Five Star Friday is my version of the monthly wrap-up. On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.
This month, I was able to read 28 books, and I had 3 five-star reads.
It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on May 27, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV punchline who has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash-course with her past, spending a week in Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.
Rules for a love story: There are none. It’s all a lie.
Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth—you can’t fake a belly laugh. Jane should know, she spent her adolescence as "Poor Janey Jakes," the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punchline on America's fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and she’s living by a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.
Except, she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she opened her mouth and a big fat fib fell out. She claimed that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the soundtrack. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.
Now, Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan while facing down her past is Jane's idea of hell, but Dan just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?
Another hit from Monaghan! I adore her books so much, and once again she crafted a thoughtful tale filled with humor, wit, and heart. I loved watching these two go from rivals to lovers. Dan's family was such a wonderful part of the story too, and as a bit of an extra, we got to see Janey Jakes get some good karma.
[review]
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
Published by Simon & Schuster on April 22, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Goodreads
One family. Four generations. A secret son. A devastating addiction. A Texas family is met with losses and surprises of inheritance, but they’re unable to shake the pull back toward each other in this big-hearted family saga perfect for readers of Mary Beth Keane and Claire Lombardo.
Ryan and Lillian Bright are deeply in love, recently married, and now parents to a baby girl, Georgette. But Lillian has a son she hasn’t told Ryan about, and Ryan has an alcohol addiction he hasn’t told Lillian about, so Georgette comes of age watching their marriage rise and fall.
When a shocking blow scatters their fragile trio, Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. Years later, Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth family, so Georgette must return to her roots, unearth her family’s history, and decide whether she can open up to love for them—or herself—while there’s still time.
Told from three intimate points of view, The Bright Years is a tender, true-to-life novel that explores the impact of each generation in a family torn apart by tragedy but, over time, restored by the power of grace and love.
This was quit a tale! It was often heartbreaking, but also hopeful. I got to know the four generations of the this family over 60 years, and there were plenty of ups and downs. My heart was broken, over and over, as I read this story. The is a story about generational trauma, and how it can propagate. It was about addiction and how their addiction affects those who love them. It's about the choices we make for the future knowing the past. It's about failing and forgiving. It was super emotional. I cried a lot. I give the author a lot of credit for the structure of the story. I loved that the story was told in blocks from three different points of view. They brought such a different context to the story that way. I was super impressed by this debut and look forward to reading more from Damoff.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Published by Berkley on May 6, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
A radiant escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and This Summer Will Be Different
Named a Most Anticipated book of 2025 by TODAY ∙ E! News ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ Us Weekly ∙ The New York Post ∙ SheReads ∙ and more!
I never anticipated Charlie Florek.
Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.
Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.
Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.
Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.
Fortune is on my short list of authors-who-can-do-no-wrong. I swear! I found myself lost in this story, and I loved every second of it. This was a sequel I didn't think I needed but am so glad exists. I really adored my trip back to Barry's Bay where I got to catch up with the main characters from Every Summer After. Charlie was the brother not chosen, but you could tell he wanted what Sam and Percy had, and I wanted it for him!!! Alice was wonderful and at a crossroads in her life. She and Charlie fit together so well, so I was rooting hard for these two kids to make this lake thing permanent. The perfect balance of light and hefty moments, I was swept away by this tale which filled my heart with so much warmth and joy.
Honorable Mention
May was packed with great reading. Here are my honorable mention books. All earned 4.5 stars.
- Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
- The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlich
- Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins
- The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis
- Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver
Let us know in the comments!
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