Mini Book Reviews – May & June Reads

Is it me or are the months FLYING by this year?! I can’t believe we’re already halfway through July, or that I’m already writing another of my Mini Book Reviews posts! I’ve grouped two months together once again as let’s be honest, past Claire was being very optimistic at the beginning of the year. Setting a target of at least 3 books a month whilst trying to look after a baby was advantageous to say the least…

Saying that though, I’m really chuffed that I managed to find the time to get through 5 new books in May and June. So far I’m yet to read a bad book this year, and I think my favourite yet is in this here pile! Let’s get in to it, shall we?

Mini Book Reviews Who What Claire

Book 11: Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Mhairi McFarlane is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I love how her stories aren’t your typical romance novels, and Don’t You Forget About Me is a great example of that. This story follows Georgina, and begins with her not only getting fired from her restaurant job but also walking in on her boyfriend in bed with another woman. After leaving him and finding another job at a new local pub, things start to look up in her life. Not only is her new job fun, with a great boss, but the boss’s brother just so happens to be her first love from back in high school. Rediscovering her old flame, Lucas, brings back a lot of unanswered questions, secrets and a reminder of an awful experience that has haunted her ever since. I loved how not only is this a story of romance, but also of learning to love yourself. Just brilliant!

My rating: 4 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 12: Us Three by Ruth Jones

I’ve been excited to read this one for a while having read ‘Never Greener’ last year which I adored! This one follows the lives of three women who have been the best of friends since they were little. We get to see how their adult lives unfold and as a result, how their decisions and experiences in life (and love) impact the dynamic of the trio as they grow older. I really enjoyed this and loved how, at its core, was a celebration of the power of female friendships, but ‘Never Greener’ did just pip it to the post for me personally!

My rating: 4 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 13: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I feel like I had been waiting FOREVER to read this book! Never have I preordered something as quickly as I did when I saw this was going to be released! Taylor Jenkins Reid is fast becoming my favourite author after reading such great books last year. ‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ and ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ were up there with my favourites in 2020, but I’m going to put this out there and say that this might just be my favourite book that I’ve ever read!

Malibu Rising switches between two time frames, one of the turbulent love story between famous musician Mick Riva and his wife June, and one following their four (also famous) grown up children. I often find books that alternate between timeframes in each chapter a little hard to follow, but this felt seamless. The story builds up to the famous annual Riva party, always hosted at the eldest sibling, Nina’s house. The antics and bombshells that unfold throughout the night had me completely hooked. Taylor Jenkins Reid has a real knack for creating fictional celebrities that just seem SO real and I love her books for that. I would HIGHLY recommend this one – the perfect holiday read or just an all round brilliant book that you can get lost in. (Oh, and I now want to live on the beach)

My rating: 5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 14: Scabby Queen by Kirstin Innes

I had heard loads of good things about this book and was so excited to read it. It’s a story about a Scottish singer and activist named Clio Campbell, who tragically takes her own life. The story begins with the fallout of what has just happened, and follows the lives of the people who meant the most to her. We learn how they each discover the news of what has happened to Clio, how they met and how she impacted their lives in her own unique way.

I really, really wanted to love this from the get go, but if I’m honest, I found the first 40% of the book a real struggle to work through. There are so many people in the book (thank goodness for the character list at the beginning) and I found myself getting mixed up with who’s who and the jumpy timelines quite often. About halfway through though I suddenly found my rhythm with it and everything started to click in to place. From that point on I found myself completely engrossed. It’s a really powerful story that explores everything from politics and fame to mental health and grief, but whilst I enjoyed it in the end, I just found it a tricky one to get in to.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 15: Omelette by Jessie Ware

I love Jessie Ware and her podcast, Table Manners, with her fabulous mum Lennie! When I heard about this launch I just had to preorder as it sounded RIGHT up my street. Whilst only a short read, it’s a brilliant one, and if you like the podcast then you will adore this! It’s a collection of stories and memories from Jessie’s life that all have one thing in common – they all invoke a memory of food. Whether that’s a quick snack rustled up at home or with a friend, or a lavish meal with celebrity pals, Jessie’s stories all feel so familiar. They all also made me crave whatever she was talking about at the time!

The book is also interspersed with simple recipes of some of the meals mentioned, and I’ve already got a few in mind that I want to try (cream on top of ice cream being top of the list!). There’s lots of brilliant restaurants mentioned too, which obviously I now need to visit!

A lovely, easy read for food lovers and one that will make you want to take your own trip down culinary memory lane.

My rating: 5 out of 5
(Buy it here)


There we are! Another five great books ticked off the list from my old favourites and some brilliant new discoveries. I feel like I’ve got back on to the reading wagon now and I’m really enjoying taking some time out each day whilst Oscar naps to just get lost in a good book! I’m almost finished with book 16, so keep an eye out for that one on my Instagram stories or my next mini book reviews post!

If you’ve any great recommendations that you think I’d enjoy, please drop them in the comments!

Claire
xox

Read: Mini Book Reviews: March & April Reads

Share:
0 comments so far.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get in touch!

hello@whowhatclaire.com