The summer season is finally in full swing, and whether you are aiming to beat the heat and aim to stay cool, or your brain and heart need a break from all things World Cup (doesn’t it feel like your heart is working overtime this year?), July graces us book lovers with exciting new releases that give us the escapism we deserve. Whether you are discovering a new author or revisiting an old favorite, your July summer will not be boring with these titles!

Featured Book of the Month

Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard

Expected Publication Date: July 28

If these walls could talk, they’d scream…

When Ellie moves to 1 Delaney Row, she hopes to find a fresh start—a place where no one knows her name, her history, or her secrets. But what she doesn’t know is that her new home is already hiding someone else’s secrets—and the people determined to keep them are watching her.

As Ellie starts to unravel the house’s disturbing backstory, coming closer to the shocking mystery at its center, she unwittingly puts herself on a deadly collision course not just with her new home’s history, but with her own as well.

A puzzle box of a thriller full of mind-boggling twists and turns, Buyer Beware is a chilling exploration of the dark secrets that any house can hold—and of the lengths we’ll go to start over. (Credit: Simon & Schuster)

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Tsubaki Stationery Store by Ito Ogawa

You always told me that writing is life itself.

After many years abroad, Hatoko reluctantly returns to Kamakura to take over the stationery store left to her by her late grandmother. As the custodian of the store, she also inherits the profession of public scribe, a role Hatoko trained for as a child under the guidance of her strict grandmother.

As the locals seek out Hatoko’s help, she takes on all manner of requests: writing letters of greeting, condolence, farewell, love, and more on behalf of those who come to her. A local community forms around Hatoko and the store, and when the secrets of her late grandmother begin to unravel, Hatoko learns that the role of the scribe requires much more than putting ink to paper.

Set to the rhythm of the four seasons and the Japanese rituals and festivities that come with them, Tsubaki Stationery Store is a charming story about the importance of community and the reconciliatory power of the written word. (Credit: Dutton)

Colorism: The Politics of Skin Tone and How We Get Free by Dr. Sarah L. Webb

The essential primer on colorism, and how each of us has a role in dismantling skin tone bias.

Racism is easy to spot these days; we know its script, its favorite media tropes, its legislative tactics, and how it makes us feel. But there is another societal ill hiding in racism’s shadow: colorism. Colorism is a social hierarchy that favors people with lighter skin tones and stigmatizes people with darker skin tones. More than a debate on social media about who’s most attractive, colorism frays the fabric of our homes and communities and jeopardizes the lives and livelihoods of individuals most impacted. Dr. Sarah L. Webb’s Colorism arrives as a fresh perspective on how we move toward a world free from harmful stigma and discord–a more liberated, more loving world.

In Colorism, Dr. Sarah shows us how colorism goes unrecognized by most even as it contours our every day lives. She leads us through cultural myths, client testimonies and her own personal stories to demonstrate colorism’s global stronghold on communities of color and white communities alike. She dissects how dating and pop culture can be hotbeds of discrimination. And she lifts the veil on how colorism can determine our access to education, work, social services, and politics. Soulfully told and richly informational, Colorism rounds out with revisions we can all make to show up for one another. After all, bias may be based on what’s on the outside, but true healing starts from within. (Credit: Legacy Hit)

The Spirit Guide by Bridget Walsh

1879, Victorian London.

Tea room sting operations, seedy music hall secrets, elaborate disguises, and slow-burn romance…

Detective duo Minnie Ward and Albert Easterbrook return for another exciting case to uncover the dark secrets at the heart of Victorian London’s spiritualist scene.

This time, an investigation into two mysterious deaths leads this famed detective duo to the doors of the Spirit Sisterhood, a female-only spiritualist group that facilitates communion with the souls of the dead. And recently several of its visitors have been found dead themselves.

Minnie isn’t buying it: there is more to the Sisterhood than there first seems. The more Minnie looks, the more covert operations come to light. She goes undercover at the organization’s secretive countryside home, where she quickly finds herself drawn into the dark but strangely alluring world of spirits and ghosts.

But, isolated from Albert and everyone she loves, Minnie’s situation quickly gets out of hand. Can she find a way out of this remote cult before time runs out? And can she keep her own demons at bay long enough to withstand the Sisterhood?

A rip-roaring murder mystery brimming with theatrical detail, loveable characters, and exciting new reveals that will keep you guessing until the very last page. (Credit: Pushkin Vertigo)

You Had Me at Bigfoot by Nancy Campbell Allen

Rookie investigative journalist Daphne Drew is finally on assignment–though it’s not exactly the hard-hitting story she imagined. Sent to cover a high-society wedding at an opulent Pacific Northwest lodge, Daphne expects floral arrangements and champagne flutes, not whispered rumors of a missing maid . . . or reports of Bigfoot sightings.

She’s not alone. Tagging along is Clark Finklestine-Henry, a decorated war photographer with a haunted past–and a camera sharp enough to catch more than just candid reception shots. Together with their loyal dogs, Daphne and Clark begin to suspect something much darker is lurking in the forested shadows of the hotel grounds.

As wedding guests arrive and tension simmers beneath the surface, Daphne and Clark uncover a tangled web of lies, legends, and lost fortune–one that ties the vanished maid, some returning friends, and the infamous DB Cooper together in a mystery that’s anything but folklore. (Credit: Shadow Mountain)

Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of many romance novels, must be in want of a book boyfriend.”

Zoe Knight, a struggling romance writer, has sworn off men for good. At least…the ones in real life. Once a believer in a happily ever after, she now curbs her loneliness with the help of the best book boyfriends in literature – and there is no better man than Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy. So when she stumbles into a classic London bookshop and argues with the annoyingly attractive store owner, Nick, who refuses to sell romance novels, she decides to liberate him of a dusty copy of Pride & Prejudice abandoned on a top shelf.

But this is no ordinary book.

After reading from the pages, Zoe finds herself in a remarkable situation: she has accidentally summoned the Mr. Darcy to the real world. Now, she’s face-to-face with the man she’s loved forever, and he’s everything she dreamed he would be. Handsome? Check. Brooding? Check. Talks like he swallowed a thesaurus? Check and check. But even in all his regency perfection, can he ever be as good as in the novel? And if he’s here, in her London apartment trying to figure out how to work a shower, what will happen to the literary world he came from? With Nick–the last man she could ever be prevailed upon to work with–urging her to send the fictional Darcy back to his own story, Zoe will have to decide what she really wants from a happy ending, before it’s too late. (Credit: Sourcebooks Landmark)

Helpless by Jessica Knoll

It’s been twelve years since Faye Heron broke Henry Spalding’s heart. Henry was her college boyfriend, her first love, but Faye was in danger of being subsumed by him and the intensity of their connection—a connection that took her beyond boundaries she’d only dreamed of crossing.

Now, Faye is one half of a power-producing duo with her Hollywood husband. Henry is a married father running the family business. On the surface, both of their lives have essentially gone to plan.

When a former and beloved college professor suddenly passes away, Faye and Henry find themselves back on campus for the funeral, circling something old and dangerous. Something, if Faye is honest with herself, she has been trying to duplicate for years. But Henry is one of a kind.

The kind who delivers a hypnotic apology for the way things ended.
The kind who suggests they go back to the hotel for a drink.
The kind who drugs and kidnaps her.

When Faye comes to Henry’s remote mountain cabin, she’s beside herself. Has Henry brought her here to punish her? She did, after all, write and star in a lauded episode of television based on their indelicate appetites and vicious breakup. As her week of captivity unfolds, Henry’s wanton demands intensify, and Faye finds herself pulled back into his irresistible gravity. But as Faye and Henry spiral into their old dynamic, a sprawling, years-old mystery begins to take shape—one that will rewrite history as Faye remembers it and reveal an astounding, cataclysmic truth. (Credit: Scribner)

Sycamore Gap by LJ Ross

The past never stays buried for long…

Detective Chief Inspector Ryan thought he’d left his past behind. But when the skeleton of a young woman is discovered inside an ancient Roman wall at Sycamore Gap, the case pulls him back into the darkness he’s tried to forget.

The victim has been buried for a decade–and every clue Ryan uncovers only deepens the mystery. As the investigation unfolds, old secrets surface, and Ryan finds himself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who always seems one step ahead.

Set against the haunting backdrop of Hadrian’s Wall, Sycamore Gap delivers gripping twists, relentless tension, and a chilling reminder that the past is never truly gone. (Credit: Poisoned Pen Press)

The Devil’s Banquet: A Piccadilly Noir by Phil Lecomber

It is 1933, four years after Cockney private eye George Harley brought the infamous child-killer the ‘Nursery Butcher’ to justice, and he’s back in business operating a new detective agency in Soho. For their first case, Harley and his new assistant Bunty are engaged to find a young girl who has run away from home to join a cabaret troupe led by the notorious ‘Queen of Depravity’ Ilse Blau.

But in Harley’s liminal world, things are never straightforward, and the detective soon finds himself embroiled in another pitch-dark scenario, with London’s decadent, thrill-seeking gentry on one side and West End mobsters and wide-boys in search of easy cash on the other.

Returning to London’s frowzy alleyways and sleazy nightclubs, Harley will hunt down answers – no matter how uncomfortable they might turn out to be. But when he becomes ensnared in the mind games of a wily femme fatale, and finds himself up against ruthless Glaswegian gangsters, well-connected occultists, and undercover SS agents, those answers become increasingly hard to find. (Credit: Titan Books)

Match on Monday by Michiko Aoyama

All throughout the week, customers flock to the Marble Café that’s tucked away behind the trees – except when it’s closed on Mondays, when the Matcha Café opens in its place, offering its clientele a warm cup of matcha and restoration to start the busy week ahead.
On this one day of the week, people from all walks of life frequent this cozy haven and experience the joys of human connection. Among them include:

• A singer who has just broken up with his lover
• An unsociable young owner of a tea wholesaler
• A husband who has made his wife angry
• A designer and owner of a lingerie shop
• A Kamishibai artist who doesn’t get along with his grandmother

This heart-warming story spans Tokyo and Kyoto over twelve months, bringing together a community of untold unfolding lives – all starting with a cup of matcha. (Credit: Hanover Square Press)

The Constitution Cannot Save Us: Why We Can No Longer Rely on Our Founding Document by Louis Michael Seidman

Constitutional theorists on the Right and the Left are united in the belief that constitutional law and review by the Supreme Court are crucial to the success of the American experiment. Both sides believe that, on issues ranging from affirmative action, reproductive freedom, and gun control, to economic regulation, regulation of speech, and the role of religion in American society, popular democracy is just too dangerous to go unchecked.

In a radical and paradigm-shifting argument sure to change the debate about the rule of law in the age of Trump, leading constitutional law scholar Louis Michael Seidman argues that the American Constitution lacks the resources to address our current problems, and that reliance on it risks making the challenges that face us worse. Seidman, called “one of our greatest living constitutional scholars” by Georgetown University Law professor Rosa Brooks, understands that a natural reaction to the current danger is to shore up the foundations of constitutional theory, uniting in the defense of “the rule of law.” But he sees this response as gravely mistaken and bound to fail. As he writes in the introduction, “no one should be fooled into thinking that a legal strategy will stop the broad thrust of the Trump revolution.”

Seidman reviews and critiques prevalent constitutional theories on the Right and the Left, from originalism to “living constitutionalism,” highlighting ways in which they fail to meet the current moment. Instead, he charts a different way forward. If both sides ended their dogmatic insistence that divisive social issues can be definitively settled by a piece of aging parchment, we might ease political tensions and begin a respectful and productive debate about the deep grievances that are tearing the country apart. (Credit: New Press)

King of Lost Dreams by Nevin Holness

Gods and secrets don’t stay buried forever.

The magical underbelly of London is no longer under threat from the malevolent daughter of Death after she was vanquished during an epic nine-night. But in her wake, certain truths have been unearthed that have left Malcolm, Eli, Sunny, and their friends fractured and desperate to lay the past to rest.

For Malcolm—a boy grappling with his inherited death magic—confronting his past means facing heartbreak, realities he isn’t yet ready to acknowledge, and perhaps even first love. On the other hand, Eli, a silver-tongued thief with no memories of his past, is more determined than ever to uncover his lost identity and find out once and for all where he came from, unless his past catches up with him first…

Something is lurking in Eli’s dreams, giving teeth to his nightmares. And when Malcolm finds a mysterious letter in the ruins of a former magical sanctuary full of its own secret histories, he and their friends set out to find a hidden key that may just be the answer to all their problems. If they want a chance against the shadow that’s been hunting Eli, they’ll need to learn the magic of their ancestors and go back to the very beginning: when magic first arrived in London. (Credit: Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Miss Bates by Catherine Cliff

Henrietta Bates, the iconic bore of Emma, is the opposite of handsome, clever, and rich Emma: she is plain, ill-educated, and impoverished. An unmarried woman of quite a different order from that novel’s proudly single heroine, she is an object of scorn and pity, whose survival depends upon the generosity of her neighbors which she barters for with an unrelenting shower of banal and grateful chatter.

But what if the woman we see in Emma were actually deliberately assuming a role, donning a mask, as a means of managing an untenable situation? What if there was a world of difference between her inward and outward voice? What would the Woodhouses’s Highbury look like from herperspective?

Miss Bates by Catherine Cliff imagines answers to these questions as it chronicles Henrietta Bates’s unexpected and, at times, violent life, navigating a world with no ready-made opportunities, where the stakes are of the highest order. In a debut that is by turns comedic, tragic, startling, and altogether brilliant, Miss Bates turns Austen’s poignant and ridiculous side character into a feminist force who understands innately the life she has been dealt and how to slyly play it to her advantage. (Credit: Pegasus Books)

Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle

Poppy Stringer was born to be a star.

An aspiring fashion influencer by day, Poppy moonlights as a grave robber to make ends meet, wheeling and dealing dead bodies across Palm Springs.

When her hero, the flamboyant, piano-slamming rockstar Eddie Michaels, unexpectedly dies, Poppy gets a call to retrieve his body from the medical examiner’s office for a lucrative sum. It could be the last job she’ll ever need—if everything goes to plan. But the night’s delivery quickly veers off course when Eddie wakes up.

Now Poppy must fight for her life if she hopes to survive this blood-soaked joyride of carnage and extravagant entertainment. (Credit: Tor Nightfire)

The Chime Seekers by Ross Montgomery

Step into a world of fairy tricks and hidden danger . . .

When an evil fairy steals Yanni’s baby sister and swaps her for a changeling, Yanni is swept into a dangerous race against time to get her back. After all, fairies delight in tricks, and rescuing her won’t be easy. With the help of his cousin, Amy, and the reluctant changeling, Yanni must travel to goblin palaces and battle-swept oceans, discovering ancient treasures and secrets along the way.

Yanni will need every drop of courage and even a few tricks of his own if he’s to outwit the fairy and save his sister . . . (Credit: Candlewick)

The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-jeong

If you’re lost or grieving, you’ll find The Memory Bookshop, where the shelves are endless; the books, strangely familiar; and where memories are bound in pages.

Jiwon’s life has been slowly disintegrating since her mother died. Until one day, caught by a sudden downpour, she stumbles into a mysterious bookstore. Inside, she is met by Manager K and offered no explanation, only a mysterious hourglass and a rare opportunity: to travel back to three chapters of her life.

But returning to the past isn’t without risk. In exchange, Jiwon must give up time in her future.

As she wanders between the shelves, the bookshop humming with memories and regrets, she must ask herself: can the past truly be rewritten? Or does the real magic lie in the life she’s yet to live? (Credit: William Morrow Paperbacks)

The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Roberth Thorogood

Two dead celebrities. One village full of secrets.

Someone is killing celebrities in Marlow. First, it’s a famous soccer player. Then, a bestselling thriller writer. When two shocking deaths rock their quiet riverside town, Judith, Suzie, and Becks–the unstoppable Marlow Murder Club–must untangle a dangerous web of blackmail and scandal to catch a killer.

But with their trusted police ally DI Malik suddenly suspended, and Judith’s own past threatening to resurface, the women are on their own. Suspects are multiplying like tabloid headlines, secrets are stacking up, and time is running out.

Can the Marlow Murder Club crack the case before the killer strikes again–or will this be the end of their crime-solving adventures? (Credit: Poisoned Pen Press)

Hide and Seek by Soren Sveistrup

Count to one, count to two . . .

A strange voice from inside the woods, repeating a child’s counting rhyme.

 Count to four, count to five . . .

A body discovered in the water.

 You’re trying to go home. Will you make it alive?

Thirty years later, a woman begins receiving a string of anonymous text messages, repeating that same rhyme.

 Found you.

Then she disappears . . .

On Valentine’s Day, detectives Naia Thulin and Mark Hess are searching to find the missing woman. But when they uncover links to a decades-old cold case, their investigation takes a terrifying turn.

A violent killer is on the loose. Can Hess and Thulin catch them, before they strike again? (Credit: Harper)

The Love Dare by Abiola Bello

Popular girl Eva Òjó is used to boys falling for her without her even trying. So when her friend dares her to dance with a random guy at Notting Hill Carnival, she meets Saint.

Comic obsessed Saint Rowe-Falade thinks Eva is cute, but he’s not interested in her in that way. He’d rather get lost in stories than look for romance.

When Eva’s birthday party gets out of control and causes damage to her dad’s beloved car, her friends set the ultimate dare: get Saint to take her on one date and they’ll help her pay to fix her dad’s car. Operation fall-in-love-with-Eva is set in motion and Eva makes it her mission to make Saint fall head over heels. But just as Saint starts to warm to Eva, and her own feelings towards him grow, Saint finds out about the dare. Can Eva convince Saint she’s truly into him, or has she lost him for good? (Credit: Simon & Schuster UK)

A Neighbor’s Guide To Murder by Louise Candlish

In Columbia Mansions, secrets don’t stay behind closed doors for long.

It’s rare for a room to open up in London’s storied Columbia Mansions, and lonely Gwen is thrilled when her neighbor’s new subletter, Pixie, brings a friendly breath of fresh air to its stuffy halls. Their unexpected bond soon becomes the bright spot in Gwen’s quiet life. But Gwen can’t help noticing cracks beneath Pixie’s cheerful surface–especially when it comes to her questionable financial arrangement with her live-in landlord, Alec.

As suspicions mount, Gwen’s protective instincts go into overdrive, triggering a dangerous chain of events no one is prepared for. The last thing Columbia Mansions wants is a scandal on its hands … Let alone a murder. (Credit: Grand Central Publishing)

Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield

Cicely is the black sheep daughter of the powerful Winter family, who made a cruel bargain in exchange for riches and ruthless magic. Soren is the boy her family banished to the underworld. Their fates intertwine when Cicely’s loathsome Uncle Dorian winds up dead at a masquerade ball.

Once overlooked for her lowly gift of discovering secrets, Cicely is now her family’s only chance at survival, tasked with finding the killer before he takes out every last Winter. With time running out, Cicely narrows her sights on Soren, who she suspects is back for vengeance.

Yet the more Cicely investigates Soren–and gets to know him–the more she begins to question how much family loyalty is worth. After all, when it comes to being a Winter, one can have love or power, but rarely both… (Credit: Random House Books for Young Readers)

Offside by Christina Diaz Gonzalez & Mari Costa

Can you get ahead if it means leaving everyone behind?

Al, Nicky, Palmer, Fabiola, and Seba are all on the school soccer team. But that doesn’t mean they’re all on the same side.

For the first time ever, the Jackson Middle School soccer team is going co-ed thanks to Nicky’s determination. But Al is going to do whatever he can to keep the girls off the team, just the way his father wants.

When Al and Nicky’s rivalry threatens to tear the team apart, everyone’s going to have to pick sides. That is, until Palmer looks into why Nicky joined the team, and he starts to realize that there’s a bigger problem than what’s on the field. . .

And maybe the only way to truly win is together.

With text in English and Spanish, Offside features the groundbreaking format used in Invisible, paired with engaging, accessible, and entertaining storytelling. This Breakfast Club-inspired story by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Mari Costa is a must-have graphic novel about soccer, friendship, and what it really means to work as a team. (Credit: Graphix)

Heartstopper Vol. 6 by Alice Oseman

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The final installment in the bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel series about life, love, and everything that happens in between.Everyone in school knows Nick and Charlie. Everyone knows they’re going to be together forever. But Charlie’s busy with his bid to become head boy. And while Nick is preparing to leave for college, he’s starting to wonder who he’ll be… without Charlie.

Contains discussions around mental health and eating disorders, and sexual references. (Credit: Graphix)

Killer Vibes by Jack Friday

Expected Publication Date: July 14

Meet Peter Key: self-proclaimed “laziest private investigator in Texas” (it’s harder than it looks), unapologetic bisexual, dedicated stoner, and the surprised recipient of a windfall inheritance from an uncle he barely knew. Peter’s life was a mess before, but now— as the owner of a dilapidated house in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Austin—he has a mountain of debt to deal with and pressure to sell from every side.

But Peter doesn’t like to be pushed around. And when he discovers a bag full of cash, he starts to suspect his uncle’s death wasn’t an accident. He soon finds himself pulled into a lethal game where not everybody plays by the rules.

Fortunately, Peter’s never been good at following rules.

Sexy, suspenseful, and packed with Austin’s quirks, Killer Vibes is a wild and wickedly funny romp that introduces us to the irresistible and irrepressible PI, Peter Key. (Credit: Minotaur Books)

To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M S and Barbara Perez Marquez

Expected Publication Date: July 14

Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to succeed her grandmother as high priestess. But with her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s worried about the path ahead. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing? 

Her people can’t afford her self-doubt, though. A peace treaty is dependent on Myra receiving Alrun’s wisdom, and the forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and . . . love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming. 

Myra must dig deep into her kingdom’s forgotten history for answers, even if it means defying the law. But the key to saving her people may require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all. (Credit: Joy Revolution)

Country Christie by Agatha Christie

Expected Publication Date: July 14

Growing up in Torquay, Agatha Christie’s love of the West Country never left her and many of her most intriguing mysteries are set on the moors and shores of Devon and Cornwall. This collection celebrates some of Christie’s finest countryside stories featuring a cast of her most iconic characters: Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford and Parker Pyne.

Included in this collection are:
The Plymouth Express
The Unbreakable Alibi
The Case of the Missing Will
Ingots of Gold
Double Sin
The Hound of Death
The Cornish Mystery
The Regatta Mystery
The Flock of Geryon
The Edge
The Bloodstained Pavement
The Adventure of the Dartmoor Bungalow (Credit: William Morrow Paperbacks)

The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Expected Publication Date: July 14

Handsome con artist Ulises has long charmed lonely women via letters in order to steal their money, but money is hard to come by in 1940s Mexico. Ulises knows his looks won’t last forever, and he’s desperate to get his hands on a real fortune.

He thinks he’s found it when he captivates his newest correspondent, Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse in picturesque Veracruz. But when he meets her, he finds something he didn’t expect. The woman has a niece, Inés, who is as observant as she is desperate to escape her aunt’s household.

When Inés discovers Ulises’s true intentions, she wants in on the scheme. They’ll convince her aunt that Ulises is a great catch, Perla will marry him, and her money will vanish. Easy, fast, and clean. But Perla is not the desperate, silly spinster Ulises imagines. She harbors secrets. And although Ulises does not believe in true romance, Inés is more alluring than he bargained for. Suddenly, a simple plan may become perilously complicated.

Venture into the streets of a small town where a patina of convention and good manners conceals a cauldron of avarice and lust. (Credit: Del Rey)

Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold

Expected Publication Date: July 14

One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even.

When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they’ve each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.

Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin.

Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one. (Credit: Poisoned Pen Press)

Devil On My Shoulder by Kyle Starks and illustrated by Piotr Kowalski 

Expected Publication Date: July 14

Something terrible has happened. For forty days she was tortured by five men and left for dead—but she will get her revenge on each and every one of them. And it will be bloody. An event that takes her on a strange and violent supernatural path of payback through bizarre encounters with ex-hitmen, sadistic art enthusiasts, and literal devils.

A new dark horror four issue series from the creators of Where Monsters Lie Kyle Starks (Those Not Afraid) and Piotr Kowalski (Let This One Be a Devil) that’s perfect for fans of The Crow, revenge horror, and violent, well-deserved retribution.

For mature audiences. (Credit: Dark Horse Books)

When Everyone Reads: Kwame Alexander’s Guide to Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Books by Kwame Alexander

Expected Publication Date: July 14

When Everyone Reads offers organic, creative ways for K-8 teachers to center reading across the day and make it joyful for students and teachers alike. Award-winning children’s author Kwame Alexander provides easy-to-use grade-band strategies, QR-linked videos, and reproducible tools–making this a go-to resource for turning all learners into lifelong book lovers. Features include low-prep ideas for busy teachers, real-life stories from educators about what works, quotes from authors and celebrities, curated book lists, and more.

When Everyone Reads:

• Presents real-world solutions supported by research and teacher testimony
• Encourages inclusive, joyful literacy practices that transcend test-prep culture
• Connects academic instruction to real life through storytelling, identity, and creativity

The solutions in these pages get to the heart of what excites children about reading–and show teachers how to keep that spark burning in older students, too.

This book is perfect for getting everyone involved in building a culture of lifelong reading. (Credit: Shell Education Pub)

Agatha Christie: The Mother of the Cozy Mystery by Nancy West

Expected Publication Date: July 14

Step into the world of history’s most legendary mystery and crime writer—Agatha Christie!

Inside, you’ll get an intimate glimpse into the life, mind, and works of the Mother of the Cozy Mystery. Featuring quotes about (and from) the literary genius and excerpts from her suspenseful stories, this beautifully crafted literary biography is a celebration of Christie’s literary brilliance and timeless creations. With each page, you’ll learn all there is to know about the bestselling novelist of all time, from her early years to her lasting impact on pop culture.

Whether you’re a longtime admirer of Christie or just beginning your literary adventure, uncover the unexpected mysteries behind the “Queen of Crime” with Agatha Christie! (Credit: Adams Media)

Airrelle of the Maroon Witches by Sumayyah Beck

Expected Publication Date: July 14

Anyone can become a witch in Missen Dessalin. If you can find the Missen, that is. Some say the whole reason it was called a “Missen” is because it was a gathering place for those who wanted to stay missin’.

Twelve-year-old Airrelle Bookman, born and raised in Missen Dessalin by two witch parents, has been waiting for magic to call to her for years now. She just has to secure her four patron animals, complete four rites, master four skills, and pass the initiation ceremony. Then she’ll be a fully confirmed maroon witch, able to fly beyond the walls of the Missen as she pleases. Just like her parents, older siblings, and best friend Hosniya.

When the time for her trial finally seems to arrive, so do familial troubles and threats to the very safety and secrecy of Missen Dessalin itself. But an ordinary girl from beyond the protected walls of Missen, one who has grown up in our own tumultuous and unenchanted world, may just be the key to Airrelle’s troubles.

Informed by the history of maroon societies and inspired by the fantasy worlds of Studio Ghibli, Airrelle of the Maroon Witches is a beautiful coming of age story about a shy but resourceful girl discovering her own power. (Credit: Holiday House)

The Makoto Murder by Richard Jerram

Expected Publication Date: July 21

A pitch-black, Dexter-like thriller from the winner of the 2024 Crime Writers’ Association’s Debut Dagger, in which a Tokyo paparazzo commits murders in order to generate the photos his magazine’s readership ghoulishly demands. A razor-sharp skewering of our darkest fantasies and obsession with true crime for fans of Bella Mackie’s How to Kill Your Family and Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, The Serial Killer.

Ken Kato is a half-British, half-Japanese photojournalist working for a low-brow weekly magazine in Tokyo. He achieved fame with a photograph of a boy who drowned in the tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, who he could have saved had he not been more concerned with finding the right light and composition for his shot.

Four years later, he has failed to repeat that success and, facing irrelevancy (and, worse, redundancy), he decides to turn serial killer to generate his own attention-grabbing pictures – for which he’s inevitably always first on the scene. His magazine then publishes the pictures, causing a sensation in a society where murder is almost unheard of, and tripling its sales figures.

Hoping to impress his colleague Hayashi’s estranged wife Makoto, who he is stalking after a short affair (though she clearly sees things differently), Kato murders only men and women with the same name as her. Inevitably the police are suspicious, but can find no evidence as he is meticulous in his planning and execution. Kato’s editor is also suspicious, but is willing to ignore the evidence in front of him as sales boom.

A pitch-dark satire on where ambition will take us, as well as our ghoulish obsession with true crime and our fascination with morally repellent serial killers (especially if they’re good-looking and charismatic), The Makoto Murders asks plenty of uncomfortable questions of the reader while never forgetting it’s first and foremost a page-turning thriller. (Credit: Titan Books)

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbery

Expected Publication Date: July 21

Cherry Neita is thirty, flirty, and done with men. As far as she can tell, they’re overrated, overpaid, and underperforming–in every area of life. But a girl has needs, and the smoking-hot stranger she just met at the office seems like the perfect one-night stand…

Prince Ruben of Helgmøre is reckless, dominant, and famously filthy. The outcast royal is rebuilding his reputation–all for a good cause–but he can’t resist a pretty face. And bossy whirlwind Cherry’s got the face, the body, and the attitude to make Ruben’s convictions crumble. Even better, when she propositions him, she has no idea who he really is.

But when paparazzi catch the pair, erm, kissing in an alleyway, Ruben’s anonymity disappears faster than Cherry’s knickers. Now the press is in uproar, the palace is outraged, and Ruben’s reputation is back in the gutter. There’s only one way to turn this disaster around–and it involves Cherry, some big fat lies, and a flashy diamond ring. On her left hand.

Unfortunately, Cherry isn’t pleased with Ruben’s “fake engagement” scheme…and neither is the king. (Credit: Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku 

Expected Publication Date: July 21

Savvy has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon at a nearby office building on Chicago’s South Side. Stepping out of her traditional soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course—mini po’boys with assorted fillings, sunburst salad, and bread pudding using Great Aunt Essie’s famous buttermilk biscuits.

But when someone is found dead in the company’s conference room, Savvy’s culinary creations are suddenly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. While the focus should be on their delicious flavors and inventive techniques, Savvy’s beloved café instead becomes the center of a murder investigation once again.

Caught within a messy web of gossip, miscommunication, and fraught coworker relationships, Savvy will have to settle the confusion to clear her name. Somebody’s hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out uncover exactly who is to blame. With familiar faces turning up the heat on her investigation and her café still in hot water, will Savvy be able to save her reputation before it’s too late? (Credit: Minotaur Books)

Three Reasons For Revenge by Dervla McTiernan

Expected Publication Date: July 21

Someone’s watching. Someone’s waiting.

Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault. By the end of the day, she is nowhere to be found.

Soon after she disappears, three identical packages arrive at three very different doors: a respected psychologist’s home, a socialite’s mansion, and a struggling single father’s run-down apartment. Inside, each gift is perfectly tailored to its recipient — and each will tear apart the life of its intended victim.

Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is smart and experienced, but this is no ordinary case. Someone with intimate knowledge of their targets is orchestrating these attacks. Someone who knows exactly how to hurt each victim where they’re most vulnerable.

As she races to uncover the connection between three unrelated people, Judith discovers she’s no longer just investigating the game—she’s being forced to play. (Credit: William Morrow)

Death at King’s Cross: A Four Queens of Crime Mystery by Rosanne Limoncelli 

Expected Publication Date: July 21

1941, London. When DCI Lilian Wyles finds a young woman murdered at King’s Cross Station, she needs the help of someone she can trust, but Richard Davidson, her former Scotland Yard partner, has joined MI5 and is busy tracking black market routes outside of London, so for now, she is on her own. 

After having met the four queens of crime during a murder investigation two years earlier, DCI Wyles has kept in touch. But Agatha, Dorothy, Margery, and Ngaio are all involved in the war effort and have problems of their own.

Agatha is volunteering at the University Hospital Pharmacy, where a dangerous anesthetic has been stolen. Dorothy has heard unsettling information from her connections at the BBC regarding members of the Royal Navy. Margery, who has been in the countryside helping families escape the city from the bombing, is worried about one of her charges whose older sister has gone missing. And Ngaio, who has relocated to New Zealand and is volunteering as an ambulance driver, has begun gathering secret intelligence from wounded soldiers and sailors that may put her in danger. 

When the four queens contact DCI Wyles for help, the information they share makes the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place. DCI Wyles once again finds herself collaborating with her old partners in crime to solve the mystery and close the case in this thrilling sequel, perfect for fans of Nicola Upson and Anna Lee Huber. (Credit: Crooked Lane Books)

Henry Tudor Must Die by Jillian Laine

Expected Publication Date: July 21

Anne Boleyn is going to die, and neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. So when her late rival, Catalina de Aragón, miraculously appears in her cell at the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, very much alive and offering a daring escape plan, no one is more surprised than Anne.

