Book: Love Your Frenemies

“Kimmy knows everyone hates her, but when she comes back after a long disappearance, she has a nagging feeling that things aren’t exactly what she thought them to be.

First of all, there’s her first love, the very sexy Manalo who used to have a nasty habit of breaking her heart. Then there’s her bride-to-be BFF whom Kimmy means to write out of her life right after the wedding. And there’s her mother who Kimmy can’t wait to abandon–again.

Is Kimmy headed for more disaster, or can a girl everyone hates finally get a clue and find happiness?“

The hardest thing to like about this book is its heroine. But then, how are you supposed to like a character written to be the bad guy for everything? Love Your Frenemies is like a failed attempt at writing a novella version of Samantha Who?. Or, you know, a very uninteresting Gossip Girl.

Although, admittedly, the novel isn’t half bad. In fact, I’d even go as far as say that this is the best one I’ve read off of Summit Books’ fiction titles. It’s just that I don’t want to lower my standards because this was written by a Filipino. Yes, I want to promote local books, but that doesn’t give local books a free pass. None of the international books do.

Now, let’s break down my problems with the novella:

Number one, which I already mentioned, is that our main character is hard to like. From the get go we know she’s been a bad girl and that she wants to change. And that’s a great entry point for us to start to like her. Except Kimmy is so unapologetic at being nasty that, well, you choose not to like her.

Number two, the supporting characters are more interesting than you heroine. Manolo, who appears out of the blue in one of the earlier chapters without so much as a warning or an introduction, is the right amount of leading man and mysterious stranger. So much so that you actually wouldn’t mind spending a whole novel just following his character’s exploits in his industry.

Though, seeing as this is chic-lit, I think he was supposed to be the leading man. He doesn’t read like a leading man, and by the end of the book, you’d want someone else to end up with him anyway. Not someone from the book, mind you. Just someone better than Kimmy.

And then there’s Isabel, the good girl who has her own way of fixing things. We get enough information about Isabel to establish who she is as a character, and none of her actions are uncharacteristic of her. And yet we get the feeling that there’s more to her character than just being a best friend.

I wouldn’t mind following her character around with another story, actually.

Other than those two, we don’t really get other interesting characters. And I get the feeling that author Mina V. Esguerra plucked these people out (even the undeveloped ones) from her life and let them talk the way they talk in real life.

Not that it’s a bad thing. It does give all the characters distinct voices that, well, are not present in the previous Esguerra book I read.

Which brings me to number three…which isn’t related at all to number two. I just can’t figure out a smooth segue right now. Anyway, number three: plotting. Things tend to happen to push the plot forward, instead of letting the characters and their relationships do the pushing. That said, this isn’t a big problem for a novel this short. It’s just personal preference. I really don’t like with a character is made to do something without the proper emotional turning point just so the plot could advance.

This is especially glaring in the “we have to go to a bridal shower you prepared, but not really.” And it’s made even more glaring when the twist is revealed later on.

Overall though, the book is engaging and a page-turner. It’s just not for me.

Hey, I nitpick because I care.

But if you’re not sold on what I said, we can always check out what other people have written about it:
The Blair Book Project
One More Page
Chachic’s Book Nook
Reading is the Ultimate Aphrodisiac
Because We’re Curious

Book: Stranger in the Moonlight

“Kim Aldredge is delighted that her dear college ‘sister’ Jecca has found lasting love with Kim’s cousin Tristan. But despite her flourishing jewelry-making career, Kim’s own happiness seems as distant as the childhood summer when she played the hours away with young Travis Merritt, who came to Edilean with his mother under mysterious circumstances. At the end of that innocent season, he promised Kim he would return one day…and then vanished without even a goodbye. Years later, a worn photo is Kim’s only proof of the perfect joy they shared. But when she least expects it, Travis, now a savvy Manhattan attorney, will crash into her life once more. Will Kim see the boy she knew under the man he’s become?“

Why do male leads in romance novels have to be so perfect? Don’t the authors know they’re developing more hopeless romantics, as well as reinforcing the notion that women will not find better in the real world?

I mean, come on, how can someone like me compete with a guy like Travis?

