May 2026 Reading Recap
purple book covers, lit fic, sports romances, and the 6th book in a popular mystery series
Hello, and welcome to my May 2026 Reading Recap—a newsletter where I share the books I read and what I thought in an attempt to convince you to make more time for reading. If you’re new here, I’m a working mom to two school-aged kids, and I typically listen to audiobooks during some portion of my work day and try to read from a physical book or my Kindle most weeknights.
Whew! We survived Maycember. This month was filled to the brim with end-of-the-school-year events. This season always picks up in my personal life, so I’m quite pleased that I was able to read a few library books! I actually think I read faster from physical books.
The Reviews
Bad Boy Era by Amy Daws
Audiobook | 13h 48m | free review copy courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
I’ve been interested in Amy Daws’ Mountain Men Matchmaker series for a while now, so when I saw Bad Boy Era by Amy Daws was available to request in the audiobook format from NetGalley, I found the allure of a rugby-playing Irishman hard to resist. It was a strange choice on my part to begin at the end of a series, but now I’m even more interested in going back and reading the other books to see where Everly’s matchmaking began. Harlequin Audio pulled out all the stops with the duet audiobook narration. Connor Crais brings a brooding sexiness to the story with his take on the Irish accent! I’ll be adding him to my favorite audiobook narrators list. Conri “Wolf” is Irish, broody, covered in tattoos, and most importantly, a rugby player. There’s built-up tension between Everly and Conri, as he’s her best friend and roommate’s twin brother. I’d love to see a spinoff with Cliona in her own romance! There are some spicy, open-door scenes with a kink that surprised me! Their chemistry was off the charts. One of my favorite parts of the book is that each chapter starts with the definition of a term from rugby that leads into the action of the coming pages. Clevely done! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own, and I look forward to going back to read the whole series.
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
Audiobook | 9h 15m | borrowed from the library
Every reader’s experience of a book is different, after all.
This is my time reading anything by Quinn, and it doesn’t surprise me that I went with magical realism over her historical fiction backlist. The premise of the book will feel familiar to anyone who has read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig or Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. Quinn’s spin on the magical library trope is a love letter to books and knowledge, and a political statement against book bans in support of libraries and librarians.
Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra
Physical Copy | 368 pages | borrowed from the library
My daughter has recently become interested in Anne Shirley’s story thanks to our Canadian kin, and you know I can’t resist a retelling. I’d love to pick up more of Kantra’s retellings in the future. As someone who grew up visiting Mackinac Island (my grandparents lived about 25 minutes from the ferry), it felt magical revisiting the quaint town through Kantra’s descriptions. I’d classify this novel as women’s lit because it focuses on Anne’s personal and professional growth, not solely her relationship. The story provides Anne with a second chance at love with a childhood friend after walking away from “the one”. There’s a slight age gap slant, heavy dealings with grief surrounding the death of a parent, some relevant political discourse around book banning in schools, and ADHD representation!
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Audiobook | 10h 52m | free review copy courtesy of Libro.fm and the publisher
I’m a die-hard Carley Fortune fan, but Our Perfect Storm was just okay. It was an interesting take on the friends-to-lovers trope, but I didn’t feel any connection to the main characters, and I think I’ll forget the plot quickly. It’s a slow burn, and I became frustrated with how oblivious Frankie was to George’s feelings. You’d think she’d be more in tune with her “best friend”. Fortune’s books always have this emotional heaviness to them, and this book was no exception. I found the title to be quite fitting!
Red Card by Maren Moore
Audiobook | 10h 30m | free review copy courtesy of Libro.fm and the publisher
Coming off the high of the Off-Campus series on Prime Video, this was the perfect sports romance to fill the gap. I’ve been looking for something rugby-related without the heaviness of Binding 13. Touted as She’s All That meets She’s the Man, this is a trope-heavy New Adult romance about a transfer student/British rugby star and his new coach’s daughter. I so rarely criticize the work of voice actors, but the audiobook narrator for the MMC was not the right fit for this story, and I found the performance distracting. A little fluffy and predictable, but I finished this in a day! I’d definitely read more in the Prescott University series if the author continues it. Thank you to Libro.fm and the publisher for the ALC (although I’m a few months past publish date already)!
In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
Audiobook | 13h 28m | borrowed from the library
DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
Reese is the first female team owner in professional baseball, and watching her navigate that inherent sexism and creeping self-doubt was such an important story to tell. Tomforde’s writing reminds us that it’s okay to have moments of vulnerability in a professional environment. I loved that despite everything that’s thrown at Reese, she keeps showing up and trusts that she belongs enough to continue her family dynasty. There’s a great slow-burn (but hot) romance with Reese’s team manager, Monty. What I love most is that these characters are in their thirties and forties (slight age gap), so their relationship feels refreshingly mature and real. I recommend this one on audiobook and look forward to going back and reading the rest of the Windy City series!
Trespasess by Louise Kennedy
Physical Copy | 292 pages | borrowed from the library
My understanding of the Troubles was limited before this book, but Louise Kennedy enlightened me by describing a blended community with nuance and sympathy. Something about the way she builds the world of 1970s Northern Ireland made me feel the weight of every decision her characters made, big and small. I’m glad I pushed through the beginning. Cushla is the kind of protagonist who stays with you because her story feels so achingly human. The tensions she navigates are moral, personal, and political. The themes of the book are heavy, but there’s enough humanity woven in through everyday moments to keep your heart from breaking entirely. I couldn’t have predicted the ending.
Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano
Physical Copy | 358 pages | borrowed from the library
I can’t believe this is the 6th Finlay Donovan novel! It’s just as entertaining as the rest of the series, but I feel like Cosimano toned down the chaos a little by abandoning the mafia storyline in favor of Vero’s hometown and a college campus setting. I love that in the last two books, Cosimano reintroduces details from the earlier books so that there aren’t too many gaps in the storyline. You could almost read this as a standalone. Veronica’s family, along with some familiar faces like Ramon and Javi, brings a fresh energy to the series. I liked taking a break from Finlay’s drama. There was slightly less emphasis on the mystery aspect of this particular book, but still plenty of humor and hijinks! The “crime” in the novel sets this series up to continue to pivot.
Lessons in Forgiving by Selina May
Audiobook | 11h 12m | borrowed from the library
The second book in the Hall Beck University series follows Paula, a journalist, and Henry, her soccer player ex. The two are thrown back into each other’s orbits when Paula’s editor tasks her with writing a feature on Henry’s athletic career. The stakes feel so real from the very beginning because you can sense the history between them long before the flashbacks in the alternating timelines fill in the missing details. Rather than simply being told about their past, you get to live it alongside them, and that structure made every tension-filled moment in the present hit so much harder. Having to piece things together kept me listening, and that push and pull of past versus present really amplified the emotional weight of their rekindled connection. I did find myself wanting a little more depth around Paula’s family since it’s clear her culture is a huge part of who she is outside of her relationship with Henry. That said, the fact that Henry learned Spanish to better connect with her family absolutely melted my heart. It’s such a small but deeply intentional gesture that speaks volumes about his character and how much Paula has always meant to him. Thoughtful love is everything to me!
What’s up next in June
Here are just a few books being published in June that I’m looking forward to reading:
Whistler by Ann Patchett 6/2
Land by Maggi O’Farrell 6/2
Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman 6/2
The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden 6/2
One for the Road by Elliot Fletcher 6/4
Nymph by Sofia Montrone 6/9
You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings 6/9
Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie 6/23
I’m hopeful that my library will continue to get audiobooks of the new releases I’m eager to read so that I can make time for them as well.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! You can keep up with my reading journey in real time on Goodreads or The Storygraph!
Let’s read some books,
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Love your review on In Her Own League!! Would love to know your take on the Windy City series!!
I am super curious about Astral Library (it's the cover, I think...). Did you like it?