Title: First and Forever
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 320
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Buy this book on Amazon

First and Forever

Duffy DiStefano is one of the biggest Coyote football fans, and she goes to every game whenever she can. During one match, the Coyote mascot gropes her, and Duffy reacts by pushing him down the stairs while the crowd boos her.

Connor Cunningham is one of the star players of the Coyote football team. When news breaks that the mascot has been harassing women, Connor tries to help repair the team’s reputation. He asks Duffy out on a date, and the two quickly start having a good time together. Before long, Connor is even spending time with Duffy’s brothers and father.

Review

I love Lynn Painter’s books, so when this one was recently released, I knew I had to read it too, and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

It’s another sports romance. I’ve been reading a lot of sports romances lately, and I honestly thought I was starting to get tired of the genre. But apparently not, because I absolutely devoured this book.

The story follows a fake-dating trope. Duffy pretends to date Connor to make her father happier. After losing Duffy’s mother a year earlier, her father is struggling with both grief and his own illness, so Duffy believes this fake relationship might cheer him up a little.

What Duffy doesn’t know is that Connor also has his own reason for fake-dating her. He’s using the relationship for positive PR for his football team after everyone discovers that the team mascot had been sexually harassing women during games. Of course, not telling Duffy the real reason behind the fake relationship was a huge mistake. But aside from that, Connor was actually a decent guy. He spent a lot of time with her family, genuinely cared about her, and was always there for her. The only real red flag was keeping the truth from her.

I’m not exaggerating when I say I finished this book in just a couple of hours. I was completely obsessed with it, and that’s one of the main reasons I gave it 5/5 stars. The banter between the two main characters was amazing, and honestly, good banter is probably one of my favorite things in romance books.

If I had to point out one thing that felt a little strange, it would be how much attention was given in the first few chapters to Duffy fainting. Apparently, she faints pretty easily whenever she gets nervous or has a crush on someone—especially celebrities. Because of that, I expected it to become a bigger part of the story and happen a few more times. But after the beginning, it was barely mentioned again. I thought it was going to play a much larger role throughout the book.

Overall, though, this was another Lynn Painter book that I really enjoyed. The banter was fantastic, and it was one of those books that you simply can’t stop reading—the kind of story you become completely obsessed with.

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Breathing is something we do all day long without even thinking about it. Because it happens automatically, many people don’t realize that they’re breathing in a shallow or unhealthy way.

The healthiest way to breathe is slowly and deeply. Deep breathing has many benefits for both your body and mind, and learning how to breathe properly is more important than most people realize.

In this post, I’m going to talk about the benefits of deep breathing and why practicing it can make such a positive difference in your daily life.

The Benefits of Deep Breathing

1. Less stress
   
   When you breathe shallowly, your body can interpret it as a sign that something is wrong or unsafe in your environment. As a result, your nervous system shifts into “survival mode.” Your brain releases more stress hormones, your heart rate increases, and you start to feel even more stressed or overwhelmed.
   
   That’s why taking a few moments to focus on deep breathing can make such a big difference. When you slowly breathe deeply in and out, you send a signal to your body and brain that you are safe. This helps calm your nervous system, allowing you to relax.
   
   In just a few minutes, you may notice:
   – Your heart rate is slowing down
   – Your blood pressure is dropping
   – Your muscles are relaxing
   – Your mind feels calmer
   
2. Improved focus
   
   When you breathe deeply, your body functions more efficiently. Deep breathing increases the amount of oxygen your body and brain receive, which can improve your focus, concentration, and overall mental clarity.
   
   This can make it easier to stay focused on tasks such as:
   – Schoolwork
   – Work
   – Reading
   – Studying
   – Creative projects
   
   Try taking a few slow, deep breaths before starting school, work, or any task that requires concentration. It can help calm your mind and improve your focus.
   It’s also helpful to pay attention to your breathing throughout the day. If you notice that you’re breathing shallowly or quickly, pause for a moment and take a few slower, deeper breaths instead. Even small moments like this can help you feel calmer and more focused.
   
3. Better sleep
   
   One of the main reasons many people struggle to fall asleep quickly is that they start overthinking at night. The moment everything becomes quiet, their mind suddenly starts racing.
   That’s actually one of the reasons I started reading before bed; it helps me switch off my brain and focus on something calming instead. But breathing exercises can help as well. When you slow down your breathing and take deep, controlled breaths, your body starts to relax, and your mind becomes calmer. This makes it much easier to fall asleep naturally.
   
4. Better physical recovery
   
   The deeper and slower you breathe, the more oxygen your muscles receive, which helps your body repair itself more efficiently. It also supports your body in removing waste products more effectively. Deep breathing can contribute to better physical recovery, and over time, it may help improve your strength, endurance, and overall performance.
   
5. More balanced emotional system
   
   We react throughout the day to everything happening in our environment, and many situations can trigger stress, anxiety, or even panic. When you start paying attention to your breathing, you may notice that over time you feel more balanced, calm, and relaxed. Your reactions to stressful situations become less intense, and you feel more grounded. This can help you feel more in control of your emotions and how you respond to everyday life.

Photo by Angelina Sarycheva on Unsplash

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You just had one of the most stressful and busiest weeks of your life, and all you want to do this weekend is nothing but relax in bed. That probably sounds like a great idea. I mean, you’re resting your body, right? And your body does need rest every now and then. Resting is healthy; I completely understand that.
And honestly, sometimes it can be really enjoyable to stay in bed, watch your favorite show, or read your favorite books. But I also think that bedrotting is not always the best solution when you’re exhausted. In some cases, it can actually be bad for you.

Note: With this post, I’m not saying you can never bedrot. The problem starts when it becomes a regular habit. At that point, it may stop being beneficial and could even start affecting your mental and physical health.

Why Bedrotting is Bad for You

It can worsen your mental health

If you’ve had a terrible day or week, bed rest might not be the best solution, especially if it becomes a regular habit. Doing it once in a while isn’t necessarily bad, but if you do it often, it can start creating more problems in your life and even worsen your mental health.

First of all, you begin isolating yourself by staying in bed all the time. You also move your body less, even though physical movement can actually help improve your mental health. Sometimes going for a walk, getting fresh air, or doing something active can make a bigger difference than lying in bed all day.

When you spend too much time in bed doing nothing, you also give yourself more time to overthink. Your mind starts replaying everything, and overthinking can quickly make you feel even worse.

And on top of that, bedrotting often leads to doomscrolling. You end up endlessly scrolling on your phone, which is not only a huge waste of time but can also negatively affect your mental health even more.

It reduces your energy levels

You’ve had a busy week, and you’re exhausted. Resting in bed might seem like the best solution. You probably think your body needs rest so you’ll have more energy for the next few days or the upcoming week.

But sometimes, the opposite is actually true.

When you spend too much time sitting or lying down, you can end up feeling even more tired and sluggish. That’s why, after doing almost nothing all day, you may still feel exhausted. Meanwhile, once you start moving and doing things, you often notice that your energy slowly comes back.

If you’re truly tired, the best solution is to get enough quality sleep at night and then move your body during the day. Even small amounts of movement, like going for a walk, stretching, or cleaning, can help you feel more energized.

It can disrupt your sleep

Your bed should ideally be a place that your brain associates with sleep. Try not to watch movies in bed, scroll on your phone, or eat there. If you only use your bed for sleeping (and maybe one other activity), your brain will start connecting your bed with rest and sleep. Over time, this can actually help you fall asleep faster.

But if you spend hours bedrotting, scrolling, or doing everything in bed, that connection becomes weaker. Your brain no longer sees your bed as a place for sleep only, which can negatively affect your sleep quality.

If you want to have a lazy day and relax a little more, it’s better to do it on the couch or somewhere else instead. That way, your bed remains a space dedicated to rest and sleep.

You will start doomscrolling

Bedrotting became a trend on social media, and one thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of people also scroll on their phones while doing it. There are two reasons why this isn’t great.

First of all, as I mentioned, doomscrolling can negatively affect your mental health. The second reason is that it cancels out the “benefits” of resting. The point of bedrotting is that you need or want to rest, but doomscrolling is actually very demanding on your brain.

So after a day of scrolling on your phone in bed, your body might feel physically rested, but you’ll often feel exhausted anyway because your brain is drained from all the stimulation.

You will start avoiding things

Maybe there is a deeper reason why you want to bedrot, and I’m not an expert. There might be something going on with your mental or physical health, and in that case, it’s best to see a doctor.

But sometimes people also bedrot to avoid things. Maybe it has become a “safe space,” and when you stay in bed, you feel less stressed or anxious. However, staying in bed is not going to solve the underlying problem. Or maybe you are avoiding something else entirely.

Your body needs movement

Sometimes resting is good. But if you barely move your body during the day, you might start to notice some things. You will start to feel exhausted, and you can experience headaches, muscle stiffness, and poor posture. Over time, if you bedrot a lot, your physical problems may become worse. You might experience lower back pain and other issues.

Movement is actually really good for your body. Our bodies are made to move; we are not built to sit or lie down for hours at a time. So even when you are tired, try going out for a slow walk. I bet that will give you more energy.

Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash

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Title: The Mistake
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Bloom Books
Pages: 283
Genre: New adult
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤

Buy this book on Amazon

The Mistake

John Logan can get anyone he wants; he’s popular and good-looking. Grace Ivers is attracted to him, but she thinks he has never even noticed her. So when Logan knocks on her door, she is surprised.

Logan was on his way to a party, but ended up at the wrong house. So instead of partying, he finds himself watching a movie with Grace. When they start making out, everything changes for Logan. He usually sleeps with different girls every night, but now he only has eyes for Grace.

Unfortunately for him, he says something stupid, and now he spends all his free time trying to prove to Grace that he is worth it and that he wants her back.

Review

I am speed-reading the first three books in the Off-Campus series. Apparently, you need to read the first three books before watching the show on Prime Video if you don’t want any spoilers. I thought reading just the first book would be enough, but apparently not. So now I’m reading books two and three. This was book number two in the series.

And I am really enjoying this series. Actually, I’m enjoying everything Elle Kennedy writes. Her books are so easy to read, and I enjoy every single minute of them. I literally finished this one in two nights; I was completely invested in the story.

Logan used to be a player, with a different girl every night. He has feelings for another girl, but she is taken, so instead he hooks up with other people to distract himself. Grace is the opposite; she has no experience because it never felt like the right moment for her.

She has a crush on Logan and eventually wants to hook up with him, but he says something that really hurts her feelings, and she ends up ghosting him. A few months later, they see each other again, and he asks for a second chance. She agrees; but only if he completes six challenges first.

I liked the characters. I mean, I didn’t like Logan when he was a player and using Grace. But luckily, he stops hooking up with other girls after he meets her. That’s kind of romantic in its own way. And he actually completes these crazy challenges, ones that a lot of men would probably give up on, so he earns a lot of bonus points there.

I also felt sorry for him because he is dealing with a lot in his life, including issues with his father. I liked Grace a lot as well. She is smart and knows how to set and protect her boundaries, and I really respect that.

Just like I mentioned before, I always enjoy these kinds of stories, and this time was no different. It was another page-turner. These books are perfect when you want something fun and cute to read. I’m expecting the rest of the series will be just as enjoyable as the first two books. I also have high expectations for the Off-Campus series overall.

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For a long time, I tried to create healthier habits. At first, it was always pretty easy. During the first few days, I felt motivated and excited. But after a while, I would give up again. I kept wondering how I could actually make new habits stick.

So I started doing some research, and eventually I found Atomic Habits by James Clear. Honestly, I think it’s the perfect book for people who are trying to build healthier habits but struggle to stay consistent and make them last. In this blog post, I share how to make new habits stick.

How to Make New Habits Stick

To create new healthy habits and actually make them stick, you need more than just motivation. Because honestly, you’re not going to feel motivated every single day. If you truly want your new habits to last, then you should follow these four steps.

1. Make it Obvious
   The first step is to make your new habit obvious, and you can do this in different ways. One effective method is called habit stacking. For example, maybe you already have the habit of eating breakfast every morning. Since it’s something you already do automatically, you can attach a new habit to it.
   
   For example:
   “After I finish breakfast, I will clean the kitchen.”
   “After I drink my morning coffee, I will read 10 pages.”
   
   You simply connect a new habit to an existing one. Another way to make habits obvious is to make them more visible in your environment.
   
   For example:
   If you want to eat healthier, place healthy snacks on the counter or kitchen table where you’ll constantly see them.
   If you want to go for a walk in the morning, prepare your outfit and shoes the night before so they’re the first thing you notice when you wake up.
   If you want to read more, leave books around the house or keep your e-reader in your bag.
   
   The easier it is to see your habit, the more likely you are to actually do it.
   
2. Make it Attractive
   Let’s be honest: sometimes we know certain habits are good for us, but that doesn’t automatically make them enjoyable. That’s why it’s important to make your habits more attractive. One of the best ways to do this is to pair something you have to do with something you want to do.
   
   For example, maybe you dislike doing your administration or washing the dishes, but those tasks still need to get done. You can motivate yourself by connecting them to something enjoyable.
   
   For example:
   “First I’ll do the dishes, then I can watch an episode of my favorite show.”
   “I’ll finish my work first, and afterward I can relax and play a game.”
   
   Sometimes I don’t feel motivated to work either, but I try to make it more enjoyable by listening to music while I work. Then afterward, I reward myself by watching an episode of a show I like. By associating habits with positive feelings or rewards, they become much easier to stick to.
   
3. Make it Easy
   Some habits are difficult to start, so you need to make them easier for yourself. For example, maybe you want to work out at a gym, but the gym is far away. That automatically creates extra resistance. Instead, you could make things easier by starting with home workouts. Or maybe a 30-minute workout feels overwhelming. In that case, start with just 5 minutes. Doing something small is always better than doing nothing at all.
   
   I personally don’t enjoy cleaning, so I started cleaning for just 5 minutes every morning. Most of the time, once those 5 minutes are over, I naturally keep going. Another example: if you struggle to buy healthier groceries because you’re tempted by junk food in the supermarket, make a shopping list and order your groceries online instead. That way, you avoid unnecessary temptation. The easier a habit is to start, the more likely you are to stick with it.
   
4. Make it satisfying
   The reason we stick to certain habits is that we get rewarded for doing them. For example, when we scroll on our phones, we immediately get a dopamine hit. But with healthier habits, the rewards are often delayed. It takes time to see results.
   
   For example, if you start working out, you won’t see changes immediately. It can take weeks or even months. A habit tracker can be helpful in this case. It feels good to cross off another day and see your consistency build over time.
   
   You can also reward yourself, but try not to reward a healthy habit with something that cancels it out. like eating junk food after a workout. Instead, choose small, supportive rewards. For example, it could be something as simple as enjoying a cup of tea, watching an episode of your favorite show, or taking a relaxing break.
   

Photo by Lala Azizli on Unsplash

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Title: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Actors: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney
Director: Olivia Newman
Writers: Shelby van Pelt, Olivia Newman
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Length: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Watch this movie on Netflix

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Tova, an elderly woman who cleans the local aquarium, needs extra help after an accident makes her job more difficult. Meanwhile, Cameron Cassmore is searching for his father, but with little success. In the meantime, he takes a cleaning job at the aquarium.

Tova teaches Cameron everything he needs to know, including the fact that he should keep an eye on Marcellus, the octopus who enjoys sneaking out of his tank for nighttime adventures.

Marcellus is old, and he knows the end of his life is approaching. After witnessing Tova’s accident, the octopus becomes determined to do one last thing before he dies: help heal Tova. And the new cleaning guy might just be the key to making that happen.

Review

This movie is based on the book by Shelby Van Pelt, which had been on my wishlist for a while. At the same time, I wasn’t entirely sure if it would be my kind of story, even though I had heard nothing but positive reviews and knew it had an amazing rating on Goodreads. So instead, I decided to watch the movie adaptation first.

And honestly… I don’t even know where to begin. This might be one of the best Netflix Originals I’ve seen in a long time. I usually check out most of Netflix’s new releases, but they often end up being average or sometimes just bad. Then, on rare occasions like this, you come across something truly special.

The cast was wonderful. Sally Field was phenomenal, and I also really loved Lewis Pullman’s performance. Honestly, everyone in this movie did an amazing job. The casting felt perfect.

The story itself was beautiful and emotional. I had expected it to be a slow-paced movie, which was actually one of the reasons I hesitated to read the book in the first place, but it never felt slow to me. From the very beginning, I was completely invested in the story.

I especially loved how Marcellus, the octopus, tried to heal Tova and fill the emptiness in her heart. Tova has been through so much, and Marcellus makes it his final mission to help her find a little happiness again. The bond between Tova and Marcellus was truly special and one of the most heartwarming parts of the movie.

The ending made me cry. Honestly, I think I saw it coming, but that didn’t stop me from crying hard. I’m not even going to deny it. I also don’t want to explain exactly why it made me emotional because I don’t want to spoil too much, but the ending beautifully combines sadness, love, and family.

If you’re looking for a movie to watch during your next movie night, I highly recommend this one. It’s a beautiful, heartwarming drama, and I genuinely loved everything about it. I honestly couldn’t find a single thing I disliked. The acting was amazing, the story was amazing, and the emotional moments felt incredibly real.

We definitely need more movies and stories like this.

Even though I watched the movie before reading the book, and therefore can’t compare the two, I still absolutely want to read the book someday.

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When I was a teenager, social media was still new and genuinely fun. But now, more than 10 years later, social media has changed a lot, and not always for the better. One of the biggest reasons I dislike my phone and social media these days is how addictive they’ve become.

I’ve tried so many times to reduce my screen time and actually live my life instead of staring at a screen all day, but it’s hard. Really hard. That’s why I decided to make a list of reasons to stop doomscrolling and share it with you—in case you also want to reduce your screen time and could use a little extra motivation.

Reasons to Stop Doomscrolling

It’s a Waste of Time

This one is pretty obvious.

Let’s say you spend three hours a day scrolling on social media. Three hours may not sound that bad, especially because many people spend even more time on their phones. But if you spend three hours a day scrolling, that adds up to 21 hours a week, almost an entire day.

Over the course of a year, that becomes around 50 full days spent scrolling.

Imagine what you could do with those hours instead:

• Work on your dreams
• Exercise
• Learn a new skill
• Spend time with friends and family
• Read books
• Rest properly

Most of us complain that we don’t have enough time, while we’re unknowingly spending huge portions of our lives staring at our phones.

You’ll Sleep Better

Reducing screen time, especially in the evening, can seriously improve your sleep.

Most devices with screens emit blue light (except e-readers), which can interfere with your body’s natural sleep cycle and keep you awake longer. And if you’re scrolling late at night instead of sleeping, you’re also losing valuable hours of rest.

When you put your phone away before bed:

• You fall asleep faster
• You sleep more deeply
• You wake up feeling more refreshed and energized

Good sleep affects everything: your mood, energy levels, focus, and mental health.

It Can Reduce Stress and Anxiety

In my personal opinion, doomscrolling plays a huge role in why so many people feel stressed, anxious, and mentally overwhelmed today.

From my own experience, my anxiety started developing about 6–12 months after I got my first smartphone. And honestly? Whenever I spend less time on my phone, I feel noticeably calmer and more relaxed.

I think part of the problem is that we constantly overstimulate our brains. We’re consuming endless information, videos, opinions, and notifications all day long. Over time, that can leave us feeling overwhelmed, mentally exhausted, and burned out.

Our brains were never designed to process this much stimulation 24/7.

It Improves Your Focus

Constantly consuming short-form content, like TikToks, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, can seriously damage your attention span.

When your brain gets used to quick dopamine hits and videos that only last a few seconds, it becomes harder to focus on anything for a longer period of time.

You may notice this:

• During school or work
• While reading a book
• While watching a movie
• Even during conversations

Have you ever watched a movie while also scrolling on your phone? A lot of people do this now because focusing on one thing at a time has become difficult.

By reducing doomscrolling, you slowly retrain your brain to focus again. And honestly, being able to concentrate deeply is becoming a rare skill.

Your Brain Gets Constant Dopamine Hits

Dopamine itself is not a bad thing. It’s actually an important chemical in the brain that helps us feel motivated and happy.

Years ago, we got dopamine from simple things:

• Finishing a task
• Exercising
• Spending time with people
• Achieving goals

But now, our phones give us constant dopamine hits:

• Notifications
• Likes
• Messages
• New followers
• Endless videos

Every time something new pops up on your screen, your brain releases a little bit of dopamine. The problem is that we now receive these tiny rewards constantly throughout the day.

Over time, this can make normal life feel less stimulating and make it harder to enjoy slower, quieter activities like reading, studying, or simply relaxing without a screen.

Photo by Plann on Unsplash

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Title: The Worst Wedding Date
Author: Pippa Grant
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Romance
Pages: 424
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤

Buy this book on Amazon

The Worst Wedding Date

Laney is in Hawaii for her best friend’s wedding. Now she’s stuck with Theo, whom she’s supposed to be babysitting. Theo is a grown man, but trouble seems to follow him everywhere, and this week he has to stay clear of the groom before he ruins the entire wedding.

To make things easier, Laney has to stay in the same cabin as Theo so she can keep an eye on him. They end up spending a lot of time together. Laney starts to loosen up, finally letting go of her strict rule-following ways.

It doesn’t take very long until she realizes that Theo is not only good-looking but also has a heart of gold. But Theo is hiding something big, and I’m not talking about the kittens he’s keeping in the extra bedroom.

Review

Usually, I start with the positive feedback, the things I liked about a book, before moving on to what I didn’t like. But this time, I feel like I should start with the “negative” points, because the things I liked less happened at the beginning of the book.

Sometimes I write down notes while reading that I can use later in my reviews. One of the things I wrote down this time was: man child. At the beginning, I really felt like Theo was just a big man-child. I mean, what 30-year-old needs a babysitter? It also seemed like he didn’t take life seriously; the kind of person who might never grow up. I also didn’t like the scene where he accused Laney of touching his morning wood when it was actually his own hand.

But you know what? Eventually, I started to really like Theo. He’s not very open about it, but he clearly cares about his sister and did everything he could to make the wedding a success. He paid for the wedding, put together the rehearsal dinner, and handled everything else when the resort staff wasn’t available. He was the one fixing everything. And honestly, how can you stay mad at a man who rescues kittens and takes care of them?

Laney was fine as a character, but spending more time with Theo really helped her grow. She grew up with very strict parents, works at their company, and is about to become the new CEO. Being around Theo made her braver, and she realized it’s okay to have fun too. At first, I thought it was strange that she still cared so much about her parents’ opinion and still followed their rules, but then I reflected on it and realized that it’s actually quite relatable. A lot of people crave their parents’ approval; I know I do sometimes.

This book was a lot of fun to read. I actually laughed out loud when I found out Theo’s big secret; I did not see that coming at all. It was hilarious. The Hawaiian setting also gave the story strong summer/vacation vibes. For a few hours, I felt like I was on a sunny island in a completely different world.

This is the first book in the Three BFFs and a Wedding series, and we already got a glimpse of Sabrina’s story. She had a one-night stand, and when she returns to work after the wedding, she discovers that he’s actually her new boss. That’s definitely going to be fun, and I can’t wait to read that book.

The only other thing I want to mention is that I’m not the biggest fan of epilogues. Most of the time, I don’t really care for them. This book has four epilogues, which felt like a bit of overkill to me. However, I did enjoy the bonus epilogues from Fred’s point of view; that was a fun and cute.

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Title: The Bali Bucket List
Author: Ava Wilde
Pages: 484
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤

Buy this book on Amazon

The Bali Bucket List

Jasmine seems to have it all: a good job, a fiancé, and a great life overall. But one night, everything changes when her fiancé suddenly dumps her. Left heartbroken and questioning everything, Jasmine realizes she has no idea who she truly is anymore.

Determined to rediscover herself, she books a trip to Bali. At the hostel where she’s staying, she quickly meets a group of new friends. At the start of her journey, she creates a “Bali Bucket List” filled with experiences she wants to try, and she also decides to document her journey on a personal blog.

The longer Jasmine stays in Bali, the more new people she meets; and before long, three very different men become interested in her.

But when her anonymous sex blog suddenly goes viral and threatens to expose her identity, Jasmine is forced to confront the person she’s become. Because sometimes, finding yourself is the only way to find the love you’ve truly been searching for.

Review

This book was available on NetGalley, and I was immediately drawn to the title and the cover. I was curious about what the story would be about because it sounded like something I would enjoy.

The book follows Jasmine, a woman who gets dumped three months before her wedding and decides to go on a journey of self-discovery. But her journey isn’t easy. It’s messy, and she makes a lot of mistakes and hurts people along the way. Jasmine tries so hard to become a different person that she (almost) loses herself in the process.

I really liked the storyline, and honestly, it felt different from most of the books I’ve read over the past few years. Every time I thought Jasmine was going to do one thing, she surprised me by doing something completely different instead. There were several unexpected moments, and I always appreciate that in a story. This book wasn’t predictable at all, which made it stand out. I wouldn’t call it a typical romance novel, but in this case, that’s actually a good thing.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the strong Eat Pray Love vibes. Eat Pray Love mixed with Bali created such an enjoyable vibe. Honestly, while reading, I started daydreaming about booking my own trip to Bali. I’ve heard good things about Vipassana meditation retreats before, and this book captured exactly the kind of self-discovery journey I expected from that setting.

There were quite a few characters, but most of them were entertaining. I really disliked Dylan, the ex-fiancé, because he dumped Jasmine to be with another woman. I was honestly surprised that Jasmine stayed in contact with him and still considered him a possible option. I’m not sure whether Jasmine was naïve or simply very lost at that point in her life; probably a bit of both.

Jasmine definitely made choices that I personally would never make, although I would absolutely go to Bali for a Vipassana meditation retreat.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, empowering, and unexpectedly different, and I loved the Eat Pray Love / Bali vibe throughout the story. This was my first time reading a book by Ava Wilde, but I’m definitely open to reading more of her work. I have a feeling she doesn’t write typical romance novels, and I like that.

The post The Bali Bucket List – Ava Wilde | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.

<p>The post The Bali Bucket List – Ava Wilde | Book Review first appeared on A happy life.</p>

I think I might have finally hit my quarter-life crisis. It happened not too long ago. I started thinking about my life, and I realized that this isn’t the life I wanted. Every day was exactly the same. I would wake up at 7, work from 9 until 7 or later, then come home, have dinner, read a little, and go back to bed at 10. I’ve been living like this for years. I wasn’t just living at all. I was just surviving.

I have to admit that this kind of routine isn’t great if you want to have a social life. My social life is practically nonexistent. And it’s not because my job is so amazing, it really isn’t. It’s just how I grew up. I was taught that I should do nothing because that was considered lazy.

But honestly, the moment I started reflecting on my life, I realized that I don’t even like it that much. As I mentioned, my social life is gone, I’m not the biggest fan of my job, and everything else just feels… meh. I understand that some unpleasant things are simply part of life. But I still have the power to make different decisions. I can choose myself: work fewer hours, rebuild my social life, and do all the things I’ve always wanted to do.

That’s why I decided to start posting on Substack again. I want to write about this journey of self-discovery and wanting to change my life. Another reason is that I think it would be fun to keep a diary of it all.

Sure, my life won’t change overnight. But that doesn’t mean I can’t take the first step toward my dream life today. One of the things I definitely want to improve is reducing doomscrolling and getting better sleep.

Photo by Dwidiyo Hanung on Unsplash

The post Why I Decided to Change My Life and Start Over first appeared on A happy life.

<p>The post Why I Decided to Change My Life and Start Over first appeared on A happy life.</p>