eggbeater's reviews
1230 reviews

Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this adventurous, mountain-climbing fantasy novel. I can't wait to read the second book. The vivid descriptions of the agonizing climb up the icy mountain made me feel like I was there. I was cold and exhausted. It was so well drawn. It was exciting and different. Read this book with a hot cup of tea. 

Vantage Point by Sara Sligar

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The book was intriguing and addictive. There was a part I didn't completely buy into, but I still loved it. This is how rich New Englanders behave. The family dynamics and character development were solid.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This is the epitome of cozy fantasy. The characters are endearing and the plot is heartwarming.  There aren't any big surprises, but it doesn't matter.  If you need a feel-good book, this is it.

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book was cute. At times, I found Charlotte to be a little annoying and more like a teenager than a 25-year-old woman, but it was campy and fun.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was billed as horror, and there were very graphic birthing scenes, but really, I thought it was also quite a touching tribute to women and motherhood. I was surprised it was written by a man. It seems like he did his homework. I thought it was beautiful.

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I liked the symbolism and the outright bitchiness. It really was weird and my kind of book. It would have been five stars if not for my skepticism about the ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death

The Getaway by Lamar Giles

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This young adult dystopian novel was a pretty gripping thrill ride, but I'm not sure a dystopian was the best choice for my anxiety when we're on the precipice of hell. Creepy story, though. Effective.

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

Not the book's fault, just not in the mood for this. I will come back to it.

Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health--and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More by Christopher M. Palmer

challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

I don't know how to rate this book. A doctor I have a lot of respect for recommended it to me. It's well written and certainly sounds plausible. However, I am skeptical of some of the solutions, particularly the ketogenic diet. I can't speak to its efficacy until I've tried it. Some of the treatments for mental health, such as light exposure and sleep hygiene, are old hat. The book simply describes the reason why these things help in very scientific terms involving mitochondria, metabolic disorders, and the brain energy theory. It is fascinating even to someone like me who only took high school biology. Some of the scientific references were a little over my head, so the only way for me to learn is to do my own research. I now have a project.  

The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was an okay read for me. I really liked Their Vicious Games, but I wasn't really feeling this demonic horror as much. Devon, the main character, struck me as a bit immature. None of the characters resonated with me. It could have been the audiobook. I did like the twist.