June Booksellers’ Picks

We're more than just Booksellers; we're your guides to the wondrous world of literature! Our passion for books goes beyond the pages, and we're thrilled to share that enthusiasm with you. Dive into this month's handpicked selection, curated with love by our team, and discover your next favorite read among our Booksellers' top picks.

Jennifer—Bookseller, Strongsville, OH

A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen

“This is the second book in the Saga of the Unfated duology. It is the perfect story for anyone who is interested in Norse mythology. The Unfated are people who have a drop of blood of one of the Norse gods gifting them with a special ability. Freya is one of these who has the gift of creating a shield. She's pressed into service of the local jarl as a shield maiden. Freya is also at the center of a vision calling her to be the center of a war costing thousands of lives.

I loved this book! There were twists I didn't see coming. The storytelling was very good! I loved seeing Freya come into her own after being used by so many around her. I felt my heart break when hers would because I was that immersed in the story. I had to force myself to stretch reading this out by one more day because I didn't want it to end. I used this book for my personal weekly book recommendation for my friends and family.”

Lisa—Bookseller, Arundel Mills, MD

Count My Lies by Sophie Stava

“If you like psychological thrillers with an unreliable narrator, this is the book for you! You know right away that the protagonist is a liar, but you aren't prepared for the many twists that come in the last half of the book. You'll wonder if anyone in this book is an honest person. Maybe the little girl is. (?) This is for fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley, and Riley Sager. And it will be made into a Hulu series starring Lindsay Lohan. Read it first so you can say "The book was better!"”

Nickole—Bookseller, Lancaster, PA

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

“Dungeon Crawler Carl is if you were in a hunger games show but ran by aliens! This book follows Carl and his girlfriend's pet cat, Princess Donut, as aliens take over Earth and they are thrust in an intergalactic survival live streamed show run by aliens. The goal? Survive and level up in this dungeon crawler arena as far as possible, with the chance of leaving with your life. If you make it far enough, you may even earn your planet’s freedom back, a victory no one has ever accomplished. This book is hilarious and fun, I recommend to any sci-fi fan looking for a fun read.”

Cordell—Bookseller, Sandusky, OH

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

“One of my favorite books I read in my elementary years. I took a chance to reread it here the last few days and it is better than I remember it being. The basic plot is: What if the small plane you are on suddenly crashes in the middle of the wilderness and there is no way to contact emergency services. Brian the thirteen-year-old main character is put to the test with his survival skills in the Canadian wilderness after he lands the plane and tries to survive.”

Dean—Bookseller, Albany, GA

Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

“Home Is Where the Bodies Are is a multiple POV murder mystery set decades after the actual murder. I love trying to solve the mystery before I finish the book and this one tried to throw me (and the characters) off the trail. It has family secrets, family drama, and every time you get an answer you have more questions. I couldn't put this book down until I solved the mystery.”

Sumayah—Bookseller, Charleston, WV

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings  

“This book emotionally destroyed me, and I thank it for that. Magnolia Parks is messy, fashionable, devastating, and completely addictive. Jessa Hastings somehow made love feel like war—and I was rooting for the enemies. Magnolia and BJ are toxic soulmates, and I couldn’t look away. Beautiful writing, sharp dialogue, and an unforgettable cast. If you love angst, high fashion, and complicated love stories, this one’s for you.”

Serena—Bookseller, Vero Beach, FL

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

“Cyrus Shams is dealing with the grief of his dead mother when he decides that his death cannot be in vain like hers and that he must somehow die a martyr instead. Cyrus’s journey leads him to question the meaning of life, art, relationships, and just everything. Abkar’s writing is incredible, he writes such real and flawed characters that almost feel like you know them in real life. This is a perfect book for people who enjoy literary fiction, poetic prose, and books about the human experience.”

Kiaya—Bookseller, Terre Haute, IN

Pink Heart Jam Beat, Vol. 1 by Shikke

“This book is a heartwarming delightful continuation of the Pink Heart Jam series. Haiga and Kanae have finally moved in together but have started to experience some new troubles in their relationship. Haiga struggles with finding a job pre-college graduation and Kanae is stuck working long hours at a studio. The two still manage to find time to get together and communicate their feelings in some sickeningly sweet scenes.”

Julia Von—Bookseller, N. Charleston, SC

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

“This book was such a fun time. It was enchanting, gripping, exciting, and mysterious. The side characters stand out and make you feel like a friend, the romance is thrilling, and the connection between the main characters is one I would happily revisit. If you are a fan of The Cruel Prince, then you will be a fan of this. I am impatiently waiting for book two.”

Tim—Bookseller, New Bern, NC

The Self Sufficiency Garden by Huw Richards

“This is a great book with a diagram of how to set up your garden and then monthly planting and tasks guides to help you succeed throughout the year. I also highly recommend Huw's YouTube channel to go along with the book!”

You can head to your local Books-A-Million to get more recommendations from your neighborhood Booksellers. We’re sure they’ve got the perfect book recommendations, just for you.