What I’m Reading in May 2026 | Monthly TBR & Reading Goals

Mike’s Book Reviews
Mike’s Book ReviewsApr 30, 2026

Why It Matters

The video models intentional genre diversification and series completion, encouraging audiences to broaden reading habits and sustain long‑term engagement with literature.

Key Takeaways

  • Host diversifies May TBR with fantasy, horror, sci‑fi, drama.
  • Revisits "Inheritance Cycle" to finish series, encouraging new fantasy readers.
  • Tackles emotionally heavy "The Lovely Bones" despite personal triggers.
  • Explores debut horror novel "No More Burning" for fresh genre exposure.
  • Plans to increase sci‑fi reads, addressing channel’s genre imbalance.

Summary

Mike’s May 2026 "What I’m Reading" video outlines a deliberately eclectic reading slate, mixing fantasy, horror, sci‑fi and drama to keep his audience from genre fatigue. He frames the list as a personal challenge and a public commitment to broaden his literary horizons. The core of the month’s agenda is finishing unfinished series, notably a third run through Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle, which he positions as a gateway for new fantasy fans. He also confronts the emotionally charged novel The Lovely Bones, acknowledging its trigger‑heavy content while noting his readiness to re‑experience its grief narrative. A debut horror title, No More Burning, is slated to test his appetite for contemporary terror, and a sci‑fi selection aims to redress the channel’s historic under‑representation of the genre. Mike peppers the discussion with personal anecdotes: his wife’s early completion of the Paolini books, a comparison to reading Percy Jackson with his child, and a concise plot synopsis of The Lovely Bones that underscores its after‑life perspective. He also shares the synopsis of No More Burning, highlighting its unsettling refuge‑in‑the‑mountains premise, and admits his limited engagement with modern horror communities. By publicly committing to genre‑spanning reads and series completion, Mike signals to his followers that literary growth often requires stepping outside comfort zones. His transparent approach may inspire other creators and readers to diversify their shelves, potentially reshaping consumption patterns within the book‑tube ecosystem.

Original Description

Mike discusses all of his reading plans for May of 2026.
ℙ𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠:
Nowhere Burning https://amzn.to/4cCjJS2
The Lovely Bones https://amzn.to/4tHdNNG
The Forever War https://amzn.to/4mUjZz7
ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕖𝕡𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕕𝕖:
@TheHorrorShowChannel
@JaimeEnFuego
@CriminOllyBlog
𝕎𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕄𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘? 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕕𝕠 𝕤𝕠 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕒𝕕𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤:
Mike K.
15201 Mason Rd
Suite 169
Cypress, TX 77433
Join Mike's server on Discord https://discord.gg/aMrpCrN
Follow Mike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Zepp1978
Follow Mike on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zepp1978/
Visit Mike's Amazon Wishlist: https://amzn.to/2zpHooW
Like Mike's Book Reviews on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MikesBookReviews/
Microphone used in these videos: https://amzn.to/3IpFSAX
0:00 Introduction
1:16 Book 1
5:50 Book 2
9:17 Book 3
12:08 Book 4
16:00 Final Thoughts
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Excerpt Music Credit: Ivan Shpilevsky - The Time (No Copyright Music)
Music provided by Tunetank.
Free Download: https://bit.ly/3e3sxiw
Excerpt Music by Karl Casey @WhiteBatAudio
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0(CC BY 3.0)
Excerpt music provided by Infraction
Music used: Cinematic Adventure Epic Podcast by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Storyteller
Music used: Cinematic Trailer Emotional Epic by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Dangerous Game
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0(CC BY 3.0)
Theme music provided by Infraction
Music used: Epic (No Copyright Music)
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0(CC BY 3.0)
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#MikesBookReviews #TBR #reading

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