B O O K S
In May, I read 5 books!
For transparency, every book marked with * are titles I received for free as I currently work at PRH UK.
First to Finish by Rebecca J. Caffery
Recovering from a breakup, driver Johannes Muller reaches an all time low. And its up to his race engineer, Caleb Hughes, to get his driver back in pole position.
I really hated Pole Position that I actually sworn off from reading the rest of this series. Until I found a copy of this in a charity shop for £2 so I thought to myself “why not?” That being said, this was 100% better than Pole Position, but Pole Position was like ten feet under in the ground for me. Like Pole Position, the book is mainly dragged by the tropes the author wanted to use instead of letting the story naturally grow into its own.
Johannes and Caleb are miles better than Kian and Harper. Even with the miscommunication, it felt more real and emotional. That being said, it was a decent read. Nothing to shout about but a silly fun quick read. Personally, this entire series just feels like low quality mush being published for the sake of following trends.
We Don’t Hear Crickets Anymore by Kel Bryon
A selection of Midwestern Gothic horrors that felt truly haunting and unsettling. Having loved The Lonely Broadcast series and now this, Kel Bryon has consolidated herself as an author I’ll always read.
A Gaze So Longing by River Flynn
In a palace ruled by a tyrant king, Favian has spent the last five years governed by fear. When the King’s only son and his first love, Leonardo, returns from the war, Favian must keep his distance or face the King’s wrath. But Leonardo is eager to return to their old ways unaware of how much his home has changed. Together, they must work together to topple the system or risk losing everything.
10000/10!!! I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!! PLEASE IF YOU CAN, IT’S ONLY LIKE £4 ON SMASHWORDS. THE YEARNING, THE SADNESS, THE ANGER, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir*
Ryland Grace has no memory of who he was and why he is currently aboard a tiny space ship alone. Only aware of an impending doom, he must fight to recall his memories or risk extinction-level threat to humanity.
Yes, I am five years late to the game. I’ve been recommended this book since its release and I only just got around to reading it, thinking I had enough time to see it in cinema. (I was in fact late to see it in cinemas, but I did buy it on YouTube and have already watched the film 4 times already….. )
I went into this not realising this was hard science fiction which did throw me off a bit but the book does a good job and still making it easy to understand. The audiobook is fantastic! I had to swap to audio during a car ride home and it was as Rocky would say: Amaze, amaze, amaze.
Tsubaki Stationary Store by Ito Ogawa*
A young woman returns to her hometown to inherit her late grandmother’s store and becomes a professional scribe to her community. As she takes on the request of her local community, she undercovers the secrets her grandmother had kept hidden from her. A charming story about the importance of community and the magic of the written word. It was adapted to a TV back in 2017 and I really wish it was available to watch here in the UK!
That’s it for this month! Tell me what went on in YOUR life this month! What sort of things was important for you this month? New obsessions? New TV shows? Or book? Any new song recs (I’m always open to new music!)? Best books you read this month?
as told by zaheerah 