Let’s have a little book chat! Here are the 14 books I read in May.
It’s been fun keeping track of my reading with these monthly posts. And five months in now, I’m starting to see some trends. (You can see all of this year’s reading recaps here)
I read about 14 books every month. About half of those books are YA and Middle Grade, the other half is mostly Adult Fiction, with one or two Non-Fiction books for good measure.
I haven’t planned it this way, but I’m happy with how it’s unfolding. I do want to read more Classics and more Non-Fiction, so I’m going to put a little more emphasis on that in June . . . maybe. Or I might just read what appeals to me in the moment and see how it goes. It is summer reading time now after all.
If you’re interested in more of what I’m reading, you can also follow me on Goodreads where I track everything I read. And if you need more good books, check out what I’ve read so far this year here.
May 2019 Reading Recap
Save Me The Plums by Ruth Reichl | This was my favorite book in May. I’ve read every memoir Ruth Reichl has written and I’ve loved them all. This one is about her time as editor of Gourmet Magazine. It was great on audio – read by the author!
The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie | I really enjoyed this YA read (and so did Esme). This is a gripping adventure, not unlike a dystopian pirate tale, with a hint of sci-fi wild west thrown in. It sounds strange, but it really works.
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas | I actually think I liked this one even more than The Hate U Give. Bri wants to be a rapper, but the odds are stacked against her. This was an excellent look at the realities of poor and working-class Black families. PG-13 language and themes for teens.
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry | We read this one aloud as a family and really enjoyed it. Full review here.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater | I listened to this YA book on audio and it was so twisty and spooky. I really liked it! Plus, I have a thing for books with a private school setting. There are more in the series and I will read them. Some PG-13 language in this one too.
The Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes | I actually thought this was a brand new Jojo Moyes book, but it was written in 2004 and is just now being printed in the US. It was okay. Way more serious than any of her other books that I’ve read.
Broken Harbor (Dublin Murder Squad) by Tana French | Not for me. I did finish it because I wanted to know what happened, but I won’t read any more of these.
Fame, Glory, and other things on my to do list by Janette Rallison | This was such a sweet, funny YA romance. I laughed so many times in this one. And it’s completely clean, great for teens of all ages.
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner | This book is a heart breaker. I cried so hard. It’s a YA book about three teens who are outcasts in their small southern town. It’s powerful, but definitely has some mature themes in it.
The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson | This was the audiobook I listened to while I exercised last month. It’s an adorable Rom-Com, totally light and fluffy. I loved it.
Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson | This was another family read aloud in May. Five children receive a mysterious invitation to the country estate of a wealthy, reclusive Countess – an estate rumored to be haunted. It was a twisty little mystery. We liked it.
Only Ever Her by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen | This was my grown up twisty little mystery. Great on audio!
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo | I love a good magical realism book so I was excited for this one. It started so strong, but it really fizzled out for me.
Trace by Pat Cummings | I liked the ghost story part of this – it reminded me of Wait Till Helen Comes from my own childhood. But I was a little dismayed by some of the mature content included in this middle grade book – didn’t seem appropriate for 8 to 12 year olds at all.
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