Mini Book Reviews: June 2026

Disclaimer: I received copies of The Children, Heather, and Villa Coco from NetGalley and the publishers. This post contains affiliate links.

I started this month with high expectations for my reading. I had some really good NetGalley reads lined up and hoped to catch up on some backlist reads. But The Calamity Club found its way into my library holds, and excited, I dug in. I probably should have DNF'd it, but I was determined to see it to the end. It took me a long time to read, and heading into July, it leaves me falling behind on my prereleases again. So many books, so little time!

Hands down, my favorite book this month was Whistler. Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors--her prose is beautiful and tells a compelling story like so few authors. Reading it reminded me of how much I love to read!

The Children follows Guinevere and her brother Ennis through their unusual upbringing in a farmhouse in Vermont with completely dysfunctional parents. Their mother is the author of a popular fantasy book series in which they are the main characters, which reminded me of the Chronicles of Narnia. Their childhood was almost magical, until a terrible tragedy takes place. For years, they are estranged, Guin living a purposeless life and Ennis a secretive one. The ending blew me away and gave me all the answers I was seeking. Told in alternating timelines, the narrative travels between the past and the present, peeling away secrets like layers. The writing is absolutely beautiful. What an amazing book!

Ann Patchett is one of those authors who can say so much in so few words. Whistler may be my favorite of all of her books. While growing up, Daphne and Lida's mother was married 3 times. An accidental encounter with her mother's 2d husband, many years after they split, leads Daphne down a trail of memories, including an accident that she had long forgotten. The reunion with her stepfather and subsequent relationship become the focus of the story. This is a quiet story, but the author deftly weaves through family connections and emotions. I don't want to spoil the story with too many details, but this was just a wonderful read. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. 

Heather is a small town mystery about twin girls, the disappearance of one of them years ago, along with the discovery of a dead baby. There are also a few subplots, mostly involving Callie, the chief of police. While never preachy, the story and the subplots remind the reader that it's still a man's world. Told in 2 different timelines in the voices of Callie, the twins, and later, a random woman who is nosy and curious, I never struggled with orientation to the story. I found this book to be engaging and interesting, but at times, the narrative dragged, and I admit to skimming at some parts to get ahead, not missing a beat. A little bit of trimming would have helped up the tension as the story built. But I never wanted to quit this one, seeing it to a very satisfying conclusion. 

"Our young man", struggling to find his way in life, takes a job in a Tuscan estate, cataloguing the contents for its resident, a 92 year old barroness. When he arrives, he finds a home in chaos and an employer who wants him at her beck and call for all sorts of things, including listening to her tales of a life well lived. The cast of eccentric characters and their antics made me laugh out loud. The prose is beautiful, the Italian setting is lovely, and the story is endearing. Villa Coco is a wild, magical, coming-of-age tale, and a great escape from the heaviness of the world around us.

Was it just me? I was excited to read this one, having loved The Help. The Calamity Club started with so much promise. Set during the Great Depression in Oxford, Mississippi, the book follows the stories of several main characters: Meg, an orphan who is oddly adopted by a wealthy young couple, and Birdie, a bright young woman who is drawn into a local family's drama with the intent of visiting her sister and ends up staying much longer than she expected. Wanting to help the family save their home, Birdie devises a plan to operate a pop-up 'dance club' at the house. Entertaining, yes, but at over 600 pages, this book was just way too long. I found myself skimming at times, just to get things moving. A good editor would have cut some of the fluff. And while the burlesque club was entertaining, for me, it was really far-fetched and didn't fit well in the setting of all the strong women the author had developed so well. 3.5 stars

How was your month of reading? Did you read any of these? How willing are you to give up on a book that isn't holding your interest?

I'm linking up with Jenn and Jenny for Tuesday Topics!  I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month is Booked! Also with Share Your Shelf with Slices of Life and Not in Jersey, and with A Good Book and a Cup of Tea with Boondock Ramblings, Cat's Wire, and Still Life with Cracker Crumbs.