This is book 2 in the Murder by Month Romcom series. I did not read book one and I hope to soon! I dd not feel it was necessary to read book 1 as they summarize the previous book briefly in this title.
Overall this is a very cute and modern cozy mystery with a millenial-sounding protagonist Mira who is a small town MN librarian and journalist. She’s down on her luck in the dating world but most of all she keeps finding dead bodies. She’s funny, klutzy, and prone to embarrassment.
This mystery involves scuba diving, a lost jewel treasure, a strange circus act, and the small town folks of Battle Creek.
I would recommend this series to fans of Tonya Kappes’ Camper & Criminals series.

This is a fast-paced, cozy mystery that was a delightful read for me. It's light, hilarious, and features an interesting mystery to solve. I won't spoil it, but let's just say the title is even funnier once you realize how it relates to the story! I laughed out loud – a must-read for anyone looking for a fun and quick escape. The narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya, perfectly captures the charm and wit of the story. Her portrayal of Mira brings the character to life. Her tones and inflections for the different characters were distinct and engaging.

June Bug is the second cozy mystery I've listened to in Jess Lourey's Murder By Month series, and it was both witty and mysterious. This series is much lighter than her thriller/horror books and it's great to see a totally different side of one of my favourite authors.
In this story Battle Lake, Minnesota kicks off the summer with a treasure hunt. A fake diamond is hidden in Whiskey Lake in a recreation of a local legend, and when Mira dives for the treasure she makes a shocking discovery. Some of the twists are a bit over the top but it's definitely entertaining! And I was happy to hear Jennifer Jill Araya again as the audiobook narrator, she is perfect for Mira's voice and personality.

Such a fun series! I really like the characters and the storytelling. The narrator is also very good

This was such a quick and easy audiobook, and it really kept me hooked the entire time. I was glued to my seat!

A quick and easy mystery read. I enjoyed the narrator, a great pace and voices. The main character was likable and I enjoyed reading about Minnesota as I live there and could envision locations from the descriptions.

June Bug by Lourey was an entertaining, easy mystery read. This is a perfect mystery book to get you into the summer spirit. It follows Mira as she tracks the story of a necklace being left in the lake for a promotion based on a previous real event in town. As with other mystery series, there were little side quests that helped tie up the overall mystery in a neat little bow. For me, the best part of the story was the overall cast of characters. There were so many unique personalities that Mira found herself surrounded by that made it easy to connect with Mira and her Minnesota town. Lourey also added some pretty great lines that will have you laughing as you read. I had the audiobook for June Bug and while I enjoyed Jennifer Jill Araya’s narration, I think this book could easily be enjoyed either way. Araya did well bringing Mira’s quirky personality to life. This is perfect for cozy mystery fans especially for those that enjoy matching their read to the season.

I am in love with this series! I’ve listened to the first two books and the narrator is perfect. I love the author’s writing style, especially the witty comments our main character makes. I highly recommend this one and I cannot wait for the next books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing & especially Jess Lourey for sending me the audio widgets for June Bug in exchange for an honest review!

Jess knew I needed this series in my life and generously sent me the widgets for May Day & June Bug and I loved them both and cannot wait for the rest of the series!

In June Bug, Battle Creek is holding a treasure hunt, where a fake diamond is hidden at the bottom of whiskey lake and the first person to find it wins $5,000. The origin of the treasure hunt is the local legend that an uber rich woman who once stayed in Battle Creek, walked into the lake with her huge diamond necklace on, but came out of the lake without it claimed it came off in the water & was never found.

Mira could really use that money, so she decides to participate and dive for the treasure herself. But in true Mira fashion, on her very first dive she doesn't find the diamond at all, but something much more disturbing.

And to top it all off, a menacing person from her past has arrived in town and will stop at nothing to keep Mira out of his way. Of course, Mira wants to solve the puzzle/legend of the real missing diamond all while trying to out-maneuver her foe.

Again, this story had me entertained from start to finish & I am wholly invested in the continuing story of Mira from book-to-book and better getting to know the town of Battle Creek.

This is a fabulous cozy mystery series that I highly recommend picking up. If you're a fan of the Finlay Donovan series and similar stories, you'd love this series!

4/5 Stars