Anticipated Releases // November 2023

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Hi Friends,
Let us talk about some November book releases! As a shameless book buyer, I wanted to share book releases that I am most excited about this month. Spoiler alert, I might have pre-ordered some of them. I do not know what has gotten into me, but I was a pre-ordering queen this year.

Iron Flame/Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (November 7th)
I put these two together because they are part of the same series. Also, one is just a rerelease, so I do not think it needs much explanation. If you are in the book community at all, then you know that ‘Fouth Wing’ became an overnight sensation. Well, even though I already owned a copy of the book, I pre-ordered the new edition, with spread edges, being released this month. Of course, I had to pre-order the sequel as well.

Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller (November 7th)
This is the third and final book of this young adult female pirate series. I am loving these special editions, because they are stunning. So, to make sure that I got this book, I pre-ordered it too.

The Once and Future Fling by Leigh Heasley (November 7th)
I am not sure that I am entirely sold on the plot of this book, but the concept does intrigue me enough to anticipate its release. The book includes time travel, a matchamaking agency, and a love triangle. I know that all sounds a little crazy, but it will ultimately make for an interesting read.

Night Shift by Annie Crown (November 14th)
Technically, this book is already available for reading on Kindle Unlimited, but the paperback version is finally being released. This sounds like the cutest opposites attract romance. I hear that it is steamy, which I love, but I am not sure how spicy it is actually going to be. Either way, I am excited to read it.

Betting On You by Lynn Painter (November 28th)
This is an auto buy author for me, so I will 100% read this book when it comes out. That said, I know absolutely nothing about this book. However, based on the cover, I guess that it is a young adult romance, which I am always down to read.

There you have five, well six, of my most anticipated November book releases. I might not be able to read them all this month, but I can still share my excitement for them. Let me know in the comments what releases you are looking forward to. Do not forget to follow the blog, so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Friday Reads #19

- Bunny 1 Comment


Hi Friends,
Happy Friday! Let us do a Friday reads and talk about some books I hope to get to this weekend. I hope to get a lot of reading done this weekend, so this might be a little ambitious. However, I think my reading is always ambitious, so what else is new?

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
I am very excited to read this book. Everyone is talking about how good it is, and I cannot wait to see what the hype is about.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
I am only about 10% into the book, but I love it thus far. The story gives me classic young adult fantasy, and it is exactly the type of book I want to read right now.

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
I am definitely in the mood for a cute romcom. I will not want to read this book late in the month, since it is giving October vibes, so I am hoping to read it right at the start of November.

Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter
I am a huge fan of Lynn Painter, and this book has been on my TBR for a long time. However, I have been saving it for the fall. The cover and mention of pumpkin spice lattes makes me think that this is the month to pick it up. I would love to start off the month reading a 5 star prediction.

Four books in three days might seem like a bit much, but I am nothing but an over-achiever. In the comments, let me know what you will be reading on this weekend. Share your favorite read from October. Before you go, hit the follow button so that you can never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

This Week // Thankful Thursday

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Hi Friday,
Now that it’s November, I will once again be doing ‘Thankful Thursday!’ This is just a series of posts, where every Thursday in November there will be a post that has to do with being thankful. To kick off the series, I am going to talk about three things that I am thankful for this week. Also, I am not including my family or husband on this list because I am always thankful for them.


Although I am always grateful for my fur babies, this week, I have taken the time to appreciate them a lot more. Sometimes being a pet owner can be stressful, but I am so glad that I have these crazy animals in my life.


This might seem silly, but I am so happy that we have bookstores. Yes, I know I can just shop for books online, but there is something different about going into a bookstore. I love shopping the shelves and bringing home a new book. Hopefully, bookstores will never fade away.


I am a winter girlie, so I love that it is starting to get colder. I love wearing sweaters and bundling up in a cozy blanket. Nothing beat a cold winter morning, drinking hot coffee and reading a fall or holiday book.

I am sure that there are a million more things that I am thankful for this week, but if I listed all of them, this post would be very long. So, I am just going to leave you with these three. In the comments, tell me, one thing you are thankful for this week. Do not forget to help support my blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Halloween Tag // Toss-Up Tuesday

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Hi Friends,
Happy Halloween! Today, I am going to be doing the “Halloween Tag” this lifestyle tag was created years ago, 2011 to be exact, by some popular YouTubers at the time. I have been wanting to do a Halloween tag for a while and what better day to post one than the holiday itself.


I know that this film does not take place on Halloween, but lets face it most of us probably watch it in October. My husband and I always celebrate our anniversary, which just so happens to be October 31st, by watching a movie about marriage. Therefore, probably for this reason alone makes it my favorite Halloween film, but it is also a great movie with wonderful songs.


Do people actually remember when they stopped going trick-or-treating? Because, my 31 year old self does not. Honestly, it was probably by the time that I was 10 or 11 years old. I am the youngest out of five, so when my older siblings stopped caring to trick-or-treat, I probably did too.


This is going to be very basic but my favorite costume is going to have to be Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” I did not have a huge wedding, but I and my husband got married on Halloween dressed as Jack and Sally from the movie. Three years later, I still have my Sally dress.


We usually just stay in on Halloween. I am going to stay in my pjs, read, and watch movies. So, no dressing up for me. However, if I were to dress up, I would go as Lydia Deetz (from ‘Beetlejuice’) in the red wedding dress.


Nope! I am 100% a horror movie girlie, but I have no desire to put myself in a scary situation, despite it being all for fun. I like to keep my hauntings in book and movie form.


This is difficult because both are awesome. However, I am going to say, vampires. I love me a good vampire story, and I find vampires to be way sexier than werewolves. Even though my husband likes to joke, the werewolves never wear shirts.


I do have a sweet tooth, but Reese’s are probably my favorite candy. I actually do not like peanut butter at all, except in a Reese’s. If I got to choose two candies my second would for sure be Sour Patch Kids, which I think everyone loves.


Of course! I admit that I am not the best decorator, but I do love, putting up a few Halloween decorations. I think decorating makes holidays come to life a little more.


My least favorite costume, which is also the one I have the most memories of, is The Statue Of Liberty. Not only was I just wrapped in sliver fabric, but my third-grade teacher was also The Statue Of Liberty. My 8 year old self was very embarrassed, and I looked like I was a left over wrapped in foil.


I know that I was a witch a few times, but I remember being Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” twice. Many of our costumes were homemade, but my mom actually bought my Belle dress from the Disney store, and I was obsessed with it.


Yes! I think that if you do not believe in ghosts, you are being closed-minded. Sometimes, seeing is not always believing. Sometimes you just have to believe in the unknown.


I have no idea what this means because my Halloweens have been pretty normal. I have never had a traumatic or scary Halloween. I am grateful for this to be the case.

This tag was so fun to do, and I tag anyone who would like to do it. I hope you have a happy and safe Halloween. Please celebrate the holiday by giving my blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The September House // Book Review

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About The Book
A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee. Margaret is not most people.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/46QSe1K

My Rating

This book surprised me in a good way. The book follows Margaret, a woman who moves into a haunted house with her husband. However, when her husband goes missing, their daughter is determined to find out what happened to her father. Her mother is desperate to keep all the supernatural things that go on in the house a secret from her. Does that not sound like a recipe for a good haunted house mystery?

The book is told from Margaret’s perspective during her fourth September in the house. It is widely mentioned throughout the story that September is when shit hits the fan. We get chapters from previous years throughout Margaret’s life. Many of these chapters described what it was like when they first moved to the house. We also learn a lot about Margaret and her life with her husband and daughter.

Margaret is a very unreliable narrator, because there is a mention that her father had a mental illness. Her marriage was unhappy. She mentioned a lot about rules and rules to cope with many things, such as her husband’s drinking and anger and her deadly house.

“Thank you for coming but kindly remove your crazy asses from our holy ground.”

The writing was good, but it did not keep me engaged as much as I had hoped it would. I felt that there were many instances when I wanted the story to progress much faster than it did. I felt that it was just lacking something in the way the author told the story that kept them from becoming a new favorite thriller author.

This plot is interesting. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen. You think the author is going to take you in one direction, but then they do a complete 180, and take you in an entirely different direction. The last few chapters were not incredibly action-packed, but they were very intense.

Overall, it was a decent haunted house story. Will there probably be better options in the future? Sure, but is this one that I will remember? Definitely, yes. Please keep in mind that this book heavily dives into domestic violence and what it is like to be a woman in that situation, especially one with a child.

You can always check book trigger warnings on the StoryGraph app or at Book Trigger Warnings. Please leave me a comment letting me know if you are interested in this book. Do not forget to hit the follow button, so that you never miss any of my posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here // Book Review

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About The Book
 Grace Evans, an overworked New Yorker, books an Airbnb on a ranch in the middle of Wyoming. She’s pleased to find that the owner is a handsome man by the name of Calvin Wells–and he’s eager to introduce her to his easygoing way of life. But there are things Grace discovers that she’s not too pleased about: A lack of cell phone service. A missing woman. And a feeling that something isn’t right with the ranch.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Qi1iW9

My Rating

This book was nothing like I expected it to be, and I am still trying to figure out whether that is a good thing. Jeneva Rose is considered the queen of twists, but whether or not those twists are good is still up for debate, in my opinion. However, if you are looking for a book with a completely shocking twist (that you will probably never see coming), I can see you enjoying this book.

The plot revolves around Grace, who is staying at an Airbnb in a small town in Wyoming. She is instantly drawn to Calvin, the owner of the Airbnb, but you can immediately tell that both Grace and Calvin have some dark secrets. However, both Calvin and Grace are decent characters. I was shocked that we actually received POV’s from both Calvin and Grace throughout the book.

The writing style was great, and I found myself unable to put down the book. I read it in a day, and I am a fan of short chapters, so that was a major plus for me. The author did a good job of keeping the story moving without any unnecessary chapters that do nothing for the plot. I can see why people enjoy her books and I will pick up more of them in the future.

“There was something both beautiful and terrifying about isolation. It made you feel important and insignificant at the same time.”

Regarding the queen of twists title, there were too many breadcrumbs in the story. I quickly figured out two of the twists. Now, I am not the type of reader that tries to figure out book twists, and normally I do not see things coming, but a few of the twists in this book were just plain obvious. However, the end twist was completely out of left field and was unusual. In my opinion, it did not seem to fit the story.

Overall, the book has a decent plot, but the direction the author took the story is baffling. It seemed as if the author threw in this out-of-the-blue twist for the shock value rather than making sense for the plot. I had an idea of where the plot was going and would have actually preferred it if I was correct. Also, the fact that this book title reminds me of the movie ‘You Should Have Left’ is strange to me.

In the comments, let me know your thoughts on the end of the book. Do you agree that Jeneva Rose is the queen of book twists? Do not forget to follow me on Bookstagram (@Books.With.Bunny) and Pinterest, for more bookish content. And help support my blog by giving it a follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Five Favorite Covers // Horror & Thriller

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
Let us talk about creepy book covers! When it comes to books, I can definitely be a cover buyer at times, but I do not just gravitate towards pretty covers. As a thriller reader, I love a good spooky book cover, so today I am going to talk about five of my favorite thriller/horror book covers. Remember this is my opinion, so you might not find these covers spooky, which is completely fine.

Buy The Book

I have heard that this is a very disturbing adult horror, but something about this cover gives me chills. It is a fairly simple cover but manages to give off a sinister look. Personally, I love how subtle and creepy the cover is, and I can tell that this is a horror without having to read the synopsis.

Buy The Book

Honestly, I know nothing about this book, but I would buy it just for the cover. It is giving off ghost story vibes, which I love. At the same time, this cover is spooky and beautiful. I kind of get the chills looking at it and I’m okay with that

Buy The Book

This is another simple but creepy cover. The red eyes add such a spooky element, and I love the pink and black color choice. I mean sheep are not generally frightening, but this book cover makes me think otherwise.

Buy The Book

Every time I see this cover, I instantly think Freddy Krueger “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” which is obviously what they were intending from this cover. However, it is so unsettling that I think my husband would have nightmares if he saw this cover. There is no question that this is a horror book just from the looks of it.

Buy The Book

I have been wanting to read this book for years now because the cover screams thriller. It gives me the women in white, but YA. I find it to be eerie, but again, it has the spook factor without being an outright scary design. I believe that these types of covers are the creepiest.

In the comments, let me know what some of your favorite thrillers or horror books cover. Do not forget to share this post with other readers. And, if you are a fan of books, you can give my blog a follow so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

You’re Not Supposed To Die Tonight // Book Review

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About The Book
Charity has the summer job of her dreams, playing the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake. But the last weekend of the season, Charity’s co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity’s role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they’ll need figure out what this killer is after.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/45O8b7A

My Rating

This book is in no way the best campy slasher I have ever read, but I found it to be enjoyable. In the book, we follow Charity, who plays the final girl at a horror movie reenactment camp. Think of one of those murder mystery type games, but in this case, people play a part in a horror movie scenario.

Obviously, the plot is all about Charity’s role as a final girl becoming all too real. This is a generic young adult thriller story. I would say that the book was short and sweet. It followed a classic teen slasher film type plot, so the story was not the most original.

I found many things to be predictable. Honestly, if you are a long-time fan of the horror movie genre, you can probably figure out most of the twists. Nothing was particularly shocking, and the final twist was mediocre. Nevertheless, I could see some younger readers finding the ending to be done very well and unexpected.

“I’ve been playing the part of a girl who escapes a serial killer every night for months. It’s not a game this time. The consequences are real, but we still have to play.”

However, I still had a good time reading the book. It gave me exactly what I hoped for, which was a quick, campy, young adult slasher story. I am a big fan of Kalyan Bayron’s writing, so, in my opinion, that helped make the book a lot more enjoyable.

Now, the book has flaws, such as how the characters acted and spoke. It felt like an adult writing how they thought teenagers would act. They were stereotypical and annoying. Yep. They were young, dumb teenagers. Maybe my 31 year old self just can’t handle books with teenagers who act very teenager-like. Does this make sense?

Overall, I think that campy thrillers are never going to be my preferred plot, but my experience reading the book was good, which is a win in my book. There’s not much to the book, making it not require a lot of your attention to understand. I say that if you are looking for a book that gives summer horror movie vibes, then this is a good pick.

In the comments, let me know your favorite teen slasher books and movies. If you do not already follow my Instagram (@books.with.bunny) account for more bookish content from me feel free to do so. Do not forget to like this post and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

None Of This Is True // Book Review

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About The Book
 A woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast. Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3s6HgGc

My Rating

I was a little scared going into this book, because my first Lisa Jewell novel, And Then She Was Gone, was very predictable, and quite sad. But in the moment I heard about this book, it immediately rose to the top of my TBR. The plot sounded so intriguing, and because of that, I was willing to give Lisa Jewell another chance.

The premise follows two women who share a birthday, but live completely different lies. But when Podcaster Alix is approached by her birthday twin Josie to do a new Podcast, telling Josie‘s story of her what she claims to be twisted life. Alix’s takes the opportunity, but quickly start seeing the holes in Josie story.

This book is probably one of the most insane thrillers I have ever read. Honestly, the whole time you aren’t sure what to believe. I kept having my guesses at what was going to happen, and who is telling the truth, but in the back of my mind, I kept thinking of the title of the book that none of this is true so maybe nobody is completely trustworthy.

“You have to be free in order to be in control, Alix. You have to be free. No baggage. A clean break.”

The author did a great job at keeping me intrigued and guessing throughout the story. The writing was good, yet there’s just something about Lisa Jewell’s writing that doesn’t quite pull me in as much as I would like. And to me, this was a slower read. It’s not that I didn’t want to pick the book up, the plot seemed to move at a more mid-level pace.

The ending wasn’t super shocking, but it was it underwhelming either. I like how even after everything was said, and done, the author threw in a little comment, one final chapter that made you wonder if the truth is really the truth. For me the jury still out on who to believe.

Overall, this book was a good time at a really solid mystery thriller. It it has made me consider picking up more of the authors other books. Because this one kept me engaged and interested throughout the entire story. So my overall read experience was really good.

In the comments, leave me some Lisa Jewell book recommendations. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other book lovers. As always, you can help my blog grow by giving it a follow! It’s also the best way to get post notifications.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Characters & Costumes // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Halloween is practically here, and I wanted to do a fun Halloween costume post! So I thought it would be fun to share what I think some bookish characters would be for Halloween.

‘Coraline‘ by Neil Gaiman
This one was a no brainer. She would simply go as a black cat. It is an easy and laid-back costume, especially for someone like Coraline, who does not typically like to get all dressed up. Also, cats are pretty significant to her, so I think she would be more than happy to celebrate Halloween as one.

‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ by Holly Jackson
Pip is the main character in this mystery book trilogy, and because of her love for solving crime, I believe she’d would go as a classic teen detective, Nancy Drew. Both girls are smart and driven, and always find themselves caught up in some sort of mystery.

‘A Merry Little Meet Cute’ by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
In this book, Bee, a plus-sized pornstar, and Nolan, a former boy band member, fall in love. I think that they’d do a couples costume, and what is more classic than Sandy and Danny from Grease? Not only is it a musical type of costume for Nolan, but Sandy’s bad girl look at the end of the film would be right up Bee’s alley because it is classic, yet sexy.

I am not sure everyone will agree on these costume choices, but I think they work well for the characters. This was a really fun post to put together, and I would love to know what you all think of it. Please share and like this post because it really does help my blog. Before you go, give the blog a quick follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny