Like the Comet

Hello, first month of summer. How are you already coming to an end??

June came in HOT. Literally. The heat and humidity knocked me on my sweaty ass multiple days this month. The only relief from the heat was when the Canadian Fires were smoking up our atmosphere so wholly that it blocked the sun all together lol. Yikes.

I swear Michigan summers are actually spectacularly beautiful, but when it gets humid, it gets HUMID.

I didn’t make it through as many books as I would’ve liked this month, but I did find a new adult fantasy I won’t shut up about until November when the sequel comes out. So that’s exciting. :)

I also made an effort to read more LGBTQ+ focused books because you gotta celebrate Pride Month in your reading adventures too!

Anyhoo, cheers to your summer TBR list!

Let’s get into everything I read in June.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

THE FORTUNES OF JADED WOMEN by Carolyn Huynh

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Everyone in Orange County’s Little Saigon knew that the Duong sisters were cursed. It started with their ancestor Oanh who dared to leave her marriage for true love - so a fearsome Vietnamese witch cursed Oanh and her descendants so that they would never find love or happiness, and the Duong women would give birth to daughters, never sons. Oanh’s current descendant Mai Nguyen knows this curse well. She’s divorced, and after an explosive disagreement a decade ago, she’s estranged from her younger sisters, Minh Pham (the middle and the mediator) and Khuyen Lam (the youngest who swears she just runs humble coffee shops and nail salons, not Little Saigon’s underground). Though Mai’s three adult daughters, Priscilla, Thuy, and Thao, are successful in their careers (one of them is John Cho’s dermatologist!), the same can’t be said for their love life. Mai is convinced they might drive her to an early grave. Desperate for guidance, she consults Auntie Hua, her trusted psychic in Hawaii, who delivers an unexpected prediction: this year, her family will witness a marriage, a funeral, and the birth of a son. This prophecy will reunite estranged mothers, daughters, aunts, and cousins - for better or for worse.

My Thoughts: This book is chaotic and messy in the most digestible sense. I found the expressive, over-the-top drama both entertaining and endearing. There was so much dysfunction in this large family of essentially all women. The book follows three generations of women and it was clear there had been some tension and friction throughout the years between the various sisters, daughters, and cousins. Due to the curse placed on this family years ago, the women find themselves in loveless relationships with the ability to only have more daughters. I will say, there are a LOT of characters in this book and although I could keep up well enough, it was hard to get into the story again if I hadn’t picked it up in a few days. It was a well-paced plot, and I enjoyed learning more about Vietnamese culture and behavioral norms. Overall, I liked this book. It didn’t blow my mind, but if you enjoy some messy family dynamics then I think you’d enjoy this.

LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS by Anita Kelly

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show, Chef’s Special. Too bad the first move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending tacos flying - not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Stil, she’s focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money. After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls - including a fellow contestant and their dad - wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan. As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt and divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen - and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.

My Thoughts: This book was really cute. I loved the premise of two contestants competing on a cooking show falling in love. Dahlia and London were both really great main characters for this story as well. Dahlia is a recently divorced amateur chef who doesn’t really know what she’s doing in life, but decided to take the leap and go compete on this cooking show. She’s definitely the ray of sunshine character compared to her counterpart. London is non-binary and went on the show as a dare from their twin sister. They’re a little more reserved, communicating in mostly grunts to start, but as soon as they collide with Dahlia, their personality starts to shine. The connection between these two was undeniable. Even the synergy they experienced while cooking next to each other came so naturally. I learned a lot while reading this story, specifically how a relationship can look between someone who identifies as non-binary and someone who uses gender pronouns such as she/her. Overall, this was a really cute book. It took me a while to get through and I do think it could’ve been a touch shorter, but otherwise, it’s a good read to pick up if you’ve had your eye on it for a while.

JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adele. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. She falls in love. Hard. But there is a terrifying secret inside the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall. Is Rochester hiding from Jane? Will Jane be left heartbroken and exiled once again?

My Thoughts: All righty, y’all. So I read Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë last year and figured I’d give Charlotte’s most popular novel a try this year. I listened to it on audiobook because I always find them easier to read when the narrator is giving the characters different voices. However, this book was about 20 hours long, so I was in it for a MINUTE. Either I’m getting better at reading this era of writing or this book reads more modern than others. I kept up with it much easier than Wuthering Heights and it gave me Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier vibes, but didn’t read AS easily as that book. I had zero clue where the storyline was going at all times lol, but it made sense once it got there. Miss Charlotte B must be the OG of the age-gap trope in romances because Jane ends up falling in love with her Master - Mr. Rochester. Which kinda made me cringe because she’s only 18 and he’s 37… However, I’m not a fan of the age-gap trope in modern day romances, so take that in stride. I liked Jane’s character enough. She was submissive in a lot of different situations where I wanted her to stand her ground, however, she did stick to her guns later in the book. There is kind of a morbid subplot to this book that caught me off guard, so be prepared for some gore. Overall, I appreciated this book. I feel like it lasted way too long, but I understand why it’s a classic. Would I read it again? No. If you’re looking for a classic novel to try, I’d point you in the direction of Jane Austen over the Brontë sisters, but to each their own.

FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general - also known as her tough-as-talons mother - has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away… because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her for just being her mother’s daughter - like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda - because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

My Thoughts: LISTEN. I know this book is getting hella hype right now, but it fucking DESERVES it. I haven’t been sucked into a book like I was this one in a VERY long time. It was so hard to put down. The best way I can describe the vibe of this book is Divergent, but make it high fantasy. The author really just tosses you into the storyline right from the start. I liked how she seamlessly gave you a background story to the main character, Violet, whilst world building effortlessly, AND easing you into the plotline. There was no slow build to the action and the quick pacing continued for the rest of the book - which I personally loved. As for the characters, Violet is the perfect main character for this. She’s an underdog that everyone underestimates. She’s clever, tough, and resilient while also being incredibly empathetic. I could not stop rooting for her as she made her way through this trial period before becoming an official dragon rider. Xaden is also a phenomenal main character as he’s incredibly misunderstood. I liked that he had his own thorough backstory, plotline, and personality vs. just being the pretty face and love interest for Violet. Now, let me tell you about the DRAGONS. They have their own dialogue throughout the book and the banter they provide is TOP NOTCH. I fuckin loved the shade they kept throwing at these dragon riders who literally cannot survive without them. The magical structure is pretty easy to grasp but I think we’re about to learn a lot more about it in the sequel that comes out in November. I will say, DO NOT READ THE LAST PAGE. JUST DO NOT. IT WILL RUIN THE ENTIRE BOOK FOR YOU. However, can we also just say THAT LAST SENTENCE THOOO??? Talk about a freaking cliff hanger!!! I’m obsessed with this book. There’s no other way to say it. So definitely pick it up and we can chat. :)

SO HAPPY FOR YOU by Celia Laskey

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Robin and Ellie have been best friends since childhood. When Robin came out, Ellie was there for her. When Ellie’s father died, Robin had her back. But when Ellie asks Robin to be her maid of honor, she’s reluctant. A queer academic, Robin is dubious of the elaborate wedding rituals now sweeping the nation, which go far beyond champagne toasts and a bouquet toss. But loyalty wins out and Robin accepts. Yet, as the wedding weekend approaches, a series of ominous occurrences lead Robin to second-guess her decision. It seems that everyone in the bridal party is out to get her. Perhaps even Ellie herself.

My Thoughts: The biggest thing y’all need to know about this book is that it’s a satire about the wedding industry, bridezillas, aggressive feminists, etc. There is an energy of absolute absurdity to this storyline, but that’s the satirical quality coming through. It’s also mildly cathartic if you’ve ever dipped a toe into the wonderful world of weddings because the author really honed in on those “omg” moments everyone has had during those experiences. All of the characters were equally unlikeable. Even the main character, Robin, needed to be knocked down a few pegs. She had the burning urgency to try to convince people otherwise if their beliefs weren’t aligned perfectly with hers and it felt like a bit much, yanno? On the flip side of that, the subplot of her best friend and bride-to-be Ellie willing to do almost anything to make sure her wedding day goes absolutely perfectly was as entertaining as it was creepy lol. Honestly, if you’re looking for a great satire that’s also relatable on an outrageously unrelatable level, this is a great read. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I’m not going to be out here recommending it to everybody.

COUNT YOUR LUCKY STARS by Alexandria Bellefleur

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. She tried and it blew up in her face, so she’ll stick with casual hookups, thank you very much. But now her entire crew has found “the one’ and she’s beginning to feel like a fifth wheel. And then fate (the heartless bitch) intervenes. While touring a wedding venue with her engaged friends, Margot comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant - her childhood friend, her first love, her first… well, everything. It’s been ten years, but the moment they lock eyes, Margot’s cold, dead heart thumps in her chest. Olivia must be hallucinating. In the decade since she last saw Margot, her life hasn’t gone exactly as planned. At almost thirty, she’s been married… and divorced. However, a wedding planner job in Seattle means a fresh start and a chance to follow her dreams. Never in a million years did she expect her important new client’s Best Woman would be the one that got away. When a series of unfortunate events leaves Olivia without a place to stay, Margot offers up her spare room because she’s a Very Good Person. Obviously. It has nothing to do with the fact that Olivia is as beautiful as ever and sparks between them still make Margot tingle. As they spend time in close quarters, Margot starts to question her no-strings stance. Olivia is everything she’s ever wanted, but Margot let her in once and it ended in disaster. Will history repeat itself or should she count her lucky stars that she gets a second chance with her first love?

My Thoughts: I originally discovered this book inside a Little Free Library near me and have been meaning to read it for a while now. However, when I saw it was available on Libby via audiobook, I couldn’t resist opting for that format. This was a really cute second chance FF romance. I appreciated that Margot and Olivia are the night/day embodiments of each other with Margot being a bit tougher around the edges, dressing in dark colors and whom people may not see as a friendly face initially. Whereas Olivia is a blonde, super friendly, bubbly gal who everyone loves. It’s been ten years since they had a one-time fling over spring break in high school. Although they were best friends then, things kind of fell apart after some miscommunications. Thanks to a handy dandy forced proximity trope in the present day, they abruptly find themselves living together only hours after speaking for the first time in ten years. I liked that they fell back into the friends-to-lovers situation that they had originally experienced all those years ago. The side characters are great and really help liven the storyline a little bit. Overall, this was a good book. I wasn’t blown away by it, but I appreciated the highs and lows these women went through to find each other. The third act break-up felt a little exhausting, but I understood the purpose of it after seeing the ending play out. Would I recommend this book as a must-read? Not really, but if you’ve had it on your TBR then I’d say it’s worth diving into eventually. Sidenote: I think this is actually the third book in a series of romances, but you could definitely read it as a standalone, as I did.

LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore

Rating: 3.8/5 stars

Summary: In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. They don’t speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling. Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey’s district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit - and her sister- before it’s too late.

My Thoughts: Okay for starters, I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a thriller. It definitely has some thrilling elements to it, and there’s a murder mystery storyline, but I think the overarching message that touches each and every one of the characters is how destructive addiction can be. The plot is definitely a slow burn even though the first murder happened really quickly. I think as more storylines unravel, things start getting muddier before they get clearer. Mickey isn’t an easy main character to like, but I didn’t dislike her either. She has this air to her that tells you she’s trying to separate herself from her upbringing while still making some not great decisions along the way. Although I’ve had this book on my shelf thanks to a Little Free Library find, I couldn’t help myself but listen to the audiobook when I saw it was available on Libby. Which I’m glad I did. The narrator does a good job of keeping Mickey’s demeanor very mellow even in times of great emotion. She also just does a phenomenal job with all the character voices in general because there are so many. The plot twists in this novel happen suddenly and there were definitely a few I wasn’t expecting. Overall, if this has been on your TBR then I’d say it’s worth picking up.

THE NIGHT SHIFT by Alex Finlay

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again. Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked, and again only one makes it out alive. Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words… “Goodnight, pretty girl.” In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong; and the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed, and not everyone will make it out alive.

My Thoughts: Okay y’all. I remember seeing this book all over Bookstagram last year and all the hype it received was generally positive. So, I decided to jump on the audiobook when I saw it was available on Libby. First off, I love that we get multiple character perspectives and that there are multiple narrators to really differentiate the voices. Between the two murders, there are so many similarities and yet so many puzzle pieces missing that I couldn’t even guess whodunnit. I was honestly hooked from the start and loved that the pacing never really slowed down. It was interesting seeing the cases from three different POVs because Ella, Chris, and Keller were each contributing such different information to the investigation. I will say, the plot twist towards the end was completely unexpected and yet totally believable. Once I had the aha moment of who the killer is, I was so surprised I didn’t connect it sooner. If you want a quick-paced thriller that’s on the shorter side page-wise, I definitely recommend giving The Night Shift a try!

Okie doke!

That’s it for June.

I’m doing a little bit of traveling during July and am hoping to get through some more “summery” books since a couple of the books I read this month were definitely a little on the dark side lol.

2023 Book Count: 59

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite summer read?