Adult

February 2025 | To Be Read

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Hi Friends,
I can’t believe it’s TBR time again! My reading in January started off so slow, but by the end of the month, I had fallen back in love with books. My two-week reading hiatus was partly due to the post-holiday slump but mostly because of my sudden urge to rewatch Grey’s Anatomy. What can I say? I’m dark and twisty!

That said, I still managed to read some great books in January, and I’m excited to use my prompt cards again to help pick my February TBR. This time, I decided to pick eight prompt cards—because why not have a bigger TBR for a short month? I really am a genius.

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And there you have it—the books on my February TBR! If I’m being completely honest, most of these are books I’ve been putting off for a while. Still, I think I can get through all of them since romances are usually pretty easy reads for me.

Let me know in the comments, what books are you planning to read in February? And if you’re not already following the blog, you should totally do that so you never miss a new post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Silent Patient | Book Review

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About The Book
Alicia Berenson, a famous painter, had the perfect life until she brutally murders her husband and never speaks another word. Institutionalized, her silence makes the crime infamous and art valuable. Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, is determined to make Alicia talk, but his pursuit of the truth takes a perilous and unforeseen turn.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4ghkgXU

My Rating

There is a ton of hype behind this thriller, but unfortunately, I don’t understand the rave reviews for this book. The plot is straightforward—we follow Theo, a criminal psychotherapist who takes a job at a psychiatric facility to get close to Alicia Berenson.

Alicia is at the facility because she was accused of murdering her husband—shooting him five times in the face. Since his death, she has never spoken a word or defended herself. Theo finds Alicia fascinating and hopes he can be the one to help her break her silence.

Now, that premise sounds amazing! However, the book didn’t intrigue me as much as I had hoped. It’s a very character-driven thriller, which is something I typically love. However, for this story, I needed it to be a little more plot-driven. Still, I understand why the author focused on making us invested in these characters and their lives.

“Perhaps some of us are simply born evil, and despite our best efforts we remain that way.”

Throughout the book, we get chapters showcasing Alicia’s life before her husband’s death. We also learn a lot about Theo and his personal struggles. As the story progresses, we even discover why he is so obsessed with Alicia and determined to help her.

I will say that the twist in the book was really well done, and I didn’t actually see it coming until right before it happened. Everything fell into place, but it took me way too long to get invested in the story. I’m not sure if that was due to the plot, the characters, or simply not meshing with the author’s writing style.

Overall, I don’t think the book deserves to be recommended so much. Is it a good thriller? Objectively, yes. Is it something that stands out in my mind? No. However, I do see why people love the ending—the last few chapters are a roller coaster, and I don’t think many readers, including myself, will guess the twist before it’s revealed.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve read the book and what you thought of it. Do you think it’s worth the hype? Before you go, hit the like button and share this post with other readers. As always, follow the blog to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

Icebreaker | Book Review

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About The Book
Figure skater Anastasia Allen has her sights set on Team USA. But when she’s forced to share a rink with the university hockey team, she finds their captain, Nate, both infuriating and charming. When her skating partner’s future becomes uncertain, she reluctantly turns to Nate for help. Sparks fly, but there’s no way she’d fall for a hockey player… right?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4h6QZ3E

My Rating

This review might turn out to be a bit chaotic, because I’m having trouble organizing my thoughts on this book. It’s marketed as an enemies-to-lovers story, but honestly, it felt more like frenemies-to-friends-to-lovers. I think the author intended for Anastasia, the main female character, to be portrayed as a stubborn, type-A, “no relationships” kind of person. However, I don’t think that characterization fully landed. It seemed like she and Nate, the male love interest, transitioned from a casual relationship to a full-blown one fairly quickly, even if they didn’t outright admit it.

