There’s a hint of summer in the air—bare feet on warm floors, the hum of lazy bees, and that familiar urge to trade productivity for page-turning. I’ve carved out three glorious days with nothing to do but read, snack, and occasionally remember to hydrate. Honestly, is there anything better than getting completely lost in a book without a single interruption (aside from maybe hunting for where you left your tea)?
Alternate Lives and Infinite Choices
I kicked things off with Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, which is basically the literary equivalent of pressing “rewind” on life until you get it right. Ursula Todd keeps being reborn into the same life, each time with a new twist, a new decision, a new disaster avoided (or not). It sounds complicated, but it’s oddly comforting—like the universe gently saying, “Try again, love, you’ve got this.” I found myself completely swept up in it and vaguely annoyed every time real life interrupted me for something unimportant, like cooking or standing up.
Murder, Mischief, and Afternoon Tea
Next, I turned to The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, which is basically Cluedo meets cozy retirement. Four clever pensioners in a sleepy village start solving crimes for fun, until—surprise!—a real murder lands right in their lap. It’s funny, sharp, and weirdly heartwarming, and made me want to fast-forward to retirement just so I can solve murders with my future best friends while sipping tea and wearing a nice cardigan.
Masks, Secrets, and a French Abbey
Finally, I dove into Holy Fools by Joanne Harris, set in 17th-century France with just the right amount of nuns, disguise, and deliciously dark intrigue. The main character—a former circus performer—ends up in an abbey trying to lay low, only to find herself navigating power struggles and secrets galore. It’s moody and mysterious, with Harris’s signature lush writing, and I now definitely need a cape and possibly a secret identity.
So that’s May sorted—three books, three worlds, and one very happy reader. There’s something so deeply satisfying about surrendering to a story with nothing pulling at your attention. Just me, the words, and maybe a biscuit or two.
