May was an incredible month for reading - I read 11 books in May. However, I’m embarrassed to say that only ONE was written by a POC. While I normally have a very diverse slate of authors, this is an important reminder that intentional diversity matters. Moving forward, I will be highlighting diverse authors (where I know them) in these recaps. For those of you who are interested in intentionally diversifying your real or virtual bookshelves, this may serve as a guide.
One other note: I am no longer adding the Amazon links to these posts. Unfortunately, buying books on Amazon does nothing for book rankings for authors - the only metrics that count are from independent booksellers. If you want to support independent bookstores online, you’re in luck. Here’s the link to my Bookshop.org page where you see all the books on my May list, and order them in a way that supports independent bookstores AND author rankings for bestsellers lists. Also, if you click on any of the titles below, you will be linked to them on Bookshop.org.
So let’s get into this list!
She Regrets Nothing: Andrea Dunlop
Laila Lawrence becomes an orphan at 23. And then 3 glamorous strangers show up at her mother’s funeral. Turns out they’re her cousins from her father’s estranged family in New York. 2 years later Laila is divorced and moves to Manhattan to get to know her family. There Laila walks the tightrope between her desire for connection and her desire for the glamorous lifestyle she was denied. If you like family dramas and New York as a setting, you will enjoy this book. This was described as Gossip Girl meets Great Gatsby and I can’t disagree with that description.
Overall grade: A+
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Bringing Down the Duke: Evie Dunmore
This book is set in 1879 England, where societal status is paramount. We meet Annabelle Archer, brilliant but destitute, and one of the first women accepted into Oxford. In exchange for a scholarship, she must support the rising women’s suffragette movement. Her specific task is to convince Sebastian Devereux, Duke of Montgomery to support the women’s demands.
This book is a historical romance, so you can imagine where this goes. I had so much fun reading this one!
Overall grade: A
If I Never Met You: Mhairi McFarlane
This is my second Mhairi McFarlane book this year, and I can’t get enough.
Laurie has been in a long term relationship with her boyfriend, who also works at the same lawfirm as her. One day he decides that he’s incredibly unhappy and breaks up with her. Soon after, Laurie finds out that her ex has a new girlfriend who is now pregnant. Utterly humiliated, Laurie has a chance encounter with Jamie, the office playboy, in a a broken-down elevator. Jamie needs a girlfriend to get his bosses to take him seriously, and obviously, since this is a romance, they reach an agreement.
I had such a big grin on my face reading this book. Highly recommend.
Overall grade: A+
Mhairi McFarlane (her first name is pronounced Vah-Ree) is White, I believe. Her lead in this book, Laurie, is bi-racial.
Heir of Fire + Queen of Shadows: Sarah J. Maas
These are books 3 and 4 in this Throne of Glass series that I started reading earlier this year. I’m absolutely obsessed with this series and it’s been a challenge rationing out these books so that I’m not bingeing them all at once. I have a book hangover every time I read one!! These books are long - so far, they’ve all been over 500 pages, but so worth it. If you’re looking for a series in which to lose yourself, highly recommend this one.
Overall grade for both: A
You won’t see this one in my list of May 2020 books because I didn’t finish it. I don’t think it was the fault of the book necessarily, but I think I’m the wrong audience for it. This book is a romance, but it goes in real deep on fonts because the lead female character is a hand lettering artist. I go to 50% of the book and there was a lot of talk about fonts, and the two leads had taken some walks. No witty banter. Meh.
The book is described as “a witty and heartfelt love story”, which is why I got it, but the 50% I read was neither of those things.
Overall grade: F. Did not finish.
Kiera Cass writes such delightfully trashy beach reads that I’m completely obsessed with. So naturally when I found out she had a new book, it jumped to the top of my list. In Betrothed, our heroine Lady Hollis Bright find herself the subject of affection of young King Jameson. All signs point to a proposal and a wedding and a happily ever after, until a handsome young stranger shows up at court. Sparks fly between the stranger and Lady Hollis - will she give up on her and her family’s dreams to follow her heart?
Overall grade: B+
Eight Perfect Murders: Peter Swanson
Malcolm Kershaw owns a bookstore in Boston. One day he’s approached by an FBI agent looking for information on a series of unsolved murders that seem to have a connection to a book list that Malcolm published in a blog post years earlier - a list of perfect murders. Turns out the FBI agent isn’t the only person looking for Mal. there’s a murderer on the loose.
If you love a good murder mystery, Peter Swanson writes really compelling ones.
Overall grade: A
If I Had Your Face: Frances Cha
The author, Frances Cha grew up in the United States, Hong Kong, and South Korea, and still spends her summers in South Korea. And her experiences gives her an excellent perspective to write this book, set in contemporary South Korea, the plastic surgery capital of the world.
The book centers around four young women who live in the same apartment building. Kyuri has had enough plastic surgeries to finally qualify her for the 1% “room salons” where she entertains businessmen as they drink. Her roommate Miho grew up in an orphanage but earned a scholarship to study in New York. She’s back in South Korea, working as an artist, and dating the son and heir apparent of one of South Korea’s largest conglomerates. Ara lives down the hall - she’s a hair stylist, but has lost the ability to speak. She’s preoccupied with her love of K-pop and her roommate and dear friend who is saving up for her own facial surgeries. And finally, a floor below, lives Wonna - a newlywed trying to have her baby that she and her husband can’t afford.
This book was EXCELLENT. I enjoyed it so much. But if you’re someone who likes books to end with all loose ends tied up, you may not like this book as much as I did.
Overall grade: A+
Frances Cha is a woman of color.
Before We Were Strangers: Renee Carlino
Gracie and Matthias meet at the dorms at NYU, becoming best friends, as their relationship slowly grows to something more. Upon graduation, Matt follows his dream internship with National Geographic in a very remote part of the world, Gracie follows her own path. In a time before social media, they lose touch.
It’s now 15 years later, and Matt sees Gracie right before she gets on the subway in NYC. He writes her a poignant missed connection - will they get a second chance at their big love?
This book was a recommendation by my friend Suzanne, and I am so happy she suggested it. I had such a big smile reading this book - it will bring you back to falling in love for the first time.
Overall grade: A +
Tell Me Three Things: Julie Buxbaum
Jessi’s mom died less than two years ago, and now her dad has uprooted her entire life to move her across the country to California to live with his new wife and her son, where she has to start over at a new high school. UGH!!!! One day she gets a mystery email from someone offering to be her guide through her new high school. Jessie begins to rely on on her mystery guide, and wants to meet up in person.
This book is such a cute YA novel, I stayed up all night to finish.
Overall grade: A
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What are you reading this month? Let me know in the comments below!