What I Read in June

I know. We're mostly into July but I thought I would talk about it anyways. Better late than never? Also, I feel like I read a good amount this month, thanks to the Creating and Co relaxathon (a readathon with a theme of relaxing), so let's get into the books!

• Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T Sullivan - Review - This book is still sticking with me in my head because it was so well written. I truly thought it was a narrative non-fiction, because that's the way it felt like as I was reading it, but it turns out it's more based on a true story. That's fine too. It's set to be either a movie or limited series on Amazon with Tom Holland playing Pino. 
• The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin - Review - Like I say in my review, I saw the movie before reading the book. I really wish I had done the opposite. The movie collared a lot on how I saw the book and I came out liking the movie more. Then again, I'm not sure if I would have entertained watching the movie on the book alone. While it's a good book, it does suffer from letting the main male character lead a bit too much instead of making it a partnership. I can see why he did this, mostly because he wrote in a first person limited, but having both characters be strong worked to make the movie as good as it was. The book is good as well. I just wish I had read it first.
• Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell - Review - I... I really think this is the first book in a long time that I've given two stars to. It was too short. He needed more pages to complete the book, which I do say in the review, and I'm hesitant to watch the movie. I wish I had DNF-ed the book, as it was very annoying with the main character and the mystery, and there's no good complete ending. It's just an ending. I feel that, if the book was longer, the ending would feel more complete. Oh well.
• Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett - Review - This was a wonderful book. Now, I do not read all that much contemporary when it's adult fiction. it's even less when it comes to YA and contemporary. However, this was an awesome contemporary book where it's got hints of Wild but toned down for teenagers and set with a backdrop of enemies to friends to much more. I don't care if it's a spoiler because if I can get you to read the book, that's even better. I touch on this in my review, but the blended family without the over explanation of it won me over in the first few pages of the book. It was just "yeah, this is my family" and it was done. Sometimes it is overly drawn out or brought up again and again, usually in terms that are spelled out in a telling not showing situation, where she just showed it. It's a reason why I want to read her other books when I get around to it.
• Closed Circles by Viveca Stein - Review - this is the second book of the Sandhamn Murders series and I'm sticking with this series until the end. That said, I really hope that, in future books, we get a stronger main female character in Nora. She took really big steps in this book, but she needs to do even more. Thomas, on the other hand, really needs to get his house in order. I hope that she keeps them as really good friends, mostly because it feels like it would be forced if they tried to be together, so I'm working on the third book in July. I hope they stay free to read through Kindle Unlimited until I get through the rest of the series.
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - there's no review for this one because it was a re-read. The second season of the Netflix series came out and I thought I would read the book again. I read it mostly in one day again and it felt good to get through it. I still haven't watched the series, as I'm not sure if I want to at this point, but I should probably give it a try. We'll see. At the moment, I'm really not wanting to.
• This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers - Review - someone in a review I read about the book said this is Breakfast Club meets Dawn of the Dead. Truer words were never spoken. Now, I picked up this book on a whim. I was like "hmm, interesting title, I'll try it" and I never read the back. This was one of the books that I couldn't put down because of the pacing and the writing. You felt like you were there, outrunning the zombies, and wondering when it would end. The tension was there and, even though it was sometimes teenage drama, it didn't feel fake or that it was there for the sake of filling pages. Everything had a purpose and it was powerful storytelling. There is a novella / short story that goes after it, told in the voice of the main male character, that I do want to read. I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

So, that's what I read in June. I'm close to my yearly goal of 30 books and will up it to 50 when I hit 30. And then to 60 when I hit 50 and so on. What did you read in June and did any book just hit you in the gut? Or perhaps grabbed your brain and dragged you along for the ride? Leave a comment and, until next time, happy reading.