June’s Most-Anticipated Books

A collage of the covers included in this article

Look no further for your next read. The amount of great new books hitting shelves each month can be overwhelming but we’ve rounded up ten books coming out this June that both the NetGalley team and members can’t wait for. If you were approved for any of these books on NetGalley, you can read them directly in your NetGalley Shelf app. Don’t forget to leave a review!

The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson

Historical fiction, time travel, and the allure of a fantastical circus all blend together in J. R. Dawson’s debut. Set in an alternate 1920s America, the novel follows Rin, a circus Ringmaster gifted with the ability to teleport through the decades. It’s a skill that has come in handy while fleeing with her wife from the Circus King who hunts her. As the threat of impending global war grows, Rin fears she may not have what it takes to protect the family she’s found at her circus.

Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin

Jane Austen’s Persuasion gets a modern update in this contemporary second-chance romance from the author of Ayesha at Last. To get her out of a rut, Nada Syed’s best friend Haleema drags her to Deen&Dunya, a Muslim convention in downtown Toronto, to speed date and meet Haleema’s fiancé, Zayn. What Nada doesn’t know is that Zayn’s brother Baz will also be there. The same Baz she dated in college. Though time has passed, the spark that initially drew them together is still burning bright.

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier

Eliza Jane Brazier’s newest thriller takes readers into the heart of the cutthroat world of showjumping. When Heather Parker moves with her family from Texas to Southern California, she makes it her mission to help her daughter Maple win the annual horse show at their new local equestrian center. And she isn’t the only one willing to play a little dirty. Small ‘accidents’ escalate to murder and anyone could be guilty.

Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin

Gather round, children of the night, a new vampire novel is about to drop. In Liz Kerin’s novel, a global virus turns people into dangerous vampiric beings. The story jumps from 2010 when fifth grader Mia’s mother Izzy is exposed to the disease by a boyfriend to the present where a 20-something Mia is struggling to build a life of her own after years of protecting her mom. When Izzy’s ex reappears, it threatens the freedom and safety Mia is striving for.

The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade

If this speculative thriller looks familiar, you may have seen it on our 2023 YA must-reads roundup! In what should be a joyous turn of events, Casey’s missing sister Sutton is safe and back home. But Sutton isn’t acting like herself, and Casey isn’t sure what to make of the fact that Sutton claims to have no memories of what happened. Casey begins looking into the disappearances of Black girls in Seattle, and when her best friend vanishes, she knows she needs Sutton’s help to bring her home safe.

Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad

Three siblings try to find their path over the course of Ramadan, as their Bay Ridge, Brooklyn community becomes the center for Islamophobic attacks. Twins Amira and Lina are planning a summer to remember to celebrate their high school graduation. But when their older brother Sami is released from prison and returns home, the girls are unsure how his presence may change the balance their family has forged in his absence.

The Notorious Lord Knightly by Lorraine Heath

Historical romance readers will find much to swoon over in this novel where a writer and the fiancé who jilted her get a second chance at love. Five years after he left her at the altar, Regina Leyland uses Arthur Pennington, the Earl of Knightly as the obvious inspiration for the villain of her novel. Arthur tracks down Regina to demand a retraction, only to realize how much she’s changed and how badly he hurt her years ago.

What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman

A murder sends shockwaves through a DC suburb in this domestic suspense novel. Alexis and Sam are warmly welcomed into their new neighborhood and quickly become friendly with the couple next door, Teddy and Blair. But when Teddy’s body is discovered and the death ruled a homicide, suspicions run wild. As Alexis and Blair’s friendship grows, Alexis learns that Blair’s life with her husband was far from picture-perfect.

The Ghosts of Trappist by K. B. Wagers

Inspired by the U.S. Coast Guard,  K. B. Wagers NeoG space opera series follows the crew of Zuma’s Ghost—a military ship patrolling and protecting the universe. Looked down on by other military branches, the crew is determined to defend their title in the annual Boarding Games, which test their athletic ability and technical skills. But the appearance of ghost ships in the Trappist solar system draws them into a dangerous mystery.

Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould

Courtney Gould’s supernatural YA thriller transports readers to a remote Arizona town. ‘Come and find me’ reads the letter that Beck Birsching receives from the mother she believes to be dead. Along with her sister Riley, Beck travels to Backravel, Arizona—the last known place that their mother, an investigative reporter, had been. When they arrive, it’s to find a community run by a charismatic yet unsettling leader, who seems to know more about their mother than he’s letting on.

Which June release are you most excited about?

Stuff Your Shelves

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

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