22 Books and the C-Drama That Took Over My Whole June
June 2026 reading wrap-up: 22 books, one C-drama obsession, and my best reading month in years. Every honest rating, plus your next read.
June was my best reading month in years, and I am not being dramatic. Twenty two books, 7,953 pages, and exactly one Netflix C-drama to blame for a new obsession. I fell headfirst into Pursuit of Jade, stopped functioning like a normal person, and then let my Instagram algorithm feed me books that promised the same ache for the rest of the month. Besties, it worked. Three of these landed at five stars, a whole pile at four, and I never once hit a slump. Here are the book reviews for everything I read in June.
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June Reading Stats
Books read:Â 22
Pages read:Â 7,953
Average rating:Â 3.84
Average time to finish:Â 4 days
Five-star reads:Â 3
Reading vibe:Â one Netflix C-drama obsession that rewired my entire TBR for the second half of the month, medium paced the whole way, and zero slump
Format breakdown:Â 15 audiobooks, 6 ebooks, 1 physical
Pattern I did not plan:Â how much of my month turned into C-drama-coded reads by Asian authors after a single show
Watch: My June 2026 Reading Wrap-Up
If you would rather listen than read, I talked through all 22 books plus the shows I obsessed over in my June wrap-up episode.
Shop the whole list: All 22 books are in one place on my LTK. Tap to grab the full list without hunting them down one by one.
The C-Drama That Took Over My Whole June
I have to talk about Pursuit of Jade for a second, because it is the reason my month was so good. It is a historical romance c-drama on Netflix about a butcher’s daughter who nurses a half-dead stranger back to health, not knowing he is a Marquis and one of the most powerful military men in the country. That man yearns like nobody’s business. He is tough and protective and also so soft for her, and he never once tries to dim her, he just gives her the space to save herself and shine. I kicked my feet, I giggled, I swooned. My husband got so invested that every show since has been measured against it and found lacking. There is also a secondary romance that is pure obsessive, toxic, red flag, burn the world down energy for the dark romance girlies, and it is so good.
After it ended I chased the high with Ashes to Crown, which is darker, less romantic, and none of the yearning, so it landed at a 3.5, and I am currently watching The Eternal Fragrance as the episodes drop. Neither one is Pursuit of Jade. Nothing is. But I will keep searching.
I have far more to say about this show, check out my Pursuit of Jade review.
The Three That Earned Five Stars
Three five-star reads in one month has not happened for me in a long time. One urban fantasy I underrated at first, one time-travel classic I reread, and one Pride and Prejudice retelling that has my heart. Here is why each one earned it.
Bright Dead Things by Hailey Turner 5 STARS
I received this book for free from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
One of my favorite urban fantasy/fantasy romance reads of the year. I originally rated this a 4, and then I sat here talking about it and realized no, this is a five. It opens as urban fantasy, slides into fantasy romance, then comes back to UF, and every section nails the exact vibe of its genre with zero info dump. Witch and fae childhood best friends, forbidden romance, a kidnapped sister, and a rescue into the fae world. Male-male, second chance, gorgeous world-building. Oh and there is a sexy collar scene. That is all I will say.
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux 5 STARS
Our Ripped and Ravished book club pick, and a reread for me that held up every bit of its original five stars. A time travel romance that is really about so much more. You watch these characters fall in love two, arguably three, times, so much character growth, and it has a controversial ending I found beautiful even though plenty of readers online did not. Becky from the Too Stupid to Live podcast and I discussed all of it across two episodes. It’s timeless and everyone should read it once.
Behind Five Willows by June Hur 5 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
The crown of the whole month. A Pride and Prejudice retelling set in Joseon-era Korea, and as a lifelong P&P person I felt the inspiration scene after scene. But it is so much more than an homage. Censorship, class, gender, what women were allowed to read and write, all woven into the romance. He falls first, he falls harder, the yearning is endless, and I closed it wanting a movie adaptation immediately. I received an ARC of this book for review.
The Challenge Reads
June was a heavy progress month. My Ripped and Ravished book club read, A Knight in Shining Armor, was so good it earned a five-star spot up top, and I am saving the full Romanceopoly breakdown for my mid-year Romanceopoly update. But lots of books fit there too. Two more that were challenge books:
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch 3.5 STARS
My Romanceopoly Study Session pick for the month. It is cutesy, nerdy fantasy academia with enemies to lovers grad student wizards and some class difference tension. Comped to Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons and Dragons and I definitely see it. As with most Raasch for me, I liked it in theory a hair more than I connected with it, but it absolutely lifts your mood.
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer 4 STARS
This was one of the 26 books to read in 2026 where I asked 13 friends to give me recommendations for half the list. Recommended by WanderReader on Instagram. Two people on a spaceship they can talk to and a slow realization that something is very wrong while they’re up there. There is a point where everything clicks and it is such a cool concept and story. A sweet romance blooms out of a high stakes situation that still somehow felt cozy.
Everything Else I Read in June
Ordered by how much I loved them, not by genre.
Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow 4 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
Such a surprise! Magical academia, except they are training to be magical veterinarians, which I had never seen and loved. The magic system is unique and money in a way plays a part into it, and watching the rich hero see that for the first time was genuinely so good. There’s high stakes, there’s a great slow burn. And it reads more like nostalgic 2010s urban fantasy, which I love. Bring on book two.
Burn by Nia Myst 4 STARS
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
Book two in the Wildcats series and it gets dark, graphic, and gruesome in the best way. Read the author content warnings. A psychopath detective becomes obsessed with one of the Wildcats, a crew of vigilante women who take out the men the law will not touch. She survived an acid attack, and he sees her strength instantly. Female rage, found family, and heroes who are down bad without ever overpowering their heroines. I cannot read these fast enough.
The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang 4 STARS
A prophesied empress stuck between two princes who are both, not kind of but actually villains, and a heroine who never once plays the lovesick fool about it. All the drama, all the tension. It leaves a lot open IMO and I need a sequel. This one is perfect if you love the red flag romance in Pursuit of Jade!
In the Wake of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy 4 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
One of my most anticipated books of 2026 and a strong follow up to In the Veins of the Drowning, though it hits a little second book syndrome since the leads spend a good chunk apart at first and the pacing starts slow. But Theo is one of the greatest yearners and Kalie Cassidy writes yearning better than anyone. Gorgeous, non cookie cutter gothic fantasy. This series is a must read.
To Dream in Darkness by Ann Liang 4 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
The death god and the healing god strike a bargain that spirals into a journey across the celestial and mortal realms, where time runs differently in each. Lyrical and atmospheric. In my opinion, if you love The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, that vibe is right here.
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Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti 4 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
A flirty historical rom-com with pirates, smugglers, and a double mistaken identity setup that is just pure fun. Our clever heroine exposes a scam, flees to the countryside under a false name, and ends up hiding out in a house run by the very smugglers she exposed, who are also under assumed identities. Witty banter, great leads, the Regency romp to grab this summer.
Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan 4 STARS
A Cinderella inspired fantasy with the most vivid world building, down to every dress and every location. There is a fairy godmother fish, which was as delightful as it sounds. Light on romance, heavy on the heroine’s self discovery arc. Great for Renée Ahdieh fans. My first from this author but won’t be my last.
The Rule of Three by Sara Cate 4 STARS
Book two in the Salacious Legacy series, set in Paris, and I read it without the first book and was fine. A polyamorous romance with real emotion, great spice, two very different men, and a touch of billionaire saves the day. It has that early 2000s and 2010s erotic romance energy that Sara Cate does so well. Reminded me of a Maya Banks book.
