Lina & June

by Genevieve Wheeler

From the author of Adelaide comes a bittersweet, deeply felt story that follows the start and unraveling of a seemingly unbreakable bond between two young women.

Lina and June’s friendship shouldn’t make sense. June has her future planned to a T; Lina takes life day by day, party by party. June’s dreams are color-coded and neatly filed, while Lina's are even too big for New York City, where she and June are students at the same university. But after a messy night out throws the two girls together, it seems like nothing can tear them apart.

Until June’s health takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

Until Lina jets off to Paris, leaving her best friend behind.

As Lina and June’s once-intertwined lives veer off on separate paths, they’re on their own to figure out how to fix their severed bond—and decide if it’s even worth repairing—or risk running out of time completely.

Are some heartbreaks too big to patch?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Friendship, Literary Fiction, Literature, Mental Health

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication December 8, 2026

About the author

Genevieve Wheeler (she/her) is an American writer and communications director. Her bylines have appeared in publications like VICE, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, Elite Daily, Bustle, Business Insider, and POPSUGAR, with her work and words cited in The New York Times, Vox, the BBC, Jezebel, and beyond. She holds an MA in marketing communications from the University of Westminster in London and a BS in advertising from Boston University. Genevieve currently lives in London with her husband their very cuddly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Nellie.

Reviews

[ok zach]

Adelaide is one of my favorite novels can't wait to read this follow-up!

[cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy. This book was an excellent portrayal on the ups and downs that friendships often have. Friendships are oftentimes just as consuming as romantic relationships and can be even more emotional. The relationships we have with those closest to us often shape everything about our lives and this book really showed that. Lina and June are both equally flawed but you can tell they really care for each other. Seeing the ups and downs of their relationships aswell as aspects of their personal lives made for a really great story. I wasn’t a huge of the italics for dialogue as opposed to quotation marks but it didn’t bother me too much. The story was also kind of boring at times specifically when the two girls were apart but it was still very enjoyable and sweet.

[Amy Gironda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an early ARC of this beautiful novel. I was really excited to receive an early copy of this book after loving Wheeler's previous Adelaide. This novel is an exploration of platonic love and identity and what it means to grow alongside or apart from those you love. Wheeler's writing was strong and kept me invested. I liked the back and forth between the past and present timelines.

I enjoyed all of the NYC references as well as the Paris setting.
I wanted it a little more from the end. But definetly recommend.

[summer⁎ ˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆]

soft dnf at 13%

adelaide is one of my all time favorite books so i was so excited for this, but it doesn't even feel like it's in the same ballpark as adelaide or written by the same author; the voice is very different, dialogue jilted, and the pacing uneven. why is dialogue italicized but text messages are standard font? so irritating. i read as much as i did and enjoyed 0% of it so i'm putting it down. i might come back to it but i genuinely have no interest whatsoever.

thank you smp for the arc.

[Rachel Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful, stunning, gorgeous read about friendship and platonic love. I absolutely love Genevieve’s writing and after becoming deeply obsessed with Adelaide, this did not disappoint. Did the characters sometimes make decisions that made me wanna scream at them? Of course. They were also extremely lovable and relatable in other moments. This book was so infatuating and I will always pick up a book written by Genevieve Wheeler.

Some of my favorite quotes:
“Lucy wanted to make clear to her daughter that romantic love was not the only kind worth celebrating with chocolates and roses, that there were other types of love—different versions—that deserved their due, too.”

“I like you for you. Not because you’re fighting something. Not because I feel bad. I like you because you’re funny and sharp and brutally honest, and you make me want to be better. And no, I don’t totally understand everything you’re going through, but I want to learn—not to fix you, just to know you.”

“I think our paths were always meant to cross. That—even if we hadn’t met then—we would have bumped into each other, literally or figuratively, at some other point. We’re soulmates, right?”

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADELAIDE by Genevieve Wheeler is, completely unexpectedly, one of my favorite books from the past few years. It even gave me the inspiration for my daughter’s middle name! So I was thrilled to receive an early copy of her newest LINA & JUNE.

The story of a friendship, Lina and June meet in college at NYU and realize they are both from Jacksonville, FL (where I live!) They bond quickly and become inseparable, despite their very glaring differences in personalities. As life changes and moves happen, we watch as the two drift in and out of each other’s life after the unthinkable happens. It’s a gorgeous book, made me want to call my best friend immediately, and will definitely make you cry.

Also a must read for any other Jax locals! I’m dying to ask if I got the coffee shops she names in the book right 🤣

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genevieve’s Adelaide is one of my favorite books and she delivered again with Lina & June. This novel explores the rollercoaster of friendships, the ups and downs, and the reality that is growing apart from people you love. Lina and June are two women who meet during their education at NYU. We watch as their relationship grows and dissolves, in and out, through life changes, boys, jobs, and more. It’s one of those books where you do see elements of your own friendships and maybe that’s what makes it so lovable. Of course it wouldn’t be a Genevieve Wheeler book if it didn’t have me crying (and whilst on an airplane at that). A beautiful reminder to treat the ones you love with love. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

[Leah • leahreads__ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4⭐️

The true love in this story is the friendship between Lina & June. Wheeler doesn’t shy away from how messy it gets when a health crisis pulls two best friends in opposite directions. It’s raw and aching in places, though the pacing sagged a bit for me in the middle stretch.

Both characters had their flaws, and honestly I didn’t like Lina most of the time, but it was still enjoyable to read about the ups and downs of their relationship as they navigated the world (literally and figuratively).

I loved Adelaide so I was excited for the opportunity to read Wheeler’s follow up. While I loved Adelaide more, this one will still a good read and I appreciate the complicated, messy characters that she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC!

[Emma Blanchet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adelaide was such a great read so I was so excited to get an advanced reader copy of this! It’s written in the same character driven tone as Adelaide and there’s parts where nothing really happens but it just works. I found a few pieces to be missing at the end which was the only reason I took off a star. I’ll continue to read anything this author puts out.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

[LinaVer]

This is funny. My name is Lina and one of my closest friend is June.
Of course I'm going to read this!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. This was a beautiful story of friendship between two women who could not possibly be more different. Lina who is the party girl, living in the present without thoughts of consequence and June the rule following, mature friend in the pair who has both feet in reality. They compliment one another to a point after finding themselves in each other’s orbit early in their college careers.

June supported Lina through all of her self inflicted trials, although it crossed Lina’s mind she was “too much” that reality didn’t settle until much later when she grew up. Lina was immature almost until the very end. She was a friend in the only way she knew how to be. She reflected and she saved herself from one of the biggest regrets of her life. She was shallow, June was deep. You saw that in both women’s decisions. I loved June. I relate more with her and wouldn’t have tolerated Lina for as long as she did. Her reconnecting with one character was beautiful. I am so glad she found that with him. I knew what to expect but cried because I felt June was so well developed later in the story. I felt I was in her group meetings with her. She was my friend too! I love a good reconnection story. I can relate! It has made us stronger and I know that’s was the case with Lina and June. I’ve told my friends I love them and cannot imagine them not in my life so it was sweet to have the author discuss soulmates in friendship.

The first part of the story until around midway felt disjointed. The transitions between chapters was not really working for me. We had some time jumps but after the center part of the story it clicked in and flowed. I did like the alternating chapters for Lina’s story in Paris and June’s in Florida. Again both lives totally different. June fighting for her life, Lina living hers up until she messed it up. There was one flashback chapter later in the second half that threw me off and I didn’t think was placed well there. The conversations are italicized which I didn’t mind. Overall I enjoyed this story. It is something people face everyday. Growth. We can either grow together or apart and sometimes we come back to each other but regardless those people, we remember. They shape our experiences and make us who we are today. They’ll always own a piece of our hearts.

[Cordelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS
-Lina and June meet in college and become unlikely best friends despite having very different personalities.
-Their friendship becomes the most important relationship in both of their lives as they navigate young adulthood.
-Jobs, relationships, distance, and a scary diagnosis begin to pull them in different directions.
-As their lives diverge, both women must decide whether their friendship can survive the changes they've gone through.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
-Their friendship is the love story.
-The novel explores themes of friendship, platonic love, and identity. It captures how our closest friendships can shape who we become, especially during the formative years of early adulthood.
-Lina and June are very different people, which made their friendship feel realistic and compelling. The book explores how difficult it can be to maintain a friendship when two people are growing in different directions.
-Neither character is perfect, and I appreciated that. Both women make mistakes and hurt each other at times, which made the relationship feel authentic.
-enjoyed following them from college into adulthood as they navigated careers, relationships, illness, and the process of figuring out who they are.
-I loved Adelaide and gave it five stars, so I went into this one with very high expectations. Adelaide remains one of my favorite books of recent years. While I enjoyed Lina & June, it didn't affect me as deeply as Adelaide. I connected more strongly with the characters and emotional journey in Wheeler's debut.
-Even so, Wheeler continues to excel at writing about relationships & the realities of life.
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨Lina & June is a thoughtful and emotionally resonant exploration of friendship, platonic love, and identity. I admired its honest portrayal of a complicated female friendship and the ways people grow together and apart, even if it did not affect me as deeply as Adelaide. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction centered on relationships.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on December 8, 2026.

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her remarkable debut novel "Adelaide", Genevieve Wheeler returns with "Lina & June", a heartfelt exploration of female friendship and the ways our closest relationships shape the people we become.

Lina and June meet in college and, despite their vastly different personalities, quickly become inseparable. As they navigate the uncertainties of young adulthood, their friendship becomes the anchor in both of their lives. But as careers, romantic relationships, distance, and ultimately a devastating cancer diagnosis begin to pull them in different directions, both women are forced to confront whether even the strongest friendships can survive life's inevitable changes.

June is the steady force in the relationship—the dependable friend who always seems to know exactly what Lina needs. At times, she almost feels like a nurturing older sister or mother figure, constantly offering support while asking for very little in return. Lina, on the other hand, is vibrant, adventurous, and forever chasing the next opportunity, even when her impulsiveness creates complications of her own. As often happens in friendships like these, the imbalance between the giver and the dreamer begins to strain the bond they've built.

The novel's emotional core arrives when June is diagnosed with cancer just as Lina once again feels drawn to Paris. It's an impossible choice that raises difficult questions. Do you stay with the friend who has always been there for you, or do you pursue what you believe is your life's calling? Wheeler resists offering easy answers, allowing the emotional complexity of both women's choices to unfold naturally.

What I appreciated most about Lina & June is its thoughtful portrayal of friendship. On the surface, June and Lina's relationship appears uneven, with one friend giving far more than the other. But what initially felt like an imbalance was actually two people supplying what the other lacked.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this novel.

[Rachel ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing wonderful things about Genevieve’s debut Adelaide, I was really excited to receive a copy of Lina and June and experience her writing myself!

Lina and June’s friendship shouldn’t make sense, they’re complete opposites. After a messy university night out throws the girls together, it seems like nothing can tear them apart. Until June’s health takes an unexpected turn and Lina jets off to Paris, leaving her best friend behind. As their once-intertwined lives veer off on separate paths, they’re on their own to figure out how to fix their severed bond.

What a beautiful exploration of female friendship, the deep soulmate love you can hold and the devastating heartbreak it can cause. I think this book will feel incredibly relatable for many, I could definitely see slices of my friendships throughout their different seasons of life.

Genevieve’s writing is beautiful, reading this has desperately made me want to pick up Adelaide. I devoured the whole book in one sitting. Every word was chosen with such care and emotion and it had me so immersed and absorbed.

As with most character driven stories, the plot can be lighter, with this feeling like a journey through the years, but I never felt bored. I loved the time jumps and the years in Paris and New York and I felt like I was growing up alongside them both.

I was especially captured by June (and also can we take a moment for wonderful Oli 🥺 what a redemption ARC!!) I regularly found myself frustrated by Lina and her messiness - she was often selfish, with the friendship feeling unbalanced and June offering all of the support, but I could see the growth in her towards the end and how she was able to balance them out.

This felt very real and raw - it’s a deep dive into love, friendship and loss, and was a wonderful reminder of the different kinds of love we can experience in a lifetime, and how our friends can be our first soulmates.

Thank you Head of Zeus and Genevieve Wheeler for the gifted ARC copy - Lina and June publishes December 10th.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ☆☆☆☆

This is one that is going to stay with me for a while.
I first picked this up because I was intrigued to see the portrayal of female friendship and how it either withstands the test of time or it doesn't. I think this book did an excellent job at showcasing the ebb and flow, the negatives and the positives of a soul friendship throughout formative years. This book takes you on an emotional journey and shows you that these moments in time in life are just that: moments. It's bittersweet because life is bittersweet and I loved how realistic this literary fiction was.

As someone who lives close to NYC, romanticizes the city of Paris, and frequently visits D.C., it seems as though the atmospheric settings of this book were hand-picked for me. Because the backdrops were so relatable, I think it made the overall experience of reading more immersive for me.

By the third act of this book however, I did end up hating Lina's character. I wished she would just grow up and realize that not everything is going to be handed to her so easily all of the time. She was inconsiderate at times and I felt June was very justified in wanting to take a step back from the friendship considering everything else that was going on in her life. She did make a redemption in the end, but I wished we got to see more of her growth on page.

Also, I personally was not a fan of the third person omnipresent voice here. It was a bit confusing shifting from one character's thought process and jumping right into another's in the same paragraph.

All in all, I would recommend this to anybody who is craving a love story not in the romantic sense but in the platonic, sisterhood sense. Female friendship is one of the most powerful things in the world and while there may be ups and downs, it's important to read about the instances where love prevails.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lina and June meet at university and, despite being complete opposites, form a friendship that feels almost impossible to break. But as life pulls them in different directions, distance, changing priorities, illness, and all the ways we grow into different versions of ourselves test their friendship.

This was such a beautiful and bittersweet look at female friendship and the kind of love that exists between two people who become family to each other. I really loved that their friendship was at the heart of the story. It's platonic, but it carries so much of the same intensity, devotion, heartbreak, and vulnerability.

Lina and June felt incredibly real to me. Neither of them always made the right choices, and there were moments when I wanted to shake them both, but that's what made their relationship feel so authentic. People change, friendships change, and sometimes loving someone doesn't automatically make it easy to stay in their life.

The time jumps worked really well for me and gave the story this feeling of watching two people grow up while trying to hold onto something that once felt unbreakable. There was something particularly poignant about seeing how their individual lives shaped the friendship they had built together.

Genevieve's writing is beautiful and incredibly thoughtful. There's a quiet emotionality throughout the book that gradually sneaks up on you, and I found myself thinking about my own friendships and all the different seasons they've gone through.

I actually haven't read Genevieve’s Adelaide yet, but I plan to asap. I thought this was a tender, honest, and heartbreaking story about friendship, growing up, and figuring out whether some bonds can survive becoming different people.

Thank you @stmartinspress, Genevieve Wheeler, & NetGalley for the #gifted earc. All opinions are my own.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Genevieve Wheeler, and St. Martin’s Press for the pre-publication copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about the depth of love between friends, so it’s no surprise that there’s some heartbreak involved. I couldn’t put this book down, and parts of the book even brought me to tears. The first half of the novel builds June and Lina’s friendship and shared history, and the second half focuses on the unraveling of that friendship.

This book also explores the relationship between a person and a city and how loving a place can, in some ways, be just as disappointing and just as passionate as loving a person.

I generally prefer more linear storytelling, but I did enjoy reading about the characters in different settings – Jacksonville, New York, DC, Paris, etc. Overall, Ms. Wheeler’s writing was easy to follow, and she built the story without overexplanation or being too wordy. My one critique regarding the writing style is that the conversations were in italics rather than quotation marks, which I thought was distracting because I typically think of italics to be someone’s internal dialogue rather than spoken words.

In terms of the characters, I found June to be very likeable and a great friend. I preferred reading from her point of view. Lina, on the other hand, was difficult to like at times.

This is a 4-star read rather than 5 because the ending seemed a bit rushed and did not have the emotional depth of the rest of the book. I would recommend this book to readers looking for a book about friendship, heartbreak, and growing up.

[Astrid Galactic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a love story. Not in the traditional romantic sense. It's not about any sort of intimacy that lovers share. Instead, it's about two best friends. Two women who truly love and care for each other. Though the caring and nurturing seems to be imbalanced as often the case, be it with friendships or lovers, there is certainly a difference there as to what each provide in this relationship.

June is always there as the rock in this deep friendship, almost as a nurturing motherly type of support for Lina. Lina is vivacious and carefree which tends to lead her into problems for her own life. As can often happen in such a relationship, that imbalance tears and strains the deep bond that June and Lina share. This all happens as June finds her life path taking her down the road of having to contend with her own cancer diagnosis. At the same time, Lina, yet again, feels Paris calling her. What does one do? Tend to her dying best friend of follow what she believes to be her life's calling?

While we can easily see that these two completely different personality types and life directions can't help but pull these two apart, there is still that certain kismet that lingers on. June and Lina's relationship seems so imbalanced, yet when you step back and look at it as a whole, you can then see that what seems to be an imbalance is really just two different parts of the whole. That instead, one fills the needs of the other which ultimately creates its own balanced dynamic.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the eBook in leu of a review.

[Julie Bouchner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the early read in exchange for my honest review.

In Lina & June, we follow two college students whose friendship shouldn't work on paper. June has her life carefully planned out, while Lina is spontaneous and takes life as it comes. After an unexpected night brings them together, the two become inseparable, but as life takes them in different directions, their friendship is put to the test. Over the years, they navigate love, career changes, personal struggles, and the growing pains that come with adulthood. The book explores friendship and what happens when two people who once meant everything to each other begin to grow in different directions.

Rating: 4⭐ This was my first book by Genevieve Wheeler, and it definitely won't be my last. I really enjoyed the way she explored friendship and how the people closest to us can have such an impact on our lives. I also enjoyed the back-and-forth between the past and present timelines, which allowed readers to see their friendship evolve through different stages of life. I think many readers will find parts of their own friendships reflected in Lina and June's relationship and the different seasons that friendships can go through. What initially felt like an uneven friendship ended up being two people giving each other exactly what the other needed. Overall, this was an engaging read about friendship, growing up, and what happens when the people you love start changing and growing in different directions.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lina & June will absolutely hold a special place in my heart for some time to come. This is a story that will stay with me, and I know I will think about quite often. With that, I do not believe this story will be for everyone. This is a very heavily character driven story. I had a personal connection to one of the FMCs so I found myself feeling extremely connected to the story and I couldn't put it down.

Lina and June truly illustrate the ups and downs and all consuming love that comes with such strong friendship. Your first best friend can absolutely feel like your first love, and the ups can be so high, but the lows can be so low and this story really illustrated that. Some of the parts of the story were a bit slow, but I think they were each still important to the character depth that both Lina and June needed.

My only complaint was the way conversation was portrayed in this. I dislike when authors choose to italicize dialogue instead of using quotation marks. That's a personal preference, though.

With that being said, Lina and June's story can be extremely jarring and hard to read at times. It felt personal to me, as I can relate to June and what she went through.

I absolutely love the way Genevieve Wheeler writes. It is engaging, raw, real and doesn't scoot around the uncomfortable.

I would highly recommend this, BUT would HIGHLY recommend checking triggers before diving in. I went into this blind, and I was thankful I did, but those who do have triggers protect your mental health!

[Rissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lina and June. 2.75 ⭐️

Meeting your future best friend at a frat party while so drunk you end up vomiting on yourself and having to be taken to the hospital for a concussion and intoxication… and yet you still end up best friends. They should be able to handle any problem thrown their way and a lot of problems were thrown their way.

I feel like every girl wants a friend. Someone that becomes like a sister to them. Someone that they can be completely themselves around. No judgement.
I dont know if this is going to be edited in the final copy but there was no “ “ conversations just happened. Hey there June said. Instead of “hey there,” June said. That took some getting used to. Also the amount of — those were very distracting. It seemed like every paragraph had an — and it just didn’t seem necessary to add in all those extra adverbs.
The characters and idea were decent but the writing style was lacking for me.

“Thank you, Lina said. For the clothes, the directions; for staying by her side, despite being a complete and utter stranger.”

“ In another life, and under different circumstances, it’s possible—likely, even—that Lina and June’s paths never cross. That they remain students at NYU, one year apart, with different majors and friend groups and extra-curriculars—their academic and social calendars never thrusting them into the same shared space. But, in this life, it begins like this….”
Thank you to netgalley for this digital copy all opinions are my own.

