Reading Roundup: May 2025

I’m two weeks late with this roundup, but I like doing them and find them useful to refer back to, so I didn’t want to skip it! It’s just that the start of June has been a bit of a whirlwind, what with going to Scotland to get married and everything! I’ll write about that soon.

May already feels like a million years ago, but looking back, I got through a lot of audiobooks while out jogging and working in the garden. I didn’t do as much “proper” book reading because I kept reading about wedding things on my phone or watching endless video tutorials for make-up and hair when I got in bed at night… which was not good for my sleep but felt necessary at the time!

5 books read: 4 audiobooks and an ebook!

The Moon Over Soho (Rivers of London #2) by Ben Aaronovitch ⭐⭐

I really struggled with everything Peter did in this book. He actions like an idiot man led around by his dick and, worse, a bad police officer – when in the first book he was such a rule follower! The Male Gaze is turned up even more, and there are too many cringeworthy sex scenes. I hated Simone; she was just a cartoon character and never felt real. I really, truly hated the ending. I was so close to DNF’ing this several times and only continued on the strength of Goodreads reviews from readers who had the same experience and promised he gets better again in the following books!

The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club #4) by Richard Osman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For me, this series just gets better and better. This instalment had everything for me, with some very touching moments that made me genuinely emotional. I also love the way the cast of characters has expanded, and the relationships continue to build. I am especially loving them in the audiobook format!

Whispers Under Ground (Rivers of London #3) by Ben Aaronovitch ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The good people of Goodreads were right, after the blip of books 2, the third book gets back on track (pun unintended)! I really enjoyed this, especially that Lesley is not only back but now learning magic alongside Peter! I think I can see where that plotline is going to go, and I am hyped for it!

Babylon’s Ashes (The Expanse #6) by James S.A. Corey ⭐⭐⭐

I finally re-read it! Honestly, it took me so long to get to this because I did remember that I found it a bit of a slog when I first read it in 2019. It does feel a bit like a filler book because the overall series arc barely moves, and there isn’t really any character development for the core cast either. In fact, some things happen in the NEXT book that I was convinced were in this book just because there is little substance here! It does conclude the story from Nemesis Games, and I do find it satisfying to see Marco crumble as his followers (and son) start to realise he’s not a genius tactician motivated by saving the people of the Belt. The weakest book in an excellent series!

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I got an Audible subscription for my birthday, so I bought and finished this fascinating biography! The first section of the book was able to draw from her personal memoirs so I found that more compelling than the later section, which really sped through her reign, but nontheless she was a fascinating woman (and Peter II a pathetic idiot), and it was also interesting to understand more of the historical context for Russia’s present day wars for terratory.

Marvel Unlimited

I didn’t read a lot of comics in May, but I still made some progress with X-Men!

Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 7

Collecting X-Men #151-159.

I didn’t write myself a Goodreads review of this one, so I’m trying to remember what happened! I think Storm had a particularly shit time in these issues – she got body swapped with Emma Frost and the had a pretty epic airborn showdown, and she got enthalled by Dracula and briefly turned into a vampire (that was a wierd issue). Then it got into more space drama with the Shi’Ar, Starjammers and The Brood, with the whole team getting abducted (this does seem to happen to them a lot!).

There was some nice stuff with Cylops and Corsair, who he now does (finally) know is his father, but has conflicting feelings about because they’re very different men with different “heroic” approaches.

Carol Danvers is present as an honorary member of the team. She’s found support with the X-Men, and therapy with Professor X, after her horrific treatment by The Avengers (this is a great Reddit thread that explains the horror show). She has also been attacked by Rogue (who is still with The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and is quite nasty with a terrible haircut!) and has lost her powers and her memories. She’s having a fucking terrible time. I love Carol, she’s one of my all-time favourites, so I’m glad I stumbled into this piece of her story!

The storytelling has markedly shifted at this point, and Kitty is now definitely the centre of the comic. Most of the stories are told from her POV (in both the Emma Frost and the Dracula stories, she is the one who saves Storm), which I get was probably quite bold for the time, but I find her teenage tantrums tiresome and miss the angst of Cyclops!

Currently reading

I’m late with this roundup, so I’ve already finished a few books! I re-read on audiobook Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, which I really enjoyed. I was originally thinking I’d read the whole series, but on reading reviews for the sequels, I think I’m best off leaving it at book one. I’ve just got my hands on the audiobook for Broken Homes (Rivers of London #4) and have already listened to half of it! I finished Persepolis Rising (The Expanse #7) yesterday, so I need to write a review for that also, and I think I need a break from the series, and it’s time for some contemporary weird lit. I think!

Adding to TBR

I was doing so well at reading more books that I was buying… but recently there has been a good/bad run of my wishlist books popping up for 99p, and I went a bit mad. Checking in my Kobo accountnt (just realised the dates in my Kobo account are US style.. yuk!), if I’m just going to report on May, it’s only 2… (and then 5 in June and we’re only halfway through!)

• I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger – one I think that Plant Based Bridge mentioned in a video of her favourite books. It sounds like very promising literary science fiction.
• The Launch Date by Annabell Slator – I think, is one I bought on a complete whim and hopefully won’t regret. I think I was just in the mood for an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance. I had got a bit low on fluffy rom-coms for when I’m in that kind of reading mood, so I’ve been restocking on them recently!

Book Tag/TTT!

I’m really loving joining in with Top Ten Tuesday! I’ve now added a category to my blog for these posts to make them easier to find. It is a really fun way to find new blogs and potential book friends.

1. 10 Writers from the East Midlands
2. How have my blogging habits changed?
3. 10 Books that Feature Travel
4. I haven’t posted about my cats for a while (prompt was animal companions, and these are mine!)