June Bookclub

Hello, fellow bookworms!

I thought I would make this virtual bookclub a monthly occurrence because I enjoy writing them so much! I love recommending books so other people can experience the joy I feel after finishing a good one. Hopefully, I can read fast enough to keep up with these updates!

Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

This story follows Michael, an atheist who has recently been enrolled at a Catholic school. At first, he hates it, but then he realises that he is not the only person who doesn't fit in. Lucy wants to become a Catholic priest, Eden is a pagan, Avi is Jewish and Max is a Unitarian. Michael quickly becomes acquainted with them in the covert group called Heretics Anonymous. Michael encourages the group to go public by exposing hypocrisies in the school and they gain a lot of support. Unfortunately, Michael goes too far by putting the other Heretics in danger and he must make a choice to help his friends or help himself.

This book was hilarious! As someone who is fascinated by different religions, I found it rather interesting to learn more about Catholicism, Judaism, Paganism and Unitarianism. I have to admit, I did not know that Unitarianism existed. It was whirlwind of a book as the story progressed quite quickly and the character development was huge. I really liked the ending, it was an unpredictable yet happy one that made me feel quite bubbly afterwards. 

Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan

Apart from the author having a great name, she also writes thought-provoking and entertaining books, what a great combination! 

Love and Other Foreign Words is about the many social languages we all speak; High School, Friends and Grown-ups being some of them. Josie, the protagonist, is struggling to connect with those around her because of the so-called "language" barriers. She feels distanced from her sister because her sister recently got engaged, she feels disconnected from her boyfriend because she doesn't think she loves him and she can't seem to understand what her best friend, Stu, is saying half the time. Josie attempts to navigate the perils of social situations and the "languages" that come with them but will she end up flourishing or flailing?

I have to admit, I was expecting this book to be a lovey-dovey story with a happily ever after but I was pleasantly surprised. It made me think about the different social languages and behaviour we use around different kinds of people. I don't address my teachers and adults the same way I address my friends and this book really made me notice my shift in tone and vocabulary among these different groups of people. It was also a rather funny book because Josie is very blunt with her peers. The book is relatable for those of us in high school as this story centres around a high school student. Even if the title and synopsis do seem a tad childish, the message behind the story is quite mature so I do recommend this book.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas 

Bryce Quinlan has a great life; she works hard in a nice job all day and she parties with her friends at night. That is until her best friends are murdered by a demon and she is left alone and wounded. A few years later, she is putting her life back together and getting back on track. Not for long! She soon becomes involved in an investigation into similar crimes that led to her friends' deaths a few years prior.

Hunt Athalar, a Fallen angel, is enslaved to the very same Archangels he once attempted to overthrow and to regain his freedom, he has to do their dirty work. This investigation offers him an easy path to freedom as long as he finds the perpetrator of the murders. Bryce and Hunt have to learn to work together, and fast, to help save the city and protect those that they love before a dark force takes over.

Ohhhh, I feel like I am getting better at leaving you in suspense :). But this book is a masterpiece! As someone who has read all of Sarah J Maas's books and absolutely loves them, I was very excited to see this new release. I read this book so quickly because it is very gripping! The story builds up the tension over the first few hundred pages and then in the last hundred, boom! So much action happens, it almost winded me! The ending had me crying and laughing and jumping for joy which just shows that it is a good book. What is also so great about this book, is that it may be the first in a series and may have ended on a cliffhanger, but it still had a happy ending. I highly recommend this book and all the other books Sarah J Maas has written because they are amazing!

World Class by Jane and Burt Boyar

World Class is about how tennis first became professional. The book follows four amateur tennis players, from the time they first discovered tennis as children, to when they became too old to play. Tennis becoming a professional sport was such a turning point in many people's lives as it meant players could now legally get paid and rewarded for their efforts on the court. The authors of this book actually followed the group of men who made the game professional and the characters are based on the real players during this time which means a lot of the events are true. 

My mom gave me this book because she had loved it as a child and as we have similar tastes, she thought I would enjoy it. My mom was right, I absolutely love this book! The incredible amount of work and effort these players put into their profession was awe-inspiring. The story not only follows the players' tennis careers but also their romantic and familial relationships which just engrossed me even more. This book is a must-read, just don't judge it by its cover!

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

As you guessed it, this book is about the famous wax sculptor, Madame Tussaud. Marie Tussaud is a talented and ambitious woman in the 18th century. She learns how to sculpt from her uncle and manages the Salon de Cire, a well-known wax museum in Paris. Her dream is to attract the likes of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI so that her work can gain popularity. Eventually, this wish comes true and she is offered a tutoring position with Madame Elisabeth, King Louis XVI's sister. Unfortunately, it comes at the wrong time because the revolutionaries, who are close to her family, start to take action against the aristocrats and the monarchy. Marie Tussaud struggles to balance her loyalties during the French Revolution and must decide whether to protect her friendship with the royal family or to make the death masks of aristocrats the revolutionaries demand of her.

What an amazing story! I had no idea about the strong-willed, determined feminist behind the popular wax museum known as Madame Tussaud's. Marie was such an inspirational woman and very ahead of her time. She managed her precarious position with such grace and elegance and held herself high even when she was forced to take part in terrible things. What I found particularly amazing, and slightly shocking, is that these events are almost completely true because Michelle Moran does extensive research and only changes dates of events and obviously, the spoken words of the characters. if you love historical novels, this is the one for you!

I am sure you can tell that this post contains a lot of my favourite books, I just hope I haven't given too much away about the stories. I really hope that you like these books as there is something for everyone here. Take a photo of you reading or recommend a book and tag me on Instagram @erincoullblog