May wrap-up

June has swiftly arrived with its (slightly) warmer temperatures and occasional rain showers, which means it's time for another monthly reading wrap-up. I read SO MUCH in May, like seriously - 6 books in total! I truly read a bit of everything last month from fantasy to mystery to romance, and discovered yet another 5-star-read! The month was spent curled up with a book and a blanket when I was sick for a week, later reading in the warm afternoon sunshine, and even at one point listening to an audiobook whilst I rearranged my bookcase for 3 hours! I'm so excited to tell you all my thoughts, so I won't waste another second!

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In Deeper Waters

F.T. Lukens

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

"Prince Tal has waited a long time for his coming-of-age tour - a chance to explore his family's kingdom. When his ship's crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a derelict vessel, Tal feels an intense connection with the roguish Athlen."

This historical romance encompassed one of my favourite niche genres... A BOAT BOOK!! Ok, it sounds stupid, I know, but I genuinely just love any book that takes place on a boat in a historical setting. Pirates, navy, a rich kid on a grand tour? Whatever it is, I'm down for it!

Anyway, I loved this book. It was a great dose of fun, and Tal and Athlen's romance was truly adorable. The plot twists also added a healthy amount of adventure and intrigue. The writing style wasn't my favourite, but it didn't really bother me - I wasn't looking for a literary masterpiece! Definitely a good time, perfect for when you want something light and fluffy!

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Holly Jackson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure."

A five star read!!!! Truly this was a perfect book. Expertly crafted, Holly Jackson weaves in tension, clues and suspense throughout, with so many twists and turns that constantly keep you guessing. And the inclusion of Pip's EPQ notes was such a fun and unique way to introduce new information to the reader without it feeling repetitive or like too much exposition. The characters are loveable, the writing is great and the plot is just brilliant - there's a reason why people love it so much! Honestly, I don't have much more to say other than please read it!!!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

Melissa Bashardoust

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away from everyone, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it's not just a story."

A not-so-perfect fairytale, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a beautiful twist on your classic stories and folktales. Every story has a princess and a villain, but in this story, they're the same person.

It's not quite that black and white though. Soraya is a loveable protagonist who largely tries to do the right thing, but struggles with morality as her world is turned upside down. It's a story of power, sense of self, and love too. I greatly enjoyed the world building; the layers of folklore and the mythical creatures that exist, divs, help to build such a richly detailed world. I also loved the twists and turns in the plot, as well as the epic finale, and the romance was adorable too. I found it slightly slow at first, but once I got going, I really enjoyed it! Well worth a read for fantasy fans looking for something a bit different.

The One

Kiera Cass

⭐️⭐️⭐️

"For the four girls who remain at the palace, the friendships they’ve formed, rivalries they’ve struggled with and dangers they’ve faced have bound them to each other for the rest of their lives. Now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen."

Those of you who have been reading my last few monthly roundups will know how much I dislike this series. Personally I just think it’s boring, with unlikeable characters, and an unappealing romance. And look, perhaps it’s not made for me. But good Y/A dystopians can be done - just look at The Hunger Games!

Having said that, The One was probably the best book in the series. The political plot picked up (the only good part), but the relationships and characters were still predictable and annoying, and the ending just as much so. I listened to it on audio whilst reorganising my bookshelf, which definitely helped me to get through it, and I’d recommend the audiobook to anyone who might want to give this series a try. The voice actress manages to inject a bit of life into it! I'll be reading the two spin-off books simply because I have them, but I can't even express just how much I want to be done with this series.

Lore Olympus: Volume Four

Rachel Smythe

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

"The rumor mill of Olympus is constantly churning, but Persephone and Hades are all anyone can talk about. With the constant gossip creating intense pressure on the pair, they decide to slow down their budding romance and focus on sorting out their own issues first. But that's easier said than done."

As usual, I have been utterly OBSESSED with this graphic novel series. I don’t know what more I can say, but the juicy drama, slow-burn romance, and amazing character design and art style just makes it such a fun read! If this was a tv show, I’d binge-watch it! I don’t have many more to go now until I catch up with the current publications, but I’ll enjoy continuing the series in the next couple of months.

Alone With You in the Ether

Olivie Blake

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

"Chicago, sometime. Two people meet in the armory of the Art Institute by chance. Prior to their encounter, he is a doctoral student who manages his destructive thoughts with compulsive calculations about time travel; she is a bipolar counterfeit artist undergoing court-ordered psychotherapy. After their meeting, those things do not change. Everything else, however, is slightly different."

Definitely a strange one that didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I think Olivie Blake is an extremely talented writer and her writing style is just incredible, but I think it works much better in fantasy.

Like her other books, it’s an extremely character-focused work with little to no plot. It’s certainly an interesting study of personality and mental illness, and the character voices are so well developed that you know the narrator is unreliable. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the pull that I did with The Atlas Six. Objectively, it’s probably a very good book, but subjectively, it just wasn’t the most fun to read. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

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And that’s May! Definitely a fun month, and I felt so productive with my reading, which added a little spring in my step for sure. It's unlikely I'll match the sheer volume of books for the rest of the year, but it's a good motivator, and definitely brought me out of my temporary reading slump. I'm already reading some great things this month, so excited to share those with you soon! <3