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Sunday, June 1, 2025

booksbydorothea - May 2025 - Monthly Wrap-up


Hi, booksbydorothea blog friends!

May 2025 was another crazy month for our family (isn’t it always?), but much better than April. My best friend was in town for a long weekend, semester finals (daughter), Mother’s Day, and my hubby semi-retiring (what a lot of work to retire).

Ever since November 2024, I have been living in a bubble by avoiding the news and social media (except book-related accounts). My best personal advice is to delete social media from your cell phone! Additionally, talk therapy and anti-anxiety medication have helped my mental health so much. #MentalHealthCareIsHealthcare

May was another strong reading month with SIXTEEN books read. I am still on a reading roll.

In May, there were ten five-star books: seven ebooks, three audiobooks, and no physical books. This was another fantastic reading month!

 

BEST BOOKS FOR MAY 2025 (plus previous months)

 

ebooks 2025

JANUARY (10)

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova

Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio

The Memory of Cotton by Ann K. Howley

The Secret History of Audrey Jones by Heather Marshall

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall


FEBRUARY (4)

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

The Dressmakers of London by Julia Kelly

 

MARCH (4)

This One Life by Amanda Prowse

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

Isola by Allegra Goodman

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

 

APRIL (7)

The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe

Marsha by Tourmaline

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan

The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly



 MAY (7)

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs

The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams

 

Audiobooks 2025

JANUARY (2)

Me by Elton John

Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen


FEBRUARY (3)

Never by Rick Astley

Unlovable by Darren Hayes

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan

 

MARCH (0)

-NONE-


APRIL (4)

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

The Next Day by Melinda French Gates

Time to Thank by Steve Guttenberg

Change the Recipe by José Andrés



MAY (3)

Medicine River by Mary Annette Pember

Read This to Get Smarter by Blair Imani

Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish

 

Physical books

JANUARY-FEBRUARY; APRIL-MAY -NONE-

MARCH (1)

This One Life by Amanda Prowse

 

2025 READING GOAL

My goal is to read 101 books in 2025. As of May 31st, I have read 76 books, or 75.2% of my goal.

  

MAY 2025 STATISTICS

16 total books

10 ebooks; 6 audiobooks; 0 physical books

5 books - ARC (Advanced Reader Copy)

8 books - Library

1 book – Purchased

1 book - Amazon First Reads

0 books - Book Club Girl

0 books – author gifted

0 books – friend gifted

 

Audio listening time in May 2025: 52 hours, 42 minutes

Pages read in May 2025: 3,103 pages

Average review rating: 4.53 stars

 

MAY 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS 

 

ebooks 2025

5.0-star ebooks

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper LINK

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen LINK

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie LINK

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor LINK

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs LINK

The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman LINK

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams LINK


4.5-star ebooks

The List by Steve Berry LINK


3.5-star ebooks

The Secrets of Lovelace Academy by Marie Benedict/Courtney Sheinmel LINK

 

3.0-star ebooks

The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle LINK


NOTE: No 4.0-star ebooks this month.


Audiobooks 2025 

5.0-star audiobooks

Medicine River by Mary Annette Pember LINK

Read This to Get Smarter by Blair Imani LINK

Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish LINK

 

4.5-star audiobooks

Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell LINK

Where You Are Is Not Who You Are by Ursula Burns LINK


4.0-star audiobooks

The Measure by Nikki Erlick LINK

 

NOTE: No 3.5-star or 3.0-star audiobooks this month. 


Physical books 2025

NOTE: No physical books were read this month.


If you want to read my full review of any of these books, there are individual review links for each ebook or audiobook next to the book title and author (under MAY 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS just above). Click on the specific book link to get to that book review.

 

May has been another amazing reading month! Do you have any "must-read" book recommendations for me? Thank you in advance!

  

Happy reading!

Dorothea 💜


P.S. For additional helpful tools on booksbydorothea, check out:

Book Rating Legend: LINK

Glossary: LINK


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