Texas: Ducks (and a dictator goose) and Books

 On December 26th I flew to the U.S to visit my amazing boyfriend, who lives in Texas. This is the second time I've visited him since we started dating, and I just want to say that Texas is so beautiful, especially Austin. 

Sunset from Austin. Yes, this is with no filter!

My boyfriend (hi poookieeeee) took me to watch ducks at Mueller Lake Park. I don’t think I’ve ever talked about this here so here it is: birds are my favorite animals. I may not be able to name specific species from the top of my head like I would do with dinosaurs, but whenever I see those cute babies waddling and hopping around, it’s enough to make my whole week.

*insert jurassic park theme song*

Ducks are generally known as curious and playful. I read on Sally’s Duck Rescue that ducks also grieve and are capable of forming lifelong bonds. However, just like people (and cats) they have individual personalities. “Some are bold and adventurous. Others are cautious observers … while others are chatterboxes who like to be the centre of attention.” Sally writes.

As for geese, they usually tend to be more assertive and protective.

I crouched near an approaching duck, thinking I was gonna accidentally scare it away, but instead got a little closer before it went on its way. Meanwhile, on top of a rock near the lake was a geese being the loudest, other ducks reacting to it as if they were laughing (or telling it to shut the hell up, who knows?). It made me laugh because I imagined it as some sort of dictator giving a speech. It was a very long and emotional one, I’ll tell you. 

As opposed to Instagram, where we always see the white Pekin Ducks (I had to look the names up), there were many different types around the lake. The predominant ones were the Muscovy ducks (the cow-colored ones), and I also remember seeing Mallard ducks (the ones with the green head).

The geese that were hanging around I think they were all Egyptians. The way you can tell ducks and geese apart are by their necks and beaks. Ducks have flat beaks while geese have triangular beaks and longer necks.

left: two pekin ducks and a muscovy duck; right: egyptian goose

While we watched them, me and my boyfriend enjoyed some rice balls. I didn't take a picture of that exact moment, unfortunately, but I have this one. They're sooo damn good.

After that, we went to Austin's indie bookstore called BookPeople. I love coming here, and love knowing how often they host author events. One day I might be lucky enough to catch one; I'm still trying to get over how Ali Hazelwood was coming the evening of the day my flight took place. Sigh.

I always thought they had the cutest table displays, they were very creative. This time they had a Valentine's day themed display with a box where you could insert a note with your favorite book boyfriend's name, or a note to him (I think). Another thing I always look forward to seeing in bookstores are their trinkets. They had the funniest-looking claw clips of which I regret not taking pictures of because they had hot-dog shaped ones and fruits. Then I saw the $28 price tag and I didn't find them funny anymore.

These cat ornaments were so cute too, and a little more affordable.

I ended picking up Kafka's Diaries. I was so happy because they never have Kafka at my local bookstore, so I HAD to take it. I've only read The Metamorphosis by him but after the emotional damage from that short story, I need to know what's in that man's mind.

Another thing I was excited about during my walks with the dogs around the neighborhood were the Little Free Libraries. I always thought the concept was so smart and helpful to others. It made me wish I had brought books of my own to leave there. Except for Zodiac Academy, that book pissed me off so much my boyfriend took me to sell it for $3.67 at Half-Price Books. I think this was the moment where my dislike for these "dark romances" started growing, eventually leading me to consider Fiction and take a little break. I spent a total of two weeks and a half in Texas, so I returned on the 13th. Time went by so fast and I just can't wait to spend time with my boyfriend again and visit more bookstores and libraries. He was able to get a library card from his neighborhood's library. They were undergoing renovations so they were working from their mobile library at their parking lot. It was the cutest thing! 

I asked the librarian about the requirements to work there, because I'm looking to pursue an MLS at Texas Women's University. She was so nice and helpful, and it turns out she also studied there.

Man, I love Texas.

Selfie of me shushing and my boyfriend mewing.

I've also posted a vlog on youtube about my days here (I sadly didn't include the ducks and the dictator goose).

I had such a great time, so I hope you enjoyed reading about it! Until next post <3

- Alondra 💌

When Romance Loses the Plot

Y’all… I need to get this off my chest.

I don’t know if it’s because my frontal lobe is developing prematurely, or if I’m simply outgrowing dark romance and novels with romance as the primary plot.

Or maybe I’m just not in the mood!

But I haven’t been in the mood for a couple of weeks now.

My first read of the year was How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn, and obviously, it was a Christmas romance. However, I enjoyed it because of the competitiveness between the main characters, and knowing about the everyone’s business in the town (so I love gossip, sue me!). But when it got to the ~steamy~ parts, I was just… bored. 

I was listening to the audiobook as I cooked/baked, my boyfriend unfortunately falling victim to hearing Storee and Cole get busy with a candy cane. It was just hilarious, but the chemistry? Don’t ask me where to find it.

I usually pick romances as a pallet cleanser after binging fantasy books, but lately they’re not hitting as they used to. I’m currently reading The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore and it’s not bad, but I can’t help but fantasize about Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.

As I was miserably walking around the airport last night (God, I miss my boyfriend), I started listening to Lights Out by Navessa Allen and I didn’t get past chapter 2. This is all I had to say:

Lights Out by Navessa Allen


yk what it’s my fault.

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Instead of desperately jumping into other reads (which I kind of did in the past 48 hours), I thought: what if I try some fiction? It’s not my usual genre of preference, but I have to admit I’ve been drawn to it ever since I read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising. If it has messy family drama, I’m all in. 

During my trip to Texas my boyfriend let me pick some books, honorary mentions being Franz Kafka’s diaries and My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh. The Hotel Nantucket I bought at Office Depot’s bargain books bin, and I’ve seen it so many times it felt like it was waiting for me to finally buy it. These were my picks:

Books in picture:

• Franz Kafka’s Diaries
• The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
• Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
• The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
• My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

I don’t know if it’s the over-saturation of porn without plot on TikTok, but I think it’s time I return to my fantasy books and also explore the fiction genre beyond my academic assignments. My comparative literature professor was the one who recommended Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, and I ended up crying to my boyfriend about Gregor Samsa. “He was such a good man,” I would say. 

Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good romance story with well done character development (like Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez). But lately, it feels like the popular romances are written on a rush to get to the spicy parts. It’s not insta-love anymore (a trope I already hate), but insta-lust. So, in the meantime, I’m staying away from the #Booktok table displays in bookstores. Life is too short to not read books with characters you root for and love stories that make you smile to yourself like a dumbass whenever you think about it. 

I have a feeling 2026 will be a good reading year! 

- alondra 💌

Review: The Awakening

The Awakening by Caroline Peckham
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

DNF at 75%

I’m sorry but… although it was entertaining I felt ZERO attachment to these characters. I wasn’t expecting the professor x student, which is a trope I already despise. I didn’t read far enough to see an actual romance develop so someone please enlighten me and spoil everything to me.



At the same time I was listening to the graphic audiobook and as a puerto rican, listening to Diego using random Spanish words annihilated me every time.

There were some parts were I assumed I was supposed to cheese over, like when these abusive characters would say things like "you're mine" "she's mine" "my source" etc. I just cringed. I didn't find them attractive at all. And them admitting it's not fun anymore when the twins just accept the bullying? No thanks.



never talk to me or my son ever again

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