Welcome to Quick Lit, where I share short and sweet reviews of what I’ve been reading lately on (or around) the 15th of the month, and invite you to do the same.
We didn’t host Quick Lit in May because of the 2025 MMD Summer Reading Guide release, so today I’m happy to share a few new spring/summer books that fall within the Guide window (April 1 to August) but weren’t included there, along with one captivating little book I’ve been meaning to read since it was published a few years ago.
You may suspect—and you’d be right!—that I love to offer up an eclectic collection of recent reads in Quick Lit, and this roundup certainly delivers on that score: we have elliptical Australian literary fiction, a political/legal/medical thriller in the vein of John Grisham, a contemporary coming of age novel, a thrilling psychological wilderness story reminiscent of Peter Heller, and a focused nonfiction look at a cultural and literary icon. Maybe not something for everyone, but we do cover a lot of ground!
I hope you find something that looks intriguing for your TBR here (and in these comments), and I look forward to browsing your recent reads below. Thanks in advance for sharing your short and sweet book reviews with us!
Welcome to June Quick Lit
Home of the American Circus
Larkin’s follow-up to 2021’s The People We Keep opens with 30-year-old Freya tending bar in Maine, where we learn she’s escaped after life back home fell apart. But following a medical emergency, she decides to return to her tiny hometown of Somers, New York to live in the falling-down house she inherited from her abruptly deceased parents. Despite her attempts to keep a low profile, Freya can’t avoid bumping into people who knew her before she left town, and from these interactions we begin to piece together a picture of what compelled her to flee, what she lost when she did, and what wrongs she needs to make right if she is to have any hope of finding healing and forgiveness. While reading I was constantly wondering how much to make of the circus as a potential metaphor for Freya’s life. The setting of Somers (which happens to be Larkin’s hometown) is also the actual birthplace of the American circus, and Larkin weaves little snippets about Halichiah Bailey and his elephant Old Bet into the narrative. More info →
Cold Enough for Snow
I read this novella from Chinese Australian author Au in just two days (and, at 144 pages, might have needed only one). In it, a mother and daughter pair meet in Tokyo for a short vacation, to see the sights at a leisurely pace but mostly to spend time together. The story itself is leisurely paced; the prose precise and reflective. Neither character seems to say what they really think, or mean, or actually feel; they are quite careful with each other and spend most of the book dancing around each other and any real topics of mutual interest. But I was intrigued to see how this dance would play out, and whether or not they would genuinely connect by book's end. Upon finishing, I was left with a number of questions, the biggest being I'm not entirely sure whether the mother's presence was physical or more like a haunting. Though I haven't done so yet, this strikes me as a book that would reward rereading, and certainly one that a book club could enjoy picking apart together: there is plenty to talk about. More info →
We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine
I've been following Wilkinson's work ever since our team member Ginger introduced me to her book Salty: Lessons on Eating, Drinking, and Living from Revolutionary Women and we subsequently discussed it with the author in MMD Book Club. Since its publication she's also become a movie critic at the New York Times. Perhaps it should then come as no surprise that her new biography of Joan Didion is shot through with film references—not just because of the time Didion spent writing movie reviews and scripts in Hollywood, but as a way of illustrating which movies and motifs were capturing Americans' imaginations at various points in Didion's career. I found this thoughtful and fascinating: Wilkinson's central argument is that yes, Didion did indeed believe and write (first in the opening to The White Album in 1979) that we tell ourselves stories in order to live. But here she intended to point out a tempting coping strategy, not coin an inspirational aphorism: whether on the individual level or as a Hollywood screenwriter, she observed that we naturally want to make sense of the reality we're faced with by shaping it into a meaningful narrative arc. But reality doesn't work that way, and Didion believed we do great harm to ourselves and others when we prioritize our pretty narratives over reality. This wasn't quite the book I expected, as before reading I did not grasp the extent to which Didion was involved in either Hollywood or politics, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and turned the last page (metaphorically speaking, because I listened to the author-narrated audiobook) wanting to read more from Didion, and Wilkinson. More info →
