May, June & July Reads 2023
It’s been a slow couple of months for reading. I can only conclude that it was a combination of a few hefty reads and the multiple Norwegian Fjord Cruise blog posts I’m working on that has hindered progress in my reading challenge. Some of the sunny days in June gave me the opportunity for a bit of al fresco reading – it’s so much easier to plough through a book when you imagine you’re lying on the beach. But then there was soggy July… So instead of my usual two month book round-up, here are my May, June AND July reads of 2023!
Want some more book suggestions? Here are my recommendations from March & April 2023, January & February 2023, & November & December 2022
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
My love of TJR books continues, and this was the book that began the loosely threaded series including Malibu Rising and Carrie Soto is Back. It tells the story of a renowned Hollywood actress, looking back over her career and her relationships by way of a memoir. Evelyn is adamant that her story be written by a young journalist, Monique, and no-one else. Like Monique, I became truly invested in Evelyn’s life. She could be infuriating at times, super-ambitious at the cost of others and totally unapologetic. I could see the plot twist coming, yet the book still enthralled me. Not all insanely-hyped books are worth a read, but I’ll always make time for a Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The Lies You Told – Harriet Tyce
An immediately forgettable thriller – I had to go back and read the synopsis when I came to put this post together. From the author of Blood Orange (one of my lockdown reads), this book follows the story of Sadie, fleeing from a loveless marriage, living in a house which beings back terrible memories and dealing with the horrendous bullying that her daughter Robin is suffering at school. At the very same school that Sadie attended and hated. And the school moms are just as bad as the children. I couldn’t help picturing the cast of BBC’s Motherland in all the roles. Amanda as Queen Bee Julia. Anne as subservient Nicole. Too many pointless storylines for me, and a rushed ending which lacked suspense
Shrines of Gaiety – Kate Atkinson
It’s taken me ages to read this 400+ page book. I can only conclude now I’ve finished that I wanted to savour it as long as possible. That Kate Atkinson writes a good tale doesn’t she? Life After Life was a favourite long before the tv adaptation and Shrines of Gaiety is just another example of her witty, poetic writing, this time transporting me to the Soho nightclubs and seedy underbelly of 1920s London. At the heart of the story are two missing girls, the detective and his unintentional sidekick librarian intent on finding them, and the Coker family, Soho royalty led by the formidable Nellie, fresh out of jail. There’s a large cast of characters which take some time to wrap your head round, but as with all Atkinson novels, it’s observant, funny and written with beautiful flair.
Bel Canto – Ann Patchett
How has it taken me so long to read an Ann Patchett book? I loved this story, despite its vast cast of characters. Based on a real-life hostage situation, the story centres around a birthday party for a wealthy Japanese businessman, held in the vice-president’s mansion in an unnamed South American country. As a huge opera fan he is excited that the renowned singer Roxanne Coss will entertain the guests. But as her performance draws to a close, a terrorist group infiltrate the mansion. What follows is a tense four month stand-off. During this time friendships and relationships flourish, not only between the captives, but their captors too. Lines are blurred, villains become heroes and it becomes difficult to imagine how the situation may end. Patchett focuses on music, language, chess and food; and how these things are the foundations of an unlikely harmony between the factions.
The Little Friend – Donna Tartt
Nine year old Robin Cleve Dufresnes is found hanging from a tree in his own backyard. Was it an unfortunate accident? Or did someone murder poor, innocent Robin? This 550-page book focuses on how Robin’s death shapes the family, and how, 12 years on, his tenacious younger sister is determined to find the person responsible and dish out her own justice. Despite having no evidence, Harriet has a suspect in mind. She plots his downfall with her best friend Hely, through an implausible plan involving venomous snakes and Harry Houdini. This isn’t a crime thriller, or even a murder mystery; it’s an exploration of grief, bereavement and injustice through the eyes of a child. The novel is slow paced in many parts. It certainly could have benefited from fewer characters and a little less repetition. But I’m glad I persevered, even if there is no satisfactory conclusion.
The Echo Chamber – John Boyne
The Echo Chamber sees the downfall of the privileged Cleverley family, thanks to their obsession with the online world. The patriarch George is a BBC light entertainment stalwart, whose well-meaning Tweets fall on the wrong side of political correctness. His wife Beverley’s best-selling novels are the work of a series of ghost-writers, and she has found herself babysitting her Ukrainian lover’s pet tortoise Ustym Karmaliuk. Their dysfunctional children, Elizabeth, Achilles and Nelson are a Twitter troll, a cocky teenage extortionist and an anxious fantasist respectively. They are narcissistic, offensive and thoughtless. And a cautionary tale to those obsessed with social media numbers, influencer hype and cancel culture. The wit is acerbic and sharp, with plenty of satire and contemporary references. Boyne manages to write very different books, yet always hits the mark (The Heart’s Invisible Furies is one of my standout reads of 2022).
Britt-Marie Was Here – Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman is able to write about quirky characters so well, and this uplifting novel is a delight. We were first introduced to Britt-Marie as a minor character in My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises. Now, Britt-Marie finds herself separated from her overbearing husband, fending for herself for the first time. She has temporarily relocated to the remote town of Borg, where football is everything to the local youngsters. At 63, she is starting over again. Which is not easy when you’re stuck in your ways. Backman has a way of writing that makes you feel all the emotions, especially as Britt-Marie starts to realise that she needs this community, and they need her. It’s a tale of second chances, new beginnings and unlikely friendships.
We Are Not Like Them – Christine Pride & Jo Piazza
Riley is a black woman, a successful TV journalist. Her best friend Jen is white, married to a policeman, and expecting her first baby after years of failed pregnancies. When Jen’s husband is involved in the shooting of an unarmed black teenager, their friendship hangs in the balance. It’s not an easy book to read, as the fictional situation depicted in “We Are Not Like Them” is all too real. There are discussions of race, prejudice, allyship and justice, alongside the importance of family and friendships. The inner feelings of both women are explored in depth, thanks to the dual narrative and the collaboration between the two authors – both friends, one black, one white. A rare book that manages to educate and entertain.
Mad Honey – Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finley Boylan
Jodi Picoult is the queen of writing about challenging and divisive topics, and this one is no exception. Teenage love turns sour when Lily Campanello is found dead at home under mysterious circumstances. Her boyfriend Asher is accused of her murder. With extensive bruising, and evidence of a previous suicide attempt, Lily’s death is not as straight-forward as it may seem. The book is told from two perspectives: Asher’s mother Olivia, a beekeeper who has escaped an abusive marriage; and Lily herself as we explore the complicated period prior to her death. As always with a Picoult book, it is complex, multi-layered and well-researched, with gripping courtroom scenes and thought-provoking moments of social commentary.
Currently Reading
The Bullet That Missed – Richard Osman
The Space Between Us – Doug Johnstone
Bel Canto and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo were my favourites from my May, June & July reads 2023. What books have been on your May, June & July Reading pile? And what books are you looking forward to reading over the rest of summer 2023? Let me know in the comments!
I’ve read 26 books so far in 2023! You can keep up with my reading lists by connecting with me on Goodreads
