June has come and gone and so has this very strange end of the school year. I’m looking forward to my summer vacation and some reading and relaxing. Before I can jump into that, however, I have to look back on my reading month in June. I read 23 books this month, which I feel pretty good about. You’ll find everything I read below the cut.
1. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was such a good read. For such a long time I didn’t want to read it because I didn’t know how I felt about what it did to the history. I really liked the story, and all the different perspectives we got. The magic system was really cool. If you haven’t checked out these books yet, I highly recommend them.
2. A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone
Prompts: Fireworks (Romantic Read), Hot Dogs (‘Trashy’ Read), Sun Tanning (Hot Read)
Rating: 3 stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was a book I’ve seen around, and I had to admit I was a little bit curious. It was somewhat ridiculous in how certain things played out. However, I was definitely intrigued by the mystery aspects of the book.
3. Supernova by Marissa Meyer
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a really good conclusion to the series, and I quite enjoyed the way everything played out. This is something that I often say about series conclusions, but it’s true. The story kept me guessing, and I wasn’t sure what to expect about the characters, especially with how our two protagonists were on different sides of the conflicts.
4. 10 Things I Can See From Here by Carrie Mac
Prompts: Pride Month (LGBTQIA Read), Sangria (Warm + Fuzzy), Farmers Market (Locally Written),
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Read
Review: This was a cute story. The ending was somewhat abrupt, but overall I really enjoyed it. It was an interesting perspective and I enjoyed reading about how Maeve overthought everything. It felt really realistic. I also liked reading a book set in my province. I always have fun when I read books that are set in areas that I’m familiar with.
5. In Search of Us by Ava Dellaira
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I know I always say I like the books that I read, but I’m pretty easy to please. That being said, I enjoyed this one. I liked the two different time periods and how we got both the mother’s story and the daughters. It was well written, from my perspective. Definitely worth checking out if the plot intrigues you.
6. Versailles: My Father’s Palace by Maite Labat, Jean-Baptiste Veber, Alexis Vitrebert
Prompts: Picnic Basket (Read outside), Cartoons (Graphic Novels), Lemonade (Fresh Release), Ice Cream (Short and Sweet)
Rating: 3 stars
Format: eBook
Review: There will be a full review of this coming up on the blog closer to when it publishes in September.
7. Cleopatra: Daughter of the Nile by Kristiana Gregory
Prompts: Bees (Has a Queen), Poolside (Water on Cover)
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was a re-read, but it’s been forever since I read it so I had definitely forgotten everything. I really enjoyed the story, but not as much as some of the other books that I’ve read. I liked Cleopatra as a narrator, and the machinations that happened behind the scenes to position her into a place of power. She’s a fascinating historical figure.
8. The Savage Dawn by Melissa Grey
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I’m glad I made it all the way through this series. It was a really interesting one, and I enjoyed this as a conclusion. It was heart wrenching as all series conclusions should be, and I felt really invested in the fates of the characters.
9. Into White by Randi Pink
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I don’t really know what to say about this book. It was a really interesting concept, but I will admit to being a little skeptical at the start. However, the author completely won me over by part way through the story, and I found her message really interesting. I liked the dynamics between LaToya and her brother, and the rest of their family. This is definitely worth checking out.
10. Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
Prompts: Dad Joke (Dad’s Pick), Fireflies (About Innocence), Ghost Stories (Horror Book), Graduation Day (Adult Novel), Camping (Wilderness Setting)
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This is a monster of a book, and it was completely unexpected. I went into it with almost no expectations of what was going to happen and I was still surprised by the contents of the book. It was a really engaging story, but it was very strange. The little boy was a really strong main character and the story was really well developed. I loved the relationship between him and his mother and how much she fought for him. It’s definitely worth checking out, but don’t expect it to be anything like Perks of Being a Wallflower.
11. Hamnet and Judith by Maggie O’Farrell
Rating: 5 stars
Format: eBook
Review: There will be a review of this coming up on the blog closer to the publication date.
12. Batman: Nightwalker – The Graphic Novel by Marie Lu
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: The art in this graphic novel was really lovely. The story was good, and I found myself engaged and interested. The romance wasn’t the most exciting thing, but I enjoyed it well enough. I am not by any means an expert in Batman lore, but I think that Marie Lu did a good job with the story, and the artist did a fantastic job with the design. I also have to note that I think this is funny because it’s a graphic novel adaptation of a novel adaptation of a comic book character.
13. Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I have to admit I was excited to get back into this series. I hated Five from the instant you met him, and I felt really vindicated in that hatred when he betrayed the group. I’m glad Sam is back with the crew. I’m having a lot of fun with this series, so I can’t wait to continue on and see how things play out in the series.
14. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Prompts: Travel Journal (Review a read), Road Trip (Set on the Road), Ketchup (TBR Veteran), Stargazing (Retelling)
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was my June #bestiemademe, so you’ll find a full review of the book up on the blog soon!
15. Easy Prey by Catherine Lo
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a really surprising read. When I was listening to it, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it as I hated two out of the three points of view and that can make a book a hard sell. However, I liked how we got the current timeline and also the past of how they got to that point. I absolutely loved the ending.
16. Henry VI Pt III by William Shakespeare
Prompts: S’mores (Part of a Trilogy), Flip Flops (Retry a Read), Gardening (Flower on Cover)
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This wasn’t my favourite play. I enjoyed it well enough, but I just don’t enjoy the historical plays as much as the others. However, I am glad that I finally got through it.
17. The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a cute story. The protagonist wasn’t my usual type of character that I liked, but I really enjoyed the journey that she went on over the course of the story. It’s not the kind of book I would usually read either, but I have to admit that I had a lot of fun reading it. I enjoyed the setting and the plot, and watching the character grow via her trip with her ex’s grandmother.
18. The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a really great story. I liked the two points of views and how different the boys were. I also loved how they came together and how they learned and grew over the course of the story. It was a really sweet story, and I feel like it’s one that a lot of kids will love. I’m definitely going to be recommending it to my students in September.
19. Monstress Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I find the art in this graphic novel absolutely beautiful. I really can’t believe how gorgeous it is. However, I found this edition kind of confusing. I wanted to know what was happening, and it wasn’t always super clear.
20. Monstress Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was a good continuation of the series. I feel like I’m learning a lot about the world, and the story has me guessing and wanting more. I need to know what’s going to happen.
21. Monstress Vol. 3: Haven by Marjorie M. Liu
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I really enjoyed the third book in this series. I feel like I’m getting to know the characters even more and I am a lot more fond of them as well. I like the development of the story, and I’m looking forward to getting to the next book in the series soon.
22. Fire and Blood by George RR Martin
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: There’s a big part of me that is bitter that this book came out and not the next book in the ASOIAF series. It was interesting to see how much thought he put into this world, but I really want the rest of the main book series.
23. One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks
Rating: 4 stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was an eARC, so there’ll be a full review coming up soon!
What did you read in June?
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