Monthly Recap – A Court of Books and Brews

Thi is way more on top of things than I am lately! My husband and I have finally moved into our house and have, for the most part, unpacked everything. Now that all the moving is done, maybe I can get back to some me time and enjoy some reading in my new reading room!

However, with that being said, I still managed to read/listen to 13 books in May and happy that I was able to accomplish that!

This is a book that Thi had read before me and when I mentioned I was interested in reading a mystery/thriller she recommended this one. I could not agree more, this was just what I had been looking for! If you are looking for a quick enjoyable mystery/thriller, look no further.

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Storm and Fury has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite some time. I ended up starting this one because I was planning on selling it to someone. I am glad that I finally took the chance on it.

The book was a little slow in parts, but I think that is to be expected in the first book of a series. However, I enjoyed the fantasy aspects of this story while also being set in real world setting. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

I had a very hard time with this book. I read the synopsis and I had such high hopes. However, this book just fell flat for me.

The magic system I thought was very creative, but I felt that this book was meant to be character driven and I could not care less about any of them. It is hard for me to enjoy a book if I don’t feel connected to the characters. I doubt that I will continue with this series.

Here is another great mystery/thriller recommendation for you. I would actually go as far as to say I recommend this one even more than The Wives.

The setting of this book makes this story even better. Not to mention the multiple POVs, which also make a book better in my opinion. With a wide range of personalities and a secluded island, what could go wrong?

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

I have absolutely loved this series, and this book might be my favorite book so far. I need more Audrey Rose and Thomas Creswell in my life!!

Throw in some magic on a cruise ship, with an air of mystery, and you have yourself a true masterpiece!

I actually read this book for a Facebook discussion group, and I am so glad that this book was chosen.

I truly adore a good magical realism story and this one does it beautifully. I felt connected with all the characters and thought that the veil and different magical aspects of this story were so well-crafted!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

I continued my Harry Potter re-read and every time I find something else to love about this story!

Order of the Phoenix is probably the book that I think it’s movie counterpart left the most out of. So if you have seen the movies and not read the books, I cannot recommend them enough!!

Thi and I finished up The Renegades trilogy this month and I loved it more than I thought I would.

I am so glad we decided to buddy read the last two books together, as there was plenty to discuss. If you want a fast paced, action packed, superhero/villain story, this series is definitely one you should check out!

I finished this book about two and a half weeks ago and I still don’t know how to adequately put into words my thoughts.

I read this synopsis and thought this is the book I have been looking for. However, something was off about it and I can’t seem to put my finger on exactly what it was.

I thought the beginning of this book was very strong and drew me in quickly, but after the halfway point, I didn’t find myself as interested. Also, that ending left a lot to be desired.

First off, can we talk about how amazing cozy mystery titles are? I have had a few books friends tell me that I need to try out a cozy mystery. So when I saw this one available on my Libby, I decided to give it a shot.

This was a fun, cute and quick mystery audiobook that took me just a few hours to get through. I think they are a good palette cleanser between heavier books and I will definitely be checking out more!

I somehow got in a few mystery/thrillers in the month of May and I couldn’t be happier. I tend to read a lot of YA fantasy/dystopian and I am glad that I branched out a bit more this month.

This book held my interest the whole way through and I liked the alternating time periods. At times it was a bit slow building, but that ending was well worth it.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

I was able to read two books in the Harry Potter series this month and it was fantastic as ever!

Half-Blood Prince is my second favorite book in the series and every time I read it I learn more and more and remember why it has captured my heart!

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed

Let me start by saying that the romance in this story is definitely YA, as the main characters are 17. However, with that being said, the issues that are discussed in this book are very important and highly pertain to today’s political climate.

I enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a quick, fun, and important read!

All in all, I am very happy with the books that I read in May. I had a few books that were a bit of a let down for me, but overall I think it was a pretty positive month for me! Have you read any of these books? Do we agree or disagree? Lets chat down in the comments!

And as always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We truly appreciate each and every one of you!

How are we almost halfway through the year already? 2020 has been, ermm, quite a handful to say the least. There is much that needs to be said, that I can’t possibly cram into this post as it is a different subject-matter, but I hope you are all staying safe and speaking up against all the injustice.

That being said, as far as a book reading month, I wrapped up with fifteen books and am actually super proud of that!

35083336 — The Neighbors by Hannah Mary McKinnon

This book had been on my shelf for quite some time, and I finally picked it up to read because I do a lot of swaps, and someone was looking for it. I didn’t know what to expect while I was reading this. It seemed like it was being pulled in multiple directions, and I just wasn’t sure what to expect. I initially went in expecting a thriller, but it is not.

I’m still unsure of what genre to categorize it as- mystery, suspense, family drama? Either way, I ended up really enjoying this book!

51187948. sx318 sy475 — The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

This book is as dense as you would expect, both in material and in the 450+ pages. However, Larson truly did such an amazing job writing about this piece of our history. It tells of richly detailed account of Winston Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister. It is obvious throughout the book the amount of research he put in to make this book as great. I was nervous going in that I would get flashbacks of sitting through history classes, but it was nowhere near. Though it did take a bit of time to get into it, Larson is a masterful storyteller.

45046677 — The New Husband by D.J. Palmer

I found the story line of this thriller to be super easy to follow. I also am a sucker for alternating POVs, so I also loved that this book is written as such. Unfortunately this story didn’t really stand out to me in any particular way. I didn’t love or hate the characters. Some people didn’t like that the MC was too trusting, but I thought it added a nice touch of reality to the character, because some people are more trusting than others in real. There is a creep factor, and I loved the overall message at the end. All in all, it is a fun and quick read.

42599605. sy475 — The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter

Have you guys read anything by Karin Slaughter? If not, you are missing out! I have read a few books by her, some I loved, some I did not, and I even had a DNF one, but no matter what, I’ll always pick up a book by her because I love how she writes. To me, this book was like an episode straight out of Criminal Minds. It had it’s slow parts, but overall- I pictured this book so vividly in my head while I was reading it!

35391237. sy475 — Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake

I won’t say too much as this book is the last of it’s series and to not spoil anything for you, but this series does not get as much recognition and spotlight as it deserves.

I’ve seen so much growth in all the characters throughout the series. I am so sad this journey is ending. It is a definite favorite for sure!

53025903. sx318 sy475 — The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Told in dual timeline (1875 to 1987), Lisa Wingate has hit me in the heart once again. I cannot find the right words to explain this book. Though it was a bit slower than I was used to (considering all the fantasy and thrillers I was reading before), this is a well-researched and beautifully written story. There are sections in this book that will break your heart (fair warning) and others that will leave you inspired. Overall, highly recommended for lovers of historical fictions and book clubs as there is so much that can be discussed.

52625942. sx318 sy475 — Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

While this book was more of a slow-burner than I expected, I really enjoyed this story. I love when there is a hidden message in a story, regardless of of what genre the book falls in, and Pretty Things is no exception.

Click here to review full, spoiler free review of this beauty!

Initially I only planned to wrap up one series this month, but Christie and I buddy read and loved Archenemies (book 2) so much, we had to add this finale into our May stack. This series did not disappoint at all. It was fun, thrilling, action-packed.

Click here for the full, spoiler free review of the series Christie and I wrote earlier in the month.

53142315. sx318 sy475 — What Lies Between Us by John Marrs

This is my first five star read of the month, so if you were wondering if you need this book, the answer is yes.

You need every John Marrs book, because his books never disappoint.

Click here to read the full, spoiler free review I wrote earlier in the month.

42201995. sy475 — The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

Can we all take a moment to enjoy this beautiful cover?! Okay, now, I absolutely loved this book.

My heart ached and swelled simultaneously reading this and will sit with me for a long time. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who loves story of lost loved, fate and destiny, historical fiction, diversity, and culture.

8490112 — Daughter of Smoke and Bone By Laini Taylor

This book is a great opener to the series. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start a new series, but I have a good feeling this will be one I’m going to really enjoy.

With its fast paced, short chapter, and fun characters- I am excited to see where this series take me!

I have book 2 of this series in my June stack ready to go!

52698452. sx318 sy475 — The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

Do you ever see a book and decide right off the bat it’s not the book for you and end up reading it and falling in love with it?

The Book of Longings did that for me. I am so glad I decided to circle back to read this book, because otherwise I would have missed out so much.

Click here for the full, spoiler-free review I posted about a week or so ago!

51946068. sx318 sy475 — The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian

This was one of my highly anticipated books this year, but unfortunately it feel a bit flat for me. I wanted to like this book more than I did.

It was a good and interesting read amidst the current pandemic. Unfortunately, I just didn’t really resonate with any of the characters and felt it dragged a bit on some parts. Overall, it was still enjoyable and being of Vietnamese descendants, I really enjoyed the Vietnam setting.

52219451 — The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine

Okay, if you are looking for books with bizarrely crazy characters, the Wife Stalker is the book you’re looking for. Written in alternating narratives, you get the story of two women. What follows is a crazy, stalker-y and thrilling story of how far a woman will go to protect her family. So buckle your seatbelts. You’re in for a fun and crazy ride.

44023391. sy475 — Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

I am honestly really torn about my rating for this book. I was certain this would be a three star for me, but McFarlene pleasantly surprised me with the last quarter of the book and I loved the main character.

There are some major themes was brought up in this book and I absolutely loved that.

Overall, I am pretty happy with my monthly wrap up. I only DNF’d one book, Ember in the Ashes, which I am honestly super shocked about. I think I may be the only soul in the book world that didn’t connect with it. How did May shape up for you? Did you absolutely love or DNF’d any that surprise ya?

Category: Monthly Recap

May Wrap Up |Christie|

May wrap up |thi|