May Monthly Wrap-Up

Is summer finally here? Besides the scorching heat and humid air, the books I have read in May were also lit, producing warmth in my soul and fervor in my mood. Surprisingly, I gained two favorite books from this list. My TBR is a conundrum, constantly being ridiculed by me. Don’t even get me started with booktok and booktube. So that’s that. May has been pretty uneventful because of COVID, but on the bright side, my reading time has increased! 

1. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Before reading any mystery/thriller books, I initially thought that this genre was going to be a no-go for me. Why? I easily predict things! I suspect everyone, imagine the absolute worst, and go cray cray over the simplest hints. Well, One of Us Is Lying was definitely a big surprise for me. A surprise I never anticipated, a good one actually. 

This novel is a five star read for me mainly because of the immense character development, the 360 degrees turn to the usual cliche personalities, and the high school drama. Not only does it tackle family issues, academic pressure, and peer pressure, but the repercussions of depression and loneliness to a person as well. With that being said, Karen M. McManus did not hold back punches to the readers, she grabbed me by the hook and kept reeling in. I can totally see this as a tv show adaptation and I will undoubtedly binge it!

2. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you know me, I’m a sucker for The Infernal Devices series! In my opinion, this novel was ten times better than the first book, Clockwork Angel. Why? This book portrayed more romance, more action, and more introspective perceptions of each character. Cassandra Clare did not leave any character behind, each one of them had motivations and substance. I also adored how the author fleshed them out by untangling their problematic pasts and displaying their lowest of the low experiences. Thanks to that, I developed swollen eyes from crying too much!

This book definitely deserved a five star, no doubt. To its interesting plot, to the most elegant writing, and to the most profound characters, I recommend this book nonstop to you! Looking for a poetry-loving brooding man? Will Herondale. Looking for an intelligent, profound heroine? Tessa Gray. Looking for a soft-hearted, chivalrous man? Jem Carstairs. 

3. Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I wanted to read a feminist book so bad during Mid-April and this book was a great one to start with. It is fast-paced, includes romance, high school drama, and especially a flawed character. It discusses the day-to-day challenges women face that are being overlooked or claimed as “normal”. In this novel, our main character, Marin, gradually witnesses the inequality, oppression, and struggles of women. 

What I liked about this novel is that Marin was not introduced as the perfect feminist. She, too, has to learn and discover her voice through a heart-breaking process. She explores what feminism means as a student, friend, and girlfriend. 

4. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gilded Wolves was a novel that made me feel seen and appreciated. Why, oh why? Because this book is bursting with culture, diversity, heritage, and tradition. Being able to read a Filipino character in a young adult book was a feeling I am not used to and I need more of it! Roshani Chokshi did a great job explaining the Filipino tradition —  making reference of Dr. Rizal, writing conversations in Tagalog, and the conventional Filipino habits. As a fellow Filipino, Enrique instantly grabbed my heart allowing me to relate toward his experiences.

I deduct one star because as much as I admire Roshani Chokshi’s elegant writing, it comes with tangled faults. There were moments in the book wherein I had to read twice or thrice for the sake of understanding the plot. Don’t get me wrong, I love the magic system and all, but I wished there were more explanation into it. Being oblivious of the magic system made me confused!

5. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reading this book was like having a conversation with that little part within me that is so obsessed with the notion of perfection, flawlessness, and symmetry. As we go through the main character’s life, achieving perfection becomes a dangerous idea destroying her life as a girlfriend, friend, daughter, and student.

Cracked Up to Be is the first book I have read of Courtney Summers and I can now tell that she’s going to be a sure read author of mine. Her character building is beautifully put for the readers to capture their rawness and vulnerabilities, even if it means reading one of the snarkiest, jerkiest, and self-sabotaging characters. As a teen, I connected with Parker’s sentiments about maintaining your faultlessness despite everyone’s opinions of letting go, ease up, and loosen up.