June takes the prize of the most books I’ve read in a month so far this year, by one more book than what I read in March. What do these two months have in common? A competitive readathon I had a lot of fun participating in. In March, it was the Swiftie Readathon, but in June it was the Amazing Readathon. I really love reading in community and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in both of these readathons. Other than my reading, this month was absolutely awful, actually. It had highlights, like traveling to Michigan to hang out with two wonderful friends, which was genuinely the most fabulous time. But work? Terrible. Living in America? Not great. So I’m grateful that at least my reading was a good time. Let’s talk about those books, shall we?
Visual Representation of Books I Read by Ranking
5 Stars
Reviews are coming for Sweet Thing by Kate Meader and Between These Broken Hearts by Lexi Ryan because I had both as ARCs, but needless to say, I loved them both so much. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood is one of my favorites from Ali and made me cry? I’m still not sure why because I wasn’t even crying over things that seemed particularly sad, but Ali will get me every time. Strung Along by Hannah Cowan was my first book from Cowan, but it will definitely not be my last. I loved the small town cowboy type vibe she created in this book and it was just what I needed the day I picked it up. Can I Steal You for a Second? by Jodi McAlister is hands down one of my favorite sapphic romances I’ve ever read and tops the list of Bachelor inspired romances I’ve ever read as well. Considering I’m a sucker for a Bachelor inspired romance, that’s saying a lot. I loved the entire Marry Me, Juliet trilogy and I’m so excited to read more from McAlister soon. Hula for the Home Front was a book I picked up randomly at the American Girl store when I went with my best friend and her three year old because the nostalgia hit so hard. I can’t believe there are American Girl books I haven’t read, honestly, so I decided to start fixing that with Hula for the Home Front. Is it book two in Nanea‘s series? Yes. So oops on that, but overall, this was such a great read that took me right back to my childhood of absolutely devouring and being obsessed with these books. I stand by the fact that the only reason I got a 4 on my AP Us History exam is because of books like these. Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan continues the trend of me being absolutely OBSESSED with this world and series that Ryan has created. I love this world so much. I kind of hope she writes more in the world, even though now that she’s written a duology for both sisters, I’m not sure where she would go from here. But I know there are characters she could follow!
4.5 Stars
You can find my review of The Deaf Girl here and my review for The Ripple Effect is coming. I do really like Maggie North’s writing and I hope to continue reading her for a long, long time.
4 Stars
Reviews of some of these books are already posted and reviews of two are still to come. Hit Girls is reviewed due to having an ARC here. Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAlister and In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander were overdue ARCs that I reviewed here. So was Valentines for the Rancher, which I reviewed here.
Reviews of both A Simple Twist of Fate and These Summer Storms are coming soon, hopefully. So I’m not going to give you much information, beyond telling you that I really enjoyed both.
Out with the Tide by Julie Olivia was a really great contemporary romance set in small town New England and I just really love these characters. The family dynamic that Olivia has created is working so well for me and I really love the large cast of characters and am truly impressed by how Olivia balances making them all feel real without making her books a million pages long. In contrast, Huang makes her books very long and King of Envy was no different from her usual in that regard, but it was a return to her darker roots. And it served me exactly what I wanted when I picked it up, honestly. Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder is a single dad romance with a woman that he forced to leave town many years prior and that was an interesting choice. And yet, I adored it. I love the kids in this series. A Song for You & I by Kay O’Neill was a fantastical graphic novel that I didn’t love as much as the Tea Dragon world, but I will always love O’Neill’s art style and this book was no exception.
3 Stars
ARC Reviews for Starlight and the Christmas Dare and Home for the Challah Days can be found here. An ARC review for The Devil in Blue Jeans can be found here. And an ARC Review for The Déjà Glitch can be found here.
That just leaves as a non ARC, A Fate of Wrath & Flame, which was on my currently reading and then DNF for now shelf for over a year, but I finally finished it. I thought the book was interesting, but ultimately not fully my speed. I am curious to know how the series continues, but I’m not sure if I’m interested enough to actually keep reading it.
Closing Thoughts
I really hope that July brings some more joy to the world and to my own life. I know we could all use it. In the meantime, I wish you well.
xx
firewhiskeyreader 