This Month on The Bookshelf Intruder

Can you believe it? It's the last day of August... and just 116 days before Christmas (forgive me, it's just my favorite time of the year)! But before we bid August goodbye, let me refresh on you on what happened this month.

As some of you may have noticed, I've been blogging less. For the benefit of the few people who regularly visit my blog (I'm talking about you, Laila and Vee), let me explain my situation.

It's been a very eventful month for me, both online and offline. We moved to a new house, I went through a reading slump, and I had tons of work to do. I thought I can balance everything and still be able to publish at least 4 posts a week. I really wanted to. But I have come to the realization that I... can't. Not this year, at least. Because the amount of work I have (in my day job) isn't going to change any time soon and I have to be realistic -- my job is the one that puts food in my mouth, not my blogging. Whether book blogging makes me happier is still up for debate but that's for another time.

To illustrate, here's the hard truth:

Books to read > Time to read
Work to do > Time to blog
Books + Work > Time to read and blog

This is not to say that I don't have the time. I DO. I just don't have a lot of it at the moment. I also believe that to be able to do something you love, you really have to make time for it. And I'm doing that. I'm not going to stop. The past few months have been a blast and I don't want it to stop. I just have to find my happy balance, and I know that it's not impossible. Here's what I'm going to do:

1. Stop buying/downloading new books
Currently, I have around 100 unread ebooks (including ARCs) and about 20 unread physical books -- enough to last me until next year. I've always been a book hoarder and I've never seen it as a bad thing until now. I'm not saying it's bad for everyone, it's just bad for me because it overwhelms me and makes it harder for me to decide which one to read next. So I decided that I won't get new books (except Isla and the Happily Ever After, and The Blood of Olympus because I've been waiting for them since last year) until I finish everything on my shelf. I am allowing myself to buy only physical books that I've read in ebook format.



What about review requests, you ask? As it is now, I have a lot of review copies waiting to be read. This is probably one of my biggest mistakes; I accepted almost all requests I got but I haven't read all of them. I apologize to the authors and publishers... but I promise that I will read your books. So for now, I will not be joining blog tours (I only have a couple more scheduled) and will stay away from NetGalley for the time being. I will, however, still respond to the review requests via email. :)

2. Set mock deadlines but stop forcing myself
Pressure works on others, it rarely does on me. I like having deadlines but half the time I break them. Me forcing myself to do a task doesn't help because even when I do finish the task, I find my output to be unsatisfactory. It's the same with reading and definitely applicable to blogging. I want to read as many books as my eyesight will allow me (I have poor eyesight) but I also want to enjoy it and not see it as a task. I want to chew books, not swallow them. This might result to fewer reviews but I'll make sure to come up with at least one a week.



3. Make time for reading and blogging without affecting my work and sleeping schedule


Several books have kept me awake til the break of dawn and although I rarely regret choosing books over sleep, I also know that I have to do this less, if not totally stop. I get cranky after such nights... and I feel that my young-and-invincible days are over. I have to have at least 6 hours of sleep, or else I'll be useless in the office. I'm not willing to jeopardize my quality of work for a book, no matter how good it is. So again, happy balance.

I know that some of you have also experienced this dilemma before and I'd like to hear your thoughts about it. I'd love to receive advice/tips from you because I'm sure it'll help me manage my time more effectively. So please, don't hesitate to leave a comment. :)
4:00 AM
The Girl He Knows Blog Tour

Welcome to my tour stop for The Girl He Knows by Kristi Rose! I reviewed TGHK last month and I loved it! Read on to know more about the book and the author! And oh, don't forget to check out other tour stops at JenHalliganPR!

TheGirlHeKnows_coverSynopsis:

Waking up naked next to a good looking man is not a bad way to start the day. Especially since Paisley missed all those opportunities in college, when she was too busy supporting her no good, thankfully now, ex-husband. The problem? This hottie is Hank, her best friend’s older brother, a guy she’s known her entire life.

Stopping after one night is the right thing to do. Being with him clearly breaks the best friend code, and from his career as a Naval officer to his Boy Scout reputation, everything about him screams monogamy and commitment. Two things Paisley has had enough of.

When Hank presents a “no strings attached” offer, it’s too good to be true. She can enjoy him while still embracing being single. But, poor choices force her to confront old fears of love and loss, and Paisley has to decide if Hank is worth the risk. The alternative is never experiencing the real deal. Or far worse, settling for less.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO



The Girl He Knows was a light and fun read. I really enjoyed it. Go on and read my full review here!

The Girl He Knows teaser



About Kristi Rose

Kristi Rose was raised in central Florida on boiled peanuts and iced tea.  She’s lived by an active volcano, almost fallen off a mountain, and was married in Arkansas by a J.O.P in flip flops named Earl. Today, as a proud military wife and mother of two, she’s been lucky enough to travel the world. No matter where she is, she enjoys watching people and wondering what’s their story? That’s what Kristi likes to write about: everyday people, the love that brings them together, and their journey getting there. Kristi is a member of RWA. The Girl He Knows is her debut novel.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest



Interview

Hi, Kristi! Thank so much for letting me interview you!
Hi Joy! Thanks for the wonderful review. It’s a scary thing to put work out there but it’s worth it when people say the lovely things like you did.

I really liked your book. I found it entertaining and light (my favorite kind of books). What inspired you to write TGHK?
Thanks, I like the same in books-light and entertaining, so I wanted to capture that vibe with my books while still having some ‘meat’ :) I’m an avid chick-lit reader and thought many of those books are about life before marriage but not after a failed one and that’s what I set out to build my story around.

How much of the book was realistic? I know that situations like this happen in real life, but is the book based on someone you know, or events in your real life?
This book is not based on any real facts or people but I used some of my favorite characteristic from the people I love and paid tribute to them in the book. An example would be Josie. I have a friend who is up front and frank. I really appreciate that and think everyone should have a friend who’s not afraid to tell you you’re acting stupid.

TGHK’s is my first book so there was a huge learning curve with writing it. Because I work, have a young family, and have limited time to write, I decided to spend my energy on learning how to craft the story and not wasting it on researching things that were background for the story. So these are the things I used that are real to my life: I, too, am a pediatric occupational therapist, I grew up in Lakeland, Florida, and lived in Daytona Beach, and I fell in love with a Navy man. Oh, and I stole the phrase/chalkboard and journal idea from my critique partner who has a chalkboard door with the phrase, “Fears Erased Here Daily.” I loved it too much not to include it because it made me think of Paisley. Sounds like a lot, right? But I promise, the book is not a memoir :) Here is my Pinterest board with some of these actual landmarks- Like The Ocean Deck. :)

What was the hardest part of writing TGHK?
The whole thing! Just kidding. Trying to balance out Paisley’s weakness and fears and still making her relatable. I wanted readers to be frustrated but not so much that they close the book or don’t root for her to get a clue. She couldn’t be a strong female character- initially- she had to grow into that. She had to feel safe enough, too.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in the book?
Ugh- probably a lot :) My least favorite chapter is when they are at the Swan Ball. I’d give that one a do-over.

I read that your husband is in the military. What was his reaction to the novel?
Ha! He thinks the girl on the cover is hot and wants to know if we’ll get to meet her. Other than that he doesn’t really have a reaction except to be happy for me. His favorite author is Stephen Ambrose who wrote about the first railroad and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. My book is a different sort of entertainment, lol. Though I will say -- Band of Brothers is an amazing book, BTW.

I love the name Paisley! Where did you get the idea?
I love it too! I had gone on a trip to Scotland, saw a town with that name, and fell in love with it. I think it would be a great name for a person. My husband doesn’t so I knew I would never get to use (like on my child). So I gave it to my ‘other’ child.

What books have influenced you most?
Jude Deveraux’s A Knight in Shining Armor -- I cry every time I read it.
Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mr. Bridgeton -- makes me laugh
Janet Evanoivich’s Stephanie Plum series -- because someone can be a hot mess and still be great, funny, and smart.
Stephen King’s On Writing -- Amazing
And the list goes on… Any book that makes me want to pick it up year after year influences me.

What book are you reading now?
I keep a lot going at one time because I have to maximize my opportunities
On MP3 (on smartphone) -- Janet Evanovich’s Top Secret Twenty-One
On Audio (CD -In the car) – Jennifer Weiner’s The Next Best Thing
Queued up on the kindle -- Cop a Feel By Robyn Peterman
On my night table -- The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman
I just finished the True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Any advice for new writers?
Read – a lot. Find a good critique group and don’t be afraid to leave one that isn’t working. Write every day- even if it’s jotting down notes on paper to fix a scene and more importantly-hang in there! Reach out to other writers. It’s a great community. Drop by my site and drop me a line if you have any questions.

Anything to say to your readers?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my book. We all have busy lives and I appreciate the time you’ve given me. I hope you enjoyed it. I would love it if you stop by my site and tell me what you would have liked to see happen or which characters you liked the best and why. Do you want to read their story? What do you want to see?

Again -- I’m glad we could spend this time together and I appreciate you hosting me, Joy. You all take care and I hope our paths cross again soon.

Thanks again, Kristi, for your lovely answers and sharing your time with us! :D



Now, for the most fun part (hehehe), we have a GIVEAWAY!!! Just a few days left... so join now!
a Rafflecopter giveaway





Thanks for checking out my tour stop, guys! If you're looking for a light and entertaining read, look no more and get a copy of The Girl He Knows (or win one when you join the giveaway!)

Thoughts? Rants? Suggestions? Don't be afraid to leave a comment! :)
2:00 AM
I can't promise that this review will be coherent (because I'm an emotional mess right now). Or that it will be short (I can go on and on until you beg me to stop), unbiased (I worship Stephanie Perkins and I love all of her characters, including the mean girls and the douchey boys), and spoiler-free (but I will try my best to make it as vague as possible). Bear with me, friends.

I have been counting the days since June. I was anticipating, waiting, definitely excited for Isla's arrival. But I was also terrified because I knew it meant that my Anna-Lola-Isla experience will finally end. I didn't want it to end. I wanted it so badly to start but I didn't want it to end.



If you've my posts back in June/July, you'll know that I'm OBSESSED with Stephanie Perkins' books. It's like I have a relationship with the characters. They're so close to my heart that sometimes, it's actually painful to read the sad parts and overwhelming to go through the happy ones. I'm not exaggerating and I'm sure readers will understand (I'm sure you've had this experience before with other books).

So it was foolish of me to not think of pre-ordering Isla. I just realized that when August 14 came and to my dismay, the local bookstores don't have it yet. But I'm lucky because my internet friend and fellow Perkins fan, Laila, has an ebook copy and she shared it with me. I still want the paperback because my Anna and Lola paperbacks are waiting for their sister, but for now, I have the ebook.

And so it's here. It's finally here. I wanted to devour it in one sitting but work beckons and I couldn't stay up the whole night because I'd get cranky in the morning. I'm babbling. Anyway, I did finish it yesterday morning and I was right when I guessed that I would cry when it ends. I did, I even cried while I was on a bus on my way to work. I probably looked like a freak. Remind me to not read books in public again.



Isla and the Happily Ever After is so different from the first two books, and not just because of the characters. The writing was the same, but the voice was very different. Both Anna and Lola were confident and self-assured. But Isla was not. She's insecure and love-struck. Meanwhile, Josh is like a yummy combination of Etienne and Cricket. He's not charming like Etienne, but he is just as passionate, an artist through and through just like Etienne. And he really has no shortage of grand gestures, a certified romantic like Cricket. It didn't seem that way at first, but Isla and Josh strike a balance that makes them perfect for each other.

This novel also didn't employ the same tried-and-tested formula that the first two books used, wherein boy meets girl and they become friends and they fall in love and get together in the end. No. You can't expect that with Isla. Of course if you read enough YA romance novels and rom-com movies, you know that the boy and the girl ends up together in the end... BUT it's the HOW that happens that you should watch out for. In this case, Stephanie Perkins made the journey so much worth it. I was skeptical with the first few chapters of the book and then I realized that that was what I supposed to feel. At first I was questioning the actions of the characters but later I'd realized that there were reasons why they had to act that way, and it wouldn't be this delicious, amazing book if they didn't do what they did. Everything in this book is laid out in exactly the way they should be and where exactly they should be. Even the minor characters -- both the endearing and annoying ones -- were placed with purpose. It's perfect.

Also, I was surprised by how much kissing (and more than kissing!) there is in this book. Which makes it all the more beautiful, if you ask me. Both Isla and Josh were surprising, and each chapter held discoveries for me. Character development is something that Stephanie Perkins doesn't seem to have a problem with. She just makes the characters believable, identifiable, and REAL.

I know I shouldn't compare but I can't help it. I didn't think it was possible to love Isla and the Happily Ever After more than I loved Anna and the French Kiss because man, I love that book so much. But Isla is just everything that I can ever hope for in a book. Isla Martin is so much more relatable. She's beautiful and she's smart... but like me, she has a lot of insecurities and uncertainties. She doesn't take risks and she feels that she's a nobody and that she doesn't belong anywhere. She can't decide what she wants to be and who she wants to be. She reads a lot, too. But what I can identify with most is her surprise at the idea that she can be loved by the person she loves. That it's not impossible. Basically, the story of my life. But she learns, as I did a few years back, that it's ok to take your time to figure things out.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="291"] Source[/caption]

If you've been following all the Q & As and interviews of Stephanie Perkins, then you already know that the characters we love from the previous books also appeared in this book. This was actually the main reason why I was excited about this book. Which is funny to me now, because I got sucked in by Isla and Josh's story that I forgot that I was waiting for Anna and the gang to appear! When I got to that part though, I can't tell you how happy I was. It's like reuniting with friends! It felt like Christmas came early and I received lots of gifts!



They didn't change and I love that about them. Etienne was still charming. Lola's still sparkly. And I have no words for the end of chapter 30. It was surreal. I still get teary-eyed just thinking about it. Oh my god, please, when you read it, can you tweet me and let's gush about it together???!!!

I can go on and on about how much I love Isla and the Happily Ever After. But I'm taking up too much of your time, I'm sure. So let me just say this: Buy it. Get a copy. Read it. You won't regret doing so because Stephanie not only did a brilliant job here, but she also outdid her previous works. You'll learn so much about love, friendship and self-worth, and you get to cap off your Anna and Lola journey with the best finale ever. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)

P.S. Found this Anna-Lola-Isla artwork somewhere and I thought it was so cool and spot-on. Don't you agree?





As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
2:00 AM
This Week on The Bookshelf Intruder

This Week on the Bookshelf Intruder rounds up everything that happened on the blog, share-worthy links from around the web, my current reading list, and some offline happenings.



Let's cut to the chase. As of writing (August 14), I don't have a copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After YET. I have pestered National Book Store and Fully Booked on their Facebook and Twitter pages and even called them on the phone (I am that desperate, yes) but nooo. Isla is not yet available for selling. Now I regret not pre-ordering it on The Book Depository. :(

But it's technically here. Not just here with me. I hope that I get my hands on it this weekend because darn, I've been waiting too long.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] To NBS or Fully Booked...[/caption]

So for you, lucky ones who already have copies of Isla, no spoilers please!

Now, back to business. It's been a pretty busy two weeks both online and offline. Here's what happened on the blog:

And some bookish updates from the web:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="475"] MINE!!![/caption]

Offline, things have been crazy, too. We finally moved in to a new house. And it's still messy. I went to work the other day with my pants hanging loose because I couldn't find my belt in all the chaos. Sigh. But hey, I finally got to arrange the bookshelves.

And oh, before I forget, I won a signed copy of Lola and the Boy Next Door from Lyn Ching! It's surreal! As some of you know, I was sick on the day of the signing so I couldn't come but this... I even forgot that I joined the contest. So thank you, Lyn Ching! Since I have an extra copy of Lola (unsigned), I may have to do a giveaway soon. Stay tuned!



On a sad note, and you know this already, Robin Williams died last August 11. I was really saddened by this news because I've watched so many of his films and I can't remember a single one that I didn't like. He was an amazing actor. I especially love him in Dead Poets Society, where he played the unorthodox and inspiring John Keating, English professor at an all-boys boarding school. That movie made me cry and Robin Williams' death is a terrible, terrible thing.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="342"] Oh captain, my captain![/caption]

To end this already long entry, I leave you with the words that were immortalized by Robin Williams' John Keating: "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary."

Boys and girls, let's seize the day. Ciao!
1:30 PM


Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews that is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual, including books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

A couple of days ago, I hoarded more ebooks from Amazon and NetGalley and loaded 'em up on my Kindle. I don't know when I'll get to read them but who cares? I know, I know, it's probably not healthy... but man, I was on ebook heaven and I went nuts!



Anyway, here's my haul from Amazon:

And from NetGalley:

Now, the challenge is read ALL OF THAT. Um, can I sleep?

YOUR TURN. What's your recent bookish acquisition? Spill!
11:00 AM


Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop hosted by Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can’t wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves!

This week's wish is Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan.
4:00 AM
Review:

The Giver is one of the first dystopian novels written. It is the first book in the quartet series and has received various awards and recognition. Needless to say, this book is highly acclaimed and received a lot of good reviews. I rarely see a bad review of it.

I've read Gathering Blue years before (because I didn't know it was part of a quartet) and I remember liking it. So I expected The Giver to blow me away. Sadly, it didn't. Now, before you mob, let me tell you that I didn't hate it either.

What's interesting about The Giver is that Jonas's society seemed utopian at first. It has rules, yes. For example, a public apology is required every time you come in late for school. There are rituals like sharing of feelings every night and sharing of dreams every morning. When someone is too old, he or she is sent to "Elsewhere." Ok, so maybe some of the rules were weird. But everyone seemed contented. Maybe not happy, but contented. Unlike the districts of Hunger Games, people in this society were not lacking or starving and were generally equipped with everything they will ever need. Or so they think. *cue evil laughter*

As I continue reading, I realize that the society has secrets and with each session with the 'Giver', the old man who trains Jonas to be the next "Receiver of Memory" (that title made me cringe), I learned that this was not a model society at all. I'm glad that it doesn't exist and if it ever will, I hope I don't live to see it.

Without spoiling peeps who haven't read The Giver yet, let me share what I learned from this book: memories are very, very important. They affect the way we think, the way we feel, the way we live. And without those memories, who are we?

Again, I didn't hate this book. I liked it. I just didn't find it great, like I expected I would. If I read this when I was younger, maybe I would feel differently. After all, this was meant for children. The writing was really good and simple though. The one thing that I didn't like about it though was the ending. For a minute there I was just dumbfounded, thinking, WTH was that ending?! I have read some spoilers though, so I kind of know what happens next. I will reread Gathering Blue and read Messenger soon. :)

Have you read The Giver? Did you like it? Planning to watch the movie? Share your thoughts!



As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
4:00 AM
Musing of The Bookshelf Intruder

More than a week ago, I read Landline by Rainbow Rowell. I loved it. It was good, although it's not my favorite Rowell book. For the 4th time in less than a year, Rainbow has managed to amaze me with every book, every character. The girl simply can't do no wrong.

For those who've been living under a rock and don't know what Landline is about, here's the blurb:

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened? [Source]

The landline is a mystery (and it's the reason why instead of 5, I gave the book a rating of 4 stars -- still high but could've been better). Without giving anything away (I hope) let's just say that a X is able to call Y through the landline. But the Y that X is talking to is not the real Y, but the Y from the past. Present time X is not really X, but future X for past Y -- wait! I lost myself there. I swear that it's not as confusing as it is in the book (only a little bit). So let's just call it the MAGIC LANDLINE. It has this power to call someone from the past. Equal parts fantastic and creepy. You want? I do!

Yes, a magic landline would be awesome, wouldn't it?

So here's a little game for you with easy peasy instructions! Just answer the following questions:

  1. Who will you call if you have a magic landline? (From the past or from the future? Up to you!)

  2. Why?

  3. What will you say?


I know, I know, I find it tricky myself. But I want you to share your thoughts (and humor me) so here I go...

  1. My English teacher back in high school, Ms. Platon

  2. We used to be really closed, even when I was already in college. Our conversations go beyond school-related things. We talk about her life, but mostly we talk about my crushes. She used to tell me that she saw herself in me. But by sophomore year in college, I already lost contact with her and I learned that she migrated to the US. And I can't find her anywhere online. I miss her!

  3. It will go something like this:


I'm calling from the future and you probably think I'm nuts but that's okay... It's just that I miss you! Yep, in the future, we lost communication because you left and you didn't even give me your email address!

I think about you, here in the future, whenever I hit a milestone in my life and I know you would've been proud. I miss the days when you used to leave comments on my diary (a school requirement, guys) and I'd pore over them. It didn't seem much then but now I realize how right you were about boys. We're so much smarter than them. Hahahaha!

And I really wish we get to talk as often as we did before. There's so many things I want to tell you. Like how I think I've found The One. I'm still crossing my fingers but you know the guys I liked in high school, right? Well, they're nothing compared to him. :)

And so on...

I realized just now how hard this is, since I'm writing (or typing). But it'll most likely be easier if I do have a magic landline and I can chatter away. Wouldn't that be nice?

Okay, so YOUR TURN now. Tell me how your call goes by leaving a comment (or by tweeting me). Or, if you blogged about your phone call instead, do share the link to me. :)
4:00 AM
Hello, boys and girls! :D

I know that I'm slightly late to the party but hey, it's still (technically) the first week of August, right?

If you've been reading my blog, you probably know that I'm a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins. Which is why I can't wait for August. So, without further ado, let me list down the ten new releases this month that I'm really excited about:

1. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins - Isla is coming!!! Of course, this is on top of my list and I've marked August 14 on my calendar a looong time ago. Isla is the 2nd companion book of Anna and the French Kiss, one of my all-time favorites. This time, the shy Isla Martin finds true love in Josh Wasserstein (this is not a spoiler, ok? We all know this will happen, we just don't know how). I'm very excited about this one because I love Anna, Etienne *faints*, Lola, and Cricket *faints again* and I am positively sure that they are in this book.

2. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover - Came out a couple of days ago (August 5). I am a fan of the Slammed trilogy. And this one's been getting positive reviews, too. Plus, did you know she's coming to the Philippines next year? :)


3. The Rule of Thoughts by James Dashner - This is the second book of The Mortality Doctrine series, which comes out on August 26. I haven't read book 1 yet (The Eye of Minds) and technically, I'm looking forward to that but hey, after I read The Eye of Minds, I'll be reading this next. Right? Right.

 

4. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan - I don't know how Rick Riordan does it. Every year he comes up with a new book and a mini-book, which not only requires TIME but also immense knowledge on the subject. So far, he's not disappointing me. This one comes out on August 19.


5. The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco - Also came out on August 5. I'm not a fan of horror and paranormal. It scares me and gives me nightmares. But The Girl From The Well sounds really good and very Japanese (which should scare me more) so I'm giving it a chance. I should read it in daylight though. And grab a friend/family member to stay with me while I'm reading.

6. The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost - Saving a sister who's stuck in a parallel realm? Sounds great! Although I'm not a fan of the cover, this does seem like a good new series.

7. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - Another one that's coming out on August 26 (what is up with that date?). I have to admit that it's the cover that caught my attention. But the blurb is equally intriguing. A cabinet sized replica of a house with miniature furnishings? Give me that!

 

8. Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid - Came out on July 29, but putting this in my August list, ok? Pfft, technicalities. Let's Get Lost has been getting mixed reviews, although so far there are more good reviews than bad. I'm still holding out hope for this one and wishing that it won't be as bad as We Were Liars (some say they have lots of similarities) was for me.


9. A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall - The blurb sounded so funny and unique... and FUN! And the cover, it looks literally sweet like cotton candy. It comes out on *guess when?!* August 26.

10. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm - I like books with peculiar-sounding names. I like them better when they have nice covers and great storylines. The Fourteenth Goldfish sounds like it has all three. It's a Middle Grade Sci-Fi fantasy so I think it'll be a fun, light read. I don't even have to say when it comes out.

*All cover photos from Goodreads*

Do you have an August releases list, too? Share it in the Comments section! :)
4:00 AM
Hello, lovely booknerds! I'm sorry for being MIA these past few days. There's too much happening in my life (heavier workload, moving to a new house) and sadly, the blogging had to take a backseat, at least for a short time.

Aaand, I also went through a short reading slump after reading Landline. I was reading too much romance and I thought maybe, I should give Gone Girl a try now. But the slump hit me and I couldn't get past the first 2 chapters of the book. Then I tried reading something else, and then another... It was so frustrating and inconvenient (especially since I try to follow a blogging schedule). This isn't my first time to experience this, but I wasn't blogging before so it felt okay to not read for weeks or even months at the time. But now that I'm blogging, I wanted to get over it as fast as I can. So I looked for a book that's short enough so I won't feel overwhelmed. Ta-da!!! I chose The Giver by Lois Lowry. It was short, generally reviewed as a great book, is one of the first dystopian novels ever (and I haven't had a good dystopian in a long time), and has a movie version that's showing this month. PERFECT!

I'm through 60% of the book and I'm not rushing. So far, so good. I've read Gathering Blue before so I'm kind of aware of the weirdness of Lois Lowry's world. I hope after I finish this, I'll be ready for another book.

Now, for the pretty news... I won Read Philippines' YA July Challenge! The prize? 14 bookish bookmarks with my chosen designs. Laila gave me a sneak peek of the printed bookmarks last weekend but I still squealed with delight when I saw them.

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Because how can you not be giddy with happiness when you see these babies? They're sooo beautiful!



Thank you so much, Laila, for coming up with a great challenge and equally great prizes! You're awesome! :)

Speaking of awesome, apart from the bookmarks (I still can't get over how pretty they are), I also received a London postcard from this amazing lady from Google, Lindsay, who had a short visit in the Philippines last May. The postcard made me go awww... I can't wait to visit London and see these beauties in person! It also reminded me of The Geography of You and Me. How cool is this?



This weekend will still be busy because of the moving, but next week will be better, I promise! Don't forget to visit soon for my review of The Giver and possibly, new discussion posts.

Ciao! :)
12:30 PM
This Week on The Bookshelf Intruder

This Week on the Bookshelf Intruder rounds up everything that happened on the blog, share-worthy links from around the web, my current reading list, and some offline happenings.



These last two weeks, I struggled with my blog content and you probably know why. This week came with some good news. I am so happy to announce that finally, power was restored in our house. So I don't have to worry about my tablet and mobile phone's batteries anymore.  Yay! :)

And there's more! (wow, that sounded like a TV home shopping ad.) I posted two reviews this week (technically, three):

You should check those reviews out because these books are written by two cool women whose works so far have done nothing but amaze me. :)

Speaking of cool, I also posted a Slam Book Q & A with the very cool and very nice Cindi Madsen. Read her answers!

As if the week wasn't good enough, I also bought some books by Jennifer E. Smith (who I heard is coming to PH this September. Is that true?), John Green, and Sophie Kinsella from National Book Store. Check out my stack, okay? Okay. :)

More news from the world of authors and books:



  • Another book-turned-movie that I'm looking forward to is The Maze Runner. I loved that book so much (and like Divergent, I hated the last book) and I'm kind of excited to see Thomas, Newt, and Minho outside of my imagination. Do you agree that the trailer is breath-taking?




  • Fan of Stephen King and you wish to write half as good as he does? You should follow his tips and advice.


All for now. Tell me how your week was and what you're currently reading. Leave a comment, guys!
4:00 AM


Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews that is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual, including books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

The best thing about paydays? Having the money to buy more books!

Truth be told, I suck at choosing books to buy. I spent more than an hour last night, going around in circles in National Book Store. I consider so many things: the cover, the blurb, the author, the reviews, the price. This is because even though I love books, I also have bills to pay and other expenses. So I make sure that the book I'm buying is worth the cash. I know I'll probably pick someone that seemed good based on all the said factors, but ended to be not a good fit for me. But still, those are my standards.

I was not fully prepared though. I can't remember all the books in my TBR so I ended up buying some books that I already have in ebook format (just so I'm sure that I'm buying the good ones).



  • The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith- I have an ebook of this but I wanted the physical copy because I've seen so many great reviews of this.

  • Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle - Also have an ebook of this. It's one of my favorite holiday books and I should have both this a long time ago.

  • Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella- The first book I picked yesterday. I simply can't go wrong with Sophie Kinsella.

  • The First Crush is the Deepest/Secrets & Saris - There was a pile of Harlequin Mills & Boon books in the middle of NBS and they're worth 50 pesos each so I thought, why not? The covers looked the same, so I just picked the one that doesn't sound too sexy.


I was so happy to be getting new books that I forgot that we're moving to a new house and we should be bringing less stuff with us. Uh-oh.

On the ARC front, here's what I got:

So there's my haul. What about you? What did you get this week?
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