June Wrap Up

# of Books Read: 10

# of Pages Read: 3,095

Favourite Book(s) of the Month: Recursion, Naturally Tan, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Blake Crouch has done it again! He has managed to capture the same edge-of-your-seat feeling that Dark Matter had and possibly even upped it in Recursion. There are so many layers to this story and I was surprised by just how much heart it ended up having. This is an example of the perfect balance between a plot-driven and a character-driven story. You spend the entire novel trying to figure out what is going on while at the same time becoming invested in the characters. It is genius!

The Wedding Party (The Wedding Date #3) by Jasmine Guillory

I find The Wedding Date series to be a lot of fun! I appreciate that the characters from the other novels make an appearance but you do not necessarily have to have read the other books in the series to read The Wedding Party. The strong female friendship might have been my favourite part of this book- it is always so refreshing to see! The main characters in this installment had some chemistry but I was expecting something more. I wish that the hate to love element of this story was a little bit stronger. It was more miscommunication than anything- which I know a lot of people dislike in romance. Overall, it was fast-paced and entertaining. I will be posting a full review soon!

Naturally Tan by Tan France

Just when I thought I couldn’t love Tan any more than I already did! Tan’s charming personality completely shines through his memoir and it was interesting to learn more of his story. He gets in to some heavier topics, but overall the tone is light and entertaining. The behind the scenes info on Queer Eye is an added bonus! Listen to the audiobook for this one- there is a surprise guest and Tan has an amazing voice.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

This is a novel that makes you reflect on the importance that books can play in people’s lives. It is also an interesting look at part of US history that I knew next to nothing about. The main character is who makes this story really special. This is one of those books that reminds me why I love historical fiction so much- they often touch on modern issues while still being set in the past. Incredible!

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep

Furious Hours is divided in to three parts, with each part being just as interesting as the next! The case the book follows is one I had never heard about before, and it is a wild story involving a Reverand, murder, insurance fraud, and revenge. It is no wonder that Harper Lee took an interest in the case. I have always known that Harper Lee helped Truman Capote conduct research for In Cold Blood, but I hadn’t realized just how much she did until reading Furious Hours. The relationship between Lee and Capote is fascinating to me and I was glad to see that this book touched on it. There were moments that dragged, but overall it was compelling.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

I thought the Silver in the Wood was absolutely beautiful. It is one of those books where the setting itself is a character. The descriptions of the forest are so lush that you feel as though you are standing in the middle of it. The relationship between the two main characters is also really endearing and it was interesting to see that relationship develop over time. I can not wait to read more from Emily Tesh!

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke

From Scratch was a powerful reminder of how beautiful and heartbreaking memoirs can be. Tembi Locke’s story brought me to tears on several occasions. The relationship that she had with her husband was beautiful and it is devastating to know that their time together was cut short. I appreciate that she did not shy away from giving us an honest insight in to her grief. Reading about her relationship with Sicily, and more specifically, with her mother-in-law, was a delight!

The Handmaid’s Tale (Graphic Novel) by Margaret Atwood

This was my first experience with the story of The Handmaid’s Tale, and I am not sure I would recommend starting here. I wish that I had read the novel first! I think because I hadn’t there were holes in the plot that I couldn’t fill. The illustrations are gorgeous and perfectly reflect the tone of the story. I will definitely have to pick up the full novel in the future and maybe revisit this one!

The River by Peter Heller

The River was a bit more literary than I was expecting, but I think I appreciated it for that reason. The descriptions of nature and the surroundings were so lush and vivid. The commentary on man vs. nature was fascinating, and probably my favourite thing about the book. It is evident that Heller has a passion for nature and the outdoors. The problem I had was that I never found myself invested in the characters, and therefore, I wasn’t invested in the outcome.  I struggled to distinguish them from one another. There is also a damsal in distress kind of character which just felt overdone. I wish she was given a voice or that the story went somewhere different. Compelling overall, I just think I preferred the man vs. nature angle over the man vs. man.

Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker

Say You Still Love Me is my first K.A. Tucker novel, and it certainly will not be my last. These two characters had so much chemistry! This book made me realize how much I adore second chance romances- there is something very sweet about revisiting a teenage romance many years later. It was intriguing to see how both characters had changed and how that impacted their dynamics. I also loved that the chapters alternated between the past and the present, with the past chapters being set at a summer camp! There were times where I felt that the relationship was going in circles, but then again, that is realistic- relationships can be complicated. I will be posting a full review soon!

June was such an amazing month for me! I turned 30 and so many people went out of their way to help me celebrate.

Have you read any of these books or are they on your TBR? What was the best book you read this month?