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Best Books of June 2023
- Chain-Gang All-Stars
- Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
-5 stars
-print! I got my copy from Aardvark book club
-I didn't use it for a prompt, but it would apply to #5 (4+ colors on the cover), #26 (a book related to pride), #43 (involves a murder), #51 (a book published in 2023)
-I read this at the beginning of the month and I'm still thinking about it. The characters are so unique and the social commentary is so interesting and important. This might turn some people off, but I could see this being read in high school lit classes in the future. Like 1984 or The Handmaid’s Tale the future described to us in this book is a little too plausible to be comfortable.
Title Gender Queer: A MemoirAuthor Maia Kobabe
Rating 5 stars
Format print
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 17. Three books, each of which is set in a different century: Book 3 (21st century)
It would also work for:
5. A book with 4 or more colors on the cover
26. A book related to pride
38. A book with the sun, moon, or stars on the cover
Brief reason why it was the best Beautifully drawn and colored, with a deeply personal and moving story. I could easily see myself reading this again before it has to go back to the library.
- Title Savage Conversations- Author LeAnne Howe
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) N/A
- Brief reason why it was the best Howe explores the life of Mary Todd Lincoln after the assassination. She spent time in a mental institution. Howe believes that Lincoln may have had Munchausen by Proxy. In the story, Lincoln sees a ghost or apparition of a Native American man. The play deals with some of Lincoln's feelings and guilt surrounding the massacre of Native American men perpetuated on her husband's orders. #20BooksByIndigenousWomen
- Title Murder on the Red River
- Author Marcie R. Rendon
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 23. A book with a body of water in the title
- Brief reason why it was the best The protagonist is a Native American woman, and the book is set in the 1970s. It is a murder mystery, but there is so much history and culture interwoven with the story. Rendon brings to life a lot of recent history that many would like to sweep under the rug. I would highly recommend this book. #20BooksByIndigenousWomen
*Title: The Searcher*Author: Tana French
*Rating: 4 Strong Stars
*Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
*ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): N/A
*Brief reason why it was the best: The story captured my attention and I was so involved in it that I wondered what was going on in the book when I wasn't reading it. It was as if the story was a movie. It seemed quite realistic.
And for a non-fiction choice:
- Title: Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency
- Author: Andy Greenberg
- Rating: 4 Strong Stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #28, A book that is dark, since the word "dark" is in the title.
- Brief reason why it was the best: This is a subject I knew little about, and I enjoyed learning more about crypto currency and the dark web. That dark web really is dark!! It was an eye opening book.
- Title: I'm Glad My Mom Died
- Author: Jennette McCurdy
- Rating: 5!
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): prompt 41: A book from the NPR “Books We Love� lists
- Brief reason why it was the best: The topics covered and the writing! Jennette was made to be a writer, not an actress. This was so good, but so sad that it's non-fiction though. She's really brave to reveal what has happened to her. (My childhood's slightly ruined because of the Nickelodeon reveals.) And TW for eating disorders--she does not sugarcoat this.
- Title Flamer- Author Mike Curato
- Rating 5*
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) I might be stretching it a bit, but I'm putting it in the ghost or spirit catagory. It happens at the end. It would also work for Pride, so I might move it.
- Brief reason why it was the best
I felt like it was a great look at early teenage years and first love, and coming to grips with his sexuality. I thought all the boys were realistic. I couldn't put it down and I wanted to reread it right after I finished.
Honorable mentions to Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story which was a good look at Bono's life and well written (much better than some musicians' bios I've read). And When Christ and His Saints Slept, it took me all year so far to read, but I was completely in that world, and a bit of history that I wasn't familiar with.
- Title: The Silver Chalice- Author; Thomas Costain
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 3 books from 3 different centuries
- Brief reason why it was the best: On a personal note, the aunt who raised my mom owned it and loved it, then Mom, and now me. It's cool to be the 3rd gen reader of a book.
It's Christian and historical fiction, setting a fictitious character into the real world of Jerusalem, Antioch, and Rome. Of course, our protagonist meets famous people and has adventures. For a person who normally hates historical fiction, I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
- Title: Sharks in the Time of Saviors- Author: Kawai Strong Washburn
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #52 A book with an unusual or surprising title
- Brief reason why it was the best: I like magical realism. I really didn't like the characters. I got mad at all of them. The writing saved the book for me.
Title: Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy
- Author: Nathaniel Philbrick
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): # 20 A book with a cover or title that includes a route of travel.
- Brief reason why it was the best: Nonfiction. I like reading about George Washington. I feel like all traces of George Washington are disappearing.
Title Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translator's RevolutionAuthor R.F. Kuang
Rating 5 stars
Format print (hardcover)
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 31. A book found by inputting a favorite author on . (I chose based on Erin Morgenstern)
It would also work for:
3. A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the 2023 list (a book about revolution)
4. A book with an interracial relationship
13. A book that has an object that is repeated on the cover
15./16./17. Three books, each of which is set in a different century (19th century)
21. A book by an Asian diaspora author
35. A book with a school subject in the title
Brief reason why it was the best This book was sort of "grown up Harry Potter", plus an eye-opening lesson in colonialism. It was about friendship, and deciding if and how to fight for what you really believe is right.
Excellent book by a young woman who has already written at least 3 other books, plus one more since this, all while earning her BA (Georgetown), an MPhil (Cambridge), and MSc (Oxford), and currently working on her PhD (Yale). And she's won 5 major literary awards! (no, I'm not her mother... just an impressed reader)
Mod
PS: i'm running low on votes again, if someone could go through and vote for everything on the 2nd page of the list, that would help me out!
Jackie wrote: "Listopia updated through here!PS: i'm running low on votes again, if someone could go through and vote for everything on the 2nd page of the list, that would help me out!"
I just voted for about 20, Jackie.
Mod
Mod
Author: Nikki Erlick
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for: It didn't fit any that I had left!
Brief reason why it was the best:
This book covered so many different topics but in a way that never felt confusing or clashing. There was small scale stuff like love and friendship and sticking with your partner through it all, but there was also bigger conflicts like societal pressure and discrimination. Plus it left me sobbing on the floor when I finished it. So, so good.
I read 49 books this month - these are my top two favorites:- Title: Ghostwritten
- Author: David Mitchell
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: ebook, audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: n/a (I'm finished with the challenge)
- Brief reason why it was the best: This is masterfully crafted book of interrelated stories that also tie-in to later works by this author. David Mitchell is a brilliant writer. His use of language, variety of topics, and depth of storytelling is among the best. This book is both intellectually stimulating and an engaging reading experience. My Review
- Title: In Ascension
- Author: Martin MacInnes
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: ebook, audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: n/a (I'm finished with the challenge)
- Brief reason why it was the best: This is a sprawling epic literary science fiction that traverses the depths of oceanic trenches to the far reaches of the solar system. There are many moving parts in this story and the author balances them beautifully. This complex narrative is so well executed - I am super impressed. This is a book that can (and should in my opinion) win literary awards. It will make my short list of favorites for the year. My Review
Mod
- Title: He Who Drowned the World- Author: Shelley Parker-Chan
- Rating: 5 stars. 6 stars? a million stars?
- Format: Ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): Asian diaspora author
- Brief reason why it was the best: I also reread She Who Became the Sun this month, as soon as I got the ARC of Drowned so that I could enjoy this sequel more fully, and I absolutely adore the duology as a whole. Sun was already one of my favorite books, and I am SO glad Drowned more than lived up to it as a sequel. I have to write a review of it so you'd think I'd have more to say here but honestly I feel like I've just been flailing and yelling incoherently about this book since I read it (and writing a halfway decent review is still eluding me, lol). It's dramatic and adventurous and intimate and raw and devastating and often *so* funny (I think there's more pure comedy in this sequel than the first one, for character reasons~, but also even more absolute depths of heartbreak). It balances the large-scale political drama and the personal individual emotional and mental turmoil so beautifully, and the whole thing is just a breathtakingly beautiful, epic achievement.
He Who Drowned the World comes out August 22, so a bit early now to recommend I suppose, but She Who Became the Sun, while a reread, was also one of my best books of June, to balance that out, heh.
Title: Magic ClaimsAuthor: Ilona Andrews
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): no prompts
Brief reason why it was the best: Favourite auhtor's newest book 14+ books to read before this one. They also wrote this with their fan base very much in mind.
Title: The Black FlamingoAuthor: Dean Atta
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Format: Ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book related to pride. It works on multiple levels, because it's about a gay, multiracial boy growing up and learning how to embrace who he is.
Brief reason why it was the best: I love novels in verse. There's just something about distilling a story down into as few words as possible that really makes the story stick with me.
Title: Magic Claims
Author: Ilona Andrews
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Format: Ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): Book with an unusually large animal.
Brief reason why it was the best: It was by Ilona Andrews. I love everything they write, and this had some classic moments.
I have two picks this month! One non-fiction, one fiction, both read mainly on the beach.- Title: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
- Author: Hallie Rubenhold
- Rating: 5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 9. A book nominated for an award beginning with W
- Brief reason why it was the best: it's the first non-fiction book that's ever made me cry, so that's something. But this was just FANTASTIC and arguably the best book I've read this year so far. An in depth look at the lives of the victims of Jack the Ripper, and what led them to the point. Basically doesn't focus on the murders at all, but is rather a revolutionary scream against the twin scourges of misogyny and poverty. Truly astonishing.
- Title: Dark Rise
- Author: CS Pacat
- Rating: 4/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 49. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2022 or 2023
- Brief reason why it was the best: One of the strangest books I've ever read. 75% of this book was unfortunately quite bad, the other 25% was one of the best things that I've ever read and I stayed up late to devour it all in one breathless sitting. Perhaps the only book I'd genuinely say is worth the early slog to get to the glorious end.
Mod
Title: IdentityAuthor: Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Print
ATY Prompt: N/A (Works for Faceless Person on Cover)
Why Best: Not only an engrossing romantic suspense story, it also provides an unforgettable lesson on why protecting yourself from identity theft is so important.
Other contenders, both 5 stars, were One Was a Soldier, by Julia Spencer-Fleming, and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan.
- Title: The Air You Breathe- Author: Frances de Pontes Peebles
- Rating: 5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): Summer, over 400 pages
- Brief reason why it was the best: I loved the edgy friendship between Dores and Gracia. I also felt I learned something about Brazil in the 1930s and about samba music.
Title: The DoorAuthor: Magda Szabó
Rating: 4.5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): It would work for several, but I’ll be using it for a book translated from another language. Heh. Half of my favorite reads this year would work for that prompt.
Brief reason why it was the best: It’s a well-written tale of the relationship between a lady novelist and the enigmatic yet down-to-earth woman who does the housework for her. Both characters are richly drawn and the way their strange relationship unfolds is fascinating.
My favorite for June was Title-Children of Time
- Author- Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Rating- 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio)- eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) #38 book with sun, moon or stars on cover
- Brief reason why it was the best- I read it for a book club and didn't think it would be up my alley. I loved it. It was a chunky book but I kept wanting to know what happened. Looking forward to making time to read the next one.
Kathy wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Listopia updated through here!PS: i'm running low on votes again, if someone could go through and vote for everything on the 2nd page of the list, that would help me out!"
I just ..."
I voted for about 10 books on the list hope that helps
Title: In the Lives of PuppetsAuthor: TJ Klune
Rating: 5 glorious stars out of 5
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): n/a (I am done)
Brief reason why it was the best: Charming, funny, heartwarming, with characters you will absolutely adore
Title: My Mess Is a Bit of a Life: Adventures in AnxietyAuthor: Georgia Pritchett
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audio
ATY Prompt you used it for: A book with an unusual or surprising title
Brief reason why it was the best: Particularly the childhood part was hilarious and stirred some memories.
No Land To Light On Yara Zgheib
5 stars
print book
Prompt: returning home
This was the best book not only of June but hat i've read in quite a while. It is the language, the way it was written that made it so good. The writing is beautiful without interfering with the story. I especially lied how chapters sometimes began already in the characters' minds.
-Title: The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II
- Author: Svetlana Alexievich
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
- Format: audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for:
- Brief reason why it was the best: This book by Nobel prize-winning Belarusian author Svetlana Alexievich is an eye-opening collection of stories told by Soviet women about their experiences, emotions and fears during WWII. Instead of recounting a male version of history she has chosen to tell the women’s side of the story. Here is my review
-Title: In the Company of Men
- Author: Véronique Tadjo
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
- Format: audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: #36 translated
- Brief reason why it was the best: This is a short but powerful book by Ivorian author Véronique Tadjo recounting the tragic stories of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa from multiple points of view. Here is my review
-Title: The Girl in the Painting
- Author: Renita D'Silva
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
- Format: audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: #19 related to the arts
- Brief reason why it was the best: This is a dual timeline historical fiction by Indian author Renita D'Silva set in England during WWI and India in the 1920s. It has romance, mystery, betrayal and heartache. It also covers issues such as the caste system and the custom of Sate (suttee) of Indian brides being burnt on the funeral pyres with their husband. A captivating read. Here is my review
Non-fiction - Title Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause
- Author Kate Muir
- Rating 5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 18. A book related to science
- Brief reason why it was the best A must read for anyone who is wanting to be prepared for the menopause, either for themselves or for those close to them.
Fiction
- Title A Lady for a Duke
- Author Alexis Hall
- Rating 5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) Not read for this challenge. It would fit 10. A book related to one of the Spice Girls' "personalities" (posh), 26. A book related to pride or 37. A book with the theme of returning home
- Brief reason why it was the best I have never read anything like this before, this is a beautiful historical queer romance. The book explores social norms of the time, romantic feelings, sexual exploration and class differences.
Mod
I gave 5 stars to two nonfiction books I read in June ... hard to pick which one but I'll go with- Title -
Solito- Author - Javier Zamora
- Rating - 5 and a �
- Format - Hardcover first edition (from the library)
- ATY Prompt you used it for - N/A Just joined and haven't even looked ... someone above mentioned "faceless person on cover" and I think it would work for that.
- Brief reason why it was the best
This is a memoir of the author’s own harrowing journey from El Salvador to the USA when he was only nine years old. He started out with joy and excitement, anticipating a couple of weeks of adventure ending in a reunion with his parents. But the reality was a months-long feat of endurance, deprivation and courage.
LINK to my full review
Jackie wrote: "Listopia updated through here!PS: i'm running low on votes again, if someone could go through and vote for everything on the 2nd page of the list, that would help me out!"
Jackie,
I voted for all on the 3rd page, #201 - #268.
Mod
PS: i'm running low on votes again, if someone could go through and vote for everything on the 2nd page of the list, that would help me out!"
Jackie,..."
Thanks!
Jackie wrote: "Linda wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Listopia updated through here!PS: i'm running low on votes again, if someone could go through and vote for everything on the 2nd page of the list, that would help me ..."
Ok I will
Actually I got the first 50. Can anyone else help with 150-200?
I voted for a lot that were just added.
Mod
PS: i'm running low on votes again, if someone could go through and vote for everything on the 2nd page of the list, that would help me out!"Help out the ignorant! :) I went and voted, but I have no idea why. :) Glad to do it, but why are we doing it? I'm lost.
Mod
So when someone else votes on a book, we are able to remove our vote and add something else to the list. I hope that makes sense?
Ooooooh - okay. Thanks for the education. :)
Title - The Last ExchangeAuthor - Charles Martin
Rating - 5 swoony starts
Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - n/a
Brief reason why it was the best - I couldn't put it down. I read it in a day. Charles Martin writes with heart, and his characters have a very real quality to them. This book is about unconditional love, and it's worth every minute you'll spend reading it.
Full disclosure - I read this book in June as an ARC. It releases on October 3, 2023. ŷ currently has a giveaway for it through July 31. Go enter!
- Title How to Say I Do- Author Tal Bauer
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) Author has published more than 7 books
- Brief reason why it was the best Tal is one of my favorite authors. MM Romance that clutches your heartstrings. Clean but also not without its trials and tribulations. Men that work for their HEA.
Mod
I actually had three books I loved this month, and surprisingly for me, two of them were romances!Title: Mad Honey
Author(s): Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan
Rating: 5/5
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #12 A book connected to birds, bees, or bunnies (Bees obviously)
Brief reason why it was the best: I was deeply moved by the journey each of the main characters experienced. One aspect of the story completely surprised me, and I loved the book even more because of it.
Title: The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Rating: 5/5
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): it was actually for one of the Popsugar challenges.
Brief reason why it was the best: I love the emphasis on STEM and academia, and found it amusing that the main character, while engaging in a fake relationship, is very aware of the fake relationship trope. Much more enjoyable than I'd imagined.
Title: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Rating: 5/5
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #26 "A book related to pride"
Brief reason why it was the best: I just loved the characters and enjoyed the political aspects they faced. It was funny and moving in all the right places.
- Title: Love on the Brain- Author: Ali Hazelwood
- Rating: 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 41. A book from the NPR “Books We Love� lists
- Brief reason why it was the best: I can't say that this was exceptional or anything but it was a fun romance and I appreciated the NASA setting.
- Title: Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World- Author: William H. McRaven
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audiobook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): None
- Brief reason why it was the best: William was in the marine army and the way he talks about his experiences and moving moments helped me and he inspired me.
- Title: The Twisted Ones
- Author: T. Kingfisher
- Rating: 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audiobook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 42. A book related to a ghost, spirit, phantom, or specter
- Brief reason why it was the best: Loved the audio narration, but also the story was pretty good. The character stuck together and there's also a strong dog!
Mod
Title Chivalry- Author Neil Gaiman
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) graphic novel
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 38. a book with the sun, moon or stars on the cover
- Brief reason why it was the best: I love Neil Gaiman's graphic novels the best of all of his work. This one turns a short story about an English pensioner lady who finds the Holy Grail into a graphic novel and the art is just gorgeous- the perfect person illustrated it. As with his best work, it's funny, poignant and a re-envisioning of a well known legend.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory (other topics)His Majesty's Dragon (other topics)
The Guncle (other topics)
The Weight of Blood (other topics)
Legendborn (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Caitlin Doughty (other topics)Naomi Novik (other topics)
Steven Rowley (other topics)
Tracy Deonn (other topics)
Tiffany D. Jackson (other topics)
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Answer the following questions:
- Title
- Author
- Rating
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio)
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable)
- Brief reason why it was the best
2023 Best Books Listopia