What I read in May
I had a baby and still read a few books!
The only thing I’ll remember about the month of May is that a new Taurus queen joined us on May 14th. Her name is Ruby Elliot Ramis and, in the unbiased opinion of her parents, she’s perfect. It’s the only thing I’ll remember because I haven’t slept longer than 2 hours at a time since then. It’s been a heavenly fever dream.
Having a newborn is like being on a long-haul international flight: exhausting, monotonous, and taking you somewhere foreign and amazing. You don’t speak the same language as the locals, junky snacks are necessary for survival, and time is just a construct. What is time anyway when you’re eating full meals—or at least a full bowl of cereal—at 3 a.m., taking naps after breakfast, and binging old seasons of Survivor at all hours. There are no rules! I’m tired, hungry all the time, and in complete awe of sweet Ruby.
Now what you’re here for: books. I didn’t expect to read anything this month due to birthing a human, but to my surprise I actually have been reading. Primarily in little increments in the middle of the night while nursing in bed. I got a Kindle at the advice of another new mom (hi Nina!) who is a big reader. I still don’t like e-books but I have to admit it’s amazing to be able to read in the dark. Plus early parenthood is about giving yourself permission for anything that makes life a little easier, even if it means e-books!
Here’s what I read:
A twisty, thrilling family story that I couldn’t stop reading even though I was about to give birth
There’s not a lot that can distract you from being two days away from your due date. But Happiness Falls by Angie Kim did it for me. I read it in 24 hours and barely put it down. It’s about a family thrown into crisis when their nonverbal special-needs 14-year-old son returns home from a hike without his father and is unable to communicate anything about what happened. The rest of the family and the police (and you, the reader) try to figure out why the father is missing and whether something tragic happened or—perhaps worse—he has disappeared by choice.
A romantic novel that reads as easy as streaming a rom-com on Netflix
This was the first book I read on my Kindle and it was the perfect gateway drug. Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle is charming, fun, and somewhat predictable—which is not a bad thing when you’re reading in 20 minute intervals in the dead of the night. The premise requires some magical thinking: since middle school a woman has been receiving mysterious cards with a name and a length of time (a week, 2 years, etc) identifying her next romantic partner and how long she will date them. When the novel starts she’s just received a card with a name but no time—what does it mean? Serle also wrote In Five Years, which is a true gem of a romance, so if you haven’t read that one yet do it first.
A funny, clever novel about two 20-something siblings navigating messy personal dramas of adulthood
My next middle-of-the-night companion was Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly. Told in alternating perspectives between a sister and brother, this novel is a celebration of love, queerness, and family. Set in New Zealand (thanks for the rec, Brette—we love NZ) this novel was a huge bestseller there before it became a buzzy hit here. It’s joyful, relatable, and reminds me of The Rachel Incident with some Sally Rooney vibes. Obviously I loved.
READING LIST
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly
Happy reading!
Love,
Ali
i resonate so much with so much of this ha! from the reading to get through the final few weeks, to the first kindle switch. my exact life in january : ). congratulations on your sweet new babe!
mazel!!!!!