[Chinese BG novel] 我在恋综世界里摆烂 by 禾树里 / I'm just lazying aroound in the world of romantic novels

(I'm also surprised that this is supposed to be a cover)

I made a second attempt at reading this one and once again I failed. It's nothing much but for some reason my interest keeps failing at the same place, around 40+ chapters.

This story is about Shi Yue, she was a rich heiress in her own world that entered entertainment business and became an actress for the fun of it, before she fell in love with the craft and eventually became famous. Now she transmigrates and becomes a girl with failed family and gambling father, she is now just like Internet celebrity who became famous because of her beauty when she was interviewed after the college entrance examination, but after that she was pretty much an unknown person, while she continued her studies.

She also has a system that wants her to follow the scripts and fall in love but Shi Yue says she'd rather operate screwdriver all day. She knows that she is actually a biological daughter of a wealthy family, but babies were swapped after the birth and she lived her miserable life since (og Shi Yue). Shi Yue who arrived during high school basically changed her fate through studying. To others it always felt like suddenlt there si this pretty, smart and confident girl.

This is mainly a harem type of story because Shi Yue has many potential love interests, but you'll be disappointed who will be the final ML of the story, because the story does not make him look good at the beginning. And his name is Shen Chengchuan. His problem is he was the first to investigate Shi Yue and find that she was actually a daughter of Feng family he wanted to take down (likethe classic you cause my father to die so I'm back for revenge type of setting). Like any man he thought it's going to be easy to impress a girl, but he had no idea that he came into contact with pretty experienced rich heiress who didn't take these men seriously.

Honestly, I stopped basically in the middle every time and by that time none of the male interests were good enough. So I have no idea what happens next and considering this was my second attempt I decided not to follow through.

But Mr Shen pushes Shi Yue towards a dating show where all male interests who partially have a story with Shi Yue will appear.

Spoilers~

Male interest #1. Shen Chengchuan, a promising talent who accomplished creating his own company which is very successful. He has a beef with Feng family because they caused his father to become a scapegoat for their scheme and eventually not handle the pressure and unalive himself. I could understand why people didn't like him, because he treated Shi Yue like any other girl and wanted to use cheap tricks, not to menion the idea of using her for his own plans. His actions are just choppy and reactional because Shi Yue does not act by the book. I really couldn't get the moment when he felt like yeah this was my girl and I'm going to fight for it, others had stronger feelings.

Male interest #2. Yan Shuhe probably has the most interesting arc of all men to me, because his situation with Shi Yue is more profound. They knew each other from high school, but at that time he never realized his feelings and basically just felt most comfortable with Shi Yue around. But it didn't stop him from dating many girlfriends from school to university and he was a playboy. Maybe he treated love so cheaply because of his own family situation, divorced parents and cheating father who would go for anyone. he actually remarried to Shen Chengchuan's mother and they became step-brothers. But Shi Yue didn't see the same situation from the light of Yan Shuhe, to her a lot of his escapades with women was surely not welcomed, since she was constantly disturbed by them or was subjected to rumors of sort, some even insisted she was in love with Yan Shuhe but kept it a secret. Yan Shuhe actually didn't take the beginning of this dating program seriously, he just wanted to distract Shi Yue from becoming target by Chengchuan, but instead found himself caught in the past and slowly realized his feelings he had for so long, which grew stronger each day. At least he was more complex compared to others.

Male interest # 3. Jiang Shuiliu is a famous actor and is very aloof young man. He went through some traumatic experience during his first years after debuting so young and later it took a toll on him. During those times he met a person online, which was original Shi Yue, our Shi Yue continued to play games with him and they could talk about anything, but they never opened up about their real identities. On the show it happened to be a concidence that Shi Yue blew up her cover and Shuiliue realized that the girl he was talking to, who pretended to be much older single mom, is actually a girl in front of him. So he started his pursuit. At the point where I stopped it was not clear if his feelings were love and for who, for present Shi Yue or the past one.

Male interest #4. Jian Huai is another rich heir who lived pretending to be a common guy, he worked close to where Shi Yue lived, this is why she knew him beforehand, but thanks to system she figured who he is. Outwardly he is sunny and approachable, but in reality he is very manipulative and calculating, likes watching people destroy themselves. Like one actress on this dating show he made her fall for him so quickly, but later she was so obsessed with him that she lost all reason. he was interested in Shi Yue because she was once agin "not like other girls".

The story itself is nothing much, daily interactions at the villa they lived during filming, their daily lives outside, interactions etc.

Most of the time it felt like stream of consciousness, when someone starts with a mnologue, for example, and then it continues as a text, a recollection of memories and feelings. In this way author expressed what their characters feel etc.

Of course it all went not without a conflict, but mostly on the internet, especially Shi Yue who was accused of this and that because others were jealous of her, of course all troublemakers were women, because women can't see other women succeed. Also public was pretty against her since she was a nobody, but Jian Huai was a nobody too, so double standards. Many viewers after some time asked Shi Yue to publish a book on how to tame men, because they witnessed how she didn't put much effort but was eventually surrounded by majority of men in that dating show.

I stopped reading before she was recognized back to the Feng family, I honestly lost interest and the way paparazzi chased her and Shen, while Jain Huai used helicopter to take her away I thought to myself this was too melodramatic moment for me, I'm out.

From last chapters I took a look at she indeed returned to her familu, she was dealing with her eldest brother, who wanted to basically sell one of his sisters to some dude he knew for cooperation. Shi Yue was dealing with her father, at least it felt like she pinned him down. Good for her. She didn't continue with entertainment business because why. The "fake daughter" was actually on her side. It felt like she and Shen Chengchuan came together but had something going on before she gave him another chance or smth. Jian Huai was so twisted in the head that he didn't mind any position just so he could stay with her (he was like, I can wait, but I can also sabotage). As for two others I have no idea.

There was nothing inherently bad about it, well, before helicopter, but in general my interest just vanished slowly but surely. So I decided not to torture myself and put it down with finality.

RATE: DNF

[SHORT REVIEWS] #34

BOOKS

CHN

Lin An Si, it's your turn again to be ranted about. No really, what is wrong with this author.

[BL] 穿书成隐藏大佬堆的幼崽 by 林盎司 *JJ

Yu Qingye transmigrates and become a "fake" master, but he is only 5 years old (15yo before transmigrating, which honestly doesn't matter she can't pay attention to her own settings, while the beginning was more believable, later he instantly felt like he fell into IQ loss and then he just acts too mature, in the span of mere 10 chapters mind you) and the real master is actually reborn. Yu Qingye's plan is to see what this body's real family looks like, because he doesn't trust the real young master retelling of his life and actually exchange early on while they're still little.

The real young master isn't actually a good person as well, which is very cliche, he is of course hypocritical and ungrateful, only remembers his rich aunt that spent money on him, while pours dirt on his uncle who took care of him and protected him with his life in a car accident. His parents who brought up the young Yu Tian (his name in this universe) are the same as their kid, they start to treat badly their kid even before they received the paternity test. Honestly the entire chapter about the dinner will go into annals of her writing, since you can't be more old-fashioned when describing the parents of the real young master, of course they're homophobic when it comes to uncles raising the boy, also prejudiced towards them so much, don't even question or want to see for themselves how exactly they treat the kid, they just go along with a kid. Any adult knows that kids can say as it is, but also say as they see it. I wasn't even surprised at her portrayal by that point. And of course it's done for one purpose only.

Very cliche plot where a baby who is so good and sensible will turn out the darling of the family and family will reveal that they're actually not a simple family, that both his unces (uncle and his lover) are successful people who don't reveal their true identity for some reasons, also other members who are some prominent figures in disguise will show their tail as well I'd say.

Maybe Lin An Si thought that previous story was so successful that she's going to repeat it. Because in her previous story we had a troubled young man who only turned I don't remember how old he was, 18 maybe? she decided it's going to be super tragic to let the boy be unloved by his two parents who used money he earned when filming as a child star on their two new families the boy had no idea about and she decided to add the snot by making the boy pass being hit by a car. Here the beginning is same tragic, the MC is unloved in his family, his parents divorced and he had to stay with his dad, his mother left him with no strings attached and not looking back, he lived under the same roof and felt like a bag for punching and of course be servile to his younger brother. Of course his dad was such a scumbag that he will make him drop out of school and turn to work (did not work because at the same night MC transmigrates). Stuff like that Lin An Si seem to come to love so much. But the thing is she likes to do it to showcase the contrasting lives where now they'll be loved and cherished just for who they are.

But I don't buy it, the parents of these kids don't get their comeuppance and the kid, which was a problem for them is gone and they get no retribution (maybe they do, I DNF'd the previous work pretty quickly).

The next thing I predict for this story is that it'll be long, it'll be so long that you'll be surprised. I already saw through the style of this author few novels ago, she likes to add unnecessary stuff, it's my ongoing joke about 30 shower scenes and it came from this author. So the story is not only long but watery af. Imagine this, the famous Heaven Official's blessing is just 200+ chapters, my favorite Nightmare Live is 700+ but it is a complex multi-arc novel, Lin An Si ballooned her previous work to be 500+ chapters of family drama.

This time around she decided to make MC even younger before he transmigrates, well, I could get his reactions and fear at first. I thought "wow, is she going to make a different MC and make him really sound like a teen?" was my naive thought. But honestly it's like his IQ jumped around. At some parts he feels clever and mature, at other times author tries really hard to make you believe that he was so socially inept that he doesn't understand if the actions of "real" young master are common or not, as if he never communicated with anyone before or even witnessed his own family's relationship. He may had no friendly relationships before, but the kid does not live in isolation, we've all been there, where we can sit in our own corner but still see what others are doing or how they interact. And also have our opinion on it. She made it sound as if the boy lived under a rock all this time. And I don't believe it as always. So many stories she wrote and her portrayal is still on that level, but she built a following that supports her so props to that. If you like their repetitive stories then you're welcome to know their new story is being published. But any interest I had in her vanished when I realized she just recycles her own stuff.

[BL] 民国花旦重生后爆红娱乐圈 by 折吱*JJ

(mtl:A Republic of China actor becomes a sensation in entertainment industry after his reborth)

The story covers the life of Chu Jiu who has struggled in times of unrest and became a popular performer desired by many, but then he met his tragic end at the hands of invaders. But his life did not end at that, he found himself traveling to the future and becoming a celebrity embroiled in scandlas. Chu Jiu takes pity on Xiao Chu as he calles the owner of the body, because the person is not without acting talent, but his mentality of being stressed and not being keen on social relatiosnhips led him into the trap. The same person who claims tot ake care of him on the show is the one sending the most negative news about him. And this could have been Xiao Chu's last stage if Chu Jiu hasn't arrived in time.

What things Chu Jiu hasn't seen in his life? This actor named Ning Xi who thoroughly used Xiao Chu's popularity to his advantage certainly is not getting away. He is a pro at playing along. He will show him what a talent means.

The internet that was buzzing with news saw new episodes of the acting variety show and found themselves being attracted to the changes in Chu Jiu and his acting skills improving. Chu Jiu was not bothered and might have continued like he always did, but among the judges was a guest star renowned for his acting skills - Lu Hanzhang.

Being very experienced at flirting Chu Jiu didn't mind approaching the aloof actor, even if he met the rejection he was still intrigued because he never saw a person as Hanzhang before. But as their relationship develops he finds that their roles changed.

Let's start from the good part. I liked the relationship.

It starts with Chu Jiu openly flirting with Hanzhang, but Hanzhang acts like a gentleman, he doesn't get angry or gets petty. Because in Chu Jiu's mind no strings were attached is when he was the most firvolous. But later on the more he got together with Hanzhang he realized that Hanzhang is the type of person who once he gets serious it will be because of deep affection that won't be easily dispelled. So when Chu Jiu decides to cease his flirtations, because he knew he couldn't commit to a relationship he is confessed by Hanzhang.

Hanzhang is actually very prejudiced towards Chu Jiu, but later when they work more together he is surprised to find more new sides to Chu Jiu he knew nothing about. He knew that flirting won't go anywhere and actually thought of making himself clear one day, but eventually realized that he took care of Chu Jiu like no other person and he might have come to like him. This is why he decided to confess his feelings, being surprised that Chu Jiu did not agree. He knew and felt that Chu Jiu is not indifferent, but their level of affection is different. But he didn't give up.

Chu Jiu found that no one else in the world would fit him like Hanzhang, he makes him so comfortable, he is so caring. He let the feelings in his heart grow and the more time passed he found that feelings became more profound. The only question left was... it seems he is not the one who will end on top.

I did not finish it. An I'll tell you why. It would have been interesting and the relationship would really pull through if the style of sriting wasn't this meandering. I can't even express well how tedious it was to read and I started skipping parts before decided that I had enough and finished the last chapters.

The relationship and storyline unfortunately get lost in unnecessary details. It's funny to me because when things needed details they lacked them, but when it came to some basic stuff it went on and on without stopping. And it's not like those details were important, but some important parts would get lost in such heavy text.

Also the problem it seems in author treating readers as kindergarteners, not only writing something basic, but also explaining in details the motivation for actions or words.

Because of the barrage of words I'm sure I missed several illogical parts. It was just too much. Such meticulousness should have a purpose, but the only purpose I found here is basically watering down the content.

This story is 188 chapters long, okay?!

Imagine my frustration that they get together around 80th, then some action happens around 105, but by that time I'm so tired of this style of writing that I can't muster any excitement.

The story covers the variety show, which is the one that lacked details, even if it was described so extensively. Then filming. And on-going confrontation with Ning Xi and one of the mentrs, director Xu Wenhao who had his eyes on Chu Jiu.

As for the show, it seemingly describes a lot of scenes, but you know what? I still have no idea what type of format they used and what's the logic. At times it feels like it describes a theater type, they have background and wear mikes and also there were scenes where public reacted and distracted actors, not to mention mentors describe it as production that needs to be adapted to the scene. But then it suddenly says that there are pre-recorded parts. Some parts require a lot of extras, space and backgrounds etc. I just got so confused. Also the "adapted works" felt like too much going on and it did not connect the dots. Whatever, what do I know.

It could really win from editing and cutting down at least half of that text, but imagine when it all depends on word count to edit all that. Of course no one would be willing to do it. But it only proves that the work becomes flawed and overblown.

As for the logic flaws. I was sitting and thinking that the situation with the director was blown out of proportions and it was unrealistic.

So we have with director Xu Wenhao who is supposed to be a big director, but I haven't seen him described as a true pillar, because wen he was pushed he fell too quickly. He wanted to get Chu Jiu or otherwise destroy his prospects, and the guy is experienced. But the thing is every mentor is described as if they fear him and the troubles they can get into, so they dance around his ego a lot. Which is unrealistic, no director can hold so much power and not to mention there are so many directors in the industry, even if they're interconnected some may have conflicts, you can always find a way out. he was only described as such, but we don't see anything to prove that fear. But to me the strange part was, one of these mentiors is a wife of entertainment company, she married the boss and is now the boss' wife, they lived together for so long, yet she still acted as if the guy is more important. But director does not live in isolation, without capital he's nothing. The way he was brought down was too easy. And the guy stuck around for so long, I think it was chapter 96 when the things went down for him. But this type of storytelling is unsatisfying.

The best part of it are two main protagonists and their relationship. But I couldn't care less about meandering. Quote from our intelligent MC:

- "It's good for a person to be confident in themselves, but if that confidence goes too far and they fail to see the progress of others or realize the gap between themselves and others, then it becomes arrogance."

[BG] 快穿之男神苏炸天 by 姩潇潇 (*Qidian)

(mtl: Quick transmigration: The male lead is so charming)

Another masterpiece from this site. I ommit many ones that I open and close with the first chapter, this one I read a bit more because I was kinda shocked?

What brought me to mention it are author's words how they see the rating drop and they don't know why. I don't want to disappoint but... author maybe doesn't realize that they wrote an unlikable and gaslighting female lead.

FMC is supposed to be a dragon or smth, so she excuses her behavior with it a lot, like she doesn't understand human feelings. Yes, it may be right, but it feels like a dragon has no feelings of her own. Her description of feelings often comes across as cheap.

Plots are not worth of mentioning they're too over the top, they're just galloping without stopping and many things look as a draft. So it's easy to get tired of it. I got tired pretty quickly.

MC for some reason falls in love with this girl. Although she treats him poorly I'd say, gaslights him all the time (by the way she speaks). The way she treats romance is cringe-worthy with only words like "You like me. I like you. We can date. When do we marry" when they know each other for a short while. MC bends and stretches to follow this. She never lingers, never responds to unspoken words and never appreciates anything. Going on a date? She hates it because she'd rather stay home. Okay. A big bouquet of flower? Cumbersome to hold. She appreciates, she will say so, but also will add it's cumbersome. Too straightforward. And often repeats one and only answer wen asked if she ever loved the man when they're at the end of their lives, she says - what do you think? I am so rich and beautiful and men would line up after me but I was with you. She always answers with a question of this type. She can barely say I like you. I read few arcs, laughed at how silly it is and then decided that it was time to press 'x'.

Mentions:

I did re-read [BL] 我可怜，我装的 by 薄夭 (*JJ), since it's entertaining trashy read. I made a review on it long time ago.

[BG] 快穿：病娇大佬吃起醋来真要命 by 把你饭叼走 (*Qidian). Thought it'd be sweet and maybe trashy entertainment type, but honestly some writers don't realize how their characters look when they write. Thus it ends up looking bad. Plus the FMC is just the silly type, even though when I first read the introduction that she travels to collect soul pieces of her beloved husband I thought it was nice for a start, but then her reactions to some things were weird to me (either I think the timing was wrong or they looked not good), because the guy fell for her, it's all fine and dandy before you realize he is following her every move. The original storyline doesn't matter since it is solved instantly as if the male lead of the story is that insignificant. The tw easily get together and it's a happy life, nothing else matter but romance.

DNF'd [BL] 禁止歧视幼崽！ by 樱满庭 (*JJ) It's a story of MC who lands as a ..cub. And it's significant in every world, but I do not care to continue. It just didn't grab my attention. What weirds me the most is that this lands into BL category, it's put into category by the author. Maybe something will happen in the future how do I know, MC was still a cub at the end of arc 1. 

DNF'd [BL] 向导伴侣印记消失后 by 樱满庭 (*JJ) Thought the premise was interesting, but later realized that characterization is just... Anyway it's not my cup of tea and I wanted to punch author in the face a bit.

US

Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter by Sofi Laporte

1st book in Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues series. The title is self-explanatory, Lady Ludmilla indeed wrote a letter to her friend, but had no idea that tenants changed and she was answered by a man. Instead of severing the exchange then and there she continued this exchange of letter for several years, before fate made her return to London. And she hated London so much.

It's perfect for readers who like the theme of misunderstanding that will be present for entirety of the book. Readers as much as Ludmilla, shortened and lovingly called Lu, are chasing the red herring for most of the story, because author likes to throw dust in your eyes.

When Lu comes to London she is overwhelmed by the idea of meeting her Addy or staying in disguise. But coincidences keep happening that always lead her astray. At first she felt she got it right when thought that St Addington, the person she disliked, is her Addy. But then she finds out that he also has a cousin living in his house who is called Adam Adey. Even the reader may become confused since Adam mentions "writing a letter" or "waiting for a letter" several times, very much when mentoning such activity will lead us to believ he may be our Addy. So the whole thing is more like going back and forth before protags are honest with each other.

Oh, another thing is why Lu despised St Addington at first, although he was nto exactly the person she should loathe. When she oly debuted she was approached by a man, Matthew, but then accidentally she finds out he wants her money as a daughter of a Duke and all that flirting was nothing but a pretence. She disliked St Addington because he enticed Matthew to bet, though she saw that matthew wasn't against betting himself.

Of course as time went by and they came to know each other more such harsh feelings changed. He on the other hand was remorseful, since he liked her a lot for a very long time.

Very easy to read book, you can breeze through it. But again, the problem with modern HR romance is that it reads too modern. The way people speak and act.

Also author's humor, if there was such, passed me by so hard. I really didn't see anything funny with what characters found funny.

The last part where Lu goes back to Bath with her aunt she is rumored to be a fallen woman since she kissed St Addington in public (on his cheek), but then she said some random stuff like what a spinster to do and became a sensation after some passing Duchess told her she is something. I was baffled kinda.

I decided I won't continue with other books from this series.

RATE: 3/5.

I started reading the fourth book from the series and am around 25% in. I really have no idea how it happened, but I won't be dwelling on it. We start from sudden departure of Veronica on a longest vocation. Just after she and Stoker might have broken the barrier of friends to lovers, but they were stopped and Veronica backpedalled. Anyway Stoker's older brother comes to Veronica (since he is one of those gentlemen who is charmed~ by her, though who knows why) with a deal, so she will travel with him for a visit (she sold herself for butterflies but this time she feels more and more inclined to have live butterflies instead of making specimens). I think the name of butterfly was sompletely fabricated. Shocker I know, I'm sarcastic because I remember I googled on of the names and got some really random butterfly that can be found anywhere. Anyway, they travel and this man asks her to pretend to be his fiance, since it will not tarnish her reputation. Stoker actually arrived separately, but with same destination, but honestly girl hurt his feelings so much already by refusing and dancing around the topic.

As for what happens on this island is that it has a castle and it all gives gothic vibes, they even have poison plants garden. Locals believe in mermaids and ghosts. Since one of them is rumored to haunt the halls of the castle. I hope it won't go into supernatural or something odd that will have no good reason but something supernatural.

Also this bad boy here. I found this on IG and thought it's such a cool idea to have a whole book of puzzles like that. It was like a door opened to a new world. So there is a niche with books like that. It's so interesting. I love the interactive idea of it.

After seeing there are also other puzzles like Murdoku I actually ended up staying so late at night on their site enamored in the puzzle-solving.

This one caught my attention because the FMC after the death of her husband finds he might have deceived her and she had no idea about his secrets. This way a person is brought in into investigating in a logical fashion. 

This one chosen because I wanted to try something new and from recommended, will see how it goes.

FUTURE RELEASES

           

Most of these come from the lists of recommended future releases. I'm so obvious that I go for covers and titles. Except Bodies of Magic, that came as rec from YT. I thought that Revenge plot itself sounds amazing, I'd like to see the story which promises mystery thriller and really inteesting premise of author who wants to be published and will not take no for an answer. Kiss, slay, replay is a loop novel and I want to try it, it sounds fun. If it's going to be unhinged I'm wlecoming it. As for I hope this email finds you in hell it reminded me of some fun stories when I was reading about metaphysics and connecting the two sounds fun. I think I remember one especially which was a BL story where a programmer joined the hell company and later they together invented many things, it was light-hearted and humorous.

I haven't watched anything these days except catching up with Running Man show. The only variety I still watch.

[SHORT REVIEWS] #33

BOOKS

CHN

美丽怪物 by 蜀七 *JJ

(mtl: Beautiful monster)

Synopsis: Jun Ming became a monster. He feeds on malice, luck, desires, he incites those and feeds on them.

As a parasitic vine entered his body his fate also changed.

A lot of trigger warnings like: violence, school bullying (a lot of gross details) also attempted r*, emotional manipulation etc.

This is really drama, the type where author feeds you a bucket of glass from the first page. Maybe I'm this sentimental right now, but the very first chapter made me so depressed. I know that if you think about the situation then probably the MC could have acted differently, but the whole bullying process is truly so depressing.

Author has some simple but great way of describing things and my imagination ran wild along with it, not all stories are capable of making me had such vivid imagery.

But I also would like to note that author may have never intended to say these things and it's just my imagination, after all it's a supernatural story, yet at the same time when you read how MC feels the relief and how he feels better it made me think of how he previously mentioned that he liked to imagine himself in a totally different place while he was being bullied and it made me think "what if it's just his final fantasy". Considering the vine did enter his body you may start doubt which part of JunMing left.

The only really sad part is that the story is not finished. It's beautifully written, I was truly captivated by it, but unfortunately still has status of being published, yet the last update was in Jan. It's such a pity.

[BL] 假少爷他觉醒了[重生] by 甘洄*JJ

(mtl: The fake young master has awakened)

Synopsis: Story about Li An who returns back to the pivotal moment of his life and slowly lays down trap by trap for the family that screwed him over so much.  He wants to pay back for all the unwaranted suffering. It's very melodramatic but at the same time author really does a good job about emotional part. I've read this author's works previously and I have only positive things to say about stories I've read. Despite the fact that it's such a cliche setting and honestly tired troped of fake / true young masters, but I enjoy when it's done right. This reading experience was no exception. So if anyone likes the combo of things like revenge / rebirth stories, cunning protagonist, melodrama, they might enjoy this one too.

You can see the review here. I go into more details, since I finished the story while creating this short reviews post ahaha

[BL] 人！咪家死人了，你管不管 by 茶香茉莉 *JJ

(Report! Mimi Is Here to File a Case)

Synopsis: Lin Jiangyue returns back, but something goes wrong and he retains the ability to understand and communicate with animals. Because of the murder case next door his ability gets eventually exposed and he, as a special consultant, joins police on solving many cases.

I wish I could say positive things about it. Those who like shallow, flufy stories might like it. But to me it ended up a boring shallow story that followed the establised routine.

My main complaint was how shallow everything is. The characters themselves, including animals. Everyone is pretty one-dimensional person that lacks any depth. Animals could have played the role, but it's pretty basic and not so interesting. The knowledge on animals is also the wiki-level. The cases are following the same path, something happens, they find animal witnesses, thanks to leads collect evidence and voila~. And the routine repeats. The significance of animals in these cases is present, but at the same time it's not. Maybe because it is like a copy-paste scene after copy-paste dialogue.

And I feel it's a pity and a wasted potential.

Also NU should have included tw of animal a*use.

[BG] 闪婚而已[先孕后爱] by 朵慕 *JJ

(mtl: A whirlwind marriage)

Synopsis: Jiang Zhi did not expect that a wild drunk night will lead to a marriage to one of the most prominent bachelors of their city. 

Cloying meh.

I can honestly say that I didn't finish it, though the story is very short (excluding extras), it is sweet and easy, but also FMC is too infantilized. I usually don't care if someone can act coquettish, but here the MMC calls her a little girl or little kitten, she is of course 165cm tall, very standard, acts like a small animal sometimes, throws tantrums, which should have been described as the pregnancy symptoms, since the hormonal changes are wild, but by the time I dnf'd it I haven't seen the story present it that way. Even the struggle to make her more independent from Bo Shiyu (MMC) she is said to not want everyone at work to know she became the boss lady. Actually understandable, but honestly it is kind of silly not to use resources that are laid out to you. She says many times that they come from different social circles, yeah obviously, but then asks when she is going to become stronger? But girl, you can't compare to your husband's family no matter how you try if you measure by social status and achievements. I wish in these stories we could get a picture of a woman who slowly wants to get better, but doesn't emphasize the difference so much. Just to make the FMC feel better, since it's a fantasy of author's mind, of course her husband is the only one who always bends his head and bows first. Otherwise what would you expect. mutual respect? Dream on. 

Another point that really stuck to me is how she told him that if he finds anyone he likes they can get a divorce. Which doesn't look good to me. It just once again provides proof of how little people think of marriage. She just told the man he is going to be a father, he, with all his money and power, accepts it and asks her to get married, even if she thinks it's for the baby, but the next thing she says is about divorce. Girl thinks she did a good job. I think not.

Anyway, the plot of this story is too simplistic. The emotional part even more so 9god, protect me from all these stories where they say marriage first love later when MMCs basically have an eye for FMC from the very beginning but they don't explain why they feel that way). Story starts from the night itself when she is so drunk she doesn't recognize the way. Bo Shiyu meets her ad thinks she's one of "those", but since the dinner arrived on its' own two feet he is okay with it. Sounds bad, yeah it is. So they have this one-night stand, seeing the MMC physique Jiang Zhi thinks she did not lose. She treats it as an accident and takes it well, which was pretty impressive. But then time passes and her sudden interaction with Bo Shiyu grow, before she refuses his proposal of dating. Then in a while she realizes she's pregnant and Bo Shiyu takes responsibility. Here dynamic changes even more, since he is acting like a nagging nanny that always chases after a naughty child. But she doesn't help think of her better since she walks straight into obvious troubles. At least one time she was not aware she was pregnant. But the second time... honestly, it only takes a second to call the man and say - my friend is in danger, can you help me? In this case we can slowly progress the slowly growing feeling so she can feel his protection, but author decided for some reason to go for "hero saves the beauty" and coincidentally when FMC walks out right after she was brought home and went to a bad where her friend was held against her will, since she was scammed, for some reason MMC did not drive off immediately and of course he followed, somehow finding his way, then seeing her walk in and following of course, but imagine he did not appear. Honestly, it looked silly..

Also another problem is how "troubles" appear out of nowhere, or they are not troubles at all if you think about it. So Jiang Zhi is not some orphaned girl, picked up, she was lost long ago so the story follows "my mother adopted a girl and poured all her love into her before I returned" kind of script. She returned to Jiang family and no one welcomed her, since she grew up a wild girl. But honestly, you may not live with them, she is an adult, can move out etc. Even if the family wants to cause trouble, they're not powerful enough, you can cause them trouble too. Why in each and every story we don't hear anything about social media. She acted as if the sky was falling with this family. When they call why do you answer? I wanted to ask her time and time again. You just say - go fuck yourself. You're independent, live away from home and don't care about them. Don't bring blood relationship, it is just too cheap. The problem with her family is that they've failed in business and wanted to marry her off of course, as if it's a forced buy and sell, how about the police. Then the adpted girl said - what if the family will make you leave the city, since you will never find a job? Oh really? What a big threat from a family who are nothing themselves. 

Too much silly is too much.

US

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle

I'm adding this book to TBR because it attracted me by the cover and premise. I love stuff like, I'm a basic bitch.

I decided not to add too many books this time around, with time I'm filtering with what still hangs and waits its' turn and which is not attractive to me anymore. Pretty easy thing to do when you organize your TBR digitally haha

The only good news since last time is that Beatrice Hyde-Clare series will get a new book released in December this year.

MOVIES

HOT FUZZ (2007)

What can I do. I really had never watched this movie before, even if I'm sure a ton of people saw it, at least that memable scene from it.

Very fun watch, I think they filmed it well, it has a good amount of crazy in it and this is why it is so entertaining. Made me want to read more about small-town mysteries.

Not much else to say except that it was really entertaining.

Gentlemen prefer blondes (1953)

Well, you have no idea how many times I started watching this movie and then was interrupted. But finally it happened.

And I have nothing much to say about the story, but I think it's worth watching for the female friendship.

Dorothy is such a great character, always snappy and sharp, honestly you can envy her wittiness. But she is also a fierce friend. So the two are the best combo who always have each other's back.

I'm pretty sure many have watched this movie not only because of Monroe, but because it has the most popular music number "Diamonds are the girl's best friend", which was referenced so many times in pop culture. Or if they never watched the movie they surely know the song and the part.

Anyway, it was a great watch. Gorgeous, gorgeous women.

UPDATE (30/07)

The Sheep Detectives (2026)

I didn't want to create a separate post, but I watched this today. I was here for Emma Thompson, I never even intended to watch this movie.

For me the movie about animals is not new. Who remembers Babe about a small piglet. Or there was one about two dogs and a cat I think finding their way home, just like 101 Dalmatians. Yeah, so many movies about spiritual animals (even more in animation), but not in proximity to humans, to the point of such interaction. 

Then comes a movie about sheep. They live with their shepherd George Hardy who loves to read his sheep murder mysteries, not knowing they understand him. And one morning George is found dead. There is a motive - his inheritance. And there are suspects. The movie doesn't really try to make the viewer suspect anyone except George's daughter, since the sheep themselves are so fixated on her.

The movie lays out a lot of basic truths that the sheep explore for themselves.

Surely the sheep are also the star of the show, otherwise who would solve the case if not them, you mean that foolish officer? Tbh it felt kinda off. He is actually not that stupid too, just never had the chance to do it I guess, he eventually picks up on clues and almost evolves by the end of the movie. At least he was the most prominent character. Funnily another character I still liked was played Emma Thompson, I really wanted to see her and I got what I came for. She is amazing.

And from the sheep flock I'd pick Sebastian, because he was so snarly and actually had a point.

For one time it's an okay watch, especially because it has almost cozy feeling to it.

I read the reviews with spoilers under the book and I must say it's insane how they reshaped the story, a lot of it was changed I suppose. And I'm not mad. The book also has a pretty low rating for goodreads

I try to update the previous posts if I finished or dnf'd something, but most of all, nothing major happened. I wait for stories that are upcoming (if we talk western books), I want to finish one book before switching to others. I mostly spent time with Chinese stories because the process got dragged and I switch to easy read / exploration. I actually talk about All Hail Chaos I was waiting for so long, but I admit I drag through it. The reason for is plot barely moving anywhere and there are too many flowery descriptions which are mostly unnecessary (a lot of stuff I could forget in the book one, but not really wanting to see it here, cringy stuff counted in). Good thing I enjoyed these stories I found meanwhile. I really want to read this book and I'm not saying it's bad (at least at this point haha), but it just manages to drag. This is the reason I don't want to switch to any other novel for now. This is such a crazy difference when I was reading the first book, which I finished in few days.

I added few things I want to watch when it comes to anime, I want to watch Planetes, which I think I tried to start but something felt off for me back then, but as I watched it now I felt nothing wrong, like why was I like that back then.

I re-watched Howl's moving castle for who knows which time after my Katsuhiro Otomu maraphon. This anime is legendary to me.

I struggled a bit more through Jujutsu Kaisen season three or Culling Game (it's beginning). And I can not stress enough that this anime lost the plot for me, where we started and where we are now is too much. Also too much of it is explanation and no plot that moves forwards. I couldn't care less and honestly got so bored. 

I also want to watch Texhnolyze, I think I atempted it once long ago, wrong time it was. Not saying you need to be an adult or something, just was not the right mood for it. And then it was forgotten for so long.

Which leads me to the idea of including Last Exile in this list. I already have all three waiting for me.

[Chinese BG novel] 女战神的黑包群 by 二谦 / Goddess of war and her black envelope group (PART 1)

*Qidian, so be prepared.

This is a 3k beast and I'm not even 1/6 through it. I'm on chapter 565. I decided to make a pause because I found myself a bit tired of this story. I'm sure there will be part 2 eventually when I will come around continuing, but at this point, well, I just wanted to explore this story a bit.

Goddess of War is a story about the main character Dong Shu, she is an interstellar legend with her incredible abilities and achievements that can take a day and a night to recount. But in her life a tragedy happened, her brother, who was also a renown legend in their world met an accident and fell into coma since then, but no matter what ways Dong Shu tried she couldn't make her brother Dong Li wake up. She truly loves her brother who always took care of her, so when a black envelope group appeared in her smart brain she saw a chance in it.

How Black Envelope Group operates: someone released a black envelope in a group chat, you click on it and then you're transported into a new world. Black envelope group gives you a basic information, name and age and asks you to fulfill the OG wish. The problem is sometimes she has memories and can assume what the wish might be, at other times there are no memories and she is blind guessing.

If you succeed you are given black envelope points as a reward, if you get enough then you can start sending black envelopes yourself. What are the perks - rewards. She sends envelopes and asks for a reward and she can asks for precious medicines that do not exist in their world all for the sake of creating a miracle medicine that will wake her brother. That is her goal of completing these worlds.

For a reader what are the perks. Dong Shu is pretty strong and intelligent character. Downside is that it's often said rather than done. Like author says she has brainwashing skills, but rarely shows it. She has her smart brain and her mental power with herself, this is why she can be physically strong in any world, the main point is to have enough to eat.

Black envelope group provides almost no info, the only thing is how they give rewards that might be helpful, though Dong Shu does not use them unless necessary.

FMC is smart and ambitious in these worlds and tries to fulfill the wishes as soon as possible, but here's a catch.

A downside is that FMC does not stay in these worlds, this happens rarely and most of the time her time in this world for some reason depends on main couples of these worlds. As long as the couple is happy and together she is safe, but when they break up she is ejected from the world. To me it repeats the same process, although at the same time she does not waste time, but sometimes her circumstances make this sudden leave sad (for example she has kids to take care of or parents that love her dearly, stuff like that). But because the process is repeated most of the time it a) feels like copy and paste and b) gets a bit boring. Not to mention how the fulfilling someone wish correlates to main protagonists. I can understand the world should collapse but it doesn't, only FMC is ejected. Another downside is that sometimes these worlds feel empty. Although something happens but it feels like it doesn't really matter and eventually the ending might be flushed. So you sit and think - so, what was the point?

ARC 1

Foodie in the 70's. Girl who just wanted to have her fill. The world was a success.

Tbh it was a ncie beginning. Mostly because FMC managed to convert the thinking of her parents, I like when characters have a change of heart and follow a one-sided path. Also she got together with potential female protag and they helped each other, eventually FMC lived the longest in this world. But the way that both women helped each other was heart-warming. Female protag despite her gold finger realized that FMC has so many ways about life and so many ideas, she did not envy it, on the contrary she thought of her own limitations with a clear head. So both were content with what they eventually got.

ARC 2

Innocent heiress. First failed world.

Mostly not because FMC is bad, but because OG's morals were questionable, she wanted to get together with her non-related stepbrother. But FMC who may do a lot of shit is uncapable of such stuff or guess such things, she later on was keen on the possibility of marriage being OGs wish, but usually it ended with nothing.

Otherwise she became successful in this world, yet because of a villainous supporting character she had to sacrifice herself for the good. A bit silly how they allowed her to do what she did at the very end. Also her stepbro actually fell for her and he was not the only one. 

ARC 3

One General's success is built on ten thousand bones.

A pretty good arc, I really liked it. Especially the theme of transmigrating girl who caused so much devastation to the world with her "innovations".

FMC lands as a peasant girl who wants to make sure a general protecting their land is safe. She travels to the borders to slowly build up momentum for the possible revolting against current imprial power that only knows how to indulge.

On the opposite side are the transmigrating girl who plays the innocent type who fishes for men to support her, she is currently the main wife of one of the princes, but her innovation actually left another country in devastation, although it brought quick success an dthey acquired a lot of new land, they destroyed people along the way. It just showed that not all transmigrators selflessly do something good or the devastating effect weapons can have.

Pretty good arc to me. Was a great success.

One fun part is how FMC asked the general to marry her because she was afraid she'll fail because of failure in marriage to a designated person. Because FMC perished with one of the protags she still made such wish, good thig the world was a success.

ARC 4

Little wolf dog brother in apocalypse.

FMC got a nice gold finger here, a delivery app where she can get food out of thin air. It mostly told how she traveled with her neighbor, a young man who was also left alone. So they stuck together and she took care of him, trying to make him the strongest because she knew she might leave any moment. She also had some research done on the virus which she left to a trusted person.

But this is also the first world where author gets a bit repetitive, as if they try to reiterate too much or even use the same diologues or rhetoric of characters. Which was going in circles sometimes.

ARC 5

Specialst on trending

Outdated actress who spent most of her resources on her husband, but forgot about herself. Eventually her husband forgot all the good parts and asked for divorce.

In this arc we have a traversing girl with a lot of ambitions but who does not care about people surrounding her, thinking she is hot commodity. And also the husband is reborn but it was too late.

I can say I liked this as well, because this female protagonist who has no real talent of her own, tried to promote herself as most outstanding and because she believed it's just a story and others are just NPCs, not realizing that world does not revolve around her and others are living and breathing people. Eventually she built her own downfall. Not to mention others who initially supported her turned against her.

I think it's a nice touch of - don't be too full of yourself.

FMC because she couldn't act spent most time singing, since she had healing magic she also used it in her voice, then took part in variety show. She eventually starred in movies and learnt some craft but not on the high level. She was always more physical type, just strong girl.

ARC 6

Let's eat chicken (*gaming term)

FMC suddenly becomes a boy.

In this one she plays as a kind-hearted boy. She eventually got her shit together and started studying extensively. She is successful in it because of her mental strength. But she also appreciates knowledge she can absorb in any world.

The OG died when saving someone. And eventually the main couple separated also because they didn't have this emotional push at first when both people felt there is no need for much, life is precious and let's be together.

By this time she eiether broke up couple intentionally or was the catalyst for relationships, but overall unlike first couple no one stays together for long.

FMC eventually got a lot of things done before leaving and this is the part where she got really good parents and she did everything so they'll be taken care of if she's not there. I really felt sorry for the parents.

But also because it had a lot of gaming content which I simply started skipping eventually.

ARC 7

Cultivation world.

FMC lands as OG who is actually riddled with a lot fo rumors and for a good reason. She is renowned for bringing young men and changing them like gloves. FMC's idea and wish are conencted to finding how such a powerful figure perished, since she had no solid memories of those moments.

She actually cultivated well in this world. Became close to both protags, male protag respected her view on cultivation.

She also found the truth behind her weakness. It was a devised plan by demonic cult, they used a man who was close to OG to poison her with a special herb and using incence they'd weaken her cultivation so when the Demon King came she was easily defeated. This time FMC was prepared. Eventually she played a huge role in defeating Demon King and the demon cult alltogether. But eventually failed to pass the tribulation when ascending to immortality because a female protag sais something to her.

But it was a success.

ARC 8

Campus.

I always find campus stories a bit boring. So FMC was a chubby young girl who was bullied. Although she did not strive to lose weight she eventually started to lose weight bit by bit and started studying. Which impressed teachers and others, even her bullying ended with her getting more popular. The protags here are two character from her class, one is a campus nerdy girl who is cute, deemed as a goddess and is good at studying, another is a rebellious boy, but who eventually got better because of her.

FMC actually had nothing to do with these two, even og died from a car accident which was random. But when she reached some success she once again was ejected leaving her parents behind.

At this point I was really getting irritated that she can't stay just because protags were breaking up an dmaking up because of one female character who was always sticking to them and coming in-between.

ARC 9

Raising children in 60's

First time FMC had children, of course kids were there when she arrived. Another failed world.

Thing is OG wanted her to marry some random man OG had a relationship with. But FMC would never even consider it.

OG is a widow living in a small village in the 60s, life is hard and her husband left early, although she liked him but his family did not support her since she gave birth to a girl. Now she is notorious because she had relationships with several men, but she did it for survival. Yet it was obvious she was more selfish about herself than her kids. This is why the world failed, she thought of herself and not her kids, even if she already preferred boys over girls like anybody else. Her boy was born from one of her lovers btw.

This is second time FMC got a golden finger that helped her through hardest times.

The protags were two people from her village, there is also another protag / traverser who landed in this place. Both couple were unhappy. But the main protag was this traversing girl who had her eyes on an educated youth and wanted to leave to city with him eventually. All the young love that was present at first was worn away with years of hardships and lack of supportive husband.

So when these families failed FMC also was ejected, but at least she made the kids grow up and be successful, for this she was different from OG.

ARC 10

Because FMC was devastated by the morals of previous world she was apprehensive of wishes in this one. This is called Phoenix Journey, a woman who rose from ashes and avenged her parents. 

OG is a girl who came from a PM household, she fell for not favorite prince and with her family she managed to support him to the throne, but the new emperor turned around and betrayed her, killing her entire family and his "true love" destroyed FMC, don't want to put here gruesome details.

FMC traveled to a bordering country and y coicidence met a girl who looked like her, from her she realized this girl is a daughter of her mother long-lost sister, this is why they look alike, she took her place and returned to a family who wanted to use her instead of her sister for a "good luck" marriage. FMC did not mind it, because she wanted to find a person to cooperate with, she will give them strength to rise to power and they will help her to size the neighboring country she's from. 

It's not a bad arc, has a lot of relationships and action / consequences sequences. Eventually FMC found a best person for the future Emperor for this land and the one who is capable of being the best partner (not as a marriage union of course). They managed to outperform others and she laid out plans how to defeat the others. She indeed managed o fulfill OG's wish, avenging her entire family. Others by the end also found out her true identity since they started doubting who she is. She killed the Emperor who betrayed her and his wife, who went through everything OG went through.

One of few where FMC stayed in this world for years. Reason is FMC is a reborn person and she had similar situation as FMC, eventually she got together with a prince who loved her and they lived in contentment.

ARC 11

Well,t his one was actually boring.

Republic of China era. FMC plays a concubine who was given away several times. While FMC lived her life freely and unrestrained she met three warlords of this region. Most of the time it was abuot them and her family and also a girl who became her friend. But the ending to me was really flushed when it was quickly described how she and her friend decided to go to frontline since they wanted to help and she perished protecting her friend. She also never met the protag group in this one. I really had the feeling of asking - what was the point?

ARC 12

Weird arc ended in FAILURE.

First of all it's a world of not so distant future, all men have to go through preparatory school, mainly very military style. But OG is a girl.

Also FMC had no memories. While FMC excelled at her task she also found out that she was sent to replace her unhealthy brother, but who actually just wanted to skip hardships. And her parents were truly biased son-raising monsters.

FMC eventually confessed to instructor and was redirected to military since she was a talent, before her roommates could use it against her, since all three started doubting her.

This arc also ended pretty quickly after she was transferred, she died on a mission.

Her roommates found another substitute, OG's half-siser who was sent instead of their good-for-nothing brother.

Why the world failed, because OG was discovered and had indecent relationship with her roommates and she wanted to be with them, of course FMC never even considered something like this.

FMC managed to get her brother be taken into this preparatory school, but because he didn't want to go they eventually found the half-sister, it's an older girl their father had after an affair with a starlet, before he found a good marriage with a richer girl. He had no idea he had this child but when she appeared due to circumstances they managed to send her in instead their son where she was soon discovered an ddied. But for this the aprents surely didn't care, when it came to OG they also didn't care if their girl would be discovered and exploited.

But by this time I thought that FMC's spending timein worlds is really short, it all depends on something else like main couples, she can leave at any moment, stories are also lacking substance. Some are at least more or less interesting, give a different take on different situations. But several last ones are rushed and not inetersting or this arc simply has some twisty OG with her weird wish.