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April may have been a slow reading month, but I’ve been back on track for May! This month, I read some AMAZING books, and I can’t wait to share them with you! Whether you’re looking for your next great read or just curious about what I loved (or didn’t love), this post has all the details. My goal for 2025 was to read one book a month, and so far, I’ve already DOUBLED that! I’ll be sharing a brief summary, my personal thoughts, and a rating for each book. Plus, I’ll highlight my top recommendation of the month at the end!

Book List Overview (with links to purchase)

📖 The Worst Best Man – Lucy Score

  • Genre: Romantic Comedy
  • Synopsis: Frankie Baranski is so happy to be the maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding! But what she’s not happy about, is dealing with arrogant and insanely rich best man, Aiden Kilbourn. When the broom gets kidnapped and the bridesmaids brawl, Frankie has it under control. But what she can’t control is the undeniable attraction between Aiden and herself. And the wedding they’re part of? Well, that’s only the beginning of this twisted tale!
  • My Thoughts: This funny, engaging, enemies to lovers plot had me on the edge of my seat…for a while. When I say this story drrraaaaggggged! I was about halfway through when I thought, “What could these next 200 pages even say?!” However, I did enjoy the story and how it unfolded, and I definitely want to read another Lucy Score novel.
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Maybe…–if you’re willing to sort through fluff to get to the heart of a sweet love story, then you’ll like this one.

📖 Stuck in the Country With You – Zuri Day

  • Genre: Romance
  • Synopsis: When Genesis Washington somehow inherits her great uncle’s farm, she doesn’t know what to do. What she does know, is that she can’t stay there, not when her old enemy (and one-night stand), Jaxson King lives next door. Even though Gen is a city girl, she is adamant about NOT wanting Jaxson’s help–no matter how charming, sweet, and sexy he is.
  • My Thoughts: This love story (although predictable) was very cute! It’s the perfect in-between read, kind of like a palate cleanser. I love a good Black romance, and this one was no different. There’s the perfect balance of drama, spice, and love that makes for a smooth read.
  • Favorite Quote: “Sometimes things happen in life that are not all right or all wrong, all black or all white. We have to make sure the decisions made in those situations are coming from our heart, not just our head. That they’re not being made out of fear, or what-ifs, or based on what happened yesterday, or with somebody else.”
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Yes–if you like romance, you’ll enjoy this book!

📖 Can’t Get Enough – Kennedy Ryan

  • Genre: Contemporary Romance
  • Synopsis: Hendrix Barry is sure of who she is! A great friend, a rich “auntie”, a doting daughter, and a business mogul! Her life is like a dream…well, all except the romance department. But, that all changes when she meets tech billionaire Maverick Bell. There are only 2 problems: 1, Hendrix is taking care of her mother with Alzheimer’s and 2, Maverick is off limits! But, we all want what we can’t have, right? And Mav has made it clear that he won’t stop his pursuit until he gets what he wants…and he always gets what he wants.
  • My Thoughts: Kennedy Ryan has done it again! The Skyland series has to be my favorite book series of all time! Every time Ryan writes a new character, she heals another part of me. No matter where you are in life, Ryan’s characters are relatable and help navigate the complexities of Black womanhood, and Can’t Get Enough is no different! I could not put this dual POV, spicy, Black romance down! I experienced every emotion possible while reading, and that makes it a 6 Star Read!
  • Favorite Quote: “We are not magic. We are resilient. It’s not a wand. It’s work. We work harder and shine brighter to survive. Excellence for us has been a matter of necessity.”
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Yes–even though it works as a standalone, I would recommend reading Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us before picking up this one, but 100% recommend!

📖 What a Match – Mimi Grace

  • Genre: Romance
  • Synopsis: Gwen Gilmore knows what she wants, and for the most part, she has it. Well…everything but the perfect man. So, she signs up with an exclusive matchmaker to find Mr. Right. The only problem is, none of the dates have that spark. Gwen shares all of her fails with her new roommate–her brother’s grumpy best friend Anthony Woods. But, what Gwen doesn’t know is that Anthony has had a crush on her since they first met years ago. As they navigate this tricky set-up, Gwen starts to feel differently about dating…and about Anthony.
  • My Thoughts: This quick little romance read is so cute! Sometimes, I call books like Mimi Grace’s Lovestruck series “palate cleansers” because they’re perfect, cutesy, no-pressure reads that work perfectly after something heavy. I enjoyed What a Match more than Make a Scene, and the forced proximity and brother’s best friend tropes are not overly forced. There’s a little bit of spice, a whole lot of romance, and two sweet main characters. Great read!
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Yes–if you need a basic, cute, predictable romance, I’d recommend this book. Even though it is part of a series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

My Top Pick of the Month is…

Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan! I cannot speak highly enough about the Skyland series, and Can’t Get Enough is just as beautiful as the first two books in this trilogy. It was the perfect way to end a series, and Ryan’s impeccable storytelling and character development are always a hit. The way her writing allows me to blossom with the story, feeling everything from pure bliss to utter heartbreak makes this book my top pick of May!

What’s TBR for June?

With school being out for the Summer, I should have plenty of time to read! My goal is to read 5-6 books in the next month. Here’s what I’m thinking so far:

  • Take a Hike by Mimi Grace
  • Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
  • The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden
  • If Only For the Summer by Alexandra Warren
  • When in Rome by Sarah Adams
  • Elevator Pitch by Evelyn Leigh

That concludes my May reading wrap-up! I’m so excited that I’ve read 24 books so far this year, and I can’t wait to see what’s next! What did you read in May? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let’s chat in the comments!

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