Hi Friends,
In addition to seasonal reads I’m a big fan of seasonal movies. There are so movies that I always have to watch in October. I’m sharing my Halloween movie picks for the family, teens and horror fans.
What is your favorite October movie? Leave a comment recommending me a Halloween movie to watch this year. Don’t forget to like and share this post, and follow the blog to get post notifications.
Title: Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3)
Author: Victoria Schwab
Published: 2021
Genre: Middle-Grade/Paranormal
Rating:
Synopsis
Nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.
Credit: GoodReads
I was sad to finish off this trilogy, but excited to see how things would end. In my opinion, the previous books were slightly different from each other, but followed a similar format. The first book was spooky and interesting. While the second book was gripping, it was quite sad as well. I was curious to see where this book would fall.
For me, the story was a bit underwhelming. As the reader, you could tell that the author was trying hard to make the story spine-chilling and exhilarating, but something about it didn’t work. I wasn’t as invested in the plot, and characters like with the other books. In this book, we aren’t following a ghost mystery, but being chased by a soul eater. Personally, I missed the simple story of helping a ghost move on.
One of my major issues with the book was Cassidy’s personality. In the earlier books I had nothing against her, but this time around she thoroughly annoyed me. It is possible that I was more critical this time around, with it being the final book. But she acted reckless and immature throughout the book. She wouldn’t listen to anyone putting others lives in danger.
“Once, I stole from Death. I’m ready to do it again.”
I was glad to see that Lara was back, since she is my favorite character. Not only do I love her accent, but her intellect as well. As always, Jacob is a treat and adds the much needed comic relief. I did feel as if we didn’t see many of the side characters in this book. Cassidy and Jacob were alone a lot of the story until Lara joined them. I could be wrong, but I remember Cassidy’s parents being more prominent in the other books.
One thing’s for sure Schwab had a way of bringing each city to life. This time around we are in New Orleans, yet the author didn’t utilities the city as she did with Scotland and Paris. The only thing that was talked about was New Orleans cuisine.
Don’t get me wrong, the book wasn’t all bad. I do enjoy Schwab’s writing and storytelling. However, the energy in the story was off, and it didn’t read like the first and second book. The ending to the series was satisfying, but there was something missing in the plot.
These are good middle-grade ghost stories that I can see fans of Neil Gaiman enjoying. The author left the series somewhat open-ended, so she might revisit these characters in the future. If you asked me to name my favorite book out of all three, I’d pick ‘Tunnel of Bones.’
Let me know if you have read the Cassidy Blake trilogy. Did you like the final book? Please like and share this review. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more bookish content.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Hi Friends,
Last week, I had 378 books on my ‘want to read’ shelf on GoodReads, which is crazy. I knew that there were some books that no longer interested me. I decided it was time to do a deep clean of my tbr shelf. It was interesting to see the books I eliminated, and thought I would share some of them with you.
Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price
This book still sounds interesting to me, but I don’t typically like reading series. I haven’t heard anything about this book, which makes me think it is pretty underrated. Sure, I could be convinced to read it one day, but right now I am okay with axing it from my tbr.
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
This might come as a shock to some of you, since these books are beloved in the book community. Truthfully, this series interested me back when it was all the rage. However, I think too many years have pasted for me to care enough to read it. I’d much rather read a standalone than a fantasy series.
Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe this is YA thriller. From the synopsis, I understand that this is a dark stolen identity story. I haven’t read anything like this before, but after reading reviews it doesn’t seem worth wasting my time on.
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
I have heard a lot of good things about Emma Mills, which is probably why I added this book to my tbr. However, books about social-media stars aren’t really my cup of tea. Also, the synopsis now sounds kind of boring.
Mechanica (Mechanica #1) by Betsy Cornwell
Honestly, I cannot for the life of me understand why I would put this on my tbr. The plot isn’t typically what I would go for in a book. It sounds like a weird Cinderella retelling. It just seems odd and confusing.
Little White Lies (Debutantes #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This sounds a little like a found family contemporary, since the main character’s estranged grandmother shows up. And, she is trying to learn more about her absent father. It is described as a thriller as well, which intrigues to me. However, I am not the biggest fan of fish-out-of-water stories, so I’m going to pass on it.
