What I Read in May
📍 Greenwich, CT
The following content may contain affiliate links.
When you click and shop the links, I may receive a small commission.
Shirt || Pants || Ballet Flats (Similar) || Similar Handbag || Earrings
I made a goal of reading 24 books in 2024 (AKA 2 books per month). Although having a reading goal has become an annual tradition, I always lose major steam in the summertime. I can’t believe it, but I’ve already reached my goal. Even though Baby Brennan has been keeping me extra busy, I’ve found some reading time while I pump several times a day. Let’s see if I can push myself to get to 50 this year. To help you reach your own reading goals this year, here’s what I read in May.
The Swans of Fifth Avenue
My interest in Truman Capote is still piqued thanks to the latest season of Feud. The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a novelized version of the blowout that happened between him and the socialites of 1960s Manhattan. Like in real life, the story focuses on Babe Paley, who was known to be Truman’s favorite, his closest confidante, yet she is also the one he betrayed the most. We’ll never truly understand what compelled Truman to air the darkest secrets of the women who considered him to be a friend. Still, Melanie Benjamin’s retelling may be our safest bet.
Fake
My eyes were opened to the world of art replicas by reading Fake. In short, museums and high art collectors may commission high-end replicas in order to help ensure their investment. Some may want to have something to display while the art is being cleaned, while others use the replica long-term while the original is kept safe in storage. Emma is such a painter, and she’s one of the best. Once she becomes a freelancer, she quickly sees the thin line between legal replicas and illegal forgeries.
My Year of Rest of Relaxation
Because of my new, exhausting status as ‘mom”, My Year of Rest and Relaxation hit a little close to home. Through a combination of endless prescriptions, the world’s worst psychiatrists, and sheer willpower, our narrator aspires to take a full year away from society. Literally, all she wants to do is sleep. Not for medical reasons or anything; she just wants to. While it sounds like the storyline would be a drag, it’s a wild ride with a wicked sense of humor. I’m now officially intrigued by the author’s writing style and want to read more about what Ottessa Moshfegh has to offer.
Stone Cold Fox
Stone Cold Fox was the kind of book I just couldn’t put down. Bea is a con artist who is striving to marry her way into one of the wealthiest families in NYC. She’s manipulative, cunning, and incredibly vein. How is it possible that I was still rooting for her? That’s because her arch nemesis, Gale, her fiancé’s best friend, is even worse. Gale comes from the same world of old money and has no problem openly reminding Bea that she doesn’t belong. That she’s not good enough. This level of classism is not a good look on anyone but is a friendly reminder that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. If you liked The Guest or Pineapple Street, you’ll definitely love this book!
Parachute Women
Each month, I try to keep a well-balanced reading diet by alternating between fiction and non-fiction. Since adjusting to motherhood, I’ve wanted books that were more about escapism than new information. Parachute Women was my lone biography this month, and it was such a great choice! You know it will be good when the librarian says, “I’m going to read this when you check it back in.” While we all know The Rolling Stones, unless you have no musical taste, the incredible stories of the women who supported them are almost always overshadowed. This book is a deep dive into music history while reading with the ease and intrigue of a novel.
The Paris Novel
Don’t you love it when you find a book that really speaks to your soul? That’s what The Paris Novel is for me. Stella has always felt like she’s been living in her mother’s shadow. Because of a traumatic event when she was a child, she absorbed herself in a world of order, schedules, and predictability. When her mother passes away, she receives a small inheritance, a one-way ticket to Paris, and a rare opportunity to find herself. With an incredible cast of characters, Ruth Reichl helps you dive into Paris’s moveable feast. This novel is an extra dose of inspiration to revisit this culinary haven.
Although we’re barely into June, I just finished Bright Young Women. It could possibly be one of favorite books of the year and I can’t wait to tell you all about it in next month’s round up. Summer is always my busiest season, but I’m so excited to keep making progress to 50 books. I’ve already read more books this year than I did in 2023, but I’m ready to keep going! Keep me on track and I’ll share all the great books in next month’s review. Until then, happy reading!
Love from Connecticut
Katie
Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.