May was kind of a… sad reading month for me. I had these grand plans to read some of my backlist, my ARCs, and then my partnered copies but in the end I only ended up DNFing an audiobook and reading four books. I’m trying not to be discouraged by my reading pace, but I really feel like I need to pick it up.
The good news here is that I actually got to read the two ARCs I needed to this month and I got their reviews out in time, which I’m happy about. I think I read a little better on a deadline because I can get ARCs read and reviewed so quick but when I just read a book with no deadline I meander my way through the story lol Anyone relate?
Four books is better than no book, though, so let’s talk about what I did read in May instead of what I didn’t read!
1) Aurora Rising
One of my most anticipated of the year, Aurora Rising was an intergalactic romp with a fun cast of characters. I have to admit it didn’t live up to my expectations, but I am happy with the novel as a whole and will be reading the next books in the series. Also, I’m pumped I got to read it during the month it came out. Sometimes I get so caught up in other things I don’t read books when they release so that was a victory for me! Review is here!
2) Bright Burning Stars
Another ARC courtesy of Algonquin Young Readers, Bright Burning Stars was an absolutely riveting YA Fiction piece. It was an incredibly well-done book for a debut author, and I can’t even explain how much I enjoyed this deep, dark dive into ballet. So good. And I got it read and reviewed in time, helllll yeah! Review is here!
3) Actual Innocence
As an avid true crime lover, I watch shows, listen to podcasts, and now I stepped into the books. This was such a wonderful and frustrating look at the justice system and how badly we get it wrong. Forced confessions and wrongful convictions are two subjects I am really interested in, and I thought this book discussed both in a real and raw way. Really interesting and insightful. Mini-review is here!
4) The Printed Letter Bookshop
I literally don’t know how I wrote a review for this one. I have such conflicting feelings about this one… It was good, but also not good. The writing was good but weird. The plot was enjoyable but boring. It was such a weird read for me, that’s really all I can say lol Review is here!
There you have it! The four books I read in May. Like I said, it wasn’t the biggest wrap-up I’ve done by far, but I still read some good books and I can’t complain about that. It wasn’t a bad month but it was a slow month.
I’m working on my June TBR plan and I can safely say I have an ARC and two review copies to read, but I think I’m going to start adjusting my TBR to only include the ones I need to get to and then I’ll sprinkle in what I feel like reading. I think my main issue is I set my goals high and then feel let down when I don’t get to them. It’s a struggle for me, that’s for sure.
Anyway, I hope you all had a great reading month and I can’t wait to see what ya’ll were up to in May! Let me know in the comments what you read and loved last month!
