Hello, yes I am back! Hopefully for good. Apologies for being inactive for so many years. I think I was hoping for a better time to continue yapping here about books and other things but looking at how things are only getting worse after the pandemic I figured there is no better time than now to… just exist and claim spaces of our own. Thanks to everyone who stayed subscribed, I have no fancy promises of consistency or mind-blowing content, this is just a page of someone who is always reading.
Without further ado, here’s my FEBRUARY IN BOOKS:
LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING by Tara Frejas – I love this so much. This is a must-read for romance girlies. I also loved the mom-son relationship here. Not toxic boy mom at all (heh). This is fake dating trope done right, with lots of fun and cozy moments set in Baguio, one of my favorite cities.
LADY SUSAN by Jane Austen – This novella is fun and biting. You will enjoy hating (and sometimes loving) Lady Susan’s antics here. I love Jane Austen in this one and this is now on my top two of her works. The epistolary format really elevated the experience. I feel like this is the equivalent of reading tea through messy screenshots in social media back in the 1800s.
KUWENTONG BUTSERO by JL Chua – This was the February BOTM for Talk Bookish To Me PH. It’s a thrilling and challenging collection that sheds light on the murkiest parts of Philippine society and the human heart in general. I loved how the author included small details that connected the short stories together, really adding to the immersive experience of being in the same dark universe. The narrative also constantly change and evolve to different genres: from horror, to drama, science fiction and even comedy.
LOVE ON THE BRAIN by Ali Hazelwood – KILIG so much. I buddy-read this with my book club sisters @page.karla304 and @qapturedreadsby_q. They posted wonderful reviews about this if you want to know more. I also really appreciated the author’s commentaries on standardized testing and its limitations in testing qualifications of individuals.
THE RENOVATION by Kenan Orhan – This novel has magical realism with lots of social and political discussion that is centered on Turkish history but looks so much like my country’s experience, too. I can’t recommend this enough and I will post my full review here soon.
STRANGE HOUSES by Uketsu – I only read this because I want to read Strange Buildings 🤣 They say it would be better than this one. This is not bad, just not my favorite.
THE KISS QUOTIENT by Helen Hoang – This was the February BOTM of Bookish Moms PH. This was a reread for me and it was a revelation. I loved this so much more now and I will always be Team Stella and Michael. I really need to update my old book review here, too.
One thing that changed for the better over the years is the fact that I have continued making connections with the local book communities. I am now an active member of two book clubs: Bookish Moms PH and Talk Bookish To Me PH. I am also active within the Akdang Pinoy community, which aims to promote local books and authors through book events, campaigns, and just last year joined The Filipino Shelf, a non-profit book tour and promotions collective that is exclusive for Filipino literature.
I hope you’re all staying safe and finding little pockets of joy in this chaotic time. May the month of March be kinder to all of us 🌷🌷🌷
