Books in Progress: What I’ve Been Reading Lately – June 2020

Do you ever get caught up in a delightful streak of bookish serendipity where every book you pick up is a 4 or 5 star read? The last few weeks have been great for me in that I have really enjoyed all the books that have come across my path and I’m super excited about what is next on my list.

As usual, I have a pretty good mixture of genres — some nonfiction and lots of fiction that fall under middle-grade, YA, and adult headings. I’m also allowing my summer reading bingo challenge to influence some of my reading decisions right now, like choosing a re-read for example.

What have you been reading lately? Keep scrolling to see my list and please share any must-reads in the comments so I can put them on my list!

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Just Finished:

Behind Closed Doors

If you’ve read my posts before you might have seen me mention that my husband usually only reads nonfiction, so when he chooses a novel I always pay attention and often try to read it myself. A few weeks ago he chose Behind Closed Doors, a thriller about a marriage that isn’t as it seems.

I was a little wary of this book at first because it sounded kind of scary and I don’t like to be creeped out. But I thought the author did a good job of making the threat in the story sound credible and dangerous without having to do any graphic descriptions. The details were kept behind closed doors, if you will accept the pun. I listened to this one on audio and was looking for excuses to keep listening over the course of a few of days.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey

Since I wrote a full review of this book last week I won’t belabor it, but suffice it to say that Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey fell squarely in my wheelhouse. I love a good marriage of convenience and I thought the mystery that accompanied this Regency romance was very well done.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I think I am sinking deeper into the world of Harry Potter and I’m loving having something easy and entertaining to read in between heavier books. I just think so much of the story, dialogue, and setting is so witty and clever. The Weasley family is my absolute favorite.

In Progress:

Thunderhead

Thunderhead is the second in the Arc of a Scythe series, and as much as I enjoyed the first one, I think I’m liking this one even better. At this point a lot of the world building in this dystopian series has already been accomplished, which leaves room for deeper storytelling and character exploration.

In case you not familiar with these books, they are set in a world where people have conquered death and are immortal. To keep the population under control, there is a group of individuals called scythes who chosen and trained to ‘glean’ people. The first book follows a couple of apprentice scythes in their training, and Thunderhead focuses on the growing discord in the scythedom. It also chronicles the thoughts of the all-knowing, omnipresent Thunderhead, the cloud based being that has made a world without natural death possible. Fascinating things to think about in this book!

Crisis in the Red Zone

A couple of months ago I shared my list of books to read during an epidemic, including a book called The Hot Zone about Ebola in the ’70s-’90s. Now the same author has released a new book called Crisis in the Red Zone which examines the Ebola crisis of 2014. I’m equal parts fascinated and terrified by the accounts of the healthcare professionals and military personnel that the author shares in this book. Ebola is certainly something to keep you eye on! And I would have read it anyway, but this book also conveniently fulfills the ‘green leafy cover’ square on my reading bingo card.

Mark of the Raven

I’m a little late to the party on this one compared to everyone else in the Christian Fiction world, but I’m glad I finally made it! I’m listening to this one on audio and I easily finished the first half of this 10 hour book in one day. It’s about a family of women who have the unique ability to ‘walk in dreams’ and how one young woman must decide how she will use this gifting.

The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living

I put this book on my Libby hold list like 8 months ago, so I knew I had to read it immediately when it came up because there was no way I was heading back to the end of the line to wait again. It’s the story of Livvy, a baker from Boston who has to make a change after a fiery debacle at her old job, and finds herself baking at an inn in a small town in Vermont. So far this book is full of charming characters and seems to be a story of a young woman finding herself and learning what it means to belong. Plus I love to read about food and baking.

Up Next:

Dream Big

If you have never heard Bob Goff speak, please go Google an interview, any interview with him and listen to it. He is such a kind, inspiring human being. Did you know he gives out his personal cellphone number to literally everyone? It’s published at the end of his book and he encourages anyone who needs a listening ear to give him a call. Dream Big is his latest book detailing what he believes are the key principles you need to keep in mind to dream big dreams and accomplish your goals. I can’t wait to see what he has to say!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Several people have told me this is maybe their favorite Harry Potter book in the series. I have it sitting by my favorite reading chair and I’m ready to dive in as soon as I finish Thunderhead. Which HP book is your favorite?

Sons of Blackbird Mountain

Remember how I said I chose a book to re-read for the reading bingo challenge? This is the one I chose. When I first read Sons of Blackbird Mountain two years ago I couldn’t get it out of my head and I can’t wait to revisit it. It’s historical fiction that examines how differently people thought about things like alcohol addiction and the treatment of deaf people, and it has a very unique leading man who struggles with both those things while still being a strong, king, honorable man you want to root for. Its really a beautiful, thought-provoking story that I think everyone should read.

And if this wasn’t enough book talk for you, be sure to head over to Modern Mrs. Darcy’s monthly quick lit linkup and scroll through the comments to see what other bloggers are reading as well.