My June 2024 Reads
Welcome back to the TNB blog! I’ve been missing sharing my monthly reads with you all and am excited to revive this space so you can see what books I’m loving and get some more in-depth thoughts on each of them.
In June I read five books, all of which were fiction. My favorite read of the month was probably A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, followed closely behind by The Idea of You. I read books in contemporary, romance, LGBTQIA+ and Young Adult. I listened to three of the five books on audio, and read physical copies for Love Radio and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. I get all of these stats from Storygraph (if you’re on there too, follow me: @readinginclt).
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My dear friend Megan recommended this as a good romance a while back so I was excited to check this one out because she's the queen of romances. I really enjoyed it and think you will too if you like the long-game trope. The main characters essentially run into each other every few years, resulting in chaotic interactions that leave an unfavorable mark for both of them. The woman is bisexual and firmly believes love is a lie, particularly after she ends up divorced. The man is a hopeless romantic who can't seem to find a genuine connection. When they run into each other yet again, they decide to be friends in their misery, and you can guess where things go from there.
I loved the bisexual representation, though I found her a little childish and frustrating at times (don't worry, everyone's in therapy so they're all working on it). Overall I adored this and love the way it all wrapped up in the end.
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This is one of those books I've had on my shelf for years and years but just finally got around to picking up. LaDelle's story is a coming of age love story featuring 17-year-old Prince Jones, a local DJ and "love expert," and Dani Ford, an aspiring writer trying to overcome a traumatic experience that's left her with writing block.
I thought this was such a sweet book and I loved the main characters. I did roll my eyes a few times at the idea of a 17-year-old being a love expert and giving sage romantic advice to folks of all ages. Some of that felt cheesy, but it is a nod to the cheesy Black romances Dani's mom is obsessed with, and this is a YA novel meant for teens. It's not steamy, so it's safe for younger audiences to read (I'd recommend 14+) but also great for any fan of a sweet love story.
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I've been seeing clips for the movie for a bit, so when I saw this book available on Libby immediately I decided to give it a shot. I was quickly engrossed in Solène and Hayes' love story. In it, a middle-aged mother takes her daughter to a boy band concert, where she meets and quickly falls for member of the band. It felt uncomfy for me to think about a 39-year-old woman falling for an 18-year-old (I mean that's basically a child, and while it happens all the time, especially in Hollywood, it's weird, right?)... BUT I could not put this book down. I adored Solène and Hayes' genuine connection and respect for each other. It's a relationship that might make you uncomfortable and is almost definitely doomed from the start, but you can't help rooting for them.
Also, that ending?! My jaw definitely dropped. Totally unexpected and, in my opinion, perfect.
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I can't even remember how this one got on my radar, but it's been saved on my Storygraph account forever. I listened to it on Libby and quickly fell in love with main character Maggie Banks. She's feeling lost and lacking in confidence after a few failed career attempts when her best friend asks her to help run her bookstore in a tourist trap town dedicated to a famous author from decades ago. The bookstore can only carry classics from the author's time of life and the author's books, which are the primary source of sales. When they lose that source, Maggie takes it upon herself to begin supplementing income by selling "banned" contemporary books. Also, there's a cute love interest that plays on the "grumpy/sunshine" trope.
The story was really cute and enjoyable. BUT... if my friend came into my business and began to sell "illegal" books without me and made massive decisions without my input because she "didn't want to bother me," I'd be so unbelievably angry (mostly because I'd love the opportunity to join in, but also because this is my livelihood and I should probably know what's going on?). Kudos to Rochelle for keeping her cool, and kudos to Shauna Robinson for a really fun read.
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After reading Seven Days in June by Tia Williams last year and having it be one of my top books for the year, I was extremely excited for her latest. Published earlier this year, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde follows Ricki, an aspiring flower shop owner and chronic disappointment to her family, as she sets out on her dreams of entrepreneurship. Shortly after opening her shop in New York City, she meets a man she feels inexplicably drawn to who advises her to stay far away from him to keep herself safe, which is easier said than done.
I absolutely loved this story. Ricki is a funny and brilliant main character, and her love story is one that had me swooning. It has elements of magical realism in it, so go into it with an open mind. My only critique is the ending was a little too perfect, but you all know how much I love an imperfect, messy ending. Tia Williams is officially a must-read author for me, and I can't wait to see what she does next.
Need other recommendations? Ask me for some ideas!