Hi all! 

Welcome to my June Reading Wrap-Up for 2018! I tried to get as much reading done in the early weeks, as our baby’s due date was scheduled for June 27th. As it turned out, she went over, so I had another whole reading month just for myself. I hope you enjoy my mini-reviews. I am very happy with what I managed to complete. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

1.) A COURT OF FROST AND STARLIGHT (BOOK #3.1 OF THE ACOTAR SERIES) BY SARAH J. MAAS (KINDLE BOOK)

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PLOT: This companion novel takes place several months after the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin. It is a short filler, told from the perspective of Feyre, Rhysand and some other beloved key characters. To summarise, as the Winter Solstice approaches, a festive atmosphere is in the air. The aftermath of the war however, sees shadows of the past arise.

MINI REVIEW: It was really fitting that I read this novella during the first month of winter. To be honest, not a whole lot happens plot-wise, but it was nice to revisit this world and see how the characters were faring after the last book. It provided a glimpse of what is to come. As always, Sarah J. Maas writes so beautifully, with her trademark steamy scenes!  

RATING: I gave it 4/5 stars. 

2.) OF MICE AND MEN BY JOHN STEINBECK (BORROWED PHYSICAL BOOK) – MONTHLY CLASSIC PICK FOR JUNE 2018 

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PLOT: Drifters in search of work, George and his childlike friend, Lennie, have nothing in the world, except the clothes on their backs and a dream that one day, they will possess land of their own. Eventually, they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie, struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy, becomes a victim of his own strength. 

MINI REVIEW: ‘The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.’  This classic by Steinbeck is only a bit over 100 pages, but boy does it pack an emotional punch! I was a bit skeptical going into this book, knowing it was so short. I didn’t think that much could happen, but it did. The writing was simple, yet poignant. There are strong themes of racism, animal cruelty, violence and rape. This novel has been banned in schools due to the above, however, I believe it is very important for everybody to read, as it highlights significant issues regarding mental health, kindness to strangers and pursuing your dreams, no matter how small. 

RATING: I gave it 5/5 stars. 

3.) EL DEAFO BY CECE BELL (BORROWED PHYSICAL BOOK) – SASSY BOOK CLUB PICK FOR JUNE 2018

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PLOT: This was our Sassy Book Club pick for June. El Deafo is a funny and deeply honest, graphic novel memoir for middle graders. It chronicles the author’s (Cece) sudden deafness at a young age, plus her subsequent experiences with a powerful hearing aid, called the Phonic Ear. It gives her the ability to hear (including things she shouldn’t) but also isolates her from her classmates. Cece really just wants to fit in and feel that she belongs. With the power of the Phonic Ear, she becomes ‘El Deafo, Listener for All.’ This newfound confidence gives her the chance to find the true friend she’s always longed for. 

MINI REVIEW: I adored this book! The illustrations were lovely and the story itself, touched me deeply. It was nice learning more about deaf culture, particularly from a child’s perspective. Cece Bell shares such an intimate view of her life growing up. I really admired her vulnerability; expressing herself in such an innocent, relatable way. She has a great attitude and sense of humour. I really couldn’t fault anything about it. It was just beautiful. 

RATING: I gave it 5/5 stars. 

4.) LIFEL1K3 (BOOK #1) BY JAY KRISTOFF (PHYSICAL BOOK) 

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PLOT: On an island junkyard, beneath a sky glowing with radiation, 17 year old Eve is on the local gangster’s wanted list, desperate to keep her grandfather, friends and herself, alive. Not only that, she’s just discovered she can somehow destroy machines with the power of her mind, making her a target to a bunch of puritanical fanatics. Amidst the mess, Eve meets a handsome android named Ezekiel (a ‘Lifelike‘, due to his human resemblance). With her best friend, Lemon Fresh, and robotic sidekick, Cricket, in tow, Eve embarks on an epic journey across deserts of glass, battling unkillable bots and infiltrating towering megacities, in order to save the ones she loves.

MINI REVIEW: You all know by now that I am a huge Jay Kristoff fan. He never disappoints. This new series is unique, hilarious, action-packed and full of heart. It’s science fiction meets dystopia. I like that I didn’t see any of the twists coming and that the plot was consistently exciting from start to finish. In my personal opinion, the characters were the ultimate standout. I loved the sassiness of Lemon Fresh, the haughtiness of Cricket, the edginess of Eve and the confidence of Ezekiel. The only reason I didn’t give it 5/5 was because it didn’t quite blow me away. It was excellent but not as jaw-dropping as his other works. Still, I highly recommend reading it. 

RATING: I gave it 4.5/5 stars.

5.) 172 HOURS ON THE MOON BY JOHAN HARSTAD (KINDLE BOOK)

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PLOT: It’s been more than forty years since NASA sent the first men to the moon. In order to grab some much-needed funding and attention, they decide to launch a historic, international lottery, in which three teenagers can win a week-long trip to moon base: DARLAH 2. Initially, Antoine, Midori and Mia cannot believe their good fortune, but once they arrive, they realise they aren’t alone. What they discover is infinitely more terrifying than they can possibly imagine.

MINI REVIEW: This book has been on my TBR for the longest time. I was mainly drawn to it because I love the horror genre. It isn’t often that I read a book and get truly scared, but this one frightened the bejesus out of me! Some of the scenes still have me quite freaked out. For this reason, I enjoyed it, because it delivered exactly what I wanted. The story itself was intriguing, moving in a direction I did not predict. However, in my opinion, the main characters were a bit irritating and the romance, a tad irrelevant. Having said that, if you want to read something super creepy, this is the book for you! 

RATING: I gave it 4/5 stars. 

Thank you so much for reading! What was your favourite book of June 2018? From this point forward, my wrap-ups may be a lot smaller, but I will always make time for a good novel. Stay tuned!