Legendborn // Book Review

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Title: Legendborn
Author: Tracy Deonn
Published: 2020
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw. The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.
Source: Goodreads

This book is filled with twist and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a new fantasy book series with a lot of elements to it. I enjoyed certain aspects of the story. Others, not so much. At first, I didn’t know how to feel about the main character, Bree. She was very guarded, which I’m not usually a fan of. However, it worked for her, considering she was still going through the motions of her mother’s death.

I enjoyed the magic system that the author created in the story. By the end of the book everything fell into place and worked well together. It was pretty mind-blowing. As for the world-building, I found it somewhat complex. There was a lot of pieces to the society and it got hard to follow at times. I could see the struggle to navigate the world lowering a readers enjoyment of the story. The author probably should have simplified things, since it was only the first book in the series.

“Don’t make your life about the loss. Make it about the love.”

One of my least favorite aspects was the romance. Bree’s relationship with Nick started off fine, but it quickly became that prepackaged ‘insta-love’ that we’ve all had served to us in just about every way imaginable. Nick was falling hard and fast for Bree. He needed to simmer down. He was a little immature, too – always acting hurt when she didn’t tell him things, or trying to defend her. Yes, Bree was stubborn, but she was strong too. She was no damsel-in-distress.

My favorite character was Sel! Although, he wasn’t the main focus of the book, I think he had strong character development throughout the book. On the outside, he has a tough, devil-may-care attitude, but inside he is kind and protective. I can completely see Sel and Bree together, but then again, I love a good hate-to-love romance any day.

The best part of this book was, hands-down, the ending. It was exciting, jawdropping, and left me wanting more. The way the author added a twist that you never saw coming, but worked it in so well, was amazing. I cannot wait for the sequel, and to read more of Tracy Deonn’s work.

Have you read this book? Is it on your TBR? Let me know your thoughts on ‘Legendborn’ in the comments below.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Booktube vs Book Blogging // Pros And Cons

- Bunny 8 Comments

Hi Friends,
For months, I have been going back and forth on the struggle of Booktube vs. book blogging, and which is right for me. If you don’t already know, I started out as a Booktuber, but the struggle to keep up with videos and the YouTube algorithm turned me off. It wasn’t very good for my mental health. I had always been an avid writer, so I turned to book blogging. I wouldn’t say one is more cost efficient than the other, since money goes into both of them. Also, for a planner like myself, both seem to take a lot of time and effort to keep up with every week.

I never really felt like a part of the book community, and I noticed that after stepping away, I was reading more than I ever had before. Watching new Booktubers growing, while I was stuck at 100 subscribers after more than two years took its toll on my mental health. I do, at times, get upset when my blog isn’t performing as well as I might hope. But I feel more involved in the blogging community, which helps. Also, I think my writing is way better than my camera skills. I will say that I sometimes get the urge to film a video, and some topics are just easier as video content, rather than blog posts. However, I like owning my work, which isn’t possible with YouTube.

I know that Booktubers get more recognition than book bloggers, which is a bummer. Another big thing is that Booktubers are the go-to for sponsorships and paid promotions. I am not sure if book bloggers get these opportunities as well, but I know that it is a huge thing in the Booktube community. I thought that it would be fun to give you some personal pros and cons of Booktube vs book blogging, just in case you were stuck on the decision too.

Booktube  Book Blog

Large community, with a lot of original content

Smaller community, with a lot of content inspired by Booktube

Your content is owned by YouTube, and can be deleted at any time

You own all your content, and nobody else can censor you

Need a good camera, lighting, and a background

If you want to do it long term, you need to buy a URL and hosting

You have opportunities for free books and paid sponsorships

Much harder to get noticed by authors and publishers

You have to be on camera, and able to clearly communicate your point

Can write a post in your PJ’s, from anywhere

I hope that this list might help some make the decision between Booktube or a book blog, or at least make it a bit easier. I think that I might start posting Instagram (or maybe Booktok) videos, if I ever feel the need to film anything bookish. That way I don’t have to commit to a Booktube channel. I would love your support on my little bookish corner of the internet, so like and share this post! You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram as well (@bookswithbunny).

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

One Last Stop // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

*This review might include information that some might see as a spoiler.*


Title: One Last Stop
Author: Casey McQuiston
Published: 2021
Genre: New Adult/Contemporary


2.5/5 Stars

Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time.
Source: Goodreads

I wouldn’t call this book a YA, but it isn’t exactly adult either. It falls somewhere in the middle, which I would call new adult. First off, I want to say that I tried really hard to enjoy this book. Also, I’m proud of myself for not DNFing it. I just had so many issues with the book, and can already say I wasn’t a fan. The premise of the book sounded very intriguing, and had the potential to be a 4 or 5 star read, if executed well.

Let’s start with the main characters and love interests. August and Jane’s relationship seems to come out of left field. One or two meetings with this girl, and August has suddenly found her soulmate. Their attraction to one another progressed too quickly for my liking, and wasn’t based off much besides looks and a few small conversations. As the story developed, I didn’t see the two having much in common or any real chemistry.

“I fell in love with you the day that I met you, and then I fell in love with the person you remembered you are. I got to fall in love with you twice. That’s— that’s magic.”

I want to point out that there are some – *cough* – scenes in the book. Honestly, I don’t know if you could call them outright objectionable, but they are pretty intense. Let’s just say if you don’t like public displays of affection = especially doing the deed in public = then this book isn’t for you. Yep, this book goes there.

August’s roommates were fun, diverse characters, who added most of the humor to the story. However, there were a lot of characters, and it was hard to keep track of them all. Most of the extra characters were unnecessary to the plot. On top of that, there seemed to be multiple plots going on. There was a lot thrown into one book.

The biggest flaw for me, however, is the story itself. I never full understood the connection between August and Jane. The author tried their best to create a reason for their intense connection, but it didn’t really work for me. There was even an interesting twist at the end of the book. Still, it didn’t make up for the story as a whole. I absolutely hated the ending, and it played on one of my least favorite things about time travel plots. People from the past can’t, and shouldn’t, stay in the present!

Overall, I liked this book a lot less than expected, but I feel that most of my issues came from personal tastes rather than from the story itself. I have heard great things about Casey McQuiston’s young adult work, so I might give them a try in the future. Please like and share this review with all of your bookish friends!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // August 2021

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hello Friends,
It is monthly TBR time again! I am going to be talking about all the books that I hope to get to in August. This TBR is very ambitious since I read practically nothing last month. I was in a major reading slump for most of July, so here’s hoping that I can snap out of it in August. I gave myself a lot of genre options to choose from to help widen my reading choices.

‘Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories’ by Various Authors: This is a collection of short YA stories from tons of different authors. I think that all the stories are contemporary, so it’s right up my alley. I have been interested in picking this book up for years, but I hope this summer I can finally get to it.

‘Undead Girl Gang’ by Lily Anderson: I started this book about two or three years ago. I read about 30 pages before putting it down. I remember enjoying it but at the time I wasn’t in the right mood for it. It seems like a fun contemporary with some magical realism thrown in.

‘There’s Someone Inside Your House’ by Stephanie Perkins: This is another book that I started a few years ago but set aside. I am a fan of Perkins’ lighthearted contemporaries, so I was excited to read something a bit darker from her. This is a YA thriller novel that doesn’t have the best reviews, but Netflix is releasing a film adaption, so there has to be something good about it.

‘Peter Pan’ by J.M. Barrie: I have been wanting to read more children’s classics. I have never been the biggest Peter Pan fan, but I have heard good things about the original story. Also, there are quite a few versions of the audio-book with celebrity narrators that excite me.

‘Fool Me Twice’ by Carrie Aarons: This book has been on my tbr since its release. It sounds like a great summer read, and I can’t wait to see if it lives up to my expectations. The book kind of gives me “John Tucker Must Die” vibes, which I am down for.

‘Sunkissed’ by Kasie West: Of course I have to read Kasie West newest YA contemporary. The title alone screams ‘summer romance’. Honestly, I don’t know anything about this book, yet that’s okay with me. I’m predicting this to be a 4-or 5-star-read, so here’s hoping I don’t end up being disappointed.

‘The Elite’ (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass: I hate that this book is on my tbr, but I am determined to finish this series. This is a YA dystopian contemporary with a ‘ The Bachelor’ style plot. I didn’t love the first book, but maybe they’ll get better.

‘Bridge of Souls’ (Cassidy Blake #3) by Victoria Schwab: This is a middle-grade/YA trilogy about a tween ghost hunter that I adore. I am sad to pick up the last book in this series, but interested in seeing how it will end. The other books have been really good, so I assume this book will keep that streak going.

‘Alex, Approximately’ by Jenn Bennett: I have been told that if you like YA contemporary than Jenn Bennett is a must-read author. This book seems to be the go-to for a lot of readers who are new to Bennett’s work, so I am going to follow the process of others. Also, this book takes place in the summer and has a “You’ve Got Mail” kind of romance, which sounds adorable.

‘One of Us Is Lying’ (One of Us Is Lying #1) by Karen M. McManus: This is another older release that I never got around to, but I saw that a TV adaption is being released, so I knew I had to read the book first. I have heard that the book is somewhat problematic, and anti-climactic. However, the plot gives me a ‘Breakfast Club’-meets-thriller vibe, which intrigues me.

‘Five Feet Apart’ by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis: This book was a last-minute addition to my tbr. I had been interested in this book since the movie adaptation was released, but had heard mixed things about both. Also, the ending was spoiled for me, so I wasn’t sure I was ever going to give it a read. But witt the movie being add to Netflix I thought why not bite bullet and read it.

This TBR is every bit as ambitious as I thought it would be, but I think that I can get to at least half of these books. Let me know what you are reading in August in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and share this post with all your bookish friends.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Books On My Re-Read List

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
Today I wanted to talk about some books I am hoping to re-read. As book lovers, we tend to forget about those ‘old favorites’ of ours. We are quick to buy up the newest releases, and sometimes forget to go back and read our first book loves. Or perhaps we need a refresher of a book series before we can move on to the rest of the books. I, too, am guilty of not re-reading, but hopefully that will change.

1) ‘Caraval’ by Stephanie Garber: This is a fantasy novel about two sisters, magic, and more. The book was filled with lots of twists and turns, but sadly I can’t even remember half of what I read. The ending is a mystery to me. However, I would like to read the final two books in the trilogy. But I need to re-read Caraval before that can happen.

2) ‘The Afterlife of Holly Chase’ by Cynthia Hand: Every holiday season, I read A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. This is a young adult retelling of this classic, so I thought it would be fun to re-read it every year at Christmas as well.

3) ‘The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants’ by Ann Brashares: I have read all four books in the series, but never picked up the 5th book that was released in 2011. I want to re-read this entire book series before reading the last book. Now that I am an adult, I would like to know if my thoughts on the books have changed. I’m predicting a cringe-worthy reading experience.

This was a shorter post then I originally thought it would be, but I guess don’t have a ton of books I would like to re-read. I will probably think of more after this is posted, but that is typically how my brain works. Please like and share this post, and follow my lovely book blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Cool For The Summer // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

Title: Cool For The Summer
Author: Dahlia Adler
Published: 2021
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she’s finally got the guy, why can’t she stop thinking about the girl?
Source: Goodreads

If you enjoy a messy, queer love triangle, then this is the book for you. This book is about coming into your own and discovering your sexuality. From the start, Lara’s emotions and desires are all over the place. She isn’t sure what she wants or how she feels. I think that she portrays a lot of people who are trying to figure out their sexuality. The book flips between two time lines. The present day and the recent summer. I enjoyed both timelines, and it was interesting to see how Lara acted away for the summer versus at school.

There wasn’t one character that stood out to me, but I did enjoy Chase – Lara’s male love interest. He seemed genuine and understanding. His interest in Lara did seem random, but in adolescence, sometimes attraction happens out of the blue. One of my biggest problems with the book was the characters. I felt like nobody talked to anyone. A lot of the problems the main character faced could have been avoid by just communicating with others.

“Just because you’re telling a good story, doesn’t mean it’s the right story. And I think that it’s really important to tell the right story.”

It felt juvenile at times, and I wanted to scream at the characters to have a conversation with one another. One character’s actions would make another character do something, which would create a vicious cycle that ultimately prolonged the love triangle. One of the biggest annoyances was that the main character knew who her heart wanted, but continued to string both, love interest, along. I understand that she was confused, but instead of playing with people’s hearts, she should have taken the time to come to terms with her feelings.

The writing style was different than I was used to, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was slower, and took a while to get into. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, but don’t think it had a negative effect on the story. Actually, I think the writing style fit the book well.

If you have read this book, leave your thoughts in the comments below. As always, you can share and like this post to support my book blog. Don’t forget to follow, to get notified when I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Sick Day Routine // Recommendations

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
For the past week I have been battling a summer cold. Unfortunately, I tend to get sick fairly often, which is never fun. I wanted to talk about my sick day routine in this post, but make it bookish. I will be recommending some books and movies that are great for when you are having a sick day.

Sleep: When I’m sick, I try to sleep as much as possible. Sleep helps you conserve your energy and nothing is better than sleeping off a cold. Sometimes, it’s hard to sleep when you are under the weather, but I try to take night time cold pills. If that doesn’t work, I take melatonin to help me wind down.

Shower: I don’t know about you, but I take hot showers on the regular when I’m sick. They are comforting, and help to open up my lungs. The steam is especially great for dealing with congestion. Showers are great for body aches and chills as well.

Warm Drinks: I try to stay hydrated as much as possible. I like to have warm beverages, since they soothe my throat. I wouldn’t go for something too sweet, particularly if you have a sore throat. I prefer hot coffee myself, but hot tea is a good option as well.

Roald Dahl: This British author has written many classic children’s books, like ‘James and the Giant Peach’ and ‘The Witches’. I have only read Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, but I think his work is very easy to read and perfect for a sick day.

‘Coraline’ by Neil Gaiman: You might be familiar with this spooky middle-grade. I think that the story is fairly fast-paced and a tame yet creepy read. It is a good book for when you are laying in bed all day and want to be entertained.

‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman: I haven’t read this manga series, but I hear that it is cute and sweet. Honestly, a lighthearted, contemporary graphic novel series is a great sick day read. Mangas are pretty easy to get through and follow, so you won’t have a hard time picking up where you left off if you happen to doze off. Hey, it can happen when you’re sick.

Disney: When you are sick, nothing is better than watching classic Disney movies. You can watch you favorite Disney princess movies, or some Pixar films. Personally, I think Disney Channel Original movies are the best to watch when you’re not feeling great. Lounging in bed with some childhood nostalgia makes a sick day a little more bearable.

‘The Princess Bride’: This movie is full of adventure, laughter and love. It keeps you engaged, and isn’t too long of a film. Also, the movie is totally quotable. I mean who can forget lines a like “As You Wish” and “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”.

‘House, MD’: When you’re sick nothing is more fun to watch than sick people. Honestly, House is interesting, funny, and completely different than most medical shows on the air today. I am telling you – getting cozy in bed on a sick day and watching a House marathon is great medicine.

I hope that you are all feeling well, and liked this post. I know everyone’s sick days look different, so it was fun sharing my routine with you all. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified about more post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Katniss Everdeen // Fashion Inspiration

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Hi Friends,
This post might be a bit different, but I thought it would be fun to do fashion inspiration inspired by book characters. I decided to start with Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games books.

It was a lot of fun coming up with her looks. She isn’t a girly girl, and I picture her style to be very simple. The looks that I did were her everyday fashion, and wedding attire. We never saw her get married, so I thought it would be interesting to do my own take on what she would have worn.


Sweater: 1 2
Tank: 1 2
Jeans: 1 2
Shoes: 1 2


Dress: 1 2
Flats: 1 2
Ring: 1 2

Those outfits were a blast to put together. I hope that you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. Don’t forget to like and share it with all your bookish friends. If you would like to support me, please follow my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Coffee Break // Problematic Authors

- Bunny 2 Comments

Credit: Bill Watterson

Hi Friends,
I don’t know if this is still a touchy subject, but I am going to be talking about reading problematic authors. I have wanted to do a post on this topic but never knew how to address it. These are only my thoughts on problematic authors, and certainly don’t want to speak for the whole book community. Cancel culture is a large part of the world today in hopes of stopping hate speech.

I am not going to touch on cancel culture in this post because I do have some strong feelings about it. However, problematic authors aren’t a new thing yet they weren’t really called out for their behavior. Partly because society was used to brushing things under the rug, and partly because nobody wanted to go against the majority. But most of it was that authors only really ever spoke through their works. Social media wasn’t always a thing. Shocker, right?

Two of the biggest names in teen literature that have been called out as being problematic are J.K. Rowling and Sarah J. Maas. Maas is a well-known young adult author whose books are seen as controversial. She has also been accused of being racist. As for Rowling, not many people take issue with her books, but she has been called out for other things more than once. She is a known supporter of anti-transgender organizations, and has no respect for the trans community.

I don’t intend on picking up Sarah J. Maas’ work, but not because of her problematic behavior, but simply for the fact they don’t interest me. Now, I would be lying if I said that hearing about the controversy surrounding her hasn’t solidified this. However, I am not sad about never putting a dime into her pocket. As for J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter books are a work of, well, magic. I have never been a major fan of the series, but started my first read of them about two years ago. My husband and I own all the movies. I own all the books. Does that make us problematic? I hope not.

I will continue reading the series, but if I ever speak about them, I will let it be known that I am not a supporter of her, or anything she stands for. Not only were we gifted the movies, but all of my copies of the books were bought secondhand. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe the author gets anything if their books were bought used. I know that we want to separate the artist from the work, but this is usually easier said than done.

It seems to be a more natural to ignore a problematic author who is deceased. Many people love Agatha Christie books since she helped build the mystery genre. We still read Dr. Seuss to kids, even with his work being racist. However, these authors aren’t making money when someone buys their work. I was always a fan of Dr. Seuss’ work, but as I’ve gotten older, I do find it necessary to make others aware that I don’t condone his behavior.

The first step is to acknowledge that the author is problematic. We shouldn’t read with rose-tinted glasses. We need to make others in the community aware that this author is problematic. Next, remember to make your own views clear! I hope it is obvious that I don’t support hate speech or racism of any kind. I am a supporter of communities such as LGBT+ and mental illness. After all, that, is it okay to read work from a problematic author? Yes! Cue the pitchforks…

If you are getting that work from the library, or buying it secondhand – basically not benefiting the author themselves – then I don’t believe that it is the worst possible injustice in the world. But I do believe the steps I mentioned above are important when doing anything regarding problematic authors. I am not here to tell you to throw out all your Harry Potter books and merchandise, and never talk about the series again. Honestly, if it is, or was, a big part of your life, then talk about it. Just remember that behind every work of art there is an artist.

“Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” – JFK

Before you go, here are some awesome charities that would love your support: TransLifeline, The Loveland Foundation, and Children of Persia. There are many other charities out there that you can donate to as well. Please leave your thoughts on this taboo subject in the comments. No hate, only love.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

10 Truths And A Dare // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

Title: 10 Truths And A Dare
Author: Ashley Elston
Published: 2021
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

It’s Senior Week! That magical in-between time after classes have ended, but before graduation, that’s filled with gimmicky theme parties, last-minute bonding, and family traditions. Olivia couldn’t be more ready. Class salutatorian, and confident in her future at LSU, she’s poised to sail through to the next phase of her life. But when the tiny hiccup of an unsigned, off-campus P.E. form puts Olivia in danger of not graduating, she has one week to set things straight without tipping off her very big and very nosy extended family.
Source: GoodReads

Last year, I read “10 Blind Dates” by this author. It was a charming YA contemporary set during the Christmas season. I was excited to pickup her newest read, which follows one of the minor characters from that story. This time around, we follow Olivia, who is a straight-A student, salutatorian, and bound for LSU. However, she must complete her required off-campus P.E. course in only a week, or she can kiss graduation goodbye. Sounds like the making of a great contemporary, right? Maybe not.

I wanted to like this book; and believe me, I tried. I felt very disconnected with both the lead character and the plot. I have noticed a trend in YA contemporary females; they are all portrayed as perfect students and planners. Basically extreme versions of Rory Gilmore. Olivia was also an academic perfectionist, but one who couldn’t handle fulfilling a simple P.E. requirement. I understand that someone with a workload of all AP classes might not put much effort into P.E., but why wouldn’t she want a good grade? She is an overachiever, after all.

One plot point that didn’t make sense to me was Olivia’s overbearing mother. The fact that her mother texts her multiple times in an hour, and installed a tracker app on her high-school senior daughter’s phone is a bit much. I don’t know if that was supposed to seem funny, but it was more weird. Also, the title suggests there be more of a truth-or-dare aspect to this story. But the question of truth or dare, was more of a way to get the plot moving, than an actual feature in the story.

A disappointment for me, was that there wasn’t many characters besides Olivia. We did have moments with other characters, like her cousins and love interest, but I wanted more of her extended family. One of the best parts of “10 Blind Dates” was the family relationships, which this book woefully lacked. As for the ending, everything was wrapped up with a nice little bow, but was a bit too convenient and predictable. Also, books about golf, unless they are super original, always bore me.

I am not by any means writing Ashley Elston off, but this book was a letdown. Let me know your thoughts on the book in the comments below. You can follow the blog via email to get notified whenever I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny