Book Review: Imperfect Love by Isabella White (4ever #1)

Author: Isabella White
Published: Aug 13th 2015 by Quill Fire Publishing
Pages: 320
Series: 4ever series
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC

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Summary from Goodreads

"At 24 years old, Holly Scallanger has the perfect life. Everything a girl could want; a beautiful man, a stunning home, as well as being in the midst of preparing for the wedding of her dreams. This all vanishes the night she catches her fiancé, Brandon Morgan, in bed with her worst nightmare, Donna Sinclair, just a week before Holly is set to walk down the aisle. 
Attempting to recover from his betrayal, Holly swears off the affections of men in order to pick up the pieces of her crumbling life. Unfortunately, meeting Jake 'Hooligan' Peters is not part of her plan. The tall, dark-haired and handsome as hell med student, sweeps Holly away from the pain of her past and reveals to her the bright future that lays ahead. That is, until she falls pregnant just as Jake begins his internship at P&E; his family's hospital. 
Will this love at first sight lead her to the fairytale she has always craved? Or, will she fall victim to a betrayal of the heart yet again?"

Rating: 5/5

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Huft... I just finished reading this and I'm still in book hangover. This book was REALLY good for me. I'm used to have a trouble to understand the story if it is narrated in third-person perspective, but this novel is an exception. When I started reading this, I directly connected into the story and the characters as well. I'm glad I picked and got this book. Thank you both the publisher and NetGalley.

First things first, what I liked from this book is the pace is not too slow nor too fast. At first, I wondered why Isabella make it a series instead of a standalone. Because seriously  I thought this novel more suitable if it is a standalone. Turned out, well, I'm glad this is a series, I want more! 

Second, I really liked the plot of the story. I was completely engrossed from the start till the end.

Third, I liked the characters. Holly, the lead female, is sweet, funny, silly and immature some times and pretty naive. Jake, the lead male, is smart, sweet, very romantic. Oh, I loved Jake. As in the novel said he is a heart-throb and every woman's dream. 

Fourth, I liked the romance side. Oooh, Jake and Holly are so romantic couple. They couldn't get enough with each other. They'll make you giggle because sometime they're so funny and smile without you realize. Everything is going so well until...

I can't tell you what happened to them. Just know what did happened had ripped my heart out and tore it into a million pieces. You must know how much I want to spoil the story but no. You should read this by yourself. The ending is in cliffhanger (no wonder, it is a series after all) but enough makes you curious to death with the next book, Secret Love. When the second book comes out? I need it ASAP, I'm curious what will happen next to Holly and Jake. 

Since Jake is a doctor, there are medical's jargon in this novel so it can broaden your knowledge at the same time. Oh yes, it is kinda remind me of Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. The feeling I've got when I read Imperfect Love is almost same like when I was reading Ugly Love. Both makes me hangover after read them. And both have sexy lead male, Miles is a pilot and Jake is a doctor ( I think guy in a uniform is sexy). Well, I recommend this book and If you like Ugly love then you should read this too.

Author's website:

http://authorisabellawhite.com/

Book Review: The One and Only by Emilly Giffin

Author: Emily Giffin
Published: March 24th by Ballantine Books
Pages: 448
Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance
Source: Purchased from Periplus
Format: Paperback

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Summary from Goodreads

"Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas—a small college town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.
But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most—and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.
Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart, and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself . . . the one and only thing that truly makes life worth living."

Rating: 2/5

The One and Only is about Shea Rigsby, she is thirty-three-year-old and is a sports reporter who settled in Sport Department of her university. She is born and raised in small town of Walker, Texas. Shea spent most of her time with her best friend, Lucy, whose her father, Coach Carr, is the head coach of Walker's football team. When her best friend's mother dies young, she begins to question her path in life including her job and relationship and wonders why she is unhappy with her life. This book will takes you Shea's journey finding her dream job and love.

Let me tell you that Shea, the lead female, falls in love with a man twenty year older no other than her best friend's father. Because of that she tries to distract herself by dating a big Walker player. Turns out her boyfriend is very abusive. But whether or not her boyfriend is abusive, her feeling is still for Coach Carr. And also, Lucy cannot imagine if Shea in a relationship her father. Shea thought she's a selfish, and a bad friend. (Yes, she is) I was hoping she wouldn't end up with Coach Carr. In the end, Lucy, her best friend, gave her blessings and they happily ever after. Oh my.

