What I Read (and DNF'd) in June

These books have all been provided to me by their respective publishers

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (6.3.25; 368p; Random House) This was a winner for me because I loved the mid-1990s setting, when technology, especially the internet, was so magical. I think this book will appeal specifically to Gen X readers. 

The Namaste Club by Asha Elias (7.1.25; 331p; William Morrow) Last summer I loved this author’s debut, Pink Glass Houses. This summer, The Namaste Club gave the same perfect vibes, just in a different location. Elias’ writing style is very “Real Housewives” which I prefer to a lot of other summer releases which skew toward romance. 

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline (7.15.25; 400p; Grand Central) I usually steer away from this style of mystery, but the gothic details in the summary drew me in. Overall, it kept me intrigued enough to keep with the story to the end. Perfect for “new-age spiritualists.” 

Tastes and Traditions: A Journey through Menu History by Nathalie Cook (6.2.25; 192p; Reaktion) I love reading menus (the real ones, not the online ones) and always find historical menus fascinating—the specials, the trends, the prices. This book is a treat and would be a great gift for any food lovers in your life. 

Like: A History of the World’s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word by Megan C. Reynolds (7.1.25; 256; HarperOne) If you love words, linguistics, and the cultural analysis of everyday words, then you will enjoy Like. Perfect for readers of Wordslut and Cultish.

Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic (7.15.25; 256p; Knopf) Social media is transforming culture and communication, including language. Linguist Adam Aleksic breaks down how shorthand, slang, memes and algorithms are changing how we communicate every day. This was a fun and fascinating read. 

Fascist Yoga: Grifters, Occultists, White Supremacists, and the New Order In Wellness by Stewart Home (7.20.25; 224p; Pluto Press) I’m a bit on the fence about recommending this. On one hand, I found Home’s connections between yoga and far-right political movements surprising and fascinating. On the other hand, this read very much like a conspiracy blog. In its current format, I would only recommend this to someone who would identify and understand the raw angles. I do think this could be better edited and packaged for a more universal reader. 

DNF

The Rabbit Club by Christopher J. Yates (releasing 7.8.25; 352p; Hanover Square) “Oxford University” + “dark academia” + “a dangerous secret society”…I mean, this sounds like my dream novel, but I threw in the towel at 50%. Yes, 50%. I really tried, but the chapter format, time jumps, and anonymous narrator finally became too much. 

The Payback by Kashana Cauley (7.15.25, 256p; Atria) I can tell pretty quick into a novel if I’m not going to connect with it and I just knew this one wasn’t going to work for me, but I would still recommend this to other readers, especially burnt-out millennials or Gen Z readers. 

The First Line by Jean-Marie Laclavetine, translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan (7.8.25; 232p; Seagull Books) This is a DNF “for now” because I know I will enjoy the story, but because it is a translated book, the sentence flow is very difficult for me. I feel like every sentence is a word jumble. I will pick this back up again when I can really focus and concentrate.