Reader's Corner: Books We Can’t Wait to Read in June 2026
Jet off to The Met, a Swedish Bakery, Mount Olympus, or 1870s LA
Hello, Protagonists!
June has arrived, which means it’s time to preview some of the upcoming book releases we’re excited about—the ones that have caught our eyes, tugged at our curiosity, or whispered, “Take me on vacation.”
xo, Joanna & Evelyn
Note: We don’t receive affiliate commissions or payment for these mentions. We haven’t read these yet; these are genuine picks based on love of the author, intriguing premises, or early buzz that feels promising.
📚 June’s Most Anticipated New Releases
I See You Called in Dead by John Kenney (June 1st paperback release)
Obituary writer Bud Stanley isn’t really living his best life. He’s fallen into a funk after a divorce. And he’s about to be fired for accidentally publishing his own obituary one mildly drunken night (though technically the company can’t legally fire a dead person). As Bud awaits his fate at work, he does the only logical thing: He goes to the wakes and funerals of total strangers to learn how to live again.
Whistler by Ann Pattchet (June 2nd release)
While visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her husband, fifty-three-year-old Daphne Fuller is shocked to discover she is being followed by her former stepfather, Eddie Triplett. Although Eddie was only married to her mother for a brief time when Daphne was nine, their unexpected reunion decades after a life-altering event instantly rekindles a powerful bond that they refuse to lose again.
Every Beat After by Sara B. Larson (June 2nd release)
Years after a life-saving heart transplant, Liv Karlsson lives in the fragile space between gratitude and fear—thankful for every heartbeat and afraid of when they might stop. Running her family’s cozy Swedish bakery gives her purpose, but mounting financial pressures and an annoying yet attractive new neighbor leave her wondering: Is she truly living . . . or simply existing?
The Long Con by Jenna Voris (June 2nd release)
Desperate to pay off her family’s medical debt, hotel caterer turned thief Chloe Bly is recruited by a billionaire for a high-stakes heist at an exclusive Miami island resort. To secure her freedom and the massive payout, she must partner with her infuriatingly gorgeous rival conwoman, Harper Parisi, while trying not to let their simmering attraction sabotage the job. We’re looking forward to this slow-burn thriller.
Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See (June 9th release)
In 1870, three drastically different Chinese immigrants—Dove, a scholar’s sheltered daughter entering an arranged marriage; Petal, a peasant girl sold into American servitude; and Moon, the educated, English-speaking wife of a doctor—arrive in the rough pueblo of Los Angeles. As fierce anti-Chinese sentiment culminates in the violent Night of Horrors, the women must rely on their unlikely friendship and sheer endurance to survive the brutal realities of their new home.
This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint (June 9th release)
In this mythological retelling, the free-willed goddess Aphrodite finds herself irresistibly drawn into a passionate romance with Ares, the volatile god of war. As their love affair spans across mortal lifetimes, Aphrodite begins to question the cruel games of Olympus and must ultimately choose between her divine purpose and a love destined for ruin.
Retro by Jessica Goldstein (June 23rd release)
Desperate to escape her debts and unemployment, Ash takes a glamorous job as a time-travel tour guide for wealthy vacationers, finding herself swept up in historical adventures and a era-crossing love triangle. However, as her temporal trips begin to mysteriously erode her memory and real-world relationships, she is forced to confront the dangerous reality that living in the past threatens to destroy her actual life.
» Jessica Goldstein will be on our podcast this month!
The Revelation of Dionne Daphne by Mara Brock Akil (June 30th release)
Dionne Daphne’s curated life as a high-society beauty editor shatters when an ex-boyfriend delivers news that forces her to confront a long-buried childhood secret. To find the truth, she embarks on a spontaneous road trip with a stranger, navigating a reckoning with her fractured family to discover a more authentic future.
» Mara Brock Akil will be on our podcast next month!
💛 Evelyn’s latest book is on sale! 💛
The Incredible Kindness of Paper is on sale right now for $2.99 on Kindle.
It’s also now available in paperback, just in time for your summer beach bag!
🥰 What Are You Looking Forward To?
What have you read recently that made you squeal or cry?
What books are you most excited to read on the beach this summer?
Leave a comment below — we’d all love to grow our TBRs together.
So many great books! So honored to see EVERY BEAT AFTER included! 🤍
Vera West wrote a novel -in-verse. Loved this book. Elijah Bennet was perfectly content with his life and running the family's pizzeria until Darcy Fitzgerald walked into Pizza Palace. She may have only ordered a slice of pie, but she pulls Elijah into a whirlwind of unexpected attraction. As their relationship heats up, Elijah finds himself daring to want more than he ever has before. Worlds collide and pepperonis fly as he is forced to decide if love is truly all a person needs to be happy.