Books

Holiday Reads #2 | Books Meet Fashion

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Seventeen! I’m doing a holiday books meet fashion post today. I’ve done this twice before, and I absolutely love creating outfits based on book covers. I think these outfits not only match the book covers well but are also super cute!

Shop The Look
Dress: https://amzn.to/3ZExibF
Shoes: https://amzn.to/3BsKxo0
Headband: https://amzn.to/49AlewZ
Book: https://amzn.to/41C4Sli

Shop The Look
Sweater: https://amzn.to/3VDLr7O
Tank: https://amzn.to/49GdF7P
Jeans: https://amzn.to/3VBwmE4
Shoes: https://amzn.to/3Bte0ya
Book: https://amzn.to/49NUCIY

Shop The Look
Dress: https://amzn.to/4gstiCg
Jacket: https://amzn.to/4gBPObD
Boots: https://amzn.to/4fiK59O
Purse: https://amzn.to/49Bs4lR
Book: https://amzn.to/4gEeTD2

In the comments, let me know which of these looks is your favorite. Before you go, consider making my holiday by giving the blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

5 Series I’m Excited To Start In 2025!

- Bunny Leave a comment

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

BOTM vs. Aardvark | Book Boxes

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Fourteen! In this post, I’ll be doing a battle of the subscription book boxes. There are so many book boxes out there, but two that I tried in 2024 were Book Of The Month and the Aardvark Book Club box. They are fairly similar, but I wanted to share my thoughts on both, and let you know which one I preferred.

I won’t be using a pros-and-cons format because, honestly, both subscription boxes have pretty much the same advantages and drawbacks. I want to preface this by saying that whichever one you choose really comes down to personal preference. These are just my opinions on what I thought of both boxes.

Book Of The Month
I honestly get so many Book Of The Month books secondhand, so when I was generously gifted a six-month subscription for Christmas last year, I was very excited! If you’d like to try BOTM, you can use my referral link (click here) to get your first box for just five dollars.

During my subscription, I believe I skipped two months because the book selections for those months didn’t appeal to me. Each month, you can pick from a handful of books across various genres, including historical fiction, literary fiction, fantasy, and romance. However, I noticed that horror wasn’t often represented, which was a bit of a bummer.

They also offer add-ons, and sometimes I felt that the add-ons were more appealing than the main selections. However, I wasn’t willing to pick a book I didn’t like just to pay extra for an add-on. Additionally, since I can find so many Book Of The Month titles at my local Half Price Books, the subscription didn’t feel worth it to me—especially since I didn’t always love the monthly selections.

Aardvark Book Club
I’ve been really enjoying the Aardvark Book Club box! That said, I’ve noticed they don’t feature as many well-known authors or titles, as compared to BOTM. One big plus is that their boxes arrive quicker, and their books are harder to find secondhand.

I did skip one month when none of the book choices captivated me. Still, they sometimes offer signed copies, which I think is pretty cool. I also love that their logo on the books is more subtle and inconspicuous. Unfortunately, I don’t have a coupon code for Aardvark, but if you sign up for the service, please let me know in the comments so I can potentially earn a free monthly credit. Thank you!

If I had to compare the two, I’d say they’re very interchangeable, and their pricing is about the same. I’d recommend Book Of The Month to someone who primarily reads well-known authors and popular titles. On the other hand, Aardvark Book Club is perfect for readers who want to branch out and discover lesser-known authors and hidden gems.

In the comments, let me know which of these services you prefer! Personally, I’ll continue buying Book Of The Month books secondhand and might resubscribe in 2025. I also plan to stick with Aardvark Book Club in 2025. Don’t forget to hit the follow button before you go! And once again, you can use my referral link to get your first Book Of The Month box for just five dollars.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

These Books Will Self Destruct | 2025 Challenge

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Thirteen! Writing that seriously shocked me—I can’t believe we’re almost two weeks into December. Today, I’m doing a post I tend to write around this time every year, where I choose books from my shelves that I either need to read next year or unhaul. As a huge reader and book hoarding addict, there are always books I never seem to get around to, and end up completely ignoring for years. This little challenge helps me prioritize those neglected books and declutter my bookshelves.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
This is a mystery retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I bought it on a whim without knowing much about the plot, and I still haven’t picked it up. Honestly, I don’t have much desire to read it, so it’s going on this list. If I don’t get to it, I’ll unhaul it. I believe it’s part of a Jane Austen retelling mystery series, so if I do end up reading it, I might inadvertently start a new series.

The Appeal by Janice Hallett
I found this for three dollars at Half Price Books, and at the time, the plot sounded somewhat interesting. However, I’m not sure it’s my kind of book, which is probably why I’ve been avoiding it. That said, I still want to give it a chance. If I end up unhauling it, I won’t be too upset.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power
I believe this is a YA version of Lord of the Flies with female characters. It’s set in isolation and involves a pandemic—possibly a horror story as well. I’ve owned it for a while but completely forgot about it, so it’s officially on my self-destruct TBR.

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed
I only bought this book because Karen M. McManus blurbed it—she’s one of my favorite YA thriller authors. However, I’m not particularly excited to read it. It’s a chunky book, and the plot doesn’t sound all that intriguing. Hopefully, it will pleasantly surprise me.

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco
I’ve tried to unhaul this book so many times, yet something keeps telling me I’ll actually enjoy it. I think it’s a retelling, though I could be wrong. I do know it’s a fantasy, and the premise seems promising. Fingers crossed that I’ll finally get to it in 2025.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
I remember being excited about this book because it sounded like an interesting YA horror. However, the cover screams springtime, and since I’m a seasonal reader, I haven’t picked it up yet. I’ll likely get to it next year, but don’t hold me to that.

The Midnight Game by Cynthia Murphy
I haven’t had much luck with YA mystery thrillers lately, but I want to give this author’s books a try. I own three of them, but haven’t read a single one, so I decided to start with this one, as it sounds the most interesting. If I don’t read or like this book, I’ll unhaul all three.

They’re Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso
This is another YA thriller, but I don’t have high hopes for it. I previously tried a book by this author and DNF’ed it, because I didn’t enjoy the story or writing style. Still, I want to give the author another chance. If I don’t like it, I’ll unhaul it without any hesitation.

The Witch, the Sword, and the Cursed Knights by Alexandria Rogers
This is a middle-grade book, and possibly the start of a series. The premise sounds compelling and fun, but I’m not a big middle-grade reader. I have several middle-grade books on my shelves, and this challenge is the push I need to read at least one of them.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
I tried to read this earlier this year but DNF’d it because I couldn’t focus on the audiobook. I’m hoping it was just bad timing. If I don’t pick it up next year, I’ll say goodbye and pass it along to someone else.

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
I’ve heard this series is terrible but also a lot of fun. It’s an alien smut series, which intimidates me because I’ve never read anything like that before. I’ve heard they’re quick reads, and since I like spicy books and enjoy light, mindless reads between heavier novels, I want to give it a try. But if I don’t read it next year, I’ll accept that it’s not for me and unhaul it.

Sanctuary of Shadows by Aurora Ascher
Truthfully, I don’t even remember what this book is about. I bought it secondhand because it has beautiful sprayed edges. But it’s been sitting on my shelf untouched. If I’m not going to read it, I have no reason to keep it—no matter how pretty it is.

Do you have a self-destruct TBR? I don’t usually do well with this challenge, but I’m hoping to make a real dent in it next year. I’ve been pretty good about unhauling books lately, but I’d like to read some of them before letting them go.

In the comments, let me know which book from this list you think I should prioritize in 2025. And before you go, don’t forget to follow the blog so you never miss a new post!

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

Books I Wish I Read In 2024!

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Eleven! Twenty-twenty-four was one of my best reading years. I read so many good books this year and pretty much stayed on track with my reading goal. However, there are only so many hours in the day to read, which means I didn’t get to every book I would have liked to. For this Bookmas post, I decided to talk about 10 books I wish I had read this year.

Quicksilver by Callie Hart
I’m going to be real and admit that I didn’t actually know about this book until closer to the end of the year. Also, the audiobook just recently came out, so there was a slim chance I would have read it sooner. But I hear this is one of the best adult romantasy books, and there’s a movie adaptation coming next year. I wish I had made it more of a priority in December, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to get to it until 2025.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
I’ve been wanting to read this book since it was released, but something always seemed to get in the way. I know the sequel is coming out early next year, so I have to move this up my TBR. I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews, which is probably why I didn’t push myself to read it this year. But it’s definitely one I really want to get to.

Hooked by Emily McIntire
Everyone always recommends this book to me, and I’ve put it on so many TBRs this year. I think my fear is that I won’t love the series as much as others. Sometimes, when a book or series is very popular, it doesn’t tend to live up to the hype for me. However, I really want to love this series, and I’ll be so sad if I don’t. But I won’t know unless I try!

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
I’m going to be honest here and admit that I know nothing about this book, but it was very hyped up, and it has dragons, so I wanted to read it this year. It was another one of those very popular romantasies that everyone was talking about. Did I get to it? No. But in my defense, this book is very long.

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
This was a Book of the Month pick for me, and yes, I am still heartbroken that I didn’t get the copy with the beautiful silver book edges. I know some people loved it and some didn’t like it at all, but as you can probably tell, a theme with most of these books is that I’ve become a romantasy girlie, so I needed to read all the romantasies. Somehow, though, this one just never made it onto my TBR, which is really unfortunate.

Reckless by Lauren Roberts
I’m only adding this one to the list because it’s the last book in the series that I need to read. If I had read it this year, I’d be caught up on the series. I’m not exactly sure when the next book comes out, but I know it’s sometime in early 2025. The problem with this one is that I didn’t actually love the first book, Powerless, but I was still hoping to read the sequel before the year’s end. I just don’t think that’s going to happen.

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen
This is another book I didn’t find out about until closer to the end of the year, so it makes sense why I didn’t pick it up. Still, everyone is loving this book, so I wish I’d known about it a little sooner. I’m getting major FOMO hearing about how good it is. It’s definitely going on my TBR for early 2025.

Bloodguard by Cecy Robson
I actually haven’t heard many things about this book, and what I have heard isn’t great. I pre-ordered it back when its original release date was March 2024, then it got pushed back to summer, but it didn’t actually come out until the fall. I thought I’d get a chance to read it as soon as it arrived, but that didn’t happen. I’m still looking forward to it, but I’m a little hesitant now.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
I’ve had this book on my “want to read” list since it came out in 2022. I know it’s a clean romance where the girl is the bodyguard for a famous celebrity. I really think I’m going to love Katherine Center’s writing, and for the life of me, I don’t know why I didn’t read it. I kept telling myself I’d get to it this year, but I just never did.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
I’m so upset that I didn’t read—or even attempt to start—this interconnected standalone romcom series this year. I thought 2024 was going to be the year I became an Abby Jimenez girlie, but that didn’t happen. I own all of her books, and I haven’t read a single one. If I don’t start my Abby Jimenez journey next year, can I even call myself a romance reader?

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read any of these books and which ones I should make a big priority next year. Don’t forget that you can like this post—your likes really help me understand the type of content you want to see. And hitting the follow button ensures you never miss out on a new post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Best Book Covers Of 2024!

- Bunny 3 Comments

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Ten! I can’t believe how fast Bookmas is flying by—it’s crazy! In this post, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite book covers of 2024. As you might know by now, I’m a huge cover buyer, so if I see a beautiful book, chances are I’m going to buy it. Whether I actually read it is another story. I tried to keep this list short, so here are eight 2024 book releases that I think have absolutely stunning covers.

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3D7HvpI

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4iuwuyJ
Related Post: Belladonna | Book Review

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Bpw38j

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4gqMn7M

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4it7esD

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4faIm64

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4iuCdoj

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3OM5Gwf

In the comments, share your favorite book cover of the year! Don’t forget you can also follow me on Instagram and TikTok. Plus, if you subscribe to the blog, you’ll get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Cozy Christmas | Book Tag

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Eight! Today, I thought it would be fun to do the Cozy Christmas book tag. I believe this tag was created by a YouTuber, but I’m unsure who the original creator is. The tag features some fun holiday-themed bookish questions, and I had such a great time answering them.

I own many books that I personally think are beautiful, but right now, The Stars Are Dying by Chloe C. Peñaranda— a recent addition to my collection— has to be the prettiest. The crazy thing is that it isn’t even a special edition, so it wasn’t too expensive. Yet, it’s absolutely stunning!

Yes! I will 100% pay (probably too much) to get a gorgeous copy of a book I love or think I’m going to give 5 stars.

I decided to fully embrace the Christmas spirit and create a red-and-green book stack!

I have to go with Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Not only does it perfectly embody everything about the holidays, but it’s also my all-time favorite story.
Related Post: Mr. Dickens And His Carol | Book Review

This year, my longest read was Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight saga. I tend to stay away from longer books because they intimidate me. However, being in my romantasy era has made reading longer books feel like a bit of a requirement!
Related Post: Eclipse | Book Review

Please keep in mind that this is just my opinion. Reading is subjective, and so is cover artwork— we all have our own likes and dislikes. For this, I’m picking a series I read this year, The Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver. I own all the traditionally published editions, but I don’t like the covers at all. I think the ones with actual people on them are my favorite, which I know that’s an unpopular opinion!
Related Post: Flawless | Book Review

For this question, I’m going with a holiday horror novella I read last year called Secret Santa. It was my first-ever holiday horror book. It’s kind of cheesy, but still a fun, dark story set at Christmas.
Related Post: Secret Santa | Book Review

Besides my favorite book (see question 4), which I reread every year, I’d say The Afterlife of Holly Chase. It’s a Christmas Carol retelling (no shocker there), and such a good YA spin on the classic story. I’ve been rereading it during the holiday season for the past few years, and the ending always warms my heart.
Related Post: The Afterlife Of Holly Chase | Book Review

I hope you enjoyed this book tag! Feel free to share your answers in the comments below. Don’t forget to hit the follow button so you can stay up-to-date whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Books I Couldn’t Finish | 2024 DNFs

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Seven! I can’t believe we’re already a week into Bookmas. Today, I’m talking about the books I DNFed this year. Honestly, I didn’t DNF many books this year, which I’m very happy about! Still, there were a few that I just couldn’t get through.


Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
I got about halfway through this book before I had to stop reading. It’s an adult queer romance where a divorced woman falls for one of her daughter’s college friends. The plot sounded interesting, but I wasn’t a fan of the characters. Also, the way they both handled the situation wasn’t great. Both the friend and the mom seemed to show little care for how the daughter might feel about their relationship.


Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
This is a mystery thriller that I’ve heard nothing but good things about. However, I didn’t know before starting it that it comes with a trigger warning for child abuse. Let me just say—that’s a hard no for me. I can handle mentions, but I can’t deal with scenes where it’s described or a central part of the story. Unfortunately, the first few chapters were just too much for me, and I had to DNF for that reason alone.


Never by Jessa Hastings
I’ll be completely honest—this was a cover buy. Let me keep this short and to the point: the chapters were too long, the story was boring, and I was totally wrong in thinking this book would be spicy. Also, I hate Peter Pan, so why I thought I’d enjoy a retelling is beyond me!


A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
I had such high hopes for this book because it sounded so good. But calling it a romantasy is a bit of a stretch. I would categorize it as a fantasy with some mystery thrown in. I got 40% in and was still waiting for the romance. Unfortunately, the mystery wasn’t compelling, and the story as a whole just didn’t hold my interest.


The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
This one hurt to DNF because it’s so popular. However, I felt like the story dragged and just wasn’t capturing my attention. I was going to push through it, but that plan went out the window when the main character’s jerk of an ex referred to her as “Bunny.” Maybe hearing it once would’ve been okay, but every time she thought of him, that nickname came up. I couldn’t handle it—for obvious reasons (my amazing husband calls me Bunny, hence Book With Bunny).
Related Post: The Seven Year Slip | Book Review

So, there you have it—my DNFs of 2024! Even though I didn’t DNF many books this year, there are still a lot of books I’ve started but haven’t yet finished. Leave me a comment and let me know: are you pro- or anti-DNFing? Don’t forget to come back every day for more Bookmas content, or hit the follow button so you never miss a post!

Leaving Goodreads In 2025!

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Six! Today, I’ll be sharing why I’m officially leaving Goodreads in 2025—or at least, mostly leaving. There are several reasons behind my decision to step away from the popular reading tracker and personal library site, but here are the main ones.

Amazon
I don’t love that Goodreads is owned by Amazon. There’s so much about the company that I don’t agree with. While I can’t completely cut ties with Amazon (it’s often the only viable option for many indie authors), this felt like one small way for me to show less support for the company.

Outdated Features
Compared to other book-tracking platforms, Goodreads feels outdated. Its interface looks clunky, and the features are limited. Forums aren’t widely utilized, the giveaways don’t appeal to me, and aside from adding books to your shelves and tracking your reading, there’s not much else to do. It just doesn’t feel engaging.

Recommendations
I’ve found Goodreads’ recommendations underwhelming and heavily skewed toward popular titles. Their “Most Read” lists and personalized recommendations almost always spotlight the same mainstream books. And don’t even get me started on the Goodreads Choice Awards! It’s purely a popularity contest. I’ve even heard some readers speculate that publishers pay to get their books nominated. Some winners and nominees just don’t make sense to me.


So, what’s next? Moving forward, I’ll be using StoryGraph to track my reading—and I’ve been loving it so far! Not only is it women-owned, but it also offers so many fantastic features. You can still set a reading goal and join an interactive challenges. Plus, when you add a book, you can mark whether or not you own it. One of my favorite features is half-star ratings, which Goodreads still doesn’t support.

StoryGraph also provides amazing stats, like your most-read authors and fun pie charts about your reading habits. The only downside is that its database isn’t as extensive as Goodreads’. That said, I haven’t run into a single book I couldn’t find yet!

Let me know in the comments how you track your reading! If you’re on StoryGraph, feel free to friend me—my username is BooksWithBunny. The only thing I’ll keep up with on Goodreads is their yearly Goodreads Choice Awards, purely because if I didn’t, I’d probably have major FOMO! And before you go, don’t forget to follow the blog so you’ll be notified whenever I post something new.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My Christmas Wishlist | Holiday 2024

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
It’s Bookmas Day Three! I thought it would be fun to share my holiday wishlist. While I do have many books on my wishlist, I also have a few bookish items as well. Keep in mind, this isn’t a comprehensive list—it’s just the highest-priority items.

Also, I know this goes without saying, but I am incredibly grateful for every gift I receive and feel so blessed to get anything at all.


Shop My List
Fourth Wing Bag:
https://amzn.to/49kYKzZ
Kindle Page Turn:
https://amzn.to/3ZjkAPr
Hexed (Never After, 6) by Emily McIntire:
https://amzn.to/49nHD0b
The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars, 1) by Thea Guanzon:
https://amzn.to/4eU49Py
Forgive Me Father by Katerina St Clair:
https://amzn.to/3D5YmJf
A Pirate’s Life for Tea (Tomes & Tea, 2) by Rebecca Thorne:
https://amzn.to/4eYrEa3
Given Our History by Kristyn JJ Miller:
https://amzn.to/3Zg3ORw
Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch, 1) by Elsie Silver:
https://amzn.to/4f1NdGX
The Complete Briar U Series Set by Elle Kennedy:
https://amzn.to/4ijcEGU

There you have it—my holiday wishlist! I’d love to know what you’re asking for this holiday season. Do you write a Christmas list every year, or are you like me and just share your Amazon wishlist with family and friends? Let me know in the comments! Before you go, don’t forget to click the follow button so you’ll be notified whenever there’s a new Bookmas post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny