jomerl's reviews
157 reviews

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

2.5

This is just what it claims - a basic look at habits. Very basic. It has great basic ideas for habit forming but I found the data used to be deeply lacking. For example many studies used to provide habit data have since been uncovered to have alternative causes. The marshmallow study done with kids has been debunked once folks looked at wealth and poverty and realized the reason kids could withstand the temptation of the marshmallow was because they were the kids who had food at home. Of course wealth resulted in kids getting better grades and higher test scores. An understanding of this data is great but we need to look at the intersection of other key points to understand habits. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Rape

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted 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

American Royals by Katharine McGee

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Cancer and Sexism

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

The Hunted Heir by Holly Renee

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Kidnapping

Wellness by Nathan Hill

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0