What I Read: May 2020
Due to some personal thing my reading has slowed down considerably. Not really a rut, but other things needed my brain space since May. All things in turn, I suppose? I’ve read great books and it really doesn’t matter to me what the number it.
Here’s what I read in May:
Dresden Files #10, #11, and #12, by Jim Butcher - This series is quickly becoming my happy place, which is a strange world to find comfort in since poor Harry gets in so much danger so quickly and so frequently, but I’ll tell you what, this wizard could save me any day of the week. This series continues to draw me in with compelling world building, fantastically told magic systems, AND characters that grow and change, AND exciting plot, AND some of the best and most cinematic fight scenes I’ve read. It’s great fun and I will probably read them all over again once I get caught up. Fantasy, professional wizard solving crimes and magical problems - what could be better?
Beach Read, by Emily Henry - Alright, I have to be honest here. I had high hopes for this one. The cover is adorable, and the book had been pretty hyped to me. Let me tell you what it sure did deliver. My goodness this story is adorable and sincere. Funny and charming. It’s set as many romance novels are, with two people who initially dislike each other. Add in some forced proximity, competition, and excellent banter and voila. Happy ending. It’s a good formula for a reason. And while sometimes those plots can be really boring and predictable (somethings that’s exactly what you want and that’s fine!), but this one adds in loads of character growth, realistic conversations, and enough sparkle to make it feel just wonderful to read. I was very impressed. This is a great beach read (wink) and if you’re looking for a fun story, aren’t impressed with any of the romcoms on Netflix, go grab this. It’ll hit the spot.
Open Book, by Jessica Simpson - I owe Jessica Simpson an apology. Girl has been through it all and come out impressively. I had no idea of her origin story and feel so badly for the assumptions I made about her history, her personality, and her intelligence. This book is well written, thoughtful, honest, difficult, and really open (as intended) and succeeds in ways the celebrity memoir rarely does. Everyone should read it. It’s fascinating. I’m charmed by her and totally grossed out by John Mayer, btw, so there’s that too.
The Guest List, by Lucy Foley - This is a thriller/mystery that sets a group of people on an island, and someone dies. I was entertained, the puzzle to put together was creative, but it didn’t blow me away and was just fine for me, and that’s okay. If you’re looking for something to read this summer that’s a bit of an atmospheric Agatha Christie style, multiple perspectives, locked room-ish style murder to solve this would be worth a try for sure.
Mimi Lee Gets A Clue, by Jennifer J. Chow - This is a cute cozy mystery in the vein of the Noodle Shop Mysteries. Mimi Lee starts a pet grooming business and ends up investigating a murder. Helped out by her hunky young lawyer neighbor she and her cat (that talks to her) figure out what’s going on. If you need some brain candy or just want to escape for a while without getting too hyped up or invested, this would be a great pick.