Contemporary

Chef’s Kiss | Book Review

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About The Book
Fresh out of college, Ben Cook quickly discovers that finding a writing job isn’t as simple as he’d hoped. Faced with constant rejection and lacking experience, he takes an unexpected opportunity at a restaurant. What starts as a temporary solution soon challenges him with cooking tests and unexpected skills. Ben’s alternative path may exceed his expectations.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3G7m2Pu

My Rating

This is a coming-of-age graphic novel featuring a queer main character. Ben Cook, who recently graduated from college with an English degree, hopes to become a writer. But as time goes on, he realizes that a degree alone doesn’t always cut it in the real world.

Throughout the book, Ben struggles as he watches his friends and roommates land solid jobs. One even goes back to school for another degree. Feeling like he’s falling behind, he leans into his love of cooking and takes a job on the kitchen staff at a restaurant. That’s when he starts to realize he might actually love cooking even more than writing.

I love how this story explores the ups and downs of life after college and how plans can change. Two of Ben’s friends end up using their degrees the way they hoped, while another becomes a lifelong student, hesitant to leave the safety of school.

“That’s me. Cook the writer.”

Ben’s journey and dreams shift as the story unfolds. Even though he still loves writing and his parents and friends encourage him not to give up on it, he starts carving out a new path. He learns that the plans we make for ourselves don’t have to be permanent and that sometimes a new dream can take you by surprise.

There’s a sweet romance subplot between Ben and one of the head chefs at the restaurant, but it’s not the main focus. The heart of the book is about self-discovery, embracing change, and growing up. It’s meaningful without being heavy and still manages to be cute, fun, and easy to read.

Overall, the artwork is beautiful and the writing flows really well. I loved the characters and their strong friendships. The romance is adorable, and the pun that Ben’s last name is Cook was a funny little addition to the story. It’s a quick, satisfying read, perfect for anyone fresh out of college and still figuring things out.

Don’t forget to like this post and hit that follow button. Your support means so much and lets me know you’re enjoying my content.

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date | Book Review

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About The Book
Iris Kelly is a romance author with no interest in love and a serious case of writer’s block. After a disastrous one-night stand, she tries out for a local queer play and runs into her hookup, Stevie. When Stevie asks Iris to pretend to be her girlfriend to save face, Iris agrees, seeing a chance to fuel her novel. But as they grow closer, both women must decide if they’re ready to take a chance on love.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4mYXZ65

My Rating

This is the third and final book in the Bright Falls series, and as someone who adored the first two, I went into this one with high hopes. The story follows Iris, one of Astrid Parker’s closest friends—a bold, proudly bisexual artist turned author who has always made it clear she doesn’t want kids or marriage. I was excited to finally get Iris’s story, especially since she’s been such a vibrant presence in the previous books. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this romance quite as much as the others, but I still appreciated getting a deeper look at Iris as a character.

The story begins when Iris has an almost one-night stand with Stevie, a community theater actress who is basically her opposite in every way. Stevie is anxious, unsure of herself, and nowhere near as bold as Iris. But soon after their disastrous night together, the two end up cast in the same play and agree to a fake relationship that, of course, starts to feel a little too real.

I’ll be honest, I don’t usually love the “one of them is a writer” storyline because it’s starting to feel a little overdone. That said, I still enjoyed it here because Ashley Herring Blake’s writing is just that good. I also really liked Stevie as a character and appreciated that she had her own circle of friends outside of the main cast.

“Romance was nothing but brain chemicals and some pretty words, a nice setting. That’s all it was. A fiction brains told to hearts.”

One thing I really loved about this book was how much emotional depth it had. Iris, despite her confident exterior, is dealing with loneliness and pressure from her well-meaning but pushy family. Her character arc felt heartfelt and relatable, especially as she watched her close friends settle down and started feeling like the odd one out. Stevie’s growth was just as compelling. I enjoyed watching her learn to speak up for herself and make it clear that she wasn’t weak or in need of constant protection.

Even though this was the most emotional book in the series for me, I have to admit the pacing felt a little slow at times. It just didn’t stick with me quite like Delilah’s or Astrid’s stories did. But the ending? Absolutely perfect. It brought all the characters’ journeys to a close in a way that felt warm, satisfying, and full of hope. It was exactly what I wanted from the final book in a series.

