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The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
My heart is broken, diba. Tas this book broke it even more. But buti nga, kasi I asked for it. The Last Letter isn’t just a romance. It’s a grief-laced, soul-shattering journey that reminded me of my greatest love, and just how unbearable it is to lose someone who’s already part of your being. I had little mental notes about the writing style but by the time I reached the end, none of that mattered. The story swallowed me whole. It was all pain, and crying, and somehow a cold and warm hug at the same time, idk. It hurts in the way I needed it to. Five stars nalang,…
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Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
If you’ve ever cried over something and said “I’m fine” while clearly not feeling fine, this is the series for you. It’s a collection of the stories of people visiting a small cafe where you can time travel - but only under very specific rules, like making sure you finish your coffee before it gets cold. You can’t change the past, but you can see someone one last time, say the thing you never said, or find peace from your past chaos. The series is not for everyone but it reminded be that the impact of each book we read changes depending on where we are in life. I read…
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When She’s Gone by Rea Frey
About the book Quick thoughts Publish date: January 14, 2025 (ARC)Genre: Thriller, MysteryTrigger warnings: violence, murder, mental health issues, body horrorShort description (created with AI): Cora Valentine, a young gymnast, escapes from a kidnapping that becomes a public spectacle, overshadowing her Olympic dreams. Years later, she strives to protect her daughter from the horrors of her past, but on Halloween, her daughter disappears. Cora must confront her trauma and is faced with a desperate choice: to take another child in order to rescue her own. As the haunting memories resurface, Cora realizes the past is not yet finished with her. Frey did a fantastic job of capturing a mother’s desperation and determination.…
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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
I usually don’t pick up unfamiliar titles unless they’re thrifted, but My Dark Vanessa made its way to me thanks to BookTok and BookTube, and I’m glad it did. This novel is dark, disturbing, and deeply important. It follows Vanessa, a 15-year-old who is groomed and abused by her teacher, told entirely from her perspective. Russell’s writing is raw and powerful, capturing the confusion, denial, and trauma that comes with being manipulated at such a young age. The way the book explores power dynamics and long-term emotional damage is chilling but nuanced, showing how abusers twist reality to maintain control. It’s a heavy read, but one that sheds much-needed light…
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
About the book Quick thoughts Publish date: May 29, 2003Genre: Classic, Historical FictionTrigger warnings: Child sexual assault, Physical violence / abuse, Execution & public violence, War & political violence, Death & grief , Child abuse / neglect, Classism / discrimination, Religious extremism / oppression, Infertility / miscarriage Short description: The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over…
