I'd read the first Anne book a couple months ago thanks to my friends who kept pestering me about how brilliant Gilbert Blythe is. And yes, he is brilliant, but I'm beginning to fear that the version of him that I love is the one from Anne With An E. However, I'll probably get one book further into the series before making any definitive decisions regarding which Blythe I hold more closely in my heart.

I began reading Anne of Avonlea at the start of the fall semester this year, but I didn't finish it until a couple days ago. Terrible, I know. I could blame it on how busy the semester was with my eclectic mix of film and computer science classes - I wouldn't be lying - but the real reason the book took me so long to read was because honestly, I found myself a bit bored with it all. The author L.M. Montgomery remains brilliant at creating lovable characters who feel like they're real; she brings the town, its folks, and its stories to life. But there isn't much dramatic tension in the novel as most things are spectacularly happy all the time, and so I found myself less enamored of the world and its characters than I had been when reading Anne of Green Gables. I hate to say it, but my main fear at the moment is that when I finish the series, it'll be because I've forced myself to rather than because I crave each book the moment I finish the one before it.

Despite its issues, I did end up enjoying my slow, meandering return to Prince Edward Island. At first I had been reluctant to accept the new cast of characters, but the addition of persons like the old neighbor with the parrot and Miss Lavender were actually quite sweet. There definitely isn't nearly enough Gilbert in this book - and gah, he's all soft and no angst - but all in all, this wasn't a horrible book by any means. I do believe I might've enjoyed the series more if I had read the books when I was younger, but I'm still determined to finish them all someday. And besides: maybe a slow meander isn't the worst way to experience such a vast and endearing story world like Anne's.

I happen to be one of those unfortunate souls who has gone through childhood in a miserable state. By which I mean to say that not a single friend of mine forced me to sit down and read a little book called Anne of Green Gables. Yes, there was this one younger friend of mine who mentioned it in a sentence - my goodness it's an amazing book, it's everything, if I were to paraphrase - but since that single sentence failed to get me to actually pick up the book, I would not call it a proper recommendation. I appreciate it and do not blame her, but I do blame everyone else. Thankfully, two of my best friends who unfortunately live all the way over in Sri Lanka and London properly hyped the series to me, and here I am a couple weeks later, having binged the Netflix show Anne With An E and currently reading the first book.

While I was reading, I came upon a comment where someone expressed their distaste for the show because of how it totally changed the book and doesn't capture the essence, the goodness of Anne. And frankly, I'm quite offended. I'm sure that I have no right to be offended as it's an arguably valid opinion, but offended I am. I mean, how can someone not adore the tv show? And how the show introduced Gilbert? Comparing what I've seen so far of the show and the book, I definitely prefer how the former did it. Mostly because book Gilbert annoys all the girls in the class while tv Gilbert is perfectly mild-mannered until that day with Anne, which personally I thought was so so adorable.

Back to the comment, however, I'm not sure if they simply didn't like the darkness of the first two episodes and didn't continue watching, or if they actually watched the first and/or second seasons and still hated it. If it's the latter, I cannot comprehend. How could you not enjoy a show that takes the book, perfectly captures Anne's voice as well as that of many of the other characters, and in addition to that modernizes it by bringing in relevant topics such as racism, LGBTQ rights, and of course sexism? How can you say no to that?

And as to taking away the "goodness" of the books, personally, I feel that giving Anne larger hurdles not only brings new life into the story, but also into her character. There are trials for both Anne and Gilbert, as well as all the other characters, really, and I'm constantly amazed at how much they did with the show given this one book. I haven't finished reading it completely yet, but there are things from both seasons in this single book, and while I'm loving this version, the show did so much more with everyone in terms of emotions and stakes - I adored every moment just as I'm adoring every moment of this book.

If anyone wants to argue that any show that doesn't stick to exactly how things are in the book is a terrible show, I disagree and let's keep it at that. Personally I find shows and movies that are completely the same as the book extremely boring to suffer through, at least in the case that you've already read the book, for example, Me Before You and Everything, Everything. I'm not here to go through the same thing twice, so if that's what you're into, we simply shall not agree on the matter. 

As it is, I highly highly recommend both the book and the show to anyone who hasn't experienced Anne before (although with the show, definitely watch at least two episodes before deciding whether you want to continue watching or not). The best part is you can watch and read or read and watch back to back, because hurrah, they're both two different things that nevertheless manage to keep the same essence. I've been missing the show these past few weeks, and reading the books right now is the best feeling.

I think I first started noticing it with Warcross by Marie Lu. The relationship between the two main characters felt so cliché and by-the-book, and I felt pretty much nothing for the two as a couple. Same thing happened to me with Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon, and again with my latest read, Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody. When I'm more or less invested in the plot but couldn't care less about the romance - which is usually a high selling point for me - it's obvious that there's a problem.

Now I don't have an issue with the predictability of which two characters will get together. That has always been obvious, and I love how powerful I feel when I'm like I saw that relationship coming from a mile away. No, the issue is when what happens between two characters romantically feels mechanical. Dictated. Expected. Boring. Sometimes I wonder if it's my age that has me bored to Hell and back with these bland romances, but nope, I just read Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West the other day and I can assure you I seriously swooned over that relationship. I know that romance in YA has always been something that is almost a must for the genre, but I guess the chemistry part of attraction isn't a necessity anymore. I'm seen characters eye each other with interest as soon as they meet, awkwardly shiver away from the other's touch, but it's hard for the reader to feel much when the characters themselves feel like they're not on board with this relationship the authors are telling them to take part in. Long story short: these romances aren't doing it for me. I mean, authors, characters, WHERE IS THE ANGST?

Take Ace of Shades as an example. Levi is pretty much interested in Enne as soon as he sees her, for no apparent reason. He's the leader of the Irons and doesn't trust anyone, but for no reason at all, he immediately trusts Enne and promises to help her no matter what. Because she's the first pretty girl he's seen? Similarly, as soon as they meet, Enne has an inner commentary on how handsome Levi is, but of course she doesn't want to admit that to herself. Naturally, Levi's eye's flit to and away from Enne, trying not to reveal his interest in her. Come on. Stop with the annoying, non-romantic antics, please.

There's a bunch more fake, stale romance throughout the rest of the book - though possibly not a single kiss, if I'm remembering correctly - but then there's a prophetic (read: it's all in the head) sex scene between the two toward the end of the novel that I laughed my way through because, again, what chemistry? It was funny how all the characters were remarking on how they liked each other and I was just siting there smirking at the falseness of it all. Just like in From Twinkle, With Love, however, Levi and Enne's relationship got more believable and had more substance towards the end of the book. But like I said in my review of Menon's book as well, it's hard to care much about a couple who had an unrealistic and boring start to their relationship. It certainly doesn't make me eager to pick up the next book.

Nice Witch is my favorite drama of the year so far, and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it stayed my favorite by the end of the year as well. It's unlike any other drama I've ever seen - it's very reminiscent of Indian soap operas, and possibly Spanish telenovelas - and I unabashedly admit to adoring every second of it. It's one of those rare dramas (possibly the only drama) that kept my attention from the beginning to the end of the season. It's about a super nice twin who's been constantly pushed aside by her crazy mean younger twin. However, when the mean twin gets in trouble and ends up in a coma (I TOLD YOU), she asks her sister to take her place as an air hostess until she gets better. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a soap opera if there wasn't a conspiracy within the airlines, as well as a hot pilot who doesn't date, but finds himself oddly frustrated by a certain air hostess. I highly highly recommend this drama for all the cheese and swoons.

MYSTERY QUEEN 2

If you saw some of my posts on Mystery Queen, then you already know how fond I am of the series. As much as I loved the first season, I was super surprised when the second season actually managed to outdo it: a rare feat. I thought I'd be put off with the additional (read: new) cast members they brought it - I don't readily accept change - and the hole in my heart that came about when I realized that Lee Won-keun wouldn't be in it anymore, but nope, the second season was definitely a win. Obviously you want to watch the first season before starting this one, but this is a series that will nevertheless make you smile giddily if you are a mystery fan.

So first of all, you should know that I've had a thing for Daniel Choi since I saw him in School 2013, and I've had a thing for Baek Jin-hee since I encountered her in Pride & Prejudice. Since both of them are the leads in this romantic drama, it's only logical that it made this list. In Jugglers, Jin-hee plays a secretary who is fired by her sucky boss, only to be hired by the company to assist...the one dude who doesn't want a secretary (Choi). The two are adorable, yes, but I also really appreciated how stupid but often lovable tropes were averted. Unlike most romantic couples, these two communicated and trusted each other. I know, it sounds boring, but try it out - their relationship works for both them and the audience.

WOK OF LOVE

Also called Greasy Melo. This drama features Lee Jun-ho (you might recognize him from Just Between Lovers), Jang Hyuk (Fated to Love You, Voice), and Jung Ryeo-won (Witch's Court). It's probably one of the quirkiest dramas I've seen to date, but it's super cute, super feel-good, puts a smile on your face, and mmm the food. Make sure you always have something to eat while you're watching this or you'll feel like a starving man without an oasis in sight. The romance, the bromance, and the plot are all adorable. The character relationships are very unique, and to be honest I feel like I need to emphasize the cuteness of this drama more.

I had a hard time choosing between this and Handsome Guy and Jung Eum, but About Time is too unique and well done to pass on. Lee Sung-kyung is the lead in this drama, and she plays an aspiring musical actress - who can sing, baby! - who also happens to be able to see how many years, months, days, minutes, and seconds a person has left before they die. She unfortunately can also see how long see herself has, and it's only a couple of months. She tries to make the most of each day, but one day, she runs into a man who stops her clock i.e. keeps her that much farther away from death. The drama from there on out is splendid in terms of melodrama, actressing, and romance, and yeah, the leads have great chemistry.

The main character Kate is obsessed with the lake, and she knows that when she grows up she wants to work there like her parents. So when her friend Alana convinces her to take a podcasting elective with her, she's not exactly happy. She knows what she wants to do with her life, so why must she go through the fresh hell that is doing something you're not comfortable with? Additionally, Alana has made Kate her wing girl to help her gain Diego's affections - also not fun when Kate might actually be starting to like him. This is your classic romantic tale of sisters before misters - kidding, it's nothing like that. But seriously, the main couple is absolutely adorable, and Kate and Alana's friendship is, well, friendship goals. 

If you're looking for a beach read or just happen to find yourself at the library this summer, make sure you pick up a copy of Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West because it beats even ice cream on a sweltering day.