I've recently taken interest in nonfiction books. I'm currently reading one. This is the second nonfiction book I've read this year. I have a few more in my list.
In my attempts to bring justice to these books, I decided to create a rating system to evaluate philosophy books in question. My dilemma is I haven't read enough of these books for me to create a rating system of my own.
I tried to jog my memory but I could not, for the life of me, remember the mandatory philosophy books required in my Philosophy course in uni. I remember writing the essays out of sheer obligation. I hope my Philosophy professor never finds this page.
Rigid as this may sound, I refuse to continue reading without any system in place for me to review the book. I need to know what to take note of and what to evaluate. In order to speed up my process, I Googled nonfiction review templates but the ones I found do not encapsulate the depth I was going for. As a temporary solution, I turned to a DeepSeek-generated 'Nonfiction Book Rating System' based on my own Six-Point Fiction Book Rating System so I could return to reading. Once I've read enough nonfiction books, I'll develop my own.
For context, my old book reviews contained my overall feelings about the plot and characters. My oldest book reviews can be found from 2011 on my old Goodreads account. As I grew older and re-read my previous reviews, I realized that my reviews had become chaotic to the point where I didn’t even want to look at it anymore. So, I decided to start this blog in January of this year, the sole intention was to revamp the way I review books.
Before I begin enumerating the reasons why I review the way I do, I want to state the purpose of my reviews: to capture my reading experience to the best of my abilities. Recalling the feelings and insights I had is essential for me to contemplate whether or not I should re-read a book. Here are the different approaches I've taken to book reviews since I restarted my list this year.
Plot Summary
Ha! This is a minor mistake because I was being lazy. I thought I could rely on book blurbs and skip writing my own summary. However, leaving out plot summaries in my own words ended up having a big impact on how useful my reviews were to me.Structure
My freestyle reviews from the past don’t work for me anymore. I need to be able to find what I want when I reread my reviews. So, I created my own rating system to ensure I’ve considered the things that matter to me.Reflection
I aim to carefully catalogue and articulate my reflections—did the book challenge my views on social and/or political issues, my morals, my sense of self, or something else? I find writing an incoherent review to be a waste of time because "future me" won’t understand what I meant, and that’s been the case with many of my past reviews. The worst part was some of those reviews were lengthy. I also take time to reflect on why I feel the way I do about a particular scene, as it helps me better understand my views and preferences as well. I think this is why I take longer to read—there’s a lot of pondering in between.Women Representation
During my teenage years, I used to read a lot of romcom books by Sophie Kinsella. At some point of my early adulthood, I decided I had hit my quota of romcoms in this lifetime. Now that I am older, I realized I had neglected this part of my reviews for decades. There are pros and cons to it. On one hand, I didn’t miss out on beautifully written lyrical prose. If it captured my attention, I’d read it regardless of how women were portrayed in the book. Oh, the clutches of patriarchy on me were clear! On the other hand, I couldn't name many strong female main characters from my list of books. I intend to change that.
Okay, I lied when I said I don't read romance. I do. But only under very specific conditions: gay men, excessive pining, slow-burn romance, and most probably, in Xianxia or Wuxia setting.
I have been in the danmei rabbit-hole since 2018 and well, here we are. Since the cursed danmei ban of 2021, I've lost faith that donghua (animated Chinese drama) and drama adaptations will actually air worldwide, so I’ve turned to the novels. Are some of these books objectively messy? Yes. Am I still going to read them like my life depends on it? Also yes. There’s just something about the over-the-top drama, the morally questionable leads, and the sheer commitment to the angst that keeps me coming back for more.
So, in the spirit of my current favorite genre, here are 5 danmei series on my radar:
Title: Golden Terrace
Author: Cang Wu Bin Bai
Series: 2 Volumes
About:
It is year twenty-five of the Yuantai Era of the Great Zhou Empire. The renowned Marquis of Jingning, commander of the Beiyan Cavalry, Fu Shen is injured on the battlefield at the northern border. Returning with a broken leg to the capital, Fu Shen learns that the emperor has conferred a marriage for him—with another man. To make matters worse, Fu Shen’s spouse is his political nemesis: the famed Imperial Investigator of the Feilong Guard, Yan Xiaohan.
In spite of the political differences that stand between them in court, Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan gradually start to accept each other’s presence in their shared home. Yet as they learn to navigate their new life together, it is the calm before the storm. The mystery behind the attack at the northern border begins to unfold, unveiling dangers that threaten the peace of Great Zhou.
Title: Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu
Author: Tang Jiu Qing / 唐酒卿
Series: 6 Volumes
About:
Shen Zechuan is the eighth son of the traitorous Prince of Jianxing, a man who doomed his cities and people to destruction at the hands of the foreign enemy. As the only surviving member of his reviled line, Shen Zechuan bears the hatred of the nation. And no one's hate burns hotter than that of Xiao Chiye, the youngest son of the powerful Prince of Libei.
Xiao Chiye would love nothing more than to see Shen Zechuan dead, but against all odds, he clings to life. Rather than succumb to his family's disgrace, he becomes a thorn in Xiao Chiye's side, clawing his way into the cutthroat political world of the capital. Yet as these two bitter enemies struggle against the bonds of their fate, they find themselves drawn together with a force neither expected--and neither can hope to resist.
Title: Heaven Official's Blessings
Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Series: 8 Volumes
About:
Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedicated study and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise may also fall, and fall he does--cast from the heavens and banished to the world below.
Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time, angering most of the gods in the process. To repay his debts, he is sent to the Mortal Realm to hunt down violent ghosts and troublemaking spirits who prey on the living. Along his travels, he meets the fascinating and brilliant San Lang, a young man with whom he feels an instant connection. Yet San Lang is clearly more than he appears... What mysteries lie behind that carefree smile?
Title: Stars of Chaos
Author: Priest
Series: 5 Volumes
About:
The discovery of violet gold, a vital fuel for steam-powered machines, propelled Great Liang into an age of prosperity. But for Chang Geng, a young man raised on the impoverished northern frontier, the concerns of the empire are as distant as the stars above.
When raiders from the north attack Chang Geng’s small village, he discovers that the life he knows is a lie. His mother, his teacher...even his beloved godfather, the man he trusted most in the world, are not who they seem. As enemies of the empire circle ever closer, Chang Geng must travel to the heart of the capital—with his godfather as his guide—to meet his destiny.
Title: The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua
Author: Meng Xi Shi
Series: 3 Volumes
About:
As the harem has Imperial Consort Wan, the Western Depot has a Commander named Wang Zhi. Crown Prince Zhu Youcheng is merely eight years old—and no one knows if he will be able to reach adulthood without issue.
The Emperor has nothing to his name, despite putting on an act that suggests otherwise, the eunuchs deceive their superiors while taking advantage of those beneath them, and the subjects of the Imperial Court are patching up the leaks. As there are those who are arrogantly savage for the sake of evil, there are those who sigh helplessly for the sake of good.
With the ways of the world like this, how could the ways of the heavens possibly be just?
In the spirit of International Women's Day on March 8th, I put a feminist spin on today's challenge. While I have not read most of these books, these quotes have shifted my perspective. Some reaffirmed my stance on feminism, while others highlight the irony of being a woman. These ten thought-provoking quotes reflect the struggles, resilience, and power of women, offering insight into the complexities of how we perceive ourselves and how society perceives us.

Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Quote:
"Men always say that as the defining compliment, don’t they? She’s a cool girl. Being the Cool Girl means I am a hot, brilliant, funny woman who adores football, poker, dirty jokes, and burping, who plays video games, drinks cheap beer, loves threesomes and anal sex, and jams hot dogs and hamburgers into her mouth like she’s hosting the world’s biggest culinary gang bang while somehow maintaining a size 2, because Cool Girls are above all hot. Hot and understanding. Cool Girls never get angry; they only smile in a chagrined, loving manner and let their men do whatever they want. Go ahead, shit on me, I don’t mind, I’m the Cool Girl.
Men actually think this girl exists. Maybe they’re fooled because so many women are willing to pretend to be this girl. For a long time Cool Girl offended me. I used to see men – friends, coworkers, strangers – giddy over these awful pretender women, and I’d want to sit these men down and calmly say: You are not dating a woman, you are dating a woman who has watched too many movies written by socially awkward men who’d like to believe that this kind of woman exists and might kiss them. I’d want to grab the poor guy by his lapels or messenger bag and say: The bitch doesn’t really love chili dogs that much – no one loves chili dogs that much! And the Cool Girls are even more pathetic: They’re not even pretending to be the woman they want to be, they’re pretending to be the woman a man wants them to be. Oh, and if you’re not a Cool Girl, I beg you not to believe that your man doesn’t want the Cool Girl. It may be a slightly different version – maybe he’s a vegetarian, so Cool Girl loves seitan and is great with dogs; or maybe he’s a hipster artist, so Cool Girl is a tattooed, bespectacled nerd who loves comics. There are variations to the window dressing, but believe me, he wants Cool Girl, who is basically the girl who likes every fucking thing he likes and doesn’t ever complain. (How do you know you’re not Cool Girl? Because he says things like: ‘I like strong women.’ If he says that to you, he will at some point fuck someone else. Because ‘I like strong women’ is code for ‘I hate strong women.’)
I always feel as if I'm struggling to become someone else. As if I'm trying to find a new place, grab hold of a new life, a new personality. I suppose it's part of growing up, yet it's also an attempt to re-invent myself. By becoming a different me, I could free myself of everything. I seriously believed I could escape myself - as long as I made the effort. But I always hit a dead end. No matter where I go, I still end up me. What's missing never changes. The scenery may change, but I'm still the same old incomplete person. The same missing elements torture me with a hunger that I can never satisfy. I think that lack itself is as close as I'll come to defining myself."

Title: The Politics of Reality: Essays in Feminist Theory
Author: Marilyn Frye
Quote:
"To say that straight men are heterosexual is only to say that they engage in sex (fucking exclusively with the other sex, i.e., women). All or almost all of that which pertains to love, most straight men reserve exclusively for other men. The people whom they admire, respect, adore, revere, honor, whom they imitate, idolize, and form profound attachments to, whom they are willing to teach and from whom they are willing to learn, and whose respect, admiration, recognition, honor, reverence and love they desire… those are, overwhelmingly, other men. In their relations with women, what passes for respect is kindness, generosity or paternalism; what passes for honor is removal to the pedestal. From women they want devotion, service and sex.
Heterosexual male culture is homoerotic; it is man-loving."

Title: We Should All Be Feminists
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Quote:
"We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you would threaten the man. Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Now marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same? We raise girls to see each other as competitors not for jobs or accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men. We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are."

Title: The Worth of Women: Wherein Is Clearly Revealed Their Nobility and Their Superiority to Men
Author: Moderata Fonte
Quote:
"Do you really believe ... that everything historians tell us about men – or about women – is actually true? You ought to consider the fact that these histories have been written by men, who never tell the truth except by accident."

Title: The Second Sex
Author: Simone de Beauvoir
Quote:
"If they want to flirt or initiate a friendship, they should carefully avoid giving the impression they are taking the initiative; men do not like tomboys, nor bluestockings, nor thinking women; too much audacity, culture, intelligence, or character frightens them.
In most novels, as George Eliot observes, it is the dumb, blond heroine who outshines the virile brunette; and in The Mill on the Floss, Maggie tries in vain to reverse the roles; in the end she dies and it is blond Lucy who marries Stephen. In The Last of the Mohicans, vapid Alice wins the hero’s heart and not valiant Cora; in Little Women kindly Jo is only a childhood friend for Laurie; he vows his love to curly-haired and insipid Amy.
To be feminine is to show oneself as weak, futile, passive, and docile. The girl is supposed not only to primp and dress herself up but also to repress her spontaneity and substitute for it the grace and charm she has been taught by her elder sisters. Any self-assertion will take away from her femininity and her seductiveness.”

Title: Gaudy Night
Author: Dorothy L. Sayers
Quote:
"The rule seemed to be that a great woman must either die unwed ... or find a still greater man to marry her. ... The great man, on the other hand, could marry where he liked, not being restricted to great women; indeed, it was often found sweet and commendable in him to choose a woman of no sort of greatness at all."

Title: Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society
Author: Dorothy L. Sayers
Quote:
"It is extraordinarily entertaining to watch the historians of the past ... entangling themselves in what they were pleased to call the "problem" of Queen Elizabeth. They invented the most complicated and astonishing reasons both for her success as a sovereign and for her tortuous matrimonial policy. She was the tool of Burleigh, she was the tool of Leicester, she was the fool of Essex; she was diseased, she was deformed, she was a man in disguise. She was a mystery, and must have some extraordinary solution. Only recently has it occrurred to a few enlightened people that the solution might be quite simple after all. She might be one of the rare people were born into the right job and put that job first."

Title: Dear Ijeawele: A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Quote:
“Teach her about difference. Make difference ordinary. Make difference normal. Teach her not to attach value to difference. And the reason for this is not to be fair or to be nice but merely to be human and practical. Because difference is the reality of our world. And by teaching her about difference, you are equipping her to survive in a diverse world.
She must know and understand that people walk different paths in the world and that as long as those paths do no harm to others, they are valid paths that she must respect. Teach her that we do not know – we cannot know – everything about life. Both religion and science have spaces for the things we do not know, and it is enough to make peace with that.
Teach her never to universalise her own standards or experiences. Teach her that her standards are for her alone, and not for other people.
This is the only necessary form of humility: the realisation that difference is normal.”

Title: My Own Story
Author: Emmeline Pankhurst
Quote:
“Men make the moral code and they expect women to accept it. They have decided that it is entirely right and proper for men to fight for their liberties and their rights, but that it is not right and proper for women to fight for theirs.”

Title: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Author: Mary Wollstonecraft
Quote:
“I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists. I wish to persuade women to endeavor to acquire strength, both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness, and that those beings are only the objects of pity, and that kind of love which has been termed its sister, will soon become objects of contempt."
I've always been, and always will be, a fangirl at heart. When characters from books, shows, movies—or even idols in real life—live in our heads rent-free, creativity is bound to spark sooner or later. But what do you do when you want to talk about them, and no one around you is as obsessed as you are? You turn to random strangers on the internet. And honestly? That keeps the fandom alive way longer than the books, shows, or movies ever could.
Like most fans, I’ve had my fair share of disappointments—terrible endings, wasted potential, characters tossed aside like they never mattered. And when that happens, I do what any self-respecting fangirl would do: I dive into fanfiction. Because if canon won’t give us what we want, there’s always a fic out there that will. What fuels these stories? Character chemistry, a fanfic writer with the passion of a hundred suns, extra time on their hands, and, of course, an internet connection.
Honestly, I don’t even remember how I first stumbled upon fanfiction. It was sometime before social media took over, but I started reading on FanFiction.net. My first fandom? Probably Inuyasha or Naruto—all I know is that it kept our landline busy. This was back in the dial-up era, when connecting to the internet felt like it took 500 years, and story tagging was an absolute mess. To this day, I still haven’t forgiven that one author who decided to kill off the entire Inuyasha cast one by one toward the end.
Over time, I jumped around different platforms—LiveJournal, Asianfanfics, Tumblr, Wattpad—and now, I mostly read on AO3. My reasons for reading have evolved over the years. Sometimes, I just want a character to have a single good day after suffering through five whole books. Other times, I think side characters deserve more love, but since they're side characters, they barely get any plot. And then there are days when I’m just curious about how their dynamics would play out in an alternate universe.
But here’s the thing—fanfiction isn’t just about fixing stories or indulging in “what ifs.” It’s the essence of fandoms. Canon gives us a framework, but fandom is what breathes life into it. Fans take the characters, worlds, and relationships and make them their own, expanding stories in ways the original creators never could. That’s why some fandoms stay active years after a series ends—because as long as fans are still creating, the story never really stops. Merch from various fandoms is still profitable even years or decades after the initial book and/or movie release because fics keep the fandom alive.
And let’s be real, shipping culture wouldn’t be what it is without fanfiction. Sometimes, canon gets it wrong. Other times, two characters have so much chemistry, but the writers refuse to see it. And then there are the pairings that make absolutely no sense but somehow work in a fic. Whether it’s rewriting bad romance arcs, giving a ship the moments it deserved, or throwing them into an entirely new setting, fanfiction is where ships truly thrive.
I once read that we go back to fanfiction because there’s comfort in it. We already know the characters, so we don’t have to learn a whole new world or get attached to a brand-new cast. We just want more stories with the ones we love. And honestly? I couldn't agree more. Over the years, I’ve fallen into so many fandom rabbit holes—Harry Potter, MXTX-verse, Merlin, Hannibal, Sherlock Holmes-to name a few. Some I stayed in for years, some I just passed through, but fanfiction was always the constant.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. I tend to avoid modern settings because like many readers, I read to escape. This challenge is right up my alley. Listing this down made me want to re-read some of them. Here’s a list of my recommended historical fiction, fantasy, and historical fantasy books. I even have science fiction!

I remember reading this in 2014, and it still remains one of my favourite books. One thing that stands out to me is that, despite being published in 1987, Süskind’s writing has a rhythm that I really enjoy.
Set in 18th-century France, the book follows a man on a mission to create the perfect perfume—crafted from the scent of young virgin women—in his desperate desire to be loved. If you're looking for an exquisitely written, character-driven, morbid, and slow-paced novel about a serial killer, I highly recommend this book.

I still remember reading this book in just two days back in 2016. By the end, I was thinking, 'Oh my god, the sun is rising—I have to get up for work in two hours,' and 'Oh my god, how do I stop crying?' As you can see, I lost sleep over this book because I simply couldn’t put it down.
The book is told from Death’s point of view, who masterfully crafts his slow-paced storytelling about Liesel, Papa, Rudy, Max, and many others to lure you into 1940s Molching. If you're ready to read a colourful prose written to describle one of the darkest moments in history and immerse yourself in the characters' daily lives for a while, this book is for you. The story is written beautifully and I cannot praise Zusak’s writing style enough.

I must admit, I only discovered this book’s existence when my friend dragged me to watch the movie adaptation with her. I agreed reluctantly yet I immediately looked for the book after the movie. Haha! Some time in 2018, I requested this book from my local bookstore and had to wait three weeks for the physical copy.
The late French writer Romain Kacew, better known as Romain Gary, wrote this biography as a tribute to his mother, whose love for him—despite poverty, illness, discrimination, and war—pushed him to become everything she dreamed of: a French ambassador, a pilot, and above all, a great writer.
It weaves intricate threads of beautiful prose, serving as both a homage to his mother and a collection of anecdotes about war, relentless survival, and a promise made too soon yet fulfilled all the same.

To lighten up my list of recommendations, here’s a book by T. Kingfisher that was a delight to read! If the title doesn’t catch your attention, well, what’s wrong with you?
If you're looking for a dark, whimsical narrative, this book might be right up your alley. It's best enjoyed when you're not overthinking the plot while reading. Ideal for those who need a light-hearted, slow-paced, and fun book to take a break from more serious-themed reads, it might even help pull you out of a reading slump.
The book opens with Mona, our 14-year-old protagonist, who discovers a dead body in her aunt’s bakery. Our wizard is a reluctant hero who, after a series of events, ends up being the only person who can save the city. Mona’s casual storytelling naturally evokes humor and amusement from the readers, which makes the reading experience fun.

Miller has a way with her prose that I have to keep recommending her books.
Circe is a Greek mythology retelling of her journey. She transformed from being an outcast among gods to a powerful, independent sorceress. In this book, we follow Circe as she navigated her identity and power. Madeline Miller reimagined Circe as a relatable character.
If you're looking for a Greek mythology retelling with great prose, right pacing, badass witch, self-sufficient heroine, then this is your book.

I remember reading this book in 2015 and was instantly hooked by the writing style. Yes, that's my weakness.
This book is set in 1945. It is about Daniel who picks up a mysterious book by Julian Carax and gets obsessed with the author, only to find out someone’s been systematically destroying all of Carax’s works. As Daniel digs deeper, his life starts mirroring Carax’s tragic past—full of betrayal, forbidden love, and creepy villains lurking in the shadows. Meanwhile, a sadistic cop, Fumero, is out to ruin lives, and Daniel has to navigate all this while growing up, falling in love, and avoiding getting killed. In the end, secrets unravel, history repeats itself in eerie ways, and the power of stories—and the people who tell them—takes center stage.
I recommend this to anyone looking to melodramatic prose and slow-paced plot, which I love. As warning, I would like to inform you that this book does not contain well-written women characters. I only remember two characters, but they were more of a plot device than well-fleshed-out characters.

My goodness! If it isn’t the book we’re all collectively waiting for Rothfuss to finish! We’ve been waiting for over a decade, and I can’t believe a small part of me still hopes The Kingkiller Chronicle's third book will be published. At this point, I’d even accept an AI-generated version.
Kvothe, a once-famous wizard now hiding as an innkeeper, tells his story to a chronicler. He recounts how he survived the harsh streets, mastered magic at the University, and obsessively sought the truth behind his parents’ murder by the Chandrian.
I recommend this to anyone looking for beautifully written prose and those who want to immerse themselves in a rich, atmospheric plot. As a recurring theme in my youthful reads, I must inform you that this book does not contain well-written female characters. The women in this book were more of an ephemeral presence, shrouded in mystery, and all liked Kvothe.

Ya know what? I really enjoyed this book, even though I sprained my wrist while reading it on a moving train like a decade ago or so. You know what I don’t enjoy? The lack of a final book—because WHY?! As it turns out, this was a frustrating recurrence in the books I've read, but damn, this is so good!
A Game of Thrones is about multiple noble families contending for the Iron Throne. It has political intrigue, betrayal, and power struggles across the continent of Westeros. Meanwhile, in the North, the looming threat of the White Walkers forces the Stark family to confront dangers beyond the kingdom’s borders. As alliances shift and loyalties are tested. This is the entire season one of the show, but better.
I recommend this for people who like their fantasy books with immersive world building, convoluted politics, family drama, and intricate plot.

I’ve been debating whether to post this, given the news about Gaiman. I do not appreciate his non-apology statement, and I fully stand with the victims. That said, in this post, I am choosing to separate the art from the artist. The Graveyard Book remains my all-time favorite book. While I understand that the art and the artist are two sides of the coin and can't be separated, I'm here to celebrate the book, not the artist. In case you're wondering, yes he was my favourite author. I'm on an active hunt to find a new one.
The night Nobody Owens lost his family to a murderer, he winded up in a graveyard and was raised by ghosts. As he grew older, he became increasingly curious about the living world—despite the lingering threat of the man who still wanted him dead.
I read this book in one sitting. It's dark, whimiscal, and it lingered in my head for days.

To end this list with a bang, here's another lighthearted recommendation, a book by Martha Wells. I just read it this year and this is the first book to Murderbot Series and the first book to make me like science fiction. It's my current favourite.
All Systems Red is about a self-aware android that refers to itself as "Murderbot". It is working on contract to guard and harvest the data acquired by its clients, a group of scientists called PreservationAux. When Murderbot and two of its client scientists are attacked by an unreported creature, the team investigates and discovers that some of the information files about the planet they're working on are missing. PreservationAux initiates correspondence with DeltFall, a larger survey team on the opposite end of the planet, to compare and find the discrepancies between their data. The teams maintain an open communication channel until DeltFall becomes unreachable. PreservationAux and Murderbot investigate to find out what happened to DeltFall and whether their security is also compromised.
I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced book that can be read in a day. Whether you're a science fiction aficionado or this is your first adult science fiction book, it is an easy read.
In honour of Valentine’s Day, I’m starting a new challenge on my blog called Fanfic Fridays.
I’ve been reading fanfiction since I was 11... that was a little over two decades ago, back when tagging wasn’t as meticulous as it is today, and you wouldn’t know if you were getting a slow-burn romance or 80 chapters of heartbreak! Over the years, I’ve explored different fanfiction platforms and been part of various fandoms, but these past few years, I mostly read on AO3.
While I do support reading and writing fanfiction, like thousands of fans across the world, I want to explicitly state that I am strongly against intellectual property theft and unauthorised monetisation of fanworks. I am all for celebrating creativity in its many forms, but not at the expense of the authors who worked hard to create the worlds readers love.
Without further ado, here are my top 3 favourite Dramione rom-coms... for now.
Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love
Summary:
Hermione straddles the Muggle and Magical worlds as a medical researcher and Healer about to make a big discovery. Draco is an Auror assigned to protect her from forces unknown – to both of their displeasure.
Features hyper-competent, fiery Hermione and lazy, yet dangerous, Draco. Slow burn.
Love and Other Historical Accidents
Summary:
Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy never intended to blow up their life's work, but that's rather what they've gone and done. Now they're trapped 200 years in the past, with a broken Time Turner, a missing snuff box, a handful of overly-eligible daughters, and a House-elf in a cable knit cardigan. It will require the combined power of their keen intellects to get them home, if they'd stop arguing long enough to use them.
As it turns out, history is just one damned accident after another.
For fans of Harry Potter, Jane Austen, and Connie Willis, a historical romantic comedy all about time, and getting the hell out of it.
The Trials and Tribulations of Draco Malfoy's Employment
Summary:
Draco Malfoy, for reasons that no one else fully understood, decided he required a job. A job that, in what he considered to be a horrifying state of affairs, left him partnered with a witch who was irritatingly attractive, frustratingly brilliant, unbearably interesting, and thoroughly Unimpressed by his existence.
Draco wished he could return to the time before he passed the curse-breaking exams with scores high enough to make him stuck with the swotty fuckable know-it-all, but now, with his unfortunate amount of competence and his unfortunate assignment, he finds himself sent out on alarmingly dangerous retrievals which are highly likely to result in his perfect face and perfect hair being marred.
Copious quantities of Arithmancy are engaged in, peacocks with fancy rich person names are tended to, and unreasonable amounts of unbearably expensive firewhisky are consumed.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by thatartsyreadergirl. Truth be told, I’ve been dodging romance novels like the plague since my teenage years. None of the books I’ve picked up have held my attention long enough for me to finish them. However, even someone like me isn’t completely immune to romance books all the time. I may not be an authority on the best romance novels of all time, but I have read one that’s worth recommending, along with a few others on my radar. Here they are:

This is a poetic retelling of the Trojan War from Patroclus’ point of view. And if you paid attention in your literature classes on Greek mythology, you already know how this story ends. Nevertheless, Miller's immersive writing style made this one hell of a page-turner! Since the book isn’t told from a typical hero's perspective, it does a fantastic job of building tension and slow-burn romance between Patroclus and Achilles. To this day, this is the best book by Miller that I’ve read, and I highly recommend it.
P.S.: This is not the only romance book I read but this is the only one worth recommending in terms of prose, plot, protagonists, conflict and reading experience.
Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.
They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.
These books below made it to my to-read list based on the following criteria: mature protagonist/s, minimal violence, slow-burn romance, and a fantasy setting written in beautiful prose. Since my reading mood switches faster than Moira Rose's, I can't guarantee that I'll finish reading these books in 2025. Oh, you don't know the Moira Rose? Shame on you! Nevertheless, I can only hope to find the mood to read through some of them this year.

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

1883. Thaniel Steepleton returns home to his tiny London apartment to find a gold pocket watch on his pillow. Six months later, the mysterious timepiece saves his life, drawing him away from a blast that destroys Scotland Yard. At last, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori, a kind, lonely immigrant from Japan. Although Mori seems harmless, a chain of unexplainable events soon suggests he must be hiding something. When Grace Carrow, an Oxford physicist, unwittingly interferes, Thaniel is torn between opposing loyalties.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a sweeping, atmospheric narrative that takes the reader on an unexpected journey through Victorian London, Japan as its civil war crumbles long-standing traditions, and beyond. Blending historical events with dazzling flights of fancy, it opens doors to a strange and magical past.

Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court—the body-father of the queen's new child—in an altercation which results in his humiliation.
To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.

Welcome to the Scattered Pearls Belt, a collection of ring habitats and orbitals ruled by exiled human scholars and powerful families, and held together by living mindships who carry people and freight between the stars. In this fluid society, human and mindship avatars mingle in corridors and in function rooms, and physical and virtual realities overlap, the appareance of environments easily modified and adapted to interlocutors or current mood.
A transport ship discharged from military service after a traumatic injury, The Shadow's Child now ekes out a precarious living as a brewer of mind-altering drugs for the comfort of space-travellers. Meanwhile, abrasive and eccentric scholar Long Chau wants to find a corpse for a scientific study. When Long Chau walks into her office, The Shadow's Child expects an unpleasant but easy assignment. When the corpse turns out to have been murdered, Long Chau feels compelled to investigate, dragging The Shadow's Child with her.
As they dig deep into the victim's past, The Shadow's Child realises that the investigation points to Long Chau's own murky past--and, ultimately, to the dark and unbearable void that lies between the stars...

New love blossoms between an impatient starkeeper and a reclusive poet as they try together to save their island home; a gorgeous tale of the inevitable transformations of communities and their worlds.
Beneath the waters by the islands of Gelle-Geu, a star sleeps restlessly. The celebrated new starkeeper Ranra Kekeri, who is preoccupied by the increasing tremors, confronts the problems left behind by her predecessor.
Meanwhile, the poet Erígra Lilún, who merely wants to be left alone, is repeatedly asked by their ancestor Semberí to take over the starkeeping helm. Semberí insists upon telling Lilún mysterious tales of the deliverance of the stars by the goddess Bird.
When Ranra and Lilún meet, sparks begin to fly. An unforeseen configuration of their magical deepnames illuminates the trouble under the tides. For Ranra and Lilún, their story is just beginning; for the people of Gelle-Geu, it may well be too late to save their home.

Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.
Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war.

Books are dangerous things in Collins's alternate universe, a place vaguely reminiscent of 19th-century England. It's a world in which people visit book binders to rid themselves of painful or treacherous memories. Once their stories have been told and are bound between the pages of a book, the slate is wiped clean and their memories lose the power to hurt or haunt them.
After having suffered some sort of mental collapse and no longer able to keep up with his farm chores, Emmett Farmer is sent to the workshop of one such binder to live and work as her apprentice. Leaving behind home and family, Emmett slowly regains his health while learning the binding trade. He is forbidden to enter the locked room where books are stored, so he spends many months marbling end pages, tooling leather book covers, and gilding edges. But his curiosity is piqued by the people who come and go from the inner sanctum, and the arrival of the lordly Lucian Darnay, with whom he senses a connection, changes everything.

Murder, Politics and Intrigue.
When the young half-goblin emperor Maia sought to learn who had set the bombs that killed his father and half-brothers, he turned to an obscure resident of his Court, a Prelate of Ulis and a Witness for the Dead.
Thara Celehar found the truth, though it did him no good to discover it. Now he lives in the City of Amalo, far from the Court though not exactly in exile. He has not escaped from politics, but his position gives him the ability to serve the common people of the city, which is his preference.
He lives modestly, but his decency and fundamental honestly will not permit him to live quietly.

There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.
When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.
How about you? Do you have beautifully written romance book recommendations with mature protagonist/s, minimal violence, slow-burn romance in fantasy settings? If so, feel free to give me recommendations below. I would love to hear from you!
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by thatartsyreadergirl. Here are the books that are recently on my to-read list. A lot of these recommendations came from good old Reddit lurking.

I was browsing for book blogs and I found this challenge. Thanks to Jana, who's hosting Top Ten Tuesdays at The Artsy Reader Girl.
1. Read books without feeling like it's a chore
I have been on a reading slump since the pandemic restrictions loosened up. I am hoping to read at least two books per month. However, I know stressing myself out would just deter me from reading.
2. Read more books written by women from various ethnicity.
If you ask me who my favorite authors are, all three of them are old white men. Oh, the clutches of patriarchy! I have to expand my reading backlog criteria because it is not going to diversify itself.
3. Read more books with women as main characters
I’m the type to dissociate myself from the books I read because I read to escape. Most of the books I’ve read have had men as lead characters. This is harder than it sounds—old habits die hard. I’ve been in a BL rabbit hole since 2019.
4. Chill with the Catholic Guilt. LOL.
As a mood reader, I always feel like I don’t read fast enough whenever I see book content creators on social media who have already read more books than I could possibly finish in a lifetime. As of today, I have only completed 69 books. While I know guilting myself over such trivial matters is self-inflicted, that awareness alone isn’t always enough to ease my guilt. I have to remind myself that reading is a hobby, not a competition..
5. Declutter my Kindle
A few years ago, I experienced FOMO when people were downloading free books from Amazon. I did the same without even reading the first page to see if I liked them. Now, I have to declutter.
6. Review books objectively
In recent years, my book ratings have been based on various elements of the books I’ve read. However, my older Goodreads reviews focused more on how the books made me feel. Since my goal is to fully capture my reading experience, I’ve decided to change my approach. I restructured my reviews to align with the way I rate the manhuas / manhwas I’ve read. See my book rating system.
7. Utilize the local library
Borrowing physical books and e-books from the library has become easier, thanks to our local library app, which can be synced with Libby. Since I’ve contributed to it through my tax money and paid ten or twelve dollars for a lifetime membership, I might as well make the most of it. I can’t remember the exact amount—it was a long time ago, haha!
As I welcome 2025, I made a decision to start with a fresh book blog and a mindful backlog of books to read. Since the pandemic restrictions loosened, I have been in a reading slump. My energy was redirected to other fictional mediums, such as manhwas, donghuas, and anime, which I enjoyed immensely. I even had a field day creating dashboards to track what I was reading. However, I miss being thoroughly immersed in a world, an experience I only get whenever I read books. Looking back at my previous book reviews, I realized I needed a better way to organize my reviews. Hence, this blog.
Cheers to a fresh start!