I'd like to think I'm a rational being, but I also know that I'm prone to sporadic fits of irrationality, just like everyone else out there. So I when I came across this book, I knew I had to read it. I was hoping it would give me insight into myself, and also help me understand why it seems like a large portion of our population have lately given in to the irrational devils of our nature.

And this book did offer insight. In particular, the first and second to last chapters were riveting, approaching the discussion from psychological and sociological perspectives. The examples on how people end up making less than optimal choices are intriguing, and this book offers the most intuitive explanation of the Monty Hall problem I've ever come across. And the concluding discussion on personal knowledge being divided into two different zones, real and mythological, is absolutely fascinating as well as illuminating.

But that isn't the majority of this book. Rather, the focus of this book is how to use probability and statistics to understand numerical implications of different choices, including how to calculate their actual probabilities. I have nothing against the topics, but that isn't what I thought I signed up to read when I opened this book.

Because the topics covered are so technical, the majority of this book reads like a textbook. It doesn't help that they are often presented in a heavily pedantic style, with lots of terms and formulas, as well as philosophical musings. In fact, there is enough content in here to cover multiple university classes (I know because I had the joy of taking these exact ones back in college), so you can imagine trying to fit them into 300 pages makes the whole thing dense and dry.

When a book is so technical, it gets into a bit of a dilemma with its target audience. If you already know most of the topics covered, then you should have no trouble following along, but in that case, why are you reading this book? On the other hand, if you haven't seen the topics before and this is your first introduction, I think you'll have a lot of trouble understanding and retaining the information, especially as the later chapters build on concepts from the earlier ones.

Don't get me wrong, this is an interesting book, but I think it requires the reader to go in with the right expectations. The misleading title will have you think it's a psychological deep dive into rationality, but it isn't that. This is really a book on probability and statistics, and how to use them to make sense of our world. With that mindset, this book could offer a lot to the right audience.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.

What is the purpose of fiction? Could it be to pull the wool over our eyes so completely that we forget we are reading something made up and totally false?

Chasing the Boogeyman is a fictional account of the brutal killings that took place in the author's hometown of Edgewood during the late 1980s. Teenage girls would first go missing and then turn up mutilated and posed. Before long, the town is in a frenzy of fear and suspicion. While the police work feverishly to catch the serial killer, Richard Chizmar is drawn to the case and his firsthand account eventually becomes the book we're reading.

Yes, you read that correctly. The author wrote himself into a fictional story. I've only encountered that ploy in one other book series before, and I'm a big fan. It creates a feeling of authenticity that, along with the true crime narrative style used here, makes it hard to dispute or look away from. There are even crime scene photos included with every chapter, which further adds to the real and chilling atmosphere.

Needless to say, I found the whole thing to be absolutely riveting. I got through it in two days—but only because I started late the first day and had to take a break to sleep—and I was so into the story, I ended up with insomnia.

One thing to note: while I inhaled practically the whole book, I did almost abandon it in the beginning because I found the opening to be really dry. This was especially the case with "Chapter One: The Town," which provides a detailed history of the town going back to colonial days and also includes random tidbits from the author's childhood, such as his house, favorite hangout spots, and even how many cracks are in certain sidewalks. I know what the author was trying to do here, but it was all irrelevant and almost did me in.

However, I'm so glad I didn't give up on this book. It turned out to be well worth the effort of the first thirty-five pages. If you're giving this a try, I'm not above suggesting you skim liberally or even skip straight to Chapter Two if you're feeling bogged down with the earlier pages; you won't miss anything.

This is one of the those books where the story is just as important as the format, and both worked together to create that perfect narrative. The blurring of the lines between what is real and what is fiction happens frequently and enthusiastically here. If the goal of fiction is to immerse the reader into a tale so bold and true as to feel authentic, then surely this must be the perfect tale.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

You got me. Not only do I judge a book by its cover, but I also judge its title too. So when I saw An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good, I knew there's no way I could pass it up.

Maud is 88 years old and as spry and sharp as she's ever been. With no family or friends, she has to rely on herself to solve any problems that come up. But sometimes problems have a way of being unsolvable, unless you don't mind a little murder. And Maud certainly doesn't.

This book is a hoot and a half. With its tongue in cheek candor and unflinching directness, it portrays Maud going about murder as one would go about one's business. I have to say, this is such a refreshing change from all those serious murder mysteries trying to catch the criminal. I found myself cheering Maud on and hoping she doesn't get caught.

Obviously, this book doesn't take itself too seriously, and the reader shouldn't either. If you're able to suspend disbelief for a little while, this pocket-sized book should bring you a quick dose of joviality and delight. And now there's a second book, so I can't wait to see what else Maud is up to.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

"We all have a limit. What we're willing to put up with before we break."

When was the last time a book just completely slayed me, cutting me so deep and evoking such strong emotions? It feels like my heart has been filled, then broken, filled, then broken. In the end, I'm stunned by what I read.

It Ends with Us starts out innocently enough. We follow the courtship of Lily and Ryle. He is handsome, successful, and so thoroughly smitten with Lily he can barely think. He makes advances while claiming he doesn't do relationships. She rebuffs him while secretly pining for him. Really, it's all fun and a bit frivolous, your standard romance.

But then we arrive at the crux of this story, which I'll try my best to be vague here so as to minimize the spoilage. (Though at this point, with all the hubbub surrounding the movie, I'd be surprised if there is anyone out there who doesn't yet know what this is about.) Nonetheless, it's best to read it from Colleen Hoover's own words, and what an astounding set of words they are.

Make no mistake, this isn't a romance even though it starts out as one. Instead, it's a considerably more honest look at relationships—their ups and downs, and what really happens when the rosy tint wears off and it turns out one person has bigger issues than the relationship can contain. As a result, it asks us readers the very uncomfortable question of just how much we are willing to put up with for love.

I will say, the main topic in here is something that a lot of books try to tackle, but very few do right. Often books will go heavy-handed in making one character out to be the villain, as if afraid that a more subtle approach will somehow be misconstrued as condonement. But this does a disservice to the entire situation, making it difficult for us to understand the other character's perspective as well as their reasons for being in the relationship in the first place.

What makes Hoover's portrayal so masterful is her nuanced approach. She brings a humanity to both sides that is sobering and heartbreaking, and it makes the whole thing ring true. It's brutal and compelling, and it's hard to look away.

I think for those of us fortunate enough to never have been in a situation like this, it's easy to take the ideal road and turn our noses up at anything less than the puritanical view. But real life isn't like that at all; it isn't black and white. It's filled to the brim with all sorts of gray, day in and day out. And Hoover shades in the gray with a skillfulness that is so raw and visceral, it often made me forget where my lines are.

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I read this book years ago when it first came out, and I remember thinking highly of it, though not much else. So when I read it again this time, I admit I was shaken by how hard it hit me. I think it's because I'm older now and have more experience with love and relationships, so I'm able to appreciate this story even more.

My suggestions if you're going to read this book—have a box of tissues ready and don't skip the author's note at the end. I sobbed my way to the finishing line, then read the author's note and sobbed some more. This is a riveting and worthwhile read, though at times difficult, and it showcases Colleen Hoover at her best, taking her contemporary new adult genre and elevating it to soaring heights.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

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Many people think that Hoover is romanticizing what is going on in here, but that isn't it at all. In making Ryle the complex person that he is with good qualities, and in making Ryle and Lily's relationship happy most of the time, Hoover actually manages to explain the most confounding paradox of abusive relationships—that they are good or even great most of the time, and that the victim is neither too dumb to realize they're being mistreated nor are they too lazy to affect change. But rather, the victim needs to be exceptionally strong and well-supported in order to leave behind so many good moments in order to cut out a few bad ones.

Imagine if there had been an Apollo 18 mission. Hailed as the last of its kind, it would be fraught with peril and steeped in secrecy. Set during the Cold War era, three astronauts must make the journey for the good of country and science. But when things start to go wrong, who can they really trust a quarter million miles from home?

Yep, say no more! Just dangle Apollo anything in front of me and I'm instantly hooked. You guys know I'm a total space buff, so there's no way I can pass up this book. In fact, when I first heard about it, I almost fell out of my chair in excitement. So I got my bonbons ready and prepared to dig into what was sure to be a riveting ride.

And this has all the bones of a great thriller. The premise is fantastic, the setting atmospheric, and who doesn't love a deadly cat-and-mouse game playing out in space? Since this is fiction weaved into real history, I recognized a lot of the people and events of the space program, and it adds to the authenticity of the whole thing. It was also interesting to contemplate how the Cold War mentality of suspicion and secrecy would play out should the U.S. and Russia actually cross paths during the space race.

But for me, where this book fell short is its excessive technical details. I appreciate those details when it helps me understand the story or drives the plot along. But in this case, the technical information often seems to overwhelm the story. In particular, no piece of machinery we come across is too minor to be given a thorough overview, be it helicopter, fighter jet, submarine, and of course every component of the rocket and spacecraft. I mean, I just need to know enough to understand the story; I'm not actually using this as a manual to pilot an aircraft or to build one, you know?

When writing a story like this, I imagine there is a constant tug-of-war between including enough technical details as to be authentic, but not so much that it bogs down the narrative and the pacing. With Hadfield being an astronaut and having tons of technical knowledge, it's natural that he would focus on what he knows best. But for me, it just went a bit too much in that direction

Still, this was an interesting read and a solid first effort at fiction by Hadfield. There's enough potential here that I look forward to reading more from him. I just hope he takes mercy on regular folks like me next time and include a little less technical info dump.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.

His eyes were doing the thing, the Gus thing . . . and it made my chest flutter almost painfully.

I don't get it. What am I missing here?

Beach Read originally caught my eye because its premise reminded me of Summer Villa, one of my favorite Hallmark movies. I know, I'm publicly admitting to being a sappy romantic at heart. And I'm proud of it. So why couldn't I get into this story at all?

For one, I didn't feel any chemistry between January and Gus. Nothing. Their interactions are so awkward and stilted, it was almost painful. They'll say mundane and platonic things to each other, and then sporadically, January will remind us that heat is filling her abdomen or pooling between her legs, and I'm like, Eh? I can't imagine how two people could possibly fall in love or lust while saying such bland things to each other.

This is the second book I've read by Emily Henry, and I've noticed that her female characters tend to be very twee and precious. They have extremely high expectations of what love is, need to be constantly reassured, and freak out at the smallest blip. At one point, January sees Gus's ex at a public event and she wants to scream and cry, before the woman has even said or done anything. And what's up with calling herself "dumb bunny"? Not to mention, she spends the entire time being upset with her dad over something that was none of her business. Suffice to say, it's all very exhausting.

As for Gus, we are told over and over that he has a crooked mouth and messy hair, wears rumpled and faded clothes, and has a sexy/evil look (what does that even mean?). Otherwise, his only characteristics are that he writes novels, and he adores January for no reasons that I could discern.

The writing style is fluffed out to the excess. There is so much mundane details about every event/non-event, from the multiple-page conversations on should they go or not go, to the logistical details (transportation/gift bringing/preferred topics of conversation) to the minutiae of everything that happens while at the event. And in between, every step of the way, it is interspersed with information on how January is feeling, how she thinks Gus must be feeling, and what this means for their relationship.

They are also constantly affirming what great people the other one is. Gus is dark and broken, but great! January is a fairy princess and a bright light, but great too! And they keep checking in to see if the other is happy. Like, are you happy? I am, are you happy? The conversations were so cheesy and trite, I was crying on the inside.

A good portion of this book is spent on the details of the stories they are each writing and their related research. One is a love story that takes place in a cult and the other is a love story that takes place... in a circus with clowns? I don't even know what I'm reading anymore.

Where is the flirty banter, the sexual tension, the obstacles to overcome? I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, or some interesting dialog, or some insight from this story. But nada. I'll be honest, this is one of the most boring books I've ever read.

My criteria for a romcom isn't that high. I want romance and comedy, but this book didn't satisfy either. I neither swooned nor laughed. I was mostly exhausted from boredom while waiting for this dull story to be over.

Readaroo Rating: 1 star

Wow, what a fascinating little book this turned out to be!

Sophia was made for him, her husband. He is perfect, her life is perfect, their house is perfect, everything is perfect. Or is it?

For a quick read, this sure kept me guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I'd picked up a clue and have slotted it into my mental picture, something happens that has me reconfiguring everything again. And this kept going until the very end. I was absolutely riveted.

From the moment this book showed up on the scenes, it's been generating so much buzz. It's not often a book has such polarizing reviews, with readers either enthusiastically loving it or passionately hating it. I knew I had to read it for myself to see where I landed.

If you're at all curious and you're in the mood for something unusual, I think this is worth a try. It's a short read (I got through it in less than 2 hours), and I guarantee you'll walk away with something you haven't seen before. Or have you?

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

My heartfelt thanks for the advance copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.

Before I start, let me include a disclaimer. You should probably disregard my review here. I am like the only person I know who did not enjoy this, and the only plausible explanation I have is that somehow I read a different book altogether. So my thoughts are of the book I did read, which may or may not be the same one everyone else did.

Ok, back to the program. Amelia and Adam are going through a rough patch in their marriage, so they thought a trip to a secluded location would be just what they need to mend their relationship. But when they arrive at the derelict church where they'll be staying, it's not what they expect. Soon enough, things start to go wrong and of course, they have no way to leave.

Oooh sounds chilling, right? So I'm all ready for the twists, and I'm flipping the page, flipping the page, and then I reach the very end. I think my problem is that I've read a lot of domestic thrillers, and they all follow the exact same pattern, including most of the twists in this book. As for the one remaining twist that didn't follow that pattern, not only had I seen it done elsewhere before, but having read Alice Feeney's other books, she has a tendency to a certain style, and it led me to realize this was where it was going pretty early on. So no surprises for me, but that isn't necessarily a deal breaker.

A bigger issue is that a lot of the things in here don't add up or make sense. Like Adam's face blindness is used to explain his inability to recognize people at all, not just their faces, even though people with this condition can still recognize others based on their clothes, voice, mannerism, and context. It's called face blindness, not people blindness... yeesh! Also, tons of clues are dropped that add to the atmosphere, but are then either ignored as coincidences or in direct opposition to the explanations provided.

But probably my biggest problem (you're saying to yourself, there's more?) is the writing style. For some reason, it's stuffed full of fortune cookie wisdom, like so:

Promises lose their value when broken or chipped, like dusty, forgotten antiques. 

Secrets are only secrets for the people who don't know them yet. 

That's the problem with following in someone else's footsteps; if you leave a bigger mark than they did they tend to get upset. 

Sometimes the early bird eats too many worms and dies.

There are so many of these, like at least one per page, sometimes several in one paragraph. So just as I'm getting into the story, I'm yanked out again by ever more silly and superficial sayings. Why it is written this way, I'm honestly baffled.

Everyone else loved this book for its atmospheric setting, crazy twists, and fast pacing. But the book I read had no surprises, lots of things that didn't make sense, and odd one-sentence wisdoms dispensed like there's no tomorrow.

Readaroo Rating: 2 stars

Phew! After the lackluster humdrum that was book 2, I'm so happy to report that Dunmore is back in top form with Portrait of a Scotsman.

Hattie Greenfield comes from old-money and has been coddled all her life. What she really wants is a white knight to woo her and sweep her off her feet. But when she's caught canoodling with self-made man Lucian Blackstone, she has no choice but to marry him to avoid scandal and ruin. But she's a pampered princess. Surely she can't be expected to love such a lowly plebeian, wealthy though he may be, can she?

If you detected a hint of sarcasm there, it was intentional. Hattie is such a spoiled brat, she almost spoiled the book for me. But before I move onto my rant, let's talk about the good stuff first.

The writing is sharp and riveting. Whatever malaise affected book 2, with its meandering pace and lack of sizzle, is all fixed here. The story is complex and interesting, filled with lots of historical details that lend so much authenticity to the whole thing. The witty banter and setting of Scotland only adds to the atmosphere. And the all important sexual tension that is crucial to a romance is present by the boatload. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.

If you're familiar with this series, you know it focuses a lot on suffrage and women's rights. In this book, I was heartened to see that it expanded to include workers' rights. The discussions in here about paying a living wage and making sure workers are safe in their jobs feel almost prescient to today, when we are having those exact same conversations about frontline and essential workers amid the pandemic.

Blackstone's character really struck a chord with me. Through hard work and ingenuity, he turned poverty and hopelessness into opportunity and wealth. His resilience is inspiring, especially in the face of so much tragedy. These types of characters, the ones who make something out of nothing, always appeal to me. On top of that, he's kind and considerate towards his wife, trying so hard to become the person she wants him to be. It's pretty rare for me in a romance to connect with the male lead more than the female one, but it definitely happened here.

My only issue with the book is Hattie. Apparently, privilege was alive and well in the 1880s. Through most of the book, she is so prissy and entitled, constantly sticking up her nose at her husband and lecturing him on right and wrong. She demands that he change to suit her, without trying to understand his side or meeting him halfway. And just when I thought she had matured and the story had reached its natural conclusion, there was one more issue with her that dragged out the story and jerked poor Blackstone around some more. And I didn't even understand what the problem was.

Thankfully, though I don't always succeed in separating my personal enjoyment of a story from my enjoyment of its characters, I was able to do it here. So even though I didn't love Hattie (she and I would not get along, that's for sure), I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. Dunmore puts so much research and depth into her historical romances that they feel authentic, and her focus on substantial issues makes her books timely and relevant, even for today.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars