Books I Read in May 2021

Helloooo everyone! How are you? I hope you’re doing well.

We are at the end of another month. I finished school this month (FINALLY!!!!) so I now have a three month summer.

The end of the month means another ‘Books I Read in…’ post so here it is.

DISCLAIMER: May include SPOILERS! Read at your own risk! I am not trying to claims any of these books of my own. All rights go to the authors.

1) ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ by J.K. Rowling.

’There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building… wherever they had murdered…’ When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive to collect Harry Potter, his wand is blackened and shrivelled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort’s darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny…

Started: 24/04/2021. Finished: 20/05/2021.Rating: 5/5

Well was that amazing or what? Loved it from start to finish. I do have to admit though, it had me in tears a couple of times. Particularly towards the end with Dumbledore’s death. The part with Fawkes the Pheonix flying about the castle after Dumbledore’s death singing its lament made me cry. Also the line, ‘And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the Phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts school for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world… had left Harry.’ A completely heart-wrenching and emotional moment.

I enjoyed, however, seeing the progressions within relationships in the characters. We see Ron and Hermione figuring their way through their crushes for one another and their jealousies when seeing either of them with someone else (i.e. Ron with Lavender and Hermione with Cormac). Harry figuring out that he had a crush on Ginny made me giggle sometimes. The way he was often like, ‘She’s Ron’s sister and he’s my best mate’. I love their relationship.

On the topic of Ginny, I’m glad we get to see her more in this book as we really got to scope out her character. I feel like the films didn’t really portray her in the right light or display her at her full character potential. Ginny is fiesty and funny and I live for it.

Some key moments in the book that I liked and marked of:- (page 59) Harry and Slughorn at Slughorn’s hideout discussing Slughorn’s hobby of ‘collecting’ students.- (page 99) The Weasleys, Harry and Hermione at Fred and George’s joke shop.- (page 154) Harry, Ron and Hermione in their first potions class of 6th year. Harry smells Ginny in the Amortentia potion.- (page 235) Ron and Hermione argue but its kind of cute – jealousy from both of them.- (page 444) Harry and Ginny’s first kiss.- (page 496) Dumbledore is killed.- (page 507) Letter from R.A.B. in locket.- (page 520) Tonks and Lupin argue about their relationship. Shockes everyone. I like in this bit that everyone tries to reassure Remus that he is good enough for Tonks and he is who she wants.- (page 538) Harry breaks it off with Ginny. She is very understanding and I think there is an underlying sense that they both know it hopefully wont be forever.

2) ‘The Flatshare’ by Beth O’Leary.

Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, it seems this flatshare is more complicated than expected…

Started: 21/05/2021. Finished: 25/05/2021.Rating: 5/5.

I LOVED it! Such an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. Had me smiling one moment and almost in tears the next. I was quite nervous to start reading this as I’d heard mixed reviews but I’m glad I did because I’ve found another gem.

It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing style (moreover in Leon’s POV) but stick with it becasue, in my experience, I ended up loving him more for it. This also made Leon’s POV quicker and easier to read. There weren’t any speech marks through Leon’s POV which I found unusual. All conversations are labelled with who said them; e.g. Holly: What does it mean, that she’s your ‘flatmate’? Me: Flatmate means she shares my flat. We live there together. I liked how this book was from two perspectives. We got to see both Tiffy and Leon’s experiences of the flatshare.

Some moments in the book that I liked or had a specific thought about and marked off:- (Chapter 10, Page 57) Liked the idea of Tiffy and Leon writing notes to each other.- (Chapter 12, Page 67) One word: BAKING! Like how Tiffy bakes and Leon eats it and Leon cooks and Tiffy eats it. They share. Cute.- (Chapter 14, Page 82) Mr Prior’s insinutions. Hilarious. I like how Mr Prior is now helping Tiffy though. I guess it gives him something to do while bed-bound.- (Chapter 15, Page 89) Tiffy speaks to Richie, Leon’s brother, for the first time. Made me smile.- (Chapter 20, Page 119) Tiffy believes Richie and wants to help. She gets Gerty involved, who I think will help when her questions have been answered.!- (Chapter 21, Page 125) Mr Prior tells Tiffy that he believes Leon to be rather nervous about meeting her. Gave me tingles. Possible foreshadowing of future relationship/feelings?- (Chapter 22, Page 130) Leon just split up with Kay – not all that surprised. Found her a little controlling. Understood where she was coming from on the time thing though but can she really blame him? Would you just give up if it was one of your family members, whether wrongly imprissoned or not?- (Chapter 27, Page 155) Tiffy and Leon finally meet. Awkward – he was in the shower and she walked in on him in slightly revealing clothing… cringe.- (Chapter 30, Page 173) Tiffy and Leon finally talk after awkward meeting. Still slight awkwardness. I think we are seeing the beginnings of a crush in Leon. Definite attraction to one another. I’m happy they are speaking again though.- (Chapter 31, Page 176) Assumptions confirmed. Gerty is taking on Richie’s case!- (Chapter 31, Page 181) Leon finds out that Gerty took on Richie’s case. Heart-warming. Made me smile.- (Chapter 32, Page 184) I think Leon is/has falling/fallen in love woth Tiffy. He wants her to stay!- (Chapter 33, Page 187) I think there may be something going on between Gerty and Mo. Either that or Gerty fancies him.- (Chapter 35, Page 199) Tiffy got a long over-due promotion!!!- (Chapter 40, Page 222) That, ‘shift in my chest’, you feel, Leon, whenever Tiffy looks at you is LOVE.- (Chapter 47, Page 252) They finally kissed!- (Chapter 57, Page 305) Richie reveals Leon’s feelings to Tiffy. Kind of cute.- (Chapter 59, Page 314) Justin!!! I hate him!!! Tiffy did not say yes!- (Chapter 61, Page 319) I’m actually almost in tears for Tiffy. How awful is Justin? This whole situation is just… now words. Justin is a sleaze!- (Chapter 67, Page 347) Shouting match between Tiffy and Leon was kind of funny.- (Chapter 67, Page 348) Tiffy and Leon are finally together!!! Yay.- (Chapter 71, Page 367) Richie got let off!!! Such a big smile and feeling of relief. I knew Gerty would get him out of there!- (Epilogue, Page 385 onwards) such a romantic and sweet ending. Could not stop grinning.

3) ‘Chasing Lucky’ by Jenn Bennett.

Budding photographer Josie has spent half her life moving across the country with her mother, so when they return to their hometown, Josie knows it’s not forever. All she needs to do is keep to herself, dreaming of the day she can leave. But after a diasterous summer party, a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in deep trouble alongside the last person she’d want to share a mughsot with: Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel… and her former childhood best friend. Over the summer, the easy friendship they once shared grows into something deeper and more complicated. Josie realises that Lucky isn’t the brooding bad boy everyone thinks he is. But what if chasing Lucky means losing out on her future dream.

Started: 26/05/2021. Finished:Rating:

I haven’t finished this book yet so it will be included in my ‘Books I Read in June 2021’ post.

What books did you read in May? Which was your favourite? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear!

I hope you have a great June!

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Thank you for reading,Paige.