LIFE'S A PEARL

I read a total of 23 books in June. Not as many as May but still a really great reading month for me.

The first half of June was full of amazing reads! I had 6 5-star books!

This second half was very hit or miss but I did make a bunch of progress on my summer tbr. I’ve read 16 of those 20 books!

I’m still reading a lot of romance. That’s a trend I don’t see changing in my reading life anytime soon but you never know.

I continued some fun series this month, listened to most of my new releases, and even started sharing on bookstagram again – mostly reviews as I have a ton to catch up on.

I also had a great mix of already owned books, library checkouts, and Kindle Unlimited reads this month!

June Reading Wrap Up:

By the Season and Reading Format

Summer Reads

• Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher ?
• Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez ?
• Happy Place by Emily Henry ?
• Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune ?
• Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman ?
• Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan ?
• Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren ?
• The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane ?
• Birthday Girl by Niko Wolf ?

Book Club Picks

• Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry ? (also a summer read)
• Eight Dates by John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman ?

Next in Series

• Lauren’s Barbarian by Ruby Dixon ?
• Veronica’s Dragon by Ruby Dixon ?
• Willa’s Beast by Ruby Dixon ?
• Reckless by Elsie Silver ?
• Slices of Life by Ruby Dixon ?
• The Barbarian Before Christmas by Ruby Dixon ?
• Gail’s Family by Ruby Dixon ?
• Angie’s Gladiator by Ruby Dixon ?
• Barbarian’s Valentine ?

Just Because

• Ivan by Sophie Lark ?
• Bait by Jade West ?
• When She’s Ready by Ruby Dixon ?

Recaps and Reviews

You can find my reviews for Indigo Ridge (4 stars), Veronica’s Dragon (5 stars), Ivan (4 stars), Meet Me in Paradise (3 stars), Bait (5 stars), Reckless (5 stars), Yours Truly (5 stars), Happy Place (5 stars), and Eight Dates (5 stars) plus ratings for further books in some of these series in my Mid June Reading Recap.

Slices of Life by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4 stars (average)

Steam Level: 0

I slowly made my way through most of the short stories and novellas that accompany Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians series this month.

Slices of Life is a collection of 4 short stories set in between novels in the first half of the IPB series – Having the Barbarian’s Baby, Ice Ice Babies, Calm, and Aftershocks.

I read them each separately since that’s how they are available through Kindle Unlimited but it’s easier to discuss them at one.

If you’re reading this series and struggling with the reading order like I was, I found this list very helpful!

My Thoughts

Some of the titles of these slice of life stories are quite campy but I adored them!

In a few cases I actually loved the short stories more than the novels in the early part of the series.

Several of these are birth or early parenthood stories so the emotions run deep.

I also loved getting to know the whole tribe better! In particular I enjoyed Calm which is a somber story but told from Maylak’s perspective who’s an important character as the healer but never front and center.

I really enjoyed the friendship interactions in the everyday moments that we don’t always see on page in the novels.

These short works added wonderful details to the world building of the series.

Aftershocks is another sad one but it perfectly set the stage for Barbarian’s Heart (5 stars), which took the series in a whole new direction.

I think some of these early couples get their own books at the end of the IPB series and these short stories make me more excited to read those!

Other Books in the Series that I Read

• The Barbarian Before Christmas (4 stars, steam 3)
• Barbarian’s Valentine (4 stars, steam 2)

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

Rating: 2 stars

Steam Level: 2

Carley Fortune’s debut Every Summer After was a 5-star read for me and one of my favorite romances from last summer.

So when I had audible credits to use or lose earlier this year, I preordered Fortune’s sophomore book so I could skip the hold line at my library. It was also on my summer tbr as an anticipated new release.

From goodreads:

“Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort–something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan–a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?”

My Thoughts

Unfortunately this book had none of the magic of Fortune’s first release.

I honestly would have DNF’d it by Chapter 12, but since I owned it, I wanted to see it through.

Neither the plot nor the characters ever developed enough to redeem the story.

I didn’t buy into Fern and Will’s past connection to begin with so it was hard to be invested in their second chance. None of the conflict in this one worked for me.

If you’re going to have a book with cheating (even emotional cheating) in it, it had better be compelling. This wasn’t.

We only ever get Fern’s POV and she just wasn’t enjoyable to spend that amount of time with. In the past timeline, she treats both men in her life pretty terribly and there’s never really any reason given for it.

In the present timeline, we never get Will’s POV so a lot of his actions and reasons behind them felt hollow. I never had enough sense of him as a person. The “reveal” that comes at the end felt completely thrown in. If that struggle was going to be part of his story, it should have been explored all along.

There’s at least 2 past mysteries hinted at throughout the story as huge reasons to why these two are where they are and those never paid off. These “massive” plot moments were just briefly told in a bit of dialogue, never shown, which did not work for emotional impact.

For me even the setting lacked the sense of place that was so wonderful in Every Summer After. There was very little lake or town. Vancouver actually had the best descriptions and that just doesn’t jive with the expectations of the title.

Sadly this was a big miss for me.

When She’s Ready by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 3.5 stars

Steam Level: 3

This is the first novella in Ruby Dixon’s Risdaverse series. As of this posting the series is available on Kindle Unlimited.

From goodreads:

“To get amnesty on a remote farm planet, ex-con Tassar has to marry an alien – specifically, a strange looking creature called a ‘human’. When he sees gorgeous, delicate Leilani, though, all of his plans change. He wants more than just a marriage of convenience. He wants her forever, but only when she’s ready. “

My Thoughts

My friend, Corinne, recommended this series for me to try when she found out I was deep into the world of alien romances from Ruby Dixon.

I’m so glad she did!

The series has such an intriguing premise. As a novella this was a quick, fun, and flirty read for me – the kissing practice ?

I thought there was a great balance of steam and plot which can be difficult to find in short reads.

It was a little bit instalovey for my preference but the ending was really cute. I’m excited that Ruby Dixon shared what books the other couples are from because I’d like to check those (Prison Planet Barbarian and Pretty Human) out too!

I love how all of her series seem to interconnect! I just wish I had a diagram to keep track of it all for reading order lol.

There’s an author’s note at the beginning mentioning an audio version of this story that’s free to listen to on the Read Me Romance podcast, but I could not find it anywhere. So that was a bit of a bummer.

I did discover that Tessa Bailey is (possibly was?) one of the hosts for that podcast at least back in 2019 when this was published so that’s on my list to check out.

Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman

Rating: 3 stars

Steam Level: 2

Elissa Sussman’s first book, Funny You Should Ask, was a 5-star read for me last summer.

So this was one of the new releases I preordered when I had audible credits to use or lose. It was also on my summer tbr.

From goodreads:

“Then. Katee Rose is living the dream as America’s number one pop star, caught in a whirlwind of sold-out concerts, screaming fans, and constant tabloid coverage. Everyone wants to know everything about her and her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of adored boy band CrushZone. Katee loves to perform but hates the impossible demands of stardom. Maybe that’s why she finds herself in the arms of another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Quiet, serious Cal, who’s always been a good friend to Katee, is suddenly Cal with the smoldering eyes and very good hands. One unforgettable night is all it takes to blow up Katee’s relationship with Ryan, her career, her whole life…

Now. Kathleen Rosenberg is okay with her ordinary existence, and leaving her pop star image in the past. That is, until Cal Kirby shows up with the opportunity of her dreams–a starring role in the Broadway show he’s directing and a chance to perform the way she’s always wanted. The two haven’t spoken since the joint destruction of their careers, and each of them blames the other, making their reunion a tense battle of wits and egos. Katee reluctantly agrees to the musical, as long as she keeps her guard up around Cal. But rehearsals are long, those eyes still smolder, and those hands are still very good. Despite everything, Katee can’t deny the chemistry between them. Is it ever a good idea to reignite old flames? Especially if you’ve been burned in the past?”

My Thoughts

This was another disappointing second read from an author I’ve loved before.

After reading so many single POV romances this month, I’m realizing I really prefer dual POV stories.

Most of this book was ok, at least the story made sense, didn’t drag, and I enjoyed the secondary characters.

The main character, Katee, infuriated me for a lot of the story.

In both timelines, she was immature and self-sabatoging – though that was somewhat forgivable in her past timeline since she was young. In the present timeline though, she was completely self-absorbed and unprofessional.

She was incapable of taking responsibility for her own actions and making her own decisions.

Which doubly pissed me off because she’s super successful, rich, and famous with every opportunity to control her own life. She was a doormat for the people who treated her terribly and then completely selfish to the ones who actually cared about her (poor Harriet, who deserved a much better friend).

The ending felt weak because the conflict didn’t make sense. When Katee gets called out, she does the dumbest move possible considering any damage has already been done and sabotages everything again.

There’s a line where she literally says “I’m getting whiplash” and as the reader I was too and not in a good way!

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan

Rating: 4 stars

Steam Level: 1

I read Nora Goes Off Script last summer and gave it 4 stars.

This was another book I preordered on audible earlier this year. It was also on my summer tbr as an anticipated new release.

From goodreads:

“Sam’s life is on track. She has the perfect doctor fiancé, Jack (his strict routines are a good thing, really), a great job in Manhattan (unless they fire her), and is about to tour a wedding venue near her family’s Long Island beach house. Everything should go to plan, yet the minute she arrives, Sam senses something is off. Wyatt is here. Her Wyatt. But there’s no reason for a thirty-year-old engaged woman to feel panicked around the guy who broke her heart when she was seventeen. Right?

Yet being back at this beach, hearing notes from Wyatt’s guitar float across the night air from next door as if no time has passed—Sam’s memories come flooding back: the feel of Wyatt’s skin on hers, their nights in the treehouse, and the truth behind their split. Sam remembers who she used to be, and as Wyatt reenters her life their connection is as undeniable as it always was. She will have to make a choice.”

My Thoughts

I had to sit with this one for a little bit but I actually enjoyed this book slightly more than Monaghan’s first one.

I love second chance romance and this one delivered a slow but sweet one. It was also full of some of my favorite things like bookish moments, an unconventional family, and beach vibes.

“If it’s possible to smell like book, she smells like books.” #booknerdgoals!

There is definitely summer nostalgia present throughout the whole book and I loved it.

I was really drawn to this house and this family where summer means freedom, fun, and making art out of anything. Sam’s mom was particularly inspiring – her art was for pure enjoyment. There was no ego about it. I’d love to tap into that kind of energy occasionally!

There were so many gems of life wisdoms in this book.

There was emotional cheating (I don’t think that’s a spoiler with the synopsis). But the way the story was told, it made sense and was ultimately compelling.

Angie’s Gladiator by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 5 stars

Steam Level: 3

This is the fourth book in Ruby Dixon’s Icehome series. It’s a series that runs parallel to the last of the Ice Planet Barbarians book.

Since May I’ve been making my way through both. The second book, Veronica’s Dragon, was a 5-star read for me earlier this month.

As of this posting, the series is available to read on Kindle Unlimited. However I listened to the audio version on Hoopla through my library.

From goodreads:

“As an a’ani warrior, my life matters little. Cloned from the same matter as thousands of others, I am but one of many. Here on the ice planet, though, I can start over. I can become my own person, have my own needs, my own wants.

I know what I want and I have known since the moment I arrived.

Her name is Angie. She is human, with sad, lonely eyes and a very pregnant belly. To her, I am not just another clone. I am Vordis, the one who laughs at her jokes, tends to her needs, and makes her smile. I will do anything to make her mine.

But my brother and fellow clone Thrand thinks the same way, and he’s just as determined to win her. Will I have to destroy my bond with my brother to win my female? Or will he cause a rift between us that’s impossible to mend?”

My Thoughts

This was another one that I listened to in a day because it was so fun.

It starts out hilarious! Vordis is similar to Ashtar (the MMC in Veronica’s Dragon) where he’s struggling to adjust to being out of the gladiator world and he just keeps saying the wrong thing. He’s constantly insulting the human women without meaning to and there were so many great lines.

Side note: Those scenes made me excited for Bridget’s story because she is so sassy!

I enjoyed the continued universe building as we get to know Vordis and world building as we see Icehome continue to form.

I loved Veronica and Ashtar’s appearances in this one. They’re my favorite couple so far so that’s always fun but they gave a bunch of comic relief to this story. The sex education scene was absolutely priceless! ?

I also enjoyed how people are having more faith in resonance as the series progresses but it isn’t all instalove.

Other Books in the Series that I Read

• Gail’s Family (4 stars) – a novella that comes before this book

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Rating: 2 stars

Steam Level: 2

This was one of the beach read books on my summer tbr.

Sadly this may be the end of the road for me and Christina Lauren – a huge bummer since I used to have pretty good luck with these authors.

From goodreads:

“Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.”

My Thoughts

I’ve been curious about this one for awhile as it’s shared as many people’s favorite Christina Lauren book and Every Summer After gets compared to it constantly.

To be honest I don’t get the second part of that. The only thing this book has in common with Every Summer After is that they’re both second chance love stories between childhood sweethearts.

This book would have been a 4-star read for me until the last 15%.

The end was actually so confusing on audio that I went back in the ebook and reread it to make sure I hadn’t missed something.

And I’m so disturbed by how that last 15% was handled, I had to lower my rating. It absolutely ruined the book for me and makes me question if I’ll pick up these authors again.

Possible spoilers ahead!!

Elliot was sexually assaulted and not only is that never dealt with in the storyline, he is actually blamed for cheating when he’s the victim of rape.

I feel the authors knew they were writing a sexual assault scene because it’s mentioned how traumatic getting physically intimate with anyone was for him for years after this event.

Drunk or not, male, female or non-binary, if you can’t give consent, it’s rape. In 2018, when this book was written, that shouldn’t even be up for debate!

It infuriates me that this was never acknowledged. It’s just glossed over and even worse warped into “cheating” to be part of the conflict keeping these two apart.

Even if I set that major issue aside, I could not believe in the age of the internet, social media, and oh yeah the fact that they are freakin’ neighbors that Elliot (or someone in his family) wouldn’t have heard about the accident, which is the other conflict keeping them apart.

The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane

Rating: 3.5 stars

Steam Level: 4

This was one of the beach read books on my summer tbr. I saw it recommended on a few summer reads videos over on Romance BookTube.

From goodreads:

“Nothing says happy birthday like catching your husband in a compromising position with his boss.

His male boss.

Why, hello, midlife crisis. I’m starting over, but this time I’m doing it right. Or at least I’m doing what I want.

Taking the day off from work to hang out poolside? Yup. Do I leave the swimsuit in my house? Sure.

Does my very hot, twenty-something pool boy happen to catch me naked? Oh, yeah, he does. And he likes what he sees… a lot.

My best friend keeps telling me to have a fling and get back out there. But I’m not so sure she meant for me to do it with her son.”

My Thoughts

This is the first book in a long time I’ve reviewed where I wish I did quarter stars. It would be a 3.75!

The first half of this book was entertaining but completely unbelievable with some far-fetched run ins and the length of time one character spent pining. There was also a ton of spice – possibly too much for me.

There’s some humor sprinkled in as well. At least one scene had me laughing out loud – the conversation Troy overhears between his mom and Erika ?

The development in the second half surprised me and I wound up really enjoying this story. Troy comes across very mature for his age. He knows exactly what he wants and goes for it but he’s always considerate of other people’s feelings (like his stepdad Bill).

The ending was a little over the top with how tidy it tied up but overall it was cute, fun, and sweet!

This is more along the lines of what I was hoping for when I read The Idea of You by Robinne Lee earlier this year – which features an age gap relationship.

I’m excited to read more from Nikki Sloane!

Birthday Girl by Niko Wolf

Rating: 2.5 stars

This is one of the thriller palette cleansers I had on my summer tbr. It’s also a book I got through audible when I had credits to use or lose earlier this year.

I heard about it on the podcast, Book Talk Etc, as one of their favorite under-the-radar books of last year and have wanted to check it out ever since.

From goodreads:

“Jonathan’s wife disappeared more than twenty years ago. Now he’s seeing her everywhere . . .

New York in the 1990s – impoverished writer Jonathan Dainty takes his wife Maddie out to the beach for her birthday. Hours later he finds himself at the local police precinct trying to explain how on earth he let his wife get into a stranger’s car, and allowed it to drive her away.

More than twenty years later, Maddie is presumed dead and Jonathan has channelled his grief into a best-selling series of crime novels. As far as he can, he is living the perfect life.

Then one day he catches a glimpse of his dead wife, moving through a throng of people. Is Maddie alive? Has she come back? And why does no one believe him? As Jonathan attempts to uncover the truth, it soon becomes clear that the people closest to him are hiding something, something that could change everything . . .”

My Thoughts

I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting when I got this one on Audible but this was definitely not it.

This is not a propulsive thriller at all! The story was very slow with a cast of increasingly horrid characters.

The reader is stuck with a self-absorbed, insecure, and judgy main character narrating the entire thing. He was not at all fun to spend time with which was possibly the point? I’m still scratching my head.

The first half was quite boring and the second half switched between boring, bizarre, and disturbing.

The ending did surprise me but unfortunately that didn’t make my reading experience worth it.

This was not the right book for me for many reasons but topmost I found it depressing as hell.

There are so so many parenting issues in this one which from the synopsis I really wasn’t prepared for. Trigger warnings for child abuse and neglect which I also did not realize going in.

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What was your favorite read in June?