June Reading Roundup: Dark Romance, Romantasy, Contemporary & More

The June reading roundup is here and we went wide this month — dark romance, romantasy, contemporary, beachy reads, and everything in between.

Dee and Katie are back with the book club picks, the reads that wrecked them, and the ones that surprised them most. Your TBR will not survive.

Yes we know it's not June anymore.

This month's book club brought us Branded by Saffron A. Kent, A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann, and Pieces of the Night by Jennifer Hartmann— a dark western romance, a NYT bestselling romantasy that has taken over BookTok, and an angsty rockstar romance that absolutely wrecked us. Three very different books, three very big feelings.

Beyond book club, June was the month we went everywhere. We're talking Emily Henry, Colleen Hoover, and Carissa Broadbent for the contemporary and fantasy fans, Karina Halle for those who like their romance with a side of chaos, and an indie pick that needs to be on your radar immediately. June gave us range and we have absolutely no regrets.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Dee's June Reading Roundup18:30 — Katie's Reading Roundup & Pod Live26:36 — Book Club: Pieces of the Night by Jennifer Hartmann — Contemporary Romance34:05 — Book Club: A Stage Set for Villains — Romantasy Deep Dive36:42 — Book Club: Branded by Saffron A. Kent — Dark Romance Discussion42:32 — HSF: Cringe Reading Moment of the Week

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Books Discussed in This Episode:

Branded — Saffron A. KentA Stage Set for Villains — Shannon J. SpannPieces of the Night — Jennifer HartmannRegretting You — Colleen HooverHarvest Season — Bryn WeaverLight Wielder: Fire & Metal Book Two — Rachel SchneiderDeath Valley — Karina HalleVanguard — Karina HalleArcher's Voice — Mia SheridanPeople We Meet on Vacation — Emily HenryWhite Rose Painted Gold — Elena LawsonBlack Heart Painted Gold — Elena LawsonDirebound — Sable SorensonFurybound — Sable SorensonThe Dorians — Nick CutterMost of All You — Mia SheridanA Great Big Beautiful Life — Emily HenryCrown Me Dead Crown Me Yours — Liv ZanderThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — Taylor Jenkins ReidDaughter of No Worlds — Carissa BroadbentSerpent & the Wings of Night — Carissa BroadbentOlder — Jennifer HartmannEat Your Heart Out — G.M. Banforth