June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

★★★★★
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet comes a novel of suspense and passion about a terrible mistake made sixty years ago that threatens to change a modern family forever. 

Twenty-five-year-old Cassie Danvers is holed up in her family’s crumbling mansion in rural St. Jude, Ohio, mourning the loss of the woman who raised her—her grandmother, June. But a knock on the door forces her out of isolation. Cassie has been named the sole heir to legendary matinee idol Jack Montgomery's vast fortune. How did Jack Montgomery know her name? Could he have crossed paths with her grandmother all those years ago? What other shocking secrets could June’s once-stately mansion hold?

Soon Jack’s famous daughters come knocking, determined to wrestle Cassie away from the inheritance they feel is their due. Together, they all come to discover the true reasons for June’s silence about that long-ago summer, when Hollywood came to town, and June and Jack’s lives were forever altered by murder, blackmail, and betrayal. As this page-turner shifts deftly between the past and present, Cassie and her guests will be forced to reexamine their legacies, their definition of family, and what it truly means to love someone, steadfastly, across the ages.

As I read June, it reminded me of The Hundred-Year House with its combination of an old house, a multi-generational narrative, and plenty of well-kept, dark family secrets - but I can gladly admit I enjoyed Miranda Beverly-Whittemore’s novel so much more (though I’m not sure I can fully explain my preference without spilling spoilers). June shares a story divided between years 1955 and 2015, full of passion and suspense, as Cassie Danvers uncovers secrets about her grandmother June. The story is well-paced and intriguing with an interesting cast of characters in both storylines, and I really liked it. For readers who enjoy fiction with multiple storylines, I certainly recommend June - it’s a great choice for a summer read.

Thanks to Blogging for Books, I received a copy of June and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.