This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
It’s finally June, which means official summer is practically here. All we really want to do this month is sit outside somewhere sunny and pretty while drinking Pimms and turning pages in a leisurely fashion, right? Thankfully, the weather is holding up its end of the bargain and there are loads of fabulous new books to devour. Take a look at our round-up of some of June’s best offerings. Will you be reading any of these?
Mr Mercedes by Stephen King (June 3)
A cat-and-mouse suspense thriller featuring a retired homicide detective haunted by the unsolved slaughter of eight people who were killed while waiting in line for the opening of a jobs fair. The plot really kicks off when Detective Hodges receives a letter from a man claiming to be the perpetrator. King is the master of suspense and we’ll be losing sleep over this book for sure.
The Beautiful American by Jeanne Mackin (June 3)
If historical fiction is your genre of choice, The Beautiful American offers a mesmerizing journey through 1920s Paris and London after the Blitz while exploring themes of nostalgia, celebrity, friendship, jealousy and love. In the process, Jeanne Mackin breathes new life into the likes of jazz-age luminaries Picasso, Man Ray and Lee Miller, which results in an all-round fascinating read. Pure escapism.
Written in the Stars by Ali Harris (June 5)
Have you ever wondered 'What if…?' What if you'd taken that other job, gone on a date with that sweet guy, moved to a different city? Would an alternative life path have led to a happier ending? When Bea slips and momentarily knocks herself unconscious while walking down the aisle on her wedding day, her world splits and two separate parallel lives take her on two very different journeys. We’re huge fans of Ali Harris and her latest sounds utterly gorgeous.
The Vacationers by Emma Straub (June 5)The humourous tale of “America's most dysfunctional family”, whose tensions (affairs, debt and teen virginity issues among other things) come to head when they holiday together in a remote island villa on Mallorca. Everyone has been talking about this novel lately so we're keen to get stuck in.
Ice Creams at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown (June 5)
Our Cressida was lucky enough to go to the ice-cream fuelled launch of the last in Alexandra Brown’s Carrington’s series at London’s Fortnum and Mason’s department store this month. We’ve heard nothing but good things about the book and reckon it’ll make a delightful summer read. (With a 99 and a flake for company, naturally.)
The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson (June 19)
If there’s one thing we know about Lucy Robinson, it’s that she’s absolutely hilarious. The long-awaited Unfinished Symphony of You and Me will be published tomorrow and tells the story of Sally, an incredible singer who lacks confidence so only sings only in her wardrobe where nobody can hear her. Really. She'd rather join a nudist colony than sing in public. That is until she ventures to New York where a wild and heady summer of love and loss changes her forever. Clear the diary – this is all we need for the next couple of days.
Don't Tell the Boss by Anna Bell (June 19)
Our very own Anna Bell’s Don’t Tell the Boss is also published tomorrow. We’ve loved reading snippets about the publishing process in her Secret Dreamworld of An Aspiring Author column so we’re excited to see the finished product.
The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson (June 19)
Carla discovers her recently deceased husband never divorced his first wife; Will’s business goes bust and Molly is being bullied into a retirement home by her children, but they all find love, comfort and compassion at the little teashop on the corner run by the ever-cheerful Leni in Milly Johnson’s latest release. Her lovely books can always be relied upon and this one already has its place staked on the very top of our TBR piles.
Two Weddings and a Baby by Scarlett Bailey (June 19)
Any month with a new book from Rowan Coleman (aka Scarlett Bailey) is a good month if you ask us – especially if it has a synopsis as intriguing as this one. Tamsyn hasn’t been back to her home town of Poldore for five long years. With her brother about to get married, however, she has no excuses left. Her plans to arrive in Cornwall looking chic and successful are dashed when a huge storm turns her from fashion goddess to a drowned rat. Worse, she ends up insulting the local hunky vicar – and then finds a tiny baby abandoned in his churchyard. Hunky vicar? We’re so there.
The Way Back Home by Freya North (June 19)
The last full-length Freya North novel, Chloe, was published way back in June of 2012 so we’re beside ourselves with excitement over The Way Back Home. Born and brought up in an artists’ commune in Derbyshire, Oriana Taylor had freedom at her fingertips in a rambling old house and tangled grounds full of extraordinary people, where dreams and desires could take wing unchecked. But too much freedom comes at a price. Something happened the summer she was fifteen. And now, having been gone eighteen years, Oriana is back. Excuse us while we cancel all plans, switch off all devices and spend the next few days utterly engrossed in this new novel.
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (June 19)
The Silkworm is a follow up to J.K. Rowling's first crime novel The Cuckoo's Calling, which released last year under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, and it sees the return of private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A 12-page excerpt from the upcoming novel was posted on Robert Galbraith's website for readers to view online or download if you’re keen to get started.
Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh (June 19)
We’ve been hearing about Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh for what seems like months and will be treating ourselves to the paperback when it’s released tomorrow. Reviews promise a tense and sexually-charged narrative following the story of a married woman who falls for her stepdaughter's boyfriend while on a family holiday in Majorca. Perfect beach read, non?
What books are you most looking forward to this month? Will any of these make it onto your TBR pile? Share your June recommendations in the comments!