The Love Hypothesis

 

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding... six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope. - excerpt from Goodreads.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood will make you laugh, swoon and feel warm in your heart. I absolutely adored this book and was so mesmerised by the story. It made it to my top 3 favourite rom-com books in 2021. I appreciated all the scientific aspect of the book although I don't understand any of it but it showed how much thought the author put into building her characters. The story started off with a lot of fun and the plotline albeit simple yet it was engaging.

The book is written in Olive's perspective only which gives the reader a good grasp of her personality, challenges as well her growth. I absolutely loved reading her interactions with Adam, so intense and funny for many moments. As a reader, you can already feel the signals that Adam is giving her yet both of them dense to what is happening at the same time. Her past and her challenges greatly shapes her person and it's not unrealistic at all. When you read about it, you'll feel like if only she was more fortunate but alas it's part of the story. Adam is elusive at first but you can definitely get more of his personality shining through when he is with Olive, it's a side of him that is exclusive for her. For the supportive characters of the story, they are well written, contributes in moving the plot forward as well.

Meet Cute

Kailyn Flowers was always calm and controlled - until she ended up sprawled all over Daxton Hughes, the former actor she totally crushed on as a teenager. In seconds, she became a mortifying fangirl and oddly enough, he didn't run away. Instead, their meet cute led to something she never expected: a friendship. Of course, she never expected him to betray her, either.

Eight years later, Dax needs Kailyn's help. Years of anger towards him haven't exactly left Kailyn inclined to oblige, but she also isn't heartless enough to turn him down. She vows to be friendly, but soon their 'friendly' meetings turn into flirty dinner dates, and Kailyn can feel their chemistry is as explosive as ever. But how can she possibly let down her guard again to a guy who has heartbreak written all over him?  - excerpt from Goodreads.

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting is the type of story that can easily turn into a k-drama or a rom-com movie. It's funny, cute and definitely pulls a little at your heart strings. The first thing that caught my attention to purchase this book is without a doubt the cover design but few pages in, it's their personalities that attracted me. The characters starts of being vague without any backstory at first and it slowly unfolds for you to discover who they are. They have really strong personalities yet still have room to grow.  The chemistry between the lead male and female has a lot of tension, push and pull that is very entertaining to read about. The side characters itself gives a good push for them and you can tell that they influence them greatly. I love the banter between Kailyn and Daxton, it is often hilarious and you cannot stop rooting for something to happen between them. It's the type of tension where you'll go please kiss each other already!!! Every interaction between them is the highlight of the book, the parts that keeps turning the pages. When they are on their own thoughts, it can often be graphic and funny.

My Not So Perfect Life

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed. OK, so the truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn't really hers. But on day her dreams are bound to come true, aren't they?

Until her not-so perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-sucessful boss Demeter giver her the sack. All Katie's hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business.

Then, Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams - or try to get her job back? Does Demeter- the woman who has everything- actually have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems - excerpt from book.

My not so perfect life from Sophie Kinsella is a standalone novel about a woman who lost her job and maybe her dreams and then an opportunity to get revenge surfaces. This author is naturally an auto buy for me as I have always been well entertained with her stand alone novel for years. The summary at the back of the book is just the surface of the book and it's one with more meaning to it than you expect. 

It's definitely funny at certain parts and also some self discovery. At first I was a tad annoyed with the main character Katie as I felt that she can be long winded and too naive but as the story progresses there's more to her than meets the eye and I'm glad that the character did have some growth. As for the side characters they surely made interactions fun and interesting. I think those characters actually kept the story going at some point in the middle and you could feel the pull of wanting more for them. The personalities of those characters complements the actions and attitude of Katie quite well.

The flow of the story was a bit dry here and there which did not grasp my attention well enough until part two started and then I was hooked. The twists in the book weren't really jaw dropping but just mediocre to the point that I could predict some of it. 

But nonetheless it's the typical Sophie Kinsella writing that you would expect and to compare with her other books this was not impressive. I would have prefer more Oh My God moments between Katie and a certain someone and more emotional between the family. As those laugh out loud moments, I still felt it was lacking as I have been spoilt by her other books. I will give credit to the meaning of this book and what the author is trying to tell her readers. In this current technology generation, it's obvious that we should always be reminded you only see what you see, you do not know other people's story. It's a quick read so if you're a fan of Sophie then I think this would be a good book to read but not necessary. If you have not tried any of her titles, this book is not a good start because it does not highlight her best writing, I would introduce you to Twenties Girl or Can you keep a secret.

Top 5 Wednesday - Summer Reads

Ahh yes summer is arriving, sadly living in a tropical country I don't see any difference to the weather here. Although I can't relate to the season, I certainly enjoy books in the summer setting because of beaches, lakes and summer houses. I love to read about the ways teenagers spend their holidays and have some summer romance too. So here is my list of books to read to fully enjoy the summer.

This is my most favourite summer reading. It's set in the summer time of course where Emily's best friend has disappeared and left her a list of things to do. Emily believes if she finishes the list it will lead her to Sloane and so she set out using her summer that way. It was a really fun book to read because Emily has many adventures awaiting for her.

I went into this book only knowing it's in the summer time and I was caught by surprise. It was such a lovely summer romance and also family was part of the story. The twist that happened in the book was so good which made me love YA contemporary. This book is the pioneer in my reading for buying more young adult contemporary. I figure that sometimes a bit of teenager love is so cute to read because it makes me reminiscent about my teenager years.

Royal Wedding

Princess Mia's life in New York City is one glamorous whirlwind. Not only does she have to deal with nosy gossip columnists on a daily basis and the paparazzi following her every move, she's also expected to enchant wealthy strangers at royal engagements. Speaking of engagements...Mia's gorgeous long-term boyfriend Michael has popped The Question on an exotic Carribbean island. Finally they're ready to settle down...or so she thought.

When Mia and Michael return from their romantic hideaway, they discover that they are embroiled in a scandal of majestic proportions! A scandal that could turn the normally calm Michael into a runaway groom...Worse still, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne. 

Mia may be ready to wed, but is she ready to rule as well? - excerpt from book.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot is about Princess Mia after she's all grown up now in her mid twenties. From what I read around the internet this is the last book for the series, which makes me kinda sad as I started loving Meg Cabot's books from her The Princess Diaries series. I read this series when I was in high school through college so it's about more than 10 years since I've read this series. I was so excited about this last book, so naturally I bought it immediately when it's out. This book really brings back such good memories of my younger days, how much I loved it, laughed with it and smiled about it.

I can gladly say that this book is still funny and witty like the previous books and I absolutely enjoyed reading it. I totally love reading about Princess Mia's daily life especially her reactions to events happening. The interactions of the characters are all so entertaining too, it was so fun reading about all her friends again. It's just so nice that the characters all feel familiar but then because they have grown up there's a slight difference in personality for everyone too.

The plot is very smooth with really good twists which I could not expect at all. I think the timing of events happening in the storyline was perfect. I have nothing to complain about the story and the only thing that makes me sad is I wished there was more in the series. Because I love the series so much, it's only normal that it was a hard book to put down, so I kept flipping the pages quickly.

Reading Meg Cabot's books are such joy to me and it has always been funny. After writing this review, I feel I must take out her other books and read them again. I highly recommend this to all Princess Diaries series lovers because we must read the ending for Mia's story (hopefully Meg Cabot changes her mind and writes more). I also recommend this to readers who enjoys reading romance books that are funny. Without a doubt I would reread this book in the near future.

Finding Audrey

Audrey loves her family, even if they are a bit off-the-wall. When Audrey develops an anxiety disorder as a result if an unpleasant incident, her family us there to help. Audrey now wears dark glasses whenever she feels the need to protect herself, but she's also making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah.

Then Audrey meets Linus, her brother's gaming teammate, and she is energized. She can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she's never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family. - excerpt from book

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella who is one of my favourite authors. This is her first YA book as she usually writes chick lit. This book is one of the funniest read I've had this year. I laughed out loud and giggled many times in public while reading this book that my sister thought I went mad. I really really enjoyed the book as all the characters were interesting and fun to read about. The interactions between the characters were really good. The female heroine in the story is a very realistic character as her struggles are real and I love her bravery in dealing with her problems. The relationship between Audrey and Linus is quite sweet and cute as well, totally loved it.

As for the plot of the book, it was quite unexpected and the twists were good. I love that it's a book that I can't predict at all. The story of the family is also funny and heart warming. The book has such good meaning because the issues highlighted are important to know, well at least for me. Overall the book was really enjoyable to read and I felt it was too short as I just wanted more. This is a book that without a doubt I would read again and again. The author never cease to amaze me as I have no book of hers that I'm disappointed with. I highly recommend this to Sophie Kinsella fans, book readers who enjoy humour and some serious stuff at the same time.

Favourite books of 2014

For the year of 2014 I managed to read 50 books and completed my Goodreads reading challenge. I was quite proud to have read this many books and I believe it's the most books I've read in a year in my life. Out of all the books I've read there were good ones, okay ones and definitely awesome ones. The list below are books that I absolutely loved and would not hesitate to read it again and again. The list below is not in any order and some books are not published in the year 2014 either.

1. Vicious by V.E Schwab - A story about two good friends then turned enemies in the future. It's exciting, unique characters and great plot. Page turner, hard to put down. My full review: Link here
2. Champion by Marie Lu - The last book of the Legend trilogy, I loved this book the most but the first two books were just as good, I gave all 3 books 5 stars. I choose this book because of the ending which made me cry. The whole series is action packed with a fantastic plot.My full review: Link here
3. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - This is a adult book which was really funny, cute and enjoyable to read. I really laughed out loud in public and people were looking at me weirdly. I absolutely enjoyed the book from start to end, my favourite type of romance plot.My full review: Link here
4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - A really special and magical book. I love the characters of the book and all the different perspectives in the story. The setting of the story is just so beautiful and magical, I wanted to work in that circus.My full review: Link here
5. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - This is the second book of the Grisha trilogy and my favourite out of the 3. All 3 books have gotten 5 stars from me. This book is action packed, great characters, wonderful world and an exciting plot. I love the relationships in this book and plot twists. This was one book that was hard to put down. Full review to come soon.
6. To All the Boys I've Loved before by Jenny Han - A story about a girl who wrote letters to boys she loved but it's just for personal keepsake. Things got weird when the letters were mailed out to the boys. This story is super super cute to read especially the female lead in the book. The plot is simple yet lovely and fun to read. A definite page turner for me.My full review: Link here
7. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson - The first book that I've picked up by this author and imediately I knew I'm gonna love the books he writes. The idea of the story is well done along with the world that is built. The plot is mysterious and the plot twist of the book just hooks you to wanting the second book. When I read this book it felt like a movie that I'm watching. My full review: Link here
8. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins - The last book of the "Anna and the french kiss" series which had a very good ending to all. I love the plot of the book, it was very sweet, cute and quite real of a relationship. My full review: Link here
9. Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson - A story about a girl completing a checklist sent by her best friend who went missing when summer started. The story is about growing, friendship and stepping out of your comfort zone. It was such a fun book to read and so suitable for the summer. I got hooked so fast and to the ending I wished it was longer.My full review: Link here
10. Delirium by Lauren Oliver - I love the first book the most out of the Delirium trilogy. A dystopian setting where the world sees love as a disease. When teenager reached a certain age, a cure is given to remove getting the disease and then a match is picked by the system for the person to be with. This story's idea was unique to me and it has a good meaning behind the book. I enjoyed the plot twist and how the story progressed.My full review: Link here
11. Half Bad by Sally Green - It's about a boy uncovering his roots and choosing a path. It's also a book where the character is always put into bad situations. I like how this book is not all happy and colorful with sad and painful things happening. I love how the character grows in the story. It's not your typical magic related/fantasy book.My full review: Link here
12. The Archived by Victoria Schwab - The first book of the archive duology. A girl is given a duty by her grandfather to protect the archive. This book has action, mystery and great characters. The story is unique and I loved every bit of it especially the character interactions.My full review: Link here
13. The Unbound by Victoria Schwab - The second book of the archive which I also love, it was hard to choose between both. This book was also action packed and filled with more human emotions. I like the new characters introduced and also another side of the male lead was included which made things so much more interesting. I literally could not put down the book.My full review: Link here
14. Bared to you by Sylvia Day - An erotic novel about a woman meeting a man who she knows nothing about but she fell in love with him. They both have their own demons and how they try to overcome it together. I compared this series to fifty shades of grey and I like this one quite a lot because the characters are more deep and real. I liked how strong and weak the characters can be at the same time. Full review to come soon.

I'm so happy to have read so many great books and discover some new authors along the way. Those books really gave me a new world to explore and great enjoyment imagining it. For the year 2014, I truly fell in love with young adult books and authors such as Holly Black, Victoria Schwab, Brandon Sanderson, Morgan Matson, Marie Lu and Jenny Han. I'm looking forward to reading more books by these authors and I've already have a good series by Brandon Sanderson sitting in my TBR pile. I will post another blog post for my reading goals of 2015. The following link is to the books I've read in 2014: Goodreads link

Anna and the French Kiss

It's Anna final year in high school and she was looking forward to it but then her father decided to transfer to Paris. Anna was to experience new culture and complete her final year there. Anna was sad to leave her best friend behind and also there was a potential boyfriend in the picture. That summer holiday, Anna was working in a cinema and she meet Toph there whereby something sparked between them. On her final day at work, they kissed and Anna was hoping they would start dating but not anymore. Anna's parents were there to help her with the orientation week and both her parents left on the night before class started the next day.

After they have left, Anna could not helped but cry because she was in a new place all alone. There was a knock at her door and her next door neighbor came to offer her a cup of hot chocolate to comfort her. Anna felt slightly calm and went back to her room where she bumped into a guy who was really handsome. That guy was looking for her neighbor Meredith. The next day, Anna decided to go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast and Meredith invited her to join her table of friends. There he was the guy she bumped into last night whose name is St Clair. There were two more person at the table which is Josh and Rashmi who are a couple. Anna went to order breakfast with St Clair's help because it was written in french. St Clair is such a nice guy to Anna and she could not help but feel something, unfortunately he has a girlfriend who is a year older which graduated from this high school.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is a contemporary young adult novel. I have to say that this book makes me happy, thrilled, swoon and also envious. It's a simple book with a love story that is quite true in reality. Reading this book makes me envious of all the young innocent love that teenagers have and it's so sweet. I had a lot of fun reading this book and throughout the book it was just capturing to me. I kept reading to find out what happens to the characters' lives. 

I love the flow of the book because it's just perfect for the whole story and there isn't any complaints from me. The author did a good job with the characters as they are really people who are real and they also make you get drawn in. Those characters in the book are real to me because they're not perfect and they have flaws too, the handsome boy has a flaw, the pretty girl also have flaws which made the story feel real. The feeling that I get after finishing the book is I wished I had a love story like that. I'm also impressed by the author and can't wait to read her next book. This book is a good book to reread and can be finished quickly because it's a page turner. I will definitely reread because it gave me such good feelings at the end.