31 August 2020

Book Review Ready For The World by Charmeljun Gallardo






About The Book Series


Ready For The World - Driver’s Education:

All Brandon Delacruz is asking out of his young life is popularity, riches, and the girl of his dreams. But what he does have are good grades, a ten-speed bicycle, and his two lifelong friends, Josh and Ally, at his side. And together, they’ll navigate their way through the rigors of high school life.

But unlike high school, real life doesn’t come with study guides. Brandon realizes that the girl he’s always dreamed about has been there all along. And as he untangles his feelings for Ally, something tragic happens to her family that changes everything. Now, Brandon will spend the rest of the year balancing his romantic feelings for Ally and his life-long friendship with her while also dealing with tough teachers, classes, and toughest of all, meeting the Filipino parental standards.

Brandon will learn that the world moves pretty fast, whether he’s ready or not.

Ready For The World – Superstar:

Brandon Delacruz is destined to write the next great novel. At least, that’s what he hopes what’s in those stacks of notebooks around him. And why shouldn’t he be full of confidence? He’s doing great in school and after a long hard road, he finally has the girl of his dreams, his best friend, Ally. 

But before the year can even start, Brandon’s life is turned upside down. Nothing is what he thought and things don’t happen the way he hoped. And as he sifts through his feelings and tries to make sense of everything, he meets Rachel, a confident and self-assured girl that doesn’t suffer fools lightly.

Ally has been the love of Brandon’s life, but things between them have become complicated without explanation. While he and Rachel are seemingly a perfect fit. Which girl will he choose? And more importantly, which girl will choose him?


Purchase Links

Ready For The World: Driver’s Education 

Amazon India | Amazon USA


Ready For The World: Superstar


Amazon India | AmazonUSA


Book Review


About The Book: 


Ready For The World: Book Series is a coming of age fiction by Charmeljun Gallardo. The story revolves around Bandon and his friends Josh and Ally. The book talks about how the typical teenage lives in the 1980s and his struggles, challenges, first love, heartbreak, realizing about relationship true nature.


In the author's own words “All that Brandon Delacruz wants is a chance. A chance to drive, a chance to be one of the cool kids, and a chance at a girlfriend before he starts the 10th grade. He'll spend the rest of the year finding the delicate balance between a budding love, old friendships, meeting the Asian Parental standards, and having fun...as long as he keeps his grades up.”


I have read both the books and going to review them at once.


My Thoughts:


Before I start with my review, I have to say I am a sucker for teenage stories. I just love them. Nothing like the friends that you make in your school life, those stupid talks with friends seems like the most mature thing in the world, and most importantly first love. Nothing can beat those butterflies in your stomach, realizing that someone is special for the first time and the inevitable heartbreak. The first heartbreak feels like actually, something is bleeding inside you and the world has come to an end. This book talks about all theses and much more in the most convincing way possible.


The author is a Philippine descent who is born and brought up in the USA and the story is set up in 1986 when Brandon 15 years old. However, I am from another part of the world, a Bengali who spends her teenage in early 2000, yet I can totally relate to the story. At moments it seems like it is my story, like someone from different parts of the world, whom I have never met is talking about me. It gives a sense of familiarity and comforts me in my feeling “my teenage was awful”. I ride the same boat which Brandon and many other teenagers did and I am glad about that.


As for the characters are concerned:


Brandon: He is all of us in our teenage. He is funny, stupid, smart, thinks he knows everything and struggling with his feelings.


Josh: He is my favorite character; he deserves a whole book to himself. We all have a friend like him, who seems the clown on the outside and the smartest and maturest inside. He will show you a mirror in the most casual way possible.


Ally: She probably has the most challenging life among all. Live through a lot of curveballs at her yet she managers her way through. She is the most mature of all, yet vulnerable and at times lost.


Overall, I love both books and recommend everyone to read it.


Mr. Charmeljun Gallardo is a master of expressing the most complicated feeling in the simplest words possible. Personally, I am glad I read this book.


πŸ’“πŸ’“πŸ’“πŸ’“πŸ’“




About the Author

Charmeljun Gallardo is a former Radiologist and author. His first book is Ready for the World young adult book series. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a Creative Writing degree in 1996. He is a writer, photography enthusiast, sports fan, movie geek, stroke survivor, and an adventurous foodie. He lives in San Diego, California with his wife and son. 

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