Five Survive // Book Review


About The Book
Red and her friends are on a road trip. When their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, they soon realize this is no accident. They have been trapped by someone out there in the dark, someone who clearly wants one of them dead.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3ZN2zI9

My Rating


Honestly, I had such high hopes for this book after reading the ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ trilogy (even though I wasn’t a fan of the last book). But, I thought this would be a fast-paced thriller. However, I didn’t find it to be engaging. I’d even say it was a bit boring.

I didn’t like any of the characters, and I hate when authors try to make us feel sympathy for the main character. I kept hoping that the plot would pick up, but I was sadly disappointed.

It didn’t feel like a mystery/thriller at all. I wasn’t excited to pick it up, but I’m not disappointed that I finished it. Although, I would have been better off DNFing it.

I didn’t like being in the main character’s mind at all. She was such a plain, boring, and depressing character. And, I wondered why any of the characters were even friends. I personally wouldn’t have been friends with any of them. Especially Oliver, whom I despised.

“This is turning into Lord of the Fucking Flies. We’re going to end up killing each other, forget about the sniper.”

There were a few twists in the book. Some I saw coming, and others I didn’t. But, the twists weren’t enough to make up for the slow and uninteresting plot. In my opinion, there has to be more to a story than a few good twists.

The book reminded me a lot of ‘The Woods Are Always Watching’ by Stephanie Perkins, which I did DNF. Truthfully, I finished for the author. But sadly, the writing just wasn’t on the same level as her previous trilogy.

I did hear that the author wrote this book in somewhere between 6-8 weeks, and it shows. Perhaps if it wasn’t so rushed and she took more time, the book would have been more developed. However, I’m not sure if more time would have help make the plot more interesting, or the characters more likable.

Overall, if you are looking for an interesting mystery/thriller, look somewhere else. Better yet, just pick up Holly Jackson’s ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ books, because they better showcase the authors talent.
Related Post: A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder // Book Review

In the comments, please tell me I’m not alone in my distaste for this book. Don’t forget to like this post, and hit the follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Friday Reads #13

Hi Friends,
I decided to do a ‘Friday Reads’ post to share with you my weekend reading plans. Currently, I’m reading ‘The Housemaid‘ by Freida McFadden and I will for sure be finishing it this weekend. It’s a mystery thriller book that I’m really enjoying.

Next, I plan on making some progress on ‘Furyborn‘ by Claire Legrand. I’m hoping to get to the 50% mark by the end of the weekend. This is a YA fantasy that is a part of my 12 book challenge for 2023.

Lastly, I’m going to try and start ‘Part of Your World: A Twisted Tale‘ by Elizabeth J. Braswell. This is a retelling of ‘The Little Mermaid’ that I’m excited to get too.
Related Post: So This Is Love // Book Review

There you have the books I’m hoping to pick up this weekend. Hopefully I will finish two of them, but we’ll see how the weekend goes. In the comments, let me know what you are currently reading. Don’t forget to hit the follow button to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

March 2023 // To Be Read

Hello Friends,
It’s TBR time once again! I’ve decided to take part in the ‘Final Book Support Group’ month long readathon created by Steph Loves. I’m going to be on ‘The Stag’s Antler’ team, and the prompts seem pretty easy to fulfill. As always, I still did five “The Sims Picks My TBR” prompts, so I’m going to try to make the books work for multiple prompts.


Sims Prompt: 12 Book Challenge
This is perfect because I’m February I started ‘Furyborn’ by Claire Legrand, which is on my ‘12 Book Challenge’. I’m just going to roll this over into March.


Sims: New To Me Author
‘The Bandit Queens’ by Parini Shroff is also on my ‘12 Book Challenge’, and I’ve never read anything by this author.


Sims Prompt: Short Story Collection
Not going to lie, I was a little bummed when this prompt came up. I have read a few short story collections and I don’t typically love them. However, I read ‘Whiteout’ last December, and I currently own ‘Blackout’ – see where this is going? I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to read this book! Both books are collections of short stories that all intertwine. They follow a diverse selection of teens, and are written by some wonderful authors.


Sims Prompt: Published in 2021 or Before
Final Book Prompt: Final Book
‘This Coven Won’t Break’, which is the last book in the ‘These Witches Don’t Burn’ series by Isabel Sterling, was published in 2020. So, it works for both these prompts!

Related Post: These Witches Don’t Burn // Book Review


Sims Prompt: Illustrated Cover
Final Book Prompt: Illustrated Cover
I’m going with ‘For Better or Cursed (The Babysitters Coven, #2)’ by Kate Williams. Even though I’m not really in the mood to read this book, I did enjoy the first book enough to want to continue on with the series.


Final Book Prompt: Random Emoji Generator
The emoji that I got was 🔱, which instantly made me think of ‘Part Of Your World’ by Liz Braswell. This is part of the Twisted Tales series, and one that I’ve been really wanting to read.


Final Book Prompt: Hardback Book
I’m going to cheat a little here, since I am solely an audiobook reader (and I’m also not ashamed of that). But, I decided to pick a book that is only out on hardback right now. As far as I can tell ‘Our Violent Ends (These Violent Delights, #2)’ by Chloe Gong is only available in stores in hardback.

Related Post: These Violent Delights // Book Review


Final Book Prompt: Something Calm and Majestic
This Spell Can’t Last’ is a novella in the ‘These Witches Don’t Burn’ series. The word majestic makes me think of magic and with this book being short that is pretty calming to me.


There you have my March TBR, but I have a ton more books I’d like to read as well. Also, for my book club ‘The Reading Rabbits’ over on the Novellic app, I’m going to roll over the February book, which was ‘The Housemaid’ by Freida McFadden.

In the comments, let me know what you’ll be reading in March. For more posts like this, be sure to follow my blog!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

RIHOAS Wishlist // Toss-Up Tuesday

Hi Friends,
In this Toss-Up Tuesday post, I wanted to share a wishlist of mine with you guys. I have been itching to switch up my wardrobe lately, which typically happens during every new year. I’ve been gravitating more towards online clothing stores. When RIHOAS contacted me, I didn’t know much about them, but found their clothing to be super cute. So, I have put together a list of 5 of my favorite items on their site.

The Wine Red Off-The-Shoulder Ruched Velvet Midi Dress ($42.00)
This dress is stunning! I love the off-the-shoulder style, and the color is one of my favorites. It’s sexy, but without being too revealing, which I’m here for.

The Balloon Sleeves Satin Crop Blouse ($30.00)
I’m not so sure how good this top will look on me, but I’d love to have it in my closet. And, out of all three colors the purple is my favorite. I’m typically an all black clothing girl, but something about this top and this color screams, “Buy me!”

The Velvet Buttoned Asymmetric Skort ($33.00)
I’m a fan of skorts! This one is very classy, and great for a date night or party. However, I can see myself dressing it down for everyday wear as well.

The High Waisted Plaid Pleated Skort ($41.00)
Yep, another skort. This one is giving me all the school girl and ‘Clueless’ vibes, and I’m living for it. This item is on my wishlist not only because it’s cute, but it also makes my 90’s girl heart happy.

The Backless Ribbed One-piece Swimsuit ($16.00)
Honestly, I adore this one piece. I’m not usually a fan of plunging necklines, but it works here. And, the color is perfect for summertime.

All of these pieces and pretty much everything on the RIHOAS site makes me feel like these outfits are straight from a historical fiction novel. What more could a book lover ask for? In the comments, let me know which of these pieces is your favorite. Don’t forget to like and share this post with others!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Better Than The Movies // Book Review


About The Book
Perfect for fans of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, this “sweet and funny” (Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks) teen rom-com follows a hopelessly romantic teen girl and her cute yet obnoxious neighbor as they scheme to get her noticed by her untouchable crush.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3js9G9h

My Rating


I think every YA contemporary lover should read this book! I seriously can’t think of one negative thing to say about it. I loved the enemies-to-lovers romance. The female main character, Liz, is very likable, and a hopeless romantic. Wes, the male lead, is super swoon-worthy.

I love the plot of these two enemies coming together because Liz needs Wes’ help to get a guy. Something about exchange of services plots always get me. And, the fact that there were romance movie quotes through out the book made it better.

As a main character, Liz was really likable to me. It was sweet that rom-coms, and being a romantic, made her feel closer to her late mom. But it did also show that she was still grieving for her mom. Also, I love that she made playlists for people. It was a small detail, but a very interesting aspect to her character.

Liz and Wes definitely had some great chemistry, and their feeling for each other developed naturally. Honestly, I liked Wes as well, and found him pretty charming. The other side characters were similarly likable, which made the story even more enjoyable.

“Love is patient, love is kind, love means slowly losing your mind.”

Now, there was declaration of love that I found to be cheesy, but still pretty cute, and it did leave me in tears. I think every YA contemporary has to have a little bit of cheesy, which I don’t mind at all.

Not only did I love the romance (like, it was seriously the best part of the entire book), but I also found that Liz’s character development was great. It was nice seeing her become her own person. She realized she can keep her mom’s memory alive without having to be just like her.

Overall, it was wonderfully written, made me laugh and even cry. I’m going to be recommending this book forever. I am for sure going to be rereading this book in years to come. Honestly, like the titles says it is 100% better than any teen romance movie.

In the comments, let me know if you loved this book as much as I did. If you like book reviews, then give this post a like, and follow my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

We Have Always Lived In The Castle // Book Review


About The Book
Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3ZbX4SW

My Rating

 


This book was weird and confusing, but still intriguing from the get-go. The book gives off Lizzie Borden vibes, and there’s a lot of talk about wishing people were dead.

The story follows 3 family members that lives in a old manor of sorts. These are the 3 surviving members of the family after a ‘accidental’ poisoning took the lives of the rest of the family.

The characters are all very twisted. Hate and anger are both a big part of the story. It really shows that people are cruel. However not all people are evil, but none of us are without sin.

The book is a very fast read and pretty easy to figure out. You can tell where the story was going to go, which isn’t a bad thing. It was a very easy to read book. Yet, I didn’t find the plot particularly spectacular, and the ending wasn’t all too shocking either.

“I’m going to put death in all their food and watch them die.”

There was an overarching message of sisterly love that one might not have suspected. And, I found the ending to be a little bit sad. I didn’t actually expect to feel sorry for these characters, so I’d call it unexpected, at least.

Overall, the book was decent, as was the writing. I felt like I was reading a classic. Think ‘Frankenstein’, but that isn’t necessarily bad thing. I’m not sure this will be a story that appeals to everyone, still I think it is a good story.
Related Post: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein // Book Review

In the comments, let me know your thoughts on the book. Also, tell me if you’ve seen the movie adaptation as well. Don’t forget to hit the follow button, so you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

23 Books I Want To Read In 2023

Hi Friends,
I have seen so many of these “23 Books I Want To Read In 2023” posts, and I love them. Hearing about books other people want to read always interests me. But, I am a mood read for life! Yet, here I am making another TBR post. I really should quit while I’m behind.

Frightmares by Eva V. Gibson
“In a Florida tourist trap, a summer acting job turns into a real-life horror show when a cast member turns up dead—then disappears. This nail-biting story is perfect for fans of Fear Street!”

The Wicked Ones (Dark Ascension, #1) by Robin Benway
“This first book in the new Disney Villains Dark Ascension series by National Book Award-winning author Robin Benway explores the complex sibling rivalry between the two wicked stepsisters from Cinderella that turned them into the characters we know today.”

Bunny by Mona Awad
“The spellbinding new novel from one of our most fearless chroniclers of the female experience, Bunny is a down-the-rabbit-hole tale of loneliness and belonging, friendship and desire, and the fantastic and terrible power of the imagination.”

The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige
“From New York Times best-selling authors Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige comes a thrilling, dark contemporary fantasy about a prestigious sorority of witches and two girls caught up in its world of sinister magic and betrayals.”

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
“A girl confronts Death – and her own deathly powers – in this Gothic-infused, romantic young-adult fantasy.”

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
“From the author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters comes an all-new edge-of-your-seat thriller set in upstate New York about an eerie sequence of seemingly unrelated events that leaves five cheerleaders dead.”

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“From Taylor Jenkins Reid comes an unforgettable and sweeping novel about one classic film actress’ relentless rise to the top – the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.”

Gallant by V.E. Schwab
“Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.”

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
“For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.”

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

How To Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
“New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.”

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson
“Welcome to the murder mystery party of the year! Fans of the hit series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will love Pip’s final detective case in this mystery novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson.”

The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther
“Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when she forms an alliance with a cute groomsman, she’s at risk of losing both the game . . . and her heart.”

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
“Packed with sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy plot twists, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake is the ultimate escapist story . . . no lake house required.”

End of Story by Kylie Scott
“New York Times bestselling sensation Kylie Scott’s sexy, smart and unconventional opposites-attract love story looks at what happens when fate refuses to give up on what’s meant to be.”

The Headmaster’s List by Melissa de la Cruz
“One of Us Is Lying meets Riverdale in The Headmaster’s List, an edge-of-your-seat YA thriller about a fatal car crash and the dangerous lengths one teen will go to uncover the truth about what really happened.”

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus
“The global phenomenon returns with the third book in the One of Us Is Lying series, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen M. McManus. When someone from the Bayview Four’s past resurfaces, history begins to repeat itself—and the consequences are deadly.”

She Is A Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
“A House with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.”

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson
“New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson ramps up the horror and tackles America’s history and legacy of racism in this suspenseful YA novel following a biracial teenager as her Georgia high school hosts its first integrated prom.”

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West
“When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush.”

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
“New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.”

A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
“New York Times bestselling author of Long Live the Pumpkin Queen, an illness cursing the land forces a teen girl astronomer to venture across the wilderness in search of the stars’ message that will, hopefully, save them all.”

The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
“A pause-resisting debut of suspense about a young couple desperate to have a child of their own – and the unsettling consequences of getting what they always wanted.”

Big Bad by Lily Anderson
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Suicide Squad in this adult dark, rompy novel in which the most beloved villains from Buffy must team up to stop the Slayer from ending their evil universe!”

There you have 23 books that I want to read in 2023! I would be curious to see how many of these books I’ll actually be able to get to by the end of the year. In the comments, let me know what you want to read this year. Also, please support my blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Legendary // Book Review


About The Book
After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3KroBvD

My Rating


This is the sequel to Caraval, which followed Scarlet as she joins the magical game, Caraval, in order to find her sister Tella. But this time, Tella is the leading lady – and boy did I love her.

I found myself a lot like Tella. Not only is she the younger sister, a bit immature, but she’s also stubborn and driven. The story takes place right after the first book, and the writing is just as phenomenal.

I love being in the magical world that is Caraval. However, this time we get to see a more darker side of Caraval, with higher stakes. Just like in the first book, Caraval is filled with lies, misdirection and it messes with your mind.

There were some new characters introduced, all of whom I enjoyed. And, as always, the sister relationship and family was at the forefront of the story. The major plot point of this book is Tella’s desire to find her mother, and we do get to know a lot about her.

“Every story has four parts – the beginning, the middle, the almost ending, and the true ending.”

There were a lot of twist and turns throughout the entire book, which made it go by so fast. However, the story had a lot of components to it, so it was definitely hard to keep track of where the plot was going.

Overall, I would completely recommend this book, and cannot wait to dive into Finale, the final book in this trilogy. Although, I would say that if you are looking to read these books, they are most likely ones you should binge read.

In the comments, let me know if you love the Caraval series! Don’t forget to share and like this post. And, all my bookish friends, give the blog a follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Two 5 Star Predictions // Reading Vlog

Hello Friends,
This is my 5 star predictions reading vlog! In this video, I read two thriller books and see if they live up to my expectations. I had a ton of fun reading these books and telling you with me throughout my days. I put a lot of hard work into this video, and I hope that you enjoy it.

Instagram: @books.with.bunny

Twitter: @bookswithbunny

The Valentine’s Day Book Tag

Hi Friends,
I know that I’m a day late, but in honor of Valentine’s Day I wanted to do a V-Day inspired book tag. This one was created by Epic Reads on YouTube. I found it to be the perfect a short and sweet book tag.


First Book Crush?
My first book crust was probably Holden Caulfield from ‘The Catcher In The Rye’. He was just broody, with a lot of issues. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a damaged guy that I can help heal. Also, he reminded me a lot of my husband (I have a type, I guess?), so that could be another reason that I fell for him.


What book would you want as your Valentine?
I haven’t read this book in years, but I’m going with ‘Anna and the French Kiss’ by Stephanie Perkins. All I remember is that this is a cute YA contemporary that takes place in Paris. I know that I loved romance and characters in the book. Honestly, I need to give it a reread.


Candy Hearts or Chocolate?
Probably chocolate! But, I would pick Nerds gummy clusters over either of these. I’m a for sure a gummy candy kind of girl. Still, I can appreciate a good piece of chocolate every now and again. Especially on Valentine’s Day.


What book would you gift to your true love?
I’m actually gifting a book to my hubby this Valentine’s Day. The book is ‘Warcross’ by Marie Lu, because I think it’s a book he’d really enjoy. However, another book I’d gift to my love would be ‘Five Feet Apart’ by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis, since it’s a beautiful star-crossed lovers type story.
Related Post: Five Feet Apart // Book Review


Favorite Rom-com?
I have way too many to name, but my top five (yes five), are probably ‘The DUFF’, ‘He’s Just Not That Into To You’, ‘A Cinderella Story’, ‘13 Going On 30’, and ‘Valentine’s Day’. But, the list could seriously go on. Out of all of them I’d have to say that ‘A Cinderella Story’ is my favorite.


Best Valentine’s Day gift you ever received (or want to receive)?
The best I’ve ever received was a Bunny bookmark made by my amazing husband. He’s such a sweetheart. Honestly, my favorite gift is a sweet little note written for me by my love. I’m so cheesy, and I embrace that fact.


Favorite thing about Valentine’s Day (if you love it) OR favorite thing to do on Valentine’s Day (if you hate it)?
I really don’t mind Valentine’s Day, because with life being so hectic, we sometimes forget to show our love. It gives us the opportunity to take a day to just share our appreciation for our loved ones, whether that be a spouse, partner, parent, sibling, or even friend. I think people have gotten this misconception that the holiday is only for couples, but really it’s about spreading and sharing love. And, that doesn’t solely apply to couples. Sorry, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

My favorite thing to do on Valentine’s Day is to get all cozy in bed, with my husband, and watch a bunch of rom-coms, and read a YA contemporary.


There you have the Valentine’s Day Book tag! I’d love to know your answers to these questions, so leave them in the comments. Or, let me know if you’ve done this tag on your blog, and I’ll give it a read.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny