The Summer Of Broken Rules // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments


About The Book
Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when Meredith forms an assassin alliance with a cute groomsman, she finds herself getting distracted. And as the week progresses, she realizes she’s not only at risk of losing the game, but also her heart.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/45KQ8jl

My Rating

This book was everything I wanted in a summertime young adult contemporary. The story follows Meredith, who returns to Martha’s Vineyard for the first time since her sister, Claire’s, death. Meredith and her family are there for her cousin’s wedding. But, things get complicated when Meredith connects with one of the groomsmen, Witt.

I loved the plot, because not only were we watching as Meredith and Witt fell for each other over the course of a week, the majority of the plot was about the characters engaging in a game of assassin. It was such an easy to read summertime story.

Although, the romance was super cute, it was a little insta-lovey. Can you really fall in love with someone in just a week? I am typically a hater when it comes to instant romance plots, yet this one didn’t bother me as much. I liked both Meredith and Witt’s personalities. Also, the romance really worked for me.

One of my favorite things about the book was how the author handled the grief aspect. Yes, loss and grief was a part of the story but there weren’t a ton of sad moments, and it felt more like a summer romance, than someone trying to get over a loss. I liked how the grief aspect was more subtle, and not an overwhelming part of the plot.

“Our time together was unraveling like a ribbon.”

Meredith went through a lot of character development throughout the book. It was interesting to see her character grow and change in just a week. I think it shows that everyday we can open our eyes to things we didn’t realize about ourselves, and what we want.

Of course there was a romance conflict close to the end of the book. But, the author didn’t make it cheesy, and it was resolved very maturely. Personally, I didn’t find the characters to actually be immature at all, which I found refreshing in a young adult book.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book, and recommend it as a great summer read. The ending was nice, and I liked how we got an epilogue. I’m for sure interested in reading more by K.L. Walther in the near future.

In the comments, let me know one of your favorite summer romances. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified for more book reviews like this one.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summer Vibes // Book Tag

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
Summer is almost over! Although I am a June baby, summer is one of my least favorable seasons. However, before I say goodbye to summertime, I wanted to do a summer book tag. I found the ‘Summers Vibe’ tag on the blog ‘Confessions of a Serial Reader.’ It seemed like just the tag I was looking for, and the perfect bookish way to say farewell to summer.

Rules:
• Mention the creator and link back to the original post! (Deanna @ The Comfy Reader)
• Thank the blogger who tagged you
• Answer all the prompts below however you see fit
• Tag some friends!


Honestly, the first book to come to mind was ‘The Island’ by Natasha Preston. This book is a YA thriller about an amusement park and influencers on a remote island. Although it is a thriller, it does have tropical vibes.


Actually, I dnfed this book, but it’s ‘All I Want For Christmas’ by Maggie Knox. I wanted to like this book, so much, but I could not get into it. However, if you are a fan of musical competition shows, think American Idol and forced proximity romance then give it a read.


I’m going to go with ‘You Shouldn’t Have Come’ by Jeneva Rose, because this book is all about secrets. This is a decent adult thriller with an ending twist that I do not think most readers will see coming.


I think ‘The Summer of Broken Rules’ is a perfect beach read. The Martha’s Vineyard setting will put you in a summer mood. In addition, I loved the fact that the book was more than just a light fluffy romance.


So, I am going to say that smutty books have become guilty pleasures of mine. I guess the genre is technically called Erotic Romance, but I have been enjoying dabbling in it.


I saw someone else mentioning this book in their post, and I have to agree that the friend group in ‘One of Us Is Back’ by Karen McManus is amazing. Throughout the entire ‘One Of Us’ trilogy this group of unlikely friends have become each others ride-or-die, which I love. It is almost as if this thriller series had an underlying found family element.
Related Post: One Of Us Is Back // Book Review


I loved the adventure aspect of the ‘Daughter of the Pirate King’ by Tricia Levenseller. As you can tell from the title, this is a pirate book, and I loved very second of it. There is a badass female main character, romance, and dangerous quest. It does not get any better than that!


I wanted to like Holly Jackson’s ‘Five Survive‘ considering how I feel about ‘As Good As Dead.’ Unfortunately, for me, it was my biggest reading disappointment of the year so far.
Related Post: Five Survive // Book Review


What else would I choose but a lighthearted contemporary? So, I’d say that ‘The Do-Over’ by Lynn Painter is definitely a fluffy YA romance. It is a Valentine’s Day read that has a ground-hogs day trope twist to it.
Related Post: The Do-Over // Book Review


There were probably way too many characters I could have gone with for this question, but I decided to go with Jade from ‘Lying In The Deep’ by Diana Urban. She was such an annoying main character and got on my nerves the entire time I read the book.

Now, it is time to tag some fellow book bloggers I’d like to see do this post. First, Dedra at ‘A Book Wanderer‘ and next Allison at ‘Read With Allison.’ Both blogs are amazing, and I recommend visiting them if you want more book content. Also, follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, so you never miss a post. You can also become a member of my ‘The Reading Rabbits‘ book club on the Novellic app. And, as always, do not forget to follow the blog because it really does make my day.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

September 2023 // To Be Read

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today, I am doing my September TBR post, which is really just my ‘The Vampire Diaries‘ readathon TBR. In September, there is a month-long readathon inspired by The Vampire Diaries. More details on the readathon can be found on Chloe Reads Books’s Youtube channel. However, let us not waste anytime and jump right into what I will be reading.


I’ve been wanting to read ‘Gallant,’ since it was released. I am always down for a creepy-haunted house story. This one, from what I know, falls somewhere between middle grade and young adult, so it should be easy and quick to read.


Honestly, I tried reading ‘The Saturday Night Ghost Club’ for a readathon before and did not get too far into it. I do not think I was in the mood for it at the time, but I recently bought it, so I thought I should give it another chance. It is supposed to give off spooky fall vibes and should have a fun friend group.


There are so many books with school settings, so it was difficult to pick just one. I could have been daring and gone with dark academia, but I decided to play it safely and choose a middle-grade book. I have not heard anyone talk about ‘The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, ’ but it is the first book in a mystery series set at a boarding school. The best aspect is that the audiobook is very short, which makes it perfect for a readathon.


This book probably holds the number one spot of books I want to read in fall. It is a gothic horror with historical fiction elements and vampires. I have heard mixed things about this book, but I think I am going to love it. Also, the plot of ‘House Of Hunger’ is giving me the same feel of the 2022 movie ‘The Invitation,’ yet I might be completely off with that comparison.


When the prompt of reading a popular book came up, I knew that ‘Legends And Lattes’ was going to be my pick. Not only is this book very popular, I hear that it is a great fall read. This book seems like a cozy fantasy, which is a genre I desperately want to read lately.


I loved ‘How To Survive Your Murder’ by Danielle Valentine, so which when I found out that she was coming out with an adult thriller book called ‘Delicate Condition’ I knew that I had to read it. I’m not going to lie, but this book might actually lean a little more towards horror than a thriller. It is supposedly Rosemary’s Baby meets Alien and is the basis for the new season of the American Horror story.


I am going to say that since the cover of ‘The Ex Hex’ by Erin Sterling is primarily dark, it works for this prompt. This book is always so talked about in the fall, so I had to jump on the bandwagon and see what all the hype is about. From what I can tell it is your classic witchy rom-com, so it will most likely be a cute and cozy read.


I was so lucky to have been given an ARC of ‘Ghosted’ by Sarah Ready, which will be released on September 26th. Since it is an adult romance, it perfectly fits the romance prompt. The fact that it features a ghost makes me think it might be a good fall read, even though the cover is giving off spring time.


Is Prom considered a party? This book has been on my radar for some time because the premise sounds very good. This book is essentially a retelling of ‘Carrie’ by Stephen King. How does this not seem amazing? I read ‘White Smoke’ by this author and liked it, but I think that I will enjoy ‘The Weight of Blood’ more.


Of course, being ‘The Vampire Diaries’ readathon, you must read a vampire book. Now I could double up and read ‘House Of Hunger’ for this prompt too, but I want to push myself and not share books. So, I am going to read ‘Big Bad’ by Lily Anderson, which is an adult dark ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ retelling or more like inspired by Buffy. I loved Lily Anderson’s writing in ‘Undead Girl Gang,’ so I am excited to see if I feel the same way about this book.

There, you have my ‘The Vampire Diaries’ readathon TBR! I have so many more books that I would like to get to in fall, so I am hoping to read more than just these books. In the comments, tell me if you will participate in the readathon and what team you are on. I am a Stefan girlie Don’t forget to like this post and follow my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola // Book Spotlight

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Hi Friends,
I was onced against asked by @BreakevenBooks to participate in the blog tour. This time for ‘The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola’ by Melissa Muldoon. I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, but this book has me very intrigued.

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3L1yaRd

About The Book

Set in the sixteenth century, The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola tells the story of a woman’s passion for painting and adventure. In a world where women painters had little to no acknowledgment, she was singled out by Michelangelo and Vasari who recognized and praised her talent. Gaining the Milanese elite’s acclaim, she went on to become court painter to Spanish King Philip II and taught his queen to paint. One can’t live such an extraordinary life without having stories to tell, and tell them Sofonisba does to Sir Anthony Van Dyke, who comes to visit her toward the end of her life. During their meeting, she agrees to reveal her secrets but first challenges the younger painter to find the one lie hidden in her tale. In a saga filled with intrigue, jealousy, buried treasure, unrequited love, espionage, and murder, Sofonisba’s story is played out against the backdrop of Italy, Spain, and Sicily. Throughout her life, she encountered talented artists, authoritative dukes, mad princes, religious kings, spying queens, vivacious viscounts, and dashing sea captains—even a Barbary pirate. But of all the people who fell in love with Sofonisba, only one captured her heart. Sofonisba had many secrets, but only she knows the whole truth.

Book Excerpt 

​End of Chapter 2 (Sir Anthony visits Sofonisba toward the end of her long life)

​Anthony stroked his trim beard and regarded her thoughtfully. “You are a most intriguing woman.”
​With a brow raised, she said, “You’d be surprised by the things I know and the places I’ve been.” ​
​“So, the painter has a secret past?” said Van Dyke. “I’d like to know your stories and…” He paused and glanced up when Cecilia re-entered the room.
​Sofonisba watched as the young man warmly regarded the slim young girl and noted Cecilia too was aware of his admiration by the way she self-consciously set the silver tray and teapot on the small table between them. When Anthony reached out a hand to steady one of the cups and accidentally grazed her fingers, the maid giggled, forgetting her station.
​Sofonisba coughed ever so slightly, and Cecilia turned toward her with a bemused expression. Then, coming to her senses as if she realized she was not comporting herself respectably, she hastily curtsied and left the room. ​
​Pouring out the tea, Sofonisba said, “I see you are indeed a rake, sir. And here I thought your attentions were all for me.”
​He raised an eyebrow as he reached for a small biscuit with sugar coating. “Don’t try to change the subject.”
​“Yes, where were we…”
​“I asked if you’d share with me your stories.”
​“Ah, well… I’m sure any tale I had to tell would bore you to tears,” she replied.
​He gestured to the portraits on the far wall. “The many faces of the woman that decorate this room beg to differ. Each portrait has a hidden story that begs to be revealed.”
​“And how would you know?”
​“Need I remind you? I am a painter too. Like you, I am an excellent judge of character—and the eyes never conceal what a person is really feeling or thinking. See that girl in the blue gown?” he asked, indicating the portrait that had captured her attention earlier.
​She looked at him, interested to hear what he had to say.​
​“That young woman possesses such grace and extreme confidence—those are things a man can easily fall in love with. I believe that woman has something to reveal to me. After all, with a paintbrush and a rare talent, she traveled the world, painting for kings and queens…” He observed her keenly. “Signora, you have had a remarkable career. You dared to be different, and I want to know how you managed to accomplish all you did.”
​“Fair enough,” she finally admitted. “Yes, I defied them that I did. I was never one for conventions. I never believed I needed a husband to keep me and be my master. I always thought I’d live a solitary life, never to be bothered by love.”
​“But love found you…”
​“Yes, it did. Several times,” she admitted, gazing over his shoulder at the portrait of the young woman in blue.
​“Tell me about the one you’ve never forgotten.”
​She studied the man before her, then said with a gleam in her eye, “He was a handsome lad, with a head of thick black curls. The kind of man that steals a girl’s heart the moment she lays eyes on him.” She assessed him again, taking in his elegant coat and deerskin breeches. “Kind of like yourself, tesoro, though not in such a dandified manner!”
​Her retort caught him by surprise, and when his shoulders started to shake, he nearly spilled tea on his jacket.
​“Still,” Sofonisba continued, “despite his striking good looks, he was a man of courage, one who dared to dream, took chances, and risked everything to win my heart… then broke it in two.” She was quiet for a moment and then sighed. “You don’t forget the first man you ever loved—especially if you lose him…”
​“There, I knew it! You do have intriguing tales to tell me.”
​“Oh, I admit I have many,” Sofonisba said with a soft laugh. “So… it is my life you wish to hear about, is it? You want to learn the secrets of Sofonisba?”
​“I’m all ears, signora. Please don’t hold back.” He filled his cup and then, looking over the brim, said, “I want to know everything from the beginning. I’m sure it will be quite diverting.”
​“From the beginning… Ehi, you do realize how old I am? That would take more than an hour!”
​“We have all afternoon… Goodness knows, I’ve only just arrived in Italy and have no urgent appointments. Besides, there is no place I’d rather be than in your company.”
​“There you go again with your flattery, sir.” She looked at him askance. “Are you really sure you want to hear the ramblings of an old woman?”
​“Just tell me the titillating parts…”
​Sofonisba eyed him with amusement. “Messer… I am a lady!” Modestly she looked at her hands resting demurely in her lap, but when she glanced up and saw him watching her with a raised eyebrow, she let out a snort. “Well… all right, since you’ve traveled all this way, Anthony, I’ll entertain you with a story.”
​She paused and leaned forward. “But to keep me amused as well, it will be far more enjoyable to play a little game with you…”​
​When he looked at her curiously, Sofonisba said with a chuckle, “Beware, Anthony! I caution you to pay close attention to what I am about to reveal because woven into my words of truth will be one small fabrication.”
​She settled back into her chair, took a sip of tea, then added, “It is up to you, dear signore, to determine fact from fiction. See if you can discover the single lie in all I am about to tell you.”

About The Author

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves. She is the managing director of Matta Press. She teaches Italian and curates StudentessaMatta.com, the dual-language website in Italian and English that promotes the Italian language and culture. Melissa has a B.A. in fine arts, art history, and European history from Knox College, a liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, and a master’s degree in art history from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. She studied painting and art history in Florence and ran her own graphic design firm for many years. Melissa illustrated her novels’ cover art and translated her second novel into Italian — Il risveglio di Isabella. Melissa also curates the Art of Loving Italy website and Pinterest site, where you will find companion pictures and visual references for all her novels. Visit MelissaMuldoon.com for more information about Melissa’s books and StudentessaMatta.com for tips to learn and practice Italian at home and in Italy with Melissa.

MelissaMuldoon.com
ArtLovingItaly.com
Pinterest.com/ArtofLovingItaly
StudentessaMatta.com

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Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 1 // Series Review

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About The Show
Belly Conklin is about to turn 16, and she’s headed to her favorite place in the world, Cousins Beach, to spend the summer with her family and the Fishers. Belly’s grown up a lot over the past year, and she has a feeling that this summer is going to be different than all the summers before. The Summer I Turned Pretty is based on the book by Jenny Han, who is creator and executive producer.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3sB1Wpv

My Rating

If you know me, then you know that ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ trilogy by Jenny Han is one of my least favorite trilogies. Honestly, the books started off okay, and then just got worse. However, when Amazon Prime released their original series based off the books, I was intrigued. I hoped that it would be a fresh take on the books.

And, I’m happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the show. The first season obviously follows the first book in which we meet Belly (Isabella). Every summer, Belly (along with her mom and brother) goes to Cousins to spend the summer with her mom’s best friend (Susannah) and her two sons Conrad and Jeremiah.

Belly has always had a crush on Conrad, yet to him she’s like a little sister. But, now that she’s a little older, and has had a major glow up, she’s hoping that maybe he’ll see her in a new light. However, while Conrad might be falling for her, Jeremiah might start taking notice of the new Belly too. And that’s basically the majority of the plot of the first book, although a lot of other things happens throughout the book.

The show follows the first book pretty closely, but I liked a lot of changes that they made. From the first episode I knew that I was going to enjoy the series 100% more than the book. I’m not embarrassed to say that the show, in my opinion, is better.

“For me, everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.”

I don’t know about other people, but it gave me classic teen drama vibes. I’ve always been a lover of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘One Tree Hill’, so when I say I got total Dawson’s vibes from the show you better believe it’s a compliment. Also, Conrad, Belly, Jeremiah – think Dawson, Joey, Pacey. Just saying.

The actors did a great job bringing the characters to life. And, I might have to admit that this version of Belly didn’t annoy me nearly as much as the one in the book. By the way, did anyone else get transported back in time seeing Rachel Blanchard? Not only is she stunning, but I still remember loving the Clueless series where she played Cher.

Overall, the show was a good time. I think that teens today will really enjoy it, as well as adults that are desperate for a good classic teen drama. If you are a fan of the books, I think you’d still like the show, because the root of the plot is still there. Just a side note, the fact the series pointed out that teens today probably don’t know who The Olsen Twins are makes me feel so old.

In the comments, let me know if you liked the series or books better. Also, let me know if you’d like me to review the second season of the series. Don’t forget to show your support by following my book blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

One Of Us Is Back // Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

About The Book
The third time’s a charm. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation outwitted a vengeful copycat. Now the entire Bayview Crew is back home for the summer, and everyone is trying to move on. Only, this is Bayview, and life is never that simple. The global phenomenon returns with the third book in the One of Us Is Lying series, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen M. McManus.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3PbUOsS

My Rating

This is the third, and final, installment of Karen M. McManus’s ‘One Of Us’ series. Keep in mind that this review might spoil something’s in the first two books. In this book, we follow the perspectives of Addy, Nate, and Phoebe. I loved being back with the Bayview crew, because these characters are incredibly likable.

In the first book, we had a whodunit type of murder/mystery plot. The next book had a deadly truth or dare situation. However, I’m not really sure I can explain the plot of this book, because there really wasn’t much of one.

The author was trying to create a plot that brought everything full circle and connected all three books. However, I think that she lost sight of making a really engaging story. The plot just kind of lacked, and fell short for me. It wasn’t as intense or gripping as the first two books.

This isn’t to say that the book is bad, because I was interested in the story, but that could just be for my love of these characters. I did find the book to be fast paced and McManus’s writing is wonderful – as always. I was just hoping for more.

“But we all know how Simon felt about secrets, right? They have to come out eventually.”

The way on which everything was tied together wasn’t my favorite. It felt very random. As a horror movie fan, I love when sequels are tied into the first movie, making things come full circle. But, only if it’s done right. The first three Scream movies did that perfectly, yet the ‘Happy Death Day’ films took a really weird route in the second movie. But, I digress.

Overall, the plot just didn’t leave me shocked, and there really wasn’t any sort of major twist. I do like that the author went back to the ‘secrets are powerful’ message, as it was a recurring theme throughout the entire series. Nonetheless, it was a decent conclusion to the trilogy, and I will continue to support Karen M. McManus. Also, thank you for giving us more Knox and Phoebe!

In the comments, let me know which ‘One Of Us’ book is your favorite. My personal favorite is ‘One Of Us Is Next’, because I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it. If you enjoyed this book, please hit the follow button, because it really helps my blog grow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Only One Left // Book Review

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About The Book
At seventeen, Lenora Hope hung her sister with a rope. Stabbed her father with a knife. Took her mother’s happy life. “It wasn’t me,” Lenora said. But she’s the only one not dead. A woman who takes a job caring for elderly invalid Lenora Hope, who was accused decades ago of murdering her parents and younger sister. She slowly unravels the truth behind the Hope murders and a missing nurse.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3QNKAzP

My Rating

This book was phenomenal! The story follows a home-health aide, Kit McDeere, as she must become the new caretaker for Lenora Hope, an elderly woman who was suspected of a Lizzie Borden type of murder back in the 1920s. The plot itself sounds amazing, and the writing was fantastic. The book kept me interested every step of the way.

However, this isn’t going to be one of those fast paced type of thrillers. The story is fairly slow moving, but I didn’t mind that at all. I was so invested in this mystery that I couldn’t put the book down! Like the main character, I kept going back and forth on what really happened all those years ago.

I will say that my only con with this book was Kit. She isn’t a horrible main character, but I found her to be not the most sensible person. Honestly, she kept saying she couldn’t trust anyone, but was totally willing to share everything she thought she knew with anyone. That got on my nerves at times.

“She’s capable of so little yet accused of so much, and I remain torn between wanting to protect her and the urge to suspect her.”

But, the twists in this book were amazing. There weren’t a ton of shocking moments, and a more skilled detective probably could have figured things out before the big reveal. I was just happy to be a long for the ride, and loved every twist and turn. The ending was done so well, and one of my guesses did turn out to be correct.

Overall, I loved how invested the story kept me, and the chapters flew by. This is one of those rainy night reads that you could probably finish in a day or two. The plot, characters, and mystery are just that good. This book will hopefully keep you as intrigued as it kept me, right up until the end.

In the comments, let me know if you believe the story of Lizzie Borden. Don’t forget to share this post with other book lovers. Feel free to help my blog grow by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Lying In The Deep // Book Review

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About The Book
A juicy mystery of jealousy, love, and betrayal set on a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship, with a diverse cast of delightfully suspicious characters who’ll leave you guessing with every jaw-dropping twist. [In this new murder mystery by Diana Urban find out what happens when a semester at sea turns deadly.] Perfect for readers of Natasha Preston, E. Lockhart, and Karen McManus!
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3QLiVQb

My Rating

This book frustrated me to no end. I was hoping for a fun, fast-paced YA thriller book, but that isn’t what I got at all. In the book, we follow Jade as she is doing a semester on a cruise ship. And, if you were a teenager in the 2000s you’re probably having ‘The Suite Life on Deck’ flashbacks.

However, Jade’s semester abroad turns sour when she discovers her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend, who are now a couple, are also aboard the cruise ship. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out if this was a petty high school breakup story or a thriller. For about, 60% of the book Jade is wining about her backstabbing best friend and pining for her ex. And every time she’d try and confront them, she’d wimp out and than start whining again.

I thought there would be more suspense and mystery, and less high school drama. Although, since they’re in high school, I should have figured they’d act like they’re in high school. Still, the writing just felt very immature and the characters were juvenile. But, being in my 30s, I can admit that I am not really the intended audience for the book.

“No better trash can for a murderer than the entire ocean.”

The book didn’t pick up until around the last 75% of the book, and that’s when I felt like the story was actually getting somewhere. But, everything started happening so quickly. It felt like nothing at all was happening, and then, suddenly, a bunch of shit goes down. What was even the point of the first half of the book?

However, once the plot picked up, it was really enjoyable. I didn’t see the twist coming, which I liked. But, the characters were really the downfall for me. I disliked pretty much all of them. Still, there was one character, Jade’s love interest, that I did like, and he called Jade out on her pettiness and whining, which was called for.

Overall, the writing and plot weren’t for me at all. Maybe, I’ve just grown out of young adult, but I think that the real issue is that I didn’t know that the book was a retelling of “Death on the Nile” by Agatha Christie. Correction – I have heard people say that it’s a YA “Death on the Nile” retelling, but I don’t know if that’s true. Nevertheless, I’ve heard that “Death on the Nile” has similarly slow moving, nothing’s happening type of plot.

In the comments, let me know if this book is on your TBR. If it is, take it from me and skip it. Personally, I would have had a better time watching ‘The Suite Life on Deck’. However, if you did enjoy the book, leave a comment letting others know why. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more bookish posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

As Sung By Taylor // Book Recommendations

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
You might not know this, but I am a Swiftie! And since I could not manage to get tickets to The Eras tour, I thought I would do the next best thing. Sure, to non-readers, this might not be the next best thing, but I thought it would be fun to share some book recommendations based on some Taylor songs.

Related Post: Belladonna // Book Review

“But you’re untouchable, burning brighter than the sun
Now that you’re close I feel like coming undone
In the middle of the night, when I’m in this dream
It’s like a million little stars spelling out your name
You gotta come on, come on
Say that we’ll be together
Come on, come on
Oh, oh, oh”


“And it’s like snow at the beach
Weird but fuckin’ beautiful
Flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful
You wanting me tonight feels impossible
But it’s comin’ down, no sound, it’s all around
Like snow on the beach
Like snow on the beach
Like snow on the beach
Like snow, oh, oh oh”


“I’d be a fearless leader
I’d be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What’s that like?
I’m so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I’d get there quicker
If I was a man
And I’m so sick of them coming at me again
‘Cause if I was a man
Then I’d be the man
I’d be the man
I’d be the man”


“I’ve grown accustomed to sleepin’ alone
Still, I know that all it takes is to get it right
Just one time, just one time
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
Got a feelin’ your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
And I want you now, wanna need you forever
In the heat of your electric touch”

Keep in mind that these are just my opinions, and I think that each of these songs compliments the book really well. In the comments, let me know which Taylor album is your favorite. I will forever be a Red girl! Do not forget to hit the follow, but before you leave.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Twilight // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Isabella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3qdEr5r

My Rating

This book is for all the vampire and love triangle fans out there. In the book, we follow Bella as she moves to Forks to live with her dad. There she forms a small friend group, and meets Jacob Black, the son of her dad’s best friend. However, Bella feels connection growing between her and the mysterious Edward Cullen. The two keep seem to be drawn together, and everyone knows the Cullen family are very interesting.

If you want a slow paced vampire book with some slow-burn romance, then this is the book for you. It is the first book in the Twilight saga, and typically first book in series do need a lot of world building. However, I found this book to be way too long. I felt like there was so much that we could have cut out and the outcome would have been the same. Being 500 pages long was completely unnecessary.

As for the characters, we didn’t get to really know anyone but Bella. Yet, we did learn a little about Edward and his family. Although, I think as the books progress we will get more information on the other characters and learn more about them. As for Bella, she was a very bland character with not much personality. She was bit boring and just average, which I assume is why Edward was so drawn to her.

“Death is Peaceful, Life is Harder.”

The story, as a whole, was very engaging. I found myself drawn in, and wanting to pick it up. I’m always down for a good vampire story, and if you know anything about this saga, soon we will have werewolves introduced as well. The ending was really fasted paced, and picked up, even though I felt like Bella did make some pretty dumb choices.

Now let’s talk about the writing. This book gets a lot of hate for being write like a fan fiction, which I think is disrespectful to fanfics, since some of them are actually written very well. I didn’t find the writing to be horrible, but it didn’t grip me like I wanted it to. It was very mediocre writing. There wasn’t anything special about it that helped make the story come to life.

Overall, it has the basics of a great story, and I’m excited to see where the next book goes. Still, I can understand why people say that this book has a stalker love trope kind of vibe. A few years back, that used to be a big no-no, but now in the age of dark romance and bully romance I can bet that some people are into the stalker trope.

In the comments, let me know when you first read the Twilight books. Don’t forget to hit the follow button, so that you get notified whenever there’s a new post like this one.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny