June was a superlative reading month for me! I spent a lot of time reading outdoors (and indoors), and I finished several books for review, book clubs, and fun! I surpassed my reading goal for the year of 42 books, and I've read 10 out of 11 books I planned to read by authors of color (though I'll have to expand the goal for 25% of however many books I end up reading). Here's to many more nights of reading this summer!
- How to Align the Stars by Amy Dressler (LibraryThing Early Reviewers)--See my review here.
- To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn--Maybe my favorite of the Bridgerton book series so far! I really loved the romance between Eloise and Phillip, and also Eloise's vivacious character, which is a little different from the show. Can't wait to see what they do with this on screen!
- The Bloodstained Key by Charity Rau (LibraryThing Early Reviewers)--See my review here.
- The Spirit Well (Lutesong #2) by R.K. Ashwick (LibraryThing Early Reviewers)--I enjoyed this mostly cozy fantasy that focuses on bard Emry (he/him), his researcher girlfriend Cal (she/her), and their spirit friend Aspen (they/them). It's a tight, mostly joyful story with a sweet almost Regency-style romance and lots of music and flowers, but there are some higher stakes than I'd usually qualify as a cozy and some existential threats to the mains. A fun and quick read for those looking for a fantasy escape that's not too gory or overly complicated.
- She's Up to No Good by Sarah Goodman Confino (Book club read)--Laugh-out-loud funny story about a grandmother who's up to no good and her beleaguered granddaughter that she cons into falling in love with the great nephew of the man she wasn't allowed to marry. Fun beach read especially if you love the Massachusetts seaside and meddling grandmothers--much of the content is flashbacks to Grandma Evelyn's youth in the 1950s to which Jenna's life in the present is a relatable counterpoint/frame (and contemporary Grandma Evelyn is even more of a hoot in her old age).
- The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris (Another book club read)--It takes too long to get to the Alcatraz part but a story focused in on the unusual life of one character who immigrates to the United States as a kid in the 1920s, and then we finally get a wild escape from Alcatraz. I'd read more if you're interested in the immigrant part and the Alcatraz would be a nice bonus.
- Clean: The New Science of Skin by James Hamblin--Read my thoughts here.
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna--This is the epitome of cozy fantasy and such an adorable found family story--now to read all of her books!
- Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey into the Heart of Russia by David Greene (Yet another book club read)-- I'm enjoying reading a little more nonfiction. This one introduces you to several people in Russia that the journalist author meets on his Trans-Siberian railroad trip in 2013, so some insight into the mood and culture at that time.
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