#aliazalea

First of all, I should thank Gramedia Pustaka Utama for inviting me to “Boy Toy” advanced reading event. There was a total of 5 people attending this small event and got a chance to become advanced readers for aliaZalea’s upcoming novel titled “Boy Toy”. It was such an honor for me as one of aliaZalea’s hardcore reader. 

So, “Boy Toy” is the opening story for a new and fresh series about boyband named “PENTAGON”. The novel was written in 3rd person perspective, telling about your unusual romance story because both Hero and Heroine are surely unlike any other characters that aliaZalea has written before. From what I read in aliaZalea’s Facebook page, the novel was originally titled after the boyband name, “PENTAGON”, but later was changed into “Boy Toy”. I don’t know why, but I like “Boy Toy” more and fortunately I like this story too!

I think you should take a look at the book introduction first, here I provide you the blurb taken from goodreads:

Ada tiga kata yang Lea yakin tidak akan pernah diasosiasikan dengan dirinya: BOYBAND, BRONDONG, dan ABG. Sampai dia bertemu dengan Taran, personel boyband paling ngetop se-Indonesia, dan superbrondong. Untuk pertama kalinya Lea paham ungkapan "never say never". Terutama ketika Taran jelas-jelas mulai mengejarnya dan dia, seorang perempuan yang bisa dikategorikan perawan tua, menemukan dirinya merasa seperti ABG yang ngefans berat pada seorang brondong personel boyband.

I must say; “Don’t Be Pessimistic About This After You Read The Blurb”

Do Not Ever! You will miss something big if you give up by the blurb alone. 

Even though I have read so many books all of my life so far, I have to admit that I am such a picky reader. This story, if only it wasn’t written by aliaZalea, would also be left on the back burner. Every aspects I hate is in it, named them 1) BOYBAND 2) BRONDONG 3) A-BE-GE, I won’t consider this story at all - again if it wasn’t written by my Metropop author crush, aliaZalea. Thank God, for once I tried to overcome things I dislike and try to getting know more about the story. The result was amazing, I AM IN LOVE with this book. 

Now let me write a short-but-comprehensive list on why I like this story despite this contains so many “ee-yuh” factors I refuse to deal with before. 

1. The Heroine is UNIQUELY CHARMING 

Lea was a broken-hearted and long time single woman with no prospective husband-to-be. I know, it is still so-so. The unique factor about Lea is her educational attainment. She’s got doctor degree, is a biology lecturer, is a researcher as well, and smart as hell. I don’t know about you, but I always like how aliaZalea always capture the value of education for women in her novels. We’ve got Inara, Adri, Tita, Jana, and so on. Now, we have new comer who is even cooler compare with the others. BIOLOGY! How awesome is that!? 

2. The Hero is AWKWARDLY FUNNY AND HOT AND SWEET AND GENTLE AND TENDER AND ELSE AND ELSE IT WILL COME SO LONG

Taran is a boyband member. NO! Don’t start with Indonesia’s typical boyband! Pentagon is rather comparable with “One Direction” if I should mention one name. Pentagon was formed in “X-Factor Indonesia” and was produced by Revelino Darby. Yes guys! It’s Revel, our hot musician who have already become a daddy in “Celebrity Wedding” and “Devil in Black Jeans” (respectively). Taran was your average handsome boy at first, but BAMB! He turns into a cute-aggresive-but-smooth man when it comes to the moments he tried to win Lea’s heart. He is witty, funny, and honest with everything. This post will never enough to describe his cool gestures, funny jokes, smart moves, and infinity love for Lea. 

3. The story is UNEXPECTEDLY FUNNY AS HEEL! IT’S ALSO FULL OF ROLLERCOASTER ROADS IN WHICH YOU WILL ENJOY FOR SURE

All of participants in advanced reading event laughed after so many moments in the novel. We laughed here and there, at this page, the next page, the next two pages and so on. You will find so many good jokes inside and they weren’t even extras, they were part of the story. Like, there were novels which are funny because of what the side characters do or say, but this one is not. The story itself is full of comical scenes which I don’t expect will be written by aliaZalea. SHE IS AMAZING!! Those farcical moments are natural, I believe every one of you will like it. 

4. The social values nail it

You’ve got jokes, but they are not all, “Boy Toy” gives you so many good values and lesson for life. It shows some taboo unpopular topic with deeper story telling and wider perspective. Lea, Taran, Pentagon, Lea’s Mom, and even Lea’s ex-fiance are all working so hard to punch you so that you will look more into things you avoid before. 

5. PENTAGON IS LIGHTING UP MY FANGIRL MODE

As a retired full time fangirl, Pentagon has lighten up the mood at the bottom of my heart. I want to do some fangirling stuffs over their songs, their stages, their performances, and their concerts. I wish they were real, so that I could buy their albums, listen to their songs, go to their concerts, watching their performances, OMG PENTAGON IS BAE! All members are great! They are comical, talented, and humble as hell! I can’t wait to read their story one by one after “Boy Toy” (HAHAHAHA)

6. Lea’s office background has Trisakti vibe

Okay, I am now a “Yellow Jacket” student, but I can’t forget the 3.5 years experiences in Grogol as a “Reformed Jacket” student. All those slowly faded memories were back thanks to “Boy Toy”. Lea is a lecturer and the university where she works has Trisakti vibe. Nostalgia factors or not, this still left impact in me. So, if you were also a “Reformed Jacket” alumnus, I think you will love this little background detail as much as I do.  

There goes the end of my list. Six is enough, guys. The rest will be special surprises for you. I give 5/5 stars for this book - no doubt. aliaZalea kicks the gigs again with this. I hope it will become great starts for “PENTAGON” series, because this is legit the best Indonesian romance book I have read in a while. You can grab it very very soon in your near bookstores! Let’s become “Pentagon” fans together and protect the boys at all costs! CHEERRRSS!

bonus:

Crash Into You – AliaZalea

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Setelah muter-muter di bookstore and see this occasion, saya memutuskan untuk membaca lagi buku ini untuk ke sekian kalinya. Ervin never get fail to ammused me! Novel yang bercerita jujur mengenai potret pemikiran perempuan masa kini.