afi_whatafireads's reviews
589 reviews

THIS VOLUME WAS SUPER CUTEEEEEE???????

I like that both of our MC's finally have the misunderstanding set aside (would have to have a love triangle suddenly).

I seriously like Hashimoto and her behaviour as well as Aoki. These two are the kind of characters that looks okay from the outside but is always sensitive to the people around them which made me love them even more. This had more progression on Aoki's part as well as he got to deepen his friendship with Aida. Love that for him as well.

As for Ida, I like that he's a bit daft but super serious and doesn't take people's feeling for granted. Love love love ma babies <3 

This book has no business on making me cry so much. Literally having a huge headache cause I was literally sobbing reading the last 30 pages it bloody hurts.

Honestly, I knew that somewhere somewhat, this book will break me, but lord, I didn't expect it to hurt this much. This book deserved every award that it has won and nominated. Its the story of refugees and hope, of the war that is still ongoing even until now, of families that are separated, and of love and a sister's love towards her siblings.

Since I don't think my emotional capacity allows me to write this thoughts out rationally (cause I'm writing this right after finishing the book), these will be raw accounts of what I felt the whole time reading the book.

1. The Realities of War
The North Korea and South Korea dispute is amongst one of the "Forgotten Wars" that is still talked about as the war has never really ended until now. Its always hard to read about the war, especially coming from North Korean refugees, who sacrificed their life to escape from their country. I've always watched documentaries related to North Korean refugess, and honestly, I can never imagine to be at their place, in our modern world now, escaping a country and leaving your home. The fact that this book is roughly based on the experience of the mother's author makes it more heartwrenching. We go through the story of Sora and her family escaping North Korea during the Korean War and how along the way, she got separated with her family with her brother. The fact that she was only 12, made it heartbreaking to read; as, eventho this book is fiction, its based on real events, and somewhat may be the stories of real people. Famine, hunger, sickness and just the act of survival is one that I can never imagine to put myself into and my heart goes all out for the people that are still going through wars in their home country.

2. Sibling Rivalry and Patriarchy in Households Especially in Asian Households
Its no secret sons are considered more worthy than daughters, especially during the 1950's. The sibling rivalry in this story, is something that, honestly you can't blame anyone but only the beliefs of the people at the time that made them to think to have the feelings of rivalry in the first place. Honestly, as much as I want to hate the mother, I can't blame her either and I don't blame Sora or Youngsoo or even Jisoo. These are people that are caught up in the beliefs that women are supposed to only serve whilst men or sons is pampered and needs to be taken care off. Asian Households specially made this real clear and its something that even our society struggle until today. The author had made a good job on showing the inner feelings of each characters, even if the POV is from the voice of Sora.

3. The Child Who Became A Caretaker
I sobbed. So bloody hard to a point it hurts. I guess being caretakers of my younger siblings made me really understand how Sora had felt, and how she had to take the blame for almost everything as she is the eldest daughter and has two younger brothers. I feel that, even if each children has their own roles in the family, the child who became the caretaker holds much more burden in her heart and more resentment sometimes, especially to her mother. I'm frustrated with Sora's mother, but I also understand where she's coming from. Its hard when as a woman especially, we understand the hardships that our mother goes through and it made us emphatic but also, we still felt helpless. In some ways, I liked that the author showed this and its hard reading the feelings of only a child having go through these mindset.

4. The Realities of Refugees
In war, there will always be refugees, and the lives of them are ones that we often forgot or we became oblivious to their hardships. In the case of Sora's family, they were lucky enough to have a family in the South, but what of those who have none to survive? It pains me to read the situations and in war, there is no happiness that comes with it. Only hardships and pain.

Overall, besides some writing technicality aspects, this story stole my heart in more ways than one. I might rewrite this review later cause my head is in shambles, but overall, this is definitely a read that I will remember for a very very long time. Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this copy.

Finishing this manga, I just realized that I have watched the live adaptation already lolol.

And honestly, I FREAKING LOVE THE MANGA EVEN MORE!!!!!!!!!

Personal Ratings : 4.5🌟

Misunderstandings can be troublesome, especially when Aoki misunderstood his crush, Hashimoto into liking the guy at the front of his seat, Ida; when he saw the name carved on Hashimoto's eraser that he lent during the morning of their exam. When the eraser fell down and Ida picked up and saw the carvings, Aoki had confessed it was his to protect Hashimoto's "crush". An unexpected twist and a story of loyalty, friendship and mostly of a budding crush to love.

Thoughts
I love Aoki's character in the manga so much. He's kind and cute and the way he's just loyal to his friends :') I love his relationship with Hashimoto and I wanted to hug him so bad cause he was crying when he found that his longtime crush liked someone else. The fact that he had to admit to liking Ida is something else too :') Hashimoto is a girl character that I liked too and she will become a very good friend to Aoki in understanding the unexpected feelings he came to have with Ida later on.

Whilst its tagged as a Shojo Manga (cause partly, the half of the manga is a shojo manga), its also part half of a BL manga as well; one so fluffy you're smiling as you finish it.

Recommended I freaking love it :')

They say that some books are chosen by the readers, but I believe, especially with this book, that sometimes, its THE BOOKS THAT CHOSE YOU .

And that's exactly what happened with this one, and I had an absolute blast reading it!

The story started with a Rintarou who had suddenly lost his grandfather. He was in a state of loss but didn't know how to process his emotions. Whilst he was caring for the secondhand-bookstore that his grandfather owner, a talking cat suddenly appeared asking him to help save books. A story of love, stories upon stories, finding yourself again, and most importantly, in finding yourself through books.

If you're a reader, I am sure that every reader will appreciate this story, and really, I loved that this book called out to me and not the other way round. I was in a state of limbo whilst reading this and honestly, I experienced and saw the meaning of life again after finishing this book and it gave me a bit of hope, that at the end of the day, you're not alone in this world.

In some ways, I kind of loved how this story is just really straightforward and not the kind that needs fillers. Since the book is written through the lens of a grieving child, I take it that this book has a more of a middle-grade tone like Colorful, in which it made sense why the writing style and character development is the way it is. At the end of the day, sometimes we need stories like this to get us to realize, there's more to life and your self-worth is so much more. Is the matter whether you believe in yourself enough to go on.

Rintarou is a kid that you'll come to love and I liked the idea of learning through different stories of different people in here. The idea to "save books" is something unique as well, and I devoured it instantly. Definitely a read that I would recommend every readers to read at least once in your life. It gave me a breath of energy in the midst of a dark period in my life, and for that I'll be forever thankful, to the author and the translator :)

I didn't expect much going into the book cause let's be real, the moment I heard its about his collection of t-shirts.... I'm here going ... okay?

But wow. I came out laughing and just cackling even towards the end of the book.

I love how REFRESHING this collection of essays are, and fact is, Murakami is just a funny uncle who likes to collect t-shirts and records as a hobby, whilst going for a beer in a jazz bar.

I love how we're diving into his life, and his stories from all around the world with the t-shirts that he owned. Goes to show how he values his things, and quite frankly, I can relate to some things as well. There is a sort of intimacy whilst going into someone's closet and choice of clothings, but I love how Murakami just went all in and talked about where and why he didn't wear his t-shirts. Whats exciting is how we get to somehow go an adventure with him as well, a trip to his past and his experience as a lecturer, as an author and even as a normal human as well.

Whether you're a fan of his works or not, this book will take you by surprise. It has that sort of surprise element that makes you smile at parts, really laughed out loud on notes at certain shirts that he owned and just generally, a wholesome read, one that lets you get inside the author's mind without it being too personal nor too cocky. Such a feel good book and I definitely enjoyed it!

4🌟 for this gem!

Lowkey, I've erased and rewritten what I wanted to write here for about 10 times and this is the version of my thoughts that I'm satisfied with and didn't sound too ranty.

So disclaimers: If you like the book, please skip the review.

If you're like me, who loved the first half and the second half was just blugh, then please continue on reading this.

This book had everything that I liked in a romance book:
✅ Grumpy-sunshine (Male MC is super super grumpy which I still don't mind)
✅ Small-town romance (I freaking love the community)
✅ Heavily family-oriented
✅ Slow burn

Lets talk about the things that I liked in the book first:

1) The Characters
I feel that the author did a good job with every character that she made. Naomi is a character that I really loved and there is a soft spot in my heart for her. The fact that she is a people pleaser makes me 🥺 as well. The small town community is one that I would always appreciate in a romance book, as its a small-tight community that basically knows everything and has your back in cases of bad things happening to you. Love the setting as well.

2) Plot
Plot was okay for me and I would say that the angsty-ness is well-written. I liked that the author explored a topic on twins with very split personalities, and also on topics with a child that is not yours but you learnt to love anyways. The family aspects here is top notch and I would say the spicy scenes were really well-written. It has the perfect amount of angst and passion which makes most of it good.

Now moving on to the part that just made this book really downhill from me:

1) The Unnecessary Conflict
Yow this was my BIGGEST ICK for this book. From the start, we have a mystery and a conflict going on, which for me is already sufficient to move with the plot of the story..... until there was this part that felt so... SUDDEN to a point I had whiplash. I was like.... huh??????? What the heck.....
I think it's a going recurrence for some romance novels to HAVE TO PUT A CONFLICT THAT FEELS SO UNNATURAL AND UNNECESSARY. Like yes, I get where Knox is coming from and I felt sorry for his backstory, but yo, what you did really just got me ... going WTF IS THIS BIJ DOESNT GROVEL I WILL RIOT. And sadly towards the end of the book, it felt so BLOODY RUSHED?????? LIKE EVERYTHING WANTS TO BE JAMMED PACK TOWARDS THE END LIKE PLEASE STOP WHAT IS GOING ON.

Like for a book with 50 chapters, you could've at least cut some pining and move on with some of the plot. Honestly, I would love it if they will explore Knox's vulnerability as well as Naomi's together in a sense that doesn't make them both look like an asshole and one look like a pushover. Instead... haih. It got me sad cause I honestly love the first half of the book but then I stopped so many times towards the second half cause I'm just annoyed at Knox at some point. LIKE YOU'RE 43 CAN YOU PLEASE TALK.

2) So many unanswered things

I dunno if its just me , but I'm kinda icked that Tina is painted at this bad person from the very start till the very end of the book. When we met her, its just that she has issues to work on, and she def loves her kid. And there's Stef with Jer and just everyone else on the sides that just suddenly got.. shoved off? hahahahha. I don't know, but towards the end everyone is suddenly there and it feels that the author is writing it for the sake of .. "hey im gonna write another book so here's Nash and Lina"

So yes, I don't hate the book its just I feel that it has a lot of missing potential :/
And the fact that I actually loved the characters too haih. But I will still read Nash's book next cause I want to know if she actually tie up the loose ends from this one.

Would give a 3.5🌟 for this. Sad cause feel-wise, I loved it :/

The fact that I'm always skeptical with books like these makes me a very objective reader, and I'm glad for this one, I had enjoyed the book immensely. Its witty, its charming and Alderton had written the column in such a way that it makes it relatable.

Dear Dolly is a collection of letters from her "Agony Aunt Column" in the Sunday Times Lifestyle Magazine. Divided into Seven Parts which focuses entirely on different topics like:
1) Dating
2) Friendship
3) Relationships
4) Family
5) Sex
6) Break-ups & Exes
7) Body & Soul
Each story gives brings the readers in part of a stranger's life, and how Alderton responded to each woes that she had received.

I honestly find that problems and insecurities are a universal thing. I guess that's why romance books written by women is always a popular genre because of the need to validate our inner thoughts and feelings. In this case, Alderton has responded to each and every letter in a way that is not only general, but gives a wider perspective and looking at the problem in a different light and angle. I believe thats what separates the line of books like these to become condescending. Its important to note that at the end of the day, all these people that sent letters to Alderton are real people living real lives, which makes her response important to not cause a catastrophic change in someone's choice. I absolutely love how she handles each topics in a way that makes you feel comforted as well, eventhough its not the problem that you are currently facing.

I feel that humans are filled with woes and insecurities and its sometimes nice to let out with a person that doesn't know you at all, in which Alderton had done a great job in emphatizing with each person and giving advices without passing any judgment. Her response are not only witty, but filled with honesty in which I can sense she put her full heart in writing back to these people in her column. It felt as though reading chapters of advices from a close friend, who will give you advices in a way that will make you reflect and ponder upon the choices that you will make.

This is my first book from Alderton and definitely won't be the last. She provides a voice that makes us feel good about ourselves and not only that, this book serves as a good compilation of different problems that basically can happen to anyone and everyone, at different set of ages. Be it a man or a woman, either you're in your teens or in your sixties, you'll find something that will suit you and helpful to you in this book.

Definitely a read that I would recommend! A good one and I think I will find myself reaching it for it in the future in case I needed it :)

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for providing a copy of the book!

Personal Ratings : 4.25🌟

Yow... Its high time Holly Jackson writes an Adult Thriller cause lowkey, this one, DID NOT DISSAPOINT

Not only I that I was tearing up at the end during the revelation, Holly Jackson always know to tug with your emotions, especially with how she pans out her characters. Lowkey, I love this and, although I suspected who the perpetrator was, the reasons behind everything had left me just staring at the book for a good 5 minutes, just trying to process everything that is going on in my head.

A short trip on the road became a nightmare for the 6 friends where they were trapped in the RV that they had used to go on a spring break. Of secrets, lies and betrayals, a somewhat lock-room thriller where everyone is held at gunpoint and you'll need to survive the night to unveil a secret; that only one of them knows.

Personal Ratings : 4.5🌟

Obviously, Holly Jackson has never disappointed me with her works. Even from A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, she has a way in building her characters and interconnect them in such a way that plays and tugs with your heart and heartstring. I loved how distinct each characters are in the book and how Red is this peculiar character that we grew to love towards the end of the book. I get SO. BLOODY. ANTSY reading this and I finished this less than 3 hours, just because I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WTF HAPPENED .

There's something about Jackson's writing that makes you hooked from the very start; and known for her interactive format, Five Survive is put in the format of chapters from 10PM to 6AM , in which every single hour is crucial for their survival. Its like in an episode of 24 but you are in your teens, scared and held at gunpoint.

I would say that the plot was good, but there are some parts in the middle that felt draggy. Kinda wished that we have more background on some of the rest of the characters but I understood that she wanted to focus on one thing than the other. But overall, I enjoyed this book very very much! The pacing was done just right and you are anxious together with the characters :') I teared up a bit at the end and yall, I picked this book at the right time for real.

A read that I would recommend to basically everyone and its venturing out to more New Adult rather than a YA book. Jackson really needs an adult thriller at this point, she has so much potential! Highly recommended and lowkey can't wait for everyone to read this!

Biggest thank you to the team at Harper Reach for this copy! Loved it :')

I started my 2023 right ; with a Higashino book , and with a story that just.... relates to my current predicament in my personal life :')

This is one of those books that you'll reread the pages at the front when revelations upon revelations was served towards the end of the story. I freaking LOVE how this Keigo had made this into a story that is intertwined with so many lives, and that we are all somewhat connected through a string in life and I felt, after Lonely Castle in the Mirror, this is another gem in the Magical Realism genre. Its heartwarming and I love the gestures that the old man started.

The stories of the people in here had one recurring theme; in which humans can't help but to seek validation upon a hard decision in their life. It's hard when you're at a crossroad in your life; and you already know what you'll decide, but sometimes, an unfiltered stranger's opinion in your life is needed. Someone who doesn't know you as a person, nor have met you can pass advices without judgment; and I love how this concept is exceptional to apply in real life. Seek help when you need to, as sometimes, a stranger's advice can be the best liberating move in your life.

Paired with Keigo's beautiful and whimsical writing, with a hint of mystery (he can't run from this), I love how with his own craft, he'd able to create a story that keeps us part of the journey. A book on hope, love , loss and most importantly, being kind and emphatic to one's sorrow. You never know who you will save later on in life.

Highly recommended everyone and this moves to the top of the pyramid where a book stays there in your heart forever and definitely in mine.

 

This one blew my mind in a way that made me quite emotional after processing my thoughts and overall feelings after reading it.

Firstly, before going into this book, out of all the books in the series, I would strongly recommend everyone to be in the right head space when reading this; as for me, this is the most complicated and technical that Craven has wrote out of the first three in the series.

Secondly, eventhough its a standalone series; its still a part of a series, and I STRONGLY urge everyone to read through the first three books in the series to avoid any confusion as the past cases have been mentioned a lot in this book. I strongly suggest to read through the first three.

Now here are my Thoughts for this book.

Honestly, Craven does it again. Despite this book being long and complicated, with the addition of SO MANY terms that made your head spin, as this book in particular revolves around the topic of Military Politics and a UK one as well, it made this case more refined than I thought it did when I started reading it. The way everything turned from the start had made my brain had a whiplash as I think Craven had to go into every detail.

And the thing about Craven's books...... I always learn something new and boy, from this one, I do not want to share anything with anyone.

I missed Poe and ESPECIALLY TIllly and lord Tilly shone in here. Poe as a character is one that you'll genuinely love to follow. Eventho he seemed harsh, at the end of the day, he's one of the characters that threads on the lines between black and white and honestly, I love that for him.

The thing about this book was how messy and tricky Military Politics can be. There's more to it than meets the eye and definitely we can see how it has an effect for everyone involved. In some sense, I liked that we are introduced to the inter-military politics in the UK as most of our media revolves heavily around the US media. In a way, it goes to show that conspiracy theories are there for a reason, and human greed is a scary thing. The end of the book was for me... an emotional one and I understood why it happened the way it did.

And for what's worth, this book will seem long and a tad heavy, but I assure you, in the right headspace, you will definitely enjoyed this as much as I did. Would say Craven did it again and I honestly can't wait to read The Botanist, the next installment in the series!

4.5 Stars for this gem!

Biggest thank you to @definitelybooks for this copy :)