chaosbooked's reviews
146 reviews

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

4.0

Is cozy horror a thing? That's what I would classify this as.  I enjoyed it, it has a Carrie vibe mixed with a cult documentary but Vesper was naive and trusting so maybe a little Disney princessy added in. 

Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya

4.75

Love learning new things. Great non fiction picture book about the rubics cube inventor.

I Left the House Today! by Cassandra Calin

4.0

Fun book of comics about being alive as a woman on this planet. 

King Nyx by Kirsten Bakis

Ugh. Of all the characters in this book the story would have been told better through ANYONE else. I don't really like any characters except Mary but at the end she did not deliver. This book was odd and kooky and I read the whole fucking book thinking it was going to lead to something and it didn't.  

Malorie by Josh Malerman

4.25

Sequels are hard to rate as you are comparing it to the first while also needing the first as backstory.  That being said I enjoyed this. It had some scary parts but was not a scary book. I love how it started and I love the secrets being revealed later in the book. I love how the children grew up in this. I think it brought some closure that I did not get with the first one. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

4.25

Okay this is a cross between a Hallmark movie and a 90's sitcom but with swearing! So a fucking Hallmark movie? Cozy, fun, fast read about falling in love and family found. Were there cheesy parts? Yes but again there is swearing! And magic! Great characters. Don't overthink anything and just enjoy a light, pleasant read 

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

4.0

Hard to rate this one. I was given this book and had no idea what I was getting into and honestly didn't think I would read it through. What was it about ? Puzzles? Turns out a bunch of older adults started a commune and made puzzles and got a baby dropped at their door. And now the baby is an adult, Clayton, and wants to solve the puzzle of his life, literally. It's a cozy mystery with no murder. It had a feel good theme that was reminiscent of a 90's romantic comedy. Like one you watched 100 times and still enjoy. You could pick it apart or just enjoy it. The puzzles were sometimes easy and some I just let Nancy solve for me.  It's a love story.  It's about finding your people and finding yourself. I liked Clayton and wanted to see him through this book. Quick read with an ending you probably can see coming but "The pleasure is always in the solving never the solution."

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

2.5

So what makes a good book? How fast you read it? That you want to get to the end? That you stay up late reading? You want it made into a movie? You want more? Idk I read this book quickly. I didn't like anyone, except Cathy and the shrink. I had a pretty good guess who done it, but wanted to know how it played out. I don't know why they had to lie at the end, it was self defense but then again when a woman's life is in danger by law is pretty much 5 seconds before she dies so I guess. I also didn't like how Rachel was old and fat and pathetic the whole book but then

she can run away and stab him

I imagine fat  is size 8 in this book. And old is 33. But you know she is still a girl. And that might sum up the book surprisingly well. I guess I want other people to read it so we can talk about it more because I have mixed emo ions on it but wouln't really recommend it but you will probably finish it once you start So 2.5?

The Wildest Sun by Asha Lemmie

4.5

I really liked this book. I was not sure I would when I started but I did. The book is more like two books even though it has three parts. The first part is youth. Dramatic, a little chaotic, defiant and free in an abundant way youth can never know. The second part and third were slower and made the the first part clearer. A child becomes Rita Hayworth who becomes Delphine. The historical part of this book is enjoyable and the dialogs and internal thoughts of Delphine had me laughing. A coming of age story for a writer full of guilt and self loathing who starts fires, what's not to love. 

The New Girl by Cassandra Calin

4.0

Cute middle grade graphic novel about being in a new country, getting your period, and making friends. A little dramatic on a miscommunication but it does involve teenager sooooo. Overall a  good story with great art.  I am not the target demographic but both my kids 9 and 12 liked it too. So a win for the whole family.