May was a very busy but wonderful month around here! We had a trip to Washington to cheer on my daughter as she crossed a stage and graduated from college. My son was able to make it too, so we were all together which has bene so rare. We then packed her up and brought her back to Colorado with many of her worldly possession in the back of a U-Haul truck. It is so lovely to have her back here. We then had a small family celebration back in Colorado to celebrate her where we saw my dad for the first time since June 2019 and my mom, mother in law and several other family members. It was so amazing to see everyone although I wish all of our family could make it – hopefully soon!
Even with my busy schedule, May was a good reading month for me. I finished 8 books with several that were great, in fact 2 were so close to 5🍷s. But I did also have two that weren’t very good and a third that I wish I never started, but that’s ok. I am still trying to keep on track with some of my planned selections but I have wavered a little. I did get a little click happy requesting some ARCs earlier in the year and they all came through much later at pretty much the same time. Now I have a good deal of early releases to read in between May and August which has derailed me a little. I definitely am being much more choosy the rest of this ear on any ARCs I request as I will need the fall and early winter to finish up my planned 2021 selections.
Here is what I read in May. Hopefully a few of these provide some inspiration for your next picks.
The Guncle – Steven Rowley
The Guncle is a fun, cute and very sweet read. I needed something a little lighter with substance to break up some heavier books I have been reading and it was perfect (although there is some deep and sad content too). It is a masterpiece on healing and living. I adored Patrick, the kiddos and the whole cast of characters. I wish I had a Guncle. Thank you to NetGalley and Peguin Group/Putnam for an early release copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Guncle is now available.
🍷🍷🍷🍷1/2
Transcendent Kingdom – Yaa Gyasi
Transcendent Kingdom is a poignant, heartfelt story of Gifty, a fifth year PhD neuroscience candidate who is suddenly tasked with caring for her deeply depressed mother. We hear a good deal of her upbringing in Alabama where her Ghanaian family was raised and often move timelines to her current life in California at Stanford. So many topics are touched and we see how each has impacted Gifty’s life and those around her – relationships, faith, science, depression, grief, addiction. The list goes on. This is not an easy read but it was very moving. Yaa Gyasi is a talented writer and I will continue to follow her.
🍷🍷🍷🍷1/2
In The Deep – Anne Loreth White
This is a good thriller/suspense – but be warned – its pretty dark. We learn early on that Ellie is divorced and grieving the death of her young daughter. She is very wealthy, the heiress of a real estate fortune. We also know very early on that her 2nd husband has been brutally murdered. Pour a glass a wind and fasten your seatbelts for twists and turns galore. This one is not for the faint of heart – definitely dark and there is some heavy abuse.
🍷🍷🍷🍷
The Soulmate Equation – Christina Lauren
This is not my usual genre at all but it was a good, lighter read from my usual heavy, deep and sometimes darker books. It was a bit slow in parts and I did find myself skimming more than once. The overall the concept and development was very far-fetched – keeping my rating from being higher. Jess is a single mom that doesn’t ever date. River is a scientist developing a matchmaking app based on DNA. Jess submits a sample once pressured by her friend Fizzy (best character in the book). And here we go – Jess and River are a 98% match – highest ever. Overall, it is a fun, silly, sexy romp that provided entertainment for the two days I was reading it. I will definitely reach for this author duo again when I need a light, fun palette cleanser selection. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Soulmate Equation is now available.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
Next Year In Havana – Chanel Cleeton
I have heard so much of this book and its following titles from Chanel Cleeton. I would describe it as historical fiction meets family drama meets romance wannabe. It tried so hard to be all three of these genres that it never fully met what I expected in a romance/love story. I did listen on audible (free offering on Audible Plus right now) and have already started book 2, also on audible, but it did leave something to be desired. The story relied heavily on the dual time line formula and I am a tad tired of this path at the moment. I have heard each book is better than the last, so we shall see. I did very much enjoy learning about the revolution in Cuba and how it came to be – it was not a topic I was deeply familiar with. I do look forward to continuing that educational journey in book 2.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
Break Shot: My First 21 Years – James Taylor
This pains me to say but this was the book I wish I didn’t start. It was a free offering on audible and while I learned enough that was interesting to warrant a 3🍷 rating, overall this was boring. The icing for the 3 was a few performances by James in between chapters.
🍷🍷🍷
The Disappearing Act – Catherine Steadman
I remember when deciding to request this ARC being on the fence and I have learned my lesson. I had read her debut and that didn’t work for me and hoped this would be different. I did actually finish this one (the other was a DNF for me). The pluses – it is a fast read and the setting is a bit entertaining – LA/Hollywood during pilot audition season. But the good for me ended there. It was a bit of a far-fetched mess with an unlikeable main character that continuously made really bad decisions. I know many like this author, so maybe it will work better for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The Disappearing Act will be available on 6/8/21.
🍷🍷
The Girlfriend – Michelle Frances
This was another free offering on audible right now that has me questioning if I should ever download anything from their free plus catalog again. This was pretty bad and only very slightly entertaining. I probably would not have finished it if I didn’t have a ton of cleaning to do in my house while I listened. Daniel is dating Cherry and momma Laura thinks Cherry is a gold digger. Sadly, Laura tells a pretty big lie that comes back to bite her, hard. It all goes down hill from there. And it takes a while to get there as well.
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Book of the Month: The Guncle – Steven Rowley
