Reading Log: 32 Books in May

I wrapped up 32 books in May! Which is kind of fun seeing that I finished 32 Days in May this month too. That includes 6 children's books, 7 cookbooks, 2 art books, and 17 novels. Honestly, I read way more children's books than I logged. My youngest is obsessed with The Food Group Series by Jory John (illustrated by Pete Oswald). We checked out The Couch Potato, The Big Cheese, and the rest of the series multiple times from the library—and read them just as many times. Meanwhile, my older son is deep into the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. We're making our way through it in no particular order.

Highlights from My Fiction Stack

May started off strong with two ARCs:

• The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick – A historical fiction novel set in the 1960s that highlights the strength and complexity of women’s lives. I’ll be posting a full review soon.
• 32 Days in May by Betty Corrello – A romance about a woman navigating life with chronic illness. I loved it. Perfect for your summer beach bag. [Read my review here.]

After months of waiting, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt finally became available on Libby—and oh my goodness, it’s easily in my top 5 reads of all time. Maybe even top 3. The audiobook (narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie) is outstanding. If you’re a fan of Fredrik Backman, you’ll love this story about Marcellus the octopus and Tova, a grieving widow who takes a job at the aquarium. I’m not a trophy collector, but I’m planning to buy one of the exclusive editions (the B&N sprayed-edge version is my favorite so far). If it’s not on your TBR, add it. If it is, but it isn't at the top, bump it up.

I dove into Wayward, book two in the Wayward Pines series—a dystopian series that’s eerie and fascinating. If you're into twisty sci-fi thrillers, this could be your thing. Think SyFy original series vibes. Then came Hemlock Island, a spontaneous library pick based solely on the cover. Quick thriller, decent twists, solid palette cleanser.

One of the heavier books I read this month was The Lilac People by Milo Todd, a WWII historical fiction novel following an LGBTQ+ man under Nazi rule. Heart-wrenching, powerful, and necessary. If you’re a fan of emotional historical fiction, this is a must-read.

Cookbooks, Food, and More

May also brought some incredible ARC cookbooks and nonfiction reads my way:

• Heartland Masala by Jyoti & Auyon Mukharji (ARC) – Out this September. Preorder it. You’ll want to cook everything.
• For the Love of Chocolate by Phillip Ashley Rix (ARC) – Gorgeous and mouthwatering.
• 7-Ingredient Mediterranean (ARC) – Approachable and vibrant. Great for busy nights.
• The Best Kids Cookbook by Danielle Kartes (ARC) – Fun, actually kid-friendly, and appealing to adults too.
• Pickles, Illustrated by Karen Solomon (ARC) – Quirky and gift-worthy for pickle lovers.
• Dad, What’s for Dinner? by David Nayfeld (ARC) – Great for foodies and their kids.

Extended reviews of the cookbooks about will be out in corresponding dates of their releases, so stay hungry and stay tuned.

While flipping through recipes, I was also reading:

• The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick (ARC) – A unique concept: If you could process grief in a dreamlike coma, would you? Compelling and thought-provoking.
• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – Heartfelt and surprisingly funny. I had a mix-up and thought this was related to the Tom Hanks movie Finch (it’s not—that’s A Man Called Otto). But both the book and the movie were excellent.

The Rest of the Stack

• The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter (ARC) – Sweet, emotional romance with a touch of mystery. I already reviewed it, but it’s worth repeating: Add this to your summer list. My full review can be found here.
• The Silent Patient – It was fine. Interesting twists but so slow. Not a favorite, but I’m glad I stuck with it.
• The Mind is Burning by Jonathan Hirsch (ARC) – A powerful memoir about losing a parent to both a cult and dementia. So much to unpack here—grief, caregiving, trauma, and systemic failure.
• Daughters by Kristy Capes (ARC) – A tough, emotional read about sisterhood and family loss. If you liked Daisy Jones, you might like this one too.
• Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli (ARC) – Totally different vibe than her Artefacts of Ouranos series, but still fun. Lots of spice, snappy writing, and a quirky romance. Check out my full review.
• The Alchemy of Flowers (ARC) by Laura Resau – Absolutely beautiful. Gentle romance, magical gardens, and a premise that makes you think: Would you give up modern life for peace and healing? - Full review coming soon.
• The Crucial Years (ARC) by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler – A parenting book every parent of tweens should read. Practical, relatable, and affirming.
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy – Quietly devastating and haunting. Themes of environmental change, grief, and rebirth. Audio was tough to follow due to timeline shifts, so I’d recommend ebook or print.

Coming Soon

I’m putting together a separate post for the children's books I read, so stay tuned for that. I’ll also be posting a cookbook round-up with more details.

I know the post above was long so here's a TLDR list of the books I read and the ratings I gave them. You can always find my reviews, not normally super in depth, on my GoodReads or Fable.

TLDR — My May Reading List (with Ratings)

*I may recieve a commision on the books purchased from the links above. Thank you for your continued support*

This was my biggest reading month yet, and I doubt June will be as packed—but we’ll see! I earned several raffle tickets in our library's Summer Reading Program. I only wish I could enter the teen prize drawings… there's an artist-themed basket I’ve would have loved to win.

What did you read in May? Any favorites? Any books you DNF’d? What’s on your June list? And does your library do a Summer Reading Challenge too?

If you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter and join the community. I love sharing reads, reviews, and a bit of cozy chaos from my corner of the world.