Wow I can’t believe we got to June! 6 month’s down already of my 2025 Crochet Book Blanket project. So far it’s been a steady, creative, and quietly satisfying project.
There’s something grounding about working on a really big project over a long period, and I’m really enjoying watching the blanket (and my bookshelf) grow one square at a time.
Pin for later:
The Vision for the Book Afghan
To maintain cohesion, I’ve used the same block pattern for the entire afghan (grab the free pattern here), working with yarn from my stash and selecting colours that reflect the book’s cover design. The ultimate goal? A warm, meaningful blanket that doubles as a literary keepsake.
Here’s what I accomplished in June:
- Total Books Read: and Squares Completed: 8 books / 16 squares
June Reads and Squares
Book 35: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: Trigger Warning: Child sexual abuse, grooming, emotional trauma. My Dark Vanessa is an unsettling novel that explores the long-term psychological effects of an abusive relationship between a 15-year-old girl and her 42-year-old teacher. I found this book quite emotionally raw and definitely needed something lighter to read afterwards.
Book 36: The Ex by Frieda McFadden
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: I love a Frieda McFadden book, always ultra quick reads that serve as the perfect palette cleanser, and The Ex delivers exactly that. Cassie thinks she’s finally met the perfect man: Joel is charming, romantic, and utterly devoted to her. But when cracks begin to show, Cassie starts to wonder if Joel is really who he says he is or if she’s losing her grip on reality.
Book 37: The Mother by T.M. Logan
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: The Mother is an enjoyable read. Heather Vernon, once a loving wife and mother, wakes one morning to find her husband dead and herself accused of his murder. She endures a decade behind bars while her two young sons grow up without her. Upon her release, Heather is determined to clear her name and reclaim her children. Unravelling secrets, exposing corruption, and risking everything she tries to discover who really killed her husband and why she was framed
Book 38: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐4 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: The Husband’s Secret follows three women whose lives collide when Cecilia discovers a shocking letter from her husband, meant to be read only after his death. The secret inside unravels long-held assumptions, linking her to Tess and Rachel in a web of guilt, betrayal, and consequences that none of them saw coming. I’m slowly working my way through Liane Moriarty books and this is another well-written and engaging read. Great characters and enjoyable twists and turns.
Book 39: The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐4 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: Trigger warning for SA & trafficking. The Last Thing to Burn is a tense psychological thriller about a woman held captive on a remote English farm by a controlling man who has stripped her of her identity. Known only as Jane, she clings to memories of her past and dreams of escape. As her captor tightens his grip, she’s forced to make impossible choices to protect what little she has left, until a spark of hope pushes her toward a dangerous rebellion. A compulsive read but with descriptions that made me feel very tense at times.
Book 40: The Boyfriend by Frieda McFadden
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐3.5 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: Another quick and easy read from Frieda McFadden, I always enjoy the twists she cleverly weaves into her stories. The Boyfriend is a psychological thriller about Sydney, who thinks she’s found the perfect man in Tom, a charming doctor. But as a string of murders grips the city and secrets from Tom’s past surface, Sydney realises someone close to her is hiding a deadly obsession…with chilling consequences.
Book 41: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: The Maidens is a dark academia thriller about Mariana, a therapist who investigates a series of murders at Cambridge University. She suspects a charismatic professor connected to a secret society of female students, but as the bodies pile up, Mariana’s search for the truth puts her own sanity – and life – at risk. I didn’t enjoy this book as much as The Silent Patient, but it was an okay read.
Book 42: Private Peaceful by Michael Murporgo
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: I’m not entirely convinces this is a children’s book, even though it’s classed as such. Private Peaceful is narrated by Thomas “Tommo” Peaceful, a young English soldier during World War I who spends a single sleepless night in a barn, reflecting on his life, from his idyllic rural childhood in Devon with his older brothers, Big Joe and Charlie, and their shared love for Molly – to the harsh realities of life at the Front. Beautifully written and haunting!
All the books so far
Don’t want to scroll and look for all the books that I’ve read so far? Well I’ve put together a list in my Amazon storefront so you can see all the books in one place: Go to the book list
Looking Ahead to July
As we head into the rest of the summer, I can’t believe that six months of the Crochet Book Blanket challenge are already behind us! It’s been such a joy seeing how each story has taken shape in yarn, one colourful square at a time. I’m excited to see what the next chapter brings – literally! If you’re taking part too, don’t forget to share your progress with the #KCACOUKBookCAL2025 hashtag.
I’m putting together my holiday reading list – what book do you think has to be on it? Let me know your must-reads in the comments 👇.
Stay tuned for next month’s updates. Until then, happy hooking and happy reading!
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