May Reading Recap
I read 25 books in May, caught up in a fever of reading and writing for almost the entire month. Of course, I have to caveat that several of the books were quite short but I felt like I was in a glorious groove for most of the month. I’m also delighted to report that I completed two respectably sized reading projects for the month but didn’t feel like either of them completely dominated my reading life. In fact, I enjoyed my historical romances set outside 19th-century England so much and still have so many potential titles I’d like to get to, including a Beverly Jenkins with a train robber heroine (!), that I decided to extend that project into June and dive into sci-fi romance in July. Sci-fi July has a nice ring to it, anyway.
My May reading goals were:
Four historical romances set outside 19th-century England: The Tribune Temptation by Jenna Bigelow, The Lotus Palace and The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin, and Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles
Everything on the Women’s Prize shortlist I hadn’t read yet: Dominion by Addie E. Citchens, Flashlight by Susan Choi, The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, and Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly
My June reading goals are:
Three queer romances in three different genres
Three historical romances set outside 19th century England
The next book in a series
And a Women’s Prize winner
Of my May reads, I already reviewed Happy Ending by Chloe Liese, which I loved, and all five titles I read from the Women’s Prize shortlist. But I have quite a few more books to tell you about so let’s get into it.
Favorites of the month
No Matter What by Cara Bastone
A couple grappling with the aftermath of a traumatic accident slowly find their way back to each other when Vin agrees to let Roz practice her figure drawing skills on him in this deeply heartfelt romance. Bastone excels at writing about difficult topics with humor, grace, and real warmth. It feels like what happened to these characters is a natural part of their story, instead of trauma piled on just for the sake of it, and the way she writes about grief and healing is beautifully sensitive. Yet Roz's voice is so chatty and charming and conversational that the sadness never overwhelms and the stubborn hope here always shines through. These are rich, real characters and I loved how thoughtfully Bastone writes a strong and silent hero who's actively learning to communicate better. It's also a gloriously New York-y book, from the cast of characters in Roz's drawing class to key scenes in Central Park, and a gorgeous reflection on the process of making art. (Open door, low steam.)
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volumes 1 and 2 by Beth Brower
The year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has finally returned to her eccentric London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s and her home of Lapis Lazuli house. But her plans for a quiet life of study are threatened by her aunt’s social schemes, her eccentric cousin, and the dramas of the neighborhood. Everyone who told me I would love these was absolutely correct. They’re warm, slyly funny, charming, and cozy without ever being overly sweet and I adore the mostly indomitable Emma. There’s also a slight magical element that I found wonderfully whimsical, including a Roman ghost (!) and a tendency for people’s possessions to go wandering in St. Crispian’s. These remind me a little of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith or The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery and I can’t wait to continue with the series.
The Lotus Palace and The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin (The Lotus Palace Mysteries #1 and #2)
In both of these wonderfully atmospheric historical romances set in Tang Dynasty China, a mysterious death draws an unlikely couple together: a maidservant in the pleasure quarter and a highborn aristocrat in The Lotus Palace and a celebrated courtesan and stern constable in The Jade Temptress. Both of these are deeply romantic, beautifully written, and totally unique. I particularly loved how Lin vividly brings the world of the Tang Dynasty to life captures the inherent contradictions of the Pingkang li, where courtesans are trapped in their lives no matter how widely they're celebrated for their beauty and learning. These characters are rich and complex and wonderfully flawed, particularly Mingyu, the heroine of The Jade Temptress. There's a melancholy running through both of these books that makes the love stories all the more triumphant. Both relationships have plenty to overcome and there were moments when I genuinely didn't know how Lin was going to get them to their HEA. (Open door, medium steam.)
Really liked
Borders of Infinity and Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga #5.5 and #6? I think?)
Miles’ latest adventures find him disguised as a POW to infiltrate a brutal prison camp, dodging assassination attempts and juggling his various identities on Earth, and meeting his clone. I’d highly recommend reading Borders of Infinity, a short and gutting novella, before picking up Brothers in Arms, a zippy and quippy sci-fi adventure full of peril, banter, double-crosses, and a surprising amount of poignancy as Miles considers his responsibilities to his clone. Watching a deeply intelligent protagonist solve problems is one of my favorite literary pursuits and this series delivers that in spades. Brothers in Arms also features an excellent amount of the smart, capable mercenary captain Elli Quinn. If you like space opera or like me, spent large amounts of your formative years watching Star Trek, I’d highly recommend diving into this series.
Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles (Will Darling Adventures #1)
After returning from World War I to an England that would rather forget about his sacrifices and inheriting a used bookstore from his uncle, Will Darling is caught in a web of danger and mystery and deeply drawn to the charming, shifty aristocrat Kim Secretan. Note that this is the first of a trilogy and Will and Kim’s story is not done by the end of it! Charles puts on a master class in writing in third person from only one of the main characters’ POVS—it’s fascinating to watch Kim shift through Will’s eyes. I also enjoyed the pulp novel influences, how Charles crafts the inescapable sense of a country still healing from its years of war, the subtle details that bring both Kim and Will to life, and the supporting characters, particularly Kim’s fiancee Phoebe, who I would read an entire book about in an instant. (Open door, high steam.)
If This Be Magic : The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation by Daniel Hahn
Hahn takes us on a tour around the world, through history, and through the many challenges of translating Shakespeare, alongside a cast of talented translators, in this work of nonfiction that gladdened my Shakespeare-loving heart. Hahn celebrates both the genius of Shakespeare and the genius of translation and gets delightfully nerdy about language. Whether he’s talking about prose vs. verse, how to do English regional accents in an entirely different language, or how to make the mechanicals’ terrible verse in A Midsummer Night’s Dream equally terrible and equally funny in German (possibly my favorite chapter in this book!), he writes with enthusiasm, precision, and a deep love for the art of translation. Highly recommended for both Shakespeare and word nerds.
Biting the Sun by Tanith Lee
In a world run by computers and dedicated entirely to pleasure, a rebel grows tired of the endless parties of her caste of hedonistic teenagers and begins to search for meaning--and threatens to unravel the very foundations of her world. This wildly imaginative slice of the future is overdue for a renaissance. Lee drops the reader right into this wild world and lets us figure it all out through some clever world-building and a short glossary included at the front of the book. There's dream palaces, body swapping, meal injections, six-legged pets, and a desert lurking outside the artificial bubble of each city. Our heroine is smart, stubborn, idealistic, and riven with many of the typical torments of being a teenage girl. I was also fascinated by how ahead of its time this novel is in how it talks about gender and sexuality, in a society whose citizens go between male and female.
The Close-Up by Kennedy Ryan (Hollywood Renaissance #1.5)
A basketball player and a makeup artist have one unforgettable conversation on a roof while they were teenagers, only for the tragedy that befalls her brother to come between them, and then get a second chance at love as adults on a yacht cruising the Mediterranean. This fun and sexy novella was the perfect appetizer for Score, the second book in Ryan's Hollywood Renaissance series. I really enjoyed Takira's confidence and presence, Naz's total adoration for her and readiness to make her feel cared for, and how powerfully Ryan writes the attraction between them in both the past and the present. (Open door, very high steam.)
Just A Little Dinner by Cécile Tlili
In an overheated, exhausted Paris, two couples each hiding their own secrets meet at one of their apartments for a dinner that promises to change all of their lives. This is a slim novel that makes the most of every page, evoking its characters in carefully chosen detail. Tlili perfectly captures the oppressive heat and pressure of late summer and I particularly enjoyed how physical this book feels. The domestic details are especially excellent, from the sleek apartment that leaves no room for the shy Claudia in its rooms or in her relationship to the appetizers that rapidly wilt as the characters argue, assess, and seek to conceal their soft spots from each other.
The Halifax Hellions by Alexandra Vasti
Margo Halifax sets out to rescue her twin from an ill-advised elopment, assisted by her brother’s best friend, only to find that said best friend has been secretly pining for her and that Matilda’s relationship with the brooding marquess is not quite what it appears. These novellas about a pair of rebellious twins and the starchy, secretly soft men who fall for them contain numerous delights: elopements, scandalous prints, mysterious castles, carriage crashes, and one very cranky cat. I love Vasti's swoony and sparkly style so much. There's plenty of hijinks and a sly sense of humor but the emotional beats here land with real weight and sincerity and she also happens to be excellent at writing physical and intellectual chemistry. A treat to read from start to finish. (Open door, high steam.)
Thirty Love by Tom Vellner
American tennis star Leo Chambers is on the verge of greatness and the verge of thirty, if he can only figure out a way to stop being losing to--and stop being distracted by--his cocky, handsome rival Gabe Montoya. This tennis romance swept me up into the excitement of the sport, bringing each of the Grand Slams alive in evocative details and making me feel like I was right there along with the crowd. There’s a lot of details about the sport itself that are immensely fun and give an insider-y peek into the sport. Vellner also nails the infuriating, exhilarating sensation of being irritated by and incredibly attracted to someone at the same time. The focus is more on Leo than Gabe, as it’s told through third person limited, but I was delighted by their love story anyway. I also loved the friendships and Leo’s complicated but ultimately loving relationship with his dad. (Open door, low steam.)
Spellstruck by Martha Waters (releases September 29th)
The owner of a magical speakeasy and a government agent tasked with enforcing the ban of magic must team up when magical cocktails begin having unintentional side effects. This magical rom-com is as sparkling and effervescent as a glass of enchanted champagne. Vesper is my favorite kind of romance heroine: confident, glittering, flirty, and sneakily confident. Her narrative voice had me charmed on the very first page and it was a pleasure both to watch reserved Max be won over by her and to watch her give in to her feelings for him. They're a perfect sunshine and serious pairing, as they banter, investigate a series of magical accidents, and slowly open up to each other. The world that Waters creates is incredibly fun, especially as she brings each of the magical members' clubs to life, and is full of 1920's flair. (I'm very much hoping that she writes more in it!) There's also a great cast of supporting characters in the form of Max and Vesper's families and one extremely good, very fluffy cat. (Open door, low steam.)
Liked, with minor quibbles
The Tribune Temptation by Jenna Bigelow (Roman Heirs #1)
In the Roman Republic, an ambitious politician held back by his status as a freeman offers a marriage of convenience to a senator's daughter shamed by society after her divorce. Bigelow weaves a wide array of details of ancient Roman life into the story with enthusiasm and aplomb, from wedding customs to gladiator games to elite dinner parties, and crafts a heroine who's enjoyably cool, reasoned, and a little bit spiky. I did feel a little cheated of a proper third act grovel, when the hero's actions definitely merited it, and questioning why the heroine wound up being the one groveling. Otherwise, though, I found this to be a fun, quick read that had me intrigued about the rest of the series. (Open door, medium steam.)
Dearest Beast by Felicia Grossman (Once Upon the East End #3, releases June 30th)
Months after an ill-advised one-night stand, midwife Rebecca and influential merchant Roger find surprising common ground and a renewed attraction when they’re stuck together in his house over the winter. My favorite aspect of this romance set in London’s 19th century Jewish community was the rich historical background, sense of community, and cultural elements Grossman weaves into every aspect of the novel. I also really enjoyed Roger's evolving relationship with his children, Rebecca's fierce intelligence and independence, and her deep friendships with other women. It's been quite a while since I read the first installment in this series so I did struggle to understand exactly where all the animosity between Rebecca and Roger sprang from, as well as the source of their initial physical attraction. I also think if a romance starts with a steamy one-night stand, that one-night stand needs to be on the page! However, I bought into their romance more and more as the story went on, they began to open up and reassess their initial impressions of each other, and the world of the novel expanded with the introduction of more supporting characters. (Open door, medium steam.)
The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester (released June 2nd)
A cinematic take on Jane Eyre set at the legendary Chateau Marmont that gives its Jane an adventure of her own, takes a keen eye to the cruel way that Hollywood and its powerful men treat young women, and crafts a love story with a brooding hero who still has plenty of heart. The Marmont is just as much a character as any of the people that populate this pages, in all its glittering, dangerous glory. The love story between Aria and rock star Theo Winchester simmers with tension and longing but this is fundamentally a story about Aria and the women in her life. I especially liked her complicated friendship with aspiring starlets Callope and Flitter, and the vein of sisterly love that runs underneath it, and her renewed relationship with her aunt. (I also found Theo and his daughter Adele's relationship really touching, which is perhaps the first time I've ever thought that in a Jane Eyre retelling! But the way that trust and affection slowly builds between them is so lovely to read.) I did think that this was occasionally a little heavy-handed in its themes but I was still deeply invested in Aria's fight to protect the starlets chewed up by the Marmont and tell their story.
Liked just fine
The Dove and the Rogue by Harper St. George (Doves of New York #3)
A scandalous American heiress determined to make her way as an opera singer and the rakish British aristocrat who's been pursuing her since she first arrived in London embark on a marriage of convenience. I read this without reading the first two Doves of New York books and think I missed out on a lot of the build-up but I still enjoyed watching David woo Jenny and Jenny valiantly struggle against her feelings. The steamy scenes do a nice job of deepening the chemistry and connection between them and I found the historical details about opera and late 19th century entertainment particularly interesting. However, the pacing does rush through some of the big emotional beats and I really wanted more yearning and pining on both sides, as well as more build-up to the two of them consummating their marriage. I love a marriage of convenience and this didn’t quite measure up to my favorites. (Open door, high steam.)
Currently reading: The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn and it’s so good.
Recommendations, miscellany, and little bits of joy:
Cats the Jellicle Ball on Broadway. Cats itself is still a deeply baffling musical to me but this radical reimagining is a fantastic night at the theater.
The rose garden at the New York Botanic Garden, which is about to reach full bloom and absolutely luscious.
We went to a ceramics fair in Brooklyn this past weekend and I am now the proud owner of the cutest witch-printed ring dish and gorgeous ceramic wine glass from Caitlyn Chavez. (We just barely resisted the dinosaur mugs!)
