June Gloom

by Katie Parker

One group of friends. One crazy dream. One last summer to get it right.

Maisie Winslow only wants one thing: to have the best summer ever. Summertime in Willowrock Beach has always been her and her friends, Virginia, Walker, and Owen’s favorite time of year. Days spent at the boardwalk shops, gorging on ice cream, soaking up the sun, or surfing at the beach. Nothing compares. But this year, in the fall, they’ll be off to different colleges, apart for the first time since they met. This last summer together has to be perfect. After months of writer’s block leads to an insightful conversation with Ivy, an old-classmate-turned-musician, Maisie tries songwriting and unlocks a new obsession. When she suggests starting a band to her friends, to make this summer special, they are instantly on board. They complete the group with Ivy and Logan, Maisie’s troubled neighbor with a bad reputation. As Maisie gets to know Logan, she can’t deny there’s more to him than everybody thinks, and she wishes she could deny the feelings she’s developing for him that she can’t tell anyone about. But secrets always create rifts.

Virginia Collins has the perfect life…from the outside, at least. Her parents run a successful business together, are still in love, and live in a large, cliffside house. But Virginia isn’t attached to her lavish lifestyle; instead, she’s always dreamed of working with animals. So, she’s obviously outraged when her parents tell her they’re buying the town’s struggling animal shelter to replace it with a factory. Determined to stop the project, Virginia teams up with Hudson, the snarky heir to the development company hired for the demolition. He resonates with her cause, and he fires her sarcasm right back without blinking. Virginia can’t help but wonder: Is this what meeting your match feels like? Is that even something she’s ready for after keeping her walls up for so long?

As the friends navigate the world of music, unexpected opportunities, and changing dynamics, they must confront what this band—and growing up—means for their friendships. Will their newfound popularity, scandalous secrets, and undeniable romances be the perfect symphony for the best summer ever? Or will the noise become too much and tear them apart?

447 pages, Paperback

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

Katie Parker has been coming up with stories and worlds since before she could write her alphabet, and the passion hasn’t loosened its grip on her since. She loves writing books that capture the all-consuming feeling of first loves, have transportive settings, and feature flawed characters that feel real enough to step off the page. When she isn’t writing, she can be found attempting to make a dent in the endless list of books she wants to read, baking the latest recipe that's caught her eye, and fangirling over her favorite books, shows, and music, much to the annoyance of her family.

Reviews

[rayberrie 🍓🐻 · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.”𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Initial Thoughts/First Impression: First off, thank you so much for letting me ARC read “June Gloom”! From the very first page, I knew this was the perfect book to read on my road trip to Florida! The aesthetic and vibes were so beachy and I loved how I could practically envision the moodboard! One thing I couldn’t stop thinking the whole time was “This would be a perfect indie movie!”

Character Analysis:
Maisie -

Reality:
Right off the bat I could tell she would be a character I can relate to. She’s quiet, caring and persistent. I love how she sees the good in everybody before judging or assuming the worst. In the beginning I immediately thought she didn’t “fit” in with her friends in the beginning, but overtime I was able to notice the dynamics. I think the song “Maggots for brains” by Olivia Rodrigo describes her vibe completely. Many of Maisie's troubles definitely made me feel certain emotions. Especially with the guilt from Virginia and Logan…!

Passion/desires:
She’s so passionate about the band and her writing, I think that her going for what she wants is the farthest from selfish. Her choices are definitely questionable… I wouldn’t go after a guy that my best friend dated who stole my golden owl loll.That… seems selfish because I promise there’s better guys (ahem lowkey… Walker!) I think that she should’ve obviously gone to Vig from the jump to avoid wasting so much time. I also think that the romance portion for the two wasn’t fleshed out enough for me to feel the tingly spark I usually do when reading a romance.

Dynamics with others:
Walker is my favorite character and I honestly don’t think he had enough “screen–time” or context about his crush on Maisie. I would also say Ivy and Owen lack structure in terms of getting to know them in depth.


Plot and Pacing:The pacing and structure of these chapters were pretty good! I loved the plot twist so much I think it was perfect for the story. I will say… it definitely made me sad with the whole falling out with everyone and honestly good on Maisie for not taking him back because I know I wouldn’t. Virginia was overly harsh and honestly she isn’t my favorite character at all.

Final Thoughts: You did such an amazing job on this! I enjoyed reading this so much and I would definitely read this for the first time over and over again.

[hyds · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️
this was super cute!!!! I’m usually not a romance girl, but this is definitely one of my favorite romances that I’ve read! The characters were really unique, and unlike most romances, the friendship between both fmcs felt very realistic and meaningful along with their respective romances!

some things I noticed / wanted to speak on
- idk if I’m dumb but how are they hanging out at bars and drinking beer if they’re 18😭 I went under the assumption this book is set in the US, so maybe I’m wrong, but I’m a bit confused on that lol.
- the romance between Hudson and Virginia was a bit rushed for me. Don’t get me wrong, they’re adorbs, but I wish we got a little more of them hanging out before Hudson’s confession. (Also, maybe I just thought Hudson was too perfect of a bf, but compared to Logan, of course he is)
- LOGAN. Idk I just wish the whole friend group knew his story, I feel so bad that all of them (minus maisie) still resent him. I kind of laughed when he would randomly trauma dump (I’m so sorry😭😭😭) but he was one of my favorites despite all the problematic things he did.
- Virginia reminds me of Rainbowdash if she had Fluttershys hobbies. Idk why I felt like saying that but I just found it cute.
- the writing was AMAZING especially for a debut novel. I felt like I was really there with them, and I could imagine Willowrock really well.

Overall an amazing debut novel, and lived up to all my expectations after watching Katie Parker on YouTube for so long!! Super excited for this books sequel!!! 🩷

[Nalorya (Conor's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank Kate for letting me read in advance

This book was quite cool. This is a novel you read when you want a chill summer read. Everything was really sweet and from what I've seen from the author via her YouTube channel, it definitely fits her vibe.

The setting? So inspiring ! I love the coastal vibe ! And I saw the map on YouTube ! The dedication is insane !

The characters are really cute, the whole found family vibe is cute. Really nailed that and the band aspect even though I thought some events were pretty convenient for the plot lol but fair enough
I know they're all gonna have their own books... BUT oh Walker and Owen I wish they were more present. Specifically Walker.

And the romances ? Sorry they were cute but Hudson deserves better than Vig (can you tell I don't like her lol). And Maisie and Logan REALLY need to communicate.

But yeah overall pretty cute, no pressure, not too much trouble, pretty cool. Pretty cute.

[Mia C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been so excited to read this book and when the opportunity presented itself, I knew I just had to be an ARC reader for it! June Gloom seemed to me like it was going to be very special. So I would say that I’m so lucky to have been picked to read and give my review of it! Starting off with:

Willowrock Beach: The setting of Willowrock is so well-thought-out. It feels rich, colorful and lived-in with enough detail about its various locations to feel like a familiar place to the reader. This is a hard feat to pull off, in my opinion, and this book pulls it off well—the vibe of this coastal town, rich in culture, energy, and wholesomeness that feels like it could be iconic. Willowrock is a character in its own right that is always right next to the main group in their most crucial moments, which is a strong point. There are many instances where the group is hanging out, or doing something band-related, and we get this fabulous sense of place that really adds to the emotions of the moment.

(Spoilers Ahead!)

The Band: Speaking of the band…I thought this plot was super fun! First, the concept of starting a band with friends to make the most of their final summer together is definitely one of the things that drew me to June Gloom (the book) and it did deliver. June Gloom (the band’s) journey is easy enough to follow. They write their songs, perform at Rosebud (another memorable location in Willowrock), and eventually gain success. It isn’t a slow crawl to fame, given that doesn’t seem to be the point of this particular story, but we do get to see the characters struggle with getting songs together, find their perfect sound and overcome stage fright. Then we see them gain confidence and give fun performances to their growing fanbase. There are also some surprising curveballs the characters are thrown (which were probably my favorite parts of this book, second only to the romances). Just when things seemed to be going almost too well, reality hit the characters hard and that always had me on the edge of my seat.

Characters/Relationships: Maisie, Virginia, Owen, Walker, Ivy, Logan, and Hudson were great characters and were so obviously as well-thought out as Willowrock, if not even more. They felt like real friends, flaws and all. What I loved specifically was the fact that despite the main group’s friendship seeming as ideal and perfect as the sunsoaked town they lived in, it was surprisingly full of nuances and, at times: disharmony. For example, Maisie, in particular, often felt alone in the sense that some of the things she was into, her friends weren’t, which ultimately led her to Logan, who did seem to understand her in a different way. I thought it was so poignant to show that the people we love may not always match us in every single way–loved that! They butt heads, they miscommunicate, etc. But ultimately, they talk and reconcile, which adds realism to their dynamic. The dialogue feels distinct (nobody feels like a carbon-copy of the other) and their banter is funny and smart.

