To Be Read: May 2023

It feels like just yesterday I was writing my April to be read. This year is already going so fast, I can’t keep up. Well, that’s not actually true. At the time of writing this post, I am 10 books ahead of schedule on my reading challenge, so I’m doing pretty well. I am a bit overwhelmed with ARCs at the moment though…

Anyway here is everything I’m going to attempt to read in May.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Absolutely everyone is talking about this book/series right now and I feel like I need to jump on the bandwagon. I’m quite the fan of Stephanie’s work, even if I didn’t like Finale very much, and I’ve heard this is her best series yet.

I don’t know much about it other than the fact that it has Jacks from the Caraval series. I’m excited to find out more.

Synopsis: How far would you go for happily ever after?

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings… until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy…

Lose You To Find Me by Erik J. Brown

*I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This cover is absolutely adorable and I cannot wait to start this book. It’s actually going to be my next read once I’ve finished my current ARC, so I may end up starting this before May. It looks super fun and I love books set around food/restaurants.

Synopsis: Tommy Dees is in the weeds—restaurant speak for beyond overwhelmed. He’s been working as a server at Sunset Estates retirement community to get the experience he needs to attend one of the best culinary schools in the world. And to make his application shine, he also needs a letter of recommendation from his sadistic manager. But in exchange for the letter, Tommy has to meet three conditions—including training the new hire.

What he doesn’t expect is for the newbie to be an old crush: Gabe, with the dimples and kind heart, who Tommy fell for during summer camp at age ten and then never saw again. Unfortunately, Gabe doesn’t remember Tommy at all. The training proves distracting as old feelings resurface, and the universe seems to be conspiring against them.

With the application deadline looming and Gabe on his mind, Tommy is determined to keep it all together—but what if life isn’t meant to follow a recipe?

Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown

*I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This is another ARC that I desperately need to try and cram in at the beginning of May. It’s funny, I went from having hardly any ARCs for this year, to receiving huge email from HarperCollins with tons of them. I am very thankful though, don’t think I’m not.

This one is centred around music and I noticed that the chapter headings are like album/playlist tracks. It looks very fun and wow that cover is gorgeous.

Synopsis: Cinderella meets Cyrano in this pitch-perfect YA rom-com that is a celebration of Black joy, first crushes, and putting your heart on the line for love. Darren Johnson lives in his head. There, he can pine for his crush—total dream girl, Delia Dawson—in peace, away from the unsolicited opinions of his talkative family and showboat friends. When Delia announces a theme song contest for her popular podcast, Dillie D in the Place to Be, Darren’s friends—convinced he’ll never make a move—submit one of his secret side projects for consideration. After the anonymous romantic verse catches Dillie’s ear, she sets out to uncover the mystery singer behind the track. Now Darren must Is he ready to step out of the shadows and take the lead in his own life?