maddness22's reviews
715 reviews

The Likeness by Tana French
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

No matter how hard I try, I just don't like crime/mystery novels. 

The Need to Be Whole: Patriotism and the History of Prejudice by Wendell Berry
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

I will come back to this book but I literally just got hit with three Libby holds I've had on hold for literally months and a new book club book so I gotta pause this one 😅

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

dark 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

4.5

Man this was an incredibly cool and unique horror novel with some really clever writing to critique the current Hollywood media. The beginning is a bit slow and there's plenty of pretentious male writer energy, but gosh it wraps up so cool by the end of it. Once the villain was revealed, I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to figure out how the book would end. Very clever and very fun! Also legitimately spooky and scary at times. 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.

Life is too short to read a book for the sake of reading without enjoying it. This is just a lot of smart people talking at each other about fake science and academics which can be fun, but not to this slow slog of an extent. Reminds me of Three Body Problem, but with witches and vampires. Not for me, thanks. 

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

Perfectly acceptable read for the spooky season, but the romance was more lust than love. I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the leads aside from "he's hot/she's hot" and the pacing suffered as a result. The little mishaps and rom-com moments were fun, but I felt like we were sprinting through plot points just to get to the flirting even though the characters didn't really vibe together. 

A very cute and fun setting tho with adorable side characters (love those chaos Baby Witches and Sir Purrceival) and a great easy read for the spooky season. I recommend reading the first book though because even though this could technically be a standalone, they reference the previous book so much that I got FOMO and felt like I missed crucial parts of the world building for the magic system.

It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn

funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

2.5

*Frodo gif* It is done. 

Gosh this was just SO BORING. We're told Hycanieth is this darling sassy little thing but she really doesn't stand out much and neither does her daddy issues galore beau Gareth, who is also sold to us as a rake but he literally only hangs out with his grandma and girlfriend the entire time. There's just not a lot of chemistry and the mystery of the missing diamonds was a messy and poorly paced distraction from that lack of chemistry. Lady Danbury was a delight though. She remains my favorite recurring character in this series. 

We also see next to none of the larger Bridgerton family and their interactions, which makes sense given Hycanieth's age from the rest of them but the larger appeal of this series is seeing those repeated interactions and sibling dynamics. 

I'm definitely reading the last book, but I'm not too terribly excited after this one to do so. 

The Project by Courtney Summers

dark mysterious slow-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

4.75

Very spooky and dark!! The cult aspect was so well done. We started moving in redundant circles a little after the halfway mark, but it picks up again and really drives home a helluva ending. There's so much darkness and hopelessness woven into the narrative and the sisters' dynamics really make the book. I screamed at several plot points and couldn't put it down for a handful of chapters. A very good read for the spooky season or for anyone in the mood for a dark sisters' tale about cults. 

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

This was the perfect read to kickstart the fall season for me! It's so adorably cozy and cute. There's not a lot of depth to it, but the characters and small town are so charming that it's incredibly enjoyable. I actually think the spice diminished the cute nature of the book, but it was still fun. Overall just a great and easy read to prep for fall vibes and enjoy on a soft autumn day! It makes me want a pumpkin spice latte for sure!

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Gosh this was the PERFECT romance! The angst, the chemistry, the grief, the emotional conflicts - wow this book just slapped on all fronts. The story was so incredibly gripping and I just absolutely loved both Francesa and Michael. Both of their characters were so likeable and their faults were so believable and compelling to watch develop into an emotional resolution. The ending was a bit rushed, but I still found it incredibly sweet. By far the best Bridgerton book in the series so far if not one of the best romance books I've ever read. 

Anxiety: A Philosophical Guide by Samir Chopra

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

It's a pretty long-winded way to say "learn to live with anxiety rather than fight it" but I appreciated the nuanced reframing of anxiety through the lens of popular philosophical concepts. The perspective on anti-anxiety medication was interesting and I was very compelled by the Kirkegaard section. There are bits and sections of this book that have already stuck with me as I examine my relationship with my anxiety. I just wish the writing was a bit more digestible.