The Ordinary Journal

When Emily introduced Charlie Lastra for the first time, I knew I'll fall in love with him, sorry Nora but I already fell for him before you did. But, this review will be about these two feelings toward each other. So, Nora, this one is for you, I won't take Charlie from you. Book Lovers, written by Emily Henry, became one of Amazon's best-selling fiction romance-comedy novels. I googled for the reviews, turns out it is on the first list of Goodreads' Most Anticipated Romance Novels published in 2022. With all my impulsiveness, I purchased it through Amazon, regretting why I didn't buy it sooner as it was published. The 384  pages were winning my heart (I know it sounds so hyperbolic, but that's the truth). Nora Stephens and her sister, Libby, planned a vacation to Sunshine Falls, leaving the bustling city of New York for a month. It was obviously Libby's idea because she had her own reason to lure her Sissy (how Libby addressed Nora). Spoiler alert, it was ...

Have you ever met someone who seemed perfect in every way? Indeed, Reia did. His name was Adrin, the guy she had met during a compulsory college project. Reia thought Adrin would be another random person passing by in her life as she didn’t fully commit to the project. In the very first meeting, she saw Adrin in his t-shirt and jeans, nothing attractive for Reia to put her eyes on him. She formally shook his hand, introducing herself professionally. “I hope we can get along well, Rei.” He said with a genuine grin on his face. Reia nodded her head as she smiled awkwardly, nothing came out of her lips. Reia and Adrin both had to engage the target audience as part of the project's requirements. That meant she'd be seeing Adrin frequently as they had to go back and forth to the same place. Reia witnessed firsthand that Adrin dedicated himself completely to the work at hand. He spared no effort in ensuring that his tasks were finished perfectly. They had become quite close since the...

It's been an age since the last time I saw you. I'm still recalling how the scene happened in Estuary, down to the smallest movements I made at the moment. I was sorry, but no longer in my lexicon as I realized I didn't do anything wrong. We weren't in a relationship, so I had the option of going out with anybody I wanted. That night in your car, I could see anger in your eyes, you were outraged at what I had done. Your words didn't seem to make any sense, hurting every inch of me. You had already planned a three-day escape in Jogja, but I ruined it, of course. It was when you texted me to say that you'd be flying back to Singapore the next day after the fight. It's over now. I had no clue that you'd change to a totally different person, never be the same as the person you were the first time I met you. You uploaded some Instagram stories doing things that were impossible for the old you to do. I used to blame myself for what you had done. But, the deci...