Summer

Did I Read My 2023 Anticipated Releases?

- Bunny Leave a comment

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

Summer 2023 // Book Haul

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
I thought I would share the books that I bought this summer. I have been buying too many books, so I definitely need to go on a book-buying ban. However, this is probably not going to occur. What can I say? I am a realist. Nevertheless, these are mostly all the books that I bought during the summer months.


The Deal: Buy Here
The Fine Print: Buy Here
Ninth House: Buy Here
Maybe Meant To Be:Buy Here
The Last Time I Lied: Buy Here
Home Before Dark: Buy Here
The Naturals: Buy Here
Killer Instinct:Buy Here

 

 

 


Secrets Never Die: Buy Here
Priest: Buy Here
A Thousand Boy Kisses: Buy Here
Clown In A Cornfield: Buy Here
Hooked: Buy Here
Court Of The Vampire Queen: Buy Here
Kiss Her Once For Me: Buy Here
None Of This Is True: Buy Here

 

 


The Ex Hex: Buy Here
The Kiss Curse: Buy Here
Fourth Wing: Buy Here
The Writing Retreat: Buy Here
Belladonna: Buy Here
Better Than Fiction: Buy Here
The Sun Down Motel: Buy Here
Coraline: Buy Here

 

 

 

Something interesting that I noticed about my book buying this month is how I’ve been gravitating towards more adult books. From adult thrillers to smutty romances, it is interesting to see how my book taste is starting to change. Let me know in the comments about what books you bought this summer. Alternatively, if you read any of these books. Do not forget to follow my blog to get notified whenever there is a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Summer Of Broken Rules // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments


About The Book
Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when Meredith forms an assassin alliance with a cute groomsman, she finds herself getting distracted. And as the week progresses, she realizes she’s not only at risk of losing the game, but also her heart.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/45KQ8jl

My Rating

This book was everything I wanted in a summertime young adult contemporary. The story follows Meredith, who returns to Martha’s Vineyard for the first time since her sister, Claire’s, death. Meredith and her family are there for her cousin’s wedding. But, things get complicated when Meredith connects with one of the groomsmen, Witt.

I loved the plot, because not only were we watching as Meredith and Witt fell for each other over the course of a week, the majority of the plot was about the characters engaging in a game of assassin. It was such an easy to read summertime story.

Although, the romance was super cute, it was a little insta-lovey. Can you really fall in love with someone in just a week? I am typically a hater when it comes to instant romance plots, yet this one didn’t bother me as much. I liked both Meredith and Witt’s personalities. Also, the romance really worked for me.

One of my favorite things about the book was how the author handled the grief aspect. Yes, loss and grief was a part of the story but there weren’t a ton of sad moments, and it felt more like a summer romance, than someone trying to get over a loss. I liked how the grief aspect was more subtle, and not an overwhelming part of the plot.

“Our time together was unraveling like a ribbon.”

Meredith went through a lot of character development throughout the book. It was interesting to see her character grow and change in just a week. I think it shows that everyday we can open our eyes to things we didn’t realize about ourselves, and what we want.

Of course there was a romance conflict close to the end of the book. But, the author didn’t make it cheesy, and it was resolved very maturely. Personally, I didn’t find the characters to actually be immature at all, which I found refreshing in a young adult book.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book, and recommend it as a great summer read. The ending was nice, and I liked how we got an epilogue. I’m for sure interested in reading more by K.L. Walther in the near future.

In the comments, let me know one of your favorite summer romances. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified for more book reviews like this one.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summer Vibes // Book Tag

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
Summer is almost over! Although I am a June baby, summer is one of my least favorable seasons. However, before I say goodbye to summertime, I wanted to do a summer book tag. I found the ‘Summers Vibe’ tag on the blog ‘Confessions of a Serial Reader.’ It seemed like just the tag I was looking for, and the perfect bookish way to say farewell to summer.

Rules:
• Mention the creator and link back to the original post! (Deanna @ The Comfy Reader)
• Thank the blogger who tagged you
• Answer all the prompts below however you see fit
• Tag some friends!


Honestly, the first book to come to mind was ‘The Island’ by Natasha Preston. This book is a YA thriller about an amusement park and influencers on a remote island. Although it is a thriller, it does have tropical vibes.


Actually, I dnfed this book, but it’s ‘All I Want For Christmas’ by Maggie Knox. I wanted to like this book, so much, but I could not get into it. However, if you are a fan of musical competition shows, think American Idol and forced proximity romance then give it a read.


I’m going to go with ‘You Shouldn’t Have Come’ by Jeneva Rose, because this book is all about secrets. This is a decent adult thriller with an ending twist that I do not think most readers will see coming.


I think ‘The Summer of Broken Rules’ is a perfect beach read. The Martha’s Vineyard setting will put you in a summer mood. In addition, I loved the fact that the book was more than just a light fluffy romance.


So, I am going to say that smutty books have become guilty pleasures of mine. I guess the genre is technically called Erotic Romance, but I have been enjoying dabbling in it.


I saw someone else mentioning this book in their post, and I have to agree that the friend group in ‘One of Us Is Back’ by Karen McManus is amazing. Throughout the entire ‘One Of Us’ trilogy this group of unlikely friends have become each others ride-or-die, which I love. It is almost as if this thriller series had an underlying found family element.
Related Post: One Of Us Is Back // Book Review


I loved the adventure aspect of the ‘Daughter of the Pirate King’ by Tricia Levenseller. As you can tell from the title, this is a pirate book, and I loved very second of it. There is a badass female main character, romance, and dangerous quest. It does not get any better than that!


I wanted to like Holly Jackson’s ‘Five Survive‘ considering how I feel about ‘As Good As Dead.’ Unfortunately, for me, it was my biggest reading disappointment of the year so far.
Related Post: Five Survive // Book Review


What else would I choose but a lighthearted contemporary? So, I’d say that ‘The Do-Over’ by Lynn Painter is definitely a fluffy YA romance. It is a Valentine’s Day read that has a ground-hogs day trope twist to it.
Related Post: The Do-Over // Book Review


There were probably way too many characters I could have gone with for this question, but I decided to go with Jade from ‘Lying In The Deep’ by Diana Urban. She was such an annoying main character and got on my nerves the entire time I read the book.

Now, it is time to tag some fellow book bloggers I’d like to see do this post. First, Dedra at ‘A Book Wanderer‘ and next Allison at ‘Read With Allison.’ Both blogs are amazing, and I recommend visiting them if you want more book content. Also, follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, so you never miss a post. You can also become a member of my ‘The Reading Rabbits‘ book club on the Novellic app. And, as always, do not forget to follow the blog because it really does make my day.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

5 Summertime Films // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Fall is just around the corner, which means that it’s your last chance to watch some summer movies. Although I’m much more of an autumn and winter girl myself, I thought I’d share some summer films you should check out before the season changes!

There’s Someone Inside Your House (Netflix)
“The graduating class at Osborne High is being targeted by a masked assailant, intent on exposing the darkest secret of each victim, and only a group of misfit outsiders can stop the killings.”

This is a teen thriller based on the Stephanie Perkins book of the same name. I personally wasn’t a fan of the book (read my review) but I think the film seems like it would be a good summer slasher flick.

Love and Gelato (Netflix)
“Lina makes a promise to her sick mother that she’ll spend the summer before college in Rome, where she falls for the city, the people – and the “gelato”.”

Yep, another book-to-movie adaptation, courtesy of Netflix. I read this book as well (see my review), but the movie looks quite different than the book. However, if you separate the two from each other, then you’ll get a fun summertime teen movie.

Moonshot (HBO Max)
“This romantic comedy with a twist follows two college students as they join forces in order to be reunited with their significant others, embarking on a lively journey that takes them wildly off course.”

This is a cute movie that is all about finding love in space. The film is one of those feel good teen flicks that is perfect for a summer date night. Or, just a good watch for a summer night in.

Teen Beach Movie (Disney+)
“Two surfing lovers, whose doomed relationship is nearing to a close, find themselves swept into a dimension-traversing wave that sends them into a beach movie musical in the 60’s.”

If you like summer and musicals, then this one is for you. It’s Pleasantville meets Grease, but more kid friendly. This film gives off all those summer vibes that you might be looking for, before the season ends.

Secret Headquarters (Paramount+)
“While hanging out after school, Charlie and his friends discover the headquarters of the world’s most powerful superhero hidden beneath his home. When villains attack, they must team up to defend the headquarters and save the world.”

This film is essentially a new twist on the Spy Kids movie. There’s action, comedy, and a superhero element. Honestly, it’s a great pick for a summertime family movie night.

Those are my picks for five awesome movie to watch before the summer ends. I can’t wait to watch them myself! Before you go, give this post a like, and follow my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summer Mixtape 2022 // Readathon Wrap Up

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
I wanted to do a Mixtapeathon wrap-up, and share what I read. If you haven’t seen my August TBR, which was essentially my Summer Mixtape TBR, then let me give you a brief rundown. This is a summer readathon created by some lovely Booktubers. The readathon ran from August 1st – 14th, and there were 5 main reading prompts. I am happy to say that I completed all the prompts! However, once the readathon started, I decided to change my TBR up a bit.

Here Comes the Sun – read a book with nature on the cover

Originally, I was going to read ‘Lost in the Never Woods‘ by Aiden Thomas, but I realized about 12% into the book that I might just not be a fan of Peter Pan retellings. So, I decided to opt for a failsafe book, which was ‘Maybe This Time‘ by Kasie West.

“Beloved author Kasie West brings her signature witty banter and rom-com fun to a bold, fresh format. Think Four Weddings and a Funeral for YA.”

Blame It On The Weatherman – read an unseasonal read

My initial pick for this prompt was ‘The Witchery‘ by S. Isabelle, but I wasn’t feeling the audiobook. So, I was very lucky that my hold for ‘Long Live The Pumpkin Queen‘ by Shea Ernshaw came in on Libby. This book took me a while, but was one of my most anticipated books of the year.

“Hear Sally’s story in this young adult sequel to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas written by New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw.”

Cake By The Ocean – read a book involving food/read a spicy book

Once again, instead of going with my first book choice, ‘With the Fire on High‘ by Elizabeth Acevedo, I read ‘A Taste for Love‘ by Jennifer Yen. Yes, I went with a food related book, because spicy books aren’t really my thing.

“For fans of Jenny Han, Jane Austen, and The Great British Baking Show, A Taste for Love is a delicious rom-com about first love, familial expectations, and making the perfect bao.”

We’re Going To Ibiza – read a book set in another country

I did end up reading ‘Hot British Boyfriend‘ by Kristy Boyce, and you are certainly going to want to read my review of this book. Let’s just say I have a lot of things to say about it.

“This enchanting debut teen romance novel, which follows one girl across the Atlantic in a quest to find adventure, love (preferably with a guy with a cute accent), and maybe even herself, is perfect for fans of Kasie West and Stephanie Perkins.”

Mixtape – pick a book based on your favourite summer bop/free choice

Finally, I read ‘The Girl From The Sea‘ by Molly Ostertag, which was a very short read. When it comes to readathons, shorter books are the way to go, so I am glad I had this on my TBR.

“In what will prove to be the most important summer of her life so far, Anna learns about love, herself, and the magic that an ordinary summer can bring.”

In total, I read 1554 pages and completed all the prompts! I didn’t complete any of the non-reading prompts, but that is okay by me. I am very proud with the outcome of the readathon, and there will even be an Autumn Mixtape readathon. Please follow the blog, so that you can get notified when my reviews for each of these books go up.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // August 2022 (ft. Summer Mix-Tape Readathon)

- Bunny 8 Comments

Hi Friends,
It is TBR time once again! Unfortunately, my reading hasn’t been the best this month so I am hoping that August might reignite my passion for reading. I will be doing the Summer Mix-Tape readathon that is taking place from 1st – 14th August. If you want to find out more about the readathon and all the co-hosts, you can watch Lianne (literarydiversions) announcement video.

Before I get into my TBR for the readathon, I want to mention my ‘The Reading Rabbits’ book club pick for August. I have a book club that you can join through the Novellic app. This month we will be reading ‘Hidden Pictures’ by Jason Rekulak, which is slightly out of my comfort zone, since it is an adult thriller. However, I have heard some pretty good things about this book, and it sounds intriguing.

“From Jason Rekulak, Edgar-nominated author of The Impossible Fortress, comes a wildly inventive spin on the classic horror story in Hidden Pictures, a supernatural thriller about a woman working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets.”

Now on to the readathon prompts!
Here Comes the Sun – read a book with nature on the cover

I decided to go with ‘Lost in the Never Woods’ by Aiden Thomas, because it does have some trees on the cover. That counts as nature, right? This is a middle grade ‘Peter Pan’ retelling, which hasn’t been talked about a lot, so I am curious to see if it is any good.

“When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers. It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light.”

Blame It On The Weatherman – read an unseasonal read
I instantly knew that I was going to go for a spooky read when I saw this prompt, and I recently borrowed ‘The Witchery’ by S. Isabelle on Libby. I know nothing about this book, except that it is a YA witchy story, which is all I need to know about it.

“A bewitching debut by S. Isabelle, perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater, Zoraida Córdova, and Leigh Bardugo! THE HAUNTING SEASON IS HERE AND THE WOLVES ARE AWAKE.”

Cake By The Ocean – read a book involving food/read a spicy book

I have been wanting to read Elizabeth Acevedo’s book ‘With the Fire on High’ for the longest time. Food is a big focus in the book making it the perfect choice for this prompt. Let’s hope I actually end up reading it this month.

“From the New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award-winning title The Poet X comes a dazzling novel in prose about a girl with talent, pride, and a drive to feed the soul that keeps her fire burning bright.”

We’re Going To Ibiza – read a book set in another country

Recently, I learned about ‘Hot British Boyfriend’ by Kristy Boyce, and it sounds like a fun YA contemporary. Since August is the last official month of summer, not that the weather will reflect that, I want to read a few more lighthearted YA contemporary reads.

“Ellie embarks on a whirlwind romance, one that takes her on adventures to some of England’s most beautiful places, she still needs to figure out if this is actually the answer to all her problems…and whether the perfect boyfriend is actually the perfect boy for her.”

Mixtape – pick a book based on your favourite summer bop/free choice

First off, my husband seriously hates the phase bop and tells me all the time that I am never going to make bop happen. Anyways, a song that always comes to mind when I think of the summer is ‘Island in the Sun’ by Weezer. Mainly because it was featured in ‘Aquamarine’, one of my favorite summer movies. I decided that a book set on the beach or an island at summer would work perfectly for this prompt. So, I am going with ‘The Girl From The Sea’ by Molly Ostertag, since it is set on a small island.

“In what will prove to be the most important summer of her life so far, Anna learns about love, herself, and the magic that an ordinary summer can bring.”

Those are all the books that I have set to read in August. For the rest of the month I will just be mood reading, which is always fun. In the comments leave me some book recommendations. And, hit that follow button so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,

Bunny

Summertime Madness // Book Tag

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
I am back with another book tag! This time I am doing the ‘Summertime Madness Book TAG’ which was created by JakeEatsLife (formerly JakeEatsBooks) on YouTube.

Show a book with a summery cover! i.e. Sun, Beach etc.
I haven’t read this book, but I am hoping to read it before summer ends. The plot gives me hope that it will be a fun summer contemporary with a magical twist. I have high hopes for this book, since I really enjoyed the authors YA thriller’Horrid‘.

Pick one fictional place that would be the perfect destination for your Summer. Vacation!
I wasn’t the biggest fan of this trilogy, but the world was very cool. Yet, I am not sure it counts as a fictional world, since it is simple a dystopian version of the world we live in today. Still the sci-fi elements add to society seems awesome.

You’re about to go on a flight to your Summer Vacation. But you want to read a book that lasts for the whole flight so what novel do you choose?
YA thrillers are always fun and fast reads. This is one that has been on my TBR for quite some time, and it has great reviews. It is 330 pages, which makes me think it is a good flight pick.

You have a case of Summertime Sadness–what happy book do you pick up to shine a smile on your face?
I have probably mentioned this book a ton, but I predict it will be a 5 star read. The premise sound so heartwarming, and YA contemporaries usually make me smile.

 

You’re sitting at the beach all alone…which fictional character would be your beach babe?
Does beach babe mean guy or girl? Well, I am going to say guy but just platonic guy friend. For me, I will go with Cooper from Kasie West’s
‘Love, Life and The List”. He was a good friend to Abby, and seemed like a fun person to hang out with. However, he’s a teenager, so us hanging out might be a bit weird.

To match your ice cream you want an icy cool sidekick! Which fictional sidekick do you pick?
Ravi Singh from the ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ books is an amazing sidekick. He is supportive and funny. And, he’s down to help solve mysteries, which I can get behind.

 

Share the Summertime Happiness! Who do you TAG?
I am going to tag some of my favorite book bloggers! I would love to see Ceri from ‘Read And Review It‘ do this tag, and Mackenzie over at ‘Lit Lemon Books‘.

If you want to leave your answers to the questions in the comments please do so. I love seeing the books that readers associate with each season in this case summer. Remember not to leave before hitting that follow button, because you won’t want to miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Summer Bucket List // Book Tag

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
I wanted to do a bookish summer tag post, and after doing a little research, I decided that the “The Summer Bucket List” book tag would be the perfect choice.


1) Hit the Beach: a book set by the water?
I don’t believe I have read many books that take place by the water. The only one that comes to mind is “Listen To Your Heart” by Kasie West. I could be completely wrong about this taking place near water, but I am going to go with it anyways. This is a YA contemporary that has elements of romance, podcasting, and a love triangle of sorts. I usually enjoy Kasie West books, and this one was no exception.


2) Watch Fireworks: a book with a fiery romance?
I don’t know if this counts as a fiery romance, but recently I read “Cool For The Summer” by Dahlia Adlier. The characters started as friends and an unexpected romance grew from there. I think the romance was pretty intense. Some might even call it fiery.


3) Go for a Road Trip: a book that involves a journey?
I haven’t read a lot of books that involve a journey, yet I read “Time Of Our Lives” by Emily Webberly and Austin Siegemund​-Broka. It follows two high school seniors that cross-paths during their college tour road trips. I have a review on the book that you can read if you’d like.


4) Camp Under the Stars: a book that left you starstruck?
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee! This is a YA contemporary with dystopian and sci-fi elements. The whole plot, including the twist at the end, left me 100% star-struck. This is another book that I have reviewed.


5) Marathon some Movies: a book you couldn’t put down?
This is an easy pick for me, If I’m Being Honest by Emily Webberly and Austin Siegemund​-Broka. I was going to DNF it, but I am very happy I didn’t. After the fifth chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I finished it in two days, which is unusual for me.


6) Go Out for Ice Cream: a book with a sweet romance?
I chose “Simon vs the Homosapien Agenda” by Becky Albertalli. Sure, most of the romance took place through emails and the two didn’t know each others identities. But I loved how sweet and real their relationship was from the start. Simon and Blue fell in love in such an innocent and adorable way that you cannot help but love their relationship.


7) Picnic in the Park: a book that was a breath of fresh air?
This is an odd pick, but still, I have my reasons for choosing it. The book id “It’s Kind Of A Funny Story” by Ned Vizzini. The book deals with anxiety and mental health in a way that I haven’t seen before. I don’t know if I can classify it as YA, though it isn’t Adult, either. The story follows a teenage boy as he admits himself into the hospital psych ward. It talks about serious topics that a lot of books shy away of, which was very refreshing.


8) Go for a Hike: a character who conquered an obstacle?
How can I not go with Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games” by Susan Collins. She, willing, volunteered to enter a game of life and death. Although she was fighting for her life instead of being ruthless, she was smart. She faced many challenges, all for the ones she loved. Also, she is badass.


9) Grill some BBQ: a book featuring delicious food?
Again, I haven’t read many books about food. But I am going with “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han. The main Character, Lara-Jean Song-Covey, loves to bake. She makes tons of delicious sweets throughout the trilogy.


10) Watch the Sunrise: a book that inspired you?
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott! The relationship between the March sisters was inspiring. They supported each other always, even though they all chose different paths for their lives. It shows that not everyone has the same dreams and that is okay. It proves that there are more important things in life than money mainly family and love.

Those were all the questions in this bookish tag. I hope that you all will do the tag as well. Please check out the creator of the tag Read by Tiffany’s original post. Don’t forget to support my blog by liking and sharing this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny