What Our Community Writers Read In May 2025

Demeter is trying her best. It’s not her fault that all her humans died before reaching their final destination, but how does a ship’s AI explain the existence of Dracula and death by paranormal causes without being decommissioned? Especially if the AI medical system doesn’t believe her? Her best solution might just involve more monsters and a little creative reprogramming.

I loved this chaotically fun and queer mashup of AI/robot snark with classic horror characters set in deep space. This story explores the concept of what it means to be human, a monster, or something in between, with a humorous tone. I definitely look forward to rereading it and seeing what Easter eggs I missed the first time around.

Felix is an archduke on the run from those who seek to steal his rightful power and command. Disguised, he runs away and seeks sanctuary from the neighboring kingdom’s wicked witch queen. Believing him to be a dark wizard, Queen Saskia hires Felix to become her librarian and oversee the categorizing of all her precious tomes. 

Soon, Felix finds himself befriending one of the queen’s faithful crows and discovering that the witch queen herself is softer than her villainous ways portrayed. As Queen Saskia discovers her voice in ruling her kingdom, she finds that her new, soft-spoken librarian holds a wealth of helpful wisdom and even a few poetic lines just for her. 

This story made me kick my feet together and giggle. It was a very  fun and cozy romantasy  and Felix and Saskia are such an entertaining duo. I loved seeing the juxtaposition of a soft and thoughtful Felix to Saskia’s grumpy and daring ways. It made watching them grow together very enjoyable as they filled each other’s spaces and helped heal the wounds they each carried from their pasts. The family dynamics were also truly precious for both of them. I enjoyed reading the book so much that when I finished it, I immediately turned around and listened to the audiobook. I highly recommend both.

A Natural History of Dragons felt like stepping into a dusty library and discovering an explorer’s journal tucked between ancient tomes. It’s equal parts wit and wonder, with just enough danger to keep you flying from page to page. 

Written as the memoirs of Lady Trent, a sharp and bold, dragon-obsessed natural historian looking back on her early adventures. It blends fantasy with the feeling of a Victorian travelogue in a voice that is clever, curious, and unapologetically opinionated. 

I was utterly charmed by Isabella’s stubborn determination to study dragons in a world that thinks she should sit still and look pretty. She’s fierce, unflinchingly honest, and self-critical. 

The story takes us from Victorian Scriland to mysterious ruins and ravaging dragons, all the while sharing the tale of how a young woman found her place in a world that wasn’t quite ready for her. 

If you love dragons, a heroine who absolutely refuses to behave, and witty humor, then this is a must-read!

The second book in the Rose Hill series follows West, a small-town cowboy, and Skylar, a singer looking for a fresh start. After the two of them meet, Skylar needs to stay at West’s bunkhouse because his best friend Ford’s daughter wants to produce an album for Skylar. 

Skylar has never lived her life the way she wanted, and now she’s trying to heal. Can West and Skylar find love in the charming small town of Rose Hill?

I don’t seek out books with the single-parent trope; they just happen to find me, and this book was great. I didn’t think I would love this book as much as I loved Wild Love, but as a singer, I loved Skylar as a character, and West was a great counterpart to Skylar. 

The charming setting of Rose Hill shines as Skylar and West fall in love under the small-town skies. Wild Eyes is filled with great characters and a great story about healing and knowing you’re worthy of love. 

Evelyn doesn’t know why she keeps getting reincarnated, each time with a different body and name, and in different countries and times. But she knows that Arden—also always bearing a different face and name—will find her in every lifetime and that before she turns 18, he will kill her...unless she kills him first. Either way, they die together. 

This book absolutely wrecked me in the best way. The mystery of why the main characters were trapped in a deadly loop of love, murder, and reincarnation is slowly unraveled to the end. 

A fresh take on the tropes of “I would know you in every life” and fated mates, told in lyrical prose. It has elements of enemies-to-lovers, but in some lifetimes, Evelyn and Arden aren’t lovers, and sometimes they aren’t even enemies until the final, fatal moment. 

Each life is tainted for them at some point by an understanding of its inevitable end. Sometimes, it’s brutal; sometimes, sweet and gentle; sometimes, cold but merciful. 

Interspersed throughout the chapters are glimpses into different eras, countries, and cultures, accompanied by philosophical and spiritual discussions on the nature of love, identity, and fate.

Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi is about two people’s quest for truth and the obstacles they must endure to find it.

Rosabelle Wolff’s plan has hit the proverbial fan. Said plan? Provide for her ailing sister and escape the Reestablishment while attempting to stay alive. 

James Anderson’s plan was better in theory. In practice? A lot is left to be desired, but at least he got further than his perfectionist brother. It wasn’t his intention to end up in a jail cell, but it was his intention to end up on Ark Island, the last known refuge of the Reestablishment. 

When James and Rosabelle meet, worlds collide, and murder, mayhem, and madness ensue. As these two are forced to interact with the enemy, they can’t see that the biggest enemy is sometimes the one in their own head.

I’m not usually a fan of the dystopian genre, but the Shatter Me universe has a special place in my heart. James Anderson has got to be The Book boyfriend; he’s a combination of both Aaron and Kenji? Sold. 

I loved everything about reading this book so much; being back in the Shatter Me verse, in the minds of the younger characters, and seeing what has become of the previous generation is such an amazing experience.

Vuk Markovic is in love with the one person he can’t have, Ayana Kidane, because she is engaged to his best friend. What no one knows is that the engagement is built on a lie, a business arrangement. 

When they’re forced to spend more time together before the wedding, Vuk falls even more in love with his best friend’s betrothed, and Ayana can’t stop thinking about the dangerous, powerful billionaire. 

Will they risk everything to be able to be together, or will their past come back to haunt them and force them apart? If Vuk could have anything in the world, he’d want Ayana, and he will do anything to get her. 

Ana Huang is BACK! My number one contemporary romance writer came back with a 💥, making morally gray my favorite color. 

I missed all of the characters from the other books in the series and was screaming my head off at each cameo they were mentioned in. 

One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 did not disappoint, and if you haven’t read anything by Ana Huang yet, THIS. IS. YOUR. SIGN.

It’s the 50th anniversary of The Hunger Games—the second Quarter Quell—and it will be an event to remember. Haymitch Abernathy never expected to be in the games, but on the evening of his sixteenth birthday, he finds himself on the train to the Capitol as one of four tributes from District 12. 

From the moment his name is said at the Reaping, Haymitch walks the line of rebellion and survival. After he finds himself caught up in a plan to take down the Games, he discovers that acting against the Capitol could cost him more than just his life. 

A full circle moment, this book beautifully wraps up The Hunger Games as a series as we get answers to Haymitch’s relationship with several of the victors we meet in Catching Fire and why he becomes so invested in Katniss and Peeta’s survival. 

Just like the other books in this series, Suzanne Collins does an excellent job of pulling you into the story so you care about the well-being of these characters, even when you know that things do not end favorably for them, and the end still guts you completely. 

If you’re a fan of the rest of the series or looking for a good cry, I highly recommend picking up Sunrise on the Reaping. 

Spoilers for the series!

Spoilers!

After Aelin is taken by Maeve, Rowan searches for her with the help of his Cadre. Meanwhile, Manon and the Thirteen go against everything they’ve been taught to find help from the remaining Cochrans. Lysandra continues to look like Aelin, so nobody realizes their queen is missing. 

Through love, determination, bravery, and friendship, the ultimate battle commences, and nothing will be the same.

Kingdom of Ash was entirely the book I needed for this finale. This is not a series with a happily-ever-after ending, and I was so glad. 

This book wove together many parts to form a cohesive whole, and nothing felt superfluous. SJM does a phenomenal job intertwining each character’s motives, actions, and emotions. The anxiety and emotions were palpable, and I already look forward to my future reread!