June: What I Read

Halfway through the year, and I have read 108 books.  Can I hit 216 for the year?!  STAY TUNED.

17. The Liberal Redneck Manifesto by Trae Crowder, et al:  FUNNY.  And political.  In this day and age, I didn't even think this was possible combo anymore.

16. The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews: Queen of the beach reads!  I ... liked it OK.

15. Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood:  I wanted this to be more.

14. When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger:  This one was her best since The Devil Wears Prada, but it was nowhere near as good as DWP.

13. Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies by Michael Ausiello:  Oh wow!!  This memoir is incredible!  I totally recommend it.

12. Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee:  Celeste Ng blurbed this book, so I had to read it.  Sad and lovely and haunting.

11. By Invitation Only by Dorthea Benton Frank:  I have a major soft spot for this author, and I love her every summer.  I particularly like that her heroines are older women who are still complete people.  This one is a fun read.

10. Motherhood by Sheila Heti: LOVED this.  Funny, smart, interesting form.  Read it!

9. Laura and Emma by Kate Greathead:  A lovely, funny, spare story about a mother and a daughter growing up.  I liked the sad little ending and decided it was hopeful not tragic.  Worth a read!

8. Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett:  This book is wonderful and heartbreaking and just plain weird.  I hope it's a movie.  It would be a great movie.  I will remember Elvis and Lizzie Babbitt for a long time.

7. Love and Ruin by Paula McLain:  This is historical fiction about Martha Gellhorn and Ernest Hemingway, and YES you should read it.

6. The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda:  SUCH A GOOD THRILLER.  Loved this one.

5. You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld:  I have not been into short stories lately, but this collection changed my mind.  While the voice throughout is clearly Sittenfeld, the characters are wonderful-- just the kind of women I know.

4. Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering:  Ooooh this was readable and engaging-- an ideal summer read.

3. The High Season by Judy Blundell:  I.  LOVED.  THIS.  Totally great summer read-- you should summer read it.

2. The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman:  THIS IS GREAT.  Sad, yes, but ultimately, satisfyingly sweet.  Not really a summer read, but what the hell, right?

1. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman: YES YES YES.  Read Beartown and then read this.  The blurb on the back calls him the Dickens of our generation, and I think this is a good comparison.  But, I hate Dickens and I love this guy.