Welcome to June, Readers!
Is there any better feeling than knowing summer is stretched out ahead of us? We have SO MUCH lined up for you all this summer and we can’t wait to share this news with you. We’re also kicking off our Lit Girl Summer with a Summer Reading Challenge encouraging us to read more and broaden our bookish community. If you want to join in on the fun, including some very exciting giveaways, upgrade to premium to stay in the know on all things summer reading.
Now, on to our June Pick. Our June Pick isn’t your typical beach read. A Pair of Aces follows two women, both on opposite sides of the law, coming together to take down a mob boss in 1930s New York. It’s gritty, grimy, and full of juicy twists. In many ways it feels more like a thunderous storm than a sweltering heat wave. So why do we think this should be your first read of the month?
Here at Reese’s Book Club, we’re taking this summer to redefine the beach read. Rather than reaching for the lightest, quickest stories, we’re using the longer summer days and leisurely beach trips to dig into books that require a little more attention. We love what Substacker Petya K. Grady had to say about the joy of embracing a heavier book and find ourselves hungry to do the same. Of course, A Pair of Aces is the kind of read that will fly by — these characters are crafted so thoughtfully and it kept us guessing until the end — but we also love this book because it offers us so much story to dig into, history to deep dive on, and reflection-worthy moments to write about in our reading journals. Read on to get to know our June pick authors as they share the latest things they’ve been bookmarking.
Happy Reading,
The Reese’s Book Club Team
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⛲️ Don’t forget to hydrate in this heat, your skin will thank you.
🍷 Become a favorite at your summer book club by coming armed with the perfect summer wine.
👖 A breezy pant that flows with our on-the-go lifestyles.
📚 Give the gift of summer reading with this bookish kit.
🌳 The perfect park day includes an audiobook, no evening plans, and this relaxing craft.
🕶️ Don’t let glare get in the way of your reading routine.
Two-Time Reese’s Book Club Author Ann Patchett Thinks Everything is Autobiographical
Ann Patchett is an author, bookstore owner, two-time Reese’s Book Club pick author, and overall icon on everybody’s bookshelf. Her newest novel, Whistler, is out today. In it, a woman reunites with her long-lost stepfather on a fateful day in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What follows is a story of family, loss, and the brief connections that change our lives forever. Ann joins the podcast to talk about her unique writing process, working through grief and love in her latest novel, and her favorite books hitting the shelves at Parnassus Books in Nashville.
Redefining the Beach Read
🂡 A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
This escapist read, full of surprising twists and turns, follows a lawyer and a madam who team up to take down a mob boss in 1930s New York. Perfect for a leisurely weekend reading binge. Read here.
👰♀️ This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Perfect for picking up and putting down throughout a beach day, this book of autobiographical essays is both bite sized and full of delight. Read here.
✏️ The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King
Pack this in your vacation suitcase for a decade-spanning multi-generational story that’ll take you from touch down to wheels up. Read here.
This week, get to know A Pair of Aces authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray as they share the latest things they’ve been bookmarking across the internet.
“I can’t stop following and sharing this story of three octogenarian Austrian nuns who escaped from their assisted living home and broke back into their old covent where they’d lived for decades! The sisters are doing well — and recently took a trip to Rome, their first visit, for an audience with the Pope. Book idea?” — Marie
“I just found out that there’s a National Auntie Day and I’m so here for this.” — Victoria
“This article had me at the phrase “Saint Rita’s Amazing Traveling Bookstore.” How entrancing is this woman’s new chapter combining a love of travel with a mobile bookstore named for Saint Rita, patron saint of impossible causes. Perhaps this will be the next big trend in indie bookstores!” — Marie
“It’s graduation season and for the past few years, a few commencement speakers have paid off student loans. I’ve been watching for that. So far, I’ve seen it happen for one graduating class in North Carolina…I’m on the watch for more.” — Victoria
“Love this piece about the Library of Congress’ newly opened children’s exhibit called The Source. Kids are given access to original artifacts and source material, allowing them to make their own discoveries and form personal views on history. I adore libraries for so many reasons, but this new undertaking hews closely to my own mission to excavate unknown historical women with the aid of original research.” — Marie
“Waiting, waiting, waiting for that free moment…and I will run to see The Devil Wears Prada 2. Because, who doesn’t want to see this?” — Victoria
Reese’s Book Club’s Berry Shades for Summer
Sponsored by Target
A new color combo has dropped from Reese’s Book Club x Target. Find your new favorite summer cap and mini tote in these summery berry shades.
Thank you for reading! Join us in the comments below and let us know what your reading goals are for June.