What I Read: June 2025

I was cruising through books in June. Summer-themed reads were my kryptonite. I brought a book with me everywhere and read whenever I had a moment. I squeezed in chapters at picnic tables while my brother fished, on beaches before sunset, and, my favorite spot of all, by the lagoons at Presque Isle State Park. It’s so peaceful and quiet there, and the people-watching is top-tier when kayakers and paddleboarders glide by.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchet
⭐⭐⭐
This book was like a calm breeze on a summer day. Filled with nostalgia and coming of age themes, it was a easy read made better by Meryl Streep's soothing voice. This story takes place during the early pandemic, where a mother recounts her youthful romance with a now-famous actor to her three daughters.  As stories unfold against the backdrop of their Michigan cherry farm, the novel explores memory, love, and the quiet power of ordinary life. It’s not a plot-heavy book, but it’s beautifully written and full of heart.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow, this book got me. I think about it all the time. It follows Frankie, a young nurse who heads to Vietnam in the 1960s, and it’s intense in all the right ways. Emotional, eye-opening, and honestly infuriating at times (in a “how were women treated like this?” way). Kristin Hannah always knows how to pull you in, and this book really shines a light on a piece of history we don’t hear about enough.

Yours Truly by Abbey Jimenez
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Every time I read an Abbey Jimenez book, I find myself physically smiling. If you love a rom-com with actual emotional depth, this one delivers. It’s about two doctors, Briana and Jacob, who start off awkward but end up connecting through some very sweet letters. Jacob deals with anxiety, which was handled with a lot of care, and there’s a fake dating element that totally works. Abby Jimenez writes characters you just want to root for.


Betting on You by Lynn Painter
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a fun YA rom-com—exactly what I needed for a light, bingeable read. Bailey and Charlie are total opposites forced to work together over the summer, and the banter is top tier. It’s classic enemies-to-lovers energy with a few surprisingly heartfelt moments tucked in. Lynn Painter always brings the wit and swoon.


Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book feels like summer nostalgia in novel form. It flips between past and present, following Percy and Sam—childhood friends turned something more, with a big falling-out in between. There’s lake houses, longing, and all the bittersweet “what if” vibes.