Hey there, everyone! I hope everyone had a fruitful June! I know I gave myself one of those outrageous goals again. I don’t even remember how many I wanted to read anymore. Did I read them all? No, not at all. But I still read 13, and they were great. It was an excellent month for reading! I changed some of my reading habits this last month, and I think they helped me read that one extra book.

Anyway, how did everyone else do this past month? Meet any personal goals?

Empty Smiles

And the final book in the Small Spaces Quartet by Katherine Arden was just as chilling. Let’s just all admit it: clowns are scary. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it: clowns are terrifying! After the last book’s events, everyone gets a perspective here, giving the story a tight conclusion. The Smiling Man becomes less scary so that you can understand and sympathize with him. It was a solid conclusion with the door open in case Arden wanted to return to this series for a young adult or even adult adventure.

Dark Waters

Okay, Katherine Arden scared me—there, I said it. Her books always catch me off guard and literally make me jump when something in my house makes a weird nose. Dark Waters catches you off guard with more hauntings and yet another challenge from the smiling man. Just saying his name gives me the chills—honestly, it’s such a good series.

In the Ballroom with the Candlestick

Finally! I finally read this novel! I loved the plot twists and the twists to the end. I am here for Green and Orchid every day. I love these characters, how any of them could be a suspect of murder, how Scarlett’s response to finding yet another dead body was instantly, “I didn’t do it!” I think it paid tribute to the Clue movie and the game perfectly, putting in all those easter eggs for fans. It is a fun mystery to read that will keep you hooked.

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons

I love how quirky this book was. It was quirky on a different day from Dreadful, but it was so much fun to read. You have a princess, a reluctant dragon exterminator, a wayward prince (who is a bit of a dolt, although sweet), an evil wizard, and, of course, dragons. It was a fun, quick read, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

The God of Lost Words

Ugh, it is the final novel in such a fantastic series. The ending was perfect. It was bittersweet, that’s for sure, but once you got there, you could tell that this was where the story was going. It made me tear up, it made me smile, it made me feel warm. This is a book for book lovers and a love letter to books.

Heartless Hunter

Another 5-star read here. This book was excellent. It was intense from beginning to end. I loved the enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies dynamic between Rune and Gideon. The trio — Verity, Alex, and Rune — were terrific. So many parts of the novel made my heart ache and had me at the edge of my seat. And those plot twists! Oh, those were damn good.

Twelfth Knight

Okay, I loved this book. I loved Viola and Jack; I love how they became friends online, how the story evolved, and how each character went through character growth. It was funny, heartwarming, and just such a great read. I absolutely loved it. It was a 5-star read for me.

Everything We Never Said

I was nervous about reading this novel for many reasons. They equated it to Colleen Hoover, who is not someone I would say is appropriate for young audiences, given the themes of her books. This book, however, did catch me by surprise. I liked the diary entries from Hayley’s perspective and how the story had a lot of misdirection with the plot. It was intense and dealt with mature themes but in a way that is not wholly uncomfortable and more eye-opening for young readers, especially regarding toxic and abusive behavior.

The Wren in the Holly Library

This book was a highly anticipated read, and unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. It started slow and struggled to hold my attention. But really, that was the only hindrance to the novel. It did fall into some classic tropes near the end that I wished had been different, something more unique, but otherwise, it was okay.

Pillow Talk

This was a sweet novel. I liked how inclusive it was and how it dealt with identity and confidence. I don’t usually read graphic novels as much as I used to (Lore Olympus aside). I wish it had delved more into the back story of the MC and her family life because that is important to why she struggles with her confidence and why she calls herself Cinderhella, but overall it was thoughtful.

Bad Graces

I absolutely love Kyrie McCauley. This was such an amazing book, and I love how it plays with themes from The Tempest, Lord of the Flies, and Yellowjackets to create something amazing. McCauley continues to tell empowering stories that deal with tough themes. This one is no different, and I love the sisterhood solidarity that forms between these girls as they change and are stranded on this island. It’s such an amazing novel.

Dreadful

This was such a fun read. Gav is an idiot, which instantly makes the story so charming. He’s only an idiot because he has woken up with amnesia. But he wants so badly to be a better person, not the dark wizard he is known as. This book is quirky and fun and a quick read.

The Dangerous Ones

I absolutely loved this book. From the banter to the dialogue, the rivals-to-lovers romance made for such an addictive and thrilling read. It was a fantastic read and reminded me of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I highly recommend this novel to everyone.

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