Everything I Read in May 2026
May felt like a slow reading month for me, so I was surprised when I sat down to write this post and counted out seven books that I read. This has been the start of a busy summer, and my reading time has definitely suffered because of it, but that’s ok. Even with that, I have read some really compelling novels this month, including the latest bookstagram favorite, Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Read on for my thoughts on this prominent new novel, along with a handful of other new releases!
If you’re looking to be more intentional with your reading this year, download my free reading tracker here to help you stay organized and discover patterns in what you love.
Of the 7 books I read this month, here are my top favorites:
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Table of Contents:
May 2026 In Books
Contemporary & Literary Fiction
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
5/5 Stars
After seeing this book hyped up all over bookstagram, I was intrigued but skeptical. When my little book club decided to read it for our next book, I thought it was the perfect chance to dive in and see what it was all about. Basically, I was hooked from the start of the audiobook (great narration) and the whole story was just so enticing and thought provoking that I could hardly press pause. Part drama, part mystery, part social commentary…this book really has it all. An amazing debut novel!
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is available from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
5/5 Stars
This could technically be considered fantasy because of the vampire element, but it is written as lit fiction so I decided to group it here. I picked this up on a recommendation and devoured it in a matter of days (pun intended). It’s a quick read and pretty straightforward, telling a vampiric coming of age story in a compelling new way.
Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda is available from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
The Keeper by Tana French
5/5 Stars
I started and stopped this audiobook a few times because its technically part of a series that I hadn’t read, but the book was getting such rave reviews and I was assured it could be read independently, so I continued on. It is long and detailed, with an incredible cast of characters from a small town in Ireland, and once I got my bearings on who was who, I was hooked. It is a deeply compelling mystery story with a level of complex detail that makes you feel like you’re right there in the story alongside the characters. I can’t wait to read more from the author!
The Keeper by Tana French is available from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen
2.5/5 Stars
This was a quick read, but I couldn’t really get into it. There were time jumps that didn’t fully explain character changes and motivations that didn’t make sense to me. It has a bit of magical realism to it, but really read more like a flat family drama to me. I might just not be the target audience for this one.
Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen comes out September 1, 2026 and is available for pre-order from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
Fantasy
Witch of the Wolves Books 1 & 2: Witch of the wolves and The Wolf queen’s Curse by Kaylee Archer
3.5/5 Stars
I read books one and two in this series back to back and found them to be pretty enjoyable. In all, the protagonist is a strong female heroine which I enjoyed. She isn’t a damsel in distress, by any means, and the author makes that clear. Both books take place over a matter of days, so even outside of the werewolf and supernatural component, you have to give a bit of suspension of disbelief with the relationships involved.
The second book picks up where book one leaves off and shows the reader a larger world of the story, which I enjoyed. However, so much time was spent rehashing “the plan” and what had happened in book one that I found myself skimming a bit.
All in all, it is an enjoyable and engaging series and I am sure there is more on the way.
The Witch of the Wolves books are available from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
Non-Fiction
Family of Spies by Christine Keuhn
5/5 Stars
I could not put this book down! Written by the granddaughter of Nazi spies in WWII, this book follows her as she discovers the secrets her family has kept hidden. In the process, the author discovers family member she didn’t know existed, who help her piece together what exactly happened (and who knew what) after the family splintered after Pearl Harbor. Alongside the thorough history, the author is coming to terms with her family’s dark history, grappling with the burden of that knowledge in today’s political climate. All in all, a fascinating read.
Family of Spies by Christine Keuhn is available from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
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*Some of the novels featured here were gifted to me as part of various book review programs in which Cats & Coffee participates.
