May Book Club: The Mixed Bag Edition
Hello friends,
I didn’t finish a single shiny new series book this month—probably because I’ve spent the first few months of the year juggling seven nonfiction titles, three ongoing mystery series, and surviving my IRL book club choosing Yellowface. So yeah, welcome to The Mixed Bag Edition, a look at what I’ve been reading so far in 2025.
Want the full behind-the-bookshelf scoop? Follow me on Goodreads to see what I’m reading, what I’m loving, and what I’m quietly not finishing with no judgment:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18964313.Kelly_Brakenhoff
First up, in real life Book Club Reads
(Books I read with actual humans and varying degrees of post-discussion emotional recovery.)
The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute
Not light reading, but thought-provoking and a great book for group discussion if you like solving inner conflict… or at least trying to.
The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich
A small-town story full of heart and a quiet kind of heroism that sneaks up on you.
Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan
An emotional romance with a tender heart. Voted the spiciest book our club has read in 25 years. Not everyone meant that as a compliment, but no one skipped the meeting.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
A biting, satirical look at social media, cultural appropriation, and ambition. Think Gone Girl meets Verity in the world of publishing. Some of us hated the main character, but the Chinese food was great and thanks to my writer friend Laura Chapman the insider Q&A was even better.
Series I’m Catching Up On
(My want-to-read pile may be taller than my nightstand, but when I fall for a series, I have to see it through. Characters like Stephanie Plum and Lula are just too fun to leave behind. And if a mystery comes with a side of romance or Regency drama, all the better.)
Now or Never & Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum series)
Stephanie Plum is still chasing skips, still caught between two men, and still somehow managing to blow up at least one vehicle per book. I don’t care if we’re on book 31—if Janet’s still writing them, I’m reading them.
The Emerald Threads, The Sapphire Intrigue, and The Ruby Dagger by Lynn Morrison & Anne Radcliffe (The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries)
Marketed as Bridgerton with a mystery, this series serves up stolen jewels, Regency-era drama, and just the right amount of flirtation and foul play. Think empire waistlines, secret societies, and amateur sleuthing at its most proper.
Nonfiction I’ve Been Nibbling At
(For when I’m trying to grow as a person with highlighters and good intentions, but still get distracted by fictional murders and occasionally a cookie.)
The Spiritual Art of Business by Barry Rowan
Faith, finance, and finding purpose in the middle of your workday. Surprisingly interesting for a book with “business” in the title.
Give Me Souls: Life of Don Bosco by Peter Lappin
A heartfelt biography about an Italian priest who gave his life to helping youth. Old-school Catholic grit and inspiration.
Living Joy by Chris Stefanick
A fast, uplifting read about choosing joy in a grumpy world. Easy to read in short bursts and encouraging without being preachy.
Children’s Book Recommendations
One Little Squiggle by Jodi Adams
When you look at a squiggle, what do you see? One little squiggle? What else could it be?
Follow a young girl armed with a sketchpad and a big imagination as she scooters to Squiggleville and discovers all that one little squiggle can be!
Catchy rhymes? Check. Gorgeous illustrations? Check. Real kid-made squiggle art? Double check. One Little Squiggle is a joyful celebration of creativity that shows kids (and adults!) how one scribble can spark a masterpiece.
If you’ve got a crayon-loving kid or an imagination that won’t quit—this book belongs in your cart.
Ugly Beast by Caterina Baldi
My talented Duke the Deaf Dog illustrator Caterina Baldi has a new picture book out! Ugly Beast is a funny, heartwarming story about spiders, courage, and seeing things from a different perspective.
Perfect for kids ages 5-8 who are creeped out by crawlies but big on imagination!
Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
In 2025, two of her children’s books were selected for the CBC Favorites Award Lists, honored by teachers and librarians nationwide for excellence in children’s literature. Parents, kids, and educators love the Duke the Deaf Dog books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through engaging stories.
And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project thrown together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
