A review by kyras_reads
June First by Jennifer Hartmann

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Where do I even begin? I knew from the first chapter that this book was going to test my ability to hold in tears… I mean “the first tragedy” was a dead giveaway (no pun intended - I knowwww, I’m sorry) but I wasn’t expecting it to keep breaking my heart worse each time. 

June/June-Bug/Peach 🦄

It was so much fun experiencing her growing up and learning to be her own person. She was the epitome of innocence, even after she discovered some hard truths and had something tragic happen to her. She always had her head halfway in the clouds and still kept that same innocent way about her. But she was smart and motivated and I honestly loved that she made the decision to leave, even if she didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. She knew she needed to spread her wings a little and figure out how to survive in the world without Brant. She was smarter than most gave her credit for but she didn’t let that stop her. She was brave and fierce and took on the hard things. 

Brant/Luigi 🌈

He always had a special (and kind of odd) bond with June. He felt that pull to her from day one… which we are going to chalk up to being destined for one another and not something born out of trauma and the compulsive need to protect innocence that was stolen from him… for the sake of romance. 🙃
He did anything and everything he could to protect her and make her happy. He learned too late that he neglected his best friend and brother and his adopted parents. They never really got the acceptance they wanted and deserved but he always knew deep down there was a reason for all of it. 
I cannot imagine watching someone I love so much die a traumatic and tragic death the way he did and I have no idea how he saw people he loved in that way more than once and still came out of it with the ability to love so deeply. 

Theo/Mario 💔

What an amazing brother and friend he was… human, too. He spend his life making others feel safe and loved. And then in true Theo fashion, he spent his last moments saving a friend and giving forgiveness and acceptance to someone he knew couldn’t have moved on without it. He was wholly unselfish and I know his death will stick with me for a long time. 

This book was nothing I expected and somehow everything I needed it to be. I adore it, even with the heartbreak. I’m learning more and more how much of a sucker I am for forbidden relationships (sorry not sorry) and apparently crying...? 
My only regret is waiting so long to read it. 🌈

Tropes:
Forbidden/Taboo
Age-Gap 
He Falls First
Painfully Slow-Burn 

Spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️
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