I don’t know what it is, but as soon as the sun hits my face, I want to read something fresh and easy.
I don’t usually read romance novels but that’s all I’m craving right now, to be fully immersed in a fun adventure that could potentially take me far away from here, because let’s face it, we all need a little break at this point. Burnout is real and yes, it’s been showing up at my door, uninvited so now I’m trying really hard to work on things and be creative even though I’ve never felt less creative than I do now.
Anyway, that’s a discussion for another day. If you’re here, it means you want to know which books I’ve selected this month and what we’re going to read for the books club.
Can I have a drum roll pleeease???
Let’s start off with the Book Club pick so then we can talk about all the books I bought on a whim because I have a problem.
In May we’re going to read The Magpie Society: One for Sorrow by Amy McCulloch and Zoe Sugg. Yes, a bit controversial for me as I can’t stand those YouTubers' books but this one sounds fun and a lot of people have opinions on it so I thought, why not check it out myself?
Synopsis
Illumen Hall is a boarding school of tradition and achievement.
But tragedy strikes when the body of a student is discovered on the beach - and on her back is an elaborate tattoo of a magpie.
For new student Audrey, it is just another strange and unsettling thing about her new surroundings, along with the secrets the school seems to hide and its weird obsession with magpies. For her roommate Ivy, the death of her friend Lola is just one thing she desperately wants to get past - and having a new student asking questions and cluttering up her personal space is not helping a bit. But the two girls are forced into an unlikely alliance when a mysterious podcast airs, with one sinister headline:
I KNOW WHO KILLED LOLA. AND ONE OF YOU IS NEXT.
GET YOUR COPY HERE.
The Duke & I by Julia Quinn
Yes, I fell into the Bridgerton hole and honestly? I’m not even making excuses for myself. I’m addicted to the Netflix show - as everyone and their corgies - so I thought it was a good time to get into the books as well! The best part? I’m not doing it alone! I was chatting with Bettina from booksfor.mee and she’s just as obsessed with the show as I am so we’re currently buddy-reading the whole series! How fun is that!
You can chat with us over on Instagram (at both mine & Bettina’s) as well as on Storygraph once it's all set up! Yes, we’re THAT invested.
Daisy Miller by Henry James
Last year I bought myself a beautiful Penguin English Library edition of Henry James’ two novellas and read The Turn of the Screw right away after Bly Manor came out but never got around to reading his other novella: Daisy Miller.
Herny James’ writing is a bit challenging for me with the lack of dialogues and thrill - nothing ever happens in The Turn of the Screw! - that is why I’ve been putting off reading Daisy Miller but I also want to fully finish the book so that I can still admire its cover but never have to deal with its contents ever again.
Gideon Green in Black and White by Katie Henry
Ohhhh this is a fun one! I got this ARC from Harper Collins and I’ve meant to get to it since.
It’s a middle grade - which I don’t read enough of, or at all, really - about this kid, Gideon who is obsessed with being a detective. When Lily - his former best friend - shows up at his door with a mystery, they embark on what looks like a fun adventure but that then turns out to be quite the case!
I have a feeling that this book is going to be one of those ones that make you feel all fuzzy inside with a touch of dark humour and lots of fun. I’m completely in!
The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
All I want in life is a house in the countryside, a massive garden and a library filled with the eeriest books I can find.
I remember the early days of BookTube, everyone was talking about this book and I’ve been meaning to get it for years until I totally forgot. And then BAM! Saw a used, cheap copy of it and I got it right away.
I mean, a mysterious town and a secret past with touches of magical realism and weird things happening? Where do I sign?
Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney
I really had to wait for the adaptation to come out to finally get this book, but look, I’m a sucker for a Millennial novel, especially if it has Sally Rooney written all over it so here I am, being the most basic of all the basic girls in the world.
I am, however, trying very hard to read this before the show comes out although I’m a bit scared because of the old saying when it comes to Sally Rooney’s novels: you either like Normal People or Conversations with Friends. You’re either one or the other. I’m here to prove you wrong.
So here it is, my gorgeous, eclectic tbr which, by the time you’re reading this post, has been half-finished and believe me, I’m trying everything not to cave into watching the CWF show before I finish the book. Your girl has discipline but very little willpower so we’ll see how it goes.