Young Adult

All I Want For Christmas // Book Review

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Synopsis
“This sweet and magical romance about a girl who has just one wish–someone to kiss under the mistletoe–is the perfect holiday escape!”

In the book, our main character, Bailey, is a teenager girl, that only wants one thing for Christmas – a boyfriend. She is consumed with having a Holiday romance, but I think she has watched far too many Hallmark movies. She did admit to loving those movies. Don’t get me wrong, as a teenager, I too was eagerly hoping for a boyfriend. But Bailey came off desperate and boy-crazy. Also, I want to make one thing clear. I too love Hallmark movies, despite how cheesy they tend to be.

Bailey tries hard to come off as a holiday addict, but not being in a relationship made her more of a ‘Holiday Grinch’. Listen, being single isn’t the end of the world. Bailey acted as though a holiday romance would magically make the season better. Truthfully, relationships are hard work, and during the holidays, you should focus on making memories with the ones you love.

In the first chapter, not only are we introduced to Jacob Marley (yep that’s his real name). Can you get any more cliché? After meeting Jacob, and Bailey being outright rude to him, I could already tell where the story was going to go. Sure, Bailey was starting to feel something for Jacob, but she kept making him out to be someone he wasn’t. If I were Jacob, I would have never even given her the time of day.

I thought that this was an enemies-to-lovers YA contemporary, but then Bailey meets Charlie. He is a charming British boy, which does make him more appealing than Jacob. Why are accents so attractive? Nevertheless, I was very bothered by the fact that Bailey was suddenly all about Charlie – way too quickly. She barely knew him, but already thought he was her boyfriend. Honestly, Bailey came off as immature, vain, and argumentative. And, all readers know that disliking the MC makes for a less than enjoyable reading experience.

“I’ve watched more than my fair share of Hallmark Christmas movies, and even though I’m not a big-city lawyer who has moved back to my hometown to save the family business or a world-weary writer who falls in love with a recently widowed baker, I still believe in the power of Christmas Magic.”

Frankly, a lot of the time I felt that the plot was going nowhere. I didn’t even know what was going to happen throughout a vast majority of the book. However, the book is under 250 pages, so it is a very quick read. I finished it in two days, yet I didn’t find the story to be particularly interesting.

As for the ending, I was blown away with how ridiculous it was. I could see what was going to happen before it did and I was still floored. The fact that the author went this route was comical. One small spoiler about the ending – think ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ meets ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’.

Overall, I don’t regret reading this book. but feel that it was a waste of time. Maybe it is meant for a younger audience, since I could see tweens and young teenagers liking the story. The writing style wasn’t terrible, but as I said before it was a little juvenile. I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you want to read something that will make you roll your eyes.

Before you go, give this post a like and share. If you want to spread some love, please give my little blog a quick follow. And, don’t forget to leave a comment below!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Summertime Madness // Book Tag

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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

It’s Kind Of A Funny Story // Book Review

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Synopsis
“Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.”

This book gives a realistic look at mental illness. The main character, Craig, is relatable and still trying to figure out his mental state. Although he is a teenager, I think even adults can relate to his thoughts and feelings. Dealing with mental illness can be complex and the author does a great job of showcasing that. Like Craig, sometimes we feel fine due to medication, but once we stop taking that medication, we crash.

The book’s main plot centers on Craig being committed to the hospital’s adult psych ward. There, we are introduced to all sorts of characters, who are struggling with different mental health issues. It truly shows that everyone is facing their own battle. And mental Illnesses doesn’t look the same for everyone. On the outside, Craig seemed like an average teenager. But inside, he was crumbling. Some people are tied together with a smile.

There were many funny moments, which is nice to have in a book that deals with such a heavy topic. It was good to see Craig bonding with other patients. He learned a lot about their lives and struggles. But, there was also the notion that what happens in inpatient, should stay in inpatient.

There are many messages through the book. One being that you can’t truly understand mental health issues, even if you deal with them yourself. No two mental illnesses look the same. There will be people who think they have you figured out, but they don’t, and this was the case for Craig.

“I didn’t want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that’s really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you’re so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare.”

You never need to explain yourself to others, and that was something Craig struggled with in the story. His friends were toxic, and don’t even get me started on Nina, his crush. Craig had a lot of personal development in the book, and learned that it is better to be friendless than to be friends with all the wrong people.

One of my favorite things about this book was that it mentions “finding your anchor”. It is so important for us to find something that fills us with joy. That one things that tethers us to life. It shouldn’t be a person, but something that we enjoy. And the book made a point to talk about how we all should look for some type of anchor.

As you can tell, the book hits on some heavy topics. Obviously, mental health is the main focus in the book but there is talk about self harm, somewhat slut shaming, and the underlying mention of sexual abuse. If these are subjects you are sensitive to, please be aware before you pick this book up.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books. I connect with it, and love the view that all we can do is try to manage our lives. And to live the best life for ourselves. Please like and share this post, and follow my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2022 Anticipated Book Releases // July – December

- Bunny 9 Comments

Hi Friends,
Back in December of 2021, I posted my most anticipated releases from January to June of 2022. Now, I will be sharing my most anticipated book releases from July to December of 2022. As usual, I am not going to mention all the books that I am excited for (since that will make this post very long). With that in mind, I am only mentioning the books that I am the most excited for.


Frightmares by Eva V. Gibson (July 5th)
“In a Florida tourist trap, a summer acting job turns into a real-life horror show when a cast member turns up dead—then disappears. This nail-biting story is perfect for fans of Fear Street!”

A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy (A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy #1) by Jeff Bishop (July 12th)
“You’ve Reached Sam meets John Hughes in a funny and heartfelt debut about a boy’s delirious summertime quest with his ex-girlfriend.”

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw (Aug. 2nd)
In my Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag that I cannot wait for this book to be released. I don’t think there has ever been a ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ retelling, so this is going to be great. I have such high hopes for this book, which makes me a bit nervous.

12 To 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future! by Jen Calonita (Aug. 16th)
“A smart and funny modern day 13 Going on 30 from New York Times bestselling author Jen Calonita! A tween girl finds out it is like to be 22 when she jumps in time with the help of a mysterious TikTok filter.”

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus (Aug. 30th)
“Four years ago someone got away with murder. The most terrifying part is that they never left.”

Wishtress by Nadine Brandes (Sept. 13th)
“Everyone seems to need a wish—the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one wish, Myrthe would pay with her life. And if she tells them about the curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.”

Mere Mortals by Erin Jade Lange (Sept. 27th)
“This hilarious, fresh take on a classic vampire tale follows a pair of hundred-year-old teenage vampires who are turned mortal and must face the greatest nightmare of all—high school.”

Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne (Oct. 4th)
“Seaview High’s homecoming queen is dead . . . and she’s not the first. From the critically acclaimed author of The Ivies comes a nonstop thriller about a decades-old mystery, a copycat killing, and the teen who won’t stop until she discovers the truth.”

The Art of Insanity by Christine Webb (Oct. 11th)
“Written from experience, this contemporary YA is a heartfelt and candid exploration into the shame surrounding mental illness and offers an uplifting narrative where the protagonist doesn’t die at the end.”

Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez (Nov. 1st)
“Twisted secrets that will have readers guessing with every flip of the page. Perfect for fans of GONE GIRL, WE WERE LIARS and Karen M. McManus. An end-of-summer party. A prank gone wrong. A body on the beach. Who’s to blame?”

Whiteout by Various Authors (Nov. 8th)
“Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas, but the warmth of young love just might melt the ice in this novel of interwoven narratives, Black joy, and cozy, sparkling romance—by the same unbeatable team of authors who wrote the New York Times bestseller Blackout!”

Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are by Kathryn Foxfield (Dec. 6th)
“On the reality show It’s Behind You!, five contestants competing for prize money must survive the night in the dark and dangerous Umber Gorge caves, rumored to be haunted by the Puckered Maiden, a ghost who eats the hearts of her victims. But is it the malevolent spirit they should fear, or each other?”

So, This Is Love (So, This Is Christmas #2) by Tracy Andreen (Dec. 20th)
“In the sequel to Tracy Andreen’s debut romantic comedy So, This Is Christmas, we follow Finley and Arthur back to Barrington Academy for a swoony semester.”

I always get overwhelmed talking about new book releases, since my TBR is already over 500 books! Reader problems, am I right? What are some new releases are you looking forward to? Don’t forget to follow my blog to get notified whenever I post. I am sure to be doing book reviews on at least some of these books.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // Memeathon 2022

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
This is my July TBR, but more so my Memeathon TBR. If you missed my announcement post, then you wouldn’t know that I have created my own readathon! The readathon is a month long, and all the prompts are meme related.

Read All The Books!: Read The Next Book In A Series

Shut Up & Take My Money: Read The Last Book You Purchased

Wednesday Frog: Read A Book Containing And Over Used Trope (I Picked Enemies-To-Lovers)

Socially Awkward Penguin: Read An Overrated Book

Socially Awesome Penguin: Read An Underrated Book

Distracted Boyfriend: Finish A Book You DNFed

Success Kid: Read A 5 Star Prediction

Guess I’ll Die: Read A Murder Mystery or Thriller

Those are the books I’m planning to read during for this readathon, but I might not get to them all. However, I want to mention that this is a super chill readathon, which I hope takes some of the pressure off. Please comment below your TBR, and share this post with others. Also, stay up to date on when I post by hitting that follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

All Of Us Villains // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

Synopsis
“The blockbuster co-writing debut of Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, All of Us Villains begins a dark tale of ambition and magick. You fell in love with the victors of The Hunger Games. Now, prepare to meet the villains of the Blood Veil.”

When I read the synopsis, I assumed that I would be getting a ‘Hunger Games’ type of story. And, while there are similarities to ‘The Hunger Games’, the books differ dramatically when it comes to the main storyline. This book is all about magic and there was a lot of focus on world building. The authors went in-depth to explain the magic system, but I was still confused by the magic aspect.

In this book, we follow 4 characters: Briony, Alastair, Isobel, and Gavin. The characters are the chosen ones amongst their families to participate in this magical fight to the death. Honestly, I think the battle must be done because of some sort of curse. However, I don’t think the whole history behind this competition was explained well enough.

The main four are from different classes in society, and each have their reasons to win the battle. Obviously, they don’t want to die, but they also want to make their families proud. But I found their families to be rather cold and heartless. Alastair’s family is very well known in the magic world, and he has a lot of pressure to live up to his families reputation. He was my favorite character of all, and I found myself sympathizing with him.

Isobel was forced into the battle. You could tell that her family only cared if she won, despite knowing that she might end up dying. She was the typical ‘pretty girl’, which I didn’t care for. I could tell that she and Alastair were going to be romantically linked, but I found their relationship boring, and it didn’t add anything to the story. It would have been more interesting if they developed a brother/sister type of bond instead.

“What is happily ever after to the child is a nightmare to the monster.”

Briony’s character was strong and smart. I could compare her to Katniss in some ways. She was, to me, the most likeable of the characters. She did make some bad decisions, but was honored to be a part of the competition. You get to see her grow throughout the book, and a lot of her opinions changed. I think that she got a bad rap from the other characters, because of her past actions.

As for Gavin, I wanted to like him, but he was very whiny. He blamed Alastair for all his problems. He was cold and ruthless, which is what he accused other of being. I didn’t find his chapters to be all that interesting. Each of the characters made decisions that had dire consequences, and there was a lot of manipulation going on.

There weren’t many side characters, since the authors wanted to focus on those core four. I think there is a lot of things happening in the story, and because of that, they chose not to have any more characters that were developed in depth. Especially since the plot was heavily character driven.

One of the things the book lacked was action. We spent a good 60% of the book waiting for the competition to start. It left me bored and struggling to get through it. When the main plot is the magical battle, I want it not to take most of the book for it to start. I do, however, understand that we needed to get each character’s backstory in order to establish some sort of connection with them.

The ending mainly left me confused. I am completely unsure of what actually unfolded. Even going back and rereading the last chapter didn’t clear things up for me. Maybe this book went over my head, or there were just too many elements at play. For me, young adult fantasy is always a hit or miss type of genre.

Overall, this book isn’t something that I would read again. And, maybe should have DNF’ed it at the halfway mark. This is a duology, but I am unsure if I will be picking up the second book. In the comments, leave me your YA fantasy book recommendations. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more of my book reviews!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Lucky List // Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

SynopsisEmily’s always been lucky. Well, technically her mum was the lucky one, and since she died, Emily’s started to feel like her luck’s run out. So when Emily finds her mum’s senior-year bucket list, she finds twelve ways to feel close to her again. But if she wants to check everything off, she’ll need help – help in the form of Blake. As Blake and Emily work through the list, the girls’ bond deepens. Emily is starting to feel lucky again, but she’s faced with the question: can she accept this new part of herself, the part her mum never even knew existed?

This isn’t a story that captured me right from the start, but I could tell that it would only get better. The main character, Emily, is going through a lot. She’s still coping with the passing of her mother., and trying to understand her feelings about grief, while trying to fix a mistake she made because of that grief.

Emily embarks on this journey to complete this list she found in her mother’s stuff. The author made a story about grief, into a story about self discovery. It made the subject not quite so heavy, but without glossing over the struggles of losing someone.

In the book, Emily starts bonding with the new girl, Blake. As they get closer, their feelings for each being to grow. The female/female romance was simple and sweet. Their relationship developed organically, and wasn’t rushed. Blake never pressured Emily into anything, and only wanted her to be happy.

Self love was a big part of the story, as quite a few of Emily’s decisions were based on what she thought her mother wanted for her. But the bucket list, of sorts, really did help her realize that sometimes you have to let heart take charge.

There was some focus on how we all grieve differently, but I wasn’t too found of the aspect. Emily’s dad was quick to “erase” his wife from their lives and move on. However, it was explained,that to him, her memory is what was more important. Her clothes and other things were just a reminder of what was lost.

“We’re all lucky,not because every thing works out, but we get to wake up in the morning and take chances and make mistakes and keep trying not to.”

I understand and respect the writer’s decisions to add that with in the story, but it made me angry all the same. However, it is true that once you are gone, you don’t leave things behind. Just people. As long as they don’t forget you, then you will always be with them.

Nevertheless, the story was well done, but slow at parts. I was hoping for more from it, which left me a bit disappointed. As for the the writing style, it was reminiscent of Sarah Dessen, who isn’t necessarily a writer I enjoy reading. I liked the way this story played out, so the writing didn’t bother me that much.

Overall, the plot was wrapped up with a nice little bow, and even with the topic of grief, there wasn’t too many heartbreaking moments. I would, of course, still recommend you go into the book knowing that loss is a major plot point of the story. Most of the book centers around the aftermath of losing a loved one.

In the comments, give me your thoughts on the book. Or, let me know if you have it on your TBR. As always, follow my blog, because it really brightens my day!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // Suns Out, Books Out

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
I am going to be participating in the ‘Suns Out, Books Out’ readathon taking place from the 20th to the 26th of June. You can watch Lauren Love Reads‘ announcement video on YouTube to get all the details. There will be reading sprints happening through out the event, and even a buddy watch of the Amazon Prime series ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty‘. There is a group read, which is ‘The Counselors’ by Jessica Goodman. However, I have already read the book, so I wont be reading it for the readathon. Now for my TBR!

READ A BOOK WITH YELLOW ON THE COVER

Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale is a queer small-town romance that will give you major butterflies.”
—Bustle

READ A ‘CHILLER’ A CHILL THRILLER

“A high-stakes hide-and-seek competition turns deadly in this dark supernatural thriller from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.”

READ A BOOK CHOSEN BY A FRIEND

“Graphic artist Clay Riddell was in the heart of Boston on that brilliant autumn afternoon when hell was unleashed before his eyes. Without warning, carnage and chaos reigned. Ordinary people fell victim to the basest, most animalistic destruction. And the apocalypse began with the ring of a cell phone.”

READ A BOOK WITH AN ISLAND, OCEAN OR BEACH SETTING

“Practical Magic meets Nova Ren Suma’s Imaginary Girls and Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap in this lush, atmospheric novel by acclaimed author Katrina Leno.”

These are the books that I have chosen to include on my TBR, and just to clarify my husband chose ‘Cell’ for me to read. I will try to do a ‘Reading Log‘ or Instagram Reel for this TBR, if I remember. In the comments, tell me if you are taking part in any summer readathons. Please support my little blog by giving it a follow!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Beach Reads // Book Recommendations

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Summer is approaching, and that means it beach read season! I have a few books already picked out to read this summer, and I can’t wait to dive into them. So, I thought I would give you all some books to add to your summer TBR.

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty‘ by Jenny Han
Yep, I am jumping on the bandwagon, and recommending this trilogy to you all. Although I don’t find it nearly as good as Jenny Han’s ‘To All The Boys’ trilogy, it is still a decent summer read. The book follows a girl named Belly (short for Isobel) who spend every summer at a beach house with her mom and brother, along with her mom’s best friend and her two sons, Jerome and Conrad. This summer, Belly isn’t the little girl she once was, and finds herself in a love triangle with Jerome and Conrad. It is a classic YA contemporary about growing up and first love. But I just could never get behind the nickname Belly. It is being turned into an Amazon Prime series, set to be released on June 17th, so now would be the perfect time to read the books.

‘Sunkissed‘ by Kasie West
If you know anything about me, than you know that I am an avid Kasie West reader. In my opinion, she writes some of the best young adult contemporaries. However, this book wasn’t my favorite. I do still think it is a good summer read, though. The book follows Avery, who is forced to spend the summer with her parents and sister at a family fun camp. Throughout the summer, Avery starts to connect with the camp staff, notably Brooks. As she and Brooks grow closer through their shared love of music, Avery beings a journey of self discovery. The story was cute, but I did have some issues with it. Still I do think a lot of people will enjoy this book. I mean with a title like ‘Sunkissed’ you instantly think beach read.

‘Butterfly Sisters‘ by Jenny Hale
This is an adult romance and sisterhood book. If you’re fans of second chance romances, small towns, and family relationships, then this is the book for you. The story follows Leigh as she must return to her family cabin, at her mother’s request. Being back at the cabin floods Leigh with the memories of her late grandmother. To make matters worse, she runs into the boy who she let got away, Colton. As if that wasn’t enough, on top of everything else, she is dealing with a strained relationship with her younger sister Meredith. Everything, from the lake side setting to the romance, gives you all those summer romance feels. Although, the romantic side to the story was sweet, the book focus more on family. It is a story about a family bond, and rebuilding some of those relationships.

‘Cool For The Summer‘ by Dahlia Adler
This book is perfect for those looking for a sapphic teen romance. Lara’s return to school becomes complicated when her longtime crush starts to take an interest in her. Right when Jasmine, whom she had a summer romance with, becomes her new classmate. The book alternates between Lara’s summer with Jasmine, and the present day. We get to see the two girls grow closer, as well as the reason for their now strained relationship. It was a simple and sweet YA contemporary, with not too much spice. It’s also an easy read, that you could probably finish in one day. Also, ‘Cool For The Summer’ is the title of a Demi Lovato song, which some have said is her version of ‘I Kissed A Girl’ by Katy Perry.

These are my summer book recommendations, but I am sure there are plenty more great summer reads out there. In the comments, let me know what you will be reading in the coming months. If you want to help my blog grow, hit that follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Reading Rabbits Book Club // June 2022

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hello Friends,
As you can see from the title I wanted to let you know what ‘The Reading Rabbits’ will be reading in June. If you don’t already know, ‘The Reading Rabbits’ is the book club that I started. You can join the book club using Novellic, or just participate by reading the books each months. However, we can only chat about the book on Novellic, or you can wait for my review, and leave a comment then.

I know that it is already the 9th of June, but I thought it would still be okay to let my readers possibly join in on the book club. This month we will be reading ‘Love and Gelato’ by Jenna Evans Welch. I haven’t started the book yet, but I’m excited to pick it up.

Please leave a comment letting me know if you have read this book, or will be joining in the fun and reading this book along with us. Also, follow the blog for more bookish content!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny