My June 2025 Reads
Hello July: The fourth is coming and I hope you have a great holiday weekend with fireworks! Stay safe!
It’s time to share what I read in June! I read six books:
Five were listened to on audio.
Two were short stories- one in hardback and the other was audio.
***I didn’t quite finish The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera. According to Goodreads, I made it through 76% of the book. I am certain that the ugly crying will come. I did want to finish it in June. Then there is another short story to read in my special edition I am re-reading!!!
Here are the books in the order that I finished them:
The Father Does Not Die at the End by Adam Silvera (short story)- Hardback- 5 stars
So Happy Together by Olivia Worley- Audio- 4 stars
The Lost Girls by J.M. Cannon- Audio- 4 stars
Death Row by Freida McFadden (short story)- Audio- 2 stars
A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay- Audio- 4 stars
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera – Audio- 4 stars
My ‘favorite read’ was actually not my highest rated read. My favorite read was Listen for the Lie. I feel that his one must be listened to, to get the full effect as it includes a podcast in the story. Both narrators did a fabulous job with their narration on this one!
My ‘least favorite’ read was Death Row. Yes, I am a Freida fan, but the twist in this short story just did not work for me.
What did YOU read in June? Let’s bring on our July reading!
Short Story Sunday: Death Row by Freida McFadden
Death Row
Series: Alibis Collection #1
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrator: Lauryn Allman
Published: June 1, 2025
Audiobook: 1 hour 44 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: June 16, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars
Short Story Description:
With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story.
Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?
Freida McFadden’s Death Row is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
Jessica’s Review:
I’m a Freida McFadden fan, and look forward to reading her backlist and future novels. I have given her novels/short stories ranging from 3-5 stars. Death Row receives two stars. I knew it was a short story; it has been made clear which of her stories she has written are in fact not full-length novels. Whether people notice those signs or not, that is on them: Whether they read the short story description or just hit ‘buy’ because it is a McFadden novel.
The description of this short story intrigued me. I had lots of thoughts while listening to this one. McFadden’s ‘twist’ just didn’t work for me. I wanted more of a ‘crime story’ or a “Is Talia actually innocent or guilty?” versus what actually happened.
There has been confusion with some readers with the short story. On her website she does give her interpretations with the story that she wrote. (That link is here and WILL give spoilers!) My thoughts coincided with what her intentions were. For that, I was glad that I took the story in the way she intended, but again, her ending was just not for me.
I loved that Lauryn Allman was the narrator! She IS the voice of Millie from The Housemaid series for me. And she did a good job as Talia in her narration.
Though not for me, this short story might be for you. If you haven’t read anything from McFadden I would say don’t start with this one.
Purchase Links: (This short story is available on Kindle or Audio)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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Audiobook Review: The Lost Girls by J.M. Cannon
The Lost Girls
Author: J.M. Cannon
Narrator: Lauryn Allman
Published: February 27, 2025
Audiobook: 10 hours 31 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 6-16, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Three missing girls. Two days to find the truth.
One woman’s race against time . . .
Charleston, South Carolina. Four years ago.
Three girls disappear into the night. One by one they go missing, never to be seen again. No witnesses, no leads, nothing.
The only thing they had in common? An uneasy sense of being watched in the days before they vanished. Noises in the night, and boot prints in the flower beds outside their bedroom windows . . .
Today.
One of the lost girls was Anna Klein’s best friend. With no body, the case went cold. But Anna never stopped looking for Sylvie – or whoever took her.
Now, four years later, Anna finally has a lead when a body turns up in an abandoned mansion. She has to know: Is it Sylvie? But time is running out. As the storm of the century threatens the whole East Coast, the clock is ticking to find the answers before this trail goes cold.
Can Anna find Sylvie and the other girls before they’re lost forever?
** Previously published as The Flash Girls **
Jessica’s Review:
The Lost Girls is my first novel by J.M. Cannon and I enjoyed it! I was approached to read it and the description interested me. Missing girls, a possible ‘serial kidnapper’, one girl left trying to find answers years later, and much more.
I was riveted in the book from the beginning. I liked Anna and was along for the ride with her. So much was going on in the story and we have another villain heading towards Charleston: The seemingly biggest hurricane that may cause ultimate devastation to the area.
There is a sense of urgency with the hurricane coming and this upcoming storm is its own character! Cannon was very descriptive of Charleston and I felt like I could have been there. There was also a scene that dealt with news footage of the colossal waves hitting a ship. This was making me think twice about doing a cruise out in the ocean! (Not that I am going on a cruise anytime soon).
Bodies being found with the upcoming storm was also giving a sense of urgency with the crime scenes. And the crime scenes too! And there is also a scene in a morgue I won’t go into. Let’s just say these scenes helped to keep the ‘thriller lover/serial killer reader’ in me intrigued!
Some of the directions the story went in was a bit out of left field, but I really wanted to see what was going to happen in the end! Was the villain going to be found and was Charleston going to be devastated by the storm?
Lauren Allman was the narrator and she is fast becoming a narrator that I will look out for. She is becoming a ‘must listen to’ narrator for me. She did a great job with her narration. She kept me wanting to keep listening to the story!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a Spotify audio copy via Pubvendo to listen to and review. I enjoyed it!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK