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luluwoohoo's reviews
472 reviews
Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Running Close To The Wind by Alexandra Rowland (audiobook narrated by Casey Jones)
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️
A laugh-out-loud queer pirate romp that manages impressive world-building and a captivating plot without compromising on the humour at its heart.
I don't think I've ever laughed quite so hard reading a book! This story has a very specific type of humour - silly, vulgar and slapstick in nature - which appeals to me however unexpectedly. Rowland walks the tightrope well, never letting a running joke get tiresome, and balances this humour with a great deal of earnestness. There is a lot of talk about sex but the most we get is fade to black, which is surprising but not overly disappointing.
A story such as this cannot succeed without a cast of colourful characters. Avra is undoubtedly cringey but is equally endearing; Tev is gruff but loveable; Julian is intriguing and hot. With the exception of Julian, who I'd like a bit more exploration of, I found all of the characters well developed with unique voices. And speaking of voices: Casey Jones absolutely delivers with the audiobook - his accents and comedic timing are perfect for this!
The world-building is surprisingly comprehensive, though this is in part due to existing in the same universe as Rowland's previous book. I appreciate the details we are given on pirate history, ministerial positions, and the utmost importance of the cake competition.
This book strikes me as one that will be loved or hated based entirely on a person's interpretation of the humour. For me, it is outstanding and something I will revisit again and again. What a delight!
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️
A laugh-out-loud queer pirate romp that manages impressive world-building and a captivating plot without compromising on the humour at its heart.
I don't think I've ever laughed quite so hard reading a book! This story has a very specific type of humour - silly, vulgar and slapstick in nature - which appeals to me however unexpectedly. Rowland walks the tightrope well, never letting a running joke get tiresome, and balances this humour with a great deal of earnestness. There is a lot of talk about sex but the most we get is fade to black, which is surprising but not overly disappointing.
A story such as this cannot succeed without a cast of colourful characters. Avra is undoubtedly cringey but is equally endearing; Tev is gruff but loveable; Julian is intriguing and hot. With the exception of Julian, who I'd like a bit more exploration of, I found all of the characters well developed with unique voices. And speaking of voices: Casey Jones absolutely delivers with the audiobook - his accents and comedic timing are perfect for this!
The world-building is surprisingly comprehensive, though this is in part due to existing in the same universe as Rowland's previous book. I appreciate the details we are given on pirate history, ministerial positions, and the utmost importance of the cake competition.
This book strikes me as one that will be loved or hated based entirely on a person's interpretation of the humour. For me, it is outstanding and something I will revisit again and again. What a delight!
'Are you crying?'
'I am a poet, Julian, of course I am crying!' Avra wailed. 'A poet's whole job is to celebrate sluts and cry about beautiful things coming to tragic, untimely ends!'
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland (audiobook narrated by Louise Crawford)
☀️☀️☀️⛅
A powerful debut novel that tackles a tough coming-of-age journey well, but gets lost in its own need to prove itself.
My overall impression of this novel is that it tries to tell two different stories. The first half was, for me, much more captivating, following Alice's life with two broken families as she approaches adulthood. Unfortunately the dramatic whims of June and the unbelievable head-over-heels romance with Dylan spoiled what had been until that point relatively nuanced, and the second half felt heavy handed and one-dimensional in its exploration of the themes at hand. I think the story could have been more impactful without the unnecessary miscommunication signposted ahead of time.
Alice as a main character is sometimes a struggle to stay connected to, though it does track as natural given her circumstances. The mental gymnastics during her love affair was particularly well described and haunting, but overall her melodrama left me wanting a more mature voice of reason.
Ringland's writing is lovely throughout but does vary heavily between being overly descriptive and sparse. This works well during nature-based scenes but very much hinders the romance sub-plots, where we're given nothing of substance to understand why Alice falls so quickly and easily for almost every man who enters her life.
I wanted to enjoy this more, but it just wasn't a book written for me. I would still recommend it given the strong voice and heartfelt message.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
A powerful debut novel that tackles a tough coming-of-age journey well, but gets lost in its own need to prove itself.
My overall impression of this novel is that it tries to tell two different stories. The first half was, for me, much more captivating, following Alice's life with two broken families as she approaches adulthood. Unfortunately the dramatic whims of June and the unbelievable head-over-heels romance with Dylan spoiled what had been until that point relatively nuanced, and the second half felt heavy handed and one-dimensional in its exploration of the themes at hand. I think the story could have been more impactful without the unnecessary miscommunication signposted ahead of time.
Alice as a main character is sometimes a struggle to stay connected to, though it does track as natural given her circumstances. The mental gymnastics during her love affair was particularly well described and haunting, but overall her melodrama left me wanting a more mature voice of reason.
Ringland's writing is lovely throughout but does vary heavily between being overly descriptive and sparse. This works well during nature-based scenes but very much hinders the romance sub-plots, where we're given nothing of substance to understand why Alice falls so quickly and easily for almost every man who enters her life.
I wanted to enjoy this more, but it just wasn't a book written for me. I would still recommend it given the strong voice and heartfelt message.
"Life is lived forward, but only understood backward. You can't see the landscape you're in while you're in it."
Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? No
3.0
Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick
☀️☀️☀️
A second chance romance with a twist that explores the necessary secret keeping of small town life.
This is the first amnesia story I've read and I think the setup was handled well enough. I thought it was an interesting decision to have Stevie not remember anything throughout the course of the book so that we got a rediscovery of her love in real time, but most of her recovery and developing feelings felt a bit too surface level to connect to.
The romance was sweet and I believed the chemistry between Stevie and Nora. I also really enjoyed the friendship Stevie found with Ryan, but her old friends came across as too bitchy and one-note to be worth the time invested in them. As for Stevie's relationship with her parents, their conflicts felt genuine and authentic right until the end scene which was much too neat and tidy for the story that was set up.
The writing itself is simple but effective. Derrick could have benefitted from another round of edits to fix repetitive dialogue tags like 'joked' which became grating by the end.
This was a fast paced book that could have been strengthened by more internal exploration from Stevie, but it did what it set out to do.
☀️☀️☀️
A second chance romance with a twist that explores the necessary secret keeping of small town life.
This is the first amnesia story I've read and I think the setup was handled well enough. I thought it was an interesting decision to have Stevie not remember anything throughout the course of the book so that we got a rediscovery of her love in real time, but most of her recovery and developing feelings felt a bit too surface level to connect to.
The romance was sweet and I believed the chemistry between Stevie and Nora. I also really enjoyed the friendship Stevie found with Ryan, but her old friends came across as too bitchy and one-note to be worth the time invested in them. As for Stevie's relationship with her parents, their conflicts felt genuine and authentic right until the end scene which was much too neat and tidy for the story that was set up.
The writing itself is simple but effective. Derrick could have benefitted from another round of edits to fix repetitive dialogue tags like 'joked' which became grating by the end.
This was a fast paced book that could have been strengthened by more internal exploration from Stevie, but it did what it set out to do.
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
For a book that emplores you to go in blind, I'm glad I did! I wouldn't go as far as the book cover hype which says it will 'change your life', but it is beautifully written, almost fantasy like, in its scope and perspective. The weaving of these two women's lives with each other was touching and did leave a mark.
Both perspectives had a clear voice and built up the worlds of Little Bee and Sarah viscerally. There are several passages I had to pause and savour for their beauty and poignancy. Cleave's prose is really wonderful.
The plot was a little meandering at times and some reveals came on a bit too strong, but this feels in tune with the fantasy-adjacent read I had on this novel, so in that sense it wasn't as jarring as it could be. It felt more like wish fulfillment put together with the unfortunate harshness of reality.
I really enjoyed the journey this story took me on and the messages it conveyed. It's lovely when a book can surprise you like that.
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
For a book that emplores you to go in blind, I'm glad I did! I wouldn't go as far as the book cover hype which says it will 'change your life', but it is beautifully written, almost fantasy like, in its scope and perspective. The weaving of these two women's lives with each other was touching and did leave a mark.
Both perspectives had a clear voice and built up the worlds of Little Bee and Sarah viscerally. There are several passages I had to pause and savour for their beauty and poignancy. Cleave's prose is really wonderful.
The plot was a little meandering at times and some reveals came on a bit too strong, but this feels in tune with the fantasy-adjacent read I had on this novel, so in that sense it wasn't as jarring as it could be. It felt more like wish fulfillment put together with the unfortunate harshness of reality.
I really enjoyed the journey this story took me on and the messages it conveyed. It's lovely when a book can surprise you like that.
"I found the little bottle of nail varnish at the bottom of a charity box. It still had the price ticket on it. If I ever discover the person who gave it then I will tell them, for the cost of one British pound and ninety-nine pence, they saved my life. Because this is what I did in that place, to remind myself I was alive underneath everything: under my steel toecaps I wore bright red nail varnish."
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 4 by Kamome Shirahama
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Witch Hat Atelier Volumes 4-6 by Kamome Shirahama
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The continuation of Coco and her friends studying to become fully fledged witches continues to skillfully expand the worldbuilding without overwhelming the overarching narrative, while studying true to the wholesome and positive tone. There are certainly darker elements in these volumes which elevate the tension but those scenes are balanced well with the introduction of new characters and locations that wow and delight.
The character growth of Coco has slowed across these volumes as we learn more about Agott and Richeh, but their individual arcs were both handled well. Qifrey remains an intriguing character and the Brimmed Hats continue to wreak havoc. I enjoyed the introduction of more senior witches and the challenges they brought forth.
The artwork continues to stun on every level. It's level of detail is so impressive without sacrificing any ease of following along - nothing is lost in translation or difficult to interpret.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The continuation of Coco and her friends studying to become fully fledged witches continues to skillfully expand the worldbuilding without overwhelming the overarching narrative, while studying true to the wholesome and positive tone. There are certainly darker elements in these volumes which elevate the tension but those scenes are balanced well with the introduction of new characters and locations that wow and delight.
The character growth of Coco has slowed across these volumes as we learn more about Agott and Richeh, but their individual arcs were both handled well. Qifrey remains an intriguing character and the Brimmed Hats continue to wreak havoc. I enjoyed the introduction of more senior witches and the challenges they brought forth.
The artwork continues to stun on every level. It's level of detail is so impressive without sacrificing any ease of following along - nothing is lost in translation or difficult to interpret.
"No matter how prepared one is...the thought that one could have done more always lingers. You need only be as you are now. Do as such, and you'll be ready to do more when the next time comes."
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 5 by Kamome Shirahama
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Witch Hat Atelier Volumes 4-6 by Kamome Shirahama
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The continuation of Coco and her friends studying to become fully fledged witches continues to skillfully expand the worldbuilding without overwhelming the overarching narrative, while studying true to the wholesome and positive tone. There are certainly darker elements in these volumes which elevate the tension but those scenes are balanced well with the introduction of new characters and locations that wow and delight.
The character growth of Coco has slowed across these volumes as we learn more about Agott and Richeh, but their individual arcs were both handled well. Qifrey remains an intriguing character and the Brimmed Hats continue to wreak havoc. I enjoyed the introduction of more senior witches and the challenges they brought forth.
The artwork continues to stun on every level. It's level of detail is so impressive without sacrificing any ease of following along - nothing is lost in translation or difficult to interpret.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The continuation of Coco and her friends studying to become fully fledged witches continues to skillfully expand the worldbuilding without overwhelming the overarching narrative, while studying true to the wholesome and positive tone. There are certainly darker elements in these volumes which elevate the tension but those scenes are balanced well with the introduction of new characters and locations that wow and delight.
The character growth of Coco has slowed across these volumes as we learn more about Agott and Richeh, but their individual arcs were both handled well. Qifrey remains an intriguing character and the Brimmed Hats continue to wreak havoc. I enjoyed the introduction of more senior witches and the challenges they brought forth.
The artwork continues to stun on every level. It's level of detail is so impressive without sacrificing any ease of following along - nothing is lost in translation or difficult to interpret.
"No matter how prepared one is...the thought that one could have done more always lingers. You need only be as you are now. Do as such, and you'll be ready to do more when the next time comes."
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 6 by Kamome Shirahama
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
Witch Hat Atelier Volumes 4-6 by Kamome Shirahama
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The continuation of Coco and her friends studying to become fully fledged witches continues to skillfully expand the worldbuilding without overwhelming the overarching narrative, while studying true to the wholesome and positive tone. There are certainly darker elements in these volumes which elevate the tension but those scenes are balanced well with the introduction of new characters and locations that wow and delight.
The character growth of Coco has slowed across these volumes as we learn more about Agott and Richeh, but their individual arcs were both handled well. Qifrey remains an intriguing character and the Brimmed Hats continue to wreak havoc. I enjoyed the introduction of more senior witches and the challenges they brought forth.
The artwork continues to stun on every level. It's level of detail is so impressive without sacrificing any ease of following along - nothing is lost in translation or difficult to interpret.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The continuation of Coco and her friends studying to become fully fledged witches continues to skillfully expand the worldbuilding without overwhelming the overarching narrative, while studying true to the wholesome and positive tone. There are certainly darker elements in these volumes which elevate the tension but those scenes are balanced well with the introduction of new characters and locations that wow and delight.
The character growth of Coco has slowed across these volumes as we learn more about Agott and Richeh, but their individual arcs were both handled well. Qifrey remains an intriguing character and the Brimmed Hats continue to wreak havoc. I enjoyed the introduction of more senior witches and the challenges they brought forth.
The artwork continues to stun on every level. It's level of detail is so impressive without sacrificing any ease of following along - nothing is lost in translation or difficult to interpret.
"No matter how prepared one is...the thought that one could have done more always lingers. You need only be as you are now. Do as such, and you'll be ready to do more when the next time comes."
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
4.75
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️
This delightfully cozy fantasy elevates itself above others in the genre with fascinating worldbuilding, clever characters and just enough grit to keep it interesting.
The way Fawcett weaves together the lighter and darker elements of this folklore-obsessed tale is remarkable, as are the well balanced romance elements. There is a certain meandering nature to the plot that is at times less enthralling, namely when we are sidetracked with folk tales, but it is still a thoroughly enjoyable ride.
Both Emily and Wendell are refreshingly three dimensional with obvious flaws that somehow end up being endearing. Their banter and seemingly one-sided affection is charming and it's not difficult to see how they fit together well by balancing each other out. Emily in particular is a wonderful character to inhabit with her strength and discipline - awkward introverts unite!
The narrative style of telling this through diary entries is mostly good, but it did at times make me feel a few steps removed from the action and tension. Though there is one particular moment in which it is very very effective, so it's mostly forgiven.
I struggled to put this down and flew through it. I definitely cannot wait to dive into book 2, as the level of worldbuilding is fantastic and easily lends itself to a series.
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️
This delightfully cozy fantasy elevates itself above others in the genre with fascinating worldbuilding, clever characters and just enough grit to keep it interesting.
The way Fawcett weaves together the lighter and darker elements of this folklore-obsessed tale is remarkable, as are the well balanced romance elements. There is a certain meandering nature to the plot that is at times less enthralling, namely when we are sidetracked with folk tales, but it is still a thoroughly enjoyable ride.
Both Emily and Wendell are refreshingly three dimensional with obvious flaws that somehow end up being endearing. Their banter and seemingly one-sided affection is charming and it's not difficult to see how they fit together well by balancing each other out. Emily in particular is a wonderful character to inhabit with her strength and discipline - awkward introverts unite!
The narrative style of telling this through diary entries is mostly good, but it did at times make me feel a few steps removed from the action and tension. Though there is one particular moment in which it is very very effective, so it's mostly forgiven.
I struggled to put this down and flew through it. I definitely cannot wait to dive into book 2, as the level of worldbuilding is fantastic and easily lends itself to a series.
"Perhaps it is always restful to be around someone who does not expect anything from you beyond what is in your nature."
"'Get inside! You're bleeding!'
'I will not bleed any less indoors, you utter madwoman.'"
Ballet Confidential: A Personal Behind-the-scenes Guide by David McAllister
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.0
Ballet Confidential by David McAllister
☀️☀️☀️
This detailed behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet doesn't leave a stone unturned when it comes to painting a picture of life within the world of dancing. McAllister is one of Australia's greatest ballet triumphs both as a dancer and artistic director, and his wealth of experience and knowledge was evident throughout this book.
I enjoyed learning historical insights such as Anna Pavlova initially being dubbed too thin and weak for ballet, and how the first version of Swan Lake was panned by critics. I also appreciated David's personal stories - both good and bad - and without these anecdotes the book would closer resemble a textbook. There are certainly sections that cater towards the uninitiated and some of these I must admit I skimmed, but that shouldn't deter those who find the finer details interesting.
For anyone interested in ballet history, the army it takes to put on a show, or simply wants to know about how guys protect their junk while performing, this book has it all! It was a quick fun read.
"The reason dancers train for so long and are forever striving for continuous learning and refinement is to ensure that each night when the curtain goes up they make the impossible look effortless."
☀️☀️☀️
This detailed behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet doesn't leave a stone unturned when it comes to painting a picture of life within the world of dancing. McAllister is one of Australia's greatest ballet triumphs both as a dancer and artistic director, and his wealth of experience and knowledge was evident throughout this book.
I enjoyed learning historical insights such as Anna Pavlova initially being dubbed too thin and weak for ballet, and how the first version of Swan Lake was panned by critics. I also appreciated David's personal stories - both good and bad - and without these anecdotes the book would closer resemble a textbook. There are certainly sections that cater towards the uninitiated and some of these I must admit I skimmed, but that shouldn't deter those who find the finer details interesting.
For anyone interested in ballet history, the army it takes to put on a show, or simply wants to know about how guys protect their junk while performing, this book has it all! It was a quick fun read.
"The reason dancers train for so long and are forever striving for continuous learning and refinement is to ensure that each night when the curtain goes up they make the impossible look effortless."
Pretty Boy by Brianna Flores
emotional
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? Yes
2.75
Pretty Boy by Brianna Flores
☀️☀️🌤️
This fast+paced and steamy romance had good bones but fell into too many predictable choices to be anything other than bland.
This was an easy read, but that's because a lot of the internal dialogue was superfluous to the plot. We actually didn't get any significant character growth from either main character, both of whom had genuine opportunities for that, namely in Liam's exploitation of his feminisation kink which is barely addressed despite being the title of the book. Their chemistry was okay but the sheer volume of sex in this desensitized me to it.
I only liked 1 supporting character because his bitchiness felt appropriately in character, but everyone else was an asshole for seemingly no reason, and when no one is inherently likeable in a romance it's not good.
The writing itself wasn't anything special, and I spotted a handful of basic spelling and grammar mistakes throughout. The humour wasn't to my tastes most of the time either, and a lot of the dialogue was targeted towards this so it fell flat.
I think this is a case of expecting too much out of a basic romance book. It had potential to take bigger risks but in staying safe it's likely to be forgettable.
☀️☀️🌤️
This fast+paced and steamy romance had good bones but fell into too many predictable choices to be anything other than bland.
This was an easy read, but that's because a lot of the internal dialogue was superfluous to the plot. We actually didn't get any significant character growth from either main character, both of whom had genuine opportunities for that, namely in Liam's exploitation of his feminisation kink which is barely addressed despite being the title of the book. Their chemistry was okay but the sheer volume of sex in this desensitized me to it.
I only liked 1 supporting character because his bitchiness felt appropriately in character, but everyone else was an asshole for seemingly no reason, and when no one is inherently likeable in a romance it's not good.
The writing itself wasn't anything special, and I spotted a handful of basic spelling and grammar mistakes throughout. The humour wasn't to my tastes most of the time either, and a lot of the dialogue was targeted towards this so it fell flat.
I think this is a case of expecting too much out of a basic romance book. It had potential to take bigger risks but in staying safe it's likely to be forgettable.
"I want to be the one whose pleasure is the focus, not the other way around. Why can’t I just lay there and take it? I am not at all a giving person. Give it to me, dammit. Give me all of the things. That’s what I want."