As for the romances, I was kicking my feet! OMG! If other parts of the book felt a little slower and more introductory, the chapters continuing the romance subplots were red-hot in energy. Hudson and Virginia had so much chemistry! I was flying through the pages when those two had a scene together. Even when they became a couple, their dynamic never felt stale or ‘completed,’ which I find to be nearly impossible in other works.

Logan and Maisie had my heart clenching with their subplot, and they were the most surprising element of the book. I’d feared at some point that Logan/Maisie’s and Hudson/Vig’s storylines would be too similar, as they both get romantic rather quickly, but Logan/Maisie’s was full of curveballs and emotional moments. Not everyone is going to be happy with Maisie’s decision in the end, but I, for one, was. I was afraid she’d forgive him too quickly, which she didn’t. Logan made an understandable but at the same time very hurtful choice, and he had to deal with the consequences of that. This was beautiful and complicated and so bittersweet to read, but the conclusion felt right. Maybe one day Logan (after waiting a while) will prove himself to Maisie, but for now we’ll just have to see.

Conclusion: I enjoyed my experience reading June Gloom! It was exactly what it promised it was going to be, and I’m satisfied. Of course, I have my honest criticisms. For instance, I wish the separate perspectives of the other characters besides Maisie felt more distinct, especially Virginia’s, given her bold personality type (though I feel as the story goes on, you start to pick up on their separate storytelling quirks). I wish the Dusty Paws storyline’s conclusion had its seeds planted earlier (though I also could have missed where Virginia was going with it). And I wish Indigo World or any aspect of Logan’s later betrayal was introduced earlier so it felt more like an “ohh!” moment instead of a “ohh–wait, who?” moment (though I could have missed this too and, regardless, the Logan betrayal hit me like a gut punch despite this). (gut punch–get it? haha).

But overall, I loved reading this book. I’m honored to have been chosen to do so. I thought June Gloom was going to be special before I got to experience it for myself, and I will say it definitely was special!

Excited to go back to Willowrock in the future!

[Bree Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

June Gloom follows Maisie and Virginia as they have one last summer before going to college. They decide that they should start a band with their group of friends to have a memorable summer. Maisie finds herself to enjoy songwriting to help her get out of her writer’s block for her novel. Virginia finds out from her parents that they are trying to buy out a failing animal shelter, Dusty’s Paws, to buy the land for their company. Virginia teams up with Hudson to help stop her parents from buying out the shelter. Maisie and Virginia’s friendship is tested through a series of drama that happens in and out of the band. In the end, everything comes together and they have a rocking summer!

I loved June Gloom sooo much!! All of the characters were wonderfully written, but I have to say that my favorite is Virginia as I feel I connected with her on a personal level. All of the characters, including those who are minor characters, were rounded out and carefully thought of when writing this book. It felt like I knew a lot about each of the characters to help understand their motives.

Although the only thing that sort of bothered me in this book was one of the characters and their motives. To me, while I understood their background, it still didn’t make sense for what they did and to me, it was stupid of another character to brush it off.

I also thought the romance with two characters to be well developed and done while the other was my issue stated above. Honestly, the romance was not really the main focus of the novel, but it felt nice to have it be sprinkled in every so often.

If you love well-developed characters, summer fun before going to college, beachy vibes, and a group of friends forming a band, I highly recommend you read this book!

[ELIZABETH · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR STARS 🌸🗓🎸

First of all, thank you so much to Katie Porter for gifting me an E-ARC of this book. It’s incredibly impressive that she’s finished and is going to publish her first novel, and as a passive viewer of her channel, I’m so proud! I apologize if any of my feedback sounds harsh, I did find this book enjoyable, but there were some things I wanted to point out. Some parts of this review will focus more on the negatives than the positives, as those are much easier to notice, but, again, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. My review will contain some spoilers, so I’ve split it into spoiler free and spoiler sections.

