Everything I read in June
and a mid-year reading check-in
Good morning!! How was everyone’s Fourth? We enjoyed a slow weekend in the city, dinner out with a friend, a bbq with family, and some much needed downtime.
Today’s newsletter is all about books—what I read (and loved) in June, and a bonus mid-year gut check on reading habits and the five books I can’t stop thinking about six month into the year.
Pour yourself an iced latte and if you can, read somewhere outside.
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Everything I read in June
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall | Historical Fiction | Enjoyed
A love triangle unearths dangerous, deadly secrets from the past in this thrilling tale perfect.
This book is highly binge-able. With short chapters that keep you guessing, it’s easy to squeeze in just one more chapter before bed. I enjoyed how the past-present timeline unraveled the secrets, and the pace throughout the book. It reads like a slow-burn mystery-romance-historical fiction and would make a perfect book club pick.
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand | Contemporary fiction | Loved!
After tragedy strikes, Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different stages in her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket.
Sometimes books find me at the exact right time and for that, and that alone, they stick with me longer. Enter The Five-Star Weekend. I read this book right before going to Cape Cod for a bachelorette weekend. It primed me to enjoy a weekend of ocean breezes, lobster rolls, and a *mostly* drama-free gals trip (minus the boat). If you’ve never read a Hilderbrand novel before this would be a perfect one to start with, or The Hotel Nantucket. They are the quintessential summer books in my opinion.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams | RomCom | Loved!
Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this rivals-to-lovers romance.
I’m convinced Adams sprinkled this book with fairy dust. It was such an endearing book, with one of my favorite characters Adams has written to date: Emily Walker. Our stubborn, sharp-tongued, heart of gold eldest sister of the Walker pact. I think a lot of readers with resonate with Emily, and her internal struggles and what makes it better? Jackson Bennett meeting her step for step. Oh my gosh, how I swooned!!! And if you’re a fan of the series, don’t worry, you get plenty of scenes with the other Walkers/friends around town. Out of this series, this has to be my favorite!
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans | LitFic | Enjoyed, great on audio
Throughout her life Sybil Van Antwerp has used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life.
The entire book is told in the letters Sybil writes and receives. You get to see the inside workings of Mrs. Antwerp in all her eccentricities—from writing to Ann Patchett to her sister-in-law to her next door neighbor. This is a completely unique and creative story that will have you clutching your heart. It’s one of those tender books about life and humanity and growing older—about things not always being as they seem.
I’m curious, what did you read and love in June?
The mid-year reading edit
Okay, now it’s time for a mid-year reading check-in. This year I have a goal to read less books (a personal problem, I get it) and aim for quality over quantity—if you need a refresher on my yearly goals, check them out here. When I joined Bookstagram in 2022 my reading exploded. For two years in a row I read 100+ books a year, but was I really enjoying reading? Honestly, not so much.
I’ve been making an effort to read slower, be more selective with what I’m reading, and letting go of the number of things. This has led me to have one of the most positive reading years in a while.
With that being said, here are my five *favorite* books I’ve read this year so far. Any guesses which is leading the pack??? (Disclaimer, I went back and forth on my fifth choice which tells me I’m on the right track on my slower reading journey!)
One Star Romance I hemmed and hawed about which book took the number five spot, but ultimately decided the characters and storyline of One Star Romance have been ingrained in me. A slow burn love story that spans decades and various life events. It’s not your average romcom, with so many great b-plots that makes these characters feel unbelievably real.
Is She Really Going Out with Him? ahhhh this one was pure fun! My favorite Sophie Cousens book to date. It felt like a delicious 90s romcom in modern book format. Anna’s google searches alone, had me cackling and wondering if I should look into Paul Hollywood fanfic… If you’re in need of something fun, light, and British pick this one up (also amazing on audio)!
Deep Cuts switching gears to something more literary, Deep Cuts is for all the millennial music lovers out there. It takes you behind the scenes of producing music and the bonds of friendship that can easily bleed into romance. Told throughout the early 2000’s with a setlist of songs that will have you reminiscing. Percy was such a singular character and her vulnerabilities and insecurities will resonate with so many readers.
Wild Dark Shore a poignant heart pounding thriller-mystery with hints of romance. Like with all McConaghy books a climate crisis drives the plot forward and has you questioning what is most important to you as the world around begins to burn—what do you save? Who do you leave behind? Who are you in the face of that crisis? Considering the state of our planet, and where we could be headed, this book is a stark reminder of what we should strive to preserve. It completely knocked my socks off and I’ll be thinking about it for years to come.
The Road to Tender Hearts ooh this quirky, darling, funny little book. Never in my life did I think an alcoholic sixty-three year-old man would become one of my favorite literary characters, but PJ stole my heart. This book will make you laugh out loud as you root for our ragtag bunch of characters. It has one of my favorite ending lines of a book and I already want to re-read it. That’s how much I loved this one!!!
A special shoutout to the all the amazing fanfiction I’ve read this year. If I had to narrow it down, I’d say Do the Right Thing / The Auction are tippy-top of my list and are top tier fanfics.
Until next time,
MacKenzie
The short chapters are DANGEROUS though what if just one more before bed takes 2 hours 😫😫
Almost finished with Is She Really Going Out with Him and I’m loving it!!