Hi friends,
This month’s reading recap isn’t exactly “quick,” but it’s honest, personal, and full of great book recs—plus a few tangents (therapy breakthroughs, scammy online culture, and why I’m falling back in love with reading through audiobooks). If you’re looking for summer reads, cozy mysteries, or a reminder that you’re not alone if reading feels hard right now, you’re in the right place.
Let’s dive into what I read in May 2025.
xoxo,
Laura
🎧 Timestamps: A Not So Quick Reading Recap – May 2025
[00:00] – Intro & Reading Struggles
Discussion on how reading has shifted from joy to job, therapy reflections, and rediscovering reading through audiobooks.
[08:45] – Book Recap Begins
Jump into what you read this month with quick thoughts on each title.
[10:00] – You Didn’t Hear This from Me by Kelsey McKinney
Exploring gossip, women’s storytelling, and Latinx cultural reflections.
[12:00] – A Death in Corfu by Emily Sullivan
Historical cozy mystery featuring a widow amateur sleuth.
[13:30] – The Deal by Elle Kennedy (Re-read)
Nostalgic, comforting, and a peek into the upcoming Amazon Prime adaptation.
[15:00] – Little Bosses Everywhere by Bridget Read
A deep dive into MLMs, scams, and grifting in the personal development industry.
[20:30] – Tangent: “Getting Paid to Read” & Book Influencer Culture
[21:00] – Detective Auntie by Uzma Jalaluddin
Cozy mystery in a Toronto Muslim community; charming and witty.
[23:30] – Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn
KU romance with marriage therapy hijinks and fake husband setup.
[25:30] – Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh
A frothy, scandal-filled literary drama, think Crazy Rich Asians meets Big Little Lies.
[27:00] – The Next Chapter by Camille Kellogg
Queer Notting Hill retelling set in the West Village, with a bookish charm.
[31:30] – Bonus Rec: Disney High
Nonfiction about Disney Channel stars and behind-the-scenes drama, narrated by the actress who played Miranda in Lizzie McGuire.
[33:30] – Audiobook Narrator Shoutouts
Love for Mara Wilson, Kristen DiMercurio, Julia Whelan, and others.
Book Recommendations & My Take
You Didn’t Hear This from Me by Kelsey McKinney
📖 Pop culture nonfiction about gossip, women’s storytelling, and community.
My Take: I loved how this book reclaims gossip as an act of storytelling. It reminded me of growing up in Puerto Rico with La Comay, where gossip was a culture, a connection, and a context. This book made me feel seen.
A Death in Corfu by Emily Sullivan
📖 Historical cozy mystery featuring a widow sleuth in Greece.
My Take: It’s a breezy starter for fans of Bridgerton who want some murder. I wasn’t wowed by the romance, but I’ll give book two a shot.
The Deal by Elle Kennedy (re-read)
📖 New Adult college sports romance, originally released in 2015.
My Take: Still holds up in a comforting, nostalgic way—even if it’s super dated. I borrowed the audiobook and immediately bought The Mistake, my favorite in the series.
Little Bosses Everywhere by Bridget Read
📖 Nonfiction on MLMs, scams, and personal development history.
My Take: This book unlocked a lot for me. I’ve been part of those online worlds—wellness, hustle culture, trying to "make it." Reading this helped me unpack some of my own past, especially around side hustles and online performance. Expect a deep dive on this in Miss Redacted soon.
Detective Auntie by Uzma Jalaluddin
📖 Cozy mystery in a tight-knit Toronto Muslim community.
My Take: This was such a joy! The auntie is sharp, funny, and financially savvy (bless). I loved the neighborhood dynamics; it reminded me of the Vivian Chien cozy mystery series.
Bonus Rec: Noodle Shop Mysteries by Vivien Chien
Long-running series about a local Asian Shopping Mall set in Cleveland, where our Amateur sleuth is tasked with solving murders. This series is available for borrowing at your local library.
Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn
📖 Romcom featuring fake marriage therapy and summer camp hijinks.
My Take: Hilarious and heartfelt. The MMC is a retired tech bro turned king of emotional support. The audio was fantastic, and the whole setup made me smile.
Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh
📖 Literary drama featuring a Korean American family empire.
My Take: Think Crazy Rich Asians with more grit. There’s fraud, secrets, travel, and lots of Park Avenue glam. A fast-paced listen, I’d definitely recommend.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley, for the ARC
The Next Chapter by Camille Kellogg
📖 Queer Notting Hill retelling set in West Village.
My Take: This book hit me in the heart. It captured a version of NYC I lived in and miss deeply. Add in a queer romance, indie bookstore drama, and Mara Wilson narration? Perfection.
Thank you, PRH Audio and The Dial Press, for the ARC
Bonus: Disney High by Ashley Spencer
📖 Nonfiction deep dive into Disney Channel fame.
My Take: This was a millennial fever dream in audiobook form. The fact that the actress who played Miranda on Lizzie McGuire narrates her own story? I gasped. If you grew up on Disney Channel, listen to this.
🌀 Tangents & My Take
🎧 Why Reading Is Hard Right Now
I’ve been in a long process of untangling my identity from being “the book girl.” Reading became a job, then a chore. Audiobooks have been helping me come back to it gently, and that feels like a win.
🧠 Therapy & EMDR
I recently had a powerful EMDR session that completely shifted how I move through the world. I’m in early recovery mode, and it’s affecting everything, including how I read, what I consume, and what I create.
🔥 Scams, Side Hustles & the Myth of “Getting Paid to Read”
I went off a bit here, because I’ve been in those circles. MLMs, influencer culture, and the pressure to monetize your hobby. It’s all connected. I see so many people selling the lifestyle instead of offering genuine value. I want to keep things honest.
💬 Gossip as Culture
This came up while talking about Kelsey McKinney’s book. Gossip isn’t inherently bad; it’s how we connect. I grew up with it woven into daily life, and I still use it as a way to make sense of the world and bond with others.
💌 If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to a friend who loves book recommendations, library tips, and book chisme.
Share this post