Leaving Goodreads In 2025!

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Six! Today, I’ll be sharing why I’m officially leaving Goodreads in 2025—or at least, mostly leaving. There are several reasons behind my decision to step away from the popular reading tracker and personal library site, but here are the main ones.

Amazon
I don’t love that Goodreads is owned by Amazon. There’s so much about the company that I don’t agree with. While I can’t completely cut ties with Amazon (it’s often the only viable option for many indie authors), this felt like one small way for me to show less support for the company.

Outdated Features
Compared to other book-tracking platforms, Goodreads feels outdated. Its interface looks clunky, and the features are limited. Forums aren’t widely utilized, the giveaways don’t appeal to me, and aside from adding books to your shelves and tracking your reading, there’s not much else to do. It just doesn’t feel engaging.

Recommendations
I’ve found Goodreads’ recommendations underwhelming and heavily skewed toward popular titles. Their “Most Read” lists and personalized recommendations almost always spotlight the same mainstream books. And don’t even get me started on the Goodreads Choice Awards! It’s purely a popularity contest. I’ve even heard some readers speculate that publishers pay to get their books nominated. Some winners and nominees just don’t make sense to me.


So, what’s next? Moving forward, I’ll be using StoryGraph to track my reading—and I’ve been loving it so far! Not only is it women-owned, but it also offers so many fantastic features. You can still set a reading goal and join an interactive challenges. Plus, when you add a book, you can mark whether or not you own it. One of my favorite features is half-star ratings, which Goodreads still doesn’t support.

StoryGraph also provides amazing stats, like your most-read authors and fun pie charts about your reading habits. The only downside is that its database isn’t as extensive as Goodreads’. That said, I haven’t run into a single book I couldn’t find yet!

Let me know in the comments how you track your reading! If you’re on StoryGraph, feel free to friend me—my username is BooksWithBunny. The only thing I’ll keep up with on Goodreads is their yearly Goodreads Choice Awards, purely because if I didn’t, I’d probably have major FOMO! And before you go, don’t forget to follow the blog so you’ll be notified whenever I post something new.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Horror | 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

Hi Friends,
I am back with my final 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards predictions. This time around, I am giving my predictions for the horror category. I have just started reading horror books this year, so I don’t have many predictions for this category, which is why I only have five books on this list. Still, I am pretty confident that some of these books, if not all, will be nominated.


We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
This book has been one of the most talked about and raved about horror books released this year. However, I was shocked to discover that its Goodreads rating wasn’t as high as you’d expect from a super hyped book. I do predict that this will be nominated, and I could see it winning the award depending on how many bookish creators that I follow vote.


Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
This book has recently been getting a lot of buzz, and its rating is past the 3.5 minimum for the awards. I don’t know much about the plot, but I have heard that it is pretty scary. A lot of reviews have said that it has a Paranormal Activity feel to it, which does sound very interesting. I don’t believe that this will win or have a shot at making it into the top 10, but I could see it getting a nomination.


The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
I don’t know what is going on with horror books these days, but this is another fairly popular book with a Goodreads rating that is under 4.0. However, the cover of this book always creeps me out, and I love it! I know nothing about the story, but it has been all over the book side of social media. A lot of people are recommending this book and talking about what a roller-coaster ride it is.


Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
This is a very highly rated horror book that came out this year, so I think it has a good chance of being nominated. I am curious to give it a read since I actually don’t know anyone who has read it. I hear that it mixes horror with comedy, which is a pretty interesting take on the genre.


So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
This book has a 3.63 rating on Goodreads, so there is still a possibility of it being a choice in the horror category. However, I am sure there are more 2024 horror books with better ratings that I have yet to hear about. My gut is telling me that, with Rachel Harrison being a well-known and somewhat popular horror author, it will snag a nomination.


I know that compared to my other Goodreads Choice Awards predictions, this one was quite short, but that is because it was hard to pick my predictions. Not only have I not read any of these books—I know, I’m ashamed—but some of the books I thought would be nominated had ratings that were too low. In the comments, let me know if you have read any of these books. And if you enjoy content like this, give my blog a follow so that you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Romantasy | 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

Hi Friends,
We’re talking about the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards again! This time, I’m sharing my predictions for the romantasy category. I’m officially in my romantasy era, so I had a lot of fun picking out five books that I feel confident will be nominated. For many, voting in this category will be tough!


Bride by Ali Hazelwood
People seem to have mixed opinions on whether this is actually a romantasy or paranormal romance. However, since it’s tagged as fantasy romance on Goodreads, it’s safe to say that if it gets nominated, it will fall under the romantasy category. Currently, it has about a 4.0 rating on Goodreads, and Ali Hazelwood is a very popular author. That said, it seems to be one of those books you either love or hate, so while I expect it to be nominated, I don’t see it winning.


A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
This book was widely talked about when it came out earlier this year and received great reviews. Although it only has a 3.97 rating on Goodreads, I think it has the potential to be nominated due to all the attention it received. I’m not sure how it will fare compared to other romantasies that will be nominated, but I’m positive we’ll see this as one of the choices in the romantasy category.


Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
This is a book I can’t wait to read and definitely see making it to the top ten of the awards. It has a solid rating, and most of the reviews are positive. I’ve been dying to read it since I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. I know it’s a witch and witch hunter story, which is a plot that many readers, including myself, tend to really enjoy.


When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
This book has been all over the bookish side of TikTok and Instagram. It wasn’t on my radar before all the hype, but now it’s at the top of my must-read list! I could see this book winning the romantasy category, but I’m not 100% confident that it will be the winner. There have been a lot of good fantasy romances released, but this one is extremely popular, which makes it a strong contender.


The Ashes & The Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent
This is the sequel to ‘The Serpent & The Wings of Night’, a book I loved! I can almost guarantee it will be nominated, and if it isn’t, I’ll be so upset. This romantasy series has become incredibly popular and well-loved. I haven’t read this book yet, but I really need to because I predict it will probably make it into the top 5 in the romantasy category.
Related Post: The Serpent and the Wings of Night | Book Review


There you have my predictions for the romantasy category of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards! Please leave your predictions in the comments below and let me know your favorite romantasy reads of 2024. Don’t forget, you can read some of these books on Everand [Here]. Before you go, hit the follow button so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Mystery & Thriller | 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

Hi Friends,
It’s almost time for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards, so I thought it would be fun to share my predictions for certain categories. I might have more predictions in some categories than others, depending on how often I read that genre. In this post, I’ll discuss the mystery and thriller category and talk about ten books I think will be nominated. Please keep in mind that a book needs a Goodreads rating of at least 3.5 to be nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards.


First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
This 2024 mystery thriller release surprised everyone. While it leans more toward mystery and suspense, it still fits within the mystery and thriller category according to Goodreads. With a solid rating and overwhelmingly positive reviews, I expect it to receive a nomination.
Related Post: First Lie Wins | Book Review


The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
Lucy Foley has not only been nominated before but also won in 2020 with her book ‘The Guest List’. However, this book hasn’t generated much discussion, and I haven’t heard many opinions about it. Still, considering she’s a past winner, I don’t see her getting left out as a nominee. However, I don’t think it will win or make it into the top 10.
Related Post: The Guest List | Book Review


Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
I’ll be shocked if Riley Sager’s newest book isn’t nominated or doesn’t make it into the top 5. He’s pretty much a staple in the mystery thriller genre, and I believe he’s received nominations for almost every new release. While this book didn’t receive as much hype as some of his previous ones, its average rating is decent enough for a nomination.


The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
This is probably just wishful thinking on my part because I loved ‘Hidden Pictures’ by this author, which won the horror category in 2022. I have high hopes for his latest book to be nominated. I’m placing it in the mystery and thriller category since Goodreads lists thriller as the primary genre, but it could just as easily fit into the horror category.
Related Post: Hidden Pictures | Book Review


The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
I have no doubt that this book will be nominated. Honestly, I predict that multiple Freida books may receive nominations, as they did last year. However, I hope that doesn’t happen again, since nominating only one book per author would give other writers a better chance of winning. Still, given the popularity of the Housemaid books, I see this as an automatic nominee.
Related Post: The Housemaid | Book Review



Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
This book was one of the most hyped mystery thrillers of the past year. I haven’t read it yet, which is a bit disappointing, but I’ve heard the story and twists are amazing. I’m pretty sure it gained popularity with the help of Bookstagram and is still being recommended frequently. So, if they select books based on ratings and popularity, it will most likely be a contender in the mystery and thriller category.


The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
This book released in September, and while the ratings aren’t incredibly strong, they’re still good enough for a nomination. Given that her book ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ won in the mystery and thriller category, I don’t think she’ll get snubbed this year. However, I don’t predict a win, as this book has been overshadowed by other 2024 releases.


We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
I haven’t seen much buzz about this book, but it has a fairly high rating. Plus, Richard Osman has a solid fanbase and has received nominations in the past. His book ‘The Last Devil to Die’ placed fourth in the mystery and thriller category in 2023, but that was the last book in a series. Since this is the first book in a new mystery series, it could give him a better chance of winning.


The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
This book could be a strong contender for the mystery and thriller category this year. Not only does it have over a 4.20 rating on Goodreads, but I also haven’t seen many reviews below 4 stars. While I don’t know much about the plot, it seems to lean more toward the mystery and fiction side of things. Liz Moore received a Goodreads Choice Award nomination in 2020 and made it into the top 10 that year.


Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
TThis might be the underdog of my predictions. Sally Hepworth is a successful mystery and thriller author, but she doesn’t get much attention in the book community. I was surprised to learn she’s only been nominated once for the Goodreads Choice Awards, back in 2019, despite her books having decent ratings. I’ve heard great things about this one and have been wanting to read it. I’d be pleasantly surprised to see it nominated.


And that wraps up my predictions for the Mystery and Thriller category on Goodreads. In the comments, let me know if you agree or disagree with my predictions, and feel free to share any books you think will be nominated. I’m unsure how many of these books are available on Everand, but you can get a free trial using my link [here]. Don’t forget to share this post with others and hit the like button as well. If you love bookish content, follow the blog so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The January Book Tag // 2024

Hi Friends,
Today, I am doing ‘The January’ book tag, which I have done previously. This book tag helps you reflect on your last year’s reading and your reading plans for the year ahead. I am happy to continue my tradition of doing this tag every January.



Funny enough, I remember many, if not all, of my January reading in 2023. The book that I started the year reading was ‘Five Survive’ by Holly Jackson, who is the author of the ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder‘ trilogy. For some reason, I could not remember the last book I read. Let me say that it was a crazy end of the year. After looking at my GoodReads I saw that my final read of 2023 was ‘Secret Santa’ by Andrew Shaffer, which is a short Christmas horror.
Related Post: Five Survive // Book Review
Related Post: Secret Santa // Book Review



In 2024, the first book I ended up finishing was actually one I started in 2023, which was ‘Lovelight Farms’ by B.K. Borison. I had initially DNFed the book but decided to go ahead and finish it on January 1st. I probably will not be posting my review until November or December of this year, but spoiler alert I was not a fan of it.



I have a whole post on my 2024 reading goals, but my top three are to read my owned TBR, read outside my comfort zone, and one that I did not mention in that post is to finish a few book series. I think that these goals are typical and that I can accomplish them.
Related Post: 2024 Anticipated Releases // January To June



Well, I just so happen to also have a post on my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2024. But, my three most anticipated releases for the entire year would have to be ‘Happily Never After’ by Lynn Painter (March 2024), ‘Wisteria’ by Adalyn Grace (August 2024) and ‘Spectacular’ by Stephanie Garber (October 2024). These are all favorite authors of mine, so naturally, I cannot wait to read their new releases.
Related Post: Belladonna // Book Review
Related Post: Caraval // Book Review



I reached my reading goal last year, which I believe is always an accomplishment. Unfortunately, I did not read much of my physical TBR. However, graphic novels were a pretty big part of my reading last year, and I do not normally read them, so I would call reading out of my comfort zone a success.



Honestly, the first book that came to mind was ‘House of Flame and Shadow’ by Sarah J. Maas (January 2024), which is the third book in her ‘Crescent City’ series. I have no desire to read the book, or anything else written by the author. Her books seem so long, and there are #7 or #8 books in some of her series. This is just too much for me. Needless to say, I will not pick this book up when it is released, and I am okay with that.



I am not sure if I have any reading habits or red flags so to speak that I would like to change this year. I know that is such a lame answer, and I think it’s one I have given in the past to this question. I try not to take reading too seriously because it is some I love to do and makes me happy.



I am not ashamed to admit that I do not keep up with book adaptations. So, I have no idea what is being adapted in 2024. Except for ‘It Ends With Us,’ which will star Blake Lively. However, I am not necessarily excited about that since I probably will not be watching it, because I have never read the book and do not plan to.



Probably joining Bookthreads! I have become so active there and Bookstagram. It has been so fun, and I am glad I discovered it last year. I hope to connect with more bookish people this year and do more buddy reading.



If you are talking about books, I started last year and still need to finish that would be ‘Furyborn’ by Claire Legrand and ‘Book Lovers’ by Emily Henry. But, if you mean 2023 releases I still need to read than the list is probably too long to mention.


Hope that you enjoyed this tag! If you have done it on your blog, let me know in the comments below, so that I can read your post. Feel free to leave a comment with your answers as well. Do not forget to share this post and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Book Quotes // Thankful Thursday

Hi Friends,
It is time for another Thankful Thursday post. This idea might seem random, but I thought it would be interesting to share book quotes. Now, not just any book quotes, but also those with a strong message. These are quotes that I continuously think about and will forever remember.


Related Post: Legendborn // Book Review



Related Post: The Afterlife Of Holly Chase // Book Review


Related Post: Little Women // Book Review



I am thankful for all of these lovely authors’ books and will never forget these meaningful passages. Let me know, some book quotes that are not only inspiring but have stuck with you. Did you know that I’m on GoodReads? Feel free to add me as a friend. Do not forget to show me love by giving my blog a quick follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The January Book Tag // 2023

Hi Friends,
Last year, I did the January Book Tag and I thought I’d make it a yearly tradition. I don’t want to ramble too much, so let’s just jump right into the questions.

In 2022, the last book I read was ‘Whiteout’ by Various Authors. This was a fun holiday contemporary, but it was just meh. The first book I read was ‘Late To The Party’ by Kelly Quindlen. I surprisingly still remember a lot about this book. It was just your run of the mill YA Contemporary, but it did have good LGBT representation.
Related Post: Late To The Party // Book Review

Sadly, it was ‘Five Survive’ by Holly Jackson. I don’t want to say too much about this book, but it wasn’t a good start to my reading year.

As always I did a whole post on my reading goals for the new year. But, I wanted to share three goals that I didn’t mention in that post. The first is that I want to complete the 12 book challenge. This is where your friends give you book recommendations and you need to read 12 of those books by the end of the year.

Next, I’d like to read some Stephen King books this year. Unlikely, one is on my 12 book challenge, yet the main one I want to read is ‘IT’. Lastly, I want to read books out of my comfort zone. Who knows I might find a hidden gem in a genre I’d never consider reading before.

She Is a Haunting’ by Trang Thanh Tran (February 2023): Maybe it’s just me but this book is giving off major ‘House Of Hollow’ vibes. It’s a thriller, horror book that takes place in a French colonial house in Vietnam. Haunted house story’s are always creepy.
Related Post: House Of Hollow // Book Review

One of Us Is Back’ by Karen M. McManus (August 2023): This is the final book in the ‘One Of Us Is Lying’ universe. Not only are the Bayview four back, but so are the characters from the second book ‘One Of Us Is Next’. I’m just hoping we get some more Phoebe and Knox moments.

The Bewitching Hour (A Tara Maclay Prequel)’ by Ashley Poston (August 2023): I cannot wait for this release. Although, I was never the biggest Buffy fan. For some reason I was more of an ‘Angel’ series person. I loved Tara! She was my favorite Buffy character. I’m so excited to read a book about her before she met the Scooby gang.

I surpassed my GoodReads reading goal for the year, which was pretty amazing! But, other than that I don’t thank I read my shelves as much as I would have liked. And, I barely read any backlist titles.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute‘ by Talia Hibbert: Don’t get me wrong this sounds like a cute YA contemporary romance, which I tend to love. However, it’s a second chance, ex-best friends to lovers romance. I’m just not a fan of that trope. Still, I’m not completely riding this one off.

Happy Place’ by Emily Henry: Not going to lie Emily Henry is a good writer and I did read 50% of her novel ‘Book Lovers’ before putting down. That being said, I don’t really think her books are for me. Also, this is a second chance romance, which I don’t jive with in books or movies.

Probably, just really thinking about the books I pick up and if I’ll like them. I want to get better at knowing my reading taste.

I’m pretty excited for ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ even though I haven’t finished ‘The Hunger Games’ series. But, I’ve seen the movies and can’t wait to see this adaption. Also, I did see a rumor that the adaption of Kristin Hannah’s novel ‘The Nightingale‘ might come out this year, which I’d been interested in seeing.

It would probably be reading 103 books. That is the most books I have ever read in a year, so it made me really proud of myself.

I started ‘All the Bright Places’ by Jennifer Niven close to the end of the year, which I would like to finish. And, I’d eventually like to go back to ‘Lovely War’ by Julie Berry. I’m about 50% of the way through with it, so it shouldn’t take me too long to finish.

Let me know in the comments, if you have done this tag and I will go give it a read. Also, tell me what was your first read of 2023. Don’t forget to share and like this post, and click the follow button.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Rereading Books // Bunny Babbles


Hi Friends,
Recently, I was considering rereading a book that I read a few years ago. Well, I wondered to myself if rereads should count towards people’s reading goals for the year. I am the type of reader that actually enjoys rereading books. Yet there are some exceptions to my rereading. I wouldn’t necessarily read a thriller over again, since it’s less impactful the second time around. But, I love rereading YA contemporaries!

Every year, I reread ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens and ‘The Afterlife of Holly Chase’ by Cynthia Hand. But, I think it is pretty normal to reread holiday books, since people rewatch their favorite holiday films every year.

There are some books that I do want to read again, because I can’t fully remember them. And, I always try to reread a series if it’s been over a year since I read the previous books. I am someone that does count rereads towards my yearly reading goal, because whether I’ve already read it or not, I’m still technically reading. A reading goal is for all the books you read that year, right? It isn’t just for new books read in a year.

In the comments, I would love to know where you stand on rereading, if they should count towards your yearly reading goal. Please follow my book blog, so that I know you like these types of posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Related Post: The Afterlife of Holly Chase Book Review

Read More Books // Tips and Tricks

Hi Friends,
In the past, my reading wasn’t where it is today. Here’s a little secret: in 2020, I only managed to read 5 books. In 2014, sadly, I only read only 2 books. Until recently, the most I had ever read in a year was 15 books. However, 2021 was a turning point in my reading. I was able to read 50 books. I thought that I would share some of my tips on how to read more books in a year. Now, this isn’t a guide on how you can read 100 books in a year. And, these tips might not work for you. But they did help me in my effort to read more.

Reading Time
One of the biggest tips is to set aside a time to read. If we can be on our phone for hours, or watch a two hour movie, then one can certainly read for an hour a day. Pick the best reading time for you, and give yourself a goal of reading for 30 minutes or an hour.

Finish The Chapter
This is something I do often. I will pick a chapter that I want to get to and won’t stop reading until I reach it. It’s like a little competition with yourself, and once you reach your goal chapter, you get a feeling of accomplishment.

Audiobooks
I think this is a no-brainer when it comes to reading more. These days, I solely read audiobooks and I am not embarrassed by that fact. This has improved my finished book count and reading experience significantly. There are many audiobook services to choose from; even libraries offer audiobooks.

DNF
I am trying to get better at this, but DNFing can be very beneficial. Continuing to read a book you don’t like can put you in a reading slump that could last for weeks, or even months. This can hinder your reading a lot. You shouldn’t be ashamed to put down a book that you aren’t into. Reading should be fun, not a chore.

Book Clubs and Readathons
Something else that helped my reading grow was participating in readathons. One of my first posts happened to be a TBR for a ‘Taylor Swift’ inspired readathon. Joining that event kicked off an amazing year of reading. Book Clubs are another great option, since it will motivate you to read at least one book a month in order to engage with other book club participants.

I am pretty sure those are all the things that helped me step up my reading game. Leave any tips you might have in the comments below.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Thank You, Next // Decluttering My TBR

Hi Friends,
Last week, I had 378 books on my ‘want to read’ shelf on GoodReads, which is crazy. I knew that there were some books that no longer interested me. I decided it was time to do a deep clean of my tbr shelf. It was interesting to see the books I eliminated, and thought I would share some of them with you.

Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price
This book still sounds interesting to me, but I don’t typically like reading series. I haven’t heard anything about this book, which makes me think it is pretty underrated. Sure, I could be convinced to read it one day, but right now I am okay with axing it from my tbr.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
This might come as a shock to some of you, since these books are beloved in the book community. Truthfully, this series interested me back when it was all the rage. However, I think too many years have pasted for me to care enough to read it. I’d much rather read a standalone than a fantasy series.

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe this is YA thriller. From the synopsis, I understand that this is a dark stolen identity story. I haven’t read anything like this before, but after reading reviews it doesn’t seem worth wasting my time on.

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
I have heard a lot of good things about Emma Mills, which is probably why I added this book to my tbr. However, books about social-media stars aren’t really my cup of tea. Also, the synopsis now sounds kind of boring.

Mechanica (Mechanica #1) by Betsy Cornwell
Honestly, I cannot for the life of me understand why I would put this on my tbr. The plot isn’t typically what I would go for in a book. It sounds like a weird Cinderella retelling. It just seems odd and confusing.

Little White Lies (Debutantes #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This sounds a little like a found family contemporary, since the main character’s estranged grandmother shows up. And, she is trying to learn more about her absent father. It is described as a thriller as well, which intrigues to me. However, I am not the biggest fan of fish-out-of-water stories, so I’m going to pass on it.

The Ravens (The Ravens #1) by Kass Morgan, Danielle Paige
This a paranormal fantasy that gives me ‘Legenborn’ vibes. It is about a sorority of witches and secrets. It sounds like other books on the market, thus I don’t think I’ll ever read it.

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu
I have heard conflicting opinions about Marie Lu’s writing, which is probably the reason for this being on my tbr. I am big about forming my own opinion on authors and books. Nevertheless, after going through my tbr shelf this story didn’t stand out to me. I could tell it was going to take me a while to finish the book. As you probably know fantasy is one of my least favorite genres.

I wish I could say that I got my tbr down into the 200s, but that isn’t the case. After my clear out, I have 364 books on my ‘want to read shelf’. This is still a big number, yet I want to start reading more back-list titles. Hopefully that can be a goal of my in 2022. How many books are on your tbr? As always, like and share the post, and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny