Holly molly, May is already over. This was one of the busiest months so far and I can’t believe it’s already over. In book-wise, actually wasn’t the happiest. I don’t know what is happening to me, I feel that I’ve spent this year so far inside a big reading slump – even though my Goodreads tells me I already read 15 books. My TBR pile is growing, I’m still buying books like the world is going to end, and I keep looking out for more books I don’t know to buy later. But I’m not reading any! Can you see my problem??

Luckily, I started June travelling to go celebrate a friend’s graduation from Uni. And with 9 hours journey (to go and come back), I had plenty of free time to read a book. Even though I didn’t finish it, I did make a good progress with The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano. And now I can only think about throwing a dinner party for my friends. The book is so delicious and exciting that I need to find reasons not to be reading right now.

Caught on my radar

I started off May exactly how I like it, spending an hour alone in the bookstore. I enjoy shopping with friends, but usually, they don’t like to spend time in the bookstore. So, since I was all by myself and with two hours to spend, a trip to the book world it’s perfect! And right off the bat, “The Little Book of” thing is coming stronger than ever. After the huge success of The Little Book of Hygge – which I still read as it’s spell and not as it is pronounced – the same title was adapted to different foreign concepts for a happy and better life. This time is The Little Book of Ikigai by Ken Mogi. This is a Japanese word that I have absolutely no clue what it means but is another one to add to my list of lifestyle concepts to discover.

And fun fact, Meik Wiking, author of The Little Book of Hygge, now has released another one called The Little Book of Lykke. I’ve seen the Portuguese edition already and it bothered me both books don’t share the same height. The author is the same, the design is the same, so why aren’t the heights equal??

There was a cover that pops out to me from the entire sea of books, Marrow by Tarryn Fisher. I’ve never heard of the book or the author, and from the description, it seems it’s a book that can keep you up all night. The story follows Margo, a girl who lives in a neglected neighbourhood, in a cursed home, with her mother who she hasn’t spoken in 2 years. When a little girl goes missing, Margo is determined to find out what happened with the help of her new wheelchair friend. What Margo finds changes her perspective on life, making her determined to punish evil. This book sounds really dark, no question about it, and probably great to keep you on the edge of your sit. Not sure if I am ever going to pick it up, but it should be a great book to read on Halloween.

I can’t get over sci-fi and dystopian stories. Anything that drifts from the reality without compromising it, I’m up for it. So, I couldn’t make a wrap-up without including a couple of books that have interesting plots that I’m curious to know how they are developed. I’m talking about Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman and 84K by Claire North. Both books are dystopian stories but set in completely opposite realities. On the first one, California is living a drought with catastrophic proportions. The population is already prohibited from wasting water in unnecessary tasks, but one day the taps run dry. Desperation erupts and families turn against to each other in hope to find water and survive.

On the second one, every crime has a fee that if you are able to pay, you aren’t punished. But when the ex-girlfriend of the protagonist is murdered, he realises she can’t be just another number on a balance sheet. Some reviews aren’t as good as I was hoping for, although with a plot like this the world dynamic most is very interesting. Once again is the ultimate power war of rich against poor and how justice not always exists.

And finally, on one of those random searches in Book Depository*, I came across Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. The story follows one Korean family through the generations that take place in Korea and Japan. Everything that is about Asian people and their culture you can sign me up. They have lives so different from occidental countries that always amazes me to discover new things. And since it talks about a Korean family and the only thing I know about Korean is K-pop, I’m expecting this book to be an interesting history lesson.

TBR

Now that I’m in an excellent mood, the sun is coming out, and the summer is about to start, I’m ready to tackle my TBR and read all those books. After finishing The Saturday Night Supper Club, I might pick up Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, because why not. If you ever read a Rowell book you know how great they are. She has something that I can’t explain but makes you happy. It’s great! And because there is nothing better than reading mysteries outside in the sun, any Lars Keppler book should do. Oh, and I can’t forget about Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan. I still need to finish that book and since is set in summer is perfect to sweeten the days.

I also can’t forget The Sims 4 Seasons comes out on June 22nd and I might or might not spend the entire days after playing it non-stop. I’m sorry books but this new expansion pack is more important than anything else. It’s THE expansion everyone was waiting for since the game was released. Let’s see next month if I can finish all the books and also play the sims.

* This is an affiliate link. To know more please visit my Disclaimer page.