There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins Review

Book Summary

Love hurts...

Makani Young thought she'd left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She's found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn't far behind.

Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.

My Thoughts

When Stephanie Perkins writes thriller, I can't say this is a big success. I always adore her writing even though at some point now, I realize there's some element that I wouldn't like if it's in the real life (read: cheating on A&FK). But I could forgive her because of her capability to makes the execution perfect, like the plot, setting, her writing style, they made me forget about the mistake. I live for her fluffiness kind of story.

I couldn't say the same about this book. While I still like the romantic relationship aspect, the thriller element that supposed to be the center of this book was just weak. What I hope from her was I need some balance between the thriller and the romance, at least. What happened in this book is the thriller was just like a filter in the background, not the main story. 

Another thing that bugs me annoyingly is Makani's behavior. She's someone who got the second chance away with the new school environment and the new friendship. She knows there are some murders going on in her new school, yet it didn't make her be the more careful person. 

She just concerns about how to make out endlessly with her new boyfriend with lying to her grandma and her friends. GIRL! Could you put aside your selfish thoughts for a while?

Thankfully, we have wonderful characters around Makani. Her friends are cool and her grandmother is the coolest. I would prefer to be friend with her grandmother more than Makani. 

Sad to say this is the least okay book from Stephanie Perkins. I think it would be better for her if only she sticks with cotton candy romance. Trying to live out of your comfort zone? Yes, it's a huge okay of course, but sometimes you need to consider the plus and negative side of it.

My rating is 2/5 stars.

Originally posted on my Goodreads page, January 28, 2018

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (The Illuminae Files #2) Review

Book Summary

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

My Thoughts

Continuing the event after the end of Illuminae, we follow Gemina through the daughter of station captain of Heimdall, Hanna Donnelly and the nephew of the crime family, Niklas Malikov. Like the previous book, we follow their journey via IM's, chat, video surveillance, letters, and Hanna's doodles. 

Mind me, I've forgotten the whole Illuminae's plot but I think I enjoy this one better. My favorite character is Ella Malikov the hacker. I like I could see Hanna's character development. She's just those normal annoying rich kid at the beginning but she picks up herself quite nicely when the terrorist invasion takes place in her ship station. Together, Hanna, Nik, and Ella make a pack to defy the terrorist. Another good point we also met Kady, Ezra, and most importantly AIDAN later in this book and AIDAN still has this sassy side like before.

One downside from this book is the slowest pace on the beginning of this book. They could take out most of the first 200 pages. It's nothing important. Instead of 200 pages, they could squeeze it into like 50 pages only and the story still would be the same. Because of that, I've been putting down Gemina for almost a year now. I just continue reading this book because I want to finish it before Obsidio comes out next month. 

Thankfully, the pace is getting better for the rest of next 400 pages and I quite enjoy the ride. Especially the plot twist. Wow, bravo, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Originally posted on my Goodreads page, February 6, 2018