page 02 | It’s gonna be May.
My Ultimate Vacation Reading Guide, summer tunes, recent 5 star Amazon finds and all the nostalgic summer vibes.
Remember the days of blasting *NSYNC in your room, singing “It’s Gonna Be Me” at the top of your lungs, and dreaming up big summer plans? Just me? Well, here I am…grown-up and still humming those catchy lyrics. *NSYNC was actually my very first concert, so their music always brings back the best kind of nostalgia. (Backstreet Boys fans, don’t come for me—I promise there’s room for both!)
Inside this month’s newsletter: a few of my favorite bookish Spotify playlists, my Ultimate Vacation Reading Guide, new releases my friends are excited about, and some recent Amazon finds.
So grab your iced coffee, and let’s dive into the reads, the tunes, and all the little joys that make this month feel like one big, cozy summer throwback.
As the sun starts to shine and travel plans take shape, you can guarantee I’ll be making my vacation reads list. Whether you’re lounging by the beach, hiking in the mountains, or sipping a cocktail poolside, I’ve got you covered with this curated list of vacation perfect reads. Here is my Ultimate Vacation Reading Guide…
Summer Lovin’ (and laughin’)
Beach Read by Emily Henry
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Shipped by Angie Hockman
Summer Thrills
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum
She Started It by Sian Gilbert
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
Summer Adventures
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
You, With a View by Jessica Joyce
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
The Layover by Lacie Waldon
Nostalgic Summer Vibes
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Have a favorite summer read? I’d love to hear it! Drop your recommendations in the comments so I can add them to my list.
If you want to add one of the books above to your Summer 2025 TBR shelf, I created an Ultimate Vacation Reading Guide list in my Amazon storefront.
Heads up! If you grab something through this Amazon link, I might earn a tiny commission. It helps keep my TBR stack growing!
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with finding bookish playlists on Spotify. There’s just something about setting the perfect vibe while I read (or honestly, even just driving with the windows down). One Golden Summer is at the top of my summer TBR. I swear Carley Fortune writes summer like no one else. This playlist inspired by the book totally nails that dreamy, swept-away feeling her stories always give me.
Love cowboy romances like Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs or Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series? Then you need to check out Netflix’s new show Ransom Canyon. I’m completely hooked. It’s got all the small-town drama, brooding cowboys, and slow-burn tension you didn’t know you needed on your screen. Anyone else watching?
Summer’s just around the corner, and that means a whole new wave of books begging to be read in the sunshine. I asked a few of my bookish friends to share the new releases they’re most excited to dive into this season and of course, their picks did not disappoint.
You can find all these recs—plus the summer releases I’m most excited about—hanging out in my Amazon storefront linked below.
Heads up! If you grab something through these Amazon links, I might earn a tiny commission. It helps keep my TBR stack growing!
Feeling stuck on what to post in May? Here are a few bookish content ideas to get you going!
Spring = new beginnings
Try sharing some new-to-you authors you’ve recently discovered. Bonus points if you include the book that made you fall in love with their writing.
Brother’s Best Friend trope lovers, unite!
Brother’s Day is May 24, aka the perfect excuse to spotlight your fav books with this trope. Round up a few, make a post, and tag me. I’m always looking to add more of this trope to my TBR.
Standalones that deserve a sequel
We all have them. Those books that ended and left you begging for more. Let’s shine a light on those one-and-done stories that should’ve had a sequel.
Save now, thank later
Anytime I see a post I love on Instagram, I save it to a folder called Post Ideas. Not only does it help when I’m stuck, but I can also shout out the original poster when I borrow the inspo.
Here’s a little peek into a couple of my latest Amazon favorites—aka the things I didn’t know I needed but now can’t live without!
If you’re usually busy chasing kids while in your bathing suit, I’ve found the perfect cute and mom-friendly suit for you. This one-piece from CupShe is so good! I’m even thinking about grabbing it in another color!
It’s no secret I love a good flowy dress in the spring…and this one’s a winner! The fabric is a lightweight, linen-like material that’s perfect for warmer temps. Oh, and it has POCKETS!
Heads up! If you grab something through these Amazon links, I might earn a tiny commission. It helps keep my TBR stack growing!
Thanks for being here for my very first newsletter drop. I’m so excited to be in your inbox each month. I have a lot of fun ideas for future editions.
If you are reading this in the Substack app and aren’t already subscribed, I’d love to have you as a subscriber.
Happy Reading!
Aimee