June 2026 - What are you reading?

[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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m about 100 pages into London Falling and am pulled into the story. It’s very engaging going non-fiction.

I think I'll read this. I'm reading one of his older books right now, Say Nothing, and enjoying it.

[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.

Are you the FD author? I heard that she’s a local, lives in VA.

[Anonymous]

In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield.

Thirteen short-short stories about the quirky characters passing through an early 20th century pension to "take the cure".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I LOVED American Fantasy! I'm surprised by the negative reviews (I haven't seen them myself though...) And I wouldn't call Emma Straub a romance author (though there's nothing wrong with romance). I would characterize her books as litery fiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I just bought this as well! Really excited for it as I love her other books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I read American Fantasy. Almost a DNF for me. Stupid.

[Anonymous]

I wanted a summer read and I’m reading one golden summer and liking it so far.

[Anonymous]

I am reading the Secret History (for the first time) and savoring every word. So good.

I just finished Sky Daddy, which was good. I was expected it to be more like Melissa Broder (whom I love), but it was more like maybe, I don’t know, as if Emma Straub wrote about a love affair with an air plane? It was entertaining nevertheless.

I tried to read Night, Night Fawn. It started off so good, but I kept getting lost in the story a few chapters in and just wasn’t enjoyable. But if anyone got to the end and loved it, let me know. Maybe I would try again.

I am also listening to Kara Swisher’s Burn Book. Ten percent in and it’s great.

[Anonymous]

I just started reading Freida McFadden’s latest book 📖 called “The Divorce.”

I recently discovered this great author and have to admit that I have a very strong addiction to her novels.

So far I am engrossed in this story.
I cannot say what it is about since anything I say would be a spoiler since the first chapter weaves the initial story for the reader.

[Anonymous]

I totally got sucked into two thrillers recently, but I absolutely loved.

One is called You Must be New Here by Katie Sise. It’s definitely got a little big lies, vibe, wealthy families with secrets that come out after a crime.

The other is I came back for you by Kate White. Kind of a dark plot about a mother who was trying to move on after her daughter was murdered eight years ago, but the case gets reopened. But it’s really good.

I love memoir so I’m saving the Christina Applegate one and The Strangers that everyone is talking about for my beach vacation later this summer.