Everything I Read in June
I am officially on summer break, so that means I can now be more present and timely on the blog! To kick off my summer content, I am bringing you another book post. I hope I am not boring you with the book content. However, I read A LOT this month, and wanted to highlight some seriously great reads. Here is what I devoured this month!
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife- Ashley Winstead
Six friends show up to their 10 year college reunion and are faced with an unsolved murder from their undergrad days. As they try to figure out who is responsible for the murder of their friend, many secrets are revealed keeping you wondering who is guilty!
All the Light We Cannot See- Anthony Doerr
I seriously cannot believe that it took me years to read this book! The hype was real! Set during WW2, All the Light We Cannot See tells the story of two teens- one a blind girl living with her family in occupied France, and the other is a young German solider who uses his mathematical gifts to help locate enemy radio transmissions. Their unlikely stories seemingly appear unrelated; however, their paths eventually cross, which keeps you hooked until the very end!
Mean Baby- Selma Blair
Selma Blair’s memoir is honest, real, and so vulnerable! From being diagnosed with MS to surviving sexual abuse, Selma’s path to stardom was not easy. Even when she started receiving acting work and found fame, her path was not linear, often times struggling with her health and addiction to alcohol. This is a great read, and is full of stories involving some of your favorite Hollywood celebrities!
Things We Do in the Dark- Jennifer Hillier
Sorry to highlight a book that has not been released yet (*will be released 7.19), but I devoured the newest book from Jennifer Hillier that I received in my June Book of the Month box. (side note- I think I will make a post about my love for BOTM) Jennifer Hillier is masterful at creating suspenseful books with female characters that captures a readers attention. Things We Do in the Dark follows Paris, who flees her abusive upbringing to reinvent herself. While she is able to escape and start over, eventually her past catches up with her present, forcing her to face everything she ran from!
The Personal Librarian- Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
Based on a true story, this novel highlights the real experiences of Bella da Costa Greene, the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan. Bella was not only remarkable for being an accomplished woman for her time, she was also an African American woman who posed as white in order to find more opportunities in a still very racially segregated world. Her intellect and dedication to her work are extraordinary. While this book seemed to drag on at times, I am a history nerd, so this was right up my alley!
Can’t Look Away- Carola Lovering
Carola Lovering is becoming a go-to author for me, and this is her newest (June 2022) release! So naturally, I read it right away! Can’t Look Away is a love story meets thriller. Molly meets her boyfriend, Jake Danner, at a concert in Brooklyn. He’s the lead singer of an up-and-coming band, but he’s also fresh out of a relationship. Molly and Jake’s new relationship is plagued by Jake’s ex, who is constantly interfering and causes long-standing problems as she is determined to get him back. This was my best audible companion for my first summer road trips. This might me my favorite read of the month!
The Lies I Tell- Julie Clark
The Lies I Tell is a book with equal parts suspense and female empowerment! This book poses the idea that sometimes the lies we tell others are useful to help those who are misfortunate or to stop some people who are hurting others. My attention was hooked in the first few pages, and had me invested in the main characters journey to find redemption!
Manhattan Beach- Jennifer Egan
Apparently Manhattan Beach was one of the top books of 2017, and I can see why! I had this book in my collection for years, and I’m sad that I just got around to reading it. This book, set during the depression through ww2, tells the story of a family during these periods of American history. I am struggling to describe this book, because it is so intricate in the stories it creates for these characters. Just trust me…this is a must read!
I hope you find a great book from these recommendations! I look forward to brining you new content on Closet Hook very soon!