GEEKY CHIQUITAS

Xiamen Tour 2016 Experience

2016-06-07T20:41:00.000+08:00

Hi guys!

We know that we've been gone for quite some time (jk) not just quite some time, we've been inactive for three months! We're really sorry for that but it's because we went to Xiamen, China! We went there on March 31 and came back last week! Pretty crazy, but we really did stay there for that long. It wasn't just any other tour, it was a study tour. You might think that that wouldn't be fun at all, but it was actually a really great experience. We got to familiarize ourselves with dorm life, being independent, wandering around a foreign country on our own, making new friends, conversing with others in a language you're not great at, and much more. Although it could get tiring and a little stressful at times, it was certainly an enriching experience.

Audrey: On my first day there, I remember thinking that the campus was huge and that I'd get lost in it everyday. I also remember being really exhausted when I got there after waking up having gotten nearly no sleep, and as I placed the luggage by my bed, I instantly flopped down onto the mattress covered in amusing green sheets that reminded me of green tea or matcha ice cream. I regretted that. The mattress was very thin, therefore I, jumping onto the bed, expecting it to be as bouncy as my bed back home, was thoroughly disappointed and also in pain. I also remember having this bruise on my hip because I was clumsy and had fallen, and it made sleeping on that bed seem like torture. Nevertheless, I grew used to the dorm beds, and they became the most comfortable thing I could find in China. It wasn't long before I started referring to my dorm room as "home", and to me, it really did feel like it. My dorm room inevitably became my home in China.

Even though it was a study tour, it was one of the best trips we've had! Studying wasn't stressful there and honestly you don't have to take it seriously haha. It's so fun because there's a lot of free time wherein you could just go out with your friends and go to the night market, cafes, restaurants and mall nearby!

One of the best parts of the tour was meeting new people! We met a lot of new and awesome friends there. Like seriously it's heartbreaking that we had to separate and return to the Philippines! This was truly an unforgettable experience!

Here are some of the pictures we took! :)

Performance day :)

Roomie :)

Umbrella dance x Fan dance

Signs Tea at Laughings Cafe :)

Wuyishan Adventure Day 2 :)

At a milk tea shop located in the night market

Wuyishan Day 1 with my roomie :)

Xiamen Buddies

Feeding pigs and monkeys at an amusement park :)

Room 104 ever

Beryl's best friend HAHAHA sorry Andrea

At a random temple :)

Heading back to the campus

Beryl, Nadine, Audrey and Andrea

Dress day at SM :)

Zhongshanlu with roomies (with a cameraman HAHA)

Our campus

Another gorgeous temple

Just a little Xiamen culture

Day 1 antics

Drinking one of the many milk teas I've had during my stay

Sunset in Xiamen

Shopping at Zhongshanlu

This cute little flower shop at Zhongshanlu

So cute, right?

What I do every break: take selfies, lots of them

Enjoying ice cream from this chemistry themed shop

River rafting at Wuyishan

Another one of the many temples we visited

A maze on water

Audrey's Wushu teacher

Eating Japanese food in China because why not?

Xiamen in our hearts

We've had a lot of experiences in Xiamen that are so meaningful and can't ever be fully expressed in photos. This has honestly been the best summer we've had, and the most memorable one. It felt like the trip was over way too quickly, but in that short span of time, we've experienced so much, learned so much. Xiamen will forever be in our hearts.

ANNOUNCEMENT

2016-06-03T21:22:00.003+08:00

Hey everyone! Along with our inability to post lately, we also haven't been able to read books or partake in blog tours, cover reveals, etc. This is not something that stems merely from irresponsibility or lack of time; it also comes from a lack of motivation. Reading is something that we've been neglecting for a while now, and it can be obviously seen from the lack of book reviews and all. This is why we just wanted to inform you all that there might be a lot less blog posts about books here for a while. We've been stuck in what seems to be a book rut. Nothing seems to pique our interest for long enough, and from that, we've lost motivation. This doesn't mean that this blog will stop being updated or that there will be no more posts about books. We will all try and start getting back to reading and hopefully begin to put up book reviews and get back to the same blogging frequency we've had before, but for now, we will be posting a different type of content. Geeky Chiquitas has always been a blog about all aspects of our lives, not just books, so now we're going to bring in the 'our lives' aspect of it all. We are sincerely sorry for not being able to keep up with the book blogging, but we hope that you all continue to read our blog. Thank you guys for all the support we've received from you until now, and we promise to make our content worthwhile. :)

-Geeky Chiquitas x (Kimi, Beryl, Audrey)

Guest Post: Dane Cobain on How My Book Blog Helps Me to Keep Up With Current Trends

2016-02-15T21:25:00.000+08:00

It's always a great idea to get to know more authors and their insights!

Since we believe that creating a book blog has benefited us in many ways, we would like to encourage you to create one yourself. We'll be handing the baton to Dane Cobain, who is not only an author but a book blogger as well, to show you his perspectives on book blogging.

How My Book Blog Helps Me to Keep Up With Current Trends

Hi, folks! My name’s Dane Cobain, and I’m the author of a book called No Rest for the Wicked, as well as the proud owner and operator of a book blog called SocialBookshelves.com. In fact, that’s what I’m here to talk to you about today!

One of the perks of owning a book blog is that you get sent a lot of freebies – in fact, I’ve been offered free train travel and two nights in a 5* hotel in York so that I can cover York Literature Festival, and I’ll be talking about that a lot more in the coming months.

As a writer, it’s actually an invaluable source of inspiration, because I get sent books that I just wouldn’t usually buy. I’m a big fan of a lot of old authors, and so I could quite happily only purchase books from before I was born without being too upset.

But owning a book blog means that I get sent all kinds of stuff, from contemporary thrillers to children’s books, non-fiction and even erotica. One time, someone sent me an erotic novel which was customised to feature myself as the main character, and it was actually pretty good. Maybe not one to read on the bus, though.

If I didn’t receive this constant stream of contemporary work by the publishers and publicists that I work with, then I wouldn’t be able to compete with those same writers in the crowded marketplace. Plus, it’s a constant flow of new inspiration – literature is like a pool that we all swim in, and I find that the best thing to do is to just jump right in by reading any book that takes your fancy.

As a reader, I don’t confine myself to individual genres – in fact, that’s kind of what I’m like as a writer, but as a reader it’s even more noticeable. I don’t think that there’s a single genre that I wouldn’t be interested in reading, as many of my PR friends have found out.

So if you’re looking to be a better writer then you should work on being a better reader, too. Think about setting up a book blog – it’s a lot of fun, and you’re guaranteed at least one reader because if you do, I’ll check it out myself!

No Rest for the Wicked: Synopsis

When the Angels attack, there’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED.

Father Montgomery, an elderly priest with a secret past, begins to investigate after his parishioners come under attack, and with the help of Jones, a young businessman with an estranged child, Montgomery begins to track down the origin of the Angels.

The Angels are naked and androgynous. They speak in a dreadful harmony with no clear leader. These aren’t biblical cherubs tasked with the protection of the righteous – these are deadly creatures of light that have the power to completely eradicate.

When Jones himself is attacked, Father Montgomery knows he has to act fast. He speaks to the Angels and organises a final showdown where he’s asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.

BOOK IN REVIEW: Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black, JustineLarbelestier, and More

2016-02-10T22:46:00.000+08:00

As I promised, here's the second part of my boom review for Zombies vs Unicorns!

The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn by Diana Peterfreund

This particular story strikes my interest because it portrays unicorns differently from the usual. When we say unicorn, we typically refer to a majestic creatures with magic and healing abilities. We also think sparkles and rainbows, but here, the unicorn is just an animal. I love the way Diana talked about unicorns, completely turning them into creatures of her own making. She places a twist in the typical unicorn tales and created a story that is truly unique. The unicorns in her story are still magical creatures, but they do not heal or find virgins, instead, they are deadly creatures with a poisonous horn that is treated like any other animal that poses danged to the human society. This story adapted the unicorn tale into something that is a bit more plausible today without losing that magical touch. Diana made a story that didn't feel like she was talking about mythical creatures. It was more about the heroine struggling with her religion, the views of society, and the caring for a baby unicorn even though the unicorn species had done horrible things in the past. I believe that she has done a great job in writing this story and although I wanted her to explain further the events that lead to Wen's cousins' deaths and the actual killer unicorn, Peterfreund has already done a great job writing this and creating a familiar yet completely different world.

Inoculata by Scott Westerfeld

Inoculata is probably one of my favorite stories in this entire anthology. I found myself hanging onto every single word written by Westerfeld. From the very start, I found myself enraptured by this book. Reading a book that turns the typical zombie plot into something very different gives me happiness. I don't know exactly what it was about this story that I liked. Maybe it was the slightly twisted heroes and heroines. Maybe it was the interesting in-between zombies. Maybe it was the interesting portrayal of the human's desperation to survive even in the dreariest of times. It was certainly a tale the piqued my interest from start to finish, and although it wasn't very long compared to some other stories, it definitely created impact. To be honest, it felt more like an excerpt of a really long book because this story has so much potential. The author could have made this a full-length novel and I would read it.

Princess Prettypants by Meg Cabot

This story. OMG, this story. I love it from the bottom of my heart. It's not because it's hauntingly beautiful or deeply moving, but because in its simplicity, it was able to bring out and address something that I think is really important while keeping it light and sparkly the Meg Cabot way. The sheer fabulosity of Princess Prettypants partnered with the sass of our heroine, Liz, and her best friend, Alecia, who can stand up for herself when she needs to despite being homeschooled and naïve create the best trio I have read about in a while. Not everyone will find anything special in this, but I did. Reading about the strength of women brought together while fighting against assholes will never get old for me. It brings me joy from my very core. Add in an impossibly sweet guy, and you've got a perfect teenage girl read that is unrealistic but completely satisfying and delightful. Not everyone will like it; I'm sure, but I did and that's what matters.

Cold Hands by Cassandra Clare

For me, this story was kind of meh. I mean it was interesting and nice, but it was also somewhat lacking. The story follows a rather typical storyline where the man who is currently in power wants to keep the throne so when it's time for the rightful ruler to step up, the man murders them in an elaborate ploy. I feel like a lot more could be done with the story though since the portrayal of zombies here is very interesting. It was, well, I don't know... Just kind of missing something. It needed more impact more elaboration. One of the interesting things in this story was how the dead and the alive were somehow united because of their rulers, one dead and one alive. Imagine what she could do with that. She could have explored the oddness and complexity of that relationship, the relationship between a zombie and a human. She could have shown a little bit more of life afterwards. I just feel like there could be more.

The Third Virgin by Kathleen Duey

This story explores a concept of an atypical unicorn. What we see here is not the type of unicorn that we always hear about. It's not the majestic creature or the one that's all sparkles and rainbows or the one that makes everything it touches wonderful and magical. One of the reasons why the unicorn here was so different was simply that it was actually a pretty bad unicorn. When I say 'bad', I'm referring to the unicorn itself. I mean the unicorn was basically a horrible being that is far from being that beautiful creature we know of. Instead, the unicorn here was greedy, weak to its vices, and most importantly, a murderer. Even so, it was a creature that needed love. The unicorn was sort of like a lonely and immortal serial killer. It was a unicorn that sought love in all the wrong places, yearning to feel that rush and relief when they find someone who needs them and then takes their life. It's so incredibly screwed up, and that's just so fascinating. I never expected to read something like this when I picked up this book and first flipped its pages.

Prom Night by Libba Bray

Being the last story in this anthology, I had very high expectations for Prom Night. Libba Bray did not disappoint. Even in a post-apocalyptic setting, Prom Night is more about how life just goes on. This story showed its readers how humans, especially the youth, tend to continue and enjoy life even at the most depressing of places. Through all the stories about death or finality, this one was just a refreshing end that hints at continuity. It's an ending that gives us more possibilities than conclusions, and I think that that's actually a really good way to end an anthology like this. It's haunting but also hopeful, and I, for one, thought that the ending was beautiful. I think that Prom Night by Libba Bray is the perfect ending to a good anthology. It doesn't seal everything up in a neat little bow; instead, it lets the reader think of what's to come.

Zombies vs. Unicorns is an anthology that I believe is very unique. The concept itself is something that I don't think I could've though of in a million years. Reading this was highly enjoyable since if had a good mix of humorous and haunting. I also believe that the difference in writing styles of the authors is something that makes the comparison/ argument between zombie team and unicorn team even better. With the different writing styles and different themes that the authors had, readers get to see so many more sides to myths that have had set characteristics to them. There were some stories I enjoyed more than others. There were some stories that dragged at some points, while others needed to be longer. It's far from a perfect anthology, but I had fun with it. It's very easy to read, and it quickly captures its readers. It's a fresh, fun, and witty book that I can definitely say is ome of a kind.

So what did you think? Are you Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

BOOK IN REVIEW: Confess by Colleen Hoover

2016-02-08T21:27:00.001+08:00

Author: Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: March 10th, 2015

Pages: 306, Paperback

Summary (via Goodreads):

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

It's a bit difficult for me to start this book review because I don't know what I should say first. There are a lot of feeling involved in this book, and I'm not sure I can put them to words. Confess is a rollercoaster of emotions from the start to the finish.

Colleen Hoover begins the story with 15-year-old Auburn's boyfriend dying, a scene which immediately alerts the readers that this book is not gonna be fluff and sunshine. Not at all. Afterwards, the reader is taken to the current Auburn who is trying to make a living after having just finished college. Now, I thought this book would be your typical love story, maybe just a little bit sadder, but it was so much more than that. To be honest, even if the book was centered around romance, it wasn't the romance I was into—it was the raw emotion being brought out. There's just something about the pain inside the protagonists that you just know are utterly real. The writing brought out all of these perfectly despite having a simple and direct style. It shows us that emotions aren't always complex; in truth, the feelings that hit you hardest are those that every human knows of, those that are simple and basic, but still every bit as felt if not more.

Our heroine, Auburn, is not just your average protagonist. She is so incredibly strong, and she feels everything on a much deeper level than an average human, which I guess is why this book brings out so much emotion. She's someone who is mature enough to know what she wants, smart enough to know what to do, and strong enough to do what is right, all of which are qualities that make me admire her greatly. It took me a while to warm up to her because when the story opens, I just thought she was too young to feel that way, and when she found Owen, I felt like she felt too strongly about him as well. However, that's the type of person she is, and I grew to appreciate that, especially nearing the end of the book where a bunch of stuff just went down, and we get to see how her brain works in ways that make you admire her. I wish I could detail to you all this 'stuff', but I'm afraid I'd spoil everything so I'll leave it to you to read this book and get what I'm saying.

I thought I would hate Owen when I read the first chapter that was written in his POV. He seemed a bit too forward and a bit too structured. Reading further, I got to see more of Owen's motives and his situation which makes me realize that even that structured, stiff feeling now has a meaning to it. It's not directly said in the book, but it was something that I realized practically just now while I'm recalling everything that happened. Owen is someone that has been through a lot. He knows the right thing to do, and he does it. That's something that I find admirable about his character, how he knows when he's in the wrong, he's knows when he isn't to blame, and he knows how to be selfless for the people he loves. It frustrates me that I can't say more because I have a lot of feelings that I can't properly get out, but I really don't want to spoil anything. OMG why is this so hard? (OMG, comment below if you read the book and got that). ;)

Colleen Hoover did a magnificent job of creating two unique characters that might as well be real. They aren't your typical protagonists, mainly because of their experiences and how they react to things. Although the Auburn x Owen pairing didn't bring me the feels or excite me all that much, I think they're good together. They deserve each other as well with all the hardships they've been through and all the crap they've put up with, these two incredibly nice people just need to get together and have a date or something.

With love stories nowadays, you tend to have the same people recycled over and over again. Now that sounds completely off right now, so I'll rephrase it. With love stories nowadays, authors tend to write about characters that are just the same, no matter how unique the plot may be. You could finish one love story, then crack open another romance novel, and you'd feel like you're reading about the same people, just with different names. That's what I love about this book. I think the characters are very human, and being human is what makes them different. They're not unbelievably odd because that's not what you need when you want to have realistic characters, you just have to have them be human. It's hard to explain, but I think you would be able to understand my point.

I think I've raved too much at this point, so I'll bring into light a couple of things that I do have complaints about. All of these are mostly at the ending, honestly. For such a cool and imaginative concept, the resolution was a bit cliché, and everything seemed to fit in too perfectly. I guess you could look at it two ways: you could say it was fate, or you could say it was pushing it. Either way, it seems a bit too perfect to have everything tied up that neatly, especially with all the ups and downs

leading up to it. I'm a bit grateful that it had that ending because I'm not sure my heart could take it, but I think I'd be happier with a more painful and more impactful ending since they gave me pain for nine-tenths of the book, why not just ultimately leave me a mangled, crying mess? I mean, if you're gonna write a book like this, it would fit the aesthetic better to have a sort-of messy ending, if you get what I mean. I liked the plot, the execution, the art, and the tiny confessions fitted here and there, but I think we could squeeze a bit more from the ending, rough up the perfectly tied bow that locks the whole story into place.

All in all, I really liked this book. Although it's a bit heavy, it's easy to read, and I would recommend it to people who are interested in meaningful stories that delve into topics much deeper than romance. I will definitely be checking out more of Colleen's work though. Tell me what you think of this book! If you have any book recommendations, leave a comment down below, as well!

Book in Review: Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black, Justine Larbalestier, and More PART I

2016-02-03T22:19:00.000+08:00

Authors: Holly Black (Editor), Justine Larbalestier (Editor), Garth Nix, Naomi Novik, Diana Peterfreund, Carrie Ryan, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Meg Cabot, Kathleen Duey, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Maureen Johnson, Margo Lanagan

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date: April 3rd, 2012

Pages: Paperback, 418 pages

Summary (via Goodreads):

It’s time to decide: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn? A must-have anthology with contributions from bestselling YA authors is now available in paperback!

It’s a question as old as time itself: Which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? This all-original, tongue-in-cheek anthology edited by Holly Black (Team Unicorn) and Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie), makes strong arguments for both sides in the form of spectacular short stories. Contributors include bestselling authors Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan.

Discover how unicorns use their powers for evil, why zombies aren’t always the enemy, and much more in this creative, laugh-out-loud collection that will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

PART ONE

I don't often read anthologies. This is one of the first ones I've ever read. Since anthologies are quite new to me, I don't exactly have a method on how to review them, but I thought that the best way to do so was to give a brief review for each story. This way, with all the stories laid out in front of me, I can objectively decide if this anthology in its entirety was a good one. However, my review ended up becoming incredibly long, so I decided to split this up into two parts. The first part is this one which has a brief introduction and reviews for the first six stories. The second part will contain the other six and my thoughts on the anthology itself.

Before I start, I'd like to tell you a little about how I came to read this particular book. I have actually known about this anthology for a really long time but could never find it in bookstores. I recently went out with my friends and by some sort of miracle, I found this. I immediately bought it, and I am so glad that I bought the physical copy because the illustrations are simply gorgeous, and I don't think an ebook would carry the same feel. I love the aesthetic, the black cover, the font used for the names of the authors. I just really liked the appearance of the book. Of course, appearances alone are not enough, so below are the reviews for the first six stories. :)

The Highest Justice by Garth Nix

Being the first story in this anthology, The Highest Justice basically sets the mood of the book. Though I do not think it is the best work, it did a pretty good job of drawing the reader in, encouraging them to read more. The story in itself wasn't very special. It was the basic storyline of evil king and a mistress wanting the throne while the princess is on a mission to make things right. However basic the storyline might be, the element of a zombie queen and a unicorn gives it a wonderful twist. It had the right amount of thrill and originality to keep you interested, and its ending was satisfactory. Although I thought the motives of the princess and the zombie queen were odd, and I felt like the story was a tad bit rushed, I will cut it some slack, for it is just a short story and the oddness manages to solidify Nix's writing style.

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Alaya Dawn Johnson

I did enjoy the concept and the thought put into this book, which is what kept me reading it. Alaya Dawn Johnson shows a different kind of zombie to her readers, and I found this kind of zombie utterly fascinating. I was disappointed though because I had hoped for more explanation about Grayson's condition in the scientific side. The story was also highly improbable, or at least it seemed improbable to me, because I just couldn't wrap my head around the thought of someone being able to sacrifice their parents for someone who is not only a murderer but also someone who was never close to them in the first place. I felt like the story was too short for the concept it tried to bring to life. I wanted it to talk about what had happened to Grayson. I wanted it to talk about Jack's dad's job and motivation. I wanted it to give more of a backstory on who Jack was or what he had gone through. The plot was good, but the execution was lacking.

Purity Test by Naomi Novik

I liked this story. It wasn't a very serious one, and among all the other stories, this definitely gave off a lighter, more humorous vibe. Since the aim of the story was to be somewhat comical, I will judge it by its success in that area, and I do think Novik managed to achieve that. The story was different; the heroine, although she acted unrealistically and her backstory needed to be expounded upon, was funny and nice; the portrayal of the unicorn was cute. All in all it was a light and happy read that was more modern than old time-y.

Bougainvillea by Carrie Ryan

This was a story that really stood out to me. I thought that the story was not only unique, but also written really well. The heroine was given sufficient backstory, and the zombies were thoroughly described. I liked how in just a few pages, Carrie Ryan managed to create a world of her own, complete with 3D characters and interesting backstory. I really appreciated the ending as well because it could have gone another way, and I would completely hate the story, but it went the way it did, and I really appreciated that 'twist'. That statement would probably make more sense if you've read the book, but that's the best way I could describe it.

A Thousand Flowers by Margo Lanagan

This was a slightly disturbing story. It was good and beautifully written, but also contains a topic material that is not often discussed in literature. I like the way she described the romance, the childbirth and more. I'll be honest about how I had to reread a couple of parts because reading it the first time left me quite confused, but as I finished the book, everything made perfect sense. The twist didn't surprise me, really, because I had already been expecting it, but the revelation was built up well, and the sequence of events plus the complex layers of writing complimented the story really well.

The Children of the Revolution by Maureen Johnson

The Children of the Revolution was a story that really creeped me out, in a good way. It's a really memorable one as well. I liked the fact that the zombies were related to a certain religion which gives us the motive, however crazy it is, to create these zombies. Sofie was a character that I couldn't really relate because following your stoner boyfriend to go work in England, opening the gate and going near sketchy children, and trusting a crazy actress, are just things that I don't think anyone would do in a million years. Sofie came across as stubborn, shallow, and also quite stupid. Even so, I can't say I disliked this book because with the amount of stuff going on, and the constant action and fast-paced events, there was barely any room to think of the characterization. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and even if it's lacking in some areas, it's still worth reading and very entertaining.

The second part of this review will be up on February 10, guys! What do you think about this book so far? Have you read it before? Leave a comment below!

Waiting on Wednesdays: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

2016-02-03T21:42:00.001+08:00

Summary (via Goodreads): Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks)

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing - if everything's planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

Author: Morgan Matson

Hardcover: 496 pages

Expected Publication Date: May 3, 2016

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

WHY WE'RE WAITING FOR:

We've read Morgan Matson's works before, and they've always been enjoyable reads. In fact, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was one of our favorite reads. Her works are always easy to read but also meaningful. They always manage to give you this light, sort of feel-good vibe, which is just what we've been looking for recently. '

What book are you waiting for this year? Comment down below!

February Greetings + January Wrap-up

2016-01-31T21:36:00.000+08:00

AHH! A new month has come which means January is over!! I honestly can't believe how 2016 is going by so fast. I feel like I just made our Happy New Year post yesterday. Anyway, this month is love month! Valentines Day is coming up which means there will be Valentines posts. Also, this month, we started to organize our posts to make sure that we will be able to post around 3-4 times a week! We've been brainstorming a lot to make good content! Today, we just want to share to you some things we're looking forward to this month, and last month's highlights!

JANUARY EVENTS:

1. Kimi went to Hong Kong!

2. Audrey celebrated her birthday for four days!!

Audrey: The day before my birthday, my friends and Beryl prepared a surprise party for me. We were actually supposed to finish up a project, but the friend who was giving me a ride there brought me to a restaurant instead, and as soon as I walked in, I was greeted with a slice of cake and a birthday lunch/dinner (linner?). On my actual birthday, I brought, like, six boxes of pizza and celebrated with my Pep Squad teammates. The day after, I had training again, and when we were getting ready to start jogging, our cheer captain came out with a makeshift Puto Cake and a bunch of letters signed by the entire squad. On the fourth day, I celebrated with my family and ate really good chocolate cake. It was seriously the best birthday ever!!!

