July 2026 Book Releases

The Parisian Heist

Author: Jo Piazza

Year: 2026

Genre: Fiction

More info: Bestselling Author

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Emma is a scrappy young artist making her way in Paris, working as a maid to help pay for art school. She lives with two other female artists, each talented in their own right and each working to support their artistic pursuits. When Emma’s client, Stella Swanson, the recent widow of a famed art dealer, asks her for help in taking control of the art empire she helped to build, Emma is torn between helping Stella and falling for her charming step-grandson, whose father is working to cut Stella out of her inheritance.

Stella will do whatever it takes to unveil some of her deceased husband’s family secrets, and she’s trying to bring Emma and her friends along on her not-so-legal path to taking them down. While Emma is working out what to do in the present day, her story is cut between that of Jo van Gogh as she works to fulfill her late husband Theo’s dream of making his brother Vincent a famed artist.

Jo was a real-life unsung hero in the creation of Vincent as a god-like figure in the world of art, and her struggles, narrated by her fictitious nanny/assistant, intertwine with Emma’s present-day story in the most rewarding way.

Why Kirsten loves it

This propulsive novel had me flipping through the pages. I adore biographical fiction and art heist novels, and this was the perfect combination of both, with a major dose of feminism thrown in. I was enthralled by Jo’s tenacity as she became the driving force behind making Vincent van Gogh a household name, but even more, I was ensnared by the modern plotline of Emma and Stella reclaiming their power.

If you are looking for an escapist read that will also inspire you to fight the patriarchy, this should be an immediate purchase! You learn a lot, you’ll have fun while reading, and you’ll come away with renewed energy as you realize the power of women working together.

Why Jackie loves it

This book combines so many things that I love in books with a flair that only Piazza can do. The biographical fiction part of this book is so interesting and well-researched. The modern plotline of an art heist kept me completely captivated. And, as with all of Jo’s books, there is the bonus of powerful women as an integral part of the story!

Find this book in: Books Set in Paris / Books Set in Museums / Best Beach Reads 2026 / Novels About Thieves

Man overboard

Author: Kathleen Rooney

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Genre: Fiction

More info: Bestselling Author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Patrick Kilpatrick, Kick for short, is alone in the sea after falling off, or jumping off, a Thanksgiving cruise with his family. Thank goodness he was a college swimmer. As he treads water to stay alive, he has only his memories to keep him company.

He thinks back on his regrets, his relationships, and wins, while contemplating how he wants to live his life if he is ever rescued from the water.

Trigger Warnings

Discussion of suicide

Why Jackie loves it

Only Rooney could write a book about a man lost at sea and make it a moving and powerful book. Kick discovers his will to live with each hour he spends in the water. Hour by hour, he tells himself that he will be rescued within the next hour.

Find this book in: Fiction Books About Mental Illness

Crash Into Me

Author: Robinne Lee

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Genre: Fiction

More info: Bestselling Author of “The Idea of You“

Plot

When Cecilia is in a car accident shortly after moving to Los Angeles, she is shocked when she recognizes the person in the other car as a model. She met 20 years ago on a photo shoot. She is now married to a French film director and living in Los Angeles, which is so far from her Jamaican immigrant upbringing and early life in Connecticut. She develops an intense, physical, and emotional entanglement with the model, Anouk. Will this give her the answers about herself that she has been looking for?

Destination Funeral

Author: Paige Harbison

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Fiction

More info: Perfect for Best Time Loop Books

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

When Babe dies, her two estranged daughters and two of their friends come back together for the reading of her will. They never thought that they would see each other again after a fallout years ago. But what should have been one weekend turns into much more when they wake up to find it is Saturday again.

Now, they have to figure out how to get out of the Saturday time loop and make it to Babe’s Sunday funeral. Old grievances need to be hashed out, sisterly bonds need to be addressed, and they need to be able to grieve Babe.

Trigger Warnings

Death of a parent

Why Kirsten loves it

I love a time-loop novel, but I’m not sure I’ve ever read one where more than one protagonist is aware of what is going on! It was fun to see the Saturdays repeat again and again. The friendship dynamics felt real, the romances were charming, and the character growth between the sisters in particular was fabulous. It was such a fun story! #gifted by St. Martins Press.

Find this book in: Best Time Loop Books / Fiction Books with a Funeral

The Good Parts

Author: Evann Normandin

Release Date: July 28

Genre: Speculative Fiction

More info: Dual Timeline, Dual POV

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range 16+

Plot

Landon is shocked when he receives a letter from Rose informing him that she has undergone a procedure to erase him from her memory. He is determined to win her back, even if he is starting from scratch.

Landon travels to Scotland to arrange for the two of them to “accidentally” meet in the hopes that they can start over. Rose and Landon quickly become friends, but it seems that Rose is starting to have strange side effects the closer they become. The story is told in two timelines: his from the present, and hers from the past. Thank you, Grand Central Publishing for my copy of this book. #gifted

Trigger Warnings

Emotional trauma, grief

Why Jackie loves it

This book is deeply emotional and asks the question of “what if” in an extremely powerful way. It examines two people who have suffered from emotional trauma and the different ways they handle it. This book is a beautifully written exploration of two lives filled with love and loss.

Find this book in: Novels about Grief / Best Fiction Books of 2026

Meet Me in Paris

Author: Kristin Harmel

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Genre: Fiction

More info: New York Times bestselling author

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range:

Plot

The book takes place over one week in Paris with several intertwined stories that are all connected through a Jackson Quick concert.

Julia is in Paris with her daughter, Piper. This will be their last trip together because Julia is dying of cancer. Julia meets a man in a bar she used to go to when she was a twenty-something in Paris. Piper also meets someone special, a waiter at a restaurant.

Henry is a songwriter who wrote Jackson Quick’s hit song. He never told his granddaughter, Melody, or anyone else that all the songs he ever wrote were love songs for a woman he thought died 80 years ago. When he receives a letter from Celeste’s grandson, he rushes to Paris to see her in the hope that she might remember him, though her dementia.

Melody is so happy to have her grandfather staying with her in Paris, especially since she discovered her husband of twenty years is having an affair.

Trigger Warnings

Cancer, Dementia

Why Jackie loves it

The book is described as Love Actually meets The Notebook, and this is a perfect description. These are stories that come together in such unexpected and touching ways. These are stories of love, loss, and perseverance. Get out a tissue or two.

Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2026 / Books Set in Paris

The Half Life

Author: Rachel Beanland

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

More info: Bestselling Author of Florence Adler Swims Forever

Plot

When Eileen O’Malley meets Paul Archer, a naval officer, it is not long before they are married and moving to Italy so Paul can be aboard a submarine. Eileen is determined to make the small island of La Maddalena feel like home. When Italian scientists become concerned about possible nuclear contamination in the water, Eileen has to choose between her loyalty to her husband and country, and the Italian locals who have made her feel like she’s home.

Sea of Charms

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

More info: Deluxe Edition, Bestselling Author, The Spellshop #3

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 14+

Plot

Marin is a supply runner who sails to the islands delivering goods. When she goes to the Capital, she finds a revolution underway, and her friend Dax in trouble. She agrees to take him on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the end of the harvest festival back home.

There are mystical creatures, a toxic ex-boyfriend, and secondary characters from other parts of the story in this series. In fact, it really acts as a connector with a parallel timeline to the other two books.

Why Kirsten likes it

I love the first two books in this series, so it is no surprise that this cozy fantasy romance was at the top of my TBR. This sweet romance would totally be appropriate for teens. I read it while in Greece on a cruise ship, staring at land so mythical it felt like I was fully in Marin’s world. I enjoyed watching her overcome her struggles and connect with Dax.

There were a few times that felt frustrating to me – she couldn’t accept that she was worthy of love, and the self-doubt felt a little drawn out. Still, the story was unique, the characters charming, and the love story oh-so-sweet. It’s a perfect beach romance for any cozy fantasy lover. Gifted by Bramble

Find this book in: Sailing Novels for Vacation / Best Beach Reads 2026

The Memory Bookshop

Author: Song Yu-jeong, Translated by Shanna Tan

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Genre: Healing Fiction

More info: Korean Bestseller

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 14+

Plot

I cannot wait to read this book that explores the power of books and the magic of living. Jiwon has been grieving since her mother died. When she finds herself in a mysterious bookshop, she is given the opportunity to travel back to three chapters of her life. In exchange, she must give up time in the future.

With each chapter, she is given a new perspective on her past as she makes the choices that will affect her ability to live her life.

Trigger Warnings

Death of a parent, suicidal thoughts

Why Jackie loves it

This book gives a beautiful and literal interpretation of looking back at the chapters of our lives. It gives a picture of grief and a unique perspective on how our memories can be manipulated by guilt and grief. This is a lovely book and a must-read.

Find this book in: Books in Translation / Healing Fiction Books / Novels about Grief / Books about Bookstores

Dominion

Author: Jean Kwok

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

More info: Silk and Iron Trilogy #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Rubi has no memory after her homeland was destroyed. Now, she is a refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger. She struggles to have enough food and warmth, and depends on her dancing as her way to get by. When she draws the attention of the supreme metal mage, she thinks nothing of it until she comes face to face with a riderless tyger.

She finds herself in a brutal trial where Tygers choose their riders, and the rest are killed. She is drawn into a world she never could have imagined in the hope that she regains her memories of her past.

Trigger Warnings

Attempted sexual assault, violence, torture

Why Jackie loves it

This book is being described as Fourth Wing meets Chinese Mythology, crossed with The Hunger Games, and the description is perfect! There is nothing about this book I did not love. This is an entirely new magic system, but it is not overly complicated. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is the perfect amount of tension without leaving plot holes. The only thing I am upset about is that I have to wait for the next book. What a fantastic first book in a new fantasy series. Thank you, Putman and PRH Audio, for my copy of this book. #gifted

Find this book in: The Best Books Like Fourth Wing / The Best Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Mythology Books / Best Fantasy Books of 2026

Fishbone Cinderella

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

Plot

This is a multigenerational family saga with a touch of magic. When Japanese soldiers invade her hometown in 1940, Ha Yut Ying escapes by turning invisible. When the war is over, she is sent to live with her father and stepmother, who turned her into the family servant.

In San Francisco, 20 years later, Marigold sees her mother disappear before her eyes. As her mother’s condition deteriorates, Marigold must uncover her other secrets to save her.

Helpless

Author: Jessica Knoll

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Genre: Thriller

More info: New York Times Bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This looks like a creepy psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive. Faye returns to her university campus for her professor’s funeral. She has not been back since she left for LA abruptly more than a decade ago. Is she going back for the funeral, or does she secretly have a need to see her ex, Henry? Faye has a successful career, but a failing marriage, and part of her wonders about Henry, even if their relationship was as toxic as relationships can be.

When Henry drugs and abducts Faye, they slip into old habits from the past. Faye needs to escape, but also needs to find out what Henry wants from her.

Trigger Warnings

Abduction, humiliation, rape, confinement, and humiliation

Why Jackie loves it

This is a seriously dark thriller with quite a few trigger warnings. Faye and Henry have a horrible, toxic relationship that is seriously disturbing. However, I could not put this book down. It is fast-paced with twists and turns at every corner. #gifted Scribner, S & S Audio

Find this book in: Best Thriller Books of 2026

This Changes Everything

Author: Lisa Scottoline

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Genre: Thriller

More info: #1 bestselling author

Plot

Julia and Courtney are best friends. Julia lives in Tuscany, and Courtney is back in the United States. When Courtney arrives at her grandmother’s house in PA, she finds her grandmother dead and her killer escaping. Julia rushes home to be with her friend. Despite the fact that the police think it was just a burglary gone wrong. The two women think there is something else going on. Soon, Julia becomes the Target of a conspiracy, and she is fighting for her life. This is a thriller that is also about female friendship.

Hot Girl Murder Club

Author: Ashley Winstead

Year: 2026

Genre: Thriller

More info: Bestselling Author

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Scout is an aspiring singer and actress who is catapulted to fame for all the wrong reasons. Ever since her sister died at a Hollywood party 10 years ago, she has been trying to find her killer. Now, a string of murders in LA points to Scout. She could be going down as the world’s most famous murderer unless she can prove she is not guilty.

Told from multiple perspectives, including the lead investigator and Scout’s assistant, you won’t be sure who to trust and what side of justice you are rooting for! It’s a feminist twist that has shades of The Change.

Trigger Warnings

Sexual assault, Murder, Suicide

Why Kirsten loves it

This is the kind of book where the audiobook narrator really brings it to life. I was cheering for this group of vigilantes while trying to keep up with the story’s twists and turns. It was a glamorous, wild ride – the perfect companion for my 10-hour flight. Gifted by MacMillan Audio.

Find this book in: Hollywood Novels / Best Thriller Books of 2026 / Best Beach Reads 2026 / Books About Secret Societies

The Masala Chai Mystery Club

Author: MJ Soni

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Mystery

More info: Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club

Plot

Neeti is a retired librarian, looking forward to her book club with her chai-loving friends. When a childhood friend turns up dead, it is eerily similar to her most recent Book Club book. Even though he was unliked, he was a childhood friend, and she is determined to find his killer. She enlists her Book Club friends to find the murderer before they get themselves in more trouble than they can handle.

The Story Keeper

Author: Kelly Rimmer

Year: 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction, Gothic Mystery

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Fiona Winslow has returned to her family estate, Wurimbirra, after a difficult year. She plans on restoring it when she discovers a curious book called The Midnight Estate. The story in the book is very similar to some of her own family’s lore, and it reveals secrets that shock her to her core.

It is also a book-within-a-book, as readers get to read the story of the book alongside Fiona’s life in the crumbling, possibly haunted, mansion.

Trigger Warnings

Domestic Violence

Why Kirsten likes it

This story felt like reading a Kate Morton book, which is high praise from me, since Morton is one of my all-time favorite authors. The gothic vibes in this one really kept me flipping the pages as the suspense built. I loved the book-within-a-book angle to the story too. I was thinking of it for far longer than I expected. Gifted by Mira.

Find this book in: Historical Fiction Books About Books

How to Kill a Crime Writer

Author: Sarah Lotz

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Mystery

Plot

Annie Morrissey was a best-selling author of murder mysteries. When she dies tragically, her daughter Naimh moves into her house to help deal with the estate. When her mother’s final book lands on the doorstep and Leah Rebeccah Overton appears in the kitchen, Naimh is a little bit concerned. After all, Leah is the fictional heroine of her mother’s books, and Naimh is the only one who can see her. She realizes she cannot ignore the sleuth, especially when her mother’s death may not have been an accident after all.

The Romance Revival

Author: Christina Lauren

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Genre: Romance

More info: Instant New York Times Bestselling Author

Plot

Emery and Luca have been married for three years, but Emery has become obsessed with her top-secret job and is neglecting Luca. In a tragic accident, Luca dies, and Emery is determined to bring him back. She uses science to bring him back and breaks every rule in doing so. The only problem? He can’t remember who she is. Now, Emery has one shot at a second chance at love.

Book Club Boyfriend

Author: Jenny Holiday

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Genre: Romance

Plot

Blair is a rom-com star trying to get into producing, but no one will take her seriously. She has become friends with Jack Branksone, a bestselling author who refused to participate in her celebrity book club. He admits that he has a case of writer’s block. Blair invites him to stay at her pool house, where the two Bond over movie nights and dinners. This is another book about books from the July 2026 book releases. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one.

Extracurricular

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Genre: Romance

More info: New York Times Bestselling Author

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Ramona Wilder has been a star since she was a kid, but is ready to step out of the spotlight. When she announces her retirement, her parents who are also her managers, are shocked. Her mother, in particular, does not want her primary source of income cut off. Ramona decides to start college at 26.

Nick is a professor who is recently divorced. When he has a department meeting about a new celebrity enrolling, he plans to treat her like any other student until she walks into the class. Slowly, Nick realizes she is not the vapid star he anticipated. He may have assumed things about her. They realize there is an attraction to each other. However, they will both have to let go of the past if they want to move forward.

Trigger Warnings

Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse and Manipulation

Why Jackie likes it

I really liked how this book looks at the industry and how it treats allegations of sexual assault. It shows the various sides from the publicists to the victims. I loved how Ramona is able to feel more powerful and take control of her life. I felt uncomfortable with Nick and Ramona’s relationship. There is a power dynamic differential between a professor and a student. While it definitely was not a toxic situation, I would have liked something for Ramona that was a little healthier, considering her past.

Just a Highland Fling

Author: Naina Kumar

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Romance

More info: Books About Road Trips

Plot

Neelu is in Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding and accidentally says some things during a drunken tirade that get him left at the altar. Together, they decide to track down his bride. But Jacob, the gorgeous bagpiper with whom she recently had a one-night stand, is the third member of this road trip. This pick from the July 2026 book releases has the Scottish Highlands, a forced proximity romance, and a road trip. I cannot think of anything better.

Dad, Love, Me

Author: Matthew Quick

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Memoir

More info: From the author of Silver Linings Playbook

Plot

This is a memoir written in the form of a letter to his ailing father. Quick takes us on a journey through his anxiety, depression, and substance abuse as he tries to make peace with his abusive father, recently diagnosed with dementia. This looks like a powerful and moving memoir from the July 2026 book releases.

Every Reason to Stay

Author: Lane Clarke

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Genre: YA Fiction

Plot

It has always been just Sylar and her rockstar dad, but when her dad dies in an accident, she learns that her mother is still alive. Now, Slylar is uprooted and sent to live with a virtual stranger. To overcome her feelings of anger and grief, she decides to enter a baking competition. Soon, she will find friendship and answers to questions she did not know she had. This pick from the July 2026 book releases is perfect for our list of Novels about Grief

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

Author: Amanda Connolly

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Genre: YA Romantasy

More info: Martyred Isle Book 1

Plot

This debut novel is a romantasy perfect for fans of Throne of Glass. Maeve’s sister has been gravely injured, and she will do everything she can to buy the forbidden magic that will save her. In exchange, she trades her life to a rebel leader and is thrown into a competition to become the next queen.