Cozy Christmas | Book Tag

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Eight! Today, I thought it would be fun to do the Cozy Christmas book tag. I believe this tag was created by a YouTuber, but I’m unsure who the original creator is. The tag features some fun holiday-themed bookish questions, and I had such a great time answering them.


I own many books that I personally think are beautiful, but right now, The Stars Are Dying by Chloe C. Peñaranda— a recent addition to my collection— has to be the prettiest. The crazy thing is that it isn’t even a special edition, so it wasn’t too expensive. Yet, it’s absolutely stunning!


Yes! I will 100% pay (probably too much) to get a gorgeous copy of a book I love or think I’m going to give 5 stars.


I decided to fully embrace the Christmas spirit and create a red-and-green book stack!


I have to go with Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Not only does it perfectly embody everything about the holidays, but it’s also my all-time favorite story.
Related Post: Mr. Dickens And His Carol | Book Review


This year, my longest read was Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight saga. I tend to stay away from longer books because they intimidate me. However, being in my romantasy era has made reading longer books feel like a bit of a requirement!
Related Post: Eclipse | Book Review


Please keep in mind that this is just my opinion. Reading is subjective, and so is cover artwork— we all have our own likes and dislikes. For this, I’m picking a series I read this year, The Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver. I own all the traditionally published editions, but I don’t like the covers at all. I think the ones with actual people on them are my favorite, which I know that’s an unpopular opinion!
Related Post: Flawless | Book Review


For this question, I’m going with a holiday horror novella I read last year called Secret Santa. It was my first-ever holiday horror book. It’s kind of cheesy, but still a fun, dark story set at Christmas.
Related Post: Secret Santa | Book Review


Besides my favorite book (see question 4), which I reread every year, I’d say The Afterlife of Holly Chase. It’s a Christmas Carol retelling (no shocker there), and such a good YA spin on the classic story. I’ve been rereading it during the holiday season for the past few years, and the ending always warms my heart.
Related Post: The Afterlife Of Holly Chase | Book Review


I hope you enjoyed this book tag! Feel free to share your answers in the comments below. Don’t forget to hit the follow button so you can stay up-to-date whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Books I Couldn’t Finish | 2024 DNFs

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Seven! I can’t believe we’re already a week into Bookmas. Today, I’m talking about the books I DNFed this year. Honestly, I didn’t DNF many books this year, which I’m very happy about! Still, there were a few that I just couldn’t get through.



Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
I got about halfway through this book before I had to stop reading. It’s an adult queer romance where a divorced woman falls for one of her daughter’s college friends. The plot sounded interesting, but I wasn’t a fan of the characters. Also, the way they both handled the situation wasn’t great. Both the friend and the mom seemed to show little care for how the daughter might feel about their relationship.



Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
This is a mystery thriller that I’ve heard nothing but good things about. However, I didn’t know before starting it that it comes with a trigger warning for child abuse. Let me just say—that’s a hard no for me. I can handle mentions, but I can’t deal with scenes where it’s described or a central part of the story. Unfortunately, the first few chapters were just too much for me, and I had to DNF for that reason alone.



Never by Jessa Hastings
I’ll be completely honest—this was a cover buy. Let me keep this short and to the point: the chapters were too long, the story was boring, and I was totally wrong in thinking this book would be spicy. Also, I hate Peter Pan, so why I thought I’d enjoy a retelling is beyond me!



A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
I had such high hopes for this book because it sounded so good. But calling it a romantasy is a bit of a stretch. I would categorize it as a fantasy with some mystery thrown in. I got 40% in and was still waiting for the romance. Unfortunately, the mystery wasn’t compelling, and the story as a whole just didn’t hold my interest.



The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
This one hurt to DNF because it’s so popular. However, I felt like the story dragged and just wasn’t capturing my attention. I was going to push through it, but that plan went out the window when the main character’s jerk of an ex referred to her as “Bunny.” Maybe hearing it once would’ve been okay, but every time she thought of him, that nickname came up. I couldn’t handle it—for obvious reasons (my amazing husband calls me Bunny, hence Book With Bunny).
Related Post: The Seven Year Slip | Book Review


So, there you have it—my DNFs of 2024! Even though I didn’t DNF many books this year, there are still a lot of books I’ve started but haven’t yet finished. Leave me a comment and let me know: are you pro- or anti-DNFing? Don’t forget to come back every day for more Bookmas content, or hit the follow button so you never miss a post!

Leaving Goodreads In 2025!

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Six! Today, I’ll be sharing why I’m officially leaving Goodreads in 2025—or at least, mostly leaving. There are several reasons behind my decision to step away from the popular reading tracker and personal library site, but here are the main ones.

Amazon
I don’t love that Goodreads is owned by Amazon. There’s so much about the company that I don’t agree with. While I can’t completely cut ties with Amazon (it’s often the only viable option for many indie authors), this felt like one small way for me to show less support for the company.

Outdated Features
Compared to other book-tracking platforms, Goodreads feels outdated. Its interface looks clunky, and the features are limited. Forums aren’t widely utilized, the giveaways don’t appeal to me, and aside from adding books to your shelves and tracking your reading, there’s not much else to do. It just doesn’t feel engaging.

Recommendations
I’ve found Goodreads’ recommendations underwhelming and heavily skewed toward popular titles. Their “Most Read” lists and personalized recommendations almost always spotlight the same mainstream books. And don’t even get me started on the Goodreads Choice Awards! It’s purely a popularity contest. I’ve even heard some readers speculate that publishers pay to get their books nominated. Some winners and nominees just don’t make sense to me.


So, what’s next? Moving forward, I’ll be using StoryGraph to track my reading—and I’ve been loving it so far! Not only is it women-owned, but it also offers so many fantastic features. You can still set a reading goal and join an interactive challenges. Plus, when you add a book, you can mark whether or not you own it. One of my favorite features is half-star ratings, which Goodreads still doesn’t support.

StoryGraph also provides amazing stats, like your most-read authors and fun pie charts about your reading habits. The only downside is that its database isn’t as extensive as Goodreads’. That said, I haven’t run into a single book I couldn’t find yet!

Let me know in the comments how you track your reading! If you’re on StoryGraph, feel free to friend me—my username is BooksWithBunny. The only thing I’ll keep up with on Goodreads is their yearly Goodreads Choice Awards, purely because if I didn’t, I’d probably have major FOMO! And before you go, don’t forget to follow the blog so you’ll be notified whenever I post something new.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Book Deals | Cyber Monday 2024

Hi Friends,
Today, I wanted to share some of the craziest Cyber Monday book deals happening on Amazon right now. I know I just posted a holiday gift guide, but I don’t want any of my fellow book lovers to miss out on some great discounts. These are either books I would buy or ones I’ve read that are on major sale right now.



A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea) By Hafsah Faizal
Cyber Monday Price: $8.93
Original Price: $20.99
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/4fWzfY3



Magnolia Parks By Jessa Hastings
Cyber Monday Price: $6.45
Original Price: $17.00
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/3Zu84Om



So This is Love: A Twisted Tale By Elizabeth Lim
Cyber Monday Price: $7.45
Original Price:
$19.99
Buy Here:
https://amzn.to/4fOyfoY
Related Post:
So This Is Love | Book Review



Divine Rivals By Rebecca Ross
Cyber Monday Price: 7.81
Original Price: 18.99
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/4180KJL
Related Post: Divine Rivals | Book Review



These Hollow Vows By Lexi Ryan
Cyber Monday Price: $9.51
Original Price: $17.99
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/3ZcKWCH



Wild Love By Elsie Silver
Cyber Monday Price: $6.65
Original Price: $17.99
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/419WSry



Malibu Rising By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Cyber Monday Price: $5.79
Original Price: $18.00
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/4ePXxlj



The Thursday Murder Club By Richard Osman
Cyber Monday Price: $6.68
Original Price: $18.00
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/3ZuDsMI



Home Before Dark By Riley Sager
Cyber Monday Price: $6.85
Original Price: $19.00
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/41bp3X7



Mexican Gothic By Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Cyber Monday Price: $5.53
Original Price: $17.00
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/3Zg7wuo
Related Post: Mexican Gothic | Book Review


These are just a few of the books that are on sale—there are so many more! I definitely recommend checking out Amazon to see if any of the books you’ve been eyeing are discounted. Also, this is the perfect time to get some holiday gift shopping done, especially if you have a reader in your life. I know I’ll be sharing my Amazon book wishlist with my husband and family. If you enjoyed this post, please hit the like button and follow the blog!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Bookish Gift Guide | Holiday 2024

Hi Friends,
Today I’m sharing my 2024 holiday book gift guide. These gift ideas are perfect for any bookworm in your life. Personally, I know I’d love to receive every single thing I’m going to talk about in this post. I tried to make this a very budget-friendly gift guide and not too repetitive from my previous ones. However, there may be some overlap of gift ideas.

Some of these gifts can be found on Amazon; however, I’m a big supporter of small businesses, so I’ve worked hard to recommend gifts that can also be found on Etsy. I’ve also included some books that I think many readers would enjoy.


Blind Date With A Book
I think this is such a timeless gift, and I’ll continue to recommend it year after year. You just can’t go wrong with a blind date with a book! There are so many Etsy shops that specialize in this type of gift, and a lot of the time, you can include your Goodreads link (or the recipient’s) to make sure they don’t receive a book they’ve already read or own. These blind date packages often include cute little extras like highlighters, bookmarks, or even sweet treats. Most of the time, they range anywhere from $15–$22, which I think is a great price for such a fun gift.


Special Editions
Let’s face it—book lovers get so much joy from a pretty book! I’ve definitely bought books based on their covers or sprayed edges alone. This holiday season, gifting them a special edition of their favorite book or a new release with sprayed edges would be a wonderful idea. You can go the simple route and buy one off Amazon—I’d recommend the Lightlark: Collector’s Edition or Legends & Lattes: Deluxe Edition. However, I suggest checking out Etsy! There are so many small businesses like ColorfulNarrative and SprayedBookEdges. Just keep in mind that Etsy options are typically more expensive than shopping on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble, but you’ll be supporting a small business, and the book will be more unique.


Kindle
This is probably the most expensive gift I’m going to recommend, but it’s such a staple for readers. I think it’s the perfect big gift for someone who loves physical books but doesn’t have space for a personal library—or for a reader looking to try out ebooks. If you want to go all out, you could preload it with a few books as well. There are lots of Kindle models to choose from, but I know the Kindle Paperwhite is the most loved. That said, the regular Kindle is a great option too.


Kindle Unlimited Subscription
You might think it’s silly to gift a Kindle Unlimited subscription if they don’t already own a Kindle, but the Kindle app works on most devices! So, if buying an actual e-reader is out of your budget, I recommend gifting a KU subscription instead. The only downside is that Amazon only offers gift subscriptions in 6-, 12-, and 24-month increments, which can make it a bit pricey. I do hope they add a 3-month option soon. Still, I think it’s a great idea and probably not something most people would think to gift.


Blue Light Glasses
This is a great gift idea for anyone who spends a lot of time reading on their phone or iPad. It’s also perfect for bookish social media addicts like me! Blue light glasses help reduce eye strain and make screen time more comfortable. They’re available in a variety of price points and styles, so you’re bound to find something that fits.


MP3 Player
I’ll be honest—I find these a bit silly. That said, I can see their appeal, and I wouldn’t be upset to receive one as a gift. Essentially, these MP3 players let you download music as well as audiobook apps and the Kindle app. They’re great for younger readers who don’t have cell phones, but they’re also good for teenagers and adults who get distracted by social media while trying to read.


