Welcome back to The Book Thread. This is the monthly newsletter where we talk about books. Is it just me or did June feel like the longest month? The good news is I read a lot of great books and somehow listened to three audiobooks. I’ve noticed that I have absolutely no desire to watch TV in the summer, which is great for my reading. I’ve also taken a break from my knitting for a bit. After my attempt at the Sophie scarf with a very annoying yarn I needed a little time away.

June was filled with books I really loved, each one just as good as the next. I particularly enjoyed reading Elizabeth Strout’s very first and latest novel, written 30 years apart. I also read a debut novel by a 62-year old retired college professor, and a book that was recently turned into an award winning TV series.

I’ve been taking every possible opportunity to enjoy books outside, whether it’s at the pool, the river, the lake, or in the hammock in my backyard. There is something so magical about getting lost in a book on a warm summer day. If you’re in need of some more book recs, don’t miss my summer reading list which includes 27 backlisted titles.

Let me know if you’ve read any of these books and what you thought! And tell me what you’re reading!

I have no idea how June was only 30 days because it feels like I read the first book in this list ages ago! That said, these books were unforgettable. It was a very lovely reading month.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: This novel from 2024 was recently adapted to the screen for an Apple TV series starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Fanning, and Nick Offerman. Pfeiffer was nominated for an Emmy and Fanning was nominated for an Emmy and an Oscar for their roles in the show. I haven’t seen it yet, but the series is part of the reason I decided to pick up the book, and I’m so glad I did.

After a brief affair with her English professor Margo Millet gets pregnant, and against everyone’s advice, decides to keep the baby. Desperate to earn money fast after getting fired from her waitressing job, Margo starts an OnlyFans account, and it quickly turns into a success. Margo has to navigate single motherhood, online fame, and the complicated relationships with her former pro-wrestler Dad and Hooters waitress mother. You can’t help but fall in love with the messy, original characters in this story. I loved this book from beginning to end.

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout: I was slightly nervous to read Elizabeth Strout’s latest novel introducing the entirely new character, Artie Dam, a middle aged high school teacher in Massachusetts. Would I connect with Artie the way I did through the 5 novels exploring Lucy Barton’s world? Within the first 50 pages it was clear, this is one of Strout’s best novels yet. I know I keep repeating myself when I say, Strout’s ability to create characters that so deeply explore the human condition with incredible compassion is unmatched.

The title of this novel is at the heart of what the book is all about. “Why don’t people ever say anything real?”, Artie keeps asking. And now he knew why. Because to say anything real was to say things that nobody wanted to know….It was a private thing, to be alive. He understood this now.”

Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout: It was quite inspiring to read Elizabeth Strout’s latest novel (number 11) and then her first novel, written in 1998 (Strout didn’t publish her first novel until the age of 42!). What I love most about her as an author is the unmistakable style of her writing. Reading Amy and Isabelle, written almost 30 years ago, it was clear from the start, Elizabeth Strout has a true gift for creating characters so familiar, it’s hard to believe they’re not real. I adored this book.

Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis: This debut novel had me in its grip from beginning to end. Debra Curtis, a retired Salve professor wrote her first novel at 62. When I read the description and saw the book was set in Portsmouth, RI I knew I had to read it, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s the story Lily and Jane, two sisters who grow up at the Priory (now Portsmouth Abbey) and attend Catholic school at St. Philomena’s (where I attended). The story unfolds as they navigate the loss of their mother, tragedy, addiction, faith and spirituality, but it’s also a romance. At the heart of this book is a story about the complicated nature of love.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo: I can’t remember who told me about this book (thanks if you’re reading this and it was you!) but this was a compulsive listen from start to finish. Enter the world of elite figure skating with two infamous characters, Kat and Heath. The audiobook felt like listening to a docu-drama, and there were times it was a bit over the top, but overall a fun listen with lots of twists and turns throughout.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid: I’ll be honest, you have to get over the unbelievable premise of this book, but once you do, it’s an easy listen, and in my case, perfect for a car ride. It’s the story of Jesse and Emma, high school sweethearts who get married and move away from their hometown in Massachusetts to chase their dreams in Los Angeles. On their first anniversary, Jesse disappears in a plane crash, and when he’s presumed dead, Emma is forced to put the pieces of her life back together. When she moves back home, Emma finds love again with an old friend. Soon after they’re engaged, Emma gets a call from Jesse, he’s alive, and he’s coming home.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendrix and Sarah Pekkanen: This ended up being the perfect audiobook for my solo drive home from RI earlier this month. A wealthy D.C. Marissa and Matthew Bishop appear to be the perfect couple. They seemingly have it all, until Marissa reveals she had a one-night affair. In a desperate attempt to save their marriage, they hire an unconventional therapist named Avery to help them navigate this crisis, but everyone is holding secrets, and no one knows who they can trust. There were lots of twists and turns throughout this book and it kept me guessing until the end.

My TBR list is ambitious this month, especially since Land is over 400 pages, but I’m already halfway through my first book and I’m so excited about every title this month.

The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins: I’m 100 pages into this debut novel from my friend and fellow Vermonter Liz, and I cannot put it down. It’s the story of three generations of Italian American women who “find their lives—and their secrets—colliding when, after years apart, they come to live under the same roof.” I love these characters and their stories. This is such an impressive debut novel and I’m so excited for Liz. You can pre-order her book at our local bookshop and you’ll get a signed copy along with a book of family recipes from Liz.

Land by Maggie O’Farrell: I loved Hamnet so much I knew I had to read Maggie O’Farrell’s latest novel. The story is set in 1865 in a country not long since ravaged and emptied by the Great Hunger. Tomás and his reluctant son, Liam, are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. “Land is a novel about separation and reunion, tragedy and recovery, colonization and rebellion. It is a story of how, when it comes to both land and history, nothing ever goes away.”

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel: I really enjoyed Laurie Frankel’s This is How It Always Is, so I’m excited to read her latest novel. The premise is pretty wild. At 77, Pepper Mills moves in to a retirement community and falls in love. Then the exhaustion, vomiting, and confusion start. After exhaustive tests to figure out what’s going on, the results are even more shocking: she’s pregnant.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy: I’ve heard so many great reviews of this book and it finally became available at the library. Part romance, part thriller, part mystery, it’s the story of a family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washes ashore, and as the family helps nurse her back to health, she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave.

Have you read any of these books? What is on your TBR list? Let’s discuss!