How an Octopus, a Guncle, and a Time Traveler Won My Heart This Month
What I read in May
May Reads
This month had its fair share of the thrillers and self-improvement books that typically rouse my attention. But I also discovered heart-filled messages from unexpected places—including a clever eight-legged narrator and a time-traveling daughter.
God, I love books.
Tell me what you’re reading!
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
3.5 ⭐ | Audiobook 🎧 | Finished May 3, 2025 🗓️
I predicted the ending of this one way before the reveal (hence the downgraded rating), but honestly, that didn’t take away from the ride. The plot had enough momentum—and just the right amount of creepy small-town secrets—to keep me turning the pages.
It follows a woman revisiting a childhood trauma that made her famous (and infamous), trying to untangle what really happened all those years ago. Even though I saw the twist coming, I still enjoyed the unfolding of it all. A solid, atmospheric read with plenty of eerie layers.
The Guncle (The Guncle #1) by Steven Rowley
4.5 ⭐ | Audiobook 🎧 | Finished May 8, 2025 🗓️
The Guncle was exactly what I hoped it would be—hilarious, heartfelt, and full of charm. I’d seen everyone reading it a couple of years ago (including, fittingly, a gay guy in Palm Springs—very on the nose), and it had been sitting on my to-read list ever since. I’m so glad I finally got to it.
Steven Rowley’s narration was fantastic—warm, witty, and perfectly timed—and I completely fell in love with the characters. It struck the perfect balance of laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly emotional. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel when I get the chance.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
4.5 ⭐ | Audiobook 🎧 | Finished May 13, 2025 🗓️
Just when I was ready to give up on the contemporary romance genre, Great Big Beautiful Life swooped in and reminded me why I love it. The romance here is a true slow burn—realistic, nuanced, and all the more satisfying for it—but what really set this one apart was the richness of the plot.
Two writers are competing to tell the life story of a reclusive former heiress, and through their month-long stay on a secluded island, the novel weaves in mystery, memory, and a series of beautifully layered historical flashbacks.
The deeper story behind the heiress’s life adds real weight and intrigue, giving the romance something substantial to unfold around. And once again, Julia Whelan’s narration was pitch-perfect—every character came alive. Easily one of my favorite reads in the genre in a long time.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
4.5 ⭐ | Audiobook 🎧 | Finished May 17, 2025 🗓️
This book and I had a rocky start. When it first came out in 2022, it was everywhere—on listicles, recommended reads, library displays—but when I first tried it, I just couldn’t get into it. No idea why. Still, it kept popping up in my Libby app, always near the top of the “popular now” list.
Given its staying power—and the fact that I’m a total sucker for animals (see what I did there?)—I gave it another shot. And I’m so glad I did. This time, it clicked. The story is gentle and warm, with an emotional undercurrent that sneaks up on you. And yes, the octopus is a delight. It’s one of those reads that quietly earns its hype.
P.S. Netflix is making it into a movie!
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
4 ⭐ | Audiobook 🎧 | Finished May 21, 2025 🗓️
I started listening to The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck at exactly the right time—right when my marriage hit a rocky but necessary reckoning. And honestly, the timing couldn’t have been better.
Manson’s brutally honest, often funny take on life and values really hit home. What stuck with me most was his focus on accountability, embracing change, accepting uncertainty, and not being afraid to fail—all things I needed to hear in that moment.
It’s not your typical self-help book; it’s a no-frills, call-it-like-it-is reminder that growth comes from facing the hard stuff head-on.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
4 ⭐ | Audiobook 🎧 | Finished May 21, 2025 🗓️
Abby Jimenez is one of those contemporary romance authors who just gets it for me. I’ve read the first two books in her Part of Your World series, and Just for the Summer was a perfect third installment.
What I loved most—besides the romance—was how genuinely invested I became in the characters outside of their love story. I didn’t know exactly how things would end (a rare and welcome surprise in this genre), and I found myself rooting for them in so many ways that had nothing to do with whether they kissed on page 312.
Jimenez is just so good at building layered, lovable, flawed humans you want to cheer for. This one left me full-hearted and happy.
Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander
4.25 ⭐ | Hardcover 📖 | Finished May 30, 2025 🗓️
I really enjoyed this thriller; it grabbed me right from the beginning, and I found myself picking the book back up as often as possible to see what happened next. It follows a journalist whose seemingly polished life begins to unravel when a figure from her past reappears—bringing with them memories of a traumatic college incident she’s spent years trying to forget. The story slowly unspools the mystery, circling the long-buried event with just the right amount of tension to keep me flipping pages.
One thing I especially appreciated was how the author didn’t lean into the tired—and infuriating—“alcoholic woman as unreliable narrator” trope. Instead, the gaps in the main character’s memory were tied to trauma in a way that felt grounded and real.
I thought the plot was strong, especially for a debut novel)—tense, well-paced, and emotionally sharp. I was surprised to see mixed reviews afterward and had a brief moment of second-guessing myself (why do I do that??). But honestly? I liked what I liked—and that’s more than enough.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
4.25 ⭐ | Audiobook 🎧 | Finished May 30, 2025 🗓️
I originally chose this audiobook for two very practical reasons: 1) it came highly recommended by a fellow book-lover on Substack, and 2) I needed one more quick read to round out my May Reads graphic (gotta do it for the ’gram). What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with it.
The story follows Alice, a woman who wakes up on her 40th birthday and somehow finds herself back in her 16-year-old body—with all her current-day memories intact. What starts as a time-travel twist becomes a thoughtful, moving exploration of family, growing up, and what we’d change if we had the chance to do it all again. The novel was inspired by her own experience losing her father, and it made me appreciate still having my own father around. I can’t wait to visit him next month. :)
This book is heartfelt and warm without ever feeling too sentimental—though I definitely teared up at the end. By the time I was finished, I’d already added Emma Straub’s other books to my to-read list.
What are you reading? Any recommendations?
i LOOOOVED The Guncle. probably one of my favorite summer reads last summer. the sequel wasn't as good but it was still very wholesome. i want more sequels!
just for the summer - LOVE everything Abby. i read that one last summer and it was just perfection.
i have Big Beautiful Life on my library holds and it should be coming to me soon...I had a really terrible experience with Emily Henry and i've not picked up any of her books since then...however, I'm willing to give this one a try.
i love a good thriller so i'm going to add 'everyone who can forgive me is dead' to my list! thanks for sharing!
i'm currently reading It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan!
Great recommendations! I haven't rad Remarkably Bright Creatures. TBH, I was afraid it would fall into the category of "Books Other People Love and I Can't," like A Man Called Ove and A Gentleman in Moscow. (Although I love Towles's Rules of Civility.) I've read a few of Emily Henry's books already, so I may try that one. And I really enjoy a good thriller! Like you, I'm over the alcoholic unreliable female narrator trope. Enough already!