Hello, everyone! Happy June. 🙂 How was your May? I’d love to hear.
Firstly, thank you for bearing with me as I try to get a handle on this blog and figuring out schedules and content that works best for me! With my least favorite season on the horizon, I’ve been flip-flopping between sluggishness and scurrying not to feel so terrible which makes things a little messy. Secondly, I’m taking into account how poorly I fare in the long, muggy days of summer and find the best way to help is prioritize lighter enjoyment wherever I can. I’m happy to report that this past reading month has primed that sentiment quite well!
Books
I’ve mentioned a fair number of times on this blog that romance isn’t so much my forte, which is true. But in searching my shelves for more fun reads, I remembered I had a copy of this sweet, silly book, She Drives Me Crazy, on my kindle and decided to give it a reread. I enjoyed it just as much on the second time around, and I actually finished it in a day which is an extremely rare occurrence for me (I think the last time I did that was with E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars back at the beginning of 2022). Good times!
I’ve found the best way to ease me through and out of a reading slump is to indulge as much middle grade as possible (as evidenced by Percy Jackson & the Olympians last year). While nothing compares to A Series of Unfortunate Events, I enjoyed Who Could That Be at This Hour?, the first installment of All the Wrong Questions. I found the noir edge to the mystery was unique and engaging. I think this one has actually grown on me since having finished it!
I have to admit, a fairly significant portion of my general reading tends to be dedicated towards rereads–such is the case with The Raven Boys. And you know what? I love it every time! I hold this series so near and dear to my heart, and there’s a fair chance I’ll continue the series reread with The Dream Thieves this June.
I think it was with this second installment, When Did You See Her Last?, that cemented this series for me. The setting and characters grew on me a lot more by this one, and I found myself even more invested than before. I really enjoyed that by the end, it was becoming more and more clear that the stakes of the overall series plot were raising. It’s a lot of fun!
Set in the same town and with the same characters as those featured in All the Wrong Questions, File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents is an Encyclopedia Brown-type story with all of the Lemony Snicket goodness. Definitely a good choice to feed the inner child! It also seemed to feature an additional mystery hidden in the book but after pretty in-depth scrutinizing on my part, I think the unexplainable bits might just be meant to be unexplainable. Whatever the case, I enjoyed this little companion to the series!
Books Completed: 5
Average Rating: 3.75 stars.
Most Read Genre: Mystery
Top Intended Audience: Middle Grade
I’m keeping this wrap-up a little briefer this time around. Since I’ve actually been reading more, I feel less inclined to beef it up with talk about movies and shows (which has mostly just been It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, to be honest). Anyway, I’m not going to bother setting TBRs or anything at the moment because playing it by ear and letting the inner child guide me has proven to be a success in my eyes!
How was your reading in May? Any new favorites? Least favorites? What do you do to get out of a reading slump? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
Little Bit of All That 
I’m also a big middle grade reader when I’m slumping.
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It can be not just effective but also a lot of fun, which I love!
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