Summer is for Reading! June 2023 Books

A Secret in the Family (Kindle Unlimited) While I was curious to see how this book ended, I had a moment pretty early on where I accurately predicted the ending. The book lacked suspense and had me wanting to just finish it. It was a short read, and I’m grateful for that. I don’t think I could have stuck it out more than 240 pages! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Golden Hills (Novella - Kindle Unlimited) This story connected the main character’s current life with a blast from the past from summer camp at Camp Golden Hills. I loved this quick read because it connected to the same weight loss camp from The Breakaway, and Abby made a cameo. While it was just 50 pages, it was a great story of forgiveness and perception. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Class (ARC - NetGalley - Release Date - Nov. 7, 2023) Recently, I read Maid by Stephanie Land, so when I noticed she had written another book, I put in for a request to read it! She writes in a way that continually pulls me in and has me wanting to hear more of her story. Land doesn’t shy away from the details of her challenges, sharing stories of hunger, poverty, and longing for a better life for herself and her child. One element that really stood out to me was how judged she felt during these years in poverty. Although she was giving her very best, it was often perceived as less than enough. Land’s memoir details themes of perseverance, courage, and commitment. I hope that Land continues to write and tell her stories! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hello, Molly! (Libby - audiobook) It felt like such a special treat to listen to Molly Shannon’s memoir narrated by Molly herself. I absolutely adored Molly when she worked on Saturday Night Live, and I knew I wanted to hear her story. I was pulled in by the first chapter when she shares the tragic deaths of her mother, sister, and cousin when she was just four years old. Her life was shaped by the aftermath, and her resilience is truly incredible. I especially loved hearing about her days before she made it big on SNL. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Aspiring Principal (Paperback): This was a quick easy read. I liked the question/answer format. I will keep this book handy to refer to when I need to center myself. There are many reflective questions surrounding balance and boundary setting that I will write out responses to before I begin my new role in July. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Court of Mist and Fury (Kindle): I loved following Feyre's journey in this book. My favorite element was her bond with Rhys and how it developed throughout this novel. Be warned; this is a loooooong book. While I was captivated by this story, I had to take lots of breaks and orient myself to the table of contents multiple times to see where I was in the book. 

I’m Glad My Mom Died (audiobook - Libby): I’ll never forget the summer my cousin, Kelsey, visited me when Izzy was just a baby. We watched episode after episode of iCarly, and I loved the witty humor of Sam Puckett, Jeanette’s character. It’s truly incredible that she was able to perform like she did while facing challenges with her home life and eating disorders. While I enjoyed hearing Jennette’s story and how she faced so many challenges, I did not enjoy the graphic details of her sexual interactions. I’m sure the author deemed the details necessary for her purposes, but I was really turned off (pun intended) as a reader. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Court of Wings and Ruin (Kindle): This is my favorite book in the ACOTAR series (so far)! If you like fantasy, give this series a try, but be prepared for some spicy scenes. 😳 I especially loved the ending and teared up multiple times. It was hard to keep up with all of the characters and plot lines at times, so going back to reread was helpful. Just two books left in this series! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So since we're at the mid-point of 2023, here are my top reads so far. What is your favorite book that you've read so far this year? I need to grab some new books for the rest of 2023... I say as if my nightstand and Kindle aren't overflowing with books! Yeah, whatever!