Strangers at a Wedding | Review: The Wedding People by Alison Espach

I think I’ve been reading less compared to last year, but in return I’ve discovered a lot of great books that have become new favorites. The Wedding People by Alison Espach is one of them. 

Phoebe Stone is a professor who has run off to the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. Her husband has left her and she’s decided to have one last getaway before ending it all. When she arrives however, she finds herself in the middle of a weeklong wedding celebration. She ends up forming an unexpected friendship with the bride Lila, while also getting to know the other people in attendance. As the week carries out, Phoebe begins to have a new outlook on life, rediscovering parts of herself that she never knew existed, but might have always been there.

I know I have been saying this a lot, but I really love this book. It’s humorously honest and introspective featuring a cast of characters that could exist in real life. I was hesitant to pick it up at first because I worried that it might be too dark, but it ended up pleasantly surprising me as I found myself laughing and relating to much of what Phoebe and Lila were going through. Once I neared the end, I wanted to go back and read it again.

I love Phoebe and Lila’s relationship throughout, especially the conversations they have. I think the fact that they are strangers, with or without judgment, is what made them want to confide in each other rather than go to the people who know them. Lila is young and entitled, but I could see there is a loneliness to her that Phoebe connects with or at least understands. For Phoebe as well, Lila bolting into her life throws her in for a loop, but also brings her back to life (quite literally too). They make an impact on each other’s lives more than they realize.

Then, there’s Phoebe and Gary. I don’t want to spoil too much on what happens between them because it’s some of the best parts of the book that align with its themes. I’m already smiling just thinking about that “Free the books” scene. 

This is a 10/10, 5 star read for me. It’s everything all at once about life and chance encounters and how much that can change or affect us.

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The Magic of Time Travel | Review: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

This is the kind of book I want to reread multiple times because I know I’ll always find something new or discover something I may have missed.

It’s hard to put into words how much I love The Ministry of Time. It has a little bit of everything and is written so well. I had been curious about it after @em_jacobs_reads recommended it and the idea of time travel being at the center of it. 

Stories about time travel always fascinate me, whether it be in books or in movies, because of what it unravels. In this case, The Ministry of Time explores what it would mean to bring someone from the past (who was already meant to die in history, so there’s no disruption to the space time continuum) and immerse them into our modern world? What would it be like for the person in the present helping them adjust to the displacement and what would their relationship be because of it? 

My first thought upon that is the movie Kate and Leopold, but Kaliane Bradley pushes it further into a realistic perspective. Through her prose, prolific vocabulary, and grounded storytelling, she’s able to explore and ponder on society, race, gender, and technology in both the past, present, and even the future that had me contemplating for days what I had read.

At the heart of this novel is an unnamed British-Cambodian female narrator, who is assigned to be a “Bridge” for Commander Graham Gore from 1847, who actually did exist in real life. I really liked seeing their relationship play out between Gore’s larger than life presence that also exudes sensitivity, and the Bridge’s complex history while being torn between duty and her own affections for Gore. Humorous at times and subtly beautiful and thought-provoking in between, especially in the later half.

The story does take an action-packed turn near the end that may remove some readers from what is initially presented, but it didn’t really bother me. The final moments round it all back. 

This is not the kind of story you would expect, but becomes much more. Time travel isn’t just about time, but is also a journey within yourself and who you can choose to be from it.

- Favorite Excerpts -

A few scenes and quotes that I love and had to save while reading

(I love this scene below. I've been listening to the song on repeat.)

(This part below is my favorite)

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Rewriting a New Ending | Review: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

I love this book so much.

How to End a Love Story was my most highly anticipated read this year. It’s a romance that features an Asian FMC, which I always love, and it’s written by the very talented Yulin Kuang, who is also adapting Emily Henry’s Beach Read into a movie. After finishing it and taking a few days to process it, I can confidently say that it is my favorite romance and one of my new favorite books.

Helen Zhang is a best-selling author whose YA books are about to be adapted for TV. When she arrives in Hollywood to work with the showrunner and screenwriters, she is unexpectedly reunited with Grant Shepard - a popular classmate she went to high school with, who was involved in the tragic car accident that resulted in her sister’s intentional death. Helen wants nothing to do with Grant, while he hopes for them to at least work amicably together. As they get to know each other over time, growing close and reflecting on the past and their shared grief, there’s a chance and risk that they could be something more.

Grief is complicated, especially when it’s intertwined with love and accepting it back. The writing brings this through and handles it with as much care and honesty, as well as looking at all its intricacies through Helen and Grant. Both of them are bound by tragedy and are still trying to heal and mourn while reconciling with their own guilt. What’s unexpected is the love and trust that forms between them. Seeing how it plays out is the book's biggest strength with their chemistry being the best part of it. 

Their first meeting is met with ambivalence, but with curiosity. Then, as soon as they gradually become friends, reminiscing about high school (because how could you not after all these years) - all bets are off! It’s endearing, nostalgic and gets quite spicy though I can’t complain. 😏

With Helen, I found myself relating to her a lot and knowing what it means to be the eldest daughter. It bears a heavy weight alongside being the “good girl” or the responsible one, especially in an immigrant family. Much of my annotations for her were “this is me coded.” It’s also interesting in comparison to Grant, who is always held with such high regard because of his genuine charm, when he actually feels he doesn’t deserve it. He has his own pain and doubts apart from how people see him. I think it’s why he and Helen can read each other so well.

Every time I come across this book, I can’t help but harken back to everything I felt reading it. It had me head over heels to literally sobbing (more like ugly crying over Ch. 32 😖). After rereading it, I’m still not over it nor do I want to be. It’s too good to let go.

- A Couple of Favorite Quotes -

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Tell Me Lies | Review: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

This cat and mouse thriller is just begging for a reread. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston follows Evie Porter, a con artist who is given her latest assignment by the mysterious Mr. Smith to get close to her mark, Ryan Sumner. Everything goes according to plan until Evie meets a woman who has assumed her real identity. At the same time, we get flashbacks to her past and her previous jobs that all culminate and connect back to her present con.

This is one of my top favorite books this year. At page one I was immediately intrigued wondering what in the world was going on that I was furiously turning the page to find out what would happen next. I really liked Evie as a character and was amused by how good she was at being able to read the people around her and act upon it. Then as the story got deeper into revealing more about Evie, her feelings for Ryan, as well as her complicated history with Mr. Smith and the assignments he would give her, my curiosity was piqued even more. This was no simple job or mystery, but a bigger game within a game.

What I really love is how I could not predict any of the twists and reveals. I think there are some stories where the twist can be so out there that it doesn’t completely make sense, or sometimes too easy to spot after closer inspection. First Lie Wins however, devotes time developing the story and its characters while leaving just an ample amount of breadcrumbs that are possible and come back into play as the book progresses. Once everything does come together, it’s surprising and unexpected yet makes sense. The pacing as well compliments this as it didn’t feel too rushed or too slow either.

I really want to go back and reread it again because it is a whirlwind of a ride. And here I was thinking my book hangovers were over for now.

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What Was I Made For? | Review: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

Pub Date: March 19, 2024 

“You don’t want to displease him do you?” 

This book affected me so much that I read it twice. I went into Sierra Greer's Annie Bot thinking it would be the sort of story in the vein of movies like Her, Ex Machina, or Westworld. Instead, what I got out of it is an intricate and intriguing study of power, dominance, control, purpose and humanity. It’s a short book but with a lot of themes explored that I am still left reeling and contemplating what I just read.

Annie Bot is a human-like robot custom made by Doug Richards. She is one of many bots in the Stella-Handy line with her functions suited to any of her owner’s needs in order to please him. After an encounter greatly affects Annie’s cognition, she evolves and grows in ways that change her relationship with Doug and how she views herself and her purpose.

From the start, there is already a look into the idea of the male gaze and objectification, and a tip in the scale in that balance of power through Doug and Annie’s relationship. Doug controls every aspect of Annie from her appearance and actions to whom she’s allowed to talk to. He irked me and gave me such a major ick, but oddly I also felt sorry for him. It’s interesting how Greer peels back layers of his character in that he feels pathetic or a fraud for having a “doll” as a companion after his divorce, and maybe even guilty about owning her, but he also feels superior in teaching and controlling her. 

Where the book takes a shift is how Annie perceives Doug and her own wants, affecting her sentience, and that it’s more complicated than how she feels about him, but how she is also tethered to him. She wants to please him, but she also wants more and in understanding herself. There’s a push and pull between them with intimacy used as a power play and where they stand with her as a bot and him as her owner. I felt concerned and empathetic of Annie’s plight that I couldn’t predict where the story would go.

I’ve only just scratched the surface, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I hope Sierra Greer continues to write more books like this and about the future because I want to read them.