Spoiler Free:

This book was sweet, I’ll definitely give it that. While some of the twists—or like they weren’t really twists, but some things that were going to happen (like later plot points) were kind of obvious, so I was like “well yeah” when they were said as revelations. I thought that Virginia and Maisie’s friendship was fairly realistic, and I liked that it wasn’t very “friendship is magic” — they had their moments. Though, they were a bit full of themselves at times, which I wasn’t entirely sure if we were supposed to support or like. I liked, though, that you could feel that the author was immersed in her own world, with the town being well set up, and the constant inclusion of music stanzas from the band. I will say that the writing was, at times, shaky; there were many words that got repeated over and over, that I felt the editor should have caught. For example, in one of the opening paragraphs, there’s a repeat of the word “plus,” and it’s used in the exact same way; “Plus, [redacted]. [redacted], plus [redacted].” Like I said previously, there was a lot of repetition, and saying things that were already implied. Both of which are common with debuts, so it wasn’t the biggest deal, but it was kind of noticeable. The romance also moved fairly quickly, but that was okay, because the POVs changed from friend to friend, so it slowed the pace down a bit. However, these things are all typical of debut novels, and I would definitely recommend reading this book. You can really tell that the author really cared about these characters, and making the whole band very realistic. Overall, I think the book was a nice read, and I finished it within a day.


Spoiler Section: (sorry; these are very random thoughts just thrown in together)

Okay, so, I did like that the book got me fired up at the characters’ crazy decisions. Because half the time I was like “You did WHAT!” The only issue is that I wasn’t really sure if we were supposed to feel that way? For example, Maisie found the whole vase debacle ridiculous, but I feel like Virginia was totally valid for being upset. Just because you don’t need/use something doesn’t mean it’s okay to steal it! Plus, yeah, if someone’s a thief I would also assume they may do worse. The whole Dusty Paws thing was also kind of annoying, and her parents were right—Virginia was acting like a child. I would also totally be upset, but…her methods were definitely that of a ten year old. But I suppose it was alright in the end! I did see the concert twist thing from a mile away, though. Omg also Maisie was pissing me off, like girl, you and Logan weren’t dating in the first place! I do kind of wish we got more Ivy POVs though. I really really really liked the inclusion of the songs at the end, it just made me feel like the author knew what she was doing with the band plot line instead of just making up random titles as she went. I also liked that we didn’t really get a happy ending with Logan and Maisie, it felt realistic, and sort of bittersweet, which kind of matches the title haha (not sure if that’s on purpose, bc obviously it’s also the band’s name…so).

[Anna Ryhänen · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3,5 stars

Thank you so much to the author for letting me read this in advance!

This book was so cute! I adore the setting so much, the coastal town is so lovely. The characters feel pretty real and the most prominent ones definitely feel multi-dimensional all having their own little quirks making them really lively. I absolutely got sucked into reading this book many times!

The vibe is really good and the author has a great skill for establishing atmosphere. As a reader, I knew exactly what kind of mental setting we were in and I got a strong mental image in my head from the description. But then, I think there should more description! Since the author clearly knows how to write it, I wish it was used more!

As I reader I got a good sense of who both Maisie and Virginia are through their first chapters. I also quite like how their relationship was introduced and how it overall felt pretty realistic. They also had unique voices which was good! My favorite characters were Ivy (and the way she was introduced through the inciting incident was brilliant) and Walker and I wish they were more present in the story, along with Owen. I love all of the band though, their friendships are so sweet!

I felt that sometimes things were a bit too convenient for them and happened a bit too easily. There could’ve been more obstacles that made their life just a bit harder. It didn’t bother me too much, though.

I think the pacing was a bit weird, but I don’t know if it was too fast or too slow. Writing multi-POV is really hard and for a debut author, I think this was a success, but it messed up the progression of some things, with some things coming up way too fastly (like Maisie’s and Logan’s relationship, which didn’t have enough emotional build-up in my opinion) or way too slowly with not enough momentum.

But like, overall. This book was so good for a debut and many “mistakes” didn’t bother me too much. I still really enjoyed this book and I definitely rooted for the characters. I think this is going to have more books? Which I absolutely will be reading! And I think if you are a fan of coming of age stories, bands and a setting like this, you should read this!

[Esther H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank the author for the opportunity to advance-read this book!

Firstly, I went into this book with some expectations. Nothing crazy, but its enough to maintain my reading hopes. Most of them were met.

This is a YA, coming-of-age romance, through and through, with summer happenings, friendships, relationships, and the dream of building a band. The author's writing style is also exactly what you'd expect it to be, provided you follow the author's social media. Which I do and I saw the author shining through her writing. And I mean this is the best compliment possible. ♥

I was not expecting to read the characters swearing as much as they did. I do think my swear meter is more sensitive now than it was three years ago, and though it didn't take away from my reading experience, it was there. It's not every sentence, but each of the main characters take the Lord's name in vain quite a number of times.

I did enjoy the characters, I think Logan was definitely my favorite. In terms of development, it works with the story and you can see each character changing their mindset and how they view a few things. That's what you want characters to do and I think the author managed it well.

Small note: I think there could have been a little more build-up for Ivy's first chapter. I have read books where a non-POV character has chapters from their perspective at a surprise-point, but there's usually more threads or hints leading to it. Truthfully, felt like I was thrown a curve-ball and I wasn't prepared to catch it. This isn't to day Ivy's POV take away from the story, because they don't. But I would have liked more observations from either Maisie's or Virginia's perspective. Just small things that would trigger the thought "Oh, Ivy's got something coming, for sure!" You know?

Anyway, all this to say, I enjoyed this book. It's a great summer read and I hope to see more from this author in the future.

I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of this book.

[Amanda Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely, highly synesthetic summer read! If you're a fan of the Taylor Swift album Lover, Gracie Abrams, and the vibes in the song Heat Waves, you'll enjoy this book. June Gloom is saturated with the most vibrant middle-of-summer scenes, and the romance is effortless to get invested in.

It's sweet, cozy, but has just enough drama to keep you on your toes. There's an aching coming-of-age element in this novel that fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, and My Life With The Walter Boys are SURE to be a fan of. Think OBX meets TSITP. Costal lovers will be OBSESSED.

I really enjoyed the dual POV! I feel like Virginia deserves more love, honestly. She was one of my favorite characters alongside Logan who I thought was just such a sweetie! This book does a really incredible job at maintaining a softness and lightness that is SO needed in the book world right now, especially in YA--while ALSO being unafraid to get into the messier parts of friendship groups, growing up, and shifting relationship dynamics. It strikes a balance between the two aspects of literature not many books in this genre are able to navigate with such ease.

As indie books go, this is one of the BEST YA romance/dramas I've ever read in the genre. You can tell by the writing, marketing, aesthetic, and dedication to this book that it is of as good as, if not better quality, than many competing books in the genre in trad pub.

The writing is cool, crisp, and even whimsical at times. The flow is good, and you will find yourself on quite the emotional rollercoaster (such is this time of our lives) giggling, heart-racing, crying, and smiling at the bittersweet nostalgia of the summers that define our becoming.

I can't wait to get to read more works from Katie! She is a quite talented author and a lovely bookish friend!

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Katie for sending me this ARC in exchange for a review!

This is a really cute book. The banter was cute, the plot was addicting, and the vibes were immaculate. It has the essence of summer and teenage friendships down to a T. Its a breath of fresh air in a world of dark romances and stupid mcs. The writing and plot were all pretty good for a debut novel, will definitely read any other books from this author especially with these lovable characters!




~Spoilers~
Here are the only things I think that could’ve improved it:
-flesh out Walker and Owen and Ivy more, there was so much emphasis on Maisie and Virginia and their love interests and i want to know more!
-leave out the Ivy and Sam stuff, they deserve their own book not two chapters in this one, they deserve proper set up not in the wake of Logan and Maisie
-make Maisie and Virginia’s relationship matter more, they are so different i feel like their personalities should have clashed more, they only had a small fight. Maybe its lingering trauma from my old best friend but i just feel like the blow up there was wasn’t big enough
-its so convenient to me that oh all of Maisie’s friends happen to play instruments, oh wait Maisie has a really good voice, oh bye bye Logan turns out Owen can play perfectly after two weeks
-the relationship between Logan and Maisie is so much more interesting than Virginia and Hudson’s, i like Hudson better but their plot is really not as interesting
-it feels like this is supposed to be in a series, which maybe it will be, but i definitely feel like things are not resolved for these characters even in such a long book with all these ups and downs

[Zunairah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun summer read, lighthearted in some areas and quite emotional in others. I've been following the author (Katie) on Youtube for a while and was really excited to read the book after hearing so much about it and it did not disappoint.
The friendship group was really fun but I wished that the side characters like Walker and Owen had some more development. I enjoyed Virginia's POV and arc quite a lot so I wished the distribution of chapters was a little more equal. I did also really like Maisie and related to her but it felt at times like she told too much of the story compared to Virginia.
The relationships were nice especially Virginia + Hudson though I felt like they were a little rushed at times - not enough for insta-love but more so that they could've had more moments if the novel wasn't dual POV.
Despite all this, I did really like the book and all the characters the setting was SOOO immersive like what do you mean Willowrock beach isn't a real place!? This was especially perfect to read during the heatwave of this May.
Most of all I liked how the end of the book had a whole section for all the songs - fully written too!!
I'm excited for the sequel to see where June Gloom goes next and the development of all the relationships.
Overall: a fun read and I'd give it a solid 7.5/10

[Nicole S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Katie for letting me get my hands on an ARC of this book. I’ve been waiting so long to be able to read it.

I found it incredible how well this story transported me back to being a teenager. It had all the whimsy that comes with being young, but also covered deeper topics that run alongside coming into adulthood (and moving away to college). I adored how the songs June Gloom sang complimented the story, and how they had lyrics that the readers could see and enjoy. I don’t know that I’ve ever read a book where the author took the time to write at least a dozen songs out, entirely for the sake of the story. And lyrics that complimented what was happening, no less.

At first, switching the POVs pulled me a bit out of the story, but the further the book progressed, I enjoyed seeing how everyone’s lives interconnected. By the end, I couldn’t wait to get to everyone to see what was happening next. And I was rooting so so so hard for them to succeed.

My swiftie heart also enjoyed all the Taylor Swift references sprinkled throughout the book (I see you folklore font chapter titles)

This was such a good summer read, and I could absolutely see someone curled up on a beach with June Gloom

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Katie for sending me an ARC copy of this incredible novel!

What I loved about this story (both when I read it as a beta reader and an arc reader) is that is feels well-balanced when it comes to the romance, the band, and the personal arcs of both Virginia and Maisie. The plot moved smoothly between each of these focuses, not only giving them their own space but joining them together so that everything felt complicated, nuanced, and connected.

Maisie and Virginia felt realisitc and I deeply appreciated how they had their own dreams/aspirations outside of the band/their romance arcs- as someone who doesn't read the genre often, my critiques often center around stories not feeling balanced/fleshed out when it comes to what the main characters focus on/care about. I also enjoyed the other characters in the band, the only critique I have being that I would have loved to see more of them! But with the limited space we have in books, I completely understand why the focus was on Maisie and Virginia: it was their stories that were being told!

Overall, I really enjoyed this read! I know Katie worked really hard on this book and I'm so happy that it is out in the world for readers!

[Elle ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️’s

All thanks to the author for allowing me to read the book before publication!

Unfortunately this did have to be a DNF for me.

The premise intrigued me and I love a small town beach setting, however, by the time I hit the 30% mark I didn’t feel enough forward momentum of the plot to keep going.

Another small thing that bothered me was a lot of the time when the narrator is doing something we get in depth detail about the task at hand instead of the things that are more important to the story. I found that a lot of the beginnings of chapters started with the narrator, whether that be Maisie or Virginia, describing exactly what they’re doing for a longer period of time than I would have liked before getting into the purpose of the scene. And then some of the dialogue felt a little too unnatural for my personal tastes.

This being said, just because the writing style wasn’t for me doesn’t make it a bad book. There were quite a few moments that I enjoyed but at the end of the day, this book wasn’t for me—though I wish it was.

I wish all the best to the author and her publishing endeavors!

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very happy I got to be an ARC reader for June Gloom! This was such a fun summer read and super addicting — at times, I couldn’t put it down.

Maisie and Logan were my favorites for sure. Maisie is super relatable and her character helped me get out of my own writing slump. And I love characters with sad backstories… so that’s why I love Logan. Walker is definitely one of my top characters too, but I wish he had more lines! (But I heard there are more books to come in this series… so I’m super excited for that !!)

I enjoyed reading all of the song lyrics at the back of the book, and the deep meaning of each of them!! My favorite song would have to be “hiding it” or “skeletons”

Overall, great book! Honestly, I hope one day that this turns into a TV series.


‼️ SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️







NO I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT MAISIE AND LOGAN AREN’T ENDGAME. I loved them together.. they better get back together in the next book 💔💔 and I felt so bad for Logan’s backstory and situation too… AND THEN READING HIS SONGS AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME dude i’m actually gonna cry. I love Maisie but omg I can’t accept her decision 💔

[Kennedy Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been anxiously awaiting the release of this book for a long time and it did not disappoint! The main thing that stood out to me was the development of the characters throughout the book. They felt realistic and very connected to one another. I saw someone say it reminded them of Lemonade Mouth and I totally agree. It was very much a beach romance version! I thought the inclusion of the song lyrics was a nice touch at the end. The vibes of the book were also immaculate the description painted a beautiful picture of this little beach town. I feel like the ending of the book would lend itself well to a sequel idk if there’s one in the works but I do feel like some of the relationships might be explored further in a second book! Overall I enjoyed reading this book and would enjoy any other books released in the future!!

P.S.- thanks sm to the author for giving me the pleasure of reading the ARC!!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book, and honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time. In the middle of exam season and all the stress that comes with it, this story was the perfect escape! 💓

From the very first pages, it delivered exactly what it promised. It immediately pulled me into its summery atmosphere and gave me all the beach-read vibes I was hoping for. I absolutely loved the dual POV, especially Maisie’s chapters. The baking descriptions were so vivid they definitely left me wishing I could try Aunt Grace’s baking myself :)

Virginia’s storyline was another standout for me. I really enjoyed getting to know her character and watching her journey. What impressed me most was how thoughtfully the entire story was put together. Not only were the main characters well-developed, but the supporting cast felt equally real and important.

If you’re looking for a summery escape with lovable characters and plenty of heart, this one is worth picking up!!

[Blessings Chebet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy reader.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read this book in advance.
June Gloom is an enthralling and quick read. It portrays the qualities of friendship beautifully, showing both its ups and downs.

I would say the pacing was moderate, which fits well considering the story takes place over a span of three months. The characters were well written, although some of them were not explored as deeply, which was fine. The POVs were enjoyable, though I would have loved to see more of Ivy's perspective.

The romance developed a bit quickly, but it still worked well. The ending was satisfying, and the characters made decisions that felt right for their growth. I was thrilled to see how much they learned about themselves, and their journey as a band was fascinating to follow. There were also several plot developments that caught me by surprise.

Overall, I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to read the author's future works.


Thank you.

[yerra :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to be dramatic but June Gloom is everything that I’ve ever wanted to read. Within reading the first few chapters, it had already become one of my favorite books. I spent the last 20 chapters crying. Everything is fleshed out so perfectly that it does in fact feel real. It felt like I was there experiencing everything in real time. June Gloom is the perfect YA/NA novel.

Truthfully, I haven’t felt emotion like that since my days as a kid reading similar books. I wish June Gloom was on the market for me to read 10 years ago. However, that didn’t change the experience for me at all! If anything, it made it easier for me to fall into it because it felt nostalgic.

The songs. THE SONGS. I cannot get over their beauty. I recommend reading them in full. You will NOT be disappointed.

I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future of these characters!!

[starlight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for letting me be one of your ARC readers! I LOVED reading June Gloom! I’ve been super intrigued ever since finding you on yt and TikTok, and loved to actually get to read your story. I thought the story was super easy to get in to, especially as a writer and a musician! I thought the characters were all really worked out well with the flaws they had, because YA books often don’t have a lot of those and I loved seeing their friendships/and relationships over time. I especially liked Masie as a character, but I really was laughing and crying with every single of them. I also really loved June Gloom as the band (and especially the songs at the ending!!) because it’s quite realistic to starting a real band, with how everything goes wrong at first, and later it all feels right.
It really was the perfect summer read and I can’t wait to read more of your books!!

[ChaFay Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want the author for letting me arc read her book. I came across her tik tok when she first started talking about her book and followed along the journey and now we’re here! So proud of you!

I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. The characters. Their personalities and flaws(cause hello we all have those and loved seeing it), the friendships, the band, and the romance. It all tied together so nicely. I was giggling and kicking my feet. Cheering along with them, crying with them, and also just being like “wtf man.” 🤣🤣 but it was all so satisfying in the end

Definitely read this! And I can’t wait to read more from this author ♥️♥️

[Sienna Yawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

June Gloom is the first novel I’ve ever read by an independently published author, and it has set my expectations sky high. I enjoyed so many things about this book, but, I felt the most impacted by the characters. Each character has their own story to tell, their drives and ambitions all are unique to their person and every member of the cast come together so beautifully in this found-family story about friendship, romance, and the ups and downs of being teenagers in the small, coastal town of Willowrock. I guess you could say it’s a Cruel Summer… A must read for those who enjoyed ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, ‘Outerbanks’, and ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’.

[ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Katie for the ARC!

I loved this book! All of the characters felt fleshed out, and I appriciated how much thought went into the world, even the small elements of the story. Sometimes I find YA books fall flat in the writing style, but the writing was great here, which made for an intriguing world and plot. Aside from that, I adored all of the characters. I really related to Maisie and her struggles, and I thought her relationship with Logan was very compelling. I also really loved the little glimpses of Ivy and Sam’s relationship forming, and I hope there’s a book centered on them in the future! Overall, this was a fun read for the summer and I highly recommend!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the most “feel good” book I have ever read. It perfectly encapsulates summer, youth and happiness while bringing on a feeling that can only be described as anemoia. I long for the warm summer vibe of this book and while I was reading it I wished I could be dropped into the book. The romance in the book was so cute and light but did not take away from the main theme of friendship. I love how all the characters are so unique and special with each one being very thought out. The characters are also very relatable and I could see myself in all of them. Overall this book was definitely a 5 star read and I will most definitely be rereading it again this summer, I already miss it.

[ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book! It feels a lot like a costal Lemonade Mouth! The whole time I was reading it, I kept imaging this story as a tv series and it perfectly translated, which is high praise from me. I loved all the characters and each of their unique, distinct traits, as well as seeing how they interacted with each other. And the romances were so sweet and fun to read. My only qualm is that I personally don't love how everything ended up, but I can still see that it is probably the correct decision. I would definitely recommend this book!

[Sydney Depies · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start off, this book was extremely well thought out. You don’t see many contemporary novels that do this many perspectives well. June Gloom NAILED it!
Each character has a distinct voice, goals, and motivations.

While there are a few great romances among the characters, it’s done in a way that you won’t expect and I found it very refreshing! I was glued to my kindle for 3 days straight. Parker writes amazing scenes that keep the pages turning.

This is the perfect summer read. I can’t wait to see what Katie Parker comes up with next!

[Madison Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this book and it was amazing. The book perfectly captures the essence of summer. All the main characters feel relatable and unique. They allowed to make mistakes and grow throughout the book. I was very engaged and by the 200 pages mark, I could barely put it down. The plot twist towards the end I never saw coming and it all wrapped up very nicely. The addition of the songs they wrote at the end of the book was a very nice touch. My only complaint is that we don’t get to see more of ivy’s character.

[Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 4.25 stars.

Thankyou to the author for an E-ARC copy of the book!

I quite liked this book as a debut from Katie. It was wonderful, a quick summer read and had extremely chill vibes which definitely fit the aesthetic she was going for in the books.
Most of the characters were quite likable by me as well and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to smile and relax for the summer (coming from a pre-med college kid who was really burnt out when I entered summer)

And as a passive follower of her youtube this was a really cool experience as well.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am freely leaving this review and am honoured to have received an ARC for this book!

This story is sweet and full of the classic end of high school drama that I seem to love reading about!
The characters were well thought out, and while I at first found the romance fast paced, it all came together in the end, and I enjoyed seeing the realities of a relationship, especially enjoying how both the characters involved acknowledged the reality of their somewhat unknown truths to each other. I found the setting dreamy and very much a place I would love to holiday in.

The writing was well put together, and the book was very well thought out. The extra details at the end of writing all the songs out were so next level. I absolutely loved reading through them all and reliving those moments! For fans of rom-coms, high school shenanigans, Julie and the Phantoms, and general music/band lovers!

Tropes:
- friends to lovers
- second chance
- banter

Language rating: 4/5
Spice content: 0/5

Memorable line:
"I don't want him to go around thinking I despise him and think he's awful when that's the furthest thing from the truth."

The book in one word:
Dynamic

[Sunshine Thao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy From Author

June Gloom was the first ever beach band book I’ve ever read and it was very intriguing. The pacing, the romance, the plot, the setting, the development. It was great and I didn’t stop. I kept flipping the page. The songs were in an amazing order and the thrill of a disaster was calm and accurate. I just want to say it’s really a great book! 🩷🎀

I’m grateful to be an arc reader for Katie Parker for her debut.