This month I really struggled with where to put my reads on the ratings list. You see, rarely is a book exactly 5 stars, sometimes it’s only a 4.75… close enough to 5 that it shouldn’t be lumped in with the 4 star reads. I’m honest to a fault. I couldn’t say they were all 5 star reads, when some of them weren’t.
Are you confused yet?
Anyway, I’ve decided that only using full star ratings is too limiting. Most of the time books don’t fit perfectly into full stars. I spend too much time arguing whether or not the rating should be rounded up or rounded down, so from now on, I’m a half star blog.
Books that I rated between a 4.5 and a 5:
Books that I rated between a 3.5 and a 4.5:
Books that I rated between a 2.5 and a 3.5:
Books that I rated between a 2 and a 2.5:
The High’s & Low’s!
I feel so good about May! I had a really wonderful reading month. I managed to fit in 10 books, and there were a lot of successes.
I read my first book by Santino Hassell, which I really liked. Josh Lanyon released Monet Murders, which has been on my highly anticipated list for a long time. I was also thrilled to read Shelter the Sea, which was the sequel to Carry the Ocean. Then, this was also the month I finally read The Love Interest. That was a huge one. It was the 2017 book I was most excited for.
I also read two books, spontaneous and impulsive selections, and both turned out to be excellent. A Darker Shade of Magic was as wonderful as everyone’s been saying; I’m starting the sequel today. Also, Heels Over Head was the best surprise. It was such a full and emotional romance. I’ll definitely read Elyse Springer again.
All in all it was a great May.
Next Month Reads
On the Schedule
The Potentials
That list of books would be why I’m looking forward to June. I have a feeling it’s going to be just as good to me as May was. I have Ilona Andrews, who’s always a winner. I have the next Sarina Bowen/Elle Kennedy… another TJ KLUNE! So far each month this year has granted me some of my favorite authors.
In addition, I’m going to finish the Shades of Magic trilogy with the intention to moving right on to another V.E. Schwab series. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, but sometimes it feels difficult to find gold among all the pyrite. (Which obviously is my own opinion.) V.E. Schwab, especially Shades of Magic, feels like Gold.
I also want to tuck another TJ Klune novel under my belt, as I slowly work my way through his backlist. Then I want to hit the next book in the Winston Brothers series, and The Dresden Files. And finally, The Hate U Give has been on my to read list long enough. I’m hoping to get that book tucked into my June somehow. Here’s hoping can I can maintain my forward momentum.
Birdie Bookworm 
I use half-stars, too. It’s hard to explain, but to me there really feels like a difference between a 3 and a 3.5 star book! Rating is the hardest part of reviewing, I think.
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Yes, that’s it exactly. There is a huge difference between a 4 and a 4.5 star book too. And there’s a difference between a 4.5 and a 5 star book.
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Super excited for Stay! I also have had Schwab’s series on my list for forever – I even own the first two! Grin and Beard It wasn’t my favorite out of the three Reid has published for that series, but it was still entertaining. Happy Reading!
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I’m just trying to get through Grin and Beard it so I can get to the third book. That’s the one I’m most excited for.
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Yes! Cletus!! 🙂 Happy reading!
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It looks like you had a great reading month! I’d really like to read the V.E. Schwab series eventually, too.
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I’m already halfway through the second book, and it’s so good!
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Yesss A Darker Shade of Magic is AMAZING!! ❤ I hope you enjoy the rest of the series! And omg The Hate U Give is so incredible, I hope you get a chance to pick it up this coming month. 😀
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I’m already half way through A Gathering of Shadows. So good!
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I use half stars too and in my mind, there’s a significant difference between each half star rating even though I couldn’t begin to put into words exactly what the difference is. I agree with you about Schwab too. Pure gold. I can’t wait to read the last book in the Shades of Magic series. Waiting for a copy to become available at the library right now.
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I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea to simplify and not use half stars. It’s been driving me nuts all year!
I wanted to try to wait for A Conjuring of Light in paperback, to match my other print copies, but after reading A Gathering of Shadows there’s no way I can wait.
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