After finishing this book, I had to let it marinate in my brain. The readers experience the rise and fall of Charlie. In the beginning he couldn't write proper sentences then towards the middle he was able to speak multiple languages and read advanced texts. He experiences what he think is "love" and he knew his intelligence is temporary. His friends and workers at the bakery begin to isolate from him because they perceive him as being better than them. Seeing Charlie's intelligence peak and him writing journal entries for his future self to read when his intelligence crashes was sad.

A solid second book to the series, it was funny witnessing Mongo grow into the loving and protective pet it is. Curious on how the fourth level is going to be and how Carl, Princess Donut + Mongo are going to upgrade their levels to defeat the monsters.

Enjoyed the Mayan folk culture and how the author incorporated into the story. The whole journey was to find the missing body parts and restore Hun-Kame’s reign. The romance build up was disappointing, Hun-Kame was stoic most of the time like this is how I would imagine his face🗿I liked how the story has multiple POVs so I wasn’t bored reading only Casiopea’s perspective.

The concept was there - a ballerina with a dark past and toxic family plus a skilled sculptor who is hiding secrets, I would’ve ate that up. But the plot was all over the place, the author doesn’t focus on one thing. For example, we are immediately placed in the Petronille’s wedding in the first chapter. Petronille sounds like a whiny, spoiled brat for most of the book. The author did a great job of building the room and its atmosphere - with the moths and the dust in the room. Both Petronille and Arkady are a lil bit crazy in the head. I thought the smut was going to be more intense based off the trigger warnings but it was alright. The ending was lacking and predictable. I felt like the book could have been way better if it was executed differently.

If you’re from Bay Area, CA and Asian American, then this book is for you

I’m glad I read the book before I watch the show because I get to see Ilya and Shane’s inner thoughts. I remember reading through the first 2 pages and I was like damn already 💀 👀 Their banter was great with Ilya’s sassy comments and Shane’s blushing. I love the softer moments of the book - when they were making tuna sandwiches together and Ilya remembering Shane’s preferred drink was a ginger ale. Of course the infamous cottage scene and staring at each other in the club scene 🪩 Can’t wait to watch the show!

The podcast format was ok but none of the elements of the book had me on my toes. Lucy is traumatized after her friend got murder which led her to develop a voice that tells her to kill people. I felt like the author could’ve done more with that. I questioned her choices with her ex-husband, Ben, and Emmett. Like girl make up your mind?? The twist wasn’t shocking and the ending was mid. The only pro is the chapters are short so the book flies by fast.