Monthly Wrap-Up: June 2021

Hi and welcome back. Another month is over and that means it’s time for another wrap-up post!

June was a really good month book-wise and, looking ahead, the rest of the summer and autumn seem a bookworm’s delight, with a ton of amazing books being published! I added a lot of new books to my shelves and I have a feeling I’m not done yet… my TBR and NetGalley feedback ratio are NOT pleased with me lol.

In other blog news, we launched a new periodic feature here on Book for Thought in collaboration with award-winning filmmaker Nicolò of EnjoyTheMovies. In this new series, Nicolò reflects on the age-old question: can a film adaptation be as good as, or even better (gasp!), than the original book? In short, who told it best? In his first essay this month, he looked at You Were Never Really Here and offered a great analysis that’s not to be missed!

And now, on to the books…

What I added to my shelves…

June was such a good month for books! I’m super excited about so many of these titles, and I can’t wait to dive in.

For Review

Thanks to all the publishers and NetGalley for the e-arcs! Link in title takes you to Goodreads (where available).

Lost on a Page by David E. Sharp – out in July 2021
A Statue for Jacob by Peter Murphy – out in July 2021. I’m super excited to be part of the blog tour for this one, so look out for my review in July!
Golgotha by Phil Hore – released in May 2021
The Dust Never Settles by Karina Lickorish Quinn – out in October 2021
Namesake (Fable #2) by Adrienne Young – released June 2021
The Lost Storyteller by Amanda Block – out in July 2021
The Maid by Nita Prose – out in January 2022
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – out in September 2021

Borrowed

The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri – I got the audiobook for this from my library to mark Refugee Week 2021 (14-20 June) since I’d been meaning to read it for so long.
Anime di Vetro (Glass Souls) and Serenata Senza Nome (Nameless Serenade) by Maurizio de Giovanni – two books in the Italian Commissario Ricciardi series, perfect for a bit of historical mystery.
Il Morso della Vipera by Alice Basso – another Italian historical mystery, though this one has more of a cozy mystery feel to it.

What I read…

Reading-wise, June was a very good month. I finished 8 books, which for me is actually quite a lot! I’m sure having a week off work helped a lot with that: I’ll take loads of uninterrupted reading time any day, please and thank you.

Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez – I finished this library audiobook and wow! Tough read but definitely worth it. I learned so many things I never knew about how the world is built and data is collected. I alternated between shock and outrage for most of this, but still I’m so glad I read it.
The Crimson Witch (Gorgon #1) by John North – full review coming soon!
Il Morso della Vipera by Alice Basso – light and funny mystery set in Fascist Italy (1930s). I liked how it tackled some big contemporary themes (for instance around gender equality) while remaining lighthearted and charming.
Anime di Vetro and Serenata Senza Nome by Maurizio de Giovanni – I’m in love with the Commissario Ricciardi series! I can’t believe it took me this long to discover it, but I will try to get my hands on the next book ASAP.
Viola e il Blu by Matteo Bussola – charming MG read following a young girl’s day and a long conversation with her artist father. Starting from a discussion around colours, Viola and her dad explore stereotypes and gender issues (are we seeing a theme with my reading this month yet?). Delicate, compassionate and tender. Plus, that cover is gorgeous! Check out my IG Reel on this.
Black Water Sister by Zen Cho – SO good. Ghost grandma, gangsters and gods in modern-day Malaysia… what’s not to love? (Link in title takes you to my full review).
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim – full review coming soon!

What I’m reading…

I’m planning on finishing The Ungrateful Refugee as it’s due back to the library soon.

I’m also reading Wendy, Darling by A.C. Wise. This was pitched as “a lush, feminist re-imagining on what happened to Wendy after Neverland, for fans of Circe and The Mere Wife” and follows grown-up Wendy dealing with the aftermath of her time in Neverland and the darkness that lurks there. I’m really hooked on this one and so close to finishing it!