Chelsey’s May Reads
The month of May brought some sunshine and rainy days - both of which turned out to be perfect reading weather!
Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (4.5 stars) - A truly perfect title to add to my favorites by Abby Jimenez. Say You’ll Remember Me hit me as one of the most realistic stories by my now favorite Rom-Com author. Everything about the plot rang “real life”, and yes, while it had some downers, the strong characters held the storyline without it feeling like it was dragging on. I felt like this story tugged at all the right heartstrings at just the right moments. Say You’ll Remember Me was also one of the most “closed door” plots I’ve read by Abby to date. I would recommend this book to a variety of readers without much concern of blushing moments.
The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard (3.5 stars) - This was an interesting read with a few twists and turns I didn’t fully anticipate. The plot of rich white women in San Francisco left me feeling a little out of the loop, and therefore somewhat disconnected to several of the characters and their motives, the more down to earth Capri kept the story interesting.
Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay (4 stars) - I really enjoyed this read! I felt like the characters were relatable and it had a good balance of drama, sweet romance, and a plot that stayed interesting.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (3.75 stars) - This was May’s Book Club Pick. The plot was intriguing enough to keep me reading as the third “depressed British woman” I read in a row. I found the characters and plot just likable enough to give most of them the benefit of the doubt until I solved the puzzle a little more than half way through. Still, there were some twists and turns that kept me reading til the end. I’m glad I finished as the story wrapped up well.
The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak (4.25 stars) - This book follows three points of view of past and present events that have deeply affected two families and the small-town community. Forgiveness, ownership of actions and words, and the act of taking small or drastic steps to reclaim one’s dignity are strong plot currents.
Summer Island by Kristin Hannah (4.5 stars) - Another great novel by Kristin Hannah. Her characters have highs and lows and are written to embody any particular person I may meet on the street. I loved that Summer Island didn’t create a “one size fits all” scenario and that the characters had to dig deep to reveal some heavy truths. And when those truths were revealed, the work felt real to make their realities better.