kathryn0628's reviews
108 reviews

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Cute, fast read.
Vantage Point by Sara Sligar

Go to review page

dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The last couple pages were a little odd.  I knew who was messing with them as the name was first mentioned in the book.  So a little predictable.  But not bad.  
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

3.75

The Reaping by Jess Lourey

Go to review page

dark mysterious fast-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

4.0

The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Pretty good detective story.  A little out there a little in the plot.  Fast read.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think Gabrielle Zevin has such a talent in building immensely descriptive scenes and beautifully intricate relationships. I found myself easily immersed in the story and all its characters.  Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow delves into both showing how we must overcome the things we think don't go our way in life and the beauty that can be found in the relationships we have within it.  I loved it!
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A sad, well-written, long story told in the greatest detail at the slowest pace.   
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human by Carlos Whittaker

Go to review page

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

From the jacket, I didn't realize how much of this book would be about Faith and our relationships with God. Being agnostic, I found those parts were a little excessive.  Aside from that and a little redundancy towards the end of his stay at the monastery, I found his memoir pretty fascinating. 
My parents live in an area with a fairly dense Mennonite and Amish population.  I've always wondered why they embraced some technologies and not others. Willis' explanation about how they are worried some of those technologies, like television, would pull engagement away from the community that is the core value in their culture was enlightening.
The book has inspired me to cut out all social media platforms (except for storygraph!) for a week.  We will see how it goes!  
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

This book was so good!  I had fun reading it.  It was like the most deranged game of clue. I had no idea what was happening when until the very end.  Love love loved!
The Killer's Christmas List by Chris Frost

Go to review page

tense medium-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

3.5

There was definitely more to the book than I expected.  Good story, although it seemed maybe a little rushed?  I feel like the author could have made it so much better with a little more something, maybe added to the list of characters or plot? 
I think the whole thing with Laurens daughter, the smiling lady, and the ex's grandmother being the one to take her was an easy way to wrap up that story end.  And then, was Millie in on it?  She randomly went to school with the girl that was murdered but Seth randomly picked Millie's boss (who she had an affair with) as his first murder victim? It's like the author started with one ending in mind and changed it half way through.  & How did Seth get into Millie's house without being on camera? 
I also would have liked to see Tom's character have developed a little more. Maybe be involved in getting Seth psychiatric help.