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June Baby
Some summers never leave you.
In this moving debut novel, set over the course of one transformative summer in the lush, beachy enclave of Block Island, a young woman reckons with love, loss, and the choices she must make to move forward.
At seventeen, Ruth lost her mother to cancer, and her father, unable to handle his grieving daughter, shipped her off to Block Island with nothing but a name scribbled on the back of a Diana Beckett. Diana, a renowned photographer, took Ruth in for the summer, and Block Island became Ruth’s refuge, a place of beauty and creativity, a place where she could nurture her dreams of being a writer, a place where she could fall in love for the first time—with Diana’s nephew, Charlie.
Now, at twenty-seven, Ruth has spent the last ten summers living and working among the lucky few who get to vacation in this wealthy beach town, and the rest of the year just scraping by, yearning to return to the place where she feels safe and unburdened. But then Ruth’s world is upended by tragedy again. Desperate for an anchor, she reaches for the person she’s been pining for since she met him—Charlie—who has his own startling revelation to share. And when another surprise comes in the form of a box left to Ruth by Diana, its contents raise questions about just how well she knew the two women who raised her. Torn between what to believe about her past, and what her future might hold, Ruth is faced with another choice: does she dare to rewrite her story entirely?
Both a heartfelt coming-of-age story and a tender exploration of love and grief, set against a backdrop of golden dunes and seaside sunsets, June Baby shows us what it might look like to embrace a life shaped not by loss, but by possibility.
In this moving debut novel, set over the course of one transformative summer in the lush, beachy enclave of Block Island, a young woman reckons with love, loss, and the choices she must make to move forward.
At seventeen, Ruth lost her mother to cancer, and her father, unable to handle his grieving daughter, shipped her off to Block Island with nothing but a name scribbled on the back of a Diana Beckett. Diana, a renowned photographer, took Ruth in for the summer, and Block Island became Ruth’s refuge, a place of beauty and creativity, a place where she could nurture her dreams of being a writer, a place where she could fall in love for the first time—with Diana’s nephew, Charlie.
Now, at twenty-seven, Ruth has spent the last ten summers living and working among the lucky few who get to vacation in this wealthy beach town, and the rest of the year just scraping by, yearning to return to the place where she feels safe and unburdened. But then Ruth’s world is upended by tragedy again. Desperate for an anchor, she reaches for the person she’s been pining for since she met him—Charlie—who has his own startling revelation to share. And when another surprise comes in the form of a box left to Ruth by Diana, its contents raise questions about just how well she knew the two women who raised her. Torn between what to believe about her past, and what her future might hold, Ruth is faced with another choice: does she dare to rewrite her story entirely?
Both a heartfelt coming-of-age story and a tender exploration of love and grief, set against a backdrop of golden dunes and seaside sunsets, June Baby shows us what it might look like to embrace a life shaped not by loss, but by possibility.
13 pages, Audiobook
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Shannon Garvey
1 book138 followersShannon Garvey is the nationally bestselling author of the debut novel June Baby. Born in Rhode Island, Shannon now lives on the New Hampshire coastline. She received her MFA from the University of New Hampshire where she taught undergraduate classes. Shorter work of hers has been published by The Saturday Evening Post.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,475 reviews
July 27, 2026
i don't know much about book publishing. but if i made the rules, and i would like to, this would be released in june.
https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...
anyway, onto the actual content:
this is a book about a deeply selfish person who is also going through a lot.
that is enough to turn off a good number of readers in and of itself, but for me it was fine.
the problem was that, as we were stuck in the mind of a self-absorbed person (justifiably or not — she had a lot of sh*t to figure out), no one else even feels real.
we have stereotypes and cardboard cutouts of old loves and potential new ones and their loves, of family dead and alive, of enemies and friends.
none of it felt truthful.
bottom line: to follow just one character, even an interesting one, through a whole novel is a challenge. this was not a particularly interesting one.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...
anyway, onto the actual content:
this is a book about a deeply selfish person who is also going through a lot.
that is enough to turn off a good number of readers in and of itself, but for me it was fine.
the problem was that, as we were stuck in the mind of a self-absorbed person (justifiably or not — she had a lot of sh*t to figure out), no one else even feels real.
we have stereotypes and cardboard cutouts of old loves and potential new ones and their loves, of family dead and alive, of enemies and friends.
none of it felt truthful.
bottom line: to follow just one character, even an interesting one, through a whole novel is a challenge. this was not a particularly interesting one.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
June 6, 2026
3.5 🌟 good summer vibes & I like it at times, but it was a little boring
Did Not Finish
July 25, 2026dnf at 51%!!! omg seriously save yourself 🙏 emotional immaturity, cheating, self-pity galore!
i really wanted to love this. the cover is gorgeous, the island setting was vibey, and the writing was perfectly fine. but this is such a character-driven story and ruth was pretty much impossible to root for. she’s emotionally avoidant, endlessly self-sabotaging, and spends most of the book feeling sorry for herself. instead of a coming of age story, it mostly felt like watching an adult refuse to take any responsibility for her own life. someone get this girl some therapy sessions!!
the romance subplot was also bizarre and not what i expected at all?? charlie seemed to exist solely to make ruth appear even more delusional and self-centered! the pacing was sluggish, the plot felt unoriginal, and i never connected with a single character 🤠
after giving up, i read a summary of the rest and WOW. very happy with my decision. i am struggling with this particular flavor of upmarket fiction lately, nothing is hitting 😩 everything about this was just painfully okay!
i really wanted to love this. the cover is gorgeous, the island setting was vibey, and the writing was perfectly fine. but this is such a character-driven story and ruth was pretty much impossible to root for. she’s emotionally avoidant, endlessly self-sabotaging, and spends most of the book feeling sorry for herself. instead of a coming of age story, it mostly felt like watching an adult refuse to take any responsibility for her own life. someone get this girl some therapy sessions!!
the romance subplot was also bizarre and not what i expected at all?? charlie seemed to exist solely to make ruth appear even more delusional and self-centered! the pacing was sluggish, the plot felt unoriginal, and i never connected with a single character 🤠
after giving up, i read a summary of the rest and WOW. very happy with my decision. i am struggling with this particular flavor of upmarket fiction lately, nothing is hitting 😩 everything about this was just painfully okay!
May 14, 2026
A coming of age story.
Love, loss, and island summers.
Ruth’s mother died when she was 17 and she was so broken with grief that her dad sent her to Block Island to stay with Diana, a close friend of her mother’s for the summers.
Diana and Ruth grow very close.
Diana has a nephew, Charlie that also spent his summers there and they were constant companions.
The story is mostly about Ruth now, at 27.. spending what would be her last summer on Block island.. her love for Charlie intense, she is about to tell him she loves him this summer, but he arrives with a fiance in tow.
We learn of Charlie and Ruth’s growing up there and all their memories and meet some other great characters.
We learn a big family secret and why Diana was close to Ruth’s mother.
There is also another huge loss for Ruth involving Diana.
This was a good story and I love island settings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Thousand Voices for the gifted ARC in return for an honest review.
Love, loss, and island summers.
Ruth’s mother died when she was 17 and she was so broken with grief that her dad sent her to Block Island to stay with Diana, a close friend of her mother’s for the summers.
Diana and Ruth grow very close.
Diana has a nephew, Charlie that also spent his summers there and they were constant companions.
The story is mostly about Ruth now, at 27.. spending what would be her last summer on Block island.. her love for Charlie intense, she is about to tell him she loves him this summer, but he arrives with a fiance in tow.
We learn of Charlie and Ruth’s growing up there and all their memories and meet some other great characters.
We learn a big family secret and why Diana was close to Ruth’s mother.
There is also another huge loss for Ruth involving Diana.
This was a good story and I love island settings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Thousand Voices for the gifted ARC in return for an honest review.
July 12, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!
3.5 stars — unfortunately, i was not totally destroyed by this book in the way that i hoped i would be from mutual reviews.
june baby follows our fmc ruth who is grieving the loss of her mother due to cancer, and when her father can't help ruth with her grief, ships her off to spend the summer with a photographer by the name of diana, and falls in love with her nephew charlie.
ruthie was destroyed by the loss of her mother as a teenager, and then again by the loss of diana as a young woman, and i felt she was rather self-destructive in her behaviors and relationships. of course, i’ve never lost a parent or parent figure, but ruthie frustrated me in her lack of ambitions or growth as a young woman.
i also did not appreciate the cheating aspect; just because your life was not what you intended does not mean you destroy the lives of others.
i also listened to the audiobook on libby and the narrator did a good job!
while i didn’t enjoy this as much as i thought i would, I’m glad this book has reached its audience!
3.5 stars — unfortunately, i was not totally destroyed by this book in the way that i hoped i would be from mutual reviews.
june baby follows our fmc ruth who is grieving the loss of her mother due to cancer, and when her father can't help ruth with her grief, ships her off to spend the summer with a photographer by the name of diana, and falls in love with her nephew charlie.
ruthie was destroyed by the loss of her mother as a teenager, and then again by the loss of diana as a young woman, and i felt she was rather self-destructive in her behaviors and relationships. of course, i’ve never lost a parent or parent figure, but ruthie frustrated me in her lack of ambitions or growth as a young woman.
i also did not appreciate the cheating aspect; just because your life was not what you intended does not mean you destroy the lives of others.
i also listened to the audiobook on libby and the narrator did a good job!
while i didn’t enjoy this as much as i thought i would, I’m glad this book has reached its audience!
May 20, 2026
"Some summers never leave you."
"In this moving debut novel, set over the course of one transformative summer in the lush, beachy enclave of Block Island, a young woman reckons with love, loss, and the choices she must make to move forward."
Such heartache is felt in this literary fiction. Ruth lost her mother to cancer when she was only 17 years old, a critical age for needing a parent. Her father is grieving selfishly with no regards to his daughter's pain and ships her off to an island with her mother's friend Diana. Diana lives on Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island, a wealthy beach town. Diana nurtures her and encourages her to be a writer. While she is there, she falls in love with Charlie, Diana's nephew, against his mother's wishes.
Ruth experiences detachment from everyone and appears selfish, never allowing her heart to give freely. Each summer she returns to the island. Ten years have passed when she finally decides to tell Charlie she loves him. More heartache comes to the island you must read in order to find out the sadness of it all and the family's secrets that she learns from her mother's past.
This was written beautifully by Shannon Garvey and would make an awesome beach read.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"In this moving debut novel, set over the course of one transformative summer in the lush, beachy enclave of Block Island, a young woman reckons with love, loss, and the choices she must make to move forward."
Such heartache is felt in this literary fiction. Ruth lost her mother to cancer when she was only 17 years old, a critical age for needing a parent. Her father is grieving selfishly with no regards to his daughter's pain and ships her off to an island with her mother's friend Diana. Diana lives on Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island, a wealthy beach town. Diana nurtures her and encourages her to be a writer. While she is there, she falls in love with Charlie, Diana's nephew, against his mother's wishes.
Ruth experiences detachment from everyone and appears selfish, never allowing her heart to give freely. Each summer she returns to the island. Ten years have passed when she finally decides to tell Charlie she loves him. More heartache comes to the island you must read in order to find out the sadness of it all and the family's secrets that she learns from her mother's past.
This was written beautifully by Shannon Garvey and would make an awesome beach read.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 27, 2026
This was not for me. I should not have finished this, I really need to learn to DNF for my sanity. This had unlikeable characters + classic miscommunication trope (which I hate) left me sandy and dry. There was no one to root for here, and I just wanted to punch Ruth in the throat.
May 14, 2026
For the Lily King lovers. Felt totally transported by this book. My favorite kind of affirming, sad-girl-summer read.
