Do you ever have a reading month where you read so many new favorite things that you just know it will probably be your best reading month of the entire year? Yeah, okay, this is totally what I experienced with June 2020. So many new forever favorites! And easily the best reading month I have had in such a long time. 💗

➽ Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Isabella! ❤
This was a really heartbreaking read, but a much needed read. The talk of manipulation, gaslighting, grooming, and power dynamics/imbalances is expertly done, even if very hard to read at times. This book is about a young girl whose dream is to sing, and she quickly realizes that the price of fame might be a very scary thing when men in power feel untouchable. I’ve read a lot of reviews that say that this was inspired off R. Kelly and his victims but the author didn’t confirm that in my ARC, but I very much see the correlation from what little I do know about him and his cases. This is also ownvoices for the Black representation, and also deep dives into how racism and internalized racism makes people not want to believe Black voices even more than the already loud truth of not believing victims in the first place. But this is a very important book and I hope a lot of people are able to pick it up with it comes out in September.

➽ I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Lea & Maëlys! ❤ 🇰🇷🌈
I really enjoyed this one! It’s ownvoices for the Korean representation and queer representation, and the main character is also fat and we get to see how that impacts how the kpop industry, society, and her family sees her. This was so unapologetically beautiful, and it also wove in important discussions likes Asian fetisizations and anti-Blackness in the kpop industry and in kpop communities. Oh, and the mc and the love interest are both bi and I really loved that so much. Also, I’m praying for a spinoff book starring the sapphic side characters who stole my heart.

➽ This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Maëlys! ❤ 🌈
This was a reread for me, and again I think this book has left me at a loss for words. The romance in this is my favorite of all time. The letter correspondence between these two women, fighting for wars they aren’t sure they believe in, but realizing more and more with every letter that they believe in each other? Whew, lads. One day this year I’m going to write a proper review for this book. If you haven’t read this yet, please give it a try. It is truly everything and such a win for the gays.

➽ The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Lea! ❤ 🌈
Oh, this story broke me greatly. This is a story about underwater descendants of African slaves, but only one person from these people can remember the story of their ancestors. This truly is a book about passing down trauma, and even about passing down white supremacy, and how scary both of those things are. This was beautifully crafted and truly has left me speechless. I’m not sure a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about it. This is ownvoices for the Black representation and the queer representation.

➽ Trade Me (Cyclone #1) by Courtney Milan
⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Lea! ❤ 🇨🇳
I read this in a 24 hour whirlwind, but I really enjoyed it. It is ownvoices for the Asian representation and has beautiful discussions on immigration, an Asian-American main character, healthy talks of power imbalances, breaking stigmas of poverty, the guy love interest having an eating disorder, and more!

➽ Hold Me (Cyclone #2) by Courtney Milan
⭐⭐⭐⭐  June Pick: Dragons and Tea Book Club! 🐉☕ 🇨🇳🌈
And then I read this book for the Dragons & Tea book club! This is also ownvoices for the Asian representation and the queer representation! And also has a Latinx, trans mc too! This was such a beautiful romance that I was swooning for the whole time, because the build up was truly expertly crafted and done! Yet, I really loved the discussion on how women can be treated in STEM classes and workplaces!

➽ The City We Became (Great Cities #1) by N.K. Jemisin
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Maëlys! ❤ 🌈
My heart, my soul, NK Jemisin really can just do no wrong in my eyes. I loved this story so much, and she is a genius for making literal personifications of cities. I loved seeing them work together, try to find each other, but also try to learn and find themselves. This is ownvoices for the Black representation and talks greatly on social injustice and how dangerous white supremacy is, in this story and in our world.

➽ The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Maëlys! ❤ 🌈
The way I am still so shocked that I think a VE Schwab book might be my favorite of the whole year. This was easily the best thing I’ve read all 2020, and such a beautiful discussion of art and love and living your life the way you deem worthy of living. Yet also has important themes about abuse and power dynamics. This entire story was so beautifully crafted and written and truly just feels like a love letter to stories. I can’t wait to watch the rest of the world fall in love with this one. 

➽ The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Maëlys! ❤ 🌈
A love letter to found families and I think this found family stole my whole heart while reading this beautiful story. This will easily make my best books of 2020 list, and I now want to read everything by TJ Klune now. This is also ownvoices for the queer rep, and my heart really, really loved this sweet romance as well. I truly just want the best for every character in this book forever.

➽ The Tea Dragon Tapestry (Tea Dragon #3) by Katie O’Neill
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddy read with Maëlys! ❤ 🌈
Has any book brought as as much joy as this one this year? I think maybe not. Katie O’Neil has truly outdone herself once again. I am so very in love with these illustrations, with these characters, and with this story. This particular volume really focuses on how everyone has their own path. There are so many things you can do in this life, and even though it seems scary, you can do so many of them if you wish to do so! There is also nothing wrong with staying on the path that makes you happy and makes you feel safe. But regardless of the paths you take, and who you chose to take them with, you are whole on your own and you are deserving of happiness and safety. Ahhhh, I needed this so badly in the month of June and this was truly such a special experience reading.

Okay, my loves! That is everything I was able to read in the month of June! I’m telling you, it was such a blessed month! What was your favorite read in June? Also, tomorrow I have a very exciting post and the first of a brand new series on meltotheany that makes my heart feel like it has wings! So, make sure you check it out tomorrow and every Friday, because it would mean the absolute world to me. Happy reading, I love you! 💗

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