Bookish Merch
I’m grouping all bookish merchandise into one category because this post would be way too long otherwise. Every reader I know would love to get a shirt or mug inspired by their favorite books—or just catered toward book lovers in general. You can find plenty of options on Amazon, but I think Etsy is 100% the way to go for this type of gift. There are so many small businesses focused on selling bookish merchandise. I even have my own bookish Etsy shop, BlackheartBookshelf!


Belladaonna By Adalyn Grace
I couldn’t create a gift guide without mentioning this book! If you’re looking for a fantasy that leans more toward romantasy as the series progresses, this is the one to go for. I think this series works for both new and longtime fantasy readers. And don’t worry about it being YA—it feels much closer to New Adult. You can gift the entire series or just the first book, depending on your budget.
Related Post: Belladaonna | Book Review


The Hunger Games: Illustrated Edition By Suzanne Collins
This series is timeless, and everyone should read it! I loved how well-written it was, and Katniss is such an incredible protagonist. It’s a dystopian fantasy that’s action-packed and light on romance, making it a great pick for a variety of readers.


Winter Books
This is more of a broad recommendation. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest a holiday-themed book—especially if the recipient isn’t into feel-good, Hallmark-style romances. A winter-themed book is a great alternative. One option is ‘One Day in December‘ by Josie Silver. I’ll be honest—I didn’t personally enjoy it. However, I think that’s more of a “me” problem, as I can see many readers loving it. What I did enjoy was the writing style—it kept me hooked even when I wasn’t into the story itself, which makes it a solid gift choice.
Related Post: One Day In December | Book Review


Let me know if you enjoyed this bookish gift guide, and please share any other bookish gift ideas you might have in the comments. If you’d like, you can check out my Amazon book wishlist to see some of the books I’d love to receive this year. Don’t forget to follow the blog before you go!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Reading, Listening, Watching | Novemebr 2024

Hi Friends,
Today’s post is inspired by a TikTok trend where you share what you’re currently reading, listening to, and watching. I believe the creator of this trend is the BookToker @Kenzzeamanreads. I thought this idea was so much fun, and I don’t think I’ve done a post like this before. Also, I listen to 95% of the books I read, but instead of being redundant and putting audiobooks in the listening category, I’m going to reserve that for music and podcasts.



I just posted an Instagram reel of my last, current, and next reads, so you should definitely go check that out! I’m @Books.With.Bunny on Instagram. Anyway, I just started Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, and I’m really enjoying it. I’m also still only 50% through Fourth Wing since I’m buddy reading it with my husband.
Related Post: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries | Book Review



I’ve been obsessed with Gracie Abrams’ song “In Between.” It’s an unreleased track that you can listen to on YouTube. I also really like the song “EYA” by Louie Thesinger! It’s a very seductive track, which is usually the type of music I gravitate towards—don’t judge me. Lastly, SkyDxddy has an amazing track called “Battlefield” that’s been fueling my feminine rage lately. If you know, you know.



I’m in the holiday movie mood! I’ve been binging Hallmark and Netflix holiday films. But I’m not ignoring the horror movie lover in me. The last film I watched was Thanksgiving, a horror movie available on Netflix. I’m also still keeping up with Grey’s Anatomy every week. Plus, my husband and I have been enjoying the series Brilliant Minds.


I hope you liked seeing my current reads, listens, and watches! Share yours in the comments below. If you have a TikTok account, I’d love it if you followed me there—I’m @BooksWithBunny. And before you go, make sure to follow the blog so you get notified whenever there’s a new post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Stuff Your Kindle | November 2024

Hi Friends,
Today, I’m excited to share all the November Stuff Your Kindle days—or at least all the ones I could find. These events offer a fantastic way to support indie authors while discovering some great new reads for free. Save the graphic below so you can easily reference it throughout the month and make sure you don’t miss any of these events.

Which day are you most excited for? Personally, as an audiobook lover, I can’t wait for the Stuff Your Earbuds event. And if you don’t have a Kindle or use the Kindle app, no worries—during the event, you can usually download the books to Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, and BookFunnel as well. Don’t forget to like this post and share it with fellow readers! And before you go, show some love for my blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

November 2024 | To Be Read

Hi Friends,
Today I’m sharing my November TBR and talking about the books I plan to read this month. I’m actually doing my TBR a little differently. I got this idea from Rachel Cerys, a BookTuber who uses prompts to pick her TBR. To make it more fun and challenging, she also uses a spinner wheel with added challenges. Some options on the spinner include picking two prompts and choosing one, selecting two books for one prompt, or combining two prompts. There’s also “add a spin” and “standard,” where I simply pick a prompt. I hope that makes sense! If it’s unclear, I’d definitely recommend checking out one of Rachel Cerys TBR videos.

I planned to do only seven spins, but throughout the game, I landed on “add a spin” four times, so I ended up with 11 spins/prompts.



Standard: A Book You’ve Been Putting Off

There are two books I’ve really been putting off, but one I definitely didn’t want to read. So, I chose Two Twisted Crowns, the sequel to One Dark Window and the conclusion to the duology.
Related Post: One Dark Window | Book Review



Combine 2 Prompts: An Illustrated Cover / Book You Wanted to Read Last Year

This was an easy choice. I’ve wanted to read Kiss Her Once for Me since it was released in 2022. It’s a holiday fake-dating queer romance that sounds fantastic.


1 Prompt, 2 Books: Two or More Authors / A Holiday Romance

For this, I chose A Holly Jolly Ever After, which I meant to read last year but didn’t get around to. This is the companion novel to A Merry Little Meet Cute, which I enjoyed. My second pick was Three Holidays and a Wedding, a festive story about two very different women who meet on a plane and share secrets during some scary turbulence.
Related Post: A Merry Little Meet Cute | Book Review



Choose 2, Pick 1: Owned for More Than a Year / Published This Year

I had my husband choose which prompt to pick, and he went with “Published This Year” because he’s been wanting me to read Bride by Ali Hazelwood. I’m nervous about this one since I’ve heard mixed things.



Combine 2 Prompts: Under 300 Pages / Red or Green on the Cover

This was another easy choice since I have so many holiday books on my list. I chose It’s a Fabulous Life, a queer reimagining of It’s A Wonderful Life. Need I say more?



Standard: A Book with a Family Relationship

For this prompt, I picked a mystery thriller, You Must Remember This by Kat Rosenfield. I tried reading it last year but couldn’t get into it. I’m hoping to finish it this time.



Standard: One-Word Title

I realized I don’t own many books with one-word titles, but I do have Hunted by Meagan Spooner. I’ve wanted to read this Beauty and the Beast retelling for years—it seems like the perfect winter read.


1 Prompt, 2 Books: Most Recent Purchases

I wasn’t too upset about picking two books here since it means I get to read some of my newer purchases. I chose The Nightmare Before Kissmas, a Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired M/M holiday romance, and The Stars Are Dying, a romantasy I know nothing about.



Standard: Published in the Current Month

Of course, I had to pick another holiday romance for this prompt! I chose The Christmas Wish, where the main character is stuck in a time loop, reliving Christmas Day over and over.



Combine 2 Prompts: A Gifted Book / A Book Over 400 Pages

I decided it was time to finish the Twilight saga and read Breaking Dawn. This book is over 700 pages, easily fitting the “over 400 pages” prompt, and it’s part of the Twilight white edition box set I received as a gift last Christmas.
Related Post: Twilight | Book Review



Choose 2, Pick 1: A Book About a Holiday / Author You’re Thankful For

I was torn between these prompts because both fit the season well. I ultimately chose “Author You’re Thankful For” and picked Elsie Silver. This is my first year reading her books, and I’ve quickly become a fan. I’ll be reading Powerless, the third book in the Chestnut Springs series.
Related Post: Flawless | Book Review


There you have my very ambitious November TBR! Here’s hoping I get to all or at least half of these books. Let me know in the comments what’s on your TBR for the month, and don’t forget to hit the follow button so you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

All Hallows | Book Tag

Hi Friends,
Today, I’m doing the All Hallows Book Tag, created by Quirinus on Twitter. This tag has two parts, a bookish ‘this or that’ template and some bookish and non-bookish Halloween-related questions. In this post, I’ll only be answering the questions. However, if you’d like to see my ‘this or that’ answers, visit my Instagram or TikTok accounts.



My favorite genre to read during the spooky season is definitely witchy or magic books. I love reading books with magical elements all year round, but I think witchy books really put you in the spooky season mood.
Related Post: The Kiss Curse | Book Review



I definitely recommend thrillers and mysteries for the fall season. One of my favorites is Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney. I can’t believe how long it took me to read this book, but it’s such a good, twisty adult thriller.
Related Post: Daisy Darker | Book Review



I have so many books that I love reading during the spooky season, but one of my most anticipated reads has to be The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. I’ve been wanting to read this book for years, and I hear it’s such a cute witchy romcom.



Yes, 100%! Honestly, my family is completely convinced that my childhood home is haunted. There have been way too many weird and paranormal occurrences there throughout my upbringing to ignore. We could all be totally delusional, but I, for one, completely believe in ghosts.



Of course, I love classic Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown. But every Halloween night, my husband and I watch Corpse Bride. It’s one of our favorite movies, and since it’s about a wedding, it makes it even more special because we got married on Halloween.



As I just mentioned, I got married on Halloween, so not only is it a holiday, but it’s also my anniversary. My husband and I typically celebrate at home by watching Halloween movies and, of course, some of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes. We always have pizza and the same cake every year.


I hope you enjoyed seeing my answers to these questions! Let me know your own answers in the comments below. Don’t forget to check out my Instagram or TikTok for the ‘this or that’ portion of this tag. I’ll also have a blank ‘this or that’ template in my Instagram story for you to use. If you love book tags and all other book content, please hit the follow button so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Horror | 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

Hi Friends,
I am back with my final 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards predictions. This time around, I am giving my predictions for the horror category. I have just started reading horror books this year, so I don’t have many predictions for this category, which is why I only have five books on this list. Still, I am pretty confident that some of these books, if not all, will be nominated.


We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
This book has been one of the most talked about and raved about horror books released this year. However, I was shocked to discover that its Goodreads rating wasn’t as high as you’d expect from a super hyped book. I do predict that this will be nominated, and I could see it winning the award depending on how many bookish creators that I follow vote.


Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
This book has recently been getting a lot of buzz, and its rating is past the 3.5 minimum for the awards. I don’t know much about the plot, but I have heard that it is pretty scary. A lot of reviews have said that it has a Paranormal Activity feel to it, which does sound very interesting. I don’t believe that this will win or have a shot at making it into the top 10, but I could see it getting a nomination.


The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
I don’t know what is going on with horror books these days, but this is another fairly popular book with a Goodreads rating that is under 4.0. However, the cover of this book always creeps me out, and I love it! I know nothing about the story, but it has been all over the book side of social media. A lot of people are recommending this book and talking about what a roller-coaster ride it is.


Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
This is a very highly rated horror book that came out this year, so I think it has a good chance of being nominated. I am curious to give it a read since I actually don’t know anyone who has read it. I hear that it mixes horror with comedy, which is a pretty interesting take on the genre.


So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
This book has a 3.63 rating on Goodreads, so there is still a possibility of it being a choice in the horror category. However, I am sure there are more 2024 horror books with better ratings that I have yet to hear about. My gut is telling me that, with Rachel Harrison being a well-known and somewhat popular horror author, it will snag a nomination.


I know that compared to my other Goodreads Choice Awards predictions, this one was quite short, but that is because it was hard to pick my predictions. Not only have I not read any of these books—I know, I’m ashamed—but some of the books I thought would be nominated had ratings that were too low. In the comments, let me know if you have read any of these books. And if you enjoy content like this, give my blog a follow so that you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny