Everything I Read and Listened to in May 2026

After so many disappointing reads, this month absolutely delivered, and I have a new favorite book. There were multiple books that had me staying up way too late because I physically could not put them down (looking at you Dire Bound and Bad Bishop). I ended up reading a lot of darker romances this month, and while those can sometimes lean heavy on the spice and light on the plot, these actually had both — yes, there was some questionable bedroom behavior lol, but the plots were SO good and completely addictive. Somehow I’ve become obsessed with mob romances? Remember how it was cowboys last month? Who even am I anymore? I even read a cowboy-mob one lol. I read/listened to a total of 20 books, 1 5-star review! I also discovered the magic combo of listening and reading at the same time. I’d listen while folding laundry or driving, then switch to reading whenever I had a quiet minute while the kids watched TV, and honestly it completely changed the game for me. Also, Libby was absolutely relentless this month with perfectly timed holds becoming available, like excuse me, I do have responsibilities. And to top it all off, a few of the books had official playlists to listen to while reading, which made the whole experience feel extra immersive and fun. Here are past reviews (rating system at the bottom).

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The Best Worst Thing 6/5 (Kindle Unlimited) – Oh my gosh. This book was SO good. So fascinating and lovely and perfect and achy and romantic – I truly could not put it down. No notes. New favorite book, and that’s saying a lot.

The writing in this was absolutely stunning. There’s a scene where Nicole describes reading to Logan:

“You know how when you read, you’re just kind of floating? Like, you can feel your legs under the covers and your hands on the pages but you’re not quite there? You’re halfway between your own bed and some other world… and everything blends together, and you kind of just hover? You’re kind of just…nowhere?”

Like…wow. That perfectly captures why I love reading so much.

And the HEARTACHE. The yearning. The flirting!!! Their first kiss!!! I was fully consumed by this book.

The way infertility was written about felt so raw and heartbreaking and deeply relatable. I also loved that they were older, with real history and life behind them. Logan’s response when Nicole told him about her infertility and current situation was so thoughtful and reasonable and kind – it honestly made me love him even more.

I adored Mari (every girl needs a friend like that), hated the ex-husband appropriately, and loved the foundation/history between Logan and Nicole so much. Their connection felt earned and beautiful.

This is one of those books where the writing itself makes you want to keep consuming it. I didn’t even want to put it down to sleep. Absolutely loved it.

At Whit’s End 4.5/5 (Library Book)- love Colts weird vintage tshirts lol. I love that she said there are no red flags with him! When he asks her to read the menu and explains he has dyslexia, I just died, so sweet and well written. “For the first time, the fear isn’t as loud as the hope” when she’s with him. Tear! Whit is bossssy and it’s cute. I love how Colt always says “hey, mama” – when I gave birth to the twins they were full term twins and the nurses a hadn’t seen that a lot and kept coming in and loudly proclaiming “good job mama” so this made me giggle. Loved the 5 years later epilogue and that it wasn’t what you’d think, just loved! I immediately preordered the next/last one in this series. Every one in this series has been good.

Dire Bound 4.5/5 (Kindle Unlimited and Spotify) – This is a romantasy that has been everywhere lately because number 2 just came out. This was a buddy read/listen with my bestie Lynn and omg this book had me LOSING IT. First of all – absolutely not to the nickname Kitten!

LEE. You dirty dog!!! That twist?! I did NOT see that coming. I knew war was coming, I knew there’d be bonding, but THAT? Nope.

Also…I’m sorry but the phrase “raw bond” is just so deeply unwell to me lol.

Stark is SO mean…in the hottest way possible, because you just know he cares underneath it all. Him when she tells her pack?? 🥵 And of course this man has a library in his office. Of course he does.

The inn scene with only one room?!? Elite. And then we get a “who did this to you?” moment?! SAY LESS.

Killian’s proposal absolutely creeped me out – getting her dead mom’s blessing felt so manipulative and weird, and Anassa was basically screaming DON’T DO IT GIRL right alongside all of us.

Jonas is a bitch. Respectfully.

Also Killian may be a dick, but that man knows how to lay it down 😂

Then chapter 51 got DARK. The king is seriously messed up.

And the ENDING???

“Welcome home, my queen” AHHHHHHH.

Then him picking her dress? “Use me, my queen” ??? Excuse me while I evaporate!

Also, Lynn told me to do the Spotify audiobook + Kindle combo and WOW. Listening while reading made this book feel so immersive – absolutely loved experiencing it that way.

