Here are all the books I read in June 2024 - please let me know if you’ve read any or have one on your ‘to read’ list.
In June, I read 12 books. ZERO were non-fiction (serious fail on my part!), 42% were physical books (17% e-books, 42% audiobooks). I had two 5-star books, five 4-star books, four 3-star books, and one 2-star book. I stopped reading three books (Q2 DNF post hopefully coming soon!).
So here’s my list, ranked from least to most favorite.
#12 - All Fours by Miranda July This was a case of me finishing a book I should have DNF’d. I had been told that if I could make it to part 3 then I would be good to go, but what I didn’t realize was that in part 3 the things that caused me to want to DNF it earlier on weren’t changing - I had misinterpreted the advice about the book (what they were saying was if you were okay with things through the first two parts then by the time you get to the third part the point of the book becomes clear). I struggled with the graphic sex (and sex talk) the whole time and though I see what the author was trying to do - and I do think she achieved what she was trying to do (commenting on women and aging) - it was largely lost on me because I was so deeply uncomfortable by how it was presented. Many have loved this, but it was not for me (though I did regrettably finish it). 2.0 stars.
#11 - The Celebrants by Steven Rowley had parts that I enjoyed (the group’s trip to the Statue of Liberty was a true delight), but overall I felt like the women and straight men were very one-dimensional, and I never really got a clear picture of who they were beyond the things I was told about them (Naomi’s wealth, Craig’s jail time, etc.). They seemed like caricatures whereas Jordie and Jordan felt like whole, deep people, who I knew distinctly (despite their shared name). The message was touching, and I got choked up at the end, but I got annoyed more than I hoped (given how much I loved the Guncle). 3.0 stars.
#10 - Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan was never on the DNF chopping block, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as his other books. The main character seemed so one note, almost too good, and the "bad guys" in the book were cartoonishly bad, despite the author's attempts at backstories that would justify their behavior. I also thought the tragedy in the ending was largely glossed over, which perhaps was intentional, but left me feeling icky - did the author mean for this to be a *happy* ending? I would still pick up this author's next book, but I hope he tries something different than what has become a schtick IMO. The writing is good, and likely what kept me reading, but the storyline felt forced. 3.0 stars.
#9 - Eleutheria by Allegra Hyde was put on my radar by Fiction Matters’ paperback summer reading guide. I’m glad I read this cli-fi debut novel, but I did have some issues with parts of it. There seemed to be lots of times when the author was spoon-feeding me and I wanted to say ‘I get it!’ (particularly at the end when she was trying to be sure we took away what she wanted us to!). I do think what she’s trying to do is interesting, but I was annoyed at times while reading. 3.75 stars.
#8 - The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley has had mixed reviews, which left me hesitant to pick it up, despite being my Shelves Bookstore RIAL Subscription pick. The writing is clever and funny, and I chuckled many times while reading. I thought the premise was interesting and fun, and I enjoyed the escalation of both the plot and the characters' relationships as the book progressed. I liked how it wrapped up as well. My only hang-up was the fact that the author/narrator set up the time travel element early as something that we don't need to understand (just go with it, she basically said), but the tension in the book is *about* the time travel element. I get why the author made this choice, but it also bugged me (every time I found myself having to think about how it all happened or was confronted with pieces of how it happened, I thought about how she said I wouldn't have to do that!). Not a dealbreaker for me, just a gripe I had with it despite liking the rest so much. It was a fun reading experience, and I would recommend it (as long as you're up for the time travel element!). 3.75 stars.
#7 - Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy is a book that is well-written and where the other shoe doesn't drop - and sometimes that is the kind of book my brain needs! The main character is resigned to death after moving back to her hometown when all her loved ones have passed away. She's basically waiting for death to find her when she stumbles upon a little mouse who brings the spark of life back to her days. I enjoyed this even though I live in an old house and have a serious hatred for mice - I could never get behind how the main character interacted with the mouse (Sipsworth), but honestly, it didn't even matter (though I probably would have given this five stars if that had worked for me - we'll never know!). What I enjoyed was the exploration of this woman's life, how she got to where she was, and how this tiny being reignited her will to live. It was simply a lovely reading experience and one that can be hard to find. 4.0 stars.
#6 - The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo was my first book by this popular author, and I could certainly see picking up another by her. This is historical fantasy with ties to real historical events and figures along with fable, myth, and mysticism woven in. I found the two main characters interesting and complex and their love story believable and compelling. The side characters did seem a bit flat (or perhaps rushed/not as well-developed), but that didn't bother me all that much. I enjoyed this reading experience so much and found myself reaching for this book even when I only had a small sliver of time free - that was great! I don't read a lot of fantasy and felt this had just enough magic to fit into the genre but not so much that the world-building needs to be overly complex or drawn out (which is what oftentimes causes me to struggle with fantasy). Overall, I would recommend this book to those interested in this time period (the Spanish Inquisition) or who enjoy light fantasy with smart women at the center. 4.0 stars.
#5 - Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff isn’t out until September, but I got an early copy and this short romance just called to me! It was fun to pick up a book and get totally sucked in from page one, not want to put it down and finish it in one sitting. Celeb/normal person romances are my favorites, and Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff added a fun new layer by making both main characters famous, but in different arenas (and one who is more infamous than famous as the novel opens). This novel has great movement that doesn't feel forced - I was rooting for the two leads, but I also understood the tension keeping them apart (no lack of communication tropes here - hooray!). The side characters are excellent, though I do wish we got more of them. And I will say that that is perhaps the one flaw of the book overall - I wish there was more. Though I felt bought into the love story, there was more to be mined and some of the tangential stories were interesting but underdeveloped (like the tension and resolution with her boss Teresa). Overall, I would recommend this book and will look forward to reading more from this author in the future! 4.0 stars.
#4 - This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud is a slow build character study of a French Algerian family over the course of nearly 100 years. I think this one suffered a bit from me picking this up at the wrong time - I usually enjoy family dramas, but this one felt a bit too long at times, lingering too long on certain moments. The overall effect of this book is very strong, but I really had to push myself to pick it up more often than I’d like. I enjoyed how each character was nuanced and changed over time as we all do - that is the benefit of spending so much time with each one over the course of their lifetime. I do think much of this could have been achieved without so much time devoted to each and every small moment. Again, this may just be that I didn’t pick this up at the right time to fully appreciate it. 4.0 stars.
#3 - Under Your Spell by Laura Wood was such a delightful romcom! It (again) features the famous person + normal person romance, yet with another unique spin - the "normal person" in this story is the daughter of a famous person and has made the decision to stay out of the limelight. So, what happens when she falls for someone who will place her squarely in the limelight? The story centers around Clemmie (short for Clementine), who has just had a particularly brutal breakup with a very mediocre guy. After an evening wallowing with her two sisters (who share the same rockstar dad, but different moms - this little family of women is so wonderful!), the three decide to take matters into their own hands and cast a spell to set things right, just like they did as girls. There isn't magic in this book, more like manifesting (though it certainly *could be* magic) - just pointing this out for those who love or hate magical elements (they really aren't there). But the spell casting is a turning point for the sisters, and we get to follow along with Clemmie as their wishes slowly come true. The love interest is Theo, who is pretty perfect, which I found just lovely, though some may roll their eyes. I felt like Clemmie needed perfect TBH. But don't take this to mean that everything goes how I thought it would - there are lots of surprises and great choices the author made. This was such a fun read, and I would recommend it to just about anyone. It's closed-door, though it's pretty steamy even so. 4.25 stars.
#2 - Margo’s Got Money Troubles will hands down be in my best books of 2024. No question. The writing is excellent - funny, smart, fresh - and the premise is unique. But most of all, I loved that this book has something to say. And it's something to say about something that I care deeply about - women being able to be their full, messy, authentic selves in a world that wants to judge and shame them for the choices they make (or don't make). I listened to an interview with the author and learned that she was deeply interested in America's obsession with the Madonna/whore dichotomy. She was fascinated by the idea of a character who was both a mother and a sex worker, through this character she could explore both the pedestal that motherhood is placed upon as well as the stigma around sex work. How can a young woman who decides to make the "good" choice to keep an unplanned pregnancy then be shunned, shamed, and threatened because of the choices she makes to provide for her child? Her exploration of motherhood, womanhood, relationships between parents and children, between friends, between romantic partners - it is all so nuanced and well done. I will also say that I laughed out loud many times while reading and would like anyone to reach out to me when they get to the writing project she does to earn her first tip on Only Fans (as the mother of Pokemon-obsessed children, I found this hilarious). 5.0 stars.
#1 - My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok is a stunningly beautiful book. This coming-of-age story is a slow build, but I was never bored, always looking forward to picking it up and finding myself sucked into Asher Lev’s growing up. He is an artist born into a family and culture that struggles to accept his gift - at times he struggles, too, but the gift doesn’t let him go. The final 70 pages are propulsive and emotional as Asher comes into his own, and I left feeling this will be in my top books of all time. A masterpiece. 5.0 stars.