June Reading Wrap Up | 2020
I had a successful reading month! I read 8 books in the month of June, and I enjoyed everything I read. I discovered I could read graphic novels using the reading app Libby, for free. It is a game changer as a reader! And yes, graphic novels count as books, and to towards my Goodreads reading challenge. As June is Pride Month, I made sure to read stories that had LGBTQIAP+ representation as well (more than my normal amount).
I got this book in my May Owlcrate! It was a quick read, and very enjoyable! Not a single white character, and has trans representation! It is colorful, magical, and has excellent character development. This is also an ongoing web comic!
I impulsively borrowed this off of the Libby app! It was quick, and so adorable. I loved the autumn aesthetic it gave. It’s very cutesy, and has bi/pansexual representation. It was also refreshing to have a black female main character. It’s very focused on friendship, which is great because a lot of YA content doesn’t focus on friendship primarily. I highly recommend this if you’re wanting something seasonal for when autumn/Halloween rolls around.
I wasn’t really interested in reading this series until my friend Ruth recommended it. I was thrilled to learn how much I enjoyed both The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King (I will be getting to The Queen of Nothing in August!). It’s been awhile since I’ve read a series based on traditional faeries. Jude is a kick ass main character who does what is needed to be done. You can never go wrong with strong female leads! These books are relatable, shocking at points, and so much fun. I highly recommend giving Holly Black’s writing a chance! I’m excited to finish up this trilogy next month!
I had read Tillie Walden’s work before earlier this year, wasn’t sure any other of her work would do it for me. I was pleasantly mistaken. This biography was captivating, beautiful, and honestly not talked about enough. It’s all about how her life was so focused on competitive ice skating, and how she was dealing with being a closeted lesbian. I was cheering for Tillie the whole time, and wanted nothing but good things for her. If you’re someone who is easing into learning about the LGBTQ+ content in the book community, I highly recommend you read this. It is beautiful, valid, and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I read this graphic novel using the Libby app!
This is my first time reading work by Mari Naomi. It’s simple art work, with dark and relatable themes and topics. It has LGBTQ+ representations. I flew through both Losing the Girl and Gravity’s Pull, and excitedly waiting for more installments. I read both of these graphic novels using the Libby app!
The final book I read in June was Kiss Number 8. It is a graphic novel about Amanda discovering her sexuality, dealing with peer pressure and stressful family situations. This book talks about having that identity crisis of being queer, but being immersed in that strict religious lifestyle. This book also has trans representation, and really gives a voice to how important the gay-straight alliance is in schools. It also makes the point that sexuality/romantic orientation is fluid, and labels are never permanent. We grow, change, and discover new things about ourselves everyday, and we should be kind to ourselves because of that fact. You’re allowed to not be the same as you were, and should discard the pressure and thoughts of others who don’t accept the current version of yourself. This is was absolutely wonderful, and I will be purposely putting in the effort to read more of Ellen T. Crenshaw’s work in the future.
Thank you for stopping by to see what books I read in the month of June! Pride month is always fun, and I try to squeeze more LGBTQ+ books in my TBR than usual during then. I hope you consider giving these stories a try! I again suggest using the Libby app to read books! It is free, digital, and a wonderful resource to discover new material to read. I will hopefully be back soon with another post in the future!