Contemporaries

Beach Reads // Book Recommendations

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Summer is approaching, and that means it beach read season! I have a few books already picked out to read this summer, and I can’t wait to dive into them. So, I thought I would give you all some books to add to your summer TBR.

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty‘ by Jenny Han
Yep, I am jumping on the bandwagon, and recommending this trilogy to you all. Although I don’t find it nearly as good as Jenny Han’s ‘To All The Boys’ trilogy, it is still a decent summer read. The book follows a girl named Belly (short for Isobel) who spend every summer at a beach house with her mom and brother, along with her mom’s best friend and her two sons, Jerome and Conrad. This summer, Belly isn’t the little girl she once was, and finds herself in a love triangle with Jerome and Conrad. It is a classic YA contemporary about growing up and first love. But I just could never get behind the nickname Belly. It is being turned into an Amazon Prime series, set to be released on June 17th, so now would be the perfect time to read the books.

‘Sunkissed‘ by Kasie West
If you know anything about me, than you know that I am an avid Kasie West reader. In my opinion, she writes some of the best young adult contemporaries. However, this book wasn’t my favorite. I do still think it is a good summer read, though. The book follows Avery, who is forced to spend the summer with her parents and sister at a family fun camp. Throughout the summer, Avery starts to connect with the camp staff, notably Brooks. As she and Brooks grow closer through their shared love of music, Avery beings a journey of self discovery. The story was cute, but I did have some issues with it. Still I do think a lot of people will enjoy this book. I mean with a title like ‘Sunkissed’ you instantly think beach read.

‘Butterfly Sisters‘ by Jenny Hale
This is an adult romance and sisterhood book. If you’re fans of second chance romances, small towns, and family relationships, then this is the book for you. The story follows Leigh as she must return to her family cabin, at her mother’s request. Being back at the cabin floods Leigh with the memories of her late grandmother. To make matters worse, she runs into the boy who she let got away, Colton. As if that wasn’t enough, on top of everything else, she is dealing with a strained relationship with her younger sister Meredith. Everything, from the lake side setting to the romance, gives you all those summer romance feels. Although, the romantic side to the story was sweet, the book focus more on family. It is a story about a family bond, and rebuilding some of those relationships.

‘Cool For The Summer‘ by Dahlia Adler
This book is perfect for those looking for a sapphic teen romance. Lara’s return to school becomes complicated when her longtime crush starts to take an interest in her. Right when Jasmine, whom she had a summer romance with, becomes her new classmate. The book alternates between Lara’s summer with Jasmine, and the present day. We get to see the two girls grow closer, as well as the reason for their now strained relationship. It was a simple and sweet YA contemporary, with not too much spice. It’s also an easy read, that you could probably finish in one day. Also, ‘Cool For The Summer’ is the title of a Demi Lovato song, which some have said is her version of ‘I Kissed A Girl’ by Katy Perry.

These are my summer book recommendations, but I am sure there are plenty more great summer reads out there. In the comments, let me know what you will be reading in the coming months. If you want to help my blog grow, hit that follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // Spring 2022

- Bunny 8 Comments


Hi Friends,
I mentioned how I was switching up the way I do my TBR posts, so I thought it might be fun to do a seasonal TBR instead. Spring hasn’t really started in my state, since the days have been going from 60 degrees to almost 90 degrees. Anyways, these are some of the of books that I would like to read during the spring. I could have a lot more on this list, but I tried to be relatively realistic.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
This seems like the perfect spring read! After watching a reading vlog featuring this book, I am even more excited to pick it up. I only watched the first half of the video, because it was filled with spoilers. I want to be surprised while reading it, so I have now been trying to stay away from reviews or videos talking about the book.

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
This is the last Karen M. McManus release that I have yet to read. She is probably my favorite YA thriller author, and I am excited to read another one of her books. All her books have been top-tire YA thrillers for me, and I have heard some great things about this story. I am not too familiar with the plot of this book, but I don’t mind going into her books blind.

They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman
I didn’t care for this author’s first thriller novel, ‘They Wish They Were Us’,  But, I wanted to give her a second chance. This one follows two sisters, and has a more intriguing mystery. I haven’t heard anything about this book, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It seems like Goodman is still a pretty unknown author, and I enjoy reading more underrated books from time to time.

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
I am dying to continue on with the ‘Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ series. The characters and mystery of the first book was so good that I have pretty high hopes for the rest of the series. This is the second book in the trilogy, and is bound to be amazing. These mystery thrillers are fast paced, so I am pretty sure it will be a quick read.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This book has been on my radar for a while now, since it is an extremely popular YA trilogy. I get ‘Knives Out’ vibes from the plot, yet I have never seen that movie, so I don’t know how right I am. This is supposed to be a mystery thriller, but from what I have heard it leans more towards the mystery genre.

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Kasie West is my favorite young adult contemporary author, so I had to put one of her books on my spring TBR. I have been slowly making my way through her back-list titles. This is one of her first book releases, and I’m sure it will have me swooning. I typically give her books between a 4 or 5 star rating, which is why I always get excited to pick up her books.

Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning
I own this book both physically, and on audiobook, which makes it a high priority read for me. I haven’t read anything from this author, nor heard anything about this book. The plot interest me, but it isn’t the type of story that I would normally read. However, the book does have just under a 4 star rating, so I am keeping my hopes high.

Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
This book wasn’t one that I originally wanted to pick up, but I have heard good things about it. People have mentioned that the story has a lot of diversity. However, I am still on the fence about it, because I have heard it is a bit slower pace. I plan to go into it with an open mind and hope for the best.

Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman
I am really excited for this book, because it sounds like a great read for me. This is a super cute contemporary that I predict to be at least a 4 star read. I luckily found this book on a whim, since the book community hasn’t mentioned it. Nevertheless, I want to pick this one up fairly soon. Also, it has plus size representation, which is always a bonus.

Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards
I have been wanting to read something from this author for a while. Despite not having heard that great of things about her books I still find the premise of her thrillers to be very interesting. I could be completely wrong with this ending up to be a disappointment, but I have to read it to find out.

If you haven’t noticed, I have become really into YA thrillers lately. But ya contemporaries will still always find their way on to my TBRs. Let me know in the comments what you will be reading this spring. Also, don’t forget to give my blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

If You Could Only Read One // Coffee Break

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Which author would you choose if you could only read one for the rest of your days? Which standalone? Book series? I saw Kathryn Books do this post, and it seemed like so much fun. So, I thought that I would do it too! Essentially, I will be sharing with you the author, standalone, and book series I would choose to only read forever.

Author
I don’t know if this comes as a surprise, but it would be Kasie West. Her YA contemporaries are adorable, and I typically enjoy all her books. She is a great author, who I don’t think gets enough hype.

Standalone
Yep, I talk about this book way too much. But, I would be lying if I picked any other book. I couldn’t imagine not being able to read ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. As you know by now, it is my favorite book ever.

Series
This one might seem random, but I loved these books when I was younger. It was the book series that got me into reading. So, even though I haven’t read the books in years, I would hate not being able to reread this series.

Interestingly enough, I didn’t have to think too hard about my answers. However, I am glad that I get to read any book I can, and am not limited to only certain books or authors. Leave me a comment with your answers. Don’t forget to like and share this post. And, follow my blog for more bookish and lifestyle content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Books I Wish I’d Read // In 2021

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
There were so many books that I wanted to read in twenty-twenty one. But, sadly I didn’t have time to read every book on my TBR. If only the days were longer, and I had hours to dedicate to reading. Nevertheless, I put together a list of the top books that I wanted to read, but never got to.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber
“Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems. Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father.”

I was hoping to reread this book, and possibly finish the whole series. However, I was never able to fit it on to my TBR. Although, I don’t think I was ever really in the mood to pick it up. It is, still, a great fantasy series that I would like to complete.

The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott
“Two girls, one list and twelve chances to fall in love this summer. From the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Five Feet Apart comes a gripping new romance, perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.”

I am so sad that I didn’t get around to reading this book. It is by one of the authors of ‘Five Feet Apart,’ which I read this year and loved. I don’t know much about this book except that it is a YA contemporary that gives me summer romance vibes. I think it is a female-female love story, which I am here for.

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
“The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!”

I have heard nothing but good things about Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing. So I was looking forward to picking up her newest novel. I was going to read it in October, but failed to. It is a YA thriller, which is awesome since I have been branching out into that genre lately. I will mostly likely be reading this in October of 2022. Maybe even sooner.

What Once Was Mine (Twisted Tales, #12) by Liz Braswell
“The 12th installment in the New York Times best-selling series asks: What if Rapunzel’s mother drank a potion from the wrong flower?”

I have been getting into the Twisted Tales series, and managed to read two of them this year. When I read the plot of this one, I was anticipating its release. It is a twist on the ‘Tangled’ animated film, which followed Rapunzel. Honestly, I kind of forgot about the book once it was released. I do hope to read it next year, but might get to more of the previous books in the series first.

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
“New York Times-bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky delivers a deliciously twisty YA thriller that’s Scream meets Karen McManus about a mysterious club with an obsession for horror.”

I saw this book in store during spooky season, but the cover didn’t wow me. The title did catch my eye, though. However, once I found out about the interesting plot, I already had other books that I wanted to read more. I haven’t seen many people mention the book, but it is high on my radar.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
“A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.”

This is a book that has been raved about from fans of YA contemporaries for a while. It is a hate-to-love story, which you should know by now is one of my favorite tropes. I think this is a summer read, but as usual, it never made it on to my TBR for the year. Next year, I will for sure pick this up. But, please don’t hold me to that promise.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
“She came from nothing. They had everything. Now there’s only one rule: winner takes all. An utterly addictive and twisty thriller, full of dark family secrets and deadly stakes. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out.”

This is one that I heard about later in the year, and it seems like YA thriller with a fascinating mystery aspect. Again, this is one that I didn’t get to pick up during spooky season. I way to preoccupied with Karen M. McManus books to read any other YA thrillers. I do want to make an effort to read this book, which I believe is duology.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
“A slick, twisty YA page-turner about the daughter of a con artist who is taken hostage in a bank heist.”

To be honest, this was a last minute addition to the list. I had seen the cover, but pegged it as an adult thriller. Once I discovered that it was a YA book about a former con-artist, it immediately made it on to my TBR. I read about a con-artist early this year, and that type of character transfixes me. I want to predict that this will be a 4 or 5 star read that I will be picking up sooner rather than later.

Those are some of the many books that I wanted to read in 2021, but didn’t have time to read. Let me know the books you wanted to pick up this year, but never managed to. If you want to give me a holiday gift, then like, share, and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // December 2021

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
This is going to be my last tbr of 2021! I cannot believe that the year is finally coming to a close, and I am excited to see what 2022 has in store. However, we still have to get through December. I don’t have massive reading plans since December is a pretty crazy month. I love reading, but when December hits I am all about Bookmas, Vlogmas, Holiday movies and Christmas hauls. So reading might be a low priority this month. Still, I do have a few books that I would like to read before the end of the year.

“Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Serpent & Dove, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.”
I have heard nothing but good things about this duology. I need to read, at least, the first book before 2022.

“What’s better than one deliciously cozy, swoon-worthy holiday story? Four of them, from some of today’s bestselling authors.”
I have been reading this all year, so it is about time I finish it. Truthfully, I am kind of embarrassed it has taken me this long to read.

“Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich’s “If This Gets Out is an absolute showstopper! Equal parts edgy and adorable, this bright, joyful book has everything I look for in a queer YA romance.” —Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us
I want to read a fluffy contemporary! This book sounds so cute, and I hope it will give me all the YA romance feels that I live for.

“Over the course of one chaotic night stranded at the Denver airport, Ryn confronts her shattered past thanks to the charm of romance, the uniqueness of strangers, and the magic of ordinary places in this stunning novel from the author of Boys of Summer.”
This is going to be a reread for me, but I cannot remember a lot of the story. I have been wanting to give myself a refresher read of it for a while now, so I hope that I can get to it.

There you have it, all the books that are on my December tbr. Tell me what you will be reading in the comments. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified when a new post goes up.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Book Review: Time Of Our Lives by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

- Bunny Leave a comment
  1. Title: Time Of Our Lives
    Author: Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
    Published: 2020
    Rating: 2.5/5.0 Stars

Synopsis: Time Of Our LivesWhen Fitz and Juniper cross paths on their first college tour in Boston, they’re at odds from the moment they meet– while Juniper’s dying to start a new life apart for her family, Fitz faces the sacrifices he must make for his. Their relationship sparks a deep connection–in each other’s eyes, they glimpse alternate possibilities regarding the first big decision of their adult lives.
Source: GoodReads

I was dreading writing this review, because not to long ago I was singing the author duos prayers. I was very unhappy with this book, and couldn’t get behind the plot. I was hoping for a cute boy meets girl type of story, but that is not really the premise. Are two leads are both college seniors, Fitz and Juniper, who cross path during their multiple college tours. The characters are different, yet similar. Fitz is very dedicated to taking care of his ill mother and has a strained relationship with his older brother. Juniper wants nothing more than to get space from her tight-knit family and has her college life mapped out.

When various chance meetings draw them together they start to develop feelings that become hard to ignore. This sound like a cute opposites attract book in which they both end up learning something from one another, right? Wrong! Well, kind of. Here is the kicker and a major faux-pas within the plot, Juniper has a boyfriend. Yep, they had been going strong for about a year and started the college road trip together. This was a twisted I never saw coming, and didn’t enjoy.

For me, Juniper was a very unlikable character determined to runaway from her family, because they were overbearing. I wanted to shake her and tell her that you don’t need to push your family away to live your dreams. However, I might be projecting, since I have a close-knit family. She was very stubborn at times, and always tried to push her ideas, opinions and the way she lived her life on to other. It got frustrating quickly. Needless to say, I didn’t enjoy reading her dialog.

“It’s extraordinarily freeing.”

Fritz on the other hand was hands down the redeeming part of this book. He was quirky, thoughtful and awkward. I loved that he was willing to give up all his dreams for his mom, and make new goals for her sake. I enjoyed the moments between him and his brother, and you could see the distance between them. However, you could tell that they did love each other even if at times they tried not to care.

I didn’t find Fritz and Juniper a believable couple at all. I couldn’t get over the fact that Juniper kept pushing her wants on the Fritz and essentially peer-pressuring him to-be like her. Maybe, I interrupted her wrong, but her personality was a bit abrasive. I felt like Juniper didn’t learned anything from Fritz, or change throughout the book. Their were small moments that you could see her personality shifting, yet they didn’t last long.

As for Fritz, his character growth was amazing! He discovered that he could live his life for himself while still caring about and for his mom. He learned that his brother cared just as much, maybe even more, than him about their family, but tried to play it cool. During the story, they came together as brothers and it was very touching. Is it sad that I would rather have had a strained brother road trip story instead of the one we got.

This book fell middle of the road for me, which isn’t bad but isn’t great either. I will continue to read whatever these two publish next, yet I might be keeping my expectations low. I want to add that there might be an epilogue in this book, but it isn’t in the e-book or audiobook versions, so I’m confused. I didn’t get a chance to read the epilogue, since I primarily read the formats I mentioned that didn’t contain it. Let me know your thoughts on this book in the comments.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

April 2021 TBR

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hello Book Lovers,
It is monthly tbr time once again! I am happy that it is finally April, because March seemed to last forever. I have a pretty ambitious tbr planned for this month, but I am ready for the challenge. I do have a few books rolling over from March that I will be continuing, still most of them I haven’t started at all.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers: My husband and I started the audiobook at the beginning of March. I was using this for the Tis The Damn Readathon prompt of “Book with a Film Adaption.” We are only 13% into it, but I don’t mind it taking a bit. However, I would like to make it more of a priority this month.

10 Truths And A Dare by Ashley Elston: I was using this for the Tis The Damn Readathon as well. I believe it was for the “5 Star Prediction” prompt. I got approved for the arc on Netgalley, and have been reading the e-book. I am enjoying it a lot, but just haven’t had a lot of time to dedicate to it. I really want to dive more into it, because I enjoy Ashley Elston’s writing.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill: This is a middle grade book about a witch and a human girl she raised from a baby after giving her magical powers. Honestly, I don’t know much about it besides it being a favorite among readers. I tried starting it once before and didn’t get very far into it. I am hoping I will actually finish it this time around. I don’t think I read enough last time to form any distinct thoughts.

If I’m Being Honest by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley: I have no idea why, but this book as been on my radar recently. I have read one other book by this duo before and didn’t love it, still this one seems more up my alley. It is supposed to give you that teen rom-com feel. I don’t know much about it except that it is about a high-school girl who is known as a b*tch, so she tries to change her image to get a guy. Although, I could be completely wrong.

There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins: In 2018, I dnf this book because I couldn’t get into it. The writing felt off and the plot was slow-moving. Nevertheless, I am in the mood for a thriller and I here that Netflix is turning this into a film. I decided I would give the book a second chance before the movie adaption is released. From what I have gathered about the plot it is like The CW version of the Scream movies. If that makes any sense at all.

My Plain Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows: I love this trio of authors. I read their first collaboration “My Lady Jane,” and to my surprise I loved it. I don’t know anything about this book, but I have heard that it is a Jane Eyre retelling. I am not familiar with the original story, still I am looking forward to reading their take on it.

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston: I have been on a Once Upon a Con kick lately. I am excited to finish this series of companion novels. I have a review up on the first book Geekerella and will be doing a review of the second very soon. I think that this is the last book in this world, which is bittersweet. Not sure about the plot, but I think it’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which I am here for!

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson: This will be my first Matson read. Yep, it is shocking that someone who loves contemporaries I haven’t read any of her books. Once again, I have no clue what the book is about just that it is a contemporary following a girl and I think she somehow becomes a dog walker. I really have no idea.

I might try to tackle some other arcs, or perhaps throw in a mood read. I am enjoying reading a lot these days, so I hope my want to read stays with me in April. Let me know what is on your tbr in the comments? I would love if you liked and shared this post. You can follow the blog to get notified when I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My 2021 Must Reads

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hello bookish friends,
I wanted to do a post about my must reads of the year. There are so many books from past years that I have never gotten too, so this year I am making a yearly tbr, of sorts, for myself. These are the books that are my top priority of the year, but I am not putting in pressure on myself. I find that I read better when I am doing it for fun instead of need. However, I would be very proud if I got to all of these books by the end of the year. I want to quickly note that the last two on this list are authors and not specific books that I want to get too.

Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao: This trilogy is about Anastacya Mikhailov, a crown princess, who has the ability to control blood, a power she has kept secret for years. However, her lifes turns upside down when she becomes the prime suspect in her father’s murder. She must turn to a crime lord, Ramson Quicktongue, to help clear her name.

This series is completely out of my comfort zone, but the cover has me sold. The first book, in the series, was released in 2019 while the second was released early this month. I haven’t heard practically anyone talk about these books, so I will be going into them pretty blind. I will for sure do a review on each book or the trilogy as a whole once I read them all. I would really like to start this series soon.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: This is the story of the March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. We follow the girls as they grow-up, fall in love and face tragedy. I don’t think this book needs much of a description since it is a classic and has had countless movie adaptions released. I am a big fan of the Little Women story and movies, but I have never read the actually novel. I am not the biggest classic books fan, yet I hope to get to this one. I am giving myself a break if I don’t complete the book by the end of the year, still I would like to have started it.

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig: This is a dark retelling of the twelve dancing princess. The main character, Annaleigh, grows suspensions when four of her sisters lives are tragically cut short. Each of their deaths written off as an accident and the villagers think that the family is cursed. Once Annaleigh meets a mysterious stranger she decides to uncover the truths about these death before her life is taken as well.

Honestly, I know nothing about the twelve dancing princess story, so I am not really looking at this book like a retelling. I have been intrigued by this novel since it’s release. It is a dark, twisted tale that I don’t typically pick up, but I want to get into horror and thrillers this year. I will probably be reading this in October for Halloween, yet I might get to it sooner if I am in a spooky mood.

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan: This trilogy follows Lei chosen as one of the king’s Paper Girls. Each year, 8 girls are selected to serve the king, but this year is different because there is a ninth girl, made of fire. This series is all about secrets, revenge and forbidden love.

I am mix of emotions when it comes to starting this trilogy. I haven’t heard a lot of good things about it, still the synopsis sounds interesting. However, I feel like the plot could be a bit slower and not as fast paced as I would like in fantasies. I haven’t read anything from this author before, so I am willing to give it a chance. Also, there is supposedly LGBT representation in the book, which is awesome.

Kasie West: I have been a fan of hers for the last few years and usually love all her books. She has quickly become one of my favorite YA contemporary authors to read. I know for some people her books fall short, but for me they are fast, lighthearted reads that I enjoy. I have read three of her books, yet there are so many more that I haven’t had a chance to get too. I would love to pick up some of her older titles this year. She is mostly known for her contemporaries, but she does have a fantasy duology out that I am interested in reading. I am not sure how many of her books I will be able to get to by the end of the year, still I am going to try to catch up on her works.

Jenn Bennett: This is another author I am hoping to get to in 2021. As you probably know by now my love for contemporaries run deep, and people rave about Jenn Bennett’s contemporaries. I am a slightly nervous to read one of her book, because she gives me Sarah Dessen vibes, which is an author I don’t typically enjoy. However, people tend to hype up her books so I am going to try to give her a chance. I am unsure of what book I will read by her, yet I was leaning towards “Serious Moonlight” since it is a contemporary with a mystery element to it. I would love suggestions from other readers about which of her books I should pick up first.

Those are all the books on my yearly tbr, but don’t worry I will still be doing my monthly tbrs. I have so many other books that I am hoping to read this year and plan to have a very fun year of reading. Please support my blog by liking and sharing this post. You can follow the blog to get notified when I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Book Review: You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson

- Bunny Leave a comment

Title: You Should See Me In A Crown
Author: Leah Johnson
Published: 2020
Rating: 5.0/5.0 Stars

Synopsis: Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black,
too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay—Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down, until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
Source: GoodReads

I am a huge fan of YA contemporaries. I would go as far as to say they are my favorite genre to read, so when I heard about this book from multiple Booktubers and book bloggers I knew I had to pick it up. The main character of Liz is not only POC, but part of the LGBTQ community. She has overcome the death of her mother, her brother’s chronic illness and anxiety all while living with her loving grandparents who are struggling to get by paycheck to paycheck.

Liz’s life was very relatable, and though I don’t deal with all her struggles I understand her anxiety and fears about not affording college. The main character has such amazing growth, which didn’t happen all at once, but progressed naturally throughout the the book. She ran for prom queen with the hopes of getting a scholarship and nothing more, yet it turned into something greater. She set free a part of herself that she was too sacred to show and learned to stand up for her rights. I feel that the anxiety representation was done well and I connected with her fear of other’s opinions.

“I’m so tired of the way this place treats people who are different, tired of feeling like I exist in the margins of my own life. I deserve better than that.”

She did face friendship struggles, which was probably my least favorite aspect of the story. I enjoyed the fact that she reconnected with an old friend, still I wish that it showed how friends change and grow apart especially at a young age. Instead it went another route, which was completely fine just not my favorite. Also, there was some major conflict between Liz and her best friend that was mended by the end of the book. However, I feel as though it was resolved rather quickly and there wasn’t much closure to it.

The romance was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It was so cute! Of course the girls go through some ups and downs, but you cannot deny how adorable they are together. I will say that the romance had an instant love feel, but probably very relatable to high-schoolers. I have never been to high school, home schooler here, still in every teen movie there is an instant crush. The love interest was a perfect contrast to Liz since she was outspoken and quirky, and helped Liz come out of her shell.

Someone compared this book to a 90s teen movie and I completely agree. I got all those classic teen romances flick feels that I love so much. If you are in the mood for a super cute contemporary than I recommend you give this one a chance. I hope that you liked this review and please let me know your thoughts on this book. If you want to support me please share and like this post. Also, follow the blog to get notified when I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Most Anticipated Spring 2021 Book Releases

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hello bookish friends,
I am always looking for new book releases to add to my wish list. This post is going to be about the spring book releases I am most excited for this year. I know that the books on this list are solely YA contemporaries, but what can I say it is my favorite genre. There are other books being released this spring that I am looking forward too, yet I thought I would narrow the list down to six books only.

The Secret Recipe For Moving On by Karen Bishcher (March 23rd): This is a YA debut about breaking up, making new friends and moving on. I think that this is going to be a really quick, fluffy contemporary. It is going to be a very classic traditional story that I am going to love. It is always hard when it comes to debut authors, because I don’t have much to go on when it comes to their writing style, still I have high hopes for this book.

 

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau (April 6th): This book is compared to All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, which is an all time favorite of mine. However, I get serious Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins vibes from this. The story is set in Paris and follows an American ballerina. If I am correct, she falls for a charming french boy while attending an elite summer ballet program. For some reason, story centered around ballerinas have been very in lately, and I am not mad about it. Now I am not sure if this will be a five star read for me, but I do really want to pick it up.

What’s Not to Love by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (April 20th): Yay! I am so excited for this book that I could scream. I have only read one other book from this duo, yet I want to get to their others before this release. Their newest book is a young adult contemporary enemies-to-lovers story. I am a huge hate to love fan, so this is right up my alley. The book is set in high school, which means there is bound to be a lot of drama, romance and possibly some heartbreak.

Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli (April 20th): I am not the biggest fan of Becky Albertalli writing, yet this story intrigues me. Most of the contemporaries I read are mere love story, don’t get me wrong I love that aspect, but every now and again it is good to change it up. This book follows two long time best friends that have always been there for one another. Although, things get complicated when they both start crushing on the same guy. Not only will this set their friendship, but it could also ruin it. I am all for more contemporaries about best friends, and hopefully they remember “Hoes of Bros.”

Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson (May 4th): I have never picked up a Matson book, ever! This is shocking since I am a lover of all YA contemporaries, and she is like the queen of that genre. I guess I am very intimated by peoples love for her books. This new release might be my first taste of her writing. It takes place in New York City, which is a great backdrop if I do say so myself. To best friends, Kat and Stevie, perfect night in the Big Apple gets derailed when they are forced to come face to face with exes, family drama, their friendship and future. After reading the synopsis a lot seems to be going on in this book, but I am ready for it.

Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey (May 18th): This is a “You Got Mail” type of retail that seems so cute. The main characters both own competing bookshops and most likely fall for one another. Yep. This is another enemies-to-lovers story. What can I say I am an addict. I have heard that this book has some trigger warnings for child abandonment and absent parents, so keep that in mind when going into the story. From what I can tell this is going to be the type of book you either love or hate, so I am interested to see where I fall.

There you have the book releases I am most excited for this spring. I promise to try and an add some fantasy picks in my summer and fall 2021 book releases post. Also, keep in mind that there are other books coming out in the next three months that I will be adding to my tbr as well. Let me know in the comments what books you cannot wait to buy this month. You can comment if you want me to do a review on any of these books once I have heard them. Please like and share this post with all your book loving friends.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny