I recently discovered the joys of reading e-books. I figured, I spend so much time on my phone anyway, I might as well do something more productive with it than watching The Office bloopers on YouTube.
As a result, I’ve been reading a lot more than I usually do–on my commute to and from work, before bed, when I wake up, any spare moment I get, really. I’m always worried that strangers on the train will judge me for being yet another commuter glued to their phone, avoiding all human interaction. But I remind myself that reading is a part of how I take care of my mental health, how it helps me, and how it keeps me motivated to keep working on my own book.
So, here’s what I read in May. It’s a short list compared to what most bloggers accomplish in a month, but I’m trying.
Book #1: The “Favourite Book of the Year” Frontrunner
Thoughts: Apologies in advance to every other book I read this year. It’s going to be very hard to top The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It had all of the weirdly specific tropes that I live for. Made-up celebrities who feel so real. Unconventional storytelling. Feels-like-a-movie kind of writing. As I devoured the book, I couldn’t help but imagine who would play each of the characters in the movie adaption. (I really hope there will be one!) Through the main character, Evelyn, Jenkins Reid writes at length about the life of a bisexual movie star whose sexual identity is suppressed under the restrictive societal norms of the past. It was very refreshing to encounter a book with bisexual representation, as I find (at least in the books I read) this identity is not explored too often in literature.
Summary: Aging and reclusive actress Evelyn Hugo (think: Marilyn Monroe levels of fame and beauty) invites Monique, an emerging magazine writer, to pen her biography. But as Evelyn begins to share her life story, revealing deeply personal secrets and stories that she has never shared publicly before, it becomes clearer that the odd pairing have a deeper connection that changes everything.
Book #2: The Dark YA That Could Totally Be a Movie
Thoughts: I loved reading Keep This To Yourself by Tom Ryan for a number of reasons. 1. Ryan is agented by Eric Smith, a literary superstar who has helped publish an amazing list of books (so I knew this one would be just as stellar) 2. The book has major Canadian vibes, and took me back to my trips to Halifax. It’s hard to capture that kind of coastal vibe, but Ryan does it so well. I could smell the salty caves, hear the thrashing water and picture the farmlands so vividly. 3. The thriller kept me guessing and guessing, and I kept getting proven wrong every time! I’m usually pretty good at guessing twists and reveals, but this one really stumped me along the way. (Also, this book very much fits into the “reads-like-a-movie/TV show” category. I can see it being a hit with Riverdale fans.)
Summary: In the seaside town of Camera Cove, Mac Bell is determined to uncover the identity of the Catalog Killer–the serial killer who claimed four victims a year ago. The victims include Mac’s best friend, Connor, who left behind a cryptic note before his murder, leading Mac on a twisty adventure to solve the crimes that unraveled his small community.
Thanks for reading! What did you read in May? What’s your favourite book you’ve read so far this year?
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