May and June Reading Recap
May slipped by without a moment for me to stop and recap my reading life. I feel like I blinked, and June is gone as well, so I figured I would drop both into one long reading recap.
For me personally, May was a busy month, between all the end-of-year activities at school and gearing up for summer. We had some trouble with our water softener system (another thing my dad used to take care of), so we spent several weeks drinking bottled water and juggling extra tasks related to that.
We also officially launched our new Friends of the Library nonprofit group supporting our local library branch. We’ve gotten some fundraising efforts underway and are looking forward to helping fund the library’s programming for the fall.
In the midst of that struggle, something great happened. Back in March, one of our cats was diagnosed with cancer. We’ve been keeping him comfortable at home, but unsure how long that will last. We had really hoped to reach the end of the school year so that our girls didn’t have to face another loss in the midst of school.
He has continued to do well, which has been a huge relief. He’s a little spoiled these days, with extra love and treats, but he’s such a sweetheart that I don’t think anyone minds. We’ll enjoy whatever time he has left. I’m glad he’s gotten so many good days.
Once school ended, we kind of just paused to breathe. The summer days have been a little busier than usual, with me still working, but I think we’re all enjoying a slower pace.
I’m still super behind on books I agreed to review. I’ve caught up on the last books from March, but I still have a few from April, with more from May and June. I’m working them into my reading as best I can. I only have five more books to read in July, so I expect I’ll be able to catch up a bit this month.
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May Reading Recap
The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy by Erin Edwards
My thoughts: This sweet sapphic Pride & Prejudice spin-off follows Miss Georgiana Darcy as she discovers love in an unexpected place. I’m a little bit fussy about stories that reimagine the characters from that original work, but I liked this one.
Published April 7, 2026 | My Review
The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America by David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels
My thoughts: This is an incredible tribute to those who tirelessly cared for people with AIDS, fought stigma, and aggressively pursued research toward better treatment and a cure. An absolute must-read.
Published April 21, 2026 | My Review
The Last Best Quest Ever by F. T. Lukens
My thoughts: If you know me at all, you already know this was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year. Totally worth the wait to read it! It’s cozier than the cover makes it out to be, and packed with great characters and sweet romance.
Published May 26, 2026 | My Review
Journey to Tomioka by Laurent Galandon and Michaël Crouzat
My thoughts: Two children seek their grandmother’s farm in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone, an area contaminated after a nuclear disaster. Filled with references to Japanese folklore and the power of community connections.
Published June 9, 2026 | My Review
Shards of Silence by Brian Lee Young
My thoughts: An Indigenous boy gains entrance to an elite boarding school, triggering his great-grandmother’s memories of her youth in an Indian Boarding School. The juxtaposition of Derrick’s experience with that of his great-grandmother makes this a powerful story.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review
The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
My thoughts: This graphic novel adaptation preserves a more classic style in how it narrates the story. The Odyssey was never my favorite, but I enjoyed revisiting it here with Hinds’ compelling illustrations.
Published May 5, 2026 | My Review
June Reading Recap
The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis
My thoughts: Before going to college, a girl returns to Jamaica hoping to connect with her estranged mother, only to find other powerful connections in this moving contemporary novel.
Published June 23, 2026 | My Review to Come
Cursed Princess Club Series, Volumes 1-5 by LambCat
My thoughts: Reimagined fairy tales, especially those with subverted tropes, are still a favorite type of story to read for me. These volumes were originally published as webtoons, but they read very smoothly as a graphic novel. I read all five volumes of the series in June and enjoyed them.
What did you read in May and June 2026?
What have you been reading lately? Did you read any of the books on my reading list? Leave a comment and let me know what you read or something you’re looking forward to reading soon.
I enjoyed reading your recap. It’s cool you’re part of your local Friends of the Library, and that life is a little slower this summer. Through it all, you’ve been reading a ton.