What I’ve Been Reading Lately – Secret Sisters, Sexcapades & Swashbuckling Adventures

We’ve made it — summer is basically here! At least for me I’m counting it as summer because, as of today, I’m officially done facilitating virtual school for my nieces — a chaotic but kinda memory-filled journey we had this past year.

As much as there were times I didn’t think we’d make it out of the year unscathed, I just think about how in a normal year I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to spend so much time with my nieces and nephew — something that was good for Riley, too. Honestly I’m proud of myself for juggling it all and proud of the kids too — resiliency and adaptability ruled the day this year!

Anyways wanted to share some of the books I read in May. It was an okay reading month — not one of the best, but not one of the worst. Lots of outside reading happened which is my favorite so I can’t complain much.

Before we get into it, make sure you take a look at my beach read guide for 2021 now that we are in summer mode! And keep an eye out for my second half of the year anticipated book posts as well as my faves of 2021 so far!

What I’ve Been Reading Lately

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale. Please see my disclosure policy for more info

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedman

This one was solidly great and surprised me a little! Summertime memories, nostalgia and light family drama in this book about a hotel, that used to be a summer destination but is now falling apart and definitely not “the” place to go, and the two families who must make the decision whether or not to sell or keep it.

It was super fun and filled with drama/scandal but also thoughtful musings about traditions, nostalgia, family and aging. The atmosphere and sense of the setting was perfect, too, along with the different generations interacting with one another (there are a lot of characters to be forewarned). Definitely kept picturing Kellerman’s from Dirty Dancing.

Make sure this is one your summer reading list!

You Have A Match by Emma Lord

I listened to this YA contemporary about a girl who finds out she has a long lost sister and the two of them secretly plan to go to the same summer camp to figure out what happened. It was enjoyable though I felt, at times, there was soooo much going on and it was trying to be a lot of things at once so some things never felt fully realized.

However, I loved the summer camp setting, the romance and trying to figure out the family secret but I also really enjoyed the focus on family in this — newfound sisterhood and a huge focus on the parental side of things. The audiobook performance was very good so I do recommend if you are looking for a nice, easy listen!

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Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson

YAY new Morgan Matson and this one was seriously the most ridiculous amount of fun and full of shenanigans — I laughed so much! I would say more on par with a Save the Date vibe out of all her other books.

I loved the fact this book was set in the course of one day and the NYC setting was sooo delightful. It was so over-the-top fun and still had that signature Morgan Matson charm with some meet-cute and friendship feels and it was just a total delight. Definitely was Ferris Bueller meets Nick & Norah — with a little Adventures in Babysitting action (seriously those chapters made me cackle).

I really did love the friendship aspect of this one because it rang true. It’s easy to love Stevie but I have to say, in a much less aggressive way, I think I understand the energy of Kat because I was like that a little bit in high school.

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Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne

I have been loving the trend of even more YA novels in verse and this one was a quiet little on that came out this year that I did really like as it focused on one of my favorite little sub-genres which is friend breakups.

It was so raw in the delivery of what it feels like to go through that, to and to open yourself back up again especially in the case of this friendship which was toxic.

A real slice of life book that really was visceral when it came to the pain of friend breakups, insecurities, betrayal and so many other teenage experiences as well as colorism and racism.

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Fable by Adrienne Young

I could not put down this YA fantasy adventure set on the high sea and full of gritty pirate life. Definitely need the second book in my life soon! The world-building was fantastic — whether on a ship or at one of the ports, I felt the danger, the grit of this life and the strength needed within Fable to get to her destination.

I fell in love with Fable and rooted for her as well as the crew she meets on her journey. Really compelling and absorbing!

But okay side note — did anyone else initially read Captain West as much older than Fable?? I was thinking ~father figure~ type relationship until I realized I was wrong lol.

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It’s Been A Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian

I’ve been really going hard lately for books about 30-somethings as a 35 year old – I don’t know why. Maybe I’m having a crisis at seeing myself much closer to 40 now.

This one was part fun adventures and sexcapades (lots of ’em) and self-discovery. I thought it balanced the two decently and I loved the idea of really soul-searching and exploring a year of pleasure and what that means to you. I think as I’ve gotten older I really have begun to care more about what I truly want, what brings me great pleasure NOW and not putting it to the bottom of the to-list or denying myself that all the time.

For Noni a lot of that was exploring her sex life after a long term relationship — with past flames and “what could have beens”, with possibilities that have been right in front of her, with random strangers, etc. But also about loving her body and recognizing its power and HER power against things that held her back previously.

It was funny, mostly light and thought-provoking at times though I would have appreciated a little more depth on the self-discovery front . However, while I loved the romance in theory, it was so fast into serious territory that it kind of annoyed me and I can’t say I felt the great connection so much. ALSO I was just a little eye-rolly at how it seemed people just fawned over her.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

This might have been a case of “not the right book for me” as it relates to my life as a 30-something married with a kid and having never had to use a dating app because I met my husband in college.

I think this book might resonate more with some who have had some of these shared experiences of the protagonist because it really captures, from talking to friends whose 30-something life looks more like the book, the experience of being single when all your friends are married/with kids as well very sharp observations surrounding the ups and downs of modern dating which was done with such care and tenderness.

There was a lot I loved and did relate to — the changing nature of friendships in our 30’s, seeing our parents age, feeling the weight of all your hopes and dreams from previous decades, etc.

But relating and personal connection to the story aside, I didn’t really love Nina that much (seriously on her high horse so often and seemed so bitter), the plot really didn’t amount to much to me and that weird scene at the end was just…cringe and I didn’t get the point.

While some of the commentary and observations were so spot-on and wonderful and I did enjoy some parts/it kept me turning the pages, the overall book just didn’t do much for me. Especially a shame because I was REALLY excited for this one when I ordered it for my birthday from The Book Depository because I couldn’t wait for the almost year before it would come out in the US because it sounded SO GOOD and what I was craving lately.

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly

This one was such a wonderful little surprise for me and what a shame that I almost took it back to the library unread because I managed to inhale it within a little over 24 hours.

I loved how these three different women, from different time periods, were tied together by this garden. I was equally interested in all the storylines and I thought the way everything was revealed was perfect.

I loved the stories of these strong women and their secrets as well as their hopes, dreams and desires in the face of different obstacles or hardships. I think this is a great one if you are looking for a historical read that isn’t overwhelmingly sad* or dark but is super compelling.

*There is a sad thing that happens in the one storyline but the whole tone of the book isn’t sad. CW: loss of a child

What have you been reading lately? Have you read any of the ones I have — what did you think?