June Wrap-Up + Currently Reading


June was not a great month - reading or otherwise. 
And considering that I read only 5 books, there's not really enough to choose from to do my usual monthly Best In Books. But I still want to share what I read (because that's what we do, right? 😊) so here's a quick wrap-up of what I read in June.


  PURE (COVENANT #2) - JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT
3.75 STARS
It pains me to say, because it's JLA, but I'm still liking-not-loving the Covenant series. And it basically comes down to main character Alex. She continues to be reckless and impulsive, often putting herself and others at risk. And she acts like a brat around any authority figure. I love Seth, but Alex is pretty annoying. 

ONE SMALL THING - ERIN WATT
4.25 STARS
My favorite book of the month. I completely fell for Beth and Chase's stories - both separately and together. My heart hurt at the judgment and cruelty shown by others and for the pain it caused Beth and Chase. Beth was so relatable, sometimes self-absorbed, sometimes self-aware. And Chase broke my heart again and again, for the pain he'd caused, for the guilt he lived with, and for his hard-won wisdom. I didn't want this one to end.

THE FRAGILE ORDINARY - SAMANTHA YOUNG
3.25 STARS
I might have liked this one better had I not read it immediately after One Small Thing. But because I read them back to back, and because they are both YA contemporaries, I found myself constantly comparing them. Comet was a relatable character but I was never truly invested in the story. Likewise, Tobias was likable, and yet I never felt the connection between he and Comet. This was a nice enough story of a girl finding her own voice, but wasn't particularly memorable. 

TILL DEATH - JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT
4 STARS
I needed something different after two YA novels in a row (well, three counting Pure). And JLA's romantic suspense totally hit the spot. Till Death isn't going to win any literary awards but it was pure entertainment. I loved the mystery and suspense, I was totally on-board for the romance, and the story kept me turning pages because I had to know what was going to happen. Really enjoyed this one.  

THE BOY & HIS RIBBON (RIBBON DUET #1) - PEPPER WINTERS
4 STARS (??)
I finished this one almost two weeks ago and I'm still not quite sure what I think. I'm not sure if it was just the book, or if my state of mind at the time had something to do with it, but I honestly don't know how to sort out my feelings for this dark and angsty tale. There were elements that required suspension of disbelief, and at times it felt overly long... but at the same time I was completely enthralled by the story and by the evolution of Ren and Della's relationship. I adored Ren's maturity and selflessness and sacrifice and I'm anxious to continue with the next book. 


CURRENTLY READING

   
I love me some K.A. Tucker and her latest comes out in early August. I'm excited to be diving into this one!


WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK IN JUNE?

34 comments

  1. I love reading YA novels...these are fantastic suggestions!

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    1. Thanks Kristin! I read YA here and there but after a few in a row I’m craving some adult fiction. :)

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  2. Can't wait to see what you think of The Simple Wild!

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    1. I’m super excited to really get into it, Grace. I just love Tucker’s story-telling.

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  3. I have always wanted to read Jennifer Armentrout never read her! I see her books a lot in the bookstores!

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    1. Armentrout’s is one of my (very small) handful of favorite authors. I pretty much read (and love) everything she writes. :) Her Lux series is one of my all-time faves!

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  4. I just took a look at my June reading and it was mostly meh books. I do want to read One Small Thing though. Several of my friends loved it.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Hi Karen! Good to hear from you. June wasn’t really a stellar reading month for me, either, but I definitely recommend One Small Thing!

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  5. Sorry you didn't have a great reading month in June, but I totally understand! I hope the rest of the summer is better for you. :)

    -lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Thanks Lauren. :( Hopefully the summer will be full of good reading and good memories.

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  6. Sadly I didn't enjoy One Small Thing. I really wanted to though!! The characters just made it so hard to enjoy.

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    1. Aw, I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy One Small Thing. I really loved both characters. Funny how people have totally different reading experiences sometimes. :)

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  7. Hope July is a better month for you.

    I would like to read A Boy and His Ribbon. The best book I read in June were the three books of Ember in the Ashes (I know that's three books, but since they're part of a series I count them as one book).

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    1. Thanks Brooke. A Boy and His Ribbon was sooo angsty. I really need to read the follow-up soon because I *have* to know what happens. I’ve yet to read the Ember in the Ashes trilogy because I rarely go for fantasy, but I sure hear amazing things about it!

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  8. I didn’t realize there was another KA Tucker on the horizon. I am out of the loop. Will have to get that one. Hope you are having a wonderful July so far.

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    1. I'm always excited for a new one from K.A. Tucker. And this one is off to a good start! :)

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  9. I'm not even sure I read 5 lol. I think I've been on my current book for like a week and a half? Yes it's embarrassing. The Simple Wild looks good though.

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  10. Sorry you didn't have a great month :( I'm glad you enjoyed One Small Thing, though. I'm dying to read it. The cover is also so gorgeous.

    Hope July is a much better month for you, Tanya :)

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    1. Thanks Amy! I definitely recommend One Small Thing for when you're in the mood for a YA contemporary.

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  11. Hahaha Tanya we have it in reverse order. I loved The Fragile Ordinary better than One Small thing ;-)

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    1. Thank goodness there's something out there for all of us to love! :)

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  12. I know in my heart that there are books whose ratings were affecting by my mood/mental state. I have read none of these books, but am interested in the Erin Watt and Samantha Young books. Reviews are all over the place for those two. Not sure how I feel, but will probably give them both a try via audiobook.

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    1. Yep, I definitely think our current moods have an impact on how we read and how we feel about what we read. I'll be interested to see how I feel about the second book in that duet now that I'm in a somewhat better place. I'll be interested to see what you think of the new Erin Watt and Samantha Young books. I loved one and thought was was okay. And yesterday I read someone's blog who the exact opposite opinion. Ha!

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  13. I actually don't know which was my favourite book. My brain is a bit fried with the heat. And, all books have melted into one...I'm not even sure I remember which books I read ha! Ok, but on a serious note, I really enjoyed Bright Ruin and Tarnished City, book 2 and 3 in the Dark Gifts YA fantasy trilogy by Vic James.

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    1. Ugh, I can relate with the heat. Hopefully you have A/C at home? I was just talking to someone yesterday about how when we were in London several years ago our hotel did not have A/C. It hadn't even occurred to us to ask in advance! We assumed any hotel would have A/C. Ha! It did not help that once there *everyone* kept telling us, "Oh, this is hottest May in London in years?" LOL

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    1. Me too, Nicole! I'm reading one by K.A. Tucker so that's already a good start. :)

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  15. I haven't tried one of Erin Watt's books yet but she's on my list. Glad to see you really enjoyed her latest. I think my favorite read of the month was To Kill a Kingdom.

    I hope that July is a better month all around for you.

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    1. After loving One Small Thing so much I definitely want to go back and read the Paper Princess series. I’ve heard they’re pretty addictive.

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  16. I often need something adult after a few YA novels in a row too. Like a palate cleanser. lol I think Love and Other Words was my favorite from June. I hope you have a better July!

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    1. I loved Love and Other Words so much! I adored both teenage Macy + Elliott and adult Macy + Elliott and wanted a HEA for them so badly.

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  17. The character in the Covenant series sounds like one I'd have an issue with too :-/ But at least one of your five books made it above 4 stars! And two got 4 stars, maybe lol, so overall it sounds like you didn't read that many books, but the books you did read were pretty good :-)

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    1. So true, Kristen. Not a lot of reading happened but there were still some good ones in there.

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