Winter Wonderland Tag // Toss-Up Tuesday

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Hi Friends,
Since it is getting a lot colder here and the holidays have arrived I thought it would be fun to do a winter tag. This isn’t a bookish tag, but it does contain some fun wintery questions.

1.) What is your favorite winter /fall song?
This is a hard one, because I’m always listening to music. For fall song that would be ‘Safe and Sound’ by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars. The song gives me major fall vibes. I don’t have a go to winter song, because by the time winter comes I am mostly just listening to Christmas music.

2.) What is your favorite winter/fall pajamas?
Every year on Christmas eve I get a new pair of pjs, so my current favorite winter pajamas would have to be the ones I received last year. They are from Lauren Conrad’s Kohls fashion line and they are so cute. They are cozy, christmasy and not too warm, which is perfect for someone who is always hot, like me.

3.) What is your favorite winter/fall item that makes you happy?
This scarf is my absolute favorite fall/winter fashion piece. A few years back, I searched everywhere for a scarf like this and it is my go to scarf. The colors remind me of Thanksgiving and I love it.


4.) What is your favorite winter/fall thing to do?
Read holiday books and watch holiday movies! I love snuggling up in bed with a cute Christmas movie or book and a warm drink. It is the best way to spend a chilly winter night in.


5.) What is your favorite winter/fall drink?
I am going to branch out from the typical Starbucks drink answer even though their White Mocha is a forever favorite of mine. I am going to say a milkshake, and yes a milkshake counts as a drink. The peppermint milkshake at Chick-Fa-La is delicious and my favorite winter beverage. As weird as that might be.


6.) What is your favorite winter/fall movie?
‘The Princess Switch’ trilogy is the best trilogy of all time! I could watch these movies anytime of the year, but especially at winter time. Honestly, the first movie ‘The Princess Switch’ is my favorite movie ever!


7.) What changes during your winter/fall routine?
I sleep in a lot. For some reason, during the cold months I just don’t want to get out of bed in the mornings. This isn’t uncommon for me all year long, since I hate mornings, but something about winter makes me want to sleep in everyday of the week.


8.) What are you asking for, for Christmas or Hannukah / holidays?
A Tiffany’s Necklace! Just kidding, kind of. I don’t tend to ask for things, because I tend to buy myself things throughout the year. But, books are always appreciated. I normally just share my Amazon wishlist with my family.

In the comments, let me know your favorite fall/winter song, since I am always looking for new music. Don’t forget to like this post so that you get notified whenever there is a new post. I mainly post bookish content, but every now and then I do fun non-bookish posts too.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Places We’ve Never Been // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

About The Book
A sweet and swoony contemporary Young Adult novel about a cross-country family road trip that puts one girl and her childhood best friend on an unexpected road to romance! Kasie West delivers another romantic and heartfelt story of family, first love, and how expanding your horizons can take you places you’ve never dreamed of.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3TW7QtF

My Rating

I don’t know how Kasie West creates such amazing YA contemporaries, but I’m happy to read all of them! This book is a second chance romance, which isn’t my favorite, however I did enjoy West’s take on the trope. The main character Norah is a bit naive and weird, but being normal is vastly overrated. She wants to be a video game animator, which I loved. It is a career field that isn’t talked about a lot in books, so it was a cool addition to the story.

The plot follows Norah as she, and her family, embark on a 3 week road trip with some old friends. One being Skyler, who happens to be Norah’s former best friend. I found Skyler’s attitude towards Norah less than favorable. Some of the things he did rubbed me the wrong way, and were kind of cold. It goes to show that reconnecting with people isn’t easy.

In my opinion, he isn’t a fully developed character and is very wishy-washy. As I mentioned before, it was annoying how unfair to Norah he was throughout the book. She was nothing but nice to him, and still had a chip on his shoulder.

However, I liked that Norah called Skyler out on all his anger towards her. And, made him see that he changed as much as she did. The book touched on the topic of how sometimes we don’t show our true selves. That a lot of the time we forget who we are and change for others rather than for ourselves.

“Maybe we were our truest selves as children, before we let the expectations of everyone else dictate who we should be.”

But truthfully, the romance isn’t a huge part of the story. I know that is weird since it is a YA contemporary, yet I found it refreshing. Honestly, Norah and Skyler’s relationship developed naturally and they were immature teens.

I liked the sibling dynamic throughout the book. Norah and her brother acted like true siblings, and Skyler’s brother and sisters were likable characters as well. I loved Norah’s best friend Willow, because she was funny and understanding. Also, there is a lot of fun video game references in the story.

