I managed to squeeze in four books in June before fire season popped off for me, and I had to return an entire stack of unread novels to our library.
(As a reminder: I always track my reading on Goodreads.)
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The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Recommend
I devoured this book. It centers around the friendship of Ellie and Homa — two women living in 1950s Tehran, and growing up during the turbulence leading to the 1979 Iranian Revolution. I adore books with strong female leads, and this one was no exception. Ellie and Homa’s friendship is so pure and while I didn’t love the ending, I loved everything up to it.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Recommend
Happy Pride Month! This romance novel centers around the secret relationship of the fictitious first son Alex and the fictitious Prince Henry of England. It’s set in a fantasy 2019 where the first female president of the U.S. is seeking reelection, and it’s a fairly lighthearted romance with just a touch of smut. (Way less smut than Heated Rivalry, way more politics than I was expecting.) McQuiston’s “acknowledgments” page says this is an “escapist, trauma-soothing, alternate-but-realistic reality,” and I very much felt that during my dissociative binge read.
Good People by Patmeena Sabit
Recommend
Wow. This book gave me a case of whiplash. I really loved the way it was written, and it felt like a game of morality ping-pong. This book examines a tragedy that’s befallen a self-made immigrant Afghan family living in modern America, and the story — told entirely as a series of interviews — truly has two sides. I feel like this one is going to stick with me for quite some time.
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Recommend
This book was a quick read, but felt so nostalgic for me. Even though it was set a few decades before I graduated from college, it brought up so many memories of my time at university. It was just a heartbreakingly beautiful coming-of-age story written in such a poignant way. It wasn’t a particularly unique story by any means — the plot was pretty straight-forward and predictable — but it tugged at my heart and opened up all my emotions. I loved it.
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