June Reading Edit

June reading wrapped, favorite books of the month, everything I read at the beach, plus my Weekly What

Jul 12, 2025

Hi, hello, how are you? We’ve got a lot to get to in this week’s newsletter! Because I took two weeks off due to travel and a special July 4th Friday edition I now have three weeks worth of reading to share, including a full week of curated beach reads, this on top of my monthly reading recap for June.

Note: This week’s newsletter is best viewed in the Substack app or a web browser due to length. It may appear shortened in some email inboxes.

Let’s get into it!

I read 19 books in June. Here’s the nerdy breakdown:

13 library/Libby borrows
4 gifted from publishers
2 books I own (Summer and Great Big Beautiful Life. I left my signed copy of Atmosphere tucked safely on its shelf at home in favor of reading a gifted e-galley.)
3 backlist books—this up from 1 last month! Summer is for new releases apparently! 16 frontlist.
7 print, 5 audio, 2 hybrid (print + audio), 5 e-books—E-reading is not typically my preferred format, even for travel, but I was really feeling the benefits of digital this year!

June favorites:

Tell me:

What were your favorite June reads?

Reading

Everything I read at the beach 🏖

The Float Test by Lynn Steger Strong. A deeply literary family drama very of Florida—a strange place I'm endlessly and equally horrified and fascinated by from my perch in Ohio, an also horrifying though less fascinating locale. Lynn Steger Strong, a native Floridian, offers a well rendered setting which becomes something of a character in its own right. The writing shines and the characters feel alive, these are Steger Strong's bread and butter. The plot is a little weak, but there's much to appreciate here, including a provoking exploration of the nature of fiction.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Like Top Gun meets Apollo 13 in the best way, but make it Sapphic with first wave female astronauts in the 1980s.

I'm a long time Taylor Jenkins Reid fan—pre-Evelyn Hugo, IYKYK—so it's completely unsurprising I loved this book. Something about her writing just speaks to to me in a totally seamless, immersive way.

Atmosphere did not disappoint with fierce female leads, a literally out of this world setting, a touching love story, surprisingly deep rumination on the nature of the universe and our place in it, all wrapped up in a heart-pounding, edge of your seat plot—I truly couldn't turn pages fast enough!
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan. I’ve been a J. Courtney Sullivan fan since I read Saints for All Occasions around the time it published in 2017. I’ve read her subsequent releases as they published. I’m finally circling back for some of her backlist!

I love a Maine setting and I love a good family drama and that’s exactly what Sullivan’s Maine offers! Four women across three generations converge on the family’s Maine beach cottage, drama ensues. The story is told through shifting perspectives accounting for more than six decades of family history.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. Emily Henry pens an ideal beach read in my opinion. In fact, it has become tradition for me to save Henry’s annual spring release for my summer beach vacation for peak reading experience!

Great Big Beautiful Life tells the story of rival writers competing to tell the story of an infamous media heiress turned elderly recluse now living on a small Georgia island. This dual timeline story offers juicy family history alongside an enemies-to-lovers romance plot with Henry’s signature sparkling style. I loved it!
With a Vengeance by Riley Sager. I am a Riley Sager completist. I have been a fan since Final Girls released in 2017. While I’ve enjoyed some of Sager’s stories better than others, as a horror fan I’m always interested to see what he does with well trod horror tropes. The problem here is With a Vengeance is mystery, not horror, not my preferred genre. In fact it has clear Murder on the Orient Express vibes. A small group of people are assembled on a luxury express train for purposes of revenge when they are mysteriously picked off one by one. The story is heavily reliant on twist after twist and I just wasn’t very into it. Readable and quick though not my cup of tea.

Everything else

32 Days in May by Betty Corello. Nadia retreats to the comfort of her family’s Jersey Shore beach house while navigating the realities of her recent lupus diagnosis when she crosses paths with Marco, a celebrity who recently had a very public alcohol-fueled meltdown. They embark on a month long fling with a no-strings-attached policy except feelings are caught and Nadia is withholding her health reality. The story has nods to Sweet November which is also referenced throughout the book. I found this a surprisingly good romance with nuanced chronic illness representation.
Crown by Evanthia Bromiley. A young pregnant mother and her 9-year-old twins are evicted from their home just in time for her labor to begin. This short literary novel uses gorgeous poetic prose to explore the ugly realities of poverty—loved it! Crown is an excellent pairing for Jakob Guanzon’s Abundance (longlisted for the National Book Award and Aspen Words Literary Prize in 2021), a book way more people should read!
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. Corby Ledbetter is at a low point in his life and self-medicating with alcohol and prescription drugs when a terrible accident leaves him responsible for his toddler's death. Sentenced to years in prison as a result, Corby wrestles with regrets and inner demons inside a system more concerned with punishment than rehabilitation.

The River is Waiting didn't exactly wow me at the sentence or structural level (it's been a while since I read Wally Lamb though I recall his books as more literary) though I do think Lamb successfully pulled off an affecting story of remorse, redemption, and resilience, reminding us we are all more than our worst choices on our worst days, alongside a heavy hand of the horrors of the penal system.

This would make for a good book club book as long as readers are able to handle the challenging content.
So Far Gone by Jess Walter. A surprisingly madcap adventure about a reclusive journalist leaving his home in the woods to locate his estranged missing daughter and rescue his grandchildren from the Christian nationalist sect with which their family has become involved. I was both entertained and impressed by the tightrope Walter manages to walk balancing humor, horror, and heart in this story exploring present reality.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. At some point I got it in my head I needed to read Lonesome Dove for reasons—it won a Pulitzer Prize the year I was born; it’s largely considered one of the Great American Novels; a publisher sent me a free copy; it’s Stephen King’s favorite novel, it’s experiencing a bit of a renaissance due to the pandemic plus the internet, I think? Whatever the reason, I decided I needed to read it and, even better, I somehow managed to rope my husband into buddy reading! I’m flabbergasted yet delighted by this development. Summer is the perfect time to dive into an 850+ page cattle drive, obviously, so we spent the month of June into July following Gus and Call from Texas to Montana across the defiant wilderness of 19th century America.

This book is truly epic. Populated with a range of characters both endearing and dastardly (sometimes both), vivid landscapes, and plenty of heart-pounding peril. I now understand why this anti-western centering the decades long partnership of two cowboys is so endearing to so many. A new forever favorite!
The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley. This book about a group of teenage mothers in Florida blew me away. This is Mottley’s sophomore novel, her debut, Nightcrawling, made waves when it published in 2022. In both works Mottley explores complicated, often marginalized or demonized topics, with care, nuance, and insight. Beyond that her writing at the sentence level is incredible! She has a poetry background and it shows. The Girls Who Grew Big is undoubtedly one of the best books of the year.

Listening

Never Flinch by Stephen King. This is book 4 in the Holly Gibney series. As long as you don’t mind spoilers these books can be read as standalones in that each book is a very self-contained story arc occurring in the same universe featuring recurring characters. King is enamored with Holly Gibney. I am not. She is a fine character but not one I look forward to revisiting again and again. This series leans towards police procedural (not my preferred genre) with varying levels of horror. I would say Never Flinch really doesn’t falls into the horror category at all. That said Stephen King can tell a tale, he’s long ago proven himself to me, I’m a Constant Reader and will follow him wherever he wants to go. All that said, Never Flinch is not among my favorite SK books but it was entertaining enough to keep in my ear during a busy day of chores.
King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby. My husband and I listen to an audiobook together during our annual vacation road trip. I usually come up with a short list of options that might appeal to him and he selects a title. This year we listened to King of Ashes. In 2023 we listened to All the Sinners Bleed and I read Blacktop Wasteland before that. Cosby does not disappoint! Cosby’s stories are a cinematic blend of characterization and plot that lends well to audio format. Adam Lazarre-White narrates all Cosby’s audiobooks and does a fantastic job bringing the stories to life.

King of Ashes is a southern noir influenced by The Godfather about a successful elder son returning to his small Virginia hometown to pull his family and their business together after his father is injured in an accident. As with Cosby’s other books King of Ashes is a propulsive page turner. Netflix and the Obamas’ Higher Ground production company announced a series adaptation before the book even published. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with it!
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner. I read a good bit of Jennifer Weiner in the early 2000s. Fair or not I associate her with that Chick Lit era, rarely paying much attention to her new releases due to this hangover. Well, I really should let that bias rest because anytime I read one of her books I’m always so pleasantly surprised—Weiner tells a good story! Her career spanning decades and more than 20 books, including a major film adaptation could probably attest to this (this is a me problem.)

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is about two very different sisters, a pop duo who rocketed to generation defining fame in the early 2000s as very young adults until their abrupt mystery-shrouded breakup. 20 years later their musically inclined daughter/niece is determined to find out what happened. The story hops back and forth between their past and present which keep the pages turning quickly. The audiobook is narrated by Dakota Fanning.
The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior. A collection of essays following a family to often overlooked or forgotten places across America and the history they contain. Kendzior is a journalist with an anthropology background who studies authoritarian regimes. Her perspective provides an eyes wide open account of America sprinkled through with tidbits of what it’s like to be a parent sharing our complicated history and present with the next generation of Americans. Some essays work better than others but I found this an interesting and relatable listen.

