[REVIEW] Stargazer

title: Stargazer (Evernight #2)
author: Claudia Gray
genre: young adult, paranormal
published: February 9th 2010 by HarperTeen (first published March 24th 2009)
my copy: paperback, 329 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 2.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

The vampire in me was closer to the surface . . .

Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one. But she has fallen in love with Lucas, a vampire hunter who infiltrated Evernight Academy, the exclusive vampire boarding school she attends. Bianca will do anything to be with Lucas, even if it means lying to the powerful vampires of Evernight.

Her deceit leads her to dig deep into the mysteries of the school, and Bianca discovers that even those she trusts the most have their own dark secrets. When a ghostly force begins attacking Evernight—and targeting Bianca—she learns a shocking truth about her past that will forever change her future.

that got a bit better.

This is a reread.

Okay I finished the first book. Got through with this one as quick as the first one. Not that I enjoyed it or anything. I still didn't love it. Still a cringe-fest! But it did get a bit better than the first one.

[WEEKEND READS] where I'm finally drawing again

Hi,

I've gained a bit of motivation to actually be somewhat consistent with things. The only problem I have right now is actually waking up early which is a disaster, to be honest.

This week, I lay low on playing Sims and focused on doing my art because I've been in a slump since I drew myself for my birthday. I had an unfinished drawing left because of the slump and I decided to remake it from scratch keeping only the extremely rough sketch I made 👇👇👇 Without a drawing tablet, that's how I do my sketches. lol. Once I get one, I'm sure things will look better and will also be easier for me. I'll have my art up at some point this weekend 😊

[REVIEW] Night Film

title: Night Film
author: Marisha Pessl
genre: adult fiction, mystery, thriller
published: January 30th 2014 by Random House Inc. (first published July 16th 2013)
my copy: paperback, 599 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

On a damp October night, 24-year-old Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley's life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive cult-horror film director Stanislaus Cordova--a man who hasn't been seen in public for more than thirty years.

For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova's dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself.

Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova's eerie, hypnotic world. The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time he might lose even more.

haunting novel I never wanted to stop reading

I got this book because I saw that it has news clippings, online forum screenshots, and such. I was extremely intrigued by the plot and when I further looked up the book, it involves a director that seemed all too real. I bought the book but never picked it up until now.

BOOKS FROM THE BACKLOG #9

Hi,

Books from the Backlog is a weekly feature hosted by Carole @ Carole's Random Life in Books.

9 Unread Books from my 2018 & 2019 MIBF Book Haul

Hi,

This is my September TBR!! This month's TBR theme, in honor of the postponed MIBF, is reading my MIBF hauls in the last two years!! 

MIBF is that time of the year where I buy a good amount of books because everything is at 20% off and I LOVE SALES!!! lol. Each year, I buy like 10 to 15 books during this 5-day long event. This year though because of the pandemic, they're moving it to November and making it an online sale which feels entirely different so I'm not getting anything.

Speaking of not getting anything, because of this pandemic I haven't actually bought any book since the end of March. I've been eading books from my TBR shelf and w h o a it feels endless but also I'm happy to finally be getting through these books.

[REVEW] Evernight

title: Evernight (Evernight #1)
author: Claudia Gray
genre: young adult, paranormal
published: February 10th 2009 by HarperTeen (first published May 27th 2008)
my copy: paperback, 327 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 2 / 5 stars
goodreads

Bianca wants to escape.

At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in. 

When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas he warns her to be careful--even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart...and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

that was bad.

This is a reread.

This book was gifted to me when I was 18-yrs old by a close friend (who I don't talk to anymore because distance and the lack of common interest does that). I read it then just for the heck of it and I reread it now just for the heck of it. But generally I just wanted to finish this series just to get it over with.

[WEEKEND READS] where I FINALLY finished The Librarian of Auschwitz!

Hi,

I am fine. Everyday feels the same. Nothing new. I do house things. I read. I watch baseball. I finally opened Netflix again (I actually didn't check or watch Netflix for a while) but I ended up doing a rewatch of Big Bang Theory (I'll probably rewatch it every chance I can but whatever. lol). I haven't played much Sims which sucks (was I that busy?).

On reading, it's been like 2 or 3 weeks since I started The Librarian of Auschwitz and I am so freaking glad that I am finally done with it! It's not that I didn't like it but more like it took me a while. A while too long. lol. But yeah, it's quite a heavy book in terms of the things it tackled and generally that's the reason why it took me a while but it's really good!! Recommended if you like to know more or want to read more on what went on inside the Auschwitz camp.

BOOKS FROM THE BACKLOG #8

Hi,

Books from the Backlog is a weekly feature hosted by Carole @ Carole's Random Life in Books. I'm doing double features every other week: one physical book and one ebook.

[REVIEW] The Name of Red

title: The Name of Red
author: Beena Khan
genre: adult, contemporary, romance
published: May 15th 2020 by Amazon Publishing
my copy: eGalley, 314 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Smashwords
rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

Two strangers on the same path. 

Survivors. Companions.

They will be each other’s salvation.

On a rainy, winter night, a mysterious woman in a red dress seeking shelter comes inside the restaurant Kabir was busy working in —primarily the bar— and night after night, drink after drink, she comes back to the same spot. That is where he sees her for the first time.

Hundreds of patrons around her try to speak with her daily, but she dismisses them. It appears she wants to remain in a blissful peace alone with her booze and books. After seeing the mysterious woman reading a book, and because of his shy nature, Kabir gains entrance into her life by anonymously leaving books with notes for her.

The Name of Red is the story of two strangers, two different personalities who meet on a winter, rainy night who challenge each other. They have a connection which blossoms into a friendship due to their fondness of books. But they both have secrets that can bind them together or threaten their newfound relationship forever.

grief, addiction, and finding the strength to move on

I tried this because I read that it's a romance between two readers (and don't you just want that? ALWAYS!!!). Also, a shy male lead? Yes, please! This really just seem like my type of romance at a glance (minus the booze I guess since I never really drink. but that doesn't really matter. lol).

[WEEKEND READS] where I tell myself that I will be better than this

Hi,

I told myself I won't be doing any Weekend Reads posts anymore but here we are. lol.

I am really amazed at how people can consistently keep on posting blog posts for years and still have quality posts. You guys are amazing and I want to be like you! I really need to get on some habitual thing. I've been on and off with a lot of things in my life it's not even funny anymore at this point 😅😂

Consistency. Kind of what I really need right now. I will try an entirely different approach on habitual things (or maybe do what I usually do but be more stricter with myself. idk) and see how things go. I like planning things out but I am terrible at following up with them which sucks. BUT let's try to change it (I'm really just putting this out there so I can police myself. lol).

On other things, some life updates.

[REVIEW] I Found You

title: I Found You
author: Lisa Jewell
genre: contemporary, mystery
published: March 9th 2017 by Arrow
my copy: eGalley, 464 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 2.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

'How long have you been sitting out here?'

'I got here yesterday.'

'Where did you come from?'

'I have no idea.'

East Yorkshire: Single mum Alice Lake finds a man on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, no idea what he is doing there. Against her better judgement she invites him in to her home.

Surrey: Twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed.

Two women, twenty years of secrets and a man who can't remember lie at the heart of Lisa Jewell's brilliant new novel.

intriguing story but too much convenience.

I picked this up because I've seen Lisa Jewell's name on mystery thrillers a lot (why haven't I read her books before?). So why not try this when I got a chance, yeah? Also, that synopsis: 2 people, 1 huge mystery, w h a t is their connection to each other?

[REVIEW] For Whom the Book Tolls

title: For Whom the Book Tolls (An Antique Bookshop Mystery #1)
author: Laura Gail Black
genre: cozy mystery
published: August 11, 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
my copy: eGalley, 264 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 3 / 5 stars
goodreads

In this cozy series debut from Laura Gail Black, Jenna Quinn finds her uncle murdered in his antique bookstore, and Jenna--his primary beneficiary--becomes the prime suspect. 

Trouble follows Jenna Quinn wherever she goes. Fleeing some unsavory doings in her hometown of Charlotte, Jenna accepts her uncle's gracious invitation to stay with him in small-town Hokes Folly, NC. In exchange, she'll help him out in his antiquarian bookstore. But soon after she arrives, Jenna finds her uncle's body crumpled at the base of the staircase between his apartment and the bookstore. 

Before the tragedy even sinks in, Jenna learns that she's inherited almost everything her uncle owned: the store and apartment, as well as his not-so-meager savings and the payout from a life insurance policy...which adds up to more than a million dollars. This is all news to Jenna--bad news, once the police get wind of her windfall. An ill wind, indeed, as a second murder cements Jenna's status as the prime suspect in both deaths. 

Jenna can hit the road again, taking her chances that she can elude trouble along the way. Or she can stick it out in Hokes Folly, take over the bookstore, and try to sleuth out her uncle's killer. On the one hand, she's made some wonderful new friends, and she feels she can thrive in the genial small-town environment. On the other hand, trouble knows her address--and so does the killer, who is determined to write the final page of Jenna's story.

nice read but not enough BOOKS!

I picked this book up because it's been a while since I read a cozy mystery. I tried reading the other ones I have and nothing really got me reading something to the end. I instantly downloaded this one as well because it involves a bookstore and somehow... that didn't work out well.

10 Books I'm Too Scared To Read But Should Really Get to Now

Hi,

My last 2 TBRs worked out so well for me that I decided to continue this thing. Heck, I have scheduled my themed TBRs until December and I'm just so excited to see those books when the month comes.

My last TBR which was about books I had on my TBR shelf the longest went well. Obviously I can't read everything but I LOVE having choices. I was able to get through 3 of these and reread 2 books in preparation for one of the books in this list. W I L D. lol.

This month, I decided to let this be my mood read month and pick anything I want. But would I really pass up on picking books? I decided to twist it to books I've been too scared to read.

JULY WRAPUP (aka the month of taking a down time )

Hi,

I am back!!

I disappeared in the first week of July generally because my laptop broke down. It was down for a week and I stayed with my older sister for that time. I read a bit but generally we spent a good amount of time together.

The week I got my laptop fixed. I ended up installing The Sims 4 and my life ended up revolving around it. Made 2 Sims characters. Got my one of them to go to uni and get a degree on Computer Science. His sister, who's a bestselling author, recently died. His wife is expecting their 4th child and has a really well tended garden. Damn, fictional life is fun. lol.

Then the other day (today as I'm writing this, July 26), I decided that I need to be productive once again and put this Sims life on the side for a while. So now, here I am drafting blog posts while watching old LiSA concert because why not. I missed this productive life.

I have wild book related art plans. I'll definitely share them here soon. For now, I'm drawing my doggies. Check my art accounts right here: Instagram & Facebook

On bookish things, I read a good amount of books this month. I've finished 6 books which is so unreal since I had a bit of stuck up in the middle of it. I thought I can sneak in another one but I struggled a bit with the last one and I'm still trying to get back to reading in my Kindle app. I'm currently reading Sorry I Missed You there. It's an okay read. Nothing very interesting. Just fun stuff.