Tag: review

Book Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

You know that one classic book that everybody should read for the thriller genre is The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. It’s a psychological thriller and let me tell you this book has altered my whole brain system not because of the twist but the thoughts and what was going on in the main character’s mind. It is about Rachel who catches the same train every morning and she knows when the train will stop at what signal each time, overlooking the back gardens. She started to feel that she knew one of the couples who lived in one of the houses and they seemed the perfect couple. However one day she sees something very shocking that changes everything about her life and now she is not just a girl on the train anymore.

For a thriller, the plot twist was not shocking, I saw it coming at the start of the book. The plot is also basic it’s nothing extraordinary however the writing of the author legit sucked me in. Rachel the main character is very complex, she is going through a lot and the author’s writing made me feel every emotion that Rachel was going through. The book focuses on Rachel and how she is dealing with her life and basically, I think I was in the mind of Rachel the whole book. The other characters are good and it is great to see how they get tangled in the mess with Rachel or Rachel gets tangled with them.

The psychological aspect is very high because Rachel is already going through a lot and finds herself in a twisted situation. I don’t dare to pick up this book again because even though I read it a year ago, I still remember my mind was not having a great time reading what Rachel was going through.

I will never forget this book ever and I highly recommend this book but please check the trigger warnings.

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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Book Review: Verity by Colleen Hoover

This is the only Colleen Hoover book I have read and this book is so crazy. This is a psychological thriller book with romance as a subplot. So it focuses on Lowen Ashleigh who is struggling as a writer and is about to go bankrupt. Jeremy Crawford is the husband of bestselling author, Verity Crawford. However Verity is severely injured, so he hired Lowen to complete his wife’s remaining books. She started living with them and one day found a disturbing manuscript of Verity and from that point, her life changed completely.

So I read this book after reading The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and if you have read it you know that the characters are the same in both the books, two women and one man. So I already know the plot between the three of them and what it would be, however, the suspense and plot of the books are totally different. The book Verity is very fast-paced and you won’t realize how much you are engaged until the suspense starts to keep you on the edge of the seat. The plot is astonishing as the manuscripts are so disturbing. My mind was having an internal battle because if I were in the place of Lowen I would have packed my bags the first day and would love to go bankrupt but again in thrillers characters are supposed to be dumb and curious. Apart from manuscripts, Verity herself was deranged which adds another bone-chilling point to the book.

Jeremy Crawford, I don’t know what to say about this character because you can’t figure him out. The way he is written, he is just too good as a person which means in a thriller he should be on the top of the list as a prime suspect. Verity, she is crazy however the book doesn’t let you know the truth, so it is up to you to decide what you feel about her. Lowen is the main storyteller of the book and there is nothing extraordinary about her except the shocks she gets when she reads the manuscripts.

The book ending left me gasping, that is all I am going to say, and it is up to you to figure it out. So the book is delivered into POV, first Lowen’s current POV and second Verity’s POV through her manuscripts. So the audience is divided into a team letter or a team manuscript. Or maybe Jeremy is the real psychopath, nobody knows that.

I wish I could say that this is the best thriller book I have read but the romance ruined it for me. I can’t stand romance in a thriller book. And in this book, it was so cheap and unrealistic. The setting is definitely creepy and brings more thriller to the book. But this book is still in my mind, I read this almost a year ago but I still remember everything because of the ending. I think that fulfills the main aspect of the thriller and the author did an incredible job of writing the book in a way that will make you gasp every time you remember this book.

I will definitely recommend this book.

Rating: 4/5 (Please check trigger warnings)

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

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Review: ‘Vincenzo’ K-drama (2021)

“If you walk alone, you reach quickly. But if we go together, we can go far.” – Kwak Hee Soo

“Vincenzo” this drama has me in a chokehold and I will never be able to escape it. I went into this drama blindfolded and it was the best decision. It was so good because everything was unexpected and in a good way. I typically thought it was a Mafia drama so it would have a lot of action and heroic scenes but it was filled with comedy. So basically in a Mafia world, they try to keep it low and do not get engaged with anyone until somebody challenges them. And I think that was portrayed really well in this drama I saw some people want more Mafia types of scenes. But Vincenzo Cassano as a Mafia lawyer needed to keep it low to not get attention until he was challenged and he truly showed his ability. I love how this show portrayed that the Mafia not only includes action but also intelligence and Vincenzo rocked it.

I loved the courtroom scenes they are hilarious I would say that expect the unexpected where you would expect something you would get unexpected scenes. Hong Cha-young, the girl she is and I love how she is portrayed, a little silly, crack-head, and noisy, but at the same time intelligent and confident. Vincenzo is one of my favourite fictional characters, he is handsome duh, but honestly, he has control over how to deal with people and circumstances. He knows some problems are inevitable and he will face them and how he smartly has many plans to deal with so I think that really made him stand out.

Now let’s talk about the main heroes of the drama, the Geumga Plaza family or the Cassano family and how each of them helped and stood with Vincenzo till the end. The bond they created with Vincenzo and Hong Cha-young was so beautiful and the main star of the show. Then comes Jan Han-seo, he and Vincenzo created a brotherhood that he could not find in his own brother. Ahn Gi-seok, we need to be forever grateful for him and the way he helped Vincenzo. The whole family stood as a shield for Vincenzo, their cornsalad and protected him with their life and it was so heartwarming to watch. Special shout out to Inzagi if you know you know.

“Regret is the most painful thing in life” – Vincenzo

The chemistry between Hong Cha-young and Vincenzo was beyond the words. Actually, they prove that friendship is the most superior form of love and even one real friend is enough. Jang Han-seok is one of the best villains created in K-drama history and all the drama really kept me at the edge. The plot was engaging, dark, entertaining and super fresh.

The only thing I hated in this show was the prosecutor should have been tortured more, he died very easily and I still can’t get over it. He was the reason why most of the problems happened.

I loved the ending, I think it suited the drama very well. I know some people wanted a happy ending but I think the open ending suited it a lot and gave a realistic meaning to the drama. I highly recommend this drama.

My Rating: 9/10

Total Episodes: 20

My Favourite Episodes: 6, 14, 16, 17, and 18

Genre: Crime, dark comedy, action, friendship

“Friends are like two souls in one body. Don’t get hurt since it will hurt me, too.” – Hong Cha Young

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

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Book Review: King of Pride by Ana Huang (Kings of Sin #2)

“Even when we broke up. Even when I walked out. Just knowing you existed somewhere in this world was enough.” – Kai to Isabella

Let’s get ready for my unexpected review of this book. King of Pride is the second book in the Kings of Sin series by Ana Huang and honestly, I liked it better than the first one. I know I might get a lot of hate but hear me out. The book’s plot is written more diligently and feels like a proper book than the first one. It’s about Isabella Valencia and Kai Young who cross paths with each other and attraction begins, but both try to restrict that. It has a straightforward plot but I don’t know why I enjoyed this book so much. I giggled, laughed and even blushed maybe because of Kai Young, he is a gentleman who should be appreciated more.

I know a lot of readers like MMC that are grey and here me out I am one of you as well. However, saying Kai is a gentleman does mean a perfect gentleman but also a sultry gentleman that one look from him and you are under the mercy of him. I loved Isabella’s character, she is so outgoing, has no filter, and is actually entertaining. I loved their banter, it was actually bantering and hilarious. The book vibe is very cool and easygoing which I liked. It is a simple book but at the same time will give you a fun read. I liked the fact that there is no breakup, they are very open with each other. They have one of the healthiest relationships filled with sultry flirting, dirty talks, romance, and actual communication.

“I’m never going to stop being me, Kai, and I don’t want you to stop being you. So how can we be together when we belong to separate worlds?”

“By building one of our own.” – Kai to Isabella

Like I said the banter was bantering which was one of the reasons I liked this book. Their silly jokes, straightforward answers, and the tension everything I found were perfectly balanced in this book. The plot is simple, there is nothing extraordinary but still, I liked it maybe because it’s like a palate cleanser but with more banter, I guess. This is one of the few books where I liked the MMC and FMC equally.

I would recommend this book if you want a quick read with a straightforward plot, hilarious banter, likeable protagonists, and romance.

Rating: 4/5

Check out the review for the King of Wrath (Kings of Sin #1)

“Rest assured, you’re not my type, so you don’t have to worry about me hitting on you.” – Isabella to Kai

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

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Review: ‘Hidden Love’ C-drama (2023)

“He’ll have his family in the future. He has me and many others who love him. We all love you” – Sang Zhi

I will just start by saying that I love this drama so much that I literally think about it every single day. The chemistry, the visuals, the love, the friendship, the bonding, the maturity everything is good in the drama. This drama tells the story of Sang Zhi who at the age of 14 gets a crush on her brother’s best friend, Duan Jiaxu. Now here is one of the reasons why I love this drama more is because he never weirdly looked at her but only as a sister until she turned 19 and he realized his feelings. This is what hooked me to the story, he never romanticised her or thought about her in a weird way when she was a minor.

As you know how so many dramas create female leads as childish and immature this drama right here proves everything wrong. She is a lovable person and she is so thoughtful towards Duan Jiaxu from the moment she gets to know him, I think it is not enough to talk about how much of a green flag Sang Zhi is. She cares for Duan Jiaxu and is very sensible and mature for her age literally even Duan Jiaxu is shocked to see how someone can love him so much.

This drama also breaks the stereotype about how every time a female lead has to suffer, she becomes a problem to the male lead. Talking about Duan Jiaxu, I just want to say he is a man that every woman desires. He is so strong in the amount of things he has dealt with and still can smile and care for others is so courageous. He understands Sang Zhi without any words spoken. He literally cried when he learned how much Sang Zhi loved him for such a long time.

I love that both equally love each other so much. He is there for her and she is there for him. They both trust each other so much which is like a jackpot which is hard to win. There is no break-up, they handled the problem so gracefully and I can see that both were never ready to let go of each other. Also, I love Sang Zhi’s brother, Sang Yan he is the reason why they got together.

The OST is to die for, every time it plays I also sing along. The cinematography was breathtaking. Also, the whole drama is just focused on them there is no second lead couple, it is just basically them which I loved because then we truly can enjoy every aspect of the drama and couple properly without getting bored. 

The vibe of the drama is so cute, chill, and just beautiful. It is like a breeze of fresh air that we need very much. Highly recommend this drama, please just watch it and thank me later.

My Rating: 10/10

Total Episodes: 25

My Favourite Episodes: All

Genre: Romance, Brother’s Best Friend, Youth

“She helped me out of the past, I’ll be responsible for her future.” – Duan Jiaxu

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

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Review: ‘Lovely Runner’ K-drama (2024)

It is so hard nowadays to find a drama that you know you will return to it again but Lovely Runner is an exception. Man, what a drama! It is filled with every trope that exists. It is divided into three main parts and is a true traveller drama that is not as confusing as other dramas. K-dramas are now creating more male leads that are cheerful and lovable like Ryu Sun Jae. He is literally a loser in love and what a plot twist in the second ep that I did not expect.

Im Sol, is an angel and a hilarious character that did every embarrassing thing to protect her Sun Jaeeeee, hahaha. The girl went through a lot to change her and his fate, but if you are tied by the string of fate, nothing can stop it. The family of both is freaking hilarious, especially Sun Jae’s father. He can’t believe that his son can be this loser for a girl, his reaction is priceless. Im Sol’s mother and brother is another story of sarcasm.

I loved her grandmother and just predicted she was the mastermind. The plot was everything, we get to see idol and fangirl trope, friends to lover trope, dating trope, and even enemies to lover trope which is my personal favourite. In every timeline, their meeting is iconic and hilarious. Kim Tae Sung and Baek In Hyuk need a shout-out for their screen time filled with entertainment.

Now talking about the cinematography, it is like a rainshower that you watch from your window. How the rain falls upon the leaf petals like droplets and how flowers glow in the rain enhancing their beauty. How colourful umbrellas are seen everywhere and how much we want to jump in the puddle and let the rain wash away all our sadness is what the cinematography looks like, you really want to enter into the screen. There is no doubt acting was top-notch.

How much both try to erase each other from their life, but fate always wants them to tangle with each other. Now talking about the ending, to be honest, I don’t personally like the ending of many K-dramas because they drag problems till half of the last episode and only half part is left to show the couple’s happy moments which are rushed.

But Lonely Runner is an exception. The last few episodes did not drag the villain part of the story but let it flow normally with the scenes, which I liked and the last episode was just about their happy moments which is very rare for a K-drama. Lastly, Byeon Woo Seok deserves every appreciation, he truly killed it and Kim Hye Yoon is a sweetheart in acting and their height difference is to swoon for.

The OST is beautiful is an understatement it matched with the vibe preciously.

My Rating: 9/10

Total Episodes: 16

My Favourite Episodes: 11 and 16

Genre: Time traveller, comedy, and romance

If there’s a fate that doesn’t change no matter how much you try to change it means the choice didn’t change. There are choices you make even though you know the consequences. Because you like it. – Sun Jae to Im Sol.

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

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Book Review: Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

“I can’t believe you think I could ever reject you, Anastasia, You have no idea, do you? The lengths I’d go to if you’d let me. What I’d do to make you happy.” – Nate to Anastasia.

Once again, remind me not to judge a book by its cover. But here the cover was absolutely beautiful but the inside was not up to the mark. I do not consider myself a big romance reader because whenever I read a romance book it does not make me feel butterflies but empty from the inside. For me, romance is not excessive physical intimacy but things that make me feel the whole zoo in my stomach. Staring, tension, slow burn, light hand touches, gestures, and small things that scream intimate love.

As a literature student, I am not a stranger to how writers for centuries have written female characters as inferior and villains. And in the 21st century, it is the same. Anastasia Allen, the FMC is so annoyingly written that I could not bear to continue because of her. Nate Hawkins, what another green flag.

To be honest, when I first read the meeting of FMC and MMC I thought Nate would be a red flag but the way he understood her and talked to her was so green-coded. There is no plot in the book, it is just straight-up smut and forced smut I felt like and I didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters as Anastasia was so annoying from the start.

The only thing I liked about this book was Nate’s friendship group was freaking hilarious and I loved it. Henry, the character he is; if he exists in real life, I want him as my best friend. What a guy, I have never admired a fictional character like Henry and his book is coming very soon. He kept whole toiletries needed by girls in his room, so anyone who needed them could use them. I hope Hannah doesn’t ruin it and shows Henry how savage, straightforward, and understanding he is.

And lastly, the Epilogue was absolutely not needed, it was one of the parts that killed the vibe of the book for me.

Rating: 2/5 (only for Henry)

“Whether you two are together or not, if you are tired of Nathan you can sleep in my room. I’ll get the air mattress again.” – Henry to Anastasia.

Side Note: I just want to clarify that this is entirely my opinion, you are free to love this book and I am free to give my opinion on this book. I would be very happy if you loved this book but please do not take this review to heart and it is okay to have different tastes. Thank You.

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

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