Books I read in June • Reading wrap-up

Here are book reviews of the 8 novels I read in June, including quite a few Booker contenders.

I had a great reading month, with almost all of these 5 star reads, and recommended reading from me!

A couple of these appear in my Booker predictions, here:

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Books mentioned in this video:
📖 England is Mine, by Nicholas Padamsee
📖 Breakdown, by Cathy Sweeney
📖 Headshot, by Rita Bullwinkel
📖 Brotherless Night, by V V Ganeshananthan
📖 Boy with a Black Rooster, by Stefanie vor Schulte (translated by Alexandra Roesch)
📖 River East, River West, by Aube Rey Lescure
📖 The Coast Road, by Alan Murrin
📖 Orbital, by Samantha Harvey

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00:00 England is Mine
04:05 Breakdown
06:09 Headshot
08:47 Brotherless Night
12:09 Boy with a Black Rooster
14:46 River East, River West
17:43 The Coast Road
19:51 Orbital

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Thank you so much for watching.

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#books #booktube #readingwrapup

[benreadsgood]

Btw that ‘no books for my birthday’ thing was not a plea for sympathy, I just need to work out how not to scare my friends and family away from gifting me books 😂 Suggestions welcome!!!

[Sylvia-uo]

I love how articulate you are in describing the books you read. I think you’re one of the best reviewers on you tube

[ratwizard]

just found this channel, the way you describe the books is truly spectacular and really speaks your passion for reading, makes me want to get all those books now! can't wait to watch more from you :)

[ameliabarlowbooks]

River East, River West was so good! such a unique take, loved it ♥️

[TheLeniverse]

I had Breakdown on my Women's Prize predictions, and I am *still* on the waiting list for it at the library. The downside to living in Wales, I guess. Any book linked in any way to Wales is booked up for months 😆 Glad it sounds like it is worth the wait. I've been on the fence about reading Headshot and I think you just tipped me over into "yes". Boy With a Black Rooster sounds fantastic!

[wordsofclover]

I'm all here for the amazing Irish books :P There must be something in our water haha

[LydiaLostthePlot]

Such a brilliant reviewer as always, so thoughtful and insightful!

[Laney]

Ben, you’re really great at reviewing and doing tongue twisters!

Honestly, your channel has become my go-to for book picks. I just grabbed Love and Other Thought Experiments, Monstrilio, and Above Us the Sea

[robyn]

Happy birthday 🎉 adding Breakdown and The Coast Road to my TBR.

[PageTurnersWithKatja]

Good reading month ✨️Headshot was in my TBR, Orbital's now joining it

[Bookchara]

I’m adding The Coast Road to my Want to Read books!

[nadiadixon]

brotherless night was my favourite for the womans prize...beautiful writing...you have convinced me to read the coast road and orbital...😊

[YourTrueShelf]

Ah Ben you just added several books to my wishlist!!! I loved Brotherless Night (although it has faded a bit) and I also loved River East, River West.

For bday ideas - you could direct people to your wishlist, but sometimes I give a challenge like "choose me something from the fantasy section" - less chance of something I already own. My husband did a great job with a more specific instruction!
Hope you had a great bday x

[sheltercoordinator]

I'm reading The Coast Road now and really enjoying it! I'm not very far in yet but am intrigued by each of the women for different reasons...especially Colette. Thanks for your take on each of the books! I really enjoy your videos.

[stevies-readies]

i loved headshot!!! thanks for sharing that bit about the author not knowing who was going to win the fights. so cool that it felt like she was there with us. and i agree on the shared headspace -- the boxing ring became as much a character as each of the contenders in the tournament.

i've heard plenty about coast road that's making me want to get to it asap.

[BookishAdventuresInWellbeing]

Breakdown sounds great, I’ve added that to my wish list and Lydia Lost the Plot has already sold Headshot to me so that’s a solidified recommendation.

[SavidgeReads]

Glad you loved Brotherless Night too. I’m keen to give Breakdown a whirl, I might wait for the paperback. I’m putting myself on a mild hardback book buying ban. Ha. River East River West is a book that’s grown and grown on me. Very excited for The Coast Road. May read it when I go to Ireland next week. I bought it for the Winman quote alone.

[Bookchara]

Oh breakdown sounds fascinating. I actually know of a woman who left like that…she did come back eventually though

[Sarahsreadingjournal]

I have the same problem with no one wanting to buy me books for my birthday 😅 I normally just ask for specific books or have a list of books I would like to get to that my family can choose from! Excited to hear you loved Brotherless Night- my library hold has just arrived so will hopefully be getting to it shortly 🤞

[GemofBooks]

Headshot sounds awesome! Adding to TBR…