(SPOT.ph) Monsoon season is upon us once again, which means saying goodbye to the beach getaways, the mountain climbs, and all sorts of outdoor activities. It’s time to put away the sunscreen and flip-flops and swap them out for umbrellas and rain boots. To some, the rainy season brings up a lot of anxiety and stress due to all the floods and trauma that previous typhoons have caused (looking at you Ondoy and Ulysses); but for others, the time indoors is a great time to relax, get cozy, and immerse yourself in a good book. With the pitter-patter of rain as the background, we thought it might be best to pick up some of these titles, shed a tear or two, and bask in the rainy-day vibe.
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Here are some books to read perfect for emoting during the rainy days indoors:
One Day in December by Josie Silver (P467)
The story follows Laurie, who sees Jack through a misty bus window one December night, their eyes meet, and right away, she knows he is the one for her. Unfortunately, the bus drives away before they have a chance to meet, but she is certain they will meet again—and they do, just not in the way Laurie hopes. What follows is a tale of friendship, missed opportunities, and love told in a span of 10 years through multiple perspectives. This book is the very definition of love at first sight. If you’re not a believer in it, you might want to give this book a read and see for yourself.
Available at Fullybooked.
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reed (P795)
“Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? “
This book is a memoir-slash-interview style prose that follows the fictitious life of old Hollywood glamor actress Evelyn Hugo through the lens of her seven marriages. Revealed to us in this novel is a story of ruthless ambition, grit, unexpected friendships, and forbidden love. The narrative is highly addictive, a few pages in and you would have a hard time stopping because of all the mystery shrouding out elusive main character. Heck for every question that gets answered, another one gets woven in until what you are left with is a web of characters and narratives that intertwine so well with each other forming this wonderful prose that’ll have you bawling in the last few chapters.
Available at National Bookstore
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (P934)
It Ends With Us follows Lily Bloom as she navigates her complicated relationships with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle and her first love Atlas. This 2016 Goodreads Choice Award winner is definitely a must-read—especially for women out there. While this book may seem like your typical Young-Adult romance, it definitely carries with it some feminist undertones on very real and very relevant issues that should be understood by every girl out there. Never mind the very obvious love triangle, there is something in this novel that is so much more than just a girl torn between two lovers. The story has our main character show strength, unyielding devotion and love in the most unexpected way. We will not kid you and tell you that this novel has a lot of plot twists, it doesn’t. But, the beauty of this prose is in its simplicity and in its relatability—in how Lily could be you or any woman in your life.
Available at Fullybooked
Normal People by Sally Rooney (P599)
This next book is a bit polarizing—meaning that you either really love it or you hate it. It follows the story of Marianne and Connell, two unsettlingly similar people trying to be as normal as they could be—whatever that means at the different stages in their lives. This follows Connell and Marianne as they navigate their friendship, their romance, and their times apart as they try (operative word try) to become better people not just for themselves but for each other.
We’re not going to lie, this read can at times be frustrating—from the constant time jumps to the insufferable personalities of some characters, to the sheer number of things left unsaid between the leads—this was not a straightforward read. Heck, you could even argue that Connell and Marianne are just about the worst leads in the entire Young-Adult genre—what with all their angst, bad decision-making and imperfections. But at the end of the day, there is something about the text that makes us care about them and even see the beauty in their flaws. There’s this thing about this book that makes it so painfully real that you’ll end up mulling over your own life’s complexities and imperfections which end up making the text relatable.
Oh right, did we mention this was picked up by Hulu and is now a mini-series?
Available at Fullybooked
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo (P832)
“Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives forever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean something, to matter. When they meet again a year later, it seems fated—perhaps they’ll find life’s meaning in each other. But then Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love. Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them away? Their journey takes Lucy and Gabe continents apart, but never out of each other’s hearts.”
Okay this one is a heavy book to read—definitely a tearjerker. Yes, we admit it we cried a lot while reading this but it was a good cry, very cathartic. It’s a love story and a friendship that spans 13 years, several key life moments and one very important decision. Beyond all the emotions this book can bring you is a message about the power of love and of our choices in shaping the course of our life. It can be at times be very dramatic but it doesn’t really take away from the overall message but instead it amplifies it to the point where it stays with you for a long time after you’ve finished reading it. Definitely read this book if you’re in the mood for something sentimental and sappy because it will deliver.
Available at Fullybooked
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (P699)
“In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.”
This anthology of short stories by Japanese author Toshikazu Kawaguchi asks readers the eternal question, “What would you change if you could go back in time? Or more importantly, who would you meet for one last time?” This book is a fresh take on the very used up concept of time travel. Featuring four stories of love in different forms, you’re bound to relate and tear up. It’s also very character-driven which means you’re bound to find yourself immersed in their stories so much that you’ll feel every pain, happiness, and other emotions they feel. It is a translated piece though so be a bit patient when it comes to the phrasing and pace as sometimes it may seem a little bit too chaotic.
If this book left you wanting more, don’t worry, it has a sequel entitled Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café which features an additional four stories working on the same premise.
Available at Fullybooked
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (P479)
This quirky quick read from Japanese author Sayaka Murata may seem awkward and weird at first but at the end of the day this is just a story about a woman trying to find her purpose in life—something pretty relatable especially for those going through their own existential crisis. This purpose may not be something obvious to her at first but it becomes increasingly apparent even though people around her are advising her otherwise. It’s pretty short and it won’t make you cry but it will make you think about your true self and whether you’ve really got this thing called life all figured out.
Available at Fullybooked
The Midnight Library by Michael Haig (P1,039.20)
This book is another one of those polarizing novels. On the one hand it has a very interesting concept, it talks about the existence of a library, one that has infinite books and shelves and each book is a different version of a life you would have lived; on the other hand, parts of the text can sound a little bit like a self-help book which has irked many a reader. Although nothing is wrong with self-help books, it can be a bit annoying when you’re expecting a novel and suddenly the writing kind of sounds like a lecture. Well, self-help or not, this book is a recipient of the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award which basically means despite all the nay-sayers out there it still has a lot of fans.
The book follows Nora who for one reason or another has found herself in the midnight library, a place between life and death, she goes and explores the books at the library marveling at the different lives she could have lived—a different career, undoing breakups, following her lifelong dream; and it is in this journey where she must decide what truly makes life worth living. This book is a great read for anyone who is on a journey of self-discovery or even an existential crisis. It’ll make you realize the power of your choices and beauty in the life that you’re building.
Available at Fullybooked
The Last Time I'll Write About You by Dawn Lanuza (P495)
Not a fan of novels or just looking for a quick but poignant read? Try this collection of poems on love, heartbreak and moving on. It might even help you say those things you’ve left unsaid with an old flame or even a current S.O.. The poetry is haunting and relatable for anyone who has loved, is in love or dreams of being in love. Fans of Lang Leav and Rupi Kaur might want to give this book a read from Filipino author Dawn Lanuza as it channels the same energy and vibe as their works.
Available at National Bookstore
Stars in Jars: Strange and Fantastic Stories - for Young Adults by Dean Francis Alfar and Sage Alfar (P199)
“A girl collects stars to prove her love, a boy changes his parents when he feels like it, laser beams threaten to destroy the world, the Blade of Virtuous Water fights monsters, and a father and daughter plan a trip to the heavens. In this book, Dean Francis Alfar and Sage Alfar (a father and daughter team) collect their speculative fiction for younger adult readers—spinning fantasy, fiction, and the worlds of wonder in between.”
Okay let’s get one thing straight, if you don’t have an imagination just skip this one. This book is an anthology of fantastical tales with poignant messages about what it means to live, love, and be a family. The stories are so vividly told that you could easily come up with clear images in your mind about the short stories. Plus, it helps that the illustrations, though sporadic, are impeccably made. It’s a very quick read, you could finish all the stories in one sitting but I assure you at one point or another you will revisit the stories and they will hit you hard and you will relate in some metaphorical way.
Available at Adarna Books
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