June 2025 Reading Round Up

June 2025 Reading Round Up

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2025 GoodReads Reading Challenge: 46 Books Completed Out of Goal of 52 (88%)

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June was a fantastic reading month for me. I'm really on a roll this year. This is my best month for ebook/physical books with 11 and my second highest month for audiobooks with 3, so 14 books read for the month. It definitely helped that some of the books were under 300 pages, but I am so chuffed with that number. 

I also got to enjoy two 6 🩵 reads. Welcome to Glorious Tuga, just blew me away with the beauty of it, and The House of Lost Whispers was an epic read by one of my favourite authors. 

I have so many books set for my July tbr list, and I can't wait to see how I get on and dive in. 

  


Welcome to Glorious Tuga, Written By Francesca Segal

My Rating: 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵

I was so excited to start reading this book. Not only was it the first physical ARC I have ever received (along with the sequel, Island Calling) but I had totally forgotten I had even requested it. I received the two books in a book box through the mail with no notes or anything inside, so I was confused. After a bit of digging I realised I had actually requested the ARCs a few weeks back. I have been requesting books for a few months from Vintage and never received an ARC. Totally unexpected , and so happy to have received them.

This book is absolutely wonderful and a pure joy to read. I so enjoyed reaching for this book each day as it was like a breath of fresh air. 

We meet Charlotte Walker who is a zoologist who has left London for the island of Tuga to research the tortoises on the island, while on a personal mission as she believes she may have a personal connection to the island and she wants to find out more. While on the boat she meets the new doctor, Dan, who is a native to the island and left to gain his medical degree. He is heading back home to take over from the long standing and very well loved doctor, knowing he will have a battle on his hands to get the locals to trust him as much as they do the resident doctor. 

When on the island we get to learn all about many of the locals, such as Taxi, who is not only the taxi driver, but also is a local radio DJ and the voice of the island for news and latest happenings. 

This book was a pleasure from start to finish, and well deserving of 6 🩵s. I already have the second book in the series waiting for me to dive into. Apparently this is going to be a trilogy of books, and I am so ready to go back to this magnificent world that Francesca has created. 

Buy On Amazon

 

A Beautiful Way To Die, Written By Eleni Kyriacou

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

This is a heartbreaking book that is full of drama, mystery, sadness, and tragedy, and I couldn't put it down.  It reveals the challenges and soul-destroying nature of Hollywood in its early days, highlighting the extreme measures actresses will take to break into the celebrity acting world, and if they are lucky enough to succeed, what they will do to maintain their status. 

In this book, we follow two women at different ends of the stardom spectrum. Ginny is a young English woman who is just at the start of her journey and determined to do whatever it takes to break in and become a star, including getting involved with a complex actor who is currently the toast of the town, but can he really be trusted? We also meet Stella Hope, who is a huge star, and part of a power couple who can seemingly do no wrong. But when their marriage starts to fail, and she is banished to London for a film, what is she capable of doing to regain her light?

What joins these two characters together is heartbreaking and devastating to read, yet it makes for a fantastic story. There are so many twists and turns in this book, making it difficult to put down. Some of the twists I saw coming, but some were a total shock and left me reeling. 

If you love a book that is all about old Hollywood, and also is full of twists and turns that are heart-poundingly written, then this is the book for you. 

Buy On Amazon

Death at the Highland Loch, Written By Lydia Travers, Audiobook Read By Sarah Barron

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

This is a wonderful, endearing, and cosy murder mystery book, and I loved listening to the audiobook. The narrator, Sarah Barron is absolutely wonderful. For a story set in the Highlands of Scotland, it's fantastic to have a Scottish narrator as it aids the story wonderfully. Sarah has wonderful voices and accents that she uses for all the characters making the book a joy to listen to.

The story itself is fantastic, and kept me guessing right through to the end. I love the relationship between Poppy and Inspector MacKenzie. Poppy herself is a wonderful character, and I can't wait to listen/read more books in this series.

Buy On Amazon

 

People Pleaser, Written By Catriona Stewart

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜

This was a very enjoyable murder mystery set in the world of reality television in Hollywood. A young woman named Maggie was a contestant on a reality dating show where she met her now husband. A few years later, she is found brutally murdered. After a few months, the police decide it's a cold case, and so Maggie 's sister Emma, along with two friends, decides to solve the murder mystery herself. She delves into her sister's world during and after her appearance on the dating show and discovers some startling things about her sister's life, which reveal that she didn't know her sister as well as she thought. 

The murder mystery aspect of the story is very intriguing and interesting. There are small pieces being discovered, and now Emma has to put them all together with the help of her friends. 

