📚 False Memory by Dean Koontz📌

📌 Genre: Psychological Thriller

📅 Date Read: January 2026

⭐ Rating: 3.5/5

📝 Review

Finally finished this one—my physical copy, sitting on the shelf for way too long. Honestly, the beginning made me want to give up a few times. It felt repetitive and kind of dragged on, but I stuck with it, and I’m glad I did.

The characters? You’ll love to hate them. They’re frustrating, annoying, and at times infuriating—but that’s part of the fun. They grow, they evolve, and the tension they bring keeps you invested even when you’re ready to throw the book across the room.

The villain in this one… wow. Easily one of the creepiest and most disturbing I’ve read in a while. There’s no sugarcoating, no redemption—just pure, unrelenting darkness. And yes, it’s intense and graphic, definitely not for everyone. But if you like a story that messes with your head a little, it works.

It’s a tense, anxiety-inducing read, but I can’t deny that it’s effective. It’s not my favorite Koontz, and I don’t think I’ll reread it, but it’s also far from bad. He writes with this wild, smart energy that’s really compelling—like talking to someone brilliant but a little unhinged over coffee.

Also, a little comfort: Valet, the doggo, is alive and well. Honestly, if Valet had died, I would’ve rated this 1 star—so that made me smile.

Overall, it’s flawed but gripping. It’s a psychological thriller that sticks with you long after you put it down—and honestly, I could see it working really well as a series.

📖 Synopsis

A psychological thriller about manipulation, fear, and control. The story follows characters whose minds are twisted by a chillingly clever villain, leading to tense and dangerous situations. Suspense and psychological tension drive the story, keeping readers on edge throughout.

#2026 #readingwrapup #januaryreads #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli 

🎬 The Yakuza’s Fiancé

⭐ Rating: 2/5
📅 Watched: January 2026

Thoughts:
✓ Animation / Cinematography: The animation was weak and inconsistent, failing to convey the tension or drama the story aimed for. Scenes that could have been impactful often fell flat visually, making it hard to stay fully immersed.

✓ Storyline: Across 12 episodes, the plot felt directionless and poorly written, relying more on shock value than meaningful storytelling. Interesting ideas were introduced but never fully developed, leaving the story feeling incomplete.

✓ Characters / Acting: Most characters were unstable or underdeveloped. Yoshino lacked real growth despite being the lead, while Kirishima remained chaotic without consequences. Other side characters added minimal value to the narrative. The only exception was Shouma, who showed genuine development and self-awareness. Despite having the capacity to become dangerous, he actively tried to stay grounded, making him the most realistic and relatable character in the series.

Conclusion: In the end, the story failed to deliver any emotional payoff. The ending felt empty and unsatisfying, leaving the impression that the audience was simply led on without a proper resolution. I would rate this series 2 out of 5 stars, solely because of Shouma. Without him, there would be very little worth remembering. This is one of those shows that had promise but ultimately felt like a complete waste of time.

📖 Synopsis: The Yakuza’s Fiancé follows the complex and dangerous world of yakuza life, intertwined with romance and personal conflicts, focusing on characters whose ambitions, obsessions, and relationships collide in unpredictable ways.

🎬 A Girl & Her Guard Dog (Anime Series)

⭐ Rating: 3/5

📌 Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama

📅 Date Watched: January 2026

📝 Review

I randomly discovered this anime on Netflix while browsing and ended up watching it straight through until the end. The story is light, easy to follow, and surprisingly quick to hook you in. It has a cute and relaxed tone, with subtle romantic moments that add just enough kilig to keep things interesting. I appreciated that it didn’t try too hard to be deep or overly dramatic—it knows what kind of story it wants to tell and sticks to it.

That said, the animation quality is noticeably weak and can be distracting at times. Visually, it doesn’t stand out, and some scenes feel a bit stiff. Still, I found myself enjoying the experience overall. The chemistry between the characters and the small romantic hints were charming enough to carry the show. It’s not anything extraordinary, but it’s a pleasant, feel-good watch if you’re looking for something light and uncomplicated.

📖 Synopsis

The story follows Isaku Senagaki, a high school girl who wants to live a normal teenage life despite being the granddaughter of a yakuza boss. Her plans are complicated when her overprotective guardian, Keiya Uto, secretly enrolls in the same school to keep an eye on her. As they spend more time together, a subtle and complicated romance begins to develop.

#randomunbosom #animewrapup #2026 #januarywatch #adaptation

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

A True Masterpiece

Absolutely incredible. Everything—animation, story, plot, music—is top-tier. No weak points. Just pure excellence.

I’ve already finished the manga, but seeing it fully adapted into anime is a completely different experience. It hits harder. The execution is insane, and the impact is on another level.

Every single character is thoughtfully written. No one feels wasted. That’s why I can confidently say Demon Slayer is one of the best—even the villains are given depth and meaningful backstories. They’re not just evil for the sake of it.

And Muzan? I genuinely hate him—in the best way possible. He truly feels like the root of all evil, a master manipulator who exploits pain, trauma, and desperation to control others. He uses the villains’ tragic situations and emotions to bend them to his will, which makes him even more infuriating—and effective. That alone makes him one of the most well-written antagonists out there.

Watching this arc felt like I was one of the Hashira myself—cheering during the fights, grieving over the losses. The emotional weight was heavy, and the experience was unforgettable. I couldn’t help but feel both hyped and heartbroken at the same time.

The structure of the Infinity Castle is absolutely mind-blowing. The creativity and complexity behind it are insane. You can really tell how much thought went into every detail of this arc—from the story progression to the visual execution.

There were so many satisfying moments, but my absolute favorite was Zenitsu’s scene. That moment alone gave me chills. And of course, Tanjiro’s comedy moments still shine—he brings the perfect balance of humor, making sure there’s never a dull or boring moment despite the heavy themes.

I’m beyond excited to see the final parts fully adapted. This series has set the bar incredibly high, and I’m genuinely looking forward to how everything will conclude in the anime.

If you haven’t watched this yet—what are you waiting for?! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DEKADA ’70 — Lualhati Bautista

🎭 Genre:

Panlipunan / Pampulitika

📅 Date Finished:

Enero 2026

⭐ Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

About the book:

Isang nobelang tumatalakay sa buhay ng isang pamilyang Pilipino sa gitna ng magulong dekada ’70, kung saan unti-unting nahahayag ang epekto ng pulitika, patriyarkiya, at katahimikan sa loob ng tahanan.

My thoughts:

“Ang takot ay hindi dahilan para tumigil sa pakikialam.”

Bilang isang mambabasa na matagal nang humahanga at nakabasa na ng ilang akda ni Lualhati Bautista, masasabi kong muli na naman niyang pinatunayan kung bakit siya isa sa mga haligi ng panitikang Pilipino. Ang Dekada ’70 ay mahusay, mapangahas, at malalim—isang librong hindi mo lang binabasa, kundi pinagninilayan. Habang umuusad ang kuwento, ramdam mong unti-unting namumulat ang isipan mo sa mga isyung matagal na sanang binibigyan ng pansin.

“Kapag natutong magsalita ang isang babae, wala nang makakapigil sa kanya.”

Kung pag-uusapan ang mga karakter, pinaka-tumatak sa akin si Amanda. Naawa ako sa kanya—dahil para siyang larawan ng maraming babaeng natutong manahimik at magtiis. Tinanggap niya ang uri ng pagmamahal na akala niya’y iyon na ang nararapat para sa kanya. Kaya naman napakasarap basahin ang mga bahagi ng kuwento kung saan unti-unti niyang natagpuan ang sariling boses, lalo na nang tuluyan niyang ipahayag ang tunay niyang nararamdaman sa kanyang asawa. Hindi man perpekto ang naging pagbabago, malinaw na may paglago—at sapat na iyon.

“May mga sugat na hindi nakikita, pero habang-buhay na dinadala.”

Isa ring dahilan kung bakit naging kawili-wili ang nobela ay ang iba-ibang personalidad ng limang magkakapatid. Bawat isa ay may sariling paninindigan at paraan ng pagharap sa magulong sitwasyon ng dekada ’70. May mga pangyayaring hindi ko talaga inaasahan, lalo na ang biglaang pagpanaw ng isang karakter—isang eksenang tumimo at hindi madaling kalimutan. Sa totoo lang, habang binabasa ko ito, napaisip ako: kung nabuhay ako noong panahong iyon, baka hindi rin ako nagtagal 🤣 dahil malamang, kabilang ako sa uri ni Jules—palaban, mapanuri, at hindi marunong manahimik.

“May mga panahong kailangan mong pumili kung mananahimik o lalaban.”

Sa kabuuan, labis kong nagustuhan ang tuluy-tuloy na daloy ng pagbabasa sa librong ito. Hindi lamang ito nakapagbigay-aliw, kundi nakapagdulot din ng kaalaman, mga bagong pananaw, at mga tanong na hanggang ngayon ay patuloy ko pa ring iniisip—mga tanong na maaaring wala ring tiyak na sagot.

“Ang katahimikan ay isang uri rin ng pagsang-ayon.”

Inabot ako ng mahigit dalawang oras bago ko matapos ang aklat, at masasabi kong napakagandang unang libro para sa taon na ito. Isa rin itong paalala at pangako sa sarili na simulan nang basahin ang mga physical books na matagal ko nang itinatabi.

“Hindi puwedeng manatiling bulag habang may nangyayaring mali.”

Sa huli, si Lualhati Bautista ay isa sa mga manunulat na masasabi kong hinding-hindi sayang ang oras at perang ilalaan mo sa kanyang mga akda. May lalim, may tapang, at may saysay.

Would I recommend it?

Yes. Lubos kong inirerekomenda ang librong ito, lalo na sa mga mambabasang handang mag-isip, makaramdam, at makialam.

IT: Welcome to Derry (Season 1)

📌 Type: TV Series

🎭 Genre: Horror / Psychological Horror / Drama

📅 Date Watched: December 2025 – January 2, 2026

⭐ Rating: 3.5 / 5

What it’s about:

Set decades before the events of IT, the series explores the dark history of Derry and the recurring presence of an ancient evil that feeds on fear, trauma, and silence.

My thoughts:

IT: Welcome to Derry feels intentionally unfinished, and that works both for and against it. I found myself rewatching both IT films and revisiting Stephen King’s novel just to fully absorb the experience. Eventually, the line between the book and the movies began to blur, but instead of feeling confusing, it actually added depth. Seeing familiar faces while still carrying the weight of the novel made the story more immersive and personal.

The series doesn’t shy away from disturbing material. This is not casual horror meant for all viewers—it is heavy, slow-burning, and psychologically unsettling. Several scenes are genuinely uncomfortable, dealing with abuse, fear, and trauma in ways that linger long after the episode ends. As a horror enthusiast, I appreciated how unapologetically dark the show is, proving that effective horror comes from sustained tension rather than constant shock value.

One of the strongest aspects of the series is its cast, particularly the children. Their performances feel natural and grounded, making their fear and resilience believable. Because of this, the deaths hit harder and feel tragic rather than sensationalized. The show’s approach to Pennywise’s origins also works well—it expands the lore without overexplaining, respecting both the novel and the films while preserving the mystery.

Overall, Welcome to Derry succeeds as a dark companion piece to the IT universe. It is especially rewarding for Stephen King fans, but it also stands on its own as a grim and immersive horror series. Season 2 holds a lot of promise, and I only hope the story is given more room to grow.

Would I recommend it?

Depends. If you’re avoiding spoilers from Stephen King’s novel, this might not be for you. But if you’re looking for a truly unsettling and dark horror experience, this series is worth watching.

Stranger Things – Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond ❸/❺ 🌠

≛ Honestly? I enjoyed it. It’s not mind-blowing or super intense, but if you’re a Stranger Things fan, it’s definitely worth reading. It gives you a deeper look into Eleven’s mom, Terry Ives, and how twisted the Hawkins Lab experiments really were.

≛ It’s the kind of story that doesn’t need to be flashy — it’s more about understanding the past, and it actually made me appreciate the show even more.

≛ I’ve always been curious about Kali (008) too, and I was hoping the book would go deeper into her, but at least she was mentioned.

≛ What I really wish is that we saw more of Terry after everything she went through — her story is tragic, and I was really invested in what would happen to her.

≛ Overall, it’s a good read. Not something I’d call unforgettable, but definitely one of those “good to know” backstories that make the series hit even harder.

≛ If you’re rewatching the show or getting ready for the final season (like I am 😎), this is a solid companion to the Stranger Things universe.

≛ Highly recommended for fans who want more context, more depth, and more heartbreak behind the story we all love. 🧠🖤

ᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙ

ᳮ Set in 1969, years before Stranger Things, this novel follows Terry Ives, a college student who volunteers for a secret government experiment at Hawkins National Laboratory. But what begins as science quickly turns into something far more dangerous.

ᳮ As Terry uncovers the lab’s dark secrets and meets a mysterious young girl with strange abilities, she finds herself caught in a terrifying conspiracy — one that leads to the origins of Eleven and the horrors to come. 👀

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 21st of July

#readingwrapup #strangerthings #suspiciousminds #gwendabond #sciencefiction #horror #fantasy #thriller #mystery #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookstagram #2025reads #bookwhore