A thrilling and thought-provoking experience, reading thrillers may have a huge positive impact on one's mental health.  It can offer readers a totally different kind of experience by fusing psychological elements with suspense and mystery. This genre isn't just about exciting plots and spine-tingling suspense; these books can also help readers better understand themselves and get through challenging circumstances.  Whether you need something therapeutic or want to escape from daily life, thriller novels may offer an engrossing experience that fosters emotional fortitude.  

The following thrillers are scheduled for release in June 2025:

1. The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Olivia Dumont, a ghostwriter, has concealed the fact that she is the sole child of renowned horror writer Vincent Taylor, who is well-known for both his books and for being the main suspect in the gruesome murders of his brothers throughout her entire career.  Olivia, who is on the verge of financial collapse, grudgingly consents to ghostwrite her father's final book without realizing that she will have to face the demons that haunt her family.  Sourcebooks Landmark anticipates releasing this book on June 3, 2025.

2. King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

The Godfather-inspired Southern criminal epic and stunning family drama King of Ashes marks the return of award-winning, New York Times bestselling novelist SA Cosby.  Shakespearean tragedy combined with a perverted American Dream in a gripping and sinister way.  The pages fly by on Cosby's stunning thriller, which is written in excellent style.  Cosby takes us on an incredible journey once more, building to a devastating conclusion. This book is anticipated to be published by Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar on June 10, 2025.

3. Don't Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine

A woman is plagued by terrifying visions of the future, which begin to materialize, in this twisted psychological thriller written by the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese's Book Club Pick The Last Mrs. Parrish. The book is anticipated to be published by Bantam on June 17, 2025.

4. Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

Laura Lippman's highly praised New York Times bestseller is back with an engrossing mystery about middle-aged widow and former private investigator Muriel Blossom, whose holiday on a river cruise in Paris turns into a dangerous global mystery that only she can solve.  This book and the charming Mrs. Blossom are the ideal balance of comfort and excitement, and they will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.  William Morrow is anticipated to publish this book on June 17, 2025.

5. Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell, a #1 New York Times bestseller, is described as "at the top of her game."  In this kaleidoscopic thriller, a single guy connects three women.  Ash, Martha, and Nina are headed toward a startling reality that is much more sinister than anybody could have predicted.  And the three of them are going to regret not heeding the same caution.  However, the past won't be forgotten forever. Atria Books is anticipated to publish this book on June 24, 2025.

There isn't any better way to develop empathy and put yourself in other people's shoes than to read fiction.   Multiple studies have found that visualizing tales activates the areas of the brain responsible for better comprehending people and viewing the world from a different viewpoint.

These are some fiction books that are anticipated to be published in June 2025.

1. Flashlight by Susan Choi

This book, written by the author of Trust Exercise, follows a father's absence through time, countries, and memory.  Susan Choi's Flashlight explores the shockwaves of one family's tragedy via chapters that alternate between members and again return to that night by the sea.  This book is anticipated to be published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux on June 3, 2025.

2. Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor

Zoe and Jack, Harvard students who declare they have found the antidote to aging, are thrust into the enthralling world of biotech startups in this unique and remarkable debut.  A new sort of romance in which the stakes are eternal and the desire for success consumes.  Notes on Infinity, a gripping book about youthful romance, the temptation of immortality, and the carelessness that often accompany early success, poses the question: How far would you go to fulfill your dreams?  Celadon Books is anticipated to publish this book on June 3, 2025.

3. Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh

Described as CRAZY RICH ASIANS meets SUCCESSION, Renee Ahdieh's adult first novel, the #1 NYT-bestselling YA novelist, tells the story of a young lawyer who is called upon to handle a problem with her firm's largest client, a family whose Korean beauty business is worth a billion dollars.  This book is anticipated to be published by Flatiron Books on June 3, 2025.

4. The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

The gripping tale of a young father who, following an intolerable catastrophe, considers the prospect of atonement for the unforgivable comes from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two Oprah Book Club Picks, She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb.  This book is anticipated to be published by S&S/Marysue Rucci Books on June 10, 2025.

5. The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

This incredible new book, written by the author of Nightcrawling, the New York Times best-seller and Oprah's Book Club choice, explores the entanglements and pleasures of a tough group of young moms in a small Florida panhandle town.  The Girls Who Grew Big proves Leila Mottley's promise and presents a radical new take on what it means to be a young woman. It is full of heart, life, and hope, set against the changing sands of these friends' secrets and betrayals.  This book is anticipated to be published by Knopf on June 24, 2025.

“There was something about old friends, a special depth of understanding that you never quite managed to reach with friends made later in life. The people who knew you when you were learning to know yourself had a more honest picture. They’d seen you when you were not yet entirely formed, when your outer shell hadn’t quite sealed around you. As a result, there was less pretending. Friends like that would never let you get away with the stories that you could spin around yourself with newer people. And even though that could be scarily exposing, it was also good to be around them.”

― Imogen Clark, Impossible to Forget

In Imogen Clark's heartwarming book, which has sold millions of copies, a remarkable last request permanently unites five lives.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Just turned eighteen, Romany is on the cusp of taking her first steps into adulthood when tragedy strikes, and she finds herself suddenly alone without her mother, Angie, the only parent she has ever known. In her final letter, Angie has charged her four closest friends with guiding Romany through her last year of school—but is there an ulterior motive to her unusual dying wish?

Each of the four guardians possesses an outlook on life that Angie wants to give her daughter as a legacy. Three of them have known each other since the eternally nomadic and exotically named Tiger; the shy and practical Leon with his untapped musical genius; and Maggie, a brilliant lawyer who doesn’t know her own abilities. But the fourth guardian is a mystery to the they’ve never even heard of former model Hope before…

As the guardians reflect on their friendship with Angie, it becomes apparent that this unusual arrangement is as much about them as it is about Romany. Navigating their grief individually and as a group, what will all five of them learn about themselves, their pasts—and the woman who’s brought them all together?

My reaction to this novel...

I saw the title of this book on Kindle, and since I'm subscribed and it's included in the subscription, I downloaded it immediately. Honestly, I haven't read a book by Imogen Clark before, so I don't know what to expect from this one. I was drawn in by the book cover, so I thought I'd download it and give it a read. I'm also on the lookout for a heavy drama book right now because I feel like crying over a story; sometimes I'm just in that mood, and I sensed that this book has some drama in it, so I started reading it right away.

I can say that the author's choice of words is commendable as they are easy to understand and the reading is not tedious, as it captures your interest in how the story unfolds. I also appreciated the flashbacks that depict how the characters came to know each other. This story revolves around friendship. Upon reflection, the topic may seem somewhat mundane, but I was not bored because the characters created by the author are engaging.

I really like Maggie's character here because she's the type of person who always wants things organized and struggles with sudden changes. I can't really relate to her, but I'm just amused by how her character is written. I also found it fun that she has a long-time crush on a character that I won't mention because I don't want to spoil the story, but it's cute because it makes you reflect on those times in your youth when you had friendships like this and experienced similar things in your life.

The story is quite pleasant to read. As I mentioned initially, what I was looking for was a heavy drama, but for me, this is not really a drama. Although there are scenes that are sad, I still perceive the narrative as light in tone. If you want to read a relaxing story, this could be one of my recommendations. Readers will also witness the beauty of friendship here, where despite their differing personalities and life paths, they remain intact with each other, something that, in real life, is rarely observed among individuals.

But of course, just like friendships, the story is not always perfect because there are times when, while reading, I find myself annoyed with certain characters, such as Angie. I’m not sure about others, but for me, there is something slightly off about Angie; I just can't fully explain it. There are instances where I seem to dislike her character. Perhaps it is because when her character was introduced, I expected more from her, but it felt underdeveloped and did not align well, which is why sometimes I feel a bit lacking in the portrayal of her character.

Anyway, this book is perfectly suitable if you are looking for reading materials that offer relaxation, especially if you prefer to read about friendship. This book encompasses various types of friendships that one may experience. It also illustrates and conveys the significance of friendship in a person's life and how different individuals can come together and become friends.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨(3.5/5)