Welcome to Quick Lit, where we share short and sweet reviews of what we’ve been reading lately on the 15th of the month.
Readers, the 2021 Summer Reading Guide is almost here—which means that after months of reading primarily brand new and forthcoming novels, my personal book selections are swinging towards the backlist.
This is just a sampling of the books I’ve read since our last round of Quick Lit. If you’re interested in hearing more about my recent reads, I highly recommend tuning into my podcast What Should I Read Next. In a show about books, I can’t help but discuss my current reading. (I also share my current reads in our weekly podcast newsletter: if you aren’t already signed up, click here to get on the list.)
I can’t wait to hear about your recent reads in comments.
Short and sweet reviews on what I’ve been reading lately
The Great Fire
The Unseen World
Jubilee
The Downstairs Girl
Philosophy for Polar Explorers
About the Author: A Novel
What have YOU been reading lately? Tell us about your recent reads—or share the link to a blog or instagram post about them—in comments.
P.S. 8 calming nonfiction books to read when you’re stressed, a few notable spring reads, and 13 excellent YA historical novels for readers at any age.
77 comments
This month was full of a variety of reads, including a backlist book that got five stars! https://neverenoughnovels.com/2021/05/14/may-2021-book-recommendations/
I’m so excited for The Downstairs Girl – I’ve been waiting for my library hold to come up, but I might just give audio a try instead! and loved the teaser in there about a category in the Summer Reading Guide – the countdown is really on!!
I’ve been reading (and loving) a bit of everything including The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen (historical fiction), Hana Khan Carries On (so good!), listening to One Two Three by Laurie Frankel and just finished The Guncle which totally took me by surprise in the best possible way. Some of my husband’s and children’s reads are also in my quick lit…
https://www.everyoneslibrarian.com/blog/quick-lit-may-2021
Wow, The Great Fire sounds really interesting! (Add it to the pile lol).
Here’s some of my favorites from last month:
https://scifantasor.com/2021/05/15/quick-lit-10/
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan just might end up being my favorite fiction of the year! Couldn’t put this British WW II cooking saga down.
And Emily Lex’s Freely and Lightly just might be the most winsomely illustrated non-fiction ever. Her delightful watercolor images make me smile.
I’ve been looking at these 16 marriage-strengthening books, too
http://www.lindastoll.net/2021/05/16-books-to-strengthen-your-marriage.html
I’ve been meaning to read The Downstairs Girl for a while…I need to bump it to the top of my TBR!
Here’s what I’ve been reading lately, including some comment on stress reading 😉: https://readeatrepeat.net/2021/05/15/books-in-progress-may-2021/
You’ve got me so curious about “About the Author.” I’ll have to look that one up at my library!
I finished reading two great books with easy time management tips this month plus finally a novel I really liked (it actually had an ending! hooray!). 🙂
The 5 books I recommend are here:
https://lisanotes.com/books-i-recommend-april-2021/
I enjoyed your list of recommendations! When it comes to time management, I also like the work of Laura Vanderkam. Thanks for sharing!
The Unseen World sounds amazing! I am super intrigued by the Philosophy for Polar Explorers and have added it to my TBR (as well as his Walking book. I just picked up The Downstairs Girl yesterday and it is engaging from the start plus I love hearing about a time and from voices I know little about. Here’s what I have been reading in April: https://susanbowers.typepad.com/in_the_storm/2021/04/what-ive-been-reading-lately-april-2021.html
I climbed the heights and plunged the depths this month, with two Bronte novels and a cosy series featuring both vampires and knitting 🙂 I’d love to hear your literary confessions over at
https://susandcook.blogspot.com/2021/05/quicklit-may-2021.html
For this month’s Quick Lit post, I’m sharing reviews of FOUR mysteries (including one 5-star read and one book I wish I could scrub from my memory), a fun middle-grade fairy tale spinoff, and a beautiful love story that (as cheesy as it sounds) truly spoke to my heart.
https://kendranicole.net/may-2021-quick-lit-fiction-reads/
I loved The Downstairs Girl!
My reading this past month has been filled with interesting premises. Not all were 5 star winners, but I loved the variety: https://mindjoggle.com/may-2021-book-reviews/
I’m in between jobs and have read a couple of books that have stood out like “The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot” https://incessantbookworm.com/2021/05/13/the-one-hundred-years-of-lenni-and-margot-marianne-cronin-book-review/ and just finished “Conversations with Friends” for a buddy read! https://incessantbookworm.com/2021/05/15/conversations-with-friends-sally-rooney-quick-lit/
Thanks for another great list, Anne.
I just started Matthew MMcConaughey’s Greenlights. Wow. He sure knows how to tell stories.
I also loved Lovely War by Julie Berry and The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner.
On my blog I put together a list of Books Like Anne of Green Gables.
https://purplecrayonyourworld.com/more-books-like-anne-of-green-gables/
What a fantastic list of books! I wouldn’t have thought some of them were similar to Anne until I read your post! I think I read 3/4 of the books on the list and loved them all! I think I would also add Heidi as well since she is an orphan who makes the best out of a hard situation and has a sweet, wholesome character.
Love Heidi, but somehow she isn’t top of mind when I think of my favorites.
I love the diversity of choices in your reviews this month. I’m starting The Downstairs Girl this weekend and adding The Great Fire to my list. I’ve leaned into the non-fiction with my recent reading.
https://www.debbierivette.com/recent-reads-may-2021/
I am currently listening to The Lost Apothecary. Just finished paperback The Opposite of Love which was a quick read that I loved. Right now reading Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson which is powerful!
I’ve been meaning to read The Downstairs Girl for ages!
https://www.tbretc.com/etc/readingweekmay32021
Can’t wait to see the summer reading guide!
That polar book sounds interesting. Thanks!
Here’s what I’ve been reading:
http://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/blog-1/2021/5/11/show-us-your-books-april-2021
I love that you’re chatting with Stacey! Here’s what I’ve been reading. https://carolinestarrrose.com/quick-lit-what-ive-been-reading-lately-7/ Putting THE UNSEEN WORLD on my list.
I’m reading The Untelling by Tayari Jones. Her writing is so beautiful.
I’m also thinking about some summer-themed books to get ready for warm, sunny days. There’s something for everyone!
https://www.karacwhite.com/post/9-reads-of-summer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR sounds fantastic. Adding to my ever growing TBR that I need to curate in anticipation of the Summer Reading Guide.
Here’s what I read last month-I had some unintentional but brilliant flights going.
https://shannanenjoyslife.com/2021/05/14/quick-lit-next-page-please-april-2021/
This month I’ve been catching up on some backlist hits I missed the first time around like “The Mothers” by Brit Bennett and “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng and finally enjoying a reread of a favorite series – The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer! I’m also currently reading “The Cruelest Month” by Louise Penny and “Cribsheet” by Emily Oster.
https://lifesapearl.com/what-ive-been-reading-lately-may-quick-lit/
So many to be added to my TBR. I have to check out Philosophy for Polar Explorers. I really enjoyed Walking One Step at a Time. It was an unexpected favorite. Check out what I read this month
https://myviewofthehoneypot.blogspot.com/2021/05/what-i-read-may.html
I’m definitely interested in reading The Downstairs Girl. My for fun reading is all on audio right now and dictated by what library hold comes in. I’m sharing 3 books, 2 fiction and 1 nonfiction this month. One is a genre that I never read but came recommended by my aunt and I actually liked it.
https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2021/05/quick-lit-mini-reviews-of-some-recent-reads-may-2021-edition/
This month I read The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley (3 stars from me) and KatherineParr: the Sixth Wife by Alison Weir (4 stars from me). Both were historical, so I am now going into the future with sci fi—The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley. Would love to hear another WSIRN with a die hard sci fi fan.
At the moment I’m reading When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O‘Neal and This Navy Doctor Came Ashore by Charles Read.
Yesterday I finished Nazi Wives by James Wyllie. 😊
I’m currently listening to “Decluttering at the Speed of Life.” While My clutter isn’t hoarding level, the author really speaks to me. Such a great audiobook. I also recently read and listened to “Too Much Us Not Enough”by Andrew Rannells. I love that he focuses on the years before he got his big break. The latest Maisie Dobbs book was wonderful (“The Consequences of Fear”by Jacqueline Winspear) while “Dear Mrs. Bird” by AJ Pearce was just okay.
Correct title is “Too Much is Not Enough”
Have you read Jacqueline Winspear’s memoir? It’s so good. The title is This Time Next Year we’ll Be Laughing. It’s so good and you learn where so much of her Maisie Dobb’s series comes from.
Just finished Good As Gone by Larry Watson. I love his writing!
The two big highlights of my reading this month are:
-We, Jane by Aimee Wall about women working to protect access to reproductive rights in rural Newfoundland, Canada. The style reminded me very much of Sally Rooney’s writing.
I also loved Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. I bought it, back in 2019, because it had come up a few times on WSIRN and it sounded great. But I only read it now and ended up reading her second book first. It was so great!
This month has had a lot more downs than ups. I spent a large portion of the month so far reading fairy tale re-tellings by Melanie Cellier as a way to escape. I also read the extremely lovely House in the Cerulean Sea. I have just begun the book Wintering by Katherine May. So far it is everything I thought it would be, and more,
I recently read The Underground Airlines, by Ben Winters and it was excellent as an audio book. It takes place in a present day USA but in this book, the Civil War never happened and there is still slavery in some states. It is an interesting look at racism and the issue of slavery. It’s a bit controversial because the author is white, but I didn’t realize he was white until after I read it.I thought the way people in power tried to make themselves feel better (less culpable) about a really horrible situation was very accurate.
On a lighter note, Eileen Garvin’s The Music of Bees was a heartwarming book about healing and creating family from strangers.
About the Author sounds like a ride! I read The Downstairs Girl in the last year—so fun that you get to chat with the author. I can’t remember–was this her first novel?
My reading life has been a little all over the place lately because we went for my years-in-the-making dream this spring of starting a flower farm. With how heavily my reads in the past months have been about flower farming and flower arranging and the flower world in general, I’m looking forward to your Summer Reading Guide so I can maybe lean towards something else for awhile!
Here’s what I’ve been reading the past couple months:
https://www.toloveandtolearn.com/2021/05/13/loving-and-learning-lately-35/
I’ve been comfort reading lately, so my list includes several romance/historical fiction novels. But also a few memoirs that were excellent, all for different reasons: Lauren Graham’s Talking As Fast as I Can; Living Danishly; and First They Killed My Father.
https://alookatabook.com/2021/05/15/may-2021-recent-reads/
Oops! Correct title is: The Year of Living Danishly
I really enjoyed Danishly – fascinating to learn about that part of the world and philosophy on life!
I read some good books for myself and to my kindergartener! https://cocoonofbooks.blogspot.com/2021/05/what-ive-been-reading-lately-quick-lit.html
I recently finished the new John Grisham, Sooley, and thought it was great. I’ve made it to book 7 of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series and just started the fifth book in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. I usually listen to both series on audio. I loved The Downstairs Girl and am looking forward to the author chat. And, I’m going to start The Phone Booth at The Edge of The World today.
I’ve heard great things about The Downstairs Girl. I need to pick it up very soon!
Here are my recent reviews:
https://elle-alice.blogspot.com/2021/04/april-book-reviews.html
Our University Club book group will be reading The Downstairs Girl which I am looking forward to, also like the cover. Just finished The Paris Apartment which was a page turner. I also really enjoyed the historical novel, The Paris Library. I am always taken with the covers of books, seem to be reading about Paris or WW 2. Need to break this cycle!
Just began The Paris Library.
I also just finished The Paris Library and found it so interesting. I was unaware theU.S. had a library there and it just celebrated 100 years. There were many true and brave events in this book. I was only interested in Odiles story and not Lily’s.
Highly recommend Winter Counts – hard boiled crime thriller set on a Lakota reservation – great characters and lots of interesting insight into indigenous spirituality and food. Pretty violent; recommended for fans of Longmire, CJ Box and Bosch.
Also listened to Girl, Woman, Other and loved it. Interrelated short stories of Black women in Great Britain that won the Booker Prize.
Just finished The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner and Carnegies Maid by Marie Benedict. I’m listening to The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. Thank you to everyone for sharing their recommendations 😊
Now I’ve added Jubilee to my TBR, and a couple of others. I read 19 books in April, some good, some…not.
Jubilee is wonderful. Happy reading!
I am about 100 pages into Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and REALLY enjoying it. (Weir wrote The Martian, which was also excellent.) It’s the well written story of one man’s efforts to save the world (in a space ship that has taken him to another galaxy), and has quiet humor throughout. I find myself drawn to science fiction these days, especially the books that focus on combining ideas and forces to solve problems. AND, I’m delightedly working my way through Eeboo’s Jane Austen’s Book Club 1000 piece puzzle! Gorgeous colors and a challenge.
I’ve found myself unintentionally reading the world. Last wrap-up I had visited South Korea, Norway, and the USA through my books. In this month’s wrap-up, I had returned to the USA and also visited the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. And it’s continuing with my current reads. I may need to add Erling Kagge’s book mentioned by Anne to my TBR!
Here’s what I’ve been reading lately: http://www.avikinginla.com/2021/05/what-ive-been-reading-lately-april-2021/
I’m currently reading and enjoying Deacon King Kong. Recently finished The Lost Girls by Heather Young and Child 44.
Will add Downstairs Girl and Polar Explorers to my TBR. And the misbehaving author.
Recently read and enjoyed:
To Save a King by Rachel Hauck
Under The Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
Writers and Loversby Lily King was wonderful. Started slow and was so well done, I found the references to authers and books wonderful. Her depiction of grieg, love and life was inspring and not “kitchy”. It felt real.
10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak is a book I will not soon forget. I chose it for our book group after having read one Honor, one of her many other books. Shafak was born in Turkey and writes in both english and her native language. The book s breathtaking, sad, honest and pays homage to those on the “outskirts’ of life. The book tells the story of a woman who has been killed and in her last few minutes of consciousness remembers her life and her friends. The story is breathtaking and Shafak once again reminds us about humanity in all it’s forms.
Writers and Lovers by Lily King was wonderful. Started slow and was so well done, I found the references to writers and books wonderful. Her depiction of grief, love and life was inspring and not “kitchy”. It felt real.
10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak is a book I will not soon forget. I chose it for our book group after having read Honor, one of her many other books. Shafak was born in Turkey and writes in both English and her native language. The book s breathtaking, sad, honest and pays homage to those on the “outskirts’ of life. The book tells the story of a woman who has been killed and in her last few minutes of consciousness remembers her life and her friends. Shafak once again reminds us about humanity in all it’s forms.
Anyone else adore WWII fiction? 🤗 I’m sharing 10 TERRIFIC WWII NOVELS on my blog… I’d love you to hop over and leave any recommendations I should read! https://laurathomasauthor.com/10-terrific-wwii-novels/
My April Reading Wrap Up…..
https://readingladies.com/2021/05/02/april-2021-reading-wrap-up/
Books 34-39 of the year: https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2021/05/reading-update.html
Books 41-42 of the year:
https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2021/05/reading-update_15.html
I read The Unseen World a few years ago and it was such a unique read! Here’s what I’ve been reading lately http://www.bornandreadinchicago.com/2021/05/april-book-reviews.html
I’m reading “Fifty Words for Rain” by Asha Lemmie. The story is a powerful one of loss, love, and finding strength despite terrible hardship. The multigenerational story is set in post WWII Japan and follows the life Nori, a mixed race child who is hidden away in an attic by her cruel grandparents. I’m loving it!
I also enjoyed The Downstairs Girl, always appreciate learning something new!
I read a variety of things in the past month, not even sure how to sum them up!
Quick Lit – May 2021
My mother passed away a week ago so I haven’t been up to reading much. I am getting back into a ARC I’ve had for months,Let’s Get Back To The Party by Zak Salih. I’m also restarting Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom In Howard Hughes’s Hollywood by Karina Longworth ( if you love Old Hollywood stories and movies check out her podcast, You Must Remember This). Here’s the last book I reviewed:
https://www.instagram.com/p/COITDLglGeK/?igshid=1kj5bnttv17yw
I’m so sorry about your mother, Jennice.
I’ve added The Great Fire to my TBR! I just finished “Who is Maude Dixon?” By Alexandra Andrews. Great read that I consumed in 2 days! If you liked “Talented Mr Ripley” and “Writers and Lovers”, this is your next best read!
Just finished Dancing in the Mosque. It’s a memoir/ letter to her son and it s so good. Mostly set in Afghanistan, I viewed a world I know so little about.
The synopsis of the book About the Author reminds me of a movie from the 80s called Deathtrap with Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. Putting two more of these on my look-for list. My reading last month was an eclectic mix as usual, with two highly recommends – https://frommycarolinahome.com/2021/05/07/fiction-and-quilting-book-reviews/
I LOVED The Unseen World. I want to recommend it to everyone because it was a random library find for me a few years ago and I think it’s so good. Jubilee was required reading in High School and I was always 100 pages ahead of the class because I was so invested. I keep meaning to revisit it.
Lately I’ve been reading YA, which is unusual for me. I just finished and loved With The Fire On High and It’s Kind of A Cheesy Love Story.
Just Started: Disability edited by Alice Wong – enjoying it so far!
Just Finished: Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin – such a great read! Thank you to Anne for introducing this author to me in the 2019 (I think?) Summer Reading Guide. I loved Ayesha at Last!
Currently Reading: Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi &
The Connected Parent by Karyn Purvis
Eek…just started Disability Visibility – must proofread before submitting comment! 😕
I’ve read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which was terrific and one of my top reads of the year so far, and Detransition, Baby. Starting Bel Canto, I’ve heard great things about this one!
I just checked out The Unseen World on audio book from my library. My current Kindle read is Eleanor Roosevelt’s You Learn by Living. I just started reading The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern in print.
I’ve bookmarked a couple of these books to read… Man, my TBR is really getting out of hand these days!
I just finished Underland by Robert Macfarlane, which was a mesmerizing nonfiction read about underground spaces.
Just finished reading How Lucky by Will Leitch. It was so inspiring and also very funny. So, so good!
I’m so excited for this year’s summer reading guide. I signed up for Patreon to get it early – I don’t know if I’ll be able to attend the unboxing (work is nutty right now), but I’m excited to get some new books in the TBR pile.
Just finished “Boy Swallows Universe” by Trent Dalton. Couldn’t put it down! Another of my fav for 2021 (so far) is “We Begin at the End” by Chris Whitaker. So many good books, so little time ….
I just finished The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, and I reread The Prince of Tides. Now I’m reading Long Bright River.
But I came here to say hello to Daisy! What a great picture!
Thank you so so much for recommending The Downstairs Girl! I listened to it over two days and still have happy tears! All the stars 💗💗💗
Added bonus: the 🐎 🐎 🐎!
My BIL’s pick for book club is “Sometimes a Great Notion” by Ken Kesey. I’ve been working through it on audiobook, which took a minute to get oriented in because the narrative flows wildly from person to person, often switching perspective and voice rapidly. However, once I got settled in, I can really appreciate the different strong character’s he’s able to create. The tale revolves around the complex Stamper family, loggers in Oregon in the 60’s, particularly the strained relationship between two brothers. I’m a bit partial to the title since I love the song Goodnight Irene, whence the line comes.