I love summer, no matter how hot or humid it gets. In June I tended my garden, got my bike tuned up, celebrated Father’s Day with my Dad, saw a comedy show, celebrated my birthday, and traveled to Wisconsin to visit my sister and her family. I also kicked off another year of Cathy’s 20 Books of Summer; this year I’m going to try to read AND review 15 books from the list posted here. This month I read 7 and reviewed 5 of those.
Here’s what I read in June:
- All I Know by Holly LaBarbera
- Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake (audio)
- Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyan Woo
- The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks
- Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls (audio)
- The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (audio)
- The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum
- Repacking for Greece by Sally Jane Smith
My favorite reads:
Master Slave Husband Wife was excellent. It provided so much information but also told a compelling personal story.
I also loved the atmospheric fantasy of The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands.
I initially disliked The Seven Year Slip, because I got very annoyed with the main character, and sometimes time travel stories just make my head hurt. But in the end I really enjoyed the way this one came together.
Disappointing reads:
I loved the Bright Falls trilogy by Ashley Herring Blake, but I didn’t find the third book as moving as the first two. I’m not sure I liked Iris quite as much as Delilah and Astrid, but it was still a good story.
On the blog:
I wrote about Ten Books that Generated Strong Emotions, and I joined a new link-up called Spell the Month in Books.
I posted five reviews: All I Know, The Cautious Traveller, Half Broke Horses, Master Slave Husband Wife, and for Ozathon 2024, The Patchwork Girl of Oz.
Books for challenges:
- 15 Books of Summer (read and reviewed): All I Know, Master Slave Husband Wife, The Cautious Traveller, Half Broke Horses, The Patchwork Girl of Oz
- Backlist Reader: Half Broke Horses
- Nonfiction: Master Slave Husband Wife, Repacking for Greece
- Reading Around the World: Repacking for Greece
What I’m reading now:
I’m listening to The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis (a perfect summer sci-fi read), and reading In this Ravishing World by Nina Schuyler, a book of connected short stories about environmental issues.
What’s coming up:
I have two ARCs to read in July: Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi and Gravity Lost by L.M. Sagas. I’m excited for both of these. And I’ll be reading Tik-Tok of Oz for Ozathon 2024.
Added to my TBR:
My local bookstore, Old Town Books, issued a list of summer reading recommendations, complete with a reading bingo card. I’ve added quite a few of those to my list, including Margo’s Got Money Troubles and If You Can’t Take the Heat. The Chocolate Lady recommended No. 23 Burlington Square, a British historical mystery that also involves “Sliding Doors” parallel lives. And Leah’s Books recommended The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (and its sequel), a fantasy/romance.
Things that made me happy this month:
I’m just about finished with Bridgerton (I know, I’m taking my time) with some mixed feelings, but I do love Nicola Coughlin! For anyone who’s a new fan, she’s also narrated several audiobooks, including Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen.
I hope you’re having a good summer, and good reading!
