Best Books of May
As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.
So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.
These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from May.
The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder (C.L. Miller): It was a very sweet cozy mystery, which felt a little like a literary love letter between child and parent because the author is the daughter of Judith Miller, the antiques expert. I spent equal time reading the story and Googling all of the antiques to see them.
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers (Samuel Burr): This is a very sweet book with major TJ Klune vibes (a la Cerulean Sea). Great characters, and I liked the interlocking stories, jumping back and forth in time. There are some difficult topics that may get resolved in a tv-like rather than realistic-like way, but I sense the author’s heart is in the right place.
Impossible Creatures (Katherine Rundell): For the first few pages, I thought I had found the next Harry Potter (which is what websites were calling this book when it won Waterstones Book of the Year), but then it firmly veered into sweet-children’s-book-with-a-lovely-message territory. I think if you’re nine years old, you’ll like this book. And I think adults may find it a little simplistic.
Wives Like Us (Plum Sykes): I love all of her books, but this is one of the best. Before there was Crazy Rich Asians, there was Bergdorf Blondes. If you like Kevin Kwan, you will probably like this skewering of the ultra-rich in the English countryside. This book was pure frothy joy from start to finish — wildly entertaining with a great deal of heart.
What did you read last month?
2 comments
The Plum Sykes book sounds like fun!
I finished 3 books in May, all for various book clubs/groups:
* “Fletchers End” by D.E. Stevenson, a sequel to “Bel Lamington.” Fletchers End is the house where Bel begins married life. The usual Stevenson fare, with some familiar characters from her other books making cameo appearances. I gave this one 3 stars.
* “All In” by Billie Jean King (the June book for my Childless Collective Nomo Book Club). I’m not a huge tennis fan, but of course I remember Billie Jean King and her competitors. This was a huge blast from the past, and so inspiring. Women in tennis, in sports generally, and women in general too owe a lot to this woman! 4.5 stars, rounded down to four stars.
* “Anne’s House of Dreams” by L.M. Montgomery, a re-read with my LMM Readathon Facebook group. Anne & Gilbert marry, set up housekeeping and a medical practice, make new friends and start a family — but there is tragedy as well as joy here, very accurately written, especially for a book that’s 100 years old! Have kleenex handy. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. One of my favourites in the Anne series.
I read The Women by Kristin Hannah which was excellent. She is a gifted writer and reminds me that I do actually like historical fiction. However her writing is almost too good. It was such an intense experience, I needed something lighter after. I read Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth which was an enjoyable thriller.