June 2024 Reads

A GREAT month of reading.

This month, I feel like I have read so many great books. A few delicious new releases, some I have had on my bookshelf for a while and decided to get the audio from Libby, and a few surprises. It was a great month for my ears (because I didn’t read a single Kindle or hardcover book). Hoping to actually make time to sit down and read in July.

If you’re a BOTM Member, a note that they now offer audiobooks! I re-joined when I realized Audio was an option!

ALSO Reminder - if you have Spotify Premium - you get 15 hours of audiobooks free per month! Definitely put that to use, it’s how I read Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

Five Star Reads:

Not In Love (Audible) - I LOVE Ali Hazelwood’s STEM romances, and this might be one of my favorites. Rue works for a biotech startup that’s about to be acquired, and she recognizes the guy she met on an app the night before, in the takeover meeting. Eli and Rue have a TON of chemistry, and I loved how the book unfolded. There was a lot of spice in this one, probably more than some of her more recent books.

Summer Romance (Libro.fm) - I couldn’t wait for Annabel Monaghan’s next book the minute I finished "Same Time Next Summer," and "Summer Romance" did not disappoint. Annabel knows how to write complicated female main characters trying to figure it out, and I loved Alice in this book. She’s a newly single mom of three when she meets Ethan and decides a summer romance is what she needs. And it’s what we needed. The way Annabel writes a summer scene is just perfect - I want to live in her novels.

Swan Song (BOTM Audio) - If you love a good beach read, look no further. Elin can do no wrong, and this book continues that thread. The Richardsons roll into Nantucket with a lot of cash and purchase an overpriced and geologically failing house. When that house goes up in flames and their concierge goes missing, Ed Kapenash helps solve his last case before retirement. I love the descriptions of food, parties, and extravagance that Elin writes. I will mourn her yearly books when she’s done.

How to End A Love Story (Audible) - Helen and Grant survived a shared trauma in high school and wind up working in the writer’s room of Helen’s TV show. Chemistry and friendship ensue. This book had a lot more depth than I originally anticipated, and I loved it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I heard it got picked up for a TV show, which I will definitely watch. The author is a screenwriter, so I am sure it will be good, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Spotify) - I didn’t know what to expect because I’d heard a lot of hype, but I loved it. Margo is 19 when she gets pregnant with her professor’s baby and decides to keep it. When she’s struggling for money, she discovers OnlyFans. The cast of characters for this book is hilarious, her father, an ex-professional wrestler, and the writing was so enjoyable; some of the descriptions made me laugh out loud. There’s also surprising depth to the book, Margo’s development as a mom was written so well and so relatable (despite the age difference) and it covers topics of substance abuse. Definitely going to read more of this author’s books.

Other Reads

Happy Medium (Audible) - I really enjoyed "Mrs. Nash’s Ashes," but this one fell short for me. I enjoyed it but had a hard time with the main character. Gretchen is a “medium” who doesn’t have any real supernatural powers but ends up hired to solve a problem on a goat farm, encountering a ghost, and the sexy owner of the farm. This was cute with some twists I didn’t see coming, but I wanted more from Gretchen.

Reign (Libby) - I’ve read the other "American Royals" books and wish I’d done a bit of a refresher before jumping into this one. The prior book ends on a cliffhanger, and I loved how this book wrapped everything up. I enjoyed the idea of the United States as a monarchy (a nice separation from the current political chaos) and if you’re looking for a fun series, this is a great one.

The Rom-Commers (BOTM Audio) - Katherine Center is another author I will pre-order immediately. This book focuses on Emma, a no-name screenwriter who’s been caregiving for her father, and Charlie, an extremely famous screenwriter who can’t write a rom-com to save his life. Emma is hired as a ghostwriter unbeknownst to Charlie, and he’s not pleased. I thought this book was so fun and enjoyed learning more about screenwriting.

The Hunter (Libby) - Tana French’s Dublin Murder mysteries are some of my favorites, but this one felt a bit slow for me. I had a hard time getting into the story and felt like it was longer than it needed to be. The second book in a series focuses on American former cop Cal Hooper living in rural Ireland and the cast of characters in the town. This book focuses on a character returning to the town and trying to cook up a scheme when a murder happens. If you’re looking for a mystery, I’d probably start with Tana’s older books.

State of Terror (Libby) - I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while, and I wish I’d read it sooner. I am not particularly well-versed in politics, so a political thriller like this, focusing on the Secretary of State, Ellen Adams, in the wake of a terrorist attack in three European countries, is something I can get right into without worrying about inaccuracies. However, this was written by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny, so I’d say Hillary probably has a good grasp on the realities of being Secretary of State. I tore through this book, and my mom loves Louise Penny and will definitely read more of her books. They left the ending open for a sequel, and I’d certainly read it.it.

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