May Book Recap

It's still a little hard for some of y'all to believe, but I didn't really grow up reading. Clif Notes were a lifesaver in high school. I'd read 'enough' to get by, but I didn't enjoy the act of reading so never did it. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required", but whatever the reason, I'm glad I took the challenge to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which became 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022, 98 books in 2023, 224 books in 2024 and 136 books in 2025). The majority of my reading recently has been listening to audiobooks, but it still counts! Even still, holding a physical book is my JAM and I hope I can add that back into my routine on a more regular basis. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I finish is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading (so I don't forget and in case anyone is curious) and to stay accountable. So, without further ado, here are the books I completed in the month of May:

• This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens - I had read one of this author's books back in January and thought it was cute, so when I saw this one while scrolling through my Libby app I thought I'd give it a try. As expected, this was a sweet rom com about Minnie and Quinn. The two were actually born minutes apart in a London hospital, but their lives couldn't be more different. Minnie grew up being told that she was one unlucky soul, whereas Quinn seemed to have been given everything in life (at least to an outsider). The two randomly meet on their 30th birthday and strike up a friendship realizing who each other are (and even getting their moms back in touch after 30 years of built up resentment on Minnie's mom's part). It was a quick, light-hearted read and I enjoyed seeing how their paths had 'almost' crossed so many time leading up to their eventual run in. I'm always a sucker for alternating perspectives and this one even jumped around a bit with the timeline, which keeps you on your toes. If you're looking for a lot of romance, this might not be the book for you, because it seems to be a little more focused on Minnie's growth as a person instead of a romantic relationship between her and Quinn (although it's slightly there), but, nonetheless, I enjoyed it. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Fallout by Ellen Hopkins - This is the third and final book in the Crank series. I read the first book in March and the second book last month. Unlike the first two, this one was not told from Kristina's perspective. It was actually alternating perspectives from her three oldest children - Hunter, Autumn and Summer. It didn't necessarily focus on her addiction to crystal meth, but instead the fallout in their lives from this 'monster'. Each of the teens (they were teens at this point in the story) were living with different people (whether it was grandparents, foster parents or an absent parent) and had different levels of knowledge about their family history. I thought this was a great conclusion for the trilogy and liked how it wrapped everything up (especially with the news blurbs about other characters we met throughout the series). I was rooting for these kiddos, who felt real and raw, and loved being along for the journey of their personal growth. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Bodyguard by Katherine Center - I'm not sure how I came across this book, but it ended up on my 'for later' list and it was available at my local library so I grabbed it. It's a sweet romcom seeped in the fake relationship trope. Hannah is a bodyguard who is hired to protect a famous actor, Jack. Jack wasn't aware of the protective service until she appeared on his doorstep. Jack will agree to the protection detail only if Hannah pretends to be his girlfriend, because he doesn't want to stress out his mother who is currently battling cancer. As you can imagine, feelings bloom and Hannah struggles to keep the relationship professional while trying to decide if Jack is just a really good actor or if his feelings might be real too. This was a quick, clean read (not much spice) that had me smiling and saying 'awwwww' in all the right parts. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• It's Not Her by Mary Kubica - This book was highly rated and popped up on my recommended list on Hoopla (after my month of downloads reset) so I thought I'd try it out. It was told from two different perspectives - Courtney and Reese. Courtney is Reese's aunt and they are on a family vacation in Wisconsin with both of their families (Courtney, her husband, Elliott and their daughter Cass, plus Nolan [Courtney's brother], Emily [Nolan's wife and Courtney's best friend], Wyatt and Mae [Nolan and Emily's other two children]). Nolan and Emily had been having marital issues and one night they are murdered in their cabin and Reese goes missing. Courtney does her best to try to figure out who murdered her best friend and brother and where her teenage niece is. Courtney and Reese's timelines are slightly off (Reese's being what happened leading up to the murder/ disappearance and Courtney's after the incident). I'd say it was a decent thriller with a good number of plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing what would happen next, but nothing too amazing. I'd also say the reveal at the very end was a little much. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Molka by Monika Kim - I had seen this book on a bunch of lists last month, so when I saw it pop up on my Hoopla app I thought I'd grab it. I clicked into the audiobook and saw it was listed as horror and got a little nervous. Normally I am a scaredy-pants when it comes to horror type things, but I did a little googling and it didn't seem like it was supposed to be too scary, so I went for it anyway. This book mostly focused on the problem of hidden cameras and voyeurism in Korea. There were two main characters - Junyoung, an IT tech who becomes obsessed with a fellow coworker after spying on her in the bathrooms at their office, and Dahye, the woman who is being watched without her knowledge or consent. The book focuses on issues such as the dehumanization of women, revenge and misogyny. There are some ghosts and violence thrown in, which is where I'd assume the book turns from thriller to horror, but nothing too terrible. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers - I love following Elyse on social media, so when she released her book I knew I wanted to read it. I noticed that my Hoopla app actually had it available (I figured I'd have to wait until my library got a copy), so I downloaded it right away. This book was exactly what I expected it to be - a collection of raw, funny and vulnerable stories from Elyse's life. She is a comedian and content creator who happens to have anxiety and was diagnosed with autism. Her stories read like her social media posts - short snitbits from her life that are awkward yet endearing. I also love that we get more of a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of her relationship with her now-husband. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins - I had seen this book on must read lists for many moons, but it hadn't been released on either of my audiobook apps, so I just kept waiting... that is, until I noticed my library had a copy so I got in line for it. If you don't know who this author is, he's a retired Navy SEAL who became an ultrarunner. I was interested to learn more about his backstory (as well as his mentality, since I have heard so much about it) and this book delivered. It dove into his time as a child, his life in the military, his struggles with racism throughout his life, his mindset shifts and so much more. I would say that we are NOT cut from the same cloth, but that's okay. He enjoys beating his mind into submission and getting 100% out of himself, while, apparently, I enjoy the cushy life in my comfort zone ;) I would say that I read this book more as a memoir instead of a how-to guide of becoming a better/ stronger runner. I don't know that I plan on implementing any of his challenges, but I can see how his perspective may be helpful for others. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist by Sophie Gonzalez - I figured it was time for some YA books and came across this one when I was scrolling on my Libby app. I didn't know anything about it, but the cover looked cute so I grabbed it. I would say that had I read the synopsis I probably wouldn't have checked it out, since it was a little more sci-fi-ish than I normally enjoy, but it was good nonetheless. This was a coming of age story about Ivy. She somehow brings the main character of her favorite TV show (and the fanfic that she writes) to fruition in her life. She realizes he is living out the different stories that she has written, a day at a time (for example - enemies to lovers, the soulmate trope, etc). She has to enlist the help of her best friend and former best friend to try and figure out what is going on and how to 'fix' the situation. It was 'good enough', but I wasn't in love with the story. I did, however, appreciate the inclusion of a bi character, because it seems as though they are fewer and farther between, even with LGBTQIA+ characters. I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• Mate by Ali Hazelwood - I noticed that a follow-up book to one of this author's previous novels was released earlier this year and I knew I had to check it out. I am normally not one for books about werewolves and vampires, but for some reason I get wrapped up in this storyline from Ali. I read the precursor of this book last year and although this one is a standalone story, I knew I'd probably enjoy it just as much. I will warn you, this is spicy with a capital S. Even still, I can get swept away in the plot like nobody's business. This story follows Serena and Koen. Serena is an extremely rare human-werewolf hybrid and Koen is the Alpha of the Northwest werewolf pack. Koen realizes that Serena is his mate, but knows it is unrequited so decides he will do his best to protect her while also keeping her at arms length. As with all of this author's books, there is witty banter, there are deep conversations, there is trauma, growth and dry/ dark humor, there is found family and fated love, there are high stakes and lots of heart and heat. I'll be honest, I'm not one for the paranormal fantasy genre, but if another book in this series is released I'll be in line for it pronto. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Say Nice Things About Detroit by Scott Lasser - I was randomly scrolling around on my Libby audiobook app and came across this book. Obviously the title caught my attention and I had to grab it. I think I was expecting it to be nonfiction, but it turned out to be a novel. It was a quick listen, but nothing special to write home about (other than the fact that I loved hearing words like Ypsilanti, Livernois, Gratiot, etc). The story jumps around a lot - to different points of time and to different characters' perspectives. The main character, David, moves back to Detroit because his mom is unwell and has to deal with a lot of racial tension and economic decline in a city that may not be welcoming him back with open arms. There is a bit of a murder mystery thrown in, but I feel like everything was pretty surface-y and there wasn't too much depth (whether in the characters [which there are many] or in the plot overall) to make it an amazing book. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Little Movements by Lauren Morrow - I had seen this book mentioned on a few lists recently so thought I'd pick it up from the local library. It was a novel about Layla Smart, a Black choreographer who leaves New York City to move to Vermont for a residency with a prestigious art program. While there, she deals with life - marital problems, losing a pregnancy, the problematic [read RACIST] past of the institution she has been hired to work for, maintaining adult friendships and so much more. The story felt genuine (and maybe that was because nothing was too over-the-top or different from the 'real' world - the characters felt relatable, the struggles from normal) and I appreciated the focus on self-discovery and growth. You could also really tell that the writer was a dancer by the way all of the 'little movements' were so vividly described. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey - When I was scrolling through my Hoopla app I saw that there were three of this author's books bundled into one download (there is a limit of five downloads per month on this audiobook app) so I knew I needed to grab the set. The first book is all about the fake relationship trope. Travis, a baseball star whose career was cut short due to injury, moves back home to try and pick up the pieces of his life and runs into Georgie, his best friend's little sister who everyone sees as a joke (both figuratively and literally, as she is a professional clown for children's birthday parties). The two realize a fake relationship could be a win-win for them - with Travis looking a little more wholesome (after years of escapades with rotating woman) and Georgie seeming more grown up (in hopes that not only her family but the community at large would start to take her seriously). As with most of this author's books, this one is filled with spice, but also emotional growth in the characters. It is a swoon worthy romcom that you can't help but smile through. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey - This is the next book in the "Hot & Hammered" series (the Castle family owns a construction/ renovation company, so that is technically the backdrop for the books). We left off with Georgie getting her happily ever after, but her friend Rosie is in the throes of a failing marriage. Dominic and Rosie were high school sweethearts (maybe even more like middle school sweethearts), but after his tours overseas, he stopped communicating and their relationship turned into one of just going through the motions. After the Just Us League helps Rosie to see she deserves more, she decides to move out and gives her and Dom a final chance by forcing them into intense marriage counseling. There's loads of humor and chemistry, but also serious emotions throughout. I was pulling for the couple to make it, but also for each of the characters to live their best lives (and for Rosie to get her restaurant). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Kin by Tayari Jones - I had seen this book on a few lists recently, so thought I'd get in line for it at the local library. I was excited once it was available to see what it was all about. This novel is a coming-of-age story about two motherless Black girls in Louisiana during the time of segregation and Jim Crow. The two were in different situations (Annie's mom had left her with her grandma to raise and Vernice's mom was murdered by her father before he killed himself, leading to her being raised by her aunt), but were friends through it all. Their lives started to diverge after high school, when Vernice moved to Atlanta for college and Annie moved to Memphis to try and find her mother. The book dives into topics such as friendship, motherhood, class and race (especially in the South). It was told in alternating perspectives, which I always enjoy (I liked Annie's POV a bit more). It's a beautifully written book about found family and imperfect people. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - A lot of folks had been talking about this book recently, so I wanted to check it out. I grabbed it from my local library and am glad I did. I would describe this as a book about a grandma who enjoyed writing letters... but it was so much more than that too. The story was actually told in the format of letters, emails and notes, which I loved (at times it felt a little disjointed, but I actually enjoyed having to put the puzzle pieces together to see how they fit). Sybil is reflecting on her life through correspondence with different people in her life (whether they be family members, friends, past coworkers, politicians and even famous celebrities). It is a story about grief, family, the power of the written word and leaving a legacy. Sybil struggles through finding forgiveness for herself while dealing with painful periods of her past. I loved seeing Sybil's growth, showing us that it's never too late to make a change (even if it was a bit predictable). It was a charming read that flew by, but one that I wished would've kept going and going. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey - This was the third and final book in the Hot & Hammered series. Although these all could be standalone stories, I felt like the first two books set this one and the relationship between Bethany and Wes up perfectly. It's all about the enemies-to-lovers trope and it was pretty much perfect for fans of romcoms (and HGTV). Bethany is the perfectionist who is looking to move out from underneath her family's shadow and Wes is the new-to-town cowboy who has been roped into caring for his five year old niece. The two team up when a reality TV show is thrust upon them where Bethany competes with her brother, Stephen, on dueling house flips. As with all of this author's books, this one was filled with witty banter that had me chuckling out loud, sweet segments that had me saying 'awwww' and spicy scenes that had me blushing (what can I say?! I normally stick to the YA genre for a reason ;)). The chemistry between Bethany and Wes was undeniable, age difference be darned (even if the relationship jumped from contentious to affectionate and a little all-encompassing a bit too quickly in my opinion). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• 10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte - I saw this book pop up in the recommended section of my Hoopla app, so I clicked on it. (I normally don't read about the book beforehand, but since the cover really didn't give anything away I thought I would at least check to make sure it would be in a genre I might be interested in reading.) It mentioned it was a thriller, which I thought would be perfect. I also noticed at the top of the page it references Only Murders in the Building, which I enjoyed as a TV series, so thought I'd give it a try. This was told in two main perspectives, Audrey and Lewis, with a third, Celeste, thrown in very sporadically. The premise is there is a murder in a small residential square and the landlady, Celeste, asks Audrey, her housecleaner and one of the residents, and Lewis, a crime writer and one of the residents, to team up and try to solve the murder because the police don't seem to be taking it too seriously. In the process of investigating, more murders take place and the duo try to track down leads and solve the crimes. I thought it was entertaining and enjoyable, cozy and charming. I'd read the next one if it ends up turning into a series. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez - I had been keeping my eyes peeled for this to become available at my library, so I was stoked when they finally got a copy. I always love whatever this author writes, so I expected nothing less from her newest romcom. This one was about three main characters, Mike, the boyfriend, Larissa, the girlfriend, and Chris, the boyfriend's best friend. It was told in alternating perspectives between Larissa and Chris' point-of-view. The book starts when Larissa meets the two guys after a concert and has to decide between Mike and Chris on who she'd prefer to drive her home. She chooses Mike and 'the rest is history'. The two become a pair, but Chris keeps getting drug into the mix when Mike drops the ball and asks him to step in and cover for him with Larissa. I think I was pulling for Chris since page one of the book. He is so sweet and thoughtful that I wanted him to get his happily ever after (at times, even more than I wanted that for Larissa). I also loved the storyline of the dog they were co-parenting. I could picture that little troublemaker causing havoc and it made me smile every time he was mentioned. This is technically the second book of a series, but they are standalone stories, so you'd be fine if you didn't read the first (or, if you're like me and read the first one many moons ago and sort of forgot about it). I think I heard Mike would be getting his own book in the series, so hopefully that'll be coming sooner rather than later. I loved the slow burn of this one and the overall pining feeling (also that it was more focused on the relationships than the spicy bits). I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd - The cover of this book grabbed my attention when I was scrolling through my Libby audiobook app. This was a psychological thriller about an Instagram influencer and the dangers of putting your life online for all to see. It was told by three different narrators - Emmy (the influencer), Dan (her husband) and a mystery stalker character. It sort of reminded me a bit of His & Hers by Alice Feeney in that way. It was fast paced and had a couple twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I would say that I didn't really love any of the characters (but, I guess a good book makes you feel something and I definitely had feelings about everyone ;)). I felt like it did a good job at reminding folks about how fake and curated social media can be without feeling too overly preachy. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar - I thought it was time for something a little more lighthearted, so I was scrolling through some of my saved books on my Libby app and saw this one. Obviously you can tell from the title it is probably going to be all about the fake relationship trope (and you'd be 100% correct). This one focuses on two high schoolers, Hani and Ishu, who are doing their best to try to accomplish their goals. Hani wants to be accepted by her friends for who she is and Ishu wants to be elected as Head Girl so her parents see she isn't her sister and can be successful herself. The pair decide that the other girl can help her in her journey, so they enter into a fake relationship. As with most fake relationships, the feelings turn real and the two have to come to terms with the fact that they like the other person more than they expected to. It's a cute coming-of-age story with a diverse set of characters (Bangladeshi, Muslim, bisexual, etc) - wholesome and sweet while still dealing with some serious topics. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Where He Can't Find You by Darcy Coates - This book kept popping up on my audiobook apps, so I snagged it. I probably should have looked at the description a bit more before downloading it... I'll be honest, when I started it, I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it. I can be a bit of a wuss when it comes to 'horror', even if this one was technically in the Young Adult genre. For some reason I can be absolutely fine if the story is about a serial killer, but a serial killing monster, now that is somehow 'too much' for me (don't ask, I don't get it either ;)). Yep, this was about 'something' that was taking victims around town and then those victims would reappear (sometimes days, weeks or years later) having been killed and then stitched back together (sometimes with other victims, sometimes stitched together as bags, etc). The story follows a group of friends who try to stay safe (and do a little sleuthing) with the Stitcher on the prowl. One of the main characters has a sister that goes missing and the group mobilizes to try and find her (and therefore try to solve the mystery of who/ what the Stitcher is). I won't give anything away, but let's just say that if this was ever turned into a movie, I wouldn't be watching it (not because it was bad, but because it was too scary for my lil heart). I also (now) know I'm not the intended target for this type of book, but I pushed through and made it to the end. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen - I had seen this on a few lists recently and since the library had it on the shelf I decided I would grab it. I didn't know anything about it beforehand, but I ended up enjoying it nonetheless. It followed the life of main character, Polly, as she went through some struggles, such as infertility issues and getting unexpected information about her family from a DNA test she was gifted. I enjoyed the fact that the characters were in their forties and fifties, since midlife characters definitely aren't the norm. It also made me smile that she was part of a book group who had a rule about NOT reading the book that they selected. It felt real and raw, like it could be happening to a friend of mine. Life is not all rainbows and unicorns, it is messy and tough and this book doesn't sugarcoat the hard parts. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• American Fantasy by Emma Straub - This was another one that I had seen mentioned a lot recently and that my library just happened to have available (they are normally late on getting in new books, so I'm always a little surprised when new stuff shows up quickly). I'm not even sure how to categorize this one. I was expecting it to be a rom-com, but (and maybe this is a spoiler alert, so warning!) two of the main characters that you think will get together really don't, so that aspect wasn't really fulfilled. Despite that, I thought it was a fun book. It was about a boyband cruise - you know, when the aging boyband goes on a cruise with a boat full of their fans and havoc ensues. I've never been on a cruise and I was never like super gaga over a boyband, but it was still nostalgia at its finest. There were three main character POVs - Keith (one of the boyband members), Annie (one of the fans on the cruise who ends up going alone because her superfan of a sister breaks her leg and has to cancel last minute) and Sarah (one of the crew members on the ship). It was a fun read that made me smile, while still making me ponder about things like aging, fame, relationships and purpose. I won't be adding it to my personal library, but it'd still be great if you needed a summer read. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

With that, May is done-zo. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always looking to add to my "must read" list! 

What's the best book you've read lately?