Intermissions: The Fault in Your Stars

I have 5 STARS to give out for each review. The first star is there by default, for the writer's effort. If I give another star, that means I find some of the things in the book (plot, characters, dialogue, etc.) okay. I can still swallow them. The third and fourth stars are my personal feelings for the book—if it's up to my taste or not. I usually know if I should give those stars upon reading the book for the first time. Then I read/scan it for the second time to decide whether I'll give the second star or not. If I add them up, this is how the ratings can be interpreted:

★                CREDITS FOR THE EFFORT (`Cause writing is not easy)
★★             I SEE POTENTIAL (Keep on working hard, Mr/Ms Author)
★★★          I ENJOYED IT (It's worth reading)
★★★★       I LOVED IT (I recommend it)
★★★★★    IT'S A KEEPER (I'll hide this book so it can't be borrowed) 

Sometimes, the reviews do not match the ratings. That's just how it is. It's also why I stick to five stars only—to keep the review as brief and as spoiler-free as possible. We are busy people, aren't we? For all I know, only writers consume what's on this blog in order to find something useful for the improvement of their craft. 

But that's the goal. I'm hoping to see some really good novels in the future.

BOOK REVIEW: Babo Cheorom (Like A Fool) by Jelaine Albert

Photo c/o Precious Pages Corporation

TITLE: Babo Cheorom (Like A Fool) (4747)

AUTHOR: Jelaine Albert

FROM: Precious Hearts Romances

PAGES: 128

“Mas gusto ko pang makipag-away sa `yo kaysa makipagngitian sa ibang babae.”

Magtetreinta anyos, struggling artist, maraming utang, at hiniwalayan ng boyfriend—ang mga iyon ang pinagdaraanan ni Maureen. Dumagdag pa sa mga problema niya ang aksidenteng pagkakabangga niya sa mamahaling kotse ng guwapong businessman na si Gavin Centenno.
Puwede sana itong prospective boyfriend kung hindi lang ito mas bata sa kanya at saksakan pa ng sungit. Sa halip tuloy na maging girlfriend nito, pagiging driver at personal-alalay ang kinabagsakan niya bilang kabayaran sa na-damage niyang sasakyan. Gayunman, hindi niya napigil ang sariling magkagusto kay Gavin. Nang hindi umubra ang kakarampot niyang charm dito ay ibang taktika naman ang sinubukan niya. Nakipagkaibigan siya rito, na tinanggap naman nito. At kasabay ng paglago ng pagkakaibigan nila ay naramdaman din niyang lumalalim na rin ang damdamin nila para sa isa’t isa.
Iyon ang akala niya. Dahil matagal na pala itong pag-aari ng iba...

BOOK REVIEW: The Guy From Apartment 4E by Kensi

 

Photo c/o Precious Pages Corporation

TITLE:  The Guy From Apartment 4E (4672)

AUTHOR: Kensi

FROM: Precious Hearts Romances

PAGES: 128

“I want to be a better man. Hindi ko kayang gawin iyon nang mag-isa. I need inspiration. I need you.”

Moving in to a new apartment was Cece’s first taste of independence. Sa edad na beinte-sais ay hindi pa niya nasusubukang malayo sa kanyang pamilya nang higit sa beinte-kuwatro oras. Wala siyang ibang pinagkakaabalahan kundi ang kanyang trabaho. Her parents thought it was the reason why she was still single. Sa katunayan, isa siyang certified NBSB, as in “no boyfriend since birth.”

Pero hindi naman problema iyon para sa kanya. Naniniwala siya na sooner or later, darating ang araw na mai-in love siya. But what she didn’t know was that it would come sooner rather than later. And it happened without her even realizing it.

Nang masilayan niya ang magagandang mata ng bagong kapitbahay niya ay wala siyang kaalam-alam na iyon na pala ang magiging simula ng pagbabago ng kanyang social status. That was probably because she was busy getting mesmerized by the most captivating eyes she had ever seen, the eyes that belonged to a certain Jasper Montecillo…