So June was not it! A lack of motivation and feeling generally slumpy meant I only just managed 6 books this month. There's nothing below a three star in here so it's not a total fail. Onwards and upwards!
Sometime in Summer by Katrina Leno
My favourite read of the month was this lovely, summery YA that I was lucky enough to be on the blog tour for. I enjoyed Horrid by Katrina Leno so was eager to try her latest release. This was such a heartfelt book that explored the reality of growing up and entering into those teenage years. It looked at parents separating, old friendships breaking and new friendships forming and the magic of summer and books. You can read my full review here.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
I'm not much of a cat person so whilst this may seem like a low rating compared to other people, I did still enjoy my time listening to it. This is a translated novel (from Japanese) told from the point of view of a cat called Nana and the journey he and his owner take in order to find Nana a new home. I liked the construct of the novel, it's always a little weird reading from the point of view of animals but this is what gives this book that emotional edge. Nana is intelligent and sarcastic, George Blagden is a terrific narrator, and gives us that deeper insight into the bond between human and pet. It definitely pulled at my heartstrings and was a sentimental read.
The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2) by Richard Osman
I loved the first book in this series and this was just as enjoyable if only to be reunited with Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, Ibrahim + the rest of the gang. I love Osman's writing, it's so brilliantly witty and British. Joyce is possibly one of my favourite characters of all time and I want to be her best friend. I wasn't as engaged with the mystery in this one but I had a lot of fun reading it and it's cleverly plotted. I can't wait to read future instalments!
A Manual for Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink
A non-fiction audiobook that I borrowed as I wanted something quick and this was only 2 hours long. This is a memoir with elements of self-help that looks at grief, depression and ways in which to handle it. It's very emotional but with an uplifting message and provides strategies in which to cope with tragedies and mental health. Some of the advice is a little generic but it's a quick, easy read. I especially loved the personal sections where Cathy talks about her brother's death and how this affected her - had me almost in tears.
The Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin #1) by M.C. Beaton
I only really read this one as I'm currently listening to a radio dramatization of this series but it's a condensed version of the mysteries so I decided to give the first full book a go. I think I actually prefer the radio version if only because they give Agatha so much more personality, she's sharp and sarcastic whereas in the book she just comes across as a grouchy middle aged woman. The mystery is fun, it's cozy so it's not the most developed, but I love a village setting and and an amateur sleuth.
Another ARC that I was lucky to receive as part of the upcoming blog tour. This is a YA mystery/thriller that focuses on the death of the town golden boy and how our MC, Celeste, doesn't know the extent of her involvement in it. I'm not going to say too much as my full review will be up in a week or so but I did enjoy this one. It's well written, entertaining and has that small town secrets vibe that I love. There's a strong focus on fanfiction writing that at times made me a little uncomfortable but it's clearly connected to the plot. Overall, a fun read if you like murder and obsession.
What did you read in June? Have you read any of these? Leave a comment below. Happy Reading!
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