Coffee and…My June Book Haul

This week, my coffee and I are looking at all the books I bought in June. Join us?

The Coffee:

This week, I’m drinking Konga, an Ethiopian coffee from Steampunk Roasters with tasting notes of peaches and cream. I am super impressed with this coffee, but also with the company’s ethos of making all their packaging plastic free and completely recyclable. Top marks to Steampunk, and you can expect them to feature as the coffee I’m drinking a lot more frequently.

The Books:

Netgalley

I know I said I was on a Netgalley ban. However, when I heard that Vic James’s Bright Ruin was available to request, all of my good intentions burned down in flames. I requested it, was approved and immediately started reading it. I have not been this excited about a sequel ever. I’m not even sorry I broke my ban.

Arcs and Proofs

In the first week of June I was sent a copy of Floored from the wonderful humans at Pan Macmillan. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you will know this is a book I have been eagerly anticipating for a while now. When I opened the envelope and found Floored inside, I did an actual squeal and danced on the spot. Guys, this one was AMAZING. Keep an eye out for my blog tour post and a full review next month!

I also received a copy of Just Don’t Mention It by Estelle Maskame from Ink Road Books. I was excited enough to be sent a copy of this, but even more so to discover that Estelle had signed and personalised it.

Jitty Vardi by Ruth Estevez. My lovely friend Zoe has this down as one of her favourite reads of the year, so of course I jumped at the chance to read and review it. It’s set in Robin Hood’s Bay, which is a beautiful part of the world and where Husband and I had one of my favourite holidays. The smuggling history of the area is fascinating to me, so I am looking forward to reading a book that ticks all these boxes.

A Bad Boy Stole My Bra by Lauren Price. This book sounds like a brilliant read and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in. I love the way Ink Road Books package their proofs, and I was thrilled to get a proof of this; sadly I didn’t even get to sniff the sweets before my son stole them.

S and I were thrilled to receive two hardback books from Orchard Books (an imprint of Hachette): I Really Want That Unicorn by Fabi Santiago and Prince George Goes to School by Caryl Hart and Laura Ellen Anderson, and we are looking forward to sharing our thoughts with you in a Books with the Boy post very soon.

We also received a copy of Splash Day by Nick Sharratt from the lovely Kirsten at Barrington Stoke. The boy was beyond excited with his book post, and is really looking forward to sharing his thoughts with you all.

Books I Bought

Sneaking in just after my last haul post went live, but before the end of May were some books I bought one afternoon in Edinburgh, right after I sat in the cafe for an hour drinking gin and tonic, reading my book and enjoying a stunning view of the castle in the sunshine.

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett – Two best friends turned enemies? Hell, yes. I love a good friendship story, and more so a good friendship drama (providing that drama stays on the page and isn’t in my real life friendships, thank you very much). Their families are the modern-day Californian answer to the Capulets and Montagues, and the girls just found themselves stranded, in the wilderness. I am all here for what is about to unfold.

If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say by Leila Sales – “Before we go any further, I want you to understand this: I am not a good person.” I was hooked from that one line. Meet Winter Halperin, owner of an awesome name, who is caught saying the wrong thing online. Her life explodes. Apparently, I was drawn to all of the drama on this bookshop trip. I love stories with an important message, and this one explores whether hate mail and death threats are ever okay, and whether “I’m sorry” is ever good enough. Bring it on.

The Children of Castle Rock by Natasha Farrante – Amy has been talking about how much she loved this book so often that I thought I’d best buy it before I got into trouble. It helps that it also sounds amazing. I’ve been loving my Middle Grade reads recently and this one sounds like the perfect modern-day adventure story. Alice’s father, Barney, is missing, so she sets off on a quest through the highlands and islands of Scotland (one of my favourite places) to find him. I can’t wait to see what Alice and her family have in store for me.

My second haul of June was also during a trip to Edinburgh, where the lovely Sarah Withers and I met up and accidentally fell into a bookshop.

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy – Ramona’s life was changed forever by Hurricane Katrina. Now, Ramona has to be the adult of her family, her older sister is pregnant, and she is struggling with her own sexual identity, whilst falling for a boy at the swimming pool. This book sounded too good to resist, and it was sitting on the special offer table, so I couldn’t possibly leave it behind.

In Your Light by A. J. Grainger – Steph told me to read this one, and since I do everything Steph tells me to, I bought it. Well, actually, I picked it up in the shop, it sounded amazing and after I’d bought it I remembered Steph had recommended it to me, but that’s a far less exciting story. Lil is struggling with the disappearance of her older sister, when she accidentally runs down a girl in her car. Seven is running away from a compound and the Sisterhood of the Light. Both girls have a lot of secrets, and I love a story with a dark and twisty secret or two.

Noah Could Never by Simon James Green – The sequel to Noah Can’t Even. Do you need to ask why I bought this? More Noah. I absolutely adored the first book, and read it in one sitting late at night, laughing and trying not to wake my husband. Noah has the most hilarious adventures and I cannot wait for more of him. Plus the cover is pretty awesome.

Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl. This one is about friendship, and death and wanting to know what really happened to Jim. But I mostly picked it up for the cover, because when a cover is THAT stunning, how can you leave it on the shelf? Louise also raved about it recently, and she has never yet recommended a book that I didn’t love.

Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe. Excuse me Miss, Steph told me I’d like this one. It’s a MG story of friendship and betrayal. It sounds wonderful. I am here for all of the friendship tales.

Exile by S. M. Wilson. I haven’t read the first one yet, but I already know I love it, so of course I bought the sequel. I plan to find a quiet couple of days where I can devour them in one sitting. Between work, demon rearing and general having-to-adult, I anticipate this happening in about 654 years.

Little Liar by Julia Gray. Norah told a lie. It all gets out of control. I love a bit of drama in my books and the blurb for this one hooked me straight in. The cover is a beauty too. It sounds like the perfect twisty read for me.

Maximum Ride by James Patterson. One of my top favourite booksellers recommended this to me recently. He asked if I’d read it; I said I’m not a fan of James Patterson’s adult books (I know, I’m sorry, I just don’t like them). He told me this was not an acceptable excuse for not reading James’s YA, and I have never picked up a book faster in all my life because when this guy recommends a book, you know it’s going to be good.

The next time I visited my beloved Waterstone’s basement, I hit the Pride table that the staff there had set-up in the YA section and got these four beauties. And here’s a bonus photo of the Pride table in all it’s glory:

Flying Tips For Flightless Birds by Kelly McCaughrain. Steph read and loved this one. I feel like this post is turning into some kind of weird Steph fan club where I just buy all the books she recommends like some kind of creepy stalker. This one is set in a circus, which sounds just wonderful.

Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson. Another gem from the Pride table. Honestly, that table has introduced me to so many books I might never have seen otherwise and which just sound perfect. Secrets, a main character trying to hide her true self, unusual talents? I am here for all of these things.

Every Day by David Leviathan. You’ll never guess who told me this was a good read? It sounds amazing though and I really don’t know why I haven’t picked it up sooner. I am very excited to read this.

And I Darken by Kiersten White. Brutal. Princess. Those were the words that hooked me in. Yes. I am here for this book. It is fantasy, it has badass women and power struggles. It sounds like just the kind of book I want to lose myself in.

These last three were also acquired from the Waterstone’s Pride table on a recent visit. Look, I love that basement okay? Don’t judge me.

Adaptation by Malinda Lo. Reese has an accident, wakes up a month later and can’t remember anything. Strange things are happening around Reese, and the government is hiding a global conspiracy. If that doesn’t scream “pick me up and read me Charlotte”, I don’t know what will.

Far From You by Tessa Sharpe. A YA thriller with a murder, drug addiction, and a secret. I am very nosy and I like to know all of the secrets. I love a good murder story, and add to that the LGBTQIA+ themes and I am all here for this.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. I honestly think if I don’t read a Rainbow Rowell book soon one of my favourite book sellers will disown me, and then where will I go for books? Also, it’s very remiss of me not to have read it sooner. Adding this to the collection means I now own pretty much every book off the table. I should really get to reading them.

Audible

This month’s audible pick was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling, narrated by Stephen Fry. My small boy is just embarking on his Harry Potter journey, and I thought having the audio book to listen to would be great for us both. Plus, as I already own the book there is no net addition to Mount Ted TBR.

Subscription Box

This month’s Wildest Dreams book box was an absolute beauty. It contained a copy of Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli. If you read last month’s haul post, you’ll know that I already have a copy of that, but I am thrilled to have another, because this means I can pass it on to my bestie who I am sure will love it.

That is (finally) the end of the epic haul of June 2018. I am exhausted after typing it and if you’ve made it all the way to this end line, then thank you! What books have you picked up this month? 

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