2022 Mid-Year Book Freakout // Book Tag

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
It is once again time for the “Mid-Year Book Freakout” Tag! If you don’t know what this tag is all about, you can check out my ‘Book Freakout‘ tag post from last year. This year I also did the new “The Quarter Year Crisis” book tag that you should read as well. This tag should give you a little insight to how my reading year is going thus far.


100% ‘The Night Shift’ by Alex Finlay. So far this year I haven’t had a lot of 5 stars reads, so this book has continued to hold the spot as the best book that I read in 2022.


I have only finished one book series this year, which is the ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ trilogy. I won’t get into my thoughts on the final book in the series, but the second book, ‘Good Girl, Bad Blood’, was really good. It was a solid second book, and was an enjoyable read.


Probably ‘Hide’ by Kiersten White! However, I have heard only negative things about the book since its release. Still, I am hoping to pick it up , but I am in no rush to read it.


I have so many anticipated releases coming out! But I am really excited for ‘Long Live the Pumpkin Queen‘ by Shea Ernshaw to be released. The book follows Sally from ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, which sounds amazing. Also, ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ is special to me since me and my husband dressed up in Jack and Sally for our 2020 wedding on Halloween. Our wedding rings are even inspired by the movie!


I hate to say it, but that would be ‘As Good As Dead’ by Holly Jackson. That, and the third and final book in the ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ trilogy. Let’s just move on.


I am going to go with ‘Radio Silence’ by Alice Oseman. I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but I ended up enjoying it a lot! It had an interesting plot, and an honest portrayal of mental health struggles.


Emily Henry! I haven’t finished ‘Book Lovers’ yet, but right from the start I was in love. This storyline is great, the dialogue is great, and the writing style is, well, great!


Honestly, I can’t think of anyone that I have swooned over lately. Sure there are characters that I find adorable, but no new fictional crushes as of yet.


Ivy from ‘You’ll Be The Death Of Me’ by Karen M. McManus. She reminds me a little of myself, since she is type A and an overachiever. Also, she is petty which is something I use to be as a kid. Let me tell you there’s this one grudge I still hold until this day, just kidding. Kind of.


This year, I have read two books that made me sob. The first being ‘The Night Shift’, and the second was ‘Good Girl, Bad Blood’. If you have read either of these books, then you might know why they gutted me.


Bunnicula! My husband desperately wanted me to read this collection, because he calls me Bunny (and sometimes Bunnicula). Reading this silly and cute book made me so happy!


‘Omens Bite‘ by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, which is the second book in the ‘Sisters Of Salem’ series. Do I own the first book? No. Was this a cover buy? Yes.


I don’t have any required reading to get done by the years end, but still, I would love to read ‘Darling Girl’ by Liz Michalski before 2022 is over. I don’t know why this book intrigues me so much, but the idea of a dark/adult retelling of ‘Peter Pan’ sounds so interesting.

This tag is always so much fun, so if you have done it, please let me know in the comments. Or, just feel free to tell me how your reading as been going. Have you met your reading goal? Don’t forget to follow my blog for all things bookish and more!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Over 30 // Book Tag

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
It’s my birthday, and I’ll cry if I want to? Wait, that doesn’t sound right. Feelin’ like I’m 22? I wish! Actually, I am “Thirty, Flirty and Thriving!” In honor of my 30th birthday, I thought that I would do the ‘Over 30 Book Tag’. Enjoy!


In the comments, I would love your birthday wishes. Also, I did a whole post on my birthday book wishlist, or you can check out my Amazon wishlist to see what books I would like to add to my bookshelves. As a birthday gift to me, please follow my blog!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Lucky List // Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

SynopsisEmily’s always been lucky. Well, technically her mum was the lucky one, and since she died, Emily’s started to feel like her luck’s run out. So when Emily finds her mum’s senior-year bucket list, she finds twelve ways to feel close to her again. But if she wants to check everything off, she’ll need help – help in the form of Blake. As Blake and Emily work through the list, the girls’ bond deepens. Emily is starting to feel lucky again, but she’s faced with the question: can she accept this new part of herself, the part her mum never even knew existed?

This isn’t a story that captured me right from the start, but I could tell that it would only get better. The main character, Emily, is going through a lot. She’s still coping with the passing of her mother., and trying to understand her feelings about grief, while trying to fix a mistake she made because of that grief.

Emily embarks on this journey to complete this list she found in her mother’s stuff. The author made a story about grief, into a story about self discovery. It made the subject not quite so heavy, but without glossing over the struggles of losing someone.

In the book, Emily starts bonding with the new girl, Blake. As they get closer, their feelings for each being to grow. The female/female romance was simple and sweet. Their relationship developed organically, and wasn’t rushed. Blake never pressured Emily into anything, and only wanted her to be happy.

Self love was a big part of the story, as quite a few of Emily’s decisions were based on what she thought her mother wanted for her. But the bucket list, of sorts, really did help her realize that sometimes you have to let heart take charge.

There was some focus on how we all grieve differently, but I wasn’t too found of the aspect. Emily’s dad was quick to “erase” his wife from their lives and move on. However, it was explained,that to him, her memory is what was more important. Her clothes and other things were just a reminder of what was lost.

“We’re all lucky,not because every thing works out, but we get to wake up in the morning and take chances and make mistakes and keep trying not to.”

I understand and respect the writer’s decisions to add that with in the story, but it made me angry all the same. However, it is true that once you are gone, you don’t leave things behind. Just people. As long as they don’t forget you, then you will always be with them.

Nevertheless, the story was well done, but slow at parts. I was hoping for more from it, which left me a bit disappointed. As for the the writing style, it was reminiscent of Sarah Dessen, who isn’t necessarily a writer I enjoy reading. I liked the way this story played out, so the writing didn’t bother me that much.

Overall, the plot was wrapped up with a nice little bow, and even with the topic of grief, there wasn’t too many heartbreaking moments. I would, of course, still recommend you go into the book knowing that loss is a major plot point of the story. Most of the book centers around the aftermath of losing a loved one.

In the comments, give me your thoughts on the book. Or, let me know if you have it on your TBR. As always, follow my blog, because it really brightens my day!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Kiki’s Delivery Service // Book Review

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SynopsisThis is a charming and delightful tale that is reminiscent of children’s favorites The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy and Astrid Lindgren’s Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. Black and white line drawings sprinkled throughout reveal the humor and warmth in everything Kiki does.

I am not a big anime lover, but I have heard of the ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service‘ story before. When I discovered the book, I knew that I had to pick it up. The story follows a young witch named Kiki, who leaves her home to find her own path as a witch. I found Kiki to be a fairly typical young girl, aside from being a witch.

She is energetic, and excited to embark on this adventure. But, she has a tendency to think she is all grown up, and already has everything figured out. She is curious about normal tween things, like boys and love, and has big dreams. I see her being relatable for young girls.

Like most witches, she has a cat familiar named Gigi. I found Gigi to be entertaining and delightful. They balanced each other’s personalities, which was nice. Also, she adds a touch of humor to the story. I enjoyed those tiny funny parts a lot, and they added to my enjoyment of the book.

“How wonderful it is to have a place to return to.”

There weren’t a lot of side characters, but they were all very likable. That being said, they didn’t have a very large part in the story. As the title suggests, the book centers around Kiki, and follows her delivery adventures. Honestly, it felt like a collection of short stories. I didn’t mind this at all, since it made the book a quick read.

Overall, this is a cute witchy story that is perfect for younger readers. I would definitely classify it as a middle grade. There’s an underlying message, that some people pass judgement on others who they simply don’t understand. This is something that which holds very true in real life as well.

It was interesting to learn that the author’s inspiration for the story was a drawing her daughter made. She even loosely based Kiki off her daughter. I found that to be adorable. Reading the book made me want to watch the movie, because I hear that it closely follows the book. So, I think that I will enjoy it as well. Leave me a comment, letting me know if you have either read the book or seen the film. And hit that follow button to help grow my blog!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

30th Birthday Bookish Wishlist // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny 9 Comments

Hi Friends,
June is my birth month, so I thought it would be fun to share my birthday wishlist. Although, getting gifts aren’t important to me at all there are some books that I would like to buy or receive for my birthday. Do I need more books? No. Does that stop me from wanting more? Absolutely no.

Honestly, those are all the books at the top of my wishlist as of now. However, I am probably missing quiet a few. If you would like to see my full Amazon book wishlist feel free to do so by clicking here. In the comments, tell me what is the number on thing on your wishlist bookish or otherwise. Please send me love by following my little book blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Night Shift // Book Review

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Synopsis
“From the author of the breakout thriller Every Last Fear, comes Alex Finlay’s electrifying next novel The Night Shift, about a pair of small-town murders fifteen years apart―and the ties that bind them.”

This is an adult mystery thriller book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is the definition of a page turner, because of the compelling story, twists and  versatile cast of characters. As the synopsis says, the book focuses on a crime that takes place at an ice cream shop in the present day. The incident resembles a murder from the 90’s that happened at a Blockbuster. Yes, I said Blockbuster Video. If you were a 90s, or even early 2000s, kid than you’re probably getting childhood flashbacks right about now.

The book follows three perspectives – Ella, Sarah, and Chris. Ella is the only survivor of the Blockbuster murders, who was asked to talk with the lone survivor of the current murders. Jesse. The girls do form a bond, because of their shared tragedies. However, Ella is a very messed up character. She doesn’t let people get too close, and tends to sabotage herself . The character of Ella was written so well, and she conveys that one can go on to have a good career, and decent life, after a horrible incident. However, the past will always haunt them and affect their life.

Chris is a public defender, and the younger brother of, Vincent, who was accused of he Blockbuster murder. Although Vincent was never charged for the crime, people still believe that he was involved. Everyone except Chris. The brothers haven’t seen each other in years, ever since Vincent up and disappeared. We don’t get to know much about Vincent, but the way Chris talked about him, you could tell that he wasn’t the murdering type. The boys came from an abusive home, and it made sense that Chris would turn his effort into helping people that needed help. I found him to just be a kid, waiting for his older brother to come back for him.

Sarah Keller is the FBI agent assigned to the case. She is pregnant, which was an interesting touch. She was giving me Olivia Benson vibes. Throughout a lot of the book, she is with Atticus Singh, who is her fresh out of college partner of the case. I liked Atticus and Sarah’s brother/sister type of relationship. However, Atticus quickly became my favorite character, even thought he played a rather small part in the story.

“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.”

There were a lot of facts in the story, which is why it was mainly plot driven. It was like watching an episode of ‘Cold Case’ where you are trying to fit all the pieces together in your head. You know the answer is right in front of you, but just can’t figure it out. Even with this being the case, the book doesn’t require a ton of focus or brain power. It was a fairly fast read, and the story didn’t slow down one bit.

There were so many twists that I couldn’t keep up. I was probably shocked for the majority of this book. And, with every new development, my theories changed. I was reeling by the killers reveal. It was insane, jaw dropping, and so well thought out. If you are looking for an author that knows how to write a solid mystery, then Alex Finlay is for you.

The book hit on some heavy topics, like how grief can drive a person to do despicable things. Losing a cherished loved one can make you lose yourself as well. The book will definitely take you on an emotional ride. The ending was not only amazing, but broke my heart in many ways. By the last page, I was in tears.

Overall, I wouldn’t call this a thriller. Rather, an amazing murder/mystery. There were some badass female characters, but also many triggering topics. I would recommend looking at the trigger warnings for the book before picking it up. In the comments, let me know if you have read this book. Please give my blog a follow, because your support does mean the world to me!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

As Good As Dead // Book Review

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Synopsis
“She’s used to online death threats in the wake of her viral true-crime podcast, but she can’t help noticing an anonymous person who keeps asking her: Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears? Soon the threats escalate and Pip realizes that someone is following her in real life.”

*This review might include information that some might see as a spoiler.*

Before I get started, I would like to mentally prepare you for a rant filled, and quite lengthy, review. (Although most of my reviews do seem to be pretty long). This is the third and final book in the ‘Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ series – and when I say it was a disappointment, I mean it was a complete and utter fail! I was positively enraged by this book. So much so, that I don’t even want to write about it.

Nevertheless, here we are. The book takes place right after the second installment. So, if you have yet to read the second book, please be aware of spoilers. Pip is struggling with PTSD, which she isn’t actually dealing with at all. She has turned to using drugs, and insists on carrying the weight of the aftermath of ‘Good Girl, Bad Blood’ all by herself. It is clear that Pippa has changed in so many ways. Not only was her drug use shocking, she was a much darker version of herself.

For someone that seems so smart, she was totally blind to her self destructive behavior. And similarly, to to the fact that the only way to move past trauma is to deal with it head on. The rest of the characters stayed practically the same, and Ravi was both supportive and protective of Pip.

What makes this book so different than the previous two, is that the case involves Pippa herself. Before this, we have seen her trying to solve mysteries for others. This time, she is the target. The big question of the book is, “Who will look for you, when it’s you who goes missing”? It is a very interesting question, and, I think we all have our own answer to it.

The key to these books is that you have to remember all the little details. This final book connects all the books together. It is seriously a full circle moment. I loved how everything tied in together. Also, how Andy Bell had a nice redemption arc.

“All these ambiguities, these contradictions, these grey areas that spread and engulfed all sense – how could Pip rectify that? How could she cure herself from the after effects?”

This case follows a serial killer, rather than a solo murder – think of a Criminal Minds sort of case. However, the plot was none too thrilling to me. Also, it was strange to see Ravi being more involved in the case, and being smarter than Pippa at times.

I had many suspicions as to the killer, but kept bouncing around. Still, my first instinct was ultimately correct. And, by the halfway point, the book picked up the pace. It was an intense roller coaster ride from that point forward. However, right as the story got good, I was completely in shock as to what I was actually reading. I didn’t even recognize these characters. It was as if Pippa had no moral compass at all. And, everyone was so quick to jump right on board with her.

It was insane – I wanted to throw the book in the trash. I was livid! Okay, maybe I’m overreacting. But this book was unnecessary, and the characters developed in the worst way possible. I understand not trusting the justice system, but Murder, then framing someone else for that murder? Come on. Let’s face it, Pippa’s actions in this book prove that PTSD is the least of her issues.

However, something that I do love is that Holly Jackson’s book are easy to get into. She has a style of writing that I have become a fan of. And, as I have mentioned multiple time that even though the book got my blood boiling I couldn’t stop reading.

Overall, I wasn’t very satisfied with the the conclusion of the book or the trilogy altogether. My favorite book would have to be the first in the series, with book two being a close second. It really should have been a duology. However, I have noticed that this book has polarized opinions – you either love it, or you hate it. There really isn’t any middle ground. Can you guess which team I’m on?

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Good Girl, Bad Blood // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments


Synopsis
Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh. The police won’t do anything about it. And if they won’t look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town’s dark secrets along the way… and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it’s too late?

The first book in this trilogy was fantastic, so I was eager to jump into second book. Unfortunately, I had forgotten a lot of the characters from the first book, so it made this book a bit of a challenging read. However, I did find an overview of ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ at Recaptains.

Unlike the first book, I wasn’t captivated from the start. I wasn’t sure about the whole friend’s missing brother plot. A missing persons case is very different from a murder/mystery. Still, Pippa is a fearless protagonist with a curious personality. Even with her reservations about taking on another potentially dangerous case, she can’t say no. It’s like they say: “A tiger can’t change it’s stripes”.

Although, the mystery was interesting, and I was enjoying all the twists, the plot wasn’t as thrilling as the previous book. But as the plot progressed, the pace picked up, and the story continued to get better. For me, a part of the reason I wasn’t as engaged as I thought I’d be, is that I felt like Pippa had changed since the first book. But, that is to be expected, given the life and death situation that she went through.

In this book, Pippa and Ravi are in a relationship, but I am unsure of how I feel about them being together. They had cute moments, but I didn’t sense a ton of chemistry between them. That aside, I do think they work well together. Ravi is very supportive of Pip’s inquisitive nature, while still being protective of her.

There was this new podcast element, and a lot more social media references. There are mentions of Instagram and Tinder. Authors tend to love throwing in bits of the real world like that, Maybe to connect with their readers more?

By the halfway point, I couldn’t put the book down. I felt like Pip. Trying to piece everything together, and my suspicions were even right a few times. And, when everything unfolded at the end, I was shocked, but not surprised at where the story went.

“I think we all get to decide what good and bad and right and wrong mean to us, not what we’re told to accept. You did nothing wrong. Don’t beat yourself up for other people’s mistakes.”

There was a lot of talk about the justice system, and how it fails more often than not. I think the justice system isn’t always so black and white. The way this book handles right and wrong is very powerful. It is an interesting take on justice and makes you take a closer look at your own beliefs.

The ending was incredibly sad, and begs the topics of what makes a victim. Should the sins of our parents become ours as well? By the end of the book, I sympathized with both the killer and victim. The ending was done so well, and was very thought provoking. In fact, the entire book will leave you with a lot to think about.

This book does show how much hypocrites people can be. It is always interesting to see just how easily people can turn on others. This is a real life thing, and makes you wonder why the world is full of so many judgmental individuals. Do genuine friends even exist?

Overall, I found it to be a great sequel. The storyline didn’t disappoint me one bit, and my reading experience was a positive one. Give this post a quick like and a share before you go. Also, did you know you could follow my blog? That really does help it grow, and reassures me that you like my content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // Suns Out, Books Out

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
I am going to be participating in the ‘Suns Out, Books Out’ readathon taking place from the 20th to the 26th of June. You can watch Lauren Love Reads‘ announcement video on YouTube to get all the details. There will be reading sprints happening through out the event, and even a buddy watch of the Amazon Prime series ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty‘. There is a group read, which is ‘The Counselors’ by Jessica Goodman. However, I have already read the book, so I wont be reading it for the readathon. Now for my TBR!

READ A BOOK WITH YELLOW ON THE COVER

Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale is a queer small-town romance that will give you major butterflies.”
—Bustle

READ A ‘CHILLER’ A CHILL THRILLER

“A high-stakes hide-and-seek competition turns deadly in this dark supernatural thriller from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.”

READ A BOOK CHOSEN BY A FRIEND

“Graphic artist Clay Riddell was in the heart of Boston on that brilliant autumn afternoon when hell was unleashed before his eyes. Without warning, carnage and chaos reigned. Ordinary people fell victim to the basest, most animalistic destruction. And the apocalypse began with the ring of a cell phone.”

READ A BOOK WITH AN ISLAND, OCEAN OR BEACH SETTING

“Practical Magic meets Nova Ren Suma’s Imaginary Girls and Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap in this lush, atmospheric novel by acclaimed author Katrina Leno.”

These are the books that I have chosen to include on my TBR, and just to clarify my husband chose ‘Cell’ for me to read. I will try to do a ‘Reading Log‘ or Instagram Reel for this TBR, if I remember. In the comments, tell me if you are taking part in any summer readathons. Please support my little blog by giving it a follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

How I Rate Books // Star Rating Method

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
There are many differing opinions on star ratings for books. Actually, anything one can review, for that matter. However, star rating is my preferred method of rating things. So, I wanted to give a rundown on what my ratings actually mean to me. I won’t include half star ratings, though, since they mostly mean that I was on the fence about which way the rating should go. It fell somewhere in the middle of those two stars.

Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder: The best of the best. Would read again and recommend. I would sing these books praises any day! In my opinion, everyone should read these books. These are the books that I truly love, it’s that simple.

Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder: Great, but not amazing. I had a great reading experience, but something fell short. Some of the things that could make it a 4 star only are less than adequate character development, book length, or writing style. But, in the end, this book was a good time, which I’d talk about to others.

Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favorite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder: It was okay. I am glad that I read it, but it wasn’t my favorite. I would have been fine not reading the book, but I’m not totally disappointed with picking it up. To me, this seems to be the most common rating.

Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder: Why did I read this? What did I just read? This book wasn’t for me and I wouldn’t read it again. It isn’t something I’d buy or talk about in the future. This is the type of book I’d likely forget about, because it wasn’t anything special to me.

Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder: This is a book that I should have DNF’ed. I can’t, for the life of me, understand why I read this book. Complete waste of my time. I wouldn’t recommend it to others at all. It was absolutely not my type of book, and wasn’t a pleasant reading experience.

I know that my lower ratings might seem a bit harsh, but I don’t intend them to be. I’m a strong believer that not every book is intended for every reader. Just because I give a book a 1 or 2 star rating doesn’t mean it’s a bad book, just that I personally didn’t enjoy it. Remember, if I like or dislike a book, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will feel the same way. So please, take every one of my book reviews with a grain of salt. Please like and share this post if you enjoyed it. And, show your support by following my blog!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny