Today’s post covers the second half of the books I read in May 2024. I shared what I read in the first half of the month here. I shared my five star reads here. The Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve read any of these books or are interested in them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Title: The Book of Mothers
Author: Carrie Mullins
Genre: Non Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, 5/7/24
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, Rounded up to 4 Stars
This was an interesting look at motherhood as depicted through literature.
“Sweet, supportive, dependable, selfless. Long before she had children of her own, journalist Carrie Mullins knew how mothers should behave. But how? Where did these expectations come from―and, more importantly, are they serving the mothers whose lives they shape? Carrie’s suspicion, later crystallized while raising two small children, was that our culture’s idealization of motherhood was not only painfully limiting but harmful, leaving women to cope with impossible standards––standards rarely created by mothers themselves. To discover how we might talk about motherhood in a more realistic, nuanced, and inclusive way, Carrie turned to literature with memorable maternal figures for answers. Moving through the literary canon––from Pride and Prejudice and Little Women to The Great Gatsby, Beloved, Heartburn, and The Joy Luck Club―Carrie traces the origins of our modern mothering experience. By interrogating the influences of politics, economics, feminism, pop culture, and family life in each text, she identifies the factors that have shaped our prevailing views of motherhood, and puts these classics into conversation with the most urgent issues of the day. Who were these literary mothers, beyond their domestic responsibilities and familial demands? And what lessons do they have for us today―if we choose to listen?”
From Pride and Prejudice through the Harry Potter series, the author examines mothers in familiar literary works. She gives a summary of each book, a bit about the author’s life, and discusses a mother in each work. Some of it was over my head and some, like the discussions of “natural” birth and working moms, was relatable. I appreciated when the author acknowledged the problematic nature of some of the authors she included – namely Alice Walker and JKR.
Title: Long Time Gone
Author: Charlie Donlea
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Kensington, 5/21/24
Source: Biblio Lifestyle Book Tours
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
I had heard good things about this author and was excited to give him a try! Long Time Gone is about Sloan, a forensic pathology fellow. Because she is assigned to work on forensic genealogy, she submits her DNA to see how it all works. Being adopted, Sloan knows she may find out new information, but what she never expected was to discover that she is actually missing baby in a cold case from 30 years ago! Sloan heads across the country to meet her extended birth family and to try to find out what happened to her and her parents before she was adopted.
“On the first day of an elite two-year fellowship under the renowned Chief Medical Officer Dr. Livia Cutty, Sloan Hastings receives a research assignment in the emerging field of forensic genealogy. It’s the exciting, rapidly evolving science behind the recent breaks in high-profile cold cases from the Golden State Killer to the Cameron Young murder, and Sloan enthusiastically begins her research by submitting her own DNA to an online genealogy site. Her goal is to better understand the treasure trove of genetic information contained on ancestry websites, but the results she receives are shocking. Raised by loving, supportive parents, Sloan has always known she was adopted. But her DNA profile suggests her true identity is that of Charlotte Margolis, aka “Baby Charlotte,” who captured the nation’s attention when she and her affluent parents mysteriously vanished in July 1995. Despite a large-scale investigation and months of broad media coverage, there were never any suspects in the family’s disappearance and the case has been cold for decades. Racing to stay ahead of the media and true crime junkies ravenous to know what really happened to Baby Charlotte, Sloan’s search for answers leads her to Cedar Creek, Nevada, a small town north of Lake Tahoe. There, the Margolis family’s power and influence permeate every corner of the county, and while Sloan’s birth relatives are initially welcoming, they’re also mysterious and tight-lipped. Not everyone seems happy about Sloan’s return, or the questions she’s asking. The more she learns, the more apparent it becomes that the answers Sloan seeks are buried in a graveyard of Margolis family secrets. And someone will do anything to keep them hidden . . .”
Going back and forth from the present to the past, this book did a great job of holding my attention. Some of the reveal seemed a little far fetched but I enjoyed reading this one. I could see Sloan returning in future books with more about her research and new cases!
Title: Love At First Book
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Berkley, 5/14/24
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay is about Em, who goes to Ireland to assist her favorite author Siobhan Riordan with writing the conclusion to a beloved book series. She is also working in a bookstore while there, and her boss is the grumpy store owner – and Siobhan’s son.
“Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence. Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around. Emily persists, and spending her days bantering with the annoyingly handsome mercurial Irishman only makes her fall more deeply in love with the new life she’s built – and for the man who seems to soften toward her with every quip she throws at him. But when she discovers the reason for Kieran’s initial resistance, Em finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her now undeniable feelings for Kier. As Siobhan’s novel progresses, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.”
I didn’t really connect with the romance in this one and found that it was more of a story about Em and Siobhan. Em’s difficult relationship with her mother seemed to disappear from the story line as Em drew boundaries and became closer to Siobhan. Em has anxiety that leads to her being diagnosed with hypochondria or illness anxiety disorder. There is actual illness in this book, so keep that in mind if the topic is sensitive for you.
Title: Conjure Women
Author: Afia Atakora
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Random House Audio, 4/7/20
Source: Publisher (Print Version) and Library (Audio Version)
Why I Read It: Backlist Book Challenge
My Rating: 4 Stars
The 12th book I read from my 24 in ’24 Backlist Challenge list was Conjure Women by Afia Atakora. I listened to this one but originally had received the print version from the publisher. This book is about the intertwining lives of three women in the U.S. South before, during, and after the Civil War. The chapters are not written in a linear fashion, which made for some confusing reading, but I enjoyed the way various connections and events were revealed over the course of the book. It is mainly told from the viewpoint of Rue, both at a young age and an adult. It is also about her mother May Belle and their master’s daughter, Varina.
“Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning eras and generations, it tells of the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healing woman; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife; and their master’s daughter Varina. The secrets and bonds among these women and their community come to a head at the beginning of a war and at the birth of an accursed child, who sets the townspeople alight with fear and a spreading superstition that threatens their newly won, tenuous freedom. Magnificently written, brilliantly researched, richly imagined, Conjure Women moves back and forth in time to tell the haunting story of Rue, Varina, and May Belle, their passions and friendships, and the lengths they will go to save themselves and those they love.”
I felt like I needed a guide to this book, to understanding all the events that occurred, because I wasn’t sure if I completely understood it all. While this is historical fiction, it is also literary and somewhat complex. I can definitely see this having benefit in a high school literature class! This does have a lot of difficult content including slavery, violence, miscarriage, rape, and more. Although it took me awhile to get to it, I’m glad I read it now.
Title: Swiped
Author: LM Chilton
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press, 5/21/24
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
Swiped was sent to me alongside another thriller I was excited for, so I read Swiped as well! This one was about Gwen, who has been using a dating app and going on a series of bad dates in an attempt to get over her ex. When one of her past dates is murdered, soon followed by the murder of the guy she dated next, Gwen realizes someone is setting her up as a suspect in these cases.
“Gwen Turner has made a bloody mess of her life. She recently broke up with the best man she’s ever known for reasons even she can’t admit to herself and quit a lucrative job to open her own coffee shop. To top it all off, her best friend is getting married and leaving her behind in singlehood. Along with too much cheap wine and bad reality TV, Gwen turns to a dating app to help fill the void in her life. Swiping through the few eligible bachelors left in town, she spends her evenings out on one disastrous date after another. But when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small coastal English city, she’s shocked by the connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her. Before she knows what’s happening, Gwen finds herself the main suspect in a serial killer’s murderous spree, and the only way she can clear her name is to track down her former dates (even those that have ghosted her) and unmask a killer before it’s too late.”
This book kept me turning pages, although I found the story a little strange. Gwen seemed to miss certain things that should have been obvious, like when all of her dates mentioned something that could have been important. I wondered if the author being male had something to do with the portrayal of Gwen as maybe not so smart. I did not guess the actual killer until just before it was revealed!
Title: The Goddess of Warsaw
Author: Lisa Barr
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks, 5/28/24
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
Lisa Barr’s book The Goddess of Warsaw takes the reader to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, depicting a woman who is now a famous actress but was once an arms smuggler and resistance fighter.
“Los Angeles, 2005. Sienna Hayes, Hollywood’s latest It Girl, has ambitions to work behind the camera. When she meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous Golden Age movie star, Sienna sees her big break. She wants to direct a picture about Lena’s life—but the legendary actor’s murky past turns out to be even darker than Sienna dreamed. Before she was a Living Legend, Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis. Warsaw, 1943. A member of the city’s Jewish elite, Bina Blonski and her husband, Jakub, are imprisoned in the ghastly, cramped ghetto along with the rest of Warsaw’s surviving Jews. Determined to fight back against the brutal Nazis, the beautiful, blonde Aryan-looking Bina becomes a spy, gaining information and stealing weapons outside the ghetto to protect her fellow Jews. But her dangerous circumstances grow complicated when she falls in love with Aleksander, an ally in resistance—and Jakub’s brother. While Lena accomplishes amazing feats of bravery, she sacrifices much in the process. Over a decade after escaping the horrors of the ghetto, Bina, now known as Lena, rises to fame in Hollywood. Yet she cannot help but be reminded of her old life and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who escaped justice after the war. Her power and fame as a movie star offer Lena the chance to right the past’s wrongs . . . and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had.”
The longest section of the book was about the days leading up to the Ghetto Uprising. A later section is about Lena in Hollywood. Lena continues her fight against those who harmed her in the past. This was definitely an immersive story. I am not sure if it was because my copy is an advanced version, but it did not have an author’s note, so I was left wondering what was true and what was only fiction!
Title: The Guncle Abroad
Author: Steven Rowley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Audio, 5/21/24
Source: Publisher Audio
Why I Read It: Loved the previous book
My Rating: 4 Stars
Being that The Guncle was my favorite book of 2021, I obviously had to read the sequel. And yet, sequels are questionable! Will it be as good as the first? This one takes place five years later, with Patrick accompanying Grant and Maisie on a European adventure in advance of their dad’s wedding. The kids quickly make it known that they are against this marriage and they want GUP to help call it off. Plus, Patrick is approaching 50 and ended things with his younger boyfriend Emory – maybe they all need some lessons about love.
“Patrick O’Hara is back. It’s been five years since his summer as his niece Maisie and nephew Grant’s caretaker after their mother’s passing. The kids are back in Connecticut with their dad, and Patrick has relocated to New York to remain close by and relaunch his dormant acting career. After the run of his second successful sit-com comes to a close, Patrick feels on top of the world . . . professionally. But some things have had to take a back seat. Looking down both barrels at fifty, Patrick is single again after breaking things off with Emory. But at least he has a family to lean on. Until that family needs to again lean on him. When Patrick’s brother, Greg, announces he’s getting remarried in Italy, Maisie and Grant are not thrilled. Patrick feels drawn to take the two back under his wing. As they travel through Europe on their way to the wedding, Patrick tries his best to help them understand love, much as he once helped them comprehend grief. But when they arrive in Italy, Patrick is overextended managing a groom with cold feet; his sister, Clara, flirting with guests left and right; a growing rivalry with the kids’ charming soon-to-be-launt (lesbian aunt), and two moody young teens trying to adjust to a new normal, all culminating in a disastrous rehearsal dinner. Can Patrick save the day? Will teaching the kids about love help him repair his own love life? Can the change of scenery help Patrick come to terms with finally growing up?”
There were some really funny parts to this and I found it just as sweet as the first book during the first section. The part surrounding the wedding was a little harder to love for some reason. Like the first book, this one also includes themes of grief, as well as the difficult adjustment to new family dynamics. It is a definite must read for fans of the Guncle!
Title: If Something Happens to Me
Author: Alex Finlay
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Minotaur, 5/28/24
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
I have really enjoyed Alex Finlay’s books and was excited to read his newest, If Something Happens To Me. This is about Ryan, whose girlfriend Ali went missing 5 years ago, leaving him as the prime suspect. It is also about Poppy, a local sheriff, and a chain of events that occurs when Ali’s car is found.
“For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken. With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school. He’s put his past behind him. Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali’s car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali’s handwriting: If something happens to me…”
I loved that this book partially takes place in Kansas – and The Night Shift took place in NJ! It also takes place in Europe and Philadelphia. The characters connect in interesting ways and it kept me turning pages. It includes a mob story line as well as bullying, suicide, and other deaths.
There you have it, the rest of my May reading! This post included 8 of the books I read in May. 6 of these books were in print and 2 were audio. Genres included non-fiction, mystery, rom com, historical fiction, thriller, and contemporary. These were all adult reads.
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?
