Review: Just One Day and Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Title: Just One Day (Book I); Just One Year (Book II)

Author: Gayle Forman

Published: January 8th 2013; October 10th 2013

Publisher: Dutton Children's 

Soooo...after two years of waiting (I added this in my GR shelf on 2011! Didn't realize it was that long!), I was finally able to read another stunning novel from Gayle Forman. And as ever, she did not disappoint and again, didn't fail to make me cry. 

Whatever I'm going to say on this review, I know have already been said by many others, but I'm still going to say them anyway. Gayle's writing is definitely one of the most commendable one I'd ever read. It flows with so much knowledge, experience and understanding. Reading her stories, it seeps you in. You feel and cry and learn and grow together with her characters. It makes you feel exactly what it should be felt. So in the end, you actually felt this quiet kind of fulfillment. 

What I really like with Willem and Lulu's story was how natural it actually felt. How they met and clicked and understand each other, for the one day that they traveled together, the development felt gradual and slow. It was so genuine that you forgot they just literally met. Pulling off a 24-hour romantic development like this is not an easy feat, I've read some that totally felt forced and unrealistic. So it was amazing how Forman presented this story. 

Although the romance plays a very big part on this story it was the self-discovery that I appreciated most. The things they learned about themselves upon meeting each other and meeting a lot of different people as well; the mistakes and then the learning and understanding. I was touched and moved by Willem and his mom's relationship; with how Allison finally stood up and chose and made decisions for herself; I love how they soon associate they're one day meeting, though ended in quite a bad way, to something that opened up possibilities and things they hadn't realize they want for their selves.

The traveling part is something I enjoyed as well! My inner wander-lustful self totally rejoiced with all the places they went to. And I'm sure to try out some macarons when (not if) I go to Paris! Haha! 

The only thing that I think I can fault in this duology is that I want more! Haha. I thought the second book will pick up where the first book left off but while the first book was about them meeting and most about Allison the second one is clearly about Willem and how he handled and realized things after that day in Paris. It was a great ride getting on to his perspective but of course, I wouldn't mind getting more sweet scenes between the two especially after a year!

Overall, this is one such amazing story of love and self-discovery. Gayle Forman really did a brilliant job on this one. I highly recommend this.

Review: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)
Author: Katie McGarry
Published: May 28th 2013
Published: Harlequin Teen
My Rating: 3.75 stars

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Dare You To is another astounding novel from Katy McGarry that brought waves of emotions and feelings through me just like what she did me in her first novel, Pushing the Limits. Although I think the latter was a whole lot more intense and emotional, the former was still definitely a very sweet and enjoyable ride.  

I'm a sucker for opposite and antagonizing couples. So of course, Beth and Ryan were sold to me. But what I appreciated a whole lot more in this kind of arrangement was that their roles were reversed - it's now the bad girl and the good guy. It was refreshing to see the guy being the one who was more understanding, more patient and tolerating. The one who waits and supports. It definitely add more to the level sweetness and swoon-y-ness of the story.    

Beth wasn't a very easy character. This girl's tendency of self-sabotaging was quite alarming and frustrating. Although I loved her strong, sassy and fierce character, I did struggle some time understanding what was really up with her. Finally learning what had really happened when she was a kid that made her think that she owed her mother, I felt sadness and ache on what she had to suffer. 

Ryan, on the other hand, was a character that was easy to identify with and understand. The "golden boy" who seems so perfect and pieced together. But digging a little deeper will make you see that his character has some torn and frayed edges too. I love how both of he and Beth, despite the problems and flaws between them, was able to help each other developed and faced their own demons. 

Although the plot had been a bit standard and formulaic, I loved how Katie presented it through the characters of Beth and Ryan and how well she was able to emphasized the significant things - the understanding the forgiveness, the acceptance, the courage and of course, the love. 

I recommend this. 

Happy New Year means Happy New Books!

Happy New Year everyone! 2012 had been a blast year for me and for Book Overdose. I discovered, learned and experience a lot of things throughout the year. I had my first author interview, first physical ARC, first blog tour, first giveaway, first blogversary all in the year of 2012. And now that 2013 has come I plan to make it just as much fun or even better as it had last year.

I know my blogging has gone a bit lethargic the past few months and I know I did mention an advance new year's resolution to blog more and write reviews but with my situation right now - I'm on my final semester of my final year in college and with my internship and all - there aren't just enough time for me to be really active the past few months. Seriously, I don't know how those bloggers who have jobs and families to take care of do this. You guys are amazing! But I'm trying my best to manage my time since  after I graduate in a few months now this will be my life so really, bear with me if sometimes I don't update my blog for a whole week. Don't think I'm dead! Lol. I've fallen in love with reading books and blogging so I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I'm still adjusting with this new schedule and once I get used to it I know I'd be able to regularly update and work on my blog.

So anyhoo, 'nuff with my explaining, I know we book lovers are even more excited this year because new year means new books too! Lot of books will be coming out this year! And it makes the waiting a little more bearable and a little less long knowing the number in our dates ends with 2013 already. Ha!

Let me share you some of the books I'm really looking forward this year.

So there, these are just some of them. I actually have tons of books I'm really excited coming this year. Oh yes, there's also Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout and of course, the second book of Angelfall by Susan Ee! Ooh, just thinking about them makes me really excited. Haha! How about you guys? Are you excited for these books too?