Series You Want to Start Next Year

YAY! I'm so happy I can finally join this exciting meme. FYI, Top 5 Wednesday is a meme on Goodreads, created by a BookTuber named Lainey (Hi, Lainey! Visit her YouTube account here). I have joined similar meme called Top 10 Tuesday. But you know, ten is a lot! Especially for me who don't have a lot of time cuddling with books anymore. So, if you're busy like me but still wanting to join a meme, you can join Lainey's here. She posts the topic once for the whole weeks of the month. It makes me easier to join because I can write earlier and schedule my post. Thank you :) So, this time the topic is Series You Want to Start Next Year. I have a lot titles and I know I won't make it all. But still, I hope someone will give me Hermiones' time-turner for new years gift *finger crossed*.

Book Review: Five On A Treasure Island by Enid Blyton

Title: FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND
(THE FAMOUS FIVE #1)
Author: Enid Blyton
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: June 2001
ISBN: 978-0340796146
Rating: 5/5

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I remember my mom offered me the famous five series years ago when I was a kid. At that time, I have traveled to a lot of Conan Doyle's world and Agatha Christie's. Maybe that was why I didn't like famous five. It looked like a piece of cake. Too sweet. So, my mom gave away her famous five's collections.

Few days ago, my lecture gave me an assignment to read a detective or crime work by a woman author. Of course I chose Agatha Christie, automatically. I have a bunch of her collections in my room and I don't need to re-read them again, maybe just skimming. But, my friend suggested the famous five by Enid Blyton. Well, I think I'd like to read it. Famous five series only consists of 21 books, so why not? Since it's children's book, I didn't find any difficulty in understanding the words. Even though some words, or the writing style, is a little bit weird for me. I don't know if it's because it's a British work or because it's an old work. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

On this book, I get to know the characters. There are Julian the oldest, Dick, and Anne. They are siblings who are thirst of adventure. One holiday, their parents suggest them to visit their cousin, Georgina who lives at Kirrin Bay. Unfortunately, Georgina, who prefers to be called as George, is a difficult person. She likes to spend times by herself. She almost look like her father who hates to be disturbed. Unlike them, the mother, Aunt Fanny, is very lovely and understanding. She hopes Julian, Dick, and Anne can change her daughter's behavior.

Of course they do! They're finally getting along and George even bring them to her private island. Near the island, there is a shipwreck which belongs to George's great-great-great grandfather. The four children take an interesting box from the captain cabin and find a map which shows where the ingots--the gold--is hidden. They start their adventure under the castle. But, they have to deal with some men who are chasing the gold too! Those men even kidnap Julian and George. Will they be alright?

Book Review: Operation: Break the Casanova's Heart by Aly Almario [Phil-Lit]

Judul: OPERATION: BREAK THE CASANOVA'S HEART
Penulis: Aly Almario
Penerjemah: Airien Kusumawardani
Penerbit: Haru
Tanggal terbit: November 2015
ISBN: 978-602-7742-64-2
Harga: Rp 45.600 di BukaBuku
Rating: 3/5

Satu-satunya peraturan yang harus aku patuhi adalah: JANGAN JATUH CINTA. Ha! Seolah itu akan terjadi.

Naomi Mikael Perez sedang sibuk menyelesaikan misinya, yaitu menghancurkan hati sang Casanova, Stephen Cruz. Cowok yang telah menjadi temannya sejak SMA itu memang terkenal dengan sikap playboynya. Namun, kali ini Naomi rela bertindak karena Stephen telah menyaiti hati sahabatnya, Kryzel. Well, you'll do anything for your bestie, right? Dalam melakukan misinya, Naomi dibantu oleh KPSC (Koalisi Pembenci Stephen Cruz) yang didominasi oleh Yannie dan France. Dia pun harus menandatangi sebuah perjanjian.

Misi: Menghancurkan Hati Sang Casanova
10 tugas yang harus diselesaikan:

1. Buat dia menyadari kehadiranmu
2. Buat dirimu menonjol dari cewek-cewek lain
3. Dapatkan ajakan untuk berkencan
4. Jadikan kencan tersebut sangat berkesan
5. Buat dia menganggapmu serius
6. Pastikan dia hanya berkencan denganmu
7. Buat dia mengajakmu menemui orangtuanya
8. Buat dia menciummu, ciuman yang tulus
9. Jadilah pacar terbaik yang pernah dia miliki
10. Langkah terakhir: HANCURKAN HATINYA

Ya, itulah yang dirasakan Naomi, dari awal sampai akhir. Begitu banyak alasan dia untuk tidak menghancurkan hati sang Casanova. Tapi, ada alasan penting lain yang membuatnya harus melakukannya. Naomi pun berkali-kali ingin membatalkan kontrak. Selain karena alasan manusiawi, dia akhirnya bisa dekat dengan cowok yang selama ini dia suka, Drew. Anehnya, saat dia berdua dan bermesraan dengan Drew, dia merasa seperti mengkhianati Stephen. Lalu, apa tindakan Naomi selanjutnya?

Book Review: The Ugly Stepsister by Aya Ling

Title: THE UGLY STEPSISTER
Author: Aya Ling
Published: June 10th, 2015
Length: 452 pages [ebook version]
ASIN: B00ZFYITWC
Rating: 3/5 stars

This book was given free by the author in exchange for honest review.

When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she's magically transported into the world of Cinderella--as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she'll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?

I didn't expect to love this book. I mean, I knew I was going to like it based on the synopsis 'cause it's my kind of light reading. And there are already a lot of re-telling version of Cinderella. "Why would I love this best?" That's what I thought. I don't really like the cover either. It's less a fairy tale. I won't pick up this book on bookstore if I judge it by the cover. But still, I think the title is quite strong. The Ugly Stepsister. Who would've thought that the stepsister can build an interesting story? Yup, don't expect too much of Cinderella when you read this.

Book Review: Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Title: JUST ONE YEAR (JUST ONE DAY #2)
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Children's
Published: October 10th, 2013
Length: 337 pages [Kindle Edition]
ISBN: 0525426434
Rating: 2/5 stars

Just One Day. Just One Year. Just One Read.

Before you find out how their story ends, remember how it began....

When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn’t know where in the world he is—Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day—that girl—makes Willem wonder if they aren’t fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her. But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he’d thought. . . .

The romantic, emotional companion to Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents that happen—and the happiness we can find when the two intersect.

That's pretty sum up everything I need to say about this book.