Young Adult

Some Girls Do // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Morgan, an elite track athlete, is forced to transfer high schools late in her senior year after it turns out being queer is against her private Catholic school’s code of conduct. There, she meets Ruby, who has two hobbies: tinkering with her baby blue 1970 Ford Torino and competing in local beauty pageants, the latter to live out the dreams of her overbearing mother. The two are drawn to each other and can’t deny their growing feelings.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3urFYH4

My Rating

This is a really cute, young adult, queer romance with a lot of depth to it. I honestly wouldn’t call this a light or fluffy female/female romance, because it does cover a lot of heavy topics. That being said, I really enjoyed the story. I didn’t expect it to be so hard hitting, but I really loved the way the author went with the plot.

In the book, Morgan, a new transfer student and star athlete, meets Ruby, who is a beauty pageant queen that happens to love working on cars. Their first meeting isn’t exactly a meet-cute, but they quickly form a friendship that leads to something more. The only problem is: Morgan is openly gay, but Ruby is still trying to figure things out.

Now, I did find that Morgan was a little bit too intense, and wasn’t quite understanding when it came to Ruby’s situation. However, knowing about her path, and why she had to transfer schools, it’s understandable that she wasn’t willing to hide who she was.

“So what if she’s a mess? Maybe we all are. But what if she’s meant to be my mess, and I’m meant to be hers?”

On the other hand, I really felt for Ruby in this book. She didn’t know how she was going to pay for college. She was forced to be a beauty queen, so that her mother could live vicariously through her. And she was truly afraid that no one would accept her as bisexual.

The book was really about self discovery, and how nobody can force you to do anything you’re not ready to do. In the end, all we can do is support and be there for each other. I really loved Morgan and Ruby’s relationship, and also what they learned from each other throughout the book.

Overall, this is a really good read, and the writing was impeccable. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a fast-paced book, since books with heavy subjects seem to take longer, but I still enjoyed it. And, although this book deals with some heavier topics, it is still a contemporary romance at its core.

If you have read this book, leave me a comment telling your thoughts on it. As always, you can like and share this post with others. Before you go, remember you can get post notifications by following my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Island // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

About The Book
Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. When the teens arrive, they’re stunned: the resort is even better than they’d imagined. But soon they’ll discover that something’s missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/49igyu8

My Rating

I was really hoping that I would love this book, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. However, I didn’t hate it either, and it had some good qualities. However, the overall plot was missing something, and the writing felt a little lackluster.

The book follows a bunch of influencers in different niches, from books to gaming, getting invited on an exclusive trip to remote island. They are there to test out a new amusement park and promote it, for its billionaire owner.

As you can probably figure, with this being a thriller, things turn deadly. I will say that I was surprised as to how gruesome the book was. The death scenes are intense, and a lot of killing does occur. Also, it’s pretty graphically detailed, at least in terms of a young adult thriller.

“People listen to someone online they’ve never met more than they do to their parents, teachers, doctors.”

The characters were very stereotypical, when it comes to what you think influencers might be like. There wasn’t much depth to them, and although they were getting all this money and had all this attention, they had very poor attitudes. So, I didn’t really care what was happening to them.

This is definitely a page turner. It’s such a fast read you don’t want to put it down. Honestly, I could see reading this in a day, even if you aren’t normally a quick reader. The book is very addictive, despite the plot lacking a certain attachment to the characters.

Overall, this isn’t the most amazing young adult thriller, but it kept me interested. That being said, I do wish that the ending left me a little bit more surprised. And honestly, I’m not exactly sure how I feel about the final chapter. This author tends to leave things open ended, which I’m not sure I love. But, it does kind of work in this case.

In the comments, let me know if you like cliffhangers. Don’t forget to give this post a like and a share. If you would like to get post notifications, then hit the follow button.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

February 2024 // To Be Read

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
It’s TBR time again! Is it just me or did it feel like January lasted forever? Before we get into this month’s Bookopoly TBR, let us go over January’s TBR. I believe that I had 11 books on that TBR, out of which I read six, which I think is quite good. Unfortunately, I DNFed two books in January. I have changed some of the spaces on the board to different prompts. Now, it is time to talk about the month’s rolls. As always, I started off with eight rolls, but add a roll if I got doubles.

This first space I landed on was just bought, which is great because I have a book-buying problem. This month I got ‘Game On’ by Seressia Glass which is an adult romcom. The great thing is that it has to do with video games, and as the wife of a gamer, I knew that I had to read it during the month of Valentine’s Day. Also, I got doubles, so I had to add a roll.

The next roll took me to the pretty cover space, which is a prompt I love since I have some beautiful books. I decided to use this prompt to finish a duology I have been putting off for a while. So, ‘Our Violent Ends’ by Chloe Gong will, hopefully, be read in February.

I am not sure how I feel about getting the outside genre (out-of-comfort zone) space because they are usually books I am not super excited to read. Therefore, I decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to read ‘The Witchlings’ by Claribel A. Ortega, the first book in a middle-grade series. This book is on my self-destruct TBR for the year.

The fourth roll landed on the sequel space. Well, it just so happens that in January I read ‘One Dark Window’ by Rachel Gillig. I fear that if I wait too long to read the sequel, I might forget about the first book. All this is to say that I will read ‘Two Twisted Crowns’ as my sequel. Sadly, the first book put me in a bit of a reading slump, so I am hoping that it does not happen again.

My next roll got me into a chance space, which was a random prompt. The prompt I received was Published In 2021. The book I went with is Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis. I was hesitant to put this on my TBR because I am unsure if I will enjoy it. However, this is another book on my self-destruct TBR, so I decided that I might as well read it sooner rather than later.

Fortunately, my six roll landed me on the favorite author spot, which was perfect since Lynn Painter had a book released last November. I can’t wait to read ‘Betting On You!’ This is a young adult contemporary, and I believe the trope is enemies-to-lover.

I screamed when I landed on the favorite trope space, because one of my favorite tropes is the exchange of services, or at least that is how I describe it. Well, ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ by Sarah Adams has just that type of plot, and the good girl meets the bad boy trope. This book is one of my five star predictions for the year, so I am more than ready to read it.

The eighth roll landed me on just bought again. I decided that if I land on the same spot twice in one game, I would have to draw a random prompt and combine the two if that makes sense. Thus, the book not only had to be a recent purchase, but also a retelling. The book I selected was ‘Never’ by Jessa Hastings. I am excited to read this ‘Peter Pan’ retelling but also nervous because I have not heard the best things about it.

The last roll took me to the sequel space again, so I selected a random prompt, Fanro. And, I’m happy to say the book I’ll be reading is ‘Ruthless Vows’ by Rebecca Ross which is the sequel to ’Divine Rivals.’ I anticipate this as a favorite book.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post. Doing Bookopoly has been so much fun, and I have been loving sharing my TBR. Don’t forget to follow the blog so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Borrow My Heart // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing. A young adult romance from the critically acclaimed author of Places We’ve Never Been.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Scapc5

My Rating

I’m a big fan of Kassie West, and a young adult contemporary about a catfishing story just seemed super cute. However, this one sadly missed the mark. It just wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and the ending made me quite angry.

In the book, we follow Warren, an animal-loving control freak that decides to do a ‘good deed’ by helping out Asher when she overhears his friend teasing him about being catfished. This sparks a cute little romance between Warren and Asher, but it does all start off as a lie, which makes things complicated.

I loved Warren, and found her to be such a great main character. Asher was a really good love interest, too. Even the side characters were likable, as well. Kasie West knows how to write really good characters. Teens that aren’t annoying, stereotypical, or immature. However, this didn’t have that same witty banter that her books normally do.

“That’s what good people with big hearts do.”

As usual, they are more to her plots than just romance. Warren has a broken home life, because her mother left her to go off and do her own thing. The fact that there are more serious elements to her stories, rather than just teen love, make them more impactful. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good straight forward teen romance, but I love the fact that her books have more substance, as well.

My biggest con for this book, and the reason that it isn’t a four or five star, is the ending conflict. There’s always some conflict in romance novels where the love interests pull away from each other, but this one made me so mad and I didn’t like the resolution. Maybe I’m petty, and I hold a grudge.

Overall, I enjoy Kasie West’s writing, and her books are such fast reads. And, I do like how she focused on social media, but how social media can negatively impact someone’s life, and affect them. Although this story wasn’t my favorite, and the ending still drives me nuts, I will continue to read any book she puts out.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve ever been catfished. Is catfishing even a thing anymore? Don’t forget to check out my Facebook page for more bookish updates. And, you’ll never miss a post if you follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

5 Star Predictions #5 // 2024

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
I have done some 5 star prediction posts in the past, and a lot of the time I do not actually get around to reading those books. However, this time around, I have picked out 10 books that I believe will be read this year. If you are not readers, a five-star is the highest rating a reader will typically give a book, meaning that I predict these books will be new favorites of mine.

The Comeback by Lily Chu
Last year, I read ‘The Stand-In’ by this author, which was a five-star read for me. Therefore, I hope that I will also enjoy this book. I do not particularly know much if anything about the plot, but since I have given this author a high rating, it is a pretty safe bet that I will again.
Related Post: 2023 Lucky 13 // Best Books

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
I have heard a lot of great things about this book and the premise reminds me of ‘The Night Shift’ by Alex Finlay, which I loved. It is an adult thriller that involves a serial killer and possibly a false conviction. I feel that this book will be full of twists and turns, and I cannot wait for it. It sounds like a book that I will love.
Related Post: The Night Shift // Book Review

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
If this is not a five-star book or possibly a favorite book of the year, I will be completely shocked. I am almost certain that I will love this book. Although I did not love my first read by Sarah Adams, this book contains two of my favorite tropes: exchange of services and bad boy, good girl. I know that it is going to be a fun read.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
I have been highly anticipating this adult thriller, and I am hoping that I have not built it up too much in my head. The plot follows a blogger and two cold cases, but the awesome things is that Simone St. James thrillers have a paranormal aspect to them. I am a lover of the ‘The Conjuring’ movies, so I am always down for an interesting and fast-paced paranormal thriller.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
I am a huge fan of stories with magic and witches, and I have been loving plots that have a historical fiction feel to them. Therefore, this book sounds like it is going to be an engaging read. Henderson is the author of ‘House of Hunger,’ which I found to be such a compelling read. I have no doubt that this book, which I have heard is their most popular, is going to be fantastic.
Related Post: House Of Hunger // Book Review

Maybe Meant to Be by K. L. Walther
This is a contemporary young adult story that sounds like it is going to be a lighthearted romance. The plot follows two teenagers and best friends who everyone believes are destined to fall in love, but they are both interested in different people. This is another author that I have read from and given four stars previously, so I would like to think that their books will keep improving in my opinion.
Related Post: The Summer Of Broken Rules // Book Review

Gilded by Marissa Meyer
This is a YA adaptation of Rumpelstiltskin, which I cannot wait to read. Truthfully, I have not heard many people talking about this book, but as someone who loves a retelling and the story of Rumpelstiltskin, it sounds like something I will devour. I am going into this book completely blind, but with the mindset that it will be an amazing read.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
There are many mixed opinions on this book. You either love it or find it okay. I am all about cozy fantasies lately, so I think that if I was going to rate it a five-star, this would be the year. I have heard that the romance is not the best, but the plot sounds interesting, and I could really see myself having such a good reading experience.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Unfortunately, I was not a huge fan of ‘Legends and Lattes, ’ since the plot was not as enticing as I would have liked. However, I think it had to do more with the writing style than with the story. Nevertheless, I think this prequel novel will be much more for me. It still has a cozy fantasy feel, but with a more highstake plot. I would love it to be a five-star read for me, yet I am still unsure about it.
Related Post: Legends and Lattes // Book Review

The Deal by Elle Kennedy
I hear that this book not only has the exchange of service trope, but also a spicy hockey romance. Need I say more. This is the first book in a series of companion novels set on the same college campus, and I have heard that all of the books are great. However, this one sounds like it will be my favorite and most likely to be a five-star. The plot sounds great and I am always up for a steamy romance.

In the comments, let me know if you have read any of these books. In addition, share some of your five-star predictions for the year. Do not forget to like and share this blog with other bookworms. If you enjoy my content, please follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

These Books Will Self Destruct // 2024 Challenge

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
Today, I am going to talk about 12 books that I have to read before the end of the year. Okay, I do not have to read these books, but I would like to make a conscious effort to read them. So, to hold myself accountable, if I do not read these books, I will unhaul them next year. Truthfully, I have tried this before and I do not think it went too well for me, so we will see how it goes this time around.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
I have had this book since its release in 2021. Sadly, I never had the desire to pick it up. However, I recently heard one of my favorite BookTubers talk about the synopsis of the third book in this companion book series ‘Love, Theoretically,’ and that book sounds like a potential five-star read for me. So, now, I am very hyped to read this book.

River of Dreams by Jan Nash
I remember getting this book from BookOutlet, and the synopsis sounded original. It is a magical realism young adult novel. However, I have lost interest in the young adult genre. Don’t get me wrong I still read YA books, but I do not find myself gravitating towards them anymore. I would like to at least attempt to read this book because the premise still seems interesting to me.

The Troop by Nick Cutter
This was a completely accidental buy, so I decided that it had to be read this year. All I know is that it’s a ‘Lord Of The Flies’ esc horror novel. However, please do not quote me on this because I could be totally mistaken for the plot. I know that this author is pretty popular in the horror genre, which makes me slightly more eager to read the book.

Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman
This is a fluffy, lighthearted, young adult contemporary. I know that my teenage and even my early twenties self would have adored this book. However, I am skeptical of reading it. I have had it on my shelf for way to long now simply because I am afraid it might fall into the cheesy side of young adult books for me. Still, I am hoping that I can read it this year and perhaps even enjoy it.

Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
I have been saying that I was going to read this book for many years. Sadly, it has just been collecting dust on my bookshelf. I believe this is because I am not a huge fan of short story collections. This book contains stories that follow different black teens, but are all interconnected. I am still very interested in the book, and I have heard that it is being adapted into a movie, so I would like to read it before the adaptation is released. Otherwise, I should probably let it go to a new home.

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
I bought this book because I had seen a few bookish creators talk about it, but the length of this book absolutely frightens me. It is a young adult paranormal thriller released in early 2023. So it has not been on my TBR for too long, but I feel like if I do not make the effort to read it this year I probably will not ever get around to it.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
This book was a gift to me years ago when I started getting back into reading. All I know is that this is a Queen of Hearts retelling and a fairly popular book. Honestly, this is one of the oldest books on my shelf, and as a fan of retelling, I do not know why I have not read it yet. I am making this book a major priority this year. However, I will not be terribly disappointed if I have unhaul it.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner
This is another retelling I have had for a long time. I think that I have been hesitant to read this because I have not heard the best things about it. However, it’s a ‘Beauty And The Beast’ inspired retelling, which happens to be my favorite Disney Princess movie. Thruthgully, it is really up in the air when it comes to whether I will actually read it within the next eleven months.

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
When it comes to reading the book, I am very on the fence because I had picked it up before. Something about the story wasn’t working for me, but I do own another book by this author. I would really like to read this one first, since I have had it longer. In addition, I know that many people enjoy this book. I hope that my second attempt at reading it will be a success.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
I bought this book on a whim because I heard positive things about this authors book ‘The Good Sister.’ I do not know much about the plot, except that it is an adult thriller. This is a book that could most likely stay on my bookshelf unread for years if I do not, I hate to say force, but force myself to read it.

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
I should not be left at Barnes and Noble unsupervised because I sometimes buy books in genres that I seldom read. This is the first in a middle series, and if you have been following my blog for quite some time, you know that I do not typically read middle grade. However, I decided that if I do not read it soon, I should just unhaul it and a few other middle grades that I own.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
As the author of the poetry collection, Convenient Interruptions, you think I would be more inclined to pick up poetry books. Sadly, this is not the case. I own two poetry books by this author, and I would like to read one if not both this year. I believe that this is their best-known release, so I would like to start with it.

In the comments, let me know if there is one or a few books that you have to read in 2024. I don’t know how this challenge is going to go but I like to push myself when it comes to my yearly reading. Don’t forget that it is completely free to follow my blog and helps it grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2024 Anticipated Releases // January To June

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Today, I am going to talk about my most anticipated 2024 book releases. I will only mention books released in the first half of the year, so from January to June. If I mentioned every new release that I want to read in this post, it would be far too long. So,I decided to narrow it down to two books per month.

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (Jan. 24, 2024)
I read every young adult novel written by this author duo. However, I did DNF their first adult book and did not even attempt to read their second one. This adult romance was clearly inspired by Taylor Swift. And, being a Swiftie, I know that I must give it a chance.

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday (Jan. 30, 2024)
This is an adult romance with a fairly original plot. It takes the fake dating trope to a new level. In addition, it is a hockey and a single dad romance that should make for a pretty good time. Although I do not know how much I love the single-parent trope, I look forward to reading it.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood (Feb. 6, 2024)
This is Ali Hazelwood’s first paranormal romance, which apparently contains vampires and werewolves. So, essentially it’s an adult version of ‘Twilight.’ I own all of Hazelwood’s books but have yet to read any. However, this is the most interesting to me.

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang (Feb. 6, 2024)
I had been seeing this cover for a while, and after reading the synopsis, I became very excited about this release. Truthfully, young adult books haven’t been hitting the way they used to for me, but this one is bring me back to my ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ roots – and I could not be more happy about it.

Murder Road by Simone St. James (Mar. 5, 2024)
I have read only one book by this author, but it was a fantastic paranormal thriller. This book takes place in the 90’s, when a young married couple finds themselves suspects in a string of murders that occur on the Atticus Line. However, while trying to clear their name, they found that there might be a more supernatural cause for the killings.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter (Mar. 12, 2024)
I’m a Lynn Painter stan! I seem to rate her young adult novels highly. In my opinion, she has some of the best plots and characters. Although I did not love the only adult romance I have read by her so far, I am still very interested in picking up this book. Honestly, I will most likely read anything that she releases.

The Reappearance Of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (April 2, 2024)
Unfortunately, ‘Five Survive’, which was this author’s 2022 book release, was a total letdown for me. But, I hope that she will redeem herself with this book. The story contains many amazing parts. There is an unsolved mystery, a true crime documentary, and the reappearance of the long missing and presumed dead Rachel Price.

Funny Story by Emily Henry (April 23, 2024)
I want to be an Emily Henry girlie, and I feel that this might be the book to make me one. The plot is about two jilted exes that find themselves not only roommates but also hatch a plan to mislead people about their relationship. In particular, they’re exes, who happen to be engaged.

The Dare by Natasha Preston (May 7, 2024)
I have a complex relationship with this author, but I will say that her book plots continue to improve each year. This is a YA thriller about a game of truth or dare that turns deadly. I hope that it will be full of twists and turns that have me on the edge of my seat.

The Lamplighter by Crystal J. Bell (May 21, 2024)
This is a gothic fantasy with a captivating premise. It’s giving me ‘Stalking Jack The Ripper’ vibes and I’m very intrigued if it lives up to the hype I have created for it. I have been loving gothic fantasies lately, and the synopsis mentioning a lamplighter and monsters had me immediately add it to my TBR. I hope to pick up this soon after its release.

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (June 4, 2024)
I love how this book takes revenge plots in a new direction. This book is giving me ‘Catch That Kid’ meets ‘Heist Society’ by Ally Cater. I am all for a young adult action adventure about a sneaky and badass former heiress. Will this be the most insightful read? No. Am I going to love every second of this book? Hopefully.

Two Sides To Every Murder by Danielle Valentine (June 4, 2024)
I am going to be 100% honest and say that I know absolutely nothing about this book besides the fact that it is a YA thriller. However, I binge every one of Danielle Valentine’s books. I am sure that this is going to be a super-fast-paced and possibly a campy thriller, and I am going to read it the minute it is released.

In the comments, let me know what your most anticipated book releases are for the first half of the year. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other readers. Feel free to follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2023 Lucky 13 // Best Books

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Here, we have my best books for 2023! I had such a hard time narrowing down my best books, and 12 was not going to cut it. Therefore, I decided that 13 books deserve to be on this list. However, there is probably more that I could have added. Thus, without further ado, let us talk about my favorite books from last year.

Buy Book
Originally, I gave this book four stars, but the story was stuck in my mind for weeks. For that reason, I knew that I had to bump it up to five stars. This is a young adult romance about a long-distance relationship, which is something that is not written about much. I loved how the story went, and the character development was one of the best things in the book.

Buy Book
I did not expect a cozy fantasy to make this list, but this one really pulled at my heartstrings. No, I do not think it resembles Gilmore Girls or Practically Magic, but nevertheless, I loved the characters and story. A small town, family of witches, and mystery all make for a wonderful read. However, you might also shed a few tears at the end of the book because I certainly did.

Buy Book
I never thought that I was a pirate girl, but this book had me thinking I might be. This story was so action packed, and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved our female main character, and despite the romance being very typical of a young adult book, I found it enjoyable to read.

Buy Book
I do not hear anyone talking about this book, which is such a shame. Although this story is probably not anything to write home about, I had such a great experience reading this book. It was a fast-paced adult romcom with a happily ever after ending. Personally, I sometimes need a feel-good love story, which is exactly what this book was for me.

Buy Book
I am so happy that I was finally able to read the first book in this mystery series because it was brilliant. I loved how we followed a cast of animal characters in a small town. The mystery was fun, although predictable. However, the slight romance plot is unexpected and entertaining. This is both an easy and enjoyable read.

Buy Book
This is one, if not the best, queer romance I have read. What makes this even better is that it is a YA story. I found that the book provides a real look at different sexualities and what it is like to struggle with one’s own sexual identity. And let me just mention that an open door spicy scene was very unexpected for a young adult novel, but I did not mind it one bit.

Buy Book
Honestly, I cannot say why this book sticks out in my mind, besides the fact that the plot was so well-done. I thought that this was going to be a simple psychological thriller, but there was so much more to it. The story was surprisingly more twisted than I expected. Still, I liked how the author showed the darker and more horrifying side of the publishing world.

Buy Book
In my opinion, this book is underrated in the thriller genre. I have heard some negative things about it, but I loved the slower character-driven plot. Although there were not many twists and turns, I found the story very engaging. I found myself unable to put the book down, which made my reading experience even better.

Buy Book
At first, I thought that this was going to be a thriller involving vampires, but I was actually very wrong. This is a difficult book to describe, but I loved the writing style, the found family element to be a nice touch, and the plot incredibly unique. The story I was so captivating that I read it in a day.

Buy Book
I knew from the synopsis that I was going to love this book, but I did not expect it to become a new favorite romcom. Everything about this book from the story to the spice is perfection. I think it is a great book for readers who do not typically love the friends-to-lovers romance trope.

Buy Book
This book has such an interesting plot and is a wonderful start for the series. I had never read anything by this author before and picked up this book because of its title alone. However, I am so glad that I read it because it was an enjoyable experience. The love story is original, and the magical aspect is fascinating.

Buy Book
I was truly surprised by how much I loved the book. This is similar to the Hunger Games but with vampires and magic elements. The world building was amazing and the characters were very interesting. However, the last few chapters take this book the extra mile and really cement it as a standout read, in my opinion.

Buy Book
Right from the first chapter, I felt that this was going to be my favorite book of the year. I loved it even more than the first book (Belladonna), and the ending has anxiously awaiting the release of what I believe is the final book in this series. I am in love with this story, the world, and characters.

I hope that you enjoyed if not all some of these books. Feel free to share your favorite books of 2023 in the comments. If you weren’t a fan of one of these books I mentioned, that’s okay too, because I still adore all of these books. Don’t forget to like and share this post with others. It would be great if you could follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

12 Letdowns From 2023 // Worst Books

- Bunny 8 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today I’m talking about my worst reads of 2023. Now this year, it is more disappointments than worst books, because 2023 was a fairly good reading year for me. I had mostly 3 and 4 stars, and I don’t consider a 3 star to be a bad book. So, with all that out of the way, let’s jump into my top 10 most disappointing reads of 2023.

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I thought that this was going to be such an interesting YA thriller, but it was fairly confusing. I am still not sure of the plot. The book was very weird, and the writing style wasn’t my favorite. And, for a thriller, it wasn’t necessarily a thrilling book. You see what I did there?

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Frankly this isn’t a huge disappointment since I didn’t really have high expectations going into this book. I hadn’t heard anything about it, but as someone that grew up watching ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, I wanted to get similar vibes from the show. But, for a book based on Spike, the character wasn’t very reminiscent of his television counterpart.

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This book frustrated me to no end. Besides the writing, it has no redeeming qualities. I wouldn’t even call it a romance story. Well, it might be a romance, but a messy one (that isn’t exactly romantic). Also, anyone can see where the plot is going to go? The ending was crystal clear, making me wonder what the point to the story was. Needless to say, I wasn’t a fan.

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I wish that I loved more from this author, but I just can’t seem to enjoy much that I read from her. Although, I can’t seem to stop reading her books either. This plot was very generic, and I’m not a fan of books based on snobby rich kids. This is like Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, which might appeal to some, but for me it didn’t work at all.

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I was so disappointed in this book, because I was hoping for a cute supernatural romance but it was very slow paced and cringy. The storyline wasn’t very engaging, and the characters barely had any chemistry.

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I have a love/hate relationship with the Disney Twisted Tales books, but this one was low on the totem pole for me. I didn’t get ‘The Little Mermaid’ vibes, and truthfully, I was barely making it through reading the book. It could be that the ‘What If’ storyline didn’t work for me this time around, but the story wasn’t captivating as other books in this series have been.

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In my opinion, this book was not good at all. It completely read like a middle grade, and the story was not compelling at all. I wasn’t a big fan of the characters or the supernatural elements. But the book cover was so pretty that I wished I liked the inside more.

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This book sounded so appealing, but it was a struggle to get through it. The magic aspect felt weird in the story, which isn’t good when it’s the basis for the plot. And, it’s never good when you have a dual timeline story but only one of the timelines is actually interesting.

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I don’t know if it’s the fact that adult are writing teenagers but the main character in this book was so unrelated and immature. The biggest problem with this book is that it was boring. I know that’s a bit harsh but I can honestly say that I was bored throughout the whole book. That’s not exactly the reading experience I was looking for.

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The main character drove me insane throughout the whole book. Also, I like books where things are actually happening. However, I wasn’t aware that this is a ‘Death On The Nile’ retelling, which I have heard struggles with a slow moving plot as well. Still, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

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I can’t believe that I even read this book considering I had such a distaste for the first book, ‘So, This Is Christmas,’ in this companion series. Hopefully, this will be the last book because I can’t get behind the characters, the romance or the writing. It feels like I’m reading about two middle schoolers. That’s all I’m going to say.

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I cannot begin to tell you how sad I am that this is most disappointing read of 2023. I am still a Holly Jackson fan, but this book was a major flop. It could be that she wrote it fairly quickly, but every part, from the plot to the character, was bad. I know that it might be for some people, but I am not one of those people.

In the comments, let me know what some of your disappointing reads for 2023. Remember that nobody’s reading experience is the same, so if you liked any of these books that is great! They did not work for me. Before you go, please follow my blog, so that it continues to grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Winter Essentials // Book Tag

- Bunny 4 Comments

Hi Friends,
I feel like I have done so many tags this Bookmas. But does that mean I’m going to stop? Nope. Thus, on Bookmas, day 22, I am doing another winter inspired book tag. I saw someone do the ‘Winter Essentials’ book tag on YouTube and thought I should do it as well.

Hear me out, but Holly Chase from ‘The Afterlife of Holly Chase’ by Cynthia Hand isn’t the warmest character at first. This is a young adult retelling of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and let’s just say that Holly can be a real Scrooge. But, her ending character development was fantastic.

I had to think about this for a moment, but in the end I realized that ‘Legends and Lattes’ by Travis Baldree has such unique characters. I have never read a cozy fantasy before, let alone one that follows an orc. It is a great story, with a fun cast of characters.

Honestly, I think that the March family from ‘Little Women’ is amazing. I would love to spend the holidays with them and be one of the March girls. Although, their story is quite sad in some aspects, I still think that they are a wonderful fictional family.

This is easy. ‘Flight 171’ by Amy Christina Parker is simply mind boggling. No hate to you if you enjoyed this book, but I just thought it was so weird. By the end of the book I was left shocked as to what I had read. It’s an interesting story to say the least.

Well two of my sweet bookish friends gifted me books this year. Ashley from OfFictionandFantasy sent me ‘Flawless’ by Elsie Silver and Kathlin sent me ‘Starling House’ by Alix E. Harrow. I feel so blessed to get any gifts, and it was so kind of them both to send me a gift.

The biggest book I have ever read is ‘New Moon’ by Stephanie Meyer, which is the second book in the ‘Twilight’ saga. The book has a total of 563 pages. Personally, I think that is insane, since the plot wasn’t particularly all that fast moving or compelling.

I have no idea, because I try my hardest to keep my books in great condition. But, probably one of my editions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. Sometimes my mom will find them secondhand and gift them to me, so the condition will vary.

I recently got ‘The Bodyguard’ by Katherine Center, which has a ton of colors on it. I am very excited to read this adult romance, and the cover screams spring time.

The first book that came to mind was ‘The Accident Season’ by Moïra Fowley-Doyle. This book was trying to do too much, and it didn’t work for me. There was magic, mystery, ghosts, and romance. The plot wasn’t fleshed out enough to make the story work.

I don’t feel like I can answer this question, because I have way too many favorite characters. However, I will say that one of my favorites is Blythe Hawthorne from the ‘Belladonna’ series, by Adalyn Grace. I was a big fan of hers in the first book, but I fell even more in love with her character in book two.

I don’t reread many books every year, but one that I always reread is ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. I feel like a broken record since I have mentioned this book a lot, but it’s one of the only books that I reread every year.

Lastly, you can tag anyone to this post, so I want to tag all my fellow book lovers. You can leave your answers in the comments, or do this tag on your own bookish platform. Don’t forget to follow the blog, so that you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny