Sigh.
I don’t know that my reading pace is going to pick up at all this year. I give zero shits about my Goodreads goal but there are too many unread books calling my name that I’m not reading. There’s not even a good reason for it. I’m just…not.
Anyway, the good news is that this month I read wonderful books. And like 3 of them were NetGalley books. That I read before their pub date! Who am I? I’m not sure.
Before we get to the reviews, just a quick reminder that my reviews are mostly copied and embellished from Litsy. Also, don’t forget to visit Steph, my co-host and friend, as well as some of the other bloggers joining us. We have an incredible booknerd community so if you’re looking for something new to read, one of these ladies can definitely help you out. And mark your calendars for July 10 for the next one.
Now, my June reads.
Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris. This book definitely had the same structure and similar plot to The Breakdown but with a male protagonist instead. It reads like a very standard thriller but then it shifted and went in a direction I did not see coming. Even when I thought I figured it out, it continued twisting. I liked that. Especially the end. I really liked the end. I enjoy her books and will keep reading them but it’d be nice if she strayed from her formula a bit. Shake shit up. ARC from NetGalley.
Ohio by Stephen Markley. If you follow me on Twitter, you probably have already seen me raving about this book. I’m predicting it to be the best book I read all year. It’s crude, vulgar, political, violent, emotional, sad, and so gorgeous I was stunned by what I read. The storytelling is mesmerizing (even if I had to look up what some words meant. He uses REALLY big words sometimes) as well as meandering and time hops and uses multiple POVs, which I generally hate, but he does it in such as way that I actually enjoyed the different yet connected storylines. This book is magnificent and please read it. Although. It’s definitely not for everyone. He touches on addiction, murder, war violence, rape, and other very unpleasant topics. If any of those will trigger you, you might want to avoid. But if they don’t, read this book. ARC from NetGalley.
Puddin’ by Julie Murphy. Oh, how I adore Julie Murphy. She writes characters I wish existed when I was a teenager and it’s refreshing to know they exist now. More diverse, confident girls need to be in novels, loving themselves as-is instead of what other people want them to be. This one gets a little preachier than her others but that’s okay. Maybe we need that now. She is a role model, she writes role models, and I’m looking forward to my daughter being old enough to read her YA books (she has a MG one publishing next year).
Believe Me by JP Delaney. This book is a straight mindfuck. Even when I thought I figured out what happened, I doubted myself. That’s unusual. And they way Boudelaire is woven in reminds me of how Poe was integral to the first season of The Following and that connection is way too coincidental for my liking (although I only learned about it from internet research. I’m not actually that smart). I didn’t love the unreliable narrator trick or the way the dialog was staged like a play but at least it made sense in the plot context instead of being gratuitous. Excellent plane or vacation read. ARC from NetGalley.
Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden. This was a wonderful tribute to his son, and learning exactly why and the thought process behind why he decided not to run for president was interesting. The foreign policy stuff was boring to read (confession: I skimmed a lot of it) but crucial so to understand what he was dealing with alongside Beau’s cancer. The love he feels for his son is palpable, even through the pages of a book. Beau meant a lot to Delaware (I say that as a long-term resident) and I wish he’d touched on that a little more. It would have given an even bigger picture of who he was.
For instance, several years ago, a doctor who’s name I won’t write, was convicted of over 500 counts of child sexual abuse. Beau was our attorney general at the time and it was also around when Joe was picked to run for VP. It was sort of…expected that Beau would fill his dad’s senate seat. He didn’t because he wanted oversee the prosecution of this person. He wanted to see this job to the end, regardless of his own political aspirations. He was heir apparent and he turned it down. That’s not something you see often, especially not in this political climate. I think anecdotes like that would have given a more well-rounded picture. However, in the book he talks about eulogizing people for who they were and not what they did so I sort of understand why those kinds of stories were left out. Anyway, it’s a good book and while it’s not required reading, I do recommend it.
Currently reading The Chateau by Paul Goldberg
TL; DR. All of the books I read this month were excellent and you should add all of them to your TBR. Especially Ohio. That was my favorite.
Now it’s your turn! Link up below and show us your books!
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[…] avoid them for another month because we still need a little space. 😀 As usual, I’m joining Jana and Steph for their completely awesome Show Us Your Books link-up, aka the day my TBR grows and […]
I DNFed Breakdown so I’m not sure if I’d enjoy Bring Me Back. I also get a little frustrated when authors get a little too formula with their books. They become so much less interesting. OMG! Netgally FINALLY approved me for Ohio. It looks really good and intense. I need to be in the “right” mood to read it but it looks fantastic. I still need to read Dumplin. Hangs head in shame. But still adding Puddin to the TBR.
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…May Bookshelf: The Manly Man Month
Ooh, these all sound good!
Confuzzled Bev recently posted…What I Read in May 2018
Ok I really want to read puddin’, sounds like a fun read.
xo
Pinksole
Ooh, I knew nothing about Ohio before seeing your review – I’m intrigued for sure. And I read Dumplin’ earlier this year and fell in love with Julie Murphy too. Can’t wait to get my hands on Puddin’ – and anything else she’s written!
I loved The Breakdown so I am definitely adding Bring Me Back to my list! Puddin’ also sounds like something I would like!
Erin | Chasing Sweet and Simple recently posted…Books (May 2018)
I Just added Believe Me to my to read list. I liked Delaney’s other book. Bring Me Back is already on my to read list.
I will definitely read Puddin sometime – I loved Dumplin 🙂
Bring me Back is on my Netgalley shelf and I need to read it asap!! Didn’t get to it yet.
Ohio sounds really good, but might not quite be my cup of tea. I will leave it loosely on my radar 😉
Way to go tackling the Netgalley shelf!! I am behind on mine, again. #toomuchrequesting
Heather recently posted…Recent Reads – SUYB June 2018
I still haven’t read anything by Julie Murphy, but I want to. I need to check out Dumplin’ before the movie. I’m glad you liked Puddin’ too!!
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Show Us Your Books: Meal Prep, Graphic Novels, etc.
I’m looking to get my hands on Ohio and Puddin’.
I am also not reading as I typically do this year with no true explanation.
i LOVED puddin! such a great, light read.
I have both the BA Paris and the JP Delaney books from Netgalley, and I need to read them! I’ve loved their other books, so I’m hoping that I’ll love these as well!
Ashley The Wandering Weekenders recently posted…Show Us Your Books- What I Read In May
Ooh, I liked “The Girl Before” by JP Delaney so it sounds like I might need to get “Believe Me.” Thanks for the great link up!
Gina || On the Daily Express
I haven’t heard of Ohio, but with the praise you give it I’m going to go look it up and likely add it to my TBR. Promise Me, Dad has been on my radar but I wasn’t sure about it, but it sounds like I should pick it up.
Shea recently posted…How to Dress Comfortably in the Summer
wow, reading before the published date? high five! i was on a roll and now i am on the opposite of a roll and have a bunch backed up. blah. i have puddin waiting at the library for me, so glad you liked it!
Joe Biden’s book sounds interesting – i don’t know much about him or his son, so i might check it out. definitely adding Ohio!
I agree with you, we need more strong, smart confident women in books!!
Ohio sounds creepy enough for me to check out, thanks!
Thanks for hosting!
I loved Dumplin, so I am adding Puddin to the list! I enjoyed Bring Me Back, but I didn’t love Believe Me. I just couldn’t care about Claire or really anyone else in the book…so it took me a long time to get through it. I did find the whole premise fascinating though, and I felt the writing of the book was right for what it was.
Nadine recently posted…Books
I love Joe Biden, so I should probably read that book.
By default, I’m always intrigued when a book is set in my state. Ohio sounds like it might be a little harsh for me, but I’m still pretty curious. I’m planning to read Promise Me, Dad someday. Goes back to your point about so many books, so little time (or motivation sometimes).
Audrey recently posted…What I Read…
I just finished the Break Down by Paris and really liked it. I see what you mean about her formula though. Thanks for the fun link up.
Adding “Ohio” to the list, now. Reading can definitely be a cyclical thing – I’m currently in a “reading all the time” phase but I’ve had many times where even though the book stack is tall, the last thing I’m doing is picking up a read.
Amy recently posted…Recent Reads – May 2018
Bring Me Back is on my list! I also want to read Ruth Ware’s newest book!
I’m excited for the B.A. Paris book!
I read The Girl Before by Delaney and it was fine but a bit forgettable maybe?
I love Joe Biden, but I was angry with him for a long time because he didn’t run. I feel if he did run in 2016, he would have handily beaten THE OTHER GUY popularly and electorally. Blah. So I’ll add his book to my list as a pathway to forgiveness.
I should get back into Litsy. I enjoyed it but it became another place to keep updated.
Kimberly recently posted…Show us your books: June 2018
Ohio sounds amazing, and definitely going to need to read that one. I loved Dumplin’ too, so can’t wait to get my hands on Puddin’ too!
laura recently posted…Show Us Your Books: What I Read in May
I cant wait to get my hands on Puddin!!!
adding bring me back to my TBR!
Just added Ohio to my TBR list! It sounds great & can’t wait for it to be released. I had no idea that J.P. Delaney came out with another book either. I liked The Girl Before but this new one sounds like it might be better!
Megan recently posted…Books Lately Vol. 11
You definitely have me intrigued with all of these, great reviews and I’ve already requested Ohio.
Heather recently posted…All About the Books June 2018
Adding Ohio and Believe Me to my TBR! I would read Promise Me, Dad, but I love the Bidens so much that I think I would just dissolve into tears!
Going to pick up Murphy’s book from the library today, I AM SO EXCITED
Way to go on reading before the pub date! Ohio sounds interesting and I’m definitely going to check it out.
Alison Puppies and Pretties recently posted…Reading Lately: May 2018 Edition
I really need to read more B.A. Paris. I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors when I read it. Thanks for hosing the link up, and for the awesome suggestions!