Lina doesn’t have Anne’s magic—but she has just as much hate for England’s wretched king. Severed from her daughter and stripped of all her influence, Lina breathes only for the Hellebore Sisterhood, a clandestine and powerful society with a vested interest in keeping both queens alive . . . and using their particular skills to advance womankind.

Anne and Lina’s old rivalries pale in comparison to a common enemy. And they’re not alone. Anna von Kleve, Kat Howard, and even Catherine Parr all have their own bones to pick with the king. One by one, they capture their pawns, infiltrating the court and eliminating the men who plotted against them. Always inching closer to their true target . . .

And they want his head. (Credit: Berkley)

Deadly Does It by Abbi Waxman

Expected Publication Date: July 21

Mason, a Gen Z adrenaline junkie, and Mann, an ex-con, ex-actress, and lawyer turned sleuth, have already solved one murder together. United by their commitment to sarcasm and general disappointment with the human race, they now face a second crime that’s way too close to home. Alexa Rousso keeps having accidents, and no one but her thinks it’s a coincidence. Could her checkered past be coming back to get her? Mason and Mann’s investigation takes them to the Bay Area, to the Central Coast, and – of course – to the hippest spots in Los Angeles. Will the Berkeley boho vibe convert Mann from vintage couture? Will the wine snobs of Ojai drive Mason to drink (or to vinicide, which isn’t even a thing)? More importantly, will they solve the mystery before the murderer’s sights settle on the detectives themselves, or will this new challenge also be their last? (Credit: Berkley)

Just A Highland Fling by Naina Kumar

Expected Publication Date: July 21

Neelu Pillai makes a last-minute decision to fly to Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding with one goal: to get through it with as little conflict as possible. But when her tipsy tirade at the rehearsal dinner is the reason her father gets left at the altar, she agrees to help him track down his runaway bride.

There’s just one problem: The third member of this road trip through the highlands is Jacob, the hot desi bagpiper from the wedding who just happens to be Neelu’s recent one-night stand. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other a few nights ago, but now he can’t seem to stand her.

Their journey to Skye is certainly not smooth, but as the two work together through the obstacles, doing their best to reunite Neelu’s father with his bride, they realize that there’s more to each other than meets the eye. And that the electric connection they’d felt the night they met is still as strong as ever. . . .

Fiery first impressions, fierce clashes, and undeniable chemistry make for a bumpy ride through the Highlands in this swoony, witty romance about family, forgiveness, and finding love where you least expect it. (Credit: Dell)

Where Are You, Eddie? A Companion to Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Gill Smith

Expected Publication Date: July 21

It has been a while since Eddie died, and his father is still coming to terms with the fact that he’s gone. He’s not here, he’s not there, he’s not anywhere. Is that the end? In a beautiful, deeply moving picture book, Michael Rosen follows a father much like himself as he interacts with the people who were part of Eddie’s life—his classmates, his coach, his siblings. As each person relays a memory, and as the father remembers Eddie himself, he realizes his son is still there, and that when he thinks of Eddie, each time it’s new. With honesty, humor, and grace, the author of the personal memoir Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, seen as one of the finest children’s books about loss, makes clear that while grieving may be the work of a lifetime, so too are the quiet revelations that affirm that our loved ones are still with us. An author’s note offers some background and support for anyone talking to children about bereavement. (Credit: Candlewick)

Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy

Expected Publication Date: July 21

When aspiring crime journalist Fliss Keller attends an estate sale and uncovers a disturbing painting by a mysterious artist, she wants nothing to do with it. Unfortunately for her, her Art History professor dad buys it immediately. The portrait has been lost for decades and completes a set of four existing paintings of women by the same artist already hanging in the town’s gallery.

But when a series of gruesome crimes rock the community and her father’s gallery becomes the epicenter of a deadly game, Fliss discovers that the paintings may hold the key to a killer’s identity.

Haunted by the specter of a serial killer, Fliss races against time to solve the mystery before it claims another victim. In a world where every brushstroke hides a sinister secret, can she unravel the clues before she becomes a killer’s muse? (Credit: Delacorte Press)

How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz

Expected Publication Date: July 21

After the tragic death of bestselling crime writer Annie Morrisey, her daughter, Niamh, moves into her mother’s country cottage to take care of her mother’s estate. Shut away from the world, Niamh doesn’t actually have to deal with the grief of her mother’s untimely passing. Until the day that two things happen: the advance copy of her mother’s final book lands on the doorstep and Leah Rebecca Overton appears in the kitchen.

Having a stranger show up in your house would be concerning at the best of times, but Leah isn’t a stranger—she’s the ultra-competent sleuth heroine from Annie’s novels. The antithesis of Niamh in every way, she’s lived in the fictitious character’s shadow for years. But why (and how) has Leah turned up now? And why can only Niamh see her? Leah is the last thing Niamh wants in her house or in her head, but she can’t ignore the sleuth…especially when Leah suspects there may have been more to Annie’s death than first suspected. (Credit: Berkley)

What Happens In The Dark by Kia Abdullah

Expected Publication Date: July 28

Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.

When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.

And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.

Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.

But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover … (Credit: HQ)

Black Girls Don’t Cry by Alex Travis

Expected Publication Date: July 28

Ida and JJ could have been the ultimate power couple of Banneker High. As the VP and president of their Black Student Union, the two seemed destined to be yearbook legends. But that was before JJ learned Ida was equally attracted to girls. JJ is already deep in a new relationship, which infuriates Ida–almost as much as when a sexist “hot list’ starts circulating the school. It’s bad enough anyone rated the girls on their looks, but the list has only white students. Seriously?

There has never been any racial diversity among the prom queen candidates at Banneker, so the BSU decides to make their own statement on beauty and run a candidate. Now Ida and JJ’s new girlfriend are both competing for the title. Ida wants to make a point more than win the crown, but having smart, savvy Amayah as her campaign manager might just help her do both. She’s already winning Ida’s heart.

Competition is fierce. Suddenly the prom queen candidates start getting picked off one by one…dropping out and dropping dead. Forget winning a tiara. Who will live to see prom? (Credit: Sourcebooks Fire)

Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry

Expected Publication Date: July 28

Living in picturesque coastal Sussex, Patricia Philipps enjoys her quiet life—walking the cliffs, shouting at poorly disciplined dog owners, telling tourists to keep their distance from the crumbling cliff edges, and cold-water swimming.

Then a body washes up near Beachy Head, upending her carefully curated life as she discovers the deceased is one of her clients—her “Three O’Clock,” in fact.

The police chalk it up to suicide, but Pat sees things differently. She reads people. She understands them—their lusts, their loves, their quirks, their ticks, their tells, their deepest desires. She looks, she listens, she watches. And she never jumps to conclusions. After all, she spends her days listening to secrets, resentments, fantasies, and motives. She’s certain someone wanted Henry Clayton dead. 

With her chaotic best friend Pritchard (part-time poet, full-time meddler) in tow, Pat swaps the therapist’s couch for the crime scene. It’s time to unpick the lies, untangle the egos, and catch a killer hiding in plain sight. (Credit: Crown)

A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle

Expected Publication Date: July 28

When an elderly gentleman is found dead at the foot of a staircase, ship’s officer Timothy Birch is ready to declare it a tragic accident. But James Temple, a strong-minded inspector, is certain there is more to this misfortune than meets the eye.

Birch agrees to investigate, and they form an uneasy partnership. Uncovering a web of surprising connections between the passengers aboard the Endeavor, running from the crew cabins below deck to the palatial suites of first class, their inquiries lead to the theft of a priceless painting. Its very existence is known only to its owner . . . and the dead man.

With just days remaining until they reach New York, the search for the culprit is fraught with danger.

And all the while, the passengers continue to roam the ship with a killer in their midst. One who is poised to strike again. (Credit: Dutton)

All My Dead Cats and Other Losses: Practicing Good Grief in a Culture That Fears Mourning by s. e. smith

 Expected Publication Date: July 28

Have you suffered a loss? How was your life changed by the grief you experienced? Mourning is a personal experience and shouldn’t be judged. There are no do-overs in death, but there are do-betters.

All My Dead Cats is not a book about pet loss. You will meet award-winning journalist and debut author s.e. smith’s cats and read small slices of their stories. Their vignettes serve as an opening to scary conversations about loss, so grief can feel less intimidating and more relatable.

This is a book about grief and mourning as collective activities best undertaken in community. S.e. interviews dozens of experts—from death doulas to funeral home directors to therapists and psychologists—and discusses the different stages of grief. The shared perspectives help us understand that grief is not fixable but it can be livable. They teach us that if we have the courage, which begins with honest conversations about how we navigate grief, then we can learn how to do better.

After reading you’ll better understand:

• Disenfranchised grief and how you can be part of the solution and not the problem
• How to be an advocate for people subjected to trauma and violence
• The stages of grief and how to process your experiences

Grief is not over once the body is neatly disposed of, the rubble of the house has been taken away in dumpsters, the final fit on the prosthesis is done, the law is passed and withstands legal challenges, or when the permanent peace is brokered. It is an ongoing shift in our relationship to the world, and one that deserves attention and care as well as time and space to be amongst fellow mourners, to whom we do not need to justify or explain, because they understand where we are.

Readers will feel seen rather than being chastised for how they grieve and better understand how to process mourning–and how to help others. All My Dead Cats provides an entry point, by beginning the conversation about a beloved pet, so readers can think about the larger stakes of death and live a more fulfilled life. (Credit: HarperOne)

The Whisper by Chelsea Iversen

Rule 1: When the trees whisper, listen.

Rule 2: Don’t go into the woods alone.

In the small mountain town of Whisper Ridge, the girls were inseparable. Joey, Quinn, Sophie, and Elena. Together, they channeled magic in the woods, living by six simple rules. The first being: when the trees whisper, listen.

But all rules are forgotten, all bonds broken, when Quinn is found dead in the trees.

In the aftermath, the friends scattered. All except Joey, who still can’t move on. Until now, over a decade later, she again hears the trees whisper.

Those woods remember some of Quinn’s last words, and for the first time, Joey realizes she may learn the truth of what happened to her best friend. And so, the friends return to Whisper Ridge, to the woods that once held their magic and their secrets. But unearthing the truth about Quinn puts them all in danger, and in order to survive they’ll need to channel their power for the first time in fifteen years to finally put the past to rest. (Credit: Sourcebooks Landmark)

Operation: True Love, vol. 1 by kkokkalee and Dledumb 

Expected Publication Date: July 28

Phones are perfect for sending messages, snapping photos, and most importantly, talking to your friends. One thing Su-ae didn’t account for, however, was that her phone would be able to talk back.

Su-ae discovers that Jellypop, a flip phone stored in her locker, is sentient—and Jellypop has a lot to say about Su-ae’s love life. High school romances are never easy, and Su-ae’s relationship with her nonchalant boyfriend seems to be going nowhere. 

Lacking the charisma of her step-sister Ra-im is one thing, but seeing the growing sparks between her and Minu just adds salt to injury. It’s up to Jellypop to help Su-ae navigate the peaks and pits of teenage love, and finally get the high school love story she deserves!

This volume collects episodes 1 to 10 of the sensational WEBTOON comic with over 260 million reads, Operation: True Love. (Credit: WEBTOON Unscrolled)

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