Recommendations

For The Ones You Love // Book Recommendations

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
I posted a bookish holiday gift guide to help those that who were struggling to find a gift for a reader. However, in that post, you probably noticed that I didn’t mention many books. I thought it would be fun to do a different kind of gift guide this time around, so I’m going to recommend some books for certain people in your life, such as your parents, kids, etc.


Biography: My mom is a huge audiobook biography reader. Especially if the author reads it themselves. She has read a ton of them, such as ‘Talking as Fast as I Can’ by Lauren Graham and ‘Home’ by Julie Andrews. So, if your mom or grandmother is anything like mine, than a memoir is the perfect gift option. The current bio on my mom’s radar is ‘Will’ by Will Smith, which is a 2021 memoir release. Another great choice would be ‘Open Book’ by Jessica Simpson, which mom says is an interesting read.

‘The Honey-Don’t List’ by Christina Lauren: Now, I don’t know if my mom would like this book, but after seeing the the synopsis, I instantly thought it was a great read for a mom. This book is about master home renovators, couple Melissa and Rusty Tripp, who secretly despise each other. It is up to their assistant Carey and engineer James to keep their career ruining secret under lock and key for just a few more weeks. Don’t all moms and grandmothers watch HGTV? I have heard nothing but great things about Christina Lauren books, and this sounds like a cute romance read. Also, I get ‘America’s Sweethearts’ vibes from it, which is kind of weird.


‘Ready Player One’ by Ernest Cline: Guys love video games, at least the ones in my life do. This book follows Wade Watts, who plays a worldwide virtual reality game in hopes of discovering an Easter egg. Once found, he will inherit the game creator’s fortune. There is a movie adaption as well, which I believe was well received.

‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This might seem like an odd suggestion, but it is perfect for the music loving guy in your life. The book documents the history of one of the biggest bands in the seventies, ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’. I know that my husband would 100% enjoy this book, since he is a music addict. Also, I have heard that the audiobook version is the way to go with this book.


‘The Hating Game’ by Sally Thorne: This is another book being adapted to film, and it’s very popular among the adult romance crowd. I am not big into adult romances, but I know that one of my sisters loves to read them. I went for this one, because I have heard a lot of positive things about it. And, who doesn’t love a good enemies-to-lovers romance. However, I have heard that it is a little problematic, so keep that in mind.

‘Fool Me Twice’ by Carrie Aarons: I think any young adult contemporary reader would thoroughly enjoy this book. The plot follows a college freshman who is out to finish off her late best friend’s bucket list. The final and most important task on the list is to get revenge on Lincoln Kolb. He is the jerk that dumped her best friend supposedly due to her cancer diagnosis. So, to honor the wish of her best friend, she is out to make this seemingly cold-hearted boy fall head-over-heels for her, than break his heart. Anyone else thinking of ‘John Tucker Must Die’ after hearing this plot, or is it just me?


‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’ by Rick Riordan: This is a Greek mythology book series about a boy whose life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the son of a god. Any kid, boy or girl, is probably going to want to follow this adventure series. There are even a lot of adults that call this their favorite book series of all time.

‘The Isle of the Lost’ by Melissa de la Cruz: This fairy-tale reimagining book series might seem more for girls, but I think boys would enjoy it as well. In the first book, we learn the backstory of villains, meet villain kids, and search for the Dragon’s Eye. The book follows Mal, daughter of Maleficent, Jay, son of Jafar, Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen, and Carlos, son of Cruella de Vil. Fun fact, the Disney Channel ‘Descendants’ films where based on these books.

There you go, some fun holiday gift book recommendations for specific people in your life. Let me know in the comments what books you’ll be gifting this holiday season. Also, you can give me a gift by following my bookish blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Music Meets Books // Holiday Edition

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
I am a big fan of recommendations posts and videos. In the past, I have done a few but I thought that this one was pretty creative. I have seen people do similar recommendations, but on this list I have some songs and books that people never seem to recommend.


This book comes to mind everytime I hear this original winter song. Honestly, I don’t think that this holiday contemporary gets enough love. But I must admit that it has been a few years since I picked this book up and cannot remember many details about it. I do know that this is a YA romance set on a Christmas tree farm. The book is less about the holidays but redemption, love and past mistakes.


This song is about asking Santa to bring you Christmas love. This book happens to be about a girl wanting one thing for Christmas, her crush. Holiday romances can be a hit or miss, but I swooned over this enemies-to-lovers story. It is about seeing past your negative opinions of someone, because they might just be the someone for you. This book has romance, the holidays and Secret Santa. So you know it is going to be a messy and cute story.


