renpuspita's reviews
1353 reviews

Sadly, not much Kaiju featured here :')

I'm glad to find my first TOP READ 2024 with The Kaiju Preservation Society, also the first Scalzi's work that I'd read. KPS is pretty much stand alone, but I don't mind if in the future Scalzi decide to write more story in the Kaiju Earth, the alternative of Earth that have kaiju roaming here and there. Anyway, if you think this book will be like Pacific Rim with "WE ARE CANCELLING THE APOCALPSE" ala Marshal Stacker Pentecost, then you will be disappointed. We talk about preservation here, so the main focus of the story is of course, preserve them. Why tho? You will need to find it out in the book. Read it people!

In his Author's note, Scalzi said that KPS is a pop song, with some catchy tunes. That's why despite the book genre is science fiction, genre that I tend to avoid and prefer fantasy instead, I still having fun and a blast while reading it. Sure, there are some explanation about Kaiju biology and ecological system, square-cube laws (physics law. I FREAKIN HATE PHYSICS!!), , nuclear reactor, chemicals to use to avoid the predators and the kaiju as well, the possibility of multiverse (!!), interdimensional barrier, etcetra etcetra that sometimes make my mind boggling and my head spinning. But the way Scalzi present it with adding some humor and I think he try to not being a text book here, is what make me can enjoy it. Basically, KPS is more like Jurassic Park, but instead the ever famous T-Rex or Velociraptor, we get Kaijus! And not the genetically engineered kind ones.

One of the strength of this book is of course the characters itself. Told from our hero's 1st PoV, Jamie Gray, we will be introduced to so many wonderful characters. While Jamie is truly a zero to hero and nerd to the core, sometimes become a center of the attention, I liked that Scalzi also give some scenes to other characters as well. Make them more fleshed out, make me want to care for them and want to be BFF with them. The joke of this book is of course, everybody in the Gold Team of Tanaka Base are doctorate, including the team leader and the copter pilot, while Jamie failed his doctorate and end up fired by his asshole CEO. But, again, Jamie just shrug of that, and become what he best at, lifting things! His dry humor, sarcasm and witty remarks is a delight to read and combined with the bantering between his group of newbies, Aparna, Kahurangi and Niamh is the spotlight of the story. Beside Jamie, I liked Niamh the most. They have a rage issues and didn't hesitant to cuss and being angry all the time. The second is Martin Satie, the pilot. He is a cool person with also a cool position that make sense a lot after what happen when Sanders (Jamie's asshole CEO) try to bought him and Satie didn't hesitate throw him out from the copter if Sanders didn't shut up. Another is Tom Stevens, since he's the person who get Jamie a job in KPS. He's a nice person to be friends with and

I hate with what happen to him! :'(

Like I said before, for a novel with Kaiju on the title, the appearance of the Kaiju is not that much. Only 4 in total, and one of them, Bella, is the main focus of the story. No, don't ask me why they name kaiju with a name taken from Twilight, you must READ it, lol. The kaijus itself are not like those portrayed in Pacific Rim, but more like in the Godzilla. Meaning, they mostly keeping to themselves rather than decide that humans is the snack. But that didn't mean there's no danger, since there also predators and the Kaiju parasites that didn't hesitant to add human into their menus. The climax of the story pretty much Hollywood-esque with the motive of the villain is easy to predict. Still fun to read, but yes, not that hard to guess the motive behind those greedy people. Since the setting of KPS was in pandemic, I think you might proceed with caution if pandemic is a triggering thing, because I know that COVID-19 is still there and the pain of the pandemic caused is still fresh. This book also filled with Scalzi's views toward the USA's presidential elections and his criticism toward the government but without too much "in your face."

If you like your science fiction with some humor and witty dialogue like The Martian (I watch the movie with Matt Damon on it); love anything Kaiju (Pacific Rim is one of the best movie all the time. The sequel is rubbish, sue me!), The Kaiju Preservation Society might right up to your alley!! 

Death by Bubble Tea is the first book of LA Night Market Mysteries, a foodies cozy mystery. After finish read it, I realize that it's have same tone and theme with another foodies cozy that I read at 2023, Arsenic and Adobo. Not only foodies, but also targeted into millenials with some problems that I can recognized because I'm a millenial myself. However, it's also the book weaknesses that I will try to explain later.

The story starting rough with our main heroine, Yale Yee is so doom and gloom of her predicaments. Since the book told entirely from her 1st PoV, Yale's gloomy attitude kinda affect mine so it's hard to sympathize with her. But, with the story unfold, I warmed toward her. As for her cousin, Celine Yee, at first she seems like a spoiled brat and so flippant. Celine and Yale is just like oil and water, they didn't mingle. Celine is an social media influencer while Yale didn't even have a cellphone, a fact that still left me dumbfounded. But together they must playing Nancy Drew to clear Celine's name and safe Yale's dad restaurant from its tarnished reputation because of rumor that the boba tea that Yale sold end up kill a people.

I think the strength of this book is the sisterhood that Yale and Celine have. Celine sure act spoiled and kinda rude, but actually she care about Yale. Yale herself also try to work out of her grief because she believe she was the caused of her Mom's death. The mystery is solid and since the story not set in small town, so Yale and Celine must do an undercover work to solved the mysteries behind the murder by playing false food deliveries. There's some red herrings and I like that Chow incorporated the using of social media to solve the mysteries.

However, with Celine's attitudes, I can't believe she's already in her 33-ish. I sure don't act entitled in age 33, lel. I feel like both Yale and Celine, while in their 3o-ish, more like written if they were in their mid twenties. It's become glaring when I read about Nik Ho, Yale's archnemesis, like a guy aged 30 act childish? Can't believe it, lel. Also with the way Yale avoid having cellphone is unbelievable for me. I mean, in this age when social media is your things? Sure if Yale don't want to have social media herself, then, it's okay. But to not have cellphone is a little bit overkill.

Still, I enjoyed reading Death by Bubble Tea with its solid mystery and satisfied conclusion, although I think what Nik did to the Yee

by publishing a blog post that tarnished Yee's Dad restaurant

is unforgivable and need a very long groveling. Onward to book 2!!

 Gegara buku ini, gue ga akan mendengar lagu Soleram in the same way again XD.

Karena gabut ga ada kerjaan di kantor (jangan ditiru ya teman - teman) dan ga bawa buku buat dibaca, akhirnya gue milih - milih bacaan ringan apa yang bisa dibaca di apps Gramedia Digital. Gue pun tertarik buat baca Creepy Case Club yang kebetulan enam bukunya sudah ada semua di Gramdig. Jumlah halamannya pun ga sampe 200 halaman, dan karena gue rada masokis meski ga suka hehantuan gue tetep baca aja. Toh masih siang ini hahaha. Pun gue jarang baca buku anak - anak

Seandainya gue baca buku ini di umur 10 tahun pasti bakal gue lahap tanpa bertanya - tanya. Gue di umur 36 tahun? Not so much, hahaha. Gue agak mengernyit pas tahu Vedi, salah satu protagonis di buku ini, udah baca The Da Vinci Code di umurnya yang masih 10 tahun. To said I have "bruh" moment is an understatement. Tapi mungkin anak SD jaman sekarang begitu kali ya. Pun karena gue dulu SDnya di daerah dan bukan Jakarta, gue mikirnya anak SD Jakarta ngomongnya apa high tech banget, lel. Eniwei, ini cuma masalah preferensi aja dan gue senangnya penyebutan kata ganti orang ga pake "gue-elo" tapi "aku-kamu". Cukup metropop aja yang pake "gue-elo" :))

Unsur horornya sendiri walau cukup bikin merinding tapi ternyata ga banyak dan lebih fokus sama penyelidikan ketiga tokoh utamanya, Namira, Jani dan Vedi. Awal cerita juga cukup bagus dan pastinya bikin simpati sama Namira, karena gue juga kalau seumuran Namira pasti bete banget pindah rumah dan adaptasi di lingkungan baru. Pertengkarannya dengan Jani pada awalnya juga menggemaskan. Terlepas dari obrolan yang cukup "tinggi" terutama dari Vedi, sebenarnya dialognya emang anak - anak banget kok. Mereka semua bertindak seperti anak SD pada umumnya. Gue juga suka sama ide Rizal Iwan dengan memakai lagu Soleram sebagai dasar dari misteri si hantu. Unik!

Beberapa pesan-pesan di buku ini cukup dapet, kayak when in doubt, always go to the library! Library rules!! Tentunya ada pesan moral juga kalau hidup itu ga melulu hitam dan putih tapi selalu ada alasan dibalik sifat manusia yang dianggap baik atau jahat. Kalau ini yang baca orang dewasa (kayak gue misalnya) pasti bilangnya "ya itu juga kita pada tahu keleusss", tapi karena buku ini emang ditujukan buat anak - anak, jadi ya cukup oke penyampaiannya. Gue juga suka pas bagian di balik kebenaran kenapa si hantu lagu Soleram ini gangguin Namira dan malah jadi agak berkaca - kaca juga pas bacanya, hahaha. Kayaknya buku anak emang lebih gampang bikin terharu yah :')

Kisah Namira yang awalnya pindah rumah ini emang ngingetin gue sama Riley di Inside Out (dan ternyata authornya juga fans film Disney). Bedanya sama Riley, Namira dapet temen baru yaitu Vedi yang songong tapi baik dan Jani yang awalnya "queen bee" banget tapi masih jadi akrab. Ga sabar buat baca kisah - kisah lain dari anggota Creepy Case Club ini! 

What I think at first as your usual cozy mystery but with witch, turn up a mix of paranormal suspense with some cozy elements set in small town with troubled past and a promise of a little romance. Bait and Witch is the first book of Witch Way Librarian Mysteries and also my first foray into Angela M. Sanders book. 

Told entirely from 1st PoV, our heroine, Josephine Way (named after Napoleon's wife, Josephine. Also her older sister named Marie Antoinette. Figures) or Josie fly to Wilfred, Oregon to become the town's new librarian. Feel ordinary at first, but in truth Josie is running from her current job as Congress's library catalogue staff since she just blowing a corruption practice in her office and suddenly her friend (that also a whistleblower) is missing. Afraid for her life, she accept this librarian offer in Wilfred only to find that the said library will be demolished in favor of the new retreat center to boost the town's economy. Still in shock, in the morning Josie also find a dead body, find out that apparently she's a witch and have ability connected to book, try to save the library from turning into retreat center despite she's just a new resident and must look for her life because her mother's prophecy that she will die if she embrace her witch ability.

The start is pretty much slow even the events that happen span in just 2 weeks. By the time Josie find her magical ability, that when story pick up the pace and become interesting. I especially like Josie's magic that make her able to recommend book suitable for people needs. How totally cool!! It's like a librarian's dream come true to able to recommend every book and since I love recommend book I'd read for people that searching for specifics trope or plot, Josie's ability make me green with envy, lol. I also enjoy Josie's voice, her up and downs and since she's still in her mid twenties (aka 25-ish), she sound just like her age, unsure but still determined when it's come to save the library. Her interaction with the town citizen also delightful to read. I liked that Sanders manage to introduce some of the citizen and make me as a reader connected to them.

The mystery about the dead body itself is pretty solid with so many red herrings, distractions, and concluded nicely in the end with some questions answered and surprise too regarding the real culprit. I will said the mystery is not the focus because the main focus of the story is Josie's predicaments since she's a whistleblower. So, more like a suspense about Josie being targeted by the people that she reports to law enforcement. Also, beside suspense, the story is about Josie coming to term with her magic. I can feel her frustration because she think while her magic is wonderful, she also can't control it and she didn't have another witch to teach her. The romance itself is just a glimpse and there's a hints of Josie's possible love interest, who is Sam Wilfred, an enigmatic man of Wilfred family that in the past become responsible for the Wilfred (the town name)'s declining economy state. 

Charming and delightful, I didn't hesitate to order the next books since I want to know if Josie will finally mastered her magic and what comes next in the Wilfred town. 

It's not everyday I read cozy mystery set in ROMANCE NOVEL bookstore, since bookstore that I visit in the books usually sell many genres. Death of a Red-Hot Rancher is the first book of Love is Murder Mystery written by Mimi Granger. While this author seems like a new author, actually Mimi Granger is one of many pen names of Connie Laux and I already read her other pen names books when she write under the name Lucy Ness (her books is Haunted Mansion series). I don't know why the reason behind so many pen names. Maybe to differs genre of the book she writes? I did notice since Lucy Ness write supernatural cozy mysteries, while Mimi Granger write a romcom cozy mysteries.

True to the book description, the story is quirky. The citizens of Tinker Creeks love to gossips. The opening is over the top since I don't get the hotness that the most eligible bachelor in the town, Brody Pierce, has that make many ladies swoon. Yes, I get that he's the small town hero since he also star in the truck commercials but decide to get back home to own a bison ranch. But really, is he that hot to trot? Lel, not likely and I think this is just the way of Granger poke fun to the western kind of hero. Brody is not the hero tho, he's the victim. It's up to our heroine, Lizzie Hale, the owner of the sole romance novel bookstore in Tinker Creeks named Love under the Covers, to solve the mystery of Brody murder since she also want to protect her aunt, Charmaine, because Brody was seen last time with Charmaine. 

I did like Lizzie Hale. This book is told entirely from Lizzie's first PoV and I liked that despite her sleuthing, she have some flaws. Sure she love romance novel and ready to defend said genres from book snobs such as the town local librarian that prefer literature over fiction. But in the real life romance, Lizzie is not sure and her reaction when she fumbling and loss at words while talk with handsome men is kinda adorable. I get it since I once like that, lol. Lizzie is also not tough cookie or badass, she just determined to prove that her aunt is not the culprit. Actually, this part is also the weakness of this book because Granger seems to prolonged with the way Lizzie tip toed around Charmaine. Is Charmaine really have relationship with Brody despite Brody is a ladies man? What Brody did in Charmaine house at night and why they seems so cozy to each other? This is the part that drive me nuts since I want Lizzie just to ask since Charmaine herself also didn't seems like that shocked when knowing news about Brody's death.

Anyway, despite the book have your standard cozy when its come to romance department in which usually the heroine get entangled with the hero whom is part of law enforcement, I like the dynamic between Lizzie and her love interest, Max Alvarez. Usually, in cozy I read, the police/detective/etc will shoo away the heroine of their sleuthing, to mind her own business and stop their investigating. Max is different. He welcome Lizzie's help in investigation. Maybe because while Max is a ranger, he's also outsider and the local cop that happen to be Lizzie cousin is also busy. I liked that Max and Lizzie go together in their investigation and enjoy their interactions. That's why even in the last Max still ask Lizzie to go away, I still can accept it since Max rarely antagonize Lizzie while investigating and he also accept her helps.

The mystery is solid and the culprit is can be predicted though the whydunnit is still believable. Aside of the mystery, I liked that this book have so many bookish elements and I recognize some of author names. Even the authors is the old ones such as Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Georgette Heyer and some recent ones like Julia Quinn and Tessa Dare. The romance theme ofc will not complete without one or two paragraph mention Pride and Prejudice, lol. I have a blast reading Death of Red-Hot Rancher because Mimi Granger can balanced the mystery, romance, humor and the dynamic of the small town citizens. 

Also, the doggo, Violet is freakin' adorable! 🥰 

Mrs Morris and the Ghost is the first installment of Salem B&B Mystery and also the first book by Traci Wilton, a pen name used by Patrice Wilton and Traci Hall. Never read their books before so this is also the first time I read them. I pick it because for cozy mystery I usually search for foodies or supernatural theme. The title itself already catchy and the premise while seems standard at first (ghost and haunting place) still make me want to try.

This book is more like paranormal romance with mystery element rather than cozy mystery although still retain some cozy elements. I liked that the heroine, Charlene is already in her 42-ish and also childless so I kinda connected with her because of our same conditions. Mrs Morris and the Ghost also deals with grief, a topic that maybe hard to read especially I can feel Charlene's grief after her husband passed away and how she decide to move on while still grieving said husband. The mystery is solid, the characters are charming, the cat also adorable although she didn't provide some help to the case. There's a possibility of love triangle for Charlene, with Jack Strathmore aka the ghost that Charlene help to solve his murder is, and the local detective, Sam Holden that vaguely resemble Sam Elliot with his mustache. One is already dead, others is pretty much living, but both are devastatingly attractive. However the romance is the slow burn kind, since Charlene is still can't let go of the memories of her deceased husband. Although I got the guts that Charlene and Jack relationship will fall to platonic, since Jack is..you know..dead. Also Jack pretty much have tempers, constantly jealous and didn't want to face some truth about his death at first.

While I enjoy the story and the mystery, I didn't like how many male characters in this book seems smitten to Charlene. Not only Jack and Sam, but also the truck driver, the worker and even the bartender? Seems a little bit overkill for me, lel. Also the reason behind Jack's death is too soap opera-ish for me, I just rolling my eyes. But what can I expect from old families in Salem that pride themselves of their heritage? There's must be scandal left and right. 

However, I will still continue to read Charlene's adventure in mystery sleuthing and managing her B&B. Of course she will be accompany by her cat, Silva that have her eyes color wrong in the book cover (her eyes is gold) and by the development of the story ending; with Jack that decide haunting a old mansion is a new, prospective career. Beside, I already collect the books up to book 7, so I must read them all 🤣🤣 

The Rocky Road to Ruin is my first foray into Meri Allen's writing. It's also the first installment of Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I love ice cream and will scream for ice cream anytime, although too much ice cream is not good for you weight. That's why I decide to pick this book just because the ice cream factor alone. The title is of course a tongue-in-cheek, since it's refer to "rocky road" taste that I'm not familiar yet but when I googling it, it's actually a chocolate ice cream mixed with nuts and marshmallow. Huh, I must check it if the Indonesian gelato/ice cream shop have this kind of taste. It's also refer to the name of one of the kitten in this book, Rocky.

At first, I think the main character aka Riley Rhodes's job as a travel/food blogger and librarian but she also did undercover mission for C.I.A is a little bit overkill. Though, in the story Riley just got dispatched from CIA because of mission going wrong so she's now just your usual blogger and librarian. But, fate have another plan for her when Riley decide to go home to Penniman and seeing her best friend, Caroline must deal with not only Caroline's foster mother death but also the death of her sibling, Mike. The latest become a problem because everyone in the Penniman have motive to kill Mike, including Caroline and Riley herself since Mike is not winning trophy for best sibling ever. Just like your usual cozy mystery, Riley start to sleuthing, but in the other side also working in the ice cream shop, Udderly Delights

Told entirely from Riley's first PoV, I did enjoy Riley's voice. I also liked the fact that Riley is in the same age with me (35-ish) so her voice sound mature and except for her mission going wrong, she's far from reckless. Sure she is driven by her needs to protect Caroline since Caroline is her best friend, but there's little to none stupid actions that will make me shake my head. The mystery is pretty solid and engaging. The culprit is those that "I didn't see it coming" though the explanation of their motive seems rushed for me. I liked the interaction between Riley with Penniman residence and how she still unsure about her step-mother. Also, the romance is pretty unique because usually in cozy I read, the heroine will be paired with the law enforcement, but that not the case with The Rocky Road to Ruin. Sure there's a hot detective but he's not Riley's love interest and I liked that Allen still didn't decide who will be Riley's beau since there are some prospective men that Riley appreciate and admit that she was interested.

The thing that make this cozy feel different is the issue of the gentrification that Allen put into the narrative with some of young generations want to develop Penniman with real estate (modern apartment, mall, etc) but the older residents divided in opinion. This gentrification issue is still not solved so maybe that will be addressed later in the next book. The description of the ice creams is of course very DELICIOUS and I appreciate the recipes for boozy ice cream that Allen included in the book. I just hope she also put the sugar high ice cream recipe that create accidentally by Udderly's worker since the ice cream become viral with teenager alike. I admit I'm drooling each time I read the description of the ice cream taste and craving an ice cream for myself :9

I will read the next book and if Riley will start sleuthing again when dead body start to fall (she will!), and of course I will get many description about delicious ice cream. Oh not forget, the kitten. The kitten is also the spotlight!! 

 4 bintang

BUKU PERTAMA YANG GUE SELESAI BACA DI TAHUN 2024!!

Review mengandung beberapa spoiler karena ada perbandingan dengan versi filmnya XD. Silakan klik "view spoiler" jika berkenan ;3

Gue mungkin termasuk yang telat baca buku LOTR despite already watch the trilogy (extended version ofc) for many times. Waktu LOTR dulu pertama tayang, itu di akhir tahun 2001 dimana gue masih  kelas 3 SMP dan lebih milih nonton Harry Potter. Kek, ya gue sebagai anak SMP waktu itu emang ga banyak baca buku fantasy dan lebih milih Harpot yang secara umur ga jauh beda ma gue kan. Bahkan gue anggap LOTR waktu itu "wah apa nich mau nyaingin HP yah??".

How wrong I am, lel.

Gue akuin untuk Fellowship of the Ring ini baik buku maupun filmnya, sama - sama boring pada awalnya XD. Untuk film, Fellowship memang my least favorite from LOTR trilogy sedangkan untuk buku pendapat gue belum final karena gue belum baca Two Towers dan Return of the King. Gue sendiri nonton filmnya untuk versi extended baru di tahun 2010an, itu juga dapat bajakan (tahun segitu ya gaes, yang streaming resmi2 belum banyak. Gomennasai, wkwk). Nonton extended emang bikin gue jatuh cinta dan nyesel kenapa dulu pas LOTR pertama diputer gue ga nonton di bioskop ya? Meski setelahnya tahu ada bukunya, gue juga ga baca2 bukunya, sampai akhirnya kawan - kawan BBI menghadiahkan gue boxset terjemahan Lord of the Rings (plus The Hobbit) untuk hadiah pernikahan gue di 2013 (MAKASIH YA GAES. GUE TERHARU, HUHUHU).

Sayangnya, bahkan dengan usaha gue di 2013 untuk baca Fellowship itu gagal karena gue ngerasa "kok..bosen yah?". Tiap tahun gue bikin resolusi baca, pokoknya minimal harus selesai baca trilogy LOTR dan sekian tahun berlalu pun masih ga kesampaian. Lucunya lagi, gue tuh baca The Silmarillion DULUAN. Kacau ga tuh? Harusnya baca LOTR dulu, ini malah baca compendiumnya, wkwkwk. Akhirnya di penghujung 2023 lalu, gue bener - bener maksain diri buat baca Fellowship of the Ring dan sesuai dugaan gue.. iyah BOSEN BANGET. Gue sempat berhenti sampai 1,5 bulan sebelum lanjut baca di awal Januari 2024 and finally, I DID IT!

Panjang bener ini curhatan dan intermezzonya, reviewnya mana Ren?

SABAAR XD

Ga berlebihan rasanya kalau gue bilang awal - awal Fellowship itu sangat membosankan dan kering kerontang. Disini gue mengagumi Peter Jackson yang dengan segala upaya berusaha memampatkan kisah Frodo dkk di buku pertama menjadi film 3 jam dan tetap patuh sama bukunya meski ya BANYAK SEKALI penyesuaiannya karena kendala durasi film. Beberapa hal - hal yang beda antara film dan bukunya ada disini:

1. Pippin dan Merry nyolong kembang api di Pesta Bilbo itu cuma ada di film aja. Gue merasa karakterisasi Pippin dan Merry lebih kocak dan playful di film, karena di buku kayak biasa banget
2. Selang dari Pesta Bilbo sampai Frodo berangkat perjalanan itu kalau di buku sampai belasan tahun! Jadi waktu pesta ultah Bilbo, Frodo masih 30an dan saat berangkat dia udah mau 50an. Eniwei, untuk ukuran hobbit, umur 50an ini masih jelang dewasa ya. Karena umur mereka emang termasuk panjang.
3. Kalau di film, terasa banget kan buru - burunya Frodo sama Sam pergi dari Shire. Nah, di buku tuh Frodo aja masih sempat jual rumahnya! XD Seriusan, pace bukunya se-slow itu. Frodo bahkan masih sempat ketemu elf yang nantinya akan melindungi mereka dari kejaran ringwraith untuk sementara. Adegan yang menurut gue sayang dihilangkan di film karena adegan ini nunjukin kalau Frodo sangat paham bahasa Elf dan berteman baik dengan mereka.
4. Pippin dan Merry ga memergoki Frodo di ladang Farmer Maggot kayak di film tapi mereka ikut dengan sukarela dan udah siap banget. Frodo aja masih sempat minum teh di rumah Farmer Maggot. Meski udah kerasa mulai intense, vibe perjalanan Frodo dkk berasa kayak piknik aja. Bahkan naik ferry ke Bree aja dianterin, bukannya dikejar - kejar Ringwraith
5. Ada beberapa bab yang dipangkas sama Peter Jackson dan semua bab ini ada hubungannya dengan Tom Bombadil. Gue ga terlalu paham kenapa sampai 4 bab ga diceritain di film, mungkin dirasa ga ada tokoh Tom pun gapapa karena ternyata di animasi versinya Ralph Bakhsi pun si Tom ini juga ga ada. Padahal Tom Bombadil sendiri menarik karena dia dianggap entitas terpisah dari semua makhluk di Middle Earth. Sampe gue ngira mungkin Tom ini salah satu personifikasinya Eru Iluvatar, penciptanya Middle Earth. Bisa jadi tokoh Tom tidak ada supaya fokus cerita di film ga kepecah kemana - mana
6. Berbeda dengan film dimana pecahan pedang Narsil (pedangnya Isildur) ditaruh di Rivendell, di bukunya Aragorn malah bawa kemana - mana si Narsil ini. Bahkan pedangnya ditempa kembali dan dinamai Anduril itu ya sejak buku 1, bukannya kayak di film baru dikasih ke Aragorn pas malem sebelum perang lawan Sauron di Pelenor Fields. Karakter dan sifat Aragorn emang bedanya mayan antara film dan buku. Kalau di film, Aragorn itu terasa seperti karakter yang ragu untuk jadi Raja Gondor, sementara di buku udah pede aja meski kadang juga agak ragu (tapi ga separah di film). Walau aura suramnya masih tetep sama, tapi gue merasa Aragorn versi film (kyaa, Viggo Mortensen, kyaaa XD) itu agak lebih lembut ketimbang versi bukunya yang lebih kasar dan tegas
7. Yang membawa Frodo ke Rivendell naik kuda bernama Asfaloth tuh bukan Arwen, tapi Glorfindel!! Yup, ini salah satu bagian yang kalau gue baca2 di forum dan wiki banyak yang protes juga. Di buku, Frodo naik Asfaloth sendirian walau tetep didampingi Glorfindel di sampingnya.
8. Jangan berharap ada kisah romansa Arwen dan Aragorn yang melankoli di filmnya itu ada juga di bukunya, karena di buku cuma dibahas sekilas. Bahkan penampilan Arwen aja juga cuma 1-2 kalimat XD. Arwen di buku kebanyakan emang diceritakan dari sudut pandang orang lain, seperti Aragorn atau Galadriel. Plus kalung Evenstar yang dipakai Aragorn tuh ga dikasihkan sama Arwen kalau di bukunya, tapi oleh Galadriel. Gue merasa di film mungkin supaya berasa romantis, sementara kalau di buku lebih ke arah Galadriel memberikan restunya sama Aragorn selain jadi Raja Gondor juga jadi pendampingnya Arwen mengingat Galadriel tuh neneknya Arwen juga.
9. Adegan Dewan Penasihat Elrond jauh lebih intense di filmnya. Kalau di buku ya kayak rapat biasa aja plus banyak trivia tentang sejarah Middle Earth yang bakal jelas kalau abis selese trilogynya, lanjut the Silmarillion. Jadi di buku ga ada tuh adegan "One doesn't simply walk to Mordor" atau "You have my sword/bow/axe", hehehe. Bahkan walau Dwarf dan Elf emang ga akur, tapi ga kelihatan rasa permusuhan antara Gimli dan Legolas, ga kayak di film yang kelihatan banget.
10. Dari cerita Gandalf pas dia ditawan Saruman, ternyata Gandalf masih sempat ke Rohan dan bahkan dikasih kuda yang dinamain Shadowfax. Di film Fellowship emang ga ada dan kalau dah nonton Two Tower langsung dibilang kalau Shadowfax itu Mearas, salah satu kuda sihir. Aslinya kalau di buku ya, emang Mearas sih, tapi kudanya ternyata dikasih sama Theoden bukan tahu - tahu ada XD
11. Kalau di film habis adegan Dewan Elrond, Frodo bersama Sam, Pippin, Merry terus Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas dan Boromir ditahbiskan sama Elrond jadi Fellowship of the Ring dan langsung buru - buru pergi jalan ke Mount Doom; nah di buku tidak begitu ya bestie. Frodo masih sempat bermukim di Rivendell sampai dua bulan sambil nungguin Aragorn balik dari perjalanan bareng kakaknya Arwen (Elohir & Elladan) buat mata - matain pergerakan musuh. Santai banget ga sih? XD
12. Adegan - adegan selanjutnya lewat Caradhras, tambang Moria,  Gandalf gugur ngelawan Balrog dan akhirnya rombongan pergi ke Lothlorien itu hampir sama antara buku dan film meski dengan beberapa penyesuaian. Ada beda yang cukup menarik karena di buku Frodo ga sendirian pas melihat ke cerminnya Galadriel karena ada Sam juga. Tapi ini cuma perubahan kecil aja dan ga terlalu ngefek juga ke cerita secara keseluruhan. Karena toh adegan Galadriel yang nolak godaan Cincin itu masih ada dan bahkan jauh lebih bagus diadaptasi di filmnya.
13. Ending film dan buku BEDA BANGET SEBEDA - BEDANYAAAA. Kalau di film kan diakhiri dengan kematian Boromir, nah di buku tuh Boromir tuh masih hidup. Bahkan ga ada istilah Uruk-hai di buku ini. Gue curiga kematian Boromir dan kemunculan Uruk hai tuh aslinya ada di buku Two Towers tapi biar filmnya berakhir dengan lebih dramatis lagi maka adegan kematian Boromir ini dicepetin.

Panjang ya spoiler buat bandingin film dan bukunya, and maybe I will repeat it again for Two Towers and Return of the King XD. Gue merasa baik film maupun buku punya daya tariknya masing - masing. Terlepas dengan begitu banyaknya perbedaan antara buku dan film, gue bersyukur buat nonton filmnya dulu baru baca bukunya sehingga ngedumelnya ga separah waktu dulu baca The Hobbit terus nonton filmnya (Huh, Tauriel? Siapa tuh Tauriel??). Meski boring dan kering pada awalnya, pace ceritanya mulai seru setelah Frodo sampai di Rivendell dan mulai perjalanan untuk menghancurkan cincin. Jadi setengah bagian pertama buku emang bikin ngantuk sampai gue aja berhenti baca 1,5 bulan, tapi bagian keduanya seru sampai gue baca tiap hari (sambil update reading thread juga sih). Prof Tolkien emang kalau nulis deskripsinya astaga panjang bener dan mampir kesana - kemari, tapi gue dapatin gue juga sebenarnya menikmati baca karena banyak hal - hal di buku yang ga ada di film. Prof Tolkien juga banyak memasukkan unsur puisi dan lagu - lagu, yang membuat aura magis LOTR semakin kental dan kaya. Karena layaknya fantasy jaman dulu, tradisi penceritaan masih banyak dari mulut ke mulut. Untuk terjemahannya bagus dan minimal mudah diikuti. Bahkan gue kagum sama terjemahan puisi dan lagunya yang bisa banget berima, walau gue juga penasaran sama versi aslinya kayak gimana. Yang gue perhatikan untuk dialog emang banyak tanda seru dan kata "Aduh! Ternyata bla bla bla", yang malah jadi lucu waktu dibaca, apa mungkin kecenderungan orang jaman dulu yang dramatis XD.

Salah satu buku fantasy yang menurut gue masuk dalam daftar buku yang minimal dibaca sekali dalam seumur hidup, apalagi kalau kamu ngakunya fans genre fantasy :D. Mana yang lebih baik, apakah nonton filmnya dulu atau baca bukunya? Kalau gue, emang mending nonton filmnya dulu baru baca bukunya, karena bedanya cukup jauh. Plus, perlakukan keduanya sebagai media yang berbeda, karena filmnya bagus (and majestic af!) tapi bukunya juga bagus dan kalau kamu penyuka buku yg world buildingnya detail plus deskriptif, you will enjoy the book more. Tentunya agak sabar pas baca bagian pertamanya yang emang agak bosenin itu, karena setelahnya ceritanya baru mulai menarik!

 My 100th book read in 2023!!!

Quite accomplishment compared to later years when I'm in reading slump, so this is a good news to me, lel. I'm glad I choose this title since I already intrigued when reading the blurb and people reviews despite never reading or watching Much Ado About Nothing. Beatrice (aka Bea) and James (aka Jamie) might be start in rocky steps because Bea's twin (Jules) and her colleagues try to matchmaking Bea and Jamie to be together. Then, they start to fake dating for revenge to those meddlers but when they start to getting know each other better than their first impression aka their meet-disaster, they realize the fake dating suddenly become real. Honestly, a pretty much standard trope, enemies (or frenemies?) to lovers plus fake dating, but Liese execute it very well.

The romance is swoony and full of moments or dialogue that make me go "awwww". I mean despite being uptight, stern and deal with anxiety, Jamie is the greenest flag heroes ever walk, a beta male to the core. He understand Bea's autism spectrum and even his first impression of Bea is not that good, when Bea tell him that she is a neurodivergent, Jamie always prioritize Bea first. I mean, make a veggie puree since Jamie know Bea have difficulty to eat veggie because its texture and constantly ask her condition in the new and strange place? If that's not a green flag, then I don't know what it is. Not only Jamie to Bea, but Bea herself also understanding Jamie's anxiety, slowly heal him from his uncertainty. I did like their dynamics, even though their act seems childish as first with all that fake dating as a revenge plot, but since both are unique individuals, I don't mind at all. Since the book is written in 1st PoV, I liked that Liese successfully write both characters PoV, make them feel and sound different. I also like that Liese incorporated her views about romance genres as well without feel too-in-your-face. Yep, romance need a happy ending, and if there's no happy ending, it's a love story, not romance per se :P.

The sex scenes are steamy, although its happen near the end, lel. This book really take a very long slooooow burn to the next level. The sexual tensions is ofc plenty and since we get to read both Bea and Jamie's first PoV, reader got insight into their inner thought and sexual frustration plus longing as well. So, with the way of their slow burn written, all of them are paid off not only one but two VERY WELL written sex scenes (lube using, edging, Jamie act and talk all French-y to give Bea plenty of petite mort, wew!) and left me a happy reader in the end, lel. From the sexuality aspect, the characters are pretty diverse since Bea is a pan, Jules is a bi and their friend also varied in sexuality as well. 

However, I did have complaint. Not only the sex happen near the end (still good, tbh), the main conflict also feel rushed and got solved quickly. In the positive side, I'm glad that the drama that ensues didn't prolong that much, but I also hate that it happen in just 1-2 chapters. The conflict that is

third act breakup, a staple in this genre, is weirdly executed. I feel like we didn't need that breakup and the reason is because of Jules and her toxic fiance, Jean-Claude in which Jean-Claude also Jamie's close acquaintance. So Bea decide to break (for a moment) because she afraid that if Jules see Jamie, Jules will be triggered. While I appreciate Bea's consideration for Jules's feeling since Bea herself knew how it feels to be in toxic relationship with her ex, I feel like Bea try to jump in conclusion too fast and in the end kinda hurt Jamie feeling since Jamie himself also just healed from toxic relationship in which he always feel he didn't enough for his ex. Yep, it's pretty much complicated and a jumbling mess, lol. And its resolved in only one chapter and they finally got their happy ending (with a one last hot sex scene). The end

. The way the meddlers try to shove Bea and Jamie at first in maybe can be too annoying to read, since we read them from Bea's PoV. I did mention that Bea and Jamie's first impression is kind of meet-disaster, and maybe can be seen as childish despite they already in their 30-ish but eh, I'm 35+++ myself and still act childish, lol.

Complaint asides, I pretty much enjoy reading Two Wrongs Make A Right and this is also my first time reading about neurodivergent characters. I feel that I can connect to them and understand why Bea act like that and how Liese also handle Jamie's anxiety as well. The angst itself is still bearable although I wish Liese write the conflicts differently. All in all, a pretty good read to close my 2023! I recommend this book even you already read/watch Much Ado About Nothing or not yet, and also love frenemies to lover trope and fake dating as well.

PS: Another littleeee complaint for the cover. Bea constantly describe Jamie as being tall and Jamie himself confirm that he's 6 ft 4" tall. I got the impression that Bea is maybe shorter by 20-30 cm. But the cover didn't show that XD. Still a pretty good cover, though! 

Dibandingkan sama buku kedua, Rainshadow Road, Dream Lake ini menurut gue ada sedikit penurunan kualitas terutama dari segi hubungan antara dua karakter utamanya. Mungkin karena itu juga gue baca Dream Lake ga sat set sat set kayak baca Rainshadow Road. Selain lagi hectic banget, gue juga kurang merasakan romansanya Alex sama Zoe. Benernya kisah romansa mereka itu trope yang grumpy bf x sunshine gf. Plek ketiplek tanpa ada modifikasi. Alex ga cuma sekedar grumpy, tapi bitter to the core gegara pernikahannya yang gagal sama mantan istrinya, Darcy. Selain itu Alex juga alkoholik, tiap ada masalah pokoknya minum-minum biar masalahnya selesai. Gue juga ga ngerti walau udah cere, Alex masih tetep having sex sama Darcy, simply karena butuh pelepasan. Bahkan alasan mereka menikah sejak awal pun gue ga ngerti. I mean, kalau cuma butuh HS doang buat pelampiasan nafsu, mending ga usah nikah aja. Tapi ya, jadi ga ada konfliknya ya hahahaha. Karena perceraian Alex sama Darcy inilah yang bikin Alex nanti bakal terhubung ke Zoe.

Zoe sendiri ya typical sunshine girl yang walau perceraiannya menyakitkan (mantan suaminya ternyata gay yang denial) dan ayah kandungnya ga sayang, tapi Zoe ini masih ceria dan percaya sama cinta. Sejujurnya Zoe ini ya tipikal salah satu cewe yang yakin bisa "menyembuhkan" tokoh cowonya yang bitter, dalam hal ini Alex, untuk jadi lebih baik. Kalau kamu suka trope2 model ginian, ya bakal suka. Gue sendiri ga terlalu, kayak yang ini corny abis ga sih trope cewe bisa menyembuhkan luka batin cowo hanya karena cinta wkwk. Walau gitu penulisan tante Lisa mah tetep juara. Zoe pun diceritakan piawai dalam memasak jadi banyak deskripsi masakan di buku ini yang minimal bikin kamu ngiler.

Yang membuat Dream Lake menarik menurut gue bukan perkembangan karakter Alex menjadi lebih baik atau kisah cintanya sama Zoe, tapi identitas si hantu yang nempel ke Alex. Meneruskan subgenre magical realism di buku 2 (Rainshadow Road), tante Lisa menambahkan unsur supranatural dimana seorang (?) hantu menghantui Alex pas Alex lagi benerin rumah Sam di Rainshadow Road. Bagi gue, teka teki identitas si hantu sebenarnya lah yang bikin buku ini asyik buat dibaca. Kita diajak menebak - nebak siapa sih hantu dan kenapa dia ga bisa pergi ke alam baka karena ada sesuatu yang menahan di bumi. Pas akhirnya tahu, kita juga merasa trenyuh, karena kisah cinta si hantu emang dasarnya tragedi. Tapi karena ini romansa ya, selain Alex sama Zoe dapat happy endnya, si hantu akhirnya juga bisa bersatu dengan love of his past life. Selain hantu, tante Lisa juga memasukkan unsur magical di masakan Zoe. Dimana siapapun yang makan masakan dia, bakal merasakan sesuatu yang lebih atau membahagiakan. Nyari orang kayak Zoe ini dimana ya, karena gue kan hobi makan XD.

Tidak ada antagonis di buku ini, ga kayak adik sama mantan Lucy yang dajjal di buku 2. Kalaupun ada, bisa dibilang, antagonisnya ada dua. Alex sendiri dan ayahnya Zoe yang meninggalkan Zoe tanpa alasan yang bahkan sampai akhir pun ga bener2 jelas (alasannya karena Zoe mirip sama ibunya yang dulu meninggalkan ayahnya pas Zoe kecil. Tapi ini juga ga ada penyelesaiannya). Gue agak kesel juga sama Alex yang mati2an menyangkal perasaan tapi nafsu juga sama Zoe. Ah elah, wkwkw. Gue sepertinya lebih cocok sama kisah romansa Sam dan Lucy yang walau awalnya friend with (sex) benefit tapi slow burn mereka tuh dapat banget. Gue cuma mendapat kesan kalau Zoe itu cinta Alex karena pria itu terluka batinnya, jadi dia pengen nyembuhkan lukanya Alex. Kalau misal Alex itu minimal kayak Sam, meski terluka tapi ga yang bitter, gue ga yakin juga Alex sama Zoe bakal jadian. 

Eniwei, terjemahannya tetep enak dibaca. Steamy factornya juga wadidaw wadaw dan gue cukup apreasiasi karena terjemahannya di bagian adegan olahraga tempat tidur itu bagus. Si Alex ini suka dirty talk ke Zoe, tapi gue udah agak euh tahu dia masih HS sama mantan istrinya meski udah cere, walau ya setelah ketemu Zoe; Alex udah ga mau lagi. Kalau kamu tipe yang suka banyak adegan smutnya, mungkin agak kecewa karena mereka baru begitu pas mau akhir2 cerita. Tapi gue sih kagak keberatan ya, hehehe. Seleranya udah beda dan gue lebih appreciate slow burn, meski slow burnnya Alex sama Zoe ini agak kurang kalau dibandingkan sama Sam dan Lucy. Sisterhood antara Justine sama Zoe menurut gue lumayan, apalagi ada hints kalau Justine ini kemungkinan keturunan penyihir. Jadi di bukunya si Justine, bisa jadi ada unsur2 sihirnya walau tentu saja ga banyak.

Tetap menarik buat dibaca dengan segala dinamika keluarga dan menunjukkan kalau kekuatan cinta bisa menyembuhkan hati yang terluka serta membuat makhluk gaib (si hantu) menemukan kembali cinta masa lalunya. Dream Lake emang ga sebagus Rainshadow Road, tapi gue tetep rekomendasi kalau kamu suka kisah cinta di kota kecil dengan trope grumpy x sunshine.

PS: Gue ga paham lagi lah sama covernya, karena ini kan bukan hisrom XD. Entah kenapa modelnya pakai gaun ala2 mau pesta, meski penggambarannya sih sama karena Zoe juga rambutnya pirang.