🍳🍱 Food for the Soul (Hibi wa Sugiredo Meshi Umashi) – A Comforting Slice of Life I’ll Always Come Back To ᥫ᭡

5/5 🌟

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) I just found another favorite anime to add to my list! Food for the Soul is the perfect example of what I love in a series—relaxing, healing, and full of heart. It's one of those shows that makes you feel at peace, the kind that you can watch after a long day and instantly feel better. It reminded me a lot of Yuru Camp—slow-paced, cozy, and deeply comforting.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) The characters? All so different, yet each one shines in their own way. What really touched me was how every single one of them had character growth. You can really feel how they influence and support one another. Their dynamic as a group is just so wholesome.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) I found myself laughing out loud so many times! There’s a soft kind of humor here—nothing loud or forced, just pure, natural fun that feels like you’re laughing with friends.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) And Mako? I loved her parts when she explains each dish she makes. There’s something so calming and intimate about the way she talks about food. You can tell how much it means to her—and somehow, you end up feeling the same.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) But more than anything, it was the friendship that hit me the most. Their bond was so genuine, it honestly made me wish I could jump into the anime and be part of their group. 🥺 The warmth they share, the way they look out for one another—it’s beautiful.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) And let me just say: Tsutsuji is my favorite!! 🧩 She’s so funny, a little clumsy, but super warm and dependable. Actually, all of them are! I loved each character in their own way. It’s rare to find a show where you’re rooting for the entire cast.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) Honestly, I can’t recommend this anime enough. It’s a slow burn, but in the most rewarding way. If you’re looking for something to soothe your soul, lift your mood, and make you smile like a goofball at 2 AM—watch this.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) Because friendship isn’t always about how long you’ve known someone. Sometimes, it’s about the people who show up when it matters. And in today’s world, where true friendships are rare, Food for the Soul reminds you how precious those connections are.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) So if you’ve got friends like that? Cherish them. Don’t take them for granted. 🌼

۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ

ᰔ Shy and anxious college freshman Mako Kawai struggles to eat around others—until she’s invited by her lively childhood friend Shinon to join the laid-back Food Culture Research Club. Together with a small group of quirky and kind-hearted girls, they cook, eat, laugh, and slowly build a genuine friendship.

ᰔ As Mako learns to open up and find comfort in food and companionship, the anime gently explores healing, growth, and the joy of everyday moments shared over a warm meal.

ᰔ A cozy, slice-of-life series that’s all about friendship, food, and finding your place. જ⁀➴

#foodforthesoul #anime #sliceoflife #iyashikei #comedy #cooking #animelove #animewrapup2025

Like a Charm by 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 (and other authors)

3.5/5 ⭐️

“The many charms would forever tell their stories: the key to vanity, the gluttony of the monkey, the greed of the dollar sign, the envious ballerina, the angry goblin, the lustful tiger and even the cross…”

ꔛ Like a Charm is one of those rare anthologies that creeps under your skin without you realizing it. Each short story is unique, yet there's this haunting thread that ties them all together—a strange, cursed book that passes through different hands, places, and eras.

ꔛ Some stories are genuinely chilling. They're not in-your-face horror, but that quiet, unsettling kind. The kind that lingers. There's something incredibly atmospheric about this collection. You can almost hear the creak of old floorboards or feel a cold draft brush past your neck while reading. It really makes you think—What if? And to achieve that in short story format? That’s talent.

ꔛ What amazed me most was how well-written the stories were. Despite being penned by different authors, the quality remained consistently strong. Each piece stood on its own, but together they formed something even more powerful. It’s proof that you're in the hands of skilled storytellers who know how to work with mood, tension, and human emotion.

ꔛ Highly recommended if you’re in the mood for something mysterious, eerie, and thought-provoking—something that’ll make you pause and look over your shoulder once in a while. 😉

➺➻➼➽➺➻➼➽➺➻➼➽➺➻➼➽➺➼➽➺➻➼➽

ᬊ Desire leaves a man destroyed – a young girl's curiosity reveals secrets better left hidden – an accidental encounter on a train ends violently – ambition leads to a curious exchange – an uncanny likeness changes two lives forever.

ᬊ A novel in sixteen chilling parts, linked by a glittering charm bracelet which brings misfortune to everyone who handles it. In Like A Charm, the cream of British and American crime writers combine for a must-have collection.

ᬊ From nineteenth-century Georgia, where the bracelet is forged in fire, to wartime Leeds, a steam train across Europe, the violent backstreets of 1980s Scotland, present-day London, a Manhattan taxi, the Mojave desert and back to Georgia, each writer weaves a gripping story of murder, betrayal and intrigue.

#readingwrapup #likeacharm #shortstories #anthologies #thriller #mystery #crime #karinslaughter #suspense #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookstagram #2025reads #bookwhore 

“Last Breath” (The Good Daughter #0.5) by Karin Slaughter

A Short Read That Cuts Deep

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 3.5/5 ✮

⚠️SPOILER ALERT⚠️

☙ I should’ve known better—Karin Slaughter never lets us rest. "Last Breath" may be a short story, but it delivers a punch that leaves you feeling frustrated, impressed, and emotionally bruised all at once.

☙ Flora Faulkner is unforgettable—not because she’s lovable, but because she’s manipulative to the core. She appears sweet, helpless, and vulnerable… until the cracks show. And by the time they do, it’s too late. Like Charlie, I was fooled—and that’s a testament to how cleverly written this story is.

☙ As always, Charlie Quinn stands out. Her heart is in the right place, and despite the trauma she carries, she still chooses to fight for others. That’s what makes her so compelling—and what makes Flora’s betrayal hit even harder. It’s painful to watch good people get used, especially when all they wanted was to help.

☙ The ending? Frustrating and intentionally unresolved. Don’t expect justice here. Karin Slaughter leaves you hanging—emotionally and morally—and somehow, it works. It’s not satisfying, but it’s exactly the kind of discomfort the story demands.

☙ Flora honestly reminded me of Lena Adams—manipulative, infuriating, and still breathing when you wish she weren’t. 😅

☙ If you’re a Slaughter fan, this one’s worth picking up. It’s dark, sharp, and psychologically twisted—exactly what you’d expect from her. Just prepare yourself: it won’t give you closure. Just emotional damage.

▌│█║▌║▌║ - ║▌║▌║█│▌

⌘ Protecting someone always comes at a cost.

⌘ At the age of thirteen, Charlie Quinn’s childhood came to an abrupt and devastating end. Two men, with a grudge against her lawyer father, broke into her home – and after that shocking night, Charlie's world was never the same.

⌘ Now a lawyer herself, Charlie has made it her mission to defend those with no one else to turn to. So when Flora Faulkner, a motherless teen, begs for help, Charlie is reminded of her own past, and is powerless to say no.

⌘ But honour-student Flora is in far deeper trouble than Charlie could ever have anticipated. Soon she must ask herself: How far should she go to protect her client? And can she truly believe everything she is being told?

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 11th of July

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐬: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Suspense

#bookstagram #readingwrapup #bookreview #thelastbreath #karinslaughter #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookwhore #2025reads

Violet Evergarden Rating: 9/10 🌟⁣⁣

"Words can have different interpretations. What one says isn't the whole truth."

– Claudia Hodgins

๑ Violet Evergarden is an emotionally profound anime that demands the right mindset and emotional preparedness. It’s not something you can watch casually—each episode carries heavy themes of grief, loss, and moving forward.

๑ What sets this series apart is its execution. It doesn’t rely on cheap drama to evoke tears; instead, it delivers deeply emotional, well-crafted stories that resonate on a personal level. The journey of Violet, from a detached soldier to someone who learns to understand emotions and love, is both beautiful and heartbreaking to witness.

๑ This isn’t an anime for everyone, nor is it for just any mood. Some may struggle to connect if they’re not emotionally ready, but for those who watch at the right time, Violet Evergarden leaves a lasting impact. Through the letters she writes, Violet’s story becomes a touching exploration of human emotions, loss, and the meaning of love. ♡🪻

║▌║▌║SYNOPSIS║▌║▌║

⁣

⸙ Violet Evergarden follows the story of violet, a young girl raised for the sole purpose of decimating enemy lines. 

⸙ Hospitalized and injured after the war's end, she starts a new life at CH Postal Services. There, she witnesses the work of an "Auto Memory Doll," amanuenses who transcribe people's thoughts and feelings into words. 

⸙ Moved by this, violet begins work as an Auto Memory Doll, embarking on a journey that will reshape the lives of her clients and lead to self-discovery. 📝

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Slice of Life, Based on a Light novel

Date: 26.03.2025

#anime #violetevergarden #fantasy #drama #action #basesonalightnovel #animelove #animewrapup2025

Ascendance of a Bookworm – A Book Lover’s Isekai Dream

"If there aren’t any books, I’ll just have to make them myself."

-Myne ✎ᝰ. ⎚-⎚

A Heartfelt and Unique Isekai ᥫ᭡

ꨄ︎ Forget overpowered heroes and flashy battles—Ascendance of a Bookworm delivers an emotional, character-driven journey that stands out in the isekai genre.

A Bittersweet Farewell ᥫ᭡

ꨄ︎ One of the most heartbreaking moments is Myne’s final goodbye to her family. Her farewell with Lutz and the last embrace with her parents hit hard, marking the painful yet necessary shift into noble society. The execution is brilliant, showing the weight of her sacrifices and growth.

More Than Just Reincarnation—It’s About Growth ᥫ᭡

ꨄ︎ Myne’s journey isn’t about instant power but hard-earned progress. From a sickly, book-obsessed child to a noble navigating politics, her transformation is compelling. Yet, despite her rising status, she never loses sight of her love for books.

A Must-Watch for Book Lovers ᥫ᭡

ꨄ︎ This anime perfectly captures the joy of reading—every book Myne creates feels like a personal victory. If you love books, you’ll feel her excitement every step of the way.

Final Verdict ᥫ᭡

ꨄ︎ Ascendance of a Bookworm is a slow-burn, deeply rewarding series with fantastic character development and world-building. The anime is just the beginning—the light novel offers an even richer experience, making it a must-read for those who want more.

۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ ۶ৎ

ᰔ A passionate book lover, Urano Motosu, dies in an accident and is reincarnated as a sickly young girl named Myne in a medieval world where books are rare and only accessible to the elite; determined to read again, Myne uses her knowledge from her previous life to create her own books, even if it means inventing new methods to produce paper and ink, navigating a strict social hierarchy, and overcoming her frail health. જ⁀➴

ᰔ Anime rating: 4.5/5

#Ascendanceofabookworm #anime #animeadaptation #isekai #comedy #adventure #fantasy #basesonalightnovel #animelove #animewrapup2025

𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 (𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟭𝟭) 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿

4.5/5 🌟

"Something is bound to happen. And it might be good, or it might be bad, but you’ll learn something from it. And that is a profound opportunity. Change tells you who you really are."

-Cathy Linton

ꔛ Another masterpiece—definitely one of my favorites.

ꔛ After That Night hits hard. The story is intense, diving deep into themes of rape, abuse, murder, and every horrific thing that could happen to a woman. But the way it tackles rape is especially gut-wrenching.

ꔛ It gave me a whole new understanding of what happened to Sara Linton 15 years ago. Karin Slaughter is just a genius—no surprise there. Can you believe she managed to tie events from her earlier books all the way to the 11th book in the Will Trent series? And Sara, who’s originally from the Grant County series, still plays such a huge role. Karin’s mind is on another level—seriously, hats off to her!

ꔛ That’s why, whenever someone asks me for book recommendations, it’s always Karin’s books first. I’ve read tons of crime and thriller novels, but nothing even comes close to hers.

“When you’re part of a group, it’s hard being the only person who disagrees with what the group is doing. Easier to go along to get along. Otherwise, you’re completely isolated. Not to mention they can turn on you. People who are doing bad things don’t like being told they’re doing bad things. You call them out on their bullshit, they’ll try to destroy you.”

-Will Trent

ꔛ Now, about the story—yeah, it’s long, and that might be overwhelming for some. But if you’ve been following these characters as closely as I have, you’ll realize every detail matters. Nothing feels like filler.

ꔛ I was never bored. In fact, some chapters had me on edge because I knew Karin was going to hit me with a plot twist when I least expected it. She always does.

ꔛ I’m beyond grateful that some of my favorite characters, like Amanda, are still part of the story.

"Being a mother doesn’t make you a better person."

-Sara Linton

ꔛ The romance? Subtle, just the way I like it. I’m really rooting for Sara and Will to finally get their happy ending—they deserve it after everything they’ve been through.

ꔛ I’ll keep reading every single one of Karin’s books. I could never get tired of them. If you’ve got recommendations, send them my way—I love dark, brutal stories. The more twisted, the better. LOL.

ꔛ This book isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re not comfortable with raw, brutal topics. But if you’re like me—a little bit of a psychopath, haha—this is a must-read.

➺➻➼➽➺➻➼➽➺➻➼➽➺➻➼➽➺➼➽➺➻➼➽

ᬊAfter that night, nothing was ever the same again

ᬊFifteen years ago, Sara Linton's life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her.

ᬊUntil one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who's been brutally attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper's assault is uncannily linked to Sara's.

ᬊAnd it seems the past isn't going to stay buried forever.

📖 6/50

#readingwrapup #willtrent #series #karinslaughter #book11 #thriller #suspense #crime #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookstagram #2025reads #bookwhore