Here’s the thing… I think I don’t like series.
My favorite book of June is the first book in a series. I was super invested in the story and even threw it across the room once. I had so many feelings, including rooting for the main characters to get together and simultaneously thinking it was wrong.
Then, I read the second book in the series and thought it was just okay.
I started the third book, but I doubt I’ll finish it. I really don’t care about these characters anymore.
This reading experience got me thinking about the series I’ve read. I hardly ever finish them. If I do, I almost always like the first book best.
Maybe I’m more of a one-and-done kind of reader?
My Favorite Book of June 2023
I read 14 books in June. Of those, I gave a single book a perfect grade. My favorite book of June 2023 was Slammed by Colleen Hoover. Apparently, the book was Hoover’s debut novel, which I didn’t know when I was reading it.
The story is about 18-year-old Layken “Lake” Cohen, who moves to Michigan with her family after her father’s death. Struggling to adapt to her new life, Lake meets her neighbor, Will Cooper, who shares her passion for slam poetry. Their connection is instantaneous and sparks fly between them. This wasn’t a surprising part of the book at all. You saw it coming as soon as she pulled the U-Haul into the driveway. What was surprising was the plot twist that comes after. That’s the part that made me throw the book and cuss my best friend for telling me to read it.
Lake and Will’s relationship is cute, if unrealistic, and a bit taboo. Their shared love of slam poetry adds something to the book, with some of the story actually written as slam poems they deliver to each other. I didn’t necessarily love that aspect of the book, but it was unique.
I loved the other characters in the book, including Lake and Will’s little brothers and Lake’s mom. She was probably my favorite character — so wise and fierce.
FYI, other Hoover books I gave perfect grades are:
Happy Reading!
It’s rare that I only have one favorite book of the month. However, don’t sleep on the “B” books on my list. That means they’re still good. I just didn’t find them life-changing. And, if you like Slammed, you may at least want to try the other books in the series. My bestie loved them all. I think I’m just picky.
What are you reading lately? I always love a good recommendation.
As always, happy reading!