The Ravens (The Ravens #1) by Kass Morgan, Danielle Paige
This a paranormal fantasy that gives me ‘Legenborn’ vibes. It is about a sorority of witches and secrets. It sounds like other books on the market, thus I don’t think I’ll ever read it.
The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu
I have heard conflicting opinions about Marie Lu’s writing, which is probably the reason for this being on my tbr. I am big about forming my own opinion on authors and books. Nevertheless, after going through my tbr shelf this story didn’t stand out to me. I could tell it was going to take me a while to finish the book. As you probably know fantasy is one of my least favorite genres.
I wish I could say that I got my tbr down into the 200s, but that isn’t the case. After my clear out, I have 364 books on my ‘want to read shelf’. This is still a big number, yet I want to start reading more back-list titles. Hopefully that can be a goal of my in 2022. How many books are on your tbr? As always, like and share the post, and follow the blog.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Hi Friends,
Every year I make a fall/ Halloween bucket list. Most of the time my list stays the same, but I still think they are fun to create. I wanted to share my simple bucket list with all of you. In case some of you wanted to join in on the fun!
If you want to join me in completing my bucket list let me know in the comments. You can share photos of your fall baked goods, craved pumpkins Halloween costumes and more with me on Twitter @bookswithbunny.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Title: Little Women
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Published: 1869
Genre: Classic/Contemporary
Rating:
Synopsis
Generations of readers young and old, male and female, have fallen in love with the March sisters of Louisa May Alcott’s most popular and enduring novel, Little Women. Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.
Credit: GoodReads
Being a long-time fan of the movie adaptations, I knew that I was eventually going to have to pick this book up. The story is very iconic and timeless. At a young age, my mom would compare me to Jo. At 15 years-old, I thought that this was the highest of compliments.
Each sister (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) had their own stories, but they were all connected. They learned to be selfless, grow-up and above all less that family comes first. Jo March is the most notable character from the book. Probably because her arc is the main focus of the story. Also, she was an offbeat girl of that time, which was refreshing. I found Jo to be a little too stubborn for my liking, but I did notice some similarities between me and her.
Jo was outspoken, strong and not afraid to be herself. Throughout the book she mentioned how marriage, class or money wasn’t her goal. She wanted to be known for her talents instead of her status in society. Meg was the oldest of the sisters, and at first wanted nothing more than to fit in. I enjoyed her journey most of all. She chose love and a family over a career, which isn’t always a bad thing. I liked that she married for love, and though she wanted expensive things, never regretted the life she picked. Out of all the sister, I found myself relating most to Meg.
Beth didn’t have a big plot in the book, but she was the glue that tied the sisters together. She was kind, shy and had a great love of music. In the book, she probably went through the most physically, and it was painful to see how her story ended. She never complained about the cards she was dealt, and wanted what was best for her family. This is something we both have in common.
Amy, like many, was my least favorite sister. I do understand that the author was trying to portray her as immature and selfish, since she was the youngest March girl. It was evident that her character development was supposed to be the most drastic.
In some ways, I get Amy’s need to marry rich and move up in society. Her desires weren’t purely for herself, but for her family. She wanted to be able to provide for the ones she loved, even if it meant marrying someone just for money. Although, I would never do that, I can see her point of view.
As for the boys, Meg and Brooke’s relationship was very wholesome and real. They started as friends and grew into something more. What can I say I’m a hopeless romantic. On the flip-side, Laurie’s obsession with Jo was a tab much. I hated that he acted poorly when she refused his proposal. His relationship with Amy started as a fallback for not getting Jo, which left a sour taste in my mouth. Does he even really love her?
“I hate ordinary people!”
For me, Jo and the Professor’s relationship was my favorite. Some people might think that Jo was better off single. Because not all women need a man to be complete. Although, I agree, it was heartwarming to see Jo fall in love. Throughout the book, she was so against marriage and being seen as somebody’s wife. It showed that you can achieve your goals, and find love too. Once you find your person, everything changes.
After reading the book, I found that I could relate to each March sister in one way, or another. We are all Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in are own way. I will probably always ship Jo and Laurie even though his fixation was a little much.
The one final thing I learned from my reading experience is that classics aren’t for me. Yes, my favorite book is a classic, but I don’t generally enjoy classic books. I’ll continue to watch all ‘Little Women’ adaptations that are released. And, probably read a few more classics in my lifetime. But they aren’t my first reading priority.
Is Little Women one of your favorite books? Do you enjoy reading classics? Give my blog a follow, like and share this post.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Hi Friends,
It’s tbr time again! September was probably my worst reading month of the year, but I’m not mad about it. I hit my reading goal, and just needed a break from reading. However, I have tons of spooky reads that I want to pick up this month. I decided not to participate in any readathons since I didn’t want to put any pressure on myself when it came to reading.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
“A stunning and dark reimagining of Frankenstein told from the point-of-view of Elizabeth Lavenza, who is taken in by the Frankenstein family.”
The Final Girls Support Group by Grady Hendrix
“In horror movies, the final girls are the ones left standing when the credits roll. They made it through the worst night of their lives…but what happens after?”
Girl in the Headlines by Hannah Jayne
“The headlines say she killed her family. The truth? She doesn’t remember. Another twisty thriller from the author of Truly, Madly, Deadly that will leave readers breathless.”
Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
“A perfect town is hiding secrets. Secrets that somebody would kill to keep hidden.”
Squad by Lisa Sterle, Maggie Tokuda-Hall
“A fast-paced and feminist horror story for every girl who’s ever felt like prey, and asks how far a girl should go to hunt the hunters.”
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
“A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.”
Tell me what’s on your tbr in the comments below. Please like and share this post with others. And, don’t leave without following my little book blog.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Hi Friends,
I knew that I had to do a fall book tag to celebrate the change in seasons. Autumn is one of my favorite times of year for many reasons.The cooler weather, movies and food. This tag was originally created by The Book Belle on Youtube and combines fall and books.
This was such a fun bookish tag. I tag everyone, and looking forward to seeing your answers. Before you leave like and share the post. Don’t forget to give my bookish blog a follow.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Hi Friends,
I thought it would be fun to start doing favorite posts at the end of each month. I can’t guarantee that I will do one every month, but I promise there will be more of come. My favorites include beauty, fashion and lifestyle items. I didn’t talk about any books, since most of my posts are book related.
Beauty
Makeup Revolution
This is a new favorite beauty brand of mine. Their prices are on the same level as drugstore makeup, and the product quality is awesome. They have released some great collections recently, so I can’t wait to see what they’ll bring out next.
Purlisse Pumpkin + Ginger Detoxifying Charcoal Mask
To be honest, I have only used this product once, yet I instantly noticed a difference in my skin. I could be fooling myself, but after that initial use my pores seemed smaller and skin looked all together clearer.
Fashion
Bob’s
Back in the day, I was 100% a heels girl. Now I cannot live without some comfy flats. Bobs have been my go-to shoes for a while, and match almost any outfit.
Lifestyle
Walking
Normally I’m a yoga girl, but these days I’ve been enjoying a nice walk on the treadmill. I love that I can listen to music, or watch a YouTube video while getting my workout in.
Crisp Apple Pop-tart
Pop-tarts are my weakness! This flavor is mild but tastes like a warm apple pie. I find them to be perfect for the fall. Let me know in the comments if you prefer fruity or dessert pop-tarts.
Hot Coffee
This summer I switched to drinking only iced coffee. However, lately I have been reaching for a cup of hot coffee. There’s something about a warm cup of coffee on a chilly day that is screams autumn.
There you have my September favorites! What are your current favorites? If you want to support my blog, like and share this post. Also, follow the blog to get notified about new posts.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Title: Undead Girl Gang
Author: Lily Anderson
Published: 2018
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
Rating:
Synopsis
Meet teenage Wiccan Mila Flores, who truly could not care less what you think about her Doc Martens, her attitude, or her weight because she knows that, no matter what, her BFF Riley is right by her side. So when Riley and Fairmont Academy mean girls June Phelan-Park and Dayton Nesseth die under suspicious circumstances, Mila refuses to believe everyone’s explanation that her BFF was involved in a suicide pact. Instead, armed with a tube of lip gloss and an ancient grimoire, Mila does the unthinkable to uncover the truth: she brings the girls back to life.
Credit: Google Books
From what I’ve seen and heard, this book isn’t very liked. However, I found it to be a funny and thrilling. Their were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, but loved. At first, I thought this would be fun, witchy contemporary, but it surprisingly has a lot of thriller aspects.
To be honest, the writing isn’t the best, so that might turn some readers off. Yet, I found that the writing fit the story perfectly. The entire book felt like an old-school teen movie. It was lighthearted, but had spooky elements too. I noticed that there were a lot of pop-culture references throughout the book.
These days a lot of contemporary seem to be full of pop-culture references. Perhaps authors believe that they’ll relate more to the younger generation if they talk about ‘Instagram’ and ‘HP’ in their stories. I personally don’t care when authors do this, but I know some readers find it annoying. I will say that those references worked well in this case, since the story was very campy.
“You wouldn’t understand. It’s a dead girl thing.”
The best part of the book was the twist at the end. Now, I am not the best at solving mysteries. So I found the reveal at the end to be shocking. However, I can see how some could find it underwhelming. Looking back, there were a lot of red flags when it came to the killer that I seemed to have overlooked.
Personally, my favorite thing about the book was the dialog. For a spooky YA story, I found it to be pretty funny. The author did an amazing job mixing a mystery-thriller with a cheerful contemporary. I probably wouldn’t rereead the book, since I already know the big twist at the end. Still, I will recommend it to others looking for a more tame YA thriller.
Let me know your thoughts on the book in the comments. And, like, share and follow the blog. Please and thank you!
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Hi Friends,
Below is a list of books that I would love to pick up this fall. These books strike me as autumn reads, so I thought now would be the perfect time to share them with you guys. Hopefully this will help anyone looking for some cozy season book recommendations. Side note, I don’t care whether a book is popular, but it is fun to see what all the hype is about.
1) These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling
From the title, you can tell this is a YA book about witches. It is set in Salem and has LGBT representation. I haven’t read many witchy stories, but this one sounds like so much fun. I think it is the first book in a duology, so I’m interested to see if I’m going to want to continue with the series.
2) Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
This is a mystery novel set at a boarding school. I don’t know about you, but I love a good private school or boarding school book. The book follows a teenage girl, Stevie, who is really into true crime. She starts attending, Ellingham Academy, where the founder of the school’s spouse and daughter went missing years ago. She decides to put her detective skills to work and solve a century old cold case. There are four other books in the series, and I have heard nothing but good things about them.
3) A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Surprise, surprise another series. To be honest I don’t know much about this book. Except that its a YA thriller. I hear that it’s perfect for thriller/horror newbies like myself. I have been recommended this books countless times, and it gives me Halloween vibes. All I know about the plot is that it is set in a small town with lots of secrets.
4) The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
This is another book that I don’t know much about. In my opinion, it isn’t really talked about in the book community. It is YA thriller about three cousins that go to visit their grandmother over the summer. I believe she has disinherited each of their parents, so they are trying to get back into her good graces. Obviously it is going to be filled with twist and turns. I know some people aren’t a fan of Karen M. McManus, but I enjoy her writing style.
5) The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
For once I have an adult novel on a tbr. This is an adult horror book that has caught my attention. If you seen any horror movie you know that there is always one heroine left standing. Think Sidney Prescott in Scream. This book follows the girls, who survived. I could be wrong, but I believe somebody has comeback to try and kill these ‘Final Girls.’ It sounds so intense and interesting. I cannot wait to read this during the spooky season.
6) House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
From what I’ve been told, this is a horror ’12 Dancing Princess’ retelling. I don’t know anything about the original story, so I am going into this with an open mind. It follows a young girl that starts becoming suspicious when her sisters start getting murdered. I hear that it isn’t too scary, but such a good read.
I cannot wait to read all of these books in the near future. Please let me know if you have read any of these books, or if you plan on picking them up.
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny