Everything I Read in May 2026

Better late than never is the mantra around these parts lately, and what embodies it better than me dropping my May recap on June 16? The Summer Reading Guide (thank you thank you thank you for all of the love on it, y’all have me eternally crying in the club) took it out of me, then the Knicks’ championship run subsequently ate up the rest of my free time, but now I’m back, the Knicks are NBA champs, and summer reading season is finally rolling.

In May, I actually read far fewer books than I normally do (I have a feeling there might be more of the same in June, considering it’s June 16 and I’ve finished 4 books this month), but there truly was not a bad one in the bunch, so no complaints from me. THE CALAMITY CLUB was an easy 5-star, perhaps because it’s set in Oxford, Mississippi, one of my favorite places in the world. I also heaped on the summer reads from romances like OUR PERFECT STORM and DOLLY ALL THE TIME to lit fic (Hello JUNE BABY!) and your quintessential best read with toes in the sand kind of books like THE ISLAND CLUB and THE MAY HOUSE.

Interlude for book nerdiness—In May 2026, I read 15 books for a total of 5,863 pages and roughly ~1,758,900 words. That puts me at 90 on the year so far—not too shabby. Read on for my thoughts on all 15 of my May beauties and as always, if you choose to purchase through my Amazon + Bookshop links, I’ll make a small commission.

1. DOLLY ALL THE TIME by Annabel Monaghan: Can I be honest here? (Of course I can, I run this show)—Annabel Monaghan’s books don’t usually do it for me, but THIS? I loved, from the coastal Rhode Island vibes to the Pretty Woman-esque plot in which a single mom must fake date an heir to save his reputation. Lost me a bit in the rushed ending, but easily my favorite of her novels. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

2. FAMESICK by Lena Dunham: TBH, I wasn’t sure if I was going to read this, but the FOMO got me. Was I hooked? Absolutely. Was I gagged by the amount of tea Lena spilled in here? For sure—other celebs should take note. However, her sheer lack of accountability drove me bonkers, although this is 100% worth the read if you’re a memoir girlie! (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

3. GIRLS OUR AGE by Phoebe Thompson: Me, loving a book about the messiness of your late 20s? Shocker! This novel follows three best friends in varying life stages as they reunite for one of their weddings, where naturally the secrets they’re hoping to keep close to the chest threaten to spill. So well-written, excellent pop culture references, although I wanted more from the ending. Solid debut! (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

4. JUNE BABY by Shannon Garvey: I went into this thinking it was going to be an Elin Hilderbrand-esque beach read (which I love and would have welcomed), but actually found it to be a moving story about grief and starting over. Come for the Block Island vibes, stay for Ruth to overcome the death of a loved one and the marriage of the man she loves. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

5. OUR PERFECT STORM by Carley Fortune: Was this my favorite Carley book? No, but damn, she rarely misses. When Frankie’s wedding is called off, George, her semi-estranged best friend decides they’re going to go on it together. This is brimming with yearning, excellent travel details (Hellooo, Tofino!). A tad heavy on the miscommunication, but we made up for it with a series of swoony letters. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

6. PHOEBE BERMAN’S GONNA LOSE IT by Brooke Averick: As an avid podcast listener, I was STOKED for Brooke’s debut, in which a woman conspires to lose her virginity by her 30th birthday. This was so charming. I was particularly impressed by the way she handled Phoebe’s anxiety and desire to feel “normal.” Also loved how the love square (?) ended up! Very excited to see what Brooke writes next! (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

7. RETURNS AND EXCHANGES by Kayla Rae Whittaker: Why aren’t more people talking about this? Maybe it’s because I love family dramas set in unique settings (the Taylor’s superstore empire) with a strong sense of time period (1980s!), but this was fantastic. It starts slowly and takes a moment to differentiate between each family member, but SHEESH. Utterly captivating with dynamic characters. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

8. SCORE by Kennedy Ryan: File this one under: Best romances of 2026. It would be hard to top how much I adored REEL, but this steamy romance about former flames who reunite while working as the screenwriter and composer on a Harlem Renaissance biopic might just take the cake. Bonus points for the thoughtful portrayal of mental health and years of angst. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

9. THE ARCANE ARTS by S.D. Coverly: Me, reading dark academia forbidden romance during the summer? Only when it’s co-authored by Dana Schwartz (who wrote ANATOMY, a personal fave). When an ambitious student taps an adviser to assist her with taboo research that just so happens to be his area of expertise, sparks fly. Steamy, well-written, and has a compelling mystery to keep the plot moving along. I’m a fan! (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

10. THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff: We follow the unraveling of a couple, using flashbacks to explore their love story from day 1 until their house goes up in flames. It’s no secret that I love family drama and Damoff is excellent at creating dynamic characters who feel jarringly real. Very good, although without spoiling, the ending didn’t do it for me. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

11. THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett: I have so much I’m going to say about this book at a later date, but just know that it’s 5 stars, forever favorite status. The lives of an orphan and an ambitious woman collide in 1930s Oxford, Mississippi—and honestly, that’s all you need to know going in. It’s heartwarming and smart and slyly funny and one of those books I need to see on-screen ASAP. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

12. THE FINE ART OF LYING by Alexandra Andrews: A woman’s passion for art reignites when she strikes up an affair with a seductive dealer, only for him to be brutally murdered—and she’s the prime suspect. Loved the art world details (honestly could have used more!) and rich people problems, although here’s your fair warning that not a single character is likeable. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

13. THE ISLAND CLUB by Nicola Harrison: Hello beach read szn! It’s 1956 on Balboa Island, where the lives of three women involved in the local island club collide and tennis might be the only thing that can save them. When I think beachy historical fiction, this is what I’m talking about! It’s strongest as a friendship story with the added bonus of some seaside scandals. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

14. THE MAY HOUSE by Jillian Cantor: Three adult sisters inherit a beach house from their grandmother on the condition they return every May to spend one week together. What follows is a character-driven beach read as family secrets unfurl. I’ve read a lot of Cantor’s work and this might be her strongest prose yet. Loved how Coronado Island felt like a character. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

15. THE ONE DAY YOU WERE MY HUSBAND by Rosie Walsh: After Carrie’s new husband is arrested on their wedding night, she never sees him again. Over a decade later, she learns that he’s out of prison, putting her marriage and family in jeopardy. Fabulous premise! I blazed through this, which is equal parts emotional character study and twisty mystery. Would rec for genrebender lovers. (AMAZON//BOOKSHOP)

See ya in a few weeks for everything I read in June (but hopefully, a few more times in between then!).