⚠️ CW: body shaming, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, infidelity

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The Love You Deserve | Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

“I promise that someday you’ll find the love you deserve, but it might not be when or how you’re expecting it.” 

It has been such a good reading year so far and there have been a couple of books that have surprised me, including this one. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld was one of my most anticipated reads, and I ended up enjoying it so much more than I expected. 

Sally Milz is a writer on a popular live comedy show called The Night Owls, that airs every Saturday night (sound familiar?). She has given up on falling in love, preferring to focus on her career instead. Then, when news breaks that her friend and TNO cast member, Danny Horst, is dating a beautiful actress who just hosted an episode, Sally is frustrated but not at all surprised. It’s become a recurring event at TNO especially, for gorgeous successful women to date average men like Danny, but as Sally has come to believe would never happen if the roles were reversed. That is until singer, Noah Brewster, arrives to host TNO. A genuine connection begins to form between them as they prepare for Saturday’s live show, but Sally is unsure whether to believe if it’s actually real. After all, this would never happen to someone like her… right?

Romantic Comedy is witty, smart, and feels like something Nora Ephron would have loved and adapted. The behind the scenes leading up to TNO’s live show was interesting to read and now makes me see Saturday Night Live in a whole new light. At the same time, I also really like Sally and Noah and how Sittenfeld develops their relationship that feels real and authentic, even in the chapters set during the pandemic. There is a kind of push and pull between them alongside the banter and emails exchanged where I get the sense that they are into each other, but are just unsure if the other would reciprocate. This isn’t a typical romance book, but a realistic take on comedy, romance and what we expect for ourselves and breaking them. 

I’m so happy that I got to buddy read this with Jenn, who also recommended Colin Jost’s book since I enjoyed this one.

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Through the Multiverse | Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

What if you were given the chance to live in an alternate version of your life had you done things differently. Would you take it? That is the question Dark Matter by Blake Crouch explores in a science fiction journey through time and reality.

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There's a Starman Waiting in the Sky | Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Now, I’m not an avid science fiction reader, but I enjoy the genre when the story is executed well. After reading so many romances lately, I wanted something different. So, I decided to read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. It was a book I had been curious about for a while since it was first announced back in 2020, and I heard a lot of great things about it. I also liked the movie adaptation of Weir's first novel The Martian, so I had a feeling I would like this. I never expected though until having just finished it recently how much I would absolutely love it.

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How Malibu Caught Fire | Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

*Spoiler heavy thoughts on Malibu Rising. I highly recommend reading it first before diving into this review.* 

The first time I met Mick Riva was in the pages of Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. He was described as a handsome singer with a charisma that could match Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. After that book, Mick Riva made a small cameo again in the author's next novel, Daisy Jones and The Six. So, when Taylor Jenkins Reid announced that her newest novel, Malibu Rising, would follow Mick Riva's children I knew I had to read it. It was one of my most anticipated books this year and while I knew beforehand that I was going to like it, what I did not expect was how much I was going to love it.

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"Kain Na Tayo" | Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

I read a lot of books varying from different genres, but not once have I read one that featured a Filipino character as the main protagonist. That is not to say that there are no books featuring Filipino characters, but usually the ones I have come across are sidelined as the main character's sidekick, or their story is about a difficult subject matter. So, I was excited when I heard about Mia P. Manansala's "cozy mystery" debut novel, Arsenic and Adobo. The protagonist here is a female Filipino American and while it is a mystery involving a murder, it is lighthearted and filled with references to the Filipino culture, especially the food that is sure to make you hungry.

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When Alex Met Poppy... | People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

When I read Beach Read last summer, I instantly became a fan of Emily Henry. There was something new and special about a simple romance story about two rival authors in which she brought in an emotional depth beyond two people falling in love with each other. She explored their own individual struggles and growth that evoked a relatability not just for the two characters, but to the reader as well. After finishing her latest novel, People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry has done it again this time through the relationship of two best friends.

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The Halfway Mark: Books I Read (So Far) in 2021

It is hard to believe that there are only five months left in the year. I am not quite sure how I feel about that, but in all the time in between since I last wrote here, I have read a few good books. Some were casual light reads that I liked, and others were read out of curiosity and interest. 

Here are the books I read so far in 2021, from February to June.