The gripe I have with the book is that I really didn't like many of the characters. Other than Emma and Jill, the characters are all very self involved and only care about the way the public and industry views them. That ties into the world they have chosen to work and live in, but it makes them very difficult to like and care about. 

 

Buy On Amazon

 

The Last Dance in Salzburg, Written By Vivian Conroy, Audiobook Read By Jessica Whittaker

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜

I really enjoyed this book. It is a very cosy murder mystery in the Miss Ashford Investigates series of books. This is the fourth book in the series, and you don't need to have listened to the previous three to be able to enjoy this story. It probably helps as there are mentions of the earlier cases, but it doesn't stop the enjoyment of the book. 

The main character, Atalanta Ashford is a very interesting woman. She has inherited a lot of money from her Grandfather, and has entered into his world of private investigations, but she doesn't really know what she wants. She clearly loves her friend Raoul, but his feelings towards her are very mixed. 

The narrator is very good at bringing you into the story. She has a very warm voice, which is perfect for the character of Atalanta. 

Although this is a very enjoyable book, it is a bit too slow for me. It takes a long time to get to the actual murder mystery part of the book, and I was tempted once or twice to dnf it. 

Buy On Amazon

Cleopatra, Written By Natasha Solomons

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

This is a very interesting, thoroughly enjoyable book.

We are introduced to Cleopatra's story, told by Cleopatra. Starting at the age of 13, we follow Cleopatra through a significant portion of her life, from the first time she went to Rome with her father to the death of Julius Caesar. It details her relationship with the Roman Emperor from her point of view, from the beginning of their relationship to his death. She details her relationship with some of her slaves, especially one young woman named Charmian who becomes her closest friend and confidant. She also shows her personality and beliefs that she is destined to be the Queen of Egypt, and will do whatever it takes to keep her title.

This is all taking place at a time when the role of women in society was as a wife and mother, and their opinions weren't given the importance that they deserve. We all know at least the main points of Cleopatra's life, and now we are given a chance to read a version that is challenging, difficult, and yet also heartbreaking while showing Cleopatra to be a woman with many flaws and strengths, and she uses them to live the life she wants.

If you love Ancient Egyptian history, I think you will enjoy this book. But if you enjoy a good historical book with lots of drama and danger then this may be the book for you.

Buy On Amazon

Six Wild Crowns, Written By Holly Race

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

This is a fun and exciting book to read. The author has taken some of the most well known names from Tudor England and placed them in a fantasy world, which has some similarities to their own times.

Boleyn is a young woman determined to become King Henry's favourite wife out of his six, and she will do whatever it takes to accomplish this.

Seymour is a young woman who has been put down as pretty much useless by her brothers who just want to marry her off to get her out of their way, but she has something better in mind for herself.

This is a very interesting retelling of the King Henry VIII story, but in a fantasy land. Recommended for anyone who loves fantasy and historical fiction.

Buy On Amazon

Carnivore, Written By K Anis Ahmed

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜

This is a very strange and unusual book.

In this book we meet Kash who is the main partner in a restaurant in New York. When he has some financial problems, he borrows money from a loan shark named Boris. When Kash is unable to repay the loan, Boris and his big and scary friends come to call. Kash needs to find money, and fast. He and his business partner hit on this idea to cater an event that will bring in a lot of money for him.

While this is an enjoyable read, it regularly goes back to Kash discussing his childhood in Bangladesh and his early life in America. While some of this is definitely interesting I thought there was a bit too much of it as it took me out of the story.

There were also some large sections about slaughtering the animals Kash uses for his restaurant. I really didn't want to read this, and skipped these sections.

I would recommend this book, as the main story is very enjoyable, but it definitely won't be for everyone.

Buy On Amazon

A Case of Mice and Murder, Written By Sally Smith, Audiobook Read By Matthew Lloyd Davies

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

This is the first book in a new series of books named The Trials of Gabriel Ward.

This is an excellent murder mystery book, and the audiobook is delightful and fun to listen to. The two cases in the book are very well laid out and keep you guessing right to the end.

Gabriel Ward lives in London in 1901, working as a lawyer. He soon becomes a reluctant sleuth when the Lord Chief Justice is discovered dead on his front door. Working with Constable Wright, he endeavours to solve the crime. The relationship and banter between Gabriel and Constable Wright are a delight to listen to.

While investigating the murder, he also has a law case to work on - that of the disputed authorship of the renowned children's book Millie the Temple Church Mouse.

The book is read by Matthew Lloyd Davies, who does an exceptional job with the story. He brings the story to life with his different voices and characteristics.

This is the first in a series of books about Gabriel Ward, and I'm eager to read and listen to more of this series.

Buy on Amazon

The House at Devil's Neck, Written by Tom Mead - Published 14th August 2025

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

This is a fantastic locked-room murder mystery with a ghost story woven into the mix. 

Inspector Flint has been presented with a very unusual case. A man has died in a locked room scenario. Was it suicide, or murder?

His friend Joseph Spector is an illusionist turned sleuth, and is on his way to Devil's Neck, a spooky old house that has become a favourite location for ghost hunters. On the bus ride there, he meets the people he will be staying with - an eclectic group of people who are all heading to Devil's Neck for their own reasons. 

When they reach the house, the murders start to happen. The murders are very elaborate, and Joseph Spector takes the lead in finding out the guilty party. 

This is a wonderful murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are many twists and turns, and the conclusion will have your chin on the floor.

Pre-Order on Amazon

The House of Lost Whispers, Written By Jenni Keer

My Rating: 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵

My second six 🩵 book of the month, and it's so well deserved. 

This is an absolutely beautiful book, and if I could give it six stars I would. 

My emotions were all over the place reading this book - from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, this book has it all. 

In this glorious book, we meet Olivia Davenport, a thirteen-year-old girl who goes through the enormous trauma of losing both her parents on the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912. She is taken in by the Fairchild family, who were close friends of both her parents. She lives with the couple and their four sons in their home at Merriford Manor. She has a tempestuous relationship with the three elder brothers, but she establishes a real kinship with the youngest brother Benji. As a way of dealing with her grief, Olivia plays out her fantasy life around the grounds of the house, fighting dragons and pirates. 

She decides she wants to live in the tower of the home, seeking a little more independence from the family and alone time to grieve. When she hears a man's voice on the other side of the wall, she initially believes she is hearing things. But it soon becomes apparent that she is talking with a man living in an alternate version of her world. The man, Seth, tells her that in his world, the Titanic never sank. 

Olivia starts to rely more and more on Seth to help maintain her sanity while enduring not only the loss of her parents but also the devastation of the First World War, and the tragedy that comes with it. 

This is a beautifully written book that is an absolute joy to read. Olivia is such a delightful and endearing young woman, and you can't help but fall in love with her and want only the best for her. I highly recommend this gorgeous book. 

Available Now on Kindle Unlimited

How to Slay on Holiday, Written By Sarah Bonner

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

This is the second book in the How to Slay series, and it's a fantastic addition to the series. The first book, How to Slay at Work, is an amazing, fun and exciting book, and this is no different. 

How to Slay on Holiday is a rollercoaster ride of a book. It's quite dark, but very funny and suspenseful. Definitely points where I was sitting on the edge of my seat. 

Chloe has plans to murder her husband, Scott. But first, to take the attention off her after the murder she, Scott, both sets of parents, as well as Scott's sister and boyfriend and her brother and wife are heading away for a holiday in the sun. She is going to pretend that all is well with their marriage so that nobody will believe her responsible when her husband is killed. 

But her plans don't quite work out. There are trust issues and rivalries between both sets of parents, her brother is more obnoxious than usual, and Scott's sister Tori is asking lots of strange questions, leading Chloe to fear that Tori knows more about her murder plans than she should. And all this is happening under the watchful gaze of the villa concierge. Grace, who seems to always be around. 

Tensions are rising, loyalties are in question, and Chloe is trying to keep it all together. 

This is a fun page turner that keeps amping up the tension with every page. 

Available Now On Kindle Unlimited

Power Couples of the Tudor Era, Written By Jo Romero

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜

This is a very informative book all about the powerful couples of the Tudor period in England. 

This book details the lives and infamy of some of the most famous power couples from the Tudor era. Some are very well known, such as Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, and some are not as well known, such as Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk and Richard Bertie. The book delves into the details of why they were power couples, while also providing information about the individuals themselves, their passions, and what they had in common. It was lovely to read about them as people, rather than just as famous Tudors.

This will be perfect for individuals who love history, particularly those with a passion for Tudor and English history, as well as those who appreciate high-quality reference books.

 

Buy on Amazon

Lady of the Quay, Written By Amanda Roberts

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜

This is a truly enjoyable historical fiction book featuring a strong female protagonist. It's a lovely short read that was fun and easy. 

In this book, we are in Berwick upon Tweed in England in the year 1560. Isabella Gillhespy has just unexpectedly lost her beloved Father. She finds that he hasn't been as truthful with her as she thought about his merchant business, as they are in trouble. As she starts to dig into the business more, she finds that there are a lot more problems for her to deal with, one that will bring her to the notice of one of the most powerful men in England. Her relationship with her fiancé Will, is hanging by a thread. Isabella must use her skills and wit to navigate this situation without facing a stint in prison or execution. 

This is the first book in a new series centred on Isabella, and it serves as a great introduction to this fantastic character and her world. I look forward to reading more from this character.

Available Now on Kindle Unlimited

 

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