Juneeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. June was magical, gals and guys, because I stuck very well to a TBR – and for a very good reason. It was my month of contemporary, feely, cheesiness! AND IT WAS SO GOOD. I had no clue that it would turn out as amazing and fun as it was, and I’m totally going to have to do a themed TBR in the future again.
So, what did I end up reading this month? I read a total of 16 books! Here’s the list:
- The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy (review coming 7/4)
- I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo (review coming soon)
- When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Melon (review coming soon)
- It’s Not Me, It’s You by Stephanie Kate Strohm (review coming soon)
- On the Fence by Kasie West (DNF)
- Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (review coming soon but OMG get this on your TBR if this isn’t on it already)
- Saints and Misfits by S. K. Ali (review coming soon but OMG get this on your TBR if this isn’t on it already)
- The Loose Ends List by Carrie Firestone (DNF – will not be reviewing)
- Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things by BETSY ALDREDGE & CARRIE DUBOIS-SHAW (review coming a bit closer to the release date)
- Coming up for Air by Miranda Kenneally (DNF)
- Love and Other Alien Experiences by Kerri Winfrey (DNF)
- All the Ways the World Can End by Abby Sher (DNF)
- Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios
- Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi (check out my earlier Fangirl Friday post)
- House of Furies by Madeleine Roux (review coming soon)
- Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Best of the month? Well, there was actually a few! There were quite a few five crown reads this month, but only one was officially added to the favorites shelf (It’s Not Me, It’s You) and that is teetering on adding to the favorites shelf (Eliza and Her Monsters). The rest of the five crown reads were: Saints and Misfits; Bad Romance; and Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things.
And, yes, there are a lotttttttttttttt of DNFs this month. I find with contemporary, I have the hardest time with writing styles and characters. If you don’t fall in love with either of them, you’re kind of screwed from the start. It’s not like you can just fall in love with the plot or world since so many are character driven. The biggest DNF I was sad about was Love and Other Alien Experiences since I wanted to love that one so bad (ALIENS).
Other standouts this month? I Believe in a Thing Called Love was one – if not – the most anticipated contemporary I had on my shelf, and it and me just did not connect. I’ll go more into it when the review comes, but for wanting it and loving it from afar for so long, I really had a struggle with it. The Disappearances also REALLY shocked me for how much I loved it. Bain Murphy has a talent, and I can’t wait to talk about my thoughts with you all when my blog tour stop comes. It left me feeling, wow, I’ll never read a book like that again.
Even though I had a weird kind of month overall when you look at the crown ratings, it was a fantastic month, and I’m in love with it. Perfect way to start off YA summer!
What did you read in June? Did we share any of the same books? Have you ever done a themed TBR? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Jullllllllllllllllllllly. I don’t really have any big plans for July. No theme called out to me, and when I started YA Summer Reads Bingo, I thought that I would just stuff a lot of those books onto this TBR since I’m apparently really getting bingo competitive here and want a full blackout. So, I’m going to set a super tentative TBR, since I have a feeling a mood reading month is about to begin.
Here are a few books I know for sure I would like to try and read:
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Buddy Reads via YA Book Bloggers – have you joined this epic Goodreads group yet????)
- Cinder re-read with the same epic Goodreads group – seriously, just go join right now!!
- A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab
- A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab
- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
- Odd & True by Cat Winters
- Bad Girl Gone by Temple Mathews
- Murder, Magic, and What She Wore by Kelly Jones
- Chasing Eveline by Leslie Hauser
- Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock
- Dreamfall by Amy Plum
…and I really don’t know what else? Literally no books are calling out to me right now. We’ll have to see where this month takes us.
My most anticipated reads? ME COMPLETING SHADES OF MAGIC TRIO. I CAN’T WAIT, I CAN’T WAIT, I CAN’T WAIT. I was so in love with the first one, and I’ve heard that it just gets better and better. I’m so excited, and there will probably be a lot of fangirling this month.
Just joined your Goodreads group. Can’t wait to read the awesome books.
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Yayyyyyyyyyy! It’s going to be a lot fun!! 😀
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Look like you had a great month Mandy!! I can’t wait to read Cinder 😀
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Thanks, Laura, and yes! 😀 It’s going to be so much fun. 😀
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Eliza and Her Monsters was SOOO good! I adored that book! Also I’ve just finished Bad Romance and I really enjoyed it as well, but it was so painful and tough to read! But I was quite surprised, though!
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YES. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, but it was brilliant. And yes! I definitely don’t think I ever read a book that made me so angry as that one over the pain that happened. It was brilliantly done, though. So glad you enjoyed both!
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I’ve heard so many good things about Eliza and Dimple/Rishi! I hope I can get my hands on them soon! Also, I’m on my way to join that Goodreads group immediately lol 🙂
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Yes!! Both were really great contemporaries! ❤ Hope you enjoy when you do get your hands on them! 😀
And woooooo! It's been so much fun already! 😀
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Fantastic month and I plan on buying The Hate U Give too.
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Thanks, and ooooh, yes! I’m super excited to read it!! 😀
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You read so many amazing books!! 😍 I am really interested in reading your review for I Believe in a Thing Called Love because I am not really sure I want to read it… But I DO NEED to read Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, Eliza and Her Monsters that I got for my birthday and just arrived today (I’m so excited!!! 😍) and When Dimple Met Rishi that I own. But also Saints and Misfits Bad Romance that I have yet to buy >.<
Maybe I was just not in the mood for it, I don't know… I did like the way the mysterty went tho! Maybe I'll try to read it again one day!
I never heard of It's Not Me, It's You but I will for sure try it!
The Disappearances was interesting but I couldn't really get into the book until too late
I really hope you enjoy Truthwitch and The Hate U Give! Actually I'm sure you will like the second one! I love Star's family! 😍
Have a great month Mandy! ^^
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I will say, Joana, it was the top contemporary on my list, but it disappointed me a lot. It still had some good parts, but a lot were just
But super yes! I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO READ ELIZA. It was SO good.
And yes! It was super, super cute and different. 😀
I do agree with you about getting into it too late. I really want to say that it took me about 200 pages to finally get into it. I really liked those ending pages, though. Maybe!
Ooooooh, I’m so excited for it. I love a good story with amazing family dynamics!
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Mandy!!! OMG you read so many books this month! Yay! Despite not having a specific theme, July looks pretty awesome! Especially with CINDER!!! It’s a big month for you and I hope you get to enjoy all the books on your list! I can’t wait for all those reviews!
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Lol, I did, Rendz, and I don’t know how. XD Maybe by mistake? XD But YES. Cinder is totally making the month look so good. I know it will just have to revolve around it. XD And thankies – you too!
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Wow, you read a lot this month! Props to you, girl! I’m totally joining the Goodreads group btw.
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I didn’t realize just how much I did. XD But ahhhh yayyyyy! It’s so much fun, so super glad that you joined! 😀
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Oooh, I also read House of Furies. You’ll have to let me know what you think!
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Yes! I remember you really enjoyed it. I wasn’t prepared for what a pretty book it was. ALL THE BLUE WAS AMAZING.
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Loved Sailor Moon growing up. My best friend actually called me Luna until we graduated 😛
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Ahhhhh that’s amazing! ❤ Luna was the best as well. Was Luna your favorite or did you have another?
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Liked Luna but they where all so great but its really close to my own name so I bet thats why my best friend choose that nickname 😛
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Ahhhhh gotcha. That makes sense. And they are all so great. XD
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You stay pretty dang steady with that 15 per month. Good job, girl!
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Ahahaha, I’m really not sure how I manage to do it, Krysti. XD Too much free time? But thankies! ❤
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That is not a bad problem to have. LOL. But I still think you’re amazing! <3<3<3
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Ahahaha, very true. XD Same goes back to you! Your book multitasking is A+++++
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I totally don’t feel like it is, but I’m glad it seems that way. LOL. 😀
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WOWWWW 16 BOOKS!!! AND SO MANY CONTEMPORARIES!!! This is awesome Mandy XD
And I was going to join you guys in the THUG buddy read but I have too many exams and assignments and papers to write and study for! *sad face* I’m super stoked for Cinder though 😍
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YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS. If you ever get the chance, Jackie, full contemporary month is just so much fun. THE FEELS. ALL THE FEELS.
But oh no!! 😦 Sorry for all the exams and assignments. We will definitely miss you. ❤ But YES. IT WILL BE SO MUCH FUN. I CAN'T WAIT.
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THE FEEEEEEELS. I’ll try to do a contemporary month in August! I’ll be on holiday so I feel like that is the perfect time for it!
Aww thank you Mandy (my phone just autocorrected that to Amanda 👀) ❤️
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Oooooooh yesssssssss.
And lol that so weird of autocorrect. o.o Forget the actual spelling and just go boom! New name. XD
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Hahaha exactly, autocorrect does the weirdest things sometimes XD
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Lol it does. I think it tries to ruin people’s lives as best as it can. XD
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TRUE!!!
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Yaaaaaas Shades of Magic! Whoooooo! I was very tempted by the July Owlcrate and I’m about 99.99% sure it’s going to feature the Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, so I have that on my TBR. It’s intriguing and you should check it out. That is the only thing I can think of right now because I just have total brain drain after extreme fangirling on your last post (it was long… sorry, not sorry) and today being my official last day of school. Now I pack and it’s almost time for me to go home. 😁
I was just looking at what you read this month and there are so many beautiful covers.
I can’t wait to re-read Cinder! I just noticed that Marissa Meyer is going on tour for her new book and she’s going to someplace about an hour from my house so I am definitely going to make sure that I get there. Seeing it just made me more excited for the Lunar Chronicles re-read though.
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YESSSSSSSSSSSS. I was guessing that too, and I’m pretty sure it involves an exclusive cover? WHICH MEANS IT IS SO MUCH COOLER. And omigosh, yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy, Kyera!!!
There really was. I didn’t realize either but apparently I really was judging books by their covers this month.
AND SO MUCH YES. Omigosh, that is amazingggggggggg. ❤ But yes! Gets you ready to dive back in!
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Yes! I’ve had the page open on my phone for almost a week now debating if I want to get it this month…
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Ahahahaha yes. XD I don’t blame you since it sounds so good. You’ll have to let me know if you do because then I feel like I would have to take the dive as well.
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My mom, who normally convinces me out of buying 99% of the stuff I want told me: “Well, think of it as a good thing to get just because of your library blog. You can do another uncrating when you get home.” Oh mom. An uncrating? I was laughing so hard my neighbors probably thought I was crazy. I also can’t break her of the habit of calling it a library blog.. oh well. But long story short, I bought it!
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Ahahahahahahahahha omgiosh, that whole logic was brilliant. But…SO MUCH YAY. It sounds brilliant and I can’t wait to see your “uncrating” (and how you like the book <3).
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16 books even with the DNFs is a TON! WOW! good job… I have a lot of these on my TBR (like the shades of Magic series) .. but my most anticipated that you’ve read are Eliza and her Monsters and Bad Romance. Thanks for sharing!
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Yeah, I’m beginning to realize I might have a problem. XD But yes!! Both of them were amazing, Dani, and I can’t wait to see what you think of them once you get to them. 🙂
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OMG you read so much! Even with the DNFs that’s a lot, just coming out of a slump and this post has made me want to read so many of the amazing books that you read!
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Lol, I’m beginning to realize that. A lot of free time? XD But oooh, yes, many of them were a lot of fun, so you’ll have to let me know if you pick any up! 🙂
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You read twice the amount of books I did, hahaha. Nice list!
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Ahahaha, oh no, Birdie. XD Well, a good deal were DNFs so maybe not as much? XD But thank you! ❤
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Wow! 16? How even, that is amazing!
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Ahahaha, thanks so much! Too much free time is a rather big part. XD
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I loved The Hate U Give so you should definitely read it. As for Shades of Magic, I have the last two on my July TBR too; the first one dragged a bit for me but I’m hoping to love those!
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Yay! 😀 I’ve only heard amazing things about it, so I can’t wait to get to it. 😀 Oooh, yes, hopefully they will! I heard the third one is just one wild ride, so hopefully! 😀
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