What I Read In June
The amount of books I read In June doubled compared to last month. I’m so surprised. I actually could have read a couple more books, but I decided to take a step back and enjoy the longer summer days.
Every book I read in June was very enjoyable. I highly recommend each one of these books to add to your Summer reading! They really make an incredible beach reading, porch reading, or poolside reading book!
SHOP THE OUTFIT: Hill House Nap Dress (runs big, size down) | Monogram Necklace
What I Read In June 2021
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Mansanala
Lila moves back to her small hometown where she helps out with her Tita Rosie’s Filipino restaurant. Her life seems to follow the typical rom-com – she moved to the big city (Chicago), moved back to her small hometown to recover from her awful breakup, deals with her gossipy aunties, and now has to save her Tita’s restaurant. A notoriously nasty food critic dies in front of Lila and now she is a murder suspect. The detective is convinced that Lila is the killer and now Lila has to do her own investigation to prove her innocence.
I love that this is another book written by a Filipino author with Filipino characters. I think I like this one a bit better than Simmer Down (the one I read last month). This book is one of those cheesy mystery books but it is exactly what I needed to wind down. This book definitely has more Filipino culture in it and I relate to A LOT of it haha. I love that the author has a glossary and pronunciation right at the beginning of the book so that you can use it as a reference if you come across a word or phrase you don’t understand.
However, I wish the author provided the glossary similar to how Kevin Kwan did with his Crazy Rich Asians books. He had an asterisk on a word or phrase and at the bottom of that page, he explains. Since I understood all of the Filipino words in Arsenic and Adobo, it wasn’t an issue for me. However, I can see someone who doesn’t know Filipino finding it frustrating to refer all the way to the front of the book for the glossary.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Every year, Nina Riva throws an end of summer party. This party is unanimously known to be the most epic party in Hollywood. Anyone that is a somebody goes to this party… actors, actresses, artists, producers, directors, etc. Nina Riva and her 3 siblings’ father is the famous Mick Riva. Nina is a talented surfer and supermodel, Jay is a champion surfer, Hud is a world renowned photographer, and Kit is the baby of the family.
Everyone is looking forward to the Riva summer party except for Nina. She never wanted to be the center of attention and her famous pro tennis player husband publicly abandoned her. Hud also is dreading the party because he has to confess a big secret to his brother Jay which he knows will not end well. Jay is looking for the girl of his dreams all night and Kit also has a few secrets of her own. The Riva party goes out of control and in the end Malibu is literally on fire. The entire town has to evacuate.
I thought based on this book’s synopsis that I would know what it is all about and I’m wrong in a very good way. I love the tone of the book. It’s definitely more serious than I expected. The entire time I felt like I was watching a movie. I couldn’t put the book down! I finished it in a couple days. This book was totally worth the hype. For once, I actually really enjoyed all the main characters. They each played a really good part in building the story. I would not be surprised if this book goes into film.
SHOP THE OUTFIT: Hill House Nap Dress (runs big, size down) | Monogram Necklace
People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex are two best friends and they could not be any more different. Poppy is a wanderlust and chatty. Alex prefers to stay at home with a book. Every year they go on a Summer trip. They never missed a trip since the day they met until two years ago. They have not spoken for two years. Croatia changed their friendship and Poppy just wants their friendship back. So this year she was determined to reach out to Alex and go on a Summer trip and fix their friendship. If Poppy keeps the trip true to how they used to travel, what could possibly go wrong.
This is the second book I read of Emily Henry. Last year, I read Beach Reads (my review here). And I love this book way more. I actually enjoyed it much more than I expected. I thought it was going to be your classic modern literature, but something about it was more than that. It was relatable, funny (there were moments I was literally laughing out loud), and it was sweet. The ending is predictable but I wanted it to be predictable. This book was less about the ending and more about the journey. It also made me miss going on vacation and trips!
That’s What Frenemies Are For by Sophie Littlefield and Lauren Gershell
Julia Summers is a wealthy New Yorker living in the Upper East Side with her successful husband and two adorable children who go to the best private school in the city. She loves being the trendsetter and influencing her friends on the next big thing. But lately, she has been fading. When she found out she has to stay in Manhattan for the summer instead of their Hampton home, she had to figure out a way to be a trendsetter again.
One day, she came across this super trendy spin studio called Flame. Julia hyping up this studio is what will get her back in the game. So she took Tatum, a naive spin instructor, under her wing. Tatum realizes her stardom and indulges in her new power. Julia does not like how she is spiraling out of control and Julia and Tatum’s relationship gets ugly. Overall it is not a good look for Julia and Julia needs to reclaim her perfect life back.
This book was exactly what I needed to read. It was originally in my 2019 Summer reading list but I never got to it. So gossipy! I love reading anything about wealthy New Yorkers with secrets. If you loved the book, Happy And You Know It (my review is here), then you will love every bit of this book. Not going to lie, wealthy people with secrets is my guilty pleasure haha. Which I’m sure some of you already know haha. I couldn’t put the book down and I quickly finished it!
Did you read any of these books?
If so, which one did you love / didn’t love? Do you have any summer reading recommendations for me? My July reading is pretty much non existent. It’s been an exhausting month haha but I want to get back to reading!
xo RD
I’m glad you enjoyed people you meet on vacation! it isn’t available at the library here yet but I did read and enjoy her book beach Reads so I’m looking forward to this one! 🙂
And I have Malibu Rising on my hold list at the library too – really excited to read it now! 🙂 Thanks for the reviews!
Hope you are having a good week 🙂
You’ll definitely enjoy it!
I really need to read these books. You’ve sold me on at least two. I’m glad you got to read more this month.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
Yes! You’d enjoy them!
Gossipy books LOL. I don’t read this type of book too often but they are fun for summer but they are too nice to take to the beach. Loving the cover designs!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Love a good gossipy books haha
The charming of the book is the exellent part is always in the next chapter, you do not want to close the book, haha, thank you so much for your sharing.
You’re welcome!
I didn’t read any of these book, but they seems very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com
Definitely worth reading!
I’m really curious about Arsenic and Adobo!
thanks for sharing 🙂
have a great week,
S
You’re welcome!
I always look forward for your reading recommendations.
I really want to read Malibu rising and people we meet on vacation.
Thanks you for your opinion about theses books.
xx
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com
Of course! Happy reading!
Thank you for sharing this summer reading inspiration! I am definitely going to read “Malibu Rising” – it sounds like a great read!
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
It’s a good read!
I’ve been on a reading hiatus for awhile now, but this post makes me want to dive back in! All of these sound so good and I’m happy you enjoyed all of them!
Wishing you the brightest week, friend!
Make Life Marvelous
Thank you Ashley!
Thank you for sharing these reviews! I am looking for some summer reading inspiration!
Julia x
https://juliareescoaching.com/blog
You’re welcome!
I want to read Malibu rising ❤
It’s so good!
I haven’t heard of any of these before, but I would love to read them! I’m impressed that you got through so many books in June, it’s rare if I get through two a month at the moment! xx
mia // https://beautiful-inspiring-creative-life.com/
Hopefully you’ll read one of these!
I love all these summery covers – and I want to read all these!
I have just ordered ‘that’s what frenemies are for’
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
That book was so fun to read!
Ooooh People We Meet on Vacation sounds like such a good book, I’d love to get my hands on it! I’ll be adding that to my summer reading list for sure!!
It’s really good! I recommend it!
Most of these are on my TBR list.. glad to hear you liked them.
I recently read Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire. It was a great beach read, even though I regrettably wasn’t on the beach.
Haha a beach read is always the best on the beach. I’ll have to check out those books!
So many great reads. Will check them out.
Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/2021/07/travel-diary-philly-2021.html
For sure!
RACH!!!! Why are we always on the same page about everything!! First off, you look amazing in the Hill House dress. Obsessed.
Secondly, I also read Arsenic & Adobo and loved it. I grew up with a lot of Filipino friends so it really did feel comforting reading this book! I also agree that I wish the glossary terms were at the bottom because I kept flipping back and forth to make sure I understood.
I also read People We Meet on Vacation and although I enjoyed Beach Read, I definitely loved this one more! It was so freaking good.
I haven’t read Malibu Rising because I wasn’t sure it was my genre, but after reading your review, I’m definitely going to pick it up.
And finally. Girl you sold me on That’s What Frenemies Are For. It’s been on my wishlist for forever, but the reviews are so mixed. But Happy and You Know It is one of my all time favorite books so I’m definitely reading this next.
Loveeee this review, we need to start a book club lol!!
http://www.basicallyamess.com
We definitely have the same taste in books (and dress hahaha gotta love the Nap dress).Sooo yes girl you will enjoy the other 2 books and sign me up for the book club!
I didn’t read any of these books but they sounds very interesting. Thank you for recommendation.
http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com
I really enjoyed them!
Ooooh, putting Malibu Rising on my list!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
It’s such a good book!
Thank you for the recommendations!! I really need to start reading again!
-DIdier
http://www.didieryhc.com
Hopefully you’ll like these!
You had some interesting reads the past month! I loved Malibu Raising and I had a hard time convincing that it isn’t a true story.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Right?! It totally sounds like it can be true!
You read a lot of good books! I finally got my hands on Arsenic and Adobo and I really liked it. But I also agree that Kevin Kwan did a great job on having footnotes with his novels. It helped me understand the culture and language a bit more. People We Meet On Vacation is on my list. I have heard good things about it and I want to know for myself if it’s worth the hype!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Right? Having the footnotes is so much better. I think you’ll love People We meet on Vacation.
These all sound like great summer reads! I’m adding Malibu Rising and That’s What Frenemies are For to my library list!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Hope you enjoy them!
Your style is as classy and elegant. I like your talent in shades combination and dealing with minimalism:)
With love,
Meredith
Basic High-waisted Jeans
Thank you!