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The Island // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

About The Book
Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. When the teens arrive, they’re stunned: the resort is even better than they’d imagined. But soon they’ll discover that something’s missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/49igyu8

My Rating

I was really hoping that I would love this book, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. However, I didn’t hate it either, and it had some good qualities. However, the overall plot was missing something, and the writing felt a little lackluster.

The book follows a bunch of influencers in different niches, from books to gaming, getting invited on an exclusive trip to remote island. They are there to test out a new amusement park and promote it, for its billionaire owner.

As you can probably figure, with this being a thriller, things turn deadly. I will say that I was surprised as to how gruesome the book was. The death scenes are intense, and a lot of killing does occur. Also, it’s pretty graphically detailed, at least in terms of a young adult thriller.

“People listen to someone online they’ve never met more than they do to their parents, teachers, doctors.”

The characters were very stereotypical, when it comes to what you think influencers might be like. There wasn’t much depth to them, and although they were getting all this money and had all this attention, they had very poor attitudes. So, I didn’t really care what was happening to them.

This is definitely a page turner. It’s such a fast read you don’t want to put it down. Honestly, I could see reading this in a day, even if you aren’t normally a quick reader. The book is very addictive, despite the plot lacking a certain attachment to the characters.

Overall, this isn’t the most amazing young adult thriller, but it kept me interested. That being said, I do wish that the ending left me a little bit more surprised. And honestly, I’m not exactly sure how I feel about the final chapter. This author tends to leave things open ended, which I’m not sure I love. But, it does kind of work in this case.

In the comments, let me know if you like cliffhangers. Don’t forget to give this post a like and a share. If you would like to get post notifications, then hit the follow button.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The January Book Tag // 2024

- Bunny 1 Comment

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

Borrow My Heart // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing. A young adult romance from the critically acclaimed author of Places We’ve Never Been.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Scapc5

My Rating

I’m a big fan of Kassie West, and a young adult contemporary about a catfishing story just seemed super cute. However, this one sadly missed the mark. It just wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and the ending made me quite angry.

In the book, we follow Warren, an animal-loving control freak that decides to do a ‘good deed’ by helping out Asher when she overhears his friend teasing him about being catfished. This sparks a cute little romance between Warren and Asher, but it does all start off as a lie, which makes things complicated.

I loved Warren, and found her to be such a great main character. Asher was a really good love interest, too. Even the side characters were likable, as well. Kasie West knows how to write really good characters. Teens that aren’t annoying, stereotypical, or immature. However, this didn’t have that same witty banter that her books normally do.

“That’s what good people with big hearts do.”

As usual, they are more to her plots than just romance. Warren has a broken home life, because her mother left her to go off and do her own thing. The fact that there are more serious elements to her stories, rather than just teen love, make them more impactful. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good straight forward teen romance, but I love the fact that her books have more substance, as well.

My biggest con for this book, and the reason that it isn’t a four or five star, is the ending conflict. There’s always some conflict in romance novels where the love interests pull away from each other, but this one made me so mad and I didn’t like the resolution. Maybe I’m petty, and I hold a grudge.

Overall, I enjoy Kasie West’s writing, and her books are such fast reads. And, I do like how she focused on social media, but how social media can negatively impact someone’s life, and affect them. Although this story wasn’t my favorite, and the ending still drives me nuts, I will continue to read any book she puts out.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve ever been catfished. Is catfishing even a thing anymore? Don’t forget to check out my Facebook page for more bookish updates. And, you’ll never miss a post if you follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2023 Lucky 13 // Best Books

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Here, we have my best books for 2023! I had such a hard time narrowing down my best books, and 12 was not going to cut it. Therefore, I decided that 13 books deserve to be on this list. However, there is probably more that I could have added. Thus, without further ado, let us talk about my favorite books from last year.

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Originally, I gave this book four stars, but the story was stuck in my mind for weeks. For that reason, I knew that I had to bump it up to five stars. This is a young adult romance about a long-distance relationship, which is something that is not written about much. I loved how the story went, and the character development was one of the best things in the book.

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I did not expect a cozy fantasy to make this list, but this one really pulled at my heartstrings. No, I do not think it resembles Gilmore Girls or Practically Magic, but nevertheless, I loved the characters and story. A small town, family of witches, and mystery all make for a wonderful read. However, you might also shed a few tears at the end of the book because I certainly did.

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I never thought that I was a pirate girl, but this book had me thinking I might be. This story was so action packed, and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved our female main character, and despite the romance being very typical of a young adult book, I found it enjoyable to read.