Nevertheless, there were some things I didn’t much care for. Like Skyler’s character and all his secrets. There was a lot of hiding things, and secrets coming out by the end of the book. And none of the twists were all that surprising.

Overall, the book was enjoyable, just as I expected. Still, I would classify this as my least favorite of Kasie West’s books. It isn’t as memorable-able as some of her other work. But for me, it was a cute story with wonderful writing.

Don’t forget to hit the follow button before you go, and leave a comment on this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

How To Survive Your Murder | Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

About The Book
Alice Lawrence is the sole witness in her sister’s murder trial. On the first day of the murder trial, as Alice prepares to give her testimony, she is knocked out by a Sidney Prescott look-alike in the courthouse bathroom. When she wakes up, it is Halloween morning a year earlier, the same day Claire was murdered.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3V0uZvQ

My Rating

In the book, Alice witnesses her sister’s murder on Halloween night. One year later, she gets the chance to go back in time to stop her sister from being killed. Let me just say, that this book is a fun, campy mystery/thriller.

I found the main character, Alice, to be likable, but also irritating at times. The fact that she was a horror movie Stan was great, because all the nods to final girls were fun. But she was also very naive at times. However, her actions and attitude felt very real. I’d probably be just like Alice if this happened to me.

There were a lot of twist and turns throughout the book that I loved. Some moments were jaw-dropping. and others I saw coming. The author did a great job of dropping bread crumbs throughout the story. Although, there were a lot of shocking moments, I guessed the killer and ending. But that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book at all.

“I once heard about how the movie Saw was inspired by a news report about a man who broke into people’s houses to tickle the feet of sleeping children.”

The book does have a romance plot, but it is a minor one, because the main as aspect of the story is trying to stop a killer. But remember – the boyfriend is always the killer! The book begs the question if one life is worth millions. And it made me wonder if I would sacrifice the lives of others for my sister. Also, there’s the subtle message that everything happens for a reason.

Overall, the only con I have is that there was one cheesy aspect to the story, but I can’t really say it without spoiling the book. Still, I understand why the author added a particular plot point. So, needless to say I devoured this book within a day! However, if I’m being honest, there isn’t anything particularly amazing about this book, but if you are a horror movie fangirl like me, then you will enjoy it.

In the comments, let me know if you enjoy scary movies. Don’t forget to like this post and follow my blog for more bookish posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Girl From The Sea // Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

About The Book
This sweet graphic novel follows Morgan, a 15-year-old girl living on a small island in Canada, who one day meets a mysterious selkie named Keltie. At first, Morgan is annoyed by Keltie, but as they spend more time together, she realizes her feelings may be stronger than she anticipated. This charming sapphic coming-of-age story is sure to pull at some heartstrings.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3XeD9m0

My Rating

This is a lighthearted queer graphic novel that can be read in one sitting. When Morgan meets Keltie, she starts to feel things she never did before. Morgan is a very fearful character, who tends to keep parts of herself locked away. But, Keltie helps her see that she shouldn’t hide herself away from the world.

Keltie is a Selkie who becomes able to walk on earth after sharing a kiss with Morgan. Both girls learn to confine and lean on each other throughout the story and you could really see their chemistry. It truly is a great sapphic young love story.

The plot is very character driven, and we get to be inside Morgan’s head. We learn about her relationship with her friends, and her difficult home life. And, you can understand Morgan’s desire to leave the island.

“Sometimes you have to let your life get messy. That’s how you get to the good parts.”

Although the romance is a huge factor within the book, it isn’t the main message. During the story, Morgan got the push she needed to come out, and to not be afraid of her true self. She was scared of feeling different, but in the end she realized that you can’,t and shouldn’t, hide yourself from the world.

Overall, the book was an adorable coming-of-age queer love story, which is perfect for tweens and adults. There was magic, romance, and a few tear shedding moments. Honestly, I would say it’s sapphic Aquamarine meets Tinker Bell’s The Never Beast Movie. Weird combination, but strangely, it works.

Please don’t go before leaving a comment or liking this post. And, as always, follow my book blog for more book reviews like this one.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Book Haul // November 2022

- Bunny 3 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today I’m sharing a small book haul. I have been trying not to buy any books, since Christmas is coming up quick. However, I had to buy some books and wanted to share those with you all.



Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz
“Bestselling authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz bring us a romantic retelling of Little Women starring Jo March and her best friend, the boy next door, Theodore “Laurie” Laurence.”

A Secret Princess by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz
“A surprising and romantic YA retelling-mashup of A Little Princess and The Secret Garden by bestselling authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz.”

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
“The New York Times bestselling love story about two teens who find each other while standing on the edge.”

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
“Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on brooding artist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And, after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer break, romance might be closer than Isla imagined.”


Bunnicula: The Graphic Novel by James Howe, Andrew Donkin, Stephen Gilpin (Illustrator)
“Celebrate over forty years of the modern classic Bunnicula with this fang-tastic graphic novelization that will send a shiver down your spine and leave you howling with laughter!”

Frogkisser! by Garth Nix
“The Last Thing She Needs Is a Prince.The First Thing She Needs Is Some Magic.”

Winterhouse (Winterhouse Series #1) by Ben Guterson, Chloe Bristol (Illustrator)
“An enchanting urban fantasy middle-grade debut—the first book in a trilogy—set in a magical hotel full of secrets.”

The Winterhouse Mysteries by Ben Guterson, Chloe Bristol (Illustrator)
“Danger, intrigue, and the power of family combine in The Winterhouse Mysteries, the fast-paced conclusion to Ben Guterson and Chloe Bristol’s illustrated, enchanting Winterhouse middle grade trilogy.”

If you have read any of these books please let me know your thoughts on them in the comments below. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more bookish posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Hidden Pictures | Book Review

- Bunny 3 Comments

About The Book
From Edgar Award-finalist Jason Rekulak comes a wildly inventive spin on the supernatural thriller, for fans of Stranger Things and Riley Sager, about a woman working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets. Follow the story that he conjures up and you are guaranteed to lose yourself in the day and specifically, Hidden Pictures.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3EfByVE

My Rating

This book is amazing! Not only is it an intense thriller, but it also covers some hard topics. The main character, Mallory, is a newly sober former addict trying to get her life back on track. Hearing about Mallory’s struggles with addiction isn’t the biggest part of the story, but it always lingers in the background. Her reasons for turning to drugs are saddening, and it’s hard to see people judge her for her past.

In the book, Mallory becomes a nanny for a five-year-old boy named Teddy. It’s nice to see Mallory and Teddy form a close bond. They develop a sort of sibling-type relationship, which isn’t unrealistic between a nanny and her charge.

There is a romance that forms between Mallory and a neighbor, but it isn’t a huge plot point. The book is all about the mystery, and boy, is it intense! There is so much going on with the mystery that you don’t know which way things will go next.

“Hardest things about recovery is coming to terms with the fact that you can’t trust your brain.”

Honestly, this isn’t the type of book where you can figure out what’s going to happen. The author leads you in one direction and then another. It makes for a fantastic read. The ending is incredible! Everything comes together, and it’s jaw-dropping. I will say that the last chapter was a bit sad. I might have cried a little. But I can’t rave enough about this book.

On a lighter note, Mallory mentions a few times how comforting she finds Hallmark movies, and honestly, I can’t disagree. Though it did make me wonder if Hallmark paid for the shoutout in the book—probably not!

Overall, it reads like a movie, if that makes any sense at all. If there ever happens to be a movie adaptation, please sign me up to play Mallory. Also, as I mentioned before, the book addresses some heavy topics, such as death, addiction, and racism. And there was this gross scene between Mallory and Teddy’s dad.

In the comments, let me know if you have read this book. If not, what are you waiting for? Before you leave, hit the follow button to get notified whenever there’s a new post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Meet Me At Midnight // Book Tag

- Bunny 4 Comments

Hi Friends,
I am excited to share that I created an original book tag! This tag was inspired by Taylor Swift’s new album ‘Midnight’. I had a lot of fun coming up with the questions, and think that they went with the songs well. If you do this tag please credit me as the creator.

Lavender Haze: A book that left you in a reading slump?

‘As Good As Dead’ by Holly Jackson was a book that left me in a big reading slump. I have a lot of issues with this book, and still fume at the though of it. However, the first two books in the ‘A Good Girls Guide To Murder’ series were amazing! Sometimes I wish it was just a duology, to save me from the reading slump.
Related Post: As Good As Dead // Book Review

Maroon: Show A Book You Love That Is You Favorite Color!

My favorite color is pink, so I choose to show off ‘If I’m Being Honest’ by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley. Not only is this cover pink, but this book is super cute. It is a YA contemporary ‘Taming of the Shrew’ that is a ton of fun.
Related Post: If I’m Being Honest // Book Review

Anti-Hero: A Book That Has Mixed Review But You Still Want To Read?

‘Beautiful Creatures’ by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is a book that has been on my TBR for years, but I’ve been put off by all the mixed reviews. All I know is that it’s a popular YA fantasy that now has a lot of mixed reviews. Also, my husband really enjoyed the books. Even though the book isn’t as well liked anymore, I still would like to eventually read it.

Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Rey): Are You A Seasonal Reader?

100% yes! I am the type of reader that associates certain books with each season. I am not someone that can read a beach read in the middle of winter. Honestly, I think it is way more fun to be a seasonal reader.

You’re on Your Own, Kid: A Book Couple You Didn’t Like?

Annie and Clay in ‘You’d Be Mine’ by Erin Hahn wasn’t a match made in heaven to me. I didn’t see their chemistry except for the fact that they both had a lot of emotional baggage. There personal issues made it hard to root for them as a couple, because they had a lot of things they need to workout on their own. I don’t see their relationship lasting or being very healthy.
Related Post: You’d Be Mine // Book Review

Midnight Rain: What’s A Book You’ve Changed Your Mind About?

‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ by Jay Asher is a book that I use to think was amazing. However, after reading so many books, my taste has changed, and so has my opinion on this book. It isn’t a bad book, but I probably wouldn’t rate it that highly today.

 

Question…?: A Book That Left You With More Questions Than Answers!

‘The Fear’ by Natasha Preston has a great premise, and kept me guessing the whole time I was reading it. But, the ending drove me insane! There were still so many unanswered questions. Why Natasha Preston decided on that ending confuses me.
Related Post: The Fear // Book Review

Vigilante Shit: A Mystery/Thriller You Can’t Walt To Read!

‘The Christmas Murder Game’ by Alexandra Benedict is a book that I have very high hopes for! I am actually kind of nervous that it won’t live up to my expectations. But, in my mind a mystery thriller that takes places at Christmas time sounds like the perfect read.
Related Post: November 2022 // To Be Read

Bejeweled: A Book You Bought Because Of The Cover!

‘Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me’ by Mariko Tamaki is a graphic novel with a fantastic cover and that is all I know about it. I saw the book on sale and the cover screamed by me. The artwork is beautiful and I have no shame admitting it was a cover buy.

 

Labyrinth: A Book Trope You Love But Also Hate?

Friends to lovers is a trope that I have mixed feelings about. It is usually so obvious to everyone that they have feelings for each other, but they are too blind to see it. I cannot stand characters that can’t see what is right in front of their faces. Nevertheless, I don’t hate all friends to lovers stories, so I am not sure I truly hate this trope.

Karma: A Book That You Thought Would Be 5 Stars, But Wasn’t?

‘You’ve Reached Sam’ by Dustin Thao was such a disappointment. I was hoping for a 5 star read, but instead got a 2 star book. I wasn’t a fan of the writing, characters, or plot. Basically, it just wasn’t for me.
Related Post: You’ve Reached Sam // Book Review

 

Sweet Nothing: A Book That Makes You Happy?

‘Better Than the Movies’ by Lynn Painter is a book that I gush thinking about! I went into this book not excepting much, and was very surprised at how much I loved this book. Even just thinking about it makes me smile. It is a total feel good YA romance that I think even non young adult readers will enjoy.

 

Mastermind: An Author That Never Fails You?

Kasie West might not always give me a 5 star read, but she never fails to save me from a reading slump. Her books a quick, cute and easy reads that always lift my mood. Also, most of the time I rate her books 4 or 5 stars which is always nice.
Related Post: On The Fence // Book Review

 

Dear Reader: Give A Book Recommendation!

‘Five Feet Apart’ by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis is beautiful and heartbreaking. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a sweet teen romance. And, if you need a good cry this book is perfect for that as well.
Related Post: Five Feet Apart // Book Review

 

There you have my ‘Meet Me At Midnight’ book tag! I wanted to tag a few book blogger, but everyone is welcome to do this tag. I tag Elfie @ Enchated Elfie, I’m All Booked Up, Goddess Of Books and Jordann @ The Book Blog Life. In the comments, let me know if you did this tag on your blog because I would love to read it. Please follow my blog for more bookish posts like this one.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Gilmore Girls Readathon 2022 // To Be Read

- Bunny 3 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today I am doing another TBR post! This time is for the Gilmore Girls Readathon, which runs from November 7th through the 13th. To get all the details on the readathon you can watch Liv’s Library’s announcement video on YouTube. For those who don’t know, Gilmore Girls is my all time favorite show! I have tons of GG merchandise, seen every season multiple times and attribute my coffee addiction to the show. Fun fact, I became a reader because of the show but that’s a story for another time. Anyways, let’s get on to my TBR!

Read a book set in a small town
Read a book with family drama

“Olivia, the eldest daughter, has returned from treating an epidemic abroad and must go into quarantine for seven days. Her mother has decided it’s the perfect opportunity to spend some ‘special time’ together. Her youngest sister wholeheartedly disagrees. Her father isn’t allowed an opinion. When no one can leave the house and no one can enter, quarantine for the Birches feels like an eternity. Especially when they’re all harboring secrets. One of which is about to come knocking at their door.”

Read a book set during fall/winter
Read a book with complicated love interests
A book by an Asian author or has Asian representation

“Sworn enemies from rival families, Chloe Kwon and Peter Li have always hated each other. But when their local mall is put up for auction right before Christmas, they band together to help save it, along with their families’ food court restaurants. This fun read will leave you nostalgic for that magical feeling of the mall at Christmastime.”

Read a book with leaves on the cover

“Celebrate the magic of Christmas time with this well-loved traditional poem, The Twelve Days of Christmas, beautifully illustrated by Laura Hawthorne.”

I wanted to keep my TBR short and manageable since it is only a week long readathon. However, I am not sure if ‘Seven Days Of Us’ is actually set in a small town, so I might be stretching that prompt a little. I am very excited for this week of reading, and would love to know if you will be joining the Gilmore Girls readathon as well. Don’t forget to follow my little book blog to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Fame, Fate and the First Kiss // Book Review

- Bunny 4 Comments

About The Book
Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part. But Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture perfect as she imagined.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3DCtxsn

My Rating

This is a companion story to Kasie West’s  ‘Love, Life and the List,’ but this time we follow Lacey. In the first book, we learned that Lacey was an actress at the high school and by the end of the book just book her biggest role yet. In this book, we follow Lacey as she is taking on that breakout role.

Lacey was a good main character, and it was interesting reading about a newbie actress. Her character was outgoing and friendly, and super dedicated to her craft. However, she did get offended quite easily especially when it came to the subject of her career choice. Also, I struggle with the fact that her dad wasn’t very supportive of her career, yet I did understand that he was just trying to protect her. In all honesty, actors don’t have the best job security.

As for the romance, when Lacey meets her tutor, Donavan, she thinks he’s uptight. But, there are more sides of Donavan that we get to see, in time. We learned that he loved to write, and didn’t care for fame or social status. The chemistry between them was instant, and their relationship formed naturally. It was a bit of an opposite track type romance though.

“I love stories. I love watching them play out and trying to guess the endings. I love being surprised and learning new things about people or about myself.”

Within the story, we get to see Lacey struggle with feeling replaced in her life back at home. It isn’t a huge part of the story, but the sentiment that coming home isn’t always easy was a nice addition to the more lighthearted story. Lacey learned that going after your dreams means having to make sacrifices and if your passion is worth everything you have to give up.

There is this funny twist involving Donavan and another actor, which I did predict. But I liked how it was added to the story. It was a small touch that connected Donavan to Lacey’s world a little more. Also, there is a ton of witty batter in this book! Kasie West always writes the most charming characters with some of the best dialog.

Overall, this is a cute YA contemporary that is easy to read in one sitting. The story was well throughout and the romance was sweet. Although, I don’t know if I see Lacey and Donavan lasting long-term, but I have high hopes they’ll stay together.

Let me know in the comments below if you enjoy the opposite track trope. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Related Post: Love, Life and The List // Book Review

November 2022 // To Be Read

- Bunny 5 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today is my November TBR post! For the month of November I decided that I would mostly mood read. However, I have a lot of Christmas books that I would like to get to, so I thought that I would share those with you. Also, I will be taking part in the Gilmore Girls readathon, but I am going to be doing a separate TBR post for the readathon.


“A teen girl gets the perfect second try at a first kiss in this hilarious, romp-filled young adult romantic comedy perfect for fans of Jenna Evans Welch and Hallmark Christmas movies.”


“Who’s naughty and nice at Riverwood Mall? In this hilarious YA holiday rom-com, two rivals get together to save their families’ livelihoods, and Christmas, too!”


“A pitch-perfect holiday rom com about two oil-and-water reality-star country singers who must fake a relationship in order to win the opportunity of a lifetime, perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game and Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze.”

‘Reading Rabbits’ Book Club Book

“Twelve clues. Twelve keys. Twelve days of Christmas. But how many will die before Twelfth Night? Agatha Christie meets Clue in this delightful, tense manor house murder mystery.”

Those are just some of the holiday books that I would like to get to in the month of November. Let me know in the comments the books on your TBR for the month. Please don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny