June was a boiling hot month. It’s typically Dutch weather, we get nothing at all or everything at once. This past month we got everything at once. I guess I haven’t worn a pair of trousers for over 3 weeks! Dresses or skirts were the June fashion. You’d expect getting more reading done when the weather is warm, but I did not. In fact, I’ve read less than I did in May. There were days I’ve not picked up a book at all. However, I managed to read at least something. Without further adoo, here’s my June wrap up!

The books I’ve read

1. Na de klap by Marlies Allewijn – This is a Dutch YA about rehabilitation after an accident and everything that comes with that. However, despite the topic sounding very interesting, the book didn’t meet my expectations. The story was more in a different setting and in my opinion the characters lacked some depth. It’s not the book at all, it’s just me and my reading preferences. It’s absolutely not a bad book. ★★★
2. Atalanta by Jennifer Saint – I was really anticipating this book, but unfortunately it let me down a bit. I’ve read both Ariadne and Elektra by the same author which I both rated 5 stars. This story quite bored me and I notice I’m getting a little over the super feminist books. I believe I’ve had too much of them. Also, I missed the multiple POV narration, which could have make this book more interesting to me. ★★★
3. The Water Ritual by Eva García Sáenz De Urturi – This is the second installment in a thriller series of which I read the first book a few years ago. I enjoyed my time reading, but I think the murders here are a bit too soft compared to other thrillers I’ve read. However, the increasing background information about inspector Unai López de Ayala was interesting. ★★★,5
4. A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo – This book is set in the same universe of Last night at the Telegraph Club and we also get a glimpse of these characters’ lives all those centuries later. I enjoyed my time reading it. ★★★★ (my review)
5. Aristotle & Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz – I’ve read this book already straight after its publication in October 2021. Although the Dutch version released a few months later, I didn’t get to it till now. I’ve really enjoyed my time rereading this novel. I have a feeling it flew a bit under the radar, especially in my country. ★★★★★
6. Someone New by Laura Kneidl – We’re receiving a lot of books translated from German to Dutch, just like this one. I’ve read another duology by this author before and that was such an emotional rollercoaster. Now, it was time for this recently published first book in the “Someone” series and I enjoyed this one too. However, I felt less of an emotional connection. Despite of this, the writing was easy to follow and I flew through the book in a breeze. ★★★,5
7. Court of Shadows by Victor Dixen – This book is translated from French and will be out in the US in the fall. It’s a vampire novel set in Versailles and I will post my review shortly. I really was intrigued by the premise, but I found some things I didn’t enjoy as much. Overall, I had a nice time reading this though. ★★★,5

Bookhaul

1. Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
2. De kleuren van de zee by Miriam Bruijstens
3. Court of Shadows by Victor Dixen
4. Things we never got over by Lucy Score
5. Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
6. Someone new by Laura Kneidl
7. Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
8. De kleine theetuin brengt geluk by Anne west
9. Mijn toekomst is Roos by Hinke van Abbema

This was my June. I hope to manage to read more in July, because that TBR is not shrinking by itsself unfortunately!

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