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kristina_ligaya's reviews
18 reviews
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
At the beginning of the book, I didn’t really resonate with it because it felt like another predictable romance book and it was. But, I still loved some bits of the story, like the relationship between the Bellinger sisters, the moral of the story, and the setting. I think even without the romance aspect between Piper and Brendan, the story would still stand and I might still read it. I don’t know if I am making sense. I liked the concept of Piper’s coming of age (?), even though she’s a literal adult.
What I liked the most in this book was the moral of story because it showed the importance of living “the” life, realizing that there is more to it in life than you realize. You just have to go out of that comfort zone, that little box you are in. It’s not gonna be easy, smooth-sailing. I say it’s gonna be tough. You have to believe in yourself and to those who believe in you.
I read some reviews that they didn’t like Brendan because he thinks that men are better than women and I think that is valid. However, we should give him a chance to realize na he can change his perspective about this, considering his upbringing. Pinalaki siyang ganun mag-isip, so naturally that’s how he’s gonna think and act. But but but I just hoped that the author kind of like inserted in one of Piper’s and Brendan’s conversation addressing this issue. By doing this, other readers will avoid romanticizing this type of guy who thinks that women do not belong in a crew sailing the sea.
What I liked the most in this book was the moral of story because it showed the importance of living “the” life, realizing that there is more to it in life than you realize. You just have to go out of that comfort zone, that little box you are in. It’s not gonna be easy, smooth-sailing. I say it’s gonna be tough. You have to believe in yourself and to those who believe in you.
I read some reviews that they didn’t like Brendan because he thinks that men are better than women and I think that is valid. However, we should give him a chance to realize na he can change his perspective about this, considering his upbringing. Pinalaki siyang ganun mag-isip, so naturally that’s how he’s gonna think and act. But but but I just hoped that the author kind of like inserted in one of Piper’s and Brendan’s conversation addressing this issue. By doing this, other readers will avoid romanticizing this type of guy who thinks that women do not belong in a crew sailing the sea.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Death, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Violence
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Normal People by Sally Rooney
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I re-read this book since my last time reading this was when I was still in 7th grade, which is very long time ago. I just would like to refresh my memory of Harry’s story. While reading this book, I still remember some bits of them.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book made me cry because I felt bad for women who had to suffer unfair treatment from society— men in particular, in silence. The reality was too much for me to handle. However, I still went on and read it because I know I would learn something from this book.
What scares me the most is that I might have encountered unfair treatment in school and in my own household, it is just that I have never noticed it because it has been normalized.
As a woman who have read this book, I learned that:
- I should not feel pressured into marrying someone hastily
- I should not feel pressured into bearing and carrying a child I cannot put my full responsibility to. I want to bear a child when I am mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially ready because I am not solely doing this for myself, but also for my own child.
- I should be fairly treated by the people around. Society should not based their treatment on the gender.
What scares me the most is that I might have encountered unfair treatment in school and in my own household, it is just that I have never noticed it because it has been normalized.
As a woman who have read this book, I learned that:
- I should not feel pressured into marrying someone hastily
- I should not feel pressured into bearing and carrying a child I cannot put my full responsibility to. I want to bear a child when I am mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially ready because I am not solely doing this for myself, but also for my own child.
- I should be fairly treated by the people around. Society should not based their treatment on the gender.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not relatable, but will eventually relate to you
After reading this book, I thought that I'd be in love with their romance, but now writing this made me realize that I admire this book because of how they managed to go through their lives despite their devastating pasts. Both of them have their own stories to tell and struggles to live, both hideous and broken. We are like Cece in the book because we want to unravel their pasts, but our advantage to Cece is that we read them including Cece, and sadly, she is just guessing. Poor Cece.
Seven Days in June is the first book I finished written by a Black author, Ms. Tia Williams. My first statement above is what I felt while reading this book, that the characters and the story are not relatable (at least for me because I am of a different race), but they are not required to be relatable in order for me to love them or to love the book. I cannot articulate well much of my thoughts regarding this book.
Genevieve Mercier (Eva Mercy) is such a strong and brave woman. She went through a lot of trauma during her childhood days and even during her journey as an author and as a person living in this cruel world, such a remarkable woman indeed. I love you, sobra! You're such a splendid woman and an amazing mother that every child could ever have!
Shane Hall is as strong and brave as Eva. Such an inspiration for not forgetting where he came from. He has a purpose to help and guide those children, who are like him (who went through the same experience as them), to dream and not be trained in life to be nefarious humans. You can see his determination to help. As a man, I can't ask for more, such a great man!
Audre Mercier!! I love her character. She is much more cognizant about everything compared to me, who is older than her. I know she's fictional, but I just wish I could be like her.
This book did not make me bawl my eyes out, but it got me teary-eyed. I guess I am not emotional? Still, this book is such a beautiful read in June. I started and finished this book in June! Aside from the emotional feelings, I felt throughout this book, I laughed, smiled, and got exhilarated!
Perhaps, the downside (and can also be considered as an advantage) of this book is I could not relate to the cultural nuances of Black people, which encouraged me to learn about their culture. In addition to the downside is I cannot picture out the settings of the story, though they are already stated. I just use my imagination of what the settings look like. I am also tired of searching for places and what it looks like. I wish I was able to clearly imagine all the settings of the story.
After reading this book, I thought that I'd be in love with their romance, but now writing this made me realize that I admire this book because of how they managed to go through their lives despite their devastating pasts. Both of them have their own stories to tell and struggles to live, both hideous and broken. We are like Cece in the book because we want to unravel their pasts, but our advantage to Cece is that we read them including Cece, and sadly, she is just guessing. Poor Cece.
Seven Days in June is the first book I finished written by a Black author, Ms. Tia Williams. My first statement above is what I felt while reading this book, that the characters and the story are not relatable (at least for me because I am of a different race), but they are not required to be relatable in order for me to love them or to love the book. I cannot articulate well much of my thoughts regarding this book.
Genevieve Mercier (Eva Mercy) is such a strong and brave woman. She went through a lot of trauma during her childhood days and even during her journey as an author and as a person living in this cruel world, such a remarkable woman indeed. I love you, sobra! You're such a splendid woman and an amazing mother that every child could ever have!
Shane Hall is as strong and brave as Eva. Such an inspiration for not forgetting where he came from. He has a purpose to help and guide those children, who are like him (who went through the same experience as them), to dream and not be trained in life to be nefarious humans. You can see his determination to help. As a man, I can't ask for more, such a great man!
Audre Mercier!! I love her character. She is much more cognizant about everything compared to me, who is older than her. I know she's fictional, but I just wish I could be like her.
This book did not make me bawl my eyes out, but it got me teary-eyed. I guess I am not emotional? Still, this book is such a beautiful read in June. I started and finished this book in June! Aside from the emotional feelings, I felt throughout this book, I laughed, smiled, and got exhilarated!
Perhaps, the downside (and can also be considered as an advantage) of this book is I could not relate to the cultural nuances of Black people, which encouraged me to learn about their culture. In addition to the downside is I cannot picture out the settings of the story, though they are already stated. I just use my imagination of what the settings look like. I am also tired of searching for places and what it looks like. I wish I was able to clearly imagine all the settings of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt