Best New Books June 2021

Skip navigation!

Begin Slideshow

Wondering how on earth we’re already halfway through the year? Join the club. Although 2021 has been rocky to say the least, the extra time indoors has given us a chance to enjoy the small pleasures of home. Whether it's getting stuck into some DIY or bingeing a true crime drama, lockdown life has had its moments.

Above all else, the extra downtime has provided us with plenty of opportunity to get stuck into a good book. As we return to even more outdoor activities this month, we’re hoping that our nightly routine of diving into an engrossing read is a pandemic habit that sticks.

Last month, team R29 worked its way through a broad selection of books, including Di Lebowitz’s powerful novel The Marks Left On Her, which explores how sexual assault can alter an individual's whole world. Other must-reads included Kirsty Capes’ Careless, centred around a pregnant teenager in the foster system, and Mother Mother, written by former Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac.

This month, the team is exploring everything from ancient curses to far-off dystopian futures. To take a peek at all the books we’re reading this June, click through the slideshow ahead...

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn a commission.

More from Books & Art

The 57 Most Erotic Books You Will Ever Read

by Shannon Carlin

In Defence Of ‘Chick Lit’

Reading has always been a joyful experience for me. Since the moment I was old enough to sit still and read a book, I have spent many of my waking hours do

7 Books That Tell A Forgotten Black British History

The origins of Black British history (the who, what, why, when and where…) remain a constant source of confusion and contention in the UK, with many

These Feel-Good Photos Celebrate Friends & Their Clubbing Outfits

“Nothing could better signify the fashions of Glasgow than the club culture the city has to offer and the people who get dressed up to enter these sp

by Joanna Cresswell

Yomi Adegoke’s The List Is A Cautionary Tale For The Chro...

Yomi Adegoke refuses to look up reviews of her debut novel, The List, online — especially on TikTok, a side of the internet she openly admits she’s “

by L'Oréal Blackett

These Nostalgic Photos Celebrate The Girls Of Cornwall

Growing up in rural Cornwall, photographer Francesca Rowse often found herself questioning her place as a young woman. “It’s a very patriarchal cou

by Joanna Cresswell

8 Summer Reads For Every Type Of Holiday Destination

by Maybelle Morgan

These Photos Capture The Bond Between A Mother & Daughter Just 17...

by Joanna Cresswell

These Photos Tell The Love Story Of A Past Relationship (NSFW)

by Joanna Cresswell

Reflective Photos Of Daughters Who Have Lost Their Mothers

Berlin-based photographer Marina Hoppmann was just 17 years old when she lost her mum, Ria. The two of them had been exceptionally close and the experience

by Joanna Cresswell

Growing Up, My Mother and I Couldn’t Understand Each Other ...

I began writing my memoir without knowing how it’d end — a strange thing to say about a type of book that’s literally comprised of the memories that

In Pictures: Young People Living With ADHD

London-based Norwegian photographer Nora Nord was diagnosed with ADHD in 2018, when she was in her early 20s. It was an immensely freeing feeling, she says

by Joanna Cresswell

R29 Original Series