Thankfully April’s reading doldrums {I’ve decided to call it that instead of a true slump} did not carry over, and I actually read a decent amount in May. With my eyeballs even! I got a slightly early start on my “Summer Reading,” with the Carley Fortune book, and I’m not sad about it. This year feels like a year for really leaning into mood reading and reading what feels right in the moment – regardless of season. So let’s see what May looked like …

📱 Collide | Bal Kahbra | ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
I love books set in college, and college athletics are the best. So this sounded perfect for me, even if I much prefer football over hockey. The pacing felt a little off at times, and it was VERY open-door {much more than anticipated}, but overall a quick read. The dynamics/relationship between the hockey boys was my favorite part, so I’m glad the next books in the series will follow more of them.

📖 Passion Project | London Sperry | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The emotional punch this one packs … Bennet’s grief is real, and it is heavy and tangible. But so is her unfurling as she learns to let go and move on – to love on. Henry is such a golden retriever, and his bantering is top notch. I also feel an uncharacteristic urge to go to NYC now.

📖 The Ladies Rewrite the Rules | Suzanne Allain | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
This was so much fun. Exactly the Regency shenanigans I needed to help boost my reading mojo. The premise of a directory of wealthy single women was hilarious, and based on a real document. I loved the banter and the way the ladies came into their own.

🎧 This Summer will be Different | Carley Fortune | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Oh this was immense fun: the PEI setting, all the Anne Shirley references, the floral design/flower farm dreaming. I loved the way we got to see the story of Lucy and Felix {as well as Lucy and Bridget} unfold in spells, alternating between “Now” and “Then.” This was a perfectly-timed transition to summer reading, and I now have a very real case of wanderlust to go roam PEI.

📱 Seeking Persephone | Sarah M Eden | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Selected as the May read for my Instagram book club/buddy reading, and this one has all the Beauty and the Beast vibes. Complete with the hero’s name being Adam. And wolves. It started a trifle slow, and then I devoured it. The banter-slash-reluctant bromance between Adam and Harry is so, so good. I did find myself wishing Persephone and Adam would just talk already, but … it’s a sweet read, and looking forward to more by the author.

🎧 Swift and Saddled | Lyla Sage | ⭐⭐⭐
After tackling the second book in this popular series, I am firmly of the opinion the story could stand firmly on its own without half {if not more} of the spicy open-door romance-y scenes. It feels almost arbitrary, and not wholly necessary to building the relationship/tension between Wes and Ada. That said, I absolutely love the ranch and the Ryder family – as well as their ragtag bunch of found family. That’s what made me keep reading, so maybe this is the sign I should look for other Western/ranch books – without the extreme spice level.

📱 A Death on Corfu | Emily Sullivan | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this one. The first book in a new historical mystery series, and I am already needing to get my hands on book 2! The setting of Corfu {the food descriptions!}, and the colorful personalities, in combination with the layers of intrigue … this one was a quick read, and I find myself asking What did Oliver do???

📖 Royal Heirs Academy | Lindsey Duga | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I won a copy on Instagram {while waiting for my Library hold to be filled}, and devoured it. The premise is so intriguing: 4 teens arrive at a super elite prep school only to find out they’re being considered {read: tested} by the King and one of them will be his heir. It’s as wild and zany as you may think, and such an entertaining read. The twists. The scheming. I need book 2 now, please.

Watching:
It’s been a mixed bag of viewing this month … we managed a couple movies, and we’ve watched a lot of YouTube. The fact it doesn’t get dark until so late really makes “watching” not as fun somehow.

• 🎬 Emma (2020) | DVD
  After intending to see this in theaters while dating, before the pandemic shut everything down, we finally got around to watching! This is one fast-paced version of Emma, and while it does leave out/change some things, the overall impression is still the same. I loved all the colors and general aesthetics, and casting Bill Nighy as Mr Woodhouse was so, so good. Hot take: I actually did not like this “cooler” version of Knightley nearly as much.
• 🎬 Dune: Part Two | Netflix
  It’s been a hot minute since we saw the first installment of Dune, so there were moments of “wait, who is this and why?” That aside, this felt … lackluster. The ending in particular. Nearly 3 hours of watching time {split over two nights} that could have been spent better … sigh.

Listening:
May’s listening is pretty much a repeat of April’s … Audiobooks are my friend, and I am beyond grateful my library has a fabulous selection of audiobooks available via Libby. Beyond that, I’m still slowly working through This is History, and continuing to enjoy A Jane Austen Year. We had a stretch of very windy days, which made it difficult for me to listen to anything while walking or watering, so not quite as much time logged in May.

On the Blog:
The garden tour for May got an upgrade: a video walk-through! We have made the leap to join YouTube, so definitely check that out and subscribe {there is chicken content over there!}. I also shared my plans to start flower farming, and gave you a peek at our wild animal neighbors.

In the bookish realm, Summer of Jane is coming back, and I am very excited to see what happens. I’ll be blending my year-long celebrations with Summer-centric activities, and honestly … who knows what else. This feels like a Summer to indulge in all the loveliness a Janeite can find.

How did you May reading {and/or watching and/or listening} go? Discover something wonderful? What are your Summer Reading plans?

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