back at it again with another guide: 2026 edition! much like last time, this is being done nearly the middle of the year so i probably will forget everything i've seen but i'll try my best. my best is all i've got to give!

• under the oaktree: novel one (2.5/5) - webnovel by suji kim. a stuttering noblewoman marries the realm's most famous knight. she's given to him, really. tw for noncon and mention of abuse. mature.
• under the oaktree: novel two (3/5) - webnovel by suji kim. still not done reading, i picked it up mostly because i read the first one so i may as well get the rest of the story. continuation of the story above + the threat of a war. tw for mention of abuse. mature.
• you wanna be on top?: a memoir of makeovers, manipulation, and not becoming america's next top model (5/5) - memoir by sarah hartshorne. sarah writes of her time during her cycle of antm, from beginning all the way to the end and then some. really eye opening memoir about the harsh conditions of the show. e for everyone.
• a magical girl retires (5/5) - short novel by park seolyeon. a 29 year old woman is about to commit suicide when she's stopped by a magical girl who tells her she's destined to be one too. their enemy? climate change. i loved it. e for everyone.

• pretty woman (4/5) - classic 1990 romcom about a prostitute who meets a wealthy businessman, the two start an unlikely relationship. now i can finally say "you made a big mistake! HUGE!" and know the reference. 16+
• along came polly (3.5/5) - another classic 2004 romcom. a overly cautious man gets cheated on by his wife during their honeymoon. but, fear not, he meets an old classmate who shakes up his world for the better. #ibsrepresentation. pg-13.
• arrested development (4/5) - sitcom from 2003, also from 2013 and also from 2019 (there were breaks in between). a man finds himself having to take care of the family business when his father ends up going to prison for white-collar crime. usually a great funny time except for the amount of cousin-lovin' they had me sit through. could do without that. pg-13.
• reality check: inside america's next top model (3/5) - docuseries about antm and all it's controversies. now, let me be clear! 5/5 for every single girl who was part of this docuseries. they did a fine job. 4/5 for miss jay. 3/5 for everyone else. 1/5 for tyra banks, screw her. tw for mention of sexual assault & mention of ed. e for everyone.
• mom (5/5) - sitcom from 2013 - 2021. what started off as a show about a daughter/mother duo's (both single mothers) struggle with addiction grows into a story about a group of women they befriend in their aa meetings. i really liked this series and the range of characters they had. everyone so flawed and yet trying their hardest to be the best version of themselves. they stumble and get back up time and time again. a comfort show for sure. tw for alcohol and drug abuse (both mentioned and shown). tw for mentions of abuse (they all pretty much have tragic backstories). tv-13.

• whisper of the house (4/5) - an 8-bit style cozy game about decorating various spaces around a city. i'd call it semi-open world? a town you can walk around and explore. there's also a story going on that you'll piece together as you play. i love room decorating games so this was a no brainer for me. e for everyone.
• organized inside (5/5) - you unpack boxes and help people around town with their spaces. yeah, similar concept to the one on top. i did say i liked these kinds of games. this one has a more calming look and feel to it, definitely a cozy game. also has a story of sorts, guess it's more like everyone is linked with the other in one way or another. also, there's a little cutie black kitty. e for everyone.
• a date with death (4/5) - a romance visual novel in the style of a chatroom. you enter a week long bet with the grim reaper in an attempt to keep your soul. lots of fun, has that sweet sweet romance visual novel goodness, also has a saucy dlc (yes i got it). pg-13 on it's own. mature with the dlc.
• retro rewind - video store simulator (3.5/5) - welcome back to the 90s! you open up a video rental store and try your best to be successful. it's fun and has a lot of charm. felt just like being in a blockbuster. 3.5 because it got a little too repetitive, but that was expected! either way, not a bad game at all.
• pokopia (4.5/5) - post-apocalyptic style pokemon game; definitely a message about climate change! i didn't finish the game in full but i played hours of it. it's made me both cry and laugh. not to mention, minecraft style decorating and building is a lot of fun. but also? very, very daunting. all these spaces are so, so big. i felt very overwhelmed quite a few times. this is perfect for those who want to rebuild towns from the ground up (literally).
• tomodachi life: living the dream (10000000/5) - i have been waiting for this for years!!!! decades!!!! i love tomodachi life!!!!!! yes it gets repetitive, yes the customizing can be a bit much, yes it can be a bit harder to keep relationships going well but i don't care!!!! i've played hours and i will play more!!!! #tomodachilife4life
• balatro (5/5) - insanely addicting game where you play poker but like, extremely illegally. poker if it was a deck building card game. jimbo is my best friend. i got it on my phone so i can play it whenever i want, that's how much i like it.