diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a95d6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+node_modules/
+dist/
+.env
+.env.local
+.env.*.local
+*.log
+.DS_Store
+coverage/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a70037b..b6883cc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1 +1,19 @@
-# nodejs-practice-repository
\ No newline at end of file
+# nodejs-practice-repository
+
+A Node.js practice repo for learning JavaScript utilities and TDD.
+
+## Getting Started
+
+**Prerequisites:** Node.js and npm installed.
+
+```bash
+# Clone the repo
+git clone https://github.com/jbb-codes/nodejs-practice-repository.git
+cd nodejs-practice-repository
+
+# Install dependencies
+npm install
+
+# Run tests
+npm test
+```
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 8fce75c..8e2718d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     "": {
       "name": "nodejs-practice-repository",
       "version": "1.0.0",
-      "license": "ISC",
+      "license": "MIT",
       "devDependencies": {
         "jest": "^29.7.0"
       }
diff --git a/src/utils/reverseString.js b/src/utils/reverseString.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fa26c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/reverseString.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/**
+ * Author: Jarren Bess
+ * Date: 2 June 2026
+ * File: reverseString.js
+ * Description: Utility function to reverse a string.
+ */
+"use strict";
+
+function reverseString(str) {
+  if (typeof str !== "string") {
+    throw new Error("Input must be a string");
+  }
+
+  return str.split("").reverse().join("");
+}
+
+module.exports = { reverseString };
diff --git a/test/utils/reverseString.spec.js b/test/utils/reverseString.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..adb19a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/utils/reverseString.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/**
+ * Author: Jarren Bess
+ * Date: 2 June 2026
+ * File: reverseString.spec.js
+ * Description: Tests for the reverseString utility function.
+ */
+"use strict";
+
+const { reverseString } = require("../../src/utils/reverseString");
+
+describe("reverseString", () => {
+  it("should reverse a regular string", () => {
+    const result = reverseString("hello");
+    expect(result).toBe("olleh");
+  });
+
+  it("should return an empty string when given an empty string", () => {
+    const result = reverseString("");
+    expect(result).toBe("");
+  });
+
+  it("should throw an error when given a non-string input", () => {
+    expect(() => reverseString(123)).toThrow("Input must be a string");
+  });
+});