Book Review: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

After reading two books by Riley Sager and giving them 5 stars, I knew that Riley Sager’s plot twists are something very different and out of this world, which I love. So I decided to pick up Lock Every Door from him. So this book follows a girl named Jules Larsen, who is broke and doesn’t have a place to live until an opportunity comes to her. Basically, she gets the offer to do an apartment sitting at one of the most prestigious yet creepy Bartholomew apartments. Being broke gave her no choice but to take the opportunity, and after living there for just 2 days, one of the apartment sitters, Ingrid, disappeared without a trace. And Jules can’t sit and decides to find out what exactly happened.

First of all, the entire book is from Jules’ point of view. At first, I thought she was dumb because she was looking for a girl whom she had just met. But as we move on and get to the twist, that dumbness saved her life. Which I think is one of the smart ways to write a character in a thriller. I also loved that she suspected the culprit quickly and didn’t try to list out an excuse, given their past relationship.

It’s fast-paced and creepy; however, the plot felt flat for me. I already suspected the culprit, and when the revelation happened, as to why people are disappearing, I don’t know, but it didn’t make any sense at all. I just felt that more could have been done as the vibe of the book and the revelation don’t sit together. The book is creepy, but the revelation made it not good.

The plot, again, was very unpredictable; however, I already guessed the culprit, so it went flat for me. I wanted more, as the setting was so good, so it would be better if something paranormal had been the twist.

I don’t think so, you will miss out on much if you don’t read it, but again, it’s your choice.

Rating: 3/5

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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Post-Graduated and Proud!

“Graduation is an exciting time. It marks both an ending and a beginning; it’s warm memories of the past and big dreams for the future.”

Knowledge is everything, and the more you learn, the more you have the power to defend and put your point across. Yesterday I got my results, and finally I am a postgraduate. Two years ago, I posted that I was a graduate, and now I am a level up. I also shared that I received my first-ever trophy for academics, and this all happened because I believed in myself.

These past two years, and even before that, a lot has happened in my life; the decisions about what to do next in life are so hard to make, especially when you are confused. However, after so many years just going with the flow, I finally did what I loved, and here I am, proud and happy. My post-graduation was definitely a big learning curve for me as I grew so much, starting to give presentations, doing research, writing pages, and just taking up new challenges which the younger me had never thought I would do.

My life has changed a lot, obviously. Apart from my growing age, I can’t believe I am the same person who used to be so scared of doing things; I am actually doing it. I am happy, and I am definitely content with my result. Definitely, I am feeling so grateful that I can reach such a step in my life and share it with the world. There are many things I want to do ahead, take on new challenges, and see myself grow more and more.

I know it’s frightening to move ahead after closing a chapter; however, I am so excited because I know where I am ahead, and I can’t wait to be there. So, of those who are about to close one of their many chapters or are about to begin a new chapter, all the best. You can do it, just believe in yourself, and you have a way through.

“Today is a milestone. It tells you how far you’ve come. Keep learning, keep accomplishing and keep venturing on through your journey.”

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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Review: ‘Boys Over Flowers’ K-drama (2009)

“Guys didn’t do things for no reason in front of a girl they like. There’s always a reason.” – Yoon Ji Hoo

Yes, I am in my early K-drama zone because now K-dramas don’t hit like they used to. So I am back with the iconic and classic K-drama of all time, Boys Over Flowers, which is almost 2 decades old. And the irony is that whenever I watch this drama, it never feels that old, as if it belongs to the 2000s. This storyline is adapted in so many languages, and I have watched it in almost all. I don’t know, but the storyline is very much suitable for an adult like me. The story follows the life of Geum Jan Di, who belongs to a lower class, and one day she gets a scholarship to study at one of the most prestigious Shin Hwa High School. Because of her bubbly and stubborn nature, she gets picked on by Gun Jun Pyo, one of the most popular students of the school. But later, he finds himself attracted to her.

A classic 2000 storyline, and I have seen so many adaptations of this, but classic always remains classic. Definitely in today’s time, we will never appreciate Gun Jun Pyo, and to be honest, I never approved of him, especially because of his horrendous hairstyle. I want to start by stating that I am a member of Team Yoon Ji-hoo, just like Team Edward or Team Jacob. Gun Jun Pyo and Yoon Ji-hoo were the two leads, and fans would fight over who they were supporting.

Let’s start with the character of Gun Jun Pyo, a big red flag because of his emotional trauma. It is very important in a relationship for both to be there emotionally; however, Gun Jun Pyo couldn’t be. And that was the downfall of his character. I mean, we can’t blame him, as that’s his situation, but definitely not someone I could ever be with. I don’t know why she ended up with him when there was a whole green flag waiting for her. But then I remember, Gun Jun Pyo is the male lead, not the second lead, so she has to end up with him.

Then we have my favourite character, Geum Jan Di. Her innocent look and the way she talks are just worth watching. She is not cringy but a wholesome character. No wonder so many fell for her. Yoon Ji-hoo is the greatest green flag, but he was also the second lead. No matter what, I wanted them together.

The chemistry is good, but so much is happening as we start from enemies to lovers, and there are so many chaotic moments between them, which I honestly loved. The cinematography is amazing. The OST, I still very much listen to. So Yi Jung, an early crush for everyone, I mean, his smile is absolutely breathtaking, and his chemistry with Cha Ga Eul is just beautiful. Their love story is like a fresh breeze of air.

Song Woo-bin, an iconic character with his iconic talks. The storyline is very appealing and has high school vibes. The atmosphere is a mix of laughter, love, fighting, happiness, and tears. I loved the chaotic side of the story. I loved Gun Jun Pyo’s clueless side and Geum Jan Di’s talks. The highlight is definitely the fading away of the difference between the boys and her, and how they all became close and supportive of each other.

“What’s so hard about Love? You simply grab the other person’s hand and refuse to let go.” – Gun Jun Pyo

It’s a classic, do watch it if you want to indulge in 2000s high school vibes.

Total Episodes: 25

My Rating: 8/10

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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Limit.

“What are you?”

“To define is to limit.” – Oscar Wilde

I love to read my old blog posts once in a while, and I came across my review for the Oh My Venus K-drama. And there is a quote in the drama that says, “If you’re hanging in there, you haven’t reached your limit.” And boom, I am here with my thoughts on it.

Let me keep it real with you all, I always underestimated myself, and people would come and say you could have done it, but you already decided you couldn’t. And now, at this stage where I am handling so much, I know I underestimated myself. We never truly know our potential until we give it all.

We have to test out limits, we have to take the risk and just do it. If it works, that’s amazing; if not, we are learning, and that’s what matters. Nobody really knows what they are made to do in this world; all of them have taken risks, tested their limits to reach where they are now.

If I want to create a life for myself, I need to break all the limits that I have created for myself in my mind. Nobody does that. I do it; I put limits in my mind about how I can’t do it. But how could I know that unless I have not even tried?

My goal is to take as many challenges as I can, irrespective of the result. I want to grow, and I want to learn, and that will happen when I push all of my limits and just do it. I never really knew that after giving my all, I might even conquer the world, and that’s what I want to do.

So in life, there will be moments where we just want to quit, and that’s okay and totally normal. Everyone deserves a break, but if you are hanging in there and you are okay, that means there is so much you have to do, there is so much waiting and calling your name.

You don’t have limits; if it’s all up to you, push yourself ahead. Do what scares you, because once an opportunity goes, it will never come back. So don’t create a limit in your mind beforehand until you don’t do it, you don’t try it, everything is limitless.

The sky is the limit.

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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Book Review: Look Closer by David Ellis

This book is truly the gift of my patience because it took the entire 50 per cent of the book to actually feel like I was enjoying it. I kept it going because every single review about this was 5 stars, so I knew I needed to keep going and guess what, it’s a 5-star read of mine, and I am feeling grateful that I didn’t DNF this book. The book follows the story of a wealthy couple, Simon and Vicky, who seem perfect from the outside, but they hide a lot of terrible secrets. Their secrets and the web of lies started to come out when a body was found near their place.

First, I have to start with the plot, which has me rooting for the villain throughout the end, and I was so happy with the ending. The game plan was spot on, as the main characters manipulated everyone in the book, as well as me. No way, I guessed the plot twist because it was not all at once, I was moving through it and got the realisation and the way my jaw dropped. I think this book has one of the best plotlines because everything was simply written, there was nothing out there, but slowly, slowly, we went through it. I guessed one plot twist; I understood it right away, so that was a win for me.

The story is narrated from three points of view, and at first, I was very much confused, but slowly, it made sense. I won’t say it’s a fast-paced thriller as the first 50 per cent book, nothing really happened, or as such we read it, later it made sense.

Then the characters were amazing, actually, all of them are grey, and in a thriller like this, they fit perfectly. Simon and Vicky were perfect partners now, in what you have to read that, as I am not going to give spoilers. Also, the book title is so perfect because we truly need to look closer to see what is going on. Vicky and Simon are some of the smartest characters because OMG, what I loved every second of them. At the end, I was truly happy to pick this one.

Please read it, it’s so good and fun. At first, it will be testing your patience, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it. I highly recommend this book.

Rating: 5/5

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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live while you’re busy surviving

You’ve mastered survival mode. Now it’s time to live.

The most I tell myself daily is to live while surviving. I never knew it would be harder to survive than to live the life I grew up in. Every single day I wake up and get in my zone to work, and just like that, the day passes away, and at night I realise that I didn’t even get to live or breathe a sigh of relief, but the more I have gotten, the tension of the day. And I know it will not end while I will be waiting for it; it is up to me to come out of it and live because that’s how life works. I really want to make the best of my life, and I know a lot needs to be sacrificed to achieve it. But if it gets too much, I know I need to take a break for my mental health. We are creating the life we want to live; however, that doesn’t mean we will be surviving at every step. We need to understand and know how to balance between living and surviving. You know yourself the best, you know your mental health the best, and you know how much you are dealing with, so if it gets too much, please take a break and live life. Sometimes we need to do something that totally just brings us comfort and nothing more. Sometimes we need to leave everything and live in that moment of life to bring ourselves some peace and appreciate how much we are trying. Your mental health matters the most. In the process of surviving, spare some time in doing what you love, see it as you are recharging yourself, maybe by watching your favourite drama, cooking your favourite meal, or just taking a walk. We need to understand that the small moments bring so much peace when we just sit and reflect on how much we have done and come so far in life, and be proud of it. So remember when it gets too hard, please take a break because you are living a life, not just surviving it.

Life should be more than just surviving. Strive to live, laugh, make memories, love, cry, and learn.

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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Review: ‘The Heirs’ K-drama (2013)

“One who wants to wear the crown, bear its weight.”

“What type of crown were you trying to wear?

Was it wealth, fame, or love?” – The Heirs

The frustration I felt while watching this drama was so strong that I still remember it after such a long time. I feel like this drama was and is the real mirror to the aristocratic family. Also, this rich family has the most traumatised kids because of the household situation and social pressure. The K-drama that I am going to talk about is ‘The Heirs’, which is more than a decade old but doesn’t feel like it. The story is about rich kids and how, because of a problematic family, all of them suffer. It follows the story of Cha Eun-sang, a servant’s daughter who gets to study in the most prestigious school, where she hides her identity. Kim Tan is the illegitimate son of the rich family where Cha Eun-sang’s mother works as well as lives. They fall in love with each other but deal with a lot because of the difference in their backgrounds.

Now, if we watch this drama now, there would definitely be so many differences in opinions, but I am writing what I felt watching it at that time. If we start with the character of Kim Dan, he was definitely highly flawed, as he was not loved by his father and was not accepted. So, imagine being in love with someone who is emotionally unstable; it definitely makes life hard. He is such a sad character, and especially the dialogue and eyes that speak out his feelings.

Cha Eun-sang is also struggling because of expenses and her mother’s health, so I could say every character of this series is highly flawed. She is emotionally drained, and when she started going to the prestigious school, it made it even worse.

Choi Young-do and Rachel Yoo are my favourite characters from the series. Again, they were deeply flawed, but I see myself relate to them. Choi Young-do is one of the characters who started the second lead syndrome for me. Actually, I like Kim Woo-bin, so I might be biased. Jo Myung-soo, another very important character that actually helped in lowering the trauma of this series, I can’t believe he is the same Park Hyung-sik from The Happiness.

The plot line is very much tiring because of their class difference; they keep having low moments in their relationship. But in the end, I could see both were very much tired from all of that. It’s all about the parents’ fault, and the kids are suffering, which is very much a common thing in wealthy families.

I loved Cha Eun-sang, Choi Young-do and Jo Myung-soo’s friendship. How they both protected her when the lead couldn’t do it. The chemistry between the couple is okay, I would say. They were going through a lot with everyone on their shoulders, constantly watching, so I couldn’t really enjoy their scenes. It is more of a plot-driven story. The second couple, Lee Bo-na and Yoon Chan-young, are also really cute.

It’s a long drama and needs to be committed with a lot of patience. If you have that, then please go ahead, and if not, then you are honestly not missing much.

“If I have to kneel, I’ll kneel. But I can get up again. If I keep getting myself up, a day will come when I don’t have to kneel anymore.” – Kim Tan (The Heirs)

Total Episodes: 20

My Rating: 7/10

Genre: Teen, Romance, Drama

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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A life of your own.

Why regret something you once wanted?

I don’t think so, we are ever told that we have to live for ourselves, that we have to create a life of our own, and we never understood the point of it until we grew up and realised that everyone in our lives is selfish, but they don’t want us to be selfish for ourselves. It hurts seeing that choosing what we really want from our own lives is unacceptable to others, and we become villains for it, for the life we want to live. It is so hard to make people understand that everyone has their own lives, just like them, you do have your own life, and you have the freedom to choose however you want to live and whatever you want to achieve, but why can’t people just accept this fact? My only goal in life is to do what I really love. Time is running and life is short, so trying to fit in someone else’s shoes is not at all my goal, and I ain’t got time for it. Just imagine a life of yours where you have the freedom to do whatever you want, how cool it sounds, right? So if it comes true, how fun it would be living it in real life. I know it’s hard to live the life that you have created in your mind, but nothing is impossible. Take that opportunity and do what you truly love, creating a life of your own. You can proudly say that you fought for it. I always keep remembering that I just have one life, and if I allow somebody else to rule it, then when am I going to live the life that is given to me? I think you need to become a villain to live the life you want. There will be moments where you have to leave behind something, but this is the cost of creating your own life that you truly deserve. Be strong for yourself, and I know nothing happens at first, but trust me, you have to become stronger, you have to think for yourself, you have to be selfish for yourself, and that’s how you are going to create a life of your own.

Your idea of me is not my responsibility to live up to.

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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Book Review: The September House by Carissa Orlando

The perfect book review for the perfect month with the perfect vibe. The September House by Carissa Orlando is my favourite horror thriller and mystery book, and you know why? Because it’s funny as hell, I was laughing rather than creeping out by the book. The book follows the story of Margaret and her husband Hal, who bought a Victorian mansion at a very low price. But then they started discovering haunted things in the house that only happen in September. Margaret is not ready to move as it’s her house; however, after four years, Hal can’t take it anymore and leaves. But he is not returning the calls of their daughter, Katherine, who is unaware of the house, and she has never visited the house. And now she is on the way to the house to find her father, and the worst part September has just begun. How Margaret hides about the house is fun to read.

Let’s start with the main character, Margaret. Only one thing to say about her, she is fantastic. It is so rare to like a character of a thriller book, and I was rooting for her till the end. The woman is so adamant that she won’t leave the house, no matter what. And a lot was happening to her physically as well as emotionally. Her talks are my favourite, she is so sarcastic and knows how to deal with things perfectly. Because of her, I loved the entire book and never got bored with it.

There are other characters as well, but they don’t play much. It’s actually just Margaret and her house, so here the house is another main character. I loved the house and the creepy things it does. I don’t think so, I have never read anything so unusual, but I loved every second of it. The house was definitely creepy, but I didn’t find it much; it depends on the reader. There were many fascinating things about the house. Firstly, it happens only in September, and what it brings is so much fun to read. The house characters were amazing, and the way they all came together in the end was mind-blowing to read.

Talking about the plot, it’s a mixture of horror, comedy and thriller. Nothing is foreshadowing but working together, there is not much thriller, but the plot twist I loved. The plot is engaging and so fast-paced that I couldn’t stop reading it. Actually, I just wanted to read what Margaret has to say.

The author’s writing is so simple, the way she has described the activity happening in the house and the dialogue of Margaret, I loved every second of it. Honestly, I thought the ending would be like that only; however, in the end, the plot twist, wow, it still amazes me when I think about it. I loved that the author decided to end like that rather than how it was going, and I thought it would end. The ending scenes were my favourite; it was like I was watching an action-packed movie, and it really felt like that.

I highly recommend it.

Rating: 4.5/5

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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Not starting is scarier…

Sometimes we have to stop being scared and just go for it. Either it’ll work or it won’t. That is life.

I used to think that taking the opportunity would be scarier, and entering into a new world would be impossible because I didn’t know anything. This was my mindset. However, as I grew up or was growing up, I realised that no matter how much I read theoretically, the most I will learn through the practicality of my life. Now, as an adult, if I let an opportunity go by, be it big or small, it hurts me so much because I don’t know what that opportunity would bring me in the form of a blessing. I have read about many people, and all of them talk about how they were looking for something else, and suddenly, one opportunity came, and just like that, they took it, and now they are where they were supposed to be. Now, as the realisation hit me that if I let go of the opportunity due to my fear of not getting selected, it would harm me more than being rejected after giving it a shot. Not starting is scary, which is my mindset whenever I am about to try something new. I made up my mind that I should give it a try. I don’t know how much I know, and I will not know until I try. Rather than doubting myself before even starting, I focus on what I am about to learn. Rejection teaches us a lot. I am writing it with my experience, it makes us think that at least we tried, at least we overcame our fear and went through it. It’s life, there will be many rejections, but that doesn’t make you a failure, but the strongest soldier who took the first step. Start just start, no matter how scary it looks, trust me, when you look back, you will be so proud of yourself. For you to look back and be proud, you need to start, no matter how scary it looks, it will make such a difference in your life.

Making a big life change is scary. But you know what’s scarier? Regret.

Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.

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