Halloween

All Hallows | Book Tag

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Hi Friends,
Today, I’m doing the All Hallows Book Tag, created by Quirinus on Twitter. This tag has two parts, a bookish ‘this or that’ template and some bookish and non-bookish Halloween-related questions. In this post, I’ll only be answering the questions. However, if you’d like to see my ‘this or that’ answers, visit my Instagram or TikTok accounts.


My favorite genre to read during the spooky season is definitely witchy or magic books. I love reading books with magical elements all year round, but I think witchy books really put you in the spooky season mood.
Related Post: The Kiss Curse | Book Review


I definitely recommend thrillers and mysteries for the fall season. One of my favorites is Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney. I can’t believe how long it took me to read this book, but it’s such a good, twisty adult thriller.
Related Post: Daisy Darker | Book Review


I have so many books that I love reading during the spooky season, but one of my most anticipated reads has to be The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. I’ve been wanting to read this book for years, and I hear it’s such a cute witchy romcom.


Yes, 100%! Honestly, my family is completely convinced that my childhood home is haunted. There have been way too many weird and paranormal occurrences there throughout my upbringing to ignore. We could all be totally delusional, but I, for one, completely believe in ghosts.


Of course, I love classic Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown. But every Halloween night, my husband and I watch Corpse Bride. It’s one of our favorite movies, and since it’s about a wedding, it makes it even more special because we got married on Halloween.


As I just mentioned, I got married on Halloween, so not only is it a holiday, but it’s also my anniversary. My husband and I typically celebrate at home by watching Halloween movies and, of course, some of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes. We always have pizza and the same cake every year.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my answers to these questions! Let me know your own answers in the comments below. Don’t forget to check out my Instagram or TikTok for the ‘this or that’ portion of this tag. I’ll also have a blank ‘this or that’ template in my Instagram story for you to use. If you love book tags and all other book content, please hit the follow button so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Rory Gilmore | Halloween Costume

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Let’s face it, Rory Gilmore is the ultimate reader and fall girl. Her style is casual yet put together, with effortless hair and minimal makeup. So this Halloween, dressing up as Rory Gilmore is not only a super simple costume but also perfect for any book lover. Here, you’ll find everything you’ll need to help you nail the Rory Gilmore look, ensuring your Halloween costume is on point.

The Outfit
I wanted to keep this outfit simple, something Gilmore Girls fans could easily spot as Rory Gilmore-approved. The chunky white sweater has become known as the Rory sweater. Honestly, besides her Chilton uniform, it’s probably her most memorable fashion item from the show. Rory is such a casual girl, so throw on a pair of jeans and add some suede ankle boots—since let’s face it, she and Lorelai wore a lot of boots. Don’t forget to add a backpack to help complete the look and store your costume props, like a book!

The Hair
Let’s be real—her hair wasn’t the most stylish part of her look. She kept it simple and natural most of the time. However, I think her bangs were pretty iconic. A style I noticed her wearing a lot in the earlier seasons was straight hair with two tiny French braids on either side. Later in the show, especially during the college seasons, she embraced her naturally wavy hair or styled loose curls, pinning the sides back while leaving some pieces out to frame her face.

The Makeup
Right before she went off to Yale, Rory complained about having so many beauty products, but she really kept her makeup minimal. To achieve her look, remember to let your natural beauty shine through, ensuring that your focus is on creating a flawless, matte base.

For her eyes, she kept things easy, sticking to brown and skin-tone shades, and using brown eyeliner. She lined her top lash line and only the outer corner of her bottom lash line. She also wore mascara, and her blush was always a rosy pink shade. As for her lips, she was clearly a gloss girl, tending to wear nude or light pink shades.

Like I mentioned earlier, no Rory Gilmore costume would be complete without a book, so don’t forget to carry one around—maybe even a Luke’s coffee cup! To really sell the costume, throw out a few classic Gilmore Girls quotes! My favorites are “Oy with the poodles already” and “In omnia paratus.”

Shop the Look
Sweater: https://amzn.to/4hcHr7z
Jeans: https://amzn.to/3Y7WuGM
Boots: https://amzn.to/4f8eU0Y
Backpack: https://amzn.to/48i0iKr
Gilmore Girls Book: https://amzn.to/3NBLZqy
Book: https://amzn.to/3NE9HCk
Luke’s Coffee Cup: https://amzn.to/3Yv3RJZ

This costume will be a hit among your reader and Gilmore Girls-loving friends. It’s creative and perfect for a night of handing out Halloween candy because of how simple and casual it is. If you like this post, be sure to check out my Gilmore Girls book recommendations post as well. In the comments, let me know what you’re going to be for Halloween! Don’t forget to like and share this post with other book lovers. If you’re a reader and Gilmore Girls fan, hit the follow button so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Live Your Best Lie | Book Review

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About The Book
Influencer Summer Cartwright appears to be living the dream with fame, fashion, and a book deal. But when she disappears at her Halloween party and a post claims she’ll be dead in minutes, those closest to her know it’s no stunt. After finding her body, they’re forced to face the unsettling truths they’ve been hiding.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4eCADOK

My Rating

I was hoping that this would be a good, suspenseful young adult thriller. Unfortunately, from the first chapter, I could tell that this book probably wasn’t going to be for me. It reads very YA, which, to be fair, makes sense for a young adult book.

I went into this expecting the same vibes as a Karen M. McManus or Holly Jackson novel, but by the end, my feelings were more in line with how I feel about Jessica Goodman’s books. They aren’t bad, but they’re very one-dimensional. We follow stereotypical teenagers, and most of them live a Gossip Girl type of life.

In this book, Summer Cartwright, a teen influencer, dies on Halloween night. But someone is still posting on Summer’s Instagram, and they want to make it known that her death was no accident. We have the usual suspects: the ex-boyfriend, the best friend, the wannabe, and the frenemy.

“Is your teen safe engaging with social media? And darker still, how far would they go to find fame on the internet? ”

Honestly, this book was a basic thriller, but in the best way possible. I couldn’t put it down, and that really speaks to the author’s writing. Although the story wasn’t particularly compelling, I still couldn’t stop reading. So, I’d say that makes this a pretty solid and easy read.

The ending wasn’t shocking, because you can kind of see it coming. I felt there needed to be one or two more twists to make the book stand out. Unfortunately, I wanted more from the plot—something to set it apart from other thrillers I’ve read.

Overall, for a debut novel, it is pretty good. The YA thriller genre is saturated and still growing, so you really need a plot that stands out. Although this book probably won’t have a lasting impact on me, but I can see myself reading more from this author. The plot and characters weren’t my favorite, but I’m excited to see what they release in the future.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book. If you like this post, please give it a share, and don’t forget to follow my blog to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Violet Beauregarde | Halloween Tutorial

- Bunny Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
In the spooky town of Maple Hollow, apothecary witch Jordyn accidentally conjures the ghost of her ex-girlfriend. The snarky specter haunts her until she finds new love. Enter Harlow, the new girl in town, who’s just trying to survive working in her sister’s cafe. As romance brews between them, Jordyn’s ghostly ex threatens to ruin it all.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3ANfBOx

My Rating

I want to give a big thank you to the authors for granting me an eARC of this book. The first chapter dives right into the story, which I usually love, but I felt this book needed a prologue or an intro chapter. Still, I knew from the start that I was going to enjoy the story and its characters.

The book is told from dual perspectives: Jordan, who is haunted by the ghost of her ex-girlfriend, and Harlow, a new resident of Maple Hollow. Both girls are very likable, though somewhat similar. I never found myself preferring one perspective over the other, and I was sold on their relationship from their first interaction.

I loved the Halloweentown vibes in this book. Maple Hollow is literally a town where supernatural beings live, and the concept is amazing—it’s a place I’d want to visit and maybe even live in. I enjoyed seeing the different supernatural creatures interacting with each other and humans.

“We’re all different here. Maybe you just needed a little more magic in your life.”

While I loved the main characters and the town, the side characters were also likable, especially Harlow and her sister Willow. Their relationship felt real, like true sisters who love each other but sometimes lash out at one another. Willow cherished her life in this unique town, so she was hesitant about Harlow moving in with her, but she did love her sister. However, she could be a bit stuck in her ways and harsh at times.

This is a magical queer romance at its core, made even more complicated by the ghost of Jordan’s ex-girlfriend lingering around. However, I appreciated that the story was more than just a cute paranormal romance. The mystery plot was intriguing, and I wanted to find out what really happened to Jordan’s ex.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot, characters, and setting. While the ending wasn’t surprising, as I had a sense of where the story was heading, I could still see myself picking up more books by the authors. However, I felt the book was missing something extra to make it truly outstanding, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. Thanks again to the authors for the ARC!

In the comments, let me know if you watch Halloweentown every fall. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other book lovers, and give my blog a follow before you go!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Halloween Tag // Toss-Up Tuesday

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Hi Friends,
Happy Halloween! Today, I am going to be doing the “Halloween Tag” this lifestyle tag was created years ago, 2011 to be exact, by some popular YouTubers at the time. I have been wanting to do a Halloween tag for a while and what better day to post one than the holiday itself.


I know that this film does not take place on Halloween, but lets face it most of us probably watch it in October. My husband and I always celebrate our anniversary, which just so happens to be October 31st, by watching a movie about marriage. Therefore, probably for this reason alone makes it my favorite Halloween film, but it is also a great movie with wonderful songs.


Do people actually remember when they stopped going trick-or-treating? Because, my 31 year old self does not. Honestly, it was probably by the time that I was 10 or 11 years old. I am the youngest out of five, so when my older siblings stopped caring to trick-or-treat, I probably did too.


This is going to be very basic but my favorite costume is going to have to be Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” I did not have a huge wedding, but I and my husband got married on Halloween dressed as Jack and Sally from the movie. Three years later, I still have my Sally dress.


We usually just stay in on Halloween. I am going to stay in my pjs, read, and watch movies. So, no dressing up for me. However, if I were to dress up, I would go as Lydia Deetz (from ‘Beetlejuice’) in the red wedding dress.


Nope! I am 100% a horror movie girlie, but I have no desire to put myself in a scary situation, despite it being all for fun. I like to keep my hauntings in book and movie form.


This is difficult because both are awesome. However, I am going to say, vampires. I love me a good vampire story, and I find vampires to be way sexier than werewolves. Even though my husband likes to joke, the werewolves never wear shirts.


I do have a sweet tooth, but Reese’s are probably my favorite candy. I actually do not like peanut butter at all, except in a Reese’s. If I got to choose two candies my second would for sure be Sour Patch Kids, which I think everyone loves.


Of course! I admit that I am not the best decorator, but I do love, putting up a few Halloween decorations. I think decorating makes holidays come to life a little more.


My least favorite costume, which is also the one I have the most memories of, is The Statue Of Liberty. Not only was I just wrapped in sliver fabric, but my third-grade teacher was also The Statue Of Liberty. My 8 year old self was very embarrassed, and I looked like I was a left over wrapped in foil.


I know that I was a witch a few times, but I remember being Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” twice. Many of our costumes were homemade, but my mom actually bought my Belle dress from the Disney store, and I was obsessed with it.


Yes! I think that if you do not believe in ghosts, you are being closed-minded. Sometimes, seeing is not always believing. Sometimes you just have to believe in the unknown.


I have no idea what this means because my Halloweens have been pretty normal. I have never had a traumatic or scary Halloween. I am grateful for this to be the case.

This tag was so fun to do, and I tag anyone who would like to do it. I hope you have a happy and safe Halloween. Please celebrate the holiday by giving my blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Characters & Costumes // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Halloween is practically here, and I wanted to do a fun Halloween costume post! So I thought it would be fun to share what I think some bookish characters would be for Halloween.

‘Coraline‘ by Neil Gaiman
This one was a no brainer. She would simply go as a black cat. It is an easy and laid-back costume, especially for someone like Coraline, who does not typically like to get all dressed up. Also, cats are pretty significant to her, so I think she would be more than happy to celebrate Halloween as one.

‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ by Holly Jackson
Pip is the main character in this mystery book trilogy, and because of her love for solving crime, I believe she’d would go as a classic teen detective, Nancy Drew. Both girls are smart and driven, and always find themselves caught up in some sort of mystery.

‘A Merry Little Meet Cute’ by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
In this book, Bee, a plus-sized pornstar, and Nolan, a former boy band member, fall in love. I think that they’d do a couples costume, and what is more classic than Sandy and Danny from Grease? Not only is it a musical type of costume for Nolan, but Sandy’s bad girl look at the end of the film would be right up Bee’s alley because it is classic, yet sexy.

I am not sure everyone will agree on these costume choices, but I think they work well for the characters. This was a really fun post to put together, and I would love to know what you all think of it. Please share and like this post because it really does help my blog. Before you go, give the blog a quick follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Spooky Season // Book Recommendations

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Today, I want to do a guide to spooky season reading! I know that during the fall, readers want to read all the seasonal and spooky books, but there is not enough time to get to them all. So, I wanted to share the books I think you absolutely need to read during the spooky season.


‘Long Live The Pumpkin Queen‘ by Shea Ernshaw: Yes, I know that this is technically categorized as young adult, but I think it fits the middle grade genre much more. This is a Nightmare Before Christmas’ sort-of-retelling that follows Sally in her new role as the Pumpkin Queen. This is a great Halloween read, and it is a fun new take on a beloved film.
Related Post: Long Live The Pumpkin Queen // Book Review

‘Coraline‘ by Neil Gaiman: Honestly, I feel like this is the number one book that I’m always recommending for fall time, seeing as it’s a quick read that is eerie but not scary. I love the plot of Coraline, and it is a great read for anyone looking to get into the fall mood.
Related Post: Coraline // Book Review


‘How to Survive Your Murder‘ by Danielle Valentine: If you are a fan of slasher movies and the final girl trope, then this is the perfect read for you! It is an entertaining read that gives off classic slasher movie vibes. This book is ‘Scream’ meets ‘Totally Killer’–do I really need to say anything else?
Related Post: How To Survive Your Murder // Book Review

‘Clown In A Cornfield‘ by Adam Cesare: I think a lot of people would enjoy this book, because it gives old time cheesy horror feels. The title says it all; the book has to do with a killer clown. There’s a lot more to this book than just gore, which I think is a nice added element of the book. However, at its core, it remains a fun slasher story.


‘Mexican Gothic‘ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: This book is part haunted house and part possession. It is a great autumn read that will give you chills. This is one that might keep you up at night. If you are a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, I can see you really enjoying this book.
Related Post: Mexican Gothic // Book Review

‘Delicate Condition‘ by Danielle Valentine: I’m not sure if this book will seem like a fall read to many readers, but the ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ similarities make it a great spooky season read. The difference is that this is a horror story with an IVF component. The descriptions in this book are unsettling, and the supernatural aspects make the story binge-able. It is such a quick and creepy read, but might not want to pick it up if you are expecting.
Related Post: Delicate Condition // Book Review

There you have it, some spooky reads for the spookiest time of the year. In the comments, leave me with some creepy book recommendations. Do not forget to give the blog a follow before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Ex Hex | Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

About The Book
Vivienne Jones, a small-town witch, must team up with Rhys Penhallow, the man who broke her heart, when his return to Graves Glen triggers a series of supernatural disasters. They have to work together to save the town and break the breakup curse while trying to ignore their undeniable chemistry.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3F3J31J

My Rating

If you’re looking for a cozy, witchy romance, then look no further. This is a second chance romance about a witch and a warlock that must work together to break a curse that has thrown their town into magical chaos.

In the book, we follow Vivienne, who is a college professor and witch. Vivi is the sensible type of girl, and hasn’t really given into her witchy side. I loved her relationship with her family. Her aunt and her cousin are her best friends and support system.

Rhys is Vivi ex-boyfriend and warlock that returns to town on his father orders. He’s very charming, and acts before he thinks. His personality is very go with the flow and I liked the contrast between his more easygoing demeanor and Vivi’s somewhat more methodical personality.

“Never mix vodka and witchcraft.”

I loved how Vivi’s teenage self is coming back to bite her in the book. Because, a harmless joking curse she put on Rhys after their bad breakup is the cause of all the town’s misfortune. I liked seeing Rhys and Vivi work together, and realize how much their past relationship meant to them.

Unfortunately, this was a second chance romance book, and although I liked the characters and the plot, I am not a fan of second chance romances. The fact that Vivi and Rhys were still carrying that baggage for each other, even after 9 years, is ridiculous. Neither of them were in a relationship or have even had any meaningful relationships.

Overall, the writing and storyline saved the book for me. I was completely engaged the entire time reading it, and I loved all the witchy Halloween vibes. The ending was so good, and it instantly put me in the fall mood. So, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good fall magical romance.

In the comments, leave me some witchy book recommendations. Don’t forget to share this post with other book lovers. And, as always, follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summerween 2023 // To Be Read

- Bunny Leave a comment


Hi Friends,
I know that I’ve just posted my July TBR, but July 7th was the start of Summerween! If you’d don’t know what Summerween is, you’re missing out. For all the details on the readathon, you can watch Gabby from GabbyReads announcement video on Youtube. Basically, this is just a week-long readathon that is all about bringing the spooky season into summer, hence the name: Summerween. There are only a few prompts, and I think my TBR is quite manageable to participate in a week long readathon.

Read A Thriller:
For this prompt I’m going to be reading ‘Every Last Fear’ by Alex Finlay, which, as you might know, is already on my July TBR. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Read A Book Set In Fall: –and– Read A Book With Orange Or Black On The Cover:
Now I could be completely wrong, but I think that ‘The Haunting of Aveline Jones’ by Phil Hickes takes place in the fall. There are even leaves on the cover, and the color orange. So, I’m going to be using the book for two prompts.

Read A Manga, Graphic Novel, Or Novellla:
Last month, I started the ‘Fence’ graphic novel series by C.S. Pacat. I’m on volume 2, so I’ll probably end up reading that during the readathon.

There is one more prompt, which is simply to read at night or in the dark. I didn’t pick a specific book for that because I’ll probably use one of my already picked books to complete that prompt.

In the comments, let me know if you are also participating in Summerween. What’s on your TBR? Don’t forget to like this post and follow my blog!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny