Welcome to my monthly book round up! Here’s how May went!
May was a great month of reading! It started strong, I was on holiday and finally had time to dive into my books, which I took advantage of. I continued exploring new genres, though I have to admit this month leaned heavily into romance. Despite that, I only had two five-star reads; the rest ranged from good to downright disappointing.
I also discovered many new authors, which was exciting. My main goal for May was to dip into more fantasy and romantasy titles. I even went foraging on TikTok for standalone recommendations since I wasn’t quite ready to commit to a three- or four-book series. That said, I did add a few series to my TBR. I just haven’t started them yet, so that’s my goal for June.
In total, I read 16 books across four genres, with three five-star reads. All in all, it’s been an eventful and varied month!
Finished (in chronological order) – my faves are in italics
- Falling Overboard by Sariah Wilson
- Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi
- Spousal Privilege by Charity Shane
- Play it Off by Monica Murphy
- A Love Bound by the Sun by Wynta Time
- Did You Hear About Kitty Karr by Crystal Smith Paul
- Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
- None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
- Inevitably Love by Love Belvin
- Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
- Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan
- Until the Ink Dries by Iesha Bree
- Six Days by Dani Atkins
- The Tenant by Freida McFadden
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Currently Reading
- The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole
My favourite read of the month was Can’t Get Enough, and as you can see, I enjoyed it so much I had to go and read other Kennedy Ryan books I hadn’t read just to get a boost of that serotonin. As you know, I love me some Kennedy Ryan from the author spotlight I did. Of all the Skyland Series, Can’t Get Enough was my favourite. So beautifully done, a perfect blend of real-life issues and romance with the perfect amount of spice. Maverick is 1000% my Facebook boyfriend now. He was just perfect.
My second favourite book was Six Days. I discovered Dani Atkins just last month when my Kindle recommended one of her books, which even made me cry. Six Days had a similar emotional impact. The story follows a woman who is left at the altar, but she’s convinced her fiancé wouldn’t disappear without a reason. Over the course of six days, however, every piece of evidence seems to suggest he walked away willingly, and we see the fallout. It’s an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
I picked up None of This Is True while looking for a good thriller, and I was definitely intrigued by the story. It’s the second book I’ve read by Lisa Jewell. Honestly, even two weeks later, I’m still unsure what was real in the book and what wasn’t. There were quite a few moments that made me uncomfortable, and several aspects of the story felt borderline problematic. Despite that, it was still an enjoyable read. I’m just not entirely sure how I feel about it overall.
This month, I finally decided to give Akwaeke Emezi a chance with Little Rot. I’ve mentioned them before in my Nigerian literature recommendations post, and I do think they’re a talented writer. However, something I’ve come to notice is that their work often seems to prioritise shock value over substance. In this book, the plot felt scattered, the characters lacked clear development, and there was an excessive amount of sexual abuse depicted, often without the care or depth such subject matter deserves. It felt more sensational than meaningful, which made it difficult for me to engage with the story.
The premise had so much potential, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Honestly, I’m disappointed by what I read.
Mexican Gothic was my first foray into Gothic Horror and historical fiction (that is, romance, anyway). Honestly, I’m not sure if I loved this story. I was intrigued, and that’s what kept me reading, but I can’t say I loved it and was captivated. It was actually a slug of a read, so that’s a bit of a shame. We’ll see if I venture into the genre again.
Last but not least: Sunrise on the Reaping – oh, my poor, poor heart. As an avid Hunger Games fan, I already knew a lot about Haymitch, but getting a deeper look into his backstory was a brilliant move on Suzanne Collins’ part. His story adds so much depth and ties together threads we didn’t even realise were loose. It’s absolutely devastating, from the moment he was reaped to the circumstances that ultimately led to his alcoholism.
Honestly, turning to alcohol seems like the bare minimum reaction after everything he went through. While Katniss may be the Mockingjay, the face of the revolution, it’s clear that the revolution truly began and ended with Haymitch Abernathy. And what a tragic, powerful journey that was.
Overall, again, not a bad month for books. Some great and memorable reads, as well as some that left a lot to be desired. I’m definitely back in my full swing, and I’m feeling really good about my reading life at the moment. I’m keeping a steady pace while still getting through a large number of books and continuing to explore new genres.
Next month is my month of romantasy! This is a genre I’ve ventured into, but it hasn’t struck me in the same way other genres have, so I’m giving it a full go next month, starting with The Book of Azrael, which I’m ecstatic about. My friend asked me to read it and report back, which is one of the best ways to get me to read a book quickly. So I’ve picked that up, and as it’s a three-book series, I’m hoping I love it enough to want to keep reading. Fingers crossed.
My next post will be an updated TBR! Make sure to report back to April to see what was there and what I’ve now read! Also, follow me on Fable where I do daily posts and reviews of what I read in the moment!
See you next week!
Signed,