Heartwood
I actually read this April 2025 release months ago but now that the Summer Reading Guide is out I can tell you about it here. (The book is not in the 2025 Guide, for reasons I discuss in this WSIRN bonus episode.) I loved Gaige’s 2020 novel Sea Wife (included in that year’s SRG) and was excited to read more from her. When Heartwood begins, we know a search is underway for experienced 42-year-old hiker Valerie, who has somehow wandered off the Appalachian Trail. In rotating points of view, we learn where Valerie currently is and the details of her current predicament, the plan for coordinating scores of volunteers to comb the woods to find her, the reasons the authorities consider her ex-husband to be a suspect, and why a seemingly unconnected woman at a nearby retirement community may hold the key to Valerie’s survival. I raced through this gripping tale of survival, isolation, and the deep human need for connection. I think it’s fair to say that the Maine woods are a character in their own right: they are vast, wild, and unforgiving. More info →
The Boomerang
I didn't love this new May 2025 release, but I'm nevertheless impressed that a month or so after reading it I find myself talking about its premise all the time. This political thriller (think John Grisham, but with a medical bent) imagines a world in which a safe, effective, and inexpensive cure for cancer has been found, but the truth has been suppressed because actually curing the disease would destroy the U.S. economy. When the U.S. president's cancer returns, the real powers that be begrudgingly let him in to their circle of trust—and then all hell breaks loose. I was curious enough about what would happen to keep listening (to the audiobook, narrated by Eric Conger), but my favorite parts of the story involved the chief of staff's visits back home to Florida's Gulf Coast to visit family and do a little research on a personal project. Bailey name-checks quite a few Panhandle locations I'm familiar with and it was an unexpected delight to see them in print. More info →
What have YOU been reading lately? Tell us about your recent reads—or share the link to a blog or instagram post about them—in comments.
30 comments
I’ll be watching for “We Tell Ourselves Stories” – thanks for the recommendation!
One of my faves this month is the audio book by comedian Nate Bargatze. I needed something funny. I also read John Green’s first novel plus “There Are Rivers in the Sky.” All are good!
All 9 books I recommend are here:
https://lisanotes.com/books-i-recommend-june-2025/
The Boomerang sounds fascinating! I also had a fairly eclectic reading month, heavier on the nonfiction, but all good reads: https://cocoonofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/what-ive-been-reading-lately-quick-lit.html
This month I’m sharing all my favorite reads from the year so far! These are my 10 best books of 2025 in romance, thrillers, fantasy and general fiction!
https://neverenoughnovels.com/2025/06/15/10-best-books-of-2025-so-far/
5 awesome novels that I absolutely adored!
https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/5-awesome-novels-for-your-summer
Home of the American Circus looks interesting; I will have to check that one out. I have had a couple of fantastic reading months which include:
* The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson (3 stars) – A solid story but I kept expecting a big twist that never came, and the characters didn’t develop much throughout the book. All in all, it was an entertaining read but just too predictable.
* The Names by Florence Knapp (5 stars!) – I loved this book and am amazed that this is a debut novel. The book explores, in sliding door fashion, how a choice as simple as choosing a name can shape our lives, alter relationships, change how we see ourselves, and shift the dynamics of an entire family. Through three parallel timelines it shows how Cora’s life, and her children’s lives are utterly changed by the name she chooses for her newborn son. Well-written with powerful prose and wonderful characters. Anne has said she did not like the ending of this book, but I thought it was perfect.
* The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11by Garrett Graff (audiobook, 5 stars) – This is a compelling oral account of 9/11, including the events at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, Shanksville PA, as well as the travels of President Bush, who was away from Washington D.C. as the day unfolded. The book includes short narratives of the events interspersed with first-person sharing of individual experiences. It was fascinating to hear snippets of things people experienced and remembered about 9/11, and also profoundly sad to hear so many stories of pain, death, and heartbreak.
* The Women by Kristin Hannah (4.5 stars) – This is such a powerful book about the experiences of combat nurses during the Vietnam War, and the impacts that linger after their return home. I’ve read this has been optioned for a movie. Does anyone know when that will be released?
* Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham (4 stars) – I picked this up after reading about it here a couple of months ago. As a statistics geek, I remember hearing many years ago that one of the key learnings from the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challenger disaster, was the inability of the engineers to effectively use the limited data they had to convince management not to launch on that fateful day. This book painstakingly builds the case for the multitude of factors that contributed to the disaster, among which were human errors and simply put, overconfidence, and management hubris. The message of the book is powerful, but the book includes so much early history and background information on the Space Program that could be omitted without taking away from the lessons of Challenger.
* Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (5 stars) – Simply put, I cannot for the life of me figure out how Kingsolver, a ~65 year old woman, can write the thoughts and words of an eleven-year old delinquent boy so convincingly. I raced through this book in just a few days. The story is so absorbing, but also heartbreakingly sad.
* The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers (3.5 stars) – Well written but I think the twist in this mystery stretches credibility…
* The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick (4 stars) – I loved this story about “The Bettys” who form a book club to discuss Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique in the early 1960’s. This was a selection for my IRL Book Club and led to lively discussion. It got us talking about books that have had a profound impact on our lives and way of thinking.
Current reads include The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin, Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg, and Water Moon by Samantha Sotto. Happy Reading!
Well, Home of the American Circus is waiting in my Audible library. As soon as I heard Larkin had a new book out, I knew I would use it for my Audible credit. Every time you talk about Heartwood, I am more intrigued. I’ll be looking for that one on Libby.
This month, I am sharing my thoughts on 5 books, including one I hadn’t heard of until Ann mentioned it on an episode, and I loved it.
The Many Lives of Mama Love
The God of the Woods
The One-in-a-Million Boy
You Never Know
Last Summer on State Street
https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2025/06/quick-lit-june-2025-edition/
Wow, every one of these books sounds totally up my alley! And I’m reading Heartwood now and really enjoying it so far, though I’m a little nervous about how it may end….
Tears were an accidental theme in my reading choices this month, with two literary novels that wrecked me (but that will both be in my Top 5 reads of the year) and one feel-good story that was sadder but also deeper than anticipated. I’m also reviewing two cherished middle-grade novels I read this month with my kids, as well as a couple of insightful nonfiction audiobooks.
https://substack.com/@kendranicole/p-165318306
My reading continued to be erratic the last couple of months. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that I don’t have specific reading challenges to keep me focused in the same way as last year. And it’s been a busy last few months. I’m looking forward to the summer to get back in the groove.
This last round was quite eclectic! Some I certainly enjoyed more than others:
https://avikinginla.com/2025/06/what-ive-been-reading-lately-april-may-2025/
I see there are more titles I need to add to my TBR. Summer is for reading. Here is what I am reading https://myviewofthehoneypot.blogspot.com/2025/06/what-i-read-june.html
I stayed up way too late last week finishing Heartwood. I loved it.
Here’s my May reads. It was an insane month so I’m impressed with how much I was able to read.
https://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/blog-1/2025/6/14/show-us-your-books-june-2025
Heartwood sounds exciting, and I like reading about the Appalachian Trail since it’s relatively close to me geographically.
Here’s what I’ve been reading: https://readeatrepeat.net/2025/06/books-in-progress-june-2025/
I LOVED Home of the American Circus. As much as it didn’t feel like a “summer read” to me, I was deeply invested in the characters. Also, Aubrey was one of the best-written teenagers I have read recently. I adored her.
I’m currently reading Hotel Laguna; historical fiction published about two years ago. A much more summery read, as the New England weather is finally starting to warm up/dry out a bit.
Heartwood is on my Libby list!
I’ve got a variety of books on from my recent reads, including one my son and I read at the same time. https://carolinestarrrose.com/recent-reads-ultra-quick-lit/
I read What Kind of Paradise which was fantastic! I originally was not going to pick it up because I feared it would be too mass market but I was pleasantly surprised! 5 stars! Also read a backlist title Stoner by John Williams. Had been on my tbr forever. Another fabulous 5 star book – totally understand why it still draws raves after all these years. Then I read Notes on Infinity and A Family Matter – enjoyed both of those too. Quality writing for both. Up next is The Boy from the sea.
Was anyone else disappointed with Heartwood like me?
I felt a bit let down overall by Heartwood as well. I really loved Sea Wife so maybe that just set my hopes too high. I enjoyed Heartwood but just wasn’t wowed by it.
Heartwood is definitely on my list to read–I can’t resist a survival story.
I have lots of books about complicated families in this month’s reviews. Not an intentional theme, but plenty to explore from all angles! https://www.mindjoggle.com/may-2025-book-reviews/
This is list of my recent reads, and I just finished the very long “To the Success of our Hopeless Cause” yesterday:
Hope, Pope Francis, memoir
My Next Breath, Jeremy Renner, memoir
The Bride Says Maybe, Cathy Maxwell, novel
My Friends, Fredrik Backman, novel
A Very Inconvenient Scandal, Jacquelyn Mitchard, novel
Bear, Julia Phillips, novel
Termination Shock, Neal Stephenson, novel, rereading for book club
To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause, Benjamin Nathans, history
And in the car I’m finishing the audiobook of Lucy Worsley’s biography of Jane Austen, “Jane Austen at Home.”
I haven’t gotten to my May reading recap because, turns out, summer is busier than the school year (but more the good kind of busy). But here’s my April reading recap that I never shared here!
I just finished The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian. A great historic novel set in northern Virginia during the latter part of the American Civil War. I read it in 3 days. It’s the eighth of his 25 novels I’ve read. I always know I’m going somewhere interesting with intriguing plots with Bohjalian.
I am currently reading a classic, Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell.
I am waffling on reading The Boomerang, which I hadn’t heard of until I read this post. The premise sounds fascinating, and, I have to admit, I have thought of the possibility of something like this happening before. I am worried about your statement that you didn’t love it, though.
I am looking forward to Heartwood, if I can ever get my hands on it! Especially with the recent deaths of a father/daughter team of hikers on Mt Katahdin (at the end of the AT), so tragic, but underscoring the scariness of the this wilderness area of Maine. Also, if you like this book, don’t miss seeing “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” a true story of an 11 yr old boy lost on the slopes of Mt Katahdin for 9 days. It REALLY shows you the vast wilderness area, the scope of it and the weather….
My May Reading Wrap Up 💐📚
https://readingladies.com/2025/05/30/may-2025-reading-wrap-up-amreading-blogger-bookblogger-bookx-booksky-mayreading-readinglife/
Ooh, Heartwood sounds like it might be just my cup of tea – I really enjoy these hiking/survival stories!
My June mid-month wrap is is available on my blog here: https://gemsbooktalk.com/2025/06/16/june-mid-month-wrap-up/
Broken Country was a good read, love your lists, thank you!
Thanks for sharing these quick reviews each month. I love seeing what you and your readers are reading ❤️
https://ourlittlebookcollection.substack.com/p/maycember-reads
https://ourlittlebookcollection.substack.com/p/the-sweet-spot-of-my-reading-year
I’ve been reading Tony Woodlief’s We Shall Not All Sleep. Actually, I’ve read it twice, and am now reading it a third time– I can’t let go! Published in 2024, it’s that great debut novel nobody’s ever heard of, and I can’t figure out why. It’s hard to describe: a coming of age story, but so much more. The North Carolina setting and characters feel so real (the last novel I read by a guy with such kick-ass women was James McBride’s Deacon King Kong), the narrative voice is so true (a boy, wrestling with a complicated father-son relationship), the story is resonant, unexpected (there are revenants, ya’ll!– but don’t let them stop you), and the writing is gorgeous. The last 40 or so pages grabbed me so hard that, on my first reading, I missed my bedtime by 90 minutes on a work-night (a never-do for me) because I just HAD to finish it. And after I did, I went straight to my computer and ordered three copies for my most discerning reader friends. If you like Leif Enger, Wendell Berry, James McBride, and Marilynne Robinson, this novel is for you. Anne, I think you’d love it.
This book looks so interesting! I am definitely adding to the top of my TBR.
Thanks!
That sounds amazing. I love all those authors!
Books #27-40 of 2025: https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2025/05/reading-update.html
Books #41-50 of 2025: https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2025/06/reading-update.html
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