madsmacmath's reviews
216 reviews

Sugar by Mia Ballard

dark tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

It’s like if instead of being depressed, the narrator from My Year of Rest and Relaxation was a manic psychopath. 

It lost a bit of rating because the writing felt overdone, but I would recommend it as a very fun, unhinged book.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

I liked the beginning, but I put it down over a holiday break and no part of me cared to pick it back up.

It got an extra boost because there were some thoughtful quotes, otherwise it probably would’ve been under 3 stars for me.

The Girl Who Became a Rabbit by Emilie Menzel

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I’m in awe; I want to inject these words into my bloodstream. 

Beloved by Toni Morrison
Did not finish book. Stopped at 73%.

Not finishing has nothing to do with the genius that is Morrison and this book. Or maybe it does, because the book really is so good that you can’t read more than a few pages at a time and that, ultimately, was crushing my desire to read.

Definitely will be picking it up again.

The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

Sweet childhood. And the story where we meet Ned.

Also, for a book written for kids in 1932, it’s very girl power-y.

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

What I loved about the first Crown of Nyaxia book is how unpredictable it felt in a genre that is inherently predictable. You know that the giant, troubled man with the secret heart of gold is going to fall in love with the fierce, tiny warrior woman. There will be war and everyone will almost die and then everyone will actually survive. Someone is probably secretly royal or immortal or magic. Duh.

This one was, however, painfully predictable. Obviously I will read the next one but I am in no way holding my breath for it.

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi

challenging informative sad slow-paced

3.75

This is a really important, thorough, and well researched book. Everyone who was taught revisionist history should read this.

That being said, it’s written pretty academically. Very date and name heavy. Lots of content, not a lot of stories.

I’m not saying that is a bad thing, but it’s a thing that makes it arguably less easy to read, as far as books go.

Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This was a reread and still one of my favorite books of all time.

You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

3.75

It’s really fun and precious.

Schitts Creek meets Red White and Royal Blue meets Single All the Way (or literally any Hallmark Christmas movie).

Exactly what you’d want and expect from a gay, christmas, pro-mental health romcom.