And Now, Back to You 4/5 (Libby) – This was SUCH a sweet, emotional love story. I loved how awkward and endearing he was – the scene where he’s trying to explain turtle facts and his boss is basically like “please stop talking” had me laughing so hard. And then finding out why he makes all his charts and notes? Truly heartbreaking and incredibly sweet. He and the heroine had such cute chemistry, and she was just genuinely fun and lovable to read about. Honestly, this book completely redeemed the author for me after Good Spirits, which I truly did not understand the hype for at all. The emotional parts with both of their mothers were really sad and well done, and overall this just felt like such a tender story about lonely people finding each other. My only complaint is that after all the buildup, I wanted way more of them actually together as a couple. Like…how did things go with his twin teenage sisters long-term? That’s a LOT. I also expected this to be much spicier than it was, which honestly surprised me. But if you want a sweet, emotional romance with lovable characters, this one was really lovely.

Wolf.e 4/5 (Paperback) – Honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one!! The chemistry between them was SO good from the start – when he picks her up on his bike and no other woman has ever ridden with him??? HOTTTTT. Their banter was great, the training scenes were spicy, and I loved how drawn they were to each other (although omg they talked about each other’s scent A LOT, what was that? lol). One of my favorite parts was how sweet some of the emotional moments were too, especially: “Or…maybe with me, you simply aren’t afraid to be yourself, even if that looks a little different than everyone else expects.” 🥹 I also really appreciated how the conflict was handled – no frustrating third act breakup, insane chemistry throughout, and I loved that he didn’t “save” her…if anything, it was the other way around. Definitely made me want to pick up book 2!!

Bad Bishop 4/5 (Libby and Kindle Unlimited) – This book has been EVERYWHERE on socials, so I finally picked it up and man…this was DARK. Like genuinely gruesome, sad and heavy at times, but I was completely hooked. He’s so wildly possessive in the most dramatic way possible and I ate it up. Lines like: “What Lila didn’t understand was that I’d choose to be mutilated to death and resurrected twice a day until the planet exploded before seeing her endure a minor paper cut” are so unhinged and over-the-top and somehow exactly what I wanted lol. Very dark, very dirty at points, but it all made sense within the context of the story. The twists absolutely got me, and that ENDING??? OMG. Loved it.

Twisted Pawn 4/5 (Kindle Unlimited)! I mean…after Bad Bishop, there was no way I wasn’t immediately reading this one. The way he loves/loved her is absolutely insane, obsessive, over-the-top…and somehow so sweet at the same time. Could not put this down! The cabin scenes while she’s healing? I died. And all the ridiculous dramatic things he does for her and vice versa – the pile of bodies being her abusers, the movie theater scene when those girls made fun of his face – gah. This book was so completely ridiculous in the best possible way. Honestly, most dark romances end up being weird secs and a weak plot, and while yes, there was definitely some questionable secs lol, the actual plot in this was SO good. I loved how deeply they loved each other through the years and never stopped choosing each other. Also loved listening to the playlist while reading this one. I think there are supposed to be two more books in the series, and I’ll absolutely be reading them.

One More Round 4/5 (Kindle Unlimited) – This book was super sweet. I really loved that both characters had equal baggage and life experience – both divorced, both parents, both feeling a little bruised by life in believable ways. I especially loved how he showed up for her throughout the book, and I also appreciated that he had a regular dad bod instead of the usual perfectly sculpted romance hero situation. It made him feel more real. I did get SO annoyed when they finally got together around the 70% mark and he immediately started calling her a “slut” during dirty talk…like why are we still doing derogatory names for women during secs? Totally took me out of the moment. But overall, I thought their relationship was really tender and grounded. I absolutely cried over Uncle John, and the letter was incredibly moving. I do wish we’d gotten more time with them actually together as a couple, and I especially wanted a farther-in-the-future epilogue instead of just six months later. Also, I still don’t fully understand why it took her two months to take care of her stuff, but overall I really enjoyed this one.

Bulletproof 3.5/5 (kindle Unlimited and audible) – A random Target trip showed me this was out and omg I immediately had to read it because I loved the other Dark Forces books way more than I expected to. This is a very dark military romance (loose on the actual romance I’d say though). There’s just something about these books that are SO addictive. After the lake scene, when he lets her wander the woods to exhaust herself while he’s casually out there gazing at the stars like it’s nothing? So good. Hated her nickname, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the reason for her nickname, but the fact that him and his friends were calling her that was just gross.  “His villainous vibe is what my darkest dreams are made of” honestly sums up the energy perfectly. I also weirdly loved the scar-altering scenes – strange but oddly tender and sweet. And after just reading Wolf.e, I loved that this one also had motorcycles woven into it. What does this author put in these books because I keep inhaling them. Though sadly this was my least fave of her books, but couldn’t put it down.

Saving the Rain 3/5 (Kindle Unlimited) – This is an MM romance. This series is a forbidden dark romance series…and it is dark and dirty, so just fair warning. I heard this was good as an audiobook, but I have Kindle Unlimited so it was free 🤷🏼‍♀️. Buddy reading the Crimson Ridge series, you can see last months reviews here. Don’t love these TBH. Raine is a massive dick at the beginning. And I mean I get that he maybe cares underneath it but oh my god stop being such a dick. This small town seems weirdly accepting, like I don’t buy it. Omg Raine is still a dick at 38%. The admission Kayce makes about wanting to see him win, just so sad. It’s like he’s beat down. These boys need some serious therapy. Did not like the nickname Snowflake, so derogatory. At 72% “there ain’t a question mark on that. Come. Here” that was hot and cute. Like ewww the way Raine talks to him “my pretty little thing” it was just weird. And yeah I guess the examination of the snowflake nickname is cute a little bit still ick. That epilogue, best part of the book, so sweet!

Sacred Vow 2/5 (Kindle Unlimited)- this book is straight up smut/erotica, and there’s nothing wrong with that, I just didn’t buy how sexually confident and not jealous he/she were. She of course isn’t looking for anything and never gets attached…right. She meets some guy in class and does him in a bathroom stall…then goes home with him and does his dad. The dad has zero problems with this, just doesn’t want her to fall in love with him, but it’s not like a cute love story, its raunchy. I don’t know, I just don’t buy it, like oh yeah fine let’s go to the secs club and have you be railed by me and 2 other dudes and I’m not going to look at you different or get jealous. Not buying it! And he’s watching her apartment…watches the feed and jerks off to it…except every time there’s an intruder or situation lol just wasn’t buying this one.

Gone Before Goodbye 3/5 (Libby) – Loved hearing Reese’s voice in this – and what a cast overall! Also, Porkchop absolutely stole the show for me lol. The whole grief bot concept was definitely interesting and honestly kind of creepy in a fascinating way, but this book just didn’t totally work for me. It felt VERY slow. By the time I hit 50%, I genuinely thought she was about to leave and the story would wrap up… and then there was still so much left. Definitely not a page-turner for me. It also felt a little all over the place tonally and plot-wise – AI bots, Russia, oligarchies, governments, doctors doing secretive work overseas, motorcycle gangs, best friend back stabbing…there was just a lot happening. I kept wanting it to narrow its focus a bit more emotionally because the premise itself was really compelling. Honestly, I’m shocked this became such a huge hit and got so many glowing reviews because I genuinely kept wondering if we all read the same book. I’m surprised no one along the way said “maybe this one just isn’t working.” Unfortunately, this one just really wasn’t for me. Glad I got it free on Libby.

Perfect Strangers 4/5 (Audible and Kindle Unlimited) This was a recommendation from a friend whose favorite books are some of my all-time favorite books, so I went in with high hopes and OMG. “Be ready to tell me everything you want me to do to you in bed,” and then she just responds with “sleep.” Twice. I was dying lol. I loved that they were both such emotional disasters in their own ways. This book completely caught me off guard because I thought I knew exactly what kind of story I was reading…then around 80% it turns into a completely different book and knocks your socks off, and THEN at 97% it somehow shifts again into something else entirely. Truly a wild ride. I will say this one is VERY SPICY right from the start, then the spice tapers off as the emotional story takes over. Definitely one of those books where I finished and immediately needed to talk to someone about it. She’s the author of Pen Pal, and if you’ve read that you know she does insane twists right at the end!

Nine Month Contract 3.5/5 (Spotify and Kindle Unlimited) – Picked this one up because a friend was listening to it and said it was such a cute, lighter read – plus Teddy Hamilton narrates, so obviously I was in. I absolutely loved the premise of a man intentionally wanting to become a single dad. There was just something so sweet about that setup. And this man??? The way he “dad bombed” her, his casual bossiness, the way he adored her normal-sized body, his complete lack of boundaries…I just loved how ridiculously all-in he was. “I could handle every bit of you every day of the week and twice on Sunday” absolutely took me OUT. Also, the hairy chest appreciation? Thank you. I did struggle a little with the heroine though. I understand she had a difficult childhood and a lot of reasons to be guarded, but sometimes it felt like she was so hard on him for genuinely kind things and never fully gave him a chance. Then after their big conversation, it felt like her feelings flipped really quickly. He talked about this whole plan he had for winning her over, and I wish we’d actually gotten to see more of that in action. I also would’ve loved seeing her pursue him a little more too. And listen…his relationship with his brothers was a little too close for me. The whole activity – going to a ‘secs club’ thing had me rolling my eyes, just no. But I loved how close Trista became with his mom, Jo, and how Jo checked on her after the birth first – those softer family moments really worked for me. I also kept feeling a little weird about the overall surrogate/falling-in-love setup because at times it leaned a little too close to “buying a baby” territory for me, but my friend says I’m overthinking it. Overall though, this was super entertaining, spicy, and oddly sweet.

Small Town Smokeshow 3/5 (Kindle Unlimited) Meh, this one was just okay for me. The first book was SO much better (I even gave it a 5/5), and this one honestly felt like it dragged on forever. I think they didn’t even fully get together until around 70%, and by then I was like…okay, we get it, he dated your sister. It also frustrated me that they both apparently had feelings for each other for so long but waited until the very end to actually admit it. It felt less like good tension and more like a communication issue that could’ve been solved way earlier. And her family?? The absolute worst. There was definitely a lot of longing and wanting, but the cute yearning that makes that kind of slow burn worth it just didn’t fully land for me this time.

Well, Actually 3/5 (Libby) – their banter lol “you look like someone with a lot of food intolerances” LOL omg when she shared about her first kiss – jaw on the floor – heartbreaking! Only thing I really didn’t like is ‘kitten’ as a nickname, it’s just an ick for me (like in Dire Bound).  Maybe read this one paperback of Kindle? The female narrator doing the male lead is roughhh. It was a little much like talking about their past over and over and over. We get it, it was a bad experience. Her boss/work dangling carrot situation is the worst!! And why can’t she just talk to him when he’s asking what’s wrong’s like Jesus!!! Glad this one was free

The Last Letter 3/5 (Audible)-This was a re-listen because a friend was reading it, and honestly? I liked it less this time around. There were still moments that absolutely gutted me – Ella’s daughter being sick, Colt, (and twins, always gets me because I have twins, even though mine aren’t close like that lol) and that final line from Maisie about “now we both have brothers out here” still got tears out of me – but so much of the middle frustrated me more than it did on my first read. The entire “secret identity” plot drove me insane because literally one honest conversation could have solved everything, especially when Ella repeatedly says she doesn’t forgive liars. Beckett keeping huge secrets while knowing every detail about her life just felt weird after a while, and Ella herself could be exhausting when he was clearly trying to help, like omg just accept some help already. I reallllllly didn’t like how she withheld the kids when she got mad at him, that was just it for me, I was beyond pissed. Overall, still emotional and swoony in parts, but this reread made the flaws stand out way more for me.

Untamed 3.5/5 (Kindle Unlimited) – ok this is a cowboy mafia book, oh and he’s a single dad of course. It’s so redic and I loved it. He’s so possessive in a hot way! “You could go on a murder spree and I’d cover it up for you” – he’s crazy but like let’s her do whatever, so cute. Loved that his horse is territorial lol, and her describing her first time on a horse is perfection- I used to ride. I love how big he is, his presence. When I was telling Nick about the book and the redic drama he was like “sounds like Reacher” lol, accurate!

Crossroads 3/5 (Kindle Unlimited) hated how they started sentences or said “welcome.” Instead of “you’re welcome”, it was weird. This one was ok, seemed a little unrealistic, like she would have done allllll this and structured the deal like that? And the “twists” or big reveals were just awful lol. Just ugh.

Law Maker 3.5/5 (Kindle Unlimited)- god, this author writes domestic violence/abuse and big broody men who are not harmful, so well. When she describes how Clara flinches, I just man, my heart!!!! Love how big Rafe is. Love how Clara is with his son and teaching him. Love Poppy when her brother is like “I thought you were coming over to help” and she goes “brother of mine, I bring the vibes” LOLOL loved when he was talking to Frank and was like my family has been extorting people since the sixteen hundreds, you’re light years behind us lol. And when he’s beating him he says “oh do get up” … the modicum of justice! I love how he buys her the right pickles!! This one was very cute, but it was sadly so formulaic for this author. Beautiful girl but dresses in big jumpers and tries to make herself invisible, is shy, has an abusive past. Big rich man comes is grumpy and she thinks it’s at her, but really it’s not, some misunderstanding where he doesn’t believe her and then they reconcile and he protects her.