Mini Book Reviews – May 2026
Mini Book Reviews – May 2026: What To Read & What To Skip
Welcome to my regular round up of mini book reviews of what I’ve read this past month! May has really picked up with reading and I’ve stumbled on some “can’t put them down” books that I can’t wait to share!
I’ve also added a little section at the end with small things I’ve been loving lately in my life, so don’t forget to check that out!
In my list of mini book reviews, I include everything I’ve read recently that I finished. I like to share both my five star reads and any misses to help you get a better idea of what you should read or might want to skip.
As always, I love to hear if you agree or disagree with my ratings! Let me know in the comments what you thought of my May 2026 mini book reviews.
*Disclosure – I earn a small commission for any items purchased through the links below at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my book blog!!
Mini Book Reviews – May 2026
Physical Books:
The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
Can we talk about how insanely gorgeous this cover is!? Those sprayed edges and another cozy fantasy are a winning combo from Sarah Beth Durst. I was completely entranced by this – she continues to knock it out of the park with her cozy fantasy books!
Unlike Sarah’s other adult novels, this is a young adult fantasy that follows a 16 year old girl who visits her eccentric aunt’s inn for the summer. Rather than a cozy B&B, Calisa finds a rundown building in desperate need of repair. Her aunt refuses to acknowledge how bad it’s gotten, but Calisa convinces her that she can help.
Over the summer, Calisa tries to bring the inn back to life, along with the help of the cute local boy, but she realizes there’s something quite unexpected about this place and it’s guests. Something…magical and otherworldly. The inn is keeping a secret and Calisa will now do everything she can to protect it before it’s too late! 5 Stars | Buy From Amazon
Toe to Toe by Falon Ballard
A Magic Mike style performer and a classical ballerina take center stage in this romance! Allegra has been training her whole life for a chance at a principle ballerina role, but her next chance is a new play with a sensual main character. The director tells her she doesn’t have the right “vibe” but she’s willing to do whatever it takes.
Even if that means striking up a crazy deal with a performer she meets at her sister’s bachelorette party. Cord has a rough history with ballet himself, so his first instinct is to stay far away from anything to do with the sport. But there’s something about Allegra that has him willing to help her.
It was a ton of fun watching Allegra come out of her shell and actually enjoy the little challenges that Cord sets for her. The dance setting is also fascinating, in both the ballet and steamy male revue settings! 4 Stars | Buy From Amazon
AudioBooks:
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Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn
What an unexpected delight! Meghan Quinn delivers yet another wild and crazy steamy romance that had me laughing and swooning the whole way through. I don’t know where she gets the ideas for her stories, but somehow they always just work. In this summer romance, a literal Lord from England flies to America on a dare to meet (and marry) a woman who signed up for a “find a fiance” dating app.
Renley drunkenly signed up for the site thinking she was matching with a financier – since she desperately needs funds to open her candy store. Instead, Theo shows up asking for her hand in marriage. She turns him down but he stays for the summer and agrees to give her the money she needs. Throughout the days, he pesters her constantly and proves that despite being utterly inept at anything requiring manual labor, he’s got a good heart and a strong dedication to helping her.
These two are hilarious together and Theo and his best friends crazy antics are endearing without being too over the top. I devoured this in just a few days! | 4 Stars | Buy From Amazon
Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner
I swapped between the ebook and audiobook of this one for the past week and it’s been helping get me out of a reading slump! If you love reality TV drama or shows like Below Deck then you have to read this! It’s a second chance romance between the chief steward and chef on a luxury yacht.
The development of the relationship between Finn and Ember amongst the luxurious insanity of catering to the rich on a series of trips was a blast to read! I equally loved hearing about the behind the scenes work to make these cruises happen and the drama amongst the crew.
There’s so much tension that starts as anger and hurt between Finn and Ember due to their past but the forced proximity wins the day and they both realize they can’t just move on. The audiobook is a full cast and really adds an extra element to the story so I recommend reading that version if you can! | 4.5 Stars | Buy From Amazon
eBooks:
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams
This book utterly captivated me! My nose was inches from my Kindle for the last 15% as I was trying to read faster to find out how it would end! If you love high stakes, fast-paced thrillers this is a must read.
Two friends head out for what’s supposed to be a day-long cave exploration, but the day ends in a murder investigation and a desperate rescue effort. Tess is normally the shadow to Allie’s travel influencer, big personality. Except today Tess is the one fighting for her life after a suspicious man follows them into the cave. After her nightmare is over, Tess recounts the events that led to her harrowing escape.
The story is told in bits and pieces as Tess shares the details with a detective in the hospital, so the reader is slowly brought along with the girls as the story unfolds. It was incredibly twisty and had me literally gasping in shock! Such a fun read!! 4.5 Stars | Buy From Amazon
Things I’m Loving Lately:
Copper Flower Charm – If you want fresh flowers to last longer, all you need is this little copper charm! You just drop it in the water and my flowers still look gorgeous after weeks. The copper helps keep bacteria from affecting the stems!
Wildflower Embroidery DIY Kit – These kits have been selling like crazy through my Amazon links – everyone wants to try embroidery these days! I love the designs and they truly have EVERYTHING you need to get started. 5 easy designs for only $16!
Pride & Prejudice Book Vase – Steel Mill & Co has the most gorgeous home goods and they’ve added a collection of book vases, including this floral Pride & Prejudice option that I adore! It looks simply stunning, plus it’s sturdy!
For more mini book reviews, check out What I Read in April 2026!