This song can be a bit hard to understand, but the lyrics remind me a lot of Dash and Lily. In the song, it is about how everything changed after meeting your person. And, without them Christmas just isn’t the same. In the book, two teenagers meet at the perfect time during the holidays. Both their Christmases aren’t going so well, but what they come to realize is that all they needed for Christmas was each other. This book was a whirled wind romance that I finished in one day. I think all contemporary readers should go on this holiday journey with Dash and Lily.

Do you agree with my book-to-holiday song recommendations? Do you have any recommendations of your own? Leave them in the comments below, so I and others can get more book recommendations.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Underrated Holiday Books // On My TBR

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Hi Friends,
If couldn’t tell, I am a seasonal reader. This means that the books I read fit well with the current season we’re in. Thus, in the winter time I an all about holiday books. I am in luck, since most holiday themed books are also contemporaries (which you probably know is my favorite genre). However, there are some holiday books that I’ve discovered that aren’t talked about much. In this post, I wanted to share some of these underrated (in my opinion, anyway) holiday books.

‘I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas’ by Tiffany Schmidt
‘Ballet and babysitting bring two teens together in this very merry holiday rom-com from the author of the acclaimed Bookish Boyfriends series. This is a YA contemporary that was released in October 2021. I don’t know about you, but this book sounds like a very cute holiday hate-to-love story. There hasn’t been many books featuring male dancers, so this is a nice change from the typical bad-boy or jock characters. I am excited to see how this story plays out.

 

‘Blame It on the Mistletoe’ by Beth Garrod
‘Tweet Cute’ meets the movie ‘The Holiday’ in this funny holiday rom-com where two very different girls swap lives for a Christmas adventure.’ I mentioned ‘The Holiday Swap’ in my November TBR, which is a book I have been greatly anticipating. This book has a similar plot, except that it is a young adult story, and the two character aren’t look-a-likes. I have mentioned that swap plots are some of my favorites, so I cannot wait to read this different spin on it. Also, I have seen and loved The Holiday, and I have been dying to read ‘Tweet Cute’.

‘All I Want for Christmas’ by Wendy Loggia‘This sweet and magical romance about a girl who has just one wish – someone to kiss under the mistletoe – is the perfect holiday escape!’
This is a 2020 book release that nobody has read. Well, at least it seems that way. Let me reiterate one more time how much of a sucker I am for YA contemporaries. When I think about this book, ‘My Only Wish’ by Brittney Spears pops into my head. I predict that I am going to enjoy this story, and I am not upset about it.

There are a ton more underrated and unheard of winter/holiday books that I didn’t mention here. So if you would like me to do a part two to this post, let me know in the comments! And before you leave, give this post a like, and follow the blog for all things bookish.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Coffee Meets Books // Holiday Edition

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Do you love coffee? And the holidays? Then you’re in luck! Starbucks holiday drinks were released on November 4th! I’m not sure if they launched worldwide, but let me know in the comments if they did. Seeing as I am a holiday, coffee, and book lover, I thought I would recommend books based on some Starbucks holiday drinks.

Peppermint Mocha
For this drink, I wanted to recommend a classic story, since peppermint is a timeless holiday flavor. The Nutcracker is a classic children’s holiday story that tells the tale of a little girl who journeys to the Land of Sweets on Christmas Eve. This story, like this drink, can be enjoyed by everyone. Peppermint is a flavor that never gets old, and neither does The Nutcracker.

Caramel Brulée Latte
This drink is sweet, without being to sugary. It made me think of a collection of holiday short stories; ‘My True Love Gave To Me’, edited by Stephanie Perkins. When we think of holiday movies and books, we instantly think of cheesy, lovey-dovey stories. However, this book contains a mix of both love and other unique stories. Just like this drink, these stories aren’t all sugar.

Toasted White Mocha
This drink reminds me of Christmas! It has a subtle sweetness, with all the flavors of the holidays. For this reason, I paired (in my opinion) the best holiday book with it. I chose ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. I believe I’ve mentioned before that this is my favorite book ever. You probably already know the plot, so I won’t even bother explaining it. But it is also the quintessential holiday story. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend it to everyone, even non-classic readers.

This post was so much fun to put together, and a bit challenging. If you have any book recommendations based on holiday drinks, or cocktails leave them in the comments. Please like, share and follow the blog for all things bookish.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

A Beginners Guide To Thrillers & Horrors

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
This year, I have gotten into reading thriller books. I don’t know why I have never been interested in them before, since I am a fan of horror movies. It could be the fact that the horror/thriller genre is mainly geared more towards adult books.

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time, than you know I generally only read young adult and some middle-grade books. This isn’t to say I won’t pick up an adult horror, but they aren’t my first reading choice. Still, I thought I’d share my tips for getting into this widely popular book genre. Keep in mind this is from a newbie’s perspective.

It might be tempting to read something along the lines of ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ by Alvin Schwartz, but that book might freaky you out enough to not give the genre a chance. I would suggest reading an easier thriller, since you are simply dipping your toes in this genre pool. I recommend starting with something like Fear Street: The Beginning by R.L. Stine or They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman.

‘It’ by Stephen King maybe the ultimate scary book, I mean what Stephen King novel isn’t creepy. However, many of King’s novels are huge commitments. Give yourself sometime to work up to the longer books and keep your first couple of reads short. A lot of Neil Gaiman and Gillian Flynn books are under 400 pages. Also, they aren’t going to keep you awake all night.

This tip doesn’t only apply to thriller/horror newbies in my opinion, but to all readers. Don’t just read one genre. Once you get the urge to read thrillers, you may not want to take a break from them. However, that could lead to a reading burnout. Try spacing out your thriller reads, and including other genres, too. Perhaps only reading one thriller a month might be a good idea. It is always nice to have a contemporary and fantasy book on your TBR. If you still want something in the paranormal realm (with, of course, a romance element) you could always go for the ‘Twilight’ books. Yep, I did just recommend them.

So those are my tips for a getting into this ever-growing genre. I know there aren’t a lot of tips, but I think the are main ones that are important to keep in mind. Leave any tips you might have in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and share this post! Finally, if you’d be so kind as to follow my blog as well, it really does help!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Autumn Book Recommendations

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Below is a list of books that I would love to pick up this fall. These books strike me as autumn reads, so I thought now would be the perfect time to share them with you guys. Hopefully this will help anyone looking for some cozy season book recommendations. Side note, I don’t care whether a book is popular, but it is fun to see what all the hype is about.

1) These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling 
From the title, you can tell this is a YA book about witches. It is set in Salem and has LGBT representation. I haven’t read many witchy stories, but this one sounds like so much fun. I think it is the first book in a duology, so I’m interested to see if I’m going to want to continue with the series.

2) Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
This is a mystery novel set at a boarding school. I don’t know about you, but I love a good private school or boarding school book. The book follows a teenage girl, Stevie, who is really into true crime. She starts attending, Ellingham Academy, where the founder of the school’s spouse and daughter went missing years ago. She decides to put her detective skills to work and solve a century old cold case. There are four other books in the series, and I have heard nothing but good things about them.

3) A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Surprise, surprise another series. To be honest I don’t know much about this book. Except that its a YA thriller. I hear that it’s perfect for thriller/horror newbies like myself. I have been recommended this books countless times, and it gives me Halloween vibes. All I know about the plot is that it is set in a small town with lots of secrets.

4) The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
This is another book that I don’t know much about. In my opinion, it isn’t really talked about in the book community. It is YA thriller about three cousins that go to visit their grandmother over the summer. I believe she has disinherited each of their parents, so they are trying to get back into her good graces. Obviously it is going to be filled with twist and turns. I know some people aren’t a fan of Karen M. McManus, but I enjoy her writing style.

5) The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
For once I have an adult novel on a tbr. This is an adult horror book that has caught my attention. If you seen any horror movie you know that there is always one heroine left standing. Think Sidney Prescott in Scream. This book follows the girls, who survived. I could be wrong, but I believe somebody has comeback to try and kill these ‘Final Girls.’ It sounds so intense and interesting. I cannot wait to read this during the spooky season.

6) House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
From what I’ve been told, this is a horror ’12 Dancing Princess’ retelling. I don’t know anything about the original story, so I am going into this with an open mind. It follows a young girl that starts becoming suspicious when her sisters start getting murdered. I hear that it isn’t too scary, but such a good read.

I cannot wait to read all of these books in the near future. Please let me know if you have read any of these books, or if you plan on picking them up.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

 

Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Books // Recommendations From Princesses

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
This is a fun little book post idea that I don’t think I have seen anyone do before. I was raised on Disney! I watched old Disney Channel shows, like ‘So Weird’, ‘The Jersey’,and ‘The Famous Jett Jackson’. We had mountains of Disney movies on VHS. I was always a Disney Princess kind of girl. I thought it would be cool to give some book recommendations based off Disney Princesses. Think of it as Belle or Ariel recommending these books to you instead of me. Most of these books I have read, but some I thought fit the princess’ personality.

Princess: Jasmine
Movie: Aladdin
Book Recommendation: ‘When Dimple Met Rishi’ by Sandhya Menon
In the book, Dimple is against marriage. Specically, arranged ones. She has dreams for her future and, at least right now, being a wife isn’t one of them. However, Rishi is a kind-hearted guy that believes in love and following his parents rules. The book doesn’t mimic Aladdin’s story so much, but I can see Jasmine resonating with Dimple in many ways. They both come from cultures that expect certain things from them, and their parents don’t always understand their dreams. Rishi wasn’t anything like Aladdin, but after reading this book Jasmine probably found him to be charming.

 

Princess: Tiana
Movie: Princess and the Frog
Book Recommendation: ‘With the Fire on High’ by Elizabeth Acevedo
I haven’t read this book, but I hear that it is amazing. Also, I have never watched “Princess and the Frog” so I guess I’m taking a shot in the dark on this one. I have heard that Tiana is a strong, intelligent woman who loved to cook. This book is about a teenage mother that is juggling school, motherhood, and helping support her family. The only thing that helps her cope is her passion for cooking. The kitchen is where she shines, and everything she cooks is magical. I could be wrong, but I think Tiana would find so many similarities to her life within this book.

 

Princess: Belle
Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Book Recommendation: ‘Moxie’ by Jennifer Mathieu
This is another book on my forever growing TBR. When you think of a book recommendation by Belle, you might picture a story about a book lover, or a romance. But, I went a different route. Although, I love that Belle was an avid reader, and her love story was my favorite, she was adventurous and didn’t want to be a damsel-in-distress. Moxie tells the story of a girl that is fed up with her small-town and the double-standard in her high school. As sung by Belle herself: Every morning just the same, since the morning that we came, to this poor provincial town. She start an anonymous feminist ‘zine that makes its way throughout her school. Soon, she will set into motion a girls’ revolution.

I had a lot of fun coming up with this post. I may do more posts like this, featuring different Disney Princesses. Don’t forget to like and share this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Sick Day Routine // Recommendations

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
For the past week I have been battling a summer cold. Unfortunately, I tend to get sick fairly often, which is never fun. I wanted to talk about my sick day routine in this post, but make it bookish. I will be recommending some books and movies that are great for when you are having a sick day.

Sleep: When I’m sick, I try to sleep as much as possible. Sleep helps you conserve your energy and nothing is better than sleeping off a cold. Sometimes, it’s hard to sleep when you are under the weather, but I try to take night time cold pills. If that doesn’t work, I take melatonin to help me wind down.

Shower: I don’t know about you, but I take hot showers on the regular when I’m sick. They are comforting, and help to open up my lungs. The steam is especially great for dealing with congestion. Showers are great for body aches and chills as well.

Warm Drinks: I try to stay hydrated as much as possible. I like to have warm beverages, since they soothe my throat. I wouldn’t go for something too sweet, particularly if you have a sore throat. I prefer hot coffee myself, but hot tea is a good option as well.

Roald Dahl: This British author has written many classic children’s books, like ‘James and the Giant Peach’ and ‘The Witches’. I have only read Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, but I think his work is very easy to read and perfect for a sick day.

‘Coraline’ by Neil Gaiman: You might be familiar with this spooky middle-grade. I think that the story is fairly fast-paced and a tame yet creepy read. It is a good book for when you are laying in bed all day and want to be entertained.

‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman: I haven’t read this manga series, but I hear that it is cute and sweet. Honestly, a lighthearted, contemporary graphic novel series is a great sick day read. Mangas are pretty easy to get through and follow, so you won’t have a hard time picking up where you left off if you happen to doze off. Hey, it can happen when you’re sick.

Disney: When you are sick, nothing is better than watching classic Disney movies. You can watch you favorite Disney princess movies, or some Pixar films. Personally, I think Disney Channel Original movies are the best to watch when you’re not feeling great. Lounging in bed with some childhood nostalgia makes a sick day a little more bearable.

‘The Princess Bride’: This movie is full of adventure, laughter and love. It keeps you engaged, and isn’t too long of a film. Also, the movie is totally quotable. I mean who can forget lines a like “As You Wish” and “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”.

‘House, MD’: When you’re sick nothing is more fun to watch than sick people. Honestly, House is interesting, funny, and completely different than most medical shows on the air today. I am telling you – getting cozy in bed on a sick day and watching a House marathon is great medicine.

I hope that you are all feeling well, and liked this post. I know everyone’s sick days look different, so it was fun sharing my routine with you all. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified about more post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny