Blog Tour and Giveaway - Ode to a Pug: I'm a BIG Dog!

If you’re a frequent blog reader, you know how much I like Jill Rosen’s Pug series of picture books as I’ve featured them on the blog before. Her latest title, Ode to a Pug: I’m a BIG Dog! is a charming new addition to the collection. 

In this story, Phoebe the pug longs to be bigger so she can join the big dog park. Many kids will relate to her predicament, since they’re often wishing to be bigger, older, and stronger themselves. I can’t wait to dive into another heartwarming adventure with this lovable little pug.

 

 

Learn More About the Book: 

Ode to a Pug: I’m a BIG Dog!

Written by Jill Rosen

Illustrated by Stephanie Rohr

Ages: 4–6 | 36 Pages

Publisher: Pug House Books Inc. (2026) | ISBN: 978-1-0695069-6-2

Publisher’s Book Summary: Anyone who has stared down a “You must be this tall to enter” sign will cheer on Phoebe’s latest quest to rule the BIG dog park the way only a pug can. Giggle along as a couple of compact canines stubbornly take on the BIG dogs in another hilarious, heart-warming adventure from the author of the award-winning Ode to a Pug books. Will our favorite gassy pug learn that the grass isn’t always greener? Or will her pug-powered determination pay off? A laugh-out-loud, adorably illustrated, rhyming tale of pup perseverance, perfect for children ages 2–8 and dog lovers of all ages.

You can purchase your own copy of Ode to a Pug: I'm a BIG Dog! at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. To learn more about Jill Rosen, visit her website and connect with her on Amazon and Instagram.  

 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with Pug House Books and The Children's Book Review to celebrate the publication of Ode to a Pug: I'm a BIG Dog! by Jill Rosen. Readers will have a chance to win one of five hardcover copies of the book and one grand prize winner will receive author-signed hardcover copies of Ode to a Pug: I'm a BIG Dog! and the original Ode to a Pug, plus two custom pug plushies and two die-cut stickers. To enter, click the graphic above. Good luck!

 

Book Review: June Baby by Shannon Garvey

 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 12, 2026

Publisher: Random House

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "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.

 

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. 
 
The first quarter of June Baby is heavy; it's filled with a lot of grief as Ruth deals with her mother's death from cancer. She has a lot to work through, and the book takes readers through Ruth's process. This felt pretty heavy for a beach read and, if I am honest, pretty depressing because the story kept coming back to that. It also tackled other serious topics like abortion, and at times, it felt too heavy for me. Once Ruth was able to process her grief a bit more and start her transformation while on Block Island, I felt like a heavy weight was lifted. 

I enjoyed Ruth's relationship with Diana and kept wondering what her connection was to her mother. Many secrets unfold throughout the story that kept me flipping the pages, especially those tied to her mother. Also, the romance between Charlie and Ruth was beautifully executed and perfect for a summer read. The picturesque setting of Block Island, with its dunes, seafood restaurants, sunny paths, and stunning sunsets, added to the charm. Garvey effectively brought the setting to life, creating a very atmospheric experience in June Baby.
 
While I do not like my beach reads this heavy, I still enjoyed the novel overall, and June Baby would be best suited for those readers who like a more emotional beach read than something fluffy and light. Let me know in the comments if June Baby is on your summer TBR list. 

 

10 Books to Read in June

I can’t believe it’s already June, bringing with it the perfect weather for reading outside. Whether you’re heading to the beach, lounging by the pool, or just relaxing on the porch, here are ten new books to kick off your summer reading season.

 

1. When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams (6/23)

"A young widow returns to her late father’s New England estate, only to be drawn into the hunt for the rumored pirate treasure that consumed his life." 

 

 

2. The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (6/2)

"A scandalous affair. A power struggle for the throne. A sensational rivalry between an English queen and an American social climber. In this electrifying novel tells the story of the Abdication of Edward VIII—and the two women at the center of it all." 

 

 

3. Down with the Shipmans by Megan Mitchell Moore (6/2) 

 "A delicious summer read that explores the enduring power of family and sister connections, Down with the Shipmans is a humorous, heartfelt reminder that home is not a place, but the people who love you, no matter how imperfectly."

 

 

4. Land by Maggie O'Farrell (6/2)

"Bringing 1865 Ireland vividly to life, Maggie O’Farrell explores human resilience and a deep connection to the natural world with a sense of wonder. When a father and son set out to map a land still recovering from its turbulent past, they find strength, love and the promise of new beginnings."

 

 

 

5. The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (6/30)

"A heartbreaking, life-affirming new novel about a young woman searching for answers about her brother’s last days."

 

 

 

6. It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell (6/23)

"Lisa Jewell’s latest suspenseful ride through the suburbs of London follows a lost dog, a missing girl and the confounding mystery that links them."

 

 

 

7. The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (6/30)

"An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town. A frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship."

  

 

 

8. Wasp's Nest by Kat Soddard (6/30)

"A modern retelling of The Philadelphia Story, Wasp’s Nest is a witty, gripping love triangle unfolding over the course of seven chaotic days at a Cape Cod wedding."

 

 

 

9. Whistler by Ann Patchett (6/2)

"Ann Patchett returns with a powerful novel about the choices we make and the ones that are made for us. After reuniting with a prominent figure from her past, Daphne confronts the impermanence of life and the beauty of connection."

 

 

 

10. Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer (6/8)

"Facing a career crisis, a young man moves to the Italian countryside to assist an eclectic elderly woman named Coco, who is living out her final years in a crumbling villa."

 

 

In the comments below, let me know which books you plan to read this month. 

Blog Tour: The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

 

It’s beach-read season, and there are so many fantastic new books coming out this summer that you’ll want to toss in your beach or pool bag. I especially love when a beach read is set in one of my favorite escapes, so when I saw Jenn McKinlay’s latest novel, The Summer Share, I knew I had to read it and be a part of Berkley's blog tour.

 

Set in the always-irresistible Outer Banks, the story follows Hannah and Simon, complete opposites who discover they’ve inherited the same beach house. Before they decide what to do with it, they agree to share it for one unforgettable summer. This charming rom-com is sure to be the perfect addition to your summer reading plans.

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

About the Book: "When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways, in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van, alone save for her hulking Great Dane, Dude. Until an unexpected inheritance from her pops has Hannah thinking about putting down roots in Cape Split, North Carolina, where she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his gramps.

     As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover it was once home to a timeless love story. As their own relationship shifts from enemies to friends to lovers, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past might be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.

     For Hannah, the Split isn’t like anyplace she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—she doesn’t want to let this new life go. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community in the same way, or their first summer share might also be their last.

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Summer Share at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Bookshop. To learn more about Jenn McKinlay, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. 

 

In the comments below, let me know if you are a fan of Jenn McKinlay and if you plan on reading The Summer Share this summer.  

 

Book Review: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

 

Pages: 432

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: May 5, 2026

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Every Summer After, 

Meet Me at the Lake, One Golden Summer, 

and This Summer Will Be Different 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.

Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.

Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.

Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good."

 

 

Frankie Gardiner and George St. James have been best friends ever since George moved into the creepy house next door to the Gardiners. George came to live with his eccentric grandmother, and once Frankie and George met, they have been inseparable ever since. As they grew up together, survived childhood, the awkward young adult years, and then even lived together platonically in their twenties, they shared all the ups and downs that come with life and never really crossed the line into something more. As the years go by and George pursues his dream as a journalist, their paths cross less and less due to the demands of life and careers that require travel. Frankie gets engaged to Nate, an older professor, but this irritates George as he doesn't think it's a good fit, and a big fight ensues. Things never were the same for them after this, but George has promised to be Frankie's best man, so when the time comes, he shows up for the wedding. However, the wedding doesn't go as planned. Out of the blue, Nate leaves Frankie and cancels the wedding after delivering a letter, which offers her little to no closure. Frankie is obviously gutted, and as time goes by, her friends convince her to take the honeymoon anyway to Torfino, in British Columbia, and take George along. Hopefully, this time together will not only repair their friendship but also her heart. Plus, who wants to waste an amazing vacation? The more time Frankie and George spend together connecting, the more time Frankie realizes that maybe there is something more there with them than just a strong friendship. Do they really want to cross the line? Carley Fortune's Our Perfect Storm is an emotional beach read with a gorgeous setting; fans of Fortune won't be disappointed.
 
I adored Frankie from the start of Our Perfect Storm; she is feisty, headstrong, and relatable. George is everything readers could want in a leading man and a best friend. I adored their friendship, and Fortune really develops it by taking readers back through the use of flashbacks to their childhood, teen years, and more. It really painted a picture of their friendship and how it evolved, so when the story came back to the present, their relationship was even more clear. I also really appreciated all the allusions and references to Little Women, as Frankie and George both love the classic story.
 
The transition from friends to a romantic relationship in Our Perfect Storm was executed beautifully, filled with intense emotions. I found myself questioning whether they would end up together and rooting for them all along, as their chemistry was evident from the beginning. Additionally, the stunning setting of Tofino on Vancouver Island made me want to book a trip there immediately. The coastal backdrop definitely contributed to the novel's summery feel, making Our Perfect Storm a perfect choice for a beach read.
 
So, in the comments below, let me know if you are a fan of Carley Fortune and if you'll be adding Our Perfect Storm to your summer TBR list.