Less Smut, More Heart: Why I Loved Daydream

Some of you readers or even TikTok users have heard of Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (Maple Hills Series #1). If you do not know this book here is a quick rundown for you: 

A college hockey romance about Anastasia, a competitive figure skater, and Nate, the captain of the hockey team. They are forced to work together when their teams must share a rink, but their initial rivalry turns into an unexpected romance.

This book has since sparked so much controversy on TikTok due to parents being deceived of it's content. They thought this book was just a cute little romance, but when they had their teenager reading smut (sex) that's when they drew the line. I however truly enjoyed this book, so much so that I just recently read the most recent book in the series, Daydream (Maple Hills Series #3). 

Here is my review of Daydream!

When his procrastination lands him in a difficult class with his least favorite professor, Henry Turner knows he’s going to have to work extra hard to survive his junior year of college. And now with his new title of captain for the hockey team, which he didn’t even want, Henry absolutely cannot fail. Enter Halle Jacobs, a fellow junior who finds herself befriended by Henry when he accidentally crashes her book club.

Halle may not have the romantic pursuits of her favorite fictional leads, but she’s an academic superstar, and as soon as she hears about Henry’s problems with his class reading material, she offers to help. Too bad being a private tutor isn’t exactly ideal given her own studies, job, book club, and the novel she’s trying to write. But new experiences are the key to beating her writer’s block, and Henry’s promising to be the one to give them to her. They just need to stick to their rule book, and not fall in love.

This book was super cute and way less smutty than Icebreaker. Halle and Henry have become my new romance book babies as I just adore them so much. Similar to Night Shift (which I wrote about in a previous review), I could really relate to Halle since she is a cute book reader and writer. She also is a people pleaser and although she takes on a lot more than I could in the book, it was still nice to see some representation for the people who work too hard.

Stars: 4

Spice: 2

Is Pinterest the Secret Weapon in Social Media Marketing?

When people think about social media marketing, platforms like Instagram and Facebook usually come to mind first. These platforms are popular in conversation, making them seem like the best options for reaching customers. However, I believe Pinterest is a platform that deserves more attention as a marketing strategy.

I feel the biggest advantage of Pinterest is that people don’t just browse for entertainment, they go there with a purpose. They use it to plan future purchases or ideas, whether they’re searching for outfits, home decor, or even travel destinations. According to the textbook, 93% of Pinterest users say they use the platform to plan purchases and 87% have actually bought something because of Pinterest.
This is huge for brands because it means they’re not just throwing out ads and hoping for engagement. Instead, they’re putting their products in front of users who are already looking for these specific products. 

While Instagram and Facebook focus on social connections, Pinterest functions more like a visual search engine. Instead of scrolling through links or generic ads, people can see actual images of exactly what they’re looking for. This makes Pinterest feel more engaging than typical advertising, as businesses can easily sneak their products into a user's search. Brands can even optimize their Pins with relevant keywords, hashtags and fitting descriptions so they appear in search results. A Pin promoting a new pair of shoes doesn’t feel like an ad, as it feels like a recommendation for someone looking to update their worn-out shoes.

Pinterest isn’t just a platform for DIY projects and home decor inspiration like most people think. It’s an under rated marketing tool that more businesses need to take seriously. Instead of relying solely on platforms like Instagram or Facebook, businesses should consider the benefits Pinterest brings to the table.

Snapchat: A Bad Marketing Platform

Snapchat has become a major social media platform, with over 406 million daily users. While it does have some unique marketing advantages, I think Snapchat is actually one of the worst social media platforms for marketing and here’s why.

1. Limited Audience Reach and Demographics
Snapchat’s users are mostly younger being around 18-24 years. While this might be great for brands that specifically want to target younger audiences, it’s a huge disadvantage for businesses that need a broader reach. Other platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok provide access to a wider range of age groups and demographics, making them more effective for brands trying to maximize engagement.

2. Poor Visibility
One of Snapchat’s biggest problems is its lack of searchability. Unlike other social media platforms that allow users to search for content through hashtags, keywords, or trending topics, Snapchat’s search function pretty much doesn't exist. Most interactions happen between friends and less through direct engagement with a brand’s account, making it really difficult for businesses to gain new followers organically. Without strong discoverability, it’s hard for brands to grow their audience without relying on paid promotions.

3. Bad Advertising
While Snapchat does offer advertising options like filters, the return on investment isn’t great. It may be cheaper to advertise on Snapchat compared to other platforms, but the engagement levels are extremely low. According to Gupta Media, only 0.46% of Snapchat ads even get clicked on. Additionally, Snapchat is designed for quick, private interactions as people open the app to chat or send pictures and they don’t stay on it for long periods like they do on Instagram or TikTok. 

4. Other Platforms are Better
Snapchat is also facing intense competition from other social media platforms that offer similar features. Instagram Stories, for example, provides nearly the same experience as Snapchat Stories but with better engagement tools and discoverability. TikTok has completely changed the game when it comes to viral content and brand exposure, making it a much better choice for businesses looking to build a strong social media presence. Since other platforms have adapted many of Snapchat’s best features while also offering superior marketing tools, there’s no reason for brands to use Snapchat.

While Snapchat might work well for brands targeting young audiences with highly visual and interactive content, it falls short in many areas for effective social media marketing. Its limited audience reach, poor discoverability and unreliable advertising make it a weak choice compared to platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Three Months Later: My Take on Ruin and Rising

I have finally finished the Shadow and Bone trilogy, also known as the Grishaverse trilogy and I am thankful to be done with it. It took me three months to power through all three books and while there were moments I enjoyed, overall, it felt like a long journey that I was more excited to just complete.

Of the three books, I appreciated Ruin and Rising the most because it provided closure to many of the loose ends from the previous books. While the pacing of the series was inconsistent at times, the final book managed to maintain my interest with unexpected plot twists that kept me guessing. Even though I had a general idea of how the story would conclude, there were enough surprises to make the finale engaging.

The story follows Alina and her friends as they escape captivity and set out on a dangerous quest to locate the third and final amplifier. This legendary source of power could give Alina the strength she needs to finally defeat the Darkling and bring peace to Ravka. However, along the way, the group encounters shocking revelations, difficult choices and the looming threat of an all-out war. As the final confrontation approaches, Alina must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice, not only for victory but also for the future of the world she is fighting to protect.

Now that I have completed the trilogy, I plan on watching the Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone. I am hoping that the show will bring more depth to elements that I found difficult to understand in the books and perhaps make some of the characters and plot more engaging. Sometimes, a visual adaptation can improve the storytelling in ways that a book cannot, so I am optimistic about how the series will compare.

Overall, I do not recommend this trilogy to anyone looking for a fantasy series. If you are searching for a more enjoyable fantasy read, I would highly recommend A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or The Betrothed by Kiera Cass. 

According to Goodreads, readers who enjoyed the Shadow and Bone trilogy often also liked The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, Powerless by Lauren Roberts and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. All three of these books are on my to-read list and I am curious to see how they compare. For now, I am just glad to have finished this trilogy and am ready to move on to a better reading adventure.

Stars: 3/5

Spice: 1/5

Adorable but Annoying? My Review of Night Shift

Night Shift by Annie Crown was the most adorable romance I have read in a while. I believe I found this book on either TikTok or Instagram before it came out. Since then, it has been sitting on my reading list, waiting to be read. Driving an hour and a half to my boyfriend's house is always the perfect time to read a romance, and this one hit the spot.

Kendall Holiday spends her Friday nights exactly where she wants to be. With her head buried in a spicy romance novel while she works the night shift at her university's library. She knows she could join her friends for a weekend of drinks and college parties, but she likes her alone time, so she tells herself she isn't hiding when she gets lost in the pages of fictional love stories.

But that all changes when Vincent Knight, captain of the basketball team, turns up with an injured wrist, a sour mood, and a pressing need for poetry recommendations for a class he hates. Vincent is tall, smart-mouthed and challenges Kendall like no one has before. Suddenly, she's falling headfirst into her very own romance novel, but it takes a lot more truth than tropes to get to a happy ever after in real life.

As a reader who focuses on tropes and happily ever after, it was fun to read a book where the main character was the same way. Kendall was always looking at her relationship with Vincent through tropes or scenes from books she had previously read.  It was nice to be able to have a character that I could relate to in this non-typical way.

This book was a short read, which I enjoyed because it meant that the scenes did not drag on too much and neither did the relationship between Vincent and Kendall. I will mention that I did not enjoy how much conflict and miscommunication there was between these two characters. It became repetitive and made me feel annoyed with the author.

Stars: 4

Spice: 3 

Why X Has Fallen Off

The social media platform X was once known as Twitter, a name that carried recognition and cultural significance. Twitter started as a simple way for friends to check in on each other and post short updates about their lives. Over time, it evolved into one of the most influential social media platforms, shaping conversations in real time. It became a platform where politicians, celebrities, journalists, and everyday users could share their thoughts instantly. However, after Elon Musk purchased Twitter in 2022, the app underwent dramatic changes. So much so that many users feel it will never be the same again.  

One of the most controversial changes was the rebranding of Twitter to X. The iconic blue and white bird logo, which had become a staple for the recognition of the app, was replaced with a minimalist black-and-white “X.” This left many users frustrated, as the old branding was deeply tied to Twitter’s identity. The name change created widespread confusion, as users who had spent years saying they were “tweeting” suddenly had no easy way to refer to posting.

The platform’s content moderation policies and algorithm changes have also caused major concerns. With Musk’s growing involvement in politics and his public stances on various issues, skepticism toward the algorithm has increased. Many users feel that their "For You" feed no longer reflects their interests but is instead driven by paid content and accounts favored by Musk himself.

Another major change that sparked debate was the overhaul of the verification system. In the past, the blue checkmark was a status symbol that signified credibility and authenticity, typically awarded to public figures based on their influence and identity verification. Verification is now a paid feature for anyone, only for a monthly subscription. This led to a decline in trust, as users could no longer easily distinguish between credible sources and those willing to pay for a checkmark.

Ultimately, Twitter was more than just a social media app, but with its transformation into X, the platform has lost much of the power and attraction it once had. Many users have left for alternatives like Threads, while others remain out of habit or curiosity about what X might become.