May has got to be my favorite month so far this year! My father was visiting from BC so we managed a quick weekend trip up to Quebec City, and omgosh, I’m in love! The history is breath taking and I am absolutely planning my next Airbnb expansion just so I have an excuse to revisit!
I was also a great reading month with a couple of new favorites finding their way to me;
Strangers by Belle Burden
Hard-Cover Worthy- 4.5/5 Stars
A deeply personal memoir about the sudden collapse of what seemed to be a stable, loving twenty-year marriage. Set during the early days of the pandemic, the book follows Burden as her husband abruptly leaves her and their three children after revealing an affair, forcing her to confront betrayal, grief, financial vulnerability, and the unsettling realization that the person she trusted most had become a stranger. Honest and emotionally raw, the memoir explores heartbreak, identity, and coming to terms with devastating upheaval.
I read a couple comments that this book read as privileged, and maybe to some it could; but, I think this book spoke to me particularly because I also came out of a recent break-up that I too felt made no sense and offered zero closure. My soul needed this book right now, and I 100% need it on my shelf to re-read & share. Belle’s writing was beautiful; she is forward and direct, acknowledging her own hurt, failings and humanity while sharing how hard it is to make the intentional choice in refusing to let it taint her view of love and family. She makes space and leaves grace and understanding for herself and others while refusing to accept excuses from either. This book is, for me, the epitome of maturity and growth through a breakup and it is simultaneously heart-breaking and beautiful.
Amazon: US or CA
The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D.
Read Worthy- 3.5/5 Stars
Drawing on decades of research and clinical experience, The Body Keeps the Score explores how trauma reshapes both the brain and body, often leaving lasting effects long after the traumatic event has passed. Van der Kolk examines the science behind trauma and recovery, while highlighting a range of treatments, from talk therapy to mindfulness and movement-based approaches, that can help people heal and reclaim their lives.
I tried borrowing this book from the library at first, but oh gosh, there was just so much information to absorb! I ended up going with the Audio version while I wait to thrift a copy, and the data is so dense! I think this, paired with Brene Brown’s ‘Atlas of the Heart’ would be amazing tools for anyone starting out on their journey of trauma-healing and self-reflection. This will definitely be finding its way onto my shelf personally, and I would recommend this as read-worthy no matter what format you choose to consume it in!
After such a positive review you may be thinking, why just 3-Stars? Well, to be frank, I think my life-experiences and self-healing have exposed me a lot of what is in this book, so none of it was especially ground breaking or pivotal for me but you will find it on my shelf.
Amazon: US or CA
This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars
Read Worthy- 3.5/5 Stars
After her brother is murdered while searching for a powerful divine relic, Revel is forced into a deadly competition among rival heirs vying for power. To secure her family’s freedom, she must survive brutal trials and assassinate the feared Warbringer. Set in a fractured world of god-shards, political intrigue, and dangerous magic, this dark romantasy blends high-stakes adventure with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.
I’m starting to feel like it’s a very dangerous time to be a Sister in today’s fantasy plotline 🤣
Overall this was a really fun read! I loved the concept of Alchemy/Magic and although I am starting to feel like gladiatorial/herculean plotlines are being dead-horsed somewhat, the plot held steady and the characters were good. I’ll absolutely be picking this up for the shelf & am looking forward to the second installment!
Amazon: US or CA
Dire Bound by Sable Sorsensen
Shelf- Worthy- 4/5 Stars
When her younger sister is kidnapped by the monsters threatening her kingdom, Meryn Cooper signs up to join the front. Instead she finds herself having to survive the deadly Bonding Trials to become one of the elite warriors bonded to powerful direwolves. Meryn must navigate deadly challenges, a mysterious direwolf bond, to try and find her sister.
Fourth Wing meets Dire Wolves and I am so here for it. The romance scenes read with purpose and (nerd alert) I loved dissecting the language in relation to the plot. I LOVE when the steamy bits actually lend meaning to the story! Yes, I am that kind of lame haha.
It was a fun read, a little predictable (ek, another sister-in-destress), but overall it will definitely be making its way onto my shelf and I’m looking forward to the next installment!
Can I also just note that I loved how two friends decided to become authors and turn their fan-fic into a book?! Like hell yes ladies, never doubt turning that dream into a passion! ❤
Amazon: US or CA
NotMyThing
A Magic Deep & Drowning by Hester Fox
It felt like a bit of a gender reversal to The Little Mermaid, and cut a little too close to that storyline to be anything other than that. Overall, a really cute teen read, I just don’t think I’m the target demographic.
How to Survive a Bear Attach by Claire Cameron
I wish this story had gone deeper but it just felt like a surface level observance of a bear attack that happened over 30 years ago. However, I did enjoy the portrayal of bears in general, and loved how the last chapter ties in with the author’s own life experience.
I’m not even going to lie, my entire motivation for catching up with my list of reads is so I have a searchable database, the disorganization was killing me on Insta. OCD… are you happy now?!
I need to know, what is your favorite app to keep track of your reads?!
-Anna R.
*As always if you purchase through any of the links in this post, or throughout this blog, a small commission comes back to help support the page & what I do here!
The Weekend Readers 
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