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Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #4
Under the Roaring Thunders
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 21, 2026
Long review ahead because I love this book so much :)
"Under the Roaring Thunders" is the kind of book that consoles you from the pain that the other stories inflicted when they attempt to go down the enemies-to-lovers path but fail to do so. This is everything that the enemies-to-lovers trope should be—the gradual progression of the character's relationship from hate to love and everything that comes in between, because realistically, it is never easy to love someone you once hated. Respectfully, this must be the basis for every narrative trying out this trope.
The story centers around two very polar opposite characters, Tyler and Kael. Their characters differ in every single aspect of their life—from their economic status to their personalities. Tyler, a single child born to wealthy parents, was a bright and mischievous man. He lived a glamorous and indulgent life, often found racing and messing around to fill his heart's content. His privilege alone dictates the kind of personality he has, and so, without the need to face any responsibility, he lived carefree and vicariously.
Then there was Kael, an older brother to his siblings, who shouldered every bit of responsibility that comes with being the eldest child. He understands just how much his parents, especially his father, struggled to keep the family living, even if it meant being belittled and insulted. That was what built his character to be frugal and emotionally reserved—he himself knows that while his family lived a comfortable life, they were built upon his father's endurance to the disrespect he experienced in his job. He wanted to help them financially in the ways he knows how to. This was the very reason why he had a rough relationship with his father, because he was always against the treatment his father endured.
The story starts out with a very obvious feud between the two characters. There is this burning dislike between them that can't be dismissed, and it is always palpable whenever they interact. Tyler mostly initiates the taunting remarks, and Kael would always bite the bait and respond with an even more brutal insult.
Despite their differences, they managed to fall for each other's true character. Kael, though initially prejudiced against Tyler as an 'out-of-touch asshole,' fell for the kind-hearted man who held him close when he was breaking apart. Similarly, Tyler moved past his resentment toward Kael for hurting him where it hurt most, falling instead for the genuine Kael—the one who loved him unhesitatingly, just as he had always wanted. There was absolutely no foundation for an attraction, but somehow they made sense to each other because they were willing to mend their broken relationship.
He unconsciously glanced at me, his walls too high, slowly crumbling down as it reflected in the glint of his eyes. I see through you, Mikael Jasver.
What I liked about their relationship is that it was never guaranteed to be a smooth shift from hatred to love. Just because you learned to love someone in the end despite feeling so deeply resentful of them and doing actions that intentionally hurt them, doesn't erase the pain that both of you have inflicted upon each other. There are wounds left unhealed and traumas passed on, and the author shows these existences in the characters when they struggle to communicate healthily and in a way that is far from what they were accustomed to.
"I have no experience, I know. But I want us to work on it every fucking day, deal with our differences, rather than drawing a line because we think we are a burden to each other. Lean on me, and I'll lean on you. Let's talk it out, solve it together...and become each other's source of strength. Can we...do that?"
Because in the past, all they've ever known to say was hurtful things to each other and to ignite each other's hatred for one another even more. Now, even as they struggle, what makes it admirable is that we see them both willing to make it work despite their hateful past. They tried to change their toxic ways and dismissive actions. Even if it wasn't easy to be with someone they hated, they still wholeheartedly wanted to make it work for both of them. Both Tyler and Kael are no experts in relationships, and it was so nice to see how these characters realistically try to be the best for each other.
"Akala ko ba dadahan-dahanin?" I reminded while smirking.
"Dahan-dahan naman ah?" At kahit ang kamay niya, dumulas na paibaba.
They were actually also the reason why I realized dirty talking was better in Tagalog than English. I don't know how the author learned it, but she nailed the dirty talk in the smut. The dirty talking was such a good medium to demonstrate their desperation and longing for each other. The chemistry and attraction between them were so palpable that it was sometimes so hard to breathe when reading.
What I also liked about this book is that it never shied away from tackling one of the main conflicts—teenage pregnancy—with utmost confrontation and direct reality check. The conflicts were timely to what our society is intentionally refusing to confront and be aware of (abortion and the women who commit abortion), so it was nice to see them discussed and disseminated. The author has such a big platform, and to see her use it the right way by introducing prominent discourses in our society and educating her readers was terrific to see.
Anyway, I think they are my top couple dynamic ever because you can never tell who to be jealous of since they're both so lucky to have each other. They put submission as a meaning for love, because to be under someone means to learn how to love someone the way they want to. It is to be emotionally intelligent enough to understand that showing acts of love is not registered the same for everyone.
Kung sinabi niyang...ilalaban naming dalawa, kahit sugatan ako, nanghihina at pagod, ilalaban ko. Kung sinabi niyang ako lang, kahit pakiramdam ko hindi ako sapat, bubuohin ko ang mga parteng may kulang... maibigay ko lang sa kanya ang lahat ng meron ako.
Mahal ko siya, higit pa sa galit na ipinaramdam niya sa akin... higit pa sa pagkadurog na kahit nagkapira-piraso na, unti-unti niyang nabubuo.
I highly recommend this book :)
"Under the Roaring Thunders" is the kind of book that consoles you from the pain that the other stories inflicted when they attempt to go down the enemies-to-lovers path but fail to do so. This is everything that the enemies-to-lovers trope should be—the gradual progression of the character's relationship from hate to love and everything that comes in between, because realistically, it is never easy to love someone you once hated. Respectfully, this must be the basis for every narrative trying out this trope.
The story centers around two very polar opposite characters, Tyler and Kael. Their characters differ in every single aspect of their life—from their economic status to their personalities. Tyler, a single child born to wealthy parents, was a bright and mischievous man. He lived a glamorous and indulgent life, often found racing and messing around to fill his heart's content. His privilege alone dictates the kind of personality he has, and so, without the need to face any responsibility, he lived carefree and vicariously.
Then there was Kael, an older brother to his siblings, who shouldered every bit of responsibility that comes with being the eldest child. He understands just how much his parents, especially his father, struggled to keep the family living, even if it meant being belittled and insulted. That was what built his character to be frugal and emotionally reserved—he himself knows that while his family lived a comfortable life, they were built upon his father's endurance to the disrespect he experienced in his job. He wanted to help them financially in the ways he knows how to. This was the very reason why he had a rough relationship with his father, because he was always against the treatment his father endured.
The story starts out with a very obvious feud between the two characters. There is this burning dislike between them that can't be dismissed, and it is always palpable whenever they interact. Tyler mostly initiates the taunting remarks, and Kael would always bite the bait and respond with an even more brutal insult.
Despite their differences, they managed to fall for each other's true character. Kael, though initially prejudiced against Tyler as an 'out-of-touch asshole,' fell for the kind-hearted man who held him close when he was breaking apart. Similarly, Tyler moved past his resentment toward Kael for hurting him where it hurt most, falling instead for the genuine Kael—the one who loved him unhesitatingly, just as he had always wanted. There was absolutely no foundation for an attraction, but somehow they made sense to each other because they were willing to mend their broken relationship.
He unconsciously glanced at me, his walls too high, slowly crumbling down as it reflected in the glint of his eyes. I see through you, Mikael Jasver.
What I liked about their relationship is that it was never guaranteed to be a smooth shift from hatred to love. Just because you learned to love someone in the end despite feeling so deeply resentful of them and doing actions that intentionally hurt them, doesn't erase the pain that both of you have inflicted upon each other. There are wounds left unhealed and traumas passed on, and the author shows these existences in the characters when they struggle to communicate healthily and in a way that is far from what they were accustomed to.
"I have no experience, I know. But I want us to work on it every fucking day, deal with our differences, rather than drawing a line because we think we are a burden to each other. Lean on me, and I'll lean on you. Let's talk it out, solve it together...and become each other's source of strength. Can we...do that?"
Because in the past, all they've ever known to say was hurtful things to each other and to ignite each other's hatred for one another even more. Now, even as they struggle, what makes it admirable is that we see them both willing to make it work despite their hateful past. They tried to change their toxic ways and dismissive actions. Even if it wasn't easy to be with someone they hated, they still wholeheartedly wanted to make it work for both of them. Both Tyler and Kael are no experts in relationships, and it was so nice to see how these characters realistically try to be the best for each other.
"Akala ko ba dadahan-dahanin?" I reminded while smirking.
"Dahan-dahan naman ah?" At kahit ang kamay niya, dumulas na paibaba.
They were actually also the reason why I realized dirty talking was better in Tagalog than English. I don't know how the author learned it, but she nailed the dirty talk in the smut. The dirty talking was such a good medium to demonstrate their desperation and longing for each other. The chemistry and attraction between them were so palpable that it was sometimes so hard to breathe when reading.
What I also liked about this book is that it never shied away from tackling one of the main conflicts—teenage pregnancy—with utmost confrontation and direct reality check. The conflicts were timely to what our society is intentionally refusing to confront and be aware of (abortion and the women who commit abortion), so it was nice to see them discussed and disseminated. The author has such a big platform, and to see her use it the right way by introducing prominent discourses in our society and educating her readers was terrific to see.
Anyway, I think they are my top couple dynamic ever because you can never tell who to be jealous of since they're both so lucky to have each other. They put submission as a meaning for love, because to be under someone means to learn how to love someone the way they want to. It is to be emotionally intelligent enough to understand that showing acts of love is not registered the same for everyone.
Kung sinabi niyang...ilalaban naming dalawa, kahit sugatan ako, nanghihina at pagod, ilalaban ko. Kung sinabi niyang ako lang, kahit pakiramdam ko hindi ako sapat, bubuohin ko ang mga parteng may kulang... maibigay ko lang sa kanya ang lahat ng meron ako.
Mahal ko siya, higit pa sa galit na ipinaramdam niya sa akin... higit pa sa pagkadurog na kahit nagkapira-piraso na, unti-unti niyang nabubuo.
I highly recommend this book :)
April 25, 2026
OOOOOHHHH SO FUCKING SPICYYYY… the angst, the slowburn, the delicious enemies-to-lovers trope, the lines and banters, the GROVELINGGGGG!!!! MAVERADE U GUYS HAVE BEEN DETHRONED ALL HAIL MIKAEL AND TYLER AS MY NEWEST ALL TIME FAVE SAC COUPLEEEE
May 23, 2026
HINDI AKO MAKAHINGA… zz zhUwuwhhHa over man sila sa dirtyT (🤣) ang ganda pa rin since nababanggit ang mga issues here na nangyayari talaga such as teenage pregnancy, social status, family issues, etc…
May 25, 2026
MY ALL TIME FAVE
June 1, 2026
ILL WRITE proper review after finals pls PERO I JS WANNA SAY NA I SO LOVE U JASLER T-T sobrang light grabe with just the right amount of angst. such an escape.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews