I finished 13 books in June totalling over 2200 pages and 32 hours. It was quite the month with some real highs and lows. I also had a couple of DNFs last month and as this post is going to be long, I’ve decided to not include them. They were The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets by Nancy Springer and Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. I’ve attempted to read Children of Blood and Bone three times now, it’s very clearly not the book for me.
Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
Read: 29/5/25 – 6/6/25
*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
When I received an ARC of this I was possibly the most excited I have ever been for a book. If you’ve been reading Young Creative Press for a while, you’ll know just how much I love Critical Role, so the existence of this book is everything to me.
I absolutely loved it. My love of Critical Role definitely impacted this, but it was genuinely a really great book. So much more than the spicy romance I was expecting.
ARC Review: Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
Synopsis: As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.
Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.
Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.
Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.
The Lost Sunday by Iléana Surducan
Read: 6/6/25
*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
This is a very sweet, short graphic novel that is ironically a great Sunday read. You could definitely cosy up with a hot drink and read this graphic novel in one sitting.
Synopsis: From creator Ileana Surducan (Nor’s Holiday) comes The Lost Sunday—her Eisner Award–nominated, all-ages tale about the need for free time in the midst of our busy, everyday lives.
Nina lives in a dusty town haunted by the six angry wolves of the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each day brings never-ending chores and drudgery. Legend speaks of a seventh day to rest—Sunday—but everybody knows an evil witch stole it and keeps it locked away. When Nina finally says enough is enough, she sets out on an ambitious quest for rest, but will she be able to vanquish the witch and bring back the lost Sunday?
Inspired by old folklore and fairy tales, this story shines a magical light on a present-day burnout and the importance of leisure. A great read for kids and adults alike!
Dracula’s Brunch Club by Brian Gonsar & Keenan Gaybba
Read: 6/6/25 – 8/6/25
*I was sent a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review*
I really had to push myself to finish this graphic novel. Not only was it quite long, there was also just so much dialogue on every single page. The whole point of a graphic novel is that you don’t have to describe everything, you can show it. This graphic novel does not do that.
Synopsis: Count Dracula is not your average vampire. Well, sure, he’s undead, hates garlic, and will burn up in sunlight—but unlike other vampires, he has a knack for baking. And it’s his brunch club’s famous blood-orange-jelly donuts that give his fellow vampires the energy source they need to live forever. But when Transylvania experiences a mysterious jelly shortage, it allows his nemesis, Constantine, to swoop in and steal the brunch club—and the vampires’ loyalty—from Dracula. But it’s not just jelly donuts at stake. When townsfolk start to go missing, Dracula suspects Constantine has far more sinister motives lurking that could threaten everything vampires and humans have worked for. With the help of his chef and human friend, Elena, Dracula must find a new energy source before every vampire and human turns on him and he loses his coveted brunch club forever.
The Girl and the Glim by India Swift & Michael Doig
Read: 8/6/25
Another graphic novel because I was trying to get the most out of my Kindle Unlimited subscription. The art style of this one was really cute and I loved the premise, but the execution wasn’t brilliant. It felt like something was missing, but I did still enjoy it.
Synopsis: An original graphic novel about being the new kid in a different school, getting picked on by the class bullies, and what happens when a magical presence takes notice. Like, can things get any worse? Starting out at a new school is tough, and Bridgette isn’t having much luck, seeing as, well, she’s not great at making a first impression. Or, maybe, any impression. Ugh, all these nervous feelings! Will I fit in? Will I make new friends? Will they still like me when they get to know me? Nope. For now the best she can manage is… awkward. This is not going great. That’s when she sees it. Something dark and scary… something only she can see. And she’s scared, of course she is. But as the only one able to see the dangers, maybe it’s time for her to face that fear and unravel the mystery of the Glim and the Glums. The Girl and The Glim is about accepting the fact that fear is okay, and that while letting other people see your vulnerabilities can be scary, it can also lead to closer friendships in the end.
Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
Read: 8/6/25 – 12/6/25
This book won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it. The Dungeons & Dragons mechanics were a little funky, but I loved the characters and how it brought two of my favourite things together.
Book Review: Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
Synopsis: No one loves musicals more than Riley Morris—her dream is to be a Broadway director. But when the spring show is canceled, Riley has to figure out a way to bring it back. Easier said than done—she’s stuck working at her dad’s game store. The place that means more to him than his family does.
Riley can’t waste time at a dead-end job when her entire future is resting on making a name for herself. So she convinces her co-worker Nathan Wheeler—the floppy-haired, glasses-wearing guy she barely knows from school—to help her. In exchange, she’ll help him make his gamer-girl crush jealous. Plus it won’t hurt to show her egotistical ex, Paul, just what he’s missing without her.
Soon Riley and Nathan are “a couple,” and people seem to believe it. But selling the ruse means joining Nathan’s role-playing game. To Riley’s surprise, the game is almost fun. And even more surprising, flirting with Nathan doesn’t require as much acting as she thought it would…
Becoming Mila by Estelle Maskame
Read: 13/6/25 – 17/6/25
This was actually better than I thought it would be. I only decided to check it out because it was leaving Audible Plus soon and I was pleasantly surprised. Sadly, you can’t listen to this for free now, but I would recommend it if you’re a fan of Hollywood themed teen romcoms.
Audiobook Review: Becoming Mila by Estelle Maskame
Synopsis: Set in Los Angeles and Nashville over a long hot summer, Becoming Mila shimmers with friendship, family frictions and romance. It’s the first book in an exhilarating new trilogy from Estelle Maskame.
Meet Mila. Sixteen years old, an ordinary LA girl . . . except for her A-list actor dad. With his next big movie premiere on the horizon, the media spotlight is intense – and when Mila’s antics make headlines, something must be done.
Exit Mila. Dispatched to small-town Tennessee to cool off. It’s summer, she’s off-grid in the middle of nowhere, but Mila’s no sooner arrived than she falls out – in spectacular style – with local mayor’s son, Blake.
Blake knows just how to rattle Mila. He also knows just how she feels. He gets the drama, the dynamics, the tricky parents. Perhaps they have far more in common than either of them cares to admit.
Your Turn to Die by Sue Wallman
Read: 13/6/25 – 18/6/25
It’s not often I read a thriller and want it to go down the paranormal route, but that’s what I hoped would happen here. Sadly not, the ending doesn’t actually make a lot of sense and felt like the author didn’t really know how to wrap up the mystery so just picked someone at random. Well, not completely random as one plot point kinda makes sense, but the motive is stupid.
Book Review: Your Turn to Die by Sue Wallman
Synopsis: Every winter, three families gather in an old house to celebrate the New Year. This year, 15-year-old Leah and the other kids discover that the house has a dark past. As they dig into the history, terrible things start happening, and if Leah isn’t careful, this New Year might be her last.
The Charade by Judy Corry
Read: 19/6/25
I don’t know if I have the energy to explain everything that’s wrong with this again, so you’ll just have to wait for my review that’s coming in two days. Strap in, it’s a wild one.
Synopsis: My math tutor has one rule: he doesn’t date the girls he tutors at our private school.
But a fake relationship that’s beneficial to us both? That’s a different story.
Our agreement helps Carter get revenge on his ex while it helps me hide the real reason we’re spending so much time together. Win-win.
Plus, flirting with the hottest guy at school is kind of fun.
As long as the feelings stay as fake as the show we’re putting on, there shouldn’t be a problem. Right?
The Charade is a forbidden romance about the new girl and the guy who everyone sees as untouchable.
Camp Spirit by Axelle Lenoir
Read: 19/6/25
Another not great graphic novel to add to the pile in June. I read two by this author during the month and I didn’t like either of them. Reviews for both are coming soon.
Synopsis: Summer camp is supposed to be about finding nirvana in a rock garden… But Elodie prefers Nirvana and Soundgarden. Can she confront rambunctious kids, confusing feelings, and supernatural horrors all at once?
Summer 1994: with just two months left before college, Elodie is forced by her mother to take a job as a camp counselor. She doesn’t know the first thing about nature, or sports, of kids for that matter, and isn’t especially interested in learning… but now she’s responsible for a foul-mouthed horde of red-headed girls who just might win her over, whether she likes it or not. Just as Elodie starts getting used to her new environment, though — and close to one of the other counselors — a dark mystery lurking around the camp begins to haunt her dreams.
Kill Joy by Holly Jackson
Read: 21/6/25
I’ve been wanting to read this for a while but kept forgetting about it. Honestly, this was really fun. It’s super immersive, to the point that I kept forgetting it wasn’t set in the 1920’s, and I liked how it linked to the series without giving anything away so anyone could check this out.
Synopsis: Find out where it all started for Pip in this prequel novella to the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town, Little Kilton, is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder. But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind…
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
Read: 19/6/25 – 27/6/25
I didn’t realise until now how long it took me to finish this book. It was a very enjoyable read though and I loved the twist on Arthurian legend. It’s not a direct retelling but it does draw a lot of inspiration from the classic legend, but with a queer twist. Which is great for those that loved the BBC’s Merlin back in the day.
Synopsis: It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.
They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run-up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen’s childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom’s only lady knight, Bridget Leclair.
Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, Gwen and Art make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight, and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen’s royal brother. Lex Croucher’s Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love.
Not You It’s Me by Julie Johnson
Read: 24/6/25 – 17/6/25
Yet another one star audiobook that was just all over the place. The plot is insane and takes place over only one week, which, if you read my review in a few weeks, I lay out in the longest sentence I’ve ever written. It’s wild.
Synopsis: Gemma Summers is unlucky in love.
She’s known it since third grade, when her first crush blew a spitball into her hair, and a decade-long string of bad dates, boring sex, and abysmal morning-afters has done nothing to improve her prospects.
When a random radio contest lands her courtside tickets to the hottest playoff game of the season, Gemma thinks her luck may finally be on the upswing — at least, until the dreaded jumbotron kiss-cam lands on her and her date, who’s too busy ignoring her to notice…
Thankfully, the sexy stranger sitting next to her is more than willing to step in.
One kiss.
Two strangers.
No strings attached.
Or… so she thinks. Turns out, kissing Chase Croft — Boston’s most eligible bachelor — may be enough to convince even a girl who’s given up on love to let down her guard one last time…
Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins: Caduceus Clay by Kendra Wells & Selina Espiritu
Read: 29/6/25
This definitely wasn’t my favourite so far, but I did really enjoy it. I just think they’re a little too short so people that don’t know the characters already won’t be able to enjoy them fully. They’re entertaining enough, but as someone that knows a lot about the characters, I know enough to love them.
Synopsis: Follow the origin story of the Mighty Nein’s Caduceus Clay in this beautiful hardcover graphic novel written by Kendra Wells, illustrated by Selina Espiritu, with colors by Eren Angiolini and letters by Ariana Maher. Created in consultation with the cast of Critical Role!
Generations of the Clay family have tended to the careful rituals in the Blooming Grove. But when corruption begins to creep in on their sacred space, the Clays depart one by one to seek answers. Soon young Caduceus and Clarabelle are the only ones left, and when a dangerous burial quest falls to Caduceus, he must leave the Grove to do the family’s work.
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: Graphic Novel Review: Camp Spirit by Axelle Lenoir
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