My May Reading List: All Fiction!
If you’ve been following along, you know I have a goal to read 40 books this year, like I did last year. I really wanted to read 5-6 books in May, but wound up one yhalfway through the last two books when the month ended. I did manage to finish 4 books, bringing my total so far this year to 21.
Related post: How to find time to read when you’re just too busy
Here’s a list of the four books I read in May, and whether or not I’d recommend them.
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The Woman In The Window by A.J. Finn
Plot: Anna Fox is a child psychologist living in New York City. She has developed a crippling case of agoraphobia, and hasn’t left her house in months. To pass the time, she watches old movies, chats with people online, and spies on everyone in her neighborhood. When she witnesses a violent crime occur in the home of her new neighbors, she struggles with what to do. No one trusts her these days, and she isn’t so sure she can really trust herself.
This book didn’t really grab me at the beginning. I thought it was kind of boring or confusing for the first 100 pages or so. But the plot and premise of it intrigued me, so I stuck with it.
A little less than halfway through, I really started loving it. It’s a topsy turvy plot, and you’re never sure what to believe. But I enjoyed the ride.
If you liked The Girl On The Train, I think you’ll really like this book. And I read somewhere that it’s going to be made into a movie. I never like the movies half as much as the books they’re based on, but I always watch them nonetheless.
I’d recommend reading The Woman In The Window if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers.
Force Of Nature by Jane Harper
Since I LOVED Jane Harper’s first book, The Dry, I definitely wanted to read her second book, Force Of Nature. I was hooked from the first page!
Plot: Five female colleagues reluctantly go on a corporate retreat together in the Australian wilderness. Only four of them come back. Each of the women has a slightly different account of what happened, but none of them claim to know where Alice went. Agent Aaron Falk has specific reasons he needs to locate the missing hiker, but will he find her alive?
This was another fantastic story from Jane Harper. I’d still say I liked The Dry a bit better, but only because it’s pretty impossible to beat. If you read The Dry and liked it, read Force Of Nature next.
I highly recommend them both!
Matchmaking For Beginners by Maddie Dawson
I came across Matchmaking for Beginners thanks to the Kindle First Reads program. I get to choose a free Kindle book each month. This one was my pick for May.
Kindle First Reads is available through Amazon Prime. (Don’t have Prime? Try the Amazon Prime Free 30-Day Trial
.)
Plot: Marnie dreams of an idyllic suburban life with her fiancé. Until she meets his unusual Aunt Blix, a self-proclaimed matchmaker, who sees something magical in Marnie, and tells her that her life is about to change. When Marnie’s marriage ends after only two weeks, she is in shock. And to further astonish her, she discovers that Blix has passed away and left Marnie all her worldly possessions, including her apartment in Brooklyn. Blix had a plan for Marnie, and she must go discover what it was.
This book was a bit peculiar, in the very best way. The plot synopsis above doesn’t really do it justice. At first I thought it was just another shallow story, but ended up being impressed with how unique and well-written the characters were.
Matchmaking For Beginners is an enchanting, quirky, and humorous story. It has kind of a magical quality, and makes you question how much of our lives can be chalked up to fate.
If you want to try something a little bit different, I highly recommend it!
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabriella Zevin
I read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry on my Kindle, and borrowed it through the Prime Reading Library.
Did you know that your Amazon Prime membership includes access to tons of books and magazines? Click here for a FREE 30 day trial Prime membership.
Plot: A.J.’s life hasn’t exactly turned out like he expected, and he’s pretty grumpy about it. He lives alone, above the flailing bookstore that he owns, and his very expensive book of Edgar Allen Poe poems is missing. When a most unexpected delivery gets left at his store, his life will be changed forever.
I don’t really want to give much of the plot away, but just know that this book is totally worth reading! I have a soft spot for stories about bookstores, libraries, and librarians, and the setting of this story makes it all the more endearing to book lovers.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a sweet, heart-warming story, complete with love and humor. I’m so glad I read it, and I think you’ll adore it!
If you don’t have a Kindle, you can get the Kindle Reading App for FREE, and read as many Kindle books as you like on any device.
If you love reading, I definitely recommend any and all of the four books I read in May. Happy reading!
What awesome books have you read lately?
READING RESOURCES:
Amazon Prime: Free 30 day trial
Audible: Free 30 day trial (+2 free audiobooks)
Other Reading Lists:
Linking up with Jana and Steph for Show Us Your Books
It’s been a few years since I read The Storied Life of AJ Fikry but this makes me want to go back and reread it! It’s such a fun story.
Hi Rachel! I seldom re-read books, but will totally read The Storied Life again in a few years. : )
I read and loved the first two and the last one!
Fikry is a truly wonderful book.
It really is, Steph! I kept thinking about it after I finished it. That’s how I know for sure it was a wonderful book indeed.
AJ Fikry was such a great book! I’m glad so many people love it.
I have been waiting FOREVER for the Woman in the Window. Hopefully by the end of the summer.
Hi Jana! I’ll be curious to hear what you think of The Woman in the Window, when it does finally arrive!
I want to read both The Woman in the Window and Force of Nature! I really enjoyed The Dry and I’m glad to hear her next one was good as well!
You totally should, Kasey! They were both so good. I loved that they kept me guessing. : )
Force if Nature sounds really interesting, adding it to my list. I was the same way with Woman in the Window. It took me a little bit to get in to it and then I had to know what happened!! I absolutely adored AJ Fikry!
I read Force of Nature really quickly – so addicting! If you haven’t read The Dry, also by Harper, I’d highly recommend it!
It seems like this was the month for AJ Fikry. I still have not read it yet but I’m hoping to get to it this summer. I also still need to read The Dry and Match Making for Beginners sounds adorable – adding it to my TBR.
Hi Tanya! If you have Amazon Prime, I think you can borrow the AJ Fikry kindle version for free, if you’re interested. Matchmaking for Beginners was definitely adorable!