Gilmore Girl Readathon | To Be Read

Hi Friends,
Today I’m sharing my Gilmore Girls Readathon TBR. If you haven’t already seen my announcement post for the readathon, I definitely recommend checking it out (read here). To give you a brief rundown, the readathon will take place from October 7 to October 21. There’s a bingo board with 12 bookish prompts and four non-bookish prompts. I’m going to try and clear the board, and to make it even more challenging, I’ll be reading a different book for each prompt. Let’s jump right into the books I’ll be reading.


Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc
Not only does the synopsis say this book is perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls, but it’s also set in a charming village in New England. I’m interpreting “village” as a small town. Plus, the title Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice is so fall-coded. I can’t wait to read this story. I’m a little hesitant because it’s a YA novel, which isn’t a genre I’ve been gravitating toward lately, but it does involve coffee and I’m a coffee addict.


Maybe Meant To Be by K.L. Walters
This book takes place at Bexley School and follows best friends Sage and Charlie, who everyone assumes are destined to be together. The cover gives me fall vibes, and I’ve loved pretty much every book I’ve read by this author. I’m anticipating this will be a four or five star read.


Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
This was a harder prompt for me, but I decided to go with Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney. It’s an adult mystery thriller inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The story revolves around a complicated family who are isolated together, with a killer among them. I don’t think there’s another book on my shelves that fits this prompt as perfectly as this one.


Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
I had quite a few options for this prompt, but I’m trying to stick with cozy fall vibes since that’s what Gilmore Girls embodies for me. This is a single dad romance where he’s her manager and she’s a stand-up comedian. I’ve never read anything by this author, but I’ve been loving single parent romances lately.


A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
For this prompt, I picked a book that I’m really excited to read. Not only does it work for the readathon, but it also matches the witchy vibes of October. I don’t know much about it except that it’s a cozy fantasy fake-dating romance.


Business Casual by BK Borison
This is the last book in the Lovelight Farms small-town romance series. Each book in the series is set during a specific season, and this one takes place in the autumn. So, of course, October is the perfect time to read it! The last two books I read from this series had dual perspectives, so I’m assuming this one will as well. If not, I’ll switch it out with another book.


Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
This is another book I cannot wait to dive into! Even though the hardback version doesn’t have leaves on the cover, my copy—the Barnes and Noble exclusive paperback edition—certainly does. I read the first book in this series earlier this year, so I’m happy to be making progress on a series I’ve already started. This is a cozy fantasy series, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to finish the book fairly quickly.


The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
Honestly, everyone is talking about how good this book is and how it’s very Gilmore Girls-inspired. I don’t know much about the plot except that it’s a small-town spicy romance, but I’m excited to read it for the readathon.


A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
Winter is my favorite season, so I had to pick a book that screamed wintertime to me. That’s why I chose a book with “winter” literally in the title. I’m hoping to love this book! All I know is that there’s a secret family recipe and a romance, but I think it’ll be a really cute read with some depth to the plot and characters.


The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
Of course, I have to include a thriller on my TBR. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose is being adapted into a movie. I believe Netflix is behind it, but I’m not entirely sure which streaming platform will be making the film. Still, this is a book I’ve wanted to read for a while, and I’m glad I will finally, hopefully, be getting to it.


A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
I had a few books that fit this prompt, but this one seemed like it was made for a Gilmore Girls readathon since the main character’s name is Lorelei. This is a dark academia novel involving murder and an expedition. It seems like it will fit well with the spooky season, so I’m looking forward to it.


Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Lastly, I have to finish a series I’m in the middle of, and what better time than spooky season to complete the Twilight saga? The final book was released in 2008, so it fits the prompt perfectly. I’ll definitely be rewatching the movies this month, making it an easy choice.


There you have it, all the books I’ll be reading for the Gilmore Girls Readathon. I really hope you all participate because this readathon is very near and dear to my heart. You can join the Discord to let me know what you’re reading and discuss the group book. Please leave a comment letting me know what you’re reading in October, and hit the follow button so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Little Witches | Book Review

About The Book
Jo, Beth, Amy, and Meg March are four sisters practicing witchcraft in secret while living in Concord during the Civil War. When a witchfinder named Mr. Laurence moves in next door, the girls fear for their safety, but he and his grandson, Laurie, turn out to be allies. As winter sets in, missing objects become missing people, and Jo and Laurie discover a powerful magic threatening the town. Together, they must confront it before it’s too late.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3BtPaO5

My Rating


I love retellings, the story of Little Women, and witches, so a graphic novel that combines all three is amazing. I picked up the book on a whim, hoping for a fun and sweet story, and it delivered just that.

The plot wasn’t intense or super exciting, but it was a very original take on the classic. It took the characters I know and love and added this cool magic element to their lives.

I think the author stayed true to the characters’ original personalities, which is something I always appreciate when reading retellings. And while the plot was similar to the original story, it was different enough to feel new and unique.

“We Marches are all very law-abiding.”

It was such a quick read that you can finish it in one sitting, and the artwork is fantastic. The writing didn’t feel too young, which I appreciated since this is more of a middle-grade graphic novel. As an older reader, I enjoyed it, but I can see younger readers liking it as well.

Overall, this isn’t one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read, and it probably won’t stick with me for years to come, but that’s okay. I had a good time reading it, and it’s a book I’d be happy to add to my bookshelf. It’s certainly one of my favorite Little Women retellings.

In the comments, leave me some Little Women retelling recommendations! Don’t forget to like and share this post, and hit the follow button so you never miss an update.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Mean Girls | Bookish Memes

Hi Friends,
Happy Mean Girls Day! If you’re a fan of this classic 2000s film, then you’ll know that one of the most famous lines from the movie is “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.” Thus, the unofficial holiday known as Mean Girls Day was born. I thought it would be fun to share some bookish memes I created, inspired by the movie.

I hope that you enjoyed this post! Please leave me a comment letting me know your favorite line from the movie. Remember, you’re all fetch. Yes, I’m still trying to make fetch happen. Don’t forget to like and share this post because it really helps get my blog out there. You can show your support for my blog by hitting the follow button.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Hysterical Girls Of St. Bernadette’s | Book Review

About The Book
For over a hundred years, St. Bernadette’s has shaped the best and brightest girls. Then, the screaming starts. Seventeen students fall victim, including Khadijah’s sister and Rachel herself. As hysteria spreads, Khad and Rachel must uncover the school’s dark secrets to stop the terror. But something sinister is lurking, waiting for its next victim.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4eoFLGb

My Rating


Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC of ‘The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s’. While I’m grateful for the opportunity to read it early, please know that all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own and remain honest and unbiased.

I loved how the story began. It was captivating and made me eager to know what would happen next. It follows two perspectives, Rachel and Khadijah, who lead different lives but both attend St. Bernadette’s. After a traumatic event, Khadijah becomes silent and guarded, and the random screaming at school deeply affects her.

Rachel is raised by a sophisticated single mother who pressures her to excel and get into a top university. She feels overwhelmed and wants to rebel against her mother’s expectations and criticism. At first, she dismisses the screaming as unimportant but starts to think there might be more to it. Both girls have fascinating lives and perspectives.

Usually one of my biggest annoyances in any book that has dual perspectives is when the two characters don’t interact. It feels as though there are two separate storylines going on at once. But in this book, it worked because of the subject matter. I don’t want to give too much away, but it basically shows how to people can be going through the same thing, seeing each other everyday, and not even know what they share.

“What matters is what I know to be true.”

I feel like by the 50% mark, the book really kicked up the pace, and that is when I couldn’t put the book down. Even though it deals with such a heavy topic, there is the mystery element that I think really helps the story from being super serious. However, there were times when I felt for these girls, and they truly did feel like real people. Although some of the things in the story are fiction, the root of the plot is very much true, and could hit close to home for some readers.

The author knew how to tell this story in such a way that I think a lot of teenagers will find interesting. She crafted an intense, heartbreaking, and interesting story, that is part supernatural mystery, and part coming-of-age contemporary. It really gets you thinking in almost the way I feel that a non-fiction book dealing with similar topics would. It’s a very original story that I know will stick with me.

Overall, this is such a good book, and while I don’t have a deep personal connection to it, I know others might. The author tackles serious real-world issues in a thoughtful way, and the paranormal mystery elements make it less overwhelming to read. I wouldn’t classify this as horror, but it’s still impactful and engaging. Be sure to check the content warnings before diving in, and despite not typically loving books with such heavy themes, I can see myself recommending this one to others.

Let me know in the comments if this book is on your TBR! Also, the audiobook is available on Everand, and as always, you can use my link (click here) to get a free trial of the service. Don’t forget to like and share this post and follow the blog for more book reviews!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Violet Beauregarde | Halloween Tutorial

Hi Friends,
The spooky season has begun, and I’m back with another Halloween makeup tutorial! Today’s look is inspired by Violet from ‘Charlie And the Chocolate Factory‘. I wanted to keep this one simple, so I created a look that can be done last minute. If you’re in need of a quick Halloween costume, this tutorial will help. I think it turned out pretty well, and I hope you do too!

Base
You can start by doing your everyday primer, foundation, concealer, and setting powder routine. For the cheeks, aim for a very glowy and rosy look. The Tarte face palette I used is unfortunately discontinued, but I recommend the e.l.f. Primer Infused Blush in Always Vibrant and the Revolution Beauty Reloaded Pressed Powder Highlighter in Make an Impact.

Eyes
I used a combination of shades from the Urban Decay Naked palette, which has also been discontinued, but you can use the Naked Reloaded palette as a substitute. Apply the shade Bucked in the crease and Angel Fire all over the lid. To add a pop of purple, I used the shade Filtered from the ColourPop Lilac You a Lot Shadow Palette in the crease. Make sure to blend everything together well. Finally, add black eyeliner to your top and bottom lash lines and finish with black mascara.

Special Effect
To get the “turning violet” effect, I used the ColourPop Lilac You a Lot Shadow Palette. I started at the nose and blended outward. You can go as far out as you’d like, but the goal is to look like you’re turning violet. I began with the shade Cloud, then layered a combination of Iffy and Filtered on top. I added a touch of Trainwreck to the nose and blended the edges with Imagine That.

Lips
For the lips, I used Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in Va Va Violet, which I thought suited the look best. However, a more natural or pink-toned lipstick would work just as well!

If you recreate the look, please leave a comment and let me know! And if you’re into Halloween or book-themed makeup looks, don’t forget to like, share, and follow!

6 Romance Books I’ll Fall In Love With

Hi Friends,
September 28th marked 20 years since Jesse McCartney’s Beautiful Soul album was released. While the Internet lists various dates for the album’s release, Jesse himself confirmed that it was released on September 28, 2004. Back in the day, my sister and I loved the show Summerland, and when I was thirteen, I attended one of Jesse McCartney’s very first concerts. In honor of the 20th anniversary, I decided to share six romances that I’m pretty sure I will love!



This Spells Love By Kate Robb
“A young woman tries to heal her heartbreak by casting a spell to erase her ex from her past, but she wakes up in an alternate reality where she’s lost more than she wished for in this witty, whimsical friends-to-lovers debut.”

This magical realism romcom sounds perfect for me; everything about the premise is right up my alley.

The Nanny By Lana Ferguson
“A woman discovers the father of the child she is nannying may be her biggest (Only)Fan in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson.”

Give me a single-dad romance with spice, and I’ll be happy! I also believe this is an age-gap romance, which has been one of my favorite tropes lately.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care By Ashley Herring Blake
“A clever and steamy queer romantic comedy about taking chances and accepting love—with all its complications—from the author of Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail.”

I’m not sure where I first heard about this book, but it’s been on my radar for the past year. I know it’s a favorite sapphic romance for many, and it apparently features the one-bed trope.



The Comeback By Lily Chu
“Who is Ariadne Hui? Laser-focused lawyer diligently climbing the corporate ladder? The “perfect” daughter living out her father’s dream? Shocking love interest of South Korea’s hottest star?”

I previously read a book by this author that I gave five stars, so I’m hopeful I’ll love this one too. It is a celebrity-regular person romance, which is a plot that I’ve enjoyed before.

The Love of My Afterlife By Kirsty Greenwood
“A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up.”

This book became popular out of nowhere, and it’s another cute magical realism adult romance. As you can tell, magical realism has become one of my favorite genres, and I’m curious about all the hype surrounding this book.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers By Alicia Thompson
“Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst.”

I’ve heard mixed things about this book, but the synopsis and title make me think it’ll be a cheesy, silly Hallmark movie and I don’t mind that at all. Some of my favorite romances have that feel-good vibe!


There you have it, six adult romcoms that I’m sure will become new favorites of mine. If you’ve read any of these books, let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget that liking and sharing this post helps it reach other book lovers. If you want to be part of my bookish community, please hit the follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Join Me For Blogtober 2024

Hi Friends,
I am happy to announce that I will be doing Blogtober! If you’re not familiar with Blogtober, it’s a trend in the blogging community where you post every day in October. I always like to ask on my socials if this is something you’d be interested in and my bookish friends said yes!

So, I will be posting every day in October; at least that’s the goal. I always try my hardest to keep up with blogging events like this, but sometimes life gets in the way. Please come back every day in October to read my new posts or even better, follow the blog to get notified whenever a new post goes up.

You can also join my Fable romantasy book club and participate in the October Gilmore Girls readathon that I created. If you’re doing Blogtober as well, please let me know in the comments below. I would love to support other book bloggers like myself!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

A Magic Steeped in Poison | Book Review

About The Book
Desperate to save her sister from a deadly poison, Ning enters a competition to become the kingdom’s top shennong-shi, a master of magical tea-making. The winner gets a favor from the princess, which may be her only chance. But as Ning navigates ruthless competitors, deadly politics, and a mysterious boy with a dangerous secret, she may be the one in the most danger.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3N25DM0

My Rating


In my opinion, this book is a hidden gem in the fantasy world, and I’m excited to see how the duology wraps up. What grabbed me right away was the unique and captivating plot. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before and follows a determined main character on a high-stakes mission to cure her sister from a mysterious poison. The urgency of the quest and all the twists and turns kept me hooked from beginning to end.

As for our main character, Ning, she was likable, though I’ve seen stronger female leads in other books. I felt there wasn’t a ton of character growth throughout the story. That said, her devotion to her sister and willingness to do whatever it takes for her family made her easy to root for.

The writing was excellent. Judy I. Lin’s style is vivid and really pulls you in. While I’m not usually a fan of a lot of world-building, I get that it’s needed for the first book in a fantasy series. The author handled it well, giving a solid base for what’s to come in the next book.

“There is a difference between living the suffering and reading about it.”

Now, let’s talk about the romance subplot. I was really glad it didn’t take over the story but still played an important role. We didn’t get to know the love interest very deeply, but I’m happy it wasn’t one of those insta-love situations. Ning felt a connection to him, but her priority stayed on saving her sister.

The plot twists definitely caught me off guard, and the last few chapters were super fast-paced and full of action. The ending left me completely shocked, and now I have to know what happens next. I have no idea where the story is going from here, but I can’t wait to find out.

Overall, I think this book deserves more attention. It’s got so many things I love in a fantasy series, including a unique plot, likable characters, a well-balanced romance, and an ending that sticks with you. I’d totally recommend it to anyone looking for an underrated fantasy read.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve read this book. Don’t forget to like and share this post with fellow book lovers. And if you want to get notified when there’s a new post, follow my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

3 Banned Books To Add To Your TBR

Hi Friends,
Happy Banned Books Week! I want to start by saying that I don’t support banning or challenging books in any way. Just because a book touches on a sensitive topic or doesn’t end with a happily ever after doesn’t mean it should be banned. There’s definitely a place for those stories in literature, and no reader should miss out on them. Everyone deserves the freedom to choose what they want to read, and no author should face silencing.

Thanks for letting me hop on my little soapbox for Banned Books Week! Now, I’d love to share a few banned and challenged books that are on my TBR.


They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
I have both this book and the prequel, ‘The First to Die at the End‘, on my TBR. It combines sci-fi and dystopian elements in a world where you receive a call the day before you die. An app called Last Friend helps you find someone to spend your last day with. I believe it also features an LGBTQ+ romance. Just from the title, I can tell this book is going to break my heart.


Scythe by Neal Shusterman
This dystopian novel hasn’t been banned, but people have challenged it because its main theme revolves around death. The story takes place in a world where people no longer die naturally, so Scythes train to control the population by deciding who lives and who dies. I might be a bit off on the synopsis, but that’s the general idea. It sounds like a fascinating series, and I know it’s hugely popular.


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I’ve had this one on my TBR for years, so I’m not sure when I’ll actually get to it, and I don’t know the full plot. From what I gather, it follows two teenagers in the 1980s, and I think it’s a love story. I’ve heard it’s a YA contemporary that explores love and coming-of-age, and people really hyped it up when it first came out.


So, there you have it three banned and challenged books that I’m excited to read! The great news is that you can find all of these books on Everand. I know I sound like a broken record, but you can use my link (click here) to get a free trial, which I really recommend.

As readers, we need to stand up against those who try to silence authors by supporting their work and sharing why banning books is wrong. One of my favorite books, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger, is banned, and I think that’s absolutely ridiculous. If you haven’t read it yet, you’re missing out on an amazing story!

Before you go, it would mean the world to me if you left a comment and liked this post. If you want to support my little blog even more, please share this post and hit the follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Finally Fall | Book Tag

Hi friends,
Today, I’m kicking off the autumn season with the Finally Fall Book Tag! From what I’ve found, this tag was originally created by Alina Milena on Booktube. There are just ten bookish questions, all relating to fall. I’m a huge fan of fall and winter—let’s just say those are the seasons where I thrive and feel the happiest. So, this time of year always lifts my spirits. These questions were so much fun to answer, and they’ve made me even more excited that fall has finally begun!



My go-to for a book with a vivid setting has lately been the Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace. But to change things up a bit since I always talk about those books, I’m going to mention The Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig. I’ve only read the first book, ‘One Dark Window‘, but this gothic fantasy has such a vivid and interesting world.
Related Post: Belladonna | Book Review
Related Post: One Dark Window | Book Review



A book I recently read was ‘In an Instant‘ by Suzanne Redfearn. It was both heartbreaking and powerful. The story deals with loss, grief, and tragedy in such a raw, realistic way. The writing was fantastic, but it was definitely a tough book to get through.



I’m going to out myself here and admit that I don’t typically read non-fiction books. However, I ended up reading ‘It All Began with a Scream‘ by Padraic Maroney, which might be a weird choice. It’s a non-fiction book about the successful Scream horror movie franchise. I found it interesting to hear from the actors and learn about all the behind-the-scenes drama. I discovered a lot of things about the movies that I didn’t know before, and as a horror movie lover, it was definitely a good read.



The first group that came to mind was the friend group in the Maple Hills series by Hannah Grace. While reading ‘Icebreaker‘, I found myself falling in love with them and adoring the personalities of all the hockey guys. They’re such a great group of people who would be fun to hang out with and would always have your back.



While looking at my bookshelf, I noticed that every single book in The Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco has very fall-colored spines. This makes sense, considering the series is quite eerie and gothic. I personally think these books make great fall reads, and I love how the color scheme fits perfectly with the autumn season.



This is one of those instances when I read the question, and a book popped into my mind immediately. The book is ‘What Once was Mine: A Twisted Tale‘ by Liz Braswell. This is a reimagining of Tangled and one of the only Twisted Tale books that I truly enjoyed. The premise is very much like *The Princess Bride*, where the story is being told to someone, and I loved that aspect of it.
Related Post: What Once Was Mine | Book Review



I found ‘House Of Hollow‘ to be creepy and dark. While it’s not too intense since it’s a YA novel, it definitely leans into horror. I thought the plot was really interesting and quite spine-chilling. I’ve heard it compared to the Brothers Grimm books, and I agree with that comparison. I don’t think this book gets enough hype.
Related Post: House Of Hollow | Book Review



I believe that ‘Pumpkinheads‘ by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks is the perfect answer to this question. This is such a cute, cozy fall graphic novel. It takes place on Halloween night at a pumpkin farm, featuring games, train rides, and food stands. The book is a quick read that not only gets you into the fall mood but also makes you smile. This is one of those stories I read every year simply because it’s so good and heartwarming. Plus, the artwork is stunning!



I hate to say this because I feel like I mention it all the time, but I’m always honest in my answers. The book I go back to every year is ‘A Christmas Carol‘ by Charles Dickens. It’s my favorite book and a timeless story. That said, I’d really like to reread ‘Little Women‘ this year, so I hope I can get to that soon.
Related Post: Little Women | Book Review



I’m not sure if this is necessarily an accessory, but I love having a cozy ambiance video playing in the background while I read. It really helps set the mood for the season. To make things even cozier, I like to have a warm beverage as well.


I hope you enjoyed this tag, and please let me know your answers in the comments below! In case you want to read these books, you can find some on Everand, which offers a free trial when you use my link (click here). Sadly, they don’t have all the books I mentioned, but it’s still a service I love to recommend. If you’re a fan of tags, please like and share this post. Your support means a lot to me, so don’t forget to hit the follow button before you go!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny