This Week in Books

These are the books that I hope to not only get to, but read this week!

      

• Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
• Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Crooked Kingdom is taking me a bit longer because it's fantasy. I do love fantasy books, but something about them takes forever for me to get through them. But because the others are contemporary, I'm hoping I can fly through them. Especially Turtles All the Way Down, it's a very short book. I will have to be careful with Big Little Lies, it's a borrow from the library, and it is well worn!

(Recently finished: Now is Everything by Amy Giles | ☆☆☆☆)

Hope your week is 👌🏾!

My Top 10 Underrated Korean Dramas

So here are ten of my favorite Korean dramas that no one talks about! I've given you my rating next to the title, but do not pay too much attention to that. They're not all 5 stars, but I still enjoyed them and they're ones that I still think about today!

Of course I'm posting this on a Friday to give you something to binge over the weekend.

If you've seen any or want to, let me know.

1. What's Up, Fox? | ☆☆☆☆☆ | Aired: 2006 | Watch on: Viki or Dramafever
   I have no idea why I started this drama. I guess it just sounded interesting, but I'm glad I did. Chun Jung Myung became a favorite for me after this one. This also has one of my favorite OST's in a drama. The song styles are very different from anything else--very indie vibe. I watched this so long ago, that I don't know how I would feel about it now.  But when I did watch it, I loved it. Give it a shot!
2. Haundae Lovers | ☆☆☆½ | Aired: 2012 | Watch on: Dramafever
   Don't let that lower rating fool you, I did enjoy this drama. It was cheesy as hell, but there was something about it that I absolutely loved. I remember hating this drama the first few episodes, but I kept on going, and I'm glad I did. This is an amnesia drama (ew), but the drama started getting better after the lead male loses his memory. And for whatever reason, I'll always remember my favorite scene, using my favorite Korean quote (I just like the way it sounds): "머리부터 발끝까지." Which translates to "from head to toe." But the best part is when he regains his memory. . . you'll just have to watch.
3. I Do, I Do | ☆☆☆☆☆½ | Aired: 2012 | Watch on: Viki or Dramafever
   No one, and I mean no one I talk to or even on tumblr has seen this drama....WHY!? I fricking loved it. I loved the role reversal, rich woman, poor guy, older woman, the chemistry, the fun! I mean, the dude carries a freaking table umbrella for her! I feel like that because this drama is not widely talked about or highly rated, Lee Jang Woo has not had another lead role. But he needs it. He's so frickin' adorable! And he saved the drama Bel Ami for me, because whoo that was a bad one! Let me know what you think! (And yes, that is 5 and a half stars)
4. 49 Days | ☆☆☆☆☆ | Aired: 2011  | Watch on: Dramafever
   I have only watched a very very small handful of melodramas, I cannot stand them. But even though this is classified as one, I wouldn't call it one. It never dragged and it kept you guessing and rooting for the female lead to win in the end. This does border on fantasy with a spirit inhabiting another woman's body for 49 days while said spirit's body is in a coma. There are a lot of sad moments, but also a lot of lighter moments. And you get Jung Il Woo. So...you're welcome!
5. Ex-Girlfriend Club | ☆☆☆☆☆ | Aired: 2015 | Watch on: Viki or Dramafever
   I need more from this lead right now! I adored him in this drama. His physical acting is perfect. Song Ji Hyo is amazing, Lee Yoon Ji's facial expressions are fantastic. This cast is just so so good! The chemistry between all of them is so good. I remember seeing one gif set on Tumblr and decided to give it a try. Uggghhh, so glad I did. I need Byun Yo Han in another romcom--like now! There are only 12 episodes, so you'll fly right through this one.
6. Hogu's Love (or Fool's Love) | ☆☆☆☆½  | Aired: 2016 | Watch on: Dramafever
   Choi Woo Sik and UEE, need I say more? I probably do... I watched this drama with my little brother and nephew. They were so into it, I rarely had to read the subtitles for them. We all three laughed, cried and just loved this show to pieces. Why is there not more love for it!? As with many dramas, the plot is a bit far fetched, but it is well done, imo! This writer also did one of the best dramas of 2017, Because This is My First Life. She's very into the whole feminist thing. Sooo I already love her!
7. Heart to Heart | ☆☆☆☆½ | Aired: 2015 | Watch on: Viki or Dramafever
   I went in to this drama because of Chun Jung Myung, but came out the biggest fangirl for Lee Jae Yoon. Holy guacamole, I'm obsessed!! I related to this main girl so hard. I'm very introverted, but I know I need to go out in the world to work. Unfortunately, I can't disguise myself as an old lady, nor am I going to meet two super cute guys who will swoon after me. But a girl can dream, eh? Choi Kang Hee can hold her own in a drama. She's such a versatile actress.*Squeals* It's just so cute.
8. Lucky Romance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | Aired: 2016 | Watch on: Viki
   Talk about a surprising drama. The synopsis makes it sound like such a whiny melo drama that I would give 3-4 episodes and give up. I needed to watch Hwang Jung Eum in something else after She Was Pretty (which was a major let down), so I gave this one a shot. And...the feels. All the feels. She's so dedicated to helping her sister, but her heart wants more out of life, and you just feel for this girl! Especially when she meets someone like the lead male, who gave me Sheldon vibes, but cuter and less annoying. An all around fun ride. 
9. Save Me | ☆☆☆☆½ | Aired: 2017 | Watch on: Dramafever
   I just finished this drama a couple of weeks ago, so I'm not sure if I should really put this on this list. But if you want something that's different than your typical romcom, this might be for you. Action, suspense, friendship, and thrill--scare factor in the real world sense, not ghost sense. This is just about a group of guys trying to help a girl who is trapped in a religious cult. I'll be honest, I went in to this because of Ok Taecyeon, my ultimate bias, but that thought left my head once I got into it. It did take a few episodes, honestly about halfway through, before I really got into it. The country(Busan) accent in Korea is sometimes absolutely unbearable, but I got over it and started focusing on the content. Gosh this drama was so creepy and good!! Though there isn't any romance, it is implied. I will note there are scenes of suicide, almost rape and captivity. Just a warning!
10. Oh My Venus | ☆☆☆☆☆☆ | Aired: 2015 | Watch on: Viki or Dramafever
    Ohhhh man, let's talk about this one! I can't even form words for this drama. Everything that frustrates you in a drama doesn't happen here. Something happens between the couple that would normally pull them apart, pushes them together. They fight for each other with each other. The amount of skinship, kissing, romance, real love is just...yesss! If Shin Min Ah wasn't with Kim Woo Bin (get well), I'd say she needs to be with So Ji Sub, because that chemistry ya'll. The people surrounding Kim Young Ho are amazing, and Kang Joo Eun's feisty attitude is everything. There are some of the best gifs from this drama, if you don't mind a little spoilery (honestly it's just some incentive to make you watch) then click here!! We won't talk about the fact that when the lead is "overweight" her dimple goes away, because that's not how that works. But everything else. Yes!

Okay, that's it! Those are my Top 10 Underrated dramas!
If you were to ask me which of these I would go back and rewatch, I would say:
Hogu's Love, Whats Up, Fox?, and Oh My Venus. I would rewatch them all, but those are the ones that really stuck with me. Let me know what you think, and happy new year.

If you'd like to see a list of every (mostly) drama I've seen and my rating,
click here!

My Top 8 Worst KPOP Songs of 2017

We had some pretty good songs this year, but there were also some...not so great songs. And though I'm only listing 8, I had more but wanted to keep this simple. I would like to talk about each song and why I didn't like it! Also, because there are so few songs, I'll be putting them in order from bad to worst!

#8. Red Velvet - "Red Flavor" - click to watch MV
 First of all, this music video is terrible! This song came out in the summer, but they are so white washed. The colors and kaleidoscope effect is completely assaulting to the eyes. I cannot with the verses. They get on my ever loving nerves! I'll admit the chorus is slightly catchy...the dancing though? Hell no. Just no! No.

#7. BTS - "Best of Me" - click to listen (fanmade video)
This hurts me to put them on here--but I can't completely fault them; The Chainsmokers had a lot to do with this. I was so excited to hear they were working together, but what the actual fuck happened in the studio!? This song is so repetitive, obnoxious and just whyyyy!? This does not sound like something from The Chainsmokers or from BTS. Never again. Literally every other song on this album is gold, so I deleted it and pretended it never happened!

#6. Twice - "Signal" - click to watch MV
I just don't get it. This song is so fucking bad! I have loved Twice since their debut, however I feel like every song gets worse and worse with every comeback. The worst dance they've done, and probably one of the worst I've seen all year!! And this cheesy ass video that was weird as all fuck. JYP, what are you doing!? And that ridiculous ass bowl cut ya'll gave my girl, Chaeyoung!? *slaps hands* Bad, JYP! No! At least Tzuyu got to be in the (terrible) chorus.

#5. Twice - "Knock Knock" - click to watch MV
Oh my goodness gracious great balls of fire, I hate this MV so effing much. Why, in February do we have kids in Halloween costumes!? And just the editing in general -- *cringe* And yet another terrible dance. I know it has nothing to do with the amount of girls in the group because G. Friend, Pristin's "Black Widow"...enough said. The song just does not flow for me and I was over it before it was finished.

#4. IKON - "B Day" - click to watch MV | dance practice
What. The. Fuck. Is. This!? And that dance..... I just wanna rip my ears off! I didn't love "Bling  Bling", but at least it was tolerable. This is literally 7 guys girating with T-Rex hands and saying "wah wah wah wah". That's it. That's the whole song guys. I don't celebrate my birthday that way, so I guess I've been doing it wrong!

#3. EXO- "Power" - click to watch MV
SM, why did you do this to our boys? First you take Lay out of the equation, pissing fans off but then you give them great songs like "Ko Ko Bop" and "The Eve"... hell the whole The War album, and I was slightly okay. But you turn around and do this: Some cheap ass song in a cheap ass music video filmed 99% in front of a green screen? This song sounds like something DISNEY would have put out 5 years ago in a musical. I don't know what was going through the mind of the person who wrote it, produced it and then SM for giving it to EXO, but don't you ever do this shit again!!! I will say that Sehun looks damn good, though. 

#2. 2NE1 - "Goodbye" - click to watch MV
This was the dumbest shit! Not only did YG not need to give us this, they should not have. Telling us that one of the best girl groups were disbanding was enough, leave it at that. Why did you have to give us a sad and pathetic song from the remaining three members? That was not only a slap in their face, but in Blackjack's as well. We all deserved better. And it's a shitty song as well! I fucking hate the way the say "안녕"!! The MV is just bad and it's supposed to be all emotional, reminding us of their past. Yeah, it reminds us of their past--when they had good songs and good MVs. Fuck you kindly, YG!

#1. GOT7 - "You Are" - click to watch MV
THE MOST OBNOXIOUS SONG FROM ANY OF MY BIAS GROUPS THIS YEAR! It actually infuriates me how much I hate this song! Fuck my life this was so bad! It starts off alright, then we get this weird ass rap (from my ultimate bias) that doesn't fit with it and then the song changes styles completely and the awful chorus with the English that annoys all shit out of me! "There is not a cloud"...no NO NO NO NO! The only good thing about this whole thing is the fact that Jackson stuck with the dark hair. In fact this whole album was just terrible; "Teenager" was the only decent song and even that was questionable. GOT7, I just hope you do better (after resting *cough*JYP*cough*) in 2018!

Drama of the Week - Two Cops

»Two Cops | 투깝스«

Genre: Crime/Romantic/Comedy/Sci-Fi | Episodes: 32 [35min each]
Air day: Mon & Tue | Air dates: 11.27.17 to 01.16.2018
Starring: Jo Jong Suk, Hyeri, Kim Sun Ho, Hoya

It's Friday, so I'm giving you my drama recommendation of the week. Just in time for a weekend binge!! I can't remember when I first noticed this drama, or why I decided to start watching, but I'm so so glad I did. It is so good!! Jo Jong Suk has officially become one of my favorite male actors. He is such a good versatile actor! And Hoya and Hyeri are in this?! #Win.
The episodes are about 35min each, so you feel like they're going by faster as you watch. I ended up watching all 20 episodes in two days! I can't think of anything I do not like about this!! I cannot find a single synopsis that does this drama justice. Which is probably why it took me so long to get to it. Just ask me about it, if you'd like!! I highly recommend this one.

Summary of the drama:

This is a story about a swindler who is forced to share the body of a justice-loving detective in the Violent Crimes Unit. This drama depicts an interesting collaboration between two ill-matched individuals who work together to fight for justice. On top of this, a cheeky, female reporter joins them on their investigation to solve crimes. As individuals, the three of them may lack in many ways, but as one, they are the most invincible and hilarious heroes there can be.

You can watch on: Viki
(you have to have a full pass to watch every episode. I had to find the remaining episodes on other sites.)

What dramas do I need to check out?! Let me know, below!

Top 50 KPOP Songs of 2017

This year had some amazing KPOP songs, but somehow fell flat in comparison to other years. (Especially 2013, for me.) But there were some songs that I have played over and over and over and over. . . You get the point.

I could not figure out how to put these in any particular order, so I've put them in ABC order by artist! Links to the song or music video included. Enjoy! And please let me know what you're KPOP faves were this year. Just click the song title, and let your ears experience magic. 
I highly recommend skipping over the songs you've already heard and just listening to the unfamiliar ones. One of my goals this year is to listen to different Kpop, more of the underground stuff, or just artists & groups I haven't listened to before.  

Here it is:

My Top 50 KPOP Songs of 2017

1. AOA - "Bing Bing"
2. AOA - "Excuse Me"
3. Block B - "Shall We Dance"
4. Brave Girls - "Don't Rush"
5. Brave Girls - "Rollin'"
6. BTS - "Spring Day"
7. BTS - "Not Today"
8. BTS - "Intro: Serendipity"
9. BTS- "DNA"
10. BTS - "Dimple"
11. BTS - "MIC Drop" (Original // Remix)
12. BTS - "GoGo"
13. CLC - "Hobgoblin"
14. CLC - "Meow Meow"
15. EXID - "Night Rather Than Day"
16. EXID - "Boy"
17. EXO - "The Eve"
18. G-Dragon - "Super Star"
19. Girl's Day - "Thirsty"
20. GOT7 - "Never Ever"
21. Jessi - "Arrived"
22. KARD - "Trust Me (BM & Somin Ver.)"
23. MAMAMOO - "Aze Gag"
24. MAMAMOO - "Yes I Am"
25. Monsta X - "Beautiful"
26. Monsta X - "From Zero"
27. NCT 127 - "0 Mile"
28. Nine Muses - "Love City"
29. NU'EST W - "Where You At?"
30. Playback - "Want You to Say"
31. Pristin - "Wee Woo"
32. Pristin - "Black Widow"
33. Ravi - "Bomb"
34. Red Velvet - "Peek-a-Boo"
35. Red Velvet - "I Just"
36. Red Velvet - "Perfect 10"
37. Seventeen - "Don't Wanna Cry"
38. Seventeen - "Crazy In Love"
39. Seventeen - "Trauma"
40. Seventeen - "Rocket"
41. Shannon - "Hello"
42. Shannon - "Love Don't Hurt" [Korean Ver. // English Ver.]
43. Stellar - "Archangels of the Sephiroth"
44. Stray Kids - "Hellevator"
45. Taeyang - "Tonight (feat. Zico)"
46. Taeyang - "Empty Road"
47. Taeyang - "White Night"
48. Taeyang - "Wake Me Up"
49. Teen Top - "Because I Care"
50. Winner - "Really Really"

I really wish I could have included some SHINee in this. I have been waiting for a comeback from them for a long time, and then we get absolute tragic news on December 18th. I don't want to talk about that here (I'll write a future post when I've collected thoughts). I just wish them the absolute best in 2018!!!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are You Reading?
Hey! Happy New Year and Happy Monday.
Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.



Currently Reading:


Recently Finished:


Up Next:

Holy Moly. . .

This blog needs an overhaul.

-Coming Soon-



[publishing for myself and anyone else interested in books, kpop--and other music--, tv and dramas.]

Drama Review: WEIGHTLIFTING FAIRY KIM BOK JOO

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

Original Title: 역도요정 김복주
Language: Korean
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Watched On: Viki
Number of Episodes: 16

Overall: ☆☆☆☆☆

Summary: What else could there be to life than barbells and heavy weights? Kim Bok Joo (Lee Sung Kyung) is a weightlifting phenom who has only focused on barbells her entire life while growing up with her father, Kim Chang Gul (Ahn Gil Kang), is a former weightlifter. She attends Hanwool College of Physical Education, a university full of top-notch athletes who are driven to succeed in the hopes of representing their country in national and international competitions. She went to the same elementary school as Jung Joon Hyung (Nam Joo Hyuk) but reunites with him in college. He is now a competitive swimmer who is having trouble recovering from the trauma of being disqualified for a false start in his first international swim competition. Song Shi Ho (Kyung Soo Jin) is a fiercely competitive rhythmic gymnast who won a silver medal at the Asian Games when she was 18, but the pressures of her sport drive her to break up with Joon Hyung. Bok Joo’s tunnel-vision life starts to change when she falls in love with Joon Hyung’s older cousin, Jung Jae Yi (Lee Jae Yoon), a former athlete who became an obesity doctor after suffering a career-ending injury. Will Bok Joo learn that there is more to life than weightlifting? “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” is a 2016-2017 South Korean drama series directed by Oh Hyun Jong. The story is inspired by the life of weightlifter Jang Mi Ran, who won the gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics, the gold medal in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, and four world championships.

I'll try to write this review without being completely gushy... but let's be real here! I honestly didn't know how well I would like this drama, I only went into it because of Lee Jae Yoon--who isn't even a lead--and Nam Joo Jyuk. But dammit if every single character wasn't just 👌!!

My first issue with this drama was the casting of the female lead; she does not look like a competing weight lifter, and I thought that would annoy me the whole time. But Lee Sung Kyung's acting made up for it on so many levels. The writing of the drama made up for it. Bok Joo is a kind, caring and hard working person. The lead male Joon Hyung does nothing but support her and their friends throughout the entire drama. The family dynamic behind the drama is A+ as well.
I can only find one thing to fault this drama and that's the lack of actual schooling considering they're college students...but everything else is just so so good that there's no point!
I cried so many times in this drama, laughed, squealed and just felt the intense feels! One of my favorite parts of this drama from any drama ever is the portrayal of someone being depressed--what that feeling is really like. And the fact that the people surrounding this character didn't shun her for it, but supported her so much was absolutely beautiful! That's the best way to describe this drama...beautiful. I highly highly recommend it!

I looked into the other dramas that this writer has worked on and two of them are also some of my all time favorites (Oh My Ghostess and High School King of Savvy), so it's no suprise that this drama was as good as it was. I cannot wait to see more from Yang Hee Seung.

Have you seen this drama? What is one of your recent faves, please let me know!

Book Review: PAPER PRINCESS by Erin Watt

Paper Princess by Erin Watt

Published: 4 April 2016
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Paperback, personal copy

Overall: ☆☆☆

goodreads | amazon | barnes & noble

Summary: From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.
These Royals will ruin you…
Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.
Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.
Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.
He might be right.
Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.

With the amount of positive and raving reviews on Goodreads, I knew I had to get this book. Firstly, I read this book in two days; which doesn't happen very often. But it's not because I was loving it. It was because I just wanted the book to start. For something to happen. 

There are so many characters in this book that I feel like our lead Ella never really got to develop a relationship with any of them. Including Reed. They went from hating each other to almost boning each other and I never even understood where the chemistry came from!

Another reviewer on goodreads stated that Paper Princess reminded her of Boys Over Flowers--one of my least favorite Korean dramas ever. And I can totally see that. This book frustrated me for those same reasons that Boys Over Flowers did. Reed is an ass, they're all asses and yet we're supposed to like him. We're supposed to feel for him.

With all of the frustrating parts of this book, there were some things that I did like about the book. Callum, he's a confused, lost man who just wants what is best for his sons and Ella. Valerie, as little as we got with her, I liked her spunk and positivity. Gideon, yet another character we never get to see in this book, but he seemed to be the only brother who wasn't a complete ass hole and female degrading douche! (Seriously, the amount of degrading and disgusting things said in this book.) And even though Ella annoyed the hell out of me a lot, I liked that she never apologized for the life she had to live, the things she had to do to get by in life. It's what she knew and that's all she cared about. Even though she did some seriously questionable things I was always rooting for her. 

I plan on reading the next two books in the series to find out what happens next because this one is quite a cliffhanger! I'll just be getting them from the library and won't be purchasing the books. 

Erin Watt can write some sexy scenes, and this felt more like a NA book than YA, so I hope she delves more into that drama and leaves the ass hole boys out of them!! Jen Frederick, Elle Kennedy, Erin Watt... whoever she is. I should probably read more from her. Recommend one!

Have you read Paper Princess? Am I the only one who thinks this!? Let me know!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are You Reading? Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Currently Reading:
» Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Recently Finished:
» Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid [☆☆☆☆]
» Paper Princess by Erin Watt [☆☆☆ - review will be posted at 10am on Wed the 18th]

Up Next:
» The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
» One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid


Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think, or what you recommend!

Have a colorful day.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are You Reading? Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Currently Reading:
» Confess by Colleen Hoover
» Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Series #3) by Wendy Higgins


Recently Finished:
» Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover [☆☆☆☆]
» Come to Me Quietly by A.L. Jackson[☆☆]
» It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover [☆☆☆☆☆]
» Unraveling You (Unraveling You #1) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆☆]
» Raveling You (Unraveling You #2) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆☆]
» Awakening You (Unraveling You #3) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆☆]
» Inspiring You (Unraveling You #4) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆]


Man I have been reading so many good books lately. So glad I learned about Colleen Hoover! It Ends With Us destroyed my emotions. Like.... it was awful but so good. I hated it, but I loved it. UGHHH!! Can't wait for more from her. 
I think I'll start reviewing books again soon and try to do it as if I were telling it to a friend. Explaining why they should or shouldn't read it instead of just a blah blah review. May throw in gifs. :)

Anyways... I hope you have a good week. So glad I'm off of work tomorrow, unfortunately, I have a dentist appt! #life.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are You Reading? Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Currently Reading:
» Hemlock Veils by Jennie Davenport
» Sweet Peril (#2) by Wendy Higgins


Recently Finished:
» Me Before You by Jojo Moyes [☆☆☆☆ - review coming]
» Eleanor & Park by: Rainbow Rowell [☆☆☆½ - will not review]

Possibly Up Next:
» The Long Way Home (#2) by Andrew Klavan
» WHATEVER YOU SUGGEST!


I need suggestions... bad!

Recommendation Friday: MAD MAX: Fury Road

 MAD MAX: Fury Road
Released: May 2015
Rating: R


I know this movie has been out for awhile, but I finally had the opportunity to watch it. And I'm so glad that I did. It was so good!

ACTION is one of my to favorite genres and this movie is FULL o it. The cinematography, CGI, actors, vibe, desolate area, message, everything was so so good. My two year old nephew watched a majority of it with me, complete enthralled (before the 1am Zs took over...)

This kind of makes me want to watch the originals! Why are they not on Netflix!?

If you haven't yet → Go watch!!

Book Review: FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Published: 29 October 2014 by Alfaguara Juvenil
Genre: YA contemporary
Format: Hardcover, library

Overall:  ½

goodreads | amazon | barnes & noble

Summary: Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

I had never really been interested in Fangirl until I started seeing it on Tumblr. People were posting their collection with the multiple covers and I figured it must be really good. It had to be..why else would you buy multiples of the same book?

I won't say I'm disappointed--I'm not--but I definitely wasn't as satisfied as I thought I would be.

We're pulled into the world of Cath--and even though it was in second person, you're somehow still in her head. I related so hard to Cath it was almost embarrassing. An introvert with social anxiety and obsessive issues. (I may be a bit more extreme.) That was my favorite part about this book; I LOVED about that aspect of the book. How Rowell deals with mental disorders in, many forms, was perfect.  It made me think too hard about my own issues, especially when someone who has never met me can express how I feel.

Why did I rate it 3½ stars? Something about Fangirl felt off, like something was missing. I could never tell what it was, but it caused me to feel detached to anything else other than Cath's emotion...if that makes sense.

I loved Cath, I loved her roommate, I loved Levi, I loved her writing, I loved Simon Snow... but I didn't love this book.

I actually am very excited to read Rainbow Rowell's other books, however.

How do you feel about Fangirl? Or if you haven't read it, will you?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by The Book Date. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.
[click on book cover to visit goodreads page]

Currently Reading:

Recently Finished:

[rating:☆☆☆½ -- review coming 02.26.2016]

Up Next:

I'm trying to read a "soul inspired book" whilst reading a regular fiction to switch back and forth.

Let me know what you think of any of these books if you've read them!
Also, a review for Fangirl will be up soon.

All the love. 
Enjoy the word. . .

Drama of the Week - Signal

»Signal | 시그널«

Genre: Action/Crime/Mystery | Episodes: 16 | Air day: Fri & Sat | Air dates: 01.22 to 03.12

After watching the Chinese drama Love Me if You Dare, I needed another crime drama to fill the void that it left. [It was so so so good. HIGHLY recommend.] I hadn't heard of any of the actors in this drama and that intrigued me even more. I was being disappointed over and over by watching dramas based on the actors alone.
So far, this dramas has not disappointed. One of the best first episodes to a drama, and it has continued to impress.

I love the almost time travel aspect of it, reminiscent of the movie Frequency. It involves real life unsolved cases in Korea, some still unsolved to this day.
If you're into that sort of thing, I highly recommend. The lead isn't so bad to look at either. [reminds of a mix of the rapper Tablo and GOT7 member JB.]


Summary of the drama:

Inspired by a real series of grisly rapes and murders from 1986-1991, detectives from the past and present tap into a mysterious walkie talkie signal that allows them to work together across time. With hindsight and foresight on their side, can these detectives catch the depraved culprit, or are 10 women—including a 71-year-old grandmother and 13-year-old girl—forever lost?

Have you had a chance to watch this one? Let me know what you think below!

Get hooked on this drama on: dramafever

Waiting On... Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a feature for bloggers to swoon over upcoming releases they can't wait to get their hands on.

Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider
Release Date: 03 May 2016
Genre: YA Contemporary

Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.

   Why I am excited. . .
I am loving that cover. So so pretty. I have this weird thing about surfing/beachy movies... I love them! And I also love summer romance stories, so I a excited for this one. I feel like too much is given away in the synopsis, but that won't stop me from reading this next to the pool this summer. (I may or not be imagining I'm at the beach, instead! ☺



What are you waiting for?! Let me know.