Must-Read Books for Your May Reading List That Everyone Is Talking About

Erika Doty
May 8
3 min read

Updated: May 19

We're back to babble about the books we're reading this month. Here are four books we recommend you add to your list.

As always, if you have a book you think the Babble team ought to dive into, let us know!

Books To Babble About:

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! If you read anything this year, this is the book. It is timely. It's well-written. It's short (260-ish pages).

This story takes place in present day, in a small Georgia town where one lady is on a mission to ban books from the schools and libraries. In her quest to bring back "wholesome values" she puts a little free library in her front yard full of books about crocheting, how to win a man, "The Art of the Deal" - you get the picture. But, in the middle of the night someone slips banned books in, while keeping the dust jackets of the "wholesome" books on. The townspeople unknowingly check out the banned books and we get to see how the trajectory of their lives change...as well as the future of the town.

I'll Have What She's Having by Chelsea Handler

Laughed my ass off! I freaking LOVED this book! I am a huge Chelsea Handler fan. I've read all of her books (some I liked more than others). I love the way she writes. She's funny and her life is hilarious. And when she loves you, she makes sure you know it. (And if you annoy her, you'll know that too.) Like her other books, this one is just stories about her life. It's a great book to digest in several small sittings - full of short stories, including Chelsea shacking up in Canada during the pandemic. If you need a light, funny escape, Chelsea's your girl.

(I'd also highly recommend to anyone newly single - maybe coming out of a divorce, etc.)

Dream State by Eric Puchner

This was featured as an Oprah's Books Club pick earlier this year, and now I know why. This is a beautifully written story about marriage, family, friendship, and Montana. I can't say much without giving it away. It was very good. And when you're done, listen to Oprah's podcast with the author.

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

Ok. This is fluff. I'm a sucker for a good romance. I love love. But sometimes we just need a break from real life. This is a great book if you're heading to a beach this summer, or just need something to genuinely escape reality, believe in love again, and not have to totally and completely exhaust yourself paying attention. My favorite part about this book is that it's a romance between two people in their 40s/50s - one has a kid in college, one is dealing with aging parents. It was nice to read about love later in life.

Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen by Michelle Icard

I've read my fair share of parenting books by this point and I feel like I'm getting pretty picky about it, but I really liked this one. It covers 14 different topics including talking about independence, changing friendships, fairness, technology, hard work, money, reputations, impulsivity and more. What I liked about it was each chapter has an overview of the topic and what is happening developmentally for our teens, then it gives you sample conversation, a heads up on "conversation crashers" and even a page that is the "Crash Course" if you're in a hurry. It also covers ways to improve all of your conversations with your teen. I also think you could read this a few years before or after your kiddo is 14. There is something in here for everyone. - Brooke

New This Month: Young Adult

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

My 16-year-old daughter wants to Babble with us and will share her latest Young Adult recommendations each month. Our first is The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams. Here's what she has to say about this book:

"This is a great romance novel for teens. An adorable, innocent love story. Dual perspective and some definitely funny parts. The story line includes more serious subjects like panic attacks and money struggles. But overall a great read for teens!"

Want to see the books we've babbled about before?

Books We've Babbled About

Coming up Next Month…

Another romance (I can't help myself!) and some more serious sh*t, perhaps some self-help and short stories. Come back next month to find out! Till then...happy reading. --Erika

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