Like other books set in WWII Philippines, parts of this book is brutal. The treatment the soldiers received from the Japanese was horrendous and this book does not sugar coat any of it. Specifically, the scenes on the warship were the stuff of nightmares.

I liked that the story was told from the perspectives of the two main characters, Sam and Sarah.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/15/review-hold-strong/

The story was well executed. It tackled the complex issue of gentrification (specifically in a Chinatown context) in an accessible way. At the end of the book, there were a few pages with background information on Chinatowns, gentrification, community activism, and a short note on the language used (Chinese dialogue is used throughout the story).

Full Review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/review-noodle-bao/

The story is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Both stories revolve around a girl who is lost in a fantasy world and meets all kinds of interesting folks along the way. It‘s a simple plot line that works so well.

The cast of characters really made this an enjoyable read. The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion were all so lovable!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/07/review-the-wizard-of-oz/

This book is such a hidden gem!

It showcases 50 different “hidden” libraries from all around the world (plus outer space). Every library profile tells you how to find it (if applicable, some are no longer around and some are not open to the public). Also, all the photos have captions which I appreciated.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/05/review-hidden-libraries/

This was such a cute and sweet read!

Plot wise, there really isn‘t much going on. It‘s about 2 girls who are dating but are keeping it a secret from everyone. Most of the story consists of semi-awkward moments of them hiding their relationship. I didn‘t mind the lack of plot. The slower pace worked well for the story.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/02/review-rainbows-after-storms-vol-...

The story is very engaging and I liked the way it was told. Having the author tell his story to a boy on the playground was clever. It kept the story interesting and made his story feel even more personal. Throughout the graphic novel there were small parts of just prose, which was an effective storytelling tool.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/12/28/review-the-boy-and-the-man/

This book is very similar to the dog version. It follows a similar layout and article scheme, just with cats instead of dogs. The title, Catwalk Style, was perfect. I can‘t think of a better title for a cat fashion magazine.

The photos were fun and really captured a fashion magazine feel. I actually thought the photos were even better in this one!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/12/24/review-catwalk-style/

This was such a fun parody book!

The book is essentially a magazine written by dogs which is such a cool concept. The title, Doggy Style, was perfect. I loved the use of a famous innuendo as the title.

The pictures were entertaining and had an editorial, high fashion feel to them. I enjoyed the articles about dogs, especially the one with canine facts.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/12/24/review-doggy-style/

The story is so adorable and hilarious. I laughed out loud many times. The Herdmans are a mischievous (but humorous) group of kids. The message behind the story was very cute. I loved that the town grew to like the Herdmans and their antics, and that the Herdmans were able to be part of a community and learn more about the story of Christmas.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/12/21/review-the-best-christmas-pageant...

The book is laid out fairly simply. It is divided up into sections for different book nook types (Small Space, Kids, Gardener, etc.) The tips in the book aren‘t necessarily groundbreaking but there were some that I liked. The most memorable tip was in the Kids section and it was to covert an armoire into a reading nook (pg. 68). It gave me major Narnia vibes!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/12/15/review-book-nooks/

Prior to reading this book, I read volume 1 of the comic and loved it. Because of that, I was very familiar with the start of the book and the characters.

Like with the comic, I liked Maxi and Riftan together. I enjoyed their dynamic and look forward to seeing how their relationship progresses in future volumes.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/12/06/review-under-the-oak-tree-the-nov...

Just wow! Emily Dickinson was such a poetic genius! The fact that she wrote most of her poetry for herself and for her friends, and not for publication is incredible.

Prior to reading this book, I had only read a small handful of Dickinson‘s poems and enjoyed them, so I was eager to delve more into her poetry.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/12/01/review-the-poetry-of-emily-dickin...

The book consists entirely of infographics exploring various facets of the Marvel Comics Universe. Some were very helpful (like the Marvel map of Manhattan, family trees, and speed rankings of various characters) and others were so funny (like the the picture of Black Widow‘s emblem that states her sense of urgency, either “Russian” or “Takin‘ her time”).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/11/03/review-marvel-super-graphic/

First off, the artwork is gorgeous. This is a full color graphic novel printed on thick pages. The colors are vibrant and the art style really made it feel like I‘m right there with the characters. Reading the book often felt like watching an anime.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/10/31/review-under-the-oak-tree-the-com...

Each and every book in this series just takes you on an emotional roller coaster and I absolutely love it.

This book takes place during the same span of time as Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home, so some plot points are already known. This book really delves deep into Julian‘s side of things and all of his complicated feelings towards Magnolia.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/10/28/review-daisy-haites-the-great-und...

It was very evident to me within the first few short stories that he was so creative. His stories were so well thought out and crafted beautifully. He also had a range. He didn‘t just write gothic horror stories and poems, he also wrote sea tales, a science fiction hoax, and detective stories.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/10/21/review-selected-works-of-edgar-al...

This was such a gorgeous book!

This book explores Palace Costume, a costume rental house that specializes in vintage clothes. The first part featured interviews with the founder and numerous costume designers. The interviews were very insightful and were a fun way to tell the history of the Palace Costume. The rest of the book showed pictures of the clothes.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/10/12/review-palace-costume/

This was such a lovely collection of poems!

The books starts off with an Author‘s Note that gives some background into how the poems and book came together. I always appreciate these in poetry books because poetry is deeply personal so it‘s nice to have some context.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/10/05/review-clumsy-beauty/

This was such a cute and heartwarming read!

The story is told in dual timelines, one set in 1987 and the other in the 1930s/1940s. The dual timelines was executed well.

As for the characters, I loved the three main characters, Harlow, Matt, and Tuesday. Harlow was my favorite. I enjoyed seeing her character grow and take charge of her life.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/review-meet-me-at-the-starlight/

This book has the same cozy and heartwarming vibes as its predecessor. There‘s lots of discussion on reading and books which I loved. As a huge bibliophile, I related a lot to those parts. The book also has a strong emotional core, especially in the second half.

Full Review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/07/08/review-more-days-at-the-morisaki-...

I am such a huge Disney Descendants fan (I‘ve seen all the movies and have read all the books in this series) and this book made me so excited for the new movie.

We are introduced to Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts. I loved her. She is so different from the VKs in the sense that she isn‘t trying to be evil or wicked.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/06/23/review-beyond-the-isle-of-the-los...

First off, this book is hilarious. It‘s very satirical and pokes a lot of fun at own society. Parts of the story were reminiscent of the pandemic and how some political leaders and society handled it. I found it very clever. One of the funniest parts of the book was ogre speak, which was essentially really foul and rude language.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/06/01/review-princess-of-prophecy-serva...

First off, Colin calls Penelope “the most remarkable woman in the world” (pg. 423). I whole heartedly agree. The fact that she was Lady Whistledown for 10 years is impressive. What a smart woman!

I liked Penelope and Colin together. The fact that they were both writers was really cute.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/review-romancing-mister-bridgerto...

This was such a joy to read! This manga is seriously the cutest thing ever. I was dying over how adorable it was.

Like the title suggests, the main characters are opposites. Suzuki is outgoing and popular, while Tani is more reserved and keeps to himself. I loved seeing their relationship blossom. Their first date was a standout.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/05/15/review-you-and-i-are-polar-opposi...

The storyline is fairly simple (basically the main character is in search of a boyfriend), but I didn‘t mind. Less is more in this case.

As for the characters, I really liked the love interest, Eiji. He was so sweet and protective towards the main character.

The best part of this book was definitely the art style. It was so dreamy.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/05/02/review-kimi-ni-todoke-from-me-to-...

First off, there‘s so much Filipino representation in this book. I loved it. The book captures so much of Filipino culture and family life. As a Filipino American, I found it very relatable (especially in regards to how stubborn Filipino mothers can be).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/04/09/review-the-five-stages-of-courtin...

Like her memoir, Dolly‘s responses to her readers are very conversational. Reading them feels like talking to an old friend. Her advice is very practical and real, but she‘s never judgmental. She seems to really understand what her readers are asking and gives relatable advice.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/review-dear-dolly/

What a tragic yet captivating tale!

I added this book to my “To Read” shelf on Goodreads way back in March of 2015. Now 9 years later I finally read it and I‘m so glad I did.

There is nothing happy about this story, but it‘s beautiful and intriguing in its own way. Immediately upon starting, I was pulled right into the story.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/03/26/review-madame-bovary/

What a gem of a book!

I am personally not a fan of positive affirmations. They‘re just not my thing and I find them overly optimistic. Disappointing affirmations are more up my alley so I ended up loving this book.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/03/18/review-disappointing-affirmations...

What an insightful look into the world of Barbie!

This book was originally published in the 90s, but this edition has a new preface which does discuss the Barbie movie. In the preface, the author also discusses that she left the book unchanged so it‘s a large reflection of the 90s.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/03/12/review-forever-barbie/

What a wonderful way to end the trilogy!

This book, like the previous two, was fast paced and filled with romance, magic, and adventure. The story picks up where book 2 ended and from there becomes a real page turner. There was never a dull moment and grips you right from the start.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/03/09/review-the-emerald-fairy-and-the-...

What a wonderful collection of essays on reading!

This book is a collection of personal essays on the impact of books and reading on the author‘s life. I found many of them relatable. One of my favorites was “To Break The Rules” (pg. 65) which discusses how there is no right way to be a “Good Reader.” We should read how and what we want. I wholeheartedly agree!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/02/28/review-why-we-read/

This book destroyed me in the best possible way.

The last 100 or so pages of the book were insane. A lot of crazy stuff went down. At one point, I was nervous to keep reading because I was a little scared to know what was going to happen next. The book definitely ended on a massive OMG moment.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/02/24/review-magnolia-parks-the-long-wa...

This was a lovely collection of classic love poems!

The selection of authors was expected. It features classic love poets such as Shakespeare, Dickinson, and Byron. I‘m not that familiar with classic poetry (I read more modern poetry), so I cannot speak too much on the selection of poems.

As with almost all poetry collections, some poems stood out more than others.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/02/12/review-love-poems/

This was such a fun and empowering story!

I love fashion and I grew up in the Silicon Valley so naturally I loved the premise and thought it was executed well. The portrayal of the fashion industry and the tech industry felt current and tackled issues commonly seen in today‘s world (for example, influencers photoshopping their photos before posting them).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/02/09/review-valley-verified/

I was a philosophy major in college so naturally I was excited to read this.

This was a very practical guide on stoicism and how to incorporate it into your everyday life. The author does a good job breaking down the philosophy of stoics in an easy to follow way, while also including quotes from the stoics themselves.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/01/30/review-reasons-not-to-worry/

What a heartwarming graphic novel!

I absolutely loved the friendship dynamic between the 3 friends. It felt realistic and I liked how supportive they were of each another. Their friendship with their neighbor was also well done. I liked how she became a mentor to the girls and how the girls also helped her out.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/01/27/review-a-career-in-books/

This is the sequel to the author‘s first book, Diary of a Contemporary Woman, which I enjoyed. I liked this book, but it wasn‘t as good as its predecessor.

The book didn‘t feel as polished. It felt rough and could have been edited more. The pacing was also a little off. Some scenes were super short and others felt dragged out.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/review-angelique/

What a wild ride!

The story is kind of absurd. It‘s about an assassin who specializes in poison enlisting the help of a marriage swindler to help him find someone to marry. Crazy concept, but it‘s so fun.

There‘s a good balance of action and humor.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/01/16/review-marriage-toxin-vol-1-marri...

I enjoyed the fables and the morals/lessons they displayed. Many of them resonated with me and made me stop and think. There were some repeat fables (the same story with the same characters and morals just written slightly different), but as a whole it was an expansive collection.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/01/11/review-aesops-fables-illustrated/

I was so excited to read this because it is based on Filipino mythology. I‘m Filipino and this is the first book I‘ve seen that draws from Filipino mythology. It did not disappoint.

The incorporation of Filipino mythology and culture were wonderfully done. There‘s no denying the Filipino influence.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/12/30/review-the-encantos-daughter/

I loved Magnolia Parks so naturally I couldn‘t wait to read this one. This book was very different from Magnolia Parks, but just as crazy (in a good way).

Like Magnolia Parks, the relationships in this book are very complicated and messy, but incredibly addicting to read. I read the last 200 pages in one day.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/12/29/review-daisy-haites-magnolia-park...

This was a very fun inside look into the world of TV fashion!

The book showcases a wide range of television shows, spanning all decades and genres. It is divided into different chapters based on style (ex. period shows, working women, and glamour to name a few). This organizational method worked so well (way better than it would be if it were chronological).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/review-dressing-the-part/

I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was broken up into 5 acts and was told from the point of view of Elliot, an (incredibly) unreliable narrator. Having Elliot tell the story was the perfect choice. I liked how conversational his narration was. It made the story more engaging. Every act revealed something new and the twists were revealed at a good pace.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/28/review-the-fury/

Going into the story, I didn‘t have any particular expectations because I am not familiar with Amethyst and Gemworld. But after reading this, I‘m thinking I should start looking into her and Gemworld because she‘s pretty cool and Gemworld sounds like an amazing place.

The artwork and style were so cute. It worked perfectly for a younger audience.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/24/review-amethyst-princess-of-gemwo...

This book was like Gossip Girl meets Sally Rooney. Parts of it were light hearted rich people drama, but when it came to Magnolia and BJ‘s relationship, there was a lot of intense emotional depth. Magnolia and BJ have a toxic and codependent relationship that was just so fascinating and addicting to read.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/23/review-magnolia-parks-magnolia-pa...

The best part of the story is the use of Filipino culture. It‘s so representative of it, particularly how nosy and meddling some Filipino ninangs and titas can be.

I also loved the characters. Lila, her friends, her family. I adored them all! They really made this a “cozy” mystery.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/13/review-murder-and-mamon-tita-rosi...

The story was so moving; it even made me tear up at some points. The heart of it was centered on grief and loss. I loved how the book explored those topics. It emphasized the different types of loss and how everyone moves on at their own pace and in their own way. The journey varies from person to person.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/10/review-sea-glass-memories-seahave...

I was a little confused at the beginning, mainly because of the characters that are introduced all at once, but once I got into the story it all became much clearer.

The plot of this book is just crazy and that‘s the genius of it. I don‘t know how Emily Bronte came up with this story but it‘s insane. The more I read, the wilder it got. My mind is still reeling

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/07/review-wuthering-heights/

Going into this book, I didn‘t know what to expect. I didn‘t know much about Krypton, other than the fact it is Superman‘s birthplace. But once I started reading it, I was very intrigued!

I‘ve read many of DC‘s graphic novels for young adults, and this one leans more on the action packed side. It is full of adventure and there is never a dull moment.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/09/27/review-house-of-el-house-of-el-1/