Reading another of Ann Liang's enemies-to-lovers story! "Never Thought I’d End Up Here" is another of her classics about Leah Zhang, an LA native sent on an intensive two-week travel program across China after a disastrous Mandarin mishap at a Cousin’s Wedding. While her parents want he

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang is a dark, intellectually gripping journey that feels like stepping into a more academic version of the Harry Potter world. The story follows Alice Law, who has sacrificed everything, her pride, health, and sanity, to work with the legendary Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambrid

Saw these two very bright and interesting book cover at Kino the other day and decided to find it on Libby.. Strange Houses and Strange Pictures by Uketsu was indeed a chilling and addictive experience! Strange Houses is a total masterclass in deduction, starting with a simple floor plan that h

"A Song to Drown Rivers" by Ann Liang was a stunning and deeply emotional read, though the ending left me a bit conflicted. Honestly, if history textbooks were all so engaging, I would have fared better! I went into this not knowing much about the original story, which made the twists and t

The Blood of Stars duology - Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk - by Elizabeth Lim was such a breathtaking and magical ride! The story follows Maia Tamarin, who disguises herself as a boy to take her father's place and compete for the role of imperial tailor to save her family. What starts as a

I realised my 2025 reading genres are a fantastic mix of epics Grishaverse, and contemporary YA rom-coms with some of my favourite authors such as Ann Liang, Judy I. Lin and Leigh Bardugo! There’s just something about the way they craft worlds - from the C-drama vibes in Ann’s books to the dark, im

"Six of Crows" and "Crooked Kingdom" by Leigh Bardugo were one of my favourite fantasy reads for the year! If you're looking for a fantasy series that is all about the heist, with a brilliant, intricate plot and characters you'll instantly fall for, this is it. While the ori

"Six Days" by Dani Atkins was quite an interesting read! It takes the simple idea of a disappearing fiancé and turns it into a frantic, six days mystery that truly messes with your heart and mind. The story centres on Gemma, who is left heartbroken and confused when her soulmate Finn fai

"Maybe in Another Life" by Taylor Jenkins Reid was an okay, but thought-provoking read. After having such high hopes following The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this book felt a little different. However, it still manages to take the common "what if" scenario and turn it into a cap

"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller was a beautiful yet kinda sad read. It's one of those books that you know is going to wreck you because of the source material, but you read it anyway because the emotional turmoil is completely worth it. I didn’t really like Greek mythology

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid was quite a wild read! I decided to pick it up to see what all the buzz was about, and I was hooked. It's one of those books that absolutely lives up to the hype. It's an immersive and captivating story that feels incredibly

"Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin made a profound impression on me. I went into it with a lot of curiosity because of all the hype, and it absolutely lived up to it. It’s one of those rare books that goes so much deeper than its premise; it's a story about the me

"Beach Read" by Emily Henry is quite a charming and easy read. It's one of those books that's not just a romance, but also a story about grief, finding yourself, and the craft of writing. The book follows two authors, January Andrews and Augustus Everett, who find themselves living

"One Hundred Flowers" by Genki Kawamura (translated by Cathy Hirano) is a profoundly affecting read that beautifully explores loss, love, and living with dementia. The story starts slowly, but truly peaks towards the end, where all the emotional threads come together. It centers on Yuriko,