Mini-Reviews of Recent Reads – May 2025
May 2025 reviews of new books, including Blue Sisters, Fun for the Whole Family, The Summers Between Us, Finding Grace, Famous Last Words, Life Hacks for a Little Alien, It’s Getting Hot in Here, and Nesting.
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May has been exceptionally busy, as it is every year if you have kids (“May-cember” anyone?). The end-of-year activities fill the calendar, and while the celebrations are fun and meaningful, I’m ready for some long summer stretches where the only things to do are get outside, hit the water, or read books.
If you’re looking for some additions to your summer reading list, there are some great options here from across genres.
Print and E-Books
Blue Sisters
Author: Coco Mellors
Publish Date: May 23, 2024
Source: Book of the Month
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction
Avery is a former heroin addict-turned lawyer, living with her wife in London. Bonnie is a former boxing champ-turned-bouncer, at loose ends after a devastating defeat. Lucky is a hard-partying model who never connects long with anyone, least of all herself. These are the remaining Blue sisters, each navigating life and guilt after the loss of their sister, Nicky, the only one who had grounded them all. When they learn their parents plan to sell the New York apartment where they grew up, each makes her way back to sort through Nicky’s things and consider whether the place is worth saving.
If you like a slow-burn, character-driven novel, this might be for you. Each of the sisters was wonderfully complex and turned to various addictions to manage their grief. The sibling dynamic here was also fascinating and unusual, with one sibling gone, disengaged parents, wildly successful and different career paths (despite the self-destruction), and childhoods in a cramped New York apartment. While I didn’t always relate to or even sympathize with these characters (other than in their grief), their complexity kept me reading.
Related: Literary Fiction to Read in 2025
Fun for the Whole Family
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publish Date: April 8, 2025
Source: Ballantine Books via Netgalley
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
After a childhood in which they bonded over their largely absent mother–and her infrequent returns for brief adventures–the four Endicott siblings rarely speak as adults. When Jude, now a famous actress, summons them to a small town in North Dakota, they each wrestle with their pasts and futures–as well as secrets that could change everything.
This book had many similarities to Blue Sisters–the wildly successful siblings, the disconnect in adulthood, the absent or checked-out parents, and the one sibling who stepped in as a parental figure. Despite some heavy themes, though, this one felt lighter than Blue Sisters, and their dynamics and resentments were realistic. If you like a sibling story but want one that’s a little less “literary,” this is a good choice.
Related: Contemporary Fiction to Read in 2025
Audiobooks
The Summers Between Us
Author: Noreen Nanja
Publish Date: May 13, 2025
Source: Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Lia Juma is a successful corporate lawyer who left behind her summers in Pike Bay—and the boy she loved there—years ago. But a family crisis forces her to return, and to her surprise, Wes is there as well. As they tentatively get to know each other again, Lia grapples with what she wants in life now, and what she thought she knew about the life and love she left behind.
If you’re looking for a beach read and know your favorite tropes, this one offers a number of them: summer romance, friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance, secret love. The relationship between Lia and Wes is sweet, and Nanja establishes deep roots for them that make their love feel real. I loved the dreamy summer atmosphere, especially in the early timeline, and this slow-burn read is perfect for a slow-moving summer day.
Related: Romance Novels to Read in 2025
Finding Grace
Author: Loretta Rothschild
Publish Date: July 8, 2025
Source: Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Literary Fiction
Honor adores her daughter, Chloe, and her husband, Tom, but she desperately wants another baby. Her wanting nearly drives them apart. When a shocking event changes everything, Tom makes a decision that changes everyone’s lives.
This one is difficult to summarize without giving too much away—I recommend not reading too many reviews, and try to avoid spoilers. This is essentially a literary romance, but it’s uniquely told and the storyline is definitely unexpected. I actually listened to one part of this audiobook several times to ensure I heard it correctly. Some of Tom’s choices really bothered me, so it made it hard for me to root for the things he thought he wanted. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the structure and novelty of the storytelling.
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Life Hacks for a Little Alien
Author: Alice Franklin
Publish Date: February 11, 2025
Source: ALC from Little, Brown and Company via Libro.fm
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
A young, neurodivergent girl, known as Little Alien, struggles to understand the world and her place in it. When she learns about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript, she thinks it may hold the key to herself–and connect her with others who have the same struggles. Told in second person, we follow Little Alien on her quest to learn everything she can about the manuscript—and herself.
With comparisons to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I had high hopes for this novel. It didn’t resonate with me quite as much as Eleanor, but Little Alien is charming in her own right. The neurodivergent representation is strong here, and while this wasn’t the best for me (I often found my mind wandering), it is a good choice for anyone seeking that voice.
Famous Last Words
Author: Gillian McAllister
Publish Date: February 25, 2025
Source: William Morrow
Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers
On the day Camilla is set to return to work after her maternity leave, she awakens to find her husband, Luke, gone. He’s left her a note. But then she hears of a hostage situation in London, and the police arrive to tell her Luke is involved–as the gunman. And the cryptic note he left may be the key to what’s actually happening.
Alternating perspectives between Camilla and Niall, the hostage negotiator, this thriller starts off with a bang. Camilla’s determination to understand her husband’s involvement takes us on a twisty ride, with the added complications of new motherhood thrown into the mix. Niall, meanwhile, gives us some angsty, behind-the-scenes police brooding as he obsesses about the case. The middle moves a little slower, but that beginning will keep you hooked, and the pieces of the puzzle come together in a satisfying way.
Related: Mysteries and Thrillers to Read in 2025
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Author: Jane Costello
Narrator: Marisa Calin
Publish Date: September 5, 2025
Source: Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Romance
Lisa Darling is a TV exec with a lot on her plate: two kids, a busy career, and a best friend with cancer, not to mention the perimenopause symptoms that keep popping up. She doesn’t need the complication of Zach Russo, the handsome New Yorker she clashes with at work. But it may be more than the hot flashes causing the heat between them.
I enjoyed reading a romance novel with slightly older characters and dealing with the complications that come with having kids, divorce and co-parenting, school and career demands, and generally being pulled in all directions. While this felt realistic, none of it felt particularly high stakes and this probably won’t stick with me.
Nesting
Author: Roisín O’Donnell
Publish Date: February 18, 2025
Source: Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Literary Fiction
One afternoon, Ciara grabs a few things, packs up her young daughters, and takes them away from her husband Ryan. She’s not sure where to go, but home isn’t safe. She lands at a hotel in Dublin that houses women fleeing abusive relationships. From there, she navigates the dizzying maze of finding work and services, managing young kids, and staying strong while her husband alternately begs her to return and further drives her into the ground. Because leaving is one thing, but staying gone proves to be the real challenge.
This was a heart-wrenching and realistic portrayal of the difficulties of leaving abusive relationships, particularly because it focused on the emotional abuse and coercive control that keep people stuck. With children in the mix, the complications and challenges multiply. A testament to the strength of women who walk away with nothing but hope for themselves and their children.
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