Hello friends!

I hope you’re doing well. A new month just started so, as usual, I’m bringing you the books I’ve read in May!

Let me start with the elephant in the room: that May was a crazy month. You have no idea! There were so many things that happened to me in May – good and bad -, that unfortunately there was not much time left for reading. Hopefully, I’ll return to my normality soon, because my books are still waiting for me to read them!

This obviously means one thing: there are not many books to share with you today! I’ve only read 4 books in May – even writing this makes me sad! -, so I think it’s safe for me to say this was a weaker month. But life is life, and at the end of the day, I’m still happy I could read something.

Ok, enough rambling! Let’s take a look at the books, shall we?

1. Mirror Work by Louise Hay: 5/5⭐

I didn’t know how much I needed this book until I finally read it. This is one heck of a book, my friends! In “Mirror Work”, the author Louise Hay shows readers how we can heal ourselves by taking her 21-day journey of mirror work. This ended up being a life-changing book for me, and I can’t recommend it enough! I loved it so much that I still read a chapter every day to start my day the right way. If you’re into self-development, this is a must!

Synopsis

“Mirror work—looking at oneself in a mirror and repeating positive affirmations—was Louise’s powerful method for learning to love oneself and experience the world as a safe and loving place.
Each of the 21 days is organized around a theme, such as monitoring self-talk, overcoming fear, releasing anger, healing relationships, forgiving self and others, receiving prosperity, and living stress-free.
The daily program involves an exercise in front of the mirror, positive affirmations, journaling, an inspiring Heart Thought to ponder, and a guided meditation.
Packed with practical guidance and support, presented in Louise’s warmly personal words, MIRROR WORK—or Mirror Play, as she likes to call it—is designed to help
• Learn a deeper level of self-care
• Gain confidence in their own inner guidance system
• Develop awareness of their soul gifts
• Overcome resistance to change
• Boost self-esteem
• Cultivate love and compassion in their relationships with self and others
In just three weeks, you will  establish the practice of Mirror Work as a tool for personal growth and self-care, and a path to a full, rich life.”

2. The It Girl by Ruth Ware: 4/5⭐

I actually enjoyed this a lot! I’ve been reading everything except thrillers, so picking up one from my TBR was good to mix things a bit. This is more of a murder-mystery kind of thriller, in case you don’t know – you can check the synopsis below for more details on the story -, and I was super invested in the story! I love Ruth Ware’s books, so I knew this would be a hit. I was suspicious of two characters, including the culprit, so I can’t say I was super surprised when the big revelation was done. With that said, the story was good and I found myself looking forward to keep reading it, so I definitely recommend it!

Synopsis

“April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford.
Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. Together, they developed a group of devoted and inseparable friends—Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily—during their first term. By the end of the second, April was dead.
Now, a decade later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child, and the man convicted of killing April, former Oxford porter John Neville, has died in prison. Relieved to have finally put the past behind her, Hannah’s world is rocked when a young journalist comes knocking and presents new evidence that Neville may have been innocent. As Hannah reconnects with old friends and delves deeper into the mystery of April’s death, she realizes that the friends she thought she knew all have something to hide… including a murder.”

3. Death Note, Vol. 1 by Tsugumi Ohba: 3.5/5⭐

This month I also started a new manga – yeeey exciting! I started reading the “Death Note”, because I watched one or two episodes like a decade ago – nope, not even kidding -, and from what I saw, I thought the story was interesting! I want to watch the show again one day and finish it, but for now, I’ll just read the manga. I’m very curious to see how the rivals are going to face each other in the future! For now I’m enjoying the story.

Synopsis

“Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects – and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, a death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal… or his life?
Boredom
Light tests the boundaries of the Death Note’s powers as L and the police begin to close in. Luckily, Light’s father is the head of the Japanese National Police Agency and leaves vital information about the case lying around the house. With access to his father’s files, Light can keep one step ahead of the authorities. But who is the strange man following him, and how can Light guard against enemies whose names he doesn’t know?”

4. The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn: 3/5⭐

Also part of my TBR for May was the first book in the “Bridgertons” series, “The Duke and I“. I’ve wanted to read this series for a while, but now that the first part of the 3rd season of the Netflix show just came out, I knew I needed to make this a priority! I love the show with all my heart, so I’m sure I’ll love the books as well. After reading the first one, I’m not super impressed, but I’ll keep going nonetheless!

Synopsis

“In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable… but not too amiable.
Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.
Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.
The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule…”

As usual, I’ll be posting the reviews for these books soon.

What about you guys? How was your reading month? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading friends, I’ll catch you guys later!