What We’re Reading: Writers and readers about the books they enjoyed in June | books

Ollie, Guardian reader

You have just finished reading Wemmy Road Boys By Sufyan Salam. I absolutely loved this book, a wonderful mixture of violence and vulnerability set on Manchester’s Cary Mile. I became quite attached to the three main boys, and loved all the perspective shifts to the different characters throughout the book. I absolutely cried at the end, it was an unexpected but completely understandable ending. 10/10, everyone should read this.

Candace Carty Williams, writer

Written by a criminologist and ethnographer who grew up on a London estate, Trapped life Ebony Reid is one of those works of nonfiction that feels just as expendable as fiction because it details the challenges faced by those living in an inner city environment. the next, All-consuming: Why we eat the way we eat now By Ruby Tandoh – I will devour anything Tandoh writes. There’s a specific brand of accessibility you use when writing about food that makes everything special, especially when it comes to the social, economic, and technological factors shaping the way we eat today. Finally, it’s rare that I get to benefit from Victorian Gothic, but my most trusted reader friend told me I would enjoy it Victorian psyche By Virginia Vito So I found myself stalking the dark hallways of the Ensor house, terrified and excited in equal measure at two in the morning because I couldn’t put it down.

• Queenie is being published on July 2 by Trapeze Publishing. To support The Guardian, order your copy from guardianbookshop.com.

Sarah, Guardian reader

With all the talk about artificial intelligence and data centers in the news, I chose Annie Boat By Sierra Greer. Annie Bot was created to be the perfect robotic friend for its owner – sorry, partner – who doesn’t like people knowing that his girlfriend has a control panel in her neck, and is eager to please and fulfill his every whim. They are great at noticing disappointment in themselves, usually when they fall short in household chores. Doug likes the place clean, and feels like she needs a little guidance, so he brings home another robot to show Annie how it’s done. The dilemma facing Annie is that the more human she learns to be, the more human traits she will acquire. I really liked how the author made me root for Annie Pott – even though I feared the rise of artificial intelligence, I wanted her to find true strength, and fulfill her desire to live life on her own terms.

Patrick Frayne, writer

I’ve been voraciously reading Tessa Hadley. Her most recent novel, Partyis a beautiful old coming-of-age novel about class and youthful ambition. I also read Prestige dramathe first novel by Seamus O’Reilly. It’s an angry, funny and wonderfully jarring book about a posh TV show set around the Troubles in O’Reilly’s home county of Derry.

Both books are very short. I also enjoyed re-reading Ulysses By James Joyce for the Bloomsday event. The trick is to 1) remember that it’s very funny, and 2) not to check the page count. I think it might be 300 pages.

• Experts in the Field of Death by Patrick Frayn is published by Penguin Sandycove. To support The Guardian, order your copy from guardianbookshop.com. Delivery fees may apply.

Fabiana, Guardian reader

My son’s love of reading has inspired me to read some children’s and teen novels. I I rebel Written by Ross Montgomery is a lovely summer read. Six weeks Written by Matt Goodfellow is a touching story about a sad boy, and the Explorer By Katherine Rundell He took me on a journey into the wilderness of the Amazon jungle. I read it with or alongside my son – we share the joy of reading together. The books are so well written, they take my imagination away from the daily routine.