May Reading Review

In May, I read 8 books- 6 fiction and 2 nonfiction. My average star rating for the month was 3.8, with my lowest rating being 2.75 stars and my highest rating being 5 stars. That is quite the range!

The Marsh King’s Daughter

Synopsis: Helena Pelletier has a loving husband, two beautiful daughters, and a business that fills her days. But she also has a secret: she is the product of an abduction. Her mother was kidnapped as a teenager by her father and kept in a remote cabin in the marshlands of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Helena, born two years after the abduction, loved her home in nature, and despite her father’s sometimes brutal behavior, she loved him, too…until she learned precisely how savage he could be. More than twenty years later, she has buried her past so soundly that even her husband doesn’t know the truth. But now her father has killed two guards, escaped from prison, and disappeared into the marsh. The police begin a manhunt, but Helena knows they don’t stand a chance. Knows that only one person has the skills to find the survivalist the world calls the Marsh King—because only one person was ever trained by him: his daughter.

My Review: I strongly disliked this book. I kept waiting for it to get better, to get more interesting, for me to actually like the characters…but I finished the book disliking the characters, the plot moved way too slowly for me, and the whole subject matter just felt icky. I should have DNF’ed it, but it was on Modern Mrs. Darcy’s summer reading guide so I thought for sure that it would turn out way better! I also listened to this on audio, and I find that I don’t like books on audio as much as print books.

Yellowface

Synopsis: Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree. But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

My Review: These characters are SO unlikeable- every single one of them! And that is part of the plot of this book. So, while I hated the characters and therefore didn’t LOVE the book, I did understand what the author was doing and why it was important to her social commentary. Overall, I am glad that I read this one, and it would make a great book club discussion.

The Burnout

Synopsis: Sasha has had it. She cannot bring herself to respond to another inane, “urgent” (but obviously not at all urgent) email or participate in the corporate employee joyfulness program. Sasha has hit a wall. Armed with good intentions to drink kale smoothies, try yoga, and find peace, she heads to the seaside resort she loved as a child. But it’s the off season, the hotel is in a dilapidated shambles, and she has to share the beach with the only other occupant: a grumpy guy named Finn, who seems as stressed as Sasha. When curious messages, seemingly addressed to Sasha and Finn, begin to appear on the beach, the two are forced to talk—about everything. How did they get so burned out? Can either of them remember something they used to love? And the question they try and fail to ignore: what does the energy between them—flaring even in the face of their bone-deep exhaustion—signify?

My Review: Aw, this one was cute! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again- I LOVE rom-coms that have substance to them. The ones where the characters actually go through something realistic and have to endure through it to come out on the other side for life to tie a pretty bow around it. And that was this story! I did find it to be a bit too long- there could have been at least one less plot point along the way. But overall, I really liked this one and recommend it!

Hill House Living: The Art of Creating a Joyful Life

Synopsis: In a world that often moves too fast, Hill House Living is an invitation to take a moment to style, make or cook something nice for its own sake—and yours. Slow down, cozy up, and join the quest to making each day more intentionally joyful.

My Review: The synopsis of this book sounded like EXACTLY what I love, but the book itself just didn’t meet my style preferences. I think it’s a great book if you enjoy antiques and a more maximalist decor style, but I find myself not appreciating the decor and tips like I probably should have! I can see where this would be a great book for someone who has the same sense of style as the cute author!

Listen for the Lie

Synopsis: After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life. But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie,” and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.

My Review: I enjoyed this one and didn’t figure out the ending until I had reached the last chapter, so it kept me engaged and turning the pages! It wasn’t too creepy, although there was some blood and gore.

The Minimalist Home: A Room by Room Guide to a Decluttered, Focused Life

Synopsis: One of today’s most influential minimalist advocates takes us on a decluttering tour of our own houses and apartments, showing us how to decide what to get rid of and what to keep. He both offers practical guidelines for simplifying our lifestyle at home and addresses underlying issues that contribute to over-accumulation in the first place. The purpose is not just to create a more inviting living space. It’s also to turn our life’s HQ—our home—into a launching pad for a more fulfilling and productive life in the world.

My Review: Do you guys remember when I had a minimalist stage in my life? I’m pretty sure this book made it only my TBR list during that life stage. Now, I am not so much a minimalist, but I like to call myself a “simplest”. I found this book to be helpful, but perhaps I should have read it in a different season when I could take actual action steps. May as a Mom/teacher is just not the best time to go about spending time minimizing my whole house lol. I might need to scan/reread this one in July when I’m feeling bored with an itch to clean/organize/minimize.

Just for the Summer

Synopsis: Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

My Review: LOVED IT! Like, truly loved every moment and every aspect of this book! I loved how the characters were dealing with personal trauma and it affected their relationship, just like it would in real life. I loved the northern US summer setting. I loved that it was only mildly spicy, so I feel comfortable recommending this to almost everyone! And I loved that I needed tissues while I read this book. So far one of my top ten of the year!

James

Synopsis: When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

My Review: Wow. This will be a modern classic, and I am so glad that I read it this year. It’s truly a remarkable story and I love the way that it made me think about Huckleberry Finn differently. It did such a good job of flipping the story upside down and giving us a completely different perspective. Highly recommend. I can see this one on high school and college reading lists in the very near future!