Not that I’m in love with Kim or anything. I hardly know her. Which isn’t a good thing, considering I just read a whole book about her romance with Travis.

Okay, to be fair, Jude Deveraux hasn’t lost her magic. The novel was nice, and it was an enjoyable read. It’s just that–with all the build-up about Travis, and about Joe Layton, and Penny, and Russell, and the little about Lucy Cooper’s past–I feel as if the author forgot that Kim was her main character.

Aside from her being one to embrace fun, her feisty character, and her jewelry-making–I don’t know her at all. Which is a little disappointing since Jecca, the heroine from the previous novel, felt complete. As did Tristan, although he too was a little too perfect.

I feel like author Deveraux did her character a disservice by making her too hung up on one guy. On hinging this whole story in a destiny premise that ends the book before it has even begun. And while, as I said, the book was enjoyable, there never really was a doubt on who would end up with who. That the book will offer something new.

Which is why it took me a while to finish the book, considering the fact that it’s chic lit. I eat chic lit. I can finish it off in one sitting. This took me days because I couldn’t invest in Kim’s journey.

And you’re probably wondering if I’ve gone mad because I seem to be saying two different things. Let’s clarify: the book is good enough. It’s enjoyable enough. But it’s not original. It reads like a Jude Deveraux novel because you get updates about characters you’ve met in the past. But at the same time, it doesn’t read like a Jude Deveraux novel because there’s nothing new to learn, and there are no plus ones that would make this novel stand out from other novels.

Those are my thoughts.

Let’s see what other people have to say about the novel:
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
RT Book Reviews
Caught in a Bad Romance

Book: Plague

“A highly contagious, fatal illness is spreading at an alarming rate, while sinister, preadtory insects terrorize Perdido Beach. Sam, Astrid, Diana, and Caine are plagued by a growing doubt that they’ll escape–or even survive–life in the FAYZ. With so much turmoil surrounding them, what desperate choices will they make when it comes to saving themselves and those they love?“

I hated it for the most part. And then things picked up near the end–and now, well, the excerpt for the fifth book has me looking forward to reading Fear. But that doesn’t change the way I feel about the Gone series–and this book in particular.

I feel like the premise and the promise of the series went to waste. Of course, not being the writer, I could be off-mark and this might be what author Michael Grant had in mind from the moment he started writing the first book. I must say though, this is not where I thought the book would go.

My chagrin remains with the Darkness. Now on the fourth book, this villain just feels so out of touch with the whole community aspect of the series. It does play a bigger role this time round though, and it does manage to push the action a little fast–but I still can’t feel any threat. Especially since we have Little Pete, a character who isn’t just invincible–he can make anything appear and disappear at will. He’s that powerful.

And at this point, I’ve completely lost my empathy for any of the lead characters. The only one I’m left rooting for, from the original book, are Lana and Edilio. Major characters in their own way, but not really the focus of the story.

That brings me to another complain: while Gone had a great handle on the ensemble cast of characteres, author Michael Grant seemed to have lost that grasp in the succeeding books. It’s weakest with Lies, but Plague is barely any better.

It’s a bad thing when I’m cheering on the villain to kill characters, just so the story could have a better focus.

On the plus side, Plague finally does move the plot along with regards to the barrier that surrounds the FAYZ. And that’s the only good thing I can say about this book.

Of course, I might just be a cynical and jaded old geezer. Other people have other opinions. Let’s check those out:
Overflowing Heart Reviews
Icey Books
Living in Fiction

Book: The Choice

“Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town Norht carolina. In full pursuit of the good life–boating, swimming, and barbecues with his close buddies–he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship would only cramp his style. That is until Gabby Holland moves in next door.

Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the attractive red-head seems to have a grudge against him. Still, Travis can’t stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage, and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heart-wrenching question of all: How far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?“

Can I just say–

Nicholas Sparks has everything an author could want: a good career, loyal fans–even a loving family, I bet. Not really privvy to his personal life. But the point is this: what made Sparks write something as pointlessly sappy as The Choice?

I’ve stopped reading Nicholas Sparks for more than five years now. The last book of his I read was True Believer, I think. I picked it up soon as it came out–and totally disliked it. I tend to hold grudges, so I never read another Nicholas Sparks novel–until now.

Why did I pick up The Choice? Because I was curious why Nicholas Sparks was still beloved as a romance writer. What makes his novels work? The only thing I did get from this novel is that Nicholas Sparks seems to be losing inspiration. And this observation stems from a book that was published five years ago.

Seventy percent of The Choice deals with how main characters Travis and Gabby fall in love with each other–a very gradual thing. But the meat of the story, supposedly, rests on the choice Travis has to make in the present time. Which takes up around twenty-five percent of the book. Funny thing how the book is called The Choice, but it’s not actually the main story thread.

Admittedly, Nicholas Sparks is a good story teller. He knows how to keep a reader’s attention. So long as said reader doesn’t notice the fact that he (or she) is more than halfway done with the book, and nothing significant has yet to happen. Which is the case with The Choice.

In fact, if I’m to give this book a different title, I’d call it Lack of Consequences.

There were a lot of choices made in this book–but we never see any of the consequences stemming from the choices made. Gabby has a boyfriend who is conveniently always busy and away. When Gabby falls in love with Travis, the story trails off on the day her boyfriend returns. It returns some years later, with Gabby and Travis already married (not a spoiler, the prologue already reveals this fact), separated, and with Travis about to make a decision on something we have no idea about.

Author Sparks tries to be coy about the whole thing. And, for the sake of not spoiling anything, I shall not say what exactly the author is trying to be coy about. But, honestly, it was frustrating and infuriating how Nicholas Sparks twists and turns the story to make his readers second-guessing.

At one point, I wanted to just throw the book against a wall.

But I stuck with it. Even with a meager number of pages left, I was hoping there would be more to The Choice than the drivel already shoved down my throat. Alas, there was nothing else.

If I had the choice to go back in time, I would warn my past self against buying this book.

Now that I have that out of my system, I am very much curious as to what other people wrote about this book. Let’s see what they have to say:
Book Reviews
It’s Time to Read!
Teen Ink
YouTube Review: beautyequalshate

Book: Every You, Every Me

“Evan is alone. His best only friend, Ariel, is gone. Even is feels responsible. And in her wake, Evan is left with nothing a guilty conscience and never-ending insomnia.

But then, while walking to school one morning, Evan finds an envelope in his path. Inside is a photograph. Of nothing. Except the spot where he is standing.

The next day, Evan finds another envelope. In the exact same spot as before. Inside is another photograph. Of him. Looking at the photo from the day before.

Evan’s not sure what to think. Is Ariel back? Are these photographs her way of tormenting him for reminding him of what he did to her? Or worse–has someone else found out what he did and is toying with him as punishment? Either way, he will not be able to sleep rest until he finds out who is responsible.

As the cryptic photos keep surfacing, Evan’s paranoia amplifies, and the feeling that he never really knew Ariel at all starts to paralyze dominate his life thoughts. Will he uncover the truth before he loses his mind his grasp on reality?“

I have to wonder if whoever wrote the book synopsis actually read the book. Because, let me just clear this up–

Ariel is not Evan’s only friend. The second photograph he gets is not of him looking at the photograph from the day before. And the insomnia thing isn’t as important to the story as it is to whoever wrote the book synopsis. I think it’s only even mentioned in passing in one of the chapters.

That said, the book wasn’t bad–even with the misleading synopsis. But the damage has already been done: I was already expecting a story outlined by said synopsis.

I must confess though that I liked how David Levithan introduced the idea of there being a different version of a person for each relationship they might have. Hence the book’s title. Unfortunately, I don’t think the author fully explores this idea as we get caught up with the main character’s quest to find out who is tormenting him.

Had the story been mind-blowingly awesome, I might be singing a different tune. But Levithan’s Ever You, Every Me isn’t particularly intriguing (or interesting) once you take out the “another photograph. Of him. Looking at the photo from the day before.” Suddenly, it’s just another young adult book that deals with teenage angst and guilt.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But–

This book just didn’t do anything for me.

It may have done something for other people though. So let’s see what they have to say about the book:
The Book Smugglers
Good Books & Good Wine
Gone with the Words