How’s everyone’s summer going so far? I feel like I’m really SUMMERING this year, you know? I’ve slept late, I’ve lounged outside, I’ve swam in pools AND the ocean. I’m devouring beach reads like its my job (it kind of is at this point.) I’m giving myself a 90s summer and by extension my kids will get one, too.
Just kidding, I’m shipping them off to day camp so I can enjoy my 90s summer in peace. ✌️
Here’s the June book line up:
Quicksilver, Callie Hart
You guys, I am still swooning over this book. I like my romantasy books heavy on the romance, and this one delivers.
Saeris Fane spends her days sneaking around her hot desert homeland picking pockets and doing what she needs to get by. When a theft goes horribly wrong, she’s delivered to the palace, where she inadvertently opens a portal to another realm. A realm populated with Fae, creatures she only thought existed in fairy tales. She finds herself bound to Kingfisher, a Fae warrior who needs her particular skills.
Rating: Loved it 😍
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man), Jesse Q. Sutanto
Vera Wong is back! And she’s still sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, though no one seems to really mind. This time, a chance encounter with a forlorn-looking young woman outside a police station introduces Vera to a new dead person and a whole new cast of characters who desperately need her Chinese mother’s wisdom and guidance (according to Vera, anyway.)
Rating: Loved it 😍
Shield of Sparrows, Devney Perry
In an effort to reclaim the feeling of reading Quicksilver, I picked up this one. It didn’t quite hit the same mark for me, but I did find it compelling enough that I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series.
Princess Odessa finds herself in an arranged marriage with the prince of a neighboring kingdom, Xavier, to fulfill the terms of a treaty called The Shield of Sparrows. Her task as his bride is to covertly spy on the kingdom and report what she finds back to her father. But what she finds is anything but what she expected, and time is running out to get the information she seeks before the next migration of deadly creatures that plague their world.
Rating: Liked it 💕
The Staircase in the Woods, Chuck Wendig
Five high school friends make a pact to be there for each other no matter what. On a camping trip in the woods the group stumbles upon a staircase in the woods that seemingly leads to nowhere. One of the friends climbs up…and disappears. Twenty years later the staircase reappears and the group reunites to try to find their friend and discover where the staircase leads.
This one was slightly outside of my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it. The thing I kept thinking as I read was what a good movie or TV show this would make, which I think speaks to how vividly the book was written. Also hope the TV show or movie thing actually happens, though I think it would probably be too scary for me to watch.
Rating: Liked it 💕
Sunrise on the Reaping, Suzanne Collins
It’s the 50th Hunger Games and the second Quarter Quell and twice as many tributes are being sent to the Capital to compete, including Haymitch Abernathy. Haymitch knows he’s unlikely to make it out alive, meaning he’s unlikely to see the girl he loves again. Knowing the deck is already stacked against him, Haymitch aims to make an impact that reverberates beyond the arena.
It was definitely interesting to get Haymitch’s origin story and also see the origins of some familiar characters from the Hunger Games series. Also excited to see this one play out on screen!
Rating: Liked it 💕
Summer Romance, Annabel Monaghan
Still reeling from the death of her beloved mother and dealing with a divorce, home organizer Ali’s life is actually a mess. When her dog pees on a very handsome man at the dog park, her summer takes a turn she wasn’t expecting.
Ugh, I just love Annabel Monaghan. Nora Goes Off Script is one of my all-time favorites. She has a way of making the mundane seem so special. This book in particular had that amazing kick-your-feet-and-squeal-happily kind of romance and was the perfect book to kick off my intense foray into summer beach read season.
Rating: Loved it 💕
The Love Haters, Katherine Center
Katie is a filmmaker desperately trying to avoid the chopping block at her company. When her coworker offers her a plum assignment profiling Hutch Hutcheson, a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, she jumps at the chance. Despite the fact that she can’t swim. When she gets to the Florida Keys to begin filming, she discovers Hutch is very good looking.
This one was really fun with a good cast of quirky characters. There was a sort of side plot about body acceptance that I felt could have either been left out entirely or done better, so TW if that’s a sensitive topic for you.
Rating: Liked it 💕
This was a solid reading month, and I was surprised by how many books I got through. July is shaping up to be another book-heavy month full of fun and frothy romance as I continue gathering inspiration for my current WIP. Hope you all have a great long weekend! Remember to call your reps!