I miss having a real friend. Like, a very close one. A friend who’d notice it whenever I feel bad and would ask, “What’s wrong?” and would actually want to listen to what I have to say.

The blaring sound of the alarm shook her awake, remnants of her disrupted dream still left hazy patches on her mind. It was good dream, could’ve been better, she thought.

It’s the weekend and yet she’s already up early. With the rays of the awakening sun just starting to snatch peeks behind tangles of stray clouds. She was alone in her house, as always. It has been this way ever since, with her preferring isolation, finding solace and basking in the silence of solitude. But today, she was to go out with her scant friends  and pursue her meager attempts in socialization. Friends. The people who only remembered to invite her at the last minute.

As she was taking a shower, in preparation for the coming day ahead, it dawned on her how everything was probably going to turn out. She’ll dress up, put on a bit of make-up, add on a plastered smile to at least look presentable and mask the weariness. Then she’d meet her friends around the corner and head for the mall to watch a movie, or to the park, or wherever else they might think of to chill and kill time. A little bit of talk here, a little reminiscing of the past years and a moment of sweet nostalgia there. There they’d go, catching up with whatever hullabaloos, making snide comments, witty remarks, even slightly offensive jokes.

These were the things normal people do. Normal people who don’t have pathetic lives. Normal, interesting, joyous people like these stuff. The thought exhausted her. All the pretense and efforts to look like she was savoring their company just to maintain an up to par and acceptable level of social status was slowly getting her down. Whoever said that this was how it’s supposed to be? Everything was so repetitive and routinary, it feels fake. It’s as if their lives have been pre-dictated, like they were ignorant marionettes with unbreakable strings, forced to dance and play over and over again.

These thoughts continued to occupy her head even as she finished her bath. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she headed straight to her bed, slumped down against her pillows. Hair still dripping, wetting the sheets, she closed her eyes. Maybe she can’t do it after all. For now, she’ll stay in and rest. Just this once, she didn’t have to go through the motions and satisfy society’s presuppositions. Maybe, it’s time to try  to loosen and sever the society’s suffocating leash and bonds on her marionette’s life.

Fat Kid Rules The Word by K.L. Going

I am a fat kid. Everywhere I go, people’s eyes would turn my way, their gaze following my lumpy shape. I am used to their disgusted stares.  I have no friends. Who would ever want to befriend a 300-pound loser? Even my family looks down on me because of my excessive weight. So I guess no one would even bother when I die.

Generally, that was what goes inside Troy Billing’s head most of the time. Being laughed at all the time for being overweight has become too much of a torment. The only thing people do when he’s around is criticize him silently in their mind. Or so he thought. And so desperate for an escape, he decided that a leap from the subway station to a railway with an incoming train would be the best solution. And so he stood there, contemplating about how funny people would think it is to see a 300-pound kid get splattered by a moving train.

As Troy Billings made up his mind, and chose to continue his plan, a thin homeless boy showed up, standing right beside him. It would not have mattered if the person was just a random stranger. But in this case, the lad beside him wasn’t. Troy suddenly found himself talking to the most popular semi-homeless punk-rock guitar-god their highschool has ever known: Curt McCrae. Now, all of Troy’ efforts killing himself evaporated and Curt declared that he should be compensated for saving Troy’s life.

Together, Troy and Curt take on the world as they help each other realize their worth. What started to be a weird meeting paved way for a very unlikely and unique kind of friendship between the two misfits as they decided to form a band.

Personally, I was able to enjoy the story since I can somehow see myself in Troy. Ever since I was a child, I had been slightly overweight. And of course, with that comes the ever present taunting from my classmates, friends, and even family members. I totally understand Troy’s lack of self-esteem and tendency to engulf himself with self-hate. His self-consciousness is too much to a point that of being too self-centered. He thinks that everything is about him and that everyone cared about how he looks, how he acts or how much he weighs. But then that is not always the case. I mean, I cannot blame him for being too negative about people’s perception of him. But I think he was far too busy expecting the worst that he came to neglect how lucky he was compared to others. He doesn’t realize that other people even envy him.

As for Curt, it was not really clear to me why he did what he did and saved Troy’s life. All I can say is that in saving Troy, he actually saved himself. Somehow, their fated encounter saved them both, in the best way possible. I wouldn’t make any further explanations as to why, for I do not want to spoil anyone of you who would want to read the book too. Let’s just say that even if this story is told in Troy’s perspective, a great deal of it is around Curt, and how he deals with problems of his own.

