Team OwlCrate Books Of The Month: What We Read In May 2025

I had put off reading this novel because of the popular TV show, but, having never seen it, I decided to give it a try! I love Liane’s writing of intelligent women and genuine family dynamics. It has become a bit cliché to say a novel “has you from the first page,” but this one genuinely did! I was grabbed on page one, and Liane held my attention for the entirety of this 500-page story. This was one of those five-star reads that really makes me question all past five-star reads I’ve rated … It was just that good.

A split perspective storyline following three complicated women that is a combination of family dramas, the power of female friendships, the twisted politics of elementary school parenting, and a slow-paced thriller (we start off knowing someone has died, but who? And why?). This book was so expertly crafted, and I loved every single woman’s perspective. This just further proved to me that a rich reading life involves not only reading brand-new releases but checking out the back catalog as well!

Annie Hartnett’s novels are simply unlike any other—she has an unmatched ability to create stories that blend endearing characters and heavier topics with a touch of whimsy & magical realism. Her newest release, The Road to Tender Hearts, does delve more into the heavy territory than her past novels, Unlikely Animals and Rabbit Cake, so sensitive readers may want to check content warnings beforehand.

This novel is both a frolicking summer road trip and an exploration of death & the beauty found in the brevity of life. We follow PJ, a 60-something oddball recovering alcoholic; his brother’s grandkids (who he has recently inherited); his 20-something daughter; and Pancakes, a cat that can predict death. I promise, you won’t forget these characters!

Having never read a romantasy before, the time had finally come, and what better first read than Fourth Wing? After finishing Attack on Titan, my TikTok FYP blessed me with a video of a girl talking about how Fourth Wing is basically Attack on Titan… well, not quite, but it has some similarities. And so I put in my headphones and pressed play.

The book had me hooked from the start. I chose to go with the dramatized audiobook, and it was my first experience with this, and it ended up being great. I fell in love with Xaden from the get-go and confessed to my partner that, unfortunately, I now have a book boyfriend. The book had me hooked, and I was crying by the end (IYKYK). I can't wait for the show and to read Iron Flame and Onyx Storm.

A young girl is among 39 other women who are all imprisoned together with no recollection of how they got there or why. She becomes the key to their escape and survival in this post-apocalyptic world. I genuinely can imagine this dystopia becoming a classic literature for students to read. I felt like I was being shocked by little details that seemed so casually brought up because they're just part of the character's world but still are not something we can truly imagine ourselves experiencing.

It's slow-paced in its narration, but really so much time passes with tones of hope and disappointment, of sadness and connection, and the meaning of living even in the most bleak circumstances. I don't think I'll ever find a book like this again.

Queen Saskia hires Fabian to be her dark wizard to work in her library. As they get to know each other, there might be a bit of flirtation happening, but both of them have secrets that could doom a potential love match.

This was such a great cozy romantasy. The grumpy queen and sunshine dark wizard are just what I wanted—their banter in the book is perfect. I also love our queen's besties. I will definitely be continuing this series.

When things seem too good to be true, they probably are. How can you say no to a new house and land for only $100? It's a chance at a new life, a new career, and a place for their child to grow up. 

When Billie and her family move to their new home, everything seems just fine. Slowly things get a little strange, but it could be in their heads. There is always a good reason to excuse the odd stuff. When Billie's husband has had enough and leaves, Billie starts to wonder just who she can trust.

I could not put this book down; that's how good it was, and I just needed to know all the things. The twists were so good as well.

Imagine living thousands of lives, falling in love with the same soul only to be murdered by them before your eighteenth birthday. That is what Evelyn's and Arden's lives are like. Evelyn can remember most of her past lives and Arden in each one of them. But she cannot seem to remember why he kills her. The story bounces between their past lives and their current life in Wales in 2022.

I loved this book. The changes between timelines in this story were so smooth, which made it easy to follow. I loved getting to know the characters in each of them. The story has such Addie LaRue vibes. I did not see the twist coming at all.