jessicavergarawrites's reviews
52 reviews

Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most by Cassie Holmes

inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

Heavy textbook-like read that didn’t hold my interest after the book club meeting. 

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder

Circe by Madeline Miller

dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

A Day at The Summit by Matt Tipple

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I love this author and wanted to love the book. I thought the premise was original and intriguing, but there were some graphic violence and sex scenes I wasn’t prepared for and I felt they distracted from the integrity of the plot. I believe the powerful message behind the concept could have been delivered in a more nuanced way without relying on the shock factor to drive points home. The writing is quality, but the delivery just doesn’t follow through for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Suicide

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir

dark hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Terrible Two by Jory John, Kevin Cornell, Mac Barnett

4.0