May 2024 Reads

May was a busy month for me in general, but thanks to audiobooks, I was still able to read a ton.

“Never Fall For Your Fiancee” by Virginia Heath
Rating: 3.75/5
Spice level: 🌶🌶
Review: I'm apparently reading this series out of order, and I think that colored the way I saw this book. I loved the second book, and this one was great, but the plot was less compelling than "Never Rescue a Rogue." Still overall enjoyable, though.

"Once and for All" by Sarah Dessen (reread)
Rating: 3.75/5
Spice level: nonpsicy
Review: In my teens and early 20s (and even somewhat into my early 30s), I was definitely a Sarah Dessen reader. These days, not so much. While "Once and for All" is still my favorite Sarah Dessen book, I didn't find it as enjoyable as I once did. I do still like Ambrose as a character and was rooting for him and Louna, but in this reread, he just seemed more entitled and annoying than anything else. Also, I skipped all of the time skips except the last one.

"What Happened to Goodbye" by Sarah Dessen (reread)
Rating: 3.5/5
Spice level: nonpsicy
Review: Not my favorite, but also not the worst. I do like the FMC a lot more than Dessen's others because she was funnier and bolder than some other characters.

"Lock and Key" by Sarah Dessen (reread)
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 🌶️
TW: Drug use, verbal and physical abuse
Review: I actually think this book moves up in the ranking as one of my favorite Sarah Dessen books. It's more real than the others, and the FMC is quite flawed. Frankly I just wanted to give Nate and Ruby a hug most of the time.

"Saint Anything" by Sarah Dessen (reread)
Rating: 3.5/5
Spice level: nonspicy
TW: SH
Review: While I really liked this book, and I loved the way Sarah Dessen handled some of the topics in the book, it gets major points docked off for how it handled body and food issues in the MMC.

"Never Rescue a Rogue" by Virginia Heath
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Review: I loved this! I've been on a Regency kick since I watched the first half of the new Bridgerton season, and this definitely fit the bill. I would like a Giles for myself.

With a Little Luck" by Marissa Meyer
Rating: 3.5/5
Spice level: nonspicy
Review: I don't know what it is about Marissa Meyer's magical realism books, but they just aren't for me. The plot fell flat, and the pining dragged on way too long.

“Past Present Future” by Rachel Lynn Solomon (ARC from author/publisher)
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 🌶️
Review: For now, I'll just say that I loved this book! I'll post a full review once it's officially released.

“Just Listen” by Sarah Dessen (reread)
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 🌶️
TW: SA
Review: While some of the content doesn't hold up as well as it could in the current times, this book still holds a special place in my heart. After all, it's most of the reason I got really into listening to music when I was in middle/high school.

“Hate Mail” by Donna Marchetti
Rating: 3.5/5
Spice level: 🌶️ 🌶️
Review: The plot in this book is a dumpster fire and delightfully chaotic. The FMC is quite possibly one of the most gullible characters I've ever read about.

“The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley
Rating: 5/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review: The ending of this book gutted me like a freaking fish, and I think I cried for 10 minutes afteward. I sat staring out the window for most of my car ride from vacation, fully unable to unstick my brain from two passages near the end of the book.

“You, Again" by Kate Goldbeck
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review: This book would've been an easy 5 if the plot hadn't dragged on so long and the slow burn hadn't been so excruciating. Overall one of the best books I've read this year.

“Summer Reading" by Jenn McKinlay
Rating: 3/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Review: As a woman with ADHD and dyslexia, I fully appreciate what the author was trying to do with this book. I love any rep for neurodivergent women, but this just wasn't it for me.

“Truly Madly Deeply" by Alexandria Bellefleur (reread)
Rating: 5/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review: I read this near the end of April, but I had to read it again when i got the audiobook. Such a great book and so delightfully spicy.

“The Rest of Story" by Sarah Dessen (reread)
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: nonspicy
Review: It's cute. Still one of my favorites. Not much else to say.

Summer 2024 Reads

Current Favorite Book Covers (Hard Cover)