Horror

By The Cover | September 2024

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Hi Friends,
This is my September “Judging Books by Their Cover” post. Let me just say, the book covers coming out in September are ones I really like, so I don’t have many critiques for the covers I picked to showcase in this post. As always, please remember these are just my thoughts, and I am not trying to send any hate towards the cover designers or the authors.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom (September 3rd)
This is that classic witchy, cozy romcom book cover. I’m not sure it’s something I’d be instantly drawn to at a bookstore, but I can tell exactly what type of book it is just by looking at it. I really like the cat, the cauldron, and how the text is done.

When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao (September 3rd)
Honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of Dustin Thao’s book ‘You’ve Reached Sam,’ but it does have one of my favorite book covers. And I’ve got to say, the cover for this one is just as impressive. I really can’t find anything to criticize about the design, and I think he’ll always have some of the best book covers out there.

Nightmare Of A Trip by Maureen Kilmer (September 10th)
This cover is so much fun. It gives me a classic spooky movie vibe. I really like the design—it reminds me of those old movie posters or VHS covers from back in the day. I’m not completely sold on the color choices; they seem a little muted, but the details are awesome. From the woman’s expression to the person in the house’s window, everything catches your eye. If I saw this book while shopping, I’d definitely grab it.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
(September 10th)
Do I think this cover is the most eye-catching or original thing ever? Not really. Would it be a cover buy for me? Absolutely. I’m not a huge fan of the font, and the cup design isn’t my favorite, but it does evoke Gothic horror and vampires. I think that fits the book’s description, so the cover works for the story. Plus, I love the little inclusion of the bat and moon.

Can’t Help Falling In Love by Sophie Sullivan
(September 17th)
I like this cover, but it feels a bit like a standard fall romance. The way the guy and girl are placed looks odd. The girl seems more natural, while the guy’s pose is awkward—he’s leaning back and his raised hand looks strange. However, I do love the colors and the leaves; it definitely captures the essence of autumn romance.

A Fire In The Sky by Sophie Jordan
(September 26th)
I think this is a stunning fantasy cover. The dragon is great, and I like how the text is layered over it. The small flame detail around the cover is a nice touch—it adds some fire without being too obvious, like a dragon in flames. This cover really gives off a high fantasy vibe with dragons, and I think many people would see it and be instantly interested in the book.

So, those are my thoughts on the book covers for some September releases. Let me know in the comments what you think of these covers and if any of these books are on your TBR for the fall. Your support means a lot to me, so if you could hit the follow button before you go, it really helps my blog grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Hacienda | Blog Post

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About The Book
Years after her father’s execution, Beatriz marries Don Rodolfo Solórzano for the safety of his countryside estate, Hacienda San Isidro. However, the hacienda is far from a sanctuary, as eerie visions and unexplained events plague her. Rodolfo’s sister and the household staff’s odd behaviors deepen Beatriz’s unease. She seeks help from Padre Andrés, a priest with hidden powers, to confront the malevolent force haunting the estate. But the darkness within the hacienda may prove to be her downfall.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3SUy5Ty

My Rating

This book is often compared to Rebecca meets Mexican Gothic. While I haven’t read ‘Rebecca’, I did read ‘Mexican Gothic’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I love haunted house stories, so I had high hopes for this book, and for the most part, it didn’t disappoint.

The story is about Beatriz, a new bride who moves into her husband’s countryside estate, the Hacienda. But she quickly realizes things aren’t quite right at Hacienda San Isidro. She starts hearing voices and even sees a dead body. Honestly, she handled it way better than I would have.

Beatriz is an interesting character. She married a man she barely knew, hoping for a better life, but ended up in a situation that might be even worse than what she left behind. What I liked about the story is that it’s not just told from Beatriz’s point of view. We also get some chapters from Padre Andrés, the young priest she turns to for help. Even though his chapters are fewer, it was interesting to see things, especially the past, from his perspective.

“There is nothing more beautiful than the sound of match against paper, the sharp spark of amber and gold, the small crackle of a wick taking flame.”

You can tell from the description that there’s a bit of a magical element in the story, and the author blends it in really well. It gives the book something unique that makes it stand out among other Gothic haunted house stories. It even gave me *The Conjuring* movie vibes, which I really liked.

The writing is good, but sometimes it felt a bit slow, which made the story drag a little. But I never wanted to put it down, and once I started reading, I needed to know how it would end. Also, the book does mention some heavy and possibly triggering topics, which was a bit unexpected.

Overall, I enjoyed the historical setting, and I didn’t mind that the ending was a bit predictable. My only real complaint is how the romance part ended, though I’m not sure you’d even call it a romance. Still, I’m interested in reading more from this author, and I’d recommend this book to anyone just starting to explore the horror genre.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book in the comments. If you liked this post, please give it a like and share it with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more book-related content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summerween 2024 | Day Four

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Hi Friends,
Today is Summerween Day Four! Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling too well, so I didn’t get much reading done. However, I did manage to reach the 70% mark of Riley Sager’s ‘The Last Time I Lied‘. This book is getting so good that I can’t seem to put it down. I need to know how the story ends!

I also did a quick workout and took a nap, hoping it would make me feel better. Additionally, I uploaded a TikTok video! If you want to see my BookTok content, you can visit my page @BooksWithBunny. I post a lot of fun bookish content and book aesthetic videos, so if you’re looking for more book content from me, that’s another place to find it.

I finished the night with a donut for dessert and read some of my graphic novel ‘Something Is Killing The Children‘. I reached the 70% point in that book as well. While I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t finish any books, I know some days are like that. Still, I’m very happy with the amount of reading I did get done.

In the comments, let me know how many books you have read so far this month. If you are participating in Summerween, how is it going for you? Before you leave, show my blog some support by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summerween 2024 | Day Three

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Happy Summerween Day Three! I’ll be completely honest and let you know that I did practically nothing on Day 3 of Summerween. However, that is my typical Sunday routine. I slept in way too late and then had a yummy breakfast for lunch. Still, I did manage to read a bit, though I didn’t finish any books.

I started ‘Something Is Killing the Children‘, a horror graphic novel. It wasn’t originally on my TBR, but I thought it would be a quick read and fit the prompt to read a thriller or horror book. I got about 40% through it and I’m really liking it; the story is quite interesting.

I also started my next audiobook for the readathon, ‘The Last Time I Lied‘ by Riley Sager. I’m enjoying this book a lot; it’s very fast-paced, and I’m really invested in the story. I’ve read up to the 30% mark and I’m curious to see where it goes.

Besides my reading, I posted a photo for Day Two of the readathon’s photo challenges on Instagram. The challenge was to post a sunset book stack. If you want to see all my photos for the photo prompts, follow me on Instagram (@Books.With.Bunny). Before you go, like this post and leave me a comment telling me how your weekend went.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summerween 2024 // To Be Read

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Hi Friends,
Am I completely insane for doing another TBR for the month? Probably. But I wanted to participate in Summerween 2024, which is taking place from July 5th – 11th. This is a very popular short summer readathon (announcement video). The prompts are fairly simple, and I think a lot of the books already on my TBR should work for them.

Read A Book In The Dark
This is such an easy prompt because I mainly listen to audiobooks. Reading a book in the dark or at night shouldn’t be a problem.

Read A Thriller Or Horror Book
I am going to use ‘Listen for the Lie‘ by Amy Tintera for this prompt. Not only is it on one of my TBRs for the month, but it is also a book I have been wanting to read for so long. This is an adult thriller with a podcast element, and I hear the audiobook is amazing.

Read A Book With A Night Sky On The Cover
I might be stretching this prompt, but I think either ‘The House Across the Lake’ by Riley Sager or ‘How to Sell a Haunted House‘ by Grady Hendrix should fit.

Read A Book With Five Words In The Title
‘The House Across the Lake‘ could fit this prompt as well, but so could Riley Sager’s ‘The Last Time I Lied’. Both of these are on my July TBR.

Read A Book Set In Summer
I am most likely going to read ‘The Last Time I Lied‘ by Riley Sager because it takes place at a summer camp. Although I’m not sure it is set in the summer, I think it’s safe to assume it will be.

I could essentially read ‘The House Across the Lake’ for all of these prompts, but I am nothing if not overly ambitious. Hopefully, I will get to at least three of these books. I am going to try to post daily Summerween updates, so please follow the blog to stay updated.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Camp Foxenwood Readathon // To Be Read

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today, I’m sharing my July TBR! Well, sort of. This isn’t just my July TBR but a combination of the rest of June, July, and a little bit of August. I’m part of Alexandra Roselyn’s Patreon, and every season she hosts a Readathon for her subscribers. The summer Readathon is camp-inspired and runs from June 17th to August 5th. There are multiple cabins and bingo boards to choose from, making it a fun event. I’m going to try to complete the horror bingo board because it’s one of my favorite genres, and I’m in desperate need of Summerween! I’m aiming to read a different book for each prompt.

Buy The Book

When I saw this prompt, I immediately thought of this book. It doesn’t directly follow best friends, but the story revolves around a main character who thought she killed her best friend years ago. Now, a true crime podcast is trying to uncover what really happened. In my opinion, it fits the prompt perfectly.

Buy The Book

I’ve heard mixed reviews about this book, but I’m a big fan of Kiersten White’s writing. It has a paranormal monster element, which makes it suitable for this prompt.
Related Post: Mister Magic // Book Review

Buy The Book

This is a paranormal historical fiction horror with gothic vibes that I can’t wait to read. It’s a recent purchase, and I’m excited to dive into it.

Buy The Book

This is the third book in the Housemaid series. The first book was amazing, but the second was just okay. I’m hoping this one will be a pleasant surprise.

Buy The Book

I’ve been wanting to read this book for years. It’s a young adult horror novel that is supposedly a retelling of ‘Carrie’ by Stephen King, which sounds great to me.
Related Post: White Smoke // Book Review

Buy The Book

This manga literally has “summer” in the title, so it fits the prompt. It’s a LGBTQ+ horror manga about best friends Yoshiki and Hikaru. When Hikaru returns from a trip, Yoshiki starts to suspect that this person who looks like his best friend isn’t really Hikaru.

Buy The Book

I’m nervous about this one because I’ve read two other books by this author that I didn’t really like. However, I love haunted house and ghost stories. This book involves siblings going through their parents’ stuff and trying to sell their childhood home after their parents’ death, with some family secrets involved. A review described it as “Annabelle meets Child’s Play,” which intrigues me even more.
Related Post: The Final Girls Support Group // Book Review

Buy The Book

This 2024 release has a plot that sounds like it’s straight out of a horror movie or a supernatural episode. I’m excited to read it and hope it will be my first 5-star rating for this author.
Related Post: The Sundown Motel // Book Review

Buy The Book

This young adult horror book takes place on an island with a film crew and a creepy curse. It seems like a quick and engaging summer horror read, and I have high expectations for it.

That’s my Camp Foxenwood Readathon TBR! If you aren’t a member of Lexi’s Patreon, I highly recommend joining. I’ll be posting another July TBR soon, featuring my TBR game. Hit the follow button to get a notification when that post goes live.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Clowns In A Cornfield // Book Review

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About The Book
Kettle Springs is caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress. It’s a fight that looks like it will destroy the town. Until Frendo, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat, goes homicidal and decides that the only way for Kettle Springs to grow back is to cull the rotten crop of kids who live there now.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3wllqR6

My Rating

I’d heard nothing but good things about this book! Many readers said that it was a good, fast-paced, young adult slasher book. However, I wasn’t feeling the plot from the get-go, and my connection to the characters was lacking. So that might be why I didn’t find it as gripping or as enjoyable as others did.

The plot had the potential to be great, since it centers on a classic horror theme of a killer, or in this case killers. Killer clowns, to be exact. While the concept is intriguing, the book falls short in execution. However, I can see how the straightforward plot and simple rural slasher story may appeal to readers new to the young adult horror genre.

The book’s strengths truly lie with the fact that it is a great introduction for younger readers who are just dipping a toe into the world of horror literature. The familiar premise of a killer picking off their victims one by one would most likely make it a decent choice for those who are exploring the horror genre for the first time.

“Drawing a new line in the sand while nobody else is watching, then wiping away the old one. And the whole time you know . . . You know where it’s all leading.”

Unfortunately, the twists and turns in the story were disappointingly predictable. Which, again, might not be an issue for new horror readers. I found myself anticipating each plot development, and nothing in the narrative genuinely surprised me. The lack of unexpected moments or suspenseful elements made the reading experience somewhat flat and uninspired.

One aspect of the book that stood out was the author’s incorporation of their political views into the narrative. While it’s not uncommon for authors to infuse their work with personal beliefs I have heard some readers say that the heavy-handed political aspect of the book was distracting and even off-putting. Also, the author’s writing style didn’t align with my personal tastes. Sometimes, I enjoy being thrown right into the plot. This was an example of one where I would have liked to get to know the characters a bit more.

Overall, the book is a decent, but forgettable, young adult horror novel. While the plot concept is engaging, the predictable twists, political influence, and lackluster execution make it nothing special. The fact that I could see what was coming in each chapter left me with no surprises from the story. If you are a serious horror reader seeking an immersive and captivating experience, it’s possible that you, like me, will find yourself wanting more from this book.

In the comments let me know if you have read this book and your thoughts. Make sure to like and share this post. Finally, don’t forget that you can hit the follow button to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Secret Santa // Book Review

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About The Book
Lussi must find the next horror superstar to compete with Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Peter Straub. It’s the ’80s, after all, and horror is the hottest genre. The Office meets Stephen King, dressed up in holiday tinsel, in this fun, festive, and frightening horror-comedy set during the horror publishing boom of the ’80s, by New York Times best-selling satirist Andrew Shaffer.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3NsoNLN

My Rating

If you love thriller and horror books, but still want a holiday read, then this is the perfect read for you. I loved the plot, characters, and how fast the book was paced. It is a good, short, palate-cleanser Christmas horror novel that is not too gory.

When I first read the synopsis, I was nervous that this book would be gruesome and cheesy. However, I was hooked on the first page, and found the writing to be really good. Who doesn’t love a good horror story set during the holidays? In particular, one that takes place in a publishing house.

The book was set in the 80’s, and we follow Lussi, who is tasked with finding the next big name in horror novels in her new publishing job. However, during the company’s annual Secret Santa, she receives a demonic doll. That is, when things start to get a little weird, accidents start happening to her coworkers.

“Authors are God’s neediest creatures, eclipsed only by actors and puppies.”

The 80’s vibes were on point, and I loved all the nods to horror as a growing genre in the book industry. This makes sense, considering that the book is set during the time when Stephen King and Anna Rice were becoming big name authors. It is a really fun read for a horror and thriller reader like myself.

This book is not a feel good Christmas story, and there are not many traditional holiday aspects to the narrative besides the Secret Santa plot. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it, and the storyline as a whole was intriguing. I liked Lussi as our main character because she was smart and did not ignore all the unusual things that were happening. I think her knowledge of horror novels and movies really helped her.

Overall, this is not a five-star read by any means, but it is a really good horror novella. I would recommend it if you are looking for a book to break up all the romance novels, you might be reading this time of year. I would categorize it as ‘Child’s Play’ meets ‘Rosemary’s Baby.’ For me, this was a one-sitting read, and the ending was fantastic.

In the comments, let me know some of your favorite horror holiday novellas, because now I want to read them all. Don’t forget that you can always like and share all of my posts, and give the blog a follow before you go, because it really does help me grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Did I Read My 2023 Anticipated Releases?

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Hi Friends,
For day 2 of Bookmas, I am going to be taking a look back at my most anticipated book releases of 2023. I have done 4 anticipated releases post this year, so I am hoping that I have at least read half of the books that I was excited for this year. If not, I am going to try and make it a priority to read some of them before the year is over.

I did a post talking about my most anticipated YA romances, and I am happy to say that I read 3 out of the five books I mentioned in that post. I read ‘Never Vacation with Your Ex’, ‘Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl’ and ‘Borrow My Heart.’ But, I wasn’t able to pick up ‘Promposal’ and I completely forgot about ‘The Borrow a Boyfriend Club.’ However, I am still interested in both of those books.
Related Post: 2023 YA Romances // Anticipated Releases

My next release post was talking about 2023 summer books. I read 5 of the books in that post, which were ‘The Only One Left,’ ‘The Seven Year Slip,’ ‘One of Us Is Back,’ ‘Delicate Condition,’ and ‘Foxglove.’ And, all of these books were between 4 and 5 stars for me. As for the ones I didn’t read we have ‘Summer Rental,’ ‘Business or Pleasure,’ and ‘Ghosted: A Northanger Abbey.’ All of those books still sound so good. There were two other books in this post, ‘The Trap‘ and ‘Good Bad Girl‘ that I didn’t read, but started. And, since putting down ‘Good Bad Girl’, I haven’t heard the greatest thing about it, so it might be a DNF.
Related Post: Anticipated Releases // Summer 2023

Moving on to a post I did recently, my October anticipated releases. I am going to keep this short and sweet by saying that I have yet to read any of the six books I mentioned. Still, I am very interested in all of them. Lastly, is my November book release post and, like October, I haven’t read any of these books. I might try and get to one out of six books in that post, which will most likely be ‘Iron Flame’ or ‘Betting On You.’
Related Post: Anticipated Releases // October 2023
Related Post: Anticipated Releases // November 2023

Honestly, I don’t think I did too badly this year when it came to reading books I was excited for. It doesn’t shock me that I did poorly in October and November, since I’m a mood reader and like to read certain books during those months. In the comments, tell me if you have read any of my anticipated releases, and if they are worth the read. Don’t forget that it is completely free and makes me smile when you follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The September House // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee. Margaret is not most people.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/46QSe1K

My Rating

This book surprised me in a good way. The book follows Margaret, a woman who moves into a haunted house with her husband. However, when her husband goes missing, their daughter is determined to find out what happened to her father. Her mother is desperate to keep all the supernatural things that go on in the house a secret from her. Does that not sound like a recipe for a good haunted house mystery?

The book is told from Margaret’s perspective during her fourth September in the house. It is widely mentioned throughout the story that September is when shit hits the fan. We get chapters from previous years throughout Margaret’s life. Many of these chapters described what it was like when they first moved to the house. We also learn a lot about Margaret and her life with her husband and daughter.

Margaret is a very unreliable narrator, because there is a mention that her father had a mental illness. Her marriage was unhappy. She mentioned a lot about rules and rules to cope with many things, such as her husband’s drinking and anger and her deadly house.

“Thank you for coming but kindly remove your crazy asses from our holy ground.”

The writing was good, but it did not keep me engaged as much as I had hoped it would. I felt that there were many instances when I wanted the story to progress much faster than it did. I felt that it was just lacking something in the way the author told the story that kept them from becoming a new favorite thriller author.

This plot is interesting. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen. You think the author is going to take you in one direction, but then they do a complete 180, and take you in an entirely different direction. The last few chapters were not incredibly action-packed, but they were very intense.

Overall, it was a decent haunted house story. Will there probably be better options in the future? Sure, but is this one that I will remember? Definitely, yes. Please keep in mind that this book heavily dives into domestic violence and what it is like to be a woman in that situation, especially one with a child.

You can always check book trigger warnings on the StoryGraph app or at Book Trigger Warnings. Please leave me a comment letting me know if you are interested in this book. Do not forget to hit the follow button, so that you never miss any of my posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny