My May 2024 Reading List: What to Read & What to Skip
In todayโs episode of the She Reads Romance Books Podcast, Iโm sharing my May 2024 reading list. Iโm discussing each romance book that I read this past month and sharing what I really thought of them.
Iโll tell you which romance book I highly recommend you read and which romance book I think you should just skip. This month is full of new and recent releases so tune in to see what I think you should add to your TBR list.
Episode 57: My May 2024 Reading List: What to Read & What to Skip
To help you keep track of all the books you read and what you think of them, grab a copy of my Romance Book Reading Journal โ the only journal devoted to romance book lovers from a romance lover herself!
It has pages to review the books you read as well as track your favorite book boyfriends, favorite series, and books you read by trope. Now available in paperback, hardcover and as a printable. Check it out today!
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
- Teach Me by Neve Wilder
- The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
- Swift and Saddled by Lyle Sage
- What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long
- How to End a Love Story by Yuli Kuang
- Truth or Wolf by Anne Marsh
- This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
- Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan
- Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws
- The Air He Breathes by Brittainy Cherry
- The Problem With Players by Brittainy Cherry
- Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
- Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
- The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy
Show Notes:
Hey readers!
May has already come and goneโฆnot sure how that happened but it was a great month in life and reading and now we are heading into summer. The school year wrapped up for us and my family. Thank god. Itโs nice to have a bit of a reprieve getting up so early and getting the kids out of bed, making sure lunches are made, etc.
Iโm still getting up for work but itโs different and Iโm ready to have the time to go to the pool or take some day trips with the kids while they still want to or while I can still drag them with me more like it.
Iโll be doing a few podcast interviews here and there and of course meeting up with the She Reads Romance Books Book Club over the course of the next two or three months so Iโm excited for those things otherwise we are kind of taking summer as it comes this year.
But back to romance booksโฆtoday Iโm sharing with you the books that I read this past month and what I really thought about them. Did I like them, did I not, do I recommend them? Iโm sharing all my thoughts.
I read quite a few new releases but one or two older titles to help you figure out where you should spend your time and money or more importantly where you shouldnโt so letโs dive in.
The first book that I read this past month was one I was anxiously waiting to drop in my Kindle library and that was Teach Me by Neve Wilder which released on May 1.
This was one of my most anticipated romance books of 2024 because I am such a fan of her Extracurricular series which consists of some pretty hot MM romance books all set in college.
The first three books have to do with roommates falling for one another and a lot of bi awakening happening but this one is a bit different as itโs a college student unintentionally falling for his new professor.
Cam is one of the heroes. He is a student who fell into drugs his sophomore year so heโs been working really hard to get on solid footing again despite his parents constantly hounding him about his sobriety and their disapproval that heโs into guys.
Heโs kept his head down working as a waiter and busting it in class but heโs also missing human contact as his only experimentation with guys was when he was high on drugs those early years in college.
One night he goes to a club and has this really hot meet-up with an anonymous guy who he later discovers is his new professor after putting two and two together. From there they try to put an end to their hook ups to protect the professorโs job but their connection is just too great.
This is a short read in Kindle Unlimited and worth a read if you have a KU subscription and like age gap, teacher student romances. I was surprised that it is probably the least steamy romance in the series.
I was expecting some pretty hot scenes but the most scandalous or hot part of this book is how they first meet up which I wonโt divulge because I donโt want to spoil it. Itโs an interesting hook but after that it was just a typical teacher student romance. Not that thatโs bad but it wasnโt unique or out of the ordinary. I gave it 3 stars.
The next book I read was The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren.
This is a marriage of convenience romance where Anna Green, a struggling artist, discovers sheโs still married to Liam Weston, a professor and son of a billionaire, who she married in college for access to subsidized family housing.
Liam or West as heโs called reaches out to Anna three years later and tells her they are still married and asks if sheโd go to this private island in Singapore for his sisterโs wedding and pretend to be his wife so that he can eventually inherit his 100 million dollar inheritance.
Iโm such a big fan of Christina Lauren so itโs pretty much a no-brainer that I will read whatever new release they come out with next which is why this book made my list of most anticipated new romance book releases of 2024.
While this book showcases their amazing writing chops, I gave it a 3 star rating only because I felt like it could have been more. Maybe I shouldnโt dock stars for that reason but let me explain.
Itโs always fun to read a summer romance that whisks you away to an exotic location and that is exactly what this one does. Iโve never been to Singapore but I wouldnโt mind spending a week at a private island in a bungalow by the beach. Sounds amazing and a place to be for the rich and famous. But at the same time the setting of this book could have been any private island on any beach as they didnโt pull in much culture at all. Thatโs not a big deal but a missed opportunity perhaps?
I also love that Christina Laurenโs books are always so unique. Whenever I pick up their books I know Iโm in for a unique storyline with new, interesting characters to meet. This book explores the toxicity of money and power and how it can corrupt a family. Itโs also about a narcissistic which Liamโs father clearly is and who is portrayed as such.
I thought this was the best part of the book honestly โ how money corrupts family. And yet, there wasnโt much depth to this plotline from what you learn at the beginning. You know they have to put on a front that they are married to get his inheritance and thatโs pretty much it until the last chapter or two.
As for the marriage of convenience story, I was kind of expecting at least some build up to their chemistry or tension from when they are first married (which I thought weโd get given the book summary) but it just glossed over this time period completely and they only spend 9 or 10 days in Singapore for them to fall madly in love. Guess I could buy it but not really.
So, while I liked the premise of this book and other qualities, I didnโt rate it higher because it was hard not to compare it to other new releases of this year that blew me away. You can read my full book review of The Paradise Problem because I compare this book with my feelings toward Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. And why I rated that book 5 stars but this one only 3. All of this is to say, am I glad I read it? Yes. Do I recommend it? If youโre a Christina Lauren fan, yes, but I just expected more.
The next book that I read was Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage which is a sweet cowboy romance, and book two in the rebel Blue ranch series.
I actually stopped reading the first book in the series as I wasnโt jiving with it but I enjoyed this one and look forward to continuing the series.
Ada Hart is hired on for a renovation at Rebel Blue ranch in hopes of making a real name for herself with her design business. The night before sheโs to get started she ends up in a dive bar looking for food and connects with a handsome stranger who she ends up making out with pretty hot and heavy in the hallway until they are interrupted.
The next morning, she comes face to face with the stranger, who is Weston Ryder, her new boss and owner of the property sheโs working on. This sets up a fun, forced proximity romance where the sweet cowboy pursues the city girl that he canโt get enough of.
I thought Weston was a sweet hero who had some good mental health rep as he isnโt shy about disclosing his depression – not that it really made an appearance in the story but was just a characterization point for him.
I liked that he didnโt force Ada into anything or make her meet his timetable. He just supported her whole heartedly and it was the best. I think I rated this book a three too because it was an overall good read but not one that Iโve really thought about since.
Iโve been in a Julie Anne Long kind of mood lately and I really like her audiobooks so I decided to do a reread or listen to one of my favorite historical romance novels of all time next and that is What I Did for a Duke, and I fell in love with it all over again.
I loved the initial setup of the story where Moncrieffe, the Duke of Falconbridge, catches Ian Eversee in bed with his fiancรฉ. The rest of the book he holds the prospect of enacting some form of revenge over Ianโs head, keeping the man on edge and unsettled and I loved that powerplay so much.
Alexโs initial plan at revenge is to attend a house party the Eversee house and seduce Ianโs younger sister Genevieve but after meeting Genevieve his plans soon change.
I loved the love triangle aspect to this story. Poor Genevieve is distraught when her friend and crush Harry tells her that heโs going to propose to her friend. Sheโs heartbroken and thatโs how Alex comes to find and meet her and the two end up having these amazing run-ins and conversations during his stay that let them be real with one another and obviously spark an attraction.
The way they used art as innuendo and the way they identified with Venus and Mars were these perfect inside connections that lit this beautiful slow burn between the two. Their clandestine meetings at night where Alex showed Genevieve what it meant to feel pleasure were hot and definitely not something Harry would ever live up to.
How they both ended up professing their love (and Moncrieffeโs sacrifice) was just epic.
This reread just reaffirmed that whenever you are presented with a choice between the Harrys and the Alexes of the world- always choose Alex.
I totally jumped on the bandwagon with my next book since I got a copy through my local library and that is How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang.
And I say bandwagon because this was Mayโs book selection for the Reese Book Club so itโs getting a lot of attention. Hereโs what it is about in case youโre not familiar as it recently just released:
Helen Zhang hasnโt seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.
Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. Sheโs even scored a coveted spot in the writersโ room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writerโs block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there. Exceptโฆ
Grant has done everything in his power to move on from the past, including building a life across the country. And while the panic attacks have never quite gone away, heโs well liked around town as a screenwriter. He knows he shouldnโt have taken the job on Helenโs show, but it will open doors to developing his own projects that he just canโt pass up.
Grantโs exactly as Helen remembers himโcharming, funny, popular, and lovable in ways that sheโs never been. And Helenโs exactly as Grant remembers tooโbrilliant, beautiful, closed off. But working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helenโs parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea heโs in the picture at all.
When secrets come to light, they must reckon with the fact that theirs was never meant to be any kind of love story. And yetโฆ the key to making peace with their pastโand themselvesโmight just lie in holding on to each other in the present.
What to say about this bookโฆ.I went back and forth from 3 to 4 stars for this one. Probably because when I went back to write a review or my thoughts on it I was a bit blank and had to really think back on it and thatโs always an indication of something to me.
I am glad that I read it but had I not been in the right headspace for it Iโm not sure I would have enjoyed reading it given the subject matter.
I applaud Kuang for writing a romance with an underlying theme of suicide but I donโt think this book will appeal to everyone. Though I have no frame of reference for it I think Yulin approached this hard subject matter well, though I think Grantโs struggle was dismissed for a majority of the book. What came of his panic attacks?
The forbidden aspect of these two falling for each other was a bit taboo โ her falling for the guy who was driving the car that killed her sister – and it did keep me turning the pages.
Iโll admit the third person POV got a bit confusing at times because I wasnโt sure in whose head I was at certain times or the shifts happened abruptly.
Helen was an interesting character. I actually loved how we came to know her true feelings about her sisterโs act and that Yulin wasnโt afraid to have her be mad at her sister. But her turnaround with Grant seemed a bit off โ all of a sudden she was all about getting it on with him which just felt like a bit strange to me given her characterization from the beginning.
I also understood that they needed space at times once they got together but it felt forced and maybe a bit controlling from Helen but I guess that was the point because Grant admitted that he would take whatever he could get from her.
I did enjoy the screenwriting aspect since that is the world Yulin comes from. It was cool โbeing in the roomโ as it were and seeing Grant actually thrive somewhere.
Overall I think this is a solid debut novel. An interesting choice of subject matter for a debut so I wouldnโt call this a romcom and readers should definitely take note of the trigger warnings because itโs heavy and wonโt be everyoneโs cup of tea nor a light read for summer.
But, Iโm glad I read it and look forward to checking out more from this author.
My next read was another book I had been anxiously waiting for and that is Truth or Wolf by Anne Walsh which is Walshโs paranormal reimagining of the first book in Penny Reidโs Winston Brothers series, Truth or Beard.
It is a werewolf, small-town romance between the heroine Alice and hero Ford.
When hardworking citizen scientist Alice Aymes reluctantly returns to Green Valley to restart her stalled life, she plans to save up the money she needs to escape to Nashville and open her pet shop.
She does not intend to inadvertently kiss Ford Boone, thinking he was his twin brother and her secret crush Atticus boone because Alice hates Ford, and heโs always hated her right back. But the two are drawn to each other and Ford asks to court her so why not have a relationship until she flees for nashville?
I think I started my review of Neanderthal Seeks Duchess by Laney Hatcher which is the first historical reimagining of her Knitting in the City series, the same way in saying that Penny Reid is a genius. But if Penny is a genius then Anne Marsh is amazing.
When Penny asked if readers would be interested in her Pennyverse worlds turning paranormal I gave a big hell YES! Marsh has taken up that mantle and is reimaging Reidโs popular Winston Brothers series, starting with Truth or Wolf, and if this book is setting the tone of whatโs to come then Iโm so on board and excited.
All the parts of the Winston Brothers series that I loved (the bearded brothers, the small town shenanigans, and the epic love stories) are expertly woven into this romance where the bearded brothers just happen to be werewolves.
As the first book in the series there is some world-building to establish but it didnโt overpower Alice and Fordโs central love story. I actually wish we got a bit more of Ford as a werewolf since that is the big change of this series and one of my knocks on the books so Iโm hoping that we get more of the boys in their wolf form in the subsequent books.
Otherwise, I felt like this book was a reimagining that stuck pretty close to the original story with just a different spin. I enjoyed that aspect though I think I was able to accept Alice and Fordโs instalove because I already envisioned them as a couple having read Truth or Wolf. It might be hard to get with the program as a new reader as there isnโt a lot of history shared (itโs just assumed) to build on that connection but I just went with it.
I felt like this ended on a bit of a happily for now as the main issue of their courtship was finally discussed and a solution found but not acted upon. But given that Iโd say that If you loved Reidโs Winston Brothers series, I think this is a new way to enjoy it again in just a different light which is exciting. I look forward to reading book two!
My next book I was also able to snag at the library so I bumped it up my list and that is This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune.
This book is on my must-read summer romance book list and absolutely deserves to be because itโs the perfect summer beach read. Iโve mentioned it in that episode but the quick synopsis is that Lucy, the heroine, travels to Prince Edward Island one summer to spend time with her best friend Bridget only Bridget missed her flight so Lucy arrives before her and has this instant connection with a local who she has a one-night stand with.
Only in the morning she realizes that Felix, Mr. one night stand, is Bridgetโs younger brother โ the brother she was sworn to not fall in love with. Lucy ends up returning to PEI with Bridget many summers after until the current summer when Bridget disappears to PEI just a week before her wedding and Lucy follows her there running into Felix yet again.
So Carley Fortuneโs books have been popular summer romance books for the past two years and I get it now. I honestly didnโt finish her first book because I wasnโt in a cheating romance kind of mood and I havenโt yet read Meet Me at the Lake because Iโm not in the mood for that topic either but I am now sold.
This Summer Will Be Different also made my list of most anticipated romance books of 2024 simply for the fact that the setting was Prince Edward Island because if you didnโt hear me say it in that episode or my summer romance episode Iโm a bit obsessed with the island and itโs on my bucket list to go there.
But this book surpassed my expectations and is a fantastic, sweet and swoony best friendโs brother romance that is the perfect beach read for the summer.
I joked in my review that Canada should be sending Fortune ALL the gifts because their tourism rates are going to skyrocket with people clamoring to Prince Edward Island after reading this book.
I was looking at Airbnbโs and places to stay on PEI before I even finished it thinkingโฆcan I swing a trip this summer or do I have to wait until next year because itโs definitely moved up the list after reading this book.
Fortune makes you feel like youโre a native on the island from the oyster-sucking contests, to the beach walks, the lighthouse tours and of course the Anne of Green Gables sites.
But while I loved the brilliant setting of this story, I also truly loved the friendship between Bridge and Bee. I myself have a best friend who I consider more like a sister and to come to understand the bond between these two was so wonderful.
Fortune completely hooks you from the beginning with Bridgetโs sudden escape to PEI before her wedding and I found myself constantly guessing the reason behind it and needing to read on to finally get to that point when the impetus is revealed.
Of course I also loved the central, forbidden love story between Felix and Lucy. Their first meet cute was HOT (though very closed door) and it set the stage to understanding their instant chemistry that would ignite each summer or time they found themselves together again on the island.
Again, I found myself just wanting to speed read to get to the point where I could understand why are they not trying to make this work for real? It gave me similar angsty but in a good-way vibes as reading People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry- just trying to get to that moment when you understood all that was holding each character back.
From the setting to the story pacing to the characters and overall story arc I thought this book was a wonderful read and definitely a must-read book of the summer. Itโs claimed a spot on my list of best romance books of 2024 and one I highly recommend.
Check out my book review of This Summer Will Be Different.
Now the next book I read this month, or I should say attempted to read, was Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan.
Now this review pains me to even mention because this book was on my most anticipated new romance books of 2024 list AND my most anticipated books for summer 2024 because I thought the set up and setting of this book was magnificent.
This was my first Kevin Kwan romance and I was eager to dive in but I stopped reading at about 30% through it. By this point I should be invested in the main characters and have an idea of where the love story is going but unfortunately I don’t feel either.
The only character that I feel like I’ve come to know is the mother and she’s awful. Sheโs meant to be awful, I understand, but I don’t care about either main character.
Rufus, the hero, has been mostly absent and there is no connection between him and Eden, the heroine, at all at this point. To me the whole point of the story so far is the sister’s wedding which is fine but you have to set a foundation for the romance and itโs just not there at all.
I would probably continue reading it if I didn’t find the writing very hard to follow. While I think the setting is unique and a huge part of the story, the description is just too much at times and drowns out the storyline. Plus, he has all these asterisks with all these “extra” bits of info that I found distracting and not entertaining.
Iโm sure the best part of the book is to come or at least I hope it is and I do think if you love descriptive writing and cool locations and opulence you might like it but I donโt think his style of writing is for me so it went into my DNF pile. Bummmmerrrrr.
The last two books I read this month were rereads of two books for book club. The first was Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws which was our May 2024 pick.
I loved it even more the second go around. I also reread The Air He Breathes by Brittany Cherry which if you have not yet heard is our June 2024 book club selection.
Iโm so excited to talk about this book and with Brittany in June. I read it to get our discussion guide ready for the start of June and Iโm sure Iโll reread it again at the end of the month just before our meeting so everything is super fresh.
It is available to read in Kindle Unlimited if you have a subscription but itโs also now available as a paperback in bookstores so you may be able to find it at your local indie bookstore or Barnes and Noble.
Itโs a change up from the romcom Nine Month Contract so have some tissues next to you while reading it but it kicks off Cherryโs Elements series which is fabulous. You can join the Book Club and discuss this book with us and with Cherry.
The Air He Breathes is also going to have to count for my May Romance Book Reading Challenge selection which was to read either a romantic suspense book or a book by an author of color.
I didnโt get to fit in a romantic suspense and Cherryโs latest release, The Problem with Players, which I had planned to read for the challenge didnโt release until mid-month and I didnโt get a chance to dive into it yet but I am going to hopefully this month!
So thatโs my month of reading folks! Iโd love to also hear what YOU are reading. If you are not yet a member of my Facebook group, the She Reads Romance Books Reader Lounge then jump on in as we like to talk about the books we are reading and loving each week as well as the book boyfriends we are falling for.
As for what Iโm going to be reading this monthโฆfor the Romance Book Reading Challenge in June the prompt is to read one Sports Romance or to simply Choose a Book by its Cover. Thatโs definitely an easy prompt but as for sports romanceโฆhmmm. I have to think one that one for a bit.
For choose a book by its coverโฆIโm finally diving into my advanced copy of Ali Hazelwoodโs Not in Love.
I absolutely love this cover from the image and the colors used. Itโs beautiful and I cannot wait to dive into the story especially since sheโs calling it an erotic romance so Iโve super intrigued. Iโll report back on this in my June 2024 reading list episode.
Iโm also going to read Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen.
You can catch my podcast episode with Danielle about this book and her writing which is out now so donโt miss it! Lastly, Iโm going to try to read The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy. Itโs in Kindle Unlimited and Karen in Book Club totally convinced me that I need to get on this series so Iโm doing it Karen! Thank you for the push and recommendation.
I hope your TBR list is overflowing my friends and that you have a fantastic reading month ahead. Thanks so much for tuning in and happy readingโฆbecause life is better with a love story!
Related Book Lists:
- May 2024 Most Anticipated New Romance Book Releases
- April 2024 Reading List: What to Read & What to Skip
- What to Read Reading Lists
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Leslie, I would really LOVE if you would sell the journal in ebook. I love your blog and podcast and want to have it, but the import taxes to Brazil are more expensive than the journal itself. If you had The ebook I would be happy to buy it and support your awesome work.
Hi Vitoria! Shoot me an email as I can send you a link for the printable version!