May Wrap Up (2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And since it's the end of the month, it's time for the May Wrap Up! 

I haven't read a whole lot this month, but I definitely feel I finished the month strong, after reading my final read in just 4 days. Hopefully I can carry this through into June, and pick up some nice books on holiday too! (Whitby bookshop is absolutely stunning and I can't wait to see what I'm in the mood for.)

I read a total of five books, and although four of them were re-reads, they were all well loved. 

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy my wrap-up! 

1. The Wake-Up Call, by Beth O' Leary 

I finally finished this! I've actually lost count how many times I've tacked this book on at the end of a monthly TBR, knowing full well, I probably won't get to it. So this month, I prioritised it more than anything else. To nobody's surprise, I absolutely loved it. I flew through it in 5 days, and it easily could have been four. It's been such a long time since I read a Beth O' Leary book, and it was fantastic to be able to get sucked straight back in. 

The Wake-Up Call is about Izzy and Lucas, who love their jobs at Forest Manor Hall- the hotel that's crumbling around them. It won't stay open past christmas without some sort of miracle- but they may have just stumbled across one. After Izzy manages to locate the owner of a lost engagement ring, an idea sparks- if they can relocate the owner of the four engagement rings that currently reside in their lost and found, they might just save the hotel. 

There's only one issue- to achieve this, Izzy and Lucas will have to work together. And that is something they don't want. Especially when there are unwanted feelings bubbling underneath the surface. 

2. The Vile Village (A Series of Unfortunate Events #7), by Lemony Snicket 

3. The Hostile Hospital (A Series of Unfortunate Events #8), by Lemony Snicket 

4. The Carnivorous Carnival (A Series of Unfortunate Events #9), by Lemony Snicket 

 

Surprisingly, enjoyed these three more and more the further I got. 

I will always enjoy The Hostile Hospital because it was the first of this series that I picked up, before I started right from the very beginning. It's definitely not the book that moves the story the most, plot wise, but it will always hold a special place for me. 

The Carnivorous Carnival surprised me the most. Before this read through, I always remembered this one as the book I needed to get through, to get to The Slippery Slope, because I knew about a plot twist. But with this read through, I found it drew me in the most out of the three books read this month. 

What can I say about The Slippery Slope? I loved the focus on Sunny, and reading about her as a capable girl, rather than an infant. We get more answers in this one as well, but also more questions. From The Slippery Slope onwards, things get real. I can immediately tell that the next three books are gearing up for an amazing finale-book 13 (because there's a jump between consistent 250 page book, all the way up to 330-ish pages). Excited to continue reading for The Slippery Slope. 

5. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1), by Suzanne Collins

Before I decided to pick this up, the plan was to continue on with A Series of Unfortunate Events (the next book is The Grim Grotto), and carry on until I finished. However, I found that I wasn't interested, when I tried to start it. So, making a split decision, I decided to pick this up, in the hope that I could finish it before the month is out. At 454 pages, that's no small feat. 

But somehow I managed it! I read every spare moment I had, I made it a priority, and what's more, I'm eager to pick up Catching Fire as soon as I can. 

I always knew I would be picking this up at some point, because of SOTR, and all the film casting reveals, but reading it was so much better/ worse (because of the connections between the two books) but I'm so glad I delved back into this again, and read Katniss' story with fresh eyes. 

Okay! Those are all of the books I read in May! I will be back with my June TBR soon, though it definitely won't hold as many as this month (I'm going to Whitby blind as for what I'll be in the mood for.) 

Feel free to comment down below what books/films/tv shows you picked up this month, and we can chat about it! 

I hope you have a wonderful afternoon and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx