10 Books To Read in July

 

July marks the height of summer, making it the perfect time to soak up the sunshine and enjoy ocean views—ideally with a good book in hand. This month promises some fantastic new releases that have caught my eye. Here's a glimpse of what's coming out and what I plan to read during these sunny days.

1. The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani (7/8)

This new novel from Trigiani is about "one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late."

 

 

2. Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster (7/1)

"A captivating new novel set in 1965 and 1978 about a graduate student who returns with her sisters to their family’s summer home on Martha’s Vineyard and begins to unravel old family secrets."

 

3. Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams (7/29)

"When a daughter and her famous mother return to Winthrop Island to confront their complicated past, they discover a secret trove of paintings that connect them to a mysterious woman who vanished on a luxury steamship two centuries earlier."

 

 

4. The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon (7/22)

"The return of a prodigal daughter to her sleepy Cape Cod town brings the community together in this heartwarming all-new beach read."

 

 

5. Sunburned by Katherine Wood (7/1)

Katherine Wood (a.k.a. Katherine St. John!) has a new suspenseful novel coming out!"St. Barth’s has a murder rate of zero. But that’s about to change."

 

 

6. The Last Carolina Summer by Karen White (7/22)

"A contemporary stand-alone novel about sisterhood, secrets and one woman’s reckoning with the past."

 

 

7. Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely (7/22)

"Always each other’s plus-ones, but never each other’s real dates, two childhood best friends have one last summer wedding to fall in love in this dual-narrative debut."

 

 

8. Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza (7/15)

"an explosive thriller about two estranged friends, a grisly murder, a sudden disappearance, and the truly shocking revelation that everyone is lying to you about something."

 

 

9. These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (7/8)

MacLean's "first foray into contemporary fiction, with a sharp, sexy novel about a wealthy New England family's long-overdue reckoning with hidden desires, destructive secrets…and one week that threatens to tear them apart."

 

 

10. The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor (7/22)

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in this enchanting novel about estranged lovers reconnecting over mysterious tapes found in an attic and the old Hollywood secret hidden within them."

 

What books do you plan to read this month? Let me know in the comments below.

The Best Southern Beach Reads

Some of the best beach reads are set in the South, where it's always warm, with palm trees, crystal blue waters, and a cold iced tea in hand. I’ve updated my list of Southern beach reads, and there's something here for everyone to enjoy!

 

Adult Fiction: 

 

 

Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck  (Key West, Florida)

Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Georgia)

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White (Georgia)

The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews - (North Carolina)

The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank (Charleston, South Carolina)

All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank (Charleston, South Carolina)

Under a Dark Summer Sky by Vanessa LaFaye (Key West, Florida)

 

 

 

 

 

Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams (Cocoa Beach, Florida)

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe (Charleston, South Carolina) 

Summer at Hideaway Key by Barbara Davis (Florida) 

The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Georgia)

Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Georgia)

Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey (North Carolina)

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews (Florida)

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton (Florida)

Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews (Florida)

Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey (North Carolina)

The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt by Andrea Bobotis (South Carolina)

Dreams of Falling by Karen White  (South Carolina) 

 

 

 

 

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews (Outside Savannah, Georgia) 

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe (Charleston, South Carolina)

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews (Florida)

Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras (Key West, Florida)

Flight Patterns by Karen White (Coastal Florida) 

A Lakeside Reunion by C.Chilove (Florida)

Beach House for Rent by Mary Alice Monroe (Isle of Palms, South Carolina)

 

 

 

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey (North Carolina) 

The Beautiful People by Michelle Gable (Palm Beach, Florida)

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Beaufort, South Carolina)

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews (Georgia)

 

 

YA Fiction:

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (Colby, North Carolina)

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen (Colby, North Carolina)

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm (Key West, Florida)

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (Southern beach town)

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols (Alabama)

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton (Georgia)

 

Audiobook Review: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 3, 2025

Publisher: Random House

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Daisy Jones and the Six,

Malibu Rising,  Carrie Soto is Back, One True Loves, After I Do,

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Maybe in Another Life

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars."

 

 

Joan Goodwin has always been interested in space. As an astrophysicist professor, it's been her life's work, so when NASA is looking for females to join their space program, she jumps at the idea of joining such a prestigious organization. However, once she gets there, she she realizes that things are still very sexist at NASA in the 1980s. As she gets to know the other scientists training, she realizes that some, more than others, are ready to help women break into the field. She also befriends other women in her program, such as Lydia and Vanessa. The more the group works together and gets to know one another, the more they feel like family. Meanwhile, Joan has to balance her personal life with such a demanding career; it isn't easy and her personal life is anything but that as well. Reid also flashes back to a space disaster in 1984, which keeps readers flipping the pages to find out what happens to these interesting and beloved characters. Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest novel, Atmosphere, is a heart-pounding tale that her legions of fans will surely enjoy.

 

I really loved the character of Joan from the beginning of Atmosphere. Her complex relationship with her sister, Barbara, and her niece was central to the story. Barbara is insufferable, and Joan often has to pick up the pieces of her disastrous life. Also, Joan's friendships with her colleagues at NASA are portrayed very well, and I think Reid effectively captures the sexism that women often face in this field. As readers get to know Joan better, they realize that her love life is far from easy. When combined with her demanding career, this leads to a lot of conflicts for her.

 

While I am not the biggest fan of space-themed novels, I think Reid did a fantastic job bringing it to life in Atmosphere. There were various parts that kept me in suspense and readers can tell Reid did a phenomenal job researching what it takes to work at NASA. My only complaint with Atmosphere is that it took a while for me to get hooked and feel connected to the characters. But once Reid hooked me in, I was glued to the story.

 

I listened to the audiobook of Atmosphere and as always, Julia Whelan hit it out of the park. There were other chapters narrated by Kristen DiMercurio, who also did a great job depicting Vanessa. They both did an outstanding job.

 

So, if you are looking for a beach read that is a bit different than the usual fare, look no further. Taylor Jenkins Reid's Atmosphere is out of this world.

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: I Don't Think So!

 

Shyness is a common issue for many children, making it difficult for them to feel comfortable enough to come out of their shells. I appreciate when books gently convey messages that encourage kids to build confidence, develop positive social skills, express their thoughts, and take on new challenges. That’s why I’m excited to share a new picture book that addresses this very topic: I Don't Think So! by K. Joyner. Many young children will be able to relate to it.

Learn More About the Book:

 

I Don't Think So! by K. Joyner

Written by K. Joyner

Illustrated by Asha Butler

Editing and Art Direction by Monica Violet Joy

Ages: 3-8 | 34 Pages

Publisher: BookBaby (2025) | ISBN: 979-8218567026

Publisher’s Book Summary: Mia is a precocious kindergartner with two loving parents. She lives in a wonderful and colorful city, surrounded by curious characters. Mia seems to have it all. Unfortunately, try as she might, little Mia is terribly shy and it can be a real hindrance for any child to find the confidence they need to tackle new, scary challenges, like school! Luckily for Mia, she has her best friend Cody, and inspiring teacher, Ms. Doodlebee to help bring her out of her shell, and show her that the world is a wonderful, inspiring place, brimming with adventure, and fun!

You can purchase your own copy of I Don't This So at Bookshop and Amazon. Also, you can learn more about K. Joyner by visiting her website and connecting with her on Instagram and Bluesky.  

 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with K. Joyner to host a giveaway to celebrate the publication of I Don't Think So. Enter for a chance to win one of five signed hardcover copies of I Don’t Think So! One lucky grand prize winner will receive a signed copy and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. Good luck! I Don’t Think So!: Book Giveaway

 

Blog Tour: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

It's beach read season; it's my favorite time of the year! I love to highlight books that are perfect for a lazy day at the pool or a sun drenched vacation. That's why I am excited to be a part of Harlequin's blog tour for Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan. I hear it's perfect for fans of The White Lotus and Bad Summer People. 

Learn More About the Book:

 

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

 

Pub. Date: June 17, 2025

 

Goodreads says, "Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. She has to be. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.

Or she can curl up with a good book on the beach. Turns out reinventing yourself is easier planned than done. But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving head-first into a dangerous adventure. With everyone at the resort hiding secrets of their own, she’ll have to solve this real-life mystery before she becomes the next target."

 

You can purchase your own copy of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Books-A Million, and Amazon. Also, you can learn more about Allison Brennan by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X. 

 

Read an Excerpt:

 PROLOGUE

“Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities.”
—George R. R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

DIANA HARDEN HAD A plan, and the plan was good.

This little hiccup in her plan was merely an annoyance, not a roadblock. Sending her on a wild goose chase to St. John was childish and petty.

Ethan Valentine would pay dearly for wasting her time.

 It was near dark when the water taxi returned her to St. Claire. The driver was barely more than a kid, but Diana paid him well. She’d had enough of this cloak-and-dagger bullshit, so she had the kid take her straight to Valentine’s private dock in a sheltered cove on the southwest side of the island.

“Remember,” she said, putting her fingers to her lips in the universal be quiet sign. She didn’t want Ethan to know she’d figured out his ridiculous game.

         The driver nodded and grinned, and she waved him off.

Ground lights lined the wood stairs from the dock to Ethan’s house built on top of the cliff. The height dizzied her as she trudged up. The cool ocean breeze chilled her through the sheer scarf that she’d wrapped around her shoulders.

Ethan would pay first, and then she would tell him where she’d hidden the files. When she went out of her way to help someone, to give them information that would put them on top of the world, and they treated her like dog shit on their shoe? No way would she tolerate such disrespect.

The man had to be half-crazy to live like a hermit in the middle of the Caribbean. All because he’d lost in a business deal? Coming here to lick his wounds and feel sorry for himself? He should be thrilled that she had proof he’d been cheated. Instead, he’d shunned her.

If someone had told Diana ten years ago that she’d fallen head over heels for a gold-digging con artist, she would have been grateful. Sad, angry, sure—who wouldn’t be? But she would never have lost everything over it. Ethan Valentine should have been thanking her for the information that she had been willing to give to him practically for free yesterday.

Now the jerk would pay top dollar.

Diana stopped to catch her breath when she reached the top of the stairs. The view was breathtaking—the sun sinking into the ocean to her right, and the distant lights of St. John to her left. Almost as if on cue with the falling sun, several soft white LED lights flickered on, showcasing the house and garden, but darkening the jungle beyond.

Though the house was lit, she couldn’t see through the privacy screens. She adjusted the oversized bag on her shoulder, then approached the frosted glass door and rang the bell twice. The chime sounded like a bird call. When no one immediately came, she rang again. And again. Nothing.

She tried the door; locked.

Frustrated and angry after her crappy wasted day on St. John, she walked around the deck. The downstairs was almost completely enclosed by glass doors. She was looking for a way inside when a voice, heavy with an accent that sounded not quite Mexican, said, “Are you looking for something?”

Diana stumbled and knocked over a chair. “Who are you?” she demanded.

Squinting, she barely made out an old man reclining on a chaise lounge on the far corner of the deck. He had brown skin and a white beard so long and thick she could barely see his face. She’d seen him at the resort, an annoying busybody. What was he doing at Ethan’s house? How long had he been watching her?

“¿Quién crees que soy? ¿No has sentido curiosidad?”

She didn’t understand Spanish.

“No one is home,” the old man said, in English this time. “Do you need help finding your way back to the resort?”

“This is Ethan Valentine’s house,” Diana said. “He said he would be here.”

“He did? Odd.”

Who was this strange man?

“When will Ethan be back? It’s important.”

“Volverá cuando vuelva. Perhaps you’d like to wait?” the man said. “It might be a day or two before he’ll come by. Or a week. A month?” He lifted his hands in the air and shrugged.

Where the hell was Ethan? At the resort? Oh, that would be just her luck.
Irritated, she said, “I’ll find him myself.”

“Very well.” The man leaned back into the chair and closed his eyes.
With an infuriated sigh, Diana traipsed along the gravel road that led to the main lodge, wishing she’d asked the kid with the water taxi to wait.
She didn’t relish the two-mile hike to the resort, especially going over this mountain. Her flip-flops crunched on the gravel. She had wasted far too much time because of Ethan Valentine. He wanted to play games? Oh, she would play. And Diana was much better at it than he was. Her price had gone up tenfold.

The narrow road was poorly lit with sporadic ground lights. She didn’t have a flashlight and her cell phone was dead, so she stayed in the middle of the path, knowing that there were sheer drops all over the place. Diana had never considered herself squeamish or afraid of the dark, but she couldn’t even see the stars because of the thick canopy of bushy leaves hanging over the road.

Rodents ran from the trees right in front of her, then scurried down the cliff. She forced herself to breathe evenly. There were no dangerous animals on the island. The rustling leaves? Probably gophers or rabbits. She started talking out loud to herself, feeling silly, but hearing her own voice calmed her fears.

She stumbled and caught herself with a vine that was hanging from one of the trees, cursing Ethan. He thought a hundred thousand was too much? How about a million, Ethan? Pay up or she’d out him. Tell everyone what he had really been doing since disappearing from the United States. She’d start with the Wall Street Journal and Variety. Then maybe Forbes or The Economist. Hell, the New York Times might be interested in the scoop. See how Ethan liked the publicity. His ridiculous behavior certainly wouldn’t help Valentine Enterprises.

She stepped into a clearing on the top of the mountain. Packed, flat earth free of rocks and bushes and lined in bright lights. Ethan’s helipad, though there was no chopper here now. That jerk. That asshole. Chalk this up to one of the many lies he’d told.

Maybe she wouldn’t sell him the documents at all. Maybe she’d sell them back to the man she’d stolen them from, and Ethan could continue to wallow in misery.

Angry but wholly determined to make these miserable men pay for the havoc they had wreaked in her life and the lives of those she cared about, she strode across the helipad.

The trees swayed in a sudden gust of wind, and a chill ran up her spine. She rubbed her arms and cursed.

Then the lights went out.

She froze in the sudden black. The jungle closed around her, and the trees groaned as if they knew something she didn’t. Rustling to the left, then to the right. “Who’s there?” she called out. “Show yourself, you prick!”

She heard the flapping of wings first. Then dozens of bats flew right at her. She screamed and dropped to the ground, her arms over her head, as the flurry of flying rodents rushed by. She could feel the air shift and change around her as they dipped so low she thought for a moment that she was prey.

Then the flapping faded into the distance, and Diana found herself huddled on the ground, filthy and sore.

“For shit’s sake, Diana!” she said out loud. “Get up.”

Determined not to let creatures of the night terrify her again, she stood, and her eyes readjusted to the dark. The lights flickered on, then went off again, but on the far side of the clearing, she spotted a wooden sign. She made her way there and came upon a forked path with two arrows. The path to the left was marked The Falls, and the path to the right went to St. Claire.

Finally! She hurried to the right, down the path toward the resort. All she could think about was stripping off her disgusting clothes and inspecting the cuts and bruises she felt all over her body.

Ten minutes later, faint music filtered up through the trees, and she thought about all her potential paydays—the conniving con artist with the super-rich, clueless boyfriend? Diana had had her pegged a mile away.

Don’t try to con a con, she thought with a smile. Or maybe she’d focus on the security guy with the gambling habit? The cheater? The thief?

So many to choose from . . . and then she got an idea, as if a light bulb went bright above her head. She slowed and reached into her bag to glance through her notes, then realized she’d left the book in her room this morning. No worries. It wasn’t like she’d forget the most brilliant idea she’d had all week. After all, she was the heroine of this story—as strong and beautiful and smart as the treasure hunter in the novel she was reading. She laughed out loud. That’s what she was, a treasure hunter! Only she hunted secrets, not gold.

Secrets that turned into gold. She loved the imagery.

She picked up her pace, eager to get back to her cottage. Her feet hurt, her head pounded, and all she wanted was a large glass of wine and a long soak in the hot tub with her book.

The path wound around as she descended. Diana avoided the main lodge because she didn’t want to see anyone, especially when she looked like something the cat dragged in. Security lighting brightened the private patio of her cottage. She searched for her card key and as her hand grasped it at the bottom of her bag, she heard a voice behind her.

“Diana.”

She jumped, whirled around. Fear bubbled up in her chest until she saw who it was. Annoyed and tired, she said, “What do you want?”

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow. I’m beat.”

She turned her back on her uninvited guest and started to insert her card key, but before she could open the door, she was grabbed from behind.

“Wha—” She tried to speak, but her words were cut off. Her scarf tightened around her neck. She couldn’t talk. Then she couldn’t breathe.
Her vision blurred. Grabbing at the scarf, she scratched her neck. Her knees grew weak. Her vision faded.

Scream!

No sound escaped her throat. She heard nothing except for her own pounding heart, fear wrapping itself around her like a vise.
Then, darkness.

Excerpted from BEACH READS AND DEADLY DEEDS by Allison Brennan. Copyright © 2025 by Assemble Media. Published by MIRA, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Let me know what you think in the comments below and if Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is on your summer TBR list.