What we’re reading: authors and readers of the books they enjoyed in June | Books

Ollie, a Guardian reader

I just finished reading Wimmy Road Boyz by Sufiyaan Salam. I really liked this book, a fun combination of violence and vulnerability that takes place on Manchester’s Curry Mile. I fell in love with the three boys, and I loved the change of perspective of the different characters in the book. I totally cried at the end – it was an unexpected but perfect ending. 10/10, everyone should read this.

Candice Carty-Williams, author

Written by a criminologist and sociologist who grew up in London, A Trapped Life by Ebony Reid is one of those nonfiction books that feels as fictional as it does about the challenges faced by inner-city dwellers. Others, Eating Whole: Why We Eat the Way We Do Now By Ruby Tandoh – I will eat anything Tandoh writes. There is a certain kind of presence that he uses when writing about food that makes everything visible, especially when it comes to the social, economic and technological aspects that shape the way we eat today. Finally, I rarely get into Victorian gothic, but a trusted reader friend told me I might enjoy it. Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, so I found myself stalking the dark corridors of Ensor House, scared and excited at 2am because I couldn’t place it.

• Queenie Is Working on It was published on 2 July by Trapeze. To support the Guardian, order your copy from guardianbookshop.com.

Sarah, a Guardian reader

With all the talk of AI and data centers in the news, I decided Annie Bot and Sierra Greer. Annie Bot was created to be a good robot friend for its owner – sorry, friend – she doesn’t like people to know that her friend has a control panel around her neck, and she wants to please and meet what she wants. He notices when she is upset with him, which is usually when he fails to do the housework. Doug likes the spotless place, and feels it needs a little improvement, so he brings home another bot, to show Annie how it’s done. Annie’s problem is that when she learns to be human, she also acquires good morals. I loved how the author made me root for Annie Bot – even though I was afraid of the rise of AI, I wanted her to find real agency, and fulfill her desire to live according to her wishes.

Patrick Freyne, author

I have been reading a lot Tessa Hadley. His latest novella, Partyis a very old book about class and youth interests. I read it again Prestige dramathe first book by Séamas O’Reilly. It’s the fiercest, funniest and most surprising book of the hit TV show in the making about the Troubles in O’Reilly’s hometown of Derry.

Both books are very short. I also enjoyed re-reading Ulysses in James Joyce about the Bloomsday event. The trick is to 1) remember that it’s really funny, and 2) don’t look at the number of pages. I think it could be 300 pages long.

• The Masters of the Dead Garden by Patrick Freyne is published by Penguin Sandycove. To support the Guardian, order your book from guardianbookshop.com. Shipping fees may apply.

Fabiana, Guardian reader

My son’s love of reading has inspired me to read children’s fiction and YA. Me I’m a Rebel Author Ross Montgomery is a great summer read. Six weeks written by Matt Goodfellow is a sad story of a boy who is sad, and The Researcher and Katherine Rundell took me on a trip to the Amazon jungle. I read them together or with my son – we share the joy of reading together. The books are very well written – they take my mind off the daily grind.