These Immortal Truths by Rachelle Raeta 3.75 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
Historical fantasy, book one of the Peaches and Honey duology, an indie sensation I missed that got re-released. Pitched for Addie LaRue fans and it definitely delivers on that. A woman made immortal by a peach, moving through centuries starting in 1184 England, losing every human connection except one, to a shape shifting god. It is beautiful and lyrical, but something in the pacing kept it just under four for me.
North Country by K.A. Tucker 3.5 STARS
I received this book for free from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
Small town second chance romantic suspense. The nice surprise for me with this one is that the leads do not fight the second chance, so the stakes are with the mystery portion. He is fresh out of prison (ex-con), she is the town sheriff, and being together could wreck her career. Read it as a light mystery with a good dose of romance and I think that balance works.
You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh 3.5 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
A true-crime writer who was once kidnapped starts her own investigation when her podcaster friend vanishes. Melinda Leigh is great at mounting tension and a I feel like this is a proper one-sitting read by the pool kind of book, but the characters and the pacing did not fully grab me.
The Legend of the White Snake by Sher Lee 3.5 STARS
A sweet YA male-male retelling of the classic Chinese folktale: a snake spirit who shifts into a boy falls for the prince hunting him to save his mother. Insta love, then a real slow burn with plenty that should be keeping them apart. The vibes were great and the audiobook made it more so.
Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly 3.5 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
A cute foodie contemporary with a sweet grumpy/sunshine: a fired chef and the sunshine influencer hired to save his struggling restaurant, both with something to prove to her restaurateur father. A little slower paced, still a one-sitting read, and plenty of food vibes. I loved that they both had their own character growth and journey besides the romance and what was bringing them together. Oh and the forced proximity totally worked here.
Bromantasy by Maire Roche 3.5 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
A cozy, low stakes romantasy I grabbed for the cover alone and it delivered on cute. Childhood best friends and total opposites accidentally volunteer to chase a monster, most of the book is the journey, and the real question becomes who the actual villain is. If you loved The Princess Bride, this one is for you.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee 3.5 STARS
Since I loved the fantasy by Sher Lee, I finally picked this one up. A contemporary YA male-male with class differences, a mooncake competition, fake dating, and family drama, set in a New York that gave me nostalgic NYC vibes. Insta-lovey, yes, but a perfect sweet palate cleanser between heavier reads.
Songbird in the Gallows by Alta Hensley 3.25 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
Marketed as a dark rom-com and it sits in a strange middle for me. It’s not funny enough to be a true dark romcom, but it’s also not heavy enough to be dark/dark. A retired killer assassin in recovery, literally in therapy, has to protect and then train the daughter of his mentor so she can get her revenge. It was an interesting premise and it has some light gothic nods like the cliffside mansion, but the humor and the gothic never quite hit for me.
Hold Me Like a Grudge by Celine Ong 3 STARS
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Â
I waited a long time for this WWE-style wrestling rivals romance after its trad deal got canceled and the author published it herself. The wrestling scenes were vivid enough to yank me back to watching with my little brother. Underneath the animosity that felt manufactured to me, there were two compatible softies who just needed love, and that part worked. The writing lost me in spots, but I would read this author again. If you’ve read Kiss and Cry by Keira Andrews, this had some similar vibes.
What June Taught Me About My Reading
June confirmed something I already suspected: when I follow an obsession, my reading thrives. One Netflix show turned into a stack of C-drama-coded reads, but also I had a five star reread, and my best month in years with zero slump. I am a little nervous the summer slump that may be coming for July. We will see.
Final Thoughts
Now tell me about your June. Your best read, how you are doing with the Romanceopoly summer challenge, and whether anything ate your life this month the way Pursuit of Jade ate mine. My mid-year Romanceopoly update is coming, and yes, it was a very heavy board month so I’ve made good progress. If you need your next stack, my July 2026 releases, summer 2026 romance releases, summer 2026 mystery releases, and queer summer 2026 releases have you covered. And come hang on Discord, we are chatting Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Lestat in July.
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