so he was able to give as much to a girl who don’t know it.

I just love this book. The kilig. It brings back fond memories of teenage years. Of holding hands. Of sloppy kisses. Of cassette tape/CD exchanges. Of song dedication. Kaloka!

This is a book I would strongly recommend. No wonder natanggal nya ang stress ko that week. Just this and a hot cup of Milo.

xoxo,

Reigne

I recently downloaded this AWESOME app from the Google Play Store called 10,000+ Free eBooks Reader. I am telling you, when they say 10,000 they really mean 10 freakin’ thousand eBooks that you can download in one click. Heaven!!!! (Note: This is no longer available on Google Play)

They even have the latest books like Inferno (which I wanna read because of all the Manila drama but I swear I won’t buy an actual book). But the one thing that made me extremely giddy is that they got Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. Yup! The much anticipated sequel of the hit 2003 book by the same author entitled The Devil Wears Prada. Which also happens to be a hit movie starring Anne Hathaway and The Meryl Streep.

I’m currently re-reading The Devil Wears Prada in preparation for the Revenge book. Read it already a couple of years back (2006 if I’m not mistaken) so I think I need a refresher. Naks! Parang school lang.

And though I read it already, I still find it interesting and engaging. I really love Lauren Weisberger’s way of writing. Hirap ibaba nung book!

I’m so excited to finish the two books! Yey! And blog about them! Double yey!!!

And so off I go to the bookworm land…. too-da-loo!!!

xoxo,

Reigne

P.S.: I just felt an earthquake as I was writing this post. I’m 16 flights above the ground so that makes it extra strong up here. Hope everyone’s safe.

What if one day you wake up to a different body? To a different life? To somebody else’s family? Sometimes, I wonder what does it feel to be somebody else. Anybody else.

What does it feel if I wake up one day on the body and life of Georgina Wilson? Whoah! I’d call Borgy right away and spend the entire day him while wearing a bikini!! Or what about Behati Prinsloo?? Gosh! I’d be a Victoria’s Secret angel for a day and not to mention have Adam Levine as a boyfriend!! Would I really love their life? Is it really as wonderful as I make it sound?

But what if I don’t have the power to choose and wake up one day on the body of a stripper? Of a teenage mom with 5 kids in tow? Of a construction worker? Of someone with mental disease? Of an obese woman suffering from diabetes? What will I do? Will I like their lives better?

This book by David Levithan is probably the most unusual love story I have ever read. But I love the unusualness. I love the uniqueness. I love the differences.

“I am a drifter, and as lonely as that can be, it is also remarkably freeing. I will never define myself in terms of anyone else. I will never feel the pressure of peers or the burden of parental expectation. I can view everyone as pieces of a whole, and focus on the whole, not the pieces. I have learned to observe, far better than most people observe. I am not blinded by the past or motivated by the future. I focus on the present because that is where I am destined to live.”
― David Levithan, Every Day

A’s life is different from ours. Everyday, A would wake up to a body of a different person. S/he has always been like that. As a kid s/he didn’t realize s/he’s different. He thought all the rest are like him/her. Travelling from one body to another. From one family to another. A’s had a different mother taking care of her/his needs every day. A’s gender is even undefined. S/he’s either a girl or a boy. For one day he’d a boy but then she’d wake up the next day as a girl. Sometimes he’s gay. Sometimes she’s lesbian. S/he calls him/herself as a drifter.

When s/he’s old enough to understand that s/he only exist to borrow somebody’s life, s/he’d learn the art of living for the present and trying hard not to change the life of the person who’s body s/he’s borrowing for that day. That’s his/her rule. And s/he’s okay with it.

But everything changed when A met Rhiannon.

“It's as if when you love someone, they become your reason.”
― David Levithan, Every Day

A fell in love. Fell deeply in love. Every day A would wake up to a different body to a different life but every waking moment now is filled with Rhiannon’s memory. Thoughts of her. A wanted a life with her. And A for the first time in his/her existence, s/he trusted Rhiannon enough and told her his/her secret life. Coz s/he wants to make it work. Is fool enough to thinks/he could make it work.

I would no longer tell you what happened to their love story. All I can tell you is that this book is not just a mere love story. It teaches life lessons. Lessons you’d never learn when you’re reading the life of just one person. This book has opened my eyes on the diverseness of everybody’s personality. Everybody’s differences. It made me realize that each one us has his/her own burden. And A is lucky or probably unlucky enough to experience that.

The way every life was written is a work of art. Waking up to a body of drug addict is so intense. Waking up to a body of a sad sad girl who wants to end her life just brought chills to my spine. Waking up to a body of a 300lb guy and seeing how uncomfortable Rhiannon is for being seen in public with such a guy. Waking to a body of a lesbian with a girlfriend who loves her so much. Waking up to a body of a boy who just lost his grandfather and being a witness to the pain of a family. A family s/he’d never have.

This book is really something…

David Levithan is a genius author. He’s one of a kind and I feel so stupid for not knowing him until now. This one is a great read. It took me months to finish this because I wanna savor every page. I wanna try to understand each word. This book has thought a lot about love and life. And the fact that you love a person – not the gender, not the looks, not the talents but the person as a whole.

And on that note, I am leaving you with my favorite quote from the book.

“It would be too easy to say that I feel invisible. Instead, I feel painfully visible, and entirely ignored.”
― David Levithan, Every Day

And oh! Prepare your kleenex. You’d need them on the final chapter. I did. :)

xoxo,

Reigne

I know I can’t seem to get enough of Sarra Manning lately. She’s been this season’s favorite and you just can’t blame me. She knows how to tell a great story. Well, most of the time, book’s plot are just the same but the way it is written is what sets it apart. And Ms. Manning sure knows how to write well.

Unsticky is a story of a girl named Grace. She’s from a broken family, living in London, working in a fashion magazine where everybody, specially her boss treats like sh*t. She’s that kind of girl who always seem to get the worst guys in the world. And then one day, when her then boyfriend decided to break up with her on her birthday, in the middle of a high end shopping mall, she just broke it. Made a scene, cried in public and even had a major issue on a Marc Jacob’s stall where a very expensive Marc Jacob’s handbag is resting. But on that faithful, she also met Vaughn.

Vaughn is a rich, old guy who offered Grace a job of being her mistress. With her sky rocketing credit issues, she decided to agree thinking she could pay off some debts and live the life she always wanted. Of glitz, glamour, fun, travels, shoes, bags and dresses. With Vaughn seemingly endless money as her back up, she started to truly live.

Based on that synopsis, you must probably know why I instantly loved it. Fashion. Fun. Love. Travel. Everything I love is here. Givenchy. Jimmy Choo. Marc Jacobs. Grace’s life is heaven for me and I can’t help but wish for my very own Vaughn who’d buy me those. Hahahaha! As if!

Another good novel from Sarra Manning. I love her books as a light read. Its fun, quirky, and just the love story that we all need.

xoxo,

Reigne