A new month means new books hitting the shelves. There are some wonderful novels releasing in July, and I can’t wait to read them.
Whether you love a twisty whodunnit, or a sweet, escapist fantasy adventure, or atmospheric historical fiction, I hope that you’ll find something on this list to enjoy, too.
1. The Holiday by T.M. Logan
In this new novel by prolific thriller writer T. M. Logan, three families holiday at a Mediterranean villa for their friend’s 40th birthday, but dark agendas and secrets threaten the peace when a wife seeks revenge for her husband’s affair.
I love a thriller that keeps you guessing until the end, but I love it even more when the plot revolves around complicated relationships. There’s just something so irresistible about the emotional stakes that come from close-knit personal dynamics. The setting of the story also sounds deliciously opportune – a holiday villa in the Meditterranean?! – and that also offers a nice idyllic backdrop (and contrast) to what appears to be a dark story.
The novel already has strong reviews on Goodreads, too. Hopefully it’ll be just as gripping as it sounds.
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2. He Started It by Samantha Downing
Samantha Downing’s debut, My Lovely Wife, left me speechless with its diabolical characters and unique plot. I’m thrilled that she’s written another book.
He Started It is a contemporary mystery thriller about three adult siblings and their respective families who come together to appease their dying grandfather’s final wish and to seize their inheritance. There’s back-stabbing. There’s a road-trip. There’s a dysfunctional family. The novel sounds outrageous and brilliant and I cannot wait to dive into it come July 21st.
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3. Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy
Splinters of Scarlet is a Young Adult historical fiction fantasy by award-winning author Emily Bain Murphy. The story’s set in Denmark, in a world where magic can kill you if you use it, but where a young girl is forced to harness hers to save her friend and protect her loved-ones. Along the way, she gets caught up in a conspiracy against the King and must rely on her magic to survive. There’s deception, secrets, even ballet, and apparently the writing is incredibly atmospheric, too.
I can’t wait to escape into this world when the book releases (same as He Started It) on July 21st!
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4. Dust by Kara Swanson
I adore the classics, and I get so excited when they’re retold by contemporary writers. Dust by Kara Swanson is the first in a Young Adult fantasy series that retells the tale of Peter Pan.
In this retelling Neverland is collapsing, Peter Pan is running from the Lost Boys in London, and the protagonist – Claire – will do whatever it takes to save her kidnapped little brother. Reviewers are claiming it’s the Peter Pan retelling we’ve all been waiting for (I know I have!) and that it deals well with trauma, relationships, and self-discovery. It sounds like a fairytale with a punch.
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5. The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning
A princess. A stable boy. A classic love story, but this time the girl’s on a quest to rescue the guy. Think The Princess Bride but with the roles reversed.
Sarah Henning writes beautifully and elegantly, and I loved her previous series Sea Witch. This new Young Adult fantasy adventure sounds like so much fun – the perfect light escapism during these anxious times – and I’m always keen for the girl to save the guy, instead of the damsel-in-distress cliche we read about too often.
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What July book releases are you looking forward to?