Overall, if you’re in the mood for a heartfelt story about finding love, learning to be vulnerable, and letting go of fear, this one is worth picking up. Just a heads up: like the first two books, this is very much an open-door romance, so expect a few steamy scenes. If that’s not your thing, you might want to pass on this series or avoid those scenes.

If you enjoyed this review, please take a moment to like, comment, and share this post because it really helps spread the word about my blog. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book or any recommendations you have for me. And if you want to stay up to date with all my latest reviews and bookish content, be sure to sign up for my mailing list.

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

Mother’s Day | Book Recommendations

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Hi Friends,
Happy Mother’s Day! I’m not a mom yet, but I hope to be one in the near future. But I love to read, so here are some Mother’s Day book recommendations! I know you’re likely celebrating with family today, but if you have a free moment or two, consider picking up one of these books.

First-Time Caller by BK Borison
Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, this heartwarming book features a single mother as the female protagonist. I adored the mother-daughter relationship in the book, and the plot about her finding love again was awesome!

Heartless by Elsie Silver
This single-dad romance features a female lead who becomes a more prominent mother figure to the child than his biological mother. Honestly, I loved how she fell for the father, but cared for his son first. Also, the romance is super steamy, and I loved how it ended!
Related Post: Heartless | Book Review

Reckless by Elsie Silver
I’m obsessed with this accidental pregnancy story. Seeing the two leads become parents was great, and their connection was electric right away! Despite some negative opinions on surprise pregnancy books, this one is very well done.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
The female main character is recruited to train three young witches and becomes someone they can rely on. Despite not being their biological mother, she grows to care for them. The found family dynamic in this book was wonderful, especially the bond she developed with the girls. Also, a romance develops between the female protagonist and the girl’s father-figure guardian, which is lovely.
Related Post: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches | Book Review

I hope you enjoyed this post and discovered a book recommendation perfect for unwinding after your Mother’s Day, regardless of how calm or hectic it was. Please like and share this post with fellow readers. Plus, I’m celebrating all of you, whether you’re a mom in the traditional sense or a mother figure. Mothers come in many forms, including fur moms, those hoping to be moms, and almost moms, such as women who have experienced a loss through miscarriage or other heartbreaks. So, if you’ve shown the love and care of a mother to someone, then you deserve to be celebrated.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Lightening In Her Hands | Book Review

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About The Book
Teal Flores must master her powers, find her mom, and resist Carter Velasquez. To get his inheritance before 30, Carter needs Teal to play his wife. Fake marriage? Check. Living together? Double check! Romantic sparks and some serious drama, courtesy of Teal? Triple check! Perhaps their quest to find Teal’s mother might unexpectedly lead them to true love.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3RSF4LR

My Rating

I loved the first book in this series, so I was very excited to jump into the second installment! The series is about the Flores women, each possessing magical abilities. Sage Flores was the protagonist of the first novel. Following their mother’s departure, she and her two younger sisters were raised by their great-aunt. The first book left me really looking forward to this one, which is all about Teal, the middle sister. She appears cold in the first book, but it’s plain to see she’s got a lot of issues from her childhood and a really toxic ex. She’s also bipolar, and being a bipolar girl myself, I really love books that explore the disorder.

Marriage of convenience and friends-to-lovers are the romance tropes in this book, which made me nervous. But I loved watching Teal fall for someone and open up. Given her last relationship, many of her views and actions regarding relationships were understandable. With that being said, my feelings toward Carter, the love interest, were mixed. I was glad Teal called him out on his behavior and made him understand he should support her.

And seeing Carter understand Teal after she let him in? Yeah, that totally made me root for them. However, this book didn’t change my mind about the friends-to-lovers trope. I still don’t like it very much. Although some books have changed my mind about this trope, this one unfortunately didn’t. But, I thought their relationship was cute, and the love scenes were hot.

“You’re not broken. And you’ve always been my first choice.”

I really loved how they handled Teal’s powers being tied to her emotions. Those of us with bipolar disorder understand the difficulty of managing our emotions. While multiple factors contributed to her inability to control her magic, they all affected her emotions. The author really showed how she struggled with her emotions.

To me, the book’s most captivating aspect was the sisters’ journey of understanding and accepting their mother’s absence. And Teal’s whole emotional journey and finding herself was amazing. I especially loved how much her character grew throughout the book. And the ending was perfect!

Overall, it was good, but not as good as the first one. It was far less engaging than I had expected. No hate, but the plot dragged sometimes, and the romance wasn’t amazing. I really thought it would be a bit more entertaining, still I would recommend. If you like slow-burn stories with magic, friends-to-lovers, and lots of feels, give this book a try.

Check out my review of Witch of Wild Things if you haven’t already! Don’t forget to like and share this post before you go! Remember to subscribe to my mailing list for new post notifications!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Business Casual | Book Review

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About The Book
Nova doesn’t want love, especially not with Charlie. But despite her resistance, she’s drawn to him. So, Nova proposes a one-night stand to stop their distracting attraction. That night changes everything, making it impossible to avoid each other. Especially since Charlie wants to prove their chemistry goes beyond a single hookup.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3EmywBQ

My Rating

I hadn’t been a huge fan of the Lovelight Farms series, so I went into the last book with some apprehension. It’s a series of love stories, all in the same small town, but each book happens in a different season. However, characters from the previous books appear in this story.

This story centers around Charlie and Nova. Charlie is Stella’s half-brother, and Stella owns Lovelight Farms. Nova is Beckett’s younger sister, and Beckett is a farmhand at Lovelight Farms. In the books, we really get to know Charlie well. He’s portrayed as this fun-loving, always-positive New York businessman.

Nova had, at most, a minor role in the rest of the books. I wondered why the author picked her as the female lead, but I liked her character, nonetheless. It was fun learning about her, since we knew rather little about her background or her true personality. I also liked that she was a tattoo artist, it’s a profession I’m fascinated by. It was fun getting to know a new character, and seeing more of ones I already knew. I just want to say, their romance was adorable.

“She looks like she could eat me alive. I fucking love it.”

Their relationship started out light and fun, but their connection was obvious from the beginning. I loved watching them change and grow throughout the story. I thought the character development in this book was superb. Plus, it totally showed how scary and tough it is to fall for someone, and to trust them completely.

My favorite thing about the book? Charlie! I loved how the story showed him figuring out what he wanted out of life. He seemed so lost and without a sense of belonging, which made me feel sorry for him. It’s a romance, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about family, too! One important theme is that there are people who love you, even if you’re not aware of it, because home is not only a place but also the individuals with whom you choose to spend your life.

Overall, the only thing I didn’t like about the book was the writing style. It didn’t grab me as much as I wish it did. It was okay, but I didn’t get super hooked. Also, to me, the spicy scenes were just okay, but I can see why some people would consider them steamy. Still, I loved Nova and Charlie together, and the story was, overall, great!

Comment below if you’ve checked out any of the Lovelight Farms books. Liking and sharing this post helps my blog a ton! You can also help it grow by signing up for my mailing list.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Flames & Honey | Cover Reveal

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✨Cover Reveal✨

I’m thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for Meg Rhode’s ‘Flames & Honey’, releasing May 1st! This contemporary romance story delves into significant themes of domestic violence, trauma, and PCOS. The book is available for preorder on Amazon!

Full Trope List

Plus Size Rep
Fiery Vet Assistant FMC
Golden Retriever Firefighter MMC
Age Gap (9 Years)
Bi Rep
Furry Companion
Abusive Ex & Healing
Family Trauma
Cozy Coastal Small Town
Contemporary Romance
Banter & Spice
PCOS Rep

Book Playlist

Forest Blakk – If You Love Her
Faith Hill – Wild One
Kelsea Ballerini – Dibs
The Kooks – Seaside
Taylor Swift – August
Miranda Lambert – New Strings
Keith Urban – Somebody Like You
Lady A – I Run To You
Faith Hill – Breathe

I’m so grateful to be a part of this reveal, so please give a follow to @megrhodes_author, @twistedtalespr, and the amazing cover designer @weaverwayauthorservices on Instagram! To ensure you don’t miss any new posts, please sign up for my email list and support my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

In The Weeds | Book Review

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About The Book
Beckett Porter can’t get Evelyn St. James out of his head, so her sudden appearance on his farm is quite a shock. He finds her charming, oblivious to her social media stardom. However, her second departure motivates him to move on. Complications arise when Evie goes offline at Lovelight Farms. Making the pair ponder if fate brought them back together.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Xx2xWf

My Rating

This is the second book in the Lovelight Farms adult romance series. Although part of a series, this book works perfectly well as a standalone novel. Still, reading the books in order helps you get to know the characters better. Each book is set in the same small town, focusing on a Christmas tree farm. This time around, we’re following grumpy farmer Beckett and serious social media influencer Evie.

