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“Your problem is, you underestimate me because I’m a woman.” • The second book in this wonderful series is just as action-packed as the first one. Friends kept telling me between this and the first book (which are supposedly not the best in the series overall) that this was slightly better, but I think I like Magic Bites more. Maybe it’s because the blurb messed me up. It was angled as if the flare would be a catalyst for a god-on-god battle but *SPOILER ALERT* Kate averts that disaster, thank goodness! • “Sometimes life just kept punching you in the teeth, no matter how many times you got up.” • I still liked it though, and the IA duo have yet again managed to astonish me with such layered story-telling that I went ahead and binged the next two books. The idea to have a worldwide magical reckoning allowed for more overlaps in varying myths and legends. I was especially pleased with the treatment of witch and Wicca lore, and their version of The Maid, The Mother and The Crone living in this giant overgrown garden with a giant overgrown tortoise. I also liked the morally ambiguous Bran and I don’t want to spoil it for y’all but I felt Kate’s anguish towards his ultimate fate when it came to that. • “People must make their own choices, no matter how wrong those choices are. Otherwise, they can’t be free.” • The first book already painted Kate’s moral compass quite well but here, she is given more difficult choices to make and I loved that she stayed true to what she thought was the right thing to do. Still v low romance but it’s there, growing steadily. I also love the addition of Julie and Andrea in the roster of well-crafted characters. I’m anxious for them to figure in raising the stakes for Kate and her ~predestined sacrifice. • “Some things should not be done no matter how much you want the goal…evil is striving to an end without regard for the means.” • Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #urbanfantasy #KateDaniels #MagicBurns #IlonaAndrews (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrScWtNHvKP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kwbi6g8nw6lh

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“What’s so good about this Seiji guy anyway?” • The first time I read this, I just blanked out on the pretty drawings (*eye emoji*) and didn’t really get the story (classic Ben!) so I borrowed it from @chachicsbooknook a second time (to read and consume at home, in my own pacing) and WOW I missed a lot! Reminiscent of sports anime and manga, this graphic novel serial revolves around Nick, a diamond-in-the-rough fencer in a boarding school with a v competitive fencing program. On the surface it looks like a story about the new kid going against the odds to get into the much coveted fencing team but deeper into it, C.S. Pacat’s multi-layered writing kicks in and it becomes deliciously complicated! • “I know I can fence.” • I already love her writing in the Captive Prince series and here it’s a little more YA, but the level of angst and the foreshadowing of potential conflicts are still on point. I loved that the queerness of the characters were just there as facts and not used as a plot device of sorts. We need more works like this! Johanna The Mad’s illustrations are also so good! It reminded me of the WITCH series I gobbled up in Highschool and the *fanservice* parts are awesome! • My Highlights: + Best Boy (Seiji) x Bad Boy (Nicholas) trope + the Roommate™️ situation + the diverse supporting characters (esp Bobby’s entirely different - but so cute - Roommate™️ situation • We’re all waiting for Vol. 2 to come out, but several issues after this have already been released so go check this and everything out for your comic book fix! I highly recommend it! . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH#bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature#bookcommunity #alwaysreading#bookstagramersPH #IGreads #Fence #CSPacat #Comics #QueerLit #GraphicNovel #LGBTQIA #diversebooks #diversereads #fencing #TPB (at Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrRlOuKHPuw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fl16tdjxu9fx

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It’s almost the 12th day of December and I haven’t finished even 1 book in my TBR! 😅 • But this Pride and Prejudice audiobook narrated by Rosamund Pike is just so good, I’m m relishing it! 💖😭 • How’s your TBR? What’s your current read? . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #PrideAndPrejudice #JaneAusten #Audiobook #Audible #RosamundPike #classic #festive #pink (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrO33C9nUJf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pg0ndadlkmkn

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In light of recent news about Tumblr’s recent policy change prohibiting NSFW content in their website, let me post this human element shot of me, consuming something definitely not safe for work. LOL. • I’m really not affected by that policy change bec I don’t post erotic stuff there, and well, there’s Twitter if I ~need ~some (Tumblr for mobile is hell, if you don’t know this yet) but I’m still thinking of going to a different blogging site in solidarity with everyone who’s been wrongfully flagged by Tumblr mods. I’m all for internet safety if they were doing it right, but let’s be honest, they’re not doing anything right.

I’ve been on Tumblr for 9 years now and it was my top social media for a long while bec it had amazing art and fics and poetry, and just the full spectrum of humor that seemed more interesting to me than that of Facebook’s. It had all the ideas you would now find on Pinterest, music that you’d now rather stream elsewhere, and the endless scroll option had been fodder for my procrastination for the longest time. Now i just use it to save IG posts and photos (so i can have a place i can right click+save the photos, and now copy captions too bec IG is being difficult🙄) but no one really looks at my blog anymore. I even stopped writing anything there. It’s just…there.

And now this. A really lame excuse to finally kill the dysfunctional site. 💁🏻‍♂️ I updated my posts this evening, but I’m looking to transfer to WordPress or whatever come next year. Got suggestions? :) • This NSFW art zine is by @eroticmilk and @amijeru . This is the tamest one I could find (I think) but don’t worry, I’ll post more inappropriate 🔥🔥 in the following days. Let’s give some of my followers enough time to unfollow if gay sex makes them uncomfortable. (I don’t really care, but see, I’m not a complete d*ck? 😘) • all the pretty stars shine for you my love • 📸: #besfluencer @readbyher 🎁: #besfluencer @chachicsbooknook . . . . #nsfw #art #zine #ArtPH #eroticmilk #amijeru #gay #mm #erotic #buttsecks #FlagMeWhyDontYou (at Toby’s Estate, Ortigas Branch) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrNYVuOnr15/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nn9h5zxvzgim

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Happy Monday! How’s your week starting? • Mine is hectic already but I’m still brimming with happy-weekend weekend vibes so it’s okay. :) And while I’m still unable to post photos of the weekend shenanigans on Twitter, here’s a haul of bookish things I got over the weekend. ❤️ • + Spatial People and Thunder, borrowed from Mina. + Voices from a Hanging Cliff borrowed from @chachicsbooknook . + @alisharaiwrites HEA pins c/o @readbyher + HEA Rules stickers by @carlakdeguzman + @linyalinya GC from #besfluencer April! ❤️🙌🏻❤️ + Miniso charger cord for my Kindle! 🤗 + On the Edge by Ilona Andrews (which I didn’t plan to buy bec my IL pile is still high but it was P45 and I couldn’t let it go!) + Fiona-Boo unicorn ~inspired by @agayllanera ‘s Mango Summer! Haha! • I hope your week will be filled with light, productivity, positivity and good news! ❤️😘 . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #selfpublishing #indiepublishing #poetry #zine #artPH #HEA #diversebooks #diversereads #kindle #linyalinya #IlonaAndrews #haul (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrL9ho8HIpy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fjxoetvebixb

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It’s Sunday night in my side of the world and I can finally rest! *I mean, ‘til it’s Monday again and I have to work, 😅. How was your weekend? • I have been MIA for a while now and huhu, I want to say I’ve been busy writing/creating new things but I wasn’t really v productive the past few days, it was just 🙃. One highlight that I’m happy about the week, though, was yesterday morning’s #besfluencers x Roman Class (🤣) brunch at @co.op.manila ! (that *fluffiest* pancake is an entirely different highlight of the week, LBH! 😊) I have a ton of new content coming your way this week (plus reviews of books I keep forgetting to post, LOL) so stay tuned! • IDK what else to say but “Thank U, Bes!” to my besfluencers (@chachicsbooknook , @readbyher ), to #romanceclass, to everyone! :) Not just for the brunch HOHOL yesterday and the brunch before that, but also for the entire 2018! It’s too early for my sappy year-end post, but it’s never too early to say how grateful I am to the community! ❤️❤️❤️ • Cheers 🥂 to more books for me to read, write, and gush about with all of you! 😘 • *this Kindle family photo looks a lot more awesome on Chachic’s shot so this is what I’m posting! 😂 . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #Kindle #Paperwhite #brunch #breakfast #kindlebooks #ROMANCLASS🤣 (I can’t get over this!) (at CO/OP) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrKnM0pH3wD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=199ievevgqmad

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“We are not supposed to be proud. We are not supposed to love these things so hard…but I’ve never known anything else. These broken things all spell home to me.” • My first read for December is this audiobook. It is part of #TheGreatBigRomanceRead by @therippedbodice and is my first Pride and Prejudice book (my only other P&P media is the 2005 movie). I’m glad I was able to join this worldwide group reading activity, and joined the #romanceclassXpride discussion on Twitter yesterday. • This is a very unique read for me bec I’ve never read a YA this deeply rooted to black culture, specifically Haitian-Dominican AND Bushwick hood cultures, and Zuri is such a fun and lovable character. I loved that she was allowed to make mistakes without taking away her kindness, and she grows and learns from them in the end. I also loved that the story reflected themes that I loved from the original(societal class divides, the Bennet/Benitez sisters’ dynamic, etc) and still be able to hold its own bec of its portrayal teenage life in this generation. • It was pointed out in the discussion that the romance was v light and Darius needed more scenes to level with OG Darcy and I agree. I loved the kilig in their enemies-to-lovers banter, esp since ZZ delivers the best comebacks, but I felt a disconnect with broody Darius in the beginning, to the social butterfly Darius somewhere in the middle. I still like the book, but it would’ve been better if we saw more from Darius’ POV or at least more scenes to show more of him and his intentions. • Lastly, kudos to Elizabeth Acevedo’s performance in this audiobook! She perfectly captured the essence of Zuri (her snarkiness towards the Darcys, her tenderness to Madrina and her family) and her delivery of the poetry parts was fantastic! I enjoyed this book so much bec of her and I would def listen to this again after I read the original. 😍 • Pride by Ibi Zoboi, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #PrideRemix #IbiZoboi #ElizabethAcevedo #diversebooks #diversereads #audiobook #Audible #ireadYA (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq9oGBwH2Rb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cpuok2ha9jjd

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🎄 CHRISTMAS TBR 🎄 • It’s that time of the month again, and I mean posting ambitious TBRs for the month! LOL. • I already finished Pride by Ibi Zoboi on audio yesternight (it’s really good!) and so my selection this month has the OG P&P by mah gurl, Janey! (LOL) and one FF retelling, bec im in That Mood™️. • December 2018 TBR (in no particular order): 🎄 All Through the Night by Suzanne Brockmann (bec Gay Wedding in Christmastime?? ICONIC!) 🎄 Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (yep, I’m still not done with this series but let’s pace ourselves) 🎄Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (I also got the complimentary audiobook and omg there was a Christmas Miracle today! More on that later) 🎄 Unwrap Me by Jack Harbon 🎄 Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert 🎄 The Price of Salt by Claire Morgan 🎄 Waking Kate by Sarah Addison Allen 🎄 A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan 🎄 The Story of Lizzy and Darcy by Grace Watson 🎄 Soft on Soft by Em Ali • I’m not expecting a long holiday this year (but i still stocked up as if I was! LOL) but I really hope I get to read all of these! Happy Holidays, everyone! ;) . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #kindlebooks #ireadYA #DecemberTBR #ChristmasReads (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq7a3_PHar6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qt21752uyrja

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NOVEMBER WRAP-UP! • I finished eleven books this month and 90% of them were #besfuenced by @chachicsbooknook ! 😂 That shouldn’t be a surprise though bec (I’ve said this already) she’s the best at giving book recs and (I’ve said this already, too) she’s the best at giving books, period! 🤗🤗🤗 • What I’m surprised though, is my reading speed the last couple of months. My book count for September, October and November alone could fill up my reading goal for the year, and heh, I still got plans to read a couple more books for this month! 😊 It really helps that I’ve loved most of the books I’ve read recently, and that A LOT of them had happy ever afters guaranteed. (HEA or GTFO, as @readbyher would say. 😏) • Anyway, I sucked at posting bookstagram reviews this past month (my RomBkLove game has been v strong though 💪🏻), but I gots it all laid out in the following days so stay tuned! ❤️ • Clockwise from Top Right, Print: > Fence* (reread) - C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad > Milk! - EroticMilk > The Prince and the Dressmaker* - Jen Wang > The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater > Magic Burns - Ilona Andrews > Fresh Romance* - various authors . . Digital: > Diamond Fire, Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews > Breakup Anniversary - Dawn Lanuza > Prince’s Gambit - C.S. Pacat . . *graphic novels borrowed from Chachic . . . . .

#bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #graphicnovels #comics #romance #readlocalPH #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #kindlebooks #NovemberWrapUp #ireadYA #queerlit (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq1gg3zn7-R/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1obcje3ikwbhn

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#RomBkLove Day 30: Can’t Read Just One • I know this prompt is for the binge readers and I haven’t really binged anything yet (I went in and read three books in a row of Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series this month but I stopped to read other things so idk if im doing it properly??? LOL ANYWAY,) • My rec for today is ALL #ROMANCECLASS BOOKS! Bec, you betcha, you can’t read just one! 😏 • Romanceclass, in itself, is not a publisher, but a community of readers and independent authors from the Philippines, writing romance in English. Some books listed are self-published, some are trad pubbed by local publishers and most are available worldwide in digital format. More info at @romanceclassbooks and on the official website: romanceclassbook.com. • Pictured are most of my print copies but I have so much more on Kindle! I haven’t read all of these yet bec some I’m saving for when I’m in awful reading slumps and I can assure you, my romanceclass favorites always manages to get me out of a funk. • So that concludes my RomBkLove posts for this month! ❤️ Special thanks to @anafc98 for facilitating this online campaign(?) 🤗 My favorite this month was the category romance prompt bec I discovered A LOT of titles and authors I’m excited to try. ❤️❤️❤️ . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #selfpublishing #indiepublishing #romanceclass #readlocalPH #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #SparkNA (at Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqzZhXRnS1k/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=88doy7rasoj1

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I got past 50% of the audiobook last night and 😍 I had to replay the poetry parts bec they are beautiful and Ibi Zoboi is brilliant and Elizabeth Acevedo’s voice is amazing! ❤️❤️😭I love Zuri! I mean, I get why there are people who think she’s unlikeable (yes, I took an itty bitty tiny peek at the GR reviews😬) but she’s a teenager! She’s supposed to make mistakes she can learn from. 😶 • Anyway, this whole audiobook experience is still v enjoyable to me. I get to read books AND rest my perpetually overworked eyes??? Groundbreaking! I even get to toss and turn in bed without worrying about breaking my glasses, bec guess what! I DONT NEED TO WEAR THEM! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 i love this! I’m three days in with the 30-day trial and huhu, im starting to worry about what I’ll do with my life when it’s over. LOL. * Reminder that the #romanceclassXpride online discussion is on December 3rd, as part of #TheGreatBigRomanceRead! ❤️ I have a feeling that my slow-ass reading self will get to finish this book before then but let’s not jinx it. Haha. . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #IGreads #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #audiobook #Audible #Pride #IbiZoboi #ElizabethAcevedo #ireadYA (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqy1KzhncUW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13xkx9ko3do81

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HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, KABUTES!!! 🍰🎂🍄 • I can’t believe it’s already been a year since we launched this baby! 😭 This book has gone through a lot and I’m happy and grateful for the learnings and laughters and love that we’ve all gotten because of this passion project! It is an honor to be writing alongside wonderful authors that once were just Wattpad forum buddies and now are real-life friends! ❤️ I miss you all and I hope to see and hang out with you guys soon! • I was going through my photos of the launch, trying to find one shot I could share but haha, I couldn’t choose just one so I’m sharing several photos on my stories today! 😉 • ON TO THE NEXT BOOK! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 • Beyond Light and Darkness, a Kathbute Anthology ⭐️Multi-genre anthology 🌟11 Stories w/ unique writing prompts 💫Romance + Fantasy + Spec Fic + Horror ✨Local Stories in English

Print: bit.ly/BLADBatch2 Amazon: bit.ly/bladebook . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #selfpublishing #indiepublishing #BeyondLightAndDarkness #BLAD #readlocalPH #diversebooks #diversereads #wattpad #kabutesawattpad #hbentham #bookbirthday (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqyTxKbnQYc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mofow2bo6xoz

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I’m feeling super sick today 🤒 and colds meds are making me extra sluggish, so there would be no intelligent content on my feed tonight. 😑 • I was going through photos taken during our #besfluencers brunch a few days back thinking maybe I can pull off posting captionless window shots and pffft! This is my favorite shot of me! 😂🤣😂 • ISTG, I suck at taking photos of people AND of being photographed myself! Hahahuhu! 🤣😭🤣 • This gave me a huge laugh though, so I hope you find this funny too. 😊 Happy Thursday, and Happy Long Weekend to those who are on holiday tomorrow! 😘 • 📸: @chachicsbooknook . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #bookstagramer #windowshot #coffeeshop #brunch #bts #diversebooks #diversereads #BenBloopers https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqw02K9n9Wm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=oam46wabimac

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#RomBkLove Day 28: Extroverts, Life of the Party/ Center of Attention • It wasn’t easy recalling what to rec for today’s prompt bec I tend to gravitate towards introverts even in fiction, but I remembered this really good story and it’s perfect for it! • The titular Mr. Prefect is Cholo, who is not only a student officer of the Prefect of Discipline, but also president of a student organization whose latest project is a big school event that everyone has been looking forward to. (Don’t quote me on the details bec it’s been a while since I read it and my memory is unreliable, but still.) He is also Mr. Straight A’s and is popular with the student body bec he’s an over all awesome guy. The heroine is Vinnie, a rebellious wisecracker with a pottymouth and, on the surface at least, the polar opposite of Cholo. They are stuck with each other for the big party and the way this enemies to lovers/opposites attract romance developed is so delicious and funny, I had to put it down for a moment to laugh at their witty banter. There is a healthy amount of grovel too, mostly from Vinnie (bec her temper is just 😤) and I loved those parts too! • This is an old shot that I almost forgot I had 😅 But now that I’m looking at it, I kind of crave beef mami for breakfast. Hehe. • Chasing Mr. Prefect by Katt Briones . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #selfpublishing #indiepublishing #romanceclass #readlocalPH #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #chasingmrprefect #KattBriones #beefmami #SparkNA (at McKinley Exchange Corp. Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqvztkRHl0D/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15ig97hxjb0eq

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“It’s a truth universally acknowledged that when rich people move into the hood, where it’s a little bit broken and a little bit forgotten, the first thing they want to do is clean it up.” • I’m joining #TheGreatBigRomanceRead this December with @romanceclassbooks and we’re reading Pride by Ibi Zoboi, a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. My copy is the audiobook version, narrated by The Poet X author and performer Elizabeth Acevedo. This is my first audiobook ever! 🤗 I started last night and this new reading experience just blows my mind off! I’m loving it!❤️ • This worldwide reading activity was started by The Ripped Bodice Bookstore (@therippedbodice ) to connect romance readers all over the world and celebrate a shared love of romance. The PH online discussion will be hosted by @minavesguerra on December 3, and to celebrate the first year of TGBRR, there is an ongoing bookstagram contest sponsored by @onfrolic until November 30th. (This is my official entry, btw 😏) For more info, visit https://www.thegreatbigromanceread.com/ , or the #TheGreatBigRomanceRead hashtag; and if you’re interested to join, now is the time to start reading! 💪🏻 . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #Audible #Pride #IbiZoboi #ElizabethAcevedo (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BquEdlCHAG-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ejx8m7s9avfc

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#RomBkLove Day 27: Introverts, Bookworms, Wallflowers and Recluses. • I feel like I haven’t recommended Sounds Like Summer enough! LOL. But this is one of my favorite reads of 2018! • Lux is brilliant, but socially inept, and after a really awful day at work, she decides to do something impulsive for once and travels to a music festival she’s always dreamed of experiencing.

She would’ve been totally out of place, what with her being completely without friends there and her tendency to shut people away. In comes Micah, who’s not only absolutely cute and talented and cool, but also becomes her default companion through the weekend.

Romance blossoms between them, of course, and this could’ve easily been your run of the mill insta-love, weekend fling kind of story, but Six De Los Reyes delves deeper into issues like mental health, social pressures (both for the heroine and hero) and shines light into dark emotions without trivializing depression and self-harm. I’ve heard some people finding this a bit hard to read, and I get that, but I also think Six had achieved a balance between the heaviness and the kilig; and I loved that the romance, while becoming endgame, doesn’t negate all the other things going on with Lux and Micah. They had to do something about their problems, even if it meant just taking the first step, and prove they’re what the other deserved before the HFN credits started to roll. • 😊 I had a lot to say, who knew? 😅💁🏻‍♂️ • Sounds Like Summer by Six De Los Reyes . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #introverts #wallflowers #recluses #bookworms #romanceclass #readlocalPH #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #Depression #SparkNA #WIMBooks #SoundsLikeSummer #SixDeLosReyes (at Meycauayan, Bulacan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqtMtYNHpFn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tvu844ece9ay

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“Because a kingmaker would always choose the weaker man. The weaker the man, the easier he is to control.” • This was such an intense read! If the first book was more into introducing the world and politics of Akielos and Vere, this time there’s more character-driven sequences and finally, FINALLY, we get to go on that Damen x Laurent ship! • “Damen felt it then, the first dizzy edge of new emotion, and he let go of his hold of Laurent like a man fearing a precipice; and yet was helpless.” • Laurent’s infamous coldness is still ever present but more of the façade crumbles as he puts more trust on Damen. Secrets are revealed, more political maneuvering (Damen shows much of his royal upbringing here when he offers advice to Laurent on the first part of their journey). We also get to see Laurent in a physical fight (so satisfying!); and agh, the two of them working together? I LIVE FOR IT! • “Damen leaned in and kissed Laurent on the mouth … It felt, in all the lies between them, as if this was the only true thing.” • As with Captive Prince, this book’s twists and turns were enjoyable and superbly written. I knew there was gonna be backstabbing, betrayal and shady business against Laurent (and by Damen, too, considering who he really is!) but the way it unfolded, and what our protagonists did when these secrets were brought to light, were brilliant! I can’t wait to read the third book! (but huhuhu, it hasn’t gone on sale yet, and it’s still way too expensive for me! HALP) • Prince’s Gambit by C. S. Pacat . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerdPH #bookworm #instabooks #bookish #bookishfeature #bookcommunity #alwaysreading #bookstagramersPH #IGreads #diversebooks #diversereads #romancetagram #kindlebooks #PrincesGambit #CaptivePrinceTrilogy #CSPacat #MM #giftedbyChachic (at Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqrGPVMHHZd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k6ga96dg5wfx