​​I rarely sign-up to review books by authors I haven't read yet, but I was glad I did for Love at First Run. 

Love at First Run is a ​sweet and inspiring ​story of love, not just for others, but more importantly, for oneself. I hate running, bu​​t this story was well-paced (haha) that it kept me interested the whole time.​ I loved that the characters in the story all showed how we should never give up on ourselves. It​ also​ feature​d​ some facts about running that would encourage people to try the sport. 

Diana, despite of her insecurities, was easy for me to like. She was clumsy, she always falls down, but I liked how she persisted and managed to stand up, every single time. I liked how her life mirrored a lot of working people's lives - wake up, go to work, go home, sleep, repeat - until she broke this routine and joined the running club. Sure, she joined for the wrong reason, but she was able to find her place and I was able to connect to that. Angel C. Aquino did such a ​good character development on her, I must say.

Joshua, on the other hand, is charming. I liked how he befriended Diana first but I didn't like that he called her "kid." Personally, that would automatically make a guy "kuya-zoned." I really liked his thoughtfulness and his knowledge of good places to eat though. A guy who can take charge and not say ikaw bahala or kung anong gusto mo ​when going out ​is a yes for me.

​Angel C. Aquino is a talented writer and I liked how she used her own experiences​ (she is a runner and was the former Managing Editor of Runner's World Magazine) to write a story about love and running, with such an authentic feel to it. Love at First Run is ​her first book and I'​d surely be keeping my eyes on her next ones!

In Agay Llanera's "In the Moonlight," I liked how the author described those jitters one usually feel when starting to like someone. Anyone who's ever liked someone so much would be able to relate to the sweaty palms and heart beating so fast. I also liked how loose threads were tied up before the eventual reconciliation. Oops that's kind of a spoiler, but we all know they all got happy endings, right?

"Shipping Included" by Danice Sison featured two cute (enabler) guys sneaking into a Kpop concert. I liked the sense of adventure of the characters, even when they seemed to be titos out of place in a Kpop concert. 

Ella Banta's "Blooms and Hues" featured an artist and a florist whose families are friends but they never crossed paths. I'll try not to be too much of a spoiler, so the only thing I'm gonna say about this is I liked how Patrick reacted to things and reined in his attraction to Haya at first. 

Both Pio and Audrey were moving on when they met. From his being basted by Erin plus the downward spiral of his career, and the end of her 10-year relationship. They're both struggling, but we are shown how resilient they both are. Again, very Pinoy.

I also liked how Audrey found herself again, through Pio's help. She was able to go back to the things that she loved like watching plays, and Pio actually admired how she was good with her work. 

Pio, on the other hand,  still got an A for his efforts on this book. Though younger than Audrey by four years, he proved himself to be mature enough to be with her. He's also such a thoughtful guy *insert heart eyes emoji here* and though portrayed as flirty, he was such a softie. He feels sad, he calls his mother. He feels devastated, he cries. I like guys who are in touch with their feelings and Pio is exactly just that. 

You may purchase Like Nobody's Watching from Amazon.

Well, she doesn't like him very much either. Sure, Ryohei Mori is talented, and there's no denying he's hot. But he's also a surly, bossy know-it-all who eats too many cookies.

Another annoying thing about him is he's nosy. And when he stumbles upon the crazy bucket list Aya's sisters forced on her, he teases her mercilessly about it.

But when their professor pairs them up for a design competition, things get . . . interesting. Fueled by beer and a whole lot of cookies, can Aya and Ryo cross out some items on her bucket list without killing each other? Or will they realize there's much more to each other than they'd originally thought?

The challenge for those who joined the #SparkNA class was to write an MC who is unique and that she should be brave. Caryn did fulfill that challenge wonderfully by creating Aya. She is a level-headed girl who knows what she wants and what she deserves and I immediately liked her for that. She had her own personality, she didn't mind it even when her sisters were more alike. She also agreed to their bucket list and still went on to study abroad even when that was originally planned with her ex. I mean, she got dumped but still went to Japan, to study in the same university as the ex nonetheless. If that was not brave, I don't know what is.  

Ryo Mori seemed like a brooding guy, but he was also funny. His appetite for cookies was crazy and I dunno how he can be fit when he's such a cookie monster. I loved his banter with Aya and how he was supportive of her bucket list even when he teased her about it at first. I liked that he didn't push her to do things and understood her reasons.

This story also had a very lovable group of supporting characters and I especially loved Aya's sisters. I too, have two sisters and in some ways, I was able to relate to her. We're not as adventurous as the Contreras sisters, but the dynamics of tres marias, that I get. I also liked how the conflict about Aya's ex was resolved. Such a mature way of handling things. 

Other things I liked : the idea of goukon, brick toast, the Japanese words here and there. Reading this made me think of my Tokyo trip last year. I didn't get to see Sakura because it was summer when I went there, but I visited Meiji-jingu. I even remember Japanese girls who were in costume asked me for a photo because I was wearing a Sailor Moon shirt. All the sushi and quirkiness that is Tokyo was precisely captured by Caryn and I feel that this is her strength. When she writes about the places she's been to and the things she did/does, she gets to translate them into charming stories of love. 

I heard that the ebook was an "improved" version (storyline is the same though), so whether you've read the paperback or not,  get this copy from Amazon and see Tokyo through by Aya and Ryo's story. 

Q&A with TIF MARCELO

Book: NORTH TO YOU

Summary:
Five-minute girlfriend. That's what Jett signs up for when she meets Adrian and his band Arabella at beach music festival Summer Storm. One kiss and the attraction is too electric to ignore, but Jett has no room for love and Adrian is Mr. Relationship who's getting over his recent breakup. The solution? Keep it simple. Keep it casual. For three months (that's the rule about breakups, right?), Jett helps Adrian move on and Adrian shows up on Jett's bed whenever she wants.

Then the three months are up and neither of them are in a hurry to be the first to leave. Does Jett walk away from a potential disaster or does she finally let someone into her closely-guarded heart?

Both Jett and Adrian were haunted by past relationships, and this had major repercussions on their story. In romance, we usually see emotionally detached men, while women were depicted as clingy. But here, these assumptions were reversed.

Jett is now one of my absolute favorite heroines because she is the epitome of an independent single woman.​ She is a damsel who doesn't need a prince to save her. She is someone who is not afraid to be alone. She looks great, she works in a science museum, and she kicks ass in computer games. Can she be any cooler? Throughout the story, we were given an in to her introspection and we see how she slowly unlocks the handcuffs that hold her back from pursuing a relationship with Adrian. How she dealt with things with her snarky humor and snappy comebacks was much appreciated. True to her character, she says she doesn't need Adrian in her life, rather she says, "I don’t just want someone. I don’t just want the feelings. I want you." We were always told to distinguish between our needs and wants, to prioritize our needs even. But in relationships, we need to go beyond practicality. Jett could easily just go after Michael Brian, she's attracted to his abs anyway, but she wants Adrian and she chooses to be with him. That for me is absolute kilig.

After Nero, I've read Micah (Sounds Like Summer) and Isaiah (Just For The Record). Though both stories were wonderful and awesome and made me hahahuhu, I thought there is no way she can write a character that would be better than Nero. But never have I been happier to be proven wrong. At first, Sniffles (Rhys's nickname for Adrian) seemed brooding and said some things that made him seem like a jackass, but gahd, how he redeemed himself. His character was a well-developed paradox and I love it. He was shy but also confident, you'll see this at the part where Ziggy *rolls eyes* tried to intimidate him. He was subtle in his ways, but was described as intense at the same time. He was patient with Jett but also bossy with his band mates. I also like what he does when he's stressed and angry, I want to invite him over at our house. HAHA. But that time when he took care of Jett's bloody mess felt most intimate to me and made me fall so in love with him.

The large cast of side characters were also interestingly authentic. They were quirky and all different to each other. Six made these characters so amusing and endearing that I wish they'll get their own books too. Maybe not Ziggy, because I don't want to meet him ever again, but I'm definitely looking forward to books about mischievous Franklin, hottie Michael Brian, the rest of Arabella boys and Perry!!!

Six has a knack for cleverly incorporating unconventional details and using them as plot devices. Jett's job in the science museum, how she suffers from painful monthly menstruation, Adrian being a nurse -- all these seemingly minor details were used effectively in the story. I also love how she tells her stories in a humorous way. Read: Lightsaber. haha.  Franklin playing with Jett's name and using it for different puns really made me laugh. Dialogues were well-crafted as well and if you like banter as much as I do, then you'll adore this book to bits.

Feels Like Summer provided a lens through which I was able to see dynamics. Arabella was less-than-a-month-new band, but we see how the guys were loyal to Adrian. We see how cute they were when they stood up for him when Jett was groveling. Jett, despite her cool girl image, was not exactly socially savvy. Her only close friend was Ceci, and theirs was an internet-based friendship. We see how this changed as she navigated through friendships with Raven, James, and the Arabella boys. I also adored how she said she was rooting for Ellie, how she didn't judge her and automatically hated her just because she was Adrian's ex. Their moment towards the end is a rare gem both in fiction and in real life and I loved every bit of it. Our world would be way less dramatic if women aren't pitted against each other.

​I was so ​addicted to Adrian and Jett that I've read this til the wee hours. I only slept for a bit​ and when I woke up, I've read it again to proofread it. It was such a fun read that I wanted to write the review for this as soon as I finished working on the manuscript.​ I wanted to share all my feelings but no one would really know what I'm talking about so I waited til others were able to read it. That's part of the fun when you're reading a #romanceclass book. Aside from character cross-overs (which you'll get here), you also​ get to share all the fangirling and love with the community. Check out the hashtags #FeelsLikeSummer and #FLSNovel to see other people's ~feelings.

If you want your sexy scenes going beyond the innuendos, then this book is for you. If you've experienced summer in the Philippines (which is the setting of the story), then you'll know exactly how reading this book feels like.

Ramon is introspective and really thoughtful. He weighed his feelings, thoughts, and motives, and always chose Erin's happiness instead of acting in his best interest. He's borderline "Nice Guy" and he's battling with his insecurities. 

Erin is relatable and I admire her go-getter attitude. She wanted to remedy her situation - her romances remained for stage purposes - and so she bows off on an audition to date. (You go, girl!) She commits a huge mistake later on, so she grumbles and makes a grand gesture (one that is realistic and wouldn't make you roll your eyes) for an apology. She may be a bit clueless and dense, but was really kind, sweet, and not whiny so I love her too!


This is such a feel-good story. I liked how this is a chaste romance. It focused on emotions and had a good character development for both main character and love interest. I also found it awesome that Tara mentioned OPM songs. She even penned original ones just for this book. This book is so Pinoy, I love it!

I loved this book to bits and I hope there is a sequel! I'd sure be waiting in the wings for Pio's story.

Summary

Ava Bonifacio has always been the girl with The Plan —a life plan that would give her everything she’s ever wanted, including becoming a lawyer, a role she was sure she was born into. Sure, her determination may be seen as heartlessness, but Ava doesn’t care. What she does care about is getting into law school —but she doesn’t. She cares about her boyfriend Matteo—who breaks up with her.

In an act of desperation, Ava books herself a ticket to Bali and tries to get over her own failures. In Bali she meets Scott McLeod, a rude and grumpy Scottish traveler who thinks there’s a lot more to Ava than meets the eye.

But as Ava reveals more about herself, she finds Scott slowly pulling away from her. He was never part of The Plan, but Ava is determined to make sure he doesn’t slip away.

I have read a lot of YA romance, and Keeping the Distance just became one of my favorites. It was a quick read, but the story was not rushed at all. You would also love this if you're a fan of grand gestures. I am not, but I admire someone who can do what Mel did. Wow. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is into YA contemporary romance.

You may purchase Keeping the Distance through this link:
Amazon

I always find guys who can wait endearing, and here, we are not just given one, but two - Patrick and Andrew. Sure, a man who pursues someone he wants is attractive, but there's something sweet about a love that is quiet and patient. We see this, though under different circumstances, in Someday With You and Things I'll Never Say.

Toby from One Last Thing is the annoying one, maybe because of his rich-boy problems. He was definitely entitled and selfish, but his story deeply touched me. I don't want to go into details because it will give the story away, but read it!

 All three stories have an almost-melancholic feel to them. They are beautifully-written pieces about love and hope. If you want a quick read that will hurt you a bit, then this is perfect for you.