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luluwoohoo's reviews
473 reviews
How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️An insightful, thought-provoking (ha) book that breaks down our brain's decision making processes
▪️Lehrer walks a skillful tightrope between entertaining side stories and the scientific research that defines their relevance, choosing a variety of topics that best exhibit the intricate nature of our very complex brain
▪️The details of our warring rational and emotional sides was given via balanced observations, showing the strengths and weaknesses of relying too heavily on one side. The takeaway from this research is obvious: we must use both effectively in conjunction with each other
▪️The recommendations on handling different scales or levels of choice, from buying jam to a brand new car, goes against all instinct but is, according to the research, backed up by science
▪️I found this to be a quick, fulfilling and intelligent read that has made me think about thinking more than I think I have before!
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️An insightful, thought-provoking (ha) book that breaks down our brain's decision making processes
▪️Lehrer walks a skillful tightrope between entertaining side stories and the scientific research that defines their relevance, choosing a variety of topics that best exhibit the intricate nature of our very complex brain
▪️The details of our warring rational and emotional sides was given via balanced observations, showing the strengths and weaknesses of relying too heavily on one side. The takeaway from this research is obvious: we must use both effectively in conjunction with each other
▪️The recommendations on handling different scales or levels of choice, from buying jam to a brand new car, goes against all instinct but is, according to the research, backed up by science
▪️I found this to be a quick, fulfilling and intelligent read that has made me think about thinking more than I think I have before!
"When evolution was building the brain, it didn't bother to replace all of those emotional processes with new operations under explicit, conscious control. If something isn't broken, then natural selection isn't going to fix it. The mind is made out of used parts, engineered by a blind watchmaker. The result is that the uniquely human areas of the mind depend on the primitive mind underneath."
"From the perspective of the brain, new ideas are merely several old thoughts that occur at the exact same time."
The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.75
The Grandest Bookshop In The World by Amelia Mellor
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A triumphant, impeccably written middle grade fantasy full of whimsy, adventure and love
▪️The historical backdrop of (a much more progressive) 1890's Melbourne presents a bookshop that actually contains several incredibly detailed and fascinating worlds within it, all held together with an intricate but easily understood magic system. Mellor does well not to get too bogged down in the details, but provides just enough to keep you informed and eager for more
▪️Our two protagonists are both well developed, as are the entire Cole family and the villain Maximillian - each character is given moments to shine within the well structured plot. These characters, but particularly Pa, provide a wonderful exploration of grief, loss and love as the story progresses
▪️The tension of the games was really well balanced with humour and heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed playing along with the children as the endeavoured to solve each puzzle against the ticking clock
▪️I loved reading this from start to finish and it is difficult to find fault - what a lovely, face paced story for young and old.
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A triumphant, impeccably written middle grade fantasy full of whimsy, adventure and love
▪️The historical backdrop of (a much more progressive) 1890's Melbourne presents a bookshop that actually contains several incredibly detailed and fascinating worlds within it, all held together with an intricate but easily understood magic system. Mellor does well not to get too bogged down in the details, but provides just enough to keep you informed and eager for more
▪️Our two protagonists are both well developed, as are the entire Cole family and the villain Maximillian - each character is given moments to shine within the well structured plot. These characters, but particularly Pa, provide a wonderful exploration of grief, loss and love as the story progresses
▪️The tension of the games was really well balanced with humour and heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed playing along with the children as the endeavoured to solve each puzzle against the ticking clock
▪️I loved reading this from start to finish and it is difficult to find fault - what a lovely, face paced story for young and old.
"In moments like this, Pearl was the most afraid of him. The nonchalant charm slipped, revealing a glimpse of something manic and destructive and hungry inside him. When he grinned instead of smirked, when he laughed instead of chuckled, she could see that wild inner thing breaking through."
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A fast paced rom-com which wasn't able to do more than the generic
▪️I went into this knowing that the main character was inspired by Alexis from "Schitts Creek", but the transformation from LA 'it girl' to sea town convert felt too quick to be believable. The romance felt rushed but the overall pace dragged once they got together - I'd have preferred the enemies vibes to stick around for longer
▪️ Certain repetitive phrases grated on my nerves, none moreso than Bailey constantly stressing how "manly" Brendan is, and by an extremely traditional and narrow-minded metric
▪️The third act break up was so painfully out of character and also stupidly rushed. The drama didn't achieve much and it spoiled the romantic setup for me
▪️I wasn't really expecting much when it came to this so I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, but I found this novel to be pretty cookie cutter and forgettable.
☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A fast paced rom-com which wasn't able to do more than the generic
▪️I went into this knowing that the main character was inspired by Alexis from "Schitts Creek", but the transformation from LA 'it girl' to sea town convert felt too quick to be believable. The romance felt rushed but the overall pace dragged once they got together - I'd have preferred the enemies vibes to stick around for longer
▪️ Certain repetitive phrases grated on my nerves, none moreso than Bailey constantly stressing how "manly" Brendan is, and by an extremely traditional and narrow-minded metric
▪️The third act break up was so painfully out of character and also stupidly rushed. The drama didn't achieve much and it spoiled the romantic setup for me
▪️I wasn't really expecting much when it came to this so I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, but I found this novel to be pretty cookie cutter and forgettable.
"Maybe she should try to put her phone down more often. Or at least take in the real moments when she could."
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
He Who Drowned The World Shelley Parker-Chan (co-read with audiobook narrated by Natalie Naudus)
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️The final book in this historical duology is much darker and more confronting than its predecessor, leaving no character unharmed in the battles for the throne
▪️The plot was well balanced between the multiple perspectives, and I enjoyed getting new characters perspectives in this installment, though Ouyang is still my favourite. The focus on characters who within this world are otherwise overlooked or written off created a powerful statement which was mostly successful in its resolution, particularly where the narrative didn't shy away from having some characters arcs end painfully. Where I was disappointed was the way Zhu's story ended up lacking the unique interest of perspectives like Ouyang and Wang Baoxiang, whose arcs were more unpredictable and filled with tension, and also how little presence Ma had until the very end
▪️I enjoyed Parker-Chan's prose more this time around - listening in part to the audiobook may have assisted with this - though I still found it sometimes a bit too generous - on occasion it would have been more effective to let the reader fill the gaps rather than emphasizing certain themes as much as they were
▪️I was a little disappointed by the ending - not it's content, which was ultimately satisfactory, but the speed at which it ended and how little time we had to savour the final victory for Zhu. For the relatively drawn out plot, I wanted to relish in the finish more than we did
▪️ Overall I believe this book was more successful than She Who Became The Sun with it's political intrigue and dark themes ramped up, but it still never managed to become a story I couldn't put down; I do commend Parker-Chan for their clear intentions and unflinching examination of their characters, which was the strongest part of the series.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️The final book in this historical duology is much darker and more confronting than its predecessor, leaving no character unharmed in the battles for the throne
▪️The plot was well balanced between the multiple perspectives, and I enjoyed getting new characters perspectives in this installment, though Ouyang is still my favourite. The focus on characters who within this world are otherwise overlooked or written off created a powerful statement which was mostly successful in its resolution, particularly where the narrative didn't shy away from having some characters arcs end painfully. Where I was disappointed was the way Zhu's story ended up lacking the unique interest of perspectives like Ouyang and Wang Baoxiang, whose arcs were more unpredictable and filled with tension, and also how little presence Ma had until the very end
▪️I enjoyed Parker-Chan's prose more this time around - listening in part to the audiobook may have assisted with this - though I still found it sometimes a bit too generous - on occasion it would have been more effective to let the reader fill the gaps rather than emphasizing certain themes as much as they were
▪️I was a little disappointed by the ending - not it's content, which was ultimately satisfactory, but the speed at which it ended and how little time we had to savour the final victory for Zhu. For the relatively drawn out plot, I wanted to relish in the finish more than we did
▪️ Overall I believe this book was more successful than She Who Became The Sun with it's political intrigue and dark themes ramped up, but it still never managed to become a story I couldn't put down; I do commend Parker-Chan for their clear intentions and unflinching examination of their characters, which was the strongest part of the series.
"It was the time of night that babies were born and people died, when the dark seemed endless and the idea of a morning a cruel fantasy that not even a child could believe."
Wildflowers by Peggy Frew
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Wildflowers by Peggy Frew
☀️☀️☀️🌥️
▪️A harrowing story of trauma, addiction and family against the backdrop of rural Australia which was not an easy or satisfying read, though in the end both of those seem intentional
▪️The pacing of this story is brutally slow, and it took me a very long time to complete. In part, I think my expectations weren't prepared for such a bleak, grim narrative with practically no reprieve, but also the book presents several unlikeable characters who are difficult to root for in the structure we're given
▪️Frew's writing is beautiful: insightful, observational and unafraid. The depth of exploration she went to with these characters, but in particular Nina and her depression, is admirable and definitely the highlight of the novel
▪️By writing this book from the perspective of an apathetic narrator, Frew has (perhaps unintentionally) created an emotional divide which prevented me from establishing a connection with the characters and their plight, particularly with little visible growth until the final pages
▪️This is a book I wanted to like much more than I inevitably did. The concept holds merit and the story is a powerful depiction of difficult circumstances, but Frew failed to infuse these pages with enough heart and soul for me.
☀️☀️☀️🌥️
▪️A harrowing story of trauma, addiction and family against the backdrop of rural Australia which was not an easy or satisfying read, though in the end both of those seem intentional
▪️The pacing of this story is brutally slow, and it took me a very long time to complete. In part, I think my expectations weren't prepared for such a bleak, grim narrative with practically no reprieve, but also the book presents several unlikeable characters who are difficult to root for in the structure we're given
▪️Frew's writing is beautiful: insightful, observational and unafraid. The depth of exploration she went to with these characters, but in particular Nina and her depression, is admirable and definitely the highlight of the novel
▪️By writing this book from the perspective of an apathetic narrator, Frew has (perhaps unintentionally) created an emotional divide which prevented me from establishing a connection with the characters and their plight, particularly with little visible growth until the final pages
▪️This is a book I wanted to like much more than I inevitably did. The concept holds merit and the story is a powerful depiction of difficult circumstances, but Frew failed to infuse these pages with enough heart and soul for me.
"It was something that hadn't happened since Nina was, say, fifteen. The three of them, together, breathing the same air, electrified by something vast, something immeasurably bigger than they were."
Did I Ever Tell You This? by Sam Neill
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
3.5
Did I Ever Tell You This? by Sam Neill (audiobook narrated by Sam Neill)
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️An amusing, informative and nostalgic memoir of a fascinating man who has lived many interesting lives
▪️Neill doesn't hesitate to tell embarrassing stories - including tales of literal and theoretical shit - many of which make the overall tone incredibly intimate and funny
▪️His passionate and sometimes seemingly controversial opinions are successfully broken up by tales of work, travel, family and his farm/winery. The variety of content was impressive and definitely the only way to write such a memoir
▪️The lack of obvious structure left it feeling generally quite rambling without direction, which made the pacing incredibly slow and ultimately a bit difficult to maintain interest overall
▪️Sam Neill is a terribly down to earth man whose passions make for interesting content, and anyone who has followed his film career would find lots of enjoyable content within.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️An amusing, informative and nostalgic memoir of a fascinating man who has lived many interesting lives
▪️Neill doesn't hesitate to tell embarrassing stories - including tales of literal and theoretical shit - many of which make the overall tone incredibly intimate and funny
▪️His passionate and sometimes seemingly controversial opinions are successfully broken up by tales of work, travel, family and his farm/winery. The variety of content was impressive and definitely the only way to write such a memoir
▪️The lack of obvious structure left it feeling generally quite rambling without direction, which made the pacing incredibly slow and ultimately a bit difficult to maintain interest overall
▪️Sam Neill is a terribly down to earth man whose passions make for interesting content, and anyone who has followed his film career would find lots of enjoyable content within.
"In the unlikely event that an aspiring producer were to ask me for advice about how to be a good producer, I would say: make sure you get good catering. After script, director and cast, the most critical thing is this - food."
Him by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (audiobook narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan)
☀️☀️☀️
▪️A queer sports romance that aimed high with its intentions without reaching most of them successfully
▪️A story of this style really needs you rooting for the couple. I liked the dual POV, particularly in audiobook form with two narrators, which allowed both characters to unfold throughout the novel. Jamie's arc was interesting and handled well, especially his growing understanding of his bisexuality. Wes, on the other hand, had almost no growth and continued to make shitty choices, only for Jamie to redeem him without apology or any real commitment until the final chapters. Their chemistry was good but not amazing, and ultimately the ending was cheapened by how little genuine communication happened
▪️In regards to the plot, I appreciated the balance of sports content to social interactions, which gave just enough context without feeling like info-dumping. The romance was well paced but I actually think there was too much sex throughout without proper emotional payoff at the end, because they're two dudes who refuse to have a conversation for 80% of the book, which really let down the premise
▪️Most of the dialogue and internal monologue was fine, but there were enough cringy lines in there to make me really disassociate from the characters and the attempted humour
▪️This is a super popular MM title that simply didn't do enough to work for me - being a 22 year old sports bro doesn't excuse a lack of respect and care for the supposed love of your life, especially in a romance novel, so I can't say I truly enjoyed it.
☀️☀️☀️
▪️A queer sports romance that aimed high with its intentions without reaching most of them successfully
▪️A story of this style really needs you rooting for the couple. I liked the dual POV, particularly in audiobook form with two narrators, which allowed both characters to unfold throughout the novel. Jamie's arc was interesting and handled well, especially his growing understanding of his bisexuality. Wes, on the other hand, had almost no growth and continued to make shitty choices, only for Jamie to redeem him without apology or any real commitment until the final chapters. Their chemistry was good but not amazing, and ultimately the ending was cheapened by how little genuine communication happened
▪️In regards to the plot, I appreciated the balance of sports content to social interactions, which gave just enough context without feeling like info-dumping. The romance was well paced but I actually think there was too much sex throughout without proper emotional payoff at the end, because they're two dudes who refuse to have a conversation for 80% of the book, which really let down the premise
▪️Most of the dialogue and internal monologue was fine, but there were enough cringy lines in there to make me really disassociate from the characters and the attempted humour
▪️This is a super popular MM title that simply didn't do enough to work for me - being a 22 year old sports bro doesn't excuse a lack of respect and care for the supposed love of your life, especially in a romance novel, so I can't say I truly enjoyed it.
"My life has been chaotic for as long as I can remember, and I always dealt with it alone. My parents’ criticism, my confusion over my sexuality. But for six weeks every summer, I didn’t have to be alone. I had Jamie, my best friend, my rock."
The King's Delight by Sarah Honey
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The King's Delight by Sarah Honey
☀️☀️☀️
▪️A short, sharp read that delivers the bare minimum
▪️I was intrigued by the idea of a kinky queer forbidden romance, but the sweetness and simplicity of the story didn't really balance out with the darker elements, glossing over any and all potential issues too perfectly to feel real
▪️The writing wasn't really interesting enough to hold my interest, and I kept waiting for some plot progression to aid the process but all of the conflicts seemed to resolve themselves before any significant tension could be built
▪️The characterisation of Leo in particular felt weird and not appropriate for his title, but the others were decent enough to make me finish reading, though I can't say I was ever invested in the romance or the politics
▪️For a book I knocked out in a few hours I'm not mad about how simple this was, but it's definitely forgettable enough that I cannot rate it higher.
☀️☀️☀️
▪️A short, sharp read that delivers the bare minimum
▪️I was intrigued by the idea of a kinky queer forbidden romance, but the sweetness and simplicity of the story didn't really balance out with the darker elements, glossing over any and all potential issues too perfectly to feel real
▪️The writing wasn't really interesting enough to hold my interest, and I kept waiting for some plot progression to aid the process but all of the conflicts seemed to resolve themselves before any significant tension could be built
▪️The characterisation of Leo in particular felt weird and not appropriate for his title, but the others were decent enough to make me finish reading, though I can't say I was ever invested in the romance or the politics
▪️For a book I knocked out in a few hours I'm not mad about how simple this was, but it's definitely forgettable enough that I cannot rate it higher.
"You need to lie down and hold me now. I’m a poor, delicate creature and I deserve to be coddled."
Perfect-ish by Jessica Seaborn
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Perfect-ish by Jessica Seaborn
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A light-hearted, thoughtful and timely examination of loneliness and personal growth that hits home without burrowing too deeply in its darkness
▪️As someone who had a panic attack at my impending thirties, Prue is a wonderfully relatable character with a level of complexity and unattractiveness that I appreciated. Her flaws are cringe-worthy in the most accurate and believable way, and the growth of her relationships throughout the story was enjoyable to read
▪️The supporting characters were all interesting and well constructed, though I would have enjoyed more detail on Prue's father, and their purpose in the narrative was always clear and succinctly handled. Personally I found the initial setup of Prue's romantic relationship a bit forgiving, though it found it's feet by the end
▪️The pacing of this felt too slow initially, due mostly to the structure of chapters by month in which the majority of the content is within the first few months, but it picked up well into the second act and onwards. I would have liked to see a bit more of the conflict resolution in the final two chapters, which felt a bit rushed over in comparison and lessened the impact of Prue's growth a little
▪️This was a book that was personally very relatable and touching to me and I liked the way Seaborn handled the concept with a good balance of dark and light. It speaks to my generation and our current dilemmas, and I'm sure many of my friends would enjoy this quick read for what it is able to deliver in a short amount of pages.
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A light-hearted, thoughtful and timely examination of loneliness and personal growth that hits home without burrowing too deeply in its darkness
▪️As someone who had a panic attack at my impending thirties, Prue is a wonderfully relatable character with a level of complexity and unattractiveness that I appreciated. Her flaws are cringe-worthy in the most accurate and believable way, and the growth of her relationships throughout the story was enjoyable to read
▪️The supporting characters were all interesting and well constructed, though I would have enjoyed more detail on Prue's father, and their purpose in the narrative was always clear and succinctly handled. Personally I found the initial setup of Prue's romantic relationship a bit forgiving, though it found it's feet by the end
▪️The pacing of this felt too slow initially, due mostly to the structure of chapters by month in which the majority of the content is within the first few months, but it picked up well into the second act and onwards. I would have liked to see a bit more of the conflict resolution in the final two chapters, which felt a bit rushed over in comparison and lessened the impact of Prue's growth a little
▪️This was a book that was personally very relatable and touching to me and I liked the way Seaborn handled the concept with a good balance of dark and light. It speaks to my generation and our current dilemmas, and I'm sure many of my friends would enjoy this quick read for what it is able to deliver in a short amount of pages.
"Someone, somewhere, is taking a picture for Instagram so that they can caption the post Day for it with a sun emoji."
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
☀️☀️⛅
▪️ It's difficult to articulate how a semi decent book can dissolve so quickly into ruin, as the title aptly prophesies, but this series finale manages to deeply disappoint
▪️My greatest disappointment with this is knowing that this was always the intended ending. Bardugo throws away 2.5 books of semi-decent character development in favour of our lead being reduced to nothing so that she doesn't upset her (unsurprisingly resurrected) boyfriend too much? Seriously?
▪️The plot tried to lean into the darker elements that it arguably needed to, and was mostly successful, but then we got a near-perfect ending that undid all of that work. Yes, people died, but it did not feel satisfying to finish where we landed. The death of the Darkling was laughably tame and contradicted the entire series' elevation of his character, particularly after the end of book 2 which was definitely closer to the mark on appropriate tension and tone
▪️The supporting characters arguably carried this entire book in terms of making me continue reading, because honestly the Big 3 (mostly Big 2 in this installment) were so disappointing and boring
▪️I read this series because I'd heard promising things about it and the TV adaptation, but I'm honestly reconsidering watching it knowing that I'll eventually go through this disappointment all over again. I would not recommend this series if you're a discerning reader, even at YA level, because there are just too many flaws in the ending to bother with the rest.
☀️☀️⛅
▪️ It's difficult to articulate how a semi decent book can dissolve so quickly into ruin, as the title aptly prophesies, but this series finale manages to deeply disappoint
▪️My greatest disappointment with this is knowing that this was always the intended ending. Bardugo throws away 2.5 books of semi-decent character development in favour of our lead being reduced to nothing so that she doesn't upset her (unsurprisingly resurrected) boyfriend too much? Seriously?
▪️The plot tried to lean into the darker elements that it arguably needed to, and was mostly successful, but then we got a near-perfect ending that undid all of that work. Yes, people died, but it did not feel satisfying to finish where we landed. The death of the Darkling was laughably tame and contradicted the entire series' elevation of his character, particularly after the end of book 2 which was definitely closer to the mark on appropriate tension and tone
▪️The supporting characters arguably carried this entire book in terms of making me continue reading, because honestly the Big 3 (mostly Big 2 in this installment) were so disappointing and boring
▪️I read this series because I'd heard promising things about it and the TV adaptation, but I'm honestly reconsidering watching it knowing that I'll eventually go through this disappointment all over again. I would not recommend this series if you're a discerning reader, even at YA level, because there are just too many flaws in the ending to bother with the rest.
"Thank goodness we had the foresight to be captured."
"Very quick thinking on your part. I commend you."