Next week I am going to reveal my Number 1 Stray Kids song. But first, I thought I would do my Top 5 subunit and solo songs. Can you guess my bias?
5. Wow feat. Lee Know, Hyunjin, Felix
4. Up All Night feat. Bang Chan, Felix, Changbin, Seungmin
3. Railway - Bang Chan
2. Red Lights feat. Bang Chan and Hyunjin
1. Escape feat. Bang Chan and Hyunjin
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: The Wedding People
Author: Alison Espach
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 2024
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 384
Rating: 2/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Read Around the US - Rhode Island
Where I Got It: Book of the Month
It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
Oof! Terrible people being terrible to each other. I really do not like reading books where people just stumble around low key being terrible to everyone around them. I understand Phoebe’s initial state of mind and the choices she makes. What I do not get is the rest of the book. No way that she radically changes her mind that quickly without true intervention. I did not find this book funny or tender. I really need to stay away from these types of contemporary fiction books.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Ne’er Duke Well (Belvoir’s Library #1)
Author: Alexandra Vasti
Publisher: Griffin 2024
Genre: Romance
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - Sunset Picnic (New-to-me Author); Cover Lover - Period Clothing
Where I Got It: Library
Spice Level: 5
Peter Kent—newly inherited Duke of Stanhope and recently of New Orleans, Louisiana—must become respectable. Between his radical politics and the time he interrupted a minor royal wedding with a flock of sheep—not his fault!—he’s developed a scandalous reputation at odds with his goal of becoming guardian to his half siblings. For help, he turns to the cleverest and most managing woman of his acquaintance, Lady Selina Ravenscroft.
Selina is society’s most proper debutante, save one tiny secret: she runs an erotic circulating library for women. When Peter asks for her help, she suggests courtship and marriage to a lady of unimpeachable reputation. (Which is to say, definitely not herself.)
But matchmaking doesn’t go according to plan. Peter’s siblings run rampant on Bond Street. Selina ends up in the Serpentine. And worst of all, the scorching chemistry between Peter and Selina proves impossible to resist. For the disreputable duke and his unpredictable matchmaker, falling in love just might be the ultimate scandal.
I don’t remember where I saw this book recommended, but the review focused on the wit and comedy along with the steam. Sounded perfect for me! I grabbed it from the library and dove in. Overall, I’m a huge fan of Peter and Selina’s love story. They are two characters clearly meant to be together, but of course, Selina doesn’t see it. I really enjoy romances where the man falls first if it’s a hetero pairing. They do have great banter throughout the book. I loved their interactions and Selina’s schemes to get Peter a wife. My biggest complaint was the quick ending. We didn’t really get to see enough of the two characters after they decide to marry. My eternal complaint about romances.
Belvoir’s Library
#1 Ne’er Duke Well
#2 Earl Crush
#3 Ladies in Hating
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 18
Author: Junji Ito
Publisher: VIZ Media 2021
Genre: Manga Horror
Pages: 192
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 18In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
In order to thwart the culling game, Itadori needs the help of Kinji Hakari, a third-year who is currently suspended from Jujutsu High, so he decides to participate in an underground fight club where Hakari works as a bookie. Meanwhile, Fushiguro infiltrates the fight club and heads for Hakari’s base of operations, but another Jujutsu High third-year is using their cursed technique to block his way!
Fushiguro is back! I am so glad! I love his character and wanted to see more, but he’s been absent for multiple volumes. We get to see him team back up with Itadori to convince a suspended student to join the cause. And we learn all abut the culling game. This volume felt like it was setting up bigger events to come, but still enjoyable.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 17
Author: Gege Akutami
Publisher: VIZ Media 2021
Genre: Comics
Pages: 200
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Hunted down by Okkotsu and on the brink of death, Itadori recalls a troubling family scene from his past. But why is the former form of Noritoshi Kamo there? As the sorcerers begin to take action toward suppressing the lethal culling game, Maki pays the Zen’in clan a visit…
We get to check back in with Itadori and Okkotsu after the abrupt shift of the world in the last volume. I loved learning more about Okkotsu and get his actual game play. But my favorite section of this volume was focused on Maki. The Zen’in clan is fascinating and I was hoping to see more from them. We finally get to see the ultimate play for Maki and Mai. I cannot wait to see how this plays into the larger storyline.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 16
Author: Gege Akutami
Publisher: VIZ Media 2021
Genre: Comics
Pages: 192
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
After he consumes Mahito’s soul, Geto reveals part of his nefarious plan to Itadori and the others. In that moment, Choso recognizes the evil sorcerer possessing Geto's body and is filled with rage! Who is this evil sorcerer, and what relation do they have to Choso? Now that Gojo is imprisoned and the foundations of jujutsu society are crumbling, what will happen to the world as it devolves into destruction and chaos?!
And with that, everything changes! We start by wrapping up the Shibuya incident and then we jump forward. Things are drastically different in this world of Tokyo. All of our heroes are on the run or are not on the page. The fate of so many is left hanging. But at least we get to check back in with Choso and Itadori and see more from the Zen’in clan. I loved seeing the reappearance of another student of Gojo’s and some more action sequences. On to the next volume!
Jujutsu Kaisen
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 15
Author: Gege Akutami
Publisher: VIZ Media
Genre: Comics
Pages: 192
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Sukuna is on a murderous rampage. Meanwhile, invaluabe Jujutsu Sorcerers have been taken down, and even Kugisaki falls into Mahito’s trap! Feeling the burden of his sins, Itadori finds it hard to keep going, but he rushes off to help Kugisaki anyway. Can he reach her in time?!
Another super serious volume. I couldn't imagine the story going the way it is and yet I am so invested. I really hope Kugisaki makes it, but considering what happened, I’m not confident. And we get the set-up for what seems to be last act for the Shibuya Incident.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 14
Author: Gege Akutami
Publisher: VIZ Media 2021
Genre: Comics
Pages: 192
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna were lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Oh no… I don’t think this incident is going to end well for our heroes, especially Idatori. Sukuna coming out was not the best plan of action, but sure made for some exciting pages. I’m still slightly confused by the weird Todo and Idatori brothers thing, but I assume it has something to do with the larger weirdness surrounding the sorcerers.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Say You’ll Remember Me
Author: Abby Jimenez
Publisher: Forever 2025
Genre: Romance
Pages: 368
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - Valentine’s Day (Grand Gesture); Read Around the USA - California
Where I Got It: Library
Spice Rating: 4
There's no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.
But after one incredible and seemingly endless date, Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be. Only no amount of distance or time is enough to forget what's between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.
I have really enjoyed all the Jimenez romances that I’ve read before this one. But this one just really did not work for me. In general, I appreciate about Jimenez balances romances and real life obstacles and difficulties. Unfortunately, this one leaned too much on the serious plot lines. I didn’t feel that there was enough romance. Our main characters spend almost the entire book apart. I want to read romances where we get to see the main characters interact in person with each other. We didn’t get that here. Instead, there’s a lot of crying about money and Samantha’s mom’s condition. Important stuff. But this read more as a women’s lit selection than romance. A rare disappointment for me.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 13
Author: Gege Akutami
Publisher: VIZ Media 2020
Genre: Comics
Pages: 192
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Dagon has evolved into a terrifying curse, releasing a flood of endless cursed energy attacks at Nabito, Maki, and Nanami! At the same time, a group of curse users devoted to Geto attempt to summon the jujutsu world’s most terrifying threat.
Holy cow! So much action in this volume. And so much death. I was completely riveted by the story here. I cannot wait to see how the jujutsu sorcerers respond to Mahito and Geto’s attacks.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Next up on the TBR pile:
Based on my new obsession, I decided to do a Top 10 series of my favorite Stray Kids songs. There are so many songs, but I keep coming back to the same ones again and again. (I’m focusing on songs featuring all 8 members; no subunit or solo songs.)
Many people would probably put this song as their Number 1. I do absolutely love it, so it shows up on my Top 10, but as Number 2. Still I cannot help singing along to this one.
Bonus music show performance video.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul, Vol. 4
Author: Yana Toboso, Wakana Hazuki
Publisher: VIZ Media 2024
Genre: Manga
Pages: 194
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
Stranded in the world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must brave a magical school filled with ghosts, monsters, and uncooperative students!
Now that he’s officially a student at Night Raven College, Yu has to deal with Heartslabyul housewarden Riddle when his magic and emotions go wild! Yu and his fellow students Grimm, Ace, Deuce, Trey, and Cater confront the rampaging Riddle. But is he too powerful for them to get back under control?
Yeah! Such a great conclusion to this story. We get to see Riddle absolutely lose his mind a la the Queen of Hearts. We get to see how the characters react and attempt to put everything right. Chenya was a great addition to the cast. I would love to read more in this world.
Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul, Vol. 3
Author: Yana Toboso, Wakana Hazuki
Publisher: VIZ Media 2023
Genre: Manga
Pages: 162
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
Stranded in the world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must brave a magical school filled with ghosts, monsters, and uncooperative students!
Still trying to get his friend Ace out of trouble, Yu attends one of Heartslabyul Dorm’s traditional unbirthday parties. But instead of solving Ace’s problems or having a bit of fun, they wind up incurring the wrath of the housewarden, Riddle!
We finally get to the Unbirthday Party and see everything really start to come to a head. I loved the take on the classic story mixed with the new characters and interpretations. I loved seeing Trey and Cater be at the center of the all the fuss. Riddle is a great tyrant, even if I am slightly tiring of his schtick. I can’t wait to see how Yu and Grim and Ace and Deuce get out of this mess.
Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul, Vol. 2
Author: Yana Toboso, Wakana Hazuki
Publisher: Viz Media 2023
Genre: Manga
Pages: 194
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
Stranded in the world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must brave a magical school filled with ghosts, monsters, and uncooperative students!
Yu is formally enrolled in Night Raven College. He’s even a prefect…of Ramshackle Dorm. But that doesn’t mean things are getting any easier for him. When his classmate Ace shows up on his doorstep after getting in trouble, Yu faces his biggest challenge yet!
Okay a bit of slow volume as we get more acquainted with Night Raven College. We get a little adventure involving some crystals, but overall this volume dragged a bit. I get it Ace and Deuce are fuck-ups and Riddle is a tyrant. My favorite parts involved Cater and Trey.
Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul, Vol. 1
Author: Yana Toboso, Wakana Hazuki
Publisher: VIZ Media 2021
Genre: Manga
Pages: 198
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series
Where I Got It: Library
Stranded in the world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must brave a magical school filled with ghosts, monsters, and uncooperative students!
Yu is whisked away to Night Raven College, an arcane academy in the world of Twisted Wonderland. Stranded until he can find a way home, Yu is allowed to stay on campus despite having no magic of his own. But when his new friends land him in trouble with the headmage, his future at the school looks bleak. Now Yu’s fate hinges on bringing together a pair of argumentative first-years and a fire-breathing monster cat…
I know that this is based on a video game, but I love finding new stories based on Alice in Wonderland. In this one, we get the start of a story involving a new-to-this-world character, new students, tyrants, a mysterious headmaster, a cat?, and some fun adventures. Loved this start of the series. Can’t wait to see what trouble Ace and Deuce get into next.
Twisted Wonderland: Book of Heartslabyul
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Alley
Author: Junji Ito
Publisher: VIZ Media 1992
Genre: Manga Horror
Pages: 344
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
Where I Got It: Library
Every night, a young man hears children playing outside his boarding house—but the alley below his window is fenced off from the world. Then, when a young woman’s family starts acting strangely at the same time she begins having bizarre dreams, she decides to stay with her aunt, but the town she heads for has neither addresses nor roads… Also, an all-you-can-eat ice cream bus that’s more sinister than sweet!
Legendary horror author Junji Ito presents ten bloodcurdling short stories.
Alley - Such a great story! I especially loved the ending!
Descent - Loved this super weird story! Great unexplained phenomena.
The Ward - Very nice creepy locked room style horror story.
The Inn - Meh
Blessing - Meh
Smoker’s Club - Meh
Mold - Oh loved this one that included a ton of body horror
Town of No Roads - Confusing story. Not a fan.
Memory - Okay I guess
Ice Cream Bus - Always creepy when stories involve children.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Great Big Beautiful Life
Author: Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley 2025
Genre: Romance
Pages: 432
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - Breezy Pier; Read Around the US - Georgia
Where I Got It: Library
Spice Rating: 4.5
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be theMargaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.
I absolutely loved the romance between Alice and Hayden. I loved seeing these almost enemies slowly thaw toward each other and start to connect. I loved their little banter. I even enjoyed their misunderstandings and their miscommunications. Their relationship felt really real to me. I loved those pages within each chapter. What made this not quite amazing to me was the storyline with Margaret. While I enjoyed reading about her life, I found the entire construct to me very very reminiscent to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I found myself drifting slightly during those sections. And the big twists at the end was a bit contrived. I just didn’t really love that whole section, which was a lot of this book. I didn’t hate this book, but definitely not my favorite Emily Henry selection.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Tombs
Author: Junji Ito
Publisher: VIZ Media 2023
Genre: Manga Horror
Pages: 344
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
Where I Got It: Library
Countless tombstones stand in rows throughout a small community, forming a bizarre tableau. What fate awaits a brother and sister after a traffic accident in this town of the dead? In another tale, a girl falls silent, her tongue transformed into a slug. Can a friend save her? Then, when a young man moves to a new town, he finds the house next door has only a single window. What does his grotesque neighbor want, calling out to him every evening from that lone window?
Tombs - I had already read this story, but I really loved it. Creepy creepy.
Clubhouse - Meh. Didn’t really deliver.
Slug Girl - Loved this body horror story.
The Window Next Door - Fun, but I wanted more.
Washed Ashore - I do love creatures from the depths.
The Strange Tale of the Tunnel - Okay story, creepy enough, but not horrifying.
Bronze Statue - Didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Floaters - I wanted more.
The Bloody Story of Shirosauna - So much gore, but I did enjoy it!
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Deserter
Author: Junji Ito
Publisher: VIZ Medai 2011
Genre: Manga Horror
Pages: 392
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
Where I Got It: Library
A vengeful family hides an army deserter for eight years after the end of World War II, cocooning him in a false reality where the war never ended. A pair of girls look alike, but they’re not twins. And a boy’s nightmare threatens to spill out into the real world…
This hauntingly strange story collection showcases a dozen of Junji Ito’s earliest works from when he burst onto the horror scene, sowing fresh seeds of terror.
Bio House - Weird murdery story. Not my favorite.
Face Thief - Another weird story that I wasn’t a huge fan of.
Where the Sandman Lives - Okay this one was kinda interesting and fun.
The Devil’s Logic - Meh
The Long Hair in the Attic - My absolute favorite from the collection. Just the right amount of suspense in this one.
Scripted Love - Very forgettable.
The Reanimator’s Sword - Not a big fan of the religious bent to this story.
A Father’s Love - Nope. Not for me.
Unendurable Labyrinth - Decent
Village of the Siren - Very weird premise. I was definitely intrigued. Kinda wish that this one was longer.
Bullied - Not very excited about this one at all.
Deserter - I’ve somehow read this one before. I liked it, but not my absolute favorite.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Reading: I got back into the Jujutsu Kaisen manga series. And holy cow, the story took a turn this week! I am floored.
Watching: I only have 5 episodes left of S1 of Goblin. I am so invested in this story.
Listening: Stray Kids’s new song “Hollow” and ATEEZ’s new song “Lemon Drop” have been on repeat. I cannot wait until tomorrow when Stray Kids’s new EP drops.
Making: I’ve got multiple lsat minute lists created for the retreat. Just a few tasks left.
Feeling: The retreat is on Thursday and I am so ready to go!
Planning: Tomorrow is my last prep day for the retreat… I am making my last grocery lists.
Loving: I was craving some good iced tea, but didn’t want all the sugar in the regular sweet tea. Thankfully Gold Peak sells a Slightly Sweet version. Perfect for a hot day!
Next up on the TBR pile: