Reading Wrap-Up: June 2025

Wrapping up the 11 books I read in June - 6 nonfiction, 5 fiction. A surprising month with several favorites of the year appearing!

Jul 03, 2025

I’m not sure how it happened, but I read three of my top ten favorite novels of the entire year (so far) in the month of June! I also discovered some great nonfiction, fulfilled more of my poetry + classics intentions for 2025, and cried at probably half of these books, now that I’m looking back at the list.

Maybe I’ve just developed allergies this month on which I can blame these tears? Although a book that evokes that level of emotion tends to become a favorite for me, so perhaps I can view sobbing as a win in some odd way.

Before we jump in to my recap of the 11 books I read last month, just a quick reminder that our next Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club chat is coming up in a few weeks and we love to welcome new members! All paid subscribers are automatic members, so feel free to upgrade your subscription and join us.

Also, I’ve been encouraged to start a YouTube channel and/or podcast to talk about all things reading-and-purpose in more depth - book reviews, tools for purposeful growth, etc. Is this something you’d watch/listen to? Please let me know. It sounds fun - but also potentially time-consuming! - so I want to gauge interest first.

Ok, let’s talk about what I read last month! Be sure to let me know which of these you’ve read and/or want to read, too.

Stoner by John Williams

I have picked up and set aside Stoner a few different times over the years, just not quite feeling in the mood. When I tried again in June, however, I could not put it down. It is a slow story, following an average man in midwest America for most of his adult life, addressing his love for literature among other things - not what you might consider the makings of a page-turner, yet that’s exactly what it was for me. After finishing and writing my own review, I went down a rabbit hole of reviews, analyses, discussion videos, and more. There is a level of depth to this relatively brief book that just felt meaningful to continue uncovering.

Flowers And Foul Play by Amanda Flower

A cute and somewhat unusual mystery that I picked up for a new book club I am joining. I didn’t fully follow the magical elements (it’s the first book in the Magic Garden Mystery series), but I don’t tend to read many magical realism or fantasy books, so that may have simply been due to my unfamiliarity with the style. I did enjoy the Scottish setting and the book was a fairly fun, quick read.

The Crown Ain’t Worth Much by Hanif Abdurraqib

A stirring and thoughtful poetry collection by the author I’ve mentioned in nearly every single monthly wrap-up this year so far. I haven’t read his works in publishing order (last month’s was a 2024 release, this one is from 2016) but there is a definite voice that travels through all of his writing. I’ve mentioned before how I’ll be reading along just fine and then feel my heart pause at one unexpected line; this occurred even with the dedication page of this one. I’ve now started my sixth of his six published works, but rumor has it he’ll be releasing another in 2026. Whew!

The Small And The Mighty by Sharon McMahon

A unique look at several influential people in American history whose names many of us have probably never heard but who greatly impacted civil rights, voting rights, and so much more. If you question whether you, as one individual person, can make a difference in issues that seem so huge and overwhelming, give this a read and feel your inspiration rise with each story. Two that stand out in my mind are around the people, like Inez Milholland, who pushed for women’s voting rights, and the further details I learned about the Little Rock Nine, which also brought tears. A very engaging and accessible read.

In Waves by AJ Dungo

When I mentioned enjoying a graphic memoir in my Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide, Jaymi at

The Nonfiction Book Party

suggested In Waves, and since we share a lot of overlap in our reading tastes, I picked it up at my library soon after. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of the author’s girlfriend who received a terminal diagnosis at a very young age. She loved to surf, and the author - who also illustrated the book - wove in surfing history and background alongside her story in such a unique way. I had tears streaming down my face at multiple points in this one, including where the meaning behind the title appears. My eyes are actually filling up again just typing this recap.

Also, if you don’t already follow The Nonfiction Book Party, now is the time (and have your TBR ready!).

The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg

A few people have mentioned this book to me, I think particularly since Stulberg’s earlier book, Peak Performance, co-written with Steve Magness, is a longtime favorite of mine. In Groundedness, Stulberg offers a framework for staying grounded amidst the chaos and uncertainty that life can bring. His principles of groundedness include acceptance, patience, presence, and deep community, to name a few; he goes into more detail and offers numerous helpful examples for each. I particularly appreciated how he connected the work to his own challenges with OCD.

The Housekeeper And The Professor by Yoko Ogawa, translated from Japanese by Stephen Snyder

A very quiet, surprisingly touching, all-around gorgeous story about a math professor with memory issues, the housekeeper who comes to work for him, her kind-hearted young son, and the relationships that form between the three. I love a slow story, but at the start of this one I almost wondered if it was too slow and quiet even for me; a bit further in I was 100% captivated; and by the end, I once again had tears streaming down my face. I adored this story and captured so many quotes from it in my study book, too. I didn’t realize until near the end that all of the characters remained unnamed, which surprised me as I felt I knew them intimately by that point. I suspect this one will appear on my end-of-year top 10 list in December.

Shrill by Lindy West

This is my second book by West and I find her writing so powerful: Laugh-out-loud funny in parts, unflinchingly raw in others, and always so true to herself and what she stands for. Not an easy blend to master! This was a difficult read at times with some challenging subject matter, but she manages to weave in her unique brand of levity throughout as well. I also really appreciated her commentary on why she so boldly speaks up for what she believes in.

Dinner For Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

I found this as an ‘available now’ audiobook on Libby and decided to give it a go, despite not knowing much about Lenz other than her run on the TV show, One Tree Hill. Subtitled ‘Life On A Cult TV Show (While Also In An Actual Cult!),’ this offered an interesting inside look at what can lead people into situations like this, particularly when they feel alone, vulnerable, and longing for community. Lenz reads the audiobook herself and, as an experienced performer, did a wonderful job with the narration.

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Rental House by Weike Wang

I’ve heard of Wang’s books before but this is the first one I’ve picked up - the premise, cover, and time of year called to me. Rental House was an entertaining read about a couple who decides to go away on vacation one summer, and follows their interactions with all the people they encounter while at their vacation home (parents, temporary neighbors, unexpected guests). Along the way, we also see flashbacks from previous points in their relationship, giving the story a bit more background and depth. I liked Wang’s wry humor and found myself chuckling at various points, while also empathizing with some of the more poignant moments in the story. Quite a quick read.

North And South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Immediately upon finishing this book, I decided I must read all of Gaskell’s works! The two I’ve read so far (this one, plus Wives And Daughters a few years back) have both completely enthralled me from start to finish, and I can’t even really explain why - I just love her writing style, character exploration, and the way she manages to make even the most ordinary day in the mid-1800’s feel full of interesting happenings and must-listen-in conversations. She also seamlessly incorporates social commentary of the time, deftly weaving it into the story in a way that makes you ponder your own thoughts around the issues without even really realizing you’re doing so.

What excellent book have you read lately? And would you be interested in a Reading And Purpose YouTube channel and/or podcast to go more in depth? Share your comments below!

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