Here are the titles I gave five stars this month. A list of all the titles I read this month is at the end of this post. 

In June 2026 I read 46 books, 16 of those were picture books and 5 were audiobooks. The top genre I read was fiction followed by cozy mystery. The longest book I read was Miss Buncle’s Book by D.E. Stevenson at 448 pages, and the shortest book was Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall at 32 pages.

Favorites (Picture Book Favorites will be in a later post!) 

Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz – That ending!!! I need book two right now. My soon to be 7th grader recommended this to me and I am so glad he did! This is historical fiction/adventure/magical realism which might sound like an odd combo, but it works. So well. I could not put this down–it’s intense when it needs to be intense and silly at the perfect moments. AND it ends on a MASSIVE cliffhanger which the 7th grader did not mention so thankfully book two is waiting for me at the library.

Limelight by Andrew Keenan-Bolger – This is a hugging book. I loved it so much. First, while not in NYC, I was a junior in high school in 1996 so it was a trip back in time to read a story set then. Second, and most importantly, I loved Danny. He’s doing his very best in the situation he’s in with the information he has and I rooted for him the entire time. And he thinks he’s not brave, but he totally is. And his friends? Ah I wish we could all have friends like that — swooping in, recognizing you for you and also showing you more of the world. The ending broke my heart into tiny little pieces and then put it back together again. I didn’t want to say goodbye. Gahh this is just so good. My 15 year old theater kid put this on my radar and I’m so glad she did.

Mrs Tim Carries On by D.E. Stevenson – With her husband stationed in France, Hester finds plenty to keep her busy on the Home Front. Originally published in 1941, I am just enthralled by this series and reading Mrs. Tim’s diary. It’s at times funny and others a little bitter-sweet and always entertaining. It’s such a slice-of life kind of book and I can’t get enough.

Mrs Tim Gets a Job by D.E. Stevenson – Here’s another one that the ending took the book from a lovely four star read to a shining five star read where I sighed and smiled and yes, I hugged it. (So many huggable books this summer!) I love this series. One more left for me and while I have it from the library, I’m delaying it because I’m not really ready to say goodbye to Mrs. Tim.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 6 by Beth Brower – OMG! The ending! Why why why did I use all my Hoopla checkouts without also downloading volume 7. Gahh I love this series. It’s a balm to the soul.

Moonlight Murder by Uzma Jalaluddin – Detective Aunty Investigates #2. I love Uzma’s writing and adored book one in this series and I’m happy report book two is just as good. These are excellent on audio. Kausar Khan (Detective Aunty) reminds of Maisie Dobbs. While this isn’t a historical mystery, Kausar is so calm and thoughtful and careful.

All Books Read June 2026:

100 Things That Make Me Happy Amy Schwartz

A Maypole of Deceit Victoria Tait

Ava Lin One of A Kind Vicky Fang

Bodies and Battlements Elizabeth Penney

Broken X. Fang

Bruce Saves the Planet Ryan T. Higgins

Caboose Travis Jonker

Christmas Carol Murder Leslie Meier

Coastal Views to Die For Sam Lumley

Cranky, Crabby Crow Corey R. Tabor

Dino Poet Tom Angleberger

Dragged to Death Frank Anthony Polito

Dragons Can’t Eat Snow Cones Amanda Sobotka

Easter Bunny Murder Leslie Meier

Echo Adam Rex

Emma M Lion Volume 6 Beth Brower

Family of Spies Christine Kuehn

Home of the American Circus Allison Larkin

I’d Rather Be Reading Anne Bogel

It Happened One Murder Liz Lawson

Itty Bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash Constance Lombardo

Light & Air Mindy Nichols Wendell

Limelight Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Max in the House of Spies Adam Gidwitz

Miss Buncle’s Book D.E. Stevenson

Moonlight Murder Uzma Jalaluddin

Mrs Tim Carries On D.E. Stevenson

Mrs Tim Gets A Job D.E. Stevenson

My Pet Book Bob Staake

Negative Cat Sophie Blackall

On a Wing and a tear Cynthia Leitich Smith

Popcorn Rob Harrell

Porcupine Had a Fuzzy Sweater Jody Jensen Shaffer

Pour Choices Adrian Andover

Search for the Silver Shell Robin Yardi

Sinclair, the Velociraptor Who Thought He Was a Chicken Douglas Rees

Slugfest Goron Korman

Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White Melissa Sweet

The Christmas Sweater Jan Brett

The Dangerous Alphabet Book D.K. Ryland

The Day the Crayons Made Friends Drew Daywalt

The Little Red Chair Cathy Stefanec Ogren

The Night War Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The Summer Book Tove Jansson

Tourist Season Brynne Weaver

What Happened to the Naked Mole Rat Akeem S. Roberts