✨️✨️A Universe Behind Every Eye✨️✨️

I still remember how much I begged my aunt to get me a copy of this book. Where I live, the shipping fees make it so expensive, but I just couldn’t get it out of my head.

I first came across Brandon Stanton’s work on Instagram and was immediately drawn to how he captures the world. He’s a photographer who simply stops random people on the street, takes their picture, and lets them tell their story. It sounds so simple, but with that one single image, you realize there are thousands of words hidden behind their eyes. It feels like you’re being given a rare, private glimpse into a stranger's life.

Some of these stories are so inspiring they stay with you for days, while others give you those beautiful, lovely feels (especially the romantic ones that make you believe in magic). Then there are the ones that are just plain heartbreaking, the kind that make you want to reach through the page and offer a hand.

What I love most is that every single story is completely unique. It reminds you that no two lives are the same and that everyone you pass on the street is carrying a whole universe inside them.

​It’s these small, quiet moments that make the book a treasure, like the person who shared, "We’ve never had a conversation. But she’s brought me a handful of candy every day for 20 years". That sentence alone captures the entire spirit of the book. It's about the deep, silent connections we have with one another without even saying a word. It shows that you don't need a long explanation to understand the weight of a human life or the kindness of a stranger.

Reading this feels like a warm embrace and a wake-up call at the same time. It makes the world feel a little smaller and a lot more connected, proving that no matter how different we seem, we all share the same hunger to be seen and understood.

It was worth every bit of the effort it took to finally hold it in my hands and I know I’ll be returning to these pages whenever I need to remind myself of the beauty in humanity.

✨️🌜The Best Story I WASN'T Looking for🌛✨️

I didn’t go looking for this story. To be honest, I wasn’t even excited to read it.

​I found it hiding on a random shelf, just another dusty book in the shadows. I picked it up on a whim, thinking it would just help me pass the time. I had no idea that after just a few pages, the world around me would simply vanish. Before I knew it, I wasn't in my room anymore. I was in a world of neon lights, humming machines, and a story that felt like home.

​I didn’t just read this book; I fell completely in love with it.

​People ask me how I know if a story is "the one."

For me, the answer is simple, it’s THE NAMES. Usually, characters fade away the moment you close the cover. But with Cinder, it’s been years, and I still know them like they are my own family.

​I can still see Cinder in her messy shop, her face covered in grease, carrying a heart made of wires and so much courage. I can still hear Iko, the little android who has more soul than most humans. And I can still feel the weight on Prince Kai’s shoulders as he tries to do what’s right. They aren't just ink on a page to me, they live in my heart, and they’ve stayed there all this time.

​Cinder is a miracle. It takes the "Cinderella" story we all grew up with and turns it into something brave, shimmering, and new. It’s about a girl the world tried to forget, who realizes she is the only one who can save it.

​If you ever find yourself standing in front of a bookshelf, waiting for something special to happen, THIS IS IT. Don’t overthink it. Don’t look for a reason. Just pick it up and let the magic take you.

Just a warning: Once you start, the real world is going to feel very quiet for a long, long time 🛠️🌙✨

✨️The Magic That Started It All✨️

There's a very specific kind of magic that doesn’t require a wand, and for me, it all started back in 4th grade. I remember it was summer vacation, that beautiful time when I was finally free from schoolwork and teachers. A friend from my neighborhood kept telling me I needed to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone because it was amazing. I’ll be honest, I really didn’t want to. I mean, it was summer vacation. What kid wants to spend their free time reading a book? I told her NO but she was so persistent, insisting I just give it a try. I still remember feeling so annoyed with her at the time, but looking back, I’m so incredibly grateful. I wouldn't have been able to enter this magical world without her🦉☺️

Once I actually started reading, I literally could not put it down. That one summer afternoon changed everything, it was the exact moment my love for reading truly began. Since then, these books have become my absolute favorite sanctuary. It’s the one series I make sure to reread every single year, as much as I can because it feels like coming home🚂❤️

​What makes this book so special is how it builds a world that feels just a heartbeat away from our own. It’s in the way the stone walls of Hogwarts seem to whisper secrets, and how every corner of the castle holds a mystery whether it’s a hidden trapdoor, a mirror that shows our deepest desires or a forbidden corridor that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I'm not just reading about a school, I'm experiencing the wonder of a first feast in the Great Hall, the nervous excitement of a first flight on a broomstick and the cozy safety of a common room fire while the snow falls outside. It’s a perfect mix of whimsical charm and a creeping sense of adventure that makes me feel like I'm right there alongside Harry, Ron and Hermione...

​It’s so much fun, but it’s also really moving. It captures that feeling of finding where you belong and having friends who always have your back, no matter what. Even now, facing the "real world" and all the stress that comes with it, it’s so good to come back to something truly magical once in a while✨️✨️

​There’s a line in the book where Dumbledore says (up to this day, it's still one of my favorite book quotes), "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure," and honestly, every chapter feels like an adventure I never want to end. It’s warm, it’s cozy, and it’s full of heart.

To everyone who hasn't read it, you’re missing out on something special. It turned a 4th grader who didn't want to read into a lifelong book lover and I think that’s the best kind of magic there is✨️📖❤️