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Honest June #2
Honest June: The Show Must Go On
June can't tell a lie - and that made for a lot of drama even before she joined her school musical! Tween readers won't want to miss this relatable and magical new series. Honestly.
June has a hard time telling the truth when it isn't what people want to hear. But she's trying to be honest with herself, and auditioning for the school musical is a step in the right direction! It's what she wants -- even if her parents have other ideas.
But the drama is brewing offstage, too, and on the night of the play, June's secret blog is released to the whole school. ALL of the inner secrets that she's been desperate to keep to herself are unleashed! Will her friends and family forgive her for the lies? Or is her carefully-constructed life going to come crashing down?
June has a hard time telling the truth when it isn't what people want to hear. But she's trying to be honest with herself, and auditioning for the school musical is a step in the right direction! It's what she wants -- even if her parents have other ideas.
But the drama is brewing offstage, too, and on the night of the play, June's secret blog is released to the whole school. ALL of the inner secrets that she's been desperate to keep to herself are unleashed! Will her friends and family forgive her for the lies? Or is her carefully-constructed life going to come crashing down?
- GenresMiddle GradeJuvenile
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2022
14 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Tina Wells
23 books53 followersTina Wells is the author of the best-selling tween fiction series Mackenzie Blue, and its spinoff series, The Zee Files. Tina lives on the East Coast but likes to travel and share her passion to encourage and uplift young people.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 27, 2023
4.5 stars
This continues to be an amazing series about sweet June learning what it means to tell the truth and have integrity! In this story, we follow June as she goes out for the main lead in the school production of The Wiz. With June still under here fairy godmother's spell, honesty remains a requirement for June. She is constantly getting herself in tons of shenanigans and learning what the right thing to do should be in each one. She is discovering herself, her talents and growing as a young girl. The ending had me shocked - ya'll I gotta get to the next book asap!
This continues to be an amazing series about sweet June learning what it means to tell the truth and have integrity! In this story, we follow June as she goes out for the main lead in the school production of The Wiz. With June still under here fairy godmother's spell, honesty remains a requirement for June. She is constantly getting herself in tons of shenanigans and learning what the right thing to do should be in each one. She is discovering herself, her talents and growing as a young girl. The ending had me shocked - ya'll I gotta get to the next book asap!
March 11, 2023
"...be a person of integrity. That your word is your bond. Say what you mean and mean what you say. But you have to respect others , even when you're disagreeing with them. Even when their truth and your truth may not be the same thing."
I loved this story. I loved following June on her adventures as she fumbles, stumbles, grows and learns HOW to tell her truth. I am so invested in June's journey. So much so I would love to follow June into her teenage and college years! June discovers great talents and some character flaws too. I was invested in all of it.
I loved this story. I loved following June on her adventures as she fumbles, stumbles, grows and learns HOW to tell her truth. I am so invested in June's journey. So much so I would love to follow June into her teenage and college years! June discovers great talents and some character flaws too. I was invested in all of it.
March 30, 2023
Ohhhh June bug...we in the thick of it now 😬
December 23, 2023
Read this in one sitting 😂
That cliffhanger though… now I have to read the last book! This one was slightly more intense than the last one, with some soap-opera-worthy backstabbing. This continues to be a really sweet series with some valuable messages that I'm really glad I found.
That cliffhanger though… now I have to read the last book! This one was slightly more intense than the last one, with some soap-opera-worthy backstabbing. This continues to be a really sweet series with some valuable messages that I'm really glad I found.
August 26, 2022
Honest June continues June setting her sights on a part in the school production of The Wiz. June still is under her fairy godmother's spell which means she has to tell the truth at all times. More than every she's been getting around it by writing her truths in her blog. She's also struggling with her friendship with Nia who's been coming across like a hater recently. And then there's her crush on Lee who seems to be crushing on Nia.
There was a lesson in this story about telling the truth but not being mean spirited and hurtful about it which I think is something we all need to hear from time to time. June was ruthless at times! I think young readers will get a kick of out some of her blog comments. The breakdown of the middle school friendship is relatable and then there's navigating parent expectations in the mix.
Funny and fast-paced just like the first one this one will keep younger readers engaged to the end. And lucky for them it ends at just the right place for a 3rd book to begin.
There was a lesson in this story about telling the truth but not being mean spirited and hurtful about it which I think is something we all need to hear from time to time. June was ruthless at times! I think young readers will get a kick of out some of her blog comments. The breakdown of the middle school friendship is relatable and then there's navigating parent expectations in the mix.
Funny and fast-paced just like the first one this one will keep younger readers engaged to the end. And lucky for them it ends at just the right place for a 3rd book to begin.
September 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Wowowwww gotta see what happens in the next one.
Still think june and nia need to part ways til there's more growth.
They both got nasty tendencies. But nia seems worse to me. How u know ur friend too shy to say she has a crush but u trynna get to know the crush urself? & u keep acting like her interest is whack?
I get part of june's journey is not only to learn to speak truth and live it but to also say her truth with care to others. But the fairy godmother coulda led with that. Talk about mixed signals for a preteen.
June having harsh opinions is nasty work but to leak a blog so one person can be disliked by many is nastyy nasty work. Like girl, you want june to be isolated from a huge part of town? That's too much. And olive made a good point saying she hurt other ppl in town by leaking the blog.
I kinda wish is was more stressed how anxious june is. I feel like anxiety is what leads her to lie. But i digress.
Drama chile.
Growing up is hard.
Will be reading book 3.
I think this needs to be adapted into movies.
Wowowwww gotta see what happens in the next one.
Still think june and nia need to part ways til there's more growth.
They both got nasty tendencies. But nia seems worse to me. How u know ur friend too shy to say she has a crush but u trynna get to know the crush urself? & u keep acting like her interest is whack?
I get part of june's journey is not only to learn to speak truth and live it but to also say her truth with care to others. But the fairy godmother coulda led with that. Talk about mixed signals for a preteen.
June having harsh opinions is nasty work but to leak a blog so one person can be disliked by many is nastyy nasty work. Like girl, you want june to be isolated from a huge part of town? That's too much. And olive made a good point saying she hurt other ppl in town by leaking the blog.
I kinda wish is was more stressed how anxious june is. I feel like anxiety is what leads her to lie. But i digress.
Drama chile.
Growing up is hard.
Will be reading book 3.
I think this needs to be adapted into movies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 7, 2022I absolutely adored book one in the Honest June series, and I was beyond excited to get an advanced copy of the second book.
June is still grappling with Victoria's curse/gift of always telling the truth. This time, she's hiding her desire to star in the school's production of The Wiz from her dad, who often disparages the arts as a profession. When her best guy friend --and current crush-- tells her he is interested in spending more time with her friend Nia, June is hurt, and finds herself hiding another part of herself: not only her feelings for her friend, Lee, but also his feelings for Nia. With all of these secrets up in the air, June relies heavily on her private blog diary to record her truths without facing any consequences. But as June lets all her darkest thoughts flow into her safe online space, she starts getting a bit meaner, and moves a bit further away from herself.
At first, this evolution of June's character was really surprising to me. But then I remembered being a middle schooler, and teaching middle schoolers, and sometimes turning their cruelest thoughts on others keeps them from seeing their own flaws and turning that mean gaze on themselves. I was crushed to see June behaving this way, but Wells shows how even the most good-hearted of us can take a wrong turn.
There are so many wonderful topics addressed in this book. From friendship trouble to parent problems to first crushes, June goes through it all during the winter and spring of her first year of middle school. One thing I wish would have been better addressed is Nia's behavior. Nia and June have been best friends since they were babies, but Nia's behavior in books one and two is gradually more and more toxic. June keeps trying to right her wrongs and be a good friend, and Nia keeps shutting her out and throwing shade every chance she gets. The fact that June's mom, who seems so clued in otherwise, is totally out of the loop on this is surprising. It feels like she would have noticed, and addressed it. After all, just last book she was so involved in June's life she was picking out her clothes!
The other part of this edition that didn't sit right with me is the ending. Without any spoilers, the ending is a cliffhanger. I was shocked to turn the (digital) page with 10% of the book left and find the acknowledgments and a preview of book one. Like, what!? Where's the ending!? This could be an e-galley issue and there will be more of a wrap-up in the published version, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was the true ending. It sets up the reader for book 3, but some young readers are going to be mad they have to wait until APRIL for the next book!
As with the first book, the illustrations add to the story without being distracting. It's so refreshing to see illustrations in a middle grade book, and these are especially fantastic.
All in all, Honest June: The Show Must Go On is a great follow up to book one, Honest June, and can definitely serve as a cautionary tale as to what to share with whom and where.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On is available now.
Thank you to author Tina Wells, NetGalley, and Random House Children's publishing for an advanced copy such that I could share my honest opinions.
June is still grappling with Victoria's curse/gift of always telling the truth. This time, she's hiding her desire to star in the school's production of The Wiz from her dad, who often disparages the arts as a profession. When her best guy friend --and current crush-- tells her he is interested in spending more time with her friend Nia, June is hurt, and finds herself hiding another part of herself: not only her feelings for her friend, Lee, but also his feelings for Nia. With all of these secrets up in the air, June relies heavily on her private blog diary to record her truths without facing any consequences. But as June lets all her darkest thoughts flow into her safe online space, she starts getting a bit meaner, and moves a bit further away from herself.
At first, this evolution of June's character was really surprising to me. But then I remembered being a middle schooler, and teaching middle schoolers, and sometimes turning their cruelest thoughts on others keeps them from seeing their own flaws and turning that mean gaze on themselves. I was crushed to see June behaving this way, but Wells shows how even the most good-hearted of us can take a wrong turn.
There are so many wonderful topics addressed in this book. From friendship trouble to parent problems to first crushes, June goes through it all during the winter and spring of her first year of middle school. One thing I wish would have been better addressed is Nia's behavior. Nia and June have been best friends since they were babies, but Nia's behavior in books one and two is gradually more and more toxic. June keeps trying to right her wrongs and be a good friend, and Nia keeps shutting her out and throwing shade every chance she gets. The fact that June's mom, who seems so clued in otherwise, is totally out of the loop on this is surprising. It feels like she would have noticed, and addressed it. After all, just last book she was so involved in June's life she was picking out her clothes!
The other part of this edition that didn't sit right with me is the ending. Without any spoilers, the ending is a cliffhanger. I was shocked to turn the (digital) page with 10% of the book left and find the acknowledgments and a preview of book one. Like, what!? Where's the ending!? This could be an e-galley issue and there will be more of a wrap-up in the published version, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was the true ending. It sets up the reader for book 3, but some young readers are going to be mad they have to wait until APRIL for the next book!
As with the first book, the illustrations add to the story without being distracting. It's so refreshing to see illustrations in a middle grade book, and these are especially fantastic.
All in all, Honest June: The Show Must Go On is a great follow up to book one, Honest June, and can definitely serve as a cautionary tale as to what to share with whom and where.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On is available now.
Thank you to author Tina Wells, NetGalley, and Random House Children's publishing for an advanced copy such that I could share my honest opinions.
June 2, 2022
Imagine if Ella from Ella Enchanted was a little Black girl who was in middle school, that is this book. I love this book. It was a fun fast-paced romp. I wish I had known it was a series before I read this book but it mostly stands alone. The art that I got to see (as it isn’t finalized for me) was so cute.
June keeps all her truths in a secret blog because she doesn’t want to hurt anyone's feelings but that doesn’t always work out the best.
Add in middle school and a musical and then BOOM you get this hilarious story. It felt like I was reading the best of a Disney series. I want to see this live on screen.
My only gripe is simply that at some points in the story I felt too old (which is fair considering I’m about 8-10 years removed from middle school). That’s not the saying that older people can’t enjoy this story. They absolutely can!
I also truly want to comment on Tina Wells on her writing styles and Brittney Bond on her illustrations.
I definitely recommend this story!
ARC from netgalley
June keeps all her truths in a secret blog because she doesn’t want to hurt anyone's feelings but that doesn’t always work out the best.
Add in middle school and a musical and then BOOM you get this hilarious story. It felt like I was reading the best of a Disney series. I want to see this live on screen.
My only gripe is simply that at some points in the story I felt too old (which is fair considering I’m about 8-10 years removed from middle school). That’s not the saying that older people can’t enjoy this story. They absolutely can!
I also truly want to comment on Tina Wells on her writing styles and Brittney Bond on her illustrations.
I definitely recommend this story!
ARC from netgalley
April 3, 2025
A big thank you to Netgalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for providing me with an eARC. This doesn't affect my opinion in any way.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On reminded me why I love middle grade books so much. They have amazing stories and throw in some lessons on top of that. Her fairy godmother is still insisting on June telling the truth. That may get a little bit complicated when she gets the lead in the school musical: The Wiz.
June is growing up and that brings on new feelings and even friendships that may not go as smoothly as you hope. Even though things get messy, June is learning new things about herself and what she loves. There were some twists and turns I wasn't expecting and this one even gets a little emotional. I loved the lesson that telling the truth is important, but also how you tell it. June is such a fun character to read about as she learns and grows. I hope we get many books about her.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On reminded me why I love middle grade books so much. They have amazing stories and throw in some lessons on top of that. Her fairy godmother is still insisting on June telling the truth. That may get a little bit complicated when she gets the lead in the school musical: The Wiz.
June is growing up and that brings on new feelings and even friendships that may not go as smoothly as you hope. Even though things get messy, June is learning new things about herself and what she loves. There were some twists and turns I wasn't expecting and this one even gets a little emotional. I loved the lesson that telling the truth is important, but also how you tell it. June is such a fun character to read about as she learns and grows. I hope we get many books about her.
July 14, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.
I absolutely loved the illustrations in the book and I wish more middle grade books had illustrations sprinkled throughout the books. struggled with liking June because we were aware of all the very mean private thoughts she was having, so I knew she was being hypocritical and that just didn't sit well with me. I'm also not sure that an apology letter in the school newspaper would be enough to recover from what she said/did.
I absolutely loved the illustrations in the book and I wish more middle grade books had illustrations sprinkled throughout the books. struggled with liking June because we were aware of all the very mean private thoughts she was having, so I knew she was being hypocritical and that just didn't sit well with me. I'm also not sure that an apology letter in the school newspaper would be enough to recover from what she said/did.
May 29, 2023
This was really cute. I know I should have read book 1 first but it happens. June has a lot of learning to still do when it comes to the truth and I'm looking forward to seeing how she grows. I'm going to check and see if the library has copies of the series for the kids to read. I think my youngest would really like these.
September 1, 2022
I loooved this cute story. June is such a great role model and i loved the lesson in the story. A great read for younger readers.
September 5, 2022
The MC's catastrophising gets really old and annoying. Also, there is so much repetition in the story.
January 10, 2023
I loved this book just like the first one but June was kinda bitchy during rehearsals
March 5, 2023
June's anxiety makes me anxious, but my daughter loves these books.
Read
June 11, 2023100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000/10!!!!!
October 13, 2023
The book was ok. I thought that June was being mean and selfish and only cares about herself. I didn't like this series that much. I hope the next book is better.
Read
June 13, 2024I absolutely adored book one in the Honest June series, and I was beyond excited to get an advanced copy of the second book.
June is still grappling with Victoria's curse/gift of always telling the truth. This time, she's hiding her desire to star in the school's production of The Wiz from her dad, who often disparages the arts as a profession. When her best guy friend --and current crush-- tells her he is interested in spending more time with her friend Nia, June is hurt, and finds herself hiding another part of herself: not only her feelings for her friend, Lee, but also his feelings for Nia. With all of these secrets up in the air, June relies heavily on her private blog diary to record her truths without facing any consequences. But as June lets all her darkest thoughts flow into her safe online space, she starts getting a bit meaner, and moves a bit further away from herself.
At first, this evolution of June's character was really surprising to me. But then I remembered being a middle schooler, and teaching middle schoolers, and sometimes turning their cruelest thoughts on others keeps them from seeing their own flaws and turning that mean gaze on themselves. I was crushed to see June behaving this way, but Wells shows how even the most good-hearted of us can take a wrong turn.
There are so many wonderful topics addressed in this book. From friendship trouble to parent problems to first crushes, June goes through it all during the winter and spring of her first year of middle school. One thing I wish would have been better addressed is Nia's behavior. Nia and June have been best friends since they were babies, but Nia's behavior in books one and two is gradually more and more toxic. June keeps trying to right her wrongs and be a good friend, and Nia keeps shutting her out and throwing shade every chance she gets. The fact that June's mom, who seems so clued in otherwise, is totally out of the loop on this is surprising. It feels like she would have noticed, and addressed it. After all, just last book she was so involved in June's life she was picking out her clothes!
As with the first book, the illustrations add to the story without being distracting. It's so refreshing to see illustrations in a middle grade book, and these are especially fantastic.
All in all, Honest June: The Show Must Go On is a great follow up to book one, Honest June, and can definitely serve as a cautionary tale as to what to share with whom and where.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On is available now.
Thank you to author Tina Wells, NetGalley, and Random House Children's publishing for an advanced copy such that I could share my honest opinions.
June is still grappling with Victoria's curse/gift of always telling the truth. This time, she's hiding her desire to star in the school's production of The Wiz from her dad, who often disparages the arts as a profession. When her best guy friend --and current crush-- tells her he is interested in spending more time with her friend Nia, June is hurt, and finds herself hiding another part of herself: not only her feelings for her friend, Lee, but also his feelings for Nia. With all of these secrets up in the air, June relies heavily on her private blog diary to record her truths without facing any consequences. But as June lets all her darkest thoughts flow into her safe online space, she starts getting a bit meaner, and moves a bit further away from herself.
At first, this evolution of June's character was really surprising to me. But then I remembered being a middle schooler, and teaching middle schoolers, and sometimes turning their cruelest thoughts on others keeps them from seeing their own flaws and turning that mean gaze on themselves. I was crushed to see June behaving this way, but Wells shows how even the most good-hearted of us can take a wrong turn.
There are so many wonderful topics addressed in this book. From friendship trouble to parent problems to first crushes, June goes through it all during the winter and spring of her first year of middle school. One thing I wish would have been better addressed is Nia's behavior. Nia and June have been best friends since they were babies, but Nia's behavior in books one and two is gradually more and more toxic. June keeps trying to right her wrongs and be a good friend, and Nia keeps shutting her out and throwing shade every chance she gets. The fact that June's mom, who seems so clued in otherwise, is totally out of the loop on this is surprising. It feels like she would have noticed, and addressed it. After all, just last book she was so involved in June's life she was picking out her clothes!
As with the first book, the illustrations add to the story without being distracting. It's so refreshing to see illustrations in a middle grade book, and these are especially fantastic.
All in all, Honest June: The Show Must Go On is a great follow up to book one, Honest June, and can definitely serve as a cautionary tale as to what to share with whom and where.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On is available now.
Thank you to author Tina Wells, NetGalley, and Random House Children's publishing for an advanced copy such that I could share my honest opinions.
December 14, 2022
11yo June is still under the spell of her Fairy Godmother Victoria and has to tell the truth. She's starting to wonder if she likes her best friend Lee, but before she can pursue her feelings, Lee asks June if her best friend Nia might want to hang out with them. June just can't get them together, so instead of talking to them, June writes her true feeling in her private blog. It's an efficient workaround for the whole truth problem. At least she's being honest with herself. She auditions for the school play The Wiz, and is cast as Dorothy, Her dad doesn't think acting is a real career so she doesn't tell him. Victoria has warned her that if she isn't honest with her dad, opening night will not be the success she anticipates. June's lies are starting to catch up to her, and she can't use other lies to divert.
June is in a production! Personally, I'm so surprised she was cast in a leading role after only a singing audition, but her inexperience quickly became an important plot point. Honest June is turning into a fun series, I'm excited to read book three - they end with nice cliffhangers, so be sure to read them in order. June, her friends and family are black.
Cross-posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
June is in a production! Personally, I'm so surprised she was cast in a leading role after only a singing audition, but her inexperience quickly became an important plot point. Honest June is turning into a fun series, I'm excited to read book three - they end with nice cliffhangers, so be sure to read them in order. June, her friends and family are black.
Cross-posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
December 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this, back when I read it. It’s very captivating, and it filled my heart with joy. Wish I had remembered to write this down and review it when I had finished the book, but I do remember thinking it’s super cute and June is a relatable character even at my age. I think the little ones will love this!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews