On The Fence // Book Review

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Title: On The Fence
Author: Kasie West
Published: 2014
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

 

With three older brothers, Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, has always been more comfortable calling the shots on a basketball court than flirting with the opposite sex. So when her police officer dad demands she get a summer job to pay for the latest in a long line of speeding tickets. She’s more than a little surprised to find herself working at a chichi boutique. And going out with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game. Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with her neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. Sitting back-to-back against the fence that separates them. Braden may know her better than anyone. But there’s a secret Charlie’s keeping that even he hasn’t figured out—she’s fallen for him. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win. But if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
Source: Google Books

If you are in the mood for a fluffy, cute YA contemporary then this is the book for you. I am slowly working my way through Kasie West books, and wanted to pick up one of her older works. The story follows a teenage girl who has always been one of the guys. She is a sports-loving tomboy. And, the only girl in a household of men. She has a close relationship with her brothers and long-time neighbor.

I enjoyed the family relationship immensely. Although, they weren’t a huge focus in the story, her brothers were a great side characters. You could see the love they had for each other. As for the romance part, this is a sweet friends-to-lovers story that I wasn’t able to put down. Charlie was a very relatable female protagonist. She was blunt, imperfect and put up strong front. But she was willing to try new things like modeling and makeup. I liked how she didn’t judge people, because they were different from her.

“Bedazzled? What the heck was a bedazzle?”

The book wasn’t all Xs and Os, but talked about loss as well. The author did a great job handling the topic of grief without making it the whole focus of the book. Charlie made mistakes weaving a web of lies. But her decision to own up to her deception showed growth and maturity. There was a slight twist in the book, while predictable it showed how we protect the ones we love from pain. The book talks a bit about mental health, bipolar in general, if I’m remembering correctly. There is no secret that this is a love story about personal growth. Still I wish that mental health struggles was discussed more.

All in all, this is the type of contemporary I adore. From the plot, to the writing style and characters, I was head-over-heels. It was a quick read for me and one of my favorite West novels. If you are a fan of YA friends-to-lover romances than you might want to give this a read. Side note, it gets bonus points for helping me get out of a reading slump.

If you love book reviews and other bookish content you should probably follow the blog. It helps me if you like and share these post. Also, it makes me smile.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Cover vs Cover // Paperback Or Hardback

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Hi Friends,
I have seen a lot of these book ‘Cover vs. Cover’ posts and videos. Basically, the reader will say which cover they like more. There are many different versions of this post, but today I will be comparing the paperback and hardback covers. Often, both editions will have separate covers. So let’s get ready to rate some book covers!

The Thousandth Floor
This was a super easy pick for me, because I loved the hardback cover. Like, so much! It is so beautiful, and tells a great story. The paperback edition looks more like a cheesy romance book. It doesn’t in the convey a message in same way as the hardback copy.

The Summer I Turned Pretty
I am not a fan of people on the book cover, since it never seems original enough. I enjoy the fun, pretty, and unique covers that have thought put into them. Long story short, (no pun intended), the paperback cover is 100 times better than the hardback cover. I love the bright colors and font choice. It also gives me definite summer contemporary vibes.

Windfall
I had a hard time picking between these two. They’re different, yet similar. But, I have to contradict my earlier statement about people on the cover and choose the paperback version. I think, mostly, because my favorite color is pink. Also, I found the hardback cover to be kind of busy, and distracting from the text. Unpopular opinion, maybe.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
I hadn’t seen the paperback edition until writing this post, and all I can say is, stunning. I want to point out that this is the 2018 edition paperback. The original was the same as the hardback cover. There is also another, more recent version of the paperback, which features the cast of the movie adaption. Anyhow, I always thought that the hardback cover was too minimalist. It didn’t reflect the book at all. I kind of enjoy the chaos of the paperback cover. The background writing is a simple change, but great touch.

13 Reasons Why
This is the simplest cover versus cover, because they are practically the same. I’m reasonably certain that it’s the same photo with a different color profile. But between the two, I would say the hardback version is my favorite. However, I do see the reasoning behind the paperback cover. It is grey and dark, so you know this is a serious book. However, I like how lively the hardback is, while still keeping a somber tone.

Undead Girl Gang

Did they even try with the paperback cover? It looks disorganized and underwhelming. This might be another case of me just not liking real people on a book cover, but you have to admit that this cover is lame. I don’t really care too much for the hardback cover, either, but it’s at least marginally better than the paperback edition. I hope that eventually, the author completely revamps these covers. Let’s get, maybe, a cartoon drawing of some zombie girls on the cover.

As always, like, subscribe, et cetera. You all know this speech by now. But seriously, it helps me, it helps the blog, and you get cool notifications whenever I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Books, Blogging And More

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Hi Friends,
I have a life and blog updated for you all today. My hope is that in doing this post, I can keep myself accountable. These are a bunch of fun goals that I want to accomplish. Not sure where time will take me, but “I have some dreams to make true” (comment if you get that reference).

Self-Publish
It has been a goal of my for sometime to self-publish books. I am going the self-publishing route for two reasons. First, I have a lot of respect for self-published authors. Secondly, I don’t want to put my mental health through the stress and possible rejection that comes from looking for a publisher. Anyhow, let’s talk about my books. I have been dying to put out a poetry collection for sometime now, and I already have a title and a draft of a cover. Now it’s time for the editing and formatting stage.

My goal is to have it out by winter of 2021, or early 2022. I have a children’s picture book completely thought out, and on the process of getting the artwork done. I would like to release that by March of 2022. Currently, my main focus is a YA thriller that is reminiscent of classic teen horror flicks. I am working on the manuscript and taking my time getting it just right. I would like to have that released by October 2022 or Fall of 2023. For me it is about quality, not speed. I have a loose idea for a magic-realism middle grade and an adult rom/com novel, but those won’t be out for a few years. Comments about self-publishing tips or advice would be great!

Candles
If you are a reader, you are a candle lover as well. For some reason candles and reading go hand-in-hand. I am starting a small candle business. I want to make a few small fall candles, then winter ones as well. The goal is to create scents that you can’t find anywhere else. The plan in the future is to release themed collections, which will be a lot of fun. I would love to know your scent ideas in the comments below. You can follow the company’s Instagram page to stay updated on our progress.

Blog
As for my blog, I wanted to let you know that I will be officially doing “The 13 Days of Spooktober” as well as “The 12 Days of Bookmas/Blogmas”. I already have most of my posts planned out, but topic suggestions in the comments. Not all of my posts will be book related, but I do think I have a good mix of lifestyle and book posts planned. “Thankful Thursday” may also be a thing in November, which will consist of mostly lifestyle posts.

I am going to be doing a giveaway in October too. I picked October, since everyone is bound to do a holiday giveaway. Also, October is close to my heart because I got married on Halloween. Another thing is that I have a readathon idea, so I might be hosting that sometimes next year. Do you prefer just prompts? Or would people prefer a bingo board? Last, I might be starting a book club, but more info about that will be on my Twitter.

If you read this entire post, thank you! I love getting my readers’ feedback. Don’t forget to like and share this post. And, if you aren’t already doing so, go subscribe to my blog to get post notifications.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

There’s Someone Inside Your House // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

Title: There’s Someone Inside Your House
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Published: 2017
Genre: Young Adult/Thriller

2.5/5 Stars


Makani Young thought she’d left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She’s found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn’t far behind. Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.
Source: Goodreads

I was a fan of Stephanie Perkins’ contemporary books, so I was interested to see her take on a thriller. I had heard that it was reminiscent of ‘Scream’, which I loved. This book follows a high schooler, Makani, who has moved from Hawaii to Nebraska to live with her grandmother. But Makani has a dark secret that she is hiding. Now this wasn’t the most captivating book, and it dragged at times. I enjoyed that last half of the book, but that is about it. It was very romance heavy, which is strange for a thriller. The romance was very instant lovey and based on physical attraction. However, I didn’t feel like there was much chemistry between the characters.

Her friends were barely a factor in the book at all. When we did seem them, they were always throwing shade at her boyfriend. She even mentioned countless times how she felt like the third wheel in her friendship, which seemed pretty toxic to me. Ollie, the love interest, was probably my favorite character. He had a tragic past, but a dark sense of humor as well.

As for Makani’s dark past, it was pretty underwhelming. For a teenager it might have seemed life shattering, but it wasn’t all that horrible. I didn’t understand the reasoning behind her selfish, absent parents. It seemed as though the author added that so we could empathize with the main character. I would have enjoyed it better if she had told her parents off, because her mother was a witch with a B.

“Everybody has at least one moment they deeply regret, but that one moment…it doesn’t define all of you.”

Now the thing that ticked me off the most was the killer reveal and motive. Without giving too much away. The killer was so random and the reveal wasn’t shocking at all. There were times when I thought I knew who the killer was going to be, which kept me interested in the plot. However, I was completely disappointed in the identity of the killer. The motive was on a whole other level of annoyance. Totally ridiculous. I understand that people kill for all different reasons, but I thought it was altogether a terrible ending. It seemed as those the author didn’t know where she was going with the story, and threw a motive together at the last minute.

The best part of the book was the killer’s last attack. This character fought like hell, and wasn’t going to let some serial killer take her life. She was pretty bad ass. I am not disappointed by the book, but I was hoping for more from the story. I probably wouldn’t recommend it to readers unless you are a die-hard Stephanie Perkins fan. Once thing that I wanted to note was that the killing scenes where somewhat graphic, so keep that in mind before you pick it up.

As always, like and share this review with others, and remember to follow the blog to get notified whenever I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Coffee Break // Audiobooks Aren’t Real Reading

- Bunny 2 Comments


Hi Friends,
I have wanted to do this post for a while now, because it is something I am extremely passionate about. Is listening to audiobooks ‘reading’? I used to be the type of person that would hate on audiobook readers. I would think it was cheating, and not real reading. However, fast forward 10 years and 100% of my reading is done via audiobooks. Zero regrets. I completely understand people that cannot get behind audiobooks, and have to physically read. Just like anything else, audiobooks aren’t for everyone, and it does take some getting used to. I know that a lot of people believe that you aren’t truly ‘reading’ if you go the audiobook route. But I don’t think that’s really true.

I watched a lot of videos on this topic, and one of them put it very well. In the video, by EmmmaBooks, she posed a question – that if someone drives themself to work, but their co-worker takes the bus, did one of them cheat? Or take the easy way out? The person that drove themself isn’t going to call out their co-worker for taking the bus. They both got the same results, but took different paths to get there. In the debate of audiobooks versus physically reading, you are both consuming the same work, just in different forms.

I am a multi-tasker with serious ADD, which makes audiobooks perfect for me. I can accomplish other things while reading. Also, it is like TV in my head. Oh, the days of radio shows. Best-sellling author Stephen King even did a short video, declaring that “audiobooks are terrific”. They are especially great for people who have learning disabilities, that would otherwise struggle with reading. I am forunate enough to be able to read well, but I do still get frustrated when there isn’t an audiobook version available. Authors that only release physical books are missing out on sharing their work with a whole new dynamic of people.

In my opinion, the whole point of reading is to open your mind to a new world and a new group of people, to bring the story to life. You can do that regardless of whether you listen to the audiobook or read it in print. I would certainly never think less of the people who choose to listen to audiobooks, and I love the fact that all readers are different. but can still come together and share a love for books. I will always advocate for audiobooks, and if that makes me not a real reader, then so be it. Remember – you do you, and enjoy reading any way you please.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My Blogging Process // Creating Content

- Bunny 2 Comments


Hi Friends,
Today, I will be doing a post on how I write my blog posts. I know this may seem like a weird topic for a blog post, but I thought it would be interesting to share. Here’s how I formulate my blog post ideas, edit post and keep track of reviews. I try to stay extremely organized regarding blog posts. Especially since I put up 3, sometimes 4, posts a week. I have to plan out all my posts for the month and then some. Currently, I have a list of blog post ideas that will last me until November. However, a true blogger knows that things change and you have to move posts around all the time. I just prefer having a master list of ideas that I can pull from at any given time.

I feel like I am constantly writing posts and thinking of ideas. So to make it easier on myself, I try to write my posts for the coming week on Sundays. I edit them and schedule them to go up. Now that doesn’t always work out thus, I am writing this post Monday, August 16th and it is going up on my blog today. Some quick post ideas are tags, top five favorites, and recommendations. Usually I like to have back-up posts ready to go live on days like today, but that isn’t always the case.

As for reviews, I try to jot down my thoughts throughout reading the book. This way I have my thoughts while reading the book and my overall final thoughts. It takes a lot of trial and error to perfect blog reviews, and come up with something you like. Right now I like my review style, but I am sure it will change later in my blogging life. As for editing posts, I am terrible at grammar. There are some free grammar and spell checker tools on the internet. There are paid versions as well.

I have noticed that grammar editors tend to change your writing style, so keep that in mind before investing in one. Luckily, I have my husband who is willing to proof read my posts. I will typically do one final proof read myself just for safety. A big tip when writing posts is not to focus so much on SEO. As a blogger that is something we are all trying to prefect, but sometimes your writing style and SEO aren’t going to agree. It is better to put out a post that reflects you instead of one that checks off all the SEO boxes.

I hope that this post interests you in someway. Please check back for other bookish and lifestyle posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

They Wish They Were Us // Book Review

- Bunny 4 Comments


Title: They Wish They Were Us
Author: Jessica Goodman
Published: 2020
Genre: Young Adult/Mystery


Freshman year Jill’s best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on. Now, it’s Jill’s senior year and she’s determined to make it her best yet. After all, she’s a senior and a Player–a member of Gold Coast Prep’s exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school. This is going to be Jill’s year. She’s sure of it. But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham’s innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn’t kill Shaila, who did? Jill vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.
Source: Goodreads


This was one of my first introductions into YA mystery. I figured since I love thriller movies, then thriller books should be right up my alley. I had been anticipating reading this book for a while, but had seen some mixed reviews on it. I’ll start off with the negative aspects of the book, so we can end on a good note. I wasn’t a fan of the slow moving plot. I felt as though nothing had happened, but I was already at the 1/3 mark.

Another problem was that I could instantly tell who the killer was going to be. I feel that a thriller is more interesting when there are a lot of suspects, and you don’t know who to trust. I found all the characters to be fairly shallow, and only cared about their social status. I never went to high-school, so I don’t have any frame of reference on how other teenagers act. But I hope they aren’t as bratty as they were portrayed in this book.

My biggest problem was the female lead’s indecisiveness. For the majority of the book, she bounced back-and-forth between helping or just staying out of it. Even though she had many doubts about her friend’s killer, she tried to talk herself out of helping an innocent person go free. There’s not wanting to get involved, and then there’s just turning a blind eye. Now, moving on to happier things! I enjoyed Goodman’s writing style tremendously. I could see her writing some amazing, lighthearted contemporaries in the future.

I thought that the killer’s motive was done very well. I didn’t expect it at all. One of the most redeeming points is that I find this to be a great first step into the YA thriller, murder mystery genre. It is on the tamer side, but has solid writing and plot. Don’t be afraid to give me some YA thriller and horror recommendations in the comments. Subscribe via email to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Why I Read YA // Coffee Break

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
In this post, I wanted to share with you why I usually prefer YA books. It isn’t unusual for an adult reader to enjoy books about teenagers. However, I always find it interested to learn why readers read what they do. I have seen posts dissing young adult books, which is completely unfair.

I believe one of the biggest reasons I enjoy YA is that they’re typically faster paced than adult books. No offense teens, but younger readers have a shorter attention span, so the books are more engaging and quick to keep you reading. Another big thing is that a lot of YA books are usually set in high schools with no shortage of drama. Being fairly sheltered (and home schooled) as a teen, I live vicariously through the characters.

This might seem lame, but adult novel intimidate me. They can be 500+ pages. While there are some lengthy books in the YA genre, most are under 350 pages. I can only speak for myself, but I just don’t have the patience to read a thick book that could take me months to finish.

I hate myself for admitting this, but one of the reasons I love YA is the love stories. First love and high-school romances, cliché as they might be, always pique my interest. I love teen dramas! So, no surprise, my book taste reflects that as well. Plus, the authors behind the novels can be very imaginative and over-the-top in their writing. Probably because teens thrive on drama. Hey, I’ve seen Riverdale, and I love a little unrealistic drama too.

Whether you are a fan of middle-grade, adult, non-fiction, or YA keep reading what makes you happy. Not every reader has the same interest that is what makes the book community so diverse. I would love if you left a comment telling me your favorite genre and why.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Powerpuff Girl Fashion Inspiration // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
Growing up, I watched a lot of television. Although oddly enough, most of my favorite shows were adult series and TV Land reruns. However, I was still a fan of Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. The Powerpuff Girls were one of my favorite cartoons. Not only are they adorable, but the show was filled with laughter and action. Well, kid-friendly action. When a live-action Power Puff Girl series was announced, I wasn’t sure how to feel. On one hand, it would be cool to see these characters come to life. On the other-hand, can we keep the lighthearted wholesomeness the original cartoon had.

Unfortunately, if you saw the leaked script for the live-action version it is anything but wholesome. I would goes as far as calling it trash! Luckily they are reworking the series, so a decent series could be possible. I decided it might be fun to image what the Power Puff Girl’s style would be like in the world today. They all have different personalities and their fashion picks should represent them.

This was a fun post to write for you guys, and be sure to check back for future posts. Don’t forget to like and share this post with all your friends. You can follow the blog via email as well. Let me know in the comments who your favorite Power Puff Girl is. As for me, I was always a Bubbles girl.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Books // Recommendations From Princesses

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
This is a fun little book post idea that I don’t think I have seen anyone do before. I was raised on Disney! I watched old Disney Channel shows, like ‘So Weird’, ‘The Jersey’,and ‘The Famous Jett Jackson’. We had mountains of Disney movies on VHS. I was always a Disney Princess kind of girl. I thought it would be cool to give some book recommendations based off Disney Princesses. Think of it as Belle or Ariel recommending these books to you instead of me. Most of these books I have read, but some I thought fit the princess’ personality.

Princess: Jasmine
Movie: Aladdin
Book Recommendation: ‘When Dimple Met Rishi’ by Sandhya Menon
In the book, Dimple is against marriage. Specically, arranged ones. She has dreams for her future and, at least right now, being a wife isn’t one of them. However, Rishi is a kind-hearted guy that believes in love and following his parents rules. The book doesn’t mimic Aladdin’s story so much, but I can see Jasmine resonating with Dimple in many ways. They both come from cultures that expect certain things from them, and their parents don’t always understand their dreams. Rishi wasn’t anything like Aladdin, but after reading this book Jasmine probably found him to be charming.

 

Princess: Tiana
Movie: Princess and the Frog
Book Recommendation: ‘With the Fire on High’ by Elizabeth Acevedo
I haven’t read this book, but I hear that it is amazing. Also, I have never watched “Princess and the Frog” so I guess I’m taking a shot in the dark on this one. I have heard that Tiana is a strong, intelligent woman who loved to cook. This book is about a teenage mother that is juggling school, motherhood, and helping support her family. The only thing that helps her cope is her passion for cooking. The kitchen is where she shines, and everything she cooks is magical. I could be wrong, but I think Tiana would find so many similarities to her life within this book.

 

Princess: Belle
Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Book Recommendation: ‘Moxie’ by Jennifer Mathieu
This is another book on my forever growing TBR. When you think of a book recommendation by Belle, you might picture a story about a book lover, or a romance. But, I went a different route. Although, I love that Belle was an avid reader, and her love story was my favorite, she was adventurous and didn’t want to be a damsel-in-distress. Moxie tells the story of a girl that is fed up with her small-town and the double-standard in her high school. As sung by Belle herself: Every morning just the same, since the morning that we came, to this poor provincial town. She start an anonymous feminist ‘zine that makes its way throughout her school. Soon, she will set into motion a girls’ revolution.

I had a lot of fun coming up with this post. I may do more posts like this, featuring different Disney Princesses. Don’t forget to like and share this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny