Wicked Review: The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

Format Acquired: Paperback

Date Published: November 1, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Amazon || Barnes and Noble

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

This book is painful and all the while thought provoking and just all around amazing. So, here's Natasha who is about to be deported to Jamaica, where she knows nothing and no one about. All she's known is America, the land where she was born and the land that somehow accepted her despite her nationality. This book is so timely with all the issues regarding nationalities and citizenship in America. Or, well, at least that's how I thought it is. So there.

“To be clear: I don’t believe in fate. But I’m desperate.”

She does everything in her hands just so that she and her family can stay in America so that she can fulfill her dreams. But the law is the law. There's only so much you can do to bend it to your will. I can sort of empathize with Natasha. Moving away is never easy. It's painful. Even though, you're still with your family in this strange new place, it will never be the same again.

I love alternating POVs. It helps me understand the story more because I always believe that there is two sides to every story. But well in this book, not only does it alternate with the POV between the two main characters, it also goes around with the minor characters.

Now, enter Daniel Jae Ho Bae, Korean born in America. He's an aspiring poet who writes about heartbreak, as if he gets his heart broken so many times already. Growing up in an Asian family, there are high expectations. Being an artist is never an option. It's always either a doctor or a lawyer or a banker or a teacher even. He's bound to be one of those if he follows his parents' wishes and not his.

But that's the least of Daniel's worries, I think. He's head over heels in love with Natasha already. Clearly. I do have issues with insta-love. But well, I guess, I can make an exception for Daniel and Natasha.

“There’s a Japanese phrase that I like: koi no yokan. It doesn’t mean love at first sight. It’s closer to love at second sight. It’s the feeling when you meet someone that you’re going to fall in love with them. Maybe you don’t love them right away, but it’s inevitable that you will.”

And so, Daniel tries to make Natasha fall in love with him with just one day. But, Natasha is, in her own words, a realist. She deals with facts. She likes facts. She doesn't believe one bit that she will fall in love with Daniel. But eventually she will.

Nicola Yoon grew up in Jamaica (the island) and Brooklyn (part of Long Island). She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. Everything, Everything is her first novel.

 

Wicked Review: Summer Crush by Jay E. Tria, Tara Frejas and Six de los Reyes

Format Acquired: Kindle Edition

Date Published: April 9, 2017

Genre: Romance, New Adult

Amazon

Beach. Love. Rock and roll.

When life, love, and rock and roll come together on the sandy beaches of La Union for music festival Summer Crush, expect nothing less than the crashing of lips, bodies, and waves against the shore, against each other, and against your soul.

Allow these three tales of love to take you away for an unforgettable weekend.

Ana’s life as a corporate warrior, graduate student, and girlfriend to indie rock band boy Miki starts to spin out of control, and she wonders if it is love that has to give. (You Only Need Reminding, Jay E. Tria)

Newly reinstated EG Project roadie Filipina Legaspi flies with her band back to the Philippines for Summer Crush, unaware of the emotional waves that engulf her when she sets foot in the beaches of San Juan, La Union. (Almost There, Tara Frejas)

Rhys has three problems: Arabella, the theme song with the Trainguy, and singing live for the first time—and now also on that list is Isaiah, sea-sweet Mango Rum kisses, and long overdue decisions she’s intent on avoiding. (Ocean Eyes, Six de los Reyes)

I love these three women. They are the holy trinity of music romance. I swear to God. They are just absolutely amazing. All three stories are set in the author's others book. You Only Need Reminding by Jay E. Tria is set in the world of her Playlist series. Almost There by Tara Frejas is set in the world of Scandalized. Ocean Eyes is set in the world of Just For the Record. If you haven't read any of their other books prior to this one, don't worry. It won't be confusing for you.

You Only Need Reminding by Jay E. Tria

When I read Songs to Get Over You, the second book in the Playlist series, I met Miki, guitarist of Trainman and the lovely corporate warrior that is Ana. While I loved Ana, I didn't like Miki very much. But after You Only Need Reminding, my feelings have started to soften for dear Miki.

Since Ana is a corporate warrior, she's always working 24/7/365. Poor Ana. You'd think that her relationship with Miki would somehow help her destress. Well, it doesn't. I got to know Ana more in this story as she struggles to find the perfect balance of work and life. Don't we all?

So, Miki, being the angel that he is, whisks Ana away to La Union to watch them perform for Summer Crush. But it wasn't without any bumps along the way. Miki was the ever supportive boyfriend to Ana and I would be lying if I said I didn't fall for Miki.

It's the last Friday before freedom. Miki knows it is better conquered with extra rice.

Bless Miki's heart. I understood Ana's struggle. I am at that point in life where I want to achieve a few certain things at this age or at that age. While mine is not as ambitious as Ana's, I admire her strength and her determination to want those things to happen to her. But, sometimes you have to accept that not all things work out the way you want to.  

 Especially you, your person. Because of all the things you want to do and all the things you burden yourself with.

Almost There by Tara Frejas

The second story was more chill than the first. Fi is back as roadie of EGP, East Genesis Project, and they're in the Philippines to perform for Summer Crush. How I missed Steven, Minchan and Yihwan. They're just such a fun bunch of boys. I want them to be my best friends.

While Gabriel and Fi are finally dating, there's still Yihwan. Yihwan who finally realized that he has feelings for Fi. Oh, Jo Yihwan. He was literally almost there in Scandalized. But alas, fate had other plans.

To say that my heart didn't break for Yihwan is an understatement. I have an entire playlist of really the saddest songs in K-Pop and I was listening to it while nursing my broken heart for Yihwan.

For those of you who are working on letting go. It's not easy, but we'll get there eventually.

Truer words never spoken.

Ocean Eyes by Six de los Reyes

Meanwhile, I haven't read Just for the Record. But I knew of it's main characters, Rhys Yalung, in Feels Like Summer. She's a musician under the same label with Arabella, Adrian's band. She is considered to be a genius and well, Little Miss Boss, as Franklin of Arabella "fondly" calls her.

Rhys and Isaiah's relationship is considered to be well, either toxic or mutually beneficial. Beneficial because they were just there for each other fulfilling each other needs. But their timing sucked. Rhys is in a relationship.

We're already in a mess. Have been in it long enough. Aren't you tired?

While this trope is reminiscent of Feels Like Summer, it still has a different spin on this because of the long history Rhys and Isaiah had. I have yet to discover that history when I read Just for the Record one of these days.

But suffice to say that, Ocean Eyes gave me a mix of pain and happiness. No choice is ever easy. To see Rhys fight for what she finally wants definitely paid off in this one.

Loving Isaiah is all the things all at once. From indifference to lust, from lust to trust, and from  trust to love, and somewhere between the lies they find truth.

So there. Even if these stories were different on their own, it blended so well together. It's as if Summer Crush isn't an anthology but like a single entity. #romanceclass authors wielded their magic once again. How I wish theses characters were real and I could see them in person? I want them to be my best friends. Mainly because they have good music taste. PISLABRAKENROL (*winkwink*)

Six de los Reyes has been reading and making up stories for as far as she can remember. In fifth grade, she learned to write about the stories she wanted to read. As a pretend grownup, she writes contemporary romance novels. Her day job doing science has something to do with with being part-time mermaid and a part-time labrat. She currently lives next to the see. Check out her other titles:

- Just for the Record

-Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions

-Sounds Like Summer

Connect with her: Twitter

Jay E. Tria is inspired by daydreams, celebrity crushes, a childhood fascination of Japanese drama and manga, and an incessant itch to travel. She write contemporary young adult and new adult romance. Sometimes, paranormal fantasy too. Check out her other titles:

-Songs of Our Breakup

-Songs to Get Over You

-Songs to Make You Stay

-Majesty

-Blossom Among Flowers

Connect with her: Twitter

Tara Frejas is a cloud-walker who needs caffeine to fuel her travels. By day, she works in project management and events, and she writes down her daydreams at night. She began publishing fiction for public consumption in 2004, posting her pieces on various online channels like fan forums and Blogspot, eventually exploring other avenues like Livejournal, Soomp!, Tumblr, and most recently, Wattpad.

Aside from her obvious love affair with words and persistent muses, Tara is very passionate about being caffeinated, musical theatre, certain genres of music, dancing, dogs, good food, and romancing Norae, her ukelele. She owns a 6-month-old male bunny named Max who sometimes tries to nibble on her writing notes.

Fun fact: She's a Piscean. Go figure.

Check out her other titles:

-Paper Planes Back Home

-The Forget You Brew

-Hustle Play/Settle the Score

-Waiting in the Wings

Connect with her: Twitter

Wicked Review: Scandalized by Tara Frejas

Format Acquired: Paperback

Date Published: May 6, 2016

Genre: Romance

Amazon

Fi Legaspi is living the dream working in Seoul as a road manager for one of South Korea's hottest bands, East Genesis Project. Until she isn't. 

When she finds herself in the middle of a scandal and a hostile fangirl witch hunt, Fi seeks the comfort of home, and to her surprise, not the person she had been pining for for years. All too suddenly it's no longer her career on the line, but also her heart. Will she walk away from everything that matters to her or fight to keep her dream alive?

The minute I found out that this was about K-Pop, I knew I have to pick it up. K-Pop is currently my life right now. I have no regrets. Hah. 

Being a K-Pop for almost a decade now, I knew that their world is as chaotic as ever. Left and right, the artists or sometimes more fondly called as 'idols' are thrust into the spotlight. The Korean music industry is really harsh. REALLY HARSH. Competition is everywhere. Scandals are sometimes a normality even. No scandal is small. But one thing's for sure. It will destroy you.

Okay, maybe destroy is too harsh. But anyways, you get the point. This story touched base on a lot of things. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Let's start with the good. What I love about K-Pop artists is that they're humble. They're really down to earth people. They are one of the most hardworking people I have ever seen. Some Korean artists train for ten years before they even get to debut. The length of your training doesn't guarantee you a solid career the minute you debut. Not only do the artists work hard, but it's also the people behind the scenes that fans rarely even look at like the managers, the PR people, the make up artists, the stylists, the producers, etc. They are a package deal. Without them, well, there will be no idols and vice versa.

Scandalized will show non-K-pop fans a glimpse of how this crazy world works. It's good enough to induce you know ~fangirl feels. The universe knows how much I fangirl on a daiy basis. Hah. Aside from that, readers will be treated to South Korea, the place of pretty things with pretty people. It's enough to make you want to go to South Korea and just explore all things Korean.

On to the bad. Of course, these K-pop artists experience downs. May it be downs in their careers like their new album is a flop or they didn't sell well during their tours. Or when a member of the group leaves. Worse, the group disbands. In some cases, groups leave their entertainment agencies for unfair treatment and venture out on their own. This is also a normal case. I have seen so many acts come and go. Like, the baddest girl group ever, 2NE1 or Super Junior. Being a household name, well, it has a lot of pressure. With East Genesis Project, they are a band. Bands doesn't have a big following unlike boy groups or girl groups. It's difficult to rise a rock band in a world full of synchronized dancing and showy outfits. But, take a chance. They are good. Scandalized showed the daily struggles and pressures of East Genesis Project as a band. Trying to finish an album on time while being on tour. My poor boys.~

And at last, the icing on the cake. The ugly. For Western artists, dating is fine. Well, just choose who you're gonna date or else you'll have a song or worse an entire album written about you. But in the K-pop industry, it's HARSH. REALLY HARSH.

In this book, there's this website called Dispatch, which really exists. That website is like the TMZ of Korea. It breaks the biggest news first, may it be a new collaboration between artists or the success of a tour or album sales or a male artist's military enlistment date or a wedding. Dispatch has all of it. But their creme-de-la-creme is dating rumors and scandals.

Well, okay really. Korea has such a weird outlook of the word "scandal". Or maybe I do. So, Fi and East Genesis Project's frontman, Jo Yihwan was involved in a scandal of some sort. It's not supposed to be that big of a deal, if you ask me. If the scandal was between two artists, it's easy for them to bounce back. Just call your PR team and let them deal with it. But if you're just a regular, working class citizen working behind the scenes. Beware. Danger is coming. It can cost you your career and your life even.

I love how all the characters developed so much despite such circumstances. When you're at your lowest point, how do you even come back? Fi is just so adorable here. She's gentle yet very strong. She wasn't petty about the whole "scandal". She wasn't lost. She just needed time to regroup so that she can come back strong. But she didn't do it alone. She had some help. Well, a very handsome help in the name of Gabriel Park.

Yes, Gabriel Park. Oh, Gabriel. Just when you think the boys of East Genesis Project are enough to satisfy your thirst for the ~oppa. Wait, till you meet, Gabriel Park. I swear. The romance is fluffy at best. Think rainbows and cherry blossoms and ice cream and pastel colors. Just like those fluffy Korean dramas.

Tara Frejas is a cloud-walker who needs caffeine to fuel her travels. By day, she works in project management and events, and she writes down her daydreams at night. She began publishing fiction for public consumption in 2004, posting her pieces on various online channels like fan forums and Blogspot, eventually exploring other avenues like Livejournal, Soomp!, Tumblr, and most recently, Wattpad.

Aside from her obvious love affair with words and persistent muses, Tara is very passionate about being caffeinated, musical theatre, certain genres of music, dancing, dogs, good food, and romancing Norae, her ukelele. She owns a 6-month-old male bunny named Max who sometimes tries to nibble on her writing notes.

Fun fact: She's a Piscean. Go figure.

Check out her other titles:

-Paper Planes Back Home

-The Forget You Brew

-Hustle Play/Settle the Score

-Waiting in the Wings

Connect with her: Twitter