Read in June 2026
June turned into a month of rereading, devouring audiobooks, and the quick gratification of short stories and novellas.
In the end, I finished 9 books in June, totaling 3200 pages. This brings the average June book to 356 pages per book.
Additionally, there was also 1 DNF. I put that book aside after 90 pages (28%). Fortunately, that was the extent of it, meaning the rest of the month was mainly characterized by books where I did make it all the way to the end.
And this is reflected in the ratings as well. Although the star ratings once again covered the entire middle range, higher scores predominated. The majority of the books I finished received four or even five stars, bringing the average book for June to a nice 4.0 stars.
In terms of target audience, June was simple: all the books I picked up this month were intended for an adult audience.
In terms of reading format, the focus was mainly on audiobooks. I read 6 audiobooks, 3 e-books, and only 1 book from my own bookshelf. So, that last one can certainly go up a bit again in the coming months.
In terms of genres, I switched between 4 different genres: horror (1), romance (1), fantasy (3), and mystery (5).
Moreover, just like in previous months, I read (or listened to) everything in English.
Below you will find the list of the books I read in June, along with my star rating.
Click on the link to jump to the blurb and my review! As always: be mindful that both the blurb and the review may contain spoilers, especially when it concerns sequels in a series. Sometimes I hide spoilers behind a fold-out element or blacked-out text.
- Horowitz, Anthony – Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland #1) 🎧 ★★★★★
- Soto, Julie – Second Act Romance ★★
- Horowitz, Anthony – Moonflower Murders (Susan Ryeland #2) 🎧 ★★★★
- Horowitz, Anthony – Marble Hall Murders (Susan Ryeland #3) 🎧 ★★★★
- Horowitz, Anthony – The Word is Muder (Hawthorne & Horowitz #1) 🎧 ★★★★
- Wang, M.L. – Blood over Bright Haven ★★★★★
- Horowitz, Anthony – The Sentence is Death (Hawthorne & Horowitz #2) 🎧 ★★★★
- Novik, Naomi – The Summer War 🎧 ★★★★
- Hill, Joe – The Pram ★★★★
- Harrow, Alix E. – The Everlasting (DNF)
🎧 Horowitz, Anthony – Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland #1) ★★★★★
Genre: Mystery (reread)
But Conway’s latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript there lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder.
Revisiting Magpie Murders only confirmed what I already suspected: this remains one of my favourite modern mystery novels. Even though I still remembered the major twist from my first read, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment for a second. Anthony Horowitz’s brilliant book-within-a-book structure remains every bit as clever as I remembered. A loving tribute to the classic whodunnit, in which the reader is constantly invited to join the investigation. There honestly isn’t much more I can add beyond what I wrote after my first read. This reread simply reaffirmed that this is an exceptionally constructed mystery and a thoroughly deserved five-star favourite.
Soto, Julie – Second Act Romance ★★
Genre: Romance (short story)
When food poisoning takes out the lead in their Valentine’s Day production of Oklahoma!, TV sensation Colby J. Turner swoops in to save the show. But for leading lady Bex Hardgrave, this last-minute casting is more drama than she bargained for. Eight years ago, their onstage chemistry sparked real-life fireworks—until a misunderstanding brought down the curtain on their budding romance. Now they’re sharing the spotlight again, and their old connection is threatening to steal the show. As showtime approaches, Bex and Colby will have to decide if their second-chance romance deserves its own standing ovation.
Julie Soto’s Second Act Romance is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.
I picked up Second Act Romance on a bit of a whim. I was in the mood for something short and romantic, and since I’d heard good things about Julie Soto’s writing, it seemed like a nice way to get a first impression of her work. I’m not entirely convinced a short story like this is the best introduction, though. Much of it revolves around the musical Oklahoma!, and as someone who isn’t familiar with it, I couldn’t help feeling that I was missing part of the appeal. Still, it was a pleasant, quick read, and I did enjoy Julie Soto’s writing style. So I guess it was successful in that this little taste test made me indeed curious to pick up one of her full-length novels.
🎧 Horowitz, Anthony – Moonflower Murders (Susan Ryeland #2) ★★★★
Genre: Mystery (reread)
Retired publisher Susan Ryeland is living the good life. She is running a small hotel on a Greek island with her longterm boyfriend Andreas. It should be everything she’s always wanted – but is it? She’s exhausted with the responsibilities of making everything work on an island where nothing ever does, and truth be told she’s beginning to miss her old life in London.
And then a couple – the Trehearnes – come to stay, and the story they tell about an unfortunate murder that took place on the same day and in the same hotel in which their daughter was married, is such a strange and mysterious one that Susan finds herself increasingly fascinated by it. And when the Trehearnes tell her that their daughter is now missing, Susan knows that she must return to London and find out what really happened …
Rereading Moonflower Murders also confirmed my original rating. Much like its predecessor, the book-within-a-book structure works wonderfully. Once again it had me eagerly piecing together clues alongside Susan Ryeland. While I still think Magpie Murders remains the stronger of the two, this sequel is another wonderfully constructed mystery packed with clever misdirection and affectionate nods to classic detective fiction. My only real criticism remains the same as it was back in 2021, which is that certain sections felt a little overlong. Now that I know this will ultimately only be a trilogy, it also made this reread feel a little bittersweet, but it was the perfect way to prepare for finally reading the concluding instalment.
🎧 Horowitz, Anthony – Marble Hall Murders (Susan Ryeland #3) ★★★★
Genre: Mystery
She’s edited two novels about the famous detective, Atticus Pünd, and both times she’s come close to being killed. Now she’s back in England, and she’s been persuaded to work on a third.
The new ‘continuation’ novel is by Eliot Crace, grandson of Miriam Crace, who was the biggest-selling children’s author in the world until her death exactly twenty years ago.
Eliot believes Miriam was deliberately poisoned. And when he tells Susan he has hidden the identity of Miriam’s killer inside his book, Susan knows she’s in trouble once again.
As Susan works on Pünd’s Last Case, a story set in an exotic villa in the South of France, she uncovers more and more parallels between the past and the present, the fictional and the real world—until suddenly she finds she has become a target herself.
It seems someone in Eliot’s family doesn’t want the book to be written. And they will do anything to prevent it.
Marble Hall Murders proved to be a very satisfying conclusion to Susan Ryeland’s adventures, even if I also understand why Anthony Horowitz decided to end the series here. The familiar book-within-a-book structure remains just as impressive as ever, and I continue to admire the sheer commitment required to craft not one but multiple fully realised mysteries within the same novel. This time, the story weaves together three interconnected mysteries with remarkable skill, while Susan herself remains as sharp, observant, and wonderfully spiky as ever. That said, her involvement in the investigation did feel somewhat more contrived than in the previous books. Thankfully, Horowitz’s excellent writing is more than strong enough to carry the premise. I also really appreciated Susan’s more personal storyline about rebuilding her life in her fifties after leaving Crete, which gives the novel much of its emotional heart and makes it feel like a genuine farewell to the character. The book is perhaps a touch longer than necessary, but it’s still another cleverly layered mystery filled with affectionate reflections on detective fiction, making for a fitting and thoroughly enjoyable conclusion to a wonderful series.
🎧 Horowitz, Anthony – The Word is Muder (Hawthorne & Horowitz #1) ★★★★
Genre: Mystery (reread)
One bright spring morning in London, Diana Cowper – the wealthy mother of a famous actor – enters a funeral parlor. She is there to plan her own service.
Six hours later she is found dead, strangled with a curtain cord in her own home.
Enter disgraced police detective Daniel Hawthorne, a brilliant, eccentric investigator who’s as quick with an insult as he is to crack a case. Hawthorne needs a ghost writer to document his life; a Watson to his Holmes. He chooses Anthony Horowitz.
Drawn in against his will, Horowitz soon finds himself a the center of a story he cannot control. Hawthorne is brusque, temperamental and annoying but even so his latest case with its many twists and turns proves irresistible. The writer and the detective form an unusual partnership. At the same time, it soon becomes clear that Hawthorne is hiding some dark secrets of his own.
A masterful and tricky mystery that springs many surprises, The Word is Murder is Anthony Horowitz at his very best.
After finishing Anthony Horowitz’s Susan Ryeland trilogy, I found myself craving more of his particular brand of cosy mystery, so rereading The Word Is Murder felt like the obvious next step. This series takes a different approach, with Horowitz writing himself into the story as an unwilling Watson to the brilliantly abrasive detective Daniel Hawthorne. The result is a clever blend of fact and fiction that constantly tempted me to wonder which details were real and which had been invented for the novel.
While the murder mystery itself remains an engaging, classically constructed whodunnit with plenty of twists and red herrings, I found myself paying particular attention to Hawthorne himself during this reread. His mysterious past and enigmatic personality become just as compelling as the murder investigations in this series, and the chemistry between him and Horowitz is what truly makes this series shine.
Witty, clever, and packed with affectionate nods to classic detective fiction, this was every bit as entertaining the second time around.
Wang, M.L. – Blood over Bright Haven ★★★★★
Genre: Fantasy
An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.
What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.
Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?
A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist.
(Content warnings for gore, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation)
I went into Blood Over Bright Haven expecting an engaging fantasy novel, but what I found was something far more thought-provoking. From its devastating opening chapter onwards, M.L. Wang tells a story that is impossible to read without reflecting on the uncomfortable questions it raises. The parallels to colonialism, systemic oppression, misogyny, and racism are anything but subtle, yet they never felt ineffective to me. If anything, its directness forces both the characters and the reader to confront uncomfortable truths that are often easier to ignore than acknowledge.
The character work was impressive. Sciona is not written to be likeable, but she is endlessly compelling. Brilliant, ambitious, self-centred, and often frustrating, she has been shaped by the very system she eventually begins to question. Watching her worldview slowly unravel while she struggles with the consequences of both her own actions and the society that created her made for a fascinating character journey. Thomil provides the perfect counterbalance, driving home the devastating cost of this society.
The magic system itself functions as a powerful metaphor that quickly becomes clear, but that doesn’t lessen its impact. Instead, it reinforces the horrifying realisation of just how ordinary exploitation can become when an entire society is built upon it. I initially questioned how so many seemingly decent people could accept such horrific truths once they were revealed. The longer I sat with the story, however, the more I realised that this discomfort was precisely the point. History, and unfortunately the present, has repeatedly shown how easily people cling to comfort and privilege, even when confronted with the suffering that sustains them.
Ironically, my only hesitation comes from something that has little to do with the quality of the novel itself. Despite loving the story, admiring its themes, and becoming invested in the characters’ journey, I never felt completely unable to put the book down. Whenever I returned to it, I was immediately absorbed again, but between reading sessions I rarely felt that irresistible urge to pick it back up. It’s a strange disconnect that makes this a difficult book to rate, because intellectually I admire it enormously, even if emotionally it never became quite as all-consuming as most of my five-star reads.
Even so, Blood Over Bright Haven is one of those rare fantasy novels that lingers long after the final page. It doesn’t simply tell an engaging story; it forces you to examine the uncomfortable realities that inspired it. It may not have swept me away every moment I was reading, but it has certainly stayed with me ever since.
🎧 Horowitz, Anthony – The Sentence is Death (Hawthorne & Horowitz #2) ★★★★
Genre: Mystery (reread)
These, heard over the phone, were the last recorded words of successful celebrity-divorce lawyer. Richard Pryce, found bludgeoned to death in his bachelor pad with a bottle of wine – a 1982 Chateau Lafite worth £3,000, to be precise.
Odd, considering he didn’t drink. Why this bottle? And why those words? And why was a three-digit number painted on the wall by the killer? And, most importantly, which of the man’s many, many enemies did the deed?
Baffled, the police are forced to bring in Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, the author Anthony, who’s really getting rather good at this murder investigation business.
But as Hawthorne takes on the case with characteristic relish, it becomes clear that he, too, has secrets to hide. As our reluctant narrator becomes ever more embroiled in the case, he realises that these secrets must be exposed – even at the risk of death…
Rereading The Sentence Is Death confirmed this as another thoroughly enjoyable mystery featuring one of my favourite detective duos in modern crime fiction. Even though I still remembered the solution, the mystery never lost its appeal, thanks to Horowitz’s polished writing and the wonderfully entertaining dynamic between the oftentimes awkward author and the endlessly frustrating Hawthorne. Packed with dry humour and self-deprecation by the author, this proved to be another highly satisfying reread.
🎧 Novik, Naomi – The Summer War ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy (novella)
Celia discovered her talent for magic on the day her beloved oldest brother Argent left home. Furious at him for abandoning her in a war-torn land, she lashed out, not realizing her childish, angry words would suddenly become imbued with the power of prophecy, dooming him to a life without love.
While Argent wanders the world, forced to seek only fame and glory instead of the love and belonging he truly desires, Celia attempts to undo the curse she placed on him. Yet even as she grows from a girl to a woman, she cannot find the solution—until she learns the truth about the centuries-old war between her own people and the summerlings, the immortal beings who hold a relentless grudge against their mortal neighbors.
Now, with the aid of her unwanted middle brother, Celia may be able to both undo her eldest brother’s curse and heal the lands so long torn apart by the Summer War.
I listened to The Summer War as an audiobook, though I suspect this may not have been the ideal format for this novella. Even so, I loved this fairy tale-inspired story. Naomi Novik effortlessly captured the feeling of an old folktale, with a timeless narrative voice, memorable characters, and a surprising amount of emotional depth despite its short length. Novellas often leave me wanting more, yet this one told a perfectly rounded emotional journey centered on family, mistakes, forgiveness, and sibling bonds.
Hill, Joe – The Pram ★★★★
Genre: Horror (short story)
Willy and Marianne’s farmhouse in Maine has acres of meadow and fresh air, and a lonesome bridle path in the forest along which Willy daydreams and ambles. When he’s loaned a decrepit old baby stroller to cart his groceries home, the rickety squeak of the wheels comforts him. So do the sweet coos of a baby Willy knows can’t be real. Can it? In this twisted thicket, wishes come true—with a price.
Joe Hill’s The Pram is part of Creature Feature, a collection of devilishly creepy stories that tingle the spine and twist the mind. They can be read or listened to in one petrifying sitting.
The Pram was my first introduction to Joe Hill, and it was a very effective one. Short stories are difficult to pull off, especially when they aim to create a lasting impact in such a limited space, but this one managed to create a genuinely creepy atmosphere. The tension steadily grows throughout the story, creating a sense of unease that kept me captivated until the end. And what an ending! I definitely did not expect it to become quite as dark, bloody, and gruesome as it did. I pulled faces and said “eww” out loud more than once. A short but memorable horror story that definitely makes me curious to explore more of Joe Hill’s work.
Harrow, Alix E. – The Everlasting (DNF)
Genre: Fantasy (romance)
Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters―but her life as it truly happened has been forgotten.
Centuries later, Owen Mallory―failed soldier, struggling scholar―falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives―and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs.
But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend―if they want to tell a different story–they’ll have to rewrite history itself.
I went into The Everlasting convinced this would be a book for me. The premise sounded incredible, and after a promising opening chapter, I genuinely thought I was in for something special. Unfortunately, the further I read, the more I realised the story simply wasn’t pulling me in, and I ultimately decided to DNF around 28%.
My biggest struggle was the writing style. There is no denying that Alix E. Harrow writes beautifully, but the flowery prose and direct-address narrative (eg. there you were; I learned about you) created a distance between me and the characters rather than drawing me closer to them. I constantly felt like I was being told about their emotions, their connection, and their destiny, rather than being given the opportunity to experience and understand it myself. What was meant to be lyrical and immersive instead left me feeling detached and, at times, bored.
I’m genuinely disappointed this didn’t work for me, because the ingredients were exactly the kind of things I usually enjoy. However, forcing myself to continue when I was already struggling would likely only have diminished the experience further. After having a similar reaction to Starling House, I think I may have to accept that Alix E. Harrow’s storytelling style simply isn’t the right fit for me.
