May reads
May was a good month for lighthearted reads. The first three books I reviewed are classified as Young Adult genre but they’re worth a read as it is easy to get through. I also was on a Jersey Shore kick this month after a great book last month (WELCOME HOME CAROLINE KLINE). I am so ready for all the good summer reads in June!
Note: NetGalley is a website for book reviewers, librarians, book sellers, etc. where they receive ARCs to give honest opinions.
FAVORITE
Another amazing book from Anna Sortino! I’m a fan of her debut GIVE ME A SIGN, so it was a must to read the upcoming ON THE BRIGHT SIDE. I might be biased, being deaf myself but it is SO nice to read more books with deaf characters! I could so relate to the main character, Ellie who had to go to a new school and be mainstreamed. Ellie meets Jackson, who we also meet as the book is told in alternating POVs. While I understood and felt the pain that Ellie faced in her challenges as a deaf person, I did learned something new (Jackson’s diagnosis). The friendship between them is powerful as they maneuver through their journeys of being disabled. I will devour anything Anna Sortino writes — it’s a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for Young Readers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Pub day: July 2
LIKED
Rachel Lynn Solomon is an author I had on my list to read. The sequel to this book (PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE) is coming out in June so I thought it’d be a good time to read this one! It was an adorable YA book about high school friends who are nemesis. They had competed against each other for everything — Student Body President, test scores, the title of valedictorian and more. They were forced to team up during a game where everyone else had a mission to take them out. All that time spent together turned into realizing how much they didn’t know about each other. It was a fun story with academic rivalry and romance!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
As I mentioned, I was in the mood to read more books taking place on the Jersey Shore. We meet Lucy, who lives on the shore. She has an insane crush on her next door neighbor named Connor who only comes to the shore during the summers. It also focused briefly on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This book focused a lot on the romance but it was still a lighthearted read. It was really enjoyable!
FAVORITE
You never can go wrong with Carley Fortune. She is an auto buy author for me. I jumped at reading this newly release book. This book took place on Prince Edward Island and it definitely was a love letter to PEI. Lucy and Bridget are best friends who visits PEI every year to Bridget’s family home. The first year Lucy visited PEI, she arrived first before Bridget. So she went to a local pub and meets a local. She fell for him only to find out he’s Bridget’s brother. Every visit ever since that time, Lucy tries to avoid him but finds it difficult! This was the perfect summer romance read!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I saw SUMMERTIME PUNCHLINE circulating around on bookstagram and it sounded like something I’d enjoy. This debut book indeed was a love letter to the Jersey Shore! I enjoyed the Jerseyness as well the realness of Delfina (the main character). We join her on the journey of finding herself and what she wants in her future. It’s messy, witty, chaotic and heartwarming. A great summer beach rom-com to read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
FAVORITE
I’m a huge fan of Namrata Patel’s debut THE CANDID LIFE OF MEENA DAVE. When I saw that this upcoming book takes place in Salem, MA — it was without a question that I’d read it! Tulsi Gupta is working at her family’s business, a spice shop with her mother and grandmother. She finds a letter her grandmother wrote and never sent about a betrayal. The digging around for information turned into many revelations. It also addressed Tulsi’s struggles of what she wanted to do with her life, if she wanted to follow the family business. Patel writes so beautifully, especially with family connections which she excelled in all her of books.
I received a complimentary ARC book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Pub day: June 1
How are the books rated:
Favorite — LOVED the book / Couldn’t put it down!
Highly Recommend — Great book / Enjoyed.
Liked — Good book / Liked it while reading, but will not remember.
DNF — Did Not Finish / Do not recommend.
No Rating — I do not give ratings on sensitive subject/memoirs.