Hari Shin is desperate for money - so when her friend, Youngseo Jin, offers to pay her to attend a blind date, Hari accepts without thinking. She is confident that she can send the potential suitor packing (and have a little fun in the process!)...until her CEO, Taemu Kang shows up at the date. And for some reason, despite her best efforts, Taemu is determined to marry Hari! "A Business Proposal, Vol. 1" is a hilarious manhwa (Korean manga) that follows the adventures that Hari goes on as she tries her best to conceal her true identity - and navigates her feelings for Taemu.

Before reading "A Business Proposal, Vol. 1," I had actually watched the K-drama adaptation of the story first, and both versions are fun and addictive! There are ten volumes of this manhwa, allowing the reader to enjoy the amusing plot and lovable character across multiple books. "A Business Proposal" is a good choice for both people who are familiar with Korean culture, and for those who are not. The incorporation of cultural context is explained in the back of the book and adds a lot of character to the story. This is a relaxing and entertaining read and I definitely recommend both the manhwa and the K-drama to anyone who likes office rom-coms!

This book was intoxicating and almost impossible to put down. There was excitement throughout the book with plot points that make you want to read for hours. The development of the characters during the story was interesting and really immerses you in their heads and the world. In this novel, Elayne works to secure the throne of Caemlyn while Perrin tries to rescue his wife and Mat runs from the Seanchan. Meanwhile Egwene attempts to pull down Elaida from her Seat but most importantly, Rand finds himself battling some of the Forsaken and clinging on to any reason to keep living and fighting for the Light. Oftentimes it gives days worth of food for thought. It constantly builds up to and leaves you craving to get to the ending to see what happens, and the ending does not disappoint. This book is a very satisfying read.

"Jurassic Park" by Michael Crichton follows Alan Grant (a paleontologist), Ellie Sattler (a paleobotanist), and Ian Malcom, (a mathematician) who have been invited to John Hammond's private island. But they are not prepared for what awaits them there; somehow, Hammond has found a way to bring back creatures that have been extinct for millions of years. Soon, Jurassic Park will be opened to the public, placing these newly-made dinosaurs on display for all to see. But the unpredictability of nature and the corruption within the park itself soon makes this adventure deadly. Now, the survivors on the island must find a way to escape - before it is too late.

I watched the movie adaptation of "Jurassic Park" before actually reading the book - and I was surprised to see that the original novel was even more chilling and captivating than the film had been. Normally, I don't read a lot of science fiction, but "Jurassic Park" has a completely different take on this genre. Not only is the possibility of scientific advancement - like genetically engineering dinosaurs - explored (which is especially relevant today!), but human nature and many deeper themes are also incorporated within this story. The disturbing and realistic notions and the page-turning plot makes this book an absolute must-read.

Lucinda Price is charged for a crime she can barely even explain. After a fun night with a boy during summer camp, she kissed him - and he spontaneously combusted. Haunted constantly by her visions of lurking shadows, she is forced to spend the next year or so at Sword & Cross, an infamous prison-like boarding school, per court orders, and ends up bumping into someone strangely familiar: Daniel Grigori. Enigmatic and alluring, Luce can't help but instantly fall head-over-heels despite never having met him. But Daniel soon makes it clear that he doesn't want to be associated with Luce, frustrating her. Determined to unravel more about Daniel and his past, Luce ends up uncovering dangerous secrets surrounding the students at the school and realizes her attraction to Daniel isn't as simple as it seems.

I will be brief and completely honest: this book was bad. I randomly stumbled upon it online, decided to read it, and now I must say it was a waste of time. This book barely has any plot, yet the author manages to drag it to a length of 400-something pages, and almost all of it is Luce pining over Daniel whilst also being unkindly rejected by him several times. The way Daniel treated Luce for the first half of the story was infuriating, and at parts, I honestly started questioning why she was still in love with him. Luce's personality is incredibly bland and unlikeable, not to mention how much she just lacks a backbone. In fact, pretty much all the characters in this novel don't have any complexity and come off as caricatures of common archetypes. The grand twist towards the end was predictable and hinted at extensively throughout the novel, giving it no impact at all. And on a lesser note, there are also several jokes and remarks in the writing that weren't made in good taste and could potentially rub some people off the wrong way. Overall, this novel was unfortunately boring, and I could hardly finish the whole thing. I would never recommend it to anyone.

"That's Not My Name" by Megan Lally follows a teenage girl who wakes up abandoned on the side of the road with no idea who she is and how she got there. However, a man soon finds her at the police station she has taken refuge in, telling her that she is his daughter, Mary. But things are not as they seem. Navigating through the truths and lies that surround her with every recovered memory, "Mary" isn't sure who she is - and who she can trust.

This book is a thrilling tale that keeps the reader guessing with every plot twist. "That's Not My Name" is beautifully crafted, and Lally did a great job making the amnesia and the characters' actions overall believable. The underlying feeling of unease that remains throughout the entire thrilling story, paired with the heart-wrenching ending, makes this is one of the best YA murder mysteries I have read all year!

This book was exciting, action-packed, and satisfying. Maddie, Ranger’s apprentice and second heir to the throne, goes on a journey to save her father and his men from the Red Fox Clan surrounding the hill fort they are in. If they succeed, they must then go to rescue her mother and the king from members of the clan within the castle. The story is well paced with battles that leave you wanting more. It is an excellent conclusion to the story that began in The Red Fox Clan.

"Two Sides To Every Murder" is a YA murder mystery that follows identical twins Olivia and Reagan as they return to Camp Lost Lake to discover the truth of their past. Separated at birth, it seems that the sisters couldn't be more different: Olivia cautiously searches for the truth about her parentage, while reckless Reagan is determined to clear her mother's name. The twins - along with their best friends - join forces as they are hunted by the Witch of Lost Lake, who will do anything to hide the truth of what happened there sixteen years ago.

When I picked up "Two Sides To Every Murder," I was hoping for another thrilling murder mystery, but I was disappointed to find that the plot of this story was unoriginal and predictable. Each secret and twist was hinted at heavily, and the character's actions seemed extremely unlikely and often childish, making each event seem abrupt. Because the story did not flow smoothly, it was difficult to get invested in the plot and characters. Additionally, Valentine seemed to take A LOT of inspiration from "The Parent Trap" (some of the character dialogue was almost identical to the 1998 movie) and that really bothered me, as it took a lot away from the plot and made it even more unoriginal. Overall, I would not recommend this book, as it was stereotypical, monotonous, and altogether extremely disappointing.

"A Good Girl's Guide To Murder" by Holly Jackson introduces lovable and realistically flawed characters Pippa Fitz-Amobi and Ravi Singh as they work to not only complete Pip's senior capstone project, but also to solve the murder of Andie Bell. Every character in this novel has complex thoughts, feelings, and motives that weave together to create a shocking, multi-layered mystery and page-turning plot. Presented in an engaging mixture of transcribed interviews, project notes, and Pip's own perspective, you will not be disappointed by picking up this book!

After reading and adoring many of Karen M. McManus's novels, I found myself looking for a similar read, and after stumbling across Jackson's work, I was hooked! Not only is "A Good Girl's Guide To Murder" perfect for those seeking a good mystery, but "Good Girl, Bad Blood" and "As Good As Dead" (the other books in this amazing three-part series), tie in beautifully to the already-compelling world Jackson has created, leaving the reader stunned with every plot twist. Jackson presents a story - and series - where the characters, clues, relationships, and resolutions feel anything but forced, and each new twist leaves the reader wanting more of not only Ravi and Pip's adorable relationship, but also more of the mysteries in Fairview which seem to never stop unraveling!

"Curtain - Poirot's Last Case" by Agatha Christie is another one of this author's must-reads. The reader is hooked from the start of the story as Hercule Poirot and his friend, Arthur Hastings, travel back to the location of their first case to face their most formidable enemy yet. Not only does this story incorporate Christie's signature touch, filling the reader with suspense and leaving them wanting more, but it also plays into the reader's emotional connections with the characters they have read so much about.

I have been obsessed with Agatha Christie and her timeless mysteries for a while now, and have fallen in love with Poirot, Hastings, and many more of her amazing characters. I recommend reading Curtain after enjoying some of Christie's other Poirot mysteries (especially Poirot's first case, "The Mysterious Affair At Styles"), as I had fallen in love with the character so much that the ending left me in tears. Each of her mysteries is both distinctive and flawless, each plot point perfectly executed.

"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury is set in a futuristic world teetering on the edge of war. But for Guy Montag, the war feels like a distant problem compared to his own. He is a fireman, whose job is to burn any books and houses in which they were found. He does it without emotion, believing he is bettering society, until he meets a new neighbor, Clarisse McClellan, who changes his whole perspective on the world in which he lives, and makes him question everything he is told to believe. He begins to realize the true and terrible state of the world, and wonders if the books he destroys might be the solution. Guy Montag is a great character to watch develop, as he is relatable and flawed, but is still incredibly understandable, so you end up rooting for him to win. The writing style of the book is also amazing, full of convincing imagery and thought provoking ideas. I liked the book more as I read it and got to know the complex characters, and would recommend it to people looking for a short and interesting read.