Well, June, you’ve bested me. I wanted to spend this month reading books for myself, for Pride, and just getting back to what matters. Alas, I’m at a loss because this month beat me down with tons of work, catching up, and general June Gloom.
But the sun is shining and I think summer is finally in full swing. I hope to read some more fantasy especially those fantasy series that I’ve been collecting for years. I could really read those already lol.
This month, I got around seven books read. And while it looks like a lot of books, it feels like much less. June was definitely an experimental month while I tried to figure out my new work schedule and balancing reading for work and reading for myself. It really messed me up with my reading, but I think I have a formula now.
But I know July is going to be amazing and I’ll be reading in the heat of LA. Here’s what I read for June:
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
Don’t let the book cover fool you. It may look like an innocent romcom, but it’s got the steamiest love scenes I’ve read in a romcom. I mean, I’ve read some pretty steamy scenes, but this one will leave you wanting you so much more. It’s got baseball, a determined female protagonist, and the bad boy that somehow is saved by the girl. I absolutely loved this story and while I can complain that the ending was a little cheesy, I would be doing myself a disservice. READ IT. You won’t regret it.
This Time Will Be Different by Misa Sugiura
Sadly, this was my least favorite book of the month. I think I was expecting a lot more from the book and that put my expectations super high. What I received is still a lovely novel from a prolific writer, but it wasn’t to my taste. I think this is the first time I’ve read a YA novel and actually felt too old to be reading them.
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
I said what I just said and then I read a book like Patron Saints of Nothing and was completely blown away. I mean, wow. The only other book I can recall written by a Filipino author is Cinelle Barnes’s Monsoon Mansion (which is a lovely novel and you should definitely read it), but it’s not exactly the same as this one. This one covers the issues of being born in America and not feeling like you belong. It covers the drug war happening in the Philippines right now. It also talks about learning that adults aren’t the smartest people and sometimes you need to stick to your own guns and your own beliefs.
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
I honestly didn’t think I would get to this book this summer, but wow so glad I did. I took my sweet little time with this one because I’d been a bit burnt out from work. And I’m glad I took my time with this one because it’s probably the most visually beautiful fantasy novel I’ve read in a while. With such an easy premise to follow, this book discovers the beauty of Arabia and including language, monsters, and little touches of Arabic throughout the novel, you can’t help but to be completely enthralled in this book. Shukran to Hafsah Faizal for bringing her world to life in this beautiful first book to a series. I’ll be writing my full thoughts on this one this week so stay tuned.
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
I had planned to read more Pride books for this month, but it didn’t work out that way. However, that doesn’t mean my Pride month is over. I’ll be reading more books represented by the LGBTQIA+ community and I won’t just hold off for one month in the summer. That being said, I went into Girls of Paper and Fire with as much knowledge as any fantasy novel: none. I love how hidden Fantasy books keep everything and you just have to read and explore the book to find out more. This book definitely was an amazing read
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
What happens when the Prince of Wales and the First Son were to accidentally meet and possibly become lovers? Well, that’s what Casey McQuiston explored in this novel. I loved this book with its complicated love story and funny cast of characters. This is legit a wonderful summer book, so I hope you get a chance to check it out. Also, if you felt a little ennui after the 2016 election, it might give you a boost of confidence and hope that 2020 won’t be so emotionally tiresome.
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
To finish this month, I snuck in one last book and I was so happy I did. My friends all read this one already and they all absolutely loved, so I went into this one with an open mind and an open heart. And it completely broke. Oh my goodness, this story was so good and funny and heartbreaking all at the same time. I laughed. I cried. I felt all the emotions I could feel in one book and it won’t disappoint you. While I finished the book today (not technically June finished, but I read most of this book yesterday), I’ll be writing my review and updating the blog with it later this week.
That’s it! Here’s to hoping for a more sane July filled with days at the beach and basking in the glorious summer sun. What did you read this month?
Simone and Her Books 