If you are preparing for Christmas shopping as early as now, you might want to add these books to your list for a surprise present or something to spend with during the holiday season!
September is CoHo’s month and the book recommendations are from her and October book recommendations are from my MIBF haul!
Ugly Love (September)- 599 PHP
My friends who read this novel kept on dragging me about how beautiful and well-written the story. It piqued my interest so when I visited the book store, I bought it and it is worth every pesos.
In Ugly Love meet the reclusive Miles Mikel Archer and the free-spirited Elizabeth Tate Collins, who is physically attracted to one another. They agreed with the no-string arrangement but when real emotions started to change, rules and promises get broken.
What I like about the story:
Tate and Mile’s No-Strings Arrangement. This relationship between two people is no longer new to me. I read other stories and watch movies about it, but Tate and Miles are somehow different. From the very beginning that they talked about it, the physical attraction between the two is titillating.
Miles’ Pain and Flashbacks. I’m not a fan of flashbacks. Yet, I enjoyed Mile’s Flash backs Chapters. In each chapter, you can feel the deep love of a boy for the first time and the pain of losing just etched in your heart.
Quotes to remember!
Miles to Tate
“Don’t ask about my past. And never expects a future.”
‘I’m not Tate when I’m near Miles. I’m liquid, and liquid doesn’t know how to firm or stand up for itself. Liquid flows. That’s all I want to do with Miles.’
Cap to Tate
“Love isn’t always pretty, Tate. Sometimes you spend all your time hoping it’ll eventually be something different. Something better. Then, before you know it, you’re back to square one, and you lost your heart somewhere along the way.”
‘The difference between the ugly side of love and the beautiful side of life is that the beautiful side is much lighter. It makes you feel like you’re floating. It lifts you up. Carries you.’
Cap to Miles
“I know the thought of confronting your past terrifies you. It terrifies every man. But sometimes we don’t do it for ourselves. We do it for the people we love more than ourselves.”
Rachel to Miles
“The sadness that was my life became the moments, and the happiness with Brad became my life.”
Miles to Tate
“I didn’t fall in love with you, Tate. I flew.” –The sweetest confession ever!
“I want your mess. I want you clothes on my bedroom floor. I want your toothbrush in my bathroom. I want your shoes in my closet. I want your mediocre leftovers in my fridge.”
Verdict:
The title overpowers the story. The first time that Tate and Miles met, I knew that I’m going to enjoy the book. I loved how Colleen Hoover gave more in-depth emotions within the novel. I can’t wait to see this wonderful romantic story on the big screen soon!
Finding Cinderella (September)- 399 PHP
This is not the typical Cinderella we know. No prince charming, no midnight struck, just the most unlikely love story that happened in the most unexpected place and time.
Daniel Wesley likes to give nicknames to his friends, but there was one particular name that he would forever remember, Cinderella…
After a year of bad relationship, Daniel met Six Jacobs, a girl who has strange name and personality.
The two take a chance with love yet there was a secret on past that can jeopardize both of them.
What I like about the story:
Cinderella and the Maintenance Closet. I never imagine this place as the perfect setting for a love story to start. I liked the idea how Daniel and ‘Cinderella’ met for the first time. Great concept!
Meet Daniel the Modern Prince Charming. Who cannot resist this charming guy? My heart likes this adorable and funny boy who is a hopeless romantic at heart.
Six and the ‘Man’ from the Italy. Since I read Hopeless were Six was introduced as Sky’s best friend, I was curious with this lady. Despite being tagged as ‘slut’, there is something mysterious with her. Reading about the real ‘Six’ and what she went thru in Italy, made me respect and admired her more.
Verdict:
This is my favorite CoHo novel so far. I love both Daniel and Six. How their love story started was unusual and the twist that Colleen Hoover put was incredible.
Match Made After Life (October) – 120 PHP
The first time I laid my eyes on the cover, it instantly caught my attention. I was intrigued and perplexed.
Ghost wedding, actual ghost encounter and a love that match after death do us part is the kind of story that you want to have during Halloween.
Adele Medina always dream of finding true love yet with her condition, she knew it wouldn’t happen. Louie Chua has the time of his life when he died.
They met on Earth, but their souls reunited in another world. Is there love after life?
What I like about the story:
The trio: Sandra, Xian and Giselle! I find the minor characters of MMAL amusing! The funny look-a- like of ‘Sadako’ who taught Adele and Louie how to scare people, the frightened guy who would do anything for the sake of his brother and the loving lady who never fail to give strength to her sister until its last breath.
Adele and Louie: The Match Made after Death. This young couple met after they died. One lost its battle with a heart ailment while the other one was because of an accident.
Ghost Hunting, Wedding and Happily Ever After! This book is jam packed with adventures and humor!
Verdict:
There was no boring part, though the pacing of the story was a bit slow for me but it was alright! First time to read a story written by aegyodaydreamer and honestly I’m looking forward to see her other works!
The Kitchen When It Sizzles (October) – 185 PHP
Am I going to buy it? I was contemplating for almost ten minutes when I was at MIBF. I didn’t enough money at that time, but looking at the title and the cover of this novel kept me coming back at the National Bookstore area. It was like it was pleading me to purchase and read it.
And I’m glad that I did!
Meet Olivia Nadal: The almost perfect girl with great looks, excellent job and owns a homey condo.
Flaw: Inability to cook
Here comes, Nate Olivarez: The heaven sent instructor/chef that makes cooking and dishes more delectable!
Flaw: Gorgeousness and hotness are scorching to handle!
What I like about the story:
Me and Olivia Nadal… The inability to cook instantly captured my attention. Olivia reminds me of myself! I know how to cook when I follow a cook book, but still I’m not good at it. Reading Olivia’s frustrations and success in cooking the simplest meal to the most extravagant she could do, made me more inspire on learning to cook properly.
Finding Chef Nate Olivarez! If Nate is real, please universe can you send him to me? I badly need someone like Nate O not only in my kitchen, but in my life!
Verdict:
One of the books that put a smile on my face even if it was the last page already! Hands down to the author with the surprise ending that you also will love.
Lucid Dream (October) – 150 PHP
I was captivated and intrigued by the title and the cover of this story. The first fantasy romance novel written by Aly Almario and I’m delighted that she tried the genre!
Angelique cannot find beauty in her reality. Her crush, Owen doesn’t know that she is exists.
However, Angelique has ability: she can manipulate her dreams because she is a lucid dreamer. So Angelique made a ‘beautiful’ place in her dream where the things that she wants in her real life to happen.
But one day, out of nowhere someone steps in her dream and that person doesn’t want to leave her quintessential ‘dream’.
Caleb, that is his name and he is dream traveler.
What I like about the story:
The lucid dreamer meets the dream traveler! When I first encountered these two terms, I got excited! I couldn’t stop myself from asking, what is the difference between them? One can weave his/her dream whichever he/she wishes while the other can travel from one dream to another! Who is more exciting? Both!
Lessons: Reality and Dreams. This is not a typical Filipino fantasy romance. I enjoyed the advice and values that Caleb gives to the weary Angelique.
Real love knocks only once. Most of the times, we are blinded by our feelings. Just like Angelique, she is in the cloud 9 when Owen meets her in reality. Yet whenever Angelique goes back to her ‘dream world’ and knowing that Caleb is waiting in the dark, she cannot stop worrying with her ‘new found’ friend.
Verdict:
The mystery and surprises of this book made it as my favorite Filipino fantasy romance for this year. Every turn of the pages, I was on the verge of excitement, happiness and tears! I love the behind story on how Caleb became a dream traveler and Angelique’s experiences as a teenager which most of us can relate to. Congratulations to the author of a well-written novel!