Happy June! I read such a wide variety of books in May, and I powered through a few library reads that I really enjoyed. From the number one book on TikTok to a local author’s first published work, I read seven books in May.
Let’s get started!
one | In Five Years by Rebecca Serle — Audiobook
Dani has it all figured out. Down the specific day she will get married, she’s been mapping out her life since the moment it came crashing down. But, on the night of her engagement, everything changes. She’s somehow transported five years into the future, and she’s not with her new fiancé, but a stranger. When she wakes up back in 2015, Dani can’t shake the feeling that something is horribly wrong.
This was overall, a really cute story with the well-known troupe of possibly falling for your best friend’s guy, but I can’t shake the feeling that some details just weren’t as fleshed out as they should have been. Reader’s barely learn about Dani’s brother’s accident, and she keeps forgetting details in the beginning of the book that felt like it would lead to something bigger. Maybe it was just a red herring, but I’m a little turned off by the forgotten details. 4/5 Stars
two | Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
A new automatic recommendation from me, Crucial Conversations should be on everyone’s TBR list. This book is full of helpful information on how to lead conversations in all areas of your life — from the boardroom to the kitchen table. This book serves as a reminder, or an informer, on how to hold the toughest conversations we may face in life. With helpful examples and applicable skills, this book will revolutionize how your approach any conversation after you read it. 5/5 Stars
three | Lunch with Lucy by Sherry Stewart Deutschmann
Sherry Stewart Deutschmann is a local entrepreneur in Nashville, and her book did not disappoint. From the format with quotes and “takeout boxes” of vital information to the stories she shared, everything about this book spoke to me. If you’re looking to learn about the empathetic business model, there is no better book than Lunch with Lucy. 5/5 Stars
four | From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Poppy is destined to save her kingdom when her Ascension comes, but before then, she’s determined to live, even if it’s just a little bit. When Hawke, a mysterious Royal Guard, comes in her life, everything changes for Poppy. No longer does she pace the castle quietly and sneak off to defend her land, now she basically has a shadow who only wants to keep her safe, but at what cost?
It’s hard to describe this book without ruining some of the twists and exciting moments, but trust me, it’s worth every bit of hype it’s received online. 5/5 Stars
five | Untamed by Glennon Doyle
I feel like I say this about every memoir I read, but boy, did this one hit me where it hurts. Glennon and I have a lot in common, more than I’d like to admit when it comes to our need to control, but I truly loved this book. It’s odd because most people wouldn’t think that they could relate to a famous writer who left her husband to marry a famous soccer player, but Untamed is further proof that underneath the shine, people are just people. We all have our quirks and flaws that unite us as human. I was skeptical when I first started this book, but Doyle’s writing builds and grows with the reader and hopefully, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be taking photos of passages in the book and sending them to your boyfriend because you relate to them so much. 5/5 Stars
six | Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow — Audiobook
I’ve been itching to read Alexander Hamilton since my obsession with the musical set in, and when I found it in audio form through my library, I knew I had to give it a listen. I had no idea it was going to be 35 hours. This was a daunting listen — I typically only listen to 30-45 minutes of a book a day, so I knew this was going to take me awhile. But between library hold wait times and being a “slow” listener, I finally did it! Chernow goes into incredible detail, and I learned more than I thought possible after giving this a listen. Admittedly, I missed a lot of details just due to the nature of my brain, but it was a valuable book to listen to. I think I’ll still be buying myself a copy and reading it little by little when I can to get the full experience. The perfect book to learn more about Hamilton as well as the other historical men from that time. 4/5 Stars
seven | The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett
Mallard is a quirky town. Despite being a Black town, the residents value the lightest skin possible, and when Stella Vignes discovers she can pass as a white woman, she grabs at the opportunity. Unlike Stella, Desiree, the other half of the Vignes twins, marries the darkest man she can find and has his baby. When the twins run away from Mallard, the town thinks they’ll never see them again, but when Desiree returns with her Black child, everything begins to unfold in remarkable ways. Bennett has a way with crafting stories, and The Vanishing Half is no different. A heartbreaking story about family, destiny, and race that is sure to leave you thinking.
Happy reading,
Kimberly
