“We turn pain into a story, because then it has a purpose. Then, we reason, there was a point to it all along. But sometimes pain is just pain, and th“We turn pain into a story, because then it has a purpose. Then, we reason, there was a point to it all along. But sometimes pain is just pain, and there’s nothing particularly noble about clinging to it.� ✯�.•�*¨`*•✿ ✿�*`¨*`�.¸� [image]
˗ˏˋ � 4 stars � ˎˊ˗
ˏˋ°�*⁀� This was my first Ann Liang novel and I didn't know what to expect. I was immediately drawn in with the premise: “For everyone who's ever wished they could be someone else.� It felt raw and genuinely relatable. As someone who went through a STEM major and later a medical degree, I can say with absolute certainty that this reflected my struggles. The never-ending lengths we go to achieve utter perfection, only to base our self-worth on a single number or letter. I will admit it, I was the Jessica Chen in my program. The pressure that I placed on my shoulders felt heavy and it was terrible. And for what? My perfect grades were not worth it. We are so much more than a letter grade or a score on an exam.
“Because to me, wanting has always been indistinguishable from pain.�
The writing was truly beautiful and vibrant. There were so many quotes that I wanted to highlight and save for later. I will definitely be reading Ann Liang's other work. And the cover?! Absolutely gorgeous!!! ❤️�
The romantic subplot was adorable and Adam was such a sweetheart:
“If I’d kissed you,� he goes on, “you would have wanted me for an afternoon, and I would have wanted you for the rest of my life.�
AWW THIS IS SO CUTE OH MY GOD!! Can all high school guys be this thoughtful? I wish he was included in more scenes because I ate this shit up!! And him covering her eyes so no one can see her cry? "You can cry as much as you want. Nobody else will see you." Ī❤︎ĬĪĪ❤︎�
Overall I would recommend this, especially if you are an academic girlie. Very relatable and beautiful at times. The plot and ending are predictable but it's about the journey, not the destination. And the romance is super cute! Go read it.
⠀:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀ ⠀ `· . ୨୧⠀
“It's so easy to fall into the assumption that anything someone else gains is something you lose. To think of success as some lavish party with only a limited number of invites. To convince yourself that if you could only make it to a certain point in the distance, you'll finally find a place to rest. To feel like there's always more than you can do. But I mean, look what's being done to us - to our self-esteem, to our pride, to our bodies. We're exhausted and on the verge of breaking down at any second and... somehow we're expected to just keep going.�...more
“Trust people's actions, not their words. Don't love anyone who isn't ready to love you back. Let go of the people who don't hold on to you. Don't wai“Trust people's actions, not their words. Don't love anyone who isn't ready to love you back. Let go of the people who don't hold on to you. Don't wait on anyone who's in no rush to get to you.� ♡✧˚ � ⋆｡♡� [image]
“Life is our resume. It is our story to tell, and the choices we make write the chapters. Can we live in a way where we look forward to looking back?�“Life is our resume. It is our story to tell, and the choices we make write the chapters. Can we live in a way where we look forward to looking back?� [image]
˗ˏˋ� Alright, alright, alright. 3.5 stars �
╰┈� [ “Don't choose anything that would jeopardize your soul. Prioritize who you are, who you want to be, and don't spend time with anything that antagonizes your character. Don't depend on drinking the Kool-Aid � it's popular, tastes sweet today, but it will give you cavities tomorrow. Life is not a popularity contest. Be brave, take the hill. But first answer the question.�]
Insightful and introspective. Matthew McConaughey might be crazy or brilliant (likey probably both). His eccentricities were altogether intriguing and inspiring. Filled with poetic prose and quotes to live by, Matthew narrates the story of his youth to fame. Some of his stories were strange and flat out weird but I found myself laughing at the ridiculous of it.
I found the beginning half to be stronger and more captivating than the latter half. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this though as I don't ever read memoirs. You can't deny that Matthew McConaughey is a very interesting person! If you're gonna read this then the audiobook is a must! He narrates his own story so well.
╰┈� [“The inevitability of a situation is not relative; when we accept the outcome of a given situation as inevitable, then how we choose to deal with it is relative.�]...more
“How many loves do you get in a lifetime? That's a question I've wondered before... If you ask The Sun, I've had far too many, and in some ways that's“How many loves do you get in a lifetime? That's a question I've wondered before... If you ask The Sun, I've had far too many, and in some ways that's true, I have. But actually, I've only had two great ones." ˚ʚˡɞ� [image] •┈┈┈••✦ � ✦••┈┈┈�
｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ� ﾟ� 4.75 stars 〶ﾟ･｡･�
So umm yeah... This completely wrecked me in the best way possible. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and I was left a hot mess in a puddle of tears. The amount of times I cried is borderline ridiculous. [image]
I cannot believe Magnolia and BJ's story arc is finally done. AHHH! I didn't think I would enjoy this series as much as I did. With the over-the-top drama and abundance of miscommunication, not everyone will like it. The beginning was very rocky and both of these characters made me want to rip my hair out. I hated them. But then I started to tolerate them and somehow along the way I grew to love them. Like family.
"I love BJ like he’s the sun. Blinding, bright, unbridled, unavoidable. He’s the thing that sustains the galaxy of me. He drives the currents of me, he dictates the climates and the seasons. I feel his warmth on my face, and when he’s gone, it’s colder. He is the center of everything, and the gravity of me is loyal to him above all."
It was a bittersweet ending to their story. I was so incredibly proud of how these characters changed and grew throughout the books. They finally ended up being somewhat functional adults haha. And the little glimpses of Daisy, Christian, and Julain were EVERYTHING!! I NEED MORE PLEASE. Also, chapter 43 ripped my heart in two and I would like to forget those pages exist. ...more
“She could walk all over me, strangle me to death, and I wouldn’t notice. If the emerald eyes are out then I’m dying anyway.� � ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ � [image]
But- I“She could walk all over me, strangle me to death, and I wouldn’t notice. If the emerald eyes are out then I’m dying anyway.� � ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ � [image]
But- I just- wha what? HOW COULD YOU JESSA HASTINGS! I can't. I feel like I got run over by a truck. ...more
“I don't want to let her go - I didn't even want to love her in the first place, but here we are and I do, and I wouldn't take it back now. Couldn't. “I don't want to let her go - I didn't even want to love her in the first place, but here we are and I do, and I wouldn't take it back now. Couldn't. Even if I could, I couldn't, because I'll love her till I die. Whether I have her or not, whether she wants me back or not, I'm in, even if she's out� ˚‧｡�...more
Carleen � ☀�
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