Journal- 10/3/2023 (OH, MY HOLY FRITTATAS)

Do you know how big of a deal a Filipino—half Pinoy, half Chinese, no less—residing in the Philippines publishing a YA novel under Penguin Random House, the most wide-reaching publishing house in the world, is?

A ginormous deal.

The synopsis seems promising, and judging from the excerpt I viewed, I will drink up the writing style. It will be delicious. (Hm. Sounds oddly predatory, doesn’t it? No matter.)

Readers can also expect to learn about the protagonist’s colorful culture, with expressions in the author’s native languages—Tagalog & Phokkien, which are mine, too! Which means I’ll probably be incredibly biased. Look out for that when I review this because, as expected, I must get the book.

The title: Chloe and the Kaishao Boys

I’m curious. Have you heard of it before?

Shopping 🛍

I write this with a full tummy after a birthday meal with the fam. Don’t give out greetings yet. The birthday isn’t mine; it’s my dad’s.

My older sis needed school stationery, so we went shopping. With the memory of my TBR still fresh, I gravitated toward the book aisle. It was subconscious. Not even a year into bookishness, and here we are. Be proud of me!

The titles were mostly unfamiliar, but Love, Theoreti– *wretches* Love, Theoretically was there, an unmistakable smooching on the cover.

Disappointment. A book entitled Tall Story intrigued me, and the price was reasonable, so I held on to it.

It was fine. (It was not.) I had my pens and those sample papers National Bookstore always has, anyway.

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Graffiti-looking, isn’t it? My doodles are the Korean phrases—Duolingo’s been pestering me after neglecting my lessons for nearly two years 🥴—and the solution to a math equation I found previously scribbled.

To my chagrin, my answer had the wrong sign. I confused myself to the point where I forgot that positive 3 minus 2 equals positive 1. In other words, 3 – 2 = 1. UGH. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’ve gotten rusty.

(corrected)

There! Much better.

Of course, someone may come across the answer and get befuddled. *sigh* We can’t have it all, can we?

I picked out some green pens and markers because you can never have too many of your favorite color. I also convinced myself I needed a pink dual-sided felt-tip pen with a thick and thin end since the ink flowed so well, and I hadn’t gotten a new one, fancy or not, since I was 8 or 9. What consolation I didn’t find in buying a novel I found in my new pens. Yay!

I revisited the book aisle in case a book decided to spontaneously materialize.

Apparently, I was roaming around the Wattpad and adult romance books. (I didn’t see the names. Please believe me. And why are there books from that site, anyway? Anvil Publishing, I expected better! 🥲) I’d missed the teen section, where—Oh, my holy frittatas.

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TWO books from my TBR were there! No idea why Six Crimson Cranes was under Teen Sci-Fi. GASP. Unless it plans to surprise me. You won’t hear any complaints from me if it does.

By the way, during this part of the collaboration with The Texas Lass , I said I’d pick fantasy over sci-fi. It was foolish of me. I love both and still do, but now a fraction more than the other.

Book Haul! Or…not?

Then it struck me: Chloe and the Kaishao Boys. Chloe. And. The kaishao boys.

Romance.

Pssh. I’ve dealt with it before. Very recently.

But would dear parents agree?

Long story short. They did, and finally, my most anticipated book of the year is in my possession!

*🌟 angelic music🌟*

Sorry, Six Crimson Cranes, but two full-length novels in one shopping spree isn’t prudent on my part. Some other day.

Ice Cream Celebration! 🍨

Bubblegum!

This is the life. But obviously, I can’t begin my book yet because tomorrow will be incredibly hectic, and school and time forbid me to finish it in one day, so I won’t be able to relish it properly.

Farewell, beautiful book. When the weekend comes hither, we shall meet again!

So long!

And if you decide to transport me into your pages to whisk away and immortalize me, be my guest!

Any time now.

A-Any time.

*waits*

😀

🙂

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Anyway, I arrived home, so here are some clear pictures.

Gorgeous. Simply exquisite. *chef’s kiss*

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It’s so close. I can feel it!

Still waiting. 😃

But while I do, can you believe how Filipino authors in the Philippines releasing books like this could pave the way for future native writers comfortable in their current location? And if God wills it, I may be one of them! This is so thrilling. *claps hands*

Also, the reviews on BTTM and Caraval are coming in hot! Keep your eyes peeled. 👀