[Jessica Goodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because I loved "Adelaide" so much - a top book of the year when I read it - when I heard that the author had a new book coming out soon, I had to get my hands on it. Without a doubt, "Lina & June" was my most-desired book for this year so I was thrilled when the publisher sent me an advanced copy.

I loved the premise: two women become best friends in college - platonic soul-mates - but then have a devastatingly painful "friend break-up".

Though I enjoyed the writing and was never bored, I wished for more depth. I felt like the author was doing more telling than showing and I never fully understood why Lina and June were so deeply enmeshed - what was so special about their friendship? I wished for more stories of their connection and their history but instead we just had to rely on their rituals of croissants and watching "Drag Race". The story took a dramatic turn about midway and the stakes got higher in their friendship but I didn't feel we had earned enough of a foundational understanding of their friendship to face this huge challenge. Toward the end of the book, the author chose to give us the brief point-of-view of two side characters which felt gratuitous and unnecessary.

In spite of those concerns, I'm still glad I read this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Genevieve Wheeler's debut novel Adelaide, and even though this one is also very well-written, I just could not relate to the intensity of Lina and June's friendship. I would never want this kind of friendship in my life and it actually made me feel uncomfortable. NYU undergraduate students Lina and June meet at a Halloween frat party where Lina is passed out from drinking and June swoops in to rescue her even though they have never met before. This is where the weirdness started for me - June spends the night at the hospital watching over this complete stranger. I'm not sure what it was in June that needed to mother Lina so much because she seems to come from normal loving parents. Maybe as an only child, June was looking for a pseudo-sibling. June is as responsible as Lina is flighty and they seem to be polar opposites, but they become closer than any friendship I've experienced in my life or seen from others around me. It's basically a platonic love affair. Lina and June's story spans from their college days in 2012 to their present adult life. I really can't elaborate further without getting into spoilers. If you haven't read Adelaide, I would recommend reading it and skipping this one. Thanks to #Netgalley and StMartinsPress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathryn Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lina & June is a heartfelt and emotional story about friendship, growing apart, and finding home in another person rather than in a place.

One of my favorite aspects of this novel was how different the two main characters were. June is responsible, studious, professional, and always seems to have a plan, while Lina is carefree, impulsive, and still trying to find her footing. Their yin-and-yang personalities made their friendship feel authentic, and I found myself relating to June more than I expected.
The story alternates between the present and the past, slowly revealing what happened between them.

What really stood out to me was how realistically the friendship evolved. It begins with June being the one Lina leans on, but over time that dynamic shifts until Lina is the one needed by June. The story captures the painful reality of outgrowing someone while never stopping loving them. It also perfectly portrays the heartbreaking feeling of having someone still be the first person you want to call, even though your relationship isn't what it once was.

Readers who loved Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah will likely enjoy this story's exploration of lifelong friendship, love, and loss. This book was a touching reminder that sometimes home isn't a place—it's a person.

[Annie Hollon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the NetGalley ARC!!

I love a good story about female friendship growing and evolving over time, which made me eager to pick up the latest from Genevieve Wheeler. I'd seen plenty of praise for her debut, and was eager to see her work in action.

Lina & June offers a decade-long view of the bond between its titular characters, the former a vibrant, risk-taking ball of energy and the latter a type A, grounded presence. Admittedly, I found myself more intrigued by June's side of the narrative rather than Lina's, finding more to explore and learn about through June's journey with ambition vs. Lina's situationship with Paris.

It also took me about a quarter of the way through the book to buy that the friendship was fully reciprocated on both sides, and even as the novel closed, I found it challenging to see character growth, particularly in Lina. While the duo certainly grew on me by the end, I still found their respective characterization lacking. Beyond major plot points, I feel like the only major elements of their friendship that I still remember are their kebab and croissant hyper fixations and that they're both from Florida.

While this novel wasn't exactly my taste, it was still a nice read, and I believe fans of Wheeler's debut will also enjoy this story!

[Amanda’s_Good_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘢 & 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦
𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘳
𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦 12/08/2026

Lina and June met in NY attending college in 2012 at a Halloween party , and were thick as thieves from
Day 1.
June is the serious steady friend who’s grounded , Lina on the other hand was the friend who “if it was going to happen , it happens to her.
(I understand that lifestyle way to much 🫣)…
June didn’t drink , Lina did. June had a life plan, Lina was a dreamer.
However opposite they were they loved each other and had each other’s backs throughout college and after.
June has a stready job after graduating and begins to feel a little off, after visiting the doctors and have an exploratory surgery she is dealt a hand no one would ever like to receive.
But this is where friendship can be tricky - how do you watch your wild , carefree , healthy friend live her life while your days may be numbered ? It can harbor resentment and bring up things from the past that has no business here in the future
Reading this book made me really miss having close friends! Hug your besties👯‍♀️❤️
4.5 ⭐️𝕊𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕊
#smpinfluencer #smpearlyreaders
#genevievewheeler #linaandjune #bookrecommendations #stmartinpress#macmillianpublishing
#grabthetissues

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

NYU freshman Lina Arquette met NYU sophomore June Carmichael at Halloween when she collapsed at a frat party and June stepped in and took care of her. When she was released from the hospital, June took Lina home with her . . . and thus began their friendship.

Over time, however, actions are taken, words are spoken; June’s health unexpectedly deteriorates and Lina interviews for a job in Paris.

Is their relationship doomed to be a “once upon a time” sort of friendship?

=========

This is a story of friendship: the ins and outs and everything in between and dealing with whatever comes along. June and Lina are as different as night and day and while it seems that nothing could draw them into friendship, who really knows what sparks that feeling between two people?

Despite their differences, the two young women really care for each other . . . and this is their story. Readers who enjoy stories of true friendship, of trials and difficulties, of unexpected roadblocks tossed up by life will find much to appreciate here.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#LinaandJune #NetGalley

[ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genevieve Wheeler delivers a devastatingly beautiful, raw, and deeply felt exploration of platonic love in Lina & June. Following her incredible debut Adelaide, Wheeler proves once again that she is a master at capturing the messy, complex transitions of early adulthood. The story centers on the intense, opposites-attract friendship between June—meticulous, organized, and planning every detail of her life—and Lina, a free spirit who lives purely in the moment. When a severe health crisis and geographical distance begin to pull them apart, their seemingly unbreakable bond begins to fracture. What makes this book so powerful is how authentically it treats female friendship as the ultimate epic love story. Neither character is perfect, and Wheeler does not shy away from the hard, painful truths of how people can grow in different directions and hurt the ones they love most. It is a poignant, bittersweet, and utterly consuming read about identity, grief, and the profound heartbreaks that can exist entirely outside of romance. Keep a box of tissues nearby; this one will stay with you long after the final page.Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amie Mak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lina & June tells the story of a friendship sparked in university and how it morphs through the years. Lina is loud, brash, and outgoing, while June is steadfast, responsible, and focused. Despite being polar opposites, the women grapple with schoolwork, love, and growing up together until a sudden health scare fractures their friendship.

The beginning of the book instantly transported me back to my own university years, evoking a powerful sense of nostalgia for that time and the people I met there. The portrayal of Lina and June during that period was so incredibly bang on that I couldn't help but see myself in the characters. This story is simultaneously funny, tender, and heartbreaking. I absolutely loved how it frames a love story around the bond between two friends, showing exactly how tender, messy, and beautiful female friendship can be.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Verdict:
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Buy A nostalgic and emotional tribute to the friendships that shape us, perfect for anyone looking for a deeply moving contemporary read.
Read if you like: Nostalgic stories, deeply emotional look at lifelong friendships, and books that focus on friendship as the ultimate love story.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, which follows a female friendship from early college days into their 30s. Lina and June were very different people who met serendipitously and formed a deep friendship that carried them through a major part of their lives. The story shifts between timeframes in a way that is easy to follow, with the earlier pieces setting the stage for what is to come later.

I liked an emphasized with both protagonists. I’ve seen other reviews talking about how Lina was self centered and they didn’t see what June saw in her, but I disagree. I thought both characters were realistic and flawed and I totally understood the dynamic and why they were drawn to each other. These are also young people that still have lessons to learn. Having gone into the book blind, I did not expect the VERY BAD THING that happened midway through the book and shaped the rest of the story, but although heartbreaking, I felt that it was handled very well. I almost wish it had left some unanswered questions (which I usually don’t love) in order to avoid some pain.

Overall, this is a memorable read with characters with whom I could empathize and I think it will stick with me for a while. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.