The Subway Girl by Lisa Becker | ARC | A Book Review

I can't seem to sleep nights anymore on weekends. I have become used to sleeping in the mornings since I started working again on a night shift. Yes, thankfully I have work again. My last project ended last April and fortunately, there was an opening on another team and my manager thought of me. I started working again about two weeks ago. It's a blessing in this very trying times. 

The Subway Girl is set in New York. I remember riding the subway and seeing a very cute guy. We even stole a picture of him. That was about ten years ago. That was my first time in the US and my first time to experience The Big Apple. Finally get to be see the city up close and get personal with it. I remember it was early morning. It was our first time to ride the subway. We were on our way to The Museum of Natural History. We saw this very cute guy with curly hair sitting right across from us. We thought, what a great way to start our day. We got lucky.

A hopeless romantic.
A cynical web show producer.
An unscrupulous cameraman.
A sleazy businessman.
An aspiring actress.
A womanizing best friend.
A scheming ex-girlfriend.
A commitment-phobic roommate.
An unlucky-in-love buddy.

These lives intersect when an average guy is awed by a gorgeous mystery woman on a New York subway and vows to meet her.

This is how the blurb goes and it does aptly summarize the story. The title alone promises you a sort of adventure of hopefully finding love on the subway. Exciting, right? Yes, my thoughts exactly. You woke up that day clueless as to what the day would bring and ending up possibly meeting the woman of your dreams on your commute to work on the A train wearing a pink beanie. How romantic is that? I would say, anything can happen.

The possibility of meeting your future husband or wife on a train is not far off. Actually, when we were in New York, I think I had the same thoughts. What if I meet someone special here in New York - a city that never sleeps may actually be a city of endless possibilities? That was when I was a bit younger and still hopeful about love. Now, I have accepted the reality that I might actually grow old alone. I am okay with that as long as I still get to travel. These past few years, being back in Cebu after spending about 8 years in Manila, I think I love living alone. My sister even told me that I have been so used to living alone that's why I don't have enough patience to deal with my father. True. But I do admit, there are still times I daydream of meeting that person who can love me for all my amazing qualities and not run away when my hideous self shows its presence. 

Right after reading the first chapter, I came up with this theory that I think this story won't end like a fairy tale - Ryan, the main character, will not live happily ever after with the pink-beanie subway girl. This story should be better than that. I just have a feeling. A very strong feeling that the pink-beanie girl will not be a good fit for Ryan. I just knew. It's probably because she was wearing that pink beanie. That gave it away. Hahahaha. I hate pink. But kidding aside, I just knew that for a good love story to work, it should come with obstacles. It can't just end up with Ryan getting the girl that easy. Well, it wasn't actually. He had to actually wear his heart on a sleeve for all the world to see.

I really liked that the story did turn out as I hope it would be - Ryan actually meeting pink beanie but realizing that she's not all that pretty. And that little did he know that love is just right there staring him in the face for months. Okay, I admit, his search for pink beanie paved the way for him to meet the woman he should be with. But again, thanks but no thanks. Fate does work in mysterious ways. 

When Ryan meet Angie, the woman who's going to help him find the Subway Girl, I know something good is bound to happen. I'll leave it all at that. I don't want to spoil anything.

One of the things I really like about this story are the smart and funny references to books, movies and songs. I learned a new word from this story - Beetlejuice. I haven't seen the movie but I think it's very smart to say "I think we beetlejuiced her." I would love to use this sentence in my conversations with friends one of these days. Watch for it.

I give this book 4/5 cute Kewpie dolls. I did enjoy this story. Especially because it didn't turn out as what everyone would expect. I love you Lisa Becker for making this story as it is. I was rooting for Ryan to finally find the subway girl and also wake up to reality. It turned out, all the effort of finding the girl was not wasted because while he was trying to sort out through the hundreds or thousands of responses claiming they were the subway girl, in the process he found the girl he should be with. He got to be friends with her and relied on her. He got to be himself. He didn't have to try to impress her or try to win her because she already got to see Ryan in his best and worst days. No one could resist the natural and genuine charm that Ryan has. He's a gentleman, smart and what you see is what you get. What else could you ask for in a man? If it was me, I'd be set for life. 

Here's one of the other things I like about the story. I totally agree with Angie on these. I don't know but I really hate having to join the bouquet toss when attending weddings. I always find an excuse to go to the bathroom when that part comes. I just don't like it. I am not exactly sure why but the idea just doesn't sit well with me. The only wedding I did that was my sister's wedding and only because I was obligated. So, maybe Angie summed it up correctly. I refused to be a part of such barbaric ritual. Marriage is not a requirement. I can be happy even if I am single. Happiness is a set of mind. It's an attitude. You don't need another person to be one. I guess, that's why some marriages don't work because they go into it thinking the other person can make their bitter lives sweet. But don't get me wrong, like I said, I do still wish to find someone I can spend the rest of my days with, grow old with, travel with and carry my groceries. But yes, I'm not totally a fan of flying flowers either.

I just think that bouquet toss tradition is barbaric. Herding all the single ladies onto the dance floor so everyone can mock their singleness.

Why does being the next to get married equate to good fortune?

...about not being fragile like a flower but being fragile like a bomb.

- Lisa Becker, The Subway Girl -

Thanks again, Lisa Becker for always thinking of me whenever you have a new book. I always enjoyed your stories. I am also happy that in a way we think alike - it's okay for Ryan not to get the subway girl. It's a really brilliant idea. 

By the way, I don't have a copy of Links yet. I've read the blurb and would want to read and review the whole book. Would you please send me a copy? I am begging you, please.