Or: How Many Books Did I Start But Not Finish Because of Tennis?
June wasn’t the strongest reading month I’ve ever had, and that’s okay. I only finished four books — which isn’t nothing, but when you’ve got twelve others in progress and a TBR that’s practically teetering… yeah, it felt a little slow.
In my defence, Roland Garros happened. And it was wild. I spent a frankly ridiculous number of hours yelling at my screen, emotionally invested in five-set dramas. It was brilliant. It was distracting. It was totally worth it.
Here’s what I did manage to finish in between matches:
Dirty Laundry by Richard Pink & Roxanne Emery – ★★★★★
A standout this month. Sharp, validating, and deeply relatable.
The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas – ★★★★☆
Light, fun, and exactly what I needed for a few evenings of escapism.
Down Under by Bill Bryson – ★★★★☆
Bryson doing what Bryson does best — equal parts dry wit and chaos.
Everything I Wish I’d Known About Stress by Jayne Hardy – ★★☆☆☆
Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. A little too surface-level and generic.
I also read a lot without finishing much — I’ve got twelve books currently in progress (yes, twelve 😳), and a pile of library books that are rapidly running out of renewals, plus a handful of paperbacks that have been lounging on my bedside table for weeks.
Reading time was snatched in odd, quiet moments this month. A few chapters in the mornings, some Kindle time in the evenings, and the occasional sneaky page or two during lunch breaks. Not ideal, but it worked — mostly.
Wimbledon has now started, so I’m not holding my breath for a major July reading spike... but we’ll see! Stranger things have happened.
Finish at least 6 books (starting with the ones I’ve already begun)
Tackle my library loans before they boomerang back
Actually post some reviews on Instagram — even the short ones
Prioritise joy reads over pressure
Continue the "read for 20 mins a day" mindset — no guilt, just stories
So, not the most prolific reading month. But honestly? Still a good one. Books were there when I needed them — even if I didn’t always make it to the end.
Tell me: how was your June reading? Are you watching Wimbledon too? And what’s the book you keep meaning to finish?