We learned in the first book that the two characters had a passionate one-night stand. This makes the story a second-chance romance, a trope I usually find disappointing more than satisfying. This story stands out because the characters, unlike the typical grumpy-sunshine trope, are both reserved and serious.

I loved both Evie and Beckett, and their chemistry was evident from the beginning, which made me root for them. Seeing other characters from the first book was also fun. Some of the side characters were kinda annoying though, which made the book less enjoyable.

“I can’t stop picturing her in places that I am.”

As I mentioned, I really don’t like second-chance romances, and this book didn’t change that. The plot could’ve been more exciting, it was just okay. Plus, I’m not crazy about stories with influencers. Despite that, I’m still fond of the Christmas tree farm setting and the small-town feel.

I loved watching them both grow throughout the book, individually and together. But, the third act’s conflict was a real weak point in the book. To my disappointment, this book featured the clichéd miscommunication breakup trope. Their whole character development and relationship got thrown out the window, it seemed. I hope that wasn’t a spoiler, but it kinda ruined the plot for me, so I had to mention it.

Overall, I much preferred this book to the first. It was more enjoyable, so I will continue reading the series. Just a heads up, this book has some open door romance scenes. I’d give it a three out of five on the spice scale. You might not like it if you only read clean romances, but there aren’t many explicit scenes, and you can skip them without missing much of the plot.

Comment below and let me know what books from this series you’ve read. And do you like books featuring influencer characters? Check back often for more book reviews and updates, or follow the blog to stay informed.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Love In The Time Of Serial Killers | Book Review

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About The Book
Phoebe Walsh, a PhD candidate, tackles family issues and a dissertation deadline while clearing out her childhood home. Paranoia strikes when she suspects Sam Dennings, her charming new neighbor, of being a serial killer. After Sam proves his good nature, Phoebe faces the decision of lowering her defenses and opening her heart, instead of always expecting the worst.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4gHIT0f

My Rating

This romcom, while cute and silly, also had surprising depth. I appreciated the story’s complexities and its relatable characters. There were also some funny moments. But, honestly, the book didn’t grab me, and the writing style wasn’t great.

Phoebe, the main character, is a PhD student who’s obsessed with true crime and serial killers—maybe a little too obsessed. I really liked how she and Sam, her neighbor and crush, joked around with each other. And I thought it was cute how awkward they both were. I thought Phoebe’s suspicion of Sam being a serial killer would be more important to the story, but it wasn’t.

While I liked Phoebe and Sam, I thought their relationship developed too rapidly. Phoebe went from completely avoiding Sam to becoming his friend and, before long, falling for him. I’m not usually into slow-burn romances, but the characters lacked the chemistry needed for their relationship to progress so fast.

“Fuck that. I’d rather be seen as a little rude than risk being taken to a second location.”

For me, the highlight of the story was Phoebe’s brother. I enjoyed their sibling dynamic and also appreciated that he was stable and well-adjusted. He and Phoebe both experienced childhood trauma, particularly related to their father. The story really shows how differently two people can handle similar childhoods.

Overall, the book surprised me; it was emotional, funny, and romantic all at once. While there are some spicy scenes, I’d rate the book a 2 out of 5 on the spice scale—easily skippable if you prefer. Honestly, it’s a decent book, but nothing special. Sadly, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Have you read this book? Let me know in the comments below! And on a separate note, I’m curious to know if you are someone who enjoys and follows true crime stories and investigations. Please share this review and like this post to help the blog grow. If you like book reviews, give my blog a follow; it means a lot!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You | Book Review

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About The Book
Sadie Wen is the perfect student and all-around nice girl, but she secretly vents her frustrations in unsent email drafts. Her most brutally honest messages are aimed at her nemesis, Julius Gong, but she never expects anyone to read them—until they’re accidentally sent out. As her carefully controlled life unravels, the one person who seems to appreciate the real Sadie is the boy she’s sworn to hate.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4aqAc9i

My Rating

When I read the synopsis of this book, I thought I was going to get an adorable young adult contemporary. I was hoping it would give me all the feels To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han did. Unfortunately, the book was such a letdown. Once again, it’s making me wonder if I’ve just aged out of the YA genre.

In the book, we follow our main character, Sadie. She’s an overachiever, co-class captain, and an all-around nice girl. But one day, all of her saved email drafts get sent out. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but these drafts contain her “anger emails.” They’re a way for her to vent her frustrations without actually confronting anyone.

As a main character, Sadie was infuriating to me. She let people walk all over her and used the excuse that she was just being nice. She does have a lot of family issues that contribute to her non-confrontational, good-girl personality. However, I didn’t like how little personal growth she had throughout the book.

The romance in this book was probably the worst part—and that’s saying something, considering this is a young adult romance. Sadie’s love interest is Julius, her academic rival and co-captain at school. He received the majority of her rant emails.

“So ready to split me open with a single word, stitch me up again with a fleeting touch.”

Sadly, I didn’t see any real connection between them. They were constantly saying mean things about each other. This book really plays into the tired cliché we’re told growing up that if someone likes you, they’ll be mean to you. I want to say this with all my heart that is not true. It’s not a lesson we should be teaching anyone, let alone young boys and girls.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, but I feel like the author took that trope way too far for a YA contemporary. There were never any real moments where they were actually kind to each other. One of them was always standoffish or convinced the other was toying with them. For high school seniors, they acted incredibly immature.

Overall, the writing was really what redeemed this book for me. I liked the author’s pacing and storytelling. However, I do want to mention that this book almost borders on a bully romance. So, if you’re looking to dip into that genre, you might want to give this one a read. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it as a feel-good YA romance.

In the comments, let me know if this book is on your TBR! If you’d like to share this post with other readers and give it a like, that would make my day. Before you go, don’t forget to follow the blog!

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

5 Series I’m Excited To Start In 2025!

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Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Fifteen! For today’s post, I’m going to be sharing five book series that I really want to start in 2025. Keep in mind, I’m a huge romantasy girly—it’s easily become one of my favorite genres in 2024. So, naturally, there are plenty of fantasy romances on my list. However, I wanted to highlight a variety of series rather than sticking to just one genre.

The Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman
I know this is a much-loved cozy mystery series, and with a movie adaptation of the first book coming out soon. I’ve been meaning to dive into it for a while—I even own the first two books! However, I haven’t quite been in the cozy mystery mood yet. That being said, 2025 will be the year I jump in, and I’m super excited. A mystery series centered around a retirement community sounds like such a fun, unique premise.

Boys of Tommen Series by Chloe Walsh
This is one I’ve been putting off like crazy because I know it’s going to break my heart. I believe I own all the books in the series, but it’s just so intimidating! It’s a new adult romance series that deals with heavy topics. However, I know so many people love it, and it’s supposedly the type of series that you’ll want to binge read.

Magnolia Parks Universe by Jessa Hastings
I tried starting this series in 2024 but didn’t make it far into the first book before setting it aside. I’ve heard it’s better to tandem-read the first two books (Magnolia Parks and Daisy Haites), and then do the same with the rest of the series. I’m slightly nervous because the series explores toxic relationships, but I’m excited as well, because a lot of people compare it to Gossip Girl. While I never read the Gossip Girl books, I was a huge fan of the TV show. So, this gives me hope that I might enjoy this series.

The Halfling Saga by Melissa Blair
This is a romantasy series that, honestly, I don’t know much about. My husband gave me the first book as a gift last year, and since then, I’ve collected the rest of the series. I haven’t heard many people talk about it, so I’m excited to go in with an open mind. I’ll definitely let you all know if it’s worth reading!

Dreamland Billionaires Trilogy by Lauren Asher
I have heard this series is very hit-or-miss for people. A few complaints that I hear from romance readers are that the books are quite long. Still, I’m excited to try out Lauren Asher’s writing, and a series of romance novels that essentially take place at Disneyland sounds so good. Also, the tropes for each book really have me more hyped to start this trilogy.

There you have it, five book series that I am desperately hoping to start in the new year. I would love to know in the comments if you have read any of these books, and please let me know your star ratings as well. But remember to keep your thoughts spoiler-free. Before you go, hit the follow button so that you never miss out on a new bookish post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny