200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Overnight NZ-wide delivery | 📍 Visit our Auckland bookstore • Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Sooky La-La

By Elise Sadlier
0.0 (0 reviews)
Brief Description
I don’t know where all these tears come from there is a deep well a tidal pool Elise Sadlier’s sparkling debut is for all the East Coast lovergirls who’ve been told they’re too sensitive, too intense, too loud – too sooky. These poems reach for crackling... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2499
Pre-order
Releases 11th February 2027 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Sooky La-La" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

Found a better price? Request a price match

A tender collection riding the swirling currents of grief, longing, love and whakapapa.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
I don’t know
where all these tears come from
there is a deep well
a tidal pool

Elise Sadlier’s sparkling debut is for all the East Coast lovergirls who’ve been told they’re too sensitive, too intense, too loud – too sooky.

These poems reach for crackling electric fences, run towards heartbreak down Highway 35 and follow the flight of the kōtuku to the edge of the world.

Sooky La-La is about coming-of-age into spiral time, learning to sit in your feels and your multitudes – and finding your tīpuna right there with you.

E tangiweto,
run like hell.
Break,
don’t cry.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781776712700

Publisher: Auckland University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 11 February 2027

Country: New Zealand

Imprint: Auckland University Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 84

Collections

Arts & Culture Elise Sadlier New Zealand and Australia Published New Zealand Published Non-Fiction Non-Fiction Pre-Orders Poetry Pre-order Books Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date

About the Author

Elise Sadlier was born in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa in 2000. The youngest of five siblings, she grew up surrounded by books, art, cousins and the ocean. She is of Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti and Paniora descent on her father’s side, with Pākehā whakapapa from North Hampshire and Whitby on her mother’s.

Elise has been creating for as long as she can remember. The child of two educators with an artist for a father, she was never particularly encouraged to get a sensible practical hobby. She studied at Elam School of Fine Arts, graduating with honours in 2022, before completing a Diploma of Oral Māori Fluency at Te Wānanga Takiura in 2024. She currently works as an academic mentor at a high school.

Her writing is shaped by her Tairāwhiti upbringing, her whakapapa, finding the sacred within the mundane, maladaptive daydreaming, and an ability to find stories in just about anything.

Still a mermaid at heart, Elise now lives in Maraetai with her partner and their dog.

Browse lists from our team

The Latest at Book Hero

View all

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    By Jane Ussher
    Hardback
    $6399
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    22% off
    New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator of Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and Accent Aigu, comes I’ll Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 and immediately took the world by storm. I’ll...
    By Jacob Tierney
    Hardback
    $4300
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    20% off
    The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    12% off
    New Release
    Shirl's Pick Shirl's Pick
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    By Jon Toogood
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    By Freddie Mercury
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    On Sale
    22% off
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    By Monique Fiso
    Hardback
    $3500
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    24% off
    The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017—revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)—critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Artist's Way
    The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...
    By Julia Cameron
    Paperback
    $3700
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    25% off
    This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    By Layne Staley
    Hardback
    $5500
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    24% off
    Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    By Jessica Urlichs
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Birdlands Birdlands
    New Release
    Birdlands
    A rare, intimate journey into the wild islands where Aotearoa's birds live beyond the reach of most human lives. In the most remote outposts of Aotearoa, our islands are populated not with people, but with birds. From the storm-lashed Subantarctic Islands in the deep south to the scattered volcanic islands of Tikapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf in the north, Birdlands offers a...
    By Edin Whitehead
    Hardback
    $4199
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    25% off
    The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “It’s undeniably thrilling to find words for our strangest feelings…Koenig casts light into lonely corners of human experience…An enchanting book.” —The Washington Post A truly original book in every sense of the word, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows poetically defines emotions that we all feel but don’t have the words to express—until now. Have you ever...
    By John Koenig
    Hardback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $4699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 190,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.