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The First 5 Books I Read This Year

In my previous post a while ago, I wrote about how I sped through reading six books in one month in an effort to complete my goal of reading twenty-five books last year. It was actually quite a feat for me as I rarely read that fast before. Since then I have continued to keep up that momentum, which will be helpful in achieving my new goal of reading thirty books this year. Now that we are well into 2021, I thought I would share the first five books I read so far, ranging from romance to contemporary fiction, as well as what other books I have on my To Be Read pile for the year.

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6 Books I Read Before the End of 2020

Every year I set myself a reading goal of how many books I can read in one year. A while back my goal was to read 12 books and last year it was to read 20 books. For 2020, my goal was to read 25 books and I am so proud to say that I did it - and in the nick of time too because I literally finished my 25th book just before New Year's Eve (definitely cutting it close there!). 

Here are the 6 books I read in December just before the start of the New Year.

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What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? | This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

I've been in a reading rut lately after tearing through a few thrillers a while back. Fortunately, I picked up this book, which was my November selection from Book of the Month, and found it not only perfect for the holiday season, but also a charming and beautifully written story I needed. I am a little biased on how much I love this book because just like its two main characters, I too share the same birthday as them: January 1st, New Year's Day. In Sophie Cousens's debut novel, This Time Next Year, we follow two people who happen to share the same birthday and how unknowingly their lives have crossed each other's paths all these years. 

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Triple Thriller Reads | The Guest List, Home Before Dark, and Mexican Gothic

Thrillers are probably one of my favorites genres to read, whether it be suspense or a murder mystery. There is an exciting build up to its unraveling as events begin to unfold amidst the twists and turns. It's actually a little ironic that I prefer thrillers considering that the horror genre is my least favorite in terms of movies and occasionally television. This is likely because books immerse you into the character's position and their state of mind as they try to navigate treacherous waters that is different than watching the protagonist and reacting to the usual jump scares movies tend to do.

Just in time for Fall and the Halloween season ahead, here are three great thrillers that I recently read and highly recommend that will definitely get you out of your reading rut or wake you from your quarantine doldrums. 

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It's August in January, Because I'm in Love | Beach Read by Emily Henry

Out of the many romance novels I have read (and I have read a few), I don't think I have ever come across one quite like Beach Read by Emily Henry. There is something different about this one that is about love and loss and finding yourself again, or that part of you that was missing, and how maybe that one special person can make you feel whole again. That brief idea may seem like something you can find in any other romantic book or movie, but what Emily Henry does with Beach Read is both beautiful and moving.

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Sing Me to Sleep | The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Have you ever had a dream that felt so real and almost so perfect that you didn't want to wake up back to reality? Following the success of her debut novel, One Day in December (which I highly recommend reading), best-selling author Josie Silver delivers again with a beautiful, poignant story about love, loss, and the journey to finding yourself again after such heartbreak in The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. There are a lot of good things I can say about this book as it is probably one of the few books that I have read where I completely empathized with the character's emotions from beginning to end while it also left me feeling hopeful.

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A Paradox of Infinite Possibilities | Recursion by Blake Crouch

I have to tell you right now that I am very excited to talk about this book. So be prepared for the amount of spoilers underway. I highly recommend reading Recursion first before reading this post as this will be a full length discussion of the novel.

What if time travel existed and that the key to it this whole time was through your memories? Now, imagine being able to go back to a specific memory in your life where you could have done something differently and then actually did it. Therefore, you end up changing not only your life, but the lives of others around you and the present as you knew it to be. Sounds heavy, right? This is what Blake Crouch, novelist and screenwriter of Dark Matter, Wayward Pines, and Good Behavior, explores in  his latest novel Recursion, which is soon to be adapted by Netflix into a movie and a series.

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Beware Young Girls Who Come to the Door | Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

As we approach Day 8903 or something like that of this lockdown, I thought it would be fun to read a thriller this time around. Thrillers are actually the perfect genre of escapism and are oddly fitting right now during this current time. There is a bit of mystery and suspense that are enough to make your day suddenly exciting. By the end it will only make you hungry for more, to which you can go and order some more thrillers from your local independent bookstore. So, you are not only satisfying yourself, you are also helping small businesses - seems like a win-win to me.

The thriller I chose to read was Lock Every Door by Riley Sager, which I actually picked as my July 2019 selection from Book of the Month. It was a quick read that felt like watching a horror movie. My immediate thought after finishing it was "Damn - that was insane!" but in a good way. If you are looking for a book that is filled with intriguing but mysterious characters with a plot that could have been straight out of an Alfred Hitchcock film, then you are in for a real treat.

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