Overall, the book was very much entertaining and detailed to the point that, at times, you’d be grossed out with the descriptions. It was also hilarious yet very much real and honest, as well. This is one of those very few books which prove that Young Adult literature doesn’t have to be bombarded with supernatural creatures or teenagers falling madly in love with each other. I wish more people could appreciate these kinds of stories as they reveal haunting issues about teens that are usually hushed up and ignored by the society. It deserves my 4.5/5.        

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Please ignore Vera Dietz. Please ignore Vera Dietz! PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ!!!

This was what Vera Dietz screams inside her head, her mantra gone overboard, nowadays. All she wants now is for people to not notice her, to be invisible. She wanted them to look away from her, especially Jenny Flick and her crowd. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts, and wallow the loss of her bestfriend, her love, Charlie Kahn.

Actually, this was not how it was before. Her wish of being ignored was not as desperate. It was not this bad when she hasn’t lost Charlie, twice. Vera was devastated when he died, she was angry. But that was not the time she lost him, no. Vera Dietz lost Charlie Kahn way before his death even occurred, and she could not weigh these two instances and choose which was worse. 

If she could only go back in time, when the only people in the world were her and Charlie, then she’d be happy. Vera Dietz and Charlie Kahn had known each ever seen they were in diapers. I guess that was given and inevitable when their houses are just a walk away, separated only by trees. Since childhood, the two have found solace in each other’s company. In their tree house, they spend their time, talking about life, school, the future, and everything else. This was their escape from their chaotic family. 

Speaking of family, Vera and Charlie keeps each other s’ family secret. Vera lives with her father ever since her mom left when she was twelve years old. That was not the thing she hides from everyone. It was the fact that her mom used to be a stripper and that she eloped with her doctor, away to Las Vegas. For Vera, this secret leaking out was unfathomable and unimaginable. As for Charlie, he has a more complicated problem than Vera. His parents are forever fighting, arguing every night. His father hits her mom and this abusive behavior was known in the Dietz household. They here everything from the shouts, the hitting sounds, and yet, Vera’s father said that it was better to just ignore everything.

Vera and Charlie’s relationship continued for years and all was well. Vera developed feeling for her best friend which she kept secret for she cannot waste the bond they already had. They were living their different lives in school, Charlie being the popular delinquent he was and Vera the quiet, shy, smart and responsible kid. Despite this, at the end of the day, the two would still spend time together at their tree house or at the Master Oak or they would drive to the Pagoda and fly paper planes.

Things took a full turn when Charlie spends a lot more time in detention, hanging out with the Detentionheads and Potheads and Jenny Flick. Suddenly, there was limited time for him and Vera to even see each other. They don’t mention it, but both of them knew that the relationship they built over time was slowly crumbling down. 

And then fate took its toll as lies made their way into the picture. How easy was it to destroy that strong bond with a lie planted by another person? Was it really the end of everything for Vera and Charlie? How could Vera forgive her best friend when just weeks after his betrayal, he just happened to die? Aside from the fact that she was left forever, Vera was also haunted by a secret that could reveal the truth about his death and clear his name. But does she have the heart to give in one more time, help him, even after all the hurtful things he did? Would she do the right thing despite being treated unfairly?

Three words that I think best describes this book: realistic, honest, and relatable. At first, I was wary and unsure of it. I thought that it was just another sappy teen romance story, the typical childhood friend-turn-to-crush-turn-to-love-life kind of thing. But oh, was I wrong. 

What made it different from all those cheesy teenage novels is that it tackles issues that are usually hushed up and kept secret. Everything in this book—from broken families, abandonment to physical and verbal abuse, from pedophilia to betrayal, from alcoholism to escaping one’s destiny—is just exploding with truthfulness. And I think that was the main reason why this book touched so many readers. It was capable of harboring deep emotions from readers and showing it straight to our faces. Reading it was really a trip on an emotional rollercoaster. It was like being there, portraying the characters like it was our own life at play.

Another thing I deeply enjoyed about this book is how it toys with one’s idea of destiny and fate. The story revolves around Vera and Charlie’s struggle of prying away from the mistakes their parents made. And ironically, the process just shoved them back and leads them to be the people they never wanted to be. And it does not end there. It also affected their friendship badly. This was what gets to me the most. I can relate so well with Vera as she wade through life after the betrayal, lost and completely helpless. But what I admire so much about her is that she can control her feelings and that she is just so kind. She never stooped down to get revenge or anything. She kept to herself and endured every single misfortune she had. 

I now understand why this book won the Michael Printz Honor, and I know that it was well deserved. I give this book a 4.5/5.  

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Grueling. Dark. Terrifying. Feared. Merciless.Morbid. These are some of the words that are attributed to Death. For most of us, we depict Death as a heartless creature, capturing and gathering the souls of the departed, bringing them to the place we have yet to know. To some others, it exists as life meets its finality, another unknown to be discovered and explored. But in general, human beings alike find Death a negative force that brings nothing but despair and grief. It is not something to be yearned and befriended.

But what if we are presented with a peculiar and interesting side of Death? One which has a heart that understands and pity the human beings he fetch, a mind that ponders on the mysteries of humanity, and a soul which tires from all the gloomy consequences of carrying the burden of every dead being it guides? And that is what I found as I unearth each page of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief.

There have been a lot of stories told, books published, and movies produced based on the people’s experiences and tales during the Second World War, particularly the time of Hitler’s harrowing reign in Germany. Yes, the Holocaust was devastating yet with it come great stories of heroism, courage, and life. And this book takes a little zoom in on Himmel Street, a small town in Munich, Germany, in the midst of war on 1939. As the Nazis are busy on executing Jews all over the country, Death’s workload seems unending. But in one of his trip to collect yet another young soul, he stumbled upon a little girl, Liesel Meminger. Death witnessed Liesel’s first act of book thievery that sparked his lengthy interest on the girl. And this isn’t his only encounter with the girl. In fact, he was able to pick up the book Lieasel wrote which tells the story of her life. And in turn, it was Death’s selfless act that he shared Liesel Meminger’s story with us—a story of struggles, life, friendship, love, courage, and abandonment.   

“When Death tells a story, you really have to listen.”

Liesel Meminger is a book thief. During her first acquisition, it was not clear why she pick the book from the snow-covered cemetery. She cannot even read at time. She saw the book lying on the ground, and somehow, had the urge to get it. And so her story continues as she was brought to Himmel Street and given to be cared for by her foster parents. From then on, the story blooms as several characters came to light, that will somehow touch Liesel’s life in one, little or great, way or another.  

Here are some names that made their way deep into Liesel’s heart in the duration of Death’s tale: Hans Hubermann, Rosa Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, Ilsa Herman, and of course, Max Vandenburg. The book can be described as a series of hellos and goodbyes, of each relationship formed by Liesel with each of these characters, weaved into one brilliant life-changing story.

To give you a little picture regarding each of these persons, let’s talk about them one by one. Let us start with the first people she met at Himmel Street, Rosa and Hans Hubermann. Imagine a little girl dragged into another unknown place to live with another set of parents. By this time, I think you can understand why Liesel threw her most stubborn character at their faces. But with his kind and patient heart, Hans Hubermann was able to slowly soften Liesel’s unyielding facade and reached the scared little kid hiding inside. And that was the beginning of a very personal and close friendship, perhaps the very reason why Liesel Meminger’s life was saved. The strong bond between Papa Hubermann and Liesel made me yearn for a father’s love so bad. Despite the poverty and tragic misfortunes Liesel experienced, I cannot help but envy her for having the chance to grow up with a father figure embodied by Hans Hubermann. There were times when I had to put the book down just to wipe away tears from my eyes. Tears that made their way, flowing from my eyes, even when the parts I’m reading aren’t actually that emotionally provoking, but just enough to tug on my hearstrings. I think that this is the first book that has touched me like this. 

As for Rosa Hubermann, she is the booming and loud counterpart of her husband. At times, you will hate her for being very harsh, but soon, you’ll realize that this grave woman also has a heart of gold beating deep within her. She is a woman capable of great kindness and care even when everything around her seemed dark.

Next in line comes Rudy Steiner, one of the characters that will linger with me even after finishing the book. Rudy had one single wish in life, and that is to kiss Liesel Meminger, to feel her lips, just once, against his own. And that is the reason why his story became, perhaps, the most depressing and saddening in this book. I guess, I’ll leave it to you to know why this is such, savor the pain. Rudy Steiner became Liesel’s best friend after one game of soccer, and from then on became her partner in crime in every single stealing quest they had.

And then there’s the mayor’s wife, Ilsa Herman. She was one of Rosa’s few customers. She was also the witness to one of Liesel’s book thievery. Every day, Liesel would pick up or deliver her laundry at their doorstep with nothing, even a mere smile or sound, from Ilsa Herman. At first, I was intrigued by her character. Surely, there was something about her cold attitude towards the book thief. And then as I read on, I knew that I was right. She was another book lover as well and she gave Liesel the privilege to read inside her library, letting the girl loose around the brilliance of numerous books. This paved the way to an unlikely friendship and was the reason why Liesel even thought of writing a book of her own.

And last but truly not the least, is Max Vandenburg. One thing you should know about him though: Max Vandenburg is a Jew. In any other time, that would not have been a problem, but we are talking about a story during the Holocaust period and we all know that it clearly isn’t a good time to be a Jew. His appearance in the story may have lead to a series of problems for the Hubermann household, but in a way, without him, the Liesel’s story would not be complete. Even when they knew about his status, Hans Hubermann took Max in their home, to be hidden in the basement. This was to repay his debt from Max’s father, who was the very reason why Hans was still alive. Max Vandenburg’s stay at their home resulted into another strong relationship with Liesel as they both learned their similarities. Both was a broken soul, haunted by the past and left alone to survive. Also, they both cling on the magnificent power of words to survive the harsh times.  Max Vandenburg is my favorite character of all for he was capable of touching the reader’s hearts with his thoughts and stories.  

I guess to sum it all up, Zusak story is really one of a kind for he was able to relay the difficulties of that era as well as the struggles of people in general, especially in coping with grief and loss. Another great thing in this novel was that Death was personified in a very unique way. His perspective was very detailed and inquisitive, not to mention surprising and at times, hilarious. I think that was the reason why this book is a success for it shows us that even Death has a different view of life. His words will make you yearn to know more about the story he is telling. I can even feel like I am at Himmel Street, myself, as he describes each event. 

Oh and just a fair reminder for those who plan on reading this book: If you’re one of those people who despise spoilers, I suggest you try and get used to them beforehand, for this book doesn’t hold back on its facts. At any point, you’ll find that the future events are already being thrown right at your very eyes. Trust me when I say that you can never be prepared with what turning one page of this book could bring.

I think this is the best book I have read this year and Liesel’s story will linger on, permanently etched in my mind even in the long run. The book just blew me away. From the very first page, I was hooked. I had so much emotions the entire duration of reading it and all I can say is that the book was perfect. I fell in love almost immediately. This book very well deserves a 5/5.

You don’t have to force yourself to fit into any crowd. Sometimes, it’s better to be alone yet at peace and honest with your own mind than forever be imprisoned miserably in a pretentious life just so you can be accepted by everyone else.

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Reading a summary of a book which has a main character that can see a person’s date of death in her mind by merely looking at their eyes was definitely the reason why Rachel Ward’s Numbers caught my attention. The anime/manga Deathnote and the movie, Final Destination, immediately popped into my head while reading the gist at the back of the book. Yes, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to get a copy and read it.

The story starts with Jem, a shy quiet girl who tends to spend her time alone and away from people. She might as well be considered as one of the weird kids at their school, not talking much and always keeping a low profile. But how can anyone blame her for being that way when she is carrying around a dark secret she has known all her life? How do you interact with the people around you when one look in their eyes would mean you suddenly knowing the day when their lives would end? And that is how Jem’s life has been for as long as she can remember. This burden is became the main reason why she avoids any kind of relationship with people. In her mind, it would be impossible to be close to anyone when every time she looks at them, the numbers appear, a constant reminder that they will eventually be gone.

That is her way of life until she met Spider in one of her usual chill spots. What started out as mere mutual understanding between two weird introverts blossomed further into a unique friendship. Maybe even more than that. Suddenly, Jem took chances and risks she never thought she can handle. She was drawn into a new kind of experience with Spider beside her. But then during a date in London, Jem foresees a tragic accident, which changed everything. All of a sudden they were blasted into a catastrophic chain of events that would turn their worlds around.

I have to say, I really have mixed feelings with this book. I very much enjoyed the first few chapters as I can strongly relate with Jem’s personality. Like every other teenage loner, we both contemplate with things that aren’t exactly spoken out loud like death. To her, death is a constant thought but not in a suicidal way, it’s just a basic fact of life. We all live and we all die at some point. It is the undeniable truth. And given her unusual sight, I think death would really be part of her every day life.

Halfway through the book, I felt bored and the storyline seemed a bit of a drag and was dull. I wouldn’t reveal any spoilers but let’s just say that I feel that the events did not seem to connect with the premise of book. To me, it became more like a teenage romance, a bit like watching Skins, instead of a mystery/fantasy genre the book promised based on its gist. The book did not quite satisfy the level of adventure and thrill I was expecting. At some point, actually most of the time, the events were very predictable. That, plus I did not feel the excitement I usually get when reading these kinds of books, honestly lessened its appeal to me. 

But then as I neared the end, I was a bit caught off guard as I turned to the very last page. I was a somehow disappointed about one anti-climactic event but what happened after was certainly a cliffhanger and somehow lifted my interest a little. I think I would still want to read the sequel, but not any time soon. Oh, and maybe one redeeming quality of the book was that it is very much quotable. It also makes you think about things as it poses a lot of questions about life. I mean, if someone can tell you the day you will die, would you want to know? If you do, what would you do when you realize that you only have a short time left to live? All in all, this book is a 3.5/5 for me.   

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

We all have this notion that popular girls have it easy, that their lives are perfect, untainted and flawless. And our brains are rattled when these girls suddenly throw away everything and destroy themselves. We wonder what have gone so wrong that they decided to abandon their seemingly godly lives. But of course what we do not know is that maybe, all these could just be facades, tough masks to hide what’s buried underneath, like turbulence hiding under the calm surface of the sea. Sometimes, these people are actually the ones who have the cruelest monsters, silently gnawing at their very souls.

Enter Parker Fadley, the girl who has it all. Well, more like had. Parker was cheerleading captain, a straight A+ student, and the girlfriend of the most popular guy in high school. Yes, she is the girl who’s got everything, the one everyone in her high school envies. But then out of the blue, Parker went from being the perky popular girl to a self-destructive loner. She dumped her boyfriend, got intoxicated with alcohol and drugs almost everyday. Suddenly, she was out of reach but in a negative way. She is still popular but due to other reasons. People now shy away from her like she’s garbage and no one seem to bother as to why the sudden change of attitude. Parker cut every connection she had with her friends and locks herself up in her own tangle of emotions. To everyone’s eyes, her life is definitely spiraling down the drain and nothing or no one might be able to stop it.

But here comes Jake, the new student who seemed very interested with Parker. This persistent guy wanted to pierce through the walls that Parker created around her. No matter how much Parker tried to push people away, Jake’s will seemed unyielding. He knew that the old Parker is in there somewhere. He somehow knew that something went seriously wrong for a girl like Parker to just throw away everything she has. But will he be able to uncover the truth and become Parker’s salvation? Is he ready for whatever it is that Parker is so desperately keeping secret?

In this book, Summers was able to weave a beautiful picture of life as teenager dashed with all the awful, harrowing ingredients like sex, depression, drinking and such. In this book, it is possible to love and hate the main character at an equal extent. To be honest, I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish this one because the first chapter was all about the main character’s bitchy attitude. And I just cannot seem to sympathize with that kind of personality. But then as I trudged through more pages, I suddenly understand where she was coming from. How could you live with yourself after experiencing what Parker had? If you knew that someone would be in deep trouble, would you help pr would you let your fear hinder you from doing the right thing? And that is what this story is really about. What would you do if in every waking moment of your life, your conscience haunts you? Will you find the courage to speak up in order to give justice to those who were wronged, or will the silence eat you up forever, knowing that someone’s life would have been better if only you found the courage to be strong? 

All in all, I enjoyed the book very much. The flashbacks really helped the readers get a glimpse of the past Parker, and somehow let us picture the change that happened better. I would give it a 4/5.

It used to feel like dreaming, except I did wake up.

It’s been almost four years now. I could still remember the way you smile. I can still picture the twinkle in your eye whenever I tell you how much you mean to me. Your laughter is a ghost that constantly haunts me. I miss the talking, the nonsensical chats, the secrets exchanged. I miss how you can remember every detail of the stories I shared. I miss how you can sense my mood even without me talking. I miss your arms around me. I miss everything that we’ve lost.

No matter how much I try to squeeze your very existence into this teensy tiny box and shove into the deepest corners of my head, the memory of you gets out, piece by piece like a stubborn little kid who wouldn’t stop playing. At times, I delude myself into thinking that I have successfully wiped you clean from my brain. But then I would hear this one song, and then the moments we shared would just flash in front of my eyes like a glimpse of recorded videos. And then I would become all miserable knowing that I failed, yet again.

I guess it’s because you were my first in everything. You were the first one who have reached into my very core, in the deepest, most personal way. You were the first person I learned to depend on without any doubts. You became my confidant, the one I fully trust. I grew so attached. You were more than just a boyfriend. You took parts of me and I took some of yours. As cliché and corny as it may sound, you were my puzzle piece.

And when all of it ended, you took that one important piece which, up until now, is a gap that I can’t seem to fill. Yes, we might me “friends” right now, but every time I see you and spend time with you, I can’t help but imagine how it would be like if it worked out between us. Whenever we talk and laugh at past jokes and memories, my mind wanders to an alternate universe where the puzzle is still complete, intact. 

They say that expectations only lead to disappointment..

but somehow, even without all the presumptions and hopes, disappointment will still suffice and present itself.

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Imagine meeting your special person in one of the aisles of your favorite bookstore. It must have been the ultimate fairytale a bookworm could ever hope for. And that’s basically how Dash and Lily’s story unravels, only with a little twist.

As a regular venturer at The Strand, a ginormous bookshop, book-geek Dash was surprised to find a quirky little addition wedged in between two books of his favorite author at his particularly favorite aisle. Out of plain curiosity, he took the red notebook and opened it to find a series of tasks written by another person named Lily.

On the first page was a dare directed to anyone who has time, enough passion for literature and an ample amount of craziness to comply. With all these, Dash went out of his way and started playing the game by accomplishing the first task. This first move became what seemed to be the ticket to a different yet interesting journey of a strange kind of friendship.

For days, Dash and Lily would pass the red notebook back and forth, at various place, with new dares and challenges written on it. With each round, they got to know each other better. And in those conversations on pieces of paper, they found solace in each others’ woven words. 

But words and phrases can only get you so far. Yes, they might have the same interest in books and prose but that doesn’t guarantee that their entire personalities match. It’s so easy to lie using words and hide behind pretentious facades. 

What if the actual Lily wasn’t like the deep, kind and thoughtful one in Dash’s mind? And would the smart, soothing and friendly Dash in Lily’s head be the same as the real version? What would happen if these two people meet and their expectations aren’t met? Do they stick with the fairytale they started or would they just drift apart, letting go of that strange connection?

This is the third book from the Cohn-Levithan collaboration, and it is the second one I’ve read after Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List. Given that kind of premise, how could I not pick up this book? I mean, duh, that would definitely be my kind of fairy tale!

Reading this book, I became much more attached to Dash than to Lily. I see myself in him because we share the same sentiment. I like being alone and I believe that certain holidays are overrated. I also find company in books and like him, I very much enjoy time without my parents.

Lily can be described as quite the opposite, being all bubbly and family-oriented and pet-loving. And I guess that’s the reason why I find it hard to like her character. To me, she seemed an over-the-top goody two-shoes to the point of annoying. She seemed so unrealistic to me. I know this may be due to her issues but still, her character irritates me.

Now, let’s get to the story. At first I was enjoying how they exchange dares and challenges.  I also liked how their friendship started in a very old-fashioned way. I mean, how many people get to meet others in form of writing, and not through texts, social networking sites and the likes? I was eagerly anticipating the next games and I was impatiently waiting for when and how they would actually meet. But that feeling was cut short with an anti-climactic first encounter. I wouldn’t say the details but I can assure you that it wasn’t how I expected their first meeting to be.

From that moment on, my interest with the book diminished. Not fully giving up, I thought things would turn around as I neared the ending but it seemed like the story slipped too far away from the original concept. It’s like the adventure was cut short and another story was attached as the continuation.

Overall, it was a nice story, good for one-time reading. Yes, I might have been disappointed to some extent but when I look at the bigger picture, it’s a sweet story that will make you giddy and hope that someday the same could happen to you. It may get your hopes up in meeting that one person. The story may help readers keep their faith or somehow strengthen it, but not for me. It has a number of hilarious parts and silly events that would make you laugh out loud. I also like the references made about Hermione Granger, Buddy Holiday, and Marie Howe. It was fun and quirky, new concept of getting-to-know. But then again, to me, Dash and Lily’s story was just too good to be true. (or maybe I’m just a bitchy pessimist at that matter). I give it a 3.5/5.