Books on Deck: June 2024

June is delivering us memoir, mess, and an oral history of WW2. We call that range.

June is busting out all over, my bookish loves. Its the first pub day of the month, and its also the day that two of my IRL friends, Chelsea Devantez and

Katherine Lewin

, have their first books coming out! Both of their books made the list (obvi), but also so did an oral history of D-Day, a reality TV related novel, and a memoir that I’m excited about based on vibes alone.

As a reminder, I try my hardest to keep this lists manageable and only share the books I am truly excited about. These lists don’t always include the buzziest books, you can read about those on all the other lists. Over here we keep it real.

This list is organized by pub date. Anything I have already read is in bold.

Here are my most anticipated books of June!

• Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties by Katherine Lewin (June 4)

  If you like hosting, or you want to be a person who likes hosting, or if you are a person who often finds yourself hosting but don’t really enjoy it, this is the book for you. It’s part cookbook and part guide to hosting. The recipes range from super easy to challenging and are made that much better by the tips for bringing joy to all your big nights.

• I Shouldn't Be Telling You This (But I’m Going to Anyway) by Chelsea Devantez (June 4)

  A comedy gal memoir with a lot of heart and some actual depth, how refreshing. Yes Chelsea is a successful TV writer and podcaster, but she came to that career by going through a lot of other crap, and she shares her life with us with humor and candor.

• When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day by Garret M. Graff (June 4)
  An oral history of D-Day by the dude (a Pulitzer finalist for his book, Watergate) who wrote the oral history of 9/11, The Only Plane in the Sky? Say less.

• Tehrangeles by

  Porochista Khakpour
  (June 11)

  This novel is billed as a Kardashians-esque family on the brink of landing a reality TV show. Which of course means their dysfunction and secrets will be out there for the world to see. Sounds juicy.

• Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi (June 18)

  This is the most messed up version of rich people behaving badly that I’ve read. If you don’t mind a cast of unlikable people being awful, trauma, and violence (both sexual and otherwise), then you’ll be down with this book. But like most of Emezi’s books this isn’t for everyone and it isn’t for the faint of heart.

• Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones by

  Priyanka Mattoo
  (June 18)

  A memoir about leaving home and trying to find a place for oneself all over the world. I don’t know much about Mattoo or her story, but its billed as a heartfelt and laugh out loud memoir, which if done well, is my sweet spot.

• Systemic: How Racism Is Making Us Sick by Layal Liverpool (June 18)

  Sometimes the back copy of a book is just catnip for me. Look how this one is described: “A science-based, data-driven, and global exploration of racial disparities in health care access by virologist, immunologist, and science journalist Layal Liverpool.” Sold.

• God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by

  Joseph Earl Thomas
  (June 18)
  Last year Thomas wrote the memoir Sink which was weird and smart and devastating, and I got to speak with him on the podcast. This year he has a novel about a vet back home working in a hospital and just trying to carve out his place in the world. I heard Thomas read from this one and you can tell he is thinking about style and craft in really exciting ways.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me what books are on your June must read list?

If you want to know even more of the books I’m looking forward to in June and through the end of the year, I’ve got a list for that! Check it out on bookshop.org!

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