10 books you should read in June, including Questlove’s hip-hop memoir, a reality TV history by a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a new romance from Brynne Weaver

Regular A.V. Club readers may have noticed that our book coverage has dropped off significantly in the last few years. There were reasons for that, but those reasons no longer have a say in what we write about, so we’re cautiously venturing back into the realm of books because hey, why not? We figured bringing back our monthly preview of new releases, which we stopped doing regularly in 2022, would be a good place to start.

With all that out of the way, let’s take a look at some new books coming out this June. We’ve selected a wide range of titles that should appeal to readers of every sort. You’ll find nonfiction, literary fiction, humor, horror, science-fiction, and romance here. Whether you’re looking for something to take with you on vacation or you want a page-turner to relax with at home, we’ve got you covered, from cover to cover.

Bear by Julia Phillips

Release date: June 25, 2024Publisher: HogarthJulia Phillips captivated readers with her debut novel Disappearing Earth, a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction. That’s a tough act to follow, but Phillips has proven she’s up to the task. Her latest book, Bear, is about two sisters who live together with their ailing mother in a rundown house on a resort island off the Pacific Northwest coast. They’re both stuck in minimum-wage jobs serving the wealthy tourists who visit the island, but they have plans to sell the house and leave once their mother dies. Those plans are upended when a large bear appears near their home, and their very different reactions to it cause a rift between the sisters. Loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fable Snow White And Rose Red, the book is somehow grounded and highly symbolic at the same time.