The Afterlife Of Holly Chase | Book Review

December 21, 2021December 8, 2024 - Bunny 2 Comments

Title: The Afterlife Of Holly Chase
Author: Cynthia Hand
Published: 2017
Genre: YA/Contemporary/Holiday
Rating:

Synopsis
On Christmas Eve five years ago, seventeen-year-old Holly Chase was visited by three Ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways. She didn’t. And then she died. Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge—as their latest Ghost of Christmas Past. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable. But this year’s Scrooge is different. This year’s Scrooge might change everything.

I was very excited to read a YA version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. This is a story that has been told many different ways before, and for good reason. A Christmas Carol embodies not only the spirit of Christmas, but also teaches us that we should remember the past, live in the present, and hope for a good future. However, the story is always about an older depiction of Scrooge.

A book that follows a teenager, especially a girl, intrigued me. At first, Holly was an unlikable Scrooge who was too self involved to care about the lessons that the ghosts were trying to teach her. She had lost her mother, and grew distant from her father. She was raised by her bitchy stepmother, which turned Holly cold. However, as the story went on, we learned a lot about Holly. She was regretful, and truly lonely. You could see that there was a good person hidden with in her Scrooge-like exterior.

Because Holly ignores the ghost, she is forced to become the new ghost of Christmas past after her death. But when teenager, Ethan, is chosen as the newest Scrooge. Holly is instantly drawn to this younger, teenage version (as was I). The thing that made Ethan different than other Scrooges, even Holly, was that he still wasn’t all that heartless. True, he was stuck-up, self involved, and thought that money was all that mattered. But, he still managed to show kindness at times.

“My fortune read, ‘It’s never too late to become what one could have been’.”

There were moments throughout the story where I felt bad for Holly and Ethan. You want them to get a happy ending with each other. They both had been through things that contributed to their lack of compassion. But, their shared hardship doesn’t excuse their actions. Especially Holly’s, who was being a bit thoughtless in her communications with Ethan. She was being reckless because she found him cute and interesting. His journey wasn’t about her, but she somewhat made it about herself by only thinking about what she wanted and not focusing on thawing his cold heart.

Still, the love-story aspect was very cute. I understand why Holly and Ethan were attracted to one another. They were both unkind people that had a secret desire to change and be better people. But, they didn’t know how after all the mistakes they had made. Although, the love-story was a big part of the plot, it was the fact that isn’t was a real love-story that made this book so special. This was overall a great, heartwarming story.

The ending was incredible, shocking, and inspiring. It gave me all the feels of “A Christmas Carol”, while still managing to separate itself from the original story. However, from the beginning, the story has always begged the question, “Can people truly change?” I, for one, believe that changing yourself is a choice. One must decide if they want to make that choice.

Do you enjoy the story “A Christmas Carol”? What’s your favorite retelling of it? As always, don’t forget to like and share this review, and follow my little book blog for more content!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

So, This Is Christmas // Book Review

December 19, 2021May 28, 2022 - Bunny Leave a comment

Author: Tracy Andreen
Published: 2021
Genre: YA/Contemporary/Holiday
Rating:

Synopsis
When Finley Brown returned to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma, from boarding school, she expected to find it just as she left it. Christmas hasn’t changed much in her sixteen years. But instead she returns to find that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated, and her archnemesis got a job working at her grandmother’s inn. And she certainly didn’t expect to find the boy she may or may not have tricked into believing that Christmas was an idyllic holiday paradise on her grandmother’s doorstep. It’s up to Finley to make sure he gets the Christmas he was promised. This is Finley’s Christmas. It’s about home and family and friends and finding her place, and along the way she also finds the best Christmas present of all: love.

I was excited to pick up this book, since it was a Christmas contemporary set in Oklahoma. I have family from Oklahoma, and my mom grew up an Okie. However, the book left a bad taste in my mouth, because the author portrayed Oklahomans in a very stereotypical way. Tracy Andreen grew up in Oklahoma, so this could stem from her experience there. Or, the stereotyping was simply supposed to be a joke.

In the book, Finley, returns home for the holidays after spending the semester at an elite boarding school. She spends the holiday season coming to terms with the things that occurred while she was away at school, all while working at her grandmother’s inn. Things get mess when her snobby British schoolmate shows up at the inn with his aunt for the perfect Christmas holiday.

In the book, we meet characters that sound and act like dumb hicks that never left their small Oklahoma town. It seemed like most the girls end up getting pregnant in high school, or at least that how it was with Finley’s family. And, sure Oklahoma is known to be a religious state, but I wouldn’t classify everyone as judgemental.

Moving on, Finley wasn’t enjoyable to read about and, in the audiobook, she had an overly southern accent. Not all Oklahomans have an accent, but apparently in this book they do. Also, the love story didn’t work for me one bit. I didn’t get an ounce of chemistry from them. It felt forced, and I wasn’t buying the enemies-to-lovers story the author was selling.

“Three percent Neanderthal wasn’t it?”

Rather than hate-to-love it was an unexpected romance story. The two didn’t even know each other well enough to hate one another. Perhaps if this was a dual perspective story where we heard from Finley and her love interest, Arthur, I wouldn’t have had such a negative opinion on the romance.

Furthermore, the plot was predictable from the get go, but not in a cute Hallmark movie way. More like a Disney Channel movie that is trying to be relatable and cute. About halfway through the book, I knew exactly how everything was going to turn out. I don’t always mind this, but it is more annoying when the story already isn’t captivating me.

Besides the holiday romance and family drama, the book’s message is that life is tough. Things are hard, but you shouldn’t give up. If you fall down, get back up and try again. Although, I think this is a good message, the book didn’t deliver it well. True, one shouldn’t give up because something is hard. But giving up shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing.

Sometimes we do things that might not turn out the way we hoped. They might be too hard, or just give us stress. It is always okay to say ‘I can’t do this.’ Not every choice you make will be right, but it is better to do what is best for you, than to do something because you feel obligated to. Honestly, life isn’t that black and white, and you should make the best decision you can for yourself.

As you can tell, I had such a great time reading this book. Okay, bad joke. This book was a big letdown, and wished I had DNFed it. Still, if you liked this book, then I am happy for you. I think that I probably rambled way too much in this review, so, sorry (not sorry). Anyhow, give me a like, a share, and a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

One Way Or Another // Book Review

December 14, 2021May 28, 2022 - Bunny 1 Comment

Author: Kara McDowell
Published: 2020
Genre: YA/Contemporary/Holiday
Rating:

Synopsis
Sliding Doors meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in a sweet, smart holiday romance about a girl who decides to stop letting her anxiety stand in the way of true love.

I saw this book in stores last holiday season, and the cover intrigued me. I went into the book completely blind, since all I knew was that it is a YA contemporary that’s set at Christmas time. But, this book threw me for a loop. We jump straight into the plot from the get go, and learn all about the main character, Paige. She is an extreme worrier, who is paranoid to make a decision. She overthinks every choice, and gets anxiety when thinking about the effects her choices can have on her life.

In the book, we follow Paige as she spend Christmas with her best friend, and long time crush, Fitz. However, we also follow her to New York where she spends the holiday with her mom. The book showcases alternating time lines where the reader gets to see the outcome of both choices. At first, I was completely confused, because she was on a plane to New York. Then suddenly, Fitz was picking her up so she could spend Christmas at his family cabin.

As the book went on, I got use to the dual storylines. It was a cool concept, and with such an indecisive main character, I understood why the author chose to go this route. Still, I didn’t feel like the whole dual timeline works in a book. I have seen movies with this type of plot, and prefer it in films and shows rather than books. Yet, even in live-action, the lines between both paths can become blurry.

This was supposed to be a friends-to-lovers story, which I think got lost along the way. At one point, I was rooting for her to end up with another potential love interest. Paige was way too invested in Fitz, which was slightly annoying. Her crush wasn’t subtle or cute, but obsessive and desperate. She was pining so hard for her best friend, who was a serial dater. We do learn a lot about Fitz and the reason behind his relationship habits, but by then, I already wasn’t a fan of his character.

Something that the author did remarkably well was the mental health representation. Like Paige, I suffer from mental health disorders, anxiety being one of them. I completely understood her thoughts and worries in a way that only someone who also feels that way can. She thought that her brain was broken, and was scared that her illness was a burden to those around her.

“Rabbit holes are my specialty. I live and breathe in them.”

There are many times when I have felt the exact same way. It took me a long time to understand that my brain isn’t broken, but it does work differently than others. If anything, this is a self love story about coming to terms with your mental health struggles, and realizing you don’t have to let them control your life.

As for the two time lines, I’m not sure which one I enjoyed more, but I did find the ending thought provoking. It begs the question that all things will ultimately turn out the way they’re supposed to, no matter the path to you chose. It’s an interesting concept. One really has to wonder if fate does play a big part in our lives and decisions.

As a whole, the characters and plot weren’t my favorite, but I wouldn’t categorize the book as a disappointment. Have you read this book? Do you like alternating timeline plots? If you are a fan of reviews, give this post a like and a share. And make sure to follow the blog for all my post notifications.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

As If On Cue // Book Review

December 13, 2021May 28, 2022 - Bunny 1 Comment

Author: Marisa Kanter
Published: 2021
Genre: YA/Contemporary
Rating:

Synopsis
Lifelong rivals Natalie and Reid have never been on the same team. So when their school’s art budget faces cutbacks, of course Natalie finds herself up against her nemesis once more. She’s fighting to direct the school’s first ever student-written play, but for her small production to get funding, the school’s award-winning band will have to lose it. Reid’s band. And he’s got no intention of letting the show go on. But when their rivalry turns into an all-out prank war that goes too far, Natalie and Reid have to face the music, resulting in the worst compromise: writing and directing a musical. Together. At least if they deliver a sold-out show, the school board will reconsider next year’s band and theater budget. Everyone could win.

From the synopsis, you get the sense that this is going to be a cute hate-to-love contemporary. However, the book didn’t read like one, which was slightly disappointing. Natalie and Reid’s feud started when they were in middle school, over their equal love of the clarinet. Natalie eventually found a love for theater and writing, leaving music to Reid and losing the bond she shared with her dad.

The main protagonist, Natalie, is very flawed. I didn’t enjoy how her imperfections are pointed out throughout the story, by other people close to her. She did need to hear some of these comments, but people, especially her friends, shouldn’t have been so blunt. This being said, I am unsure if we were supposed to sympathize with Natalie and find her relatable. Or, if she was intended to be an unlikable character. Because, I’m still on the fence about my opinion of her. As for Reid, her love interest, he was very pleasant to read about. His personality was relatable, and he didn’t come off as obnoxious. He knew that he was talented, but didn’t brag about it. His parents didn’t support his dreams, so he tried his hardest to prove that he was talented enough to make music as a career.

When we first meet Natalie and Reid, their interaction is rather snarky, but I found Reid to be fairly civil. It was Natalie that turned everything into a competition, and Reid was just along for the ride. This could be due to the fact that Natalie felt that Reid had replaced her in her fathers eyes. But this wasn’t Reid’s fault; she had misplaced anger. Natalie created a lot of drama and problems for herself. She never asked anyone before jumping to conclusions, and was seriously over-dramatic. Reid was trying to compromise, but she dismissed all his suggestion.

“I will never be enough for you.”

Nevertheless, I found myself empathizing with her at times. Despite all the drama, her feelings were valid. She was basically screaming out for her dad’s affection and getting shrugged off everytime. By the end of the book, I still didn’t see much growth in their relationship. Still, the message of following your dreams was a highlight in the story. A person can have a career they enjoy and still make a decent living. You might struggle, but everyone has struggles, even if they aren’t career related.

One odd plot point was the play theme, a ‘Frozen’ retelling. The author’s idea for a play – based off the animated film- that had a more important message was cute. But ‘Frozen’ just feels a little more middle school to me. Although, I am probably biased, since I am not a big ‘Frozen’ fan. I did want to mention that there is some Jewish representation in the book, but it doesn’t play a major role in the story. In short, the book didn’t feel like a true enemies-to-lovers, but more of a message about following your passion, and letting go of preconceived opinions of someone. If you are looking for a middle-of-the-road young adult contemporary, then give this one a read.

If you enjoyed this review, give the post a like and a share. I have many reviews up on the blog, and more to come, so follow the blog to get notified whenever I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

For The Ones You Love // Book Recommendations

December 8, 2021 - Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
I posted a bookish holiday gift guide to help those that who were struggling to find a gift for a reader. However, in that post, you probably noticed that I didn’t mention many books. I thought it would be fun to do a different kind of gift guide this time around, so I’m going to recommend some books for certain people in your life, such as your parents, kids, etc.

Biography: My mom is a huge audiobook biography reader. Especially if the author reads it themselves. She has read a ton of them, such as ‘Talking as Fast as I Can’ by Lauren Graham and ‘Home’ by Julie Andrews. So, if your mom or grandmother is anything like mine, than a memoir is the perfect gift option. The current bio on my mom’s radar is ‘Will’ by Will Smith, which is a 2021 memoir release. Another great choice would be ‘Open Book’ by Jessica Simpson, which mom says is an interesting read.

‘The Honey-Don’t List’ by Christina Lauren: Now, I don’t know if my mom would like this book, but after seeing the the synopsis, I instantly thought it was a great read for a mom. This book is about master home renovators, couple Melissa and Rusty Tripp, who secretly despise each other. It is up to their assistant Carey and engineer James to keep their career ruining secret under lock and key for just a few more weeks. Don’t all moms and grandmothers watch HGTV? I have heard nothing but great things about Christina Lauren books, and this sounds like a cute romance read. Also, I get ‘America’s Sweethearts’ vibes from it, which is kind of weird.

‘Ready Player One’ by Ernest Cline: Guys love video games, at least the ones in my life do. This book follows Wade Watts, who plays a worldwide virtual reality game in hopes of discovering an Easter egg. Once found, he will inherit the game creator’s fortune. There is a movie adaption as well, which I believe was well received.

‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This might seem like an odd suggestion, but it is perfect for the music loving guy in your life. The book documents the history of one of the biggest bands in the seventies, ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’. I know that my husband would 100% enjoy this book, since he is a music addict. Also, I have heard that the audiobook version is the way to go with this book.

‘The Hating Game’ by Sally Thorne: This is another book being adapted to film, and it’s very popular among the adult romance crowd. I am not big into adult romances, but I know that one of my sisters loves to read them. I went for this one, because I have heard a lot of positive things about it. And, who doesn’t love a good enemies-to-lovers romance. However, I have heard that it is a little problematic, so keep that in mind.

‘Fool Me Twice’ by Carrie Aarons: I think any young adult contemporary reader would thoroughly enjoy this book. The plot follows a college freshman who is out to finish off her late best friend’s bucket list. The final and most important task on the list is to get revenge on Lincoln Kolb. He is the jerk that dumped her best friend supposedly due to her cancer diagnosis. So, to honor the wish of her best friend, she is out to make this seemingly cold-hearted boy fall head-over-heels for her, than break his heart. Anyone else thinking of ‘John Tucker Must Die’ after hearing this plot, or is it just me?

‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’ by Rick Riordan: This is a Greek mythology book series about a boy whose life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the son of a god. Any kid, boy or girl, is probably going to want to follow this adventure series. There are even a lot of adults that call this their favorite book series of all time.

‘The Isle of the Lost’ by Melissa de la Cruz: This fairy-tale reimagining book series might seem more for girls, but I think boys would enjoy it as well. In the first book, we learn the backstory of villains, meet villain kids, and search for the Dragon’s Eye. The book follows Mal, daughter of Maleficent, Jay, son of Jafar, Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen, and Carlos, son of Cruella de Vil. Fun fact, the Disney Channel ‘Descendants’ films where based on these books.

There you go, some fun holiday gift book recommendations for specific people in your life. Let me know in the comments what books you’ll be gifting this holiday season. Also, you can give me a gift by following my bookish blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares (Dash & Lily, #1) // Book Review

December 6, 2021May 28, 2022 - Bunny 7 Comments

Author: Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
Published: 2010
Genre: YA/Contemporary/Holiday
Rating:

Synopsis
Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

The book was exactly how I anticipated it to be, yet there were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. In the book, we follow Lily, who is an adorably awkward teenage girl having the worst Christmas of her life. Her family have all made other Christmas plans, leaving her with her older brother who is more focused on his holiday romance than spending time with his kid sister. Dash on the other-hand isn’t a fan of all the holidays opting to spend Christmas alone. These two very different teens meet by fate, kind of, and embark on the cutest love-story.

This is a dual perspective story where we get to hear from Dash and Lily. And, I am happy to say that I enjoyed both sides of the story equally. Lily is a fun character to follow, because even though she isn’t having the merriest Christmas, she is determined to stay joyful. She is shy and socially awkward, which I found to be very relatable. Dash dared her to challenge herself and step out of her comfort zone. And, to not be so afraid to be seen by the world. I know that was swooning hard over Dash, so there is no question to why Lily fell for him.

Dash reminded me so much of Holden Caulfield. He is cynical, moody, and a bit of a know-it-all. He doesn’t let anyone see his soft side, and is scared to let anyone get too close. Dash is lonely and wants to find ‘his person’ but isn’t sure there’s someone out there for him. Lily changed his outlook on a lot of things, including the holidays. I think he realized that maybe Christmas isn’t so bad if you have someone to spend it with.

It was fun watching the story unfold, and I kept wondering what the next dare would be. For a large portion of the book, they only converse through a red notebook. There is something sweet about falling for someone by their words, not their looks. Which just so happens to be how I fell in love with my husband. Still, I couldn’t wait until they finally met in person.

“I want to believe there is a somebody out there just for me. I want to believe that I exist to be there for that somebody.”

The story does a good job of showcasing how we all place people on pedestals. This is especially true when we only have a mental image of someone. Dash and Lily both got to know one another, but they still had unrealistic expectations. No one will ever be exactly how you envisioned them, but that’s okay. The story demonstrated that we can, and should, overcome our preconceived notion of somebody, and to get to know the real them.

The story had some flaws, as most do. One being that Lily was very confusing at times. She wanted Dash, but didn’t mind pursuing someone that she didn’t even like. I understand that Dash was just the guy in the notebook, but I would think that all his attempts to break her out of her shell would make her more brave. I want her to go get the guy, and not settle.

Dash annoyed me at times, because he could be really stuck-up. Without spoiling anything, there was a scene close to the end of the book where Lily messed up big. Dash was unforgiving, and it made me slightly annoyed, considering they hadn’t even met at that point. Cut the girl some slack.

As for the ending, I think it was simple, and wrapped everything up with a nice bow. The story as a whole was exciting, cute, and it took place in New York City! Spending the holidays in The Big Apple, even through a book, is fabulous. If you have read the book, go ahead and leave your rating in the comments. Also, follow the blog – all the cool kids are doing it!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Music Meets Books // Holiday Edition

December 3, 2021December 2, 2021 - Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
I am a big fan of recommendations posts and videos. In the past, I have done a few but I thought that this one was pretty creative. I have seen people do similar recommendations, but on this list I have some songs and books that people never seem to recommend.

This book comes to mind everytime I hear this original winter song. Honestly, I don’t think that this holiday contemporary gets enough love. But I must admit that it has been a few years since I picked this book up and cannot remember many details about it. I do know that this is a YA romance set on a Christmas tree farm. The book is less about the holidays but redemption, love and past mistakes.

This song is about asking Santa to bring you Christmas love. This book happens to be about a girl wanting one thing for Christmas, her crush. Holiday romances can be a hit or miss, but I swooned over this enemies-to-lovers story. It is about seeing past your negative opinions of someone, because they might just be the someone for you. This book has romance, the holidays and Secret Santa. So you know it is going to be a messy and cute story.

This song can be a bit hard to understand, but the lyrics remind me a lot of Dash and Lily. In the song, it is about how everything changed after meeting your person. And, without them Christmas just isn’t the same. In the book, two teenagers meet at the perfect time during the holidays. Both their Christmases aren’t going so well, but what they come to realize is that all they needed for Christmas was each other. This book was a whirled wind romance that I finished in one day. I think all contemporary readers should go on this holiday journey with Dash and Lily.

Do you agree with my book-to-holiday song recommendations? Do you have any recommendations of your own? Leave them in the comments below, so I and others can get more book recommendations.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // December 2021

November 29, 2021November 28, 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 UsI 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

Underrated Holiday Books // On My TBR

November 17, 2021December 3, 2022 - Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
If couldn’t tell, I am a seasonal reader. This means that the books I read fit well with the current season we’re in. Thus, in the winter time I an all about holiday books. I am in luck, since most holiday themed books are also contemporaries (which you probably know is my favorite genre). However, there are some holiday books that I’ve discovered that aren’t talked about much. In this post, I wanted to share some of these underrated (in my opinion, anyway) holiday books.

‘I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas’ by Tiffany Schmidt
‘Ballet and babysitting bring two teens together in this very merry holiday rom-com from the author of the acclaimed Bookish Boyfriends series. This is a YA contemporary that was released in October 2021. I don’t know about you, but this book sounds like a very cute holiday hate-to-love story. There hasn’t been many books featuring male dancers, so this is a nice change from the typical bad-boy or jock characters. I am excited to see how this story plays out.

‘Blame It on the Mistletoe’ by Beth Garrod
‘Tweet Cute’ meets the movie ‘The Holiday’ in this funny holiday rom-com where two very different girls swap lives for a Christmas adventure.’ I mentioned ‘The Holiday Swap’ in my November TBR, which is a book I have been greatly anticipating. This book has a similar plot, except that it is a young adult story, and the two character aren’t look-a-likes. I have mentioned that swap plots are some of my favorites, so I cannot wait to read this different spin on it. Also, I have seen and loved The Holiday, and I have been dying to read ‘Tweet Cute’.

‘All I Want for Christmas’ by Wendy Loggia‘This sweet and magical romance about a girl who has just one wish – someone to kiss under the mistletoe – is the perfect holiday escape!’
This is a 2020 book release that nobody has read. Well, at least it seems that way. Let me reiterate one more time how much of a sucker I am for YA contemporaries. When I think about this book, ‘My Only Wish’ by Brittney Spears pops into my head. I predict that I am going to enjoy this story, and I am not upset about it.

There are a ton more underrated and unheard of winter/holiday books that I didn’t mention here. So if you would like me to do a part two to this post, let me know in the comments! And before you leave, give this post a like, and follow the blog for all things bookish.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

All The Pretty Things // Book Review

November 12, 2021May 28, 2022 - Bunny Leave a comment

Author: img class=”alignleft wp-image-1649″ src=”https://www.bookswithbunny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/71LonirRW1L.jpg” alt=”” width=”150″ height=”225″ />Emily Arsenault
Published: 2020
Genre: YA/Realistic Fiction/Suspense
Rating:

Synopsis
For fans of Sadie and The Cheerleaders comes an all new thriller about a boy who turns up dead under suspicious circumstances and the one girl who may be the key to solving the mystery of his untimely death.

This was interesting read, and I didn’t except the story to go this way. From the synopsis, I thought that it was going to be a psychological-mystery thriller. However, it was more of a drama/contemporary/mystery, but with other serous topics woven into the story. I don’t mind when stories deviate from the description, but it was a shock to me. I think that one reason that I didn’t mind the plot difference was the fact that the writing was very nice. It wasn’t to info dumpy or mystery heavy. Those things don’t bug me, but it was a welcome surprise that worked well in this case .

Ivy, who is the main protagonist, at the beginning of the book, has returned home from summer vacation. Her best friend Morgan is having a hard time after discovering the body of her special needs co-worker Ethan. When Morgan starts to withdraw from Ivy, she tries to do everything in her power to help her friends. Morgan’s only request is that she find out more about Ethan’s death. Ivy, Morgan, and Ethan worked at Fabuland, which is owned by Ivy’s dad. Her parents are divorced, and she has one older brother that has become more estrange from his family.

Fabuland – and Ivy’s dad – are both a major factor in the story. We got to learn a lot about her dad, and also her parents’ relationship. Her dad is selfish, condescending, arrogant, and unethical. As for Ivy, I didn’t find there to be much depth to her character. The author told us a lot about her family life (which plays a big part throughout the plot). However, I didn’t get good sense of Ivy’s personality. Sure, I learned that she was hard working, loyal and timid. But, I wanted there to be more to her character.

“In my dream, it only hurt for a second and then it was over.”

The supporting characters were mundane, and like Ivy, there wasn’t much depth to them. They all just blended together. I didn’t necessarily hate any of them, I just didn’t get a good sense of who Ivy’s brother or mother were. The most well written character was Ivy’s father, which I understand, since he is very significant to the story. I had never read a character like him before, and it was interesting to see the author’s take on that ty. He was horrible person, but she wrote him as someone that thought they were one of the good guys.

The plot jumped around a lot, and there were times that I had no clue where the story was going. I didn’t know how the author was going to connect everything, but she managed to make the multiple story-lines come together. The ending wasn’t jaw dropping, but it was at least slightly unexpected. It felt very ‘real world’ in my opinion, and the plot kept things down-to-earth. I sympathized with Ivy by the end of the book, since her life unraveled right before her eyes. The story leaves you wondering how someone can be a bad person, and yet you still love them? Is it right to love someone that has done atrocious things? I think that the answers to these questions aren’t black and white. You will never know if the choice you make is best. All you can do is make a choice and live with it.

I always want to mention the trigger warning for books with sensitive subject matter. This story has many important trigger warnings, so I recommend you visiting BookTriggerWarnings.com to see them all. Let me know if you have, or want to read this book. I know that it hasn’t been well received, but don’t let that scare you away. If you want to make my day, follow the blog to get notifications about new posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

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