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Mr. Dickens And His Carol // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments


About The Book
Charles Dickens should be looking forward to Christmas. But when his latest book, ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’, is a flop, his publishers give him an ultimatum. Either he writes a Christmas book in a month or they will call in his debts and he could lose everything. Dickens has no choice but to grudgingly accept.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3PUfPXM

My Rating

Going into this book, I thought that it would be similar to the movie ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’. However, that wasn’t the case. The plot does follow Dickens as he writes the classic Christmas story we have come to love, yet the story isn’t all that enticing.

In the book, we see Charles Dickens being more forced to write a Christmas story. His last books have flopped, causing some financial struggles. We follow a more cold Dickens, who is somewhat of a Scrooge himself. He was judgmental, and his mood changed at the drop of a hat.

I would say that after seeing different portrayals of the author, one might conclude that he is bipolar. Now, I have no proof to this fact, but as someone that is bipolar, I can see a lot of resemblance to how he is described and the disease.

“We are all lost, all broken. Trying desperately to be whole again.”

Unfortunately, I found the story to be very slow, draggy, and boring. This is heartbreaking, because ‘A Christmas Carol’ is my favorite book ever. The story didn’t have the charm of the original “A Christmas Story” that I love, or even the ‘Man Who Invented Christmas’ film (which is coincidentally one of my favorite movies.)

The book isn’t a total loss; it does get pretty interesting at the last 30%. There is a magical realism aspect that I didn’t actually see coming, but my husband did figure out the twist. So, you might be able to predict it. Yet, it was a cool added touch that connected this story back to Dickens’ story.

Overall, the book was decent, if a bit sad. It did send the message that forgiveness will lighten a heavy heart. And as well, that all your problems will seem so small if you focus on the love you have in your life. So it’s still a sweet and Christmasy message. But, it didn’t really make up for the rest of the story as a whole.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book. Did you enjoy it? Wanna make me smile? Give my book blog a follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

In A Holidaze // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments


About The Book
One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3hNrJpK

My Rating

This book had so much promise, but was ultimately a letdown. This is a fun groundhog’s day story about a twenty-something woman that keeps repeating her holiday week with her family and friends.

The main character, Maelyn, was very unlikable. First off, we only get to know the new version of Mae; the one that she chooses to be after repeating her Christmas a few times. We get mentions of who she use to be, but it feels as though we don’t really know her.

From what I did see, she was judgmental, and it felt that she had a certain idea of what it meant to be an adult. She was in a weird love triangle with two brothers, but it wasn’t really a love triangle. Also, she completely blows off one of the brothers for something that happened in a previous timeline. It makes her out to be a petty friend.

“I ask the universe, simply: Can you show me what will make me happy?”

I found the romance to be kind of out of the blue, while still being the convenient way to go. However, I did think the romance was going to go a more predictable route, which I would have much rather preferred. As for Andrew (as a character), he was pretty judgmental himself and by the end of the book I found him acting all high and mighty to Mae. One fight and he was out.

The Groundhog Day aspect was interesting, yet she didn’t actually redo the Christmas that many times. Also, there was no reason to why she was stuck in the loop. Honestly, you expect me to believe that she got some magic wish to make her Christmas have a happy ending. If that’s the case, I want her fairy godmother.

Overall, the writing style is what kept me reading. The story was very fast paced, and easy to read in a day, which was nice. So, if you’re looking for a quick holiday romance, then you could pick this one up. But, for me, it was a total bust; not something I’d ever read again.

In the comments, leave me some cute holiday book recommendations. Don’t forget to give this post a like, and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Something From Tiffany’s // Book Review

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About The Book
From international bestselling author Melissa Hill comes an adorable holiday romance about taking chances, falling in love, and trusting destiny. New York City at Christmas and a visit to Tiffany’s is a recipe to sweep a girl off her feet unless fate has other plans .
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3BDEvxt

My Rating

From the moment that I saw the trailer for the Amazon Prime original movie adaptation for this book I knew that I had to read it. A little fact about me is that I love Tiffany’s and think that something from Tiffany’s is one of the most romantic gifts you can give a person.

Also, I just want to mention that I think the version of this book I read, listened too on Audible, is the movie tie-in edition. I believe that the actual book is a bit different than the version that audible released.

