kade_spade's reviews
185 reviews

Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond by Henry Winkler

funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

I rarely give autobiographies/biographies 5 stars because, honestly, it feels weird rating anyone’s life story like that. However, this book and Henry Winkler deserves 5 stars. A true class act with a lot to share and a lot of love to give no matter who you are. However, Henry’s “Hank Zipzer” books were the first chapter books I ever read and they cultivated my love for reading so I may be slightly bias. Whether you know Henry from being “The Fonz”, “Arrested Development”, or as Gene in the INCREDIBLE “Barry” this book will give you deeper insight into Henry’s world, the world of acting, and how to be a better human! 

Also, I highly recommend the audiobook version. Hearing Henry read his own story adds a level to the book and his wife has a few cameos! 

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

Just a fun, ridiculous, light, modern day vampire rom-com! It wasn’t anything spectacular and even got a little slow in the middle, but man was it fun. Especially for “What We Do In The Shadows” fans, this book gives the same vibes just with a little less vampires and a little more humans. A nice read for a fun spooky season! 

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A very fun, exciting, and spooky book that’s great for kids and adults. I may have rated it higher if I hadn’t previously seen the movie. The book at times seemed boring to me, but I think that’s because the movie follows it so well there was only one or two parts of the book that were different. Gaiman, as always, knows how to write a book! 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

I really really really enjoyed this book! It took me a long time to read this book because I foolishly thought it was overrated. It was just a genuinely fun read that had me smiling, giggling, and kicking my feet. However, at times it did make me cringe because some of the dialogue and situations are just so awkward and far fetched but that is what makes it fun! This is a fanfiction author and it had awkward, embarrassing fanfiction-esque qualities that I believe just added to the book’s charm. I want to specially address the slight asexual aspect to some of the characters in this book because I saw it mentioned as a negative in a lot of reviews. Personally, I found that hidden aspect nice. It’s just a part of those characters story and it’s not a main personality trait, it’s not fetishized, it’s not even a wrong representation. Asexuality is a spectrum and many people on that spectrum can relate to those characters and others cannot. I would love a book about Holden and Malcolm or even Anh and Jeremy. I really came to love those characters by the end even though they aren’t in much of the book. The only reason this book doesn’t get 5 stars is because I’m not sure if this book would be a good re-read for me personally. It was an amazing and fun book, but I’m not sure if there’s anything to draw me back in to re-read it. 

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I DNFed this book two times over many years before I was finally able to slowly claw my way to the end of this book. I’m so utterly disappointed because I wanted this to be a life changing 5 star read like most say it is, but it just wasn’t. I know very little about Greek mythology, maybe that doesn’t help, but I feel as though previous Greek mythology knowledge shouldn’t have to be known to enjoy this book. The two main characters were just so flat and dull. The book was so slow, but lacked enough time to truly mold characters. The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles felt half-baked and one sided a majority of the time.  The only reason this isn’t a one star book is because I enjoyed Chiron and Odysseus so incredibly much, but they were in so little of the book. I could read about those two characters all day. There were also very tiny sections of the book towards the end that were SO good. It was like getting a glimpse of how glorious this book could’ve been then watching that glimpse fade away with each page turn. A very disappointing read. 

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

adventurous funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

Has a very, very slow start. I really didn’t get fully into the book until a little over halfway through. I found Monty annoying and nothing was really happening except for a few exciting things every now and then that never lasted long. However, as Monty grew so did the book. I started to find the book hard to put down, I wanted to see how Monty would grow and how that would grow his relationships and adventure. Not a life changing book or one that is particularly gripping, but a fun, cozy read about growth, relationship, love, and adventure. 

Untainted by Lilian T. James

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

I wanted to give this book 3/5 but I just couldn’t because after thinking I don’t think the book’s many flaws out way the books excellent parts. Some of this book felt like and read like fanfiction, which isn’t bad, really just an observation because some may not like that. It felt like a whole lot of nothing happened. I do know there is a second book and more on the way so that could be why. I am looking forward to reading the second book (mostly because of one character, Trey) but I’ll go into it with low expectations. The characters felt very two dimensional and then all the sudden at the end the author tried to flesh out the characters more making it feel rushed and really confusing. There are snippets that make me really love some of the characters, but then there will be a moment that’s just like “what??? That doesn’t make any sense to this character”. The spice in the book sometimes felt out of place and not needed. Some people may like the extra spice though. Overall, not a great book, but enough there to keep me interested in reading book 2. Here’s to hoping that book is slightly better! 

My Lobotomy by Charles Fleming, Howard Dully

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Great book in terms of getting to learn and understand more about lobotomy and the patients that had to endure it. I know it’s just one man’s story (and it’s incredibly lucky compared to others who have received lobotomy’s) but I think Dully does a good job with sprinkling in others experiences. However, the writing is a little sloppy and hard to follow the timeline sometimes. If you view that flaw in a different perspective of that this man had a lobotomy and his brain isn’t “normal” it provides another level to reading. I like that the editor kept it mostly how Dully wrote it without much change because it really does add an extra element of putting you in his shoes. Dully does become a little “woe is me”, but he had a lobotomy at 12 so, in my opinion, “woe is me” is more than justified and it didn’t bother me at all. I never rate memoirs a 5 star because I feel weird judging someone’s story that way, but this book dropped from a 4 to a 3 star after viewing Dully’s Twitter. It left a sour taste in my mouth and made me feel like after the radio show and book he changed his personality a little. Again he did have a lobotomy so I’ll offer grace, but his Twitter really changed my view. Overall, a very great read in terms of material, I would highly suggest it, especially for those in heath care. However, don’t look at his Twitter if you don’t want your perception of Dully to change from what he presents in the book. 

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I have so many conflicting thoughts about this book because I loved so much about it but hate April May with the most burning passion. I loved all the side characters, I almost wish that they were featured more. I loved the “fame” commentary. I thought it was brilliant, especially in this age of fast moving fame. I liked the “realistic” sci-fi take on aliens. This book had aliens in it, but they weren’t truly the main focus as fame seemed to take the forefront. Also, you could clearly tell at points in the book that this was written by someone who is basically a millennial. April’s humor was not that of a 23 year old or it was and she’s just not funny at all and very insufferable. Overall, the only part about this book that I truly disliked was the main character (which I know is basically the whole book), but that shouldn’t stop anyone from reading it. Everything else about this book is so overwhelmingly good that I was able to look past the atrocity that is the main character. I already have the sequel ordered before finishing this book! 

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This book is fun and has some unsettling parts. I think if you have a fear of puppets the horror aspect of this book will be more impactful. However, it has HORRIBLE pacing issues (including an incredibly slow start) which often would take me out of the story. It also went on way longer than it needed to, could’ve probably been 30 pages less than it was. A few plot holes that probably won’t bother most people, but they are there and noticeable. It is very easy to root for the characters as the do become very likable even if that is a little iffy in the beginning. Overall, I enjoyed this book as a fun horror read. It wasn’t anything life changing or incredibly outstanding, but it was entertaining.