I can't believe another month has gone by and it's time to reflect and send out my monthly blog. As you may know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I spent some time really digging into this topic to learn more about how to not only support my own mental health but also how to help support others. I hope you had a chance to read my daily FaceBook posts on tips and things I learned about this topic.

May is also the month that many podcasters/bloggers put out their summer reading guides. I will be sharing more about this in my "Loving Lately" section. I love getting a head start on all the new releases coming out, so I can get ahead of the line on my library holds.

As you too begin to slide into summer mode, I hope you find a take away or two in this edition. As always, thank you for reading, responding, and supporting me on these monthly blog posts. They really have brought me such joy and pleasure creating them. As a reminder, if you'd like this blog emailed directly to you each month, DM me your email address and I can easily add you to the list.

Happy Reading! 📚☕

💗Dawn

This month, I devoured books that covered many genres. I read Emily Henry's newest book, Funny People. I enjoyed two mysteries, one more of a suspense while the other was more of a cozy. Lastly, I read a literacy fiction book that I still can't stop thinking about. What are you in the mood for this summer? I highly recommend all five books reviewed below.

Each month, I review one bonus book that did not appear on my regular Instagram reviews. This month, its' a nonfiction book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading.Again, with May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I decided to select this book as my bonus book to share how reading daily is self-care and so good for our mental health.

As a reminder, if you click on each book cover, it will take you directly to the Bookshop.org link to purchase the book. Why Bookshop.org? Because Bookshop.org helps to connect readers with independent booksellers all over the world. ‍ Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores.

I’ve now read all of Emily Henry’s books and I can honestly say, Funny Story, is my new favorite! Not only does it take place in one of my favorite settings, Up North, Michigan, but it has one of my favorite romance tropes, opposites attract. I enjoyed reading about Daphne’s journey to self discovery along with the celebration of deep meaningful friendships she discovers outside of romantic love. If you like books with laugh-out-loud banter, flawed characters with real issues, and happy endings, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.

Looking for your next mystery thriller? Look no further! I devoured this one in 3 days! Nina and Simon are the perfect young couple. Young, fun and deeply in love! Until they leave for a weekend away at Simon's family's cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home. I really enjoyed the structure of this book, as it's told in multiple points of view, from the various characters in the book. If you like books with a quick pace, quickly changing plot directions, and numerous moments of suspense, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.

I really enjoyed this newer cozy mystery. Annie is called to her great-aunt’s estate only to find her dead upon arrival. Hence, the story begins with Annie trying to solve the mystery. The book also flashes back in chapters that are written as a journal of her great-aunt and her 2 close friends in the 1960’s. Can Annie put everything together before the estate will be sold and made into a hotel development? If you like trying to solve mysteries, books with flashbacks, and female friendships, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devourscale.

Oh my! Not only did I devour this book in two days but I hugged it at the end. In it, we meet ninety-six year old Doris, who is nearing the end of her life. When she was young, her father gives her a red address book which she has documented everyone she has met and loved throughout her life. Now, many entries have been crossed out with the word “Dead” next to their name. The structure of the book is written with chapters alternating present time to the past, telling the stories of how these people in her address book played a role in her life. If you like books that make you reflect on your own life, filled with themes of love, and keep you wanting to read to find out what happens next, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devourscale. (FYI...This book is available FREE on hoopla, if interested in reading the ebook version.)

In this unique and transformational guide to healing, bibliotherapist and counsellor Bijal Shah explores the restorative power of reading. Bibliotherapy traces the history of how therapeutic reading evolved. In doing so, Bijal offers first-hand stories from clients who have found solace in great works of literature when struggling with grief, relationships or illness. Full of practical advice and insights into how bibliotherapy really works, Bijal offers an A to Z reading list of books for every mood and need. A much-needed reminder of how comforting and life-changing reading can be, Bibliotherapy is a celebration of books that will invite you to see them as more than just an escape, but a legitimate form of self-care. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.

My reading tip this month are two reading tools that I personally own and love using. The first tool is a reading light. Rather than clipping the light onto the pages, this light allows you to wrap it around the back of your neck allowing the two lights to spotlight on the pages. It's great for reading in bed and it even has 6 brightness levels.

My second reading tool is a reading pillow. My daughter bought the one shown here for me for Mother's Day.(She bought it on Etsy.) I love putting the pillow on my lap to hold my book, iPad, or iPhone while reading.

My husband and I both enjoyed the 8 episode series, Sugar, out on Apple TV+. All eight episodes are out now, so you don't have to wait for a new one to drop each Friday, like we did. This show had some great plot twists, as we tried to figure out what happened to Olivia. The ending was left open ended, so really hoping for a Season 2.

Did you all jump on the Baby Reindeer train with all the hype? I finally caved in and decided to watch this show on Netflix. It sucked me in from the first episode, but I'm not going to lie, it was difficult to watch. I suggest you check out the many trigger warnings, if you are going to watch it. It was a good show to watch, as I continued my own learning this month, about mental health issues. I also included an article to give you more insight on this true story.

Private detective John Sugar investigates the disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he unearths Siegel family secrets, old and new. Watch Trailer Here

When a struggling comedian shows one act of kindness to a vulnerable woman, it sparks a suffocating obsession which threatens to wreck both their lives. Baby Reindeer covers many sensitive subjects without ever preaching to the audience. It’s about loneliness, obsession, delusion, and how male victims of sexual violence struggle to be taken seriously, by society or even themselves.Watch Trailer Here

My recommendation for LISTENING to this month is another book podcast. Sarah's Bookshelves Live is a mix of book talk, author visits, and frequent episodes with her friends, Susie and Catherine. I usually like Sarah's tastes in books and I like that she gives real opinions (and sometimes snarky ones) on how she feels about the books she has read.

I've included one of my favorite podcast episodes I listened to this month. Mel Robbins talks to a stress doctor (Yes, who knew there are stress doctors???) about how to manage your stress using 5 tools. This was a great listen during May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

I also listened to an audio book this month, Matthew Perry's Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir. Matthew Perry, himself, reads/narrates the book which makes it that much harder to listen to all his mental health issues and times in rehab that he went through. It was also sad knowing that shortly after the book was released, his nine lives were up and he suddenly passed away on October 28, 2023 at age 54. 😪 If you like celebrity memoirs, I recommend this one, especially on audio.

Sarah’s Bookshelves helps readers live their best reading life! I’ll help you figure out which books work best for you, where to find the best book recommendations to match your reading taste, and how to keep track of it all.

I believe in sharing honest opinions about the books I read, shouting from the rooftops about the books I love, and openly sharing the books I don’t like or don’t finish.

I write about all this here and talk about it on my podcast, Sarah’s Bookshelves Live!

"Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty."

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is an unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening--as well as a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny, this is the book fans have been waiting for.

With this month being Mental Health Awareness Month, I decided to explore and learn about a new topic, art therapy. I LEARNED that art therapy is a tool therapists use to help patients interpret, express, and resolve their emotions and thoughts. Patients work with an art therapist to explore their emotions, understand conflicts or feelings that are causing them distress, and use art to help them find resolutions to those issues. This month, I attended an "Emotional Healing Art Retreat" with Leah Guzman. Although, I am not the best at art, I really enjoyed this course and embraced all that she had to offer in it. This Zoom event included FREE three one-hour sessions to explore this type of therapy. Leah has a wonderful YouTube channel that I've linked below, if you'd like to check out more on this topic. Here is also her website information.https://www.leahguzmanstudio.com/

The third day of the retreat was about how can you stay grounded using your 5 senses. She had us trace our hand and fill it with what makes us feel happy or joyful using our senses. I am being vulnerable and including my finished product picture.

To continue on my Art Therapy journey, another thing I learned to do this month, was how to create a book nook. My library hosted a craft night where the materials were prepped and you had an hour and a half to create your version of a book nook. There are kits to buy and put together, but I preferred this approach. It was a fun and free event and I was proud of myself for not only going by myself by trying something new in the arts and craft world.

This month, I have been LOVING diving deep into all the new Summer Reading Guides to find my newest summer reads. With so many great books to choose from during the summer months, I enjoy browsing through the many Summer Reading Guides put out by some of my favorite bookish podcasters. To help you get started, I have included a few of my favorites here. I've also included two podcast episodes. Not sure how to narrow all these great titles down? Take a listen to Stephanie's Summer Reading Challenge episode ,on her Get Literate Podcast, to hear how she's thinking about this challenge.

This is from podcaster, Sarah, at Sarah's Bookshelves Live! (See more about her podcast in my "Listening to...) section). Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I share our favorite books that missed last year’s Summer Reading Guide, some shorter books we think are great for summer reading, and our #1 picks for each category featured in my 2024 Summer Reading Guide.

I look forward to summer reading all year long - whether you're working or vacationing, there's something special about summer, warmer weather, and a little more freedom to curl up with a good book. As in past years, the Summer Reading Guide is divided into categories and each title includes the year of publication plus the number of pages or the audiobook run time. One of the things that makes the Everyday Reading Summer Reading Guide unique is that it always includes both older titles as well as brand new releases. I know that most of you, like me, are big-time library users and it's beyond frustrating when every book has a hold line 37 weeks long and you'll actually be reading the Summer Reading Guide picks next winter. Summer Reading Guide

The Minimalist Summer Reading Guide features eight selections. For each minimalist edition, I strive to select a variety of titles across many genres that keep you turning the pages but also have serious substance. You could inhale these titles quickly but find yourself thinking about them for weeks, months, or even years to come. And while easy to read, these titles are wonderfully thought-provoking and discussable.

What have you been devouring lately? Care to share? Let me know in the comments or e-mail me at dawnnacker@wowway.com with your reading, watching, listening, and learning finds of the month. You just might see them featured in a future blog post. Do you want to make sure you receive this monthly blog via email? DM me and let me know to add you to the email list. Want to see my book reviews in real time, be sure to follow me here at https://www.instagram.com/dawndevoursbooks/