This is coming to you a little late, because I wanted to squeeze just one more book into May, but it was a good reading month! I think there’s an occasion or a reader I could recommend everything I read this month to, even books that I had a quibble with. Although I read some very buzzy titles, I also picked up some books that I hadn’t heard anything about, purely because they intrigued me. I feel as if I’m inching ever-closer to my perfect blend of frontlist and backlist and splashy new releases and quieter ones. If you’re looking for my reviews of Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry and Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, they can be found here and here as part of my Summer Romance series.
My reading categories for May were:
Two books I’ve received from Aardvark Book Club: Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi, Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
Two romances published at least 15 years ago: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
In June I want to read:
Three queer romances in different subgenres (contemporary, historical, and paranormal/fantasy)
One romance classic
Two books recommended in summer reading guides
Favorites of the month
Audition by Katie Kitamura
An actress meets a young man for lunch in a Manhattan restaurant—but who are they to each other? And what roles are they each playing? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this tautly constructed literary thriller since I finished it. I feel like I could read this book five times and come away with a different interpretation each time. It’s an incredible exercise in craft and one that encourages the reader to give the text their full attention. Short but amazingly discussable and written in prose of a remarkable clarity that feels both simple and complex and had me stopping to flag pages multiple times.
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
A brilliant, bloody puzzle box of a mystery and galactic adventure: totally unpredictable, incredibly clever, simultaneously funny and tragic, and so, so original. The world here is enormous and richly depicted and although there's a lot of darkness, there's also a wicked sense of humor that makes it feel that much more real. Of course there are pulpy necromancer romance novels alongside all the bones and gore. I'm amazed by Muir's ability to write such intricate plots (with unreliable narrators!) and to craft such interesting, surprising characters. There's a supporting character here who seemed deeply dull in Gideon the Ninth but that I got extremely attached to over the course of this story. Like any good sequel, this expands the world, ups the stakes, and gives you new perspective.
What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
After the job that brought her to Amsterdam falls apart, Dani Dorfman runs into her family’s former Dutch exchange student—and her first love—Wouter van Leeuwen, who makes her an unconventional proposal: a marriage of convenience. I’ve adored Solomon’s books since 2020—something about her style just sends joy through my veins—and this was no exception. There’s a sweetness and generosity to her work that never feels overly saccharine. The steamy scenes are especially well done, passionate and deeply rooted in the intimacy between the characters. I loved how sensitively Solomon writes about Dani’s feelings of being left behind, all the little details about life in Amsterdam, the loving depiction of the possibilities of taking a big leap, and the palpable longing between Dani and Wouter. (Also, making a man named Wouter dreamy?! Top-tier romance writing.) A perfect start of summer read for me. (Open door, high steam.)
Really liked
Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin
A charming, funny, down-to-earth collection of essays and recipes (with illustrations!), written in Colwin's inimitable style. I was delighted by her generous, opinionated takes on food and the love and good humor with which she writes about feeding family and friends, from dinners cooked in her tiny apartment to tea parties thrown for her daughter. It occasionally reads like a time capsule but I loved getting a peek into 80’s food culture and Colwin’s enthusiasm for cooking and food is timeless. I think this could be a great gift for a foodie friend, perhaps accompanied by a set of fancy spice blends or some delightful kitchen gadgets?
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Minerva Dobbs believes in logic and plans. Destiny, chaos theory, the spirit of Elvis, and the gorgeous Calvin Morrissey have other ideas. Reading this felt like watching a 2000's rom-com but in the best way. I was struck by how different this feels from modern contemporary romance while reading it, as we get not just Cal and Min’s perspective but snippets from multiple supporting characters. It sprawls in a comfortably lived-in way and Crusie writes with a freedom that I really enjoyed. There's a real snap and fizziness to the story and the banter between Cal and Min is fantastic, as is the way they consistently have each other's backs throughout the story. I also loved the supporting characters, especially Min’s loyal best friends Bonnie and Liza and its sense of magical whimsy. The universe keeps on pushing Cal and Min together, no matter how hard they try to stay away from each other, and it’s enchanting. (Open door, low steam.)
Fan Service by Rosie Danan
A funny, sexy, and heartfelt paranormal romance about a washed-up actor best known for playing a werewolf detective on TV who finds out that he's actually turning into a werewolf and the spiky fan archivist who takes on the daunting task of helping him. Devin and Alex are both delightful main characters. I loved Alex's guarded hope and Devin's himbo energy (albeit with a side of hefty self-doubt). This is also so smart about the complexities of fandom and stardom and what it might actually be like for a fangirl to capture the object of her affection. Danan balances humor and sincerity perfectly and I was particularly fond of the TV show of dubious quality that reminded me of the glory days of the CW, right down to the heavily-hinted-at queer ship that the creators refuse to ever make canon--I love a good piece of in-universe media. (Open door, high steam.)
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
The wife of a ruthless Victorian industrialist finds herself in a crumbling manor on a remote moor, where a carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla, whose presence stirs the appetites of not just the local women but the tightly controlled Lenore herself, into her life. (Vampires are so back.) This Gothic horror and reimagining of the classic queer novella Carmilla simmers with rage, desire, and hunger. Dunn’s prose is feverish and visceral and I felt transported both to a decaying grand house that overflows with secrets and into Lenore’s anger and wanting. It’s definitely a little bloodier than my usual tastes, so brace yourself if you’re a sensitive reader, but I was captivated and chilled to the bone by this story.
Just Playing House by Farah Heron
A cozy, grounded celebrity-normal person romance with a really lovable central couple at its heart: a stylist undergoing an elective double mastectomy and the newly minted Hollywood star who she happens to have a history with and who steps up to help take care of her post-surgery. I was especially fond of Nikhil, our kind and caring hero--the joy he gets just from spending time with Marley and being there for her is so lovely to read--who's also a fully developed, flawed, interesting character with issues of his own. There's a real emphasis on the day-to-day work and less glamorous side of being an actor and I enjoyed the peek behind the scenes. I also really liked Marley's friends and the thoughtful treatment of her surgery and recovery, a subject that's obviously near to the author's heart. (Cracked door, aka we get a little bit of lead-in before the fade to black.)
A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn
Another excellent adventure with Veronica and Stoker, as they journey to Stoker's childhood home to attempt to thwart a murderous plot against his brother Tiberius. All the usual hallmarks of a Veronica Speedwell mystery are here--Veronica's wry narrative voice, a wonderful sense of place and time, and Rayborn's skillful pacing and ability to craft a satisfying ending--but there's also a new depth to Veronica and to her relationship with Stoker after the events of An Impossible Imposter. We have cliffside fossils, long-buried secrets, and a very eventful dinner party inside the model of a dinosaur and it's most delightful. This series is one of my favorites and could be a perfect summer binge if you’re a mystery fan.
Rough Pages by Lev A.C. Rosen
Detective Andy Mills finds himself chasing down a missing bookseller and his list of subscribers to a service that secretly mails out queer books…and that threatens to endanger the entire community, including some of Andy’s closest friends, if it falls into the wrong hands. Another splendid installment in a historical mystery series I keep on trying to get people to read. This was atmospheric, impeccably researched, smart, and with a richly developed main character at its heart. Every installment unfolds new layers to Andy, as he builds a new, freer life after his previous one crumbled to pieces, and every mystery impacts him deeply. I found the look at 1950's San Francisco, this time with added historical detail on queer book services and the mafia, to be captivating and the exploration of how queer community can be forged through reading so moving and lovely. A refreshingly modern take on the noir.
The Artist by Lucy Steeds
An aspiring journalist has come to profile a legendary artist in his farmhouse in Provence, where his niece Ettie hovers in the background silently doing the work that makes his paintings possible. This is a lushly written, sun-soaked story about creativity, control, and the aftermath of war. I loved the rich, vivid, and downright luxuriant descriptions. The language Steeds uses is deeply tactile and makes the creative process come alive. She expertly captures the razor-thin edge between ripeness and decay and the sense of tension and passion is superb. Try this if you liked The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden.
Liked, with minor quibbles
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
Another fun, fast, steamy Western romance from Sage with lovable main characters and a fun ensemble cast. The heart of this series is the way the Ryder family supports and loves each other and I really enjoyed how many glimpses we get of the whole family in this series conclusion. The third-act break-up did feel a little rushed and not quite like the big test of the central relationship that it should be but these are such fast reads that it doesn’t really bother me. My favorite thing about the series remains how warm-hearted and welcoming it feels. Camille, who shares a daughter with one of the Ryder brothers, is a character who might be a villain in a different book and instead has a lovely bond with the whole family. Her and Dusty's second-chance romance is full of yearning and hope. (Open door, high steam.)
Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi
Blacksmith Ododo is kidnapped to be the bride of a warrior king and is plunged into a world of luxury, intrigue, and danger in this unique historical novel set in a royal court in 15th-century West Africa. I thought Masquerade was a really engrossing read, even with a few pacing issues. The setting is fascinating and the rich descriptions of the lavish world Ododo finds herself thrust into bring the book to life in vivid color. I also quite liked Ododo's transformation from naive outcast to power player--my favorite parts were her learning how to exert her influence--although I wanted to spend more time on the story beats. A lot happens at the end and it happens fast. Some of the dialogue also sounds too modern, which occasionally broke the spell of the story. But I'd definitely read more from this author and was glad I picked it up.
Two highly discussable classics that I sometimes struggled with but was glad I read
Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym
In 1970’s London, Edwin, Norman, Letty, and Marcia work in the same office and lead a quiet day-to-day life, unable to shake the feeling that they’ve been left behind amid the rapid changes of post-war Britain. Quartet in Autumn is sadder and darker than Pym's earlier novels, but still a perfectly observed series of miniature portraits, this time of the loneliness of aging and retirement. There's much less sparkle but still a lot of wit and a sharp eye for people's foibles and quirks, as well as a slender strand of stubborn optimism running through it. I have to admit that I probably prefer her comedies of manners like Excellent Women but I still love her powers of observation and would like to eventually become a Pym completionist.
Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih
A layered post-colonial classic full of journeys and doubles that circles and loops back on itself and captures a world where East and West are constantly grating against each other. I was especially interested in how Salih weaves oral storytelling traditions and nested stories into the narrative and leaps back and forth in time. I do want to flag that the language this uses around women and the largely symbolic role most of the female characters play was often frustrating to read. In our FictionMatters book club discussion, we talked about how much of it is engaging with the language of colonialist literature but I did find myself longing for the commentary without the misogyny on occasion. Recommended if you're in the mood for deep analysis and to expand your literary worldview.
A classic of a different sort that I had mixed feelings about
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
Prim, sheltered country girl meets the jaded proprietor of London’s most exclusive gambling club. Lisa Kleypas has written some of my very favorite historical romances and she’s also written some that have frustrated me deeply. This one fell somewhere in between the two. I greatly enjoyed Derek, our brooding, obsessed hero, and Sara, our heroine whose naivete conceals an inner steeliness and whose kindness doesn’t stop her from asserting herself. Their connection is undeniable and so is this novel’s influence on historical romances to come. But one of the major obstacles in their way is one of my least favorite romance plot devices: the evil ex, aka Derek’s sociopathic former lover Joyce. I just don’t think an evil ex is very narratively interesting and I don’t love the stereotypes it sometimes leans into. I’m glad to have read this, because I think it’s part of the modern romance canon, but it wouldn’t be my first rec for Kleypas-curious readers. Try Secrets of a Summer Night or Tempt Me at Twilight if you’d like to dip into her vast catalogue. (Open door, medium steam.)
Currently reading: Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan, for the next installment of Summer Romance.
Recommendations, miscellany, and little bits of joy:
All the summer reading guides! I can’t wait to dig into both Sara’s Paperback Summer Reading Guide and Michelle’s All Things Summer Reading Guide.
The Bisou Balm from Violette, in a very pretty berry color. Perfect if you like a sheer wash of color but it builds very nicely too.
Season two of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I only have two episodes left and the drama has me riveted. Let me know if you too cannot look away from these women and their giant sodas.
I wanted to love Bet Me because the banter was soooo snappy and fun. But the fixation on weight was so tough (though it definitely helped set the novel in the early 2000s…..!).
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed The Artist! I started it and then decided to set it aside for an upcoming weekend away so I can really sink into it.