What I read in May

Plus, next on my list!

Hello, hello!

My May reads were mainly memoirs about loss and grief, but you don’t have to be in the thick of it to enjoy these books; at least I don’t think so. I’ll list them all (+ a few others from different genres below). If you have any fun summer reading recs or are looking for recs, feel free to leave a comment! For anyone who’s willing to chime in, I’m looking for some light reads for June and July. I’m almost done with Famesick by Lena Dunham (not light, but I admire her raw and honest writing and how she manages to inject humor in all the right places). Next up for me is Valley of the Moms by Hannah Selinger (check out her interview about the business of books here).

Lost & Found by Kathryn Schulz

Great memoir on losing and finding love (and I think also yourself) and how, although we try, we can never really experience anything in life in isolation. Love/hate, joy/sorrow, and so on.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

Beautiful writing, unexpected (and unique) non-chronological structure with flash essays and other excerpts as Maggie Smith navigated divorce and her version of acceptance and starting over. It felt like I was on the journey with the author; she’s still learning and isn’t trying to convince us otherwise. I finished the book feeling hopeful, optimistic, and inspired.

So Sorry for Your Loss by Dina Gachman

Honest, funny, and practical memoir/guide on loss and grief—a topic we should all be talking about more openly! Thank you, Dina!

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Margo, the child of a Hooters waitress and ex-pro wrestler, has an affair with her English professor, gets pregnant, decides to keep the baby, and then sets up an OnlyFans account to earn a living—and support her new baby—from home. Highly entertaining, and the series on Apple TV is also great! It’s impossible not to love all the characters.

Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum

I’m technically not finished with this one, but I did complete the “before” section, which is all I need to know at this point in my memoir-writing/book-proposal journey. I love that Courtney Maum writes straight to the point, without fluff, and she’s funny! It makes book publishing feel a little less daunting, but the book also sets realistic expectations.

See you soon,

Alexis

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