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Our 9 Most Anticipated New Reads of June 2020

by  | June 3
June Book Covers

Can you believe we’re almost halfway through the year? Neither can we. We’re still doing double takes at the abundance birds in the sky and leaves on the trees. The first half may have felt like it lasted a million years but, as we approach the midway point, we’re excited to present our June most anticipated titles to build upon your summer TBR stack. From thrillers to magical realism, and everything in between, here are the titles we’re most looking forward to this month! 

For even more BookCation recommendations, check out Simon & Schuster’s summer reading guide.

The Dragons, the Giant, the Women: A Memoir

The Dragons, the Giant, the Women: A Memoir

by Wayétu Moore

Emily’s Pick #1

Not only am I intrigued by how a memoir gets such a magical-sounding title, but I’m also excited for this book because I’ve read Wayétu Moore’s previous work, her debut novel, She Would Be King, which was an amazing feat of storytelling that I find myself thinking about again and again—almost as if it were a dream. She Would Be King is a fantastical retelling of the founding of Liberia through the perspectives of three characters who use their magical abilities to fight and connect in various ways as Monrovia develops around them. In light of such an compelling and complex feat of magical realism, I can’t wait to see how Wayétu structures and describes her own life: she grew up in Monrovia, Liberia, but was forced to flee with her family during the first Liberian Civil War, eventually settling in Texas and struggling to feel at home in the US. Basically, just add this memoir—along with her first novel—to your TBR list now.

Publication date: June 2, 2020

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The Girl from Widow Hills

The Girl from Widow Hills

by Megan Miranda

Saimah’s Pick

What would you do if you suddenly woke up to find yourself standing over a dead body, but you have no recollection of how you got there? In Megan Miranda’s latest thriller, The Girl from Widow Hills, Arden Maynor, a.k.a. Olivia Meyer, wakes up to this nightmare after sleepwalking. She hasn’t had a sleepwalking episode in two decades, but as a young girl she was swept into a body of underground pipes while sleepwalking during a storm and went missing for three days. Her story made national headlines and cast the harsh glow of the spotlight on her little town. She changed her name and moved across state lines to leave her past behind. But it won’t let her out of its grip that easy…the mysterious corpse now lying at her feet outside is a man she knows from her previous life. Was she responsible for his death? Did anybody see what happened? You’ll have to read this suspenseful, fast-paced story to find out!

Publication date: June 23, 2020

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Mexican Gothic

Mexican Gothic

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Sara’s Pick #1

Horror author Silvia Moreno-Garcia is back on the scene with another dark and alluring tale sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats, whether at home or on the beach. When Noemí Taboada gets a letter from her newlywed cousin to come save her, she travels to High Place, an eerie estate in the Mexican countryside. Despite her prim and poised exterior, Noemí is anything but a typical fair maiden. With razor-sharp wit and a whole lot of bravery, she faces down her cousin's new husband and father-in-law, as well as the house itself, which seems to have its own plans for her. Mexican Gothic is imbued with an atypical classic gothic story setting and a unique sense of life (and death) while also giving us the engaging and thrilling characters and tropes we love from classic gothic suspense novels.

Publication date: June 30, 2020

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Credible Threat

Credible Threat

by J.A. Jance

Heather’s Pick

I never tire of stories about lady bosses kicking ass and taking names. That’s why my interest has been piqued by Credible Threat, the latest installment in J. A. Jance’s Ali Reynolds series. When Ali learns that her friend Archbishop Francis Gillespie is receiving threats against his life, she volunteers the services of her security company, High Noon Enterprises. Their investigation into a possible attack soon morphs into a hunt for a very real killer, when the archbishop’s driver is killed in an assassination attempt that the ecclesiast himself barely survives. Could Rachel Higgins be the culprit? The grieving mother recently learned that her son’s fatal overdose years before may have been triggered by sexual abuse he suffered by a priest at the Catholic high school, so she certainly has motive to go after the Church’s most prominent local official. Or is there someone else out there who Ali hasn’t yet considered? She and her team are the only ones who may be able to foil this deadly plot...

Publication date: June 2, 2020

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The Angel of the Crows

The Angel of the Crows

by Katherine Addison

Sara’s Pick #2

You can tell a lot about a book by its description, so what to make of this line in the summary for The Angel of the Crows: "This is not the story you think it is. These are not the characters you think they are. This is not the book you are expecting." Color me intrigued! Katherine Addison sets her newest novel in an alternative 1880s London, where angels, werewolves, vampires, and humans all co-exist. But the peace is broken when serial killer Jack the Ripper starts making headlines. Thankfully, London has a protector, the mysterious Crow, a Sherlock Holmes–type who is on the hunt for justice and the killer. Fast-paced and full of whimsical elements, this book is sure to please readers looking for a good whodunit with fantastical flair.

Publication date: June 23, 2020

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The Swap

The Swap

by Robyn Harding

Emily’s Pick #2

As the title suggests, this psychological thriller is about swapping—husbands. When lonely teen Low Morrison finally finds a friend (and maybe obsession) in the narcistic pottery instructor/ social media beauty influencer Freya Light, she feels, for once, like her life has meaning. However, when Freya finds a new BFF and the two, with their husbands, swap partners for a night, Low becomes envious and, unleashing quite the psychopathic energy, decides to use the couples’ swap as an opportunity to exploit. What unfolds is a page-turner of manipulation, lust, and deceit. For a sexy but twisted summer read, The Swap will have you swiping pages faster than those Tinder profiles!

Publication date: June 23, 2020

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Pizza Girl

Pizza Girl

by Jean Kyoung Frazier

Sharon’s Pick

Jean Kyoung Frazier, you had me at pizza. A contemporary coming-of-age story, Pizza Girl follows our pregnant eighteen-year-old heroine as she grapples with the death of her alcoholic father while delivering pizzas in suburban Los Angeles. Her life begins to change when she develops an obsession with one of her customers, a stay-at-home mother who regularly orders pickle-covered pizzas to ensure her son’s happiness. This debut novel promises to be humorous, poignant, and unforgettable!

Publication date: June 9, 2020

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Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels

by Hannah Orenstein

Molly’s Pick

I love the Olympics so much that the Olympic Anthem was my ringtone for several years. (Remember purchasing custom ringtones?!) Like everyone else, I’m devastated that this year’s games have been postponed, but the great news is that you can still tumble into the world of competitive gymnastics through Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein. This engaging novel stars Avery Abrams, a former gymnast whose career and chances of a gold medal were cut short seven years prior due to an injury. After a tough breakup with her boyfriend, Avery returns to her childhood home to recalibrate her life. She begins to help train Hallie, a passionate and talented gymnast who's ready for her shot. But when a scandal rocks the gymnastics world, it forces Avery to confront her past experiences with the sport—and she becomes determined to protect Hallie and other young gymnasts from suffering the same fate.

Publication date: June 23, 2020

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An Elegant Woman

An Elegant Woman

by Martha McPhee

Zoey’s Pick

Did you love Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane? Are you ready for a sweeping multigenerational family story surrounding one very unique lady? An Elegant Woman, inspired by author Martha McPhee's own family, follows narrator Isadora's efforts to understand the sharp, adventurous person of her grandmother. The book opens with this line (and had me hooked from the beginning): "For as long as I could remember, my grandmother was dying and telling stories. 'I'm just a candle in the wind,' she would say, and clutch her heart, sighing audibly. 'I'm just an old, threadbare mule going round and round the katydid.'"

Publication date: June 2, 2020

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Photo Credit // Simon & Schuster

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