May 2025 Reading Round Up
2025 GoodReads Reading Challenge: 32 Books Completed Out Of Goal of 52 (62%)
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Finished Reads and Listens: 10 in total & 1 DNF
I had a great reading month in May. I finished four audiobooks in May, a new record for me. I have had a lot of knitting and crocheting to enjoy this month, so it was the perfect opportunity to listen to an audiobook when the needles and hooks were working away. Unfortunately I had to dnf one of my audiobooks. Hated doing it, but needs must. I just couldn't get into it.
My ratings were from 3 💜 to 5 💜 this month. No 6 🩵 this month, unfortunately, but it was still an awesome month for reading, and I found a few authors to love.
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜
Sunrise on the Reaping, Written By Suzanne Collins
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
I finally read this book. I wrote in my April 2025 Reading Round-Up that I had been putting it off since it came out, but that I was finally going to start reading it in May. I don't usually pay attention to reviews before I start to read a book as I prefer going in a little bit blind. I know roughly what the book is about, but I don't look at reviews. But this was such a huge book release that it was impossible to avoid. I saw a few people online, especially on Book-Tok talking about the book and commenting that they were in tears by the end. Wasn't ready for that when it first came out. Wasn't sure I was ready for that when I started reading, but my desire to go back into the world of The Hunger Games was too strong.
So now, was it worth the wait?
Most definitely. I went on a rollercoaster with this book. This book is a prequel and revolves around the character Haymitch Abernathy when he is a teenager living in District 12, and he is one of four participants from the district who are sent to the Hunger Games that year. There are whispers around the games about people wanting to permanently end the Hunger Games, and calls for others to join. Will Haymitch join?
There are so many highs and lows with this book. The only thing you can count on with The Hunger Games books is that there will be a lot of death, but who and how are always up in the air and unknown. I was bouncing with joy at some points, and in tears at others. This book truly takes you on a journey, evoking a range of emotions.
If you haven't read the other books in the series before I recommend reading them first, as there are links and connections in this book with the other four books.
Now that it has been announced they are going to make a movie based on this book, I can't wait to see what they do with the story. Books are always better than movies, but it'll be fun to find out.
Really hoping that Suzanne writes some more prequels. I would love to know more about Effie Trinket and her backstory, for example.
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜
This is the second book in the Marlow Murder Club book series, and it's a fantastic addition to the collection. This book is all about a locked room murder. How could a man be murdered the day before his wedding in a locked room where he has the only key in his pocket? Quite the quandary, and Judith, Suzie and Becks are on the case. There are twists and turns throughout the book, and I regularly change my mind about the identity of the murderer. The only grumble I have about this book is that there is not enough DS Tanika Malik. I missed the banter she has with the women in the first book, but other than that, it's an awesome read, and will be perfect for anyone who loves a cosy murder mystery. But I recommend reading the first book if you haven't already.
The Cornish Witch, Written By Elena Collins
By Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
It's been a while since I read an historical fiction book, and this ARC has been sitting waiting for me for far too long, and time was running out.
Fireborne, Written By Rosaria Munda
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜
This is an ARC I got from Netgalley. I haven't read a fantasy book in a while and was eager to open this book up.
This is a very enjoyable book. It is definitely a book for young adults, so if you are looking for fantasy books with spice then this isn't the book for you. But if you love a slow burn romance, dragons, an academy school setting and lots of battles then I think you will enjoy this. It is told from the point of view of the two main characters.
Lee is working his way through the dragonrider system and is seen as someone who is respectable, strong and will be a worthy and dedicated leader. But he is keeping a very big secret from everyone that may destroy everything.
Annie is a young woman who is a strong and capable dragonrider, but the people in charge have their doubts about her future success. She is a lowborn young woman and as such, in a world where your success in life is bound to the metal bracelet you are deemed to qualify for when young, she is not seen as optimistically as Lee, but she is determined to show them how wrong they are about her.
When an outside force starts attacking them Lee, Annie and the rest of the students must come together to support each other and the local community. But will they be able to do that, and can Lee keep his secret to himself?
The Lying Guest, Written By Mahi Cheshire
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
I listened to the audiobook. I love doing this with books based on actual history and people, even when it’s a funny book like this. To make it sweeter, it’s also read by the author, David Mitchell. Listening to audiobooks is fantastic for me, as it allows me to indulge in a book while knitting or crocheting.
This is an amazing, funny book that is not only a long history lesson but is laugh out loud funny. David Mitchell is a fantastic writer, and his narration makes this audiobook even funnier. From King Arthur to Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare, he raucously tells the history of the kings, queens and main players with such relish and abandon that you will be laughing with tears in your eyes. He has a fantastic way of bringing the modern world into his history tales as well. His whole rant about James Bond needs to be heard to be believed. I don't think this book would be as funny if you just read the book, although I'm sure that's great as well. I can't recommend the audiobook enough.
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜
This is the first audiobook I have listened to with Samantha Bond reading it. I loved the previous two books with Imogen Church reading them and was a little nervous that I wouldn't like this as much. But Samantha is fantastic.
This is a much shorter book than the previous two - Bridget Jones Diary is unabridged at 8 hours, 27 minutes and Edge of Reason is unabridged at 11 hours, 55 minutes. Bridget Jones’ Baby is unabridged at 4 hours, 5 minutes.
Bridget is back in her third book/audiobook, and better and funnier than ever. Sometimes, in my opinion, when books get into a long-ish series like this the books become a bit repetitive and boring, but not this series. Perhaps that's helped in this case with the audiobook having a new narrator, but it's still a massively enjoyable read. Bridget is still plodding along, trying her best to move through her job, insane family and friends and challenging love life. Who is she going to pic in the end - Daniel or Mark? And if that isn't all enough, she also finds out she's pregnant. But..... who's the father?
This is such a fun book that had me laughing out loud. Thankfully I was working on a crochet project that was simple to create and so I didn't have to worry about dropped stitches or making mistakes. It's a perfect audiobook to listen to around the house or out on a walk, as long as you don't mind giggling in public.
Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy, Written By Helen Fielding, Audiobook Read by Samantha Bond
My Rating:- 💜 💜 💜 💜
I have reached the last of the Bridget Jones books/audiobooks. This is the only book in the series where I didn't know what was going to happen as I haven't watched the movie yet. I had heard one spoiler after the movie came out, but that was it. Totally blind.
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook, again fantastically read by Samantha Bond. The story was really fun as Bridget navigates a new season of her life with her two young children. The voice Samantha uses for Bridget's daughter Mabel is absolutely adorable. Such a fun book to listen to. Even with everything that has happened Bridget is still as adorable and scatter brained as she has always been.
Goal for June:
Get through more of my ever growing ARC tbr list is top priority. Now that I am requesting ebooks and audiobooks it's getting easier, but still, it keeps growing! So many good books coming out this year, and next year, and I'm so excited to be a very small part of it all.