This month I was able to read a lot! Many of these books were shorter, but they’ve been sitting on my TBR shelf for a while, so I was able to knock them out. I read nine books, bringing my YTD to 22. I’m so close to be back on track for at least one book per week.
What I Read
The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America’s Most Elusive Murderer by Michael Butterfield
256 pages | True Crime | 5 stars
I read this book to cover in my other podcast, The Paranoid Perspective. This was published in 2025, so there was a lot of good information on the current suspects and on the most recent cipher being cracked in 2020.
Listen to the podcast episode on The Zodiac Killer
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
198 pages | Nonfiction | 5 stars
Everything is Tuberculosis takes a disease most people think belongs in the past and shows how relevant it still is today. It combines science, history, healthcare policy, and personal stories into a book that feels accessible. It’s not just about tuberculosis; it’s about inequality, access to healthcare, and how diseases reveal the cracks in our society.
I finished this book feeling both more informed and more frustrated with the systems that allow preventable suffering to continue. I think everyone should read this book.
Agnes Albert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
353 pages | Cozy Fantasy | 4 stars
I got this book from Book of the Month at the beginning of the year and finally got around to reading it. From the surface, it has everything I love: cats, magic, and pastries. The cats definitely have strong personalities and have roles in the story, which I loved. It also does have the cozy atmosphere, but sometimes that ends up a bit boring for me. I think that might be the case here as well.
While I enjoyed the charm and magical atmosphere, I do think this book fell a little short for me compared to the Emily Wilde series. The story remains very low-stakes throughout, so it sometimes felt like not enough was happening to maintain momentum. Even the scenes that were meant to feel dangerous or action-heavy never really felt all that threatening to me.
The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso
432 pages | Fantasy | 4 stars
I read this book for my library’s book club. Despite it being pretty long, I finished it within a week. I thought the premise was very unique. It is just a Groundhog’s day story reimagined, but it worked for me and was very entertaining.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
310 pages | Thriller | 5 stars
I got this from BOTM in January, and I finally got around to reading it. This was also a fast read, and after each chapter, I was more and more confused on what was going on, but in the best way possible. I couldn’t put the book down; I had to keep reading to see what would happen next.
Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen
274 pages | Contemporary Fiction | 5 stars
I got this from BOTM last year, and it was a relatively short book so I picked it up and actually got into it really quickly. It’s a book about 26-year-old Cricket quitting her soul-sucking job to be a full-time caregiver to her father who has dementia, and she’s also trying to find her next step in life. It was as much heart-warming as it was heart wrenching to read. The author is clearly intimately familiar with dementia and its effects on loved ones.
When No One was Listening by Haley Valenta
45 pages | Poetry | 3 stars
This is a poetry collection on mental health and religion. Haley wrote most of the poems during her college years. The collection was her way of processing her mental illness and faith, while also finding her place in the world. It is a very short read, but it was moving to read. I just didn’t expect the religious aspect, so it didn’t resonate with me as much.
Landing Like Rain by Audrey Wilson
106 pages | Poetry | 4 stars
This is a poetry collection about love. It deals with heartbreak and mending it with new love, and not just romantic love but platonic love as well.
Read Audrey Wilson’s author interview
Pieces of Water by Sarah Rhinelander
119 pages | Poetry | 4 stars
This is a poetry collection reflecting on nature and philosophy. This poetry collection is the result of decades of dream work, journeying, and asking for daily guidance. There were a lot of pieces that resonated with me on reconnecting with my creative spark.
Favorite Book of the Month
My favorite book for this month was Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. I will be thinking about what this book highlights for a long time, and I think everyone should read it.
Catch Up on Past 2026 Monthly Wrap-Ups
What was your favorite book you read in May?
I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading so far this year, so leave them in the comments!
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