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I do not hear anyone talking about this book, which is such a shame. Although this story is probably not anything to write home about, I had such a great experience reading this book. It was a fast-paced adult romcom with a happily ever after ending. Personally, I sometimes need a feel-good love story, which is exactly what this book was for me.

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I am so happy that I was finally able to read the first book in this mystery series because it was brilliant. I loved how we followed a cast of animal characters in a small town. The mystery was fun, although predictable. However, the slight romance plot is unexpected and entertaining. This is both an easy and enjoyable read.

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This is one, if not the best, queer romance I have read. What makes this even better is that it is a YA story. I found that the book provides a real look at different sexualities and what it is like to struggle with one’s own sexual identity. And let me just mention that an open door spicy scene was very unexpected for a young adult novel, but I did not mind it one bit.

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Honestly, I cannot say why this book sticks out in my mind, besides the fact that the plot was so well-done. I thought that this was going to be a simple psychological thriller, but there was so much more to it. The story was surprisingly more twisted than I expected. Still, I liked how the author showed the darker and more horrifying side of the publishing world.

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In my opinion, this book is underrated in the thriller genre. I have heard some negative things about it, but I loved the slower character-driven plot. Although there were not many twists and turns, I found the story very engaging. I found myself unable to put the book down, which made my reading experience even better.

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At first, I thought that this was going to be a thriller involving vampires, but I was actually very wrong. This is a difficult book to describe, but I loved the writing style, the found family element to be a nice touch, and the plot incredibly unique. The story I was so captivating that I read it in a day.

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I knew from the synopsis that I was going to love this book, but I did not expect it to become a new favorite romcom. Everything about this book from the story to the spice is perfection. I think it is a great book for readers who do not typically love the friends-to-lovers romance trope.

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This book has such an interesting plot and is a wonderful start for the series. I had never read anything by this author before and picked up this book because of its title alone. However, I am so glad that I read it because it was an enjoyable experience. The love story is original, and the magical aspect is fascinating.

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I was truly surprised by how much I loved the book. This is similar to the Hunger Games but with vampires and magic elements. The world building was amazing and the characters were very interesting. However, the last few chapters take this book the extra mile and really cement it as a standout read, in my opinion.

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Right from the first chapter, I felt that this was going to be my favorite book of the year. I loved it even more than the first book (Belladonna), and the ending has anxiously awaiting the release of what I believe is the final book in this series. I am in love with this story, the world, and characters.

I hope that you enjoyed if not all some of these books. Feel free to share your favorite books of 2023 in the comments. If you weren’t a fan of one of these books I mentioned, that’s okay too, because I still adore all of these books. Don’t forget to like and share this post with others. It would be great if you could follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

12 Letdowns From 2023 // Worst Books

- Bunny 8 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today I’m talking about my worst reads of 2023. Now this year, it is more disappointments than worst books, because 2023 was a fairly good reading year for me. I had mostly 3 and 4 stars, and I don’t consider a 3 star to be a bad book. So, with all that out of the way, let’s jump into my top 10 most disappointing reads of 2023.

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I thought that this was going to be such an interesting YA thriller, but it was fairly confusing. I am still not sure of the plot. The book was very weird, and the writing style wasn’t my favorite. And, for a thriller, it wasn’t necessarily a thrilling book. You see what I did there?

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Frankly this isn’t a huge disappointment since I didn’t really have high expectations going into this book. I hadn’t heard anything about it, but as someone that grew up watching ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, I wanted to get similar vibes from the show. But, for a book based on Spike, the character wasn’t very reminiscent of his television counterpart.

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This book frustrated me to no end. Besides the writing, it has no redeeming qualities. I wouldn’t even call it a romance story. Well, it might be a romance, but a messy one (that isn’t exactly romantic). Also, anyone can see where the plot is going to go? The ending was crystal clear, making me wonder what the point to the story was. Needless to say, I wasn’t a fan.

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I wish that I loved more from this author, but I just can’t seem to enjoy much that I read from her. Although, I can’t seem to stop reading her books either. This plot was very generic, and I’m not a fan of books based on snobby rich kids. This is like Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, which might appeal to some, but for me it didn’t work at all.

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I was so disappointed in this book, because I was hoping for a cute supernatural romance but it was very slow paced and cringy. The storyline wasn’t very engaging, and the characters barely had any chemistry.

