ontent Warnings: Abuse: kidnapping, neglect, death of a minor.
Representation: African-American side character

You’re telling me that it’s not every teen girl’s dream of having her own castle??? Sounds fake.

Okay so maybe that intro is burying the lead a little.

Someone is stealing boys in Tennessee only to give them back after a year.

Except this time one of the boys has been found dead and Thea is determined to find out who it is and get her cousin Aulus back before it’s too late, even if the thief turns out to be her own father. Who, by the way, happens to have been building a castle and keeping it a secret for the past 10 years. Basically every father figure in Thea’s life—and there are many—has been lying to her.

For someone with a castle, Thea’s got it pretty rough.

Wildwood is filled with a whole lot of suspicious af uncles and exhausted feds. And somewhere, possibly nearby, somebody is holding three boys in a basement against their will.

It’s like every other small town you read in a contemporary novel: People aren’t very progressive in their beliefs, and they’ll quickly paint whoever they deem weird as the monster behind the kidnappings. If you’re different than you’re the dangerous one.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way this book was told. I love getting multiple perspectives, especially ones provided in a different format. In The June Boys, the story is mostly told from Thea’s POV in the normal first-person style but then we get the other perspective from Aulus in letter’s he writes to Elizabeth Smart—a real-life kidnapping survivor who has gone on to become a child safety activist. But that wasn’t even my favourite part of these letters.

They’re so raw and true to Aulus’s experiences and what I imagine it would be like if these were real-life circumstances. Aulus has been cut off from the world for a long time and left to be a big brother/parental figure to these kids he’s living in isolation with. That’s a whole world of weight on a teenage boys shoulders in an environment that would break anyone down.

My heart broke with every letter, reading how much worse things are getting for these boys while Aulus still tried to remain hopeful for the sake of others.

Be warned though, the letters are kind of non-linear with Thea’s POV so it takes a little while to get a handle on when it’s all happening but I enjoyed that. If you struggle or straight-up dislike/hate non-linear story-telling then this book probably isn’t for you. Luckily for me, I love that kind of story-telling so it was one of my favourite parts of this book!

I know that for some people reading the digital ARC the formatting of the letters was really bad and made it hard to follow but I think that comes down to whatever program/app you’re using to read it. I tried Kindle first but it was a mess, as it usually is with any book that isn’t traditionally formatted (its awful with poetry ARCs too) so then I gave Digital Editions a try and it was perfect.

If you put this down because the formatting made it too hard to read I want to let you know that you still have time! It won’t be archived from Netgalley until May so download the protected PDF and open it on Digital Editions!

I do think the story needed a little more??? Something?

It wasn’t as fast-paced as I would have liked. While I looked forward to my bus rides where I got time to read The June Boys, I didn’t feel compelled to read it outside of that time I have set aside because I wasn’t as desperate to know what would happen next. For me, that’s the best indicator of if a great book is a 4 or 5 star read.

I mean I definitely did read it outside of my bus trips but that was more because I was reading this book as part of a readathon and I wanted to finish it before it came to an end.

I’ve already gushed about Aulus, so what about Thea?

She also felt very real to me. The kind of paranoia that would build up when the people you love keep disappearing on you—and for Thea that is quite literal—is overwhelming to say the least. She starts to question if she can trust her dad, her uncles, her godparents, her boyfriend’s fed sister… Those are pretty much all the adults in her life who she no longer trusts.

But she is determined and incredibly loyal to Aulus. She can’t even picture living a normal life with Aulus gone.

She’s willing to give up any resemblance of a future she might have dreamed for herself before his disappearance, in pursuit of getting her cousin back.

But Thea and Aulus aren’t the only characters I fell in love within this book.

Thea’s boyfriend Nick is pragmatic and logical but is always willing to suspend his belief to listen to whatever wild theory Thea has cooked up in her paranoid brain.

More importantly, he encourages her to break down her theories to the facts so she can more clearly analyse if her theories hold weight.

While being logical in a challenging situation is incredibly useful, Nick is also empathetic and always does his best to make sure Thea is looking after herself. He tries to look out for her without stomping all over her independence, which I appreciate.

Gladys is just the sweetest, most precious friend a girl could have. But she’s also sharp and fiercely protective too.

It would have been so easy to make her one or the other, but instead, we get a well rounded snarky, soft best friend who is trying her best to support and help Thea while also being heartbroken at losing her friend too.

Tank is kind of guy you want in your corner. He’s all emotion and he just gets it.

He feels everything Thea is feeling with her and I can guarantee he would burn the whole world down if it meant protecting the people he loves. He knows what his friends need in the moment and gives it to them no matter how crazy it might seem.

Other than Aulus, I think I have the biggest soft spot for Tank. He’s so endearing and passionate and protective that it’s hard not to love him. In a way, he reminded me of Ronan from The Raven Cycle, ya know, if Ronan wasn’t an asshole and let himself show how much he actually gives a shit.

One last character I want to focus on is Don, Thea’s father.

He’s set up as the town’s ‘crazy guy’ and for the longest time, I was wondering why everyone is always labelling him crazy??? I didn’t get it.

So he decided to build a castle? If you have the means why the fuck not??? Is he super focused on it and in turn neglecting his daughter? Sure! But that doesn’t make him crazy, that just makes him a bad parent.

Uhhh…. Raise your hand if you have issues with hyper fixation.

I mean, I still wouldn’t call him crazy, he’s simply a man with a vision, hyperfixation and terrible parenting instincts.

On top of some great, dynamic characters, The June Boys builds incredibly intricate friendships and family dynamics.

The relationships between all these characters were complex and fascinating and felt incredibly real.

The details of each relationship aren’t handed to us on a silver platter, they’re slowly threaded through the story with fine silk, weaving a spiderweb-like blanket of connections between the people of Wildwood.

Something I really appreciated was how The June Boys highlights issues surrounding neglect.

A lot of people fail to see just how damaging neglect can be on the lowest end of the scale. Sure Thea is fed and clothed and has a roof over her head but she doesn’t have a father or mother to run to when she’s struggling and hurting and that’s been the case for her for a long time.

Aulus spent his life missing a father who didn’t deserve him, clinging to any father figure he could find to fill the gap.

These kinds of cases of neglect are often forgotten and brushed off. A lot of the times they’re not recognised as abuse at all and I appreciate The June Boys for shining a light on that.

The only reason this book isn’t 5 stars for me is because it didn’t give me that unstoppable drive to find out what happens next. I still was anxious to know but I didn’t have that hunger for it like I have with other thrillers.

But despite that, this book had a lot of stand-outs and for me the ones I’ll remember most are the characters, their relationships with each other and the way it handled neglect and abuse.

Each character was so fleshed out and real that I never questioned if there were people like them that existed in the real world. The relationships were fascinating and I loved slowly discovering each connection. And The June Boys really highlighted how damaging all levels of neglect can be for a person.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The June Boys was a wild ass ride. Beyond crazy and I honestly didn't know who was the actual suspect until the very end. Heck, my mind is still blown from it all. The Gemini Thief definitely kept my on my freaking toes/sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the entire thing.

Ugh, it was so freaking good. I loved getting to meet all the characters throughout this book. Then there's the twists and turns in each chapter. Seriously, don't fall into the convenient trap because I almost did multiple times. It was slowly starting to kill me because I was second guessing myself and everyone in this damn book.

In the end, definitely enjoyed everything about this! So happy I got the opportunity to read this book and I look forward to another book by this author!

Ahhhhh! This book was so good! I’m a sucker for a classic styled mystery, so of course I was immediately interested in this one. Add in some of the dark and broody elements and I’m sold! I mean, the writing is just so delicious and elevates the story.

The bulk of this story is about Thea trying to figure out who the Gemini Thief is after her cousin becomes one of his yearly victims. Basically, the Gemini Thief operates under this weird yearly schedule where he steals three boys and holds them captive for thirteen months before letting them go alive. The only problem is that one of the kidnapped boys suddenly turns up dead.

I think that this book is coming out at the perfect timing too. This truly sounds like something you would hear about on a true crime podcast. Which also helps add to the eerie feel of the story. The realness of the horror these characters are facing is palpable, allowing you to descend into the madness of what is occuring.

If you are confused, just keep reading.

♥ Courtney Stevens is a beautiful writer. Four Three Two One was a big hit for me, and The Lies About Truth landed on my “best books I’ve ever read” Goodreads list back in 2015 before I even started blogging. I remember filling page after page with quotes from her gorgeous prose, and this book is full of more. There’s a flowy, almost dreamlike quality that her novels often take on while still staying firmly rooted in reality.

“They sigh precisely the same way and I miss Aul all over again. You need people in your life who breathe the same way you do.”

♥ I was so confused for a lot of the book, but because I enjoyed the writing and characters and because I trust the author, I just kept going. I haven’t seen many other reviews saying they had any issues, so maybe it was just me! I generally actively try not to figure out twists and answers to mysteries, and I didn’t for this one either. I was totally surprised by several things at the end! But there was one niggling detail that I just COULD NOT PLACE in my head concerning the character of Tank, and it was driving me crazy. I knew conceptually what the answer had to be but it just would not make sense in my brain until I got there in the book. But Court got us there! So if you, too, are confused–just keep reading! I promise the answer will present itself!

♥ This book is also about something that comes up a lot for me when I read–how well do we really know our parents, and the agonizing realization that they, too, are just people with their own motives and their own shortcomings. Thea stays calm while facing the question of the Gemini Thief, and if it really could be her father, thanks in part to her boyfriend Nick. He acts as a touchstone for her, a place to go and a person to trust when she begins to doubt many of the men who have acted as parental figures to her.

“Every man in my life sat on a throne of lies.”

Nick is tied tightly to things as well–Aulus is his best friend, and his sister is a detective on the Gemini Thief case. But he strives to stay neutral for Thea, even when it’s obvious he has an opinion on something, and tries hard to be there for her.

“Crazy doesn’t make him guilty. Build your case,” I say.

And Nick, knowing me, says, “I’d be angry at me too if I were you, but you’ll be angrier later if you don’t force yourself to do this. You can’t come this far and stop at the hard place.” Then, “It’s smarter for you to build the case.”

Final Thoughts: Haunting, dark, shocking, and alluring with compelling, complex characters and deep emotional arcs–it’s the best that a YA thriller/mystery can hope to be.

“I hope my goodbye nod means Thank you the way his means I’m here if you need me. Nodding can be the whole dictionary if you know the person.”

I received an ARC in change of an honest review through NetGalley, all the opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
I was delighted to receive this book as an ARC and to read it earlier than its release date, unfortunately I feel like I had too high expectations and ended up being a bit disappointing.

The book read like an episode from the TV show Criminal Minds but instead of following a team of adults that know what they're doing we were stuck with teenagers.
We follow Thea, Nick, Gladys and Tank while they try to find their friend (and Thea's cousin) Aulus that had been kidnapped by the Gemini Thief.
I think my major problem was the writing, it was definitely not for me as I found myself most of the times lost and also had a hard time to memorize who was who and what role they played in the story, therefore having a hard time trying to connect with the characters.
Though I must say the book started to get way more interesting half-way through it, the pace started to pick up and I was actually curious and enthralled on what was happening, unlike in the beginning that I found myself quite bored by it.
I didn't find the reveal of who the Gemini Thief was that far-fetched as it had crossed my mind once. I just thought that it was a couple thing and Griff and Ruby were on it together. I like what the author did with it and how she decided to play it out. I would say I was shocked by the reveal that Aul and Tank were alone in the bunker and that Zared and Rufus were all inside Aul's head (as they had died in the flood of their previous bunker).
If I had to choose a favourite "thing" from this book it would have to be <u>The Elizabeth Letters</u> that Aul wrote in case they were found dead or never found. I really enjoyed the format as it was something new to me and how it gave the reader the insight of what the June Boys were doing and going through.

This was so twisty and kept me wondering until the end! I loved that there were several suspects and misdirection. The letters Aulus wrote were a great insight into what was going on with the boys being held and how it affected their psyches. Thea was a good main character, she wasn't perfect but she cared about Aulus and dedicated herself to finding him. Having someone close to you be accused of something horrible and a lot of evidence against them was a great plot point. You think you know someone and that they would never do that, but it can be hard to keep defending them and eventually you begin to question things.
Fun, intriguing story with a couple great surprises!

I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions in this review are completely my own.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The Gemini Thief is a serial kidnapper who has been plaguing Tennessee for the past decade. Every year, three boys are taken, kept for a year and then released. When one of the currently kidnapped boy's body is discovered, however, it is assumed the Thief has escalated. He has never killed before. Was it an accident?

Either way, authorities and citizens alike become desperate to get the bottom of the mystery. Thea Delacroix has been seriously hunting the Thief ever since her cousin, Aulus, disappeared. Not everyone believes she is correct when she says he was one of the Thief's victims, but she knows it's true.

Unfortunately for Thea, she begins to suspect her own father may be responsible. His eccentricities definitely make it possible for him to be the culprit everyone is searching for.

What should she do?

The story follows Thea and her closest friends as they investigate her father and follow leads in an effort to find the missing boys.

Interspersed throughout the narrative are letters written from her cousin, Aulus, during his captivity. These are penned, The Elizabeth Letters. Through the letters we get a glimpse of how dire the situation is for the boys remaining in the Thief's grasp.

A couple of things, there were some pretty series formatting issues with the copy of the e-ARC that I read. Particularly during The Elizabeth Letters things were so jumbled, it was hard to tell what was supposed to go where. With this being said, it made this one a little hard to rate. I am positive that these issues have been cleared up in the final copy.

Therefore, I am basing my rating on what I know this story to be: well written and intense. I thought the writing was great. The intensity was high throughout the whole story. There are aspects of this that are hard to read. It is dark and the author doesn't shy away from showing how desperate the boys in captivity are.

I also wouldn't say it was uplifting, however, there is a message of hope, higher power and meaning. In my opinion, it was a solid YA Mystery/Thriller, best enjoyed by individuals who like their stories to go dark and stay there.

While not for everyone, I personally enjoyed this. I have a feeling if I would have read a finished copy, as opposed to the ARC, I would have ended up giving this a solid 4-stars. Thank you so much to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Regardless of the formatting issues, I did have a good time reading this!

Kentucky boys are disappearing and showing up again 13 months later. The culprit, dubbed the Gemini kidnapper, is causing chaos and suspicions against family, friends and neighbors.

I enjoyed the writing and fluidity if these and found the plot to be intense and original. I was surprised and satisfied by the ending.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Courtney C. Stevens for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The pretense of this story is fantastic and I enjoyed the main character Thea. She is determined and gritty and doesn’t let her age stand in the way of the answers she’s seeking. However, the story is a bit hard to follow. It is told from multiple POVs and bounces between timelines in a non-linear fashion.
By the time I got all the characters and timeline straight the story began to drag a bit. There were some unnecessary characters and some necessary things left out, like who is Elizabeth? In addition, for me the ending was a bit rushed and pulled together too neatly.

3.43 out of 5 Stars
~ Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review ~

While the formatting of the version I read this in was horrible, The June Boys was fairly good. It wasn't the most thrilling mystery I've ever read, but I was still intrigued enough to see it through. What The June Boys did best was give me strong atmospheric near-summery vibes, but there were moments every now and then that just didn't make logical sense to me. (Would an FBI agent really give the kids that much access, even as a relation?) It was just a little bit creepy. It had great emotional ideas behind it. It had an answer to the mystery that I enjoyed. I just wish I had a little bit more of all those things than what was given in the book.

Spoilers Below

Plot:
Personally, I don't think I'm the best authority as to if this mystery was predictable or not because I just let myself get dragged along for the ride without trying to piece it together. It was a strange way to read a mystery, but I didn't have the brain capacity at the time to try to engage more with the text. That being said, Welder's reveal at the end was a good one. It wasn't something that I saw coming and I enjoyed how it all came together as well as how it was all resolved after Welder dies.

The concept for this book seems unique to me as well. Albeit, I don't read a lot of thrillers or mysteries, so I could be very off on this point. But the structure of the serial kidnappings and then breaking down Welder's psychology at the end are things that I don't think I've come across too frequently in pop culture, let along a YA book. I've maybe seen something like this in an episode of Criminal Minds, so I really enjoyed it because I haven't seen something specifically like this before.

Characters:
Thea: I feel like I couldn't really get a grasp on Thea's character. There were times that I thought she was so incredibly strong, even with the horrible things happening around her. But then there were times that I though she was a complete idiot. And especially given her role in the story as Aulus's cousin and one of the ones really out there constantly trying to find him, this got to be really frustrating at times. It was like I couldn't rely on her to make any decisions.

Nick: I liked Nick. He wasn't the greatest, but he wasn't completely flat either. He and Tank felt a little bit too much like stock characters to me, but I think in Nick's situation, it worked because it was twisted from the kidnappings. I really, really, wish there was a more in depth exploration of his relationship with Thea too because he's a full-time student and I would just love to know what his thoughts were on starting a relationship with someone because a loved one they had in common was kidnapped. I would love to know more of Thea's thoughts on this too.

Aulus: Aulus was easily my favorite character even though we saw him the least out of all the others. My heart hurt for him and his chapters were so sad, yet so hopeful that I couldn't help but feel the strongest about him. He was the tragedy, and even though he lived, his whole arc throughout the story was still horribly horribly tragic, and I think it was really well done.

Writing:
I really enjoyed the two points of view here. The formatting was so incredibly frustrating for Aulus's perspective because there would be random breaks and blank pieces of notebook paper and the images wouldn't line up. . . it wasn't pretty. Hell, it wasn't even readable at times. But I really enjoyed his perspective of things. It was a little confusing when Tank was in both his chapters as well as Thea's, but by around 50-60% of the way through I had figured out what was going on, and it just added to the suspense for me.

In Thea's chapters, I wish the writing brought us closer to the characters. There are clearly strong emotional ties between the characters driving the story forward, but it was all kept at a distance from me as a reader. I don't think this is necessarily because it was third person, but the narration in Thea's chapters was almost clinical at times. Her relationship with Nick, for example, I really wanted more from, and not just because I'm a sucker for a romance. There are glimpses of the bond that they've formed out of this tragedy but they're so random and objectively portrayed that it was hard to attach onto that emotion. This connection though ends up being important because they go through their own doubts about their relationship and need to completely trust each other at the end to find Aulus and Tank. It is an interesting relationship that was born out the loss of Aulus, and yet, it was deeply explored at all because the reader is kept so distant from the characters.

The June Boys was a nice mystery to break up my reading patterns. Despite the things that I couldn't suspend my disbelief about, I enjoyed myself while reading it. It was a great atmospheric book for a rainy day, I just wished I could connect to the characters some more.

Thanks for reading!

This was??? So good??? I'm thrilled????

I haven't read a whole lot of YA thrillers lately, since I'm more of a fantasy kinda girl, but something about the cover and premise of THE JUNE BOYS caught my attention. Oftentimes, this is a recipe for disappointment, but Court Stevens did NOT let me down. This is my first book by this author, but it will not be my last.

For starters, the writing is *painfully* good. Each sentence is so well crafted, yet it never dipped into purple prose territory. The tension is introduced immediately with the first June Boy death, and it doesn't stop --- I read the last half with my heart in my mouth. Thea Delacroix is a fascinating protagonist, managing to be relatable despite the wildness of her situation. She has a castle-building dad who may-or-may-not be abducting boys every June, a missing cousin, a boyfriend with FBI connections, and a town of people who either have her back .... or are lying through their teeth. The scattering of the Elizabeth Letters from one of the boys' perspectives were absolutely haunting (although I understand why the time jump might be offputting to some readers) and I could feel their visceral desperation as the situation got more and more desperate.

I won't say much more in fear of spoilers, but gah, trust me on this: it's an extremely well-done thriller. High recommend for YA readers of all ages & tastes. I'm so excited to read Court Stevens' next books! 5/5.

Even if I think there's a lot of potential I found the plot a bit confusing and couldn't connect to the characters.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the characters, all opinions are mine.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is super confusing. I felt like I couldn't connect with any of the characters or the plot really. I felt there was wayyy too much back and forth. The story wasn't the only confusing part. It felt like the book was written by two different people. The writing style kept changing back and forth. Overall, it was a good read.. But not something I would rant and rave about.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

Overall, the plot of this book is super fun and exiting. However, this was VERY confusing. Looking into other people's reviews I can see it is not just me that feels this way. I never connected to any of the characters making it feel like the stakes were never really that high. I guess I'm just not sure what point the author was trying to convey with this story. Probably won't pick up a book by this author again.

3.5/5 stars
This one was very interesting! I really liked the plot and the concept was very interesting. However, parts of this were a bit confusing. I will say, I started reading this via e-arc and the format was very hard to follow, but when I picked up the physical book I began to understand more. I’m honestly not sure if that’s because of the format change or being more familiar with the story, though. There were parts of this I definitely didn’t see coming and threw me for a loop. Overall, I enjoyed it!
TW: kidnapping, death, violence

The concept of this story was amazing. It was well thought out and unique. The story line alone would rate 5 stars. I found there were a few to many “main” players in the game which took away from the story. Also (no fault of the story itself) but it was really glitchy on my Kindle especially were there were supposed to be drawings, it caused chunks of writing to be missing or in the wrong place.
It was also a little long and dragged out.
However because I liked the story line so much I am giving it a solid 4 stars

I'm excited to be a part of the THE JUNE BOYS blog tour with The Fantastic Flying Book Club from March 3rd - March 9th, 2020!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.

All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

Content Warning: Kidnapping, Death of a minor, Imprisonment, Abandonment, Shooting by gun, Survival

"We live in a strange world where women walk men to their vehicles, where we are worried their safety might be compromised before our own."

June 1st is a feared date for young men. The Gemini Thief has kidnapped boys for a decade--always on June 1st. After his disappearance, Thea believes that her cousin, Aulus McClaghen, had become one of the Thief’s captives. The boys are always returned home the following year on June 31st. That is, until one of the kidnapped boy’s body is found along the notorious highway where the kidnappings take place.

The Gemini Thief is very good at what they do. They never leave tracks. They kidnap without a hitch. They do it all for…? Why would someone kidnap boys only to return them thirteen months later, for the most-part, unharmed? This mystery employs all matters of investigation when it comes down to uncovering the truth of their identity. Unfortunately for Thea Delacroix, she believes the kidnapper may be her father.

"You meet Noah after the flood, you think, That brave, faith-filled, visionary man. You meet him before and you’re like, What a nut job. Perspective and timing matter. Sometimes you have to accept that you might not be able to see the truth from here."

As Thea partners up with her boyfriend Nick to uncover the truth behind the kidnappings, they also uncover strange secrets that Thea’s father has been keeping from Thea for years. Abandoned by her mother long ago, Thea’s father and his eccentricities has left her somewhat abandoned by him as well. The secrets and obsessions all begin to point to the true question, could he be the kidnapper?

The June Boys reads like one big conversation--but not a pleasant one due to the content discussed. In truth, the e-ARC was not very reader-friendly, which hopefully won’t be the case with the completed Ebook (which I can’t imagine that won’t be formatted differently). The story is written in third person and alternates between the main character Thea, and “Dear Elizabeth” letters written by Aulus, Thea’s kidnapped cousin.

The June Boys ultimately touches on several important aspects, but focuses on desires that emerge from past hurts combined with mental health, and how those desires can turn into something dangerous. Several important discussion starters are brought up throughout the entire investigation of this story, that I wish overall were delved into more deeply. When the kidnapper is revealed, the motivation behind the kidnapping is heart-wrenching and much more complex than someone looking for a twisted “thrill.” The discussion questions at the conclusion do offer the opportunity for deeper personal examination on some of the points touched on throughout the story.

Overall, this riveting read offers a complex look at some of the most difficult scenarios life can throw at unsuspecting individuals.

Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: Kissing.
Violence: Minimal to Moderate considering the nature of the story.

My Rating: ★★★

True story, I have never read a Courtney Stevens book I didn't love. That's it, that's the review.

I jest. Seriously though, this was another hit in a long line of fabulous books. The June Boys is a gripping mystery, but it's also a lot more. It's such a love letter to friendship and family bonds, and asks the really hard questions. Like what would you do if you thought your family member might be capable of kidnapping boys every few Junes?

This, along with her own cousin/close friend Aulus being potentially one of the kidnapped, has Thea in a real bad spot. Not only is she absolutely freaking out over her missing cousin, but her own father has been listed as a suspect. And there's the rub: He has been lying to Thea all over the place, so she has no idea who she can trust at this point.

So this book was, like I said, far more than just a whodunit. Thea has such a deep and complex story to tell, and we get to see her story develop with her best friends and boyfriend, too. They support her so much through this, and are great characters in their own right.

There were a few points in the middle that seemed maybe a little long? But for the most part, it moved along nicely, and I was constantly trying to guess who the baddie was. For a few minutes, I was sure I had the culprit. (Spoiler: I was wrong. So wrong.) But I was engaged throughout, and couldn't wait to read the outcome.

We even get little glimpses into Aulus's traumatic time in captivity, as he writes letters to Elizabeth Smart. Now, if you are reading an eARC like I was, these will look like mushy rubbish that you cannot decipher. Good news, when I got a physical ARC, they are readable, and I definitely think they add something to the story- especially if you know Elizabeth's story, as Aulus does, and commiserates with. (I assume that obviously finished copies will be fine, I don't know about finished ebooks though?)

Bottom Line: The June Boys is thought provoking, full of love and mystery and intrigue, full of what we lose and what we have yet to find.

I enjoyed The June Boys by Court Stevens. This is my first time reading a Court Stevens books and I am definitely interested in reading more from this author.

The June Boys is an astonishing, intriguing, dark and gritty story. It was a really fast paced but slightly confusing read but once it all connected together it made a hell of a more sense.

The main part that caused me confusion was that a side character was in two different places at the same time. Anytime that I put the book down I had no compelling reason to pick it back up so I did have to forced myself to sit down and finish this story.

The end reveal came very quickly and out of nowhere but I didn't see who was the Gemini Thief hence why I gave it a three star read instead of a two star read.

All in all this was a good book and I believe a lot of people will enjoy this novel.

Well, that was a ride. I saw a review stating how confusing this was with the different timelines and how they didn't notice it until the end of the book, so I was glad to have that tidbit in my head throughout. I still managed to get confused though because of the characters included in each section.

I realized later, when putting in the publisher for this book, that this is kind of under a Christian fiction umbrella? There were some weird religious elements starting around the middle that were not my favorite. It's no secret I don't enjoy books with major religious themes and some of them here were just too much out of my wheelhouse, like people having signs from God to cover for their actions? It was not for me.

I honestly didn't take a lot of time to develop theories for this book because it was really hard for me to keep all of the characters straight. There were SO many because they introduced a lot of adults (uncles, aunts, family friends, parents of friends, etc.) as well as the teenagers. I just couldn't remember if Gladys was a friend or an aunt? What was the name of Aulus's dad again? Idk, it was hard for me!

I think the ending of this one took it to a better spot for me! I wasn't sure how things were going to shake out and definitely didn't see it coming. The castle element to the story was weird and added some intrigue (in terms of the suspect list, to keep it simple/spoiler-free) but I didn't really understand the point, aside from the aforementioned "God told me to do it" plot element that felt super out of place. 

Overall, I was pretty addicted to this throughout. The writing style was pretty good and the mystery was intriguing; for once I didn't figure out the culprit or have any inkling really come true. There were multiple surprises/twists at the end that got to me and I definitely appreciate that! However, I'm not sure how long this book will stick with me? I didn't LOVE the writing and think it was a little too basic at times. I've seen a mixed bag of reviews for this one, so I'm honestly not sure how to recommend it!