This book is a fun fast paced story where two men accidentally swap Tiffany’s bags. Gary ends up giving his girlfriend Rachel an engagement ring. While Ethan’s girlfriend gets a charm bracelet. In the book, Ethan tries multiple times to get back his $20000 engagement ring, but his attraction to Rachel makes tell her the truth hard.

I loved all of Rachel and Ethan’s moments, because their chemistry was undeniable. They were so cute together even though they hardly knew each other. Rachel was a very forgiving person and tried to see the best in people especially her boyfriend Gary.

Ethan, a single father, was such a softy. If I spent $20000 on a ring I would have instantly told Rachel the truth, but he could bare to break her heart. As for Gary, I loathed him! He was selfish and toxic.

“Tiffany’s is a very special place filled with magic and romance.”

There wasn’t much too the plot besides the swap, but I was interested in see who things where going to turn out. I enjoyed all the character’s interactions, and their personalities, besides Gary. Also, there was a twist with Ethan’s girlfriend that I didn’t see coming.

My biggest con was the fact that everyone was lying to Rachel. Sure, we all want to protect the people we love but secrets are never the answer. They were willing to let her look like a fool instead of telling her the cold hard truth. I would much rather have someone I love be honest with me than ‘protect’ my feelings.

Overall, this was a cute Christmasy romance. The moral of the story is that everything happens for a reason, which I myself am a big believer of. Also, find someone that can bake you bread or in some cases just buy you some good bread. This book is perfect for Tiffany’s girls like me.

In the comments, tell me if you have ever or would ever like to receive a gift from Tiffany’s. Please like and share this post with others. If you are a fan of book reviews follow my blog so you get notified whenever there is a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

House of Hollow // Book Review

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About The Book
House of Hollow is the dark, haunting tale of three sisters shrouded in more mystery than they can even imagine. Since their strange, unsolved disappearance as children a decade before, the Hollow sisters have been plagued by the unexplainable. Lyrical prose and atmospheric world-building complete this eerie novel that will leave readers unsettled in the best way possible.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3j6TKbS

My Rating

I had heard a lot of mixed things about this book, so I was nervous picking it up. But, the first chapter was creepy, and gripped me in a way that I instantly fell in love with the story.

The book follows 3 sisters; Iris, Grey, and Vivi, but the main protagonist is Iris. She is the youngest of the sisters, but had to grow up quite fast. Her sisters left home in their teens to follow their dreams, but Iris stayed behind with their mother.

Each of the sisters have very different personalities, but are all likable. Iris is smart and shy, while Grey, the oldest, is strong willed and confident. Vivi is rebellious and outspoken, which I loved.

The characters were actually not a big part of the story. We learned a little about them, but not a lot. However, I liked that it was less character focused but more plot driven.

In the book, the girls disappeared at a young age and returned out of the blue. They each handled the disappearance differently, which is very real. People deal with traumatic events in their own ways. Their is a small romance, but the main character didn’t necessarily have a love interest. It was nice to see that twist with the romance side plot.

For me, this book is magical realism at its finest! I would even compare the book to a Brothers Grimm type of story. It gave off such classic Grimm-esque vibes. Honestly, the writing was amazing. The author mixed fantasy, real world, and horror together perfectly.

“I’d realized there were scarier things in the world than the monsters that lived in my nightmares.”

There was also a moment when the book reminded me of Stranger Things. I must admit I’ve never seen the show, but I definitely got ‘Upside Down’ vibes when reading certain parts.

There are just so many good things about this story, one being the fact that I didn’t want to put it down. There was an amazing twist, but I did figure it out part of it beforehand. There were even some sad elements in the story.

Overall, I loved this book, and the ending worked so well. It was left open ended, but that made sense with the story. And, the message that not all evil is truly evil was conveyed perfectly.

Another great thing is all the LGBT+ and diversity in the book. However, one not so great thing is that the book has a lot of trigger warnings. I would probably say this book is a 16+ or maybe even 18+ read.

Before reading the book, visit Book Trigger Warnings for a list of all the topics the book touches on. Please support my blog by giving it a quick follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Eight Nights Of Flirting // Book Review

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About The Book
There may be eight nights of Hanukkah, but 16-year-old Shira only wants one gift this year – a boyfriend. This sweet Hanukkah story full of the classic rom-com tropes we all know and love is a sparkling addition to holiday bookshelves.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Pn7viR

My Rating

 

Adorable, cute romance with excellent anxiety representation, is how I would describe this book. Right from the start I knew that I was going to fall in love with this story.

One of my favorite things about this book was that it was a Hanukkah and Christmas story in one. Also, I am a sucker for a good exchange of services story. So, plots where the characters agree to help each other out in a way. And, the fact that it was enemies-to-lovers didn’t hurt either.

I’m typically not a fan of characters that are desperate for a relationship, like Shira was in this book. However, the author handled the topic of wanting a relationship well. Shira suffered from social anxiety, which I found to be portrayed wonderfully. She didn’t want just a relationship but a partner someone to get her and make her not feel so alone.

Honestly, her reasoning for wanting a boyfriend was so real and what we all hope to get out of a relationship. The main love interest, Tyler, was actually pretty charming. Also, his reasons for hiding himself were also very realistic.

“Inside, we’re all sixteen-year-old fools about love. We want it to be eternal. Unbending.”

Besides being a romantic tale, there are other topics touched on in the book. There was this cool mystery side plot that was woven well into the overall story. And there’s the subject of happiness, and what it truly means to be happy. These both played a part in the story as well.

Overall, I will be reading more from this author every soon. I adored this book! It was the perfect fluffy YA holiday contemporary. And, it was a very fast read. If you are anything like me, you could finish this book in one sitting.

My only con is that YA books always make it seem like the end of the world if you never been kissed at sixteen. Nevertheless, to a teenager, it probably is embarrassing, but really nobody cares about that stuff when you’re older.

In the comments, let me know the cutest holiday book you’ve read. Don’t forget to hit the follow button before you leave.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Did I Read My 2022 Anticipated Releases?

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For Bookmas day 11, I’m going to be talking about if I read the books I talked about in my most anticipated book releases of 2022 post. Let me just say that I didn’t do so well.
Related Post: 2022 Anticipated Releases // January – June
Related Post: 2022 Anticipated Book Releases // July – December

In January, I was looking forward to reading ‘Echoes and Empires’ by Morgan Rhodes and ‘The Bone Spindle’ by Leslie Vedder, but these books haven’t crossed my mind all year. Actually, I don’t even remember what they’re about. The Sam goes for ‘League of Liars’ by Astrid Scholte, which was a February anticipated release. However, I did happen to read ‘Finding Her Edge’ by Jennifer Iacopelli.

In March, ‘Remember Me Gone’ by Stacy Stokes and ‘Live, Laugh, Kidnap’ by Gabby Noone came out. I’m not sure I’m still interested in these two books, anymore. I was anticipating the release of ‘Hotel Magnifique’ by Emily J. Taylor, as well as ‘With and Without You’ by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka in April. Although, I’m not surprised I didn’t get to ‘Hotel Magnifique’, I’m shocked that I still haven’t read ‘With and Without You’.

And, sadly I didn’t read my May or June anticipated releases. However, I am still looking forward to reading ‘The Noh Family’ by Grace Shim, ‘Beauty and the Besharam’ by Lillie Vale, ‘TJ Powar Has Something to Prove’ by Jesmeen Kaur Deo, and ‘A Secret Princess’ by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz.

I also didn’t read my most anticipated books for July. Mainly because it was hard to get a hold of the audiobook for ‘Frightmares’ by Eva V. Gibson. And. I really forgot about ‘A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy’ by Jeff Bishop.

However, I did however read all of my August anticipated book releases! Yay me! And, luckily, I really enjoyed ‘Long Live The Pumpkin Queen’ by Shea Ernshaw, ‘12 To 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future!’ by Jen Calonita, and ‘Nothing More to Tell’ by Karen M. McManus.
Related Post: Long Live The Pumpkin Queen // Book Review

Unfortunately, I did bad on reading my September anticipated releases ‘Wishtress’ by Nadine Brandes and ‘Mere Mortals’ by Erin Jade Lange, which is a bummer since they both sound so interesting. I did manage to read one of my October anticipated releases, ‘Pretty Dead Queens’ by Alexa Donne, but didn’t find the time to read the other October release want to ‘The Art of Insanity’ by Christine Webb.

My November anticipated releases were ‘Friends Like These’ by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez and ‘Whiteout’ by Various Authors. I haven’t read either of them, but I will be picking up ‘Whiteout’ soon seeing that it’s my December 2022 book club read.

As for December, one of my anticipated releases hasn’t come out yet. Still, it is safe to say that I won’t be reading ‘Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are’ by Kathryn Foxfield and ‘So, This Is Love’ by Tracy Andreen before 2022 comes to an end.

So, I only read 5 of the books off my most anticipated book releases lists. There is just not enough time to read backlist titles as well as new release in the year. Hopefully, I can get to some of these books in 2023.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read any of these books. Which ones should I make a priority to read soon? If you want to support my book blog, please give this post a like and a follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Christmas Clash // Book Review

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About The Book
Sworn enemies from rival families, Chloe Kwon and Peter Li have always hated each other. But when their local mall is put up for auction right before Christmas, they band together to help save it, along with their families’ food court restaurants. This fun read will leave you nostalgic for that magical feeling of the mall at Christmastime.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3hekMNY

My Rating

If you like a YA enemies-to-lovers, with a slight Romeo and Juliet aspect, then you should give this book a read. In the book, we follow two teens, Chloe and Peter, who’s parents run restaurants at the local mall. However, their parents are sworn enemies.

Chloe and and Peter are meant to be seen as enemies throughout the book, but I got more of a frenemies vibe from them. We hear a lot about how they dislike each other, yet their interactions during the story are fairly civil. And I could definitely see something developing pretty early on between them.

I found Peter and Chloe yo be likable characters. It was nice that they could be honest with each other. There were times that they would be snarky, or snap at one another, but they were mature enough to apologize for their attitudes.

The dialog between the two was funny and real. I could tell from the beginning that I was going to enjoy the story. Although the writing was good, it did feel very YA. But, not necessarily in a bad way, if that makes any sense.

“I was just thinking about us. And how I didn’t really know you just two months ago, and now I can’t picture life without you. It’s truly a Christmas miracle.”

There were a few heavy topic touched on in the book, one being that parenting is hard. Children don’t always see the struggles that parents have to go through. Things aren’t always easy when it comes to being a parent.

The other major subject that the book focused on was racism. First and foremost this is a YA romance, but it did showcase that racism is still a big part of the world we live in today. I think that the race issue was handled well, but not sure it fit with the story. I wanted a more light and fluffy Christmas read, yet it is still a serious issue, so it is good when books shed light on real world topics.

Overall, the story was cute, enjoyable, and a quick read. However, I did find the ending a little far-fetched. It was one of those cheesy, happy, everyone wins kind of endings that can be a little too much for me at times. Nevertheless, it was a good reading experience, and there was a subtle nod to food delivery apps that was a nice bonus.

In the comments, let me know if you are a fan of enemies-to-lovers. I myself cannot get enough of them. Don’t forget to follow my blog if you like bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Christmas Murder Game // Book Review

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About The Book
Agatha Christie meets Clue in this delightful, tense manor house murder mystery. This clever murder mystery is the perfect gift for fans of classic mysteries, festive Christmas books, and armchair detective work. Twelve clues. Twelve keys. Twelve days of Christmas. But how many will die before Twelfth Night?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3UBj1s0

My Rating

I had been looking forward to this book since I heard the plot, but sadly, it was a complete let down. When I think of this book, the word that comes to mind is ‘boring’. That’s not to say the plot was bad, because the story truly did have potential. However, it was executed poorly.

Most of the characters were unlikable or uninteresting. The tolerable characters played relatively small roles within the story. And, we didn’t get to know each person enough to fully understand them.

The main character, Lily, was okay, but I felt as though the author made her out to be this golden girl. She was smart, kind, and clearly her aunt’s favorite. At times, I could understand why her cousin, that aunt’s daughter, couldn’t stand her.

It was annoying that Lily never came to terms with her mothers death. Sure, finding her mothers body was terribly traumatic but it is infuriating when fictional characters ignore seeking help for something so obvious. You can only really move on once you have faced the loss.

“It’s cruel, when she thinks of it, to ask her to return to this house, with its secrets written on walls and she’s the one who has to strip back the wallpaper.”

Now the second half of the book was a lot faster-paced then the first half. Although, it was pretty clear to me who the killer was. I wasn’t completely correct on the killer, and didn’t guess their motive, but I was half right.

Overall, the book was slow, and the murder-mystery aspect didn’t actually take place until the halfway point. I will say that if you are looking for a book with a complicated family relationship in it, then you might want to give this one a read. Because family being ruthless is very central to the plot.

As for the writing style, it wasn’t horrible, so I might try to give this author another chance. This particular book just wasn’t for me. Also, there is a romance situation that I can’t talk about much since it’s a spoiler, but definitely research trigger warnings for this book before picking it up.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book or are planning to. Don’t forget to support my book blog by giving a follow, too!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

A Merry Little Meet Cute // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—a steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3UtRnNB

My Rating

After reading the plot of this book, I was a little unsure if I should pick it up. Not only is it an adult romance, but it has a bit of a smutty romance element to it. I am neither a big fan of adult romance or smutty books. However, I decided to give it a chance.

The plot is fairly straightforward with a plus-size adult pornstar, Bee, and former boy-band member Nolan cast as the leads in a new Hallmark like holiday film. But, things get complicated when Nolan is a fan of Bee’s adult work and Nolan happens to be Bee’s childhood crush.

Honestly, I loved how the book normalized the adult film industry. Bee besides being a porn star has a CloserDoor account (think OnlyFans). The book showcased that sex workers deserve to be treated as humans and shouldn’t be shamed for their careers.

There were also a lot of funny moments, since many of the characters worked in the adult film industry. And, all characters were fairly likeable. It was nice to have a plus-size main character, especially one that has a job that is typically associated with a certain type of figure.

The book does touch on the fact that you have to pretend a lot in Hollywood, and that the media twist a lot of things. Also, I like how the authors mentioned that internet hate is real. The internet has made it okay for people to say the most hateful things, which is really sad.

“The literal bed could have been on literal fire, and I still would have been there, pumping into my girl like a man possessed.”

Something that I found interesting and refreshing was that both main characters are bisexual, which I find to be pretty rare. I also liked how the subject of Bipolar disorder was handled. Nolan’s mother struggles with the disorder, and the topic was handled in a very real way. As someone that has Bipolar disorder, I truly appreciated the authors take on it.

Now for the smut side of things. This book was spicy. I am not a smut reader so take this with a grain of salt, but I found the book to have a 3/5 spice level. Truthfully, the more smutty scenes were a little weird for me to listen to.

Overall, the concept was unique, yet it worked well. The ending was cute, and everything wrapped up with a nice little bow. I did get the subtle message that everyone – not even ‘Hallmark’ movie watchers – are squeaky clean. And, perhaps those types of networks should broaden their views.

In the comments, let me know if you have read this holiday romance. What would your smut rating be? Before you go don’t forget to like this post and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

December 2022 // To Be Read

- Bunny 4 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today is the first day of Bookmas 2022! Bookmas was created by Hailey In Bookland, and is essentially where you post a bookish video, or blog post, everyday leading up until Christmas. I decided to start off Bookmas by sharing my December TBR. Since December is the last month of the year my TBR is very ambition. I have so many books that I would like to get to before the end of the year. I might take part in a holiday readathon, but I a not going to officially be joining any readathons this month. So, let’s get straight on to the books that I will be reading!

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3ufEmfD

“Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.”

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3EJLXYQ

“A Jewish twist on the classic Christmas enemies-to-lovers story. With dog walking, fossils, and a relatable main character navigating her first year of university, this one has so much to love. Fans of Hallmark movies will not want to miss this entertaining holiday read.”

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3VD6Ewk

“Gwen Baker finds herself stuck in a Groundhog Day loop on Christmas Day with her family. “

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3gRFFyq

“A laugh-out-loud, opposites attract romance about three of the world’s most beloved C’s: Christmas, Coffee, and Cats.”

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3itzWiA

“Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Klaus in this cheeky, Christmas classic-in-the-making that sparkles with wit and warmth!”

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3H11hmK

“Dickens’s tale of a miserable miser who transforms into a kind and caring benefactor after three ghosts pay him a visit on Christmas Eve is one of the best-loved works in the English language and a true celebration of the Yuletide spirit.”

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3uxE8AZ

“From international bestselling author Melissa Hill comes an adorable holiday romance about taking chances, falling in love, and trusting destiny. New York City at Christmas and a visit to Tiffany’s is a recipe to sweep a girl off her feet unless fate has other plans.”

Book Club Book
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3ugNLna

“Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas, but the warmth of young love just might melt the ice in this novel of Black joy, and cozy, sparkling romance—by the same unbeatable team of authors who wrote the New York Times bestseller Blackout!”

Honestly, I’m not sure how many of these books I will actually get to, since the holidays take up a lot of time in December. But, I have high hopes that I will read some great festive books. In the comments, let me know what’s on your December TBR. Don’t forget to hit the follow button before your leave, because it really does help my blog out.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny