June 2026 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

I was just on vacation and got a lot of reading in:
1) The Compound - 3* (dystopian satire of Love Island type show)
2) The Women- 3.5* (interesting historically but silly writing)
3) Calamity Club- 4* (one note characters but definitely kept me turning pages)
4) Buckeye- 4.5* (1930s-1970s family saga)
5) Good People- 4.5* (multi perspective crime / cultural novel about Afghan American family- this was my fave)

Currently reading Heart the Lover (Lily King) but having a hard time getting into it.

Planning on buying London Falling for DH for father's day- then I will read it after him.

[Anonymous]

I remember being fascinated by the article about London Faling- it stuck with me in great detail- and I love the author but does he really expand on the article, is there a lot more in the book b/c I dont know if I want to read teh same story really just in a longer format.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started Ann Patchett’s new book Whistler. Really enjoying it so far.

I’m the one who made the original comment about enjoying the Finlay Donovan series, despite their often ridiculous plots. Thanks to those who stuck up for me and the books back on page 2 of this thread.

This is next on my list, I love anything by her. Currently reading Lady Tan’s Circle of Women for book club. Definitely not going to end up being a favorite but I’m enjoying the read.

[Anonymous]

Finished listening to So Cold the River by Michael Koryta. Haunting, atmospheric , supernatural thriller.
I loved the setting of the real life historic West Baden Resort Hotel and the surrounding area including the Lost River in Indiana.
There were a few plot holes and lingering questions, but overall I really liked it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dudes. Dungeon Crawler Carl. You will not regret it.

I started reading Dungeon Crawler Carl! I am listening on Audible. I just got to the part where Princess Donut starts talking. It is hilarious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started Ann Patchett’s new book Whistler. Really enjoying it so far.

I’m the one who made the original comment about enjoying the Finlay Donovan series, despite their often ridiculous plots. Thanks to those who stuck up for me and the books back on page 2 of this thread.

I have listened to the first 5 books in the Finlay Donovan series and am on the waiting list for book 6, which came out a couple months ago. I think the books are fun.
I wish that when people express their opinions about books (or movies or fashion or dogs or many other things) that they would say that is their opinion, rather than declare that whatever they think is the facts.

[Anonymous]

I just finished "Hazel Says No".
It is about a family who moves from NYC to a small town in Maine for the father to take a new job at the local college. On the first day of school, Hazel, a high school senior and daughter of the family, is called into the principals' office where the principal says something very inappropriate. The rest of the book is the fallout from all that.

I thought the book was . . . okay. I would give it 2 1/4 stars out of 5, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dudes. Dungeon Crawler Carl. You will not regret it.

If you have an MCPL card, there is a virtual talk with the author Matt Dinniman next week.
https://libraryc.org/mcpl/upcoming

But also that book is sooooo long

Sorry anyone can "attend" since it's virtual. You don't need a library card.

I see a Virtual talk under Loudoun Library events too. Also it did not ask for library card number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dudes. Dungeon Crawler Carl. You will not regret it.

I started reading Dungeon Crawler Carl! I am listening on Audible. I just got to the part where Princess Donut starts talking. It is hilarious!

Isn't this a graphic novel? How does it work on audio?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dudes. Dungeon Crawler Carl. You will not regret it.

I started reading Dungeon Crawler Carl! I am listening on Audible. I just got to the part where Princess Donut starts talking. It is hilarious!

Isn't this a graphic novel? How does it work on audio?

No it’s not a graphic novel.

I picked up Land today by Maggie O Farrell. I haven’t read any of her other books so I’m excited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once or twice a month, I sit down with this thread and my library app, and add things to my wishlist. I so appreciate the posters who tell us something beyond the title and author! Just "it's a fictional account of an 18th century sea voyage, and it's melancholy and beautiful," or "I love the characters and the tension but I hate the rampant rapiness". Or just... something.

Thank you to my fellow book lovers who take the extra minute to give me an idea if something might work for me, and save me the effort of looking up each one

I too want to thank all contributors as I follow recommendations every month. I check out the books from the library for my bed-bound mother who is amazed at the great selection I bring. I always say, give the book a chance, it is said to be excellent- and she doe (she is currently reading “ As long as the Lemon Tree Grows”)
Much appreciation and thanks!

[Anonymous]

I jsut reread Natalie Zina Walschots Hench, about a young woman who finds herself working as a temp on the Villain side doing spreadsheets. She is terribly injured by a "hero" and gets laid off, and starts working on tallying the human cost of heroes. And goes on from there. I loved it as much the second time! Re-read because it was published in 2020 and the sequel, Villain, just came out a couple of weeks ago so that's on my to read list.

I just started American Fantasy by Emma Staub. It's got a fairly low raiting for goodreads, so I'm curious to see how it goes (I'm only on page 50). A 40 (50?) something woman goes on a 4 day cruise dedicated to fans of an aging boy band (think New Kids on the BLock on a cruise today) where guests can interact and hang out with the boy band. She ends up befriending one of the band members. If this was a straight romance book by a well known romance author, the concept would be a home run. So very curious why the low rating. The blurb says it's a richly textured, uplifting story about the magic of revisiting youthful feelings, and the even greater magic of starting anew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is everyone reading this month?
What is the book about?
What is your opinion of the book?

A Perfect Hand by Ayalet Waldman.

I know there's love/hate for her; she's married to Michael Chabon and has said some stuff about marriage and motherhood over the years that has ruffled peoples' feathers. That's an aside though because this book is an utter delight. I've never read her before and it is so wonderfully written. Dialogue, language, inner discourse, ideas, romance, upstairs/downstairs, class, etc. Highly recommend the audiobook!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is everyone reading this month?
What is the book about?
What is your opinion of the book?

A Perfect Hand by Ayalet Waldman.

I know there's love/hate for her; she's married to Michael Chabon and has said some stuff about marriage and motherhood over the years that has ruffled peoples' feathers. That's an aside though because this book is an utter delight. I've never read her before and it is so wonderfully written. Dialogue, language, inner discourse, ideas, romance, upstairs/downstairs, class, etc. Highly recommend the audiobook!

This sounds great. I hope someone brings it up in future threads, because DCPL doesn't even admit that it exists yet so I can't add it to my list (published under a month ago)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is everyone reading this month?
What is the book about?
What is your opinion of the book?

A Perfect Hand by Ayalet Waldman.

I know there's love/hate for her; she's married to Michael Chabon and has said some stuff about marriage and motherhood over the years that has ruffled peoples' feathers. That's an aside though because this book is an utter delight. I've never read her before and it is so wonderfully written. Dialogue, language, inner discourse, ideas, romance, upstairs/downstairs, class, etc. Highly recommend the audiobook!

This sounds great. I hope someone brings it up in future threads, because DCPL doesn't even admit that it exists yet so I can't add it to my list (published under a month ago)

PP - The regular library is at my library but not the audiobook- It sounded so good, I bought it on Libro.fm. I forgot to mention that it's also funny.