Watching

Mad Men, Season 7 (DVD!) We recently began the final season of Mad Men. Honestly, I don’t know what I’ll possibly do with my television life once we wrap this rewatch.
Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure (Netflix). An interesting 3-part docuseries about a 10 year long treasure hunt across the Rockies after an eccentric millionaire hides a chest and provides clues to its location via a poem in his published memoir.

Eating & Drinking

Grilled sausages with this Bacon Ranch Potato Salad—a summer staple made with herbs from our garden.
BLATs and fruit—one of my favorite seasonal meals
Shrimp Tacos—sautéed shrimp seasoned with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chipotle chile powder, and a little salt; served in corn tortillas with shredded cabbage, Cilantro Lime Crema, and Quick Pickled Onions.
Grilled Chicken Thighs made with my favorite marinade alongside this Grilled Vegetable Panzanella Salad I’ve been lusting over. I made it with homemade sourdough and basil from my garden and it was perfection.
My favorite summer lunch which is an open-faced tomato sandwich with pimento cheese, lettuce, salt and pepper, with a side of fruits and veggies. This week I’m eating it on homemade sourdough with tomatoes and lettuce from the garden—peak summer lunching!
I picked up a 12-lb box of Georgia peaches, an annual offering from our grocery store and basically all my summer dreams were realized. Not only do I have a wealth of peaches they are a box full of the best kind of peaches: juicy, flavorful, the pits pop right out 🥰 If I had my little way, I’d eat peaches every day—in fact, I am, including atop greek yogurt with some homemade granola.

Links + Loves

Is the decline of reading poisoning our politics? (Vox) If you ask me, yes. It’s not just the decline of reading, but also what we’re replacing reading with. And I’m not alone—the Framers understood literacy as foundational for self-governance. This is why we have public education (and also why public education is currently under attack.) No one has ever said consuming hours of short-form videos served up by an algorithm owned by corporations inconvenienced by democracy is power 🌠
AI will make you a dumber writer, says science. (Lit Hub) This is a small study and I’m not a neuroscientist, but it makes sense to me the same way handwriting notes is more effective, or unused muscles waste. When outsourcing thinking to machines our brains suffer the consequences.
My favorite account is a library in Ohio. (Link in Bio Substack) CD101(/102.5/92.9)’s death is Columbusite’s loss, the world’s gain, allowing Columbus Metropolitan Library to to match their world class physical presence with a world class social media presence with former indie radio DJ Grayson Kelly at the helm. I so enjoyed this interview with Kelly, killing it at his role of Digital Storyteller Specialist for CML.
Can Emily Henry Write Her Way Out of the Box BookTok Built? (Smart Romance Substack) I found this thoughtful analysis fascinating!
Ali Hazelwood Dislikes Peeta, And That Was a Problem for Some Folks. (Smart Bitches Trashy Books) In yet another edition of the internet turns people rabid, author Ali Hazelwood was bullied off Instagram for disliking Peeta of The Hunger Games. No, I’m not at all concerned with modern technology’s impact on social cohesion! Why do you ask?!
IHO our recent beach trip here are 3 of my must-have items:
- I bought this beach bag 2 years ago and it’s perfect! Made of waterproof, wipeable material, it’s big enough to carry 4 beach towels plus sunscreen, a couple of water bottles, books, and other miscellaneous items for a family of four traveling relatively lightly, but it’s also not bulky and the bag itself is very lightweight. The straps are the perfect length and don’t feel icky on your bare shoulder—important! I love the side pockets that are big enough for water bottles, there are also inside pockets that are perfect size to hold a phone, keys, earbuds, or other small items that might get lost in the mix. The BEST PART is the large wet/dry zipper pocket that can fit a hardcover book and then some! The pocket is fully waterproof and can also be used to store wet items to keep the rest of the bag dry, but I use it as a book pocket, obviously. It’s the perfect size. It has also held up well so far. I love this bag!
- Speaking of zippered pockets and books, these pouches are so handy to tote around books and electronics. My beach bag is awesome, obviously, but when I’m toting books and phones and who knows what else for our entire family on vacation I need more pockets. These pouches are water resistant (the zippers can let water in so don’t go crazy submerging your iPhone in water or something stupid) and some are just the right size to hold a few books and phones, or just a kindle, or any combination thereof. Beyond this use the variety of sizes are handy in various applications for travel as well as everyday.
- This neck fan is life. I first gifted one to my husband, but after I kept stealing it he gifted me my own. I love to sit outside reading during the summer, this fan allows me to do so more comfortably when it’s hot out. I’m using it daily right now and they came in clutch on our vacation when the heat dome descended bringing heat indexes over 100 degrees. This is a warm weather must have!

That Bookish Life {Stacked}

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