10 Books to Read in July

 

July has arrived, bringing with it the best of summer. We can look forward to warm days, humid nights, plenty of sunshine, beach and pool outings, and hopefully a vacation filled with good books and relaxation. Here are the books I’m excited to explore this month.

 

1. The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren (7/14)

"An unforgettable romance in which a fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory—and a scientific breakthrough gives love one extraordinary do-over."

 

 

2. An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton (7/7)

"When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race."

 

 

3. Every Version of You by Natalie Messier (7/7)

A heartfelt contemporary romance debut follows a woman who gets a second chance at a formative time in her adult life—this time to win the “one that got away.”

 

 

4. Love You More by Emily Giffin (7/7)

"A woman is newly engaged to a man she adores when she receives a call from her first love with news that shatters her carefully ordered world."

 

 

5. Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw (7/7)

"A woman rediscovers the mythical island she stumbled upon as a child—and the man she once met who apparently hasn’t aged."

 

 

6. The Parisian Heist by Jo Piazza (7/14)

"A propulsive dual-timeline mystery drenched in art-world intrigue and brimming with family secrets, betrayal, and the intoxicating lure of power."

 

 

 7. Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel (7/28)

"A captivating new novel about several intertwined stories of love, loss, courage, and redemption set over the course of one magical week in Paris.

 

 

 8. Summer People by Sally Blakely (7/7)

 "One week. No drama. And absolutely no dating each other."

 

 

9. Crash Into Me by Robinne Lee (7/7)

"A completely new, fearlessly intimate novel of messy, complicated relationships—one that delves into desire, race, power, and the shifting terrain of identity and selfhood."

 

 

10. Helpless by Jessica Knoll (7/7)

"After Faye, a powerhouse Hollywood producer, has a run-in with her ex-boyfriend Henry, a dangerous game unfolds, unraveling a years-long mystery."

 

Which books do you plan to read this month? Are any of these titles on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below. 

Audiobook Review: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

Pages: 656

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: May 5, 2026

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Help

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "In 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, Prohibition is on the wane, and the Great Depression is tightening its grip. Poor and rich folks alike have fallen on hard times, even as the old social order remains. For women on the margins, the options are few and the price of dignity and self-determination is unbearably high.

Eleven-year-old Meg, one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford on a mission to ask her social-climbing sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. And Charlie is a woman with a past, running low on luck but driven by fire, fury, and grit. When their fates converge, they come up with an audacious plan to take back control of their lives. Together, they form an unlikely sisterhood—but in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife, women’s freedom is fragile, and making an enemy can have dire consequences, will the price they pay for their outrageous risk-taking be too high?

The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to resilience, friendship, and the fierce, funny women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time."

 

 

Meg Lefleur is down on her luck. Her mother abandoned her around Christmas and left her to fend for herself. The year is 1933, and she finds herself at the orphanage in Oxford, Mississippi, under the "protection" of a mean director who seems to have it out for her. She is counting the days till she gets out of the orphanage. Once she turns twelve, she can head off to the cannery for work; unless, that is, her mother returns for her. That is the hope that keeps her going. Then there's Birdie Calhoun, who has returned to Oxford to visit her sister, Frances, and ask for money. Birdie, and her family live on the Delta, and their house is on the brink of foreclosure. They need some money from Frances who has married into a wealthy family, but once she gets to Oxford, she realizes that things are not what they seem at Frances's home or with her marriage. Birdie crosses paths with Meg as well as Meg's biological mother, Charlie, who has concocted a plan to make enough money to get Meg back, and she lets Birdie in on this plan as she needs money, too. Ultimately, The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett is a story about mothers, daughters, community, and the will to survive. It's one of those books that stays with the reader long after the final chapter is read.
 
Stockett creates such dynamic characters; I truly cared about all of them, even if I didn't always agree with their decisions in The Calamity Club. Meg is a spitfire of an eleven-year-old who deserves so much more than being abused in the county orphanage. I desperately wanted her out of there, and to watch how her life intersects Birdie's was also well plotted. Birdie's story was also a compelling one, and she was a character whom I came to enjoy. I wanted her to have her happy ending, too, and as the story progressed, Birdie grew as a person. Lastly, all of the secondary characters who enter the story were memorable and well developed; Stockett did a superb job bringing them to life. 
 
The setting of Oxford, Mississippi, during the Great Depression was outstanding. It's crazy to think that Stockett didn't even live then, because the setting, the atmosphere, the details all jumped off the page in The Calamity Club. It's A+ historical fiction and at times reads like a modern classic; it would make for a great TV show or movie.
 
But be forewarned. The Calamity Club is really, really, really long. I am glad I chose to listen to the audiobook as well as read the novel, as I jumped back and forth. I must be honest that I was drawn to the audiobook more as the narrators brought the characters to life so very well and really helped push the story along when it meandered a bit and slowed down much like a person on a hot, humid day in the south. I do think some parts could have been cut as the story really chugged along in some chapters; nonetheless, despite the slow pacing at times, it was a fantastic read, complete with everything a historical fiction fan could want.
 
If you love historical fiction, don't miss this one this summer. I recommend the audiobook for a more dynamic presentation. Despite its imposing length, The Calamity Club is a memorable read and one of my favorites of the year. 

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Pirate Queen

The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

Pub. Date: September 8, 2026

 

Goodreads says, "Grace O'Malley was born to be at sea. Raised alongside her brother by their father, chief of the name of clan O'Malley, Grace learns early that her dreams of the open water are not compatible with the life she's expected to lead as the daughter of a noble family. And when her father marries her to the wrong man, a neighbouring chief named Donhal, Grace's world shifts for the worse.

Undaunted, Grace raises a family without abandoning her passion, aiding her hot-tempered husband in his campaigns against rival tribes. Eventually ousted from her husband's land in the wake of his death, Grace returns to her childhood home and begins her career as a pirate in earnest, claiming new territories and finding deeper love, only to see her livelihood threatened by English incursions into Ireland, and her family endangered in an attempt to check her power.

Tenderly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's gripping latest novel channels the natural beauty of sixteenth-century Ireland alongside the brutality of the period as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine and defender of her people, who truly earned the title 'the Pirate Queen of Ireland.'"

 

I really loved Lawhon's The Frozen River, so I can't wait to get my hands on The Pirate Queen. I remember learning about Grace O'Malley years ago--what a compelling heroine! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Book Review: Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

 

Pages: 366

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: May 26, 2026

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: It's a Love Story,

Summer Romance, Same Time Next Summer, 

and Nora Goes Off Script 

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.

So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help. But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high-society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and kisses that hit her bloodstream like a ghost pepper, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself—can she really start now?"

 

 

 

Dolly Brick is 39 years old and is a single mother. She spends her days as a kindergarten teacher and works a few side jobs to make ends meet. Her father owns Bricks Fish House on the coast of Rhode Island, but has needed help lately managing the business, the declining house, and her disabled brother. So, with the summer off, Dolly returns home to Whitfield, Rhode Island, to help out. After delivering shrimp to the Whitfield mansion, she runs into Stewart Whitfield, who needs some assistance with a flat tire. Dolly has always been independent and self-sufficient, so she helps him out as he doesn't know what he is doing, and they casually hit it off to the point where Stewart makes the suggestion that she be his pretend girlfriend. He was dumped by his fiancée, and work-wise, this is not a good look; his parents expect more of him, too. Dolly could attend a few events and dinners with him, and he would pay her. Dolly and her family (not to mention the house's leaking roof) need this money, so she accepts. How hard could it be to be wined and dined, plus get some new clothing out of it? The more time Dolly spends with Stewart, though, the more she realizes he is a caring man and an all-around good guy. The lines blur between what is her "job" and what is "real." Annabel Monaghan's Dolly All the Time is a heartwarming romance with lovable characters that you can't help but root for.
 
I always adore Monaghan's characters, and Dolly is no different. I love that Monaghan writes about "older" women who are mature and have real-life issues going on. Dolly is a single mom and is also part of the sandwich generation in that she must deal with her aging dad, his house, and, on top of that, her brother, but she does so with such warmth. The real-life issues Dolly encounters are so relatable that many women in their thirties and forties can see themselves in her. 
 
I was wary of the fake-dating trope in Dolly All the Time, but Monaghan pulls it off beautifully. It really worked for me, and Stewart and Dolly's interactions were believable. Their problems were rooted in reality, and it wasn't far-fetched in the very least.  While it's a nice pipe dream that the richest guy in town sweeps a single mom off her feet, it never felt unrealistic. I adored their blossoming romance and how it evolved. 
 
The coastal setting of Rhode Island makes this a good one for summer reading; there are beautiful dinners, baseball games, sailing, and more. Dolly is there for the summer, so that added to the many reasons why Dolly All the Time is one of the best books of the summer. Monaghan can do no wrong; I loved it!
 
Are you a fan of Annabel Monaghan? Have you read Dolly All the Time? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

The Best Southern Beach Reads

Grab a sweet tea and head outside on a warm humid day, because it's time to round up some of the best Southern beach reads I've come across. In my opinion, 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 drink 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)