Plot Synopsis:

Some summers are just destined to be pretty

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.


You can probably imagine what kind of looks a 16y manly man reading a book called "The Summer I Turned Pretty" in public will get. So, now I know what looks I'll get when I go and read "To All the Boys I've Loved Before"? XD

I was a bit reluctant to read this because A.) The title. I mean, The Summer I turned Pretty, honestly? and B.) People will judge me if I read this in Public. But I didn't regret reading this at ALL!

This books seems perfect for a casual day in the sun at the beach, with a Margarita/coke beside you as you try to get a thorough tan. It would've felt more real and it would've been the perfect read for a day of relaxation.

I really liked Jeremiah better than his brother, Conrad. Jeremiah's like the court jester at their beach house and Conrad's technically a total grumpy dick who used to be super fun and cool--he still is, but lesser so--but is now this recluse who isn't as awesome as when he was
last summer. He's now somewhat moody and distant to Belly's affections, like
he's friend-zoning her either subconsciously or not. You can almost feel the tension between him and Belly, how much she want them together.

I have to agree when my mate Godwin told me that I might get annoyed--well, slightly annoyed anyway--with Belly, what with her constant complaining and whinging (whining) at a lot of things, like why can't Conrad reciprocate her affections and whatnot. She seems to me to be a bit immature, with her sticking out her tongue when she's annoyed and her tantrums wand whatnot. But in general, she's a very nice character.

Plot-wise, imagine you're a girl and you had a crush with both of your mum's friend's sons since you were like 12. It'd be incredibly awkward and hard to date either of them because they treat her like their little sister, always being overprotective of her and looking after her like she's an irresponsible 8 year old.

Conrad and Jeremiah's mum, Susannah was an incredibly-likable character, she was this quirky and fun and very mother-like. She was like a second--and in my opinion, better--mother to Belly. I keep picturing her as Rachelle from the tv series F.R.I.E.N.D.S for some reason. Maybe because she makes such a great mother despite her sickness, which I won't say what it is because it's a spoiler! :)

There were a lot of times where I grinned like a pillock because of the romantic parts and Jeremiah's wisecracks. Conrad and Jeremiah's like her brothers--alongside Steven, her legit brother-- because of their somewhat casualness between each other at the start and in a few parts in the book. You can tell they have had a long--and somewhat complicated-- history between them, the only kind of history spending every summer with each other brings. The way Jenny Han wrote this book makes you want to know more about their history together, which she gives in teaspoon portions through flashback-chapters.

"You're the only boy I've ever thought about. My whole life,  it's always been you. You thought me how to dance, you came out out and got me that time I swam too far. Do you remember that? You stayed with me and pushed me back to shore, and the whole time you kept saying 'we're almost there' and I believed It. I believed it because you were the one who was saying it, and I believed everything you've ever said. Compared to you, everyone is saltines, even Cam. And I hate saltines, you know that. you know everything about me, even this, which is that I really love you."

I was actually supposed to save up for Alex London's book signing this 30th of August which I may or may not attend, Potted Potters this October, the Blood Of Olympus later that month, Jennifer Smith's book signing somewhere in September, and finally, the Manila International Book Fair early in September (Which I think will hold Jennifer Smith's signing). So yeah, I'm basically screwed. XD


Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.









(My review on this can be found here)
First published in French as a serial in 1909, "The Phantom of the Opera" is a riveting story that revolves around the young, Swedish Christine Daaé. Her father, a famous musician, dies, and she is raised in the Paris Opera House with his dying promise of a protective angel of music to guide her. After a time at the opera house, she begins hearing a voice, who eventually teaches her how to sing beautifully. All goes well until Christine's childhood friend
Raoul comes to visit his parents, who are patrons of the opera, and he sees Christine when she begins successfully singing on the stage. The voice, who is the deformed, murderous 'ghost' of the opera house named Erik, however, grows violent in his terrible jealousy, until Christine suddenly disappears. The phantom is in love, but it can only spell disaster. Leroux's work, with characters ranging from the spoiled prima donna Carlotta to the mysterious Persian from Erik's past, has been immortalized by memorable adaptations. Despite this, it remains a remarkable piece of Gothic horror literature in and of itself, deeper and darker than any version that follows.






Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs—like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel











Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet - which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is.

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more - or possibly less - than human. Only Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him...

Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect him - and everyone - from his own fate?

This might seem like a scary time, Fledgling, but never fear! As you start your journey through the ancient halls of the House of Night, this indispensable handbook will aid you in your transition from human to fledgling. Within these pages you will find invaluable information about the history of vampyres. You will also come to a better understanding of your body’s transformation, as well as read words of hope from great vampyres of the past and learn essential foundations of rituals and lore. Now, Fledgling, read on. A new life awaits you; your path to that magickal future begins here!