May 2026 Reads

May was another solid reading month, with nine books completed. Rather than recap everything I read, I wanted to highlight the three books that left the biggest impression on me.

The standout of the month was Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. This novel has become a favorite for many readers, and after finishing it, I can absolutely understand why. In terms of atmosphere, I would compare it to Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Both novels have a quiet, thoughtful pace, feature older protagonists, and gradually unravel long-held family secrets. If you loved one, I think there’s an excellent chance you’ll love the other. Theo of Golden is a gentle, deeply compassionate story that lingers long after you turn the final page.

Another standout was Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block. In this memoir, Block reflects on the years he spent being homeschooled—or perhaps more accurately, "unschooled"—and attempts to make sense of the lasting impact those experiences had on his life. At its heart, the book explores his complicated relationship with his mother and the well-intentioned, but often misguided, decisions she made regarding his upbringing and education. If you're a parent or simply enjoy thoughtful nonfiction that examines parent-child relationships, I highly recommend this one.

Rebecca Serle is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Magical realism is not a genre I typically gravitate toward, yet her novels consistently resonate with me on a deeper emotional level. A couple of years ago, I read and loved One Italian Summer, and this month I finally picked up In Five Years.

The novel follows Dannie, a young woman whose life seems perfectly planned—until she has a vivid dream in which she shares an intense connection with a man she has never met. The dream leaves her deeply unsettled because she has just become engaged... and not to the man from the dream. More troubling still, the emotional connection she experiences in that brief glimpse of the future feels far stronger than anything she has felt with her fiancé. But that premise is only the beginning. What unfolds is a moving exploration of destiny, friendship, love, grief, and discovering your own purpose in life. And the ending is nothing like what I expected. I absolutely loved it.