3. Beryl tried the Cotton Candy frappe from Starbucks!

FEBRUARY EVENTS

1. Chinese New Year is coming up!

2. Long weekend!!

3. Zambales Trip with Fambam and friends!

4. Valentines Day!!! (jk)

Honestly, we don't have a whole lot planned yet for February. That's really the incredibly short list of what we have for now, but we're gonna make the best of what's to come and enjoy the month. We'll blog about anything we find fun, promise! We hope that you enjoy your February, and whether or not you've got a special someone this Feb, remember to have fun and love the person that matters most, yourself. :)

Blog Tour: The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos (REVIEW + PLAYLIST)

2016-01-31T14:27:00.000+08:00

Synopsis (via Goodreads): All Imogene Scott knows of her mother is the bedtime story her father told her as a child. It's the story of how her parents met: he, a forensic pathologist, she, a mysterious woman who came to identify a body. A woman who left Imogene and her father when she was a baby, a woman who was always possessed by a powerful loneliness, a woman who many referred to as troubled waters.

When Imogene is seventeen, her father, now a famous author of medical mysteries, strikes out in the middle of the night and doesn't come back. Neither Imogene's stepmother nor the police know where he could've gone, but Imogene is convinced he's looking for her mother. She decides to put to use the skills she's gleaned from a lifetime of her father's books to track down a woman she's never known, in order to find him and, perhaps, the answer to the question she's carried with her for her entire life.

Rebecca Podos' debut is a powerful, affecting story of the pieces of ourselves that remain mysteries even to us - the desperate search through empty spaces for something to hold on to.

Author: Rebecca Podos

Publisher: Balzer and Bray

Release Date: January 26th, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary

This is another book that tackles important topics well. It gives us a glimpse of mental illness and shows us the impact of a broken family to an impressionable child. Being someone who has never experienced any of these things, I thought I would find it hard to empathize with this character, but it was surprisingly easier than I thought. I don't think I will ever be able to completely get everything that Imogene is feeling, but I feel as if I understand at least a little bit more now that I've read this. A large contributor to my being able to empathize with Imogene was that the story portrayed her not only as a girl in search for her mother but also as a troubled high school student who had a lot on her plate.

It took me quite some time to get into this book since I always seem to have troubles getting into a story and for some reason, I had even more trouble getting myself invested in this book. Even so, I had a feeling that this would be a good book, and I'm glad I continued to read it. As I read more of the book, I realized that I really appreciated the way Rebecca Podos wrote. Her writing is beautiful and has depth to it. It truly seems like you have a work of art in your hands. It's clear and doesn't have something extremely different about it, but at the same time, it has this complexity to it that really hits you. I can say with full conviction that the author really does know how to use her words to create the effect and tone she wants to achieve.

The Mystery of Hollow Places gives a great portrayal of relationships, not just within the family, but also between contrasting yet complementing friends. I found it fascinating how she could write about these relationships so well, letting the readers feel everything deeply and getting all the points across. She writes about good people who have their flaws and are growing in many ways.

If I have one thing I would say against this book, it's that I felt like it needed a little more. The build-up was excellent, but the ending seemed a little lackluster. It was not a bad ending, far from it, but with the writing skill shown in the entire book, I believe she could have made it more impactful than it was. Even so, it was an excellent novel that was beautifully written, and I would highly recommend it. :)

PLAYLIST

1. Demons by Imagine Dragons

2. Secrets by One Republic

3. Riptide by Vance Joy

4. Drive by Halsey

5. Let Her Go by Passenger

Blog Tour: Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk (REVIEW + PLAYLIST)

2016-01-30T15:30:00.000+08:00

Synopsis (via Goodreads): A modern cupid story set in present-day Wisconsin combining the fantastical elements of Greek mythology with the contemporary drama of MTV's Teen Mom.
People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.
Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.

A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?

This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.

Author: Melissa Gorzelanczyk

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: January 26th, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, Fiction, Retellings

A story about love, decisions, teenage pregnancy, and mythology all in one! It's amazing to think about all of these things being written in just one book. Reading this book, I found it a bit difficult to get through Karma's narration because it would start a rage-filled fire inside me, not for Karma, but for Danny. If this was any other book, and if the circumstances were different, I would have definitely hated Karma, but I understood the situation, and I just couldn't blame her. At the same time, she was also very nice and very talented. She was the type of character who had just been screwed over by life (or by Cupid's son), and you would just want everything to get better for her.

What I like about this book was that it touched on sensitive topics that most authors don't dare to touch on or cannot pull off well. Teenage pregnancy and the unhealthy relationship between Danny and Karma are two of the issues Gorzelanczyk addressed, and I believe she did do them justice while also presenting to us a strong but realistic heroine. Another thing that I would commend the author for is being able to write about this topic without having to make the story dark, depressing, or sad. It was easy to get through it, and she was able to create an impact without having to change her tone in writing.

One of my favorite things about this book was that the romance was not pushed to the forefront of everything. Because this story has a lot of important themes, I would absolutely hate to see the relationship drama get in the way. It was a beautiful addition to the story, but it never took the limelight away from the parts that really mattered. I also found it great that readers can also see the strong female bonds here. Oftentimes, female bonds in YA is shown as petty and shallow rivalry, and to see that in this book, the author created a female support system that really meant well and was essential to Karma's development.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book. I believe that the author was able to portray the more sensitive issues accurately for the most part and was able to write a brilliant YA novel that deviated from the norms. It's a great book that's not too heavy and still very meaningful.

PLAYLIST:

1. Youth by Troye Sivan

2. Skinny Love by Birdy

3. Fools by Troye Sivan

4. On My Mind by Ellie Goulding

5. Headlights by Robin Schulz ft. Ilsey

Blog Tour: A North Shore Story by Dean Economos

2016-01-16T20:16:00.002+08:00

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For the teenagers of Chicago’s North Shore, everyone has something to hide.
In a daring attempt to impress the elusive Sophia, Michael makes the biggest decision of his life, stealing over a hundred thousand dollars from St. Theodore Community Church.
That same night, Nichole’s insecurities are finally forgotten with a drug she soon won’t be able to control.
When Michael makes his getaway, he sees his friend Joseph cheat on his girlfriend with the priest’s daughter and knock over a candle that sets the church ablaze.
As the consequences of that night unfold, Joseph is blamed for the fire and the missing money. Can the teenagers of the North Shore confess their vices to help their friend? Or will their greed, infidelity and jealousy change all their lives forever?

An Interview With Dean Economos

1. Give us some background, what did you do before writing this book?
I went to college at Loyola University Chicago and received my undergrad in Biology and a minor in Biostatistics. I then went on to receive my M.B.A. from Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business with a concentration in Entrepreneurship.

2. What were the events that inspired the book?
The book was inspired by different experiences growing up. Those key events and experiences were then intertwined with the more current events of our church’s media coverage.

3. Some parts of your book are things you actually experienced, they must have stuck with you for you to want to write about them years later. Did you always know you wanted to tell these stories?
I kind of had a premonition growing up that these events would be shared. My friends and I would always say we should’ve had a show like Laguna Beach, or something of that nature. So, in a way, I did think these stories would be told in one way or another, I just didn’t think I’d be the one to tell them.

4. Like other stories of turmoil, we are drawn to A North Shore Story because we can relate to the characters. Can you elaborate on what is relatable about the internal struggles of the book’s characters?
What makes these characters extremely relatable to readers are the confidence and relationship problems each one of them goes through, whether it be friendship or romantic.
Some characters go through other internal struggles such as underage drinking, drug use, and sexual peer pressure. I think that everyone at one time or another has been in one of these circumstances. What was your favorite part of writing this book? Since this was my first book, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought I was supposed to have a template or well-thought out plan before writing anything. Instead, I jumped into it head-first and developed the story as I wrote. I feel that doing it this way allowed myself to be more creative and not stick to a “script” per say. I was even surprised at what I was able to create.

5. What inspired you to write this story so many years later?
What originally got my gears turning was the media’s coverage of our former priest and his embezzlement of church funds. I then started to think about our time growing up at our church and the events that our friends and I experienced. After pinpointing key events, I began formulating the plotline which now makes up A North Shore Story.

6. You know some of these characters in your waking life. Who was the most exciting to write? How have they changed because of what happened?
The most exciting character to write about was definitely Kate. Kate, and the girl who she’s based off of, has a very exciting personality and a distinct attitude. When our friend read the story, she loved how she was portrayed in the storyline. I think that she, along with the rest of our friends, have changed in that we’ve learned how to tackle the problems that Kate and the rest of the group are dealing with right now.

7. Tell us more about your personal part in the stories. Are you in the book? How did you change your story for the fiction rendition?
I am in the book. With my character, and with all the characters, I left elements of real life in the story and in the personality, but overall the fundamental qualities of each character are unique from their real life counterparts.

8. What strengths did you and Alyssa bring to the table to help one another write the book?
I felt more connected to writing the actual story. I was able to figure out and connect the different subplots of the book, while Alyssa is very familiar with novels and creative writing. With those skills, she helped make the book come alive.

9. Do you anticipate a sequel? I’ve thrown ideas around in my head, and I’ve talked about it with Alyssa. We’re open to it, but haven’t started writing anything yet

Social media handles:

Hashtag #northshorestory
@DeanEconomos, @lyssa_machinis, @prbythebook

Buy links:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/North-Shore-Story-Dean-Economos-ebook/dp/B017N3U6UK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451493454&sr=1-1&keywords=a+north+shore+story

B&N:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-north-shore-story-dean-economos/1122571527?ean=2940151122788

Kobo:

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/a-north-shore-story-1

Dean Economos

Alyssa Machinis

GCQ Travels: Tokyo and Osaka, Japan

2016-01-03T00:46:00.002+08:00

Hi guys!

So we just got back from Japan a few days ago, and we wanted to share to you our experience! We compiled all our days there in a video, and we'll be sharing that to you through this post! It's actually funny how we arrived there on Christmas Eve and got back to the Philippines on New Year's Eve. We stayed in Japan for 8 days, but our first and last day were mostly spent on the airport.

The Japanese culture and people came as a shock to us because we weren't used to the atmosphere of the place. Everyone was very kind and helpful, not hesitating to approach you and guide you through everything. There were times when we really couldn't figure out how things worked there, mainly because of the language barrier and unfamiliar area, but people, even strangers that just happened to be around at the time were quick to approach and help out. Their disciplined and respectful nature also stands out. The streets are quite clean, their lines and systems are orderly, and their employees are cheerful and polite. It really is a great place to visit, even if you're new to traveling. Everyone is just really nice, and you'll find yourself enjoying the gorgeous scenery and colorful, lively culture.

I (Beryl) hope you guys enjoy the video especially since it's my first time to make something like this!!

Happy New Year 2016 + Feature Follow Friday!

2016-01-01T16:08:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year from Geeky Chiquitas!

It's also our 2nd blog birthday! YAY!!!! So HAPPY 2nd BLOGVERSARY TO US TOO! :) It's been an awesome year, and we are grateful for all the blessings that came our way last 2015. We are looking forward to the new year and we wish everyone endless blessings their way!

For the New Year, I (Kimi) spent it having a Star Wars marathon with my family, then drinking and counting down with my cousins at their house after. I always love New Year's Eve because everyone seems to be in such a good mood and there's a heavy inflow of text and chat messages wishing a happy new year! It's definitely a great time to be alive! :D Hee-hee. For today New Year's Day, I woke up at around noon already and we're continuing our Star Wars marathon - now at Episode 6! Then we're probably going out later, and if we have time, maybe I can go swimming!

Beryl and I (Audrey) spent New Year's Eve at the airport actually. We woke up at around 8:00 to get ready, flew to Korea at 1:30 and arrived at around 4:00. From there, we had a connecting flight at 7:20 and when we finally got back home, it was already 11:30. The minute that the clock hit 12:00 to symbolize the coming of 2016, we were in line waiting for a taxi to take us home. There were fireworks, however the ceiling was quite low, so we couldn't really see anything. That didn't stop me from taking videos and pictures of what I could and greeting everyone on Snapchat. We got home really late, and when we finally got to sleep, it was already 2:00 am. I actually woke up at 8:00 because for some reason, I couldn't go back to sleep, but Beryl woke up at 10:00. For the rest of today, well, we'e probably staying home eating pizza and ham. It sounds pretty sad to start off the year like that, but trust me when I say that after all the stress from projects that we still have to do and traveling, staying at home like this is a blessing.

Read more »

Book in Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

2015-12-28T21:00:00.001+08:00

Title: Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: October 6th 2015

Pages: Hardcover, 522 pages

Summary (via Goodreads):

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 the 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.

