ARC Review: Kids These Days (Stories from Luna East Arts Academy Vol. 1)

Welcome to Luna East. Who are you in high school? The popular kid at the top of the social foodchain? The jock? The shy, library assistant? There's a story for each and every type of student you once were in this lovely collection of stories. Come read and tell me what's your favorite.

Title: Kids These Days (Stories from Luna East Arts Academy Vol. 1) by Chrissie Peria, Mina V. Esguerra, Jen C. Suguitan, Jayen San Diego, Stella Torres, Richard Cy, Jonnalyn Cabigting, Robert V. Wong , Ronald S. Lim, Miles Tan, Athena Claire Dueñas, M. Protacio-De Guzman, Kristel Villar, Alyssa Ashley Lucas, Addie Lynn C. Co, Anne Plaza, YK Marquez, D.R. Lee
Release Date: February 8th 2014
Source: Blog Tour

Buy a copy here: http://bit.ly/lunaeastv1

Summary:

The stories from LUNA EAST ARTS ACADEMY are about love. And also, friends, food, kissing, rumors, mean people, insecurities, birthdays, breakups, making up. We set it in an arts academy because we wanted everyone to have a talent, and know it. Because no one is ordinary, if you know them well enough.

Who are you, at LUNA EAST? Are you a popular kid, a wallflower, a drama club diva, a debate whiz? Visit lunaeastacademy.org to read more stories from #LUNAEAST, and submit your own. For readers 16 and up.

I always get nostalgic whenever I read stories about high school, given that it was such a fun time of my life. And the collection of stories in Luna East Academy brought out a lot of warm, fuzzy feelings in me while I was reading. There really is a story for anyone and everyone who've ever been through the good and the bad times, the crazy ups and downs and the confusing, exhilirating time that was High School.

Short but meaningful, each of the stories will bring out a different feeling from the reader the moment they finish reading. I started off feeling 'kilig', immediately responding to that sweetness that started off the stories in Luna East. It gradually pulled me in with the myriad of characters I meet in each author's work, each becoming a little more interesting as I navigate through the world of high school cliques, the social hierarchies, and the common denominator that binds all of the stories inside: friendship and love.

I really think the idea behind Luna East is brilliant! I love how I get to read works from different authors with different themes and writing styles and you not only get to see the contrasts in their works, but you get to know the lives of those within the fictional Academy that is Luna East. You are bound to meet a character that you will like and dislike, read a story that will make your heart ache or jump with joy, one that will fascinate you a lot and make you think of it even after you've finished reading. I love getting that wonderful, happy feeling.

All of the stories were really good, but some of them stayed with me long after I finished reading the Kindle ebook and they are:

Sitting in a Tree by Chrissie Peria

I've read this first on the Luna East blog, and it didn't get less sweeter or cuter after my second time reading. It makes one miss school fairs and all those booths that serves as "bridges" for some of the students to express what they feel for other fellow students.

Fifty two weeks by Mina V. Esguerra

I had a big smile pasted on my face by the time I finished reading this story. Anything Mina writes always seem to get under my skin, leaving me with extreme feels.

Yours is the First Face that I Saw by Ronald S. Lim

This story surprised me completely. I've read a handful of stories with LGBT themes, but Ron's just made me fall in love with his story immediately after reading the first few paragraphs. It's delightfully interesting and was written really well. My only complain: why does it have to end there? More!

Something Real by Miles Tan

My first taste of sadness in the world of Luna East. Gigi's story took time for it to sink in! There was something about her and what she's been through that makes me want to just hug her. The poor girl... and that guy. I have no words to express what I feel about James. It was a mix of frustration and disbelief and a little bit of sadness thrown in the mix. I love how this story brought out complex feelings from me. One of my top favorites!

The Rumor About Me by Kristel S. Villar

This has got to be my most favorite story in this collection! I just love anything that involves a shy, timid girl who learns to stand up for herself along the way and the jock who was completely different from what everyone thinks he really was. I wish it didn't end. I wish there was more.

Senpai’s #1 Fan by Anne Plaza

I was sold the moment the words "Kaname" and "Danny Choo" were mentioned at the start of the story, and later "Quatre Raberba Winner". Anne Plaza gave the readers a sneak peek into the world of Otakus, enough to give Jannie a good foundation for her character. If I was a character in Luna East's world I'd probably be hanging out with Jannie and her friends. I will thrive at anime conventions and fangirl over goods and cosplayers, and still be focused enough to notice someone like Adrian. I also love how it wasn't just about anime or mecha costumes, but the transition to music is a good addition too!

Wouldn’t Change a Thing by Jayen San Diego

"I am always the second best, and I hate it." After I've read that line I knew I was going to like this story. I love how stubborn Maan can be, and how that stubborn streak in her draws Nico helplessly closer. There's something good about getting inside Maan and Nico's head and knowing how they feel about those around them and each other, which made me love the point of view switching. And those sweet moments at the end? I had to re-read them over and over.

If you think of each story as a part of a world you've yet to fully see, you will find something worth exploring in Luna East. There's definitely a lot of room for new stories and characters to appear, all of them existing in a world where anything can happen. But more than that, these collection of stories urges everyone to come not just explore life in Luna East, but try to write their own story. Each and every single tale can inspire a reader to write something, anything, to contribute to the world of arts, music, money and sports. What a really lovely work this is! Kudos to each and every writer in this collection! You are all a talented bunch!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

The allure of this actually lies in meeting a new character connected to another person studying in Luna East. You discover secrets and back stories along the way and as you finish a story one after another, it contributes to the building of Luna East's world. I like that part of the reading experience very much.


Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Definitely fits the theme of the stories in the collection!