Monthly/Weekly Wrap Up/What’s On My Plate May/June
2 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Book Reviews, Books, Monthly Wrap Up, reading, Weekly wrap up
I’m trying to post a wrap up for the end of each month, mainly to help me to keep track of my reading and at the same time look at what I’m intending to read during the month ahead (inspired by Books Bones and Buffy’s What’s on My Plate.
This month’s wrap up post will be a bit messy again like last month’s because I’m combining it with my weekly wrap up.
Weekly Update
It’s been a lovely week with very warm weather and lots of sunshine. Since my last weekly update I’ve read We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough – which was a very good read, I also completed Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito – which was an audiobook that I really enjoyed. I picked up The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater but to be honest this one wasn’t really working it’s magic on me – I’ve read about 30% but decided to set it down for now. Instead I’ve started The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland which is so far very good.
Next Week’s reads
Complete the Countdown Killer by Sam Holland and then I’m hoping to pick up The Rush by Beth Lewis and maybe With A Vengeance by Riley Sager. In audio format I have two books that I’m very excited to start: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry and The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig.
My Monthly Wrap Up:
Books read in May:
- The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
- Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
- We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
- Vianne by Joanne Harris
- The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North
- The Vengeance by Emma Newman
Again, this month, not as good as I would have liked to be honest, my reading has been quite slow and I’ve had a few misses but I’ve also had some very good reads and I’ve already made a start on my June review books.
Here’s what I’m hoping to read in June:
- The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
- We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
- The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland
- The Rush by Beth Lewis
- With A Vengeance by Riley Sager
- A Far Better Thing by HG Parry
- Swordheart by T Kingfisher
- The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
- Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean
- The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
- Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
I haven’t started this challenge yet but hoping to read a couple of backlist books this month if I can manage it.
Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt book bingo.
and the text version:
PICTURE PROMPT BOOK BINGO 2025 (TEXT VERSION)
| 1. A prehistoric flint knapped stone knife | 2. A lighthouse | 3. An apple on a leafy branch | 4. An archery target with three arrows in it |
| 5. A very large mechanical telescope | 7. A stag | ||
| 9 |
10. A sheaf of wheat | 11. An old mechanical typewriter | |
| 15. A stylized sun with a human face | 16. A Roman helmet |
The prompts I’ve crossed off so far:
No.8 – The ruins of a temple-like structure – I’m using Daughter of Chaos by A S Webb
No. 12 – A cluster of four mushrooms – I’m using Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
No. 13 – A fringed umbrella/parasol – I’m using A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull
No.14 – A chemistry set-up of bottles and tubes – I’m using Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
No.9 – A Crab – I’m using The Devils by Joe Abercrombie – if you’ve read this already you’ll be able to guess why. There are some very unusual creatures in this story.
No.6 – A Human Skull – I’m using The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North – because this is about a serial killer and there are definite human remains included in this one.
Number of books read this year: 36
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I’m really excited for With a Vengeance!
Yeah, I’ve had to put it down for now as it wasn’t quite grabbing me – I’m in a strange reading mood atm so I’ll be giving it a second chance.
Lynn 😀
All of your upcoming reads look so good, especially the new Riley Sager. I like books set on trains so hope this one will be good.
MMM, to be honest, I’ve had to put it aside for now because it wasn’t working for me with my current reading mood. I’ll pick it up again soon.
Lynn 😀
Honestly, I thought the plot of The Listeners sounded kind of boring so I don’t have plans to read it. Really curious to hear your thoughts about Shield of Sparrows😁
Yes, The Listeners really wasn’t working its magic for me. I will probably pick it up and read a little more just to see if it’s me and not the book.
Lynn 😀
I hope June will be a better reading month!! Did you enjoy The Devils? I am reading it and I am going sooooo slow with it (but it’s not the book’s fault!), but I am having fun with it! And I am curious to see what you will think of The Knight and The Moth! I have recently finished it and I loved it, up to a point. And it made me fangirl sooo bad!
I liked The Devils. The sense of humour and dialogue were spot on. I think the ending felt a little slow but thats the only little issue that I had. Otherwise it felt like getting back to a bit of grimsnark.
Lynn 😀
Ooh, I got an audio copy of The Listeners too but after reading your comments I’m a little nervous about starting it now,. I just finished the new Riley Sager though, and I have whiplash lol!