beauty_andbooks's reviews
530 reviews

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

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4.0

It is time! I finally got to this beloved book and I have no regrets.

But oh wow that world building in those first few chapters. My suggestion to you is to find a guide to help you understand all the quirks of the world. 

Maas writes a super impressive story that hooks you in pretty quick. I loved all the characters, even the villains. My only gripe with it was all the back and forth traveling the two main characters do throughout the book, but I get the need because they are actively trying to solve a crime and it’s a long timeline. It would be strange if they stayed in one place too long. 

The last 20 percent of the book was so exhilarating! I want to read the next one super soon! Can’t wait til next year when the third comes out.
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

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4.0

For fans of reality tv plots and cozy mysteries, The Golden Spoon was a very enjoyable read! Super fast paced and the multiple character POVs were easy to keep track of. I’m not usually one to enjoy a mystery book, but this book maintained my attention. I didn’t love the ending but I think if you like mysteries like Agatha Christie, then you won’t mind it. 

Trigger warning: sexual assault

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Bookclub Favorites for sending me a copy to read and review! I think this is a perfect choice for my bookclub!
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

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4.0

This is such an important and necessary read for everyone! We don’t see this culture represented often enough and I really enjoyed learning new things. It was slow to start but I binged it in the last 40%. I really liked the characters even though each of them have their own faults. This book provided many different assets of contemporary fiction which was really great. I would recommend this book to everyone!
Psych: The Story of the Human Mind by Paul Bloom

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4.0

Thank you to the publishers, Netgalley and the author for sending me a copy to read and review! 

If you have any interest in the scientific processes of our brain and behavior then this is the book for you. It gives lots of scientific evidence to back up what the author writes. I could tell there was tons of research done by Bloom which was super impressive. I preferred the parts that focused more on the history of psychology. I can definitely see myself using the information in this book in my future therapy practice.
Sign Here by Claudia Lux

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4.0

This was one of my first experiences reading a satire book and I really enjoyed it! Though this book started out slow, the last 30% of the book flew by and I loved how those last chapters left off with cliffhangers that kept you wanting to read more. I didn’t love any of the characters, which I think is ok for a book like this. The ending gave me Recursion by Blake Crouch vibes which I loved! Trigger warnings though, so look those up!
The Autism Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know about Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping, and Healing--From a Mother Whose Child Recovered by Karen Siff Exkorn

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4.0

What I liked:
✔️Helpful to work with clients, both children and adults
✔️Broken down into easily readable sections
✔️Personal stories mixed with fact

What I didn’t like:
✔️focused more on typical symptoms seen in male children. Would have preferred some symptoms discussed usually seen in female population 
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

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3.0

This book had so much potential but it fell short for me! I loved the rockstar 70’s setting but the thriller aspect just wasn’t exciting enough. I did like the multiple twists at the end where you’re not sure if what is happening is TRULY happening. That was a fun ending. But I wanted more murder and suspense. I don’t know if this would be more categorized as a mystery. The setting was fun and I liked the different elements in the book like email, newspaper articles and book passages to share the story. 
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

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5.0

Most underrated book of the season! If you are a thriller fan, then you need to read this one. Don’t sleep on it! 

Dark and twisted, I loved every moment of this book. Easily bingable and a roller coaster of a plot. If you’re a plot fan then you’ll like this one. I read this book in three sittings, which says a lot for me. 

I read this book with SoCal Story Swappers Bookclub and we all loved it!
The Making of a Therapist: A Practical Guide for the Inner Journey by Louis Cozolino

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3.0

What I liked:
✔️Relatable advice for anyone pursuing a counseling career or degree
✔️Felt like a friend talking to you 
✔️Chapters were organized for quick access to reviewing essential information
✔️Super helpful to remember when I experienced my first few therapy sessions with clients 
The Angel Maker by Alex North

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4.0

Keep reading til page 100-150! The story picks up and you won’t be able to put it down after that. Finally in my thriller reading life, I was unable to guess the plot twists. Woo hoo! I enjoyed the interconnectivity of all the details. One thing I struggled with though was the philosophical points. But hey, I’m not philosopher! 😂 This was a great read with a paranormal element to it too.