Reckless by Lauren Roberts continues the female lead Paedyn’s story as the lines between survival and love become even more complicated. This book dives deeper into the consequences of the choices made in Powerless (the first book in the trilogy), with more emotional tension throughout the story. I picked this book up immediately because I was invested in the characters and wanted to see how their relationship would evolve after everything that happened. I especially loved how romance played a much bigger role, with moments of longing and vulnerability that felt intense and meaningful. The plot kept moving quickly, and I felt so invested in the narrative. The character interactions felt raw and honest and made the story feel more personal. Overall, this book felt more emotionally driven, making it one of my favorite reads in the series.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts is a fantasy novel (1st in a trilogy) set in a world where a person's power defines status, and those without abilities (magical powers) are forced to survive in secret. The story follows Paedyn, an ordinary girl who hides her lack of powers while navigating a brutal society and unexpectedly getting pulled into some very dangerous situations. I chose this book because the premise immediately caught my attention, especially the tension between the powerful and the powerless. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope and the slow build of trust and chemistry between the characters, which made the story feel intense. The stakes stayed high throughout the book, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how Paedyn would outsmart the system stacked against her. Some parts felt predictable, but the character dynamics and romance made up for it. Overall, it was an engaging and exciting read that left me curious about what comes next.

The Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber is the final book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy and follows the lead female character Evangeline as she navigates the fallout of broken promises, her lost memories within a kingdom shaped by magic and fate. I picked up this book because I was already deeply invested in Evangeline’s journey and needed to see how her story would finally unfold. Much of the plot centers on her search for truth and love as old curses and hidden motives are revealed. I enjoyed returning to this fairytale world and seeing how past choices continued to affect every character. The emotional stakes and romantic tension kept me engaged. Overall, the book delivered a heartfelt and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel (1st book in the trilogy) about a simple girl named Evangeline who makes a dangerous deal with a demigod called the Prince of Hearts after her life does not go the way she hoped. I picked up this book because I was drawn to the fairytale feel of the cover and the promise of magic mixed with romance. The story is set in a whimsical world where nothing is as simple as it seems, and every choice has consequences. I loved the atmosphere of the book and how it felt dreamy while still holding a sense of dark danger. The characters felt layered and emotionally real, which made me want to keep reading to understand their motivations. Some parts were slower, but the tension and mystery kept me invested. Overall, this book surprised me in the best way and made me want to immediately continue the series.

The second book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series is an easy five star read for me. I felt emotionally invested, and I loved how the story deepened while still keeping that magical, fairytale atmosphere. The characters felt even more alive and familiar, and I found myself genuinely caring about their choices and relationships. There is a lot of fluffy romance in this book, and it is incredibly cute and comforting without taking away from the plot. Like the first book, I could not stop reading because every chapter made me want to know what would happen next.

A book about a secret school of deadly assassins? Yes please! I had not read a book by Mather before but because of this book I will definitely read again in the future. November is an intriguing character, and she was a great kick butt girl boss. The plot and book flowed nicely and the mystery was well thought out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes spies and assassin type books.

I'm always down for a cute little romcom and Emma Lord does not disappoint. Academic enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this one was done perfectly. Sadie and Seb were the perfect couple, and I loved their constant bickering and hilarious moments throughout the book. It was a cute, light read and I would recommend this to anyone who loves a cute romcom.

From the trenches of World War I, to the ancient Chinese Empire, to an insane asylum in the 1800s, Evelyn and Arden have loved each other in every lifetime. But they have also killed each other before their 18th birthday in every single one. Now it is 2022 in Wales, England, and Evelyn is desperate to survive long enough to undergo the bone marrow transplant that could save her sick little sister's life. So, when Arden finally reveals himself, Evelyn knows that she must do everything in her power to break the curse and survive until the day of the procedure. Told in chapters that alternate between Evelyn and Arden's current life and past experiences together, this YA romantasy book will keep you guessing as Evelyn and Arden's 18th birthday approaches...

I was really excited to read "Our Infinite Fates". The reincarnation plot seemed really unique, and I liked that the chapters switched between Evelyn and Arden's present and past lives. In fact, the first third of this book was really amazing - I was absolutely hooked and wanted to know what would happen next! However, the middle and ending of "Our Infinite Fates" really started to bother me. Not only did the plot become redundant and seemed to drag, but the character motivations and actions became unclear, annoying, and repetitive. Additionally, the huge "plot twist" at the end of the book was unexciting and confusing. "Our Infinite Fates" is mostly realistic fiction centered around historical eras - whereas plot twist seemed to be fully fantasy and did not match the tone of the entire rest of the story. Overall, the final reveal and battle just seemed rushed (especially compared to the middle of the book, which was very slow paced) and were merely disappointing. This was a great idea, but the execution and ending ruined it for me.

I initially picked this book because of the cover, and it seemed like it would be a cute read. I also hadn't previously read anything by this author, so I thought why not give her a try. Picking Daisies on Sundays delivers a cozy friends to lovers story with lots of charm but it doesn’t fully rise above the typical tropes of contemporary romance. The writing style wasn’t my favorite but definitely not something that deterred me. I thought that the miscommunication trope frustrates more than built the tension. This was an easy and quick read something that is definitely good for someone in the mood for a light, clean contemporary romance. For me the end of the book was the best part where it finally picked up along with the epilogue. Overall, this book is a pleasant read if you enjoy soft romantic comedies and aren’t looking for anything groundbreaking.
Reviewer Grade: 11

As book one in the six-book series, it will also read well as a standalone. I like how the world is explained throughout the book - rather than dumping me with all worldbuilding in the beginning, or especially all at once. By the end of the book, new things are still being learned about Tess (the protagonist's sidekick). But is Day really the protagonist, or is it June? Although the story is admittedly more focused on Day, June's impact on Day's life is by far the more entertaining part of the book. Every chapter alternates perspectives, like a good Red Pyramid or The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel -- appropriate, political (if you will), and disappointing when really invested in what's about to happen next.

The Republic is one of two factions the U.S. splits into after collapse -- home to elite military families like the one June comes from, but also home to beggars, drunks, homeless, and the poor like Day. June is at some point convinced that Day murdered her brother (a spoiler from page 1) and vows to hunt him down both for revenge and to prove herself to the Republic. But as she gets close with Day, she uncovers truths about the Republic causing her to question her involvement.

Happy Ending

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon follows eighteen-year-old Madeline “Maddy” Whittier, who has a rare illness that keeps her inside her home, unable to leave. Her life changes when Olly, a boy who moves in next door, enters her world. They form a friendship through emails and messages that later develops into romance. This leads Maddy to take more risks of leaving the bubble she’s been trapped in her whole life. After discovering a shocking secret, she is forced to make difficult choices about freedom, trust, and love.

In my opinion, this book was engaging and emotional. It was a unique idea, and the author did a good job at writing the story. Although the book was quite long and slow-paced at certain points, I was never bored. I finished this book in one sitting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary romance, coming-of-age stories, or books about love and self-discovery.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass is a story told in alternating first-person point-of-view chapters.

Princess Annika Vedette of Kadier is expected to marry her cousin for political reasons, even though it isn’t what she wants and her father has gone cold since her mother’s disappearance. Though she lives a life of luxury, she doesn’t have much freedom.

Far away, Lennox lives as a mercenary from Dahrain. His people were exiled many generations ago and he believes the throne taken from them rightfully belongs to the Dahrainians.

Their worlds collide when Lennox kidnaps Annika for a mission. As they are frequently thrown into dangerous situations together, they learn more about each other and the truth about things such as Annika’s mother's disappearance and the history of Kadier and Dahrain.

Despite the odds and the war looming, Annika and Lennox fall in love in a story where love and loyalty clash with duty and expectations. Both struggle with what they’ve been taught and what they feel, forcing them to make hard choices for their worlds and hearts.

In my opinion, the book was entertaining to read. In the beginning, the slow pacing and lack of proper world-building made it confusing. But later into the book, more things were cleared up and I was able to understand the world better. Overall, it was an enemies-to-lovers fantasy book with plenty of twists and political intrigue.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes enemies-to-lovers romance, stories with strong and complex characters, or royal or kingdom dramas.

This book was extremely interesting to read and it’s impressive that Sarah Maas was able to write this as her first book. In this story, 18 year old assassin Celaena Sardothien was freed from the labor camp she’d been working at for a year by Crown Prince Dorian to participate in a competition with other criminals to see who will become the king’s secret assassin. However, there are dark things happening underneath and Celaena has to protect herself from the dangerous and magical things around her. The magic system of Wyrdmarks is very interesting and the character interactions are complex. It is a book that is hard to put down.

Have you ever judged someone without really knowing them?

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen follows Juli Baker and Bryce Loski, who have been neighbors since the start of second grade, when Bryce moved into the neighborhood. Juli was certain that she was in love with him and that they were meant to be, but Bryce outwardly disliked her and was annoyed she couldn’t take the hint. Told in alternating first person point of view chapters, events from both perspectives as the two grew up are revealed.

After something happens in the present-day eighth grade that causes Juli to deeply hate Bryce, the two of them “flip” perspectives of each other. Now, Juli doesn’t want anything to do with him, but Bryce is in love with her.

Flipped covers themes of perspectives, change, and growing up. Juli is a passionate, confident character who is unafraid to advocate for what she believes in, whether protecting a sycamore tree or standing up for her family. Bryce, however, starts off as shallow and caring too much about what others think, but by the end learns that his first impressions of people, especially Juli, were wrong. As the story unfolds, both characters are forced to reflect on who they are, and what truly matters.

I found the book entertaining, and it wasn’t very long in comparison to other novels I have read covering similar themes. Although it is a little slower paced at points, it makes up for it by speeding up later on. The different perspectives on the same events would have been redundant, but the author wrote it well. It was interesting to see how Juli and Bryce saw the same thing in nearly opposite ways.

If you enjoy books about growing up, perspectives, and a sweet, thoughtful look at first love, then Flipped is a book you should definitely consider reading.

Brielle Petitfour, a Haitian zonbi, is tired of watching her mother struggle with debilitating chronic pain while the rich elites around her continue to exploit people to make themselves richer. So, when the wealthy patriarch of the Banks corporation dies and her mother loses her job, it is Brielle's last straw. Using her internship at the Banks Incorporation, her extensive cooking skills, and zonbi powers, she gains access to these rich elites and exacts her revenge. Within each delicious dish she serves them, she adds human flesh, slowly gaining control of them...

I was really excited to read this book, because the idea Haitian zonbis in a modern lens is something that really interests me, along with learning more about Haitian-American culture. Additionally, after reading the synopsis of this book, I wanted to know more about how Brielle would add human flesh into her dishes - and wanted to understand her motivations for doing so. However, I was sorely disappointed after reading "The Summer I Ate The Rich." Not only is Brielle's character - along with all others in the story - flat and unrealistic, but the plot and motivations were just confusing. Instead of leaning into the interesting and original idea of Brielle serving rich people human flesh, or even eating the rich herself, the authors skirted around this detail, avoiding and barely mentioning this major plot point. Instead, they leaned into a YA love story instead, which was confusing and frustrating. Overall, the execution of this book was just terrible, the social commentary unfortunately fell flat, and I think the authors tried to incorporate too many clashing ideas into one story. Despite its intriguing title and synopsis, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

This wonderful sequel to "Powerless" follows three different point of views, Paedyn Gray, Kai Azer, and Kitt Azer. First, the book shows Paedyn as she escapes from Illya after murdering the king and being discovered as an ordinary. Second, it shows Kai while he tracks Paedyn down while also questioning how he could ever feel anything for an *ordinary.* Last it shows Kitt as he tries to figure out how to deal with Paedyn after she killed his father. Paedyn and Kai struggle to get through the differences they now have and deal with the feelings of affection they still have for each other. "Reckless" brings feelings of regret, anger, and confusion as all three of these characters handle their complicated thoughts and emotions.

With a festival quickly approaching, Princess SITA is excited to enjoy the party and meet up with the handsome palace guard, Femi. But when she stumbles into a sinister plot, she must decide where her loyalties lie. After having dreams of the end of the world, NEFF is taken to train to be a priestess. Alongside Prince Kenna, she is determined to learn more about what her visions mean while adjusting to her new life in the temple. RAE and her father are struggling to survive as the pharaoh's taxes grow even more demanding. Her only release is the street fights she slips away to, but when the situation in her village takes a turn for the worse, she decides to fight back. KARIM is a tomb robber, but when he stumbles across his biggest find yet, something goes wrong. Now, he must set out alone across the desert, running from the evil he unleashed. With the pharaoh growing sicker by the minute, it's up to these four strangers to fulfill the prophecy of the lamb and save the kingdom from destruction.

I was really excited to read "His Face Is The Sun", because I really like YA fantasy books that are centered around Ancient Egyptian culture/mythology. However, I was pretty disappointed with the execution of the story itself. "His Face Is The Sun" is told in alternating perspectives, spit up between four different characters. Even though this was essential to tell all of their stories and bring the characters together, I found this storytelling technique pretty boring in a lot of parts, and I would dread getting to the perspectives of certain characters. Additionally, the voice of this book seemed a little off to me. At times, it was extremely dated to match the setting of the book, and at others, it was extremely modern, which was confusing. Also, this book is the first one of the series, and honestly was not that interesting because it was just setting the stage for the other books. Overall, the execution of this book really fell short for me, and I would not recommend it.

This book is an amazing addition to the Naturals series. After their last interaction with a serial killer the naturals were back on cold cases. They had just completed a cold case for the kidnapping of a small child successfully. Though an unexpected turn comes when a new agent comes to the program. She immediately makes it clear that rules were made to be followed, which is hard for some of the kids there. Then she and Agent Briggs get called to a case that strikes too close to home for Dean. Once again the Naturals find themselves working behind the scenes of another active case. As friendships become tighter the reader experiences the thrilling rollercoaster as if they were there. It is an amazing book with twists you never would expect.

The Naturals is a thrilling book that is centered around a girl named Cassandra Hobbes or Cassie who can tell you almost everything about you and your life with just looking at you. She wishes that she will be able to leave her work as a waiter and do something to help. Then a mysterious boy shows up at the diner and leaves a card for the FBI. She figures out that her ability to profile people has landed her a spot in a program that helps catch serial killers that have been dormant. She wishes that she could help on active cases, but when she actually gets dragged into one it hits a little too close to home. As the Naturals work together they try to catch a serial killer while still acting like regular teenagers, flirting, playing games, and getting caught in a love triangle. This book creates a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions and surprises. It is one of the best books I have ever read and it is definitely one of my favorites.

Stella is sick. No, not with the typical cold or flu, as Stella would rather have, but with a rare disease: Cystic Fibrosis. Her lungs have been faulty all her life and she hopes to obtain a lung transplant soon. In order to fulfill this goal, Stella attempts to maintain constant control of her life, risking nothing that would prevent her from getting the transplant. That is until she meets Will, who's only thing in common with Stella is his Cystic Fibrosis. With no care about control (or his medication) Will is fascinated with Stella and her orderly life. However, their illness prevents them from coming closer than six feet apart, and any close contact could jeopardize everything. Stella wants nothing to do with Will, how could she risk everything she's ever wanted? Yet as the two become closer, being six feet apart seems unbearable.
This was a good teen romance that captured what it's like to be controlled by something completely out of control or reach.

Eric Ly's life is falling apart. His best friend is dead, his sister is moving away for college, and Eric can't seem to deal with his loneliness and grief. So, in order to cope, he creates fake scenarios in his head to hold on to what he had, until one of them seemingly comes to life. During a summer trip to Japan, Eric had met - and shortly lost contact with- a boy named Haru. And now, in a random cafe in Chicago, Haru has miraculously found his way back to him. But the problem is no one can see Haru except for Eric.

Nonetheless, Eric now has a new person to connect with during these hard times - even if Haru may not be real at all. But his twisted imagination and lingering grief lead him to question the circumstances around him and lose control of his life. And slowly, Eric realizes he must come to terms with reality, even if it means he must lose Haru and the fake scenarios he's created.

When I first picked up this book, I had pretty high expectations for it. The book's concept intrigued me, and I also did enjoy reading You've Reached Sam, the author's debut work. That being said, this book somewhat disappointed me. The plot saw so many changes in direction to the point where it felt rather aimless, and Eric's self-destructive decisions did irritate me at times (which may have been the intention given Eric's mental state, I won't discredit that). Haru's character, despite his proclaimed importance in the book's blurb, was honestly not very important to the story, and I genuinely feel like the book could have sufficed without him. The story was like a collection of Eric's memories and experiences; this introspectiveness doesn't inherently make a book "bad," but these books also aren't for everyone. The climax of the book did have some emotional substance, and it was pleasant to see Eric find his way and grow from his grief, but overall, I found this book to be a bit directionless. However, I do know that the novel was also very hard for the author to write, having to match his newfound success for You've Reached Sam (which also touches on grief and loss), so I do wonder what he might have done had he not been creatively restricted.

The Cruel Prince is just straight up amazing. I LOVED Jude and her development as a character and how it was done. Cardan is a 10/10 no notes. This book is the original enemies to lovers and I am here for it! The only thing about this book is it can tend to have a lot of politics which might confuse readers but otherwise this is a masterfully written book that transports readers to the land of Faerie. Would recommend this to most if not all fantasy readers as it is a staple of the genre.

A Court of Thorns and Roses was really disappointing mostly because of the main character Feyre. She was whiny, obnoxious and all around a dislikable person. I struggled to finish to read this book and didn't finish the second one. This plot has the potential to be great with a few tweaks and character changes but instead it fell flat. This book is all hype and no substance and the only redeeming part of the book was Rhys. I would not recommend this book to anyone with little patience for terrible books.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi follows Juliette, a teen girl labeled as insane and dangerous by the government. She has always felt alone due to her power, or curse, of destruction. She cannot touch another person without feeling immense pain. However, when one of the government officials takes interest in her powers, she is released from the asylum as he holds her hostage as a hopeful weapon. With the help of an old friend, Juliette learns that she might not be as horrible as she thought, and might be deserving of the love she has never had.

I really enjoyed this book! All of the characters, especially Juliette, have strong personalities and character traits. I especially thought seeing how Juliette's obsession with numbers worked as a way for her to cope from past trauma was interesting. However, I thought the book's pace felt slow at times and rushed at times. For instance, Juliette's romance with another character felt like it was moving really fast, and sometimes I couldn't tell how much time had passed from the last significant event. Overall it was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend!

“What If It’s Us?” is a LGBTQIA+ romance book involving two teens in New York. The two main characters, Ben and Arthur, meet in a post office. Ben, 17 years old and a New York resident, is there to mail his ex-boyfriend’s stuff back to him. Arthur, 16 years old and staying for the summer because of an internship, held the door open for Ben and became interested in him. The two hit it off, but they end up getting separated by a flash mob proposal. The two keep thinking of each other and how they want to meet again, but they have a hard time finding each other. Arthur finally figures out a way to get Ben’s email, and the two reconnect. Their whole summer together is filled with ups and downs, laughter, and drama.

“What If It’s Us?” is a sweet, well-written book. The characters are very likable and diverse. Arthur and Ben have a realistic relationship, with the two having their ups and downs since they come from different backgrounds. Arthur, coming from a well-off white family, and Ben, coming from a lower-class Puerto Rican family. The two also have some very sweet romantic moments that touched my heart. The plot has a nice climax, and the ending makes sense for the characters and the story. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are fans of LGBTQIA+ romance.

"The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight " is a sweet romance book that follows two strangers on their plane ride to Great Britain. The female main character, Hadley, is forced to attend her father's new marriage as a bridesmaid. Due to a few unlucky occurrences, she misses her original flight, forcing her to catch the new one and just barely make it on time for the wedding. While waiting for the new flight, she meets a boy named Oliver. The two bond and quickly find out that they sit next to each other on the plane. They spend the whole flight talking and becoming close. Sadly, the two get split up in airport security when they land. Hadley later figures out why Oliver is visiting England, and she rushes to see him once more.

This book captured my heart the second we met both of the main characters. The author does a great job shifting the plot between the romance and the personal lives, giving the main characters great backgrounds. The romance between the two characters is so sweet and did gave me butterflies a few times. The plot is written well, with everything happening during 24 hours without weird timing issues. Everything is described so well, and the plot twists are definitely unexpected. Overall, this book is amazing, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy love at first sight!

"Somewhere Only We Know" is a heartfelt romance book following a K-pop star and a photographer who doesn't realize his talent. Lucky, a rising K-pop star, is currently on tour in Asia. In the middle of the night, she runs into Jack, a photographer for a shady tabloid. A mixture of being sleep deprived, hungry, and taking medication ends up with Lucky staying the night at this stranger's house. When she discovers this, she realizes it couldn't hurt to take a break from the grueling life of a K-pop star. Jack finds this the perfect opportunity to get great pictures of Lucky, earning him a promotion. However, as the two hang out more, they start to grow fond of each other, and Jack starts to question his morals.

This book is one that I reread consistently. It's well written, and the romance between the characters blooms so sweetly. The characters are very human and some are morally grey. The journey of self-discovery for Lucky is well built, and her realization is gratifying and brings me pure joy. My favorite side character is Jack's roommate, he's hilarious in the few scenes he's in. Every time I read this book, I forget about the ending and it surprises me every time. This book is really good, and I would definitely recommend it.

"I Love You So Mochi" is a book about a Japanese American girl named Kimi who visits Japan on a journey of self-discovery. Her mother is a famous painter who wants her to follow in her footsteps. However, Kimi doesn't feel like painting suits her as a career. After an argument with her mom about her career, she gets a letter from her estranged grandpa, inviting her to visit Japan for spring break. Kimi takes up her grandpa's offer, later meeting a cute boy who offers to be her tour guide for Japan. For just a week, Kimi has the chance to discover herself, connect with family, and fall in love.

This book was really touching. The author does a great job characterizing the characters and making them feel human. The moments when Kimi emails her mom and describes her original designs are also awesome. I really enjoyed reading about the main character and learning about her style of clothing. The romance between the two main characters is so adorable, and I was definitely feeling sad when I came to the last day of Kimi's trip. All in all, this is a wonderful, sweet read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a delightful book.

Isabel "Belly" Conklin has always loved summer, because every summer, she gets to spend time at her favorite place in the world - Cousins. There, she is able to escape from all her worries at her mother's friend, Susannah's, luxurious beach house. But this summer is different. Belly finds herself conflicted as she experiences feelings for Susannah's two sons, Jeremiah and Conrad. Exploring this conflict leads Belly to take a deeper look at herself as she transitions into adulthood, filling her summer with countless adventures and drama.

I read "The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han after reading "To All the Boys I Have Loved Before," which is by the same author, and I didn't enjoy this series as much as the "To All the Boys" series. Han's books are always good choices for someone looking for a light read filled with drama and romance (and both series have TV adaptations that are fun to watch!). However, the idea that Belly has to "choose" between two brothers took a lot away from the plot for me (as it seems that she has no consideration for either of them and only thinks of herself and her rapidly changing emotions), as it made Belly a very unlovable character. To me, she was portrayed as selfish and naive, focusing only on herself as she chooses between Jeremiah and Conrad, paying no attention to the impact of her actions on the brothers. Because of this, the reader cannot become attached to Belly as the main character, as well as the book itself and the heartbreaking and intriguing story that Han presents.

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!