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Mang Elio

@mang_elio

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Nathaniel R. Mariano 😎
📚 Bookworm | 🎮 Gamer | 🌴 Adventurer
🏔️ Hikes • 🏖️ Beaches • ✈️ Travels
✨ Living between pages & adventures

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The title hooked me to the book. I honestly thought it would be a story about a girl who was obsessed with Tom Gordon. But The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is actually about a 9-year-old girl named Trisha who gets lost in the forest and has to find a way to survive on her own.

This book is beautifully written. I loved Trisha’s character development, especially how she tried to think of the best ways to survive despite being alone in the forest for days. I also enjoyed the baseball symbolism and the psychological horror. Honestly, the story wasn’t scary at all for me. I also think this is a safe book for teens to read because there are some survival tips and hacks throughout the story that are actually interesting to learn.

I also loved the symbolism throughout the book. Here are some of the things I noticed:
• Tom Gordon – Courage
• The Forest – Isolation
• The God of the Lost – Evil
• The Walkman – Connection
• Baseball Game – Survival
• “Game Over” – Closure

Some descriptions felt repetitive, and the pacing was a little slow in certain sections, but overall, I really enjoyed the book. The emotional ending was also one of my favorite parts. I recommend this book if you enjoy psychological horror and survival stories.

#TheGirlWhoLovedTomGordon #StephenKing #Bookstagram #PsychologicalHorror #SurvivalFiction by @mang_elio

Advance Reader Copy (ARC) Review
Book: Kingmaker Author: Haras Nahuba Genre: Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Kingmaker is about General Lucienn Varqkas, who is tasked with protecting Crown Prince Eliot. As they spend more time together, Lucienn starts to develop feelings for the prince. But with the responsibilities of protecting the crown and the political issues surrounding the kingdom, things become more complicated than he expected.

I’m very happy that I got the chance to read Kingmakerbefore its official release! Most people know that aside from thrillers and horror, I also enjoy romantasy, especially when it comes to discovering stories from local authors.

I enjoyed the story overall! I initially expected a more adventurous plot with lots of action and exciting moments, but what I got was a story that focused more on the characters, their relationships, and the political side of the kingdom. And honestly, I think that worked well, too! I liked how the story doesn’t focus only on the two main characters. The other characters also have their own roles in the story, which made it more interesting for me. It’s not just about romance, either, as the political issues added more depth to the story.

I also love how the story ends with the fighting scene, especially how determined Lucien is to win Prince Eliot back. It wasn’t about winning the kingdom or serving the throne. It was about Eliot. And I love how that moment shows what truly matters to Lucien. ❤️

Another thing I really loved was the writing. The book was beautifully written in English, and I was impressed by how the author told the story.

And can we talk about the illustrations? I love how they make the characters feel more alive! I’m also happy that they were hand-drawn by local artists and not AI-generated. It’s nice to see the effort put into the illustrations, and they really add something special to the book.

To the author, who also happens to be a friend of mine, congratulations on your successful book launch last October 17, 2026! I’m happy to see your hard work pay off, and I can’t wait to read the second book in the Kingmaker duology.

#ARCReview #Kingmaker #HarasNahuba #Bookstagram by @mang_elio

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood follows Olive Smith and Adam Carlsen, who enter a fake relationship that slowly turns into something real.

I love romcom movies, but sometimes I get bored reading romcom books, and that’s okay! Maybe it’s because I usually prefer psychological thrillers, fantasy, and horror. I enjoyed both the book and the movie, but I prefer the movie more. Still, I appreciate how detailed the book is, especially when it comes to Olive and Adam’s relationship. One thing I took away from the story is that relationships need trust and honest communication. Sometimes, being vulnerable with someone can be scary, but it can also bring you closer. From fake dating to a secret relationship and finally being together, I enjoyed their story overall.

I recommend this book if you enjoy fake dating, slow-burn romance, and romcoms with plenty of chemistry.

#TheLoveHypothesis #AliHazelwood #Bookstagram #RomCom #ContemporaryRomance by @mang_elio

Christine by Stephen King follows Arnie Cunningham, a teenager who falls in love with a 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine. But things get really weird as Christine starts taking over his life.

This is a LONG book, but I really liked it! I liked how Stephen wrote this story. The details make everything feel so real, and I really liked Dennis and Leigh’s part in the story. It wasn’t exactly scary for me, but it was definitely thrilling. I also loved the song choices at the beginning of each chapter because they added so much nostalgia to the story. This is exactly my kind of classic book. There’s so much more to this story, but I don’t want to spoil it for you guys!

I’m so happy to own a 1983 First UK Edition of this book, especially since I got it for only $5 VGC! 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

I’m satisfied with how the story ended. It gave me enough closure, and I don’t think this book needs a sequel. Definitely a classic worth reading!

#Christine #StephenKing #BookTok #HorrorFiction #ClassicThriller by @mang_elio

Chapter IV Online Book Club
Book of the Month (October): Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who gets hired to finish a bestselling author’s book series after Verity Crawford can no longer write. While staying with the Crawford family, Lowen finds Verity’s disturbing manuscript and starts questioning everything about the family.

I’m definitely TEAM LETTER. I just don’t see Verity actually publishing that manuscript. It was WAY too disturbing, and knowing how successful she already was, why would she risk destroying her career and reputation like that? I believe the letter was her explanation and that the manuscript was really an exercise in writing from the antagonist’s perspective.

Everything about the Crawford family is wrong. Something is always off!!! And honestly, I don’t trust Jeremy either. He cheated on his wife, and the bonus chapter made me question him even more. I honestly think Jeremy was just waiting for the perfect time to 🔪 Verity after multiple attempts. Lowen is so in love with Jeremy that I feel like she chooses to believe whatever version of the story makes it easier for her to stay with him. Like dude… wth.

There were so many moments where I was just like, BRUHHH, WHAT IS GOING ON!!! My nerves, neurons, cells, and tissues were shocked every time I read something new. The twists were jaw-dropping, and I kept changing my mind about what was actually true.

In the end, we never really know the full truth, and THAT is what makes this book so good. For me, the letter deserves just as much credibility as the manuscript. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! The whole Team Manuscript vs. Team Letter debate made it even more fun to discuss. Definitely a 5-star read for me!!!

#Verity #ColleenHoover #BookTok #PsychologicalThriller #Mystery @colleenhoover by @mang_elio

The Lewis Man by Peter May is the second book in the Lewis series, continuing Fin Macleod’s story on the Isle of Lewis. When a body is discovered in a peat bog, the mystery slowly brings old memories and secrets back to the surface.

I like how the mystery slowly unfolds because it kept me curious about what would happen next. I found myself trying to figure things out along with Fin, and the story became more interesting as more details were revealed. I also felt really sad for Tormond because of everything he had been through. His story was honestly one of the parts that stayed with me the most.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting mystery with a lot of emotional moments, and I’m enjoying my journey through Peter May’s Lewis series. I recommend it if you like slow-burn mysteries with secrets, family stories, and an atmospheric setting.

#TheLewisMan #PeterMay #BookTok #MysteryThriller #LewisSeries by @mang_elio

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a teenager living with cancer, whose life changes when she meets Augustus Waters at a cancer support group. Their friendship slowly develops into something deeper as they navigate love, illness, dreams, and the limited time they have together.

I really loved how the book talks about cancer without making the characters feel like they’re defined only by their illness. It gives readers a more personal look at what it’s like to live with cancer, while also showing how the people around them deal with fear, hope, love, and loss. The story is quite sad, and I was constantly rooting for Hazel and Augustus to have their happy ending. The last five chapters were especially devastating, and I honestly wasn’t ready for how emotional they would be. I just kept thinking, I wish Hazel and Augustus had met in another life or another universe. Their story is beautiful, but also heartbreaking because of how little time they had.

I highly recommend The Fault in Our Stars if you’re looking for a heartfelt story about love, life, illness, and making the most of the time we have. It’s definitely a book that will stay with you.

#TheFaultInOurStars #JohnGreen #BookTok #ContemporaryRomance #YoungAdult by @mang_elio

The Malt Whisky Murders follows Eilidh and her wife Morag as they take on a run-down distillery in rural Kintyre, hoping to become the first women-owned whisky distillery in Scotland. But their plans quickly take a dark turn when two decades-old bodies are discovered stuffed inside whisky barrels, perfectly preserved in single malt. With a TV crew arriving and the local townspeople getting involved in everything, Eilidh becomes determined to solve the murders while dealing with whisky tastings, ceilidhs, protests, scandals, and all the secrets of a small Scottish town.

I enjoyed how different it felt from a typical murder mystery. The two timelines kept me interested because I wanted to understand how the events were connected and how everything would eventually come together. I also really liked the queer couple and enjoyed having their relationship as part of the story. The mystery was somewhat predictable, and I did have some idea of where it was going, but I couldn’t guess everything perfectly. There were still enough details, questions, and twists to keep me reading and wondering how everything would play out.

Overall, I liked this one. It was a fun and different take on the murder mystery genre. I’m also really glad that I have a signed copy of the book. It makes this read even more special to have in my collection.

#TheMaltWhiskyMurders #NatalieJayneClark #BookTok #MurderMystery #CrimeFiction by @mang_elio

Chapter IV Online Book Club
Book of the Month (September): The Time Traveler’s Wife
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is a romantic science fiction story about Clare and Henry, whose relationship is shaped by Henry’s uncontrollable time traveling. Clare meets Henry at different ages throughout her life, while Henry travels through different moments in his own timeline.

The book is LONG, with 500+ pages and small font, so it took me a while to finish. The first half felt slow, but the deeper I got into the story, the more it blew my mind. The timeline was confusing at first, but eventually everything started to make sense.

I loved seeing how Clare continued to love Henry despite all the uncertainty and challenges. Henry can’t control when or where he travels, which makes their relationship even more complicated. I also loved Alba and how she always gets to see her father in different moments of his life.

I really love this book. Time is short, and this story made me appreciate that even more. I highly recommend it if you enjoy romance with a unique concept and a story that stays with you.

#TheTimeTravelersWife #AudreyNiffenegger #BookTok #Romance #ScienceFiction by @mang_elio

The Fury by Alex Michaelides is a psychological thriller set on a private Greek island, where a group of friends gathers for a getaway that takes an unexpected turn. As secrets, relationships, and tensions unfold, the story becomes increasingly suspenseful and unpredictable.

This is my second book by Alex Michaelides after The Silent Patient, and I really enjoyed it. I spent most of the book trying to piece everything together and figure out what would happen next. There were a few parts that confused me, especially because of the twists, and I had to reread some sections multiple times. But that also made me want to keep reading and figure everything out. Just when I thought I was getting close to the end, the story took another turn and somehow got even wilder. And Elliot... I HATE ELLIOT! 😂

Overall, this was a suspenseful and atmospheric read that kept me guessing. It was a little confusing in some parts, but I still had a great time reading it. I highly recommend The Fury if you enjoy psychological thrillers with twists, mysteries, and stories that keep you questioning what is really happening.

I finished The Silent Patient last month, and now I can’t wait to read The Maidens next month!

#TheFury #AlexMichaelides #BookTok #PsychologicalThriller #Mystery by @mang_elio

Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller that follows a woman whose stay at a remote motel quickly turns into something much more dangerous. With secrets unfolding and unexpected twists along the way, the story keeps you wondering what is really happening.

I really enjoyed the beginning because it immediately pulled me into the story. The ending was also one of my favorite parts. I had some idea of where things were heading, but Freida still managed to surprise me with how everything played out.

I also enjoyed the little romance between Rozalie and Nick. I like how Freida adds small relationship stories to her thrillers because they give the characters more depth and make me more invested in what happens to them. Overall, this was another enjoyable thriller from Freida!

#DoNotDisturb #FreidaMcFadden #BookTok #PsychologicalThriller #Mystery by @mang_elio

Chapter IV Online Book Club
Book of the Month (August): The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Silent Patient follows Alicia Berenson, a famous painter who is accused of murdering her husband and then suddenly stops speaking. As psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes determined to uncover the truth, the story unfolds into a gripping psychological mystery.

This was such a page-turner that I kept coming up with different theories while reading. Although I predicted one part of the story, the major plot twist still managed to surprise me. The ending was brilliantly executed, and I can definitely see why this book is so highly recommended.

I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

#TheSilentPatient #AlexMichaelides #BookTok #PsychologicalThriller #Mystery by @mang_elio