Reading Wrap-Up: May 2026

A brief recap of the 8 books I read in May!

Question: What’s better than engaging in your favorite hobby?

Answer: Engaging in multiple favorite hobbies!

That’s what completing the above cross-stitch¹ felt like for me - a beautiful blend of stitching and books, and often done while listening to an audiobook! I’m really delighted with the final result and thought you, fellow readers (and maybe fellow cross-stitchers? Let me know!), might enjoy it as well.

Below you’ll find a brief recap of the eight books I read in May. A couple quick points first:

• In case you missed it, I wrote about a few recent reads focused on meaning here (which includes my favorite book of the year so far!).

• Thank you for the feedback on my April wrap-up - I have once again included my fiction reads in this month’s wrap-up as a result.

Thank you for reading, for subscribing, and for being here!

June Book Club: The Crossroads Of Should And Must by Elle Luna

Our June pick for the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club is unlike any we’ve read yet - filled with artwork² and readable in just a sitting or two! Members will receive the Reading + Reflection Guide with journal/discussion prompts, additional recommended resources, and more. New members are welcome - simply upgrade to any level of paid subscription and you’re in!

May Reading Wrap-Up:

Hero On A Mission by Donald Miller

I loved Miller’s Building A Storybrand when I read it several years ago, but for some reason I have never delved further into his writing until now. Hero On A Mission focuses on creating and living out an intentional life plan, helping us decide what we want to do with our precious time here on earth rather than floating along and letting circumstance decide for us. He framed this in the storytelling model of the four types of characters - hero, villain, victim, and guide - which I found really thought-provoking. Stay tuned for my June wrap-up because now that Miller is back on my radar, I’ve started another one by him as well!

What if the story of our lives is less about what we build, and more about who we build up? - Donald Miller

The Meaning Of Your Life by Arthur C. Brooks

As mentioned above and in my most recent article, I have definitely been in ‘meaning mode’ lately with much of my reading, and Brooks’ 2026 release complemented this focus nicely. I appreciate his perspective as an academic who writes quite accessibly on the topics of happiness, well-being, and meaning, bringing in research and evidence-based practices along the way. I was a little concerned early on that this book would focus mostly on phone usage, and while that was part of his suggestion (and, of course, a valid one), he eventually delved into much more. An interesting way to look at meaning, particularly for those whom he calls ‘strivers’ (and whom I tend to call ‘achievers’ in my work).

Friends In High Places by Marne Davis Kellogg

I don’t know how this happened, but one day this spring I randomly remembered a novel I thoroughly enjoyed quite some time ago about an elegant, high-society woman who was also secretly a massive jewel thief; I remembered reading two books in the series and suddenly wondered if any more had followed. Turns out ‘quite some time ago’ was 20+ years (!) and lo and behold, more have appeared in the series since then! I read one last month and then Friends In High Places in May, and while definitely a bit dated, they were quite a romp.

The Pleasing Hour by Lily King

If you read my first quarter Bookish Superlatives and Check-in, you’ll know why this one is on my list! Lily King’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, even as far back as this - her debut novel from 1999. Rich descriptions, interesting characters, unique setting (much of this takes place on a houseboat in France); while not my favorite story by King, I’ve now read five of her books, and her writing gets me every time.

How To Stop Worrying And Start Living by Dale Carnegie

I’ve read other work by Carnegie but had never even heard of this book, published nearly 70 years ago now, until a family member mentioned it to me recently. What a helpful, and still timely, resource! I listened to the audiobook via my library and bookmarked so many points, from strategies for making strong decisions to ideas for giving yourself a useful morning pep talk. It’s an 11-hour audiobook and I could see myself re-listening to this every few years for reminders, encouragement, and practical ideas much more productive than worry.

Instructions For Traveling West by Joy Sullivan

A recommendation from another family member (my relatives have been a great source of reading suggestions lately!)! This was a lovely collection of poetry by a writer in the Pacific Northwest and I tabbed quite a few while reading. If you’re a fan of Kate Baer and/or Lindsay Rush, you’ll want to check this one out. And how funny - I spoke of a self-pep-talk in the previous book, and here’s one of Sullivan’s lines that I marked:

I wrote a pep talk recently to myself on a bar napkin: ‘no matter which road you take, it will be both glorious and unbearable.’ Every road is lonely. Every road, holy. The only error is not walking forth. - from the poem, Culpable, by Joy Sullivan

Perfect Sound Whatever by James Acaster

I feel a bit particular when it comes to comedians, and one I have really come to enjoy over the last two years or so is James Acaster. I first discovered him via his podcast, Off Menu, and have since gone down multiple rabbit holes with his comedy, TV appearances, interviews, and more. This book chronicles his favorite year in music, 2016, and all the reasons, albums, artists, and experiences that led to that result. In his comedy, I love his ability to circle back to something he mentioned five or fifty minutes ago and hilariously apply it to the current comment. In his overall work, I appreciate his blend of vulnerability, kindness, intelligence, and humor, which all work together in a fun and often uplifting way.

Walden by Henry David Thoreau

If you’ve seen Thoreau quotes everywhere but never read the source material, Walden, I was right there with you until this month! I picked up the audiobook prior to doing some gardening and found it to be quite a nice companion. His accounts of nature, the ‘simple life,’ and minimalism - published originally in 1854 - were just as interesting to read all these years later (although some of the language of the time can be challenging as a modern reader). I went to the library to get a print copy to accompany the audiobook and was fortunate to find a beautiful edition filled with stunning photographs by Scot Miller - a definite enhancement to the reading experience!

I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one. - Henry David Thoreau

Have you read any of the books I’ve mentioned here? What was your favorite read in May? Share your reading and bookish thoughts in the comments below!

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1. Cross-stitch pattern designer: Little House Needleworks.

2. For this reason, I recommend reading this one physically if possible.