Welcome to my May 2026 Favorite Books post! This monthly post is where I share the 5 star books I’ve read so far each month. You can see the first half of my May reading here and I will share the rest of my May reads next week, on Thursday for the Share Your Shelf link up. I have read a lot of good ones this month, and if I read any more 5 star reads over the weekend, they will be in next week’s post as well. 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.
Title: We’re a Bad Idea, Right?
Author: KL Walther
Genre: YA Rom Com
Publisher: Delacorte Romance, 3/31/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this cute and fun YA rom come about Audrey, a high school senior who wants to do a glass blowing fellowship rather than go to college. Her parents don’t agree and she needs to pay her tuition. With a little help from her friends, including her best friend Henry, she decides to rent out her house while her parents are away. Meanwhile, she also agrees to fake date Henry so that he can win back his ex and she can make her crush jealous. What could go wrong?
“Audrey Barbour has had enough of following the rules. Eighteen years of being the perfect daughter—exceptional grades, enviable college acceptances, tame dating history—and still, her parents don’t trust her enough to let her study her passion, glassblowing, on a prestigious fellowship. So when her best friend Henry proposes an outrageous fake-dating scheme to win back his ex-girlfriend, it feels like the first step to shaking up her perfect life. And the second? That comes when Audrey’s parents go out of town, sparking a high-risk, high-reward solution to pay for her fellowship—renting out her family’s Connecticut mansion online. With the help of her new fake-boyfriend, it shouldn’t be hard to pull off… right? But when her best intentions start to unravel, Audrey will have to reckon with who she is, what she wants, and what it really means to play life by her rules—all with her heart on the line.”
This was really funny and sweet. I liked the older teen vibe although it does include underage drinking. This was my first book by the author but I’ve already read another which I loved as well – see below!
Title: Wombat Waiting
Author: Katherine Applegate
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publisher: Storytide, 5/5/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate is a middle grade book in verse is about a fire in CA. Wombat, a stray dog, follows a voice telling her to go the wrong way – towards the fire. She ends up in front of a shelter for those who had to escape the fire. Henry is there and while Wombat knows she should be his dog, Henry isn’t a big dog fan. Wombat herself is iffy with people, but she starts providing comfort for the residents of the shelter.
“Wombat isn’t actually a wombat—but when the homeless dog is discovered, singed and ash-covered after a terrible fire destroys a community, someone tags her with the nickname and it sticks. Wombat is a ‘destiny dog.’ Something inside of her (she nicknames it ‘Voice’) keeps telling her there’s a special someone out there who is meant to be her person. Surrounded by a devastated town, Wombat takes up residence on bench near the makeshift community center, an old brick warehouse that, for the most part, survived the flames. A small part of the community center evacuation site has been repurposed for the local wildlife rehab sanctuary that burned down. All of the animals were spared, and the temporary quarters include an elderly fruit bat and a young Northern saw-whet owl. No matter what, Wombat refuses to move from her perch, despite the efforts of many humans. Clearly the dog is waiting for someone. But for whom? And what are the odds they survived?”
This book was so sweet. Wombat was so lovable. I loved seeing Henry warm to Wombat and Wombat begin to trust people. I wrote down a quote I liked – “There is no wrong way to talk to dogs, as long as your voice is kind.”
Title: The Summer of Second Chances
Author: KL Walther
Genre: YA Rom Com
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire, 5/5/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
The Summer of Second Chances by KL Walther was my second read by this author this month because she somehow has two brand new YA rom coms that just came out – and I loved them both! This one is about Olivia, who has taken a gap year before leaving for college because her grandmother has dementia and she wants to spend more time with her. Now she is about to leave to spend a few weeks on Martha’s Vineyard with her step mother’s family and she is doubting her decision to leave her grandmother even for a short time. While there, she meets Connor and together they begin to uncover the connection Olivia’s grandmother has to the island.
“Olivia Lupo feels stuck. All her friends have gone on to their first year of college while she’s still at home with her family. There’s a good reason though, her beloved grandmother, Annie, has dementia, and Olivia can’t bear the thought of being so far from home when Annie needs her the most. So when her stepmother asks the family to spend three weeks of the summer on Martha’s Vineyard, Olivia plans to say no…until she discovers an old box Annie filled with photos and memories from her own time there. Olivia decides to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and spend some time on the island that Annie describes as magical. When she arrives, she meets Connor, a boy from her past who really wants to be a part of her present… and future. Olivia’s never thought about forever with someone until meeting Connor…and it scares her. How can she make plans when all she wants to do is keep close to her grandmother before she’s gone forever? As she recreates the memories Annie made a lifetime ago, she has to decide if she’s finally willing to give someone her heart, just when she needs it the most.”
I really enjoyed the story here and could relate to a lot of Olivia’s feelings. I liked that there was a bit of a mystery about her grandmother’s past as well.
Title: First and Forever
Author: Lynn Painter
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Berkley, 5/12/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I love Lynn Painter’s books so much! This cute rom com is about Duffy (whose unique name is never explained!), a football fan, and Connor, a football player. Their relationship begins as a PR move for Connor’s team, which Duffy doesn’t know, and they have so much fun together that Connor falls for her quickly.
“Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyote football. So after she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain following an awful encounter with the team’s beloved mascot, she is disgruntled, to put it mildly. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end. When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of a PR nightmare, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, a strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. But he quickly discovers being with Duffy is much easier than he anticipated, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. This secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.”
There is a deeper level to their relationship as well, as Connor spends time with her family and Duffy meets Connor’s grandfather, who has dementia. Even though their love is pretty insta and there are almost no other women in the book (Duffy’s best friend was rarely around), I still couldn’t help but love this one.
Title: Soon By You
Author: Dahlia Adler
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin, 5/19/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I absolutely loved this rom com set in the Jewish modern Orthodox world. It is about Arielle, a bridesmaid for multiple friends, and Judah, the wedding singer. After not quite hitting it off, the two go from enemies to major attraction to love.
“Arielle Becker is one hora away from a meltdown. After one too many bridesmaid gigs―complete with Spanx, heels, and hideous dresses―she’s officially over love and its overpriced trappings. Especially when they keep coming with the same smug, judgmental wedding singer. Judah Klein is New York’s go-to Modern Orthodox wedding singer and most eligible bachelor. Years of failed setups have left him jaded, until repeated clashes with a fiery bridesmaid wake him right up. But when snarks turn to sparks, and fights turn to feelings, things get complicated. Arielle is not a girl who settles down. And Judah is not a guy who hooks up. So why does walking away feel impossible?”
I loved the themes of body acceptance, community expectations, being yourself, attraction and not just physical attraction, and of course the modern Orthodox community, which I am also a part of. This book meant so much to me! There are things that you might have to be a part of the community to understand, but the author does have a glossary on her Instagram page. The book also includes an explanation of the parts of a Jewish wedding.
Title: Dog Person
Author: Camille Pagan
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Delacorte Press, 4/7/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
Dog Person by Camille Pagan was high on my anticipated reads list and I’m happy it lived up to my expectations. The story was similar in set up to This Story Made Me Think of You. Miguel’s wife Amelia has passed away, leaving him running their bookstore and taking care of their aging dog, Harold. The uniqueness of the book is that Harold is the narrator. Amelia told him to help Miguel find new love, and he takes his role very seriously.
“Harold may be an aging mutt—but Amelia May, the romance novelist who adopted him, taught him a thing or two about the human heart before she died. And she left Harold with a final task: to help her partner, Miguel, find love again. Trouble is, the grief-ridden recluse rarely goes out, not even to the bookstore he and Amelia owned together. Now it’s in danger of going under, and when a renowned author doesn’t show up for his event, it pushes the store’s already precarious finances into the red. In a final attempt to save the bookstore, Miguel and Harold set out to find the no-show and insist he fulfill his obligation. But instead they’re greeted by Fiona, his sunny yet secretive sister. Fiona is intent on protecting her brother’s privacy—and to Harold’s horror, she doesn’t like dogs. But her precocious eleven-year-old daughter, who’s also named Amelia, immediately befriends Harold . . . and he can’t help but wonder if his Amelia was right when she said there are no coincidences in life. Harold is quickly running out of time to accomplish his mission, but if he can just convince his infuriatingly stubborn person to let Fiona in, he’s certain Miguel will find something far more important than a missing author: his own happy ending.”
This book is about grief as well as the small things that lead to big things. It has a group of supportive friends and Puerto Rican representation. It also has Harold, who is such a sweet dog. I love the title, because I am a total dog person!
Title: Anxietyland
Author: Gemma Correll
Genre: Graphic Memoir
Publisher: Gallery Books, 4/28/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
Anxietyland by Gemma Correll was my first adult graphic memoir. By using a theme park theme, the author illustrates feelings of anxiety, panic, depression, and more, describing what she personally experienced on her way to finding and receiving help.
“In 2018, Gemma Correll had a panic attack that lasted for weeks on end. Unable to do much more than walk aimlessly through the streets of Berkeley, Correll admitted herself to the hospital to reckon with The Bad Feeling that had been her companion since she was a child. With her ingenious and charming illustrations ‘bursting with personality…peppered with witty asides’ (Publishers Weekly), Correll leads readers through the amusement park in her own mind—featuring severe anxiety, depression, agoraphobia, and dissociation—a frightening and darkly funny world that ‘feels like a place apart from ‘real’ life.’ A hilarious thrill ride exploring the mysteries of the mind-body connection, Gemma Correll’s graphic memoir is shot through with the absurd knowledge that there is no linear way through Anxietyland, nor any cure-alls—but there are ways to feel better if you keep trying to move forward.”
I enjoyed how this was portrayed and illustrated. It really makes anxiety and its symptoms relatable and understandable. I also liked the pop culture references and the pugs that were a part of the author’s story.
Title: Mad Mabel
Author: Sally Hepworth
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, 4/21/26
Source: Book of the Month
Why I Read It: Anticipated Read
My Rating: 5 Stars
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth was a highly anticipated read for me, as I love this author’s books. She writes thrillers that aren’t really thrillers, as this was more of a full story about Elsie, formerly known as Mabel, a curmudgeon who keeps to herself, but when a man dies on her street, her past as a suspected murderer comes out.
“Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick: eighty-one years old, gloriously grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a hot cup of tea―or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb, until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers start flying. Because Elsie hasn’t always been Elsie. Once upon a headline, she was Mad Mabel Waller―Australia’s youngest convicted murderer. But was she really mad, or just misunderstood? Either way, she’s kept her secret buried for decades. Enter seven-year-old Persephone, a relentless little chatterbox who has just moved in across the road (armed with stickers, questions, and no sense of personal boundaries); Joan, who appears to have it in for Elsie; and a healthy dose of public interest―the cops are sniffing around, and the media is circling like seagulls at a picnic. So Mabel does what she’s always done best―she takes matters into her own hands. Is she a cantankerous old lady with a shady past? A cold-blooded killer with arthritis? Or just someone who’s finally ready to tell her side of the story?”
Although Mabel acts annoyed and antisocial, she bonds with 7 year old Persephone, takes in her neighbor’s dog, and is liked by her neighbors. The story is told in two timelines, detailing Mabel’s difficult childhood. There are difficult topics included. There is also a storyline that felt obvious to me, and therefore I think it was supposed to be!
Title: My Wonderful Disgrace
Author: Angourie Rice & Kate Rice
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 5/12/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
My Wonderful Disgrace by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice was a wonderful surprise – told in journal entries, text messages, interviews, emails, etc., this was a unique depiction of the things that went wrong at a school ball. Amy had hoped for a perfect night, but when an inappropriate photo is sent to the whole class, secrets are revealed about Amy’s crush, and a goat turns up, things get a little crazy.
“Amy Middleton isn’t in love with Leo Prince. Not yet. The Senior Year Ball is days away, and he still hasn’t agreed to be her date. But Amy can imagine it all in advance: a night of supreme perfection. She’ll bask in the spotlight in her silver stilettos and designer dress—rose quartz fabric, mermaid skirt, illusion bodice with beaded lace—and when the music starts, Leo will lead her onto the dance floor and into their shining adult lives. When he finally says yes, success seems assured, and the night belongs to Amy, arriving on Leo’s tuxedoed arm as planned. But with the buzz of an unexpected text, nothing that happens next will be as it seems—least of all Amy’s carefully choreographed love story.”
This was funny as well as heartbreaking, with the realities of being a teen in the age of social media. There are some serious topics included and not everyone telling the story is telling the whole truth, but it does all come out in the end.
Title: Slouch
Author: Christina Wyman
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Books For Young Readers, 10/22/24
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I had previously read and loved Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman, so I was excited when I received both Slouch and Breakout by her as well. Slouch is about Stevie, a tall 12 year old who is mistaken for much older and is constantly told she should play basketball or that she looks like a grown up. In some cases, she is put in uncomfortable situations due to her looking older. Stevie’s older brother plays basketball and her parents focus all of their attention on him, even when Stevie finds an interest of her own by joining the debate club.
“Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly five foot ten in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height―including Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something―maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw more attention to her lanky frame. A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it―until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too―which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all.”
I found this book quite touching as well as relatable, in how much attention is given to physical sports and how those who don’t enjoy them are left out. I appreciated the focus on feeling good in one’s own body, speaking up for yourself, and finding support when it is needed.
Come back next week for the rest of my May reads and the Share Your Shelf link up!
Do you have a favorite book you’ve read this month?
