June was one of those strange months that has sped by whilst also going really slowly. Does that even make sense?!
I’m still shielding and it looks like I will be until 1 August so nothing has really changed for me even though from what I see on the news a lot of the country is slowly returning to some kind of normality. I haven’t left the house yet, mainly because my asthma is really bad at the moment and it’s impossible to wear a mask when my breathing is already bad. My husband is still on furlough and we still don’t know when he’ll be returning to work, we’re waiting to hear.
Football is back so we’re enjoying watching that. It’s great having all of the matches televised although it does mean that some days we’re in danger of having square eyes! The waiting to see what’s happening with Newcastle United is getting endless now but what can you do?! At least it looks like we’re not going to be relegated!
My reading mojo is back in full swing and I read 30 books in June! It was helped by some sunny days in the garden where I only take a book out with me (no phone or laptop!) so I’m not distracted by anything. I also treated myself to some new wireless headphones so that I can listen to more of my audio books.
The Books I Read
The Posts I Blogged
Mini Book Reviews: The Day We Met by Roxie Cooper, The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel, His and Hers by Alice Feeney, and Funny Weather by Olivia Laing
Monthly Wrap-Up: That Was The Month That Was… May 2020
Mini Book Reviews: The Babysitter by Phoebe Morgan, One Split Second by Caroline Bond, Living My Best Life by Claire Frost, and In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Mini Book Reviews: You and Me, Always by Jill Mansell, When the Time Comes by Adele O’Neill, Evening Primrose by Kopano Matlwa, and Born Lippy by Jo Brand
Review: Picky Eaters by S. J. Higbee
Mini Book Reviews: The Old You by Louise Voss, Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan, While I Was Sleeping by Dani Atkins, and Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Review: Be Careful What You Swipe For by Jemma Forte
Mini Book Reviews: Heatstoke by Hazel Barkworth, Blurred Lines by Hannah Begbie, All The Lonely People by David Owen, The 24-Hour Cafe by Libby Page
Review: The Silent Treatment by Abbie Greaves
How was June for you? I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well and that June has been okay. What was your favourite book from June? I’d love to know what you’ve been reading so please comment below. 🙂
I absolutely agree about the weird fluidity of time Hayley!
It’s just so weird at the moment, isn’t it? So much time has dragged by and yet I can’t believe it’s July already.
Yay to the reading mojo being back, that’s huge!!
Thank you! 🙂 I’m so happy to be reading again at my normal rate.
Btw, I just finished reading your new one and really enjoyed it. 🙂 x
I can’t tell you how happy I am that you have your reading mojo back, Hayley, especially as this lockdown continues. It’s nice, too, isn’t it, when a sport you enjoy is back. It’ll be interesting to see how the next months play out as far as that goes. You’ve got some good reading there, and I hope you’ll enjoy what’s next on the TBR.
Thank you, I’m so relieved to be reading normally again. It’s such a big part of my life and I feel lost when I can’t read. Yes it’s nice to have a favourite sport back on TV too, it gives a small semblance of reality back in the midst of these strange times.
Thirty books? Now that’s what I call a reading mojo, Hayley! Bravo! I am getting somewhat better but no way near your level.
I’m so happy to have my reading mojo back! I’m pleased you’re getting there too, it’s horrible when you can’t read.
30 books is more than I normally read in a month but some of them were very short. At some point this summer I want to tackle Ducks, Newburyport so that will slow me down quite a bit.
Wow, 30 books! And they all look so good. Enjoy July, and hopefully someday we will be back to some tiny piece of normal…a New Normal, I guess.
It was a brilliant reading month. Thank you. Yes hopefully one of these days there will be the beginnings of normality returning. I hope you’re keeping well. x
Seems like you had an amazing month. Great post! 🌸
Thank you so much 🙂 It was a great month of reading.
You have had a fab June! Im loving the footy being back. We might not be safe from relegation, I’m a watford fan. It’s nail biting for me! X
It’s so good to have the footy back, isn’t it? Yeah it’s a nervy time but there are so many teams close together at the bottom of the table that you have a shot of getting out of it. Fingers crossed for you. x
Chelsea today, we shall see 🤣not so hopefully! Xx
I saw the result from yesterday, not great. Hopefully your next game will be easier – is it Norwich? Fingers crossed for you.
Yeah Tuesday! How did you get on? We’ve got you after Norwich 😬😬 x
We got a draw today against West Ham, not a bad result but we let in two goals due to ropey defending!
Eeek, hope we’re still friends after that match 😉 😉 x
We will be! You guys are safe lol we need the win xx
Phew! 🙂 xx
Wow 30 books! I’m in awe Hayley!
Some of them were quite short but it was still such a good month of reading. I think now my mojo is back all I’ve wanted to do is read! 🙂
Wow what a great reading accomplishment. I read Dear Martin last year and thought it was very good. It would be nice to have wireless headphones – I’m sure you are enjoying those!
Thank you, it’s so nice to be enjoying reading again. Dear Martin was excellent and I’ve just discovered a follow-up book to it so am hoping to get that one soon. The wireless headphones are fab, I’m very much enjoying having them.
Wow, wonderful month!!
Thank you, it was a brilliant reading month.
30 books is so impressive! I hope your productive reading continues in July!
Thank you 🙂 It’s so good to be reading again that I’ve just wanted to spend every spare second reading. x
Glad to hear your reading mojo is back. I’m also self shielding due to severe asthma, although I am going for a walk a day. I’m so grateful for my reading keeping me sane!
Thank you, it’s such a relief to be reading normally again.
Shielding is hard, isn’t it? It’s good you’ve been getting out for a walk every day. I just feel so daunted about going out but I’m going to make myself attempt it soon. I hope you’re doing okay.
I’m very well thank you. We are quite lucky and live in the countryside so don’t meet many people if any on our walks. Don’t think I would be so brave to go out if I lived in a busy town or city. Hope your first walk goes well.
I’m glad you’re well. It must be lovely living in the countryside, especially at the moment. I live in a small city but there are places close by that are really pretty and quiet so my husband said we should drive there to have our first trip out. Thank you 🙂
I’m delighted that you have broken through your reading slump – it’s always such a miserable business… And I also want to thank you for your lovely review of ‘Picky Eaters’ – I’ve already raised more than £11 in royalties for mental health charities in my local area. I hope your July reads are awesome:))
Thank you, it feels so good to be reading again. I’m so pleased about Picky Eaters, I keep telling people to read it. 🙂
Thank you, Hayley – I really appreciate your support:))
Anytime 🙂
Wow, thirty books! You’re an inspiration! I have the same problem with mask wearing – some days I can, other days it’s a nightmare. Annoying, isn’t it?
I was just so happy to be reading again that I spent every single spare second doing just that. 🙂
I didn’t expect a mask to be so draining to wear but they are when your breathing is already not great. It’s so annoying.
Oh wow you were on fire in June! So many excellent titles too… Here’s to July treating you well. xx
I know, my reading mojo is back! 🙂 I just wanted to read every spare second after being in such a slump before June. Thank you, you too. xx
How did you like On the Come Up and Dear Martin? I have the latter on my tbr for this month.
I listened to the audio book of On The Come Up and I loved it. It’s such a good book. Dear Martin is excellent, I found it so much more emotional than I thought it was going to be but I couldn’t put it down. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I’m looking forward to it 😊