What I read in June 2021

If you’ve been around here for a while then you’ll know I love reading. In fact a few years ago I used to write regular book reviews on here. I fell out of love with them though so I stopped. Last year I posted a few bookish posts though and I really enjoyed writing them. So I’ve decided to give monthly book round-ups a go instead. So here’s the second one with mini reviews of all the books I read in June 2021.

You know how I normally average around 3 books a month and say I’m not a quick reader? Well June was a little different. At the start of the month I had two weeks off work and it just so happened that the weather during those two weeks was beautiful. That meant I got to do one of my favourite things ever, sit in the garden and read all day for two whole weeks! Thanks to that I got through a lot of books. 7 to be precise! Because I managed to read so books you best grab a drink and get comfortable for this one as it’s a bumper edition of ‘what I read’!

Tunnel of Bones

Author: Victoria Schwab | Genre: Fantasy | Length: 304 pages

The second book in the Cassidy Blake series which follows a young girl and her ghost best friend, Jacob. I was a big fan of the first book and was after something I knew I’d enjoy so decided to give the second book a go.

When Cassidy finds herself in Paris for the latest episode of her parents TV show she’s just starting to get to grips with the fact that she can now enter the Veil. The spirit world where ghosts have been unable to move on. Cassidy uses her unique gift to help the spirits release what they are and move on. But when Cassidy heads into Paris’s Catacombs she encounters something that is a lot stronger than the ghosts she’s used to dealing with. Cassidy must enlist the helps of friends to stop the spirit before it unleashes it’s fall force on the city.

This book was just as enjoyable as the first novel and was a great next step in the story of Cassidy Blake. We also got to learn a lot more about Jacob too which was a nice addition. I loved the setting of the Catacombs too. This is definitely a series of books I would recommend if you enjoy young adult fiction.

The Unforgetting

Author: Rose Black | Genre: Historical fiction | Length: 368 pages

Historical fiction is one of my absolute favourite genres so I’m always excited to get stuck in to a new novel, especially one that comes with a creepy blurb like this one!

Lily Bell dreams of finding fame on stage so when she’s sold by her stepfather to the ‘Professor of Ghosts’ – Erasmus Salt – Lily relishes in the idea of playing the part of ghost thinking her dreams just may be coming true. But Erasmus doesn’t want an actress he wants his very own ghost for his elaborate illusion. Erasmus is obsessed with perfection though and will go to any length to ensure that those desperate for a glimpse into the spirit world are fully under the illusion. When Lily comes across her obituary and then her headstone in the graveyard she realises that she is trapped and that no one aside from Erasmus and his sister knows she’s alive.

I had such high hopes for this story and it could have been really interesting but it skimmed over a lot of events that I think required and deserved more detail. It felt really rushed in a lot of the important places but it lingered on things that could have been shortened. It gave the story quite a weird feel overall. It was a nice idea and some parts were good but overall it wasn’t executed very well.

Bridge of Souls

Author: Victoria Schwab | Genre: Fantasy | Length: 304 pages

After reading the second book in the Cassidy Blake series it made sense to follow it up with the third (and up to now final) book in the series.

Cassidy and her parents have headed to New Orleans to film the next episode of their ghostly TV series. Cassidy thinks she knows what she’s doing when it comes to ghost hunting but a freak encounter as she left Paris has left her spooked and she can’t shake the uneasy feeling even in a new city. But New Orleans isn’t like anything Cassidy has evert experienced. In a place that celebrates life and death in equal measure Cassidy must navigate her way through graveyards, chilling local legends and a little bit of magic to survive a new challenge. Cassidy is being chased by a servant of Death and they don’t stop until they’ve reclaimed people who have cheated death.

I absolutely loved the setting of this book and the little peek into the culture of the city. I also enjoyed that it wasn’t a straight up ghost story like the previous two books in the series. It felt good to mix it up a little. I’m really hoping that Victoria Schwab writes more books in this series because they’re such easy but enjoyable reads.

The Pact

Author: Sharon Bolton | Genre: Thriller | Length: 384 pages

I love a good psychological thriller and I read another Sharon Bolton book last year which I absolutely loved so I was hoping The Pact would be just as good.

Six teenagers have their whole lives ahead of them, they’ve just completed their A-Levels and a perfect summer is stretching out before them. They’re fully embracing the freedom and fun of being teens before heading off to university. But their summer is also taken over with a daredevil game. Upon passing their driving test each one of them drives the wrong way down the motorway but then one night it goes horribly wrong and a woman and her two children are killed. One of the teens, Megan, offers to take the blame and allow the others to live their lives. In return they all agree to a favour of her choosing upon her release from prison. Twenty years later Megan is finally released and she’s looking to start cashing in those favours.

I can honestly say this is probably one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever read! It was so full of twists and turns that I just couldn’t put it down. It was fast paced and such an interesting story. I did guess the ending but it didn’t take any of my enjoyment away at all.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Author: Delia Owens | Genre: Mystery | Length: 384 pages

I’m always very cautious of reading novels that are super hyped up as I tend to find I never enjoy them as much as I expected. Where the Crawdads Sing is a novel that has received a lot of attention and for this reason I’ve put off reading it for a long time. I honestly wish I’d read it sooner.

Barkley Cove is a quiet fishing town where everyone knows everyone else. On the outskirts of the town are the marsh’s. Wild areas of land that are home to beautiful animals and plants not found anywhere else. But it’s also home to the “Marsh Girl”. Kya Clark, the barefoot wild child of the marsh has no place in a proper society so when Chase Andrews, a popular local man is found dead locals immediately suspect Kya.

But Kya is so much more than the “Marsh Girl”. With only one day of formal education Kya has learnt everything she needs to know from the plants and animals she lives amongst and is a born naturalist. Kya has all the skills she needs to live out her life in the solitude of the marsh but the day comes where she longs to be loved. Drawn to two young men from the town, Kya is thrown into a new and startling world but something happens that no one could have ever predicted and Kya’s life changes forever.

I could have honestly wrote a full post about this book alone but on the same hand I don’t think I would ever be able to truly express my feelings for this book. It completely and utterly captured my heart. There are properly only a handful of books I would ever re-read but this is definitely one I will come back to again because it was just so wonderful. Kya’s story, the mystery, the wonderful nature scenes. There’s just so much to break down and unpack with this novel. I’ve never read anything like it and it will stay with me forever.

The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb

Author: R.L. Stine | Genre: Horror | Length: 114 pages

I like to dip in an out of the Goosebumps series when I’m after something light to read. After my previous book I knew there was no point in trying to get stuck into a big book so I returned to these books for a very quick and simple read.

Gabe is spending his holidays in Egypt, when he finds out his Uncle is part of the team exploring a pyramid he jumps at the chance to take a look around. But one team member is convinced that they’ve triggered an ancient curse by disturbing the pyramid. Gabe doesn’t believe in the curse but when he gets separated from his cousin in the dark tunnels then he finds out he’s not alone down there.

You know exactly what you’re getting with the Goosebumps books, they’re super easy and quick reads but they’re great for if you’re in a reading slump or you have a book hangover and that’s why I like to have the full book collection on my Kindle ready for when I need them. I did enjoy the Egyptian setting of this one and the story of the curse.

The Thin Place

Author: C.D. Major | Genre: Mystery | Length: 319 pages

An historical mystery based on a real place and a true phenomenon. Told from three different perspectives to piece together the story of Overtoun Estate.

A “thin place” – a location where you can walk in two worlds. The lines between the real world and the spiritual world are blurred and almost become one. Overtoun Estate is a thin place and journalist Ava Brent is investigating why dogs have been known the jump from the bridge to their death. But the deeper Ava digs the more she realises that there’s more to Overtoun then dogs mysteriously jumping to their death. She uncovers the story of a sick young girl who once lived at Overtoun and vows to find out why there’s such a sadness surrounding the house. With her own child on the way Ava feels a pull to the house and bridge and becomes desperate to find out what happened to the girl.

I really enjoyed that the story was told from three different perspectives to piece everything together. It was good to find out each characters story and try and figure out what happened. I did guess the twist before it was revealed but it was still enjoyable. Knowing it was about a real place where dogs have been known to jump from the bridge added to the creepiness too.

Wow, what a lot of book reviews! I still can’t believe I managed to get through 7 books. It was such a fantastic reading month and I thoroughly enjoyed every book I read but if I could only recommend one of these book it would absolutely have to be Where The Crawdads Sing.

Have you read any of these books? What did you read in June? Let me know in the comments!