Cheat Work Thursday

Finding Audrey — Yeah. About not reading another Sophie Kinsella book ... I read another Sophie Kinsella book. Hear me out. It's not that bad. After a bullying incident at school, 14-year-old Audrey has not left her house. She wears sunglasses indoors all the time and hasn't talked to anyone since, except in therapy and to her family members ie her comfort people: her father and often-stressed-out mother, 15-year-old brother Frank, and 4-year-old brother Felix. Her diagnosis is anxiety disorders and depressive episodes. One day, she starts talking using notes with Frank's friend Linus, who often comes over to play video games. They become friends, and Linus starts helping Audrey to go out of the house again. And after five minutes, they end up dating, I guess? Read this book because even if you've never had anxiety before, maybe it's a good thing to be in Audrey's shoes a little. And read this book, because despite its serious premise, it's writte...

"IT SMELLS LIKE SUCCESS" I think I'm not going to long-recap this season. Just going to blog the highlights and my moaning and bitching thoughts. _____ It's a new season of Survivor, everyone! *somersaults* But I want to pause this happiness for a bit because I want to whine and start this off on the wrong foot. I enjoyed Fans vs Favourites and Blood vs Water. I don't mind the returnees-mixed-with-newbies seasons and the redemption island twist on Blood vs Water. I understand the drama and gameplay these twists could bring to those seasons. But Redemption Island, South Pacific and Philippines (we've long snuffed Guatemala) and the redemption island twist on the first two are just eye-rolling to me. You won't admit it, Survivor, but most of these seasons were totally made around your hugely hyped returnees, your favourite children from past seasons that you want to see finally winning. So I don't get the appeal of having the four retur...

My god. YAs are not supposed to be depressing! The short verdict is, this book was thisclose to making me sob. What I forgot to tell you in the previous post, however, although Adam Silvera's books are all depressing, they are also breathlessly sweet and... funny. Darkly funny, mostly. Ordinary days are made of ton of fun, and conversations are cute and lively, with plenty of witty banter. That's probably how the tragedies and losses are tugging at your heartstrings at double rate. Because why can't these people just continue to be happy and in love and have a smooth life forever? Reading Silvera's books is a journey of an emotional roller coaster. History Is All You Left Me is written in history and present day, jumping between chapters. In present day, 17-year-old Griffin has just lost his best friend who was also his ex-boyfriend, Theo, in a drowning accident. While he's struggling to come to terms with Theo's death, he's unexpectedly bonding w...

They Both Die at the End — In They Both Die at the End 's world, people get notified when they are dying. Once they've got the call, they are going to die any time within the next 24 hours. There is an entire depressing enterprise surrounding this. There are apps to share stories online or to meet fellow Deckers (dying people) and others who want to keep them company on their End Days. And there are also amusement parks specifically catered to Deckers and their loved ones if they want to go on one last adventure. Mateo and Rufus are two teenage Deckers who meet through the Last Friend app when they find themselves alone on their End Day. And the book is the story of that day, which they agree to spend together: going through a to-do list, walking around town, seeing friends, saying goodbyes, going to those parks, doing things for the first and last time, and sharing life stories. As usual, Adam Silvera is very good at creating personality and background for his characte...