Adult

Then She Was Gone // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

About The Book
She was fifteen, her mother’s golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone. Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie. And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet. But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year-old daughter. Because his daughter is the image of Ellie.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/41wG1vK

My Rating

I had heard nothing but good things about this book. And, going into it, I was expecting it to be a thrilling mystery-thriller. However, the story wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be.

In the book, we follow Laurel, whose daughter Ellie disappeared when she was just fifteen year old. 10 years later, Laurel meets Floyd, whose daughter Poppy looks almost identical to Ellie.

The plot sounded so intriguing, but predictable from the start. Honestly, there wasn’t many shocking twist in the book. I think even a newbie mystery reader could have figured out where the story was going.

As a main character, Laurel was a classic mother of a missing child, at least as far as pop culture is concerned. She took 10 years to even attempt to move on from losing Ellie. And, she had a strained relationship with her other two kids and husband because of her resentment towards them for Ellie’s disappearance.

“When I read a book it feels like real life and when I put the book down it’s like I go back into the dream.”

It was interesting to get chapters in Ellie’s perspective. Reading those chapters made me imagine what it would be like loosing a child. Nothing can compare to that kind of nightmare. It’s a horrifying, and nobody should have to go through that kind of situation.

However, the writing wasn’t as engaging as I’d would have liked. I found the pacing to be pretty slow. I’ve heard a lot of people mention that it is a quick read, and while I did finish it in a day, I wouldn’t necessarily consider the book to be fast-paced. Still, the story wasn’t interesting enough to keep me reading.

Overall, I would say that this for sure a mystery but not at all a thriller. For the most part, you already no where the story is going to go. Also, I found the book to be very sad. The ending broke my heart. I just felt so bad for Laurel, Ellie, Poppy, and mostly every character by the end of the book.

Before you read this book be sure to check out the trigger warnings. StoryGraph is a great resource for looking up trigger warnings in books. Don’t forget to like this post and follow my blog to get post alerts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Spring 2023 // To Be Read

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Hi Friends,
Today, I’m going to be doing my Spring TBR! I’ve decided to start doing more seasonal TBRs, since I’m a huge mood readers. However, I’ve been super active on Bookstagram and Booktok. And, on Booktok I’ve started doing a TBR jar, so each month I’ll pick out four books from that jar. If you want to see my picks for April go follow me on TikTok (@BooksWithBunny). Anyways, let’s get on to the books I hope to read this spring!

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter: I have become a huge Lynn Painter fan, so I have decided to dive into her adult romances. I hear that this is a really funny and cute romance.

Love Wager by Lynn Painter: This is the second book in her ‘Mr. Wrong Number’ series. I don’t know much about it but the color is yellow, which makes me think of spring.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston: I’ve read some of the authors YA work before, and admittedly, didn’t love them. However, I’ve heard only good things about this book. It’s a romance with a main character that falls in love with a ghost. It’s giving off major ‘Just Like Heaven’ vibes.

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon: I have absolutely no idea what this book is about, but it follows a weather girl, so I’m sold. Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I’m obsessed with the weather, so this book is perfect for me.

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez: This is an adult romance that has to do with a women that is infertile. I’m excited to read this because Abby Jimenez is a very popular author, but, as I’m struggling to conceive as well, it might be a very hard read for me.

With And Without You by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley: I have a love hate relationship with this author duo. I loved their book ‘If I’m Being Honest’ but have hated nearly all of their other books. However, I’m going to give this one a read, and see if they can prove they’re not just a one hit wonder in my book.

She Gets the Girl by Alyson Derrick and Rachael Lippincott: All I know is that this is a queer love story, and it’s written by one of the authors of ‘Five Feet Apart’. Enough said.

Promposal by RaeChell Garrett: This was on my most anticipated romance releases of 2023. As you can tell from the title it’s a young adult contemporary about prom. So, I have to read it around prom seasons.

Tell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea Sedoti: I know nothing about this book, except for the fact that it’s a YA mystery/thriller, but leans more toward the mystery side of things. The cool thing is that it’s told mostly through police interviews.

She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran: Honestly, I can’t remember what this book is about, but I know that it’s a YA thriller. And, it is said to be perfect for fans of ‘Mexican Gothic’. While I didn’t love that book, I remember being intrigued by this one’s plot.

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager: I’ve been wanting to pick up a Riley Sager book for sometime and this is the one I’ve chosen to read first. I believe it’s about a woman that thinks she witnessed a murder. However, I’m pretty sure she’s an unreliable narrator.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins: This book has mixed reviews, but I still want to read it for myself. It is a ‘locked island’ thriller, which sounds unlike anything I’ve read before.

There you have my somewhat big spring TBR! Let me know what you are hoping to read this spring in the comments. Don’t forget to give my blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My Best Reads Of 2022

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
It’s time for me to share my favorite books of 2022! In 2022, I read 103 books, and you’ll be able to find reviews on all my 2022 reads soon. However, 10 of those books stood out among the rest and have earned a spot on this list. But, remember these are my personal favorite books of the years they might not match your reading taste. Still, I adored each and everyone of these reads!

1 Number PNG0 Number PNGLove, Life And The List by Kasie West
Kasie West will forever be a favorite author! This book was so cute, and the friends to lovers romance was swoon-worthy. I don’t know if a lot of people will enjoy this story, since it is predictable, but most Kasie West stories are pretty easy to figure out.
Related Post: Love, Life And The List // Book Review

9 Number PNGSeance Tea Party by Reimena Yee
This story was warm-hearted and sad. Honestly, I didn’t think that this graphic would make it on to this list, but it rightfully has a spot in my favorites of 2022.

8 Number PNGThe Cousins by Karen M. McManus
It isn’t a surprise that this book has made it on to my favorites list, since the story completely shook me. I read this book in a day! It is such a fast-paced thriller, with an amazing twist.
Related Post: The Cousins // Book Review

7 Number PNGEight Nights Of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds
I read this book close to the end of the year not expecting it would be come a favorite of the year. But, I loved this second chance enemies to lovers holiday romance. This book is everything I love about YA contemporary.
Related Post: Eight Night’s Of Flirting // Book Review

6 Number PNGYou’ll Be The Death Of Me by Karen M. McManus
Yep, another Karen M. McManus book on the list. This book probably wouldn’t be a lot of peoples favorite but I loved it! The ending was amazing and kind of a cliffhanger. I really hope that there’s a sequel in the works, because I need more of this story and these characters.
Related Post: You’ll Be The Death Of Me // Book Review

5 Number PNGThe Fear by Natasha Preston
This actually wasn’t a five star read for me. However, this book truly creeped me out. We get chapters in the mind of a serial killer, which are super eerie. The book gives off major Criminal Minds vibes, so if you are into that, than you’ll love this book.
Related Post: The Fear // Book Review

4 Number PNGHow Not To Fall In Love by Jacqueline Firkins
I adored this entire story. I’m not typically a friends-to-lovers fan, but Jacqueline Firkins did it right. The plot hooked me from the start, and I could not put this book down. Honestly, I was smiling throughout the entire book.
Related Post: How Not To Fall In Love // Book Review

3 Number PNGThe Night Shift by Alex Finlay
This was my first adult thriller/mystery read, and it made me fall in love with the genre. I loved the plot about a present time murder being similar to a past murder. I felt like I was watching an episode of Cold Case, but better. That might only make sense to me, but still, I found this book to be amazing.
Related Post: The Night Shift // Book Review

2 Number PNGBetter Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
I’m going to go ahead and say that this book has become an all time favorite YA contemporary of mine. Throughout the story, I laughed, blushed and even cried. I am so glad that I picked it up andirons rightfully deserves this number two spot.

1 Number PNGHidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Immediately after reading this book, I knew that it was going to be my favorite read of 2022. I could not put this book down, and raved about it to everyone. The ending was incredible and heartbreaking at the same time. I want this to become a movie so badly, and I am available to star in it.
Related Post: Hidden Pictures // Book Review

There you have the list of my best books of 2022! Last year, I read some great books, but I’m pretty happy with how this list turned out. In the comments, let me know your top book of 2022. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more posts like this one.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

In A Holidaze // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments


About The Book
One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3hNrJpK

My Rating

This book had so much promise, but was ultimately a letdown. This is a fun groundhog’s day story about a twenty-something woman that keeps repeating her holiday week with her family and friends.

The main character, Maelyn, was very unlikable. First off, we only get to know the new version of Mae; the one that she chooses to be after repeating her Christmas a few times. We get mentions of who she use to be, but it feels as though we don’t really know her.

From what I did see, she was judgmental, and it felt that she had a certain idea of what it meant to be an adult. She was in a weird love triangle with two brothers, but it wasn’t really a love triangle. Also, she completely blows off one of the brothers for something that happened in a previous timeline. It makes her out to be a petty friend.

“I ask the universe, simply: Can you show me what will make me happy?”

I found the romance to be kind of out of the blue, while still being the convenient way to go. However, I did think the romance was going to go a more predictable route, which I would have much rather preferred. As for Andrew (as a character), he was pretty judgmental himself and by the end of the book I found him acting all high and mighty to Mae. One fight and he was out.

The Groundhog Day aspect was interesting, yet she didn’t actually redo the Christmas that many times. Also, there was no reason to why she was stuck in the loop. Honestly, you expect me to believe that she got some magic wish to make her Christmas have a happy ending. If that’s the case, I want her fairy godmother.

Overall, the writing style is what kept me reading. The story was very fast paced, and easy to read in a day, which was nice. So, if you’re looking for a quick holiday romance, then you could pick this one up. But, for me, it was a total bust; not something I’d ever read again.

In the comments, leave me some cute holiday book recommendations. Don’t forget to give this post a like, and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My Book Wishlist // Christmas 2022

- Bunny Leave a comment

Happy Bookmas Day 18! Today, I’m going to be sharing 5 books from the top of my wishlist for this year. I have a lot of books on my Amazon wishlist, but these are the ones that I am hoping to add to my bookshelf soon. Normally, I’m a YA girl, but my wishlist is surprisingly diverse this year, which I’m happy about! So, if you’re reading this, Santa, I would love to see one or more of these books in my stocking or under the three this year!

In the comments, let me know what is at the top of your wishlist this holiday season. You can view my Amazon Book Wishlist to see other books I would love to be gifted. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

For The Ones You Love 2022 // Book Recommendations

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Hi Friends,
It’s Bookmas Day 17! In this post, I’m going to be giving you book recommendations for your loved ones. I actually did this post last year, as well. So, if you are looking for some ideas on books to gift the people in your life this holiday season, then you will want to keep reading.

Have I Told You This Already? Stories I Don’t Want to Forget to Remember Book by Lauren Graham
This is Lauren Graham’s 2022 book release, which features a collection of short stories from her life. Personally, I know my mom would love to read this book, and I think other moms and grandmothers would as well.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This is an historical fiction that is raved about. Again, just going off of my mom’s taste she is a big history fan and would find this book interesting, and possibly heartbreaking. And it is going to be made into a movie soon, which makes it the perfect time to gift the book.

Warcross by Marie Lu
This is the first book in a duology about a bounty hunter and hacker who somehow glitches herself in this popular digital tournament game. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this book, and when I think of video games, I think of my husband. I have a feeling he’d be interested in this read, which makes me think other men might as well.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Yes, a romance novel might seem a little weird to give the guy in your life, but who says guys can’t read romance? And, that is exactly what this book shows. The Bromance books are all about a secret book club made up of men that read romance novels. Honestly, I think all men could learn something from a good romance novel.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
This is the first book in a Romeo and Juliette inspired duolgy. The story takes place in Shanghai, during the 1920s. It is such a thrilling fantasy that I think any women, even if they don’t generally read fantasy, would enjoy this story.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Regardless of my feelings on how this trilogy ended, this series would make a great gift for the female in your life. Sure you could go with a fluffy romance novel, but these books are so addictive. This series is also a great starting point for readers new to the murder/mystery/thriller genre.
Related Post: A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder // Book Review

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
This middle grade series is not only full of adventure and magic, but has a film adaptation as well! It is a fantastical story about a school where you are trained to be a hero or a villain. This is a great series of books that I could see both boys and girls getting immersed into.

Frostheart by Jamie Littler
This is a fantasy book series about a young boy in search of his family. I have only read the first book in this series, but I have heard that the books just keep getting better. Also, there are so many fun characters within this action-packed adventure. There’s even a yeti! Need I say more?
Related Post: Frostheart // Book Review

I hope that you enjoyed this book gift recommendation post. If you have any last minute gift giving recommendations, leave them in the comments below! Follow my blog to keep up with all my bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Something From Tiffany’s // Book Review

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About The Book
From international bestselling author Melissa Hill comes an adorable holiday romance about taking chances, falling in love, and trusting destiny. New York City at Christmas and a visit to Tiffany’s is a recipe to sweep a girl off her feet unless fate has other plans .
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3BDEvxt

My Rating

From the moment that I saw the trailer for the Amazon Prime original movie adaptation for this book I knew that I had to read it. A little fact about me is that I love Tiffany’s and think that something from Tiffany’s is one of the most romantic gifts you can give a person.

Also, I just want to mention that I think the version of this book I read, listened too on Audible, is the movie tie-in edition. I believe that the actual book is a bit different than the version that audible released.

This book is a fun fast paced story where two men accidentally swap Tiffany’s bags. Gary ends up giving his girlfriend Rachel an engagement ring. While Ethan’s girlfriend gets a charm bracelet. In the book, Ethan tries multiple times to get back his $20000 engagement ring, but his attraction to Rachel makes tell her the truth hard.

I loved all of Rachel and Ethan’s moments, because their chemistry was undeniable. They were so cute together even though they hardly knew each other. Rachel was a very forgiving person and tried to see the best in people especially her boyfriend Gary.

Ethan, a single father, was such a softy. If I spent $20000 on a ring I would have instantly told Rachel the truth, but he could bare to break her heart. As for Gary, I loathed him! He was selfish and toxic.

“Tiffany’s is a very special place filled with magic and romance.”

There wasn’t much too the plot besides the swap, but I was interested in see who things where going to turn out. I enjoyed all the character’s interactions, and their personalities, besides Gary. Also, there was a twist with Ethan’s girlfriend that I didn’t see coming.

My biggest con was the fact that everyone was lying to Rachel. Sure, we all want to protect the people we love but secrets are never the answer. They were willing to let her look like a fool instead of telling her the cold hard truth. I would much rather have someone I love be honest with me than ‘protect’ my feelings.

Overall, this was a cute Christmasy romance. The moral of the story is that everything happens for a reason, which I myself am a big believer of. Also, find someone that can bake you bread or in some cases just buy you some good bread. This book is perfect for Tiffany’s girls like me.

In the comments, tell me if you have ever or would ever like to receive a gift from Tiffany’s. Please like and share this post with others. If you are a fan of book reviews follow my blog so you get notified whenever there is a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Christmas Murder Game // Book Review

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About The Book
Agatha Christie meets Clue in this delightful, tense manor house murder mystery. This clever murder mystery is the perfect gift for fans of classic mysteries, festive Christmas books, and armchair detective work. Twelve clues. Twelve keys. Twelve days of Christmas. But how many will die before Twelfth Night?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3UBj1s0

My Rating

I had been looking forward to this book since I heard the plot, but sadly, it was a complete let down. When I think of this book, the word that comes to mind is ‘boring’. That’s not to say the plot was bad, because the story truly did have potential. However, it was executed poorly.

Most of the characters were unlikable or uninteresting. The tolerable characters played relatively small roles within the story. And, we didn’t get to know each person enough to fully understand them.

The main character, Lily, was okay, but I felt as though the author made her out to be this golden girl. She was smart, kind, and clearly her aunt’s favorite. At times, I could understand why her cousin, that aunt’s daughter, couldn’t stand her.

It was annoying that Lily never came to terms with her mothers death. Sure, finding her mothers body was terribly traumatic but it is infuriating when fictional characters ignore seeking help for something so obvious. You can only really move on once you have faced the loss.

“It’s cruel, when she thinks of it, to ask her to return to this house, with its secrets written on walls and she’s the one who has to strip back the wallpaper.”

Now the second half of the book was a lot faster-paced then the first half. Although, it was pretty clear to me who the killer was. I wasn’t completely correct on the killer, and didn’t guess their motive, but I was half right.

Overall, the book was slow, and the murder-mystery aspect didn’t actually take place until the halfway point. I will say that if you are looking for a book with a complicated family relationship in it, then you might want to give this one a read. Because family being ruthless is very central to the plot.

As for the writing style, it wasn’t horrible, so I might try to give this author another chance. This particular book just wasn’t for me. Also, there is a romance situation that I can’t talk about much since it’s a spoiler, but definitely research trigger warnings for this book before picking it up.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book or are planning to. Don’t forget to support my book blog by giving a follow, too!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

A Merry Little Meet Cute | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—a steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3UtRnNB

My Rating

After reading the plot of this book, I was a little unsure if I should pick it up. Not only is it an adult romance, but it has a bit of a smutty romance element to it. I am neither a big fan of adult romance or smutty books. However, I decided to give it a chance.

The plot is fairly straightforward with a plus-size adult pornstar, Bee, and former boy-band member Nolan cast as the leads in a new Hallmark like holiday film. But, things get complicated when Nolan is a fan of Bee’s adult work and Nolan happens to be Bee’s childhood crush.

Honestly, I loved how the book normalized the adult film industry. Bee besides being a porn star has a CloserDoor account (think OnlyFans). The book showcased that sex workers deserve to be treated as humans and shouldn’t be shamed for their careers.

There were also a lot of funny moments, since many of the characters worked in the adult film industry. And, all characters were fairly likeable. It was nice to have a plus-size main character, especially one that has a job that is typically associated with a certain type of figure.

The book does touch on the fact that you have to pretend a lot in Hollywood, and that the media twist a lot of things. Also, I like how the authors mentioned that internet hate is real. The internet has made it okay for people to say the most hateful things, which is really sad.

“The literal bed could have been on literal fire, and I still would have been there, pumping into my girl like a man possessed.”

Something that I found interesting and refreshing was that both main characters are bisexual, which I find to be pretty rare. I also liked how the subject of Bipolar disorder was handled. Nolan’s mother struggles with the disorder, and the topic was handled in a very real way. As someone that has Bipolar disorder, I truly appreciated the authors take on it.

Now for the smut side of things. This book was spicy. I am not a smut reader so take this with a grain of salt, but I found the book to have a 3/5 spice level. Truthfully, the more smutty scenes were a little weird for me to listen to.

Overall, the concept was unique, yet it worked well. The ending was cute, and everything wrapped up with a nice little bow. I did get the subtle message that everyone – not even ‘Hallmark’ movie watchers – are squeaky clean. And, perhaps those types of networks should broaden their views.

In the comments, let me know if you have read this holiday romance. What would your smut rating be? Before you go don’t forget to like this post and follow the blog.

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