Hi, loves! Welcome to my first monthly wrap-up on the blog! I debated on whether or not I was going to add some personal life updates on here, but I didn’t really do much this month aside from experiencing a few hiccups at my day job (I work as a software developer!), which will be incredibly uninteresting, so I’ll skip that for this month. 🙂
ON TO THE BOOKS.
May was a rollercoaster of emotions… I read 10 books with an average rating of 3 stars.
- I already talked about Two Twisted Crowns (⭐⭐⭐⭐½), An Ember in the Ashes (⭐⭐), Happily Never After (⭐⭐), The Mindf*ck Series (⭐⭐), and Out on a Limb (⭐⭐⭐⭐) on my Mid-Month Updates post, so head over there or click on the links to check out my reviews on GR if you want more juicy details. 😉
- Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (⭐⭐⭐): I loved the concept, but the execution was a bit lacking. It was way lighter than it could have been. Overall still a fun read though, and I’ll read the other books in the world when I need something chill and charming.
- The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (⭐⭐⭐): I’m truly so conflicted about this one. There were a few things that I enjoyed, but there were also a few things I found to be inconsistent (*cough* Rin’s characterization *cough*), and a few things I wished were explored more. There are still two more books in the series though, and I’ll get to those this year!
- Flawless by Elsie Silver (⭐⭐): It gave ✨ male chauvinism ✨.
- Release by Aly Martinez (⭐⭐⭐⭐): I read this on a whim because of a freaking Reddit comment I randomly came across, and I’M SO HAPPY THAT I DID. 🥺 The angst was SO good, and this was also one of the rare books where I loved the FMC more than the MMC.
- Reclaim by Aly Martinez (⭐⭐⭐½): This is a sequel standalone to Release with a different main couple, and I immediately jumped back to loving the MMC WAYYY more than the FMC. Camden Cole, you are adorable.
I also bought new books to read in June (maybe)!
I was planning to do a June TBR section for this post, but my last post was also a sign up post for a few reading challenges for June to September, so I feel like I was just going to repeat a few of the books on there.
Coincidentally, after years of not buying a single new physical book, I went to two separate book sales in May, and I’ll share the books I got instead! Maybe I’ll read some in June? Let’s see!
I missed taking bookish photos! I’m on bookstagram @aimeecanread! Leave a comment with your bookstagram accounts as well please…
- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao + Little Thieves by Margaret Owen: Both of these were already on my TBR before (it sounds like they’re going to feature awesome women, and obviously, I’m THERE), then I saw that Rachel (Reads With Rachel) loves these books… and I was sold. I had to get them.
- The Sunbearer Trials by
Aiden Thomas: I’ve heard amazing things about Cemetery Boys by this author, but for some reason, this book called to me more. And I really miss reading mythology-based fantasies. - All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir: I know I kind of hated An Ember in the Ashes, but maybe I’ll vibe with Sabaa’s contemporary romance book more. I’ve heard amazing things. Plus the price was such a steal that I couldn’t resist.
- I also got a copy of The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker… without having a copy and without having read The Golem and the Jinni yet. I guess this was a way to force myself to read book 1 eventually, since I already got a copy of the sequel (and at such a good price)! 😂
And before you leave, check out these other bookish posts I loved in May! 😊
I enjoyed so many bookish posts this May, but I’m so bad at bookmarking that these were only some of the ones I loved! (I’ll try to be better about this in June!) 💖 Feel free to share some of your favorite bookish posts in the comments as well. 😊
- Check out these book recommendations for Mental Health Awareness month on Not Just Fiction, Bookcheshirecat, and YA All Day!
- Annemieke @ A Dance With Books has a discussion on dealing with reading slumps.
- On specific genres, we have a discussion of what Steampunk is on Snapdragon Alcove, and a list of Greek myth retellings on Bewitching Books, Ravenous Reads.
- As a forever Hunger Games fan, I loved this highlight of 20 glorious moments from the Hunger Games on Me & Ink!
- On writerly news, we have some amazing news as well: Ellie’s book Paws and Portals is out!
- I also enjoyed these posts from a few blogging veterans: Bookish Trends I’ve Lived Through As a Blogger from The Literary Huntress, and The (Dis)heartening Reality of Being an OLD Blogger on The Orangutan Librarian.
Let’s chat!
Any books on here that you’ve read or want to read? What was your favorite read of May (please pitch it to me)! 💖 Have an awesome June, loves!
Let's chat! 🙂