Cupcake // Book Review

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About The Book
Cupcake isn’t the unnoticed girl waiting for a makeover. In fact, she loves herself just the way she is. But when she unexpectedly finds herself on the Homecoming Court, alongside a brooding partner named Rhys, everything changes. Rhys is mysterious and distant, and she can’t figure him out. As the spotlight shines brighter on the pair, Cupcake starts to question her feelings for Rhys. And, as the two grow closer, she realizes there’s more to both of them than meets the eye.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/44bryIz

My Rating

This book surprised me in the best way, since I haven’t been loving young adult contemporaries. I picked the book up on a whim because it has a plus size main character, which isn’t something you normally read in romance novels. Let alone a young adult romance. I wasn’t thinking it would be anything special, but found it to be such a quick and good read.

The plot follows Ariel, nicknamed Cupcake, who is shocked when she ends up on Homecoming court. Her partner is a popular jock, Rhys, who Cupcake thinks she has nothing in common with. But, as you could probably tell, the author follows the basic ‘opposites attract’ trope that is very common in young adult books. But, there was also an element of forced proximity to the story.

Ariel is a wonderful main character because she is very body positive. She knows that even though she’s a little bit bigger, that doesn’t make her less of a person. But, I found it to be very realistic when she did let comments about her weight affect her. It is hard to love yourself and your body 100% of the time. Unfortunately, Rhys wasn’t as fleshed out a characters, and it seemed like the author wanted him to be the brooding bad boy at times, but then made him the nice guy too.

“When I found out you’d read my favorite book series, some part of knew you were the one.”

The romance was very cute and wholesome. There was absolutely zero smut throughout the book, and not even really any talk about things more than kissing. Although, the characters are high school seniors, or possibly juniors, it leans towards the younger side of the YA genre. But, I don’t think that is a negative thing at all, since when I read young adult books, I expect there to be little or no spice.

The only issue I had was that the ending conflict was very immature, but I did have to remind myself it is a young adult book. Although, this is mainly a fluffy romance there is a brief mention of ED, which I know can be hard for some people to read about. There is also mention of mental health struggles and body shaming. The book is generally lighthearted but I did want to mention those possibly triggering topics.

Overall, this is going to be your typically young adult read, that I found to be breath of fresh air. It is a shame how underrated it is, since I could see a lot of younger people enjoying it. I had a good time reading it, and finished it fairly quick. So, if you are looking for a cutesy young adult romance, or have a teen reader in your life, I’d recommend giving this book a read.

In the comments, let me know if you have heard of this book. Thank you so much for reading this post, and stopping by my blog. As always, it is completely free to follow the blog, and it really does help it grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Books Inspired By // Taylor Swift

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Hi Friends,
I know that some of my readers must be Taylor Swift fans. I have been listening to her music since the release of the ‘Our Song’ music video. So, in honor of her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” I thought that I would share five books that were apparently inspired by her.

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3WaZfIa

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4d4VWbx

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Ucjvq8

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3JvT362

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3JATxaR

In the comments, let me know which song from her new album is your favorite. Unfortunately, only one of these books can be found on Everand, but you’d like to check out other books they have you can use my link (click here) to get a free trial of their subscription service. Don’t forget to share and like this post. And, as always, you can support the blog by giving it a follow.

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

A Thousand Boy Kisses // Book Review

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About The Book
This gut-wrenching story of friendship, first love and, of course, heartbreak is a must-read for fans of If He Had Been With Me and is best read beside a box of tissues. One kiss lasts a moment. But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime. One boy. One girl. A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade. A bond that neither time nor distance can break. A bond that will last forever. Or so they believe.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4aEbMID

My Rating

The book gained significant attention online, primarily through BookTok, which piqued my curiosity and led me to pick it up, despite knowing it promised a tragic love story. The novel follows the dual perspectives of teenagers Poppy and Rune as they navigate the tumultuous journey of love, loss, reunion, and so much more. From their initial meeting to the challenges they face, including being torn apart and coming back together to facing their toughest battle, the story is a poignant exploration of young love.

Poppy emerges as a standout character with her maturity, positivity, and adventurous spirit, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist. However, Rune’s actions sometimes left me feeling conflicted; while his devotion to Poppy is evident, his treatment of his family left me sympathizing with them. Nonetheless, his character development throughout the narrative is commendable, adding depth to the story.

At its core, “A Thousand Boy Kisses” delves into themes of love, grief, and peace, highlighting the profound impact of young love and the challenges of coping with loss. However, the novel falls short in addressing the importance of moving on and finding love again after experiencing profound heartache, which may leave readers wanting more depth in its exploration of grief. As well, it seems to send the wrong message to young readers.

“Live hard, love harder. Chase dreams, seek adventures … capture moments. Live beautifully.”

While the writing style is solid, it is clearly tailored to a younger demographic. In my opinion, there are moments where the narrative and phases veer into cringeworthy territory. Additionally, while the story is engaging and can be devoured in a day, it lacks the special something that would make it truly memorable, and standout among similar novels.

Overall, this is a character-driven book with a somber plot, but it didn’t fully live up to the hype for me. The ending, in particular, left me feeling unsettled and lowered my overall opinion of the book. While I can understand its appeal to a teenage audience, as an adult reader, I felt that it didn’t evoke the level of emotion and heartbreak I had anticipated.

In the comments, let me know if you think that this book is worthy of all the attention it has received. Don’t forget that you can hit the follow button, so that you never miss out on a bookish post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

How To Plot A Payback // Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

About The Book
Finn Masters, a screenwriter, lands his dream job working on the sitcom Neighbors, but there’s a catch: he’ll be working alongside Lavender Rhodes, the show’s beloved star who inadvertently ruined his acting career and relationship. Determined to exact payback, Finn plots to sabotage Lavender’s character, but when all his plans backfire spectacularly, he starts to reconsider his feelings towards the women he’s blamed for all his misfortunes.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4d8QLHI

My Rating

The book is a fast-paced romcom that delivers on its promises. Set against the backdrop of Hollywood, it combines grumpy sunshine dynamics with the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope. Ferguson crafts a fun and engaging story that revolves around a writer and actress, bringing a touch of glamour to the narrative.

This is a dual narrative story, so we get the perspectives of both Finn and Lavender. It was interesting to view Lavender from Finn’s eyes knowing that he has held her accountable for most of his hardships in life. Especially since, in Lavender’s chapters we get to see her real personality shine through. The book is the perfect example of how people aren’t always who you think they are.

The strength of the book truly lies with Finn and Lavender, who drive the story forward with their chemistry and personal growth. Despite the lack of many side characters, the protagonists shine brightly, making the reader invested in their journey. Ferguson’s writing is fantastic, seamlessly weaving together humor, romance, and character development.

“You deserve someone who just wants to see you happy.”

Throughout the book, the connection between the main characters is palpable, and their evolving relationship keeps the reader hooked until the end. The miscommunication trope, often overused and usually irritating, is executed masterfully. The trope is used with such maturity that if more books handled it this way it wouldn’t be one of the most infuriating plot devices.

Overall, I believe that fans of Ali Hazelwood’s works will find much to enjoy in not only the storyline, but also the author’s writing style and storytelling. This is simply a delightful read from start to finish. However, this is a closed-door romance and if memory serves me, the book doesn’t go beyond kissing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and eagerly anticipate reading more from the author.

In the comments, please let me know if you have read the book. Also, I would like to thank Netgalley for letting me receive an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other readers. If you are a fan of book reviews, hit the follow button, so that you will never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

One Dark Window // Book Review

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About The Book
This lush, dark fantasy debut delivers atmospheric world-building, witchy tarot-like magic, and a steamy romantic subthread. It’s a loose reimagination of the English folk ballad “The Highwayman” and reads like a timeless fable. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Naomi Novik, Hannah Whitten, and those that want a little spice in their gothic monster fantasy. For fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf comes a dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom—but the monster in her head isn’t the only threat lurking.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3TWbvt8

My Rating

Honestly, I was gonna start off this review by giving my brief rundown of the synopsis, but this book has so many elements to it that I can’t actually describe it. There’s a magic tarot card of sorts, a fever that gives you magic, and somewhat of a corrupt kingdom. There’s even this deadly fog which can only be stopped if you collect all the cards, some of which cannot be found. So you can see that it’s a lot to condense into a few sentences.

That brief rundown of plot probably left you confused but as wanting to know more. Right? Well it did for me, because I found the book to be intriguing and like nothing I’ve ever read before. The elements of magic, tarot-like cards, and an amoral King worked well together. The added addition of the fever and fog was fantastic.

The female main characters was honestly a little boring. Her only interesting characteristic was that she had the fever as a child and ended up getting the nightmare from the nightmare card in her head. In addition to her, there were many side characters that I did enjoy, as well as the added comical relief character.

There was a pretty heavy romance sub plot, that I guess was supposed to be enemies to lovers. However, there wasn’t enough angst between the characters for them to seem like genuine enemies. I did enjoy the spicy scenes, but the romance wasn’t my favorite part of the story. Probably because I found myself being somewhat attracted to the nightmare. I have a thing for mysterious bad boys.

“I am the shepherd of shadow. The phantom of the fright. The demon in the daydream.”

The world building was heavy in this book, which is usual for fantasy books although I guess technically this is a romantasy. However, the atmosphere was amazing and the description of the world really brought it to life. Now it’s not a world I’d choose to live in, but it is an amazing fantasy universe.

The writing is what I struggled with more, because it wasn’t as engaging as I would have liked. Although, I was immersed in the story the author wasn’t able to keep my attention. There was just something missing from the book making the chapters feel as though they were dragging on forever.

Overall, I did start to enjoy the book around the 50% mark, so please don’t give up on it if you are considering DNFing it. The ending is amazing, and will leave you shocked. Although, I can see it being one of those books that could easily be forgotten within a few years. So, if you do read it I recommend quickly jumping into the sequel.

In the comments, let me know your thoughts on the book. I could definitely see this becoming a movie one day. Before you go please make my day by giving the blog a quick follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Sun Down Motel // Book Review

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About The Book
The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4aB8HZy

My Rating

I had a feeling that I was going to love this author’s works, and I wasn’t wrong. This plot was so engaging and fast paced, and the writing was phenomenal. Now it does lean more towards mystery/thriller, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment.

The story is told in two timelines. In 1982, we follow Viv who is the night clerk at the eerie Sundown Motel. 35 years later, her niece, Carly, works her same shift at the same motel. However, Carly is there for a purpose – to uncover what happened to her aunt Vivi, who seemingly disappeared all those years ago.

I’m not normally one to enjoy dual timeline stories, but this book was written so well that I was engaged equally in both the girls stories. Now I did prefer Viv’s plot a little bit more, since I felt that it was a little more exciting. However, the whole story worked so well, and there really wasn’t a dull moment.

“How it didn’t matter how afraid or how careful you were—it could always be you.”

The setting for the book was great, and really played into the thriller vibes. I mean a creepy hotel in a small town that’s been known for women being murdered? I’d probably be on the next bus out of there. And, the fact that there was a haunting aspect to the story was awesome and unexpected.

However, my only con, and the reason it isn’t a five star read was that I didn’t feel as though Carly understood Viv. After spending all of this time trying to figure out what happened to her by the end of the book she didn’t seem to understand Viv’s choices. It was a bit frustrating to me, but not something that truly hindered my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, I will continue to pick up more from this author. This book was a fantastic read, that I think a lot of readers will enjoy. But please, check trigger warnings before reading it, as some of the content matter can be upsetting to certain readers. You can find a list of trigger warnings at Book Trigger Warnings.

In the comments, let me know if you have read anything by this author. Don’t forget that you can like and share this post with others. Before you go, hit the follow button so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

March 2024 // Reading Wrap Up

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
March has officially ended, so now it is time for my March reading wrap up. I’m surprised that I was able to read 12 books in the month of March, considering that I was in a huge reading slump for a big part of the month. But, I was able to catch up on my reading goal, which makes me so happy.


Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, 2) by Rebecca Ross
This was probably my favorite read of the month, and the conclusion of an amazing duology. I can say much about it without spoilers, but it was a satisfying ending.
Related Post: Ruthless Vows // Book Review

In the Weeds (Lovelight 2) by B.K. Borison
This is the second book in a romance series of interconnected standalones. They take place in the small town of Lovelight, but mainly on this Christmas tree farm in the town. This one was a second chance romance between a farmer from that farm, and an influencer.

The Naturals (The Naturals, 1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I think BookTok is the major contributor to the sudden success of this series. This is the first book in a series that follows a bunch of teenagers with unique skills, being recruited by the FBI to solve cold cases. And from this first book, I can see why everyone loves this series.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This is a somewhat of a psychological thriller about a therapist working at a psychiatric clinic to get close to a woman that was convicted of killing her husband, but hasn’t spoken in years. Lots of twists and turns, but the ending was quite predictable.


Brutal Obsession by S. Massery
This is a dark hockey romance, the first in an interconnected, standalone series. This book was very intense, and a dark Romance for sure. Not exactly sure how I feel about it but I do really enjoy these books.

Killer Instinct (The Naturals, 2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This is the second book in the ‘Naturals’ series, and again, it follows the exact same formula of the first book. We are following the same group of teenagers working for the FBI trying to stop another serial killer. Super fast-paced, and a good read.

Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah
This is a young adult contemporary thriller, where we follow four girls, whose mothers mysteriously disappeared one day. The story was definitely a roller coaster, and it was interesting to get the perspectives of all four girls throughout the book.

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
This is a young adult queer romance that is part enemies to lovers, part opposites attract. Honestly, I don’t have much to say about this book, because it doesn’t really stick out in my mind.


How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the audiobook through NetGalley. I am so happy that I got the chance to read this book because it took me completely by surprise. It was such a fantastic read.

The Nowhere Girls (Detective Nikki Cassidy) by Dana Perry
This is another book that I received the audiobook ARC via NetGalley. If you’re a fan of Law and Order: SVU, then I think you’d really enjoy this book. Apparently it’s part of a series that follows different FBI agents. In this book, we follow Detective Nikki Cassidy, who returns home to get answers from the man who murdered her 12 year old sister. But when he confesses that he didn’t murder her sister, Nikki starts to wonder if her sister’s killer is still out there.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
Yes, this is actually on my April TBR, but I went ahead and read it early. This is an adult mystery/thriller, where our main character, Naomi, is trying to put together the pieces of what really happened when she was attacked at 11 years old. Super quick read, in my opinion, but I unfortunately didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
I’ve heard so many people talk about wanting to read this book, but nobody actually reviewing it. She wrote my all-time favorite young adult, contemporary romance ‘Better Than The Movies’. This, however, is an adult romance; and sadly, I didn’t love it. But it’s Lynn Painter, so I still recommend the book.

Those are all 12 books that I read in the month of March. In the comments, let me know how many books you were able to read. The audiobook for some of these books are available on Everand, and you can get a free trial when you sign up using my link. Don’t forget to hit the follow button, so that you get notified whenever there’s a new post, because I will have reviews up for almost all the books that I have read in the month of March.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

April 2024 // To Be Read

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Hi Friends,
Today I’ll be doing my April TBR post. This month, I’ll be using prompts to pick my TBR again. Since I’ve learned that my mood reader personality usually gets the best of me, I decided to only pick 5 prompts.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3xmi9kQ
“Kate Alice Marshall’s What Lies in the Woods is a thrilling novel about friendship, secrets, betrayal, and lies – and having the courage to face the past.”

I have been wanting to read this book for the longest time. This is an adult thriller that I’ve heard a lot of a good things about. I haven’t read anything else by this author yet, but this is a 5 star prediction book for me.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3IYq2Q2
“Starling House is a gorgeous, modern gothic fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January.”

I have been dying to read this fantasy book. Honestly, I don’t know much about the plot, except that Starling House is a place. I do believe that this is a standalone book, which is pretty unusual for a fantasy.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3vscUjb
“One boy. One girl. A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade. A bond that neither time nor distance can break. A bond that will last forever.”

I have seen this book all over BookTok. This is a young adult contemporary, and apparently it’s heartbreaking. I hear that within the first few pages you are sobbing. I am unsure if I’m mentally ready, but I would like to know what all the hype is about.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3TVW4mg
“A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.”

I got this book at Half Price Books, and have been dying to read it for months. This is another 5 star prediction book. The plot follows a true crime blogger. Need I say more?

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3PDQouk
“A reality show on a remote Caribbean island. Ten teen influencers. One dead body.“

This is an adult thriller about influencers. I haven’t heard anyone talking about this book, but I think it’s going to be an entertaining read.

A few of these books are available in audiobook format on Everand, so I’ll be making good use of my subscription. In the comments, let me know what’s on your April TBR. Don’t forget to follow the blog before you go, so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Ruthless Vows // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Get ready for the epic conclusion every reader of Divine Rivals has been waiting for. An unforgettable story of love and betrayal, Ruthless Vows brings Iris and Roman closer together as they face impossible choices. The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/499o0ay

My Rating

I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed in this book, by any means. However, I wouldn’t agree that it lived up to the first book. I was simultaneously putting off reading this book and dying to pick it up. Since, the first book was done so well, and the cliffhanger ending left me heartbroken, I needed to know what was going to happen. Yet, I was scared that I wasn’t going to love this conclusion as much. Before you keep reading, know that this review will have spoilers since it is the second book in a duology.

The book picks up right where the first book left off, and we find Iris living back at home with her brother heartbroken about being separated from Roman. While Roman is being healed and taken hostage (so to speak) by the god Dacre to be his personal war correspondent. And, let me just say, I couldn’t wait for Iris and Roman to find each other once again. Because, their relationship is what really makes this story for me.

Something that I loved about this book was that there weren’t any slow paced moments. The first book took a while to get into the heart of the story, but this was very fast paced. But, my favorite thing was that we didn’t wait endless chapters for Iris and Roman to meet again. The author doesn’t do slow burn, and doesn’t drags things out needlessly, which I am a major fan of. I’m an impatient girl, so if you’re like me, then you’ll enjoy the fact that she doesn’t make us wait forever for things to happen.

As for the plot, we are still following the war, but this time we get a little more context on the Gods. We learn about Dacre and a bit more about Enva. And, it went more into depth about the magic system. The first book focused more with the romance side of things, which this book does as well. However, I believe that the stakes were higher in this book than in the first.

“Write me a story where there is no ending, Kitt. Write to me and fill my empty spaces.”

We got to see more of the side characters in this book, which was nice. I loved Attie in the first book, and her playing a bigger role in this plot was great. Also, romance the author gave her was a nice added touch. And, let’s not forget Forest, Iris’ brother, we don’t see him much in the book but the author does a great job of showcasing how fighting in a war can effect someone, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on someone.

But, I will say that this book just like the first is centered on love. It shows that true love can conquer anything and the length one will go for love. If you have read the first book than you know that the war was started because of love, but in actuality in infatuation, which are to very different things. Dacre felt entitled to not only Enva but the people of the world, yet he did nothing that made him deserving of that love. The book shows that wanting love and deserving it are two very different things, and even Gods can be selfish creatures.

Overall, the book was written beautifully, and was a great conclusion to the duology. However, there were some moments that broke my heart but I kept it together and surprising didn’t cry. But, if you have read the first book and it wasn’t as intense as you would have preferred than I would suggest you giving this book a chance. It is a lot more fast paced while still being mainly a magical romance rather than a fantasy.

In the comments, let me know your thoughts on the duology as a whole. Don’t forget that you can always like and share this post with other book lovers. And please, give the follow button a push before you go, so that you can support my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Bows And Books Readathon // To Be Read

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Hi Friends,
Today, I am going to share my TBR for the ‘Bows and Books’ readathon. The readathon began on March 21st and ends on March 24th. You can view one of the YouTube announcement videos to get all the details on the readathon and prompts. Since this is a shorter readathon, I will only try to get through two books. I have been in a major reading slump, so I do not know how well I am actually going to do with my reading this weekend.

Read A Book With A Bow On The Cover
Read A Book By A Female Author
Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3TrrGi5

High school nemeses fall in love in Kelly Quindlen’s She Drives Me Crazy, a queer YA rom com perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston.

Read A Book With The Letters B, O, or W in the title

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3x7iwzI

Andrea Hannah’s Where Darkness Blooms is a supernatural thriller about an eerie town where the sunflowers whisper secrets and the land hungers for blood.

If you are an Everand user, such as myself, you can find the audiobooks for both books in their catalog. If you would like to try out Everand, use my link (click here) to get a 30 day free trial. In the comments, let me know if you will participate in this readathon. Do not forget to follow the blog, so that you never miss a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny