June, 2026
June 3rd, 2026, 3:01 p.m. - Shifting into reading-on-vacation mode (unemployment is a type of vacation, right?)
24. The Anniversary (Alex Finlay)
Up next: Caller Unknown (Gillian McAllister)
June 8th, 2026, 7:22 p.m. - Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do
25. Caller Unknown (Gillian McAllister)
Up next: Mother Tongue (Sara Nović)
June 12th, 2026, 3:05 p.m. - Language arts
26. Mother Tongue (Sara Nović)
Up next: The Storm (Rachael Hawkins)
June 17th, 2026, 4:41 p.m. - The witches of St. Medard's Bay
27. The Storm (Rachel Hawkins)
Up next: Nomadland (Jessica Bruder)
June 23rd, 2026, 3:38 p.m. - "Home" means whatever you want it to mean
28. Nomadland (Jessica Bruder)
Up next: Our Country Friends (Gary Shteyngart)
This was one of Finlay's best. Loved Jules and Quinn, liked the format (which was different from what Finlay usually does), and guessed both bad guys but didn't feel like they were obvious. Altogether satisfying.
This wasn't as exciting as McAllister's books usually are, but there were a couple of good twists, and I like how everything got resolved. Still, this isn't one I'll be hoping gets adapted as a movie or TV series.
Nović is an excellent writer, both narratively and when it comes to explaining things. This book was so illuminating. It made me want to learn more about linguistics and the acquisition of language.
This was kind of a low-energy thriller, since most of the mystery was from the past, with very little in the present. But I always like Hawkins' work, especially how she subverts expectations in a way other writers don't. She elevates her twists and makes common plots feel refreshing.
The first half of this made me mad that so many people have nothing to fall back on and feel like living in a small space with no fixed address is their best option. The second half of this made me see how resilient and resourceful people can be, and how they can build a community with others who are in the same position. But it also made me mad.