June 6, 2026
Not every book is for everybody. This one didn’t ring enough bells for me. The pace was sluggish (could’ve been a short story, I think) and I kept hoping there’d be a big payoff at the end that would make the slow go worth it. But that didn’t happen, not for me anyway. There’s plenty of talent in the prose which is why I gave it 3 stars. But the story itself was just okay. I think it’s more about what I want in a novel these days than what this one ultimately delivered.
January 28, 2026
A novel full of sadness, abandonment and incredibly bad decisions.
When Ruth is a teenager, she loses her mother to cancer and her father abandons her by dropping her off on Block Island with a note with the name of a woman that Ruth has never met. Ruth ends up living with this lady, who becomes her guardian and mentor. As Ruth becomes an adult, she is still obsessed with Block Island and the teenage love that got away. Not able to go forward in life, Ruth is very stuck in the past, living her late twenties just like she did as a teenager. When her young love finally comes back to the island, Ruth makes bad decision after bad decision.
The author is a fantastic writer weaving the heartbreaking story among each character, but I was very irritated and angry at the main character and how she did not seem to want to change her life. This book left me rooting for other characters to go far away from Ruth.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was released May 12, 2026. #NetGalley #JuneBaby
When Ruth is a teenager, she loses her mother to cancer and her father abandons her by dropping her off on Block Island with a note with the name of a woman that Ruth has never met. Ruth ends up living with this lady, who becomes her guardian and mentor. As Ruth becomes an adult, she is still obsessed with Block Island and the teenage love that got away. Not able to go forward in life, Ruth is very stuck in the past, living her late twenties just like she did as a teenager. When her young love finally comes back to the island, Ruth makes bad decision after bad decision.
The author is a fantastic writer weaving the heartbreaking story among each character, but I was very irritated and angry at the main character and how she did not seem to want to change her life. This book left me rooting for other characters to go far away from Ruth.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was released May 12, 2026. #NetGalley #JuneBaby
February 9, 2026
for lovers of “writers and lovers” !
May 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
1.5 stars.
The more I thought about this book, the more I had issues with it.
It had beautiful writing, but just because it has a pretty writing style doesn’t mean the story or the characters are well written. I thought it would be my type of book I like to read, but it just made me angry.
This was just too all over the place. It had a really strong start and I thought I was really going to enjoy it, but I did not.
I am not a huge fan of second chance romance, but this wasn’t even that to be honest. I wish the story was told chronologically. I thought we would see Ruth and Charlie spending the summer together and falling in love. We would see the build up of her dynamic with Diana. I thought it would be a linear storytelling. But no, it had a 10 year jump right off the bat. There weren’t even that many flashbacks. It would be one thing if the author wanted a time jump right away and then went back and slowly revealed their relationship, but all it did was move forward.
Everything was told to us. How Ruth felt about Charlie and Diana. I couldn’t really feel their connection. She had way more chemistry with Louis in my opinion. At least they actually spoke and had real conversations. I wasn’t rooting for Charlie and Ruth to get together.
Slight spoilers, but how am I supposed to root for a couple when there is so much emotional and actual cheating going on. If I am expected to be happy he is a cheater, I am not!! I felt so bad for Nadia. She didn’t deserve that.
Ruth was a bad person. I hate to be mean, but I did not like her at all. I feel for her and who she lost, but she really did nothing for herself. I’m not saying she can’t continue to grieve, because I think I would be a wreck, but she had no motivation to get out of the rut she was in. And she kind of treated people poorly because of that. I agreed with Lucy that she needed to move on in the sense that she can’t just sit and wallow.
I loved Louis. Part of me was rooting for him to be with Ruth because I liked them together much more than her and Charlie, but on the other hand I kept thinking to myself he is better without her! I would take him if she doesn’t want him. Charlie just didn’t have any personality other than us knowing Ruth was in love with him.
I wish the plot focused on one thing, then maybe I would have liked it better. Sometimes it was about Diana, sometimes about her mom, sometimes about Charlie, then Louis was thrown in. Then Ruth was going against Nadia, and having issues with Lynn. It was just a lot. I get that stuff can get hectic like that in real life, but it wasn’t very pleasant to read.
Spoiler: She had an abortion which was hard to read about. If you are sensitive to that, I would definitely not read this book.
The ending was just super abrupt too. There was no resolution with Charlie or Louis, or what Ruth was going to do with her life. You could kind of put the pieces together, but it just ended with no indicator what her future would look like. Which that could be a whole other book in and of itself, but I was still hoping we’d get a little more closure.
Also it makes me angry that this book is called June Baby and was released in May. But that is just a nitpicky me issue.
I thought this would be a good summer read, but you are better off looking elsewhere.
1.5 stars.
The more I thought about this book, the more I had issues with it.
It had beautiful writing, but just because it has a pretty writing style doesn’t mean the story or the characters are well written. I thought it would be my type of book I like to read, but it just made me angry.
This was just too all over the place. It had a really strong start and I thought I was really going to enjoy it, but I did not.
I am not a huge fan of second chance romance, but this wasn’t even that to be honest. I wish the story was told chronologically. I thought we would see Ruth and Charlie spending the summer together and falling in love. We would see the build up of her dynamic with Diana. I thought it would be a linear storytelling. But no, it had a 10 year jump right off the bat. There weren’t even that many flashbacks. It would be one thing if the author wanted a time jump right away and then went back and slowly revealed their relationship, but all it did was move forward.
Everything was told to us. How Ruth felt about Charlie and Diana. I couldn’t really feel their connection. She had way more chemistry with Louis in my opinion. At least they actually spoke and had real conversations. I wasn’t rooting for Charlie and Ruth to get together.
Slight spoilers, but how am I supposed to root for a couple when there is so much emotional and actual cheating going on. If I am expected to be happy he is a cheater, I am not!! I felt so bad for Nadia. She didn’t deserve that.
Ruth was a bad person. I hate to be mean, but I did not like her at all. I feel for her and who she lost, but she really did nothing for herself. I’m not saying she can’t continue to grieve, because I think I would be a wreck, but she had no motivation to get out of the rut she was in. And she kind of treated people poorly because of that. I agreed with Lucy that she needed to move on in the sense that she can’t just sit and wallow.
I loved Louis. Part of me was rooting for him to be with Ruth because I liked them together much more than her and Charlie, but on the other hand I kept thinking to myself he is better without her! I would take him if she doesn’t want him. Charlie just didn’t have any personality other than us knowing Ruth was in love with him.
I wish the plot focused on one thing, then maybe I would have liked it better. Sometimes it was about Diana, sometimes about her mom, sometimes about Charlie, then Louis was thrown in. Then Ruth was going against Nadia, and having issues with Lynn. It was just a lot. I get that stuff can get hectic like that in real life, but it wasn’t very pleasant to read.
Spoiler: She had an abortion which was hard to read about. If you are sensitive to that, I would definitely not read this book.
The ending was just super abrupt too. There was no resolution with Charlie or Louis, or what Ruth was going to do with her life. You could kind of put the pieces together, but it just ended with no indicator what her future would look like. Which that could be a whole other book in and of itself, but I was still hoping we’d get a little more closure.
Also it makes me angry that this book is called June Baby and was released in May. But that is just a nitpicky me issue.
I thought this would be a good summer read, but you are better off looking elsewhere.
May 7, 2026
"Some summers never leave you.
In this moving debut novel, set over the course of one transformative summer in the lush, beachy enclave of Block Island, a young woman reckons with love, loss, and the choices she must make to move forward."
Ruth is seventeen when her mother passes away from cancer. Reeling with grief and longing to be loved, Ruth's father sends her to live on Block Island with her mother's best friend, Diana. Ruth finds her summers with Diana one of refuge and restoration where she can focus on writing, sun drenched summers by the sea, and love. She falls in love with Diana's nephew Charlie who is charming and her best friend.
Now she is 27 and returning to the beautiful island hoping it will restore her once again. But things are different this summer. There is change, secrets that bubble to the surface, and important decisions to be made.
This coming of age story is one for the books! Full of sun, sea, sunsets, dunes, career and more, this story has something for everyone. Coming of age stories don't always resonate with me but this one is spectacular. The characters are layered and complex in dealing with career, love, loss and grief. It is somewhat atmospheric and fills your soul with summer warmth as Block Island itself becomes a character. There are some important friendships that come into play. Garvey writes with a level of emotional intelligence that is rare in a debut. I highly recommend adding this to your beach bag for the ultimate beach read!
The audiobook performance by Christine Lakin (12 hours) brings the emotions to life and animates the characters. Listening in tandem with the print copy made for an elevated reading experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Thousand Voices, PRH Audio, and Shannon Garvey for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 🎧📚
In this moving debut novel, set over the course of one transformative summer in the lush, beachy enclave of Block Island, a young woman reckons with love, loss, and the choices she must make to move forward."
Ruth is seventeen when her mother passes away from cancer. Reeling with grief and longing to be loved, Ruth's father sends her to live on Block Island with her mother's best friend, Diana. Ruth finds her summers with Diana one of refuge and restoration where she can focus on writing, sun drenched summers by the sea, and love. She falls in love with Diana's nephew Charlie who is charming and her best friend.
Now she is 27 and returning to the beautiful island hoping it will restore her once again. But things are different this summer. There is change, secrets that bubble to the surface, and important decisions to be made.
This coming of age story is one for the books! Full of sun, sea, sunsets, dunes, career and more, this story has something for everyone. Coming of age stories don't always resonate with me but this one is spectacular. The characters are layered and complex in dealing with career, love, loss and grief. It is somewhat atmospheric and fills your soul with summer warmth as Block Island itself becomes a character. There are some important friendships that come into play. Garvey writes with a level of emotional intelligence that is rare in a debut. I highly recommend adding this to your beach bag for the ultimate beach read!
The audiobook performance by Christine Lakin (12 hours) brings the emotions to life and animates the characters. Listening in tandem with the print copy made for an elevated reading experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Thousand Voices, PRH Audio, and Shannon Garvey for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 🎧📚
May 20, 2026
June Baby had a strong premise and a beautifully atmospheric setting, but it ultimately didn’t work for me because I couldn’t connect with the main character.
The story follows Ruth over the course of ten years after she is sent to Block Island following her mother’s death, and the novel leans heavily into themes of grief, nostalgia, first love, and emotional attachment to a place. The island itself is vividly written, and there are moments where the mood and setting really stand out.
However, Ruth as a protagonist made it difficult for me to stay engaged. Her decisions often felt frustrating, and I struggled with how she treated the people around her and the way she remained fixated on certain relationships and memories without enough emotional growth or reflection to balance it out. Instead of feeling like a meaningful exploration of being stuck in the past, it started to feel repetitive and emotionally distant.
Because the story is so character-driven, my lack of connection to Ruth affected my overall experience significantly. I never felt fully invested in her journey, and at times reading felt more like something I had to get through rather than something I wanted to return to.
While I can see what the book was aiming for in terms of mood and emotional tone, it ended up being a 2-star read for me due to the disconnect with the main character and the lack of engagement that resulted.
The story follows Ruth over the course of ten years after she is sent to Block Island following her mother’s death, and the novel leans heavily into themes of grief, nostalgia, first love, and emotional attachment to a place. The island itself is vividly written, and there are moments where the mood and setting really stand out.
However, Ruth as a protagonist made it difficult for me to stay engaged. Her decisions often felt frustrating, and I struggled with how she treated the people around her and the way she remained fixated on certain relationships and memories without enough emotional growth or reflection to balance it out. Instead of feeling like a meaningful exploration of being stuck in the past, it started to feel repetitive and emotionally distant.
Because the story is so character-driven, my lack of connection to Ruth affected my overall experience significantly. I never felt fully invested in her journey, and at times reading felt more like something I had to get through rather than something I wanted to return to.
While I can see what the book was aiming for in terms of mood and emotional tone, it ended up being a 2-star read for me due to the disconnect with the main character and the lack of engagement that resulted.
June 21, 2026
this was so infuriating to read. it’s unfortunate because it was pretty well written, it’s a solid debut from a writing standpoint, but the author shot herself in the foot by forcing the reader to be in the head of one of the biggest losers i’ve ever had the misfortune of coming across.
the main character, Ruth, is the main reason why i have to rate the book so low. this depiction of grief came across whiny and pathetic—Ruth has a severe case of arrested development and behaves as her teenage self for a majority of the book despite being a grown woman. i understand grief is complex and difficult, but there comes a time where you need to stand up, move on, and carry the pain with you in a dignified way. Ruth did the opposite and it was just embarrassing to read about.
Ruth spends the entire book with a horrible, woe-is-me, selfish attitude that was extremely grating on my nerves. she squanders every opportunity provided for her and spends her days focusing on all the wrong things, letting life pass her by. it was honestly just disgusting to read about, by the end i pictured Ruth as a total slob with greasy hair who never showers because that’s how useless and lazy the author decided to portray this person. i wondered for awhile if the author thought this behavior was actually acceptable, but there were about 4-5 characters over the course of the book that said to Ruth exactly what i was thinking about her, so i know the author is aware the character’s behavior was abhorrently embarrassing for a 27-year-old woman. and yet it continued on until the last 20ish pages. and even in the end i still found her to be a fucking loser. i can only stomach reading about a privileged white woman complain about the lack of opportunities she actively avoids and fucks up for herself for so long.
i think Ruth’s idiocy particularly struck a nerve with me because i know a few people in my life who behave this way and their inability to get out of their own way ultimately destroyed the relationships i had with them. one was a lifelong friend and the other was a romantic partner. i have very little patience or empathy for people like this after experiencing how this behavior plays out in real life, so i think i struggled to connect with Ruth because i couldn’t realistically feel any pity for her.
like, sorry, you’re a white woman who has an uber-famous older woman trying to give you opportunity after opportunity—even beyond the grave!—and your misplaced self importance and self-deprecating narcissism has put you into the situations you act as though were thrust upon you unwillingly, meanwhile you made every single poor and wrong choice that put you here and you refuse to take any outs from those who try to give it to you. you’re a deadbeat loser! sorry! i don’t want to read about women like this!
i also found the plot to be generally a bit boring and weirdly executed. i didn’t really understand the whole “romance” subplot with Charlie as it only seemed to serve as a way to make Ruth seem even more delusional, weird, and self-centered than she already was. i think the most powerful part of the book was Ruth dissecting her mother’s life and ultimately changing her opinions over the course of the book as more things happened to her and she gained more experience. i liked that, and that’s really the only positive thing i can point to besides the writing.
i would consider picking up the author’s next book but i would really need to see a huge change in the character work. i would have DNF-ed this had i not been listening on audio.
the main character, Ruth, is the main reason why i have to rate the book so low. this depiction of grief came across whiny and pathetic—Ruth has a severe case of arrested development and behaves as her teenage self for a majority of the book despite being a grown woman. i understand grief is complex and difficult, but there comes a time where you need to stand up, move on, and carry the pain with you in a dignified way. Ruth did the opposite and it was just embarrassing to read about.
Ruth spends the entire book with a horrible, woe-is-me, selfish attitude that was extremely grating on my nerves. she squanders every opportunity provided for her and spends her days focusing on all the wrong things, letting life pass her by. it was honestly just disgusting to read about, by the end i pictured Ruth as a total slob with greasy hair who never showers because that’s how useless and lazy the author decided to portray this person. i wondered for awhile if the author thought this behavior was actually acceptable, but there were about 4-5 characters over the course of the book that said to Ruth exactly what i was thinking about her, so i know the author is aware the character’s behavior was abhorrently embarrassing for a 27-year-old woman. and yet it continued on until the last 20ish pages. and even in the end i still found her to be a fucking loser. i can only stomach reading about a privileged white woman complain about the lack of opportunities she actively avoids and fucks up for herself for so long.
i think Ruth’s idiocy particularly struck a nerve with me because i know a few people in my life who behave this way and their inability to get out of their own way ultimately destroyed the relationships i had with them. one was a lifelong friend and the other was a romantic partner. i have very little patience or empathy for people like this after experiencing how this behavior plays out in real life, so i think i struggled to connect with Ruth because i couldn’t realistically feel any pity for her.
like, sorry, you’re a white woman who has an uber-famous older woman trying to give you opportunity after opportunity—even beyond the grave!—and your misplaced self importance and self-deprecating narcissism has put you into the situations you act as though were thrust upon you unwillingly, meanwhile you made every single poor and wrong choice that put you here and you refuse to take any outs from those who try to give it to you. you’re a deadbeat loser! sorry! i don’t want to read about women like this!
i also found the plot to be generally a bit boring and weirdly executed. i didn’t really understand the whole “romance” subplot with Charlie as it only seemed to serve as a way to make Ruth seem even more delusional, weird, and self-centered than she already was. i think the most powerful part of the book was Ruth dissecting her mother’s life and ultimately changing her opinions over the course of the book as more things happened to her and she gained more experience. i liked that, and that’s really the only positive thing i can point to besides the writing.
i would consider picking up the author’s next book but i would really need to see a huge change in the character work. i would have DNF-ed this had i not been listening on audio.
May 12, 2026
JUNE BABY
By Shannon Garvey
A Heartfelt Story of Love, Loss, and Possibility
3.5 rounded down
A layered debut following seventeen-year-old Ruth as she navigates grief after losing her mother to cancer. Hoping a change of scenery will help, Ruth’s father sends her to Block Island to stay with a woman named Diana, someone Ruth knows very little about. Over the years, the island becomes a refuge where she feels safe and secure, especially with Diana and her nephew Charlie in her life. But as Ruth grows older, she begins questioning how well she truly knows the people who helped raise her and what kind of future she wants for herself.
I really enjoyed the atmospheric Block Island setting with its sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets, and the blend of locals and summer workers that gave the story an authentic beach-town feel. Garvey’s writing is quiet and thoughtful, perfectly matching the reflective tone of the novel. This is very much a slow-burn, character-centered story that feels ideal for summer reading.
At times I found Ruth frustrating, though I was still rooting for her throughout. I also occasionally felt that Ruth and her friends seemed younger than their actual ages, which made it a little harder for me to fully connect with some of their choices and relationships.
A heartfelt coming-of-age story about grief, loneliness, identity, relationships, love, and second chances. I’ll be interested to see what Shannon Garvey writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.
Publishing May 19, 2026
By Shannon Garvey
A Heartfelt Story of Love, Loss, and Possibility
3.5 rounded down
A layered debut following seventeen-year-old Ruth as she navigates grief after losing her mother to cancer. Hoping a change of scenery will help, Ruth’s father sends her to Block Island to stay with a woman named Diana, someone Ruth knows very little about. Over the years, the island becomes a refuge where she feels safe and secure, especially with Diana and her nephew Charlie in her life. But as Ruth grows older, she begins questioning how well she truly knows the people who helped raise her and what kind of future she wants for herself.
I really enjoyed the atmospheric Block Island setting with its sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets, and the blend of locals and summer workers that gave the story an authentic beach-town feel. Garvey’s writing is quiet and thoughtful, perfectly matching the reflective tone of the novel. This is very much a slow-burn, character-centered story that feels ideal for summer reading.
At times I found Ruth frustrating, though I was still rooting for her throughout. I also occasionally felt that Ruth and her friends seemed younger than their actual ages, which made it a little harder for me to fully connect with some of their choices and relationships.
A heartfelt coming-of-age story about grief, loneliness, identity, relationships, love, and second chances. I’ll be interested to see what Shannon Garvey writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.
Publishing May 19, 2026
July 12, 2026
Beach views and bad decisions.
At seventeen, Ruth loses her mother and is sent to spend the summer on Block Island - a real place that looks every bit as stunning as this book makes it seem - with renowned photographer Diana Beckett, a woman she has never met. There, she discovers beauty, creativity, first love, and a sense of belonging she never knew she needed. Ten years later, Ruth is still returning to the island every summer, clinging to the place - and the people - that once saved her. But when another tragedy upends her life and long-buried secrets begin to surface, Ruth is forced to confront the possibility that the story she has been telling herself about her past, and her future, may need to change.
I really wanted to love this book. The setting alone, hinted at by the book's gorgeous cover, nearly won me over: Block Island is rendered in gorgeous, sun-drenched detail, full of golden beaches, salty air, and the kind of nostalgic summer atmosphere that makes you want to book a ferry immediately. It's easy to see why this has been called a perfect beach read.
Unfortunately, though, I had a very hard time connecting with Ruth (and that is putting it mildly).
Although the novel is framed as a coming-of-age story, most of it takes place when Ruth is twenty-seven, and it often feels less like a story about growing up than an examination of one adult's refusal - or inability - to take charge of her own life. While I understand that Ruth's emotional detachment and self-sabotaging tendencies stem from profound grief and unresolved trauma, as the story progressed, I found it increasingly difficult to empathize with her choices, many of which felt not just self-defeating, but actively damaging to both herself and the people around her. At times, she came across as significantly younger than her actual age, and my frustration with her ultimately kept me at arm's length from the story.
That said, June Baby is a very well-written debut. Shannon Garvey writes beautifully about grief, longing, and the complicated ways in which we can become trapped by our own narratives. There is real promise here, and I suspect many readers will connect with Ruth's journey far more than I did.
For me, the stunning island setting and the novel's emotional sincerity weren't quite enough to overcome my frustration with its protagonist. A promising debut and a lovely escape to Block Island - but not one that swept me away.
Many thanks to Random House for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"June Baby" was published on May 12, 2026, and is available now.
At seventeen, Ruth loses her mother and is sent to spend the summer on Block Island - a real place that looks every bit as stunning as this book makes it seem - with renowned photographer Diana Beckett, a woman she has never met. There, she discovers beauty, creativity, first love, and a sense of belonging she never knew she needed. Ten years later, Ruth is still returning to the island every summer, clinging to the place - and the people - that once saved her. But when another tragedy upends her life and long-buried secrets begin to surface, Ruth is forced to confront the possibility that the story she has been telling herself about her past, and her future, may need to change.
I really wanted to love this book. The setting alone, hinted at by the book's gorgeous cover, nearly won me over: Block Island is rendered in gorgeous, sun-drenched detail, full of golden beaches, salty air, and the kind of nostalgic summer atmosphere that makes you want to book a ferry immediately. It's easy to see why this has been called a perfect beach read.
Unfortunately, though, I had a very hard time connecting with Ruth (and that is putting it mildly).
Although the novel is framed as a coming-of-age story, most of it takes place when Ruth is twenty-seven, and it often feels less like a story about growing up than an examination of one adult's refusal - or inability - to take charge of her own life. While I understand that Ruth's emotional detachment and self-sabotaging tendencies stem from profound grief and unresolved trauma, as the story progressed, I found it increasingly difficult to empathize with her choices, many of which felt not just self-defeating, but actively damaging to both herself and the people around her. At times, she came across as significantly younger than her actual age, and my frustration with her ultimately kept me at arm's length from the story.
That said, June Baby is a very well-written debut. Shannon Garvey writes beautifully about grief, longing, and the complicated ways in which we can become trapped by our own narratives. There is real promise here, and I suspect many readers will connect with Ruth's journey far more than I did.
For me, the stunning island setting and the novel's emotional sincerity weren't quite enough to overcome my frustration with its protagonist. A promising debut and a lovely escape to Block Island - but not one that swept me away.
Many thanks to Random House for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"June Baby" was published on May 12, 2026, and is available now.
May 8, 2026
"She had been grieving these women, but now it seemed to Ruth that she didn't even know them, and that they hadn't wanted her to."
This book gave me very mixed feelings. Our main character, Ruth, lost her mother at age 17 and is emotionally and professionally stunted throughout the ten year span of the book. I felt frustrated at her lack of growth. But, somewhere around the 70% mark I realized that this debut may be kind of brilliant. Sometimes it takes a skilled writer to evoke emotion--even the stifiled irritation I felt toward Ruth's failure to thrive in adulthood.
I ended up giving this four stars, and I would enjoy reading Garvey's next novel. Unfortunately, this is being marketed as a commercial, beachy romance, and I think a lot of readers will feel slighted. If you enjoy literary fiction and morally gray characters with a brooding past, you may enjoy this angsty debut.
This book gave me very mixed feelings. Our main character, Ruth, lost her mother at age 17 and is emotionally and professionally stunted throughout the ten year span of the book. I felt frustrated at her lack of growth. But, somewhere around the 70% mark I realized that this debut may be kind of brilliant. Sometimes it takes a skilled writer to evoke emotion--even the stifiled irritation I felt toward Ruth's failure to thrive in adulthood.
I ended up giving this four stars, and I would enjoy reading Garvey's next novel. Unfortunately, this is being marketed as a commercial, beachy romance, and I think a lot of readers will feel slighted. If you enjoy literary fiction and morally gray characters with a brooding past, you may enjoy this angsty debut.
July 24, 2026
Most books are either plot driven or character driven.
The majority of this book is just the main character’s rambling thoughts, with the occasional bit of dialogue or mild action every few pages, so I wouldn’t classify it as plot driven.
But the main character was also insufferable. And uninteresting. At the same time. So not character driven either.
The majority of this book is just the main character’s rambling thoughts, with the occasional bit of dialogue or mild action every few pages, so I wouldn’t classify it as plot driven.
But the main character was also insufferable. And uninteresting. At the same time. So not character driven either.
July 5, 2026
The most unlikable characters I’ve read in a long time. Ruth is also just not very bright. How does anyone like her?
Reading positive reviews and most are calling it a “coming of age story”. She’s 27!!!
Reading positive reviews and most are calling it a “coming of age story”. She’s 27!!!
May 24, 2026
It is rare for a debut novel to possess the steady, unflinching emotional gravity that Shannon Garvey displays in June Baby. Sent to the windswept shores of Block Island at seventeen following her mother’s death, Ruth finds refuge under the wing of a renowned photographer and falls into a consuming first love; a decade later, she must return to the island to confront the ghosts of her past and the shattering secrets left behind in a mysterious box.
Garvey constructs a narrative so intimately brilliant that you do not merely read about Ruth, you inhabit her. The prose places the reader squarely inside Ruth’s head, experiencing the claustrophobic ache of grief and the raw, seething undercurrents of desire right along with her.
What elevates June Baby into the realm of truly exceptional literary fiction is its atmospheric sorcery. Garvey doesn't just describe Block Island; she paints a literal, breathtaking canvas of watercolor skies, salt-washed air, and shifting dunes that leaves you deeply nostalgic for a place you may have never even visited. It is a masterfully executed, character-driven deep dive into the anatomy of heartbreak and second chances. For a first novel to be this structurally sound, emotionally intelligent, and evocative is nothing short of extraordinary. This book is nothing short of an epically emotional journey worthy of 5 stars.
Garvey constructs a narrative so intimately brilliant that you do not merely read about Ruth, you inhabit her. The prose places the reader squarely inside Ruth’s head, experiencing the claustrophobic ache of grief and the raw, seething undercurrents of desire right along with her.
What elevates June Baby into the realm of truly exceptional literary fiction is its atmospheric sorcery. Garvey doesn't just describe Block Island; she paints a literal, breathtaking canvas of watercolor skies, salt-washed air, and shifting dunes that leaves you deeply nostalgic for a place you may have never even visited. It is a masterfully executed, character-driven deep dive into the anatomy of heartbreak and second chances. For a first novel to be this structurally sound, emotionally intelligent, and evocative is nothing short of extraordinary. This book is nothing short of an epically emotional journey worthy of 5 stars.
July 12, 2026
This is not the cute summer book the cover portrays… unless of course you enjoy the perspective of one of the most emotionally stunted and selfish female characters I have ever read. Oh and don’t forget the cheating, lying, and abortion. I should have thrown this one out 100 pages ago.
June 17, 2026
Overall a fine read. Predictable most of the time, but had a couple little unexpected turns. Wouldn’t be a book I jump to recommend, but wasn’t displeased with it.
June 3, 2026
Ruth is seventeen years old, and her world is turned upside down when her mother dies of cancer. Her dad, unable to deal with it all, sends her to her mother's friend on Block Island. Diana is a successful photographer with her images in Vogue and other prestigious magazines. Ruth looks forward to the change of scenery and working with Diana on her upcoming book. Ruth has always aspired to be a writer, and after Diana's push, she wants to help her write her photography book. Ruth also has a transformative summer when she meets Diana's nephew, Charlie. Sparks fly, and their relationship crosses many years, all set against the backdrop of glistening Block Island. Years later, Ruth is still on Block Island, but she no longer has Diana as her anchor, and things with Charlie are strained. June Baby by Shannon Garvey is a compelling and emotional debut novel that is part coming-of-age story and part beach read.
Read the rest of my thoughts here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my thoughts here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
June 17, 2026
June Baby is an impressive debut that completely drew me in. Shannon Garvey crafts an emotionally rich story about grief, first love, family secrets, and second chances, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Block Island.
The is beautifully atmospheric, making the island feel alive on the page, while Ruth's journey feels intimate, authentic, and deeply moving. Immersive, and emotionally resonant, this is a character-driven novel that lingers long after the final page.
A stunning debut and an easy 5 stars.
The is beautifully atmospheric, making the island feel alive on the page, while Ruth's journey feels intimate, authentic, and deeply moving. Immersive, and emotionally resonant, this is a character-driven novel that lingers long after the final page.
A stunning debut and an easy 5 stars.
July 23, 2026
“Predictability and comfort were what she had been searching for all June- her skin begging to be washed in salt water, her lips yearning to be chapped red from the sun, her feet asking to walk barefoot over familiar paths.”
I’m in love with this gorgeous cover and always drawn to a summery, messy, beach read. June Baby is at its core a story about grief and moving forward. Ruth finds herself on Block Island for the first time when she is seventeen. After losing her mother, her father is at a loss and sends her to live and work with Diana, a family friend. She falls in love with Block Island and spends her summers on the island for the next decade as she tries to figure out her next steps in life.
I can relate to spending my summers on a small island town, so that aspect personally gave me a great sense of nostalgia. The pace of this is on the slower side. For some reason I had trouble wanting to pick it up, though when I eventually did I really did enjoy it overall. The setting is beautiful and the writing is great, I just struggled feeling super engaged in the character outcomes. It has messy, imperfect characters. Ruth finds herself so lost and riddled with grief; it’s frustrating to watch her continue to spiral down the same paths, but I couldn’t help but root for her to snap out of her decades long funk. There is lots of pain, but also soft moments of happiness- falling in love for the first time, finding family in friendships, and overall growing up/ coming-of-age.
I think this would suite fans of Elin Hilderbrand.
Thank you to Shannon Garvey, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings: cancer, terminal illness, death of parent, grief, infidelity, pregnancy, abortion, abandonment, suicidal thoughts, near drowning
I’m in love with this gorgeous cover and always drawn to a summery, messy, beach read. June Baby is at its core a story about grief and moving forward. Ruth finds herself on Block Island for the first time when she is seventeen. After losing her mother, her father is at a loss and sends her to live and work with Diana, a family friend. She falls in love with Block Island and spends her summers on the island for the next decade as she tries to figure out her next steps in life.
I can relate to spending my summers on a small island town, so that aspect personally gave me a great sense of nostalgia. The pace of this is on the slower side. For some reason I had trouble wanting to pick it up, though when I eventually did I really did enjoy it overall. The setting is beautiful and the writing is great, I just struggled feeling super engaged in the character outcomes. It has messy, imperfect characters. Ruth finds herself so lost and riddled with grief; it’s frustrating to watch her continue to spiral down the same paths, but I couldn’t help but root for her to snap out of her decades long funk. There is lots of pain, but also soft moments of happiness- falling in love for the first time, finding family in friendships, and overall growing up/ coming-of-age.
I think this would suite fans of Elin Hilderbrand.
Thank you to Shannon Garvey, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings: cancer, terminal illness, death of parent, grief, infidelity, pregnancy, abortion, abandonment, suicidal thoughts, near drowning
July 2, 2026
Talk about a perfect summer lit fic.
This book found me at exactly the right place and the right time.
Kid you not, I loved the writing so much I had chills. The setting of June Baby is wonderful, but the way the author describes it... I was there.
Ruth, the main character, felt like looking into a distorted mirror—both strange and moving.
I'd definitely check the content warnings first.
This book found me at exactly the right place and the right time.
Kid you not, I loved the writing so much I had chills. The setting of June Baby is wonderful, but the way the author describes it... I was there.
Ruth, the main character, felt like looking into a distorted mirror—both strange and moving.
I'd definitely check the content warnings first.
July 7, 2026
Imagine being 27 years old and letting a 10-year-old grief exist in you so wholly that it takes away from your dreams and relationships, and, quite honestly, sharpens you into a picture of selfishness. That is the main character, Ruth, in a nutshell. It was kind of exhausting to read her inner dialogue. This was cute and atmospheric but Ruth had a lot of metaphorical, internal reflection that did not progress the story whatsoever. It read more like a way for the author to display her flowery writing rather than a commitment to an emotionally character-driven story. There were several pages I skipped altogether because it was just paragraphs upon paragraphs of Ruth thinking about something, or a scene being described. It was too overly-detailed.
This book was largely giving: “this traumatic thing happened to me a long time ago and it’s my excuse for not advancing my life and I have to constantly remind myself, my peers, and the reader of this to validate my shortcomings.” Ruth seemed to forget that she wasn’t the only person experiencing life for the first time. She was aware of other people’s emotions but unable to show any sort of empathy regarding them.
Additionally, I was struggling to see a spark between Charlie and Ruth. My house, which caught on fire a few months ago, was buzzier than their “connection.” There was too much telling, and 0% showing. How am I supposed to trust that they like each other when I can’t even see it for myself?
I understand that Charlie feeling gravitationally pulled towards Ruth was meant to read as deeply emotional and moving, but hey, Charlie is engaged to another woman and since my frontal lobe is almost fully developed I don’t find that sort of emotional (and physical) cheating to be attractive at all.
I don’t believe the blurb to be an accurate depiction of this novel. This was less about Ruth finding her way through her grief and more like Ruth causing problems for herself and getting mad at other people for her own actions.
This book was largely giving: “this traumatic thing happened to me a long time ago and it’s my excuse for not advancing my life and I have to constantly remind myself, my peers, and the reader of this to validate my shortcomings.” Ruth seemed to forget that she wasn’t the only person experiencing life for the first time. She was aware of other people’s emotions but unable to show any sort of empathy regarding them.
Additionally, I was struggling to see a spark between Charlie and Ruth. My house, which caught on fire a few months ago, was buzzier than their “connection.” There was too much telling, and 0% showing. How am I supposed to trust that they like each other when I can’t even see it for myself?
I understand that Charlie feeling gravitationally pulled towards Ruth was meant to read as deeply emotional and moving, but hey, Charlie is engaged to another woman and since my frontal lobe is almost fully developed I don’t find that sort of emotional (and physical) cheating to be attractive at all.
I don’t believe the blurb to be an accurate depiction of this novel. This was less about Ruth finding her way through her grief and more like Ruth causing problems for herself and getting mad at other people for her own actions.
May 16, 2026
A very heartwarming story and debut by Shannon Garvey that hooked me from the very first page. June Baby is about friendships, secrets, young love and so much more. I really enjoyed this story telling. I also love love love the cover of this book. It’s perfect! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
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