Oops, it has been a while! Consequences of not having a personal computer, and I've had a lot going on. I did, however, read a lot in June and July, so here's the breakdown!
Books Read in June 2026
- The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Book club read)-- I enjoyed learning about the life of Mary McLeod Bethune and her relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt. I didn't learn much I didn't already know about the latter. I was also disappointed about how much was changed historically because I don't feel like it was necessary for this novel, but at least it was very well researched and well explained in the author's note.
- Game Changer by Rachel Reid--Everyone loves Heated Rivalry but Kip and Scott were actually my fave so I loved reading a book about them. Will probably read the rest of the series at some point but maybe when the craze has faded a bit more.
- The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson (Another book club read)--An informative and very short take on the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence, but nothing new if you took AP US History in the last 25 years or so. I did enjoy the draft in an appendix, for language nerd reasons.
- Swept Away by Beth O' Leary--A fortuitous Little Free Library find--one of the most engaging and compelling romances I've read in a while--highly recommend if you were/are obsessed with books about people surviving in the wilderness, like I was as a kid.
- Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, trans. Ginny Tapley Takamori (Book club read)--Didn't think it would be my thing, but I actually enjoyed the character and learning about Japanese convenience store culture. It's short but the lack of chapters is a mind trip.
Books Read in July 2026
- The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad--Wonderfully trippy short stories that take historical figures out of context. I came for the Anne Boleyn story but stayed for an anachronistic dinner at a "historian's" house and a Nellie Bly/Julius Caesar romance.
- A Suit or a Suitcase: Poems by Maggie Smith--I always learn more about myself or the world when I read her poems.
- Marked by the Fae King by Megan van Dyke--A satisfying conclusion to what may currently be my favorite romantasy series of all time.
- The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner (book club read)--This may be my new favorite Jennifer Weiner book. It truly captures the complications of a close-in-age sister relationship. Also a good one if you like music/behind-the-scenes stories.
- Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz--A new overall favorite--I kept complaining to my husband that it was too short! Love the robot perspective and the California/US civil war background context--just so well done. Cozy sf at its finest.
- The Mark by Anagha Lanjekar Sawant--So glad the author messaged me on Threads and asked me to read. Really thoughtful near future sf about what would happen if we all knew when we would die, following a cast of characters in near modern India. If that sounds interesting, I highly recommend. It's also very short.
- Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson-The first physical Goodreads giveaway I have ever won! Took a bit to get into but ends up being a pretty funny and interesting no-spice romance. The small publishing company set in Nashville and the "mystery editor" aspect were my favorite parts. We all know who the mystery editor is, but their literal on-page dialogue is so fun.
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