Best Books of June
As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.
So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.
These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from June.
Consider Yourself Kissed (Jessica Stanley): This book was so good that she made me want to go lock myself somewhere and do nothing else but read her book. The writing is gorgeous. The story is relatable. Every character is lovely (except her dad). This book is like getting a hug. Go read it. Immediately.
Skipshock (Caroline O’Donoghue): Do you recognize the author’s name? Did you read The Rachel Incident? Same author, compleeeeeeeeeeetely different book. But if you liked her writing in that, you may like it in this, which I’m declaring is the new Hunger Games. No, they’re not making kids fight to the death, but it’s that kind of world building that makes you lose yourself in the story. This is brilliant. And I can’t wait for part two.
10 Marchfield Square (Nicola Whyte): If you liked The Maid by Nita Prose, you may also like this book. They felt very similar. And sweet. It’s a cozy mystery that feels like it operates outside a time period, if that makes sense.
The Matchmaker (Aisha Saeed): I’ve known Aisha since the BlogHer years, so I was thrilled to hear that she had written a book for adults because she is known for her middle grade fiction. This book is wonderful. A cozy thriller – as in more than a cozy mystery but less scary than a thriller, so perfect beach read because you’ll keep wanting one more chapter to figure the whole thing out. Plus there’s a little romance in there and plenty of weddings. Loved this book.
Death at the White Hart (Chris Chibnall): A new book by the creator of the television show Broadchurch, that feels very… Broadchurch-y. I didn’t love it in the beginning, but I’m glad I stuck with it because I really loved it by the end. I hope this becomes a series.
What did you read last month?
4 comments
Ooh, some interesting sounding ones here, Mel!
June was a good reading month for me, with four books finished. All reviewed on my blog, as well as on Goodreads & StoryGraph:
* “Rules For Visiting” by Jessica Francis Kane. This is the July pick for my Childless Collective Nomo Book Club. It took me a little while to get into it, but I wound up thoroughly enjoying it. May is a 40 year old gardener who lives a fairly solitary life with her widowed father — but when she lucks into an extra month of holiday time, she decides to use it visit four old friends who are scattered across the country and (in one case) across the Atlantic. A great meditation on gardening, grief, friendship, connection, and the lost art of visiting. (4 stars.)
* “Kills Well With Others” by Deanna Raybourn. A sequel to “Killers of a Certain Age” (yay!!), which I read (twice!) and adored. Our heroines are four (semi?) retired professional assassins (!) in their 60s, and they are a hoot. Lots of fun! (4-4.5 stars.)
* “We Solve Murders” by Richard Osman. If you like The Thursday Murder Club books by the same author, you will like this one. Also lots of fun! (4.5-5 stars.)
* “Mania: Tartan, Turmoil and My Life as a Bay City Roller” by Stuart “Woody” Wood. Your interest & enjoyment of this book will probably depend on whether you were a fan of the band (assuming you were even around back then…!). Woody was the guy I thought I would marry when I was 15 (lol), and while I have read other books about the band & by former band members, I will admit I probably enjoyed his the most. 😉 I’m glad he survived those years with his humour & optimism and love of music intact. (4 stars.)
The Rachel Incident is very much NOT a me kind of book, but I very much enjoyed the Gifts trilogy by the same author.
Oooh, I haven’t heard of a lot of these! Skipshock sounds amazing. And Aisha Saeed is awesome, I actually get to teach “Amal Unbound” this next year. 🙂 I’ll check these out!
I had to be persuaded to finish Broadchurch because I hated everyone by the 3rd episode, but I’m glad I did because it was really good. (You’re welcome for that run-on sentence!) It sounds like I might enjoy the book in the same way!