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Scintillating Books for Summer Reading
A summer reading list, June previews, and more ...
BookBrowse Highlights
Hello Readers!
This week, our book club members discuss The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris, a suspenseful novel based on the experiences of people of Chinese descent in the late-1800s Pacific Northwest.
First Impressions readers share their thoughts on Anna Malaika Tubbs’ informative and timely account of American patriarchy, Erased.
In Editor’s Choice, we review The Names by Florence Knapp, an intricate story that splits into three different plotlines determined by what a mother chooses to name her child.
We’re also excited to bring you a 2025 summer reading list, previews of June releases, and a new Wordplay!
Thanks for reading,
The BookBrowse Team
PS, what should we name our new book club guide?
Help BookBrowse Choose the Title of our Book Club Guide!Click your favorite below, or suggest your own! |
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Book Club Discussions
Discussions are open to all! If you’d like to participate, you can do so by creating an account here. Please note that discussions can contain spoilers.
The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris
From the Jacket Oregon, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of Portland's notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival―being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment―she fears that far more than her own fate hangs in the balance. |  |
From the Discussion
“McMorris’s research is excellent and her writing enjoyable…Themes of family loyalty, ethnic prejudice, political intrigue, and violence against women are well-developed and dealt with.” —Laura_Poe
“My book club would really enjoy discussing this book.” —Holly_K
“I would recommend The Girls of Good Fortune to readers who enjoy historical fiction and suspense.” —Elizabeth
First Impressions
Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on one recently released title.
Erased by Anna Malaika Tubbs
“Tubbs has two goals in writing this book. First, to accurately define and map American patriarchy: how it came to be, how it has persisted, and how it controls the very way in which we make sense of our world. Second, to help the reader imagine other ways to live…Yes, the subject matter is serious and the author is not afraid to share facts about gender and race that many politicians currently are attempting to erase from our history books. However, her words and ideas flow easily, and I never felt depressed or shocked at anything…By the time I was 200 pages into the book, I was able to better perceive patriarchal behavior around me, as well as in the media.” —Rosemary P. (Waterloo, IA) |  |
“Given all the upheaval in American life today, this book is a must-read. I would highly recommend it for book discussion groups.” —Marianne L. (Syosset, NY)
“What is so innovative is [Tubbs’] framing mechanism as she uses her own and her mother's personal experiences to illustrate patriarchal concepts…Too often, authors present all women as being overwhelmingly united when that has not been the case, as race has always been a significant factor. I think all people of all races should read this work.” —Renay (MS)
Editor’s Choice
The Names by Florence Knapp
The prologue of Florence Knapp's marvelous debut, The Names, begins on October 16, 1987, the day after the Great Storm hit England. We meet Cora, a young woman of Irish descent, as she and her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, push a pram through the debris, walking to a government office to officially register her new son's name. As the pair struggle along, they discuss what the child should be called. The section ends with Cora hesitating as she's about to fill in the baby's name on the paperwork. At that point, the plot splits into three parallel storylines, each of which follows the repercussions of Cora's choice. … continued Review by Kim Kovacs |  |
2025 Summer Reading List
Whether you’re planning for a vacation, a staycation, or just enjoying the warm days ahead, we’re here to help you map out your summer reading. Splash into the summer spirit with absorbing beach reads, stories that evoke the season, and books for letting your mind relax and unfurl. These titles have been recently featured or are scheduled to be featured in our digital magazine, so you can peruse our reviews and “beyond the book” articles along with them. … continued |  |
Welcome Artesia Public Library
Artesia Public Library of Artesia, New Mexico now subscribes to BookBrowse! If you are a library card holder here you can now access all member-only content using your library card at bookbrowse.com, and you can also subscribe to their patron newsletter. |  |
June Previews
We know it can be tough to keep up with all the new books coming out every month, so we do the hard work for you. We've carefully selected 100+ of the most noteworthy books publishing in June and are continually updating our selections — check them out and get yourself on the library waitlist ahead of the crowd! |  |
BookBrowse members can see, sort, and download the full list of previews for all months. Non-subscribers can view books up to the current month and a limited selection of future months. If you don't already, you may also wish to subscribe to our Publishing This Week newsletter.
Wordplay
Solve our Wordplay puzzle to reveal a well-known expression, and be entered to win a one-year membership to BookBrowse!
"T the V B the S"
Click for the answer to the last Wordplay (B W M in H M), and a detailed breakdown of its meaning and history.
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