June 2025 reading is a wrap! How is your reading year progressing? Did you have a favorite June read?
June 2025 Reading Wrap Up
June Summary: The quantity is good, but there was not one standout 5-star read. Out of 13 books completed, I experienced eight 4-star reads, three 3.5-star reads, and two 3-star reads. Speak to Me of Home came closest to a 5 in content, but the structure was distracting.
My most interesting fiction read in June was biographical fiction, The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck.
My Captivating Character for June is Dickey from The Last Assignment. Join the Link Party for #CaptivatingCharacters25 hosted by yours truly…details and review in this post. Check it out and link up (blog post, goodreads reviews, etc.) with me!
Don’t miss first Summer Reading Guide!
***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Titles are Amazon affiliate links or my linked reviews.
ARC=Advanced Readers Copy (complimentary copy for review before pub date)
The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Combat Photojournalist, War/Conflict (Hungary, Cuba, Vietnam). Dicky Chapelle was my captivating character of June, and you can find my post here.
Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins
4 Stars. Historical and Contemporary Fiction, Multigenerational, Family Life, Puerto Rico and U.S. Compelling 5-star content, but the story jumps around between characters and time periods so frequently that it was difficult to track at first. Full review coming soon.
Wartime Comes to West India Dock Road by Renita D’Silva (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Sequel to New Arrivals at West India Dock Road (I recommend reading in order), Historical Fiction (WWII home front), much of the action is reported through letters. Full review coming on pub day: 7/23/2025.
The Storytellers by Sue Heath (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction, Books About Books/Libraries/Librarians, Writing, Friendship. Review coming on pub day: 8/1/2025.
Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) #6 in a series (can be read as a stand-alone, but I’m sure reading the entire series in order would be the most satisfactory reading experience), Historical Fiction (WWI), Friendship, Women Supporting Women, Spanish Flu. Review on Pub Date: 7/10/2025.
A Bookseller in Madrid by Mario Escobar (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (late 1930s), Heavy on the history, Spain. Review coming 7/2/2025.
The Island of Hopes and Dreams by Kate Frost
4 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Sardinia. Not yet reviewed.
Wedding Bells for the Eastside Library Girls by Patricia McBride (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) (#5 in a series…best read in order) Historical Fiction (WWII home front), Library, Friendship, Community, Women Supporting Women, Weddings. Review coming on pub day: 8/14/2025.
The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey (ARC)
3.5 Stars. (ARC) Historical (1940) and Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Multigenerational, Grief, Resistance Movement. Full review of Girl from Normandy here.
The Lights of Shantinagar by Nidhi Arora (ARC)
3.5-4 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Character-driven, Diverse Read, India. My full review of Lights of Shantinagar here.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Beth Moran (ARC)
3.5 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction, Found Family, Friendship, Romance. Review coming on pub date: 8/6/2025.
Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens
3 Stars. Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Family Life, Romance. Not reviewed.
Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson
3 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Neighborly Drama, Found Family. Not reviewed.
QOTD:
Did we read any of the same books?
Did you have a favorite June read?
June Blog Posts
Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated Review
The Girl From Normandy Review
Captivating Characters of June
The Bookbinder Review
Best 6 Books in 6 Months
The Homemade God Review
Beach Bag Approved (book list)
The Lakeside Chalet Review
Bookish Books
The Lights of Shantinagar Review
The Covenant of Water Review
The Rushworth Family Plot
Summer 2025 TBR
U.S. Flag Day
10 Fav Book Recs for Fathers
Ladies of the Lake Review
The Quintessential Summer Book Tag
The Lawyer and the Laundress Review
Run for the Hills Review
Hello Stranger Review
Summer Reading Guide 2025
Happy Reading Book Friends!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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Looks like a fab bookish month, Carol, even though you didn’t have 5 star reads.
At least no 2 or 1 star reads or dnfs! That’s a win!