Everything I Read in May 2025
1. Deep End
I’m just going to warn you off the bat that this is a spicy romance book – not saying it’s good or bad but it’s definitely SPICY. LOL That being said, I really did like this book overall. Two college swimmers competing at the highest level begin falling for each other but their arrangement is not a normal one. Just when they think they can keep things casual, feelings get involved and it starts to get messy. It’s a good beach type read that kept me entertained and I really loved the two main characters’ dynamic together. Rating: 8.5
2. Beautiful Ugly
I had absolutely NO idea where this book was going and was actually finding it a bit dull at times. But something told me to stick with it and I was so glad I did! The last 1/4 of the book was a whirlwind and left me speechless!
Grady is grieving the unexpected loss of his wife in a tragic car accident that is still unexplained. To deal with his grief, Grady retreats to a remote Scottish island where his book agent offers him her cottage to use to help him heal. While using this cottage, Grady is trying to write his next novel but is finding it so difficult to begin. In addition to his writer’s block, the residents of the island are quite strange and he can’t seem to figure out why he doesn’t feel welcome here. Trust me, stick with this book because the ending is totally worth it! Rating: 9
3. The Violin Conspiracy
This book is equal parts beautiful and heart breaking all at the same time. Ray is a black boy growing up in rural North Carolina with a home life that isn’t setting him up for success. His grandmother is his biggest supporter and believes he is destined for greater things. She gifts him an old fiddle that was his grandfather’s and this sparks a love of music for him almost immediately. That violin becomes his ticket away from his current life and opens doors he never knew were possible. When he decides to have the violin appraised, he discovers that it is a rare priceless model that is worth millions. And what was once seen as his key to freedom becomes the thing that could ruin him. The story explores so many difficult topics but in the most graceful and beautiful way. It’s truly a must read. Rating: 9
4. The Love Of My Life
Another book that I wasn’t sure I would finish because it was taking a long time to capture my attention. But then it did and I ended up really loving it. Emma is a well known marine biologist who is suffering from a serious illness. Her husband and daughter are her world but she has kept a huge secret from them that could entirely ruin her life. Emma’s husband is an obituary writer and because his relatively famous wife could be facing the end of her life, he is tasked with writing her obituary.
As he begins to look into her past, questions arise that Emma can’t explain and could threaten to unravel their seemingly happy life as a family. The first 1/4 of the book didn’t make a ton of sense to me and I almost stopped reading, but I am so glad I stuck with it because it gets so much better and ended up being so enjoyable. Rating: 8.5
5. I Could Live Here Forever
This book is a slow burn but I really liked it. It’s a heartbreaking story that really makes you feel all the emotions. Leah and Charlie meet in line at a grocery store and their connection is instant. Their attraction to one another is intense and their relationship develops quickly. Leah soon discovers that Charlie is a recovering heroin addict and is worried about falling for him and if he can remain sober. But their connection is too strong to deny so Leah decides to give Charlie a chance. This book really does a wonderful job at describing what it is like to love an addict and how codependent that relationship can be. Rating: 8.5
6. Small Great Things
I’m sorry that my list this month is mostly books that are EXTREMELY emotional and will break your heart over and over. This is another one of those books but it was absolutely beautiful from start to finish. I loved every single bit of this book and envy anyone who is reading it for the first time.
Ruth is a labor and delivery nurse at the Yale New Haven hospital in Connecticut. She has been a stellar employee for nearly 20 years and is beloved by her patients and fellow staff members. During her shift one evening, she cares for a white supremacist and his wife who demand she be taken off their care because she is black. The hospital complies with the man’s request and Ruth feels betrayed that her hospital didn’t stand behind her. But a few days later, her unit is short staffed and Ruth is left alone with the man’s child who goes into cardiac arrest. Since she has been forbidden to touch the child, Ruth must make a crucial decision. Sadly the outcome of this decision leads to a fate Ruth could never imagine. Rating: 9.5
7. The Dead Romantics
I included this book in my list but I did not finish it because I could not get through it. It has tons of great reviews but was not for me. Rating: DNF
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