May 2026 reading wrap up

I always had a feeling this was going to be a tougher sell for me.

After Connor and Dred’s story completely destroyed me in If You Claim Me, this one had an awful lot to live up to. Unfortunately, I don’t think it ever quite got there. That’s not entirely the book’s fault — I think I’d already built up expectations after spending so much of the series anticipating where these characters would end up.

Tally and Flip’s relationship itself was fine, but the way that Flip just completely hated himself through the majority of the book grated on my nerves. Also, I think the age-gap romances just aren’t my jam.

And while there were still plenty of enjoyable moments throughout, emotionally it just never clicked for me in the same way earlier books in the series did.

That said, I think this wraps up the series? If it does, it’s been a really enjoyable one overall, even if this wasn’t my favourite book to finish it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

This is another one where my rating probably says more about the incredibly high standard set by the rest of the series than it does about the book itself.

Ryan and Fabian are genuinely lovely together. Their relationship is sweet, supportive, and full of quiet moments that I really appreciated. Rachel Reid continues to write emotionally intelligent romances, and that’s something I will always enjoy.

But… I just didn’t fall in love with this one. It didn’t have the same kick that the others have had.

After books like Game Changer and even Heated Rivalry, I was expecting that same all-consuming emotional investment, and it just wasn’t there for me. It’s a good book. It just wasn’t one of my books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

(The Game Changer series is a monthly side quest for The Romance Revelry Society’s book club where we read one book per month.)

Okay… officially this is a four-star rating, but if I’m being completely honest, it’s much closer to a four-and-a-half.

I absolutely flew through this book. In fact, I finished it in a single day, which is usually a pretty good indication that something is working for me. The pacing is fantastic, the story keeps moving, and I never found myself wanting to put it down.

The audiobook deserves its own special mention because it is phenomenal. The narration added so much to the experience that I’d recommend it in a heartbeat if you’re deciding between formats.

My only real complaint? That ending.

Ok, maybe I have a few more complaints. Questions? About plot holes? But you know what, it was still the best book I read this month.

I’m not going to spoil anything, but let’s just say Kate Golden chose violence. That cliffhanger genuinely killed a little piece of my soul, and now I have to wait to find out what happens next.

Rude.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

(This was The Romance Revelry Society’s Book Club read for May.)

I’ve been meaning to try the Windy City series for ages, so I’m super glad I finally picked it up.

I can absolutely see why this series has such a devoted following. The characters are engaging, the romance develops naturally, and the emotional beats land really well. It has that addictive quality where you keep telling yourself “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s midnight.

I do think it could probably have been about fifty pages shorter. There are a few sections that linger a little longer than they need to, and tightening the pacing would have made it an even stronger read.

But that’s a fairly minor complaint in the grand scheme of things. And yes, I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)