Whew! May was absolutely a whirlwind of a month! I can’t believe it has come and gone just like that. Between our vacation to Costa Rica, a work trip to Texas, wrapping up classes in my second-to-last semester of graduate school, and the holiday weekend, I was one busy lady and ROONIE did not get the love it deserved!
However, I was still able to squeeze in some reading time and provide enough content for a monthly wrap-up! I read three romance novels with very different vibes then mixed it up with a dystopian one that probably falls under some sort of horror genre, as well.
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
Overall Rating: 3.50 Stars
Format: Physical Paperback
This book would be great for a younger romance reader or someone who enjoys closed door romance. While there is chemistry and development of feelings, there is no spice or graphic scenes. It gives a very Hallmark feel and is based around the best friend’s brother love interest trope.
My favorite thing about this book was the stops they made along the way of their road trip because the attractions seemed like the kind of things I would be interested in seeing myself! However, I didn’t feel like I could relate to any of the characters and the main female character was just too bubbly. It came off as immature to me and felt more like a high school romance rather than a college one.
Buy the book here
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Overall Rating: 4.25 Stars
Format: Physical Paperback
Icebreaker was my favorite read this month! I did go into a bit skeptical because of the hype this book got as smut, but was very pleasantly surprised to find that it had an engaging plot and well developed relationships among the characters.
Something I really liked about this book was how the title Icebreaker applied to two different events in the book. I will not go into detail and spoil it, but I thought the icebreaker exercise towards the beginning of the book was the main source of the title combined with the fact that the main characters were a hockey player and figure skater. But when something happens towards the end of the book, I was surprised to see how the author managed to tie in another reference to the term “icebreaker” within the story.
Like probably everyone else who has read this book, I was NOT a fan of Aaron. I was shaking my head and rolling my eyes every time Anastasia made excuses for him and tried to justify or overlook his behavior. He was such a sore spot for me throughout the read.
This was closer to a five star book for me until the epilogue. It felt like a very rushed wrap up to Nate and Anastasia’s story that squeezed a lot of big events into a roughly two year span.
But the book here
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Overall Rating: 3.0 Stars
Format: Physical Paperback
I had high hopes going into this read but was left a bit disappointed. Miscommunication is not a trope that I have the patience for and there was way too much of it in this story.
!!Spoiler Alert!!
Continue reading at your own risk.
The plot revolves around a main female character and main male character who have been friends since college and take annual vacations together. They are clearly into each other and have been for a while. Their families know it but the main characters are in denial and continue living their individual lives while trying to suppress their feelings for each other.
If they had accepted and addressed their feelings for each other instead of ignoring them and hoping they’d go away, Poppy and Alex would not have wasted so much time while causing and experiencing unnecessary heartache for themselves and their significant others. I did not relate to any of the characters in this book and was slightly frustrated throughout the read.
Buy the book here
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
Overall Rating: 3.0 Stars
Format: Physical Paperback
This book is intended to disturb you. The story follows a prestigious member of the meat supplying industry through a time where animals have contracted a disease that makes them inedible and cannibalism has become legal to fill the protein gap.
Throughout the story, the main character experiences loss of his own and navigates complicated emotions. I’m sure there were underlying themes and messages I did not pick up on because I was so caught up on the cringe factor while reading, but it did provoke thoughts about capitalism, humanity, and what lengths we would go to under dire circumstances.
As someone who has studied and worked in the meat industry, I do want to point out that most of the feelings experienced while reading this are heightened by the fact that humans are the source of meat in the story. Don’t let this book alone influence your thoughts about meat, where it actually comes from, and how it is produced.
Buy the book here
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Samantha H.
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