Bookish Holiday Tag

- Bunny 8 Comments

Hi Friends,
Christmas will be here in just a few weeks, and I thought a holiday tag would be a great way to celebrate the holiday season! This one has some fun, bookish questions, so I knew it would be the perfect tag to do.

• What is your favorite book to gift during the holidays?
Is there any other answer than ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens? I know you are probably sick of hearing me talk about how much I love this book. So all I’ll say is that it is a classic holiday story, that you cannot go wrong with giving.

• What is the best book you have ever received as a gift?
Last year, I received a steam punk edition of ‘A Christmas Carol’, and the year before I got ‘A Christmas Carol: Book-to-Table Edition.’ However, I think the most meaningful book I have been gifted is ‘A Muppet’s Christmas Carol‘. The book is based off the movie by the same name. The film is very special to my family, so I was happy, shocked and blessed to receive the book adaptation.

• What book do you hope to get this year?
Honestly, I don’t really have a Christmas list. I am grateful to have people that love me enough to give me a gift, but I never really ask for anything. Still, if I am asked what I want I always say books. Also, I would like a brush hairdryer, which might seems a little random.

• What is your favorite holiday movie?
Don’t yell at me, but I have to mention it again. My all time favorite Christmas movie is ‘A Muppet’s Christmas Carol’. However, I will tell you the other two holiday movies that I adore. The first is the Grinch – mainly the 1966 ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ cartoon. Yet, I also really enjoyed the 2018, The Grinch, animated version as well. Secondly, I am a huge fan of the ‘Princess Switch’ movies on Netflix. I like them all, but my favorite will probably always be the first one.

• What holiday song is always on repeat?
Can anyone just pick one holiday song? If I have to choose, then I’m going with my girl Taylor Swift. She released a small holiday album years ago. It was a Target exclusive album that I don’t think many people remember. On the album, she has a track called ‘Christmas Must Be Something More,’ which has such a powerful message. The song reminds us that Christmas isn’t about presents, decorations, or snow. It’s about so much more. As the Grinch said, “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”

• What is your favorite holiday food to either make or eat?
It would be a tie between corn pudding and potatoes of any kind. We only have corn pudding on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it is a rare treat. As for potatoes, I simply love them! I am fan of all potato dishes, from mashed to scalloped. Also, I do usually make the potatoes every year, so I maybe biased.

If you want to do this tag too, then go right ahead! Let me know in the comments if you do, so I can go check out your posts. If you don’t want to miss out on any posts, then give me a follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // December 2021

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
This is going to be my last tbr of 2021! I cannot believe that the year is finally coming to a close, and I am excited to see what 2022 has in store. However, we still have to get through December. I don’t have massive reading plans since December is a pretty crazy month. I love reading, but when December hits I am all about Bookmas, Vlogmas, Holiday movies and Christmas hauls. So reading might be a low priority this month. Still, I do have a few books that I would like to read before the end of the year.

“Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Serpent & Dove, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.”
I have heard nothing but good things about this duology. I need to read, at least, the first book before 2022.

“What’s better than one deliciously cozy, swoon-worthy holiday story? Four of them, from some of today’s bestselling authors.”
I have been reading this all year, so it is about time I finish it. Truthfully, I am kind of embarrassed it has taken me this long to read.

“Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich’s “If This Gets Out is an absolute showstopper! Equal parts edgy and adorable, this bright, joyful book has everything I look for in a queer YA romance.” —Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us
I want to read a fluffy contemporary! This book sounds so cute, and I hope it will give me all the YA romance feels that I live for.

“Over the course of one chaotic night stranded at the Denver airport, Ryn confronts her shattered past thanks to the charm of romance, the uniqueness of strangers, and the magic of ordinary places in this stunning novel from the author of Boys of Summer.”
This is going to be a reread for me, but I cannot remember a lot of the story. I have been wanting to give myself a refresher read of it for a while now, so I hope that I can get to it.

There you have it, all the books that are on my December tbr. Tell me what you will be reading in the comments. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified when a new post goes up.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Thanksgiving Day 2021 // A Day In Pictures

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Hi Friends,
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day. I thought it might be nice to share with you my Thanksgiving in pictures.

Corn Bread Stuffing
Shells and Cheese
Turkey Ham
Deviled Eggs
Turkey
Bunny & Moose (Me and My Husband)

What was your Thanksgiving dinner? Did you have a Friendsgiving? Were you excited to have a semi post-Covid Thanksgiving? Let me know in the comments below.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Remember To Be Thankful // Thankful Thursday

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Hi Friends,
It took me a while to figure out what my last ‘Thankful Thursday’ post should be. But, I saw this photo on Twitter, and it sparked an idea. I want to talk about things that make me thankful and bring me joy. So many times in our lives, we take for granted the small things. We forget to tell the ones we love how much they mean to us. We forget to thank ‘God’ or who/whatever it is you believe, for all we have been given. And, we probably don’t say please and thank you as much as we should. It is natural to neglect these simple things, especially when all is going well in our lives. But we should remember how blessed we are, all year long. I wanted to share below some things that remind me to be thankful.


This song reminds me that even when things are rough, it will all be okay. Sometimes we might feel like we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, but in the end everything will turn out alright.


There’s no question as to how much I love books. I am so incredibly grateful and lucky for reading. I know that some people struggle with reading, or don’t even have the time to read, which makes me sad. Books have filled my life with so much joy. For that reason, I will always be thankful for them.


Is anyone not thankful for love? I find it amazing how much a person can love. I love my family, my husband, my pets, and one day my child. Giving love, as well as being loved, is a blessing. Being around people that you can share love with is a feeling that can’t be beaten.

What makes you thankful? Who makes you thankful? Let me know in the comments below. Feel free to share this, and all my ‘Thankful Thursday’ posts. As always, give the blog a follow to get notified about all my posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Bookish Black Friday Deals

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Today I thought it would be nice to share some bookish Black Friday deals. Black Friday is usually the day when most people do the bulk of their Christmas shopping. This year, there are great sales on bookish items. If you are looking for a gift for a friend, family member, or if you just want to treat yourself, then these deals might be what you’re looking for.

Half-Priced Books
Since the store typically has discounted prices, they don’t do huge sales. But this year, they are offering a 20% discount code and $5 off coupon starting in January. However, you only receive the coupon if you purchase a $25 gift card between now and December 24th.

Book Outlet
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this discounted book retailer. I completely understand the negativity surrounding  the store, and why some have chosen to boycott it. Still, I know there are people out there that continue to use it as their primary source of book buying. So I thought I would give a quick mention of their Black Friday sale. Right now you can get 25% extra off your purchase, and orders over $35 qualify for free shipping.

Barnes and Noble
Now this is where the books deals are at this Black Friday. On November 26th, they are bringing back their exclusive special edition signed books. If you are in need of an e-reader, you can get the Nook 10″ HD Lenovo Tablet for $30 off. Some e-books will be on sale for under $10. In the ad, they ‘A Court of Silver Flames’ and ‘A Darker Shade Of Magic’. In my opinion, one of the best discounts is buy one, get one half off sale for their collectable editions. Lastly, you can get a $10 eGift card for every $100 you buy in gift cards.

These are the bookish Black Friday sales that I have come across. But, if you know of anymore, please leave them in the comments below. Don’t forget to follow the blog, like, and share this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Gilmore Girls Tag

- Bunny 1 Comment


Hi Friends,
Everytime the fall and winter seasons come I always start a rewatch of Gilmore Girls. Honestly, I watch Gilmore Girls multiple times throughout the year but it definitely gives me winter feels. For this reason, I thought it would be fun to do the ‘Gilmore Girls’ tag. There are many versions of this tag, but this is the one I chose to do.

• How did you discover the show?
I must admit that I don’t remember how I discovered the show. I believe that repeats use to come on Sunday nights. My brother watched the show ‘Smallville’ that night, and Gilmore Girls came on right before it. I would always see the end of the episodes. So, I started watching it. I believe the series was on the second season when I started watching it.

• Do you own the collection?
I own the completely series box set, the ‘Year In A Life’ revival on DVD and both of them on digital download.

• Favorite Season?
I loved the first three seasons equally, but if I had to choose I would have to go with season one. The debut season was standout in my opinion. Still, every season has some great episodes.

• Least favorite season?
That would hands down be season 7. I don’t hate it, yet I am disappointed in it. Especially, since it was the last season.

• Favorite Episode?
I have a lot of favorite episodes, but the one that I can’t get enough of is season 1, episode 6, Rory’s Birthday Parties. It was such a defining episode in the show. Rory and Dean started their relationship. Emily learned that there was a lot about Lorelai’s life she didn’t know. And, it has one of my all time scenes between Emily and Lorelai. In which, Emily says ‘Oh, if I had a dollar for every time you gave up.’ And, Lorelia replies ‘You could pay for this party, couldn’t you?’

• Dave or Zack?
I really loved Dave because cared so much for Lane. He did everything to get her mom to like him, and stayed up all night to read the bible to understand her mom’s cryptic message. However, I didn’t hate Zack. He was clueless but did love Lane. Also, he was a player before dating Lane but didn’t mind waiting to have sex until after marriage for her.

• Luke or Christopher?
Is this even a question? Luke! Obviously. Christopher was her past they weren’t the same people as adult that they were as teenagers. They didn’t work as adults. Luke and Lorelai completed each other. They brought out the best in one another. However, the whole April and Anna situation made me mad. In my opinion, he never would have hide it from Lorelai or put their wedding on hold. He loved her to much, and waited for her for too long.

• Lorelai or Rory?
I used to be more of a Rory girl, but after the 180 they did to her character in the revival. I am going with Lorelai. Also, during my rewatches I have grown more attached to Lorelai’s personality. But Rory is still great.

• Do you think Lorelai overreacts with her parents?
Yep. There is no denying that they aren’t the best parents. Still, Lorelai was always against their advice and took everything as a personal attack.

• Do you think Emily and Richard overreacts with Lorelai?
For sure. A lot of the time they looked down on Lorelai’s life. They wanted to force their ideas on her. They don’t understand her.

• In the big fight that Rory and Lorelai had whose side were you on?
This is a hard one because I agree with Lorelai that Rory was letting Logan’s dad crush her dreams. Rory was being impulsive and immature. However, Lorelai was being a bit controlling, which she always accuses her mom of being. Rory needed to figure things out for herself. Lorelai alienating her wasn’t the best move.

• In a fight between Taylor and Mrs. Kim who would win?
Mrs. Kim! She is one scary mama bear.

• Who would spread the fastest rumor Babette or Miss Patty?
Both. They are one in the same. They always know the town gossip.

• How much do you dislike April?
110% since they were trying to make her a mini version of Rory. Come on not every single mom can have a smart, book loving kid. Also, I didn’t see the need for the whole April storyline. The show already had a good balance of comedy and drama.

• If you could have dinner with any cast member, who would it be, and what kind of questions would you ask them?
Lauren Graham because she seems like a down to earth person. I would talk to her about her time on Gilmore Girls, Parenthood and forever being seen as Lorelai.

• How did you want it to end?
I didn’t mind the way the series ended since Luke and Lorelai got back together, and Rory was going off to live her dream as a reporter. As for the revival, I didn’t care for the Lorelai and Rory parallel thing. However, I wished they had jumped 10 years into the future showing Rory with a 9 year old. It would be cute if she named it Lorelai but she goes by ‘Lo’ or ‘Lori.’ But a time jump would make a second revival impossible. Still I would have liked one.

As a Gilmore Girl addict, I enjoyed answering these questions. Also, it put me in the mood to watch the show. Please give this post a like and share. Don’t forget to follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Ones I Couldn’t Live Without // Thankful Thursday

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Hi Friends,
In this ‘Thankful Thursday’ post, I am going to talk about all the people in my life that make it complete. I know that some people don’t have any family or close friends, which makes me incredibly sad. As much as I wish that everyone had some, I cannot change this fact. There is a quote that goes, “The best feeling in the world is knowing that you actually mean something to someone.” I think that everyone can relate to these words. I don’t know where I would be today without these amazing people in my life.


My Mom: I am lucky enough to have two amazing parents that have always loved and supported me. But my mom is truly my biggest fan. She is the Lorelei to my Rory, highly animated and the one I most want to make proud. She has never told me that I should be anyone but myself. That my differences aren’t flaws, because they make me who I am. Yes, we have had our shares of fights and disagreements, but I don’t know where I’d be today without her. I am grateful for both my parents, yet my mama will always be the type of person I hope to become one day.


My Siblings: I have 4 siblings (three older sisters and one brother) and love each of them in their own way. However, I am closest to my sister born right before me and brother. Us three have the most in common and deal with mental health issues. We support each other, and tend to get under each other’s skin like nobody else could. There have been many times we have stayed up late joking, watching shows, and having random conversations. When I was little, I wondered what it would be like to be an only child. Now I think it would just be very lonely. I couldn’t imagine a life without my siblings, and I hope that I never have to.


My Husband: I have talked about my husband in other posts, so you probably figured he’d be on this list. Our relationship was rocky from the start, and at times I didn’t think we’d end up together. But we overcame a lot, and I mean a lot of obstacles to get to where we are now. Not everyday is perfect, but I am grateful for the love we share. I know it’s cliché but I would rather spend a million tough days with him than a few perfect days with somebody else.

True, these are typically things to be thankful for, still it is good to remember the people that bless your life. Each and every one of them make my world immeasurably better, and I am a better person for knowing them. Tell me in the comments who or what you are thankful for! And please share this post, and follow the blog so that you never miss one.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Underrated Holiday Books // On My TBR

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Hi Friends,
If couldn’t tell, I am a seasonal reader. This means that the books I read fit well with the current season we’re in. Thus, in the winter time I an all about holiday books. I am in luck, since most holiday themed books are also contemporaries (which you probably know is my favorite genre). However, there are some holiday books that I’ve discovered that aren’t talked about much. In this post, I wanted to share some of these underrated (in my opinion, anyway) holiday books.

‘I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas’ by Tiffany Schmidt
‘Ballet and babysitting bring two teens together in this very merry holiday rom-com from the author of the acclaimed Bookish Boyfriends series. This is a YA contemporary that was released in October 2021. I don’t know about you, but this book sounds like a very cute holiday hate-to-love story. There hasn’t been many books featuring male dancers, so this is a nice change from the typical bad-boy or jock characters. I am excited to see how this story plays out.

 

‘Blame It on the Mistletoe’ by Beth Garrod
‘Tweet Cute’ meets the movie ‘The Holiday’ in this funny holiday rom-com where two very different girls swap lives for a Christmas adventure.’ I mentioned ‘The Holiday Swap’ in my November TBR, which is a book I have been greatly anticipating. This book has a similar plot, except that it is a young adult story, and the two character aren’t look-a-likes. I have mentioned that swap plots are some of my favorites, so I cannot wait to read this different spin on it. Also, I have seen and loved The Holiday, and I have been dying to read ‘Tweet Cute’.

‘All I Want for Christmas’ by Wendy Loggia‘This sweet and magical romance about a girl who has just one wish – someone to kiss under the mistletoe – is the perfect holiday escape!’
This is a 2020 book release that nobody has read. Well, at least it seems that way. Let me reiterate one more time how much of a sucker I am for YA contemporaries. When I think about this book, ‘My Only Wish’ by Brittney Spears pops into my head. I predict that I am going to enjoy this story, and I am not upset about it.

There are a ton more underrated and unheard of winter/holiday books that I didn’t mention here. So if you would like me to do a part two to this post, let me know in the comments! And before you leave, give this post a like, and follow the blog for all things bookish.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Final Girls Support Group // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

Author: Grady Hendrix
Published: 2021
Genre: Adult/Horror
Rating:Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder

Synopsis
In horror movies, the final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

This book had been extremely hyped up, which made me eager to pick it up. As a horror movie lover the plot sounded right up my alley, yet I did have my reservations about it. The plot centers around a group of the last girls standing. Each girl has faced some horrific event, but made it out alive. They all attend a support group, because nobody understands the struggle of being the one that survived, except others that have done the same.

This book did take a bit to get into, but I think that was a personal thing. Adult fiction isn’t something I  generally read, so I was going into it with a young adult reader mindset. We follow Lynnette Tarkington, a final girl that survived a massacre as a teenager, essentially by playing dead. Because she didn’t fight to survive others don’t see her as a ‘true’ final girl. She was a decent character, with a lot of dimensions to her. You could tell that out of all the girls in the support group, she struggled most with reintegrating into society. I wouldn’t say that she was a protagonist that I enjoyed reading about, but I did understand her issues.

As for the other girls, they were a diverse bunch, and each had their own emotional scars from the fearful events they had to face. Some of them tried to put the past behind them, while others tried to do good. One used substances to cope with the nightmares. Throughout the story, it was evident that despite all the time they spent together, they weren’t very close to each other. I attribute this to girls not wanting to get close to people and having to risk losing them.

“Isn’t the point of therapy that one day you don’t need it anymore?”

There were many nods to classic horror movies that I know and love. However, it wasn’t as if the author took these events right out of the movies. And, though one could spot the movie similarities you could tell that they were used solely as inspiration. My favorite horror movies have actual plots, and not just killing for the sake of killing. This book balances mystery and horror well. The mystery was interesting, and had me changing my suspects throughout the story. When I thought I knew who the killer was, the author would add something that made me rethink my initial guess.

The book wasn’t necessarily slow, but it wasn’t fast paced either. It fell somewhere in between. However, the second half of the book picked up the pace significantly. The last half was probably the easiest to get through, too. In all honesty, I would most likely have DNF’ed this book if not for the hype surrounding it. But, I’m glad that I stuck with it, since the ending really shocked me. The author did a great job, with a twist ending that I never saw coming. I found the moral of the story to be about tragedy, and it’s effect on people. We cannot guarantee that bad things won’t happen, but when they do, we only have two choices. Live in fear that they will occur again, or try to move on and live life. The author did a fantastic job conveying such a heavy message.

I wouldn’t call this a favorite book, since I expected a lot more from it. Also, I can also say with fair certainty that I won’t reread it, but I am happy that I gave it a chance. It will be interesting to see what this author will release next. I might read another one of their books in the future. In the comments, tell me know if you agree with the hype surrounding the book. And, be sure to give this post a like so that I know you enjoy my reviews.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

All The Pretty Things // Book Review

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Author: img class=”alignleft wp-image-1649″ src=”https://www.bookswithbunny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/71LonirRW1L.jpg” alt=”” width=”150″ height=”225″ />Emily Arsenault
Published: 2020
Genre: YA/Realistic Fiction/Suspense
Rating:Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder

Synopsis
For fans of Sadie and The Cheerleaders comes an all new thriller about a boy who turns up dead under suspicious circumstances and the one girl who may be the key to solving the mystery of his untimely death.

This was interesting read, and I didn’t except the story to go this way. From the synopsis, I thought that it was going to be a psychological-mystery thriller. However, it was more of a drama/contemporary/mystery, but with other serous topics woven into the story. I don’t mind when stories deviate from the description, but it was a shock to me. I think that one reason that I didn’t mind the plot difference was the fact that the writing was very nice. It wasn’t to info dumpy or mystery heavy. Those things don’t bug me, but it was a welcome surprise that worked well in this case .

Ivy, who is the main protagonist, at the beginning of the book, has returned home from summer vacation. Her best friend Morgan is having a hard time after discovering the body of her special needs co-worker Ethan. When Morgan starts to withdraw from Ivy, she tries to do everything in her power to help her friends. Morgan’s only request is that she find out more about Ethan’s death. Ivy, Morgan, and Ethan worked at Fabuland, which is owned by Ivy’s dad. Her parents are divorced, and she has one older brother that has become more estrange from his family.

Fabuland – and Ivy’s dad – are both a major factor in the story. We got to learn a lot about her dad, and also her parents’ relationship. Her dad is selfish, condescending, arrogant, and unethical. As for Ivy, I didn’t find there to be much depth to her character. The author told us a lot about her family life (which plays a big part throughout the plot). However, I didn’t get good sense of Ivy’s personality. Sure, I learned that she was hard working, loyal and timid. But, I wanted there to be more to her character.

“In my dream, it only hurt for a second and then it was over.”

The supporting characters were mundane, and like Ivy, there wasn’t much depth to them. They all just blended together. I didn’t necessarily hate any of them, I just didn’t get a good sense of who Ivy’s brother or mother were. The most well written character was Ivy’s father, which I understand, since he is very significant to the story. I had never read a character like him before, and it was interesting to see the author’s take on that ty. He was horrible person, but she wrote him as someone that thought they were one of the good guys.

The plot jumped around a lot, and there were times that I had no clue where the story was going. I didn’t know how the author was going to connect everything, but she managed to make the multiple story-lines come together. The ending wasn’t jaw dropping, but it was at least slightly unexpected. It felt very ‘real world’ in my opinion, and the plot kept things down-to-earth. I sympathized with Ivy by the end of the book, since her life unraveled right before her eyes. The story leaves you wondering how someone can be a bad person, and yet you still love them? Is it right to love someone that has done atrocious things? I think that the answers to these questions aren’t black and white. You will never know if the choice you make is best. All you can do is make a choice and live with it.

I always want to mention the trigger warning for books with sensitive subject matter. This story has many important trigger warnings, so I recommend you visiting BookTriggerWarnings.com to see them all. Let me know if you have, or want to read this book. I know that it hasn’t been well received, but don’t let that scare you away. If you want to make my day, follow the blog to get notifications about new posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny