Wow. What. A. Book. From the plot of the story, this book could have very easily been predictable and reminiscent of many other works of literature or film, but Moreno-Garcia perfectly executed this story in a way that was horrifying, unique, and completely unpredictable. Everything in the book was set up so effectively. The slow build up of information was paced incredibly well so I was receiving info as I needed it, making it easier to digest in a way that wasn’t overwhelming.

The book was also incredibly frustrating in the best ways. The antagonists were so darkly horrid. The gaslighting was infuriating. But Noemi was such an exciting and fierce MC. I loved her. She was sassy and witty, fantastically smart, but also with a high level of emotional intelligence that made her so aspirational. I love when female characters are well-rounded... when they can be brave and funny, beautiful and emotional all at once. Because that more so encompasses how women really are. We’re not one-dimensional, so seeing that reflecting in fictional stories is such an incredibly liberating and relieving thing to see.






The story-telling was so incredible. This was my first time reading a book from Moreno-Garcia, but it certainly won’t be my last. 



Goodreads rating: ★★★★☆

Even more, I loved the dynamics between Jasmine and Ashton, and those sex scenes were superrrr steamy - seriously. Whew! I also really loved the setting of the book and the integration of the “real life” and “Carmen In Charge.” It was so neat to read through the parallels of the two stories, though I will admit it was confusing at first I just can’t say enough how much I loved this book. 






This book truly is a gem and I just wish it really was turned into its own "Streamflix" (Netflix) series.




Goodreads rating: ★★★★★

Right now, more and more people are looking into buying a car. So, if you’re considering buying your own set of wheels, you’re not alone! The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has seen increasing numbers of people trying to keep their distance from others and only come into contact with members of their own household in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This isn’t always possible on public transport - especially during common times of travel when the transit can get busier. By having your own vehicle, it’s easier to travel without having to come into contact with anyone else. Having a car also opens up opportunities such as being able to travel around public transit operating hours and being able to leave your home and get straight into your vehicle rather than walking to public transit stops and stations. But of course, buying a car isn’t always easy. There are countless things you need to take into consideration before getting started. 

Budget

The first thing you need to do when planning buying a car is to determine your budget. You need to make sure that you can comfortably afford your car as well as the ability to pay all your other bills, and have a little disposable income left over. Ideally, everyone should try to live to a budget in order to avoid overspending and to effectively manage finances, though that can sometimes be difficult due to cost of living. But creating a budget can help to somewhat alleviate the difficulties of possibly living paycheck to paycheck. To create a budget, it’s important to first figure out your salary after taxes and other essential contributions like social security, insurance costs, etc (what you actually “bring home”). Then deduct essentials such as rent or mortgage payments, energy, water, food, and outstanding debts. The money left over is referred to as “disposable income” and that should cover your car and general spending. It’s also important that when coming up with a budget for a car, don’t just deduct the monthly cost of the car itself. You’ve also got to consider costs such as car insurance, fuel, servicing and maintenance costs, and general upkeep of the car.