Another month has already come and gone in 2021. How is that possible? Didn’t May start like yesterday? I swear it did. Then again, May is a busy month in my household, so why should May 2021 be any different?
You may be wondering why May is such a busy month in my household. Simply put, there are 3 big days in a one-week time period; Mother’s Day starts our crazy week, followed by our oldest one’s birthday, quickly followed by our anniversary. Then, after all of that excitement, is the first long weekend of “summer!” The birthday and anniversary were milestones; our oldest turned 19 (which means she’s old enough to drink alcohol), and my husband and I celebrated our 20th anniversary.
How was my reading? It started a bit slow, though I did finish the first book of the month in only 2 days. It may not have been helped by the fact I was attempting to read 3 physical books and listen to 1 audiobook at the same time. Okay, not actually at the same time because that would be impossible, but you know what I mean. I had to stop trying to read so many physical books at once. In the end, I did finish 8 books in May. Not a record for me, but not bad either, considering April was a shaky month.
May 2021 Reading Wrap Up
- The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal
- Serena Singh Flips the Script by Sonya Lalli
- The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
- The Abduction of Pretty Penny by Leonard Goldberg
- Easy to Kill by Agatha Christie
- Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cooke
- Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
A Brief Summary of Each Book
Book 1: The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina have undertaken a pilgrimage to India from their homes in England and Australia. It wasn’t their idea, but they promised their mom on her deathbed that they would go and follow her request to visit special places. Each sister has their own reason for wanting or not wanting to go. Rajni, as the eldest, had been to India as a teenager and vowed after that trip never to return. Jezmeen is struggling professionally. Shirina, the youngest, has something she’s hiding from her sisters.
I picked this book as part of the Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021. The theme for May was a book set in India.
Book 2: Serena Singh Flips the Script by Sonya Lalli
Serena Singh is a single thirtysomething living in Washington, DC. She is right where she wants to be-single, childless, starting her dream job. Her younger sister just had a traditional wedding and is about to start a family, all of the things their mom wants for Serena. But it’s not what she wants; she doesn’t want to give up her dreams and life goals. In walks Ainsley Woods, she has everything Serena doesn’t, but everyone tells her she should.
I added this book to my TBR at the beginning of the year as I was intrigued by the premise. It was also released earlier this year.
Book 3: The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
We are introduced to the three Eastwood sisters in New Salem in 1893. For the most part, two are trying to keep their heads down and avoid drama. The third wants to fight for what is rightfully hers and has been taken by men. She also wants to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. Along the way, the sisters find each other and fight for the past, present, and future of all women.
I knew I had to read this book when I first saw it. Besides the wonderful cover, the idea of witches has always drawn me in. This book did a wonderful job of keeping me drawn in.
Book 4: The Abduction of Pretty Penny by Leonard Goldberg
Pretty Penny, the lead actress for the Whitechapel Playhouse, has gone missing. Joanna and the Watsons (yes, that Watson and his son) have been called in to find her.
While in Whitechapel, searching for clues as to Pretty Penny’s disappearance, the trio is called on by Scotland Yard to assist in the investigation of some gruesome murders. It appears Jack the Ripper is back after a 28-year absence.
Is Pretty Penny’s disappearance connected to the Ripper? Will she be the next victim? Let’s hope Joanna and the Watsons can find Pretty Penny before it’s too late.
This was my first look into the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes world, and I do not think it will be my last. I actually won the copy of the book I read this month, thanks to Goodreads and Minotaur Books. Pretty Penny should be in stores later this month.
Book 5: Easy to Kill by Agatha Christie
Luke Fitzwilliam is on the train to London when he meets Miss Fullerton. She tells him the reason for her journey, to visit Scotland Yard in hopes of stopping a murderer in her village. He hears the tales of the various deaths in her village but doesn’t say anything about it. He believes it to be an older woman’s mind playing tricks on her. Until he learns in the paper the next day that she was killed outside of Scotland Yard. Was she able to tell the officials her story? Then a few days later, another sudden death occurs in the lady’s village, one that she had said would happen.
Was Miss Fullerton telling the truth?
Was there a murderer on the loose in the tiny village of Wychwood?
Is it really that easy to kill?
I read this story for the Read Christie 2021 sponsored by Agatha Christie’s website. The theme for May was a book featuring tea.
Book 6: Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Clarke
Come Fly the World is a non-fiction collection of stories that follows a few women fortunate enough to travel the world with Pan Am in the jet-age of travel. In the early 1960s, women were still expected to get married and start families. But not all women wanted that, and some were fortunate enough to find the freedom in travel. If they were college graduates, spoke two languages, and were politically savvy, they may have found a position with Pan Am.
When I saw the cover of this book, I was instantly drawn in. I mean, it is such an eye-catching cover! This book came out in March 2021.
Book 7: Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Pheby is born on a plantation in Charles City, Virginia, during the era of slavery. She is promised her freedom when she turns eighteen. A sudden turn of events changes all of that. Instead, on her birthday, she finds herself in the middle of the slave trade and forced to live with a man that many call the Devil.
This is another new release, as it came out in January 2021. One reason I was drawn to the book was the story it told, but also the location. The first thing that caught my eye was the book’s location, as I grew up about 20 minutes from the many plantations in Charles City, Virginia.
Book 8: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Bree Matthews is sixteen, recently lost her mother, and finds herself living on campus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. On her first night on campus, she sees things she can’t explain. The next afternoon, she sees even more. She finds herself remembering the night her mother died and seeing something then that she couldn’t explain. And it was related to what she saw at school. Could it all be related?
When it was released, the hype around this book swept me up, and I knew I wanted to read it. Add in the fact it is set at UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!!), I just had to read it.
June 2021 TBR
I’m not 100% certain if I’ll read the books I want for the challenges I’m doing. The reason I say that, is because I don’t own copies of them, and I am uncertain when I’ll get them from the library. But I do have plenty of other books on the horizon.
- Two Trees Make a Forest: Travel’s Among Taiwan’s Mountains & Coasts in Search of My Family’s Past by Jessica J Lee
- Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson
- How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
- Love at First by Kate Clayborn
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
How was your May 2021 reading? Did you read anything good? What are your plans for June 2021? I would love to know.
Looking for some more ideas to read? Check out my other monthly reading wrap-ups.
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