The Cozy Fall // Book Tag

Hi Friends,
I knew that I had to do a fall book tag to celebrate the change in seasons. Autumn is one of my favorite times of year for many reasons.The cooler weather, movies and food. This tag was originally created by The Book Belle on Youtube and combines fall and books.

1) What book always reminds you of fall/autumn?
For years, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott has made me think of fall. The story takes place throughout all the seasons. But I will forever think of this story as a great fall read.

2) What is your favorite autumnal book cover?
The Fall Changes by Marie McGrath has a simple cover that sets the tone for a cozy fall contemporary. Truth be told, I haven’t read the book, but it is on my never-ending tbr.

3) What is your favorite autumnal drink to read with?
I am a sucker for fall Starbucks drinks. Their Salted Carmel Mocha is one of my favorite autumn drinks. Additionally, I fancy a hot cup of coffee with cinnamon creamer.

4) Do you prefer to read late at night or early in the morning?
Is anytime an acceptable answer to this question? I read mostly throughout the afternoon. Sometimes I will read during breakfast, or stay up late to finish a book. I am pretty much always reading.

5) Halloween is coming! What is your favorite spooky read?
I haven’t read many thrillers or horror books. My answer is probably pretty lame, but it is Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It is a spooky children’s book, which isn’t a huge genre.

6) What is the ultimate comfort read for you?
I have to go with one of my favorite series, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. The book starts in fall as school is starting back up. There is baking, family relationships and fake dating. I need to do a reread of this series, because it is one of my all-time favorite contemporaries.

7) What is your favorite autumnal reading snack?
I would say slice of gingerbread, since my mom only makes it in the fall. Which is a real shame because homemade gingerbread with apple butter is so yummy.

8) What is your favorite autumnal candle to burn whilst reading?
Leaves from Bath and Body Works is the perfect fall candle. The scent notes are red apples, golden nectar and cloves. It smells like hot apple cider on a cozy fall day.

9) When you’re not reading, what is your favorite autumnal activity?
Watching fall movies! Some of my favorite autumn films include Stepmom, Little Women, Matilda and Casper.

10) What is on your autumn/fall reading list?
How long do you have? Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White are at the top of the list.
Both are books that have been on my ‘to be read’ list for an embracing long time.

This was such a fun bookish tag. I tag everyone, and looking forward to seeing your answers. Before you leave like and share the post. Don’t forget to give my bookish blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Undead Girl Gang // Book Review

Title: Undead Girl Gang
Author: Lily Anderson
Published: 2018
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
Rating:Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder

Synopsis
Meet teenage Wiccan Mila Flores, who truly could not care less what you think about her Doc Martens, her attitude, or her weight because she knows that, no matter what, her BFF Riley is right by her side. So when Riley and Fairmont Academy mean girls June Phelan-Park and Dayton Nesseth die under suspicious circumstances, Mila refuses to believe everyone’s explanation that her BFF was involved in a suicide pact. Instead, armed with a tube of lip gloss and an ancient grimoire, Mila does the unthinkable to uncover the truth: she brings the girls back to life.
Credit: Google Books


From what I’ve seen and heard, this book isn’t very liked. However, I found it to be a funny and thrilling. Their were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, but loved. At first, I thought this would be fun, witchy contemporary, but it surprisingly has a lot of thriller aspects.

To be honest, the writing isn’t the best, so that might turn some readers off. Yet, I found that the writing fit the story perfectly. The entire book felt like an old-school teen movie. It was lighthearted, but had spooky elements too. I noticed that there were a lot of pop-culture references throughout the book.

These days a lot of contemporary seem to be full of pop-culture references. Perhaps authors believe that they’ll relate more to the younger generation if they talk about ‘Instagram’ and ‘HP’ in their stories. I personally don’t care when authors do this, but I know some readers find it annoying. I will say that those references worked well in this case, since the story was very campy.

“You wouldn’t understand. It’s a dead girl thing.”

The best part of the book was the twist at the end. Now, I am not the best at solving mysteries. So I found the reveal at the end to be shocking. However, I can see how some could find it underwhelming. Looking back, there were a lot of red flags when it came to the killer that I seemed to have overlooked.

Personally, my favorite thing about the book was the dialog. For a spooky YA story, I found it to be pretty funny. The author did an amazing job mixing a mystery-thriller with a cheerful contemporary. I probably wouldn’t rereead the book, since I already know the big twist at the end. Still, I will recommend it to others looking for a more tame YA thriller.

Let me know your thoughts on the book in the comments. And, like, share and follow the blog. Please and thank you!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Autumn Book Recommendations

Hi Friends,
Below is a list of books that I would love to pick up this fall. These books strike me as autumn reads, so I thought now would be the perfect time to share them with you guys. Hopefully this will help anyone looking for some cozy season book recommendations. Side note, I don’t care whether a book is popular, but it is fun to see what all the hype is about.

1) These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling 
From the title, you can tell this is a YA book about witches. It is set in Salem and has LGBT representation. I haven’t read many witchy stories, but this one sounds like so much fun. I think it is the first book in a duology, so I’m interested to see if I’m going to want to continue with the series.

2) Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
This is a mystery novel set at a boarding school. I don’t know about you, but I love a good private school or boarding school book. The book follows a teenage girl, Stevie, who is really into true crime. She starts attending, Ellingham Academy, where the founder of the school’s spouse and daughter went missing years ago. She decides to put her detective skills to work and solve a century old cold case. There are four other books in the series, and I have heard nothing but good things about them.

3) A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Surprise, surprise another series. To be honest I don’t know much about this book. Except that its a YA thriller. I hear that it’s perfect for thriller/horror newbies like myself. I have been recommended this books countless times, and it gives me Halloween vibes. All I know about the plot is that it is set in a small town with lots of secrets.

4) The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
This is another book that I don’t know much about. In my opinion, it isn’t really talked about in the book community. It is YA thriller about three cousins that go to visit their grandmother over the summer. I believe she has disinherited each of their parents, so they are trying to get back into her good graces. Obviously it is going to be filled with twist and turns. I know some people aren’t a fan of Karen M. McManus, but I enjoy her writing style.

5) The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
For once I have an adult novel on a tbr. This is an adult horror book that has caught my attention. If you seen any horror movie you know that there is always one heroine left standing. Think Sidney Prescott in Scream. This book follows the girls, who survived. I could be wrong, but I believe somebody has comeback to try and kill these ‘Final Girls.’ It sounds so intense and interesting. I cannot wait to read this during the spooky season.

6) House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
From what I’ve been told, this is a horror ’12 Dancing Princess’ retelling. I don’t know anything about the original story, so I am going into this with an open mind. It follows a young girl that starts becoming suspicious when her sisters start getting murdered. I hear that it isn’t too scary, but such a good read.

I cannot wait to read all of these books in the near future. Please let me know if you have read any of these books, or if you plan on picking them up.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

 

Disney Princess // Book Tag

Hi Friends,
A while ago, I did a post recommending books based on three Disney Princesses. Well, I came across the ‘Disney Princess Book Tag’. It seemed appropriate that I to do it, since you already know my love for all things Disney. The tag was created by Of Stacks and Cups.

1) Snow White – Favorite Classic?

Normally I would choose ‘A Christmas Carol’, since it is my all-time favorite book. But thought I’d step out of my comfort zone. I excepted myself to pick ‘Little Women’, which I did enjoy. Yet, the classic that sticks out in my mind is ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J. D. Salinger. I don’t hear many people talk about, or like this book. I might be an oddball, but it is a pretty good classic in my opinion.

2) Cinderella – A Book you kept reading past bedtime?

A book has to be pretty amazing to make me stay up late. Since I can rarely make it passed 10pm before passing out. One book I know I couldn’t put down was ‘P.S. I Still Love You’ by Jenny Han. This is the second book in the ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ trilogy, and my favorite of the three book. I was up pretty late to finishing this book.

3) Aurora – Favorite Classic Romance?

Can I say the family romance (love) in ‘A Christmas Carol?’ No, okay bye.

4) Ariel – A book about making sacrifices & not giving upon your dreams?

‘My Sister’s Keeper’ by Jodi Picoult is all about these two things. First off, I want to say that I don’t remember a lot of this book, but I apparently gave it three stars. However, I do remember the basics of the story. This book is all about sacrifices and getting the power to make your dreams come true. Things don’t turnout perfect at the end of this book, but it is a pretty powerful story. I would say it is more about sacrifices, but there is much more to the story.

5) Belle – A book with a smart, independent main character in it?

‘The Hate You Give’ by Angie Thomas! Starr grew into the strong and intelligent young women. She wasn’t afraid to fight for what was right, and call-out her so-called friends for their racist behaviors.

6) Jasmine – A book with a character who has challenged social norms of his or her world?

Audrey Rose in the ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ series. She has a passion for forensic medicine, and doesn’t care if society tells up it isn’t proper work for a girl. Unlike other girls, she gets a thrill from working on corpses in her uncle’s laboratory. She doesn’t care about people’s opinions and knows what she wants out of life.

7) Pocahontas – A book with an ending that was a roller coaster of emotions?

I have to go with ‘The Project’ by Courtney Summers (review). This book is a cult story that is full of twists and turns. It had my emotions all over the place for days.

8) Mulan – A book with a kick butt female character?

Instead of going with the obvious choice (Katniss Everdeen). My pick is a little different. There’s a character at the end of ‘There’s Someone Inside Your House’ by Stephanie Perkins that was totally bad-ass. The killer went after her, but she fought like hell not to die.

9) Rapunzel – A book that features an artist?

I don’t believe I have read any books featuring an artist except for ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ series. Lena, who was my favorite character, was an aspiring artist. She was sweet and shy, and expressed herself through her art work.

10) Merida – A book with a mother daughter relationship?

‘The Hazel Wood’ by Melissa Albert. Now the mother and daughter relationship isn’t a big feature in this book, but I found it very interesting. The twist about their relationship was unexpected.

11) Anna & Elsa – A book that has a great relationship between siblings?

I am going to go with ‘Conceal, Don’t Feel’ by Jen Calonita, which is a Frozen retelling. The book gives readers a look at “what if” Anna and Elsa never met. I thought the sibling relationship was special, because even though they didn’t know each other, they still had a bond. They both went out of their way to find one another. If that doesn’t portray the love of siblings, I don’t know what does.

12) Tiana – A book or the character puts her dreams above a romance?

What does it say about me that I don’t have an answer for this question. I typically read YA contemporaries, which are usually love stories. If you have a good answer to this question leave it below so that I can read it.

I hope that you enjoyed this post, and I tag all of you to do this tag. Please share and like this post with your bookish friends. You can follow the blog via email if you would like to get notified when I post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Most Anticipated Book Releases // End Of The Year

Hi Friends,
The end of the year is creeping up fast, which is insane. Lately, I have been looking at the fall and winter book releases. In this post, I am going to be sharing my most anticipated releases for the last half of 2021.

September

What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell (September 7th)

Disney retellings always peak my interest. This one is about Rapunzel, which is awesome since Tangled is one of my favorite Disney princess movies.

As If on Cue by Marisa Kanter (September 21st)

YA enemies-to-lovers are some of the best books, so I hope this one doesn’t disappoint. Sadly, I haven’t had the best lucky with hate-to-love romances this year. However, I am not going to let that effect my opinion of this book.

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber (September 28th)

This is the first book in a new fairy tale series by Garber. The book is described as a whimsical romance that shows the length people will go to for happily ever after. This book has been getting a lot of buzz in the book world, and for good reason. It sounds amazing!

October


Squad by Lisa Sterle, Maggie Tokuda-Hall (October 5th)

This book is marketed as a combination of Buffy, Mean Girls, Teen Wolf, and every other teen drama. In the book, Becca learns that her new friends are a group of werewolves. Now, if I were her I’d be freaking out.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox (October 5th)

I am obsessed with life swap stories. Whether the look-a-likes know each other or not. I cannot resist a good switch story. This one is about two sisters that trade places a few weeks before Christmas. It is going to be a messy romance, and I am here for it.

So, This Is Christmas by Tracy Andreen (October 5th)

This is a YA holiday book about a sixteen-year-old girl that returns home to her small town in Oklahoma. But, this Christmas everything seems to be different. Being a Christmas lover from Oklahoma, I cannot wait for this book.

November

Gilded by Marissa Meyer (November 2nd)
Another fairytale retelling that sounds incredible. This one is a reimaging of the Rumpelstiltskin story we have all come to know. I don’t know it is my love for the series ‘Once Upon A Time’, but Rumpelstiltskin is a character that has always intrigued me.

You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao (November 2nd)

Should I just start crying now? I know this book is going to pull at my heartstrings. When a teenage girl’s boyfriend unexpectedly dies she’s heartbroken. But, she’s shocked when she calls his voicemail and he picks up. I’m not sure where the plots going to go, but I know it will be sad read.

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus (November 30th)

All I know is that this is a thriller inspired by ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.’ But I really don’t need to know anything else. One because I have been loving YA thrillers lately. Secondly, Karen M. McManus is one of my new favorite authors.

December

If This Gets Out by Cale Dietrich, Sophie Gonzales (December 7th)

I think this book is going to be swoon-worthy. It is a queer YA romance about to band member, Ruben and Zach, that start a romance. It sounds like there might be a lot of drama, but a cute relationship as well.

The Big Reveal by Jen Larsen (December 7th)

A young adult novel about a girl that gets accepted into her dream dance academy. In order to raise money to attend the school, she puts on an invite-only burlesque show. The book touches on topics such slut-and body-shaming.This is for sure going to be a lighthearted, but powerful contemporary.

How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins (December 21st)

I am counting down the days to the release of this YA contemporary. The story follows a pessimistic girl with a hard time believing in true love. Her hopeless romantic best friend enlist her help, so he doesn’t need up getting heartbroken for millionth time. But, of course a romance is bound to develop, and it will be delightful.

Those are the books releases at the top of my list for the last half of the year. Are any of these books on your tbr? What books are you looking forward to being released? Before you go, like and share this post. And, follow the blog to get notified about more bookish posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

 

My Unfinished Series

Hi Friends,
Let’s talk about all the book series I need to finish, and a few I might not. I am horrible at starting a series and never finishing it. I prefer standalone books, yet I can’t resist a good series.



This is a magical realism contemporary trilogy following two sisters. I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this series, since this isn’t my go-to genre. Nevertheless, the story and characters captivated me. I would like to reread the first book, Caraval, before continuing on with the series. All the books have been released, so I’ll probably binge-read them all sometimes next year.


This is a set of companion novels marketed as a series. The first book is ‘My Lady Jane’, which is a historical reimagining of Lady Jane Grey. The next book follows Jane Eyre, and the last Calamity Jane. I have only read the first book, but would like to finish the series fairly soon. This author trio does have a new book out about Mary, Queen of Scots, which I’d also like to eventually read.


Truth be told, I started the series because of its stunning cover. Yep, it was a cover buy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed by the story. The overall plot was interesting enough, but I found the book slow and boring at times. Also, the love story was a snooze. And there are 10 books in the series? Seriously? What is this ‘The Immortal Instruments’? Do I really care enough about these  characters to read nine more books? Probably not.


Sadly, another likely DNF series. If you remember the old days of Booktube and book blogging, then you have probably heard about these books. A young adult dystopian trilogy with a bachelor-type plot, sounds cool, right? Wrong. Maybe I’m strange, because I didn’t love the first book. I didn’t exactly hate it, but, eh. Also, I can’t seem to bring myself to finish the series. I fear that reading it will put me into a reading slump. On top of everything, the author released a companion duology that wasn’t well received. I’m just not sure I want to force myself to read something I have no interest in.


This series is pretty special to me. I remember getting the entire trilogy for my 15th birthday. But for some reason, I’ve never picked up the last book in the series. I remember enough of the first and second books to not have reread of them, at least. So, I just need to bite the bullet and pick up the final book. Plus, I’d like to finish the series so I can watch the HBO series adaption that I’ve heard about.


I am dying to read the next book in this YA sci-fi, dystopian trilogy. The books follow multiple characters perspectives, and the ending of the first book took me completely by surprise. I am curious to see where the author takes the story. In case you’re interested, I have a review for the first book in this trilogy, if you’d like to know my more in-depth thoughts on it.


This series gives me Sherlock Holmes energy and I am here for it. The characters, forensics aspect and slow burn romance is magnificent. I have been putting off these books, because they take me a while to read. They are mainly plot-driven and are somewhat drawn out. Still, the writing and stories are fantastic.


I am probably one of the only people in the world that hasn’t read this series in its entirety. To my surprise, I enjoyed ‘The Hunger Games’ a lot. Tried picking up ‘Catching Fire’ soon after, but wasn’t in the mood for it. But I would like to finish the series off, since I have seen mostly all the film adaptations. Can one truly be a book lover if they’ve only seen the movie, and not the book its based on. I think not!


This is a cheesy trilogy that boarders on middle grade, and follows a group of young Robin Hood-esque thieves. Sure, it isn’t a great work of fiction, and it’s a bit too much like a Nickelodeon series, but it’s a fun and easy read. Finishing this series isn’t top priority, but I do plan on continuing with it. If anything, they’ll be entertaining.


This series got me hooked on audiobooks! The books are read by Sarah Drew (April on Grey’s Anatomy), which made for a great reading experience. The story takes place in a dystopian world where love is seen as a disease. I was riding high on this book after I read it back in 2013, but my taste in books has changed and the story doesn’t interest too much anymore. Maybe too much time has past for me to continue with the series. I’m not writing it off forever, but I’m also not 100% sure I’ll ever finish the series.

I still have to finish a certain series that ‘Shall Not Be Named’, but I refuse to talk about those books on my blog. Let me know in the comments if any of these are one of your favorite series. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog, and like this post.

Until The Next Chapter,

Bunny

One Of Us Is Lying // Book Review

Title: One Of Us Is Lying
Author: Karen M. McManus
Published: 2017
Genre: Young Adult/Thriller



One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.
Source: Goodreads


I went into this book with low expectations, considering that the reviews aren’t the best. The book started off fairly slow, but from there, it got right into the main plot. Unlike others, I was a fan of the writing style. The characters were the typical ‘Breakfast Club’ stereotypes. However, you could see growth and development throughout the story. The author took a lot of time on their personalities and lives. They all had secrets of their own, which I will admit were pretty mediocre. Although, I was spoiled for one of the secrets, but I probably would have figured it out before it’s reveal.

Now, if you’re looking for a shocking mystery thriller, then this book probably isn’t for you. It seemed like a Lifetime original movie that was trying to be “Pretty Little Liars”. Personally, I enjoy Lifetime movies. But I can see readers being split on how the book handles certain topics, especially mental health. I struggle with mental illness myself and thought the representation was a little far fetched. Still it was an interesting take on the topic.

“Things’ll get worse before they get better.”

Most people probably won’t find the twist at the end particularly surprising. Some might even call it predictable. Maybe I am just clueless, because I thought the ending was pretty clever on the author’s part. I haven’t read too many mystery thrillers at this point in my life, so I’m judging this from a newbies perspective. I would be interested to see how I feel about the book in a few years, when I have more mystery thriller reads under my belt.

After reading the book I am excited to read Karen M. McManus other works. She could become a new favorite author of mine. This was a shorter review, but sometimes I don’t have much to say about the book. One last point, try going into it the story with an open mind. Don’t let reviews, good or bad, sway you one way or another. There are trigger warnings for this book, but unfortunately knowing them will spoil the book. If that doesn’t bother you visit Book Trigger Warning to view them all.

If you have read the book, leave me your thoughts in the comments. Please don’t leave any spoiler for the for others that haven’t read it yet. Don’t forget to like and share this post. Also, go ahead and subscribe to the blog to get notifications about new content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Book Haul // August 2021

Hi Friends,
In August, I went a little book buying crazy, which is pretty rare. Typically I wait to receive books as gifts and hardly buy any throughout the year. The only expectation is secondhand and discounted books. Also, I am big about not buying books I haven’t read. Nevertheless, the book lover inside me couldn’t contain themself this month. To be honest, I’m not mad about it.

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
This book is giving me all those fall vibes. It has to do with witches, obviously, and a girl that has element magic. Basically, she has different powers in each season (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). I haven’t seen anyone talk about it, so I am going into it pretty blind. It seems to be a underrated 2021 release.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
The first book in a YA mystery series about a boarding school, a true crime lover and an unsolved mystery. If you follow the book community than you have probably heard nothing but good things about this series. Also, who doesn’t love a good private school book. I have been on a mystery and thriller kick lately, so this one was an automatic buy.

Finale by Stephanie Garber
This is the last book in the Caraval trilogy. The first and second books were given to me as gifts a couple of years. I was very excited to see a hardback copy for under $10, so now my collection is complete.

Lucky in Love by Kase West
I believe I’ve shared before that I am a major Kasie West fan. I don’t have any of her books, so I was happy to get one at an affordable price. This is one of her releases that I have yet to read. But I did read ‘Windfall’ by Jennifer E. Smith, which has a similar plot. I didn’t care for that book, still I am hoping Kasie West doesn’t disappoint me.

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell
The Twisted Tale books always rope me in, which I’m not sure is a good thing. I have read Conceal, Don’t Feel and Unbirthday, and have reviews for both of them. From the title, you can probably suspect this is an Aladdin retelling. The book tales the story if Aladdin had never found the lamp. It seem like very interesting plot twist that I am looking forward in reading.

Blackout by Various Authors
I didn’t know anything about this book before buying it. But I noticed that Angie Thomas was one of the authors, so I knew it would be a awesome read. After reading the synopsis, I learned that the book is a collection of short contemporary stories that follow black teens. I am all about reading more diverse books, and YA contemporaries steal my heart. My opinion on short story collections vary , but I haven’t written them off yet.

The Girl in the Headlines by Hannah Jayne
This is young adult thriller that I have heard nothing about. It is a Lizzie Burden type story with a interesting twist. Our main character has a seemingly perfect life. But her world comes crashing down when she wakes up on the day after her eighteen birthday with no memory of what happened the night before. She learns that her parents have been brutally murdered and she’s the prime suspect. If that synopsis doesn’t intrigue then you are going to be missing out.

All the Pretty Things by Emily Arsenault
I’m not sure if this will turn out to be psychological thriller, mystery or horror. The plot follows a teenager girl, who’s best friend ends up in a psych hospital after finding a dead body. The murder has been caught, but the main character isn’t convinced they committed the crime. I perdict it to be a mystery with a lot of suspense.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
This is a young adult mystery thriller series that has been recommended to me countless times. I hear that it is a great for readers new to the thriller genre. It seems to have great a rating, so I am curious to see my thoughts on it.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
Yep another Kasie West book purchases. However, I have read this one and adored it. It is probably one of my favorite book from her. It is a young adult enemies-to-lovers story, which is one of my favorite tropes.

There you have my smallish book haul. I am most likely going to go on a short book buying ban. I can’t remember the books on my wishlist, and with the holidays approaching I would hate to buy a book that I might be gifted. Let me know in the comments any books you’ve recently purchased. Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Sunkissed // Book Review

Title: Sunkissed
Author: Kasie West
Published: 2021
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary



Fan favorite Kasie West is back with another unforgettable summer romance that reminds us falling in love is full of wonder, heartache, and—most of all—surprises.
Source: Goodreads


Reading six of Kasie West books has made her one of my favorite authors. I love her writing style and lighthearted young adult romances. When I heard she was releasing a summertime contemporary this year I 100% thought it would be a 5 star read. However, this book frustrated me to no end. I am going to try not to make this a rant review, but it might end up that way. Sorry.

The book is set at a summer resort where there is no cell service or internet. Are main character, Avery, and her family are staying there for a month. Right off the bat, the love interest left me with a sour taste in my mouth. He completely judged, Avery, and never truly apologized for it. Also, his whole broody musician personality was so annoying. I get it you’re dealing with a lot of shit, but so is everyone else.

“Sometimes staying in the box we’ve made for ourselves is so easy. It’s comfortable and familiar in there. And a lot of times, the people around us want us to stay in there, too, because that’s how they’ve always known us: in that box.”

Probably the biggest issue I had with the story was Avery’s personality. She was so passive it drove me insane. Honestly, she is exactly like my mom, who I love her to death, but found that I cannot read a character like her. She would let everyone walk all over her, and never stood up for herself. Her excuse was that she didn’t like conflict, but sometimes in life conflict is necessary. Another infuriating thing was how rude her so called “love interest” friends were towards her at the end of the book. At one point her “boyfriend” did stick up for her, but in my opinion it was too little, too late. I guess bros over hoes.

I did enjoy some of the resort worker we got to know, and that they welcomed Avery into their group with open arms. Avery’s sister Lauren was another one of my favorite characters. At first, Lauren comes off as self-absorbed but really she was just immature. By the end, you could tell she cared about her sister and wanted her to be happy. I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow and transform into a nice sisterly bond. Besides the sisterly aspect, I don’t feel like family was a major aspect of the story. It is more of a story about self-discovery and finding your passion.

I am not here to say that this book is trash. I am glad that I picked it up and it hasn’t turned me off from Kasie West. Because her writing style is still amazing. This book just didn’t give me the feels her past ones had. Hopefully her next release will redeem this book.

Let’s chat in the comments about this book. Also, like, share and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // September 2021

Hi Friends,
It is TBR time once again. I am shocked that we are already at September, where has the year gone. August was a great reading month for me. I ended up hitting my reading goal for the year! I have officially read 30 books in 2021. Yay, me! But that doesn’t me I plan on slowing down my reading anytime soon. I would still love to make progress on my owned tbr. I have tons of books that I haven’t read, which is overwhelming. Starting now I will be putting two books in my collection on my monthly tbr. Let’s start talking books!

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell
As part of the Twisted Tales series, the book follows the story of if Aladdin never found the lamp. This is a newer edition to my book collection, but I have been wanting to read one retellings this year. I have a feeling it is going to be a good fall read.

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
This is the second book from my shelves that I want to read in September. I am anticipation it to be a solid read, since I am all for an enemies-to-lovers story. And, lighthearted contemporary will never get old in my book. I haven’t read anything by this author, and I hear that I am missing out.

The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott
This is most likely a hard hitting contemporary that will give me all the feels. Rachael Lippincott is one of the writers of ‘Five Feet Apart’, which I read in August. If you want to know my thoughts on that book subscribe to the blog to get notified when my review for it goes live.

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
In August, I read ‘One Of Us Is Lying’, and knew that I had to read the companion novel soon after. This story follows the young sister of a character from the previous story. It has to do with a dangerous game of ‘Truth or Dare’. It sound creepy, but not to scary.

The Dazzling Heights (The Thousandth Floor #2) by Katharine McGee
I have been wanting to continue on with this series for a while, so why not now. After the events of book one, I am nervous and delighted to jump back into this story. I don’t know where the author plans to take the story, but I prefer to go into this book blind.

Tell me what’s on your September tbr in the comments below. Did you enjoy this post? Then why not like and share it. And, subscribe for all things bookish and more.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny