dlrosebyh's reviews
741 reviews

only star is for violet tyvm

genuinely loved how the story unfolded, but authors, please avoid writing thrillers when something is left unsolved <3 it ruins the whole experience. it was okay, i feel like the execution did the synopsis justice, but it wasn't as scary as intended ?? idk. the last few pages were crazy, however, i guessed most of the stuff happening and i don't like it when that happens, especially if it's a thriller 😭

If there’s anything this book does perfectly, it’s hitting close to home. 

 

My whole life growing up, I’ve been dying to read Filipino representation in books, especially contemporary ones. I’m just so glad I came across Shaina’s tweet promoting her book because this book felt like it was made perfectly for me. 

 

If you know me, then you know that romcoms aren’t my thing, but after reading the premise, it truly felt so Filipino— something too good to be true. 

 

All About You follows are two main characters: Jaslene and Marlon. Jaslene is a hopeless romantic and a huuuugeeee K-Pop fan. All her life, she’s been surrounded with perfect romance stories that she could only feel towards her K-Pop idols. Marlon, on the other hand, is a huge anime fan and a gamer, and the bane of Jaslene’s existence. 

 

This novel follows Jaslene’s dreams of having the perfect romance story, starting with a bookstore meet cute, but of course, Marlon, his childhood enemy AND neighbor AND family friend, had to be a problem. No, but seriously, they have been betrothed since birth and as a reader, I was giggling, but as a Filipino who has experienced the same thing (minus the romance part), I WAS SOOOO ANNOYED WITH THE RELATIVES. 

 

I never found Jaslene and Marlon relatable, but I still rooted for Jaslene and Marlon’s character development. Seriously, all throughout this book, they were so cute and the definition of kilig. If I weren’t so busy, I would have finished this book all in one go. It was addictive and such a nice palette cleanser. Jaslene and Marlon felt so real, and I want to be their friend so bad. This novel was so good at acknowledging that it was cliché and cringe, and I love that. Sometimes, you just need a cliché romcom to read and life will be so much better. 

 

I just wish we had seen more of their life outside of romance and their family? I don’t know if that made sense, but I really wanted to see them more outside their hobbies. 

 

I feel like one turn-off can be the amount of pop culture references in this book. There were a lot, and usually I would hate them, but fortunately, I am a huge K-Pop fan so it didn’t ruin my experienced. In a way, it even made me more immersed in the book. 

 

Regardless, it was still a really solid book, and something to recommend to your delulu Jane Austen stan friend specifically. 

 

Shaina, I am so beyond proud of you. I can’t wait for the world to read this book because it was made with love, and everyone can tell. Thank you for providing me a free e-ARC of All About You. I love you loads. <3