My Thought. It is my first time reading Emily Giffin's book. I love her writing. It's very easy to be followed. But I'm dissapointed with this book. Actually, I wasn't bothered by a football jargon and information. I do have a little interest in sport. But the relationship with the Coach Carr and Shea doesn't feels right. I respect the message that Emily was trying to convey but I don't agree. She did hold my interest until the end and it didn't waste my time to read it. I hope Emily got another good idea and is now making a new novel that better than this. I heard so many good things about Emily like she is a good author, she is the most beautiful author, etc. I want to read her other books like Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Where We Belong, so on. 

Maybe this book is for you who have interest in football or college sports :)

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Author: Rainbow Rowell
Published: January 30th 2014 by Pac MacMillan
Pages: 461
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Source: Purchased from Periplus
Format: Paperback

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Summary from Goodreads

"Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She's horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.
Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realizing that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible."

Rating: 3/5

This is my second time to read Rainbow Rowell's book. After reading Eleanor & Park and getting used to the way she narrated and I'm addicted. 

Well, I enjoyed Fangirl. I liked it as much as I liked Eleanor and Park. But I don't love it. It has a complex, well-developed character, but I feel like something is missing, I don't know, there is something that holds book from being memorable. And also there are some boring parts in this. But the idea? It was amazing. This book is about a girl who writes fanfiction. You know, I meant Cath. She is writing fanfic about Simon Snow, eventhough I'm not quite interested with the fanfiction she wrote. I some time skipped the pages where it tells fanfiction written by Cath. Some people loved it, though. Until Rowell's released Carry On special for those people who loves Cath's fanfiction. I think I won't read it unless there are people force me to read it.

Cath, the lead female character, is introvert, engrossed in her own world. She have a twin sister named Wren, they used to write the fanfiction together until Wren decide that she doesn't want to be one-half pair anymore, and enjoy her campus life. Cath loves her father vey much who suffered from mental-illness. She's always worried about her father because Cath and Wren now live in dorm while their father live alone at home. She loves Simon Snow more than anything. Simon and Baz are here life. 

I know how it feel to be like Cath. I know how it feels to be an introvert, difficult to mingle with new people. I feel like she is me. And I, too, engrossed with my own world and be a fun friend in virtual world same like Cath. 

Of course, there is romantic side in this book. Cath meets Levi from her roommate. Levi asks her to read her fanfiction  Simon Snow and Baz, he said that so he can understand Cath fully (sweet, isn't he?). He takes Cath back to her dorm at midnight if Cathy has assignment to do with her classmate, Nick. When Cath is in difficult situation, Levi always remain by her side. He loves her eventhough Cath is an introvert person. God, we need more guy like Levi, right?

Eventually, Fangirl is not just about fanfiction. It is about how to make a piece with yourself with the evironment around you and people who care and love in their own way even if you don't know. This is how you getting out of your comfort zone, albeit it is difficult to become a much better person.

This book is for you who have so many similarity with Cath and love Rainbow Rowell.. :)

Book Review: Let It Snow (Three Holiday Romances)

Author: John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle
Published: 2012 by Speak
Pages: 352
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Source: Purchased from Periplus
Format: Paperback

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Summary from Goodreads

"An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.
A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- brings all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away."

Rating: 4/5

Let it snow~ Let it snow~ Can't hold it back anymore ♫

Who's singing like this while seeing the title? 

I bought this book on Periplus when there were Valentine discount. I didn't expect to read Let It Snow on December/Christmas/winter (ups, I forgot Indonesia doesn't have season winter). I couldn't wait to read this since there is my favorite author John Green. It's the first time I read the works of Maureen and Lauren.

Let It Snow is consist of three short stories which the characters relate to ech other.  

First, The Jubilee Express by  Maureen Johnson. It's about Jubilee's Christmas Eve that should be spent with her boyfriend, Noah, must end up failing, because her parents sent to prison. Jubilee should go to Florida immediately to spend Christmas with her grandparents. However on the way to Florida, the train ridden by Jubilee crashed into snowpack and makes the trip to Florida couldn't be forwarded. Jubilee goes out of the train into the Waffle House. Many times she is trying to call Noah but her boyfriend is too busy celebrates Christmas with his family. At Waffle House, Jubilee meets Stuart and Stuart invites her to spend the night at his house. How their story while heading to Stuart's house when a snowstorm happened? How the continuation of her relationship with Noah?

