June – takes two to book review

Alexis’ June 2024 Wrap Up

July 7, 2024July 8, 2024 Anna and AlexisLeave a comment

Three book spines next to a candle on a gray blanket

Alexis:

I can’t believe it’s already July, but June was a great reading month for me. I went on my summer beach vacation and happily read on the beach. Overall, I read 8 books in June.

Loved: ⁣

A Song to Drown Rivers (ARC) by Ann Liang: See my review for more, but this book destroyed me in the best way. It’s a beautifully written fantasy novel based on the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland: See my review for more, but this book was pure fun. It’s a new adult fantasy book where different assassins with unique abilities join together to assassinate the tyrant king.

Really Liked: ⁣

Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby: If you’re looking for a thrilling YA sci-fi, this is it. It reminds me a bit of The Darkness Outside Us. It follows 16-year-old Jessica Mathers, who crash-lands on a desolate planet lightyears from Earth.
A Dream of Blood and Magic (ARC)⁣ by Olivia Boothe: If you’re looking for a fun read filled with vampires, witches, a prophecy, and the start of a romance, then this one’s for you.
Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban: Inspired by Semester at Sea, this thrilling new adult thriller and murder mystery had me on the edge of my seat. Set on a ship, it follows Jade as she deals with a mystery of jealousy, love, and betrayal.
Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage: This is the second book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. If you’re looking for a fun cowboy romance series, I really like it!

Liked: ⁣

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez: This was the perfect beach read. It follows Emma, a traveling nurse, as she meets Justin in an unexpected way. This romance book has Jimenez’s usual hard themes mixed in. While I like it and the plot, the romance is lacking a little for me.
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb: This was my first Robin Hobb read! I know starting with this one is unconventional, but I wanted a pirate read for the beach. I adore the liveships and did like this one, but it’s definitely slow moving and depressing and took me a while to get through. However, I’m looking forward to reading more from Hobb.

My Re-Read: HP And the Chamber of Secrets

June 15, 2020 Anna and AlexisLeave a comment

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.” -Albus Dumbledore

Alexis:

It’s been cold and rainy here for June. But it’s been the perfect weather to re-read Harry Potter. Just put me on the Hogwarts Express and take me to Scotland, please.

I found myself comparing this book to the movie adaptation (which seems to be a trend, considering I did the same thing for the first book). Out of all the movies, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is known for being the closest to the book. And while there were bound to be some differences in the details, I still found the movie to be true to the book.

I’m comparing it to the movie simply because, like most people on the planet, I have seen the Harry Potter movies over and over again, so often that I have most of them memorized. While I’ve re-read Harry Potter in the past, it’s a lot harder to read and memorize 7 books than it is to watch and memorize 8 movies.

Of course, the books have so much more subtext. On this re-read, I loved noticing all of the foreshadowing and the details that will come into play later in the series.

I also think it’s imporant to note that Harry is picked on and disliked by a group of Hufflepuffs in this book, when they believe that Harry is the heir of Slytherin. While Rowling certainly typecasted Slytherin as a walking house of bullies, I feel like the movies play this up even more. It’s also important to note that the books are mostly from Harry’s point-of-view, so of course the Slytherins are going to seem more villianish.

Overall, I’m enjoying this series re-read just as much as I thought I would, and I can’t wait to read more!

ϟ 9¾

June Reads

June 30, 2019July 1, 2019 Anna and AlexisLeave a comment

Anna: It’s officially key lime pie season! Here are just a couple books I read in June– I don’t have a whole stack to show this month because a lot of my copies were due back to the library, but here’s my full wrap up:

4 stars:

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

My Sister, the Serial by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Columbine by Dave Cullen

The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close

3 stars:

Sunburn by Laura Lippman

No Exit by Taylor Adams

What did you read this month? I’ve had a great weekend so far lounging and reading by the pool, which I plan on doing more of this afternoon!

Alexis’ June Library Haul

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 Anna and AlexisLeave a comment

Alexis: About a month ago, I requested three books from the library, and of course they all came around the same time!

Nocturna by Maya Motayne
The Editor by Steven Rowley
The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister

I already started Nocturna, and I can’t wait to read the other two!

On a different note, what’s your favorite Starbucks drink? I usually go for a matcha latte with almond milk, but the espresso machine was down, so I settled for a green tea frappuccino.

Check out the books below!