Monthly Wrap-Up

Monthly Wrap-Up: May 2025

Dini @ dinipandareads17 Comments

Well, if you’re a follower, you may have gleaned from some of my more recent posts that the month ended heartbreakingly with a big loss. Other than that, May was quite uneventful although it seemed to pass in a relative blink. I had a birthday and I treated myself to many things, such as new bags and books. I also went shopping to cheer myself up at the end of the month because I am that retail therapy girl (it partly worked). 🐼 Is it too soon to wish that this year was already over? Or that I could sleep for a million years because I feel completely exhausted and as if I will never stop being tired, lol.

Sorry this recap is a bit of a downer.

All things considered, I’m shocked that May ended up being the month where I read the most so far in 2025. I finished 18 books, and I think several factors played into it. First, I started listening to more audiobooks, allowing me to keep reading while doing other things like working out! Second, I read a lot as a distraction towards the end of this month, cos I really needed it and I couldn’t be more thankful to have books to help me mentally escape reality.

I had two 5-star reads this month, both were graphic novels, but I think my May favourite (that was just short of 5-stars) was 🥇 Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe. 🥇 This was my first non-fiction of the year and an incredible read. It’s heartbreaking, illuminating, sharply written and very readable. I’m keen to read more from this author in the future!

It was also another great month co-hosting the Let’s Talk Bookish weekly meme. You can learn more about it, read all the discussions, and see the upcoming month’s discussion topics HERE.

*COVERS are linked to Goodreads and the TEXT is linked to my review, if available*
*books are arranged by READING ORDER from first to latest*

5 pandas

Blades of Furry, Vol. 1 by Emily Erdos & Deya Muniz, Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer

(ARC) Blades of Furry
(ARC) Saint Catherine

4.5 pandas

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman, The Woman Behind the Mask by Alyson Chase, Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe, The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis (4.25), Sliding Home by Jaqueline Snowe

(ARC) The Raven and the Dove
(ARC) Sliding Home

4 pandas

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins, The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith, Desire in Disguise by Alyson Chase, The Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins, The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron, Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

(ARC) The Thief of Farrowfell
Masquerade

3 pandas

The Lady Who Knew Too Much by Alyson Chase

less than 3 pandas (*or no rating for erotic romances)

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee, Sliding Home by Carly Keene

I completely forgot about my reading challenges but for the most part, I got lucky and had many that fit the prompts. I made the most progress with my Beat the Backlist Bingo but also with generally reading my backlist books. Sadly, I ended up not completing last month’s Year in Aeldia prompt because I didn’t pick up a dystopian and can’t seem to remember the titles of any on my TBR! 😅 We’ll complete that this month after some sleuthing.

✔ Goodreads Reading Challenge: 62/150 books (my challenge on the site is very out of date but I have my Notion tracker that’s updated!)
✔ Beat the Backlist: 📚 9 backlist books // 📱 1 backlist ARCs ⇢ 6 Bingo Spaces
✔ 2025 Buzzword Reading Challenge: April (“animals”) ⇢ Masquerade (Elephants) // May (“to” and “too”) ⇢ The Lady Who Knew Too Much
❌ 2025 Year in Aeldia: May: Dystopia ⇢ MISSED
✔ 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge: 5 books ⇢ Prompts 24, 28, 37, 38, 40

This one’s a bit too wide to see properly… You can click the image to see the wider frame (and all the books)

And that’s it for May! How was your month and what was your favourite book? Did you read what you planned or did you go completely off script (or on mood)? I hope everyone is doing good and taking care. 💜

17 thoughts on “Monthly Wrap-Up: May 2025”

  2. I’m sorry that you had a bad month ❤ Hugs for your big loss. I also feel the retail therapy bit. I’ve been doing loads of that.

    I’m glad to see you liked The Library of the Unwritten

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. I’m sorry for your loss! I hope this month has better things in store for you 💞

    I only managed to complete my Year in Aeldia prompt (which was also to read a dystopian) because I finally read the new Hunger Games book 😄

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks, Caro! I hope that June will be amazing for you as well 💜 Ooh, that’s a good idea! Well, not to read the new Hunger Games book but to re-read the Hunger Games because I got myself the new pretty editions of it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment