New Books Released in July 2026
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July has arrived, bringing sun-soaked afternoons, balmy evenings, and the perfect excuse to refresh your reading list with this month’s most captivating new releases. As midsummer settles across the United States, there’s no better way to celebrate July than by diving into stories brimming with adventure, heart, wit, and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re savoring iced coffee on the balcony, stretching out on a beach towel with a cool drink, or curling up indoors as fireworks fade and the night air drifts through open windows, these July book picks will keep you turning pages all month long.
The Book Guide’s must-read recommendations for July 2026:
The Book Guide’s editorial team curates a monthly list of popular new releases, drawing from top ratings across the board. Each preview spans a wide range of genres—from contemporary and historical fiction to mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult, and nonfiction. This month, three standout titles are not to be missed.
July’s new releases bring together an irresistible blend of swoony romance, poignant literary reflection, and edge-of-your-seat psychological suspense—perfect companions for the season’s long, sun-drenched afternoons and balmy nights. These are our top recommendations for the month: First, The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren delivers warm, emotionally satisfying storytelling that celebrates second chances, creative passion, and the spark that reignites when you least expect it. Christina Lauren’s signature wit and heartfelt tenderness make this novel a delight for readers who crave chemistry, charm, and romance that feels both escapist and deeply relatable.
Next, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves offers introspective, emotionally resonant literary fiction that contemplates memory, loss, and the fragile beauty of everyday moments. Reeves’s precise, lyrical prose and keen psychological insight invite readers to sit with complex feelings and quiet revelations, crafting a narrative that lingers in the mind long after you close the book. This thoughtful, beautifully wrought novel is ideal for readers drawn to character-driven stories that balance vulnerability with sharp, observant detail.
Finally, Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena tightens the screws with a gripping psychological thriller that prowls the dark corners of secrets, guilt, and moral ambiguity. Lapena’s taut pacing and deft plotting slowly turn up the tension, layering twist after twist as the truth becomes increasingly slippery and dangerous. Perfect for fans of propulsive, twist-filled suspense, this chilling read will keep you guessing—and glancing over your shoulder—through the long July nights.
What to Read This July 2026: Best Book Releases.
July’s standout titles bring a luminous mix of literary insight, bold contemporary drama, and pulse-quickening suspense—ideal for lingering in the lingering twilight or diving into stories that match the season’s vibrant pace. Add these unforgettable reads to your list for a month charged with emotion, wit, and edge-of-your-seat discovery.
The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
What is The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren about?: Whistler by Ann Patchett is a moving, luminous story about family, memory, and love. When Daphne notices an older gentleman following her through the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, she’s surprised to discover it’s Eddie — her former stepfather, who was briefly married to her mother when Daphne was just nine years old. The two haven’t seen each other since a fateful event that altered the course of both their lives. Reunited now, time seems to fall away as they reflect on their shared past, the joys of the present, and their commitment to face the future together. At its heart, the novel explores how being truly known by just one person — even for a short time — can be profoundly life-changing.The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren is recommended for: This book is perfect for readers who love second-chance and second-love romance tropes, crave contemporary love stories with a subtle sci-fi twist, and are drawn to emotionally layered narratives that balance heartbreak with genuine hope. It’s especially suited to fans of Christina Lauren’s signature witty yet moving writing style, as well as readers who enjoyed titles like The Unhoneymooners or Beach Read and are now looking for something with even more emotional depth.
Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves
What is Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves about?: Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves is a stunning and emotionally resonant debut novel that reimagines Death as Travis — a quiet, gentle, jeans-wearing man who lives in a small gray town and spends his days offering comfort to people in their final moments. His world shifts when he meets Dalia, a midwife, and her spirited eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall. For the first time, Travis finds himself embraced by the warmth of human connection — and must grapple with what it truly means to be alive. Written with extraordinary compassion and luminous prose, this New York Times bestseller is a meditation on love, loss, grief, and the quiet beauty hidden within a finite life. Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves is recommended for: Recommended for readers who are fans of Fredrik Backman (A Man Called Ove) or emotionally rich literary fiction, who enjoy stories narrated from unconventional or fantastical perspectives with touches of magical realism, and who are drawn to books that explore grief, mortality, and what makes life meaningful. This novel will resonate with those seeking a quietly heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting and hopeful read, who appreciate beautifully written, character-driven stories with deep philosophical undertones, and who may have experienced loss and want a book that honors that experience with grace.
Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena
What is Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena about?: Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena is a wickedly clever and tightly wound psychological thriller — her tenth novel — that centers on Jill and Ted, a couple whose identity is entirely wrapped up in their stunning New York brownstone. When Ted’s inheritance disappears and a bad investment threatens everything they’ve built, the two devise a cold, calculated plan: murder a wealthy family member for the inheritance that would save them. What begins as a seemingly foolproof scheme quickly unravels as secrets surface, trust fractures, and unexpected twists pile up at every turn. Written with Lapena’s signature razor-sharp pacing and deliciously dark wit, it’s the kind of thriller that is nearly impossible to put down. Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena is recommended for: Recommended for: Fans of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense who love morally complex characters, twisty plots, and shocking endings will absolutely devour this book. It’s a perfect pick for readers who enjoy Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell, or Lapena’s own previous novels like The Couple Next Door.
The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
What is The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley about?: The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley is the swoony, witty, and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy — and the second book in the Dearly Beloathed series. The story follows Osric, a deadly assassin from the Fyren Order, and Aurienne, a principled scholar-healer bound by the motto Harm to none — two people whose worlds should never collide. Yet with every illicit healing session under the full moon, the boundaries between good and evil, duty and desire, begin to dissolve in the most delicious way possible. When a deadly plague threatens the realm and points to a sinister new Order, the two are forced together, and their slow-burning, forbidden attraction tips dangerously toward something neither can deny. The book is packed with sharp wit, aching tension, and high-stakes adventure. The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley is recommended for: his is a must-read for fans of romantasy and enemies-to-lovers stories who crave slow burns that truly hurt, richly built fantasy worlds, and banter so sharp it could cut. Readers who love Ali Hazelwood, Sarah J. Maas, or Rebecca Ross will feel right at home — though reading the first book in the series first is strongly recommended.
Every Version of You by Natalie Messier
What is Every Version of You by Natalie Messier about?: Every Version of You by Natalie Messier is a charming and emotionally rich contemporary romance debut that blends second-chance love with a time-travel twist. Joey Vasquez, a driven thirty-two-year-old Los Angeles lawyer, has spent fourteen years quietly pining for her best friend Elijah — and then, in a night that goes spectacularly wrong, she dies. Given a second chance at life, Joey wakes up at eighteen, armed with all her memories and utterly convinced she’s been handed the perfect opportunity to finally win Elijah’s heart. But the more time she spends with Alex — the Silicon Beach tech bro she was sure she despised — the harder it becomes to ignore what she might have been wrong about all along. Funny, heartfelt, and layered with emotional depth, it is an USA Today instant bestseller that keeps you guessing until the very end. Every Version of You by Natalie Messier is recommended for: This is a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance who love time-loop or second-chance storylines, slow-burn tension, and a healthy dose of “wait, is it actually him?” energy. Readers who enjoyed The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston or The Love of My Afterlife will feel right at home with Messier’s warm, witty debut.
In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto
What is In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto about?: In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto is a delightfully charged academic rivals-to-lovers romance set against the thrilling backdrop of hurricane season in Florida. Quincy Monroe is a sharp, accomplished meteorologist with a PhD, a popular online weather show, and a hard-won reputation in a male-dominated field — the last thing she needs is Sebastian Dunn, her best friend’s brother, longtime rival, and annoyingly swoon-worthy TV weatherman from New York City, crashing back into her life. Forced into close quarters while chasing storms through a record-breaking hurricane season, the two must set aside their grudges to stay alive — but the real danger turns out to be the undeniable collision of their hearts. An instant New York Times bestseller, the book crackles with wit, tension, and the kind of slow-burn chemistry that makes you want to read just one more chapter. In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto is recommended for: This is a dream read for fans of STEM romance and rivals-to-lovers stories who love competent, ambitious heroines, enemies with undeniable chemistry, and settings that feel as electric as the romance itself. Readers who enjoy Ali Hazelwood, B.K. Borison, or Rachel Lynn Solomon will find this utterly unputdownable.
Country People by Daniel Mason
What is the book Country People by Daniel Mason about?: Country People by Daniel Mason is a witty, warm, and wonderfully absurd literary comedy — a New York Times bestseller and Good Morning America Book Club Pick — about Miles Krzelewski, a lovably scattered academic who is twelve years behind on his PhD and quietly convinced he’s become a disappointment to his family. When his wife Kate lands a prestigious visiting professorship in rural Vermont, the family packs up their California life — and their truffle-hunting dog in a land with no truffles — and sets off for a year in the enchanted forests of Greensbury. What unfolds is a joyously chaotic collision of city idealism and rural eccentricity, as Miles finds himself drawn into the orbit of a snowflake photographer, a Russian orchardist, and a secret society convinced there’s a portal to a lost underground kingdom beneath their town. Beneath the laughter, the novel is a deeply felt meditation on marriage, parenthood, the stories we tell ourselves, and the unexpected ways community finds us when we least expect it. Country People by Daniel Mason is recommended for: This is a perfect read for fans of smart, character-driven literary fiction with a comic edge who enjoy richly drawn eccentric casts, warmhearted family dynamics, and just a touch of the uncanny folded into everyday life. Readers who loved Daniel Mason’s North Woods, or who enjoy writers like Fredrik Backman or Gary Shteyngart, will find this a thoroughly delightful and deeply satisfying read.
Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles
What is Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles about?: Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles is the second book in the Starlight Grove series — a deeply emotional and suspenseful small-town romance from the USA Today bestselling author, published in July 2026. After spending 413 harrowing days in captivity, Nova Monroe returns to Starlight Grove a changed woman — fierce, adrenaline-fueled, and determined never to feel caged again. When she finds herself needing a place to stay, she ends up on the property of Kol Archer, a brooding Forest Service investigator and single dad carrying shadows of his own. What begins as an unlikely arrangement slowly becomes something neither of them expected — but as Nova’s past refuses to stay buried and a dangerous threat closes in, Kol will stop at nothing to keep her safe. Raw, tender, and gripping, the novel is widely praised for centering Nova’s healing journey with agency and authenticity rather than reducing her to someone who simply needs rescuing. Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles is recommended for: This is an ideal read for fans of romantic suspense and small-town romance who love emotionally layered stories, a slow-burn roommates-to-lovers dynamic, and a fiercely resilient heroine finding her way back to herself. Readers who enjoy Elsie Silver’s found-family warmth or the emotional depth of Colleen Hoover will find this one absolutely impossible to put down — though reading the first book, Across the Vanishing Sky, first is a great way to get the full Starlight Grove experience.
Helpless by Jessica Knoll
What is Helpless by Jessica Knoll about?: Helpless by Jessica Knoll is a gripping, darkly seductive psychological thriller — a New York Times, Oprah Daily, CrimeReads, Town & Country, and BookPage most anticipated book — from the bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive and Bright Young Women. Faye Heron thought she had left her college boyfriend Henry Spalding — and the dangerous, consuming intensity of their connection — safely in the past. Twelve years later, a beloved professor’s funeral brings them back together, and what begins as the pull of unfinished history quickly turns sinister when Henry drugs and kidnaps her, taking her to his remote mountain cabin. As a week of captivity unfolds and Faye finds herself dangerously drawn back into Henry’s orbit, a years-old mystery slowly surfaces — one that will rewrite everything she thought she knew and deliver a final, cataclysmic truth that readers and critics alike have called “shocking and mindbending.” Propulsive, psychologically complex, and laced with razor-sharp writing, Helpless is exactly the kind of thriller that keeps you reading well past midnight. Helpless by Jessica Knoll is recommended for: This is essential reading for fans of dark, literary psychological thrillers who crave morally complex heroines, deeply unsettling power dynamics, and twists that genuinely upend the entire story. Readers who loved Luckiest Girl Alive, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, or Dare Me by Megan Abbott will find Jessica Knoll at her most electrifying here.
Love You More by Emily Giffin
What is Love You More by Emily Giffin about?: Love You More by Emily Giffin is a deeply emotional and beautifully written contemporary fiction novel — a New York Times bestseller from the beloved author of Something Borrowed, All We Ever Wanted, and The Summer Pact. Billie has spent years carefully rebuilding her life after leaving her Wisconsin hometown and her high-school sweetheart Mick behind to pursue medical school in New York City. Now, with a thriving practice and a wonderful new fiancé named Dean, everything feels perfectly in place — until one morning, just after accepting Dean’s marriage proposal, Mick calls for the first time in nearly a decade with news that changes everything. Boarding a plane back to Wisconsin, Billie is swept back into the memories, friendships, and unresolved feelings of her past, forcing a profound reckoning with what she has lost, what she has built, and what she truly wants. Gripping, moving, and laced with the emotional intelligence Giffin is celebrated for, The New York Times Book Review called it “a modern Midwestern update” of the classic Sweet Home Alabama story. Love You More by Emily Giffin is recommended for: This is a must-read for fans of women’s fiction and contemporary romance who love emotionally layered stories about second chances, the roads not taken, and the complicated pull between past and present love. Readers who adore Emily Giffin’s previous work, or who enjoy authors like Jojo Moyes, Elin Hilderbrand, or Kristin Hannah, will find this one deeply satisfying and impossible to put down.
Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead
What is Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead about?: Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead is a buzzy, blood-soaked Hollywood thriller — an Indie Next Pick and Goodreads Most Anticipated Mystery & Thriller Pick of Summer 2026 — from the national bestselling author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and The Last Housewife. Ten years after losing her sister Georgia to a mysterious death at a Hollywood party, mid-tier pop star Scout Sage has clawed her way through the industry, surrounding herself with a tight network of fiercely ambitious women determined to rewrite the rules of power. But when a string of targeted murders across L.A. suddenly points to Scout as the prime suspect, she goes from rising star to the world’s most infamous (alleged) killer overnight. As a sharp, unconventional detective begins unraveling secrets Scout didn’t even know existed — secrets that connect Georgia’s death to a far older pattern of hushed Hollywood crimes — the two women find themselves on a collision course that could ignite a reckoning felt around the world. Wickedly entertaining, sharply feminist, and propulsively plotted, it’s been praised as a perfect summer binge read.Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead is recommended for: This is an unmissable pick for fans of dark, feminist thrillers set in glamorous, cutthroat worlds who love morally complex heroines, sisterhood-driven narratives, and plots that blend Hollywood ambition with genuine menace. Readers who devoured Ashley Winstead’s previous work, or who enjoy authors like May Cobb, Rachel Harrison, or Julia Bartz, will find this one electrifying from the very first page.
Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon
What is Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon about?: Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a warm, witty, and frequently steamy new adult romance—the #1 New York Times bestselling author’s most buzzed-about 2026 release, out from Berkley in July. At twenty-six, three-time Grammy winner and former child TV star Ramona Wilder walks away from stadium tours, manufactured image, and the inhumane lack of privacy that comes with fame, enrolling as a college freshman at UCLA to finally discover who she is on her own terms. Enter Professor Nick Navarro, a recently divorced, determinedly optimistic psychology professor who plans to treat his famous new student like everyone else—until that plan lasts roughly one class period. What begins with banter, a battered Prius, and barely contained tension slowly deepens into a tender, complicated love story as both Ramona and Nick confront their pasts, their fears, and whether something this real can survive the world outside their carefully guarded bubble. Dual-POV, emotionally layered, and anchored by two deeply drawn characters, it has been praised as “Rachel Lynn Solomon at her absolute best.” Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon is recommended for: This is a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance and new adult fiction who love a slow-burn forbidden romance — specifically the student-professor and age-gap tropes — paired with genuine emotional depth, a healing heroine journey, and sharp, character-revealing banter. Readers who enjoy authors like Emily Henry, Elena Armas, or Christina Lauren will find this one swoony, soul-deep, and very hard to put down.
Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel
What is Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel about?: Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel is a sweeping, emotionally rich multi-strand romance novel — the latest release from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names and The Winemaker’s Wife, published in July 2026. Set over the course of one breathtaking spring week in Paris, the story weaves together nine Americans and seven intertwined love stories, all unfolding against the luminous backdrop of the City of Light. A dying mother and her daughter race to make unforgettable memories together; a faded rock star on a reunion tour finds himself truly seen for the first time in years; a ninety-something man flies to France on the slim hope of reuniting with a wartime love he has spent eighty years mourning through song; and a woman discovering her husband’s infidelity must decide whether forgiveness — or something entirely new — holds the key to her happiness. Tender, cinematic, and deeply moving, the novel has been described as Love Actually meets The Notebook, and it showcases Harmel at her most ambitious and emotionally generous. Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel is recommended for: This is an ideal read for fans of sweeping, multi-generational romantic fiction who love stories that braid together grief, hope, second chances, and the enduring power of love across time and circumstance. Readers who have cherished Kristin Harmel’s previous work, or who adore authors like Pam Jenoff, Lisa Wingate, or Hazel Gaynor, will find this Parisian tapestry of love and loss deeply satisfying and beautifully unforgettable.
In the Wake of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy
What is In the Wake of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy about?: In the Wake of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy is a dark, atmospheric gothic romantasy and the thrilling conclusion to The Siren Mage duet — the highly anticipated follow-up to the BookTok sensation In the Veins of the Drowning, published by Little, Brown & Company in July 2026. Imogen Nel, a powerful Siren, can no longer conceal her monstrous abilities. Having claimed her ancestral crown, she now finds the corrupted bond she shares with the ancient, decaying deity Eusia stronger and more insidious than ever — and severing it will demand everything she has. With the threat of war gathering, shifting alliances fracturing, and her feelings for Theodore, the brooding King of Varya, threatening to undo her resolve entirely, Imogen must navigate treacherous seas, grotesque magic, and the terrifying prophecy that she herself may be the ruin the realm has long feared. Atmospheric, sensuous, and brimming with slow-burn romantic tension, the novel has earned glowing praise, with Kerri Maniscalco calling it “dark, addictive, and brimming with romantic tension” and Rebecca Ross noting it “lingers long after the last page.” In the Wake of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy is recommended for: This is an essential read for fans of dark, lushly written romantasy who love ocean-and-siren mythology, morally complex heroines navigating corrupted power, and a smoldering enemies-to-lovers romance that burns slow and aches deep. Readers who adored In the Veins of the Drowning or who enjoy authors like Rachel Gillig, Ava Reid, or Allison Saft will find this duet finale deeply satisfying and hauntingly beautiful.
Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox
What is Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox about?: Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox is a slow-burn, atmospheric dual-timeline psychological thriller — published by Minotaur Books in July 2026 and the highly anticipated follow-up to Party of Liars from the People-praised author hailed as “riveting.” Set in the tight-knit Texas Hill Country town of Anhalt, the story opens in 2000 when Isabelle Whitmore vanishes from Sherman Ranch on the night of the first Lone Star Princess Pageant, then jumps to 2025, as the pageant roars back to life and a construction crew begins unearthing the ranch. Isabelle’s twin sister Ingrid returns to Anhalt just as long-buried tensions ignite among a web of fiercely complicated women: pageant director Kennedy Preston’s daughter Sarah Lynn, who can’t afford to lose; newly sober Cat, battling old demons; and Melanie, the sheriff’s daughter carrying wounds that never healed. When a record-breaking storm traps everyone under one roof and old grudges explode, secrets buried for twenty-five years claw their way to the surface — and more than one person ends up dead. Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox is recommended for: This is a standout pick for fans of multi-POV psychological thrillers who love small-town secrets, cold case mysteries, and the razor-sharp tension of competitive female worlds — particularly readers drawn to beauty pageant settings, dual timelines, and ensemble casts where everyone has something to hide. Readers who enjoy authors like Liane Moriarty, Lisa Gardner, or Karin Slaughter will find this one wickedly absorbing and impossible to set down.
The Final Score by Lana Ferguson
What is The Final Score by Lana Ferguson about?: The Final Score by Lana Ferguson is a spicy, banter-filled contemporary sports romance and the highly anticipated sequel to The Game Changer. Jack Baker thought his biggest challenge was returning to the ice after an injury, but a crushing reinjury in his first game back threatens to end his hockey career—and the identity he’s built his life around. Abigail Thompson is barely holding it together through her final weeks of grad school while quietly reeling from a family scandal involving her narcissistic father, only to be kicked out of her apartment and left with one humiliating option: moving into the spare room of her half-brother’s best friend, the flirty, full-of-himself Jack Baker. Forced proximity does its inevitable work, and as they start to peel back each other’s carefully constructed armor, a fling that was never supposed to mean anything begins to feel like everything. Praised by Elena Armas, the novel delivers beloved romance tropes—frenemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, endless banter—and has been described by readers as a one-sitting devour. The Final Score by Lana Ferguson is recommended for: This is a perfect pick for fans of steamy, trope-rich contemporary sports romance who love the irresistible combination of forced proximity, witty banter, and emotionally layered characters healing quietly beneath their confident exteriors. Readers who are already devoted to Lana Ferguson’s work — or who enjoy authors like Elena Armas, Pippa Grant, or Kendall Ryan — will find this hockey romance as swoony, funny, and heartfelt as they could hope for.
An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton
What is An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton about?: An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton is a sweeping, emotionally luminous historical romance with a touch of magical realism. Set against the gripping backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, the novel opens in 1968 when Vivian Mitchell receives the devastating news that her husband Joe’s spacecraft has lost contact and all three astronauts on board are feared dead. As the nation mourns alongside her, Vivian relives the full arc of their extraordinary love story — how it began, how it deepened, and how it came to feel as though it was written in the stars. But when the investigation into the mishap points to operator error and threatens to taint Joe’s legacy, Vivian fights back, and then something impossible begins to happen: she starts receiving messages she is certain only Joe could send, leading her down a path that touches on wormholes, time travel, and the staggering question of whether love can truly transcend space and time.An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton is recommended for: This is an unmissable read for fans of emotionally rich historical romance who love sweeping, time-bending love stories set against vividly rendered periods of history, particularly readers drawn to strong-willed heroines, the sacrifices of the Space Age, and narratives that balance grief and hope in equal measure. Readers who adore Chanel Cleeton’s previous work — or who enjoy authors like Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff, or Kristin Hannah — will find this one achingly beautiful and completely unforgettable.
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst
What is Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst about?: Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst is a warmly enchanting cozy fantasy romance and the third — and final — installment in the New York Times bestselling Spellshop series. Marin has always belonged to the sea: after the man she loved betrayed her and left her family drowning in debt, she built a quiet, self-sufficient life as a supply runner, sailing from island to island with her beloved crew of Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub. But when a revolution engulfs the capital city of Alyssium, Marin rescues a group of musicians — including Dax, a gifted composer she has long admired from afar — and strikes a deal: passage on her boat in exchange for him playing her fake boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home. What follows is a sun-drenched, slow-burn romance full of music, found family, political intrigue, and the deeply moving journey of a woman learning to trust again. Praised as the strongest entry in the series, reviewers have called it a story that “reaches for true — and lands,” and readers have awarded it five stars for its lush world-building, emotionally resonant characters, and the sheer warmth and charm Durst brings to every page. Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst is recommended for: This is an ideal read for fans of cozy fantasy romance who love lushly imagined island worlds, found-family dynamics, and gentle yet emotionally rich slow-burn love stories — particularly readers drawn to sentient plant companions, sea serpents, and protagonists healing from betrayal while discovering their own strength. Whether you are a devoted fan of the Spellshop series or a newcomer to cozy fantasy, readers who enjoy authors like T. Kingfisher, Becky Chambers, or Sangu Mandanna will find this one utterly charming, quietly moving, and deeply satisfying.
The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers
What is The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers about?: The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers is a fizzy, nostalgic contemporary romance with a whimsical touch of magical realism. When thirty-five-year-old rule-follower Ruby Wynne’s meticulously planned life implodes on her birthday, a desperate wish drops her straight into the M.A.S.H. game she played at thirteen. Now living in a Technicolor mansion, running a roller-disco restaurant, and “matched” with Penn Hayes—her brother’s infuriatingly handsome best friend and a lifelong “don’t”—Ruby schemes to win his heart so she can escape. But as she navigates this vivid, dreamlike world, she begins to wonder if letting go of her rules might lead her not only back to reality, but to the bold, joyful version of herself she left behind. Praised by Emily Giffin, Annabel Monaghan, Sarah Adams, and Sophie Cousens, it is a vibrant, banter-filled, feel-good love story steeped in early-2000s nostalgia that fans are devouring in one sitting. The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers is recommended for: This is a perfect read for fans of witty, warmhearted contemporary romantic comedies who love a generous dose of magical realism, irresistible enemies-to-lovers banter, and a deeply felt emotional core beneath all the fun — particularly readers who grew up playing M.A.S.H. and have a soft spot for early-2000s nostalgia, roller rinks, and Lisa Frank energy. Readers who enjoy authors like Emily Giffin, Sophie Cousens, or Sarah Adams — or who loved Beach Read by Emily Henry and It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan — will find this debut utterly irresistible from first laugh to last swoon.
The Last to Drown by Noelle W. Ihli
What is The Last to Drown by Noelle W. Ihli about?: The Last to Drown by Noelle W. Ihli is a relentlessly propulsive, edge-of-your-seat thriller. When Kaia joins a five-day whitewater rafting trip with twenty strangers down the remote, canyon-walled stretch of Camas Creek, she’s hoping for adventure — but the whispers begin almost immediately. Seven years earlier, a guide brutally murdered a group of rafters on this same river; although the killer’s body was recovered, the true-crime community never fully accepted the official story. As the trip unfolds, accidents stack up with sickening familiarity — a flipped raft, missing supplies, screams in the night — and with eighty-four miles of thundering whitewater between the group and civilization, Kaia realizes with growing terror that someone among them is planning to finish what was started at Camas Creek. Hailed by Karin Slaughter as “a propulsive story that haunts and mesmerizes,” by Lisa Gardner as “as pulse-pounding as it is poignant,” and by Lisa Jewell as “a true classic in the genre,” this compact, claustrophobic, and deeply visceral thriller from the internationally bestselling author of Ask For Andrea is the kind of book readers call impossible to put down — and impossible to forget. The Last to Drown by Noelle W. Ihli is recommended for: This is an unmissable read for fans of fast-paced psychological thrillers who love closed-environment, no-escape premises — particularly readers drawn to isolated wilderness settings, true-crime undercurrents, a large cast of suspects, and the kind of relentless, chapter-turning dread that makes you check your door is locked. Readers who devour Freida McFadden, Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, or Heather Gudenkauf — or who loved The Housemaid or None of This Is True — will find Noelle W. Ihli’s latest to be one of the most gripping and satisfying thrillers of the summer.