Holiday Blogger Highlight 2015: Sarah Clare @ Behind On Books

2015-12-27T21:00:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! Are you guys feeling the Christmas spirit? Honestly, for some reason, this year we haven't been feeling that merry or Christmas-y, maybe it's because we've been too caught up with other things that time has sped up and suddenly it's Christmas Eve already without us noticing! Well, to keep the Christmas spirit alive, we've decided to do this little feature in our blog, where we'll interview and highlight fellow bloggers and ask them what they're up to this holiday season.

For our second Holiday Blogger Highlight 2015, we've got Sarah Clare from Behind on Books!

Merry Christmas 2015 from Geeky Chiquitas!

2015-12-25T21:00:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas, from Geeky Chiquitas!

We hope you guys are having a wonderful holiday. As I (Kimi) write this, I am sitting on my bed at home, snuggled under a blanket, and listening to the Under the Mistletoe playlist on Spotify, as occasionally a firework goes off (which is pretty weird since it's morning here). Meanwhile, Audrey and Beryl are off at Osaka, Japan, doing who knows what (I haven't had an update from them yet) but probably having fun, taking lots of selfies, slurping ramen, and building snowmen (is there snow in Japan right now??? I'm not sure).

Last night for Christmas Eve, we had dinner at my grandparents' place with some relatives. I've been complaining for the past few days that I can't seem to feel the Christmas vibes, no matter what I do or how hard I try. And now that it's finally Christmas, meh, still no holiday vibes. A few years back, Christmas was such a fun holiday and I remember all my cousins would be around at my grandparents' house, since it's our tradition to spend it there. This year, a lot of them have other plans with their family (ehem Beryl and Audrey are gone) so I'm stuck spending the Christmas with my own immediate family, plus a few of my cousins, who are all unfortunately toddlers - and while toddlers are cute, they are no use making conversation with and usually sleep early, so you get stuck doing nothing as you wait for the clock to strike midnight for Christmas day, which is basically what I did last night.

Read more »

Feature Follow Friday: Best Christmas Gift Received

2015-12-25T15:46:00.001+08:00

Happy Holidays everyone! We're still wrapping up our official Christmas day post, but for now here is our Feature Follow Friday! :)

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work?

The goal is to increase blog followers and make friends. First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you! What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed. All features are chosen randomly to be the feature. They are not chosen by content or name.

Question of the Week: What was the best Christmas (or other holiday) gift you ever received? - Suggested by Alison Can Read

KIMI:

The best gift I've ever received was a laptop! I received it late, like around January, because it was shipped all the way from the USA. Some other notable gifts I've received: a train set, art paint toy thing, and of course angpao (red envelopes with money inside)! :)

BERYL:

I think the best Christmas gift I've ever received is a box full of pajamas! That was about 2-3 years ago and during that time, I was really fond of anything that has to do with sleeping (lol), up until now. It might not be the most expensive, but I got something I really liked so it was just unforgettable.

AUDREY:

I believe that the best Christmas gift that I've ever received was my very first phone. It was not a very expensive phone. In fact, it was one of those quite cheap ones, but as a young girl, I thought of this as a step towards becoming more mature. Because of this, the phone became very important to me. To be honest, I didn't use it much at the time, and I got rid of it after a while, but I feel its significance whenever I look back at my past Christmas celebrations. I remember being ecstatic when I received it. That moment became one that I can never forget.

Holiday Blogger Highlight: Jessica @ A GREAT Read

2015-12-24T21:00:00.000+08:00

For our first Holiday Blogger Highlight 2015, we've got Jessica from A GREAT Read!

1. Do you have any holiday traditions?

Well with my family one gift we can all expect is socks! It's something my grandma used to do for all of us. So it's stuck with us even after she passed away.
Other is one I do for my older sister. I always double box and double wrap her gift because she hates opening presents.

2. What's your favorite thing about the Christmas season?

I just love Christmas in general. I love surprising my family with gifts. I love looking at Christmas lights on all the houses. And Christmas cookies are good too! Though not for my waistline! Lol.

3. Do you have any book recommendations that are great for the holiday season?

Hmm...that's a bit harder as I rarely read holiday themed reads at the right time! One anthology that I read some years ago was Holidays are Hell. It had some novellas by Kim Harrison, Marjorie M. Liu, Lynsay Sands, & Vicki Pettersson! Another anthology was Wolfsbane & Mistletoe. Those were a bit shorter stories as there were a lot of authors in that one!

4. What is your favorite Christmas treat?

Favorite Christmas treat is definitely cookies! Some of them we only make at Christmas time. Like frosted sugar cookies, gooey butter cookies, peanut blossoms! Yum!

5. Do you prefer the cold weather or the warm weather?

Definitely the cold! I'm a winter baby. Sorta. So I prefer colder weather. Though St. Louis has crazy weather. Right now it's raining & on Christmas we'll be in the 50s which isn't normal for us.

6. What's your new year's resolution?

I think one of them will definitely be to figure out some self-publishing for my book. Right now I submitted it to a publisher & am still waiting for a response. After that I will figure out what to do!

7. Share a picture of your go to outfit this season.

8. Have you decorated for Christmas? If so, please attach a picture. If you haven't, is there any design that you find attractive?

9. Movie recommendations?

As some of my blog followers might know my favorite Christmas movies are A Christmas Story and then a more recent favorite Elf! And omg that movie is already over 10 years old! Where has the time gone!

10. Share your social media links, etc. (Blog, Twitter, Instagram, etc)

Blog: Jessica-agreatread.blogspot.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/agreatreader
Instagram: Instagram.com/agreatreader

Thank you so much for taking the time to be up on our blog! We're glad to have you for our first Holiday Blogger Highlight. If you guys still haven't, check out Jessica at the links above.

Stay tuned for our next HBH 2015! :)

Waiting on Wednesdays: Summer Days and Summer Nights Twelve Love Stories

2015-12-23T23:35:00.002+08:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

Author: Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, Jennifer E. Smith

Publication Date: June 14th 2016

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Book in Review: Lullabies by Lang Leav

2015-12-23T21:40:00.000+08:00

Title: Lullabies

Author: Lang Leav

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Publication Date: September 16th, 2014

Pages: 248, Paperback

Summary (via Goodreads):

A sequel to the hugely popular, best-selling Love & Misadventure, Lullabies continues to explore the intricacies of love and loss.

Set to a musical theme, love's poetic journey in this new, original collection begins with a Duet and travels through Interlude and Finale with an Encore popular piece from the best-selling Love & Misadventure. Lang Leav's evocative poetry speaks to the soul of anyone who is on this journey.

Leav has an unnerving ability to see inside the hearts and minds of her readers. Her talent for translating complex emotions with astonishing simplicity has won her a cult following of devoted fans from all over the world.

Lang Leav is a poet and internationally exhibiting artist.

Our Bookish Christmas Wish List 2015

2015-12-22T16:41:00.000+08:00

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I've last blogged. It's been a crazy term for me, I'll tell you guys all about it in a separate post, but for now, I'm checking in to let you guys know about my Christmas wish list for this year! :) There's only 3 days left til Christmas and I'm excited! Are you?

So here is my bookish wishlist, and although I'm surely not getting any of these, it's great to daydream sometimes, right?

1. Kincso Nagy's Harry Potter design concept
This designer created a design concept for Harry Potter books, which includes glow in the dark covers and pop up illustrations inside. Isn't it beautiful?! I would totally buy these books if they were actually created!

Read more »

Book in Review: Love and Misadventure by Lang Leav

2015-12-22T15:58:00.000+08:00

Title: Love & Misadventure

Author: Lang Leav
Publisher: Andrew McMeel Publishing

Publication Date: April 26th, 2013

Pages: 176, Paperback

Lang Leav is a poet and internationally exhibiting artist. Awarded a coveted Churchill Fellowship, her work expresses the intricacies of love and loss.

Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully conceived, Love and Misadventure will take you on a rollercoaster ride through an ill-fated love affair- from the initial butterflies to the soaring heights- through to the devastating plunge. Lang Leav has an unnerving ability to see inside the hearts and minds of her readers. Her talent for translating complex emotions with astonishing simplicity has won her a cult following of devoted fans from all over the world.

Beryl and Audrey's 2016 Bucket List

2015-11-21T21:38:00.000+08:00

We're pretty excited to finish this year already and just say hello to 2016. We feel like a huge mess this week cause of being unproductive, eating more than 5 times a day lol, and having no pep training. :( Finals are also coming next week! UGH! SAVE US!

Enough of us blabbering and ranting, let's get down to business! (to defeat the Huns) HAHAHA. Kidding guys.

NUMBER 1:
GET FREAKING ABS

Since last year and the year before that and before that and before that, we've been wanting to have abs! It's just a mixture of hard work and perseverance which we don't really have.

HASHTAG GOALS

NUMBER 2
MAKE A PERSONAL BLOG

Don't get us wrong we LOVE this blog, but we love other things too like fashion, beauty, and food. We've also been wanting to create one since forever, so we hope to make one SUCCESSFULLY, It's not that easy ya know from creating the design and all those especially since we're not experts.

NUMBER 3
BERYL WILL FINALLY DECIDE WHAT SHE WANTS TO BE

I need serious help because I have zero idea what I want to be in the future, what i want to take in senior high and in college! I have no choice though because I can't be a bum forever.

Read more »

BOOK IN REVIEW: The Selection by Kiera Cass

2015-11-16T22:49:00.001+08:00

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication Date: April 24th, 2012

Pages: Hardcover, 336

Rating: 2/5

Summary (Via Goodreads):

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I read this book upon the recommendation of many of my friends. There came a point in time where everyone I knew were raving about the series, talking about how cute it was and how it gave them intense feels. I had a feeling I wouldn't like it very much, just from reading the synopsis alone, but I decided to trust my friends on this one and read it. After reading it, I'll admit that I didn't dislike it as much as I thought I would, but I didn't really like it either. I think it was an odd mixture of all that hype and my personal expectations for this book that caused me to feel the way I feel about this novel.

This book has that cliche romantic feel to it that I'm sure a lot of teenagers would like. It's a rather feel-good book with not much angst, a perfect guy, and an 'I- don't-think-I'm-pretty-but-I-actually-am' heroine. I felt like this type of story is rather overused. I know that there's a reason why this trope is very popular in the YA genre, but I guess I was just expecting more from a book that everyone told me was amazing. It was nothing special, really. It was sweet. It had its moments. There were some parts where I could definitely see why people would love the book. The thing is: a good book cannot rely on just those moments alone. Every book is unique, but not every book is special. I was looking for that special thing in this, but I just couldn't seem to find it. The plot was normal. The writing was fine. The characters fit perfectly into the usual character archetypes. I'm so frustrated because there is nothing inherently wrong about this book, nothing bad at all, but there's nothing particularly good about it either. Everything is just completely... average.

Through all of that, there are still a couple of good points this book had. It touched on certain topics like poverty, starvation, elitism, and politics that I thought were really good to see in a YA book of this kind. Although those themes were not the main focus of the story, the author made sure to highlight them at least once in the story. That makes you realize a bunch of things about society and how it really works.

I won't be recommending this book or re-reading it, but I will not warn you against it either. A lot of my friends really enjoyed this, and as everyone has different book tastes, you might find this to be an absolutely charming read. For a new reader of YA, this might be a good book to get hooked on the genre, but if you already read YA, have already explored more daring stories, you might want to let this one go.

Feature and Follow Friday: Dream Jobs

2015-09-25T23:03:00.002+08:00

How does this work?

This weeks Question:

If you could have any job, what would you do?

KIMI:

If I could have any job, I'd be a film director or a writer. I love being on set and shoots and I've always wanted to turn my ideas and stories into film!

If not in film, I'm okay with TV as well. And one of my dream jobs is to work on the TV show Doctor Who, even as an extra or an assistant, I'd do anything to be part of my favorite show !

BERYL:

I don't really know what specific job I want yet, but I definitely want something related with fashion or beauty! I enjoy watching look books and tutorials, and I think I can see myself creating outfit ideas or make-up looks. :)

AUDREY:

As of right now, I don't have anything in particular that I want to do. I don't have my mind set on any particular thing and every single time I'm asked this question, my answer changes. I want to do a lot of different things that don't even seem to be related to each other.

I wanted to do something related to cosmetics before, but now, I'm a bit more interested in entertainment, especially those jobs that require a lot of speaking as I do really love talking. I also like learning new languages and speaking is something that I am, for the most part, confident in. I also want to do some programming? IDK. Something related to technology? That has always interested me too. One thing that I am sure about is that I want to study in a different country in the future. I actually have my eyes set on Singapore, but I don't know if I could even get the opportunity to study abroad. Well, I still have a lot of time to think about this, so I won't stress over it too much right now.

How about you guys? What job would you want? :)