Second, A Christmas Miracle Cheertastic by John Green. It's about Tobin and his two friend, JP & Duke. Since Tobin's parents couldn't spend the night together with him, Tobin had to give up his Christmas Eve watching a movie marathon with JP & Duke. In middle of watching a James Bond movie, one of their friend who worked at Waffle House, Keun, told that the Waffle House was visited by a group of sexy cheerleaders. The group of cheerleader is a passenger train that got stuck in snowstorm and choose to go down to the Waffle House. Keun told them to go to Waffle House quickly to help Keun. Did they arrive at the Waffle House on time in a snowstorm? How Angie aka Duke who turns out put the heart on Tobin?

Third, The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle. It's about the night after Christmas where Addie is very sad because she had to break up with Jeb. She recalled how unromantic and insensitive Jeb are. And how Addie wants Jeb to do everything she expected. Until then, Addie was upset and kissed another man. Jeb knows it and doesn't feel annoyed. Jeb's attitude makes Addie feel unwanted and annoyed. Is Jeb really no longer love Addie?

This book is packed so sweet by taking a background of snow and Christmas. The first story, I love the idea of the story. How Jubilee meets Stuart feels smooth and the ending was interesting and topped with a sweet ending. I am satisfied with the first story and make this into the story I love the most among three stories. I gave this story one half stars. The second story, I must admit that I am quite dissapointed with the writings of John Green. Maybe because I had a high hope to him. He is John Green after all, he is always create a sweet and humorous characters. Unfortunately, the story was just turning on their way to  Waffle house which makes me bored to death. The style of his writing is still nice to be followed, though. I gave this story half star. The third story, I like the story and the characters. Even some time Addie was too drama queen and I'm little bit dissapointed that Jeb didn't get a portion as much as Addie. So I gave this story one star. I like the ending so much, at the end they gather together from Jubilee till Addie. I feel so much the love. I gave the ending one star.

This is the perfect book to curl up with when it's cold and snowing. It's one of those reads that makes you snuggle on the couch drink a hot cocoa or tea in a hand. It would be perfect if you have fireplace. 

Book Review: Always The Bridesmaid by Lindsay Kelk

Author: Lindsay Kelk
Published: May 7th 2015 by Harper Collins
Pages: 389
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Source: Purchased from Periplus
Format: Paperback

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Summary from Goodreads

"Everyone loves a bridesmaid - except Maddie, who’s perpetually asked to be one. Everyone loves a wedding - except Maddie’s best friend, who’s getting divorced. And everyone loves the way Maddie’s so happy behind the scenes - except Maddie herself. One best friend is in wedding countdown while the other heads for marriage meltdown. And as Maddie juggles her best chance at promotion in years with bridezilla texts and late-night counselling sessions, she starts to wonder – is it time to stop being the bridesmaid?"

Rating: 4/5

This is my first time reading Lindsay Kelk's book. I already knew she has I Heart... Series but there are so many books that queue in TBR piles and I confuse which one should I read next. When  I knew Lindsay Kelk released her second standalone I was so excited and pre-ordered it immediately. Her first standalone is The Single Girl To-Do Lists back in 2011 which is I haven't read it yet, but I will. Soon. I loved Lindsay's writing style and also she has such a sense of humor. I giggled many times while reading this book. The book is written through a journal, like a diary which I enjoyed so much. 

Always The Bridesmaid is the story about Maddie Fraser who works as an assistant event planner who treated like a slave by her boss because she has been doing most of the planning behalf her boss. And then she is asked to help planning her bestfriend Lauren wedding (for FREE!), while supporting her other bestfriend Sarah through divorce. Then, Maddie got an opportunity for a promotion comes up at work, and she is forced into applying. The condition is she must organize an event and does everything she can to prove she decent to get the job. On the other hand, she must help and please her bestfriends at the same time. 

At first I found this book kinda boring. When I was half finished, I was so into it. I liked all of the character, Maddie is smart, realistic, down to earth, and careless yet funny. I laughed at her ridiculous slapstick moments. I got frustated by her friend, though. Lauren, I found her selfish and spoiled. Sarah, is cynical and sarcastic. But we all have friends like that, right? 

Of course, there is a romance in this book. The male character weaved so wonderfully throughout the story. I enjoyed the gentlemanly Tom and the scumbag Will rivalry. Well, her love story makes me believe that our true love might just be right around the corner, or right under our nose. Everything will fall into places.

So, if you like kind of genre like this or you like Lindsay Kelk, you'd better grab this book.