May 2026 Recap

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Going to attempt to bring back the Monthly re-cap. It has been a while since I have had the time and energy to do it. Here is my best attempt... and I am trying to do a few challenges so those notes are here too. 

~~Books I Read in May~~

~~Review Links ~~

Wild Card by Elsie Silver

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen- Filled World by Jonathan Haidt 

The Replacement: A Short Story by Liv Constantine

Reach by Celesta Rimington

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai 

The Thorn Queen by Sasha Peyton Smith

Chapter Break Bookish Bingo - May

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Not Finished the Previous Month| Death| Journey (+1 - walking)

Reach by Celesta Rimington

Physical Book

The Replacement: A Short Story by Liv Constantine

Free Book (Amazon First Reads Freebie) | Plot Keeps You Guessing

Wild Card by Elsie Silver

Audiobook | In a Series | Small Town

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Favorite Author| Banter| Shelf Love| Tropey Title

 

The Night King's Court by Elisa Bonnin

Not in a Series| Ebook

A Trophy of the Jackal by Julie Wellerdiek

ARC/ALC

For my first BINGO run, this was pretty good. Excited to try again in June for the full board.

Progress 4/10

Building the Book Pile #519

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Well hello! Thanks for stopping by! Here is what I was up to this week..

Monday - Memorial Day - I just hung out with the pets and put my foot up to hopefully help with the swelling. It was a rough day, but we just read, played video games and hung out. 

Tuesday - Emma had a vet appointment in the morning so I got her into her harness a bit early to get her used to it and she promptly ...chewed through it... luckily I have older harnesses stashed from when Charlie was a puppy so I was able to get her into one of those to get to the appt. 🙄 When we got home, I had a quick lunch and then prepped for a work meeting that I needed to be on (even though I was out this week)... it was fine nothing I really needed to be there for but it is what it is. That evening I met up with friends at the pub for a quick dinner then popped over to my Rec. Softball game. I couldn't play because my foot is still in rough shape but I was happy to cheer them on.

Wednesday - I just hung out at home again with my foot up. It started to look worse after being up and about on Tuesday.

Thursday - Friday - much of the same - hanging with the pets with my foot up, reading books, and playing Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library! (yes, I am that boring). On Friday I met a friend out for ice cream and popped into Target for some essentials (coffee and bubbles for the bath).

Saturday - Emma had her first training class. She is super chaotic at home but so timid out so it is part learning some skills but also a chance to get her more confident about going out and meeting people and other dogs. She did great! So excited she warmed up and wanted to participate. I had dumplings for lunch with a friend and then she came over to watch Off Campus...its cuuuuute. She has read the series but I haven't so that is on the TBR now. 

Sunday - My partner gets home today!!!

Linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer Sunday Post 

xo steph

Enter my Giveaway! 

Coming up on the Blog

Monthly Re-Cap: May

Early Reader Review:  The Night King's Court by Elisa Bonnin

Recent Reads: Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Books Received Recently...  

  

For Review  

DOE by Rebecca Barrow - from the publisher for review.

Reviews and Such

Spotlight w/ Giveaway! Lake Life by Tanya Boteju (YA)

Recent Reads: Wild Card by Elise Silver (Adult) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Recent Reads: Wild Card by Elsie Silver

Wild Card by Elsie Silver  

Series: Rose Hill #4
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group 
Publication Date:  September 9, 2025

 

Format: Audiobook
Source:  Bought/ Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Sebastian Rousseau is a grumpy, hot as hell fire pilot who is too damn good with his hands.

It’s the perfect combination. But unfortunately for me, he’s also my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

A chance meeting brought us together and a missed connection has kept us apart.

One year later, a stroke of fate has us living under the same roof—which makes everything between us downright messy.

Because even after all this time, he’s still the man I think about when I fall asleep. The one I can’t get over no matter how hard I try.

He’s working on mending a fragile relationship with his son and we both know acting on these urges would be the ultimate betrayal.

But I see the heat in his eyes. That look of need that never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

The mutual longing is borderline unbearable and the simmering heat between us is downright palpable.

We both know there are rules when it comes to situations like this.

But then again…following the rules never has been my strong suit.

In this series (Click on Covers for Reviews): 

    

Review: 

I adore this series and these books, every one has been a highlight in my day to listen to. Elsie has this way of making you fall for all her characters as chaotic, frustrating, and emotional as they are. It is also so cool to see them all interconnect and characters re-appear. 

All the books follow a dad falling hard... in this case Bash finds out that he has an adult son and on his way to meet him for the first time gets caught in the airport overnight while a storm passes. He meets this quirky memorizing woman, Gwen, and they hit it off. At the end of their laughter filled evening he gets her number but nothing comes of it. Fast-forward, he visits his son for a party and Gwen is his girlfriend. Immediately feeling start flying and readers are swept up into this beautiful will -they/ won't they banter and miserable attempts to give each other space. 

This book had me laughing so much. Between Bash and Gwen figuring things out and the awkward flirting and Clyde... OH CLYDE... our scheming, cranky, father-figure I kept giggling. I loved the emotional turmoil between the characters, and the uncomfortable tension was absolutely perfect. The slow burn felt a bit more prolonged than I expected, while the resolution came together fairly quickly, but I still loved the book overall.

If you like grumpy/ sunshine, forced proximity, an age gap and the 'ex-boyfriend's dad' tropes - you will really enjoy this one. 

Spotlight w/ Giveaway! Lake Life by Tanya Boteju

Today we have a GIVEAWAY for Lake Life by Tanya Boteju!  

Quick Tagline - What starts as a fake romance to fix their problems turns into a summer that challenges everything they thought they knew about love.

Lake Life by Tanya Boteju 
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date:  May 26, 2026

 

About the Book: 

Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, this charming, chaotic romance follows two teens who agree to fake-date when stuck together one summer in a quirky, scenic lake town.

This is definitely not how Maya wanted to spend the summer—depressed at her once-beloved cabin in Spruce Lake, and unable to avoid seeing her lifelong best friend, Rashida, after confessing her woefully unrequited love to her last year. Maya can’t decide if she wants to escape, or convince Rashida they’re still meant to be.

Gabe is sent to Spruce Lake by her mom in hopes she stays out of trouble. Gabe is NOT excited to be here. She does NOT like nature. She does NOT want to spend her summer in a tiny town with outdoorsy environmentalist types.

Gabe is pretty sure she’ll be spending this entire summer bored and alone…until she meets Maya. Together, they hatch a fake-dating scheme to make Rashida jealous and convince Gabe’s mom that Gabe has turned a wholesome new leaf.  

But as the plan plays out, and Gabe and Maya contend with protests, a relentlessly concerned community, and romantic twists, they start to realize that their assumptions about friendship and love might have led them completely astray. Can they find their way through this mess without hurting each other in the process?

GIVEAWAY

Enter to Win!

US Only, 1 Copy of Lake Life

Copy of Lake Life by Tanya Boteju

About the Author 

Tanya Boteju (she/her) is an English teacher and writer living on stolen territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, Canada). 

Her novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens (Simon & Schuster, 2019), was named an Indie Top 10 Pick of the Summer by the American Booksellers Association and a Rainbow List selection for 2020.

Her next YA novel, Bruised (Simon & Schuster, 2021), was selected as a Gold Standard book by the Junior Library Guild.

Her latest YA novel, Messy Perfect (HarperCollins), is out in April 2025, along with a middle grade nonfiction book, Allyship As Action (Orca) in August 2025. 

When Tanya isn’t writing, she’s teaching and learning from brilliant high school students, riding her bike, drinking tea, reading good books, and trying to chill out at the cozy cabin her wife built for her.

In both her teaching and writing, Tanya hopes she’s bending the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice.

Find the Author

Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

Building the Book Pile #518

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hi! Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Hope everyone had a great week and is having a good long weekend (in the US).

Weekly re-cap:

I took Monday off as a mental health day. While my partner was headed to Canada then to South Korea for the start of his trip, I went out to a place called the Sparkle Barn with my bestie. It was in a little town in Vermont and it is a gift shop on the first floor and an immersive art installation thing on the 2nd floor. It was very Alice in Wonderland meets Honey I Shrunk the Kids vibes. After shopping we headed to Chipotle for lunch and then grabbed ice cream on the drive back home. It was a beautiful day and we had a fun time just hanging out. 

 

Tuesday I was back to the grind with a bunch of meetings with my team and some students. I was able to draft up the weekly emails that I send regularly and then I had to pop home and let the dogs out and change before heading to softball practice. 

Wednesday - work wasn't as crazy and I had some time to myself in the afternoon, but I started the day with a migraine so it was a struggle to get up. It eventually went away and the day turned out pretty good overall.

Thursday I worked from home with the doggos and while they took naps in the sunny spots, I worked on a data/presentation for my team to talk about the events we hosted this year. I love pulling the data and dissecting it. In the evening, I met up with a friend to go watch Casablanca in the college theatre. I have never watched it so it was nice. 

Friday I worked from home again and my computer and programs were giving me issues from the start, but I had some chatty time with a friend on Zoom and then helped host a check in for my side-hustle/ business. After work I ran out to Tractor Supply for some things, the grocery store and Petsmart for dog food. 

 

Saturday I was excited because I invited friends over for a Cozy reading day with snacks. I made a big charcuterie board and got some outdoor furniture ready in case people wanted to sit outside. While I was bringing the hammock stand out... I rolled my ankle and fell on my foot - virtual appt thinks I have a mid-foot sprain, ankle is fine, I can walk on it... it just sucks. Friends came and we had a good time but I felt awful.

Today - I have been in bed most the day with my foot all swollen and bruised. I have done a bit of reading and Youtube watching

Linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer Sunday Post 

xo steph

Enter my Giveaways! Still Open!

  

Coming up on the Blog

THIS WEEK - 

Spotlight w/ Giveaway! Lake Life by Tanya Boteju (YA)

Recent Reads: Wild Card by Elise Silver (Adult)

Books Received Recently...  