Nate comes across as the classic golden retriever-type guy—loyal, caring, and always there for his friends. He’s supportive of Anastasia’s dreams and seems to understand that she struggles with processing her emotions. However, I felt he leaned a bit too much into the role of the “fixer.” While his intentions weren’t controlling, and he clearly meant well, his constant need to solve Anastasia’s problems became overbearing to me at times.

As much as I enjoyed their relationship, it sometimes felt too mushy. There was a level of co-dependency between them that I wasn’t a fan of. That being said, the spice was pretty good. This is definitely an open-door romance, and I’d give it about a 2.5 out of 5 on the spice scale. However, some of the intimate scenes made me cringe—not because they were badly written, but the phrasing felt a bit cheesy or over the top at times.

“It’s not porn. It’s a romance book that happens to have a little bit of sex in it.”

One aspect I appreciated was the emphasis on mental health. The story highlights the importance of therapy, which I found refreshing. I also liked how it presented the complexity of people and relationships—nothing is black and white. I think the author focused a lot on the differences in Anastasia’s and Nate’s upbringings, as well as how they view people. I enjoyed seeing Anastasia’s character undergo significant growth and development throughout the book; however, I felt like Nate remained largely the same.

The writing was engaging, and I remained interested in the story the whole time. That said, there were moments that felt unnecessary, especially some of the frequent drinking and partying scenes. Not all of them added value, and the book could have been shorter without losing much of the plot. However, those scenes did give the book a somewhat true college vibe, reminiscent of the TV show ‘Greek‘.

Overall, the plot was interesting, but the relationship between Anastasia and Nate didn’t make me swoon. I feel like I’m being overly critical, but there were just certain elements that didn’t resonate with me. That said, please take this review with a grain of salt—there were still aspects of the book that I liked. Lastly, while the story introduces a lot of characters, and it was hard to keep track of them all at times, I did like getting to know them, and I’m curious to see where the series goes from here.

Let me know in the comments if this book is on your radar! Don’t forget to like this post and share it with other readers. If you’d like to be notified whenever there’s a new post, please hit the follow button.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

A Touch Of Darkness | Book Review

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About The Book
Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, has always caused flowers to wither at her touch. After a fateful card game with Hades, the God of the Dead, she’s bound by a contract to create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom. As she battles her own limitations and spends more time with Hades, she begins to wonder if her freedom isn’t the only thing at risk—but her heart as well.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4jeBlVd

My Rating

I want to gush about this book and say how amazing it is, but I’m having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. This doesn’t usually happen with my book reviews, so please excuse this one if it isn’t the most articulate. The main takeaway is that I absolutely loved this book and the romance. It’s one of those stories that isn’t particularly fast-paced, but you simply cannot put it down.

In the book, we follow Persephone and Hades, and if you couldn’t already guess, it’s a Persephone and Hades retelling. I didn’t know much about these two going into the book, but I want to mention this in case you’re really into Greek mythology. Persephone is a college student who gets lured into Hades’ world after unknowingly making a bet with him. Persephone isn’t naïve, nor is she afraid to stand up to Hades, which I loved about her.

Hades was very protective of Persephone early on. I adored how it almost felt like he fell in love with her first. Despite his feelings, he didn’t try to control her. He wanted her to see his softer side and understand that he wasn’t the evil god she initially believed him to be. There’s always a reason behind the choices he made and the things he did. I really enjoyed seeing this side of him while he still maintained his strong, intimidating god-like presence.

“Darling, that’s only the start of what I want to do to you.”

The plot was so engaging, and the conflict throughout the book was very understandable. There wasn’t much miscommunication, and let me just say—the spice was amazing! If you’re a closed-door romance reader, you could probably enjoy this book by skipping the spicy scenes, but for me, it was about a four out of five on the spice scale. That said, the book isn’t overloaded with spicy moments—it definitely prioritizes the story over smut.

The writing style was fantastic, and I felt the book ended nicely. I’m curious to see where the next book in the series will go. I especially loved how we got a few chapters from Hades’ perspective at the end. There’s also a book series that tells the same story solely from his perspective. While some might find it odd to read the same story twice, that’s just how good this book was—I’m honestly dying to see the story through his eyes.

Overall, this is such a good book—it’s seriously addictive. It’s a retelling, somewhat romantasy, and spicy read, which are all things I gravitate towards. I honestly don’t think I have any cons for this book, which is rare! It wasn’t too dark or overly insta-lovey—it had more of an ‘attraction at first sight’ vibe, which I found to be a nice touch.

In the comments, let me know if this book is on your TBR—do you enjoy mythology retellings? If you love book reviews and all things bookish, don’t forget to hit the follow button before you go!

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

January 2025 | To Be Read

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today I’m sharing my January 2025 TBR! I’m so excited for a new year, and I know there are only good things ahead. To make picking my TBR a little more fun (and because I’m terrible at coming up with bookish prompts), I decided to buy some amazing TBR cards off Etsy. I picked six prompt cards this month because I wanted to start the year with a realistic TBR. As a mood reader, I’m not always great at sticking to a TBR, but some months I may pick more prompts—like eight—depending on how much of a challenge I’m up for. Let’s jump into the cards I picked and the books I’ll be reading!

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Book Club
Some of you might not know that I’m a Rosy Sunday Social Club chapter host! For January, our pick is Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. I honestly know very little about this book, except that Sally Rooney typically writes adult literary fiction. There will be a happy hour discussion for this book, and you can grab free tickets [here]! I’d love for you to read the book and join me for a fun bookish conversation so we can share our thoughts!

In the comments, let me know what’s on your TBR for the month. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other readers! If you’d like to help my blog grow, please hit the follow button to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Merry Ever After | Book Review

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About The Book
Evie, a single mother seeking a fresh start, has no room for romance—until rugged farmer Luke tempts her to break her no-dating rule. While Evie is set on keeping things casual, Luke is determined to prove he’s in it for the long haul. In this steamy holiday short story, opposites attract as they explore whether love is truly worth the risk.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3P7Bs7d

My Rating

This is one of those fast and easy holiday novellas that you can read in one sitting. It’s part of the Amazon Originals Under the Mistletoe collection of short winter romance stories. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t my favorite. I had high hopes because I’ve heard amazing things about Tessa Bailey’s books, but the plot just didn’t work for me.

The romance felt very insta-lovey, and we didn’t get to know the characters well. Of course, it’s a novella, so it’s challenging to include significant character development or show a deep connection growing between two characters in under 100 pages.

“Maybe it’s the holidays that have me wishing for . . . more out of this simple life of mine.”

Still, I wanted more from the story, and I didn’t get much of a holiday vibe from it. That said, I did enjoy the writing style and appreciated the single mom aspect of the story. However, everything felt rushed—it was basically, “I like you, you like me, let’s be together forever.”

Overall, I’d probably pass on this one since there isn’t much substance to the story. That said, the spice was pretty good—I’d give it a 2.5 out of 5 on the spice scale. And as always, I’m a fan of books that include an epilogue, so I appreciated that the novella wrapped up with one.

In the comments, let me know if you’re a fan of holiday novellas! Don’t forget to like this post and share it with all your bookish friends. Please hit the follow button so my blog can continue to grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Resting Scrooge Face | Book Review

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About The Book
Nola dreads Christmas in her charming hometown of Bright Harbor, but a mysterious letter from a fellow holiday Scrooge might change everything. Unbeknownst to her, the pen pal is Caleb—the boy who broke her heart—sparking a secret, flirtatious correspondence. As old wounds and new feelings surface, can they overcome their past to write a love story worth keeping?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/406LdIY

My Rating

I was not a fan of this book at all. I hate saying that because I could see how much potential the story had, but the delivery fell completely flat. This is a first-love, second-chance, holiday romance novella. It’s a very quick read, and the plot initially captures your interest.

Unfortunately, I hated the direction the author took with the story. I wanted so much more for the female main character. I understood that they were both teenagers when they broke up, but the male main character’s excuse for breaking her heart and essentially ghosting her was that he was immature (valid) and that he thought she deserved a life outside their small town while he was meant for small-town life. That reasoning felt so lame.

“I can’t imagine that someone who despises Christmas as much as I do would have gold stationery.”

I hate when characters make decisions for other characters. And now, suddenly, she’s “the one that got away”? No, she’s the one you pushed away. It also felt like he only wanted to rekindle their relationship because she was staying in town. So, would he have wanted to be with her if she were leaving again after the holidays? If you love someone, here’s a thought: go with them. Home isn’t a place—it’s who you’re with.

Overall, this book was a no for me. I completely apologize for this rant of a review, but you can probably tell I had a lot of issues with the story. On a lighter note, I did enjoy the secret pen pal aspect of the plot, and there were quite a few funny moments throughout the story.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book. If you didn’t know, it’s available on KU and Audible! Don’t forget to like this post, and you can make my holiday by giving the blog a follow. Your support truly means the world to me.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Cruel Winter With You | Book Review

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About The Book
Pediatrician Jamie Malek finds herself snowbound with Marc, her best friend’s younger brother turned tech billionaire—and the one she let get away. As a blizzard rages outside and sparks fly inside, old wounds and buried feelings resurface. What starts as a simple request for a roasting pan becomes an unforgettable winter’s night of rekindled connection.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/49PfSha

My Rating

This is a fun, Christmassy novella that you can read on a single (and preferably snowy) winter’s night. It’s part of an Amazon Original collection called Under the Mistletoe. As a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood’s work, I knew I’d probably adore this book—and it came as no surprise that I was right.

Despite being under 100 pages, this story was very well thought out. I felt like I got to know a lot about the characters in such a short period of time. The plot was engaging, and I really enjoyed the romance.

This is a forced proximity, best friend’s brother romance, with an age gap where the female main character is older. I loved the connection between the two characters, and let me just say, the male main character was such a green flag! Although the Christmas vibes weren’t very prominent, it still felt like a delightful winter romance.

“Next year, when we fly home for the holidays, we’re going to do it together.”

Overall, I loved everything about this story, and the ending was so satisfying. While it does include a bit of the miscommunication trope, I didn’t mind because it felt realistic. There is some spice in this book, but it’s not overly steamy—I’d give it about 1.5 out of 5 on the spice scale. If you’re looking for something quick and enjoyable to read this winter, I definitely recommend giving it a chance.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book! Don’t forget to follow the blog so you never miss any of my bookish posts. Also, if you could take a moment to head over to my Facebook page and give it a like, I’d really appreciate it.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Kiss Her Once For Me | Book Review

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About The Book
After a year of struggles, Ellie Oliver agrees to a marriage of convenience with her landlord, Andrew, to solve their mutual problems. But when they spend the holidays with Andrew’s family, Ellie discovers his sister, Jack, is the woman she fell for the previous Christmas Eve. Now, Ellie must decide between the safety of a fake relationship and risking her heart again.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3BEwbkj

My Rating

This is a fun twist on the classic fake dating trope. In this holiday romcom, the main character is still somewhat hung up on the woman she spent last Christmas with. This Christmas, things aren’t looking great, but when she strikes up a bargain with a wealthy man to be his fake fiancée for the holidays, she ends up coming face-to-face with the woman she gave her heart to last Christmas—and she just so happens to be his sister. Tell me that doesn’t make for a messy, good time!

The main character, Ellie, had so many layers to her. She was bi and demisexual, had an anxiety disorder, and was afraid to try new things or put herself out there. She tried to keep people at arm’s length and was hesitant to cut toxic people out of her life. Deep down, she just wanted to be loved. Her character development throughout the story was one of my favorite parts.

As for the love interest, Jack, I did enjoy her to a point. At times, I completely understood her, but by the last chapter, she really kind of upset me. However, I understand she had a lot going on in her life and was just as afraid of failure as Ellie. Despite this, I do think they complemented each other well. Although I didn’t love the miscommunication trope in this book, I still really enjoyed their relationship.

“Some of us have to fight to let ourselves be vulnerable enough to fall in love.”

That said, I found it a little weird that Ellie essentially wrote online web comics about everything that happened in her life. Not only did she create a comic about her first meeting with Jack, but she also started a new one about the fake fiancée arrangement. On top of that, she wrote another comic that was essentially about her everyday life. This level of oversharing online felt like something more suited to a personal diary than for everyone to see.

However, I really enjoyed Andrew, Jack’s brother, and liked all the other side characters as well. There was so much more to this book than just the romance, but the romance served as the main plot that held the story together. Regarding the writing, I found it a bit slow at times and not as engaging as I would have liked.

Overall, this isn’t my favorite queer or holiday romance, but it’s still a fairly cute read. My biggest con, though, is the ending. At one point, it truly broke my heart for Ellie. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll leave it at that. Now, this book does have some spice, but I believe there are only one or two chapters of actual spice. You can skip those without missing any important context. I’d rate the spice level a 2 out of 5.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book and enjoyed it, or if you have any other recommendations from this author. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other readers. If you’d like to help my blog grow, please give it a follow—it’s completely free to do so!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

5 Series I’m Excited To Start In 2025!

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Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Fifteen! For today’s post, I’m going to be sharing five book series that I really want to start in 2025. Keep in mind, I’m a huge romantasy girly—it’s easily become one of my favorite genres in 2024. So, naturally, there are plenty of fantasy romances on my list. However, I wanted to highlight a variety of series rather than sticking to just one genre.

The Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman
I know this is a much-loved cozy mystery series, and with a movie adaptation of the first book coming out soon. I’ve been meaning to dive into it for a while—I even own the first two books! However, I haven’t quite been in the cozy mystery mood yet. That being said, 2025 will be the year I jump in, and I’m super excited. A mystery series centered around a retirement community sounds like such a fun, unique premise.

Boys of Tommen Series by Chloe Walsh
This is one I’ve been putting off like crazy because I know it’s going to break my heart. I believe I own all the books in the series, but it’s just so intimidating! It’s a new adult romance series that deals with heavy topics. However, I know so many people love it, and it’s supposedly the type of series that you’ll want to binge read.

Magnolia Parks Universe by Jessa Hastings
I tried starting this series in 2024 but didn’t make it far into the first book before setting it aside. I’ve heard it’s better to tandem-read the first two books (Magnolia Parks and Daisy Haites), and then do the same with the rest of the series. I’m slightly nervous because the series explores toxic relationships, but I’m excited as well, because a lot of people compare it to Gossip Girl. While I never read the Gossip Girl books, I was a huge fan of the TV show. So, this gives me hope that I might enjoy this series.

The Halfling Saga by Melissa Blair
This is a romantasy series that, honestly, I don’t know much about. My husband gave me the first book as a gift last year, and since then, I’ve collected the rest of the series. I haven’t heard many people talk about it, so I’m excited to go in with an open mind. I’ll definitely let you all know if it’s worth reading!

Dreamland Billionaires Trilogy by Lauren Asher
I have heard this series is very hit-or-miss for people. A few complaints that I hear from romance readers are that the books are quite long. Still, I’m excited to try out Lauren Asher’s writing, and a series of romance novels that essentially take place at Disneyland sounds so good. Also, the tropes for each book really have me more hyped to start this trilogy.

There you have it, five book series that I am desperately hoping to start in the new year. I would love to know in the comments if you have read any of these books, and please let me know your star ratings as well. But remember to keep your thoughts spoiler-free. Before you go, hit the follow button so that you never miss out on a new bookish post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny