Goodreads Challenge 2016 pt.1

July 25, 2016 marks the day I finished the last book of my Goodreads Challenge 2016. Yay me!

I know it’s too early to finish the challenge and I also wasn’t expecting I would finish my reading goal this early (was expecting for December). My reading goal may be not that high compared to other readers but I’m pretty much satisfied with it. I was expected not to read non-academic books because the past school year demanded my time and full attention as it was one of the crucial years of my course. Surprisingly, I still managed to read this many so congratulations to me again. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do this again next year.

Last year was the year I started reading the New Adult genre and loved it that’s why I promised my self to read more on this genre this year.

Here are the books and my corresponding short reviews for this year’s reads:

**MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!**

1. Bully by Penelope Douglas

I loved this book. I loved this book because it gave me everything that I wanted. From the bestfriends-turned-lovers, love-hate relationships, and bad boys with a past, it satisfied me oh so well! If you love those kinds of plots merged into one, I definitely recommend reading this book. This book is the first book I read from the author and even brought me out of my reading slump! This book is one of this year’s favorite reads.

2. Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren

Reading the synopsis got me excited, another one of my favorite plots were falling for the brother’s best friend. This book started great then when I got to the middle my attention was slowly waning because of Hanna and Will (but mostly Hanna). I get it that Will’s a player and was initially scared of lifelong commitment but they frustrated me so much.

3. Beautiful Stranger by Christina Laure

This book started great, having someone uptight as Sara Dillon getting thrilled by Max Stella’s planned adventures was great. For me, it was an okay book. I enjoyed Max’s efforts  for Sara but that was the only thing I liked about this.

4. Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Then again I’m a sucker for love-hate relationships and this is what got me to read the Beautiful Bastard. The first book I read from the author (or should I say co-authors) and the book I loved most among the series (as far as I read). I loved the chemistry between Chloe and Bennett. I craved the banter between the two, they’re just such smart characters. I love it!

5 – 7. Mark of Athena, House of Hades, and Blood of Olympus  by Rick Riordan

After waiting for the whole series to finish before picking up Mark of Athena (stopped with  Son of Neptune in 2011), I can say that I’m sad and happy at the same time when I finished this series. Percy Jackson is close to my heart because the first series was the series that pushed me to read more books and inspired the love of reading the Greek mythology. I loved every struggled that they encounter whether it involved the physical battles or emotional battles that they surpassed. Rick Riordan did a great job (as always) of mixing the modern life to Greek stories! I loved reading how each of the characters developed their love stories (thank you Aphrodite!). This series is just indescribable!

8. Getting Lucky Number Seven by Cindi Madsen

The reason I picked this book was because I love bestfriends-to-lovers relationships. The book was okay, I enjoyed reading it because it was a light read after reading a dramatic book. I mentally laughed at Lyla’s nerdy jokes because I am a bit of a nerd too. Nice read!

9.  More Than Forever by Jay McLean

I loved Cameron and Lucy’s relationship. This is the relationship I wanted to have when I started reading teen fiction stories and would have swooned by everything Cameron did for his heart; Lucy.This story frustrated me so much. Lucy has the absolute perfect boyfriend and relationship but pushing Cameron away when she needed him the most frustrated me. I mean I understand why she did that but… I have no words.

10. Three Hard Lessons by Nikki Sloane

Reading the first few chapters of this book made me laugh. I loved Payton’s humor and wit! The first few chapters of this book was already sizzling hot. The connection between Dominic and Payton was just that amazing and I wanted to read more.

I loved Dominic–I think after finishing this book I forgot Logan. Logan is awesome but reading Dominic? Yes please.

 

11. More Than Her and More Than Him by Jay McLean

 

 

I loved how everything went with this book especially how Logan and Amanda conquered every monster they had. I loved Logan more than Jake because he wants to be a doctor (biased!) and you could see more of that passion here. Amanda is a lucky girl for having Logan in her life. I want to have someone like him, hopefully.

 

 

It Ends With Us

Title: It Ends With Us

Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: New Adult, Romance

Format: Paperback

 

 

 

What is it about?

It Ends With Us is about Lily Bloom and how she gets to protect her heart from someone that might completely destroy her. (Because sometimes the one who loves you is the one who hurts you the most.)

 

What did I like/love about this book?

 

This book is one of my anticipated reads for this year and IT NEVER DISAPPOINTED ME.

What I loved about this book is solely Lily. I think this is the first time that I loved the female lead so much than her significant other. I love her for being so brave about everything she went through and making the best decision for her and others; minimizing the anticipated damages the future might bring. She is the character that made me want to protect her even if it would cost my life. Thank you for being brave and bold, Lily!

 

Experience with this book? 

 

Months before the book’s release the author was giving away ARCs for lucky people to read. I joined most of those giveaways in the hopes of getting one but unfortunately I am not one of those lucky people. I waited for the release date but didn’t get it until the day of my birthday which is still okay!

I read the first chapter of the book and instantly fell in love with Ryle. I’m that reader who is easily pleased if the guy is swoon worthy! And then he is a Neurosurgeon, like wow! I am currently taking the basics of Neurology and I find it difficult, knowing someone as passionate as him about his field made me love him more.

Then Atlas came back and Lily was seeing the similarities of the past to her future. At this moment, I was confused if I should like/love Ryle or Atlas more. I believe that an ex-couple’s history may spark again and seeing them interact felt like Lily should be with Atlas than Ryle more.

I watched Train to Busan last night. I know that this is irrelevant but after watching that then reading It Ends With Us, I felt like I died a thousand deaths. In two days, I felt like my life is super depressing because of those two. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this book so much. After reaching the last page, I stared at the ceiling wanting my feelings gone. This book emotionally wrecked me. Completely. I felt like my life ended after the book’s last period. Save me.

I didn’t grow up in a family like Lily’s or Atlas’ but I remember my self waking up in the middle of the night when I was little, hearing my Mom and Dad fighting. Reading this in Lily’s journal made me so emotional, how scary it is to see your beloved parents fight and don’t know what to do.  Then reading what Lily saw while her parents were fighting was just too traumatizing.

This book is just an explosion of emotions but I still HIGHLY recommend this to everyone so that they could feel what I feel too. I like feeling hurt by books, it makes me change of how I view and understand people and I love that.

 

I’m looking forward to another of Colleen Hoover’s works again next year (if there is any.) but right now I need a new light and fast read to cure my broken heart. Thank you Colleen for this story. (I salute you and your Mom so much. Thank you!)