  

For Review  

Pumpkin Apocalypse by M. D. Payne - from the Publisher

Alchemy of Souls by Adriana Mather- from the Publisher

For the Love of the Quest: A Novel by Alexandra Ammon Parthun -  from the Publisher

Reviews and Such

Recent Reads: The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen- Filled World by Jonathan Haidt (MG) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: The Replacement: A Short Story by Liv Constantine (Adult) - ⭐⭐⭐.5

Recent Reads: Reach by Celesta Rimington (MG) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Recent Reads: Reach by Celesta Rimington

Source: From the Publisher in Exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Reach by Celesta Rimington 

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication Date:  January 27, 2026

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Wishtree meets Song for a Whale , in this beautifully moving story about a boy whose wish for his family to return to the way it used to be, teaches him the real meaning of roots and the new ones that can grow if we let them.

Ever since getting a little stepbrother named Harlan, Denver hasn’t felt like he fits into his own family. Lots of people find Harlan charming, but not Denver. His pesky stepbrother tags along everywhere Denver goes, breaking things and wanting Denver’s attention every. single. second. After an especially disastrous morning, Denver escapes to the forest, experiencing a whiff of ancient magic when he meets an old and dignified but lonely tree named Spiro. When Spiro offers to turn Harlan into a tree for a few hours, Denver jumps at the chance—only to realize he’s made a mistake when nobody, including his mom and stepdad, seems to remember Harlan existed. And now Spiro isn’t certain he can reverse the transformation.

To save Harlan, Denver will need to find out what happened to Spiro to make him so disconnected from the other trees in the forest . . . but to do so the change he might have to make first is within himself.

Review: 

The story follows Denver a young boy who is learning how to be a part of a new family with his step-father and brother, and his dad and step-mom have a baby too, so everything has changed pretty suddenly for him.

This was such a magical and emotional middle grade read. Denver felt so relatable, especially as he struggled with suddenly having to adapt to new family dynamics without really getting the support or understanding he needed. The sibling and family relationships felt very realistic, and you could genuinely feel Denver’s frustration, jealousy, and loneliness through the story.

The fantasy elements were wonderful. I loved the idea of the trees being able to communicate with people, and Spiro was such an interesting tree. He was wise, lonely, and mysterious all at once... The magic in the forest felt enchanting, but there was also a tension that kept the anxiety building. 

One of the strongest parts of the book was how well the themes were handled. Denver’s journey toward understanding both himself and the people around him felt natural and meaningful, even though he figures it all out through helping Spiro and Harlan. It all felt very heartfelt.

The pacing was excellent and the tension built surprisingly well as Harlan became more tree-like and people stopped remembering him. For a middle grade story, there were moments that felt genuinely unsettling, which made the emotional payoff even stronger.

Overall, this was a beautifully written story with magic, heart, and real emotional depth. Definitely one of my favorite middle grade reads lately.

Early Reader Review: The Replacement: A Short Story by Liv Constantine

The Replacement: A Short Story by Liv Constantine
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Publication Date:   June 1, 2026

 

Format: Ebook
Source: From Amazon First Reads (May)

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A Hollywood icon struggling to revive her career befriends a gifted newcomer with a secret agenda in a twisty short story about the true price of fame by a New York Times bestselling author.

Once Hollywood royalty, Veronica Van Arden has been upstaged by box office flops and tabloid gossip. But when she lands a role in a promising film, a comeback finally seems possible, especially with the support of her young and adoring costar, Sienna Vale. As Veronica weathers a new scandal, Sienna stays firmly by her side, a bright spot in Veronica’s days. But as Veronica welcomes her protégé into every part of her life, they both might find that the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows.

Review: 

Short stories tend to be very hit or miss for me, so I was surprised that this one landed somewhere comfortably in the middle. It did not completely blow me away, but it also kept me invested enough to finish in one sitting.

The story follows Veronica Van Arden, an actress hoping her latest film will help rebuild her career after a string of flops and public scandals. She is excited to play the older sister to an up and coming actress named Sienna Vale. As they film, Veronica and Sienna become close.. while Veronica is unsure about her from the beginning and Veronica's closest people warn her about it. 

The book is a Hollywood drama mixed with a mystery. It is both a fast read but at times feels incredibly slowed down, which is very interesting to experience as a reader. Most short stories fly by and this one lingered in weird ways that attached to plot points really well. 

The writing also captures the fragile nature of fame well, especially through Veronica’s perspective. Her desperation to reclaim relevance and her growing attachment to Sienna make her an interesting, sometimes frustrating protagonist. That emotional vulnerability added depth beyond the mystery elements.

There is a twist near the end that I found intriguing, but it felt somewhat rushed once everything was revealed. I actually wanted more exploration of the final reveal and its consequences because it was more compelling than some of the buildup that came before it. The ending wraps things up quickly.

Overall, this was an entertaining and atmospheric read with effective tension and a solid mystery, even if the conclusion felt slightly underdeveloped.