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I have a love/hate relationship with the Disney Twisted Tales books, but this one was low on the totem pole for me. I didn’t get ‘The Little Mermaid’ vibes, and truthfully, I was barely making it through reading the book. It could be that the ‘What If’ storyline didn’t work for me this time around, but the story wasn’t captivating as other books in this series have been.

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In my opinion, this book was not good at all. It completely read like a middle grade, and the story was not compelling at all. I wasn’t a big fan of the characters or the supernatural elements. But the book cover was so pretty that I wished I liked the inside more.

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This book sounded so appealing, but it was a struggle to get through it. The magic aspect felt weird in the story, which isn’t good when it’s the basis for the plot. And, it’s never good when you have a dual timeline story but only one of the timelines is actually interesting.

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I don’t know if it’s the fact that adult are writing teenagers but the main character in this book was so unrelated and immature. The biggest problem with this book is that it was boring. I know that’s a bit harsh but I can honestly say that I was bored throughout the whole book. That’s not exactly the reading experience I was looking for.

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The main character drove me insane throughout the whole book. Also, I like books where things are actually happening. However, I wasn’t aware that this is a ‘Death On The Nile’ retelling, which I have heard struggles with a slow moving plot as well. Still, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

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I can’t believe that I even read this book considering I had such a distaste for the first book, ‘So, This Is Christmas,’ in this companion series. Hopefully, this will be the last book because I can’t get behind the characters, the romance or the writing. It feels like I’m reading about two middle schoolers. That’s all I’m going to say.

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I cannot begin to tell you how sad I am that this is most disappointing read of 2023. I am still a Holly Jackson fan, but this book was a major flop. It could be that she wrote it fairly quickly, but every part, from the plot to the character, was bad. I know that it might be for some people, but I am not one of those people.

In the comments, let me know what some of your disappointing reads for 2023. Remember that nobody’s reading experience is the same, so if you liked any of these books that is great! They did not work for me. Before you go, please follow my blog, so that it continues to grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Legend of the Christmas Witch // Mini Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
From Parks and Recreation star Aubrey Plaza and creative partner Dan Murphy comes the long lost tale of the Christmas Witch, Santa Claus’s much misunderstood twin sister. The perfect gift for the holiday season and beyond! Gather ‘round the fire to hear a Christmas legend that has never been told before…until now.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3trjgyl

My Rating

I picked up this book because the cover is simply stunning, and I thought that it would be a quick read that would get me in the holiday spirit. But this book is so much more than a short Christmas-y graphic novel.

It tells the tale of two twins, a boy and a girl, one who ends up becoming the holly jolly Santa Claus, and the other the Christmas witch. It is such a fun, unique story that I think anyone would be fascinated by.

“I’m going to ruin this Christmas holiday once and for all!”

The author really made the story come to life, and the artwork was stunning. It was so interesting to hear this tale of this Christmas Witch, and all she goes through over the course of the book. You can read this book cover to cover in one sitting, which is what I did.

Overall, this isn’t just a lighthearted Christmas story, but has a much deeper meaning. Simply because one is different and misunderstood doesn’t mean they have to hide from the world. Also, by the end of the book, the story felt so real it made me wonder if there is some truth to this Christmas witch legend.

In the comments, let me know if you have ever heard of the Christmas Witch. Don’t forget to follow the blog before you go, because your support really does mean a lot to me.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Tis The Season For Revenge // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Abbie Keller thought that Richard Bartholemew Benson the Third would be her forever. So she does what every girl does when she’s broken up with: she calls her friends, gets drunk, dyes her hair, and formulates her plan for revenge. It just so happens that the universe supports her efforts and gives her the perfect match to prove to her ex that he made a huge mistake: his boss.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/48tEY3m

My Rating

If you’re looking for a bingeable, smutty holiday romance, then you will most likely enjoy this book. I found the book to be very easy to read, and the spicy scenes were done very well. I would give it a 3.5 spice rating. This isn’t a closed door romance at all.

In the book we follow Abbie, who gets dumped by her (jerk) boyfriend that bordered on emotional abuse. Drunkenly, she and her friends decide to create her a dating profile, but when she matches with he ex’s boss, Damien, she decides the sweetest revenge would be to date him.

Honestly, the book gave me Legally Blonde vibes and you could tell that Elle Wood’s was a big inspiration behind Abbie’s personality. It was interesting to see Abbie rediscover herself and take back her power. She let her ex take part of herself, so it was very different look at an abusive relationship.

“A relationship is like the law. It needs balance. If it’s out of balance, if one person sees themselves as less valuable, if another sees themselves as more valuable, the balance isn’t there.”

The romance was fantastic. It was an age gap romance, since Damien is much older than Abbie. And, it is clearly a ‘he falls first’ plot. I liked how they communicated a lot throughout the book, and talked about things such as kids and the future. For a plot that is pretty far fetched their relationship felt very realistic.

The thing I liked most was that the plot wasn’t drawn out, and the story moved at a good pace. The ending conflict was handled really well. I hate when adult romances have characters that act like they’re teenagers. But, I am happy to say, that wasn’t the case in this book.

Overall, this isn’t the most well written book, but I am excited to read more from this author. However, I do wish that we had gotten a longer epilogue, but that isn’t something I’m going to hold against the book. I do think that it makes for a fun holiday read for anyone who is looking for spice, rather than fluff.

In the comments, let me know if you have read this book. It would be amazing if you gave this post a like and share. And, follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Secret Santa // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

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

Book Wishlist // Christmas 2023

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas, day 15! What is on my book wishlist? Thanks for asking. Okay, nobody asked, but I still love sharing some books that I would love to receive this Christmas. However, let me start by saying that I know I am lucky enough to get any books on Christmas. And also that gifts are not what the season is about, and I am so blessed to be able to buy books for myself throughout the year. However, I always have a few books I would love to receive. Therefore, please know that this wishlist is just for fun.

Sword Catcher: https://amzn.to/3RHrFXz
Starling House: https://amzn.to/4as5NqK
Brutal Prince: https://amzn.to/3TAwgvU
Flawless: https://amzn.to/41H8zV7
Mile High: https://amzn.to/482KVV8
Unfamiliar: https://amzn.to/3RsXVMD

I hope that you enjoyed this glimpse into my book wishlist. If you would like, you can view my full Amazon book wishlist. Before you go, hit the follow button, so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Gift Of A Book // Book Recommendations

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
On day 14 of Bookmas, I wanted to share book recommendations. However, these recommendations are more specific. I wanted to recommend books that I think would be a great gift for the readers of certain books. Essentially, if they like this book, they might enjoy this book. I hope that this makes some sense.


If they like the ‘Truly Devious’ series by Maureen Johnson then gift them ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ by Holly Jackson. These books fall under the YA mystery category but are slightly different. Although they both follow female main characters trying to solve mysteries, I do think that the GGGTM trilogy is a bit darker and, in my opinion, better. However, I think that they are similar enough that they would be a good gift idea for someone who has read and enjoyed the ‘Truly Devious’ books.
Related Post: A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder // Book Review


If they like ‘The Inheritance Games’ by Jennifer Lynn Barnes gift them ‘The Rosewood Hunt’ by Mackenzie Reed. Both books have to do with inheritance and a game of sorts to claim it. I think that both plots are full of twists and have to do with many characters working against each other for money. However, I am unsure if ‘The Rosewood Hunt’ contains any type of romance, and it is a standalone unlike ‘The Inheritance Games.’


If they like ‘The Hunger Games’ by Susan Collins gift them ‘All Of Us Villains’ by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman. I’m not going to lie I didn’t like ‘All Of Us Villains’ but I have seen it compared to ‘The Hunger Games’ a lot. The main difference is that it follows multiple morally gray characters and has magical elements. However, I could see fan of ‘The Hunger Games’ series like the book and finding the difference interesting.
Related Post: All Of Us Villains // Book Review


If they like ‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth gift them ‘Forth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros. Honestly, these two books remind me of each other, but one of them contains dragons. But, the writing and main characters are very similar. I think that fans of young adult 2000s dystopian books like ‘Divergent’ would love the ‘Fourth Wing’ series. It would be a great gift for them and would probably give them reminders of their teenage years.
Related Post: Divergent // Book Review


If they like ‘If He Had Been With Me’ by Laura Nowlin gift them ‘All The Bright Places’ by Jennifer Niven. Both these books are about young love and are pretty sad stories. I know it is not customary to make someone cry during holidays, but I could see fans of one really liking the other. The main difference is that ‘All The Bright Places’ is a dual pov story that has mental health representation. However, the stories have very similar outcomes, yet they are completely different.
Related Post: If He Had Been With Me // Book Review
Related Post: All The Bright Places // Book Review

I hope that this post has given you some ideas about books to gift readers in your life. If you agree with these recommendations, let me know the comments. You can always follow the blog so that you are notified whenever there is a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny