If you’re new to Hide Your Wallet, this is where we list new releases we’re pretty excited for in the coming month.
Each reviewer has a book maximum (five per person), but we’ve separated HYW into two parts. The first HYW of the month will cover books that release from the 1st to the 14th. The second HYW will cover books released from the 15th to the end of the month.
We also think this will help us feature books from smaller publishers who don’t have buy links up as quickly as the big five.
As always, if we missed any books that you’re particularly looking forward to, tell us all about them in the comments.
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A Reunion of Rivals
Author: Reese Ryan
Released: July 1, 2020 by Harlequin Desire
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: The Bourbon Brothers #4Sparks in the boardroom
and the bedroom…
She can’t let anything derail her passion project,
Not even a second chance with the sexiest man alive…
The deal that could bring Quinn Bazemore’s career back from the brink has one catch: she must partner up with her ex-lover Max Abbott. Quinn can’t forget the pleasure-filled summer they shared. But now she’s butting heads over business strategy with the mouthwatering marketing VP, even as their reawakened desire threatens to expose her deepest secrets…
Aarya: I really like this series about siblings running a Tennessee bourbon distillery.
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Opium and Absinthe
Author: Lydia Kang
Released: July 1, 2020 by Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Historical: American, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction/FantasyNew York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?
A ravenous reader and researcher, Tillie has something of an addiction to truth, and she won’t rest until she unravels the mystery of her sister’s death. Unfortunately, Tillie’s addicted to more than just truth; to ease the pain from a recent injury, she’s taking more and more laudanum…and some in her immediate circle are happy to keep her well supplied.
Tillie can’t bring herself to believe vampires exist. But with the hysteria surrounding her sister’s death, the continued vampiric slayings, and the opium swirling through her body, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a girl who relies on facts and figures to know what’s real—or whether she can trust those closest to her.
Amanda: A murder mystery with paranormal elements. Here for it.
Ellen: Kang’s book descriptions always sound awesome to me so maybe it’s time to finally pick one up…
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Say It Louder!
Author: Tiffany Cross
Released: July 6, 2020 by Amistad
Genre: NonfictionA breakout media and political analyst delivers a sweeping snapshot of American Democracy and the role that African Americans have played in its shaping while offering concrete information to help harness the electoral power of the country’s rising majority and exposing political forces aligned to subvert and suppress Black voters.
Black voters were critical to the Democrats’ 2018 blue wave. In fact, 90 percent of Black voters supported Democratic House candidates, compared to just 53 percent of all voters. Despite media narratives, this was not a fluke. Throughout U.S. history, Black people have played a crucial role in the shaping of the American experiment. Yet still, this powerful voting bloc is often dismissed as some “amorphous” deviation, argues Tiffany Cross.
Black Voters, Black Voices is her explosive examination of how America’s composition was designed to exclude Black voters, but paradoxically would likely cease to exist without them. With multiple tentacles stretching into the cable news echo chamber, campaign leadership, and Black voter data, Cross creates a wrinkle in time with a reflective look at the timeless efforts endlessly attempting to deny people of color the right to vote—a basic tenet of American democracy.
And yet as the demographics of the country are changing, so too is the electoral power construct—by evolution and by force, Cross declares. Grounded in the most-up-to-date research, Black Voters, Black Voices is a vital tool for a wide swath of constituencies.
Sneezy: “Say it Louder! is her explosive examination of how America’s composition was designed to exclude Black voters, but paradoxically would likely cease to exist without them.” Why yes, yes I would this entire book to get fuck in my brain right the fuck now.
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A Dangerous Kind of Lady
Author: Mia Vincy
Released: July 7, 2020 by Inner Ballad Press
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: Longhope Abbey #3A desperate situation calls for dangerous deeds…
Proud heiress Arabella Larke has little respect for rules and no time for scruples, not when she faces marriage to a man she loathes and fears.
Determined to save herself, Arabella comes up with a plan: a fake engagement with her childhood nemesis, Guy Roth, Marquess of Hardbury, recently returned home after years away. To Arabella’s surprise, Guy has become strong, honorable, and unexpectedly attractive…but he refuses to even hear her plan.
After leaving England to escape his corrupt, controlling father, Guy has vowed never to do anyone’s bidding again—certainly not Arabella’s. To Guy’s surprise, Arabella has become intriguing, quick-witted, and unexpectedly attractive, but he has enough drama trying to gain custody of his younger sisters, and he wants nothing to do with her dubious schemes.
Until Arabella shows up at his house one night, and Guy finds himself entangled to a dangerous degree…
Elyse: A fake engagement historical.
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Boyfriend Material
Author: Alexis Hall
Released: July 7, 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, RomanceWanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every wayLuc O’Donnell is tangentially–and reluctantly–famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he’s never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad’s making a comeback, Luc’s back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.
To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship…and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He’s a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he’s never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.
But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that’s when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don’t ever want to let them go.
Aarya: The early reviews/buzz are positive and I’m super excited to try this fake relationship m/m romance.
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Cinderella is Dead
Author: Kalynn Bayron
Released: July 7, 2020 by Bloomsbury YA
Genre: LGBTQIA, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young AdultIt’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.
Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .
This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.
Susan: Cinderella is Dead looks like an f/f dystopian fairy tale retelling with bonus overthrowing the establshment, which is exactly what I’m in the mood for right now.
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The Damned
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Released: June 2, 2020 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Genre: Historical: American, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: The Beautiful #2New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with the second installment of her new sumptuous, sultry and romantic series, The Beautiful.
Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien.
Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can’t quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn’t know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she’s not quite ready to learn.
Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment for centuries. And just as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart.
Aarya: Vampires are experiencing a resurgence again and I am 100% here for it.
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Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Released: May 12, 2020 by Flatiron Books
Genre: LGBTQIA, Science Fiction/FantasyA captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse…
There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.
Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming…human or demon. Princess or monster.
Tara: I’ve started reading this one and I already love it. The writing is gorgeous and I have no idea where the story is going, but I can’t wait to find out.
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Haunted Heroine
Author: Sarah Kuhn
Released: July 7, 2020 by DAW
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Series: Heroine Complex #4The fourth book in the smart, snarky, and action-packed Heroine series follows Evie Tanaka, Aveda Jupiter, and Bea Tanaka as they combat a new supernatural threat.
Everything in Evie Tanaka’s life is finally perfect. As a badass superheroine, she defends San Francisco from demon invasion on the regular. Her relationships with superhero partner Aveda Jupiter, little sister Bea, and hot, half-demon husband Nate have never been stronger. Maybe it’s possible for a grad school dropout turned put-upon personal assistant turned superhero to have it all?
As if things can’t get any better, Evie learns she’s pregnant. She’s overjoyed, but also worried about whether she’s cut out for motherhood. Before she can dwell on her dilemma too much, a women’s college reports a string of mysterious “hauntings,” and Evie and Aveda are called in to investigate. When the hauntings turn deadly, they decide to move into the dorms full-time, going undercover as grad students.
As she lives out a bizarre version of her grad school life, Evie can’t help but wonder about the road not taken: what would her life be like if she’d stayed here instead of pursuing superheroing with Aveda?
Ellen: This series is so comforting for me–it has a high ridiculousness quotient, and the character relationships feel so real and lived-in.
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The Heir Affair
Author: Heather Cocks
Released: July 7, 2020 by Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Royal We #2Making it up the aisle was the easy part: After marrying the heir to the throne, Rebecca “Bex” Porter must survive her own scandals as she adjusts to life in the glamorous British royal family, in this “highly anticipated” follow-up to The Royal We, the “fun and dishy” bestseller and NYT Summer Reading List pick inspired by Will and Kate’s romance (People).
After a scandalous secret turns their fairy-tale wedding into a nightmare, Rebecca “Bex” Porter and her husband Prince Nicholas are in self-imposed exile. The public is angry. The Queen is even angrier. And the press is salivating. Cutting themselves off from friends and family, and escaping the world’s judgmental eyes, feels like the best way to protect their fragile, all-consuming romance.
But when a crisis forces the new Duke and Duchess back to London, the Band-Aid they’d placed over their problems starts to peel at the edges. Now, as old family secrets and new ones threaten to derail her new royal life, Bex has to face the emotional wreckage she and Nick left behind: with the Queen, with the world, and with Nick’s brother Freddie, whose sins may not be so easily forgotten — nor forgiven.
Elyse: I enjoyed The Royal We so I’m excited to read about the further adventures of Bex, Freddie and Nick.
Shana: The Royal We is one of my comfort reads, so I’m looking forward to a cozy check-in with these characters.
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One to Watch
Author: Kate Stayman-London
Released: July 7, 2020 by The Dial Press
Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, RomanceReal love…as seen on TV
Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers–and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?
Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition–under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.
But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, razor-sharp debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men–and herself–for a chance to live happily ever after.
Lara: I don’t watch The Bachelor… so I’m not sure why, but I’m desperate to read this book.
Ellen: I am obsessed with The Bachelor franchise so I definitely need to read this!!
Shana: Bea sounds like the kind of badass fat heroine I usually love. Plus, not only do I watch The Bachelor, I watched the sole season of More to Love, the so-terrible-you-can’t-look-away fat Bachelor, where all the contestants were fat. They put the women’s weight next to their names instead of their ages! This has got to be better.
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Or What You Will
Author: Jo Walton
Released: July 7, 2020 by Tor Books
Genre: Science Fiction/FantasyOr What You Will is an utterly original novel about how stories are brought forth from Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author Jo Walton.
He has been too many things to count. He has been a dragon with a boy on his back. He has been a scholar, a warrior, a lover, and a thief. He has been dream and dreamer. He has been a god.
But “he” is in fact nothing more than a spark of idea, a character in the mind of Sylvia Harrison, 73, award-winning author of thirty novels over forty years. He has played a part in most of those novels, and in the recesses of her mind, Sylvia has conversed with him for years.
But Sylvia won’t live forever, any more than any human does. And he’s trapped inside her cave of bone, her hollow of skull. When she dies, so will he.
Now Sylvia is starting a new novel, a fantasy for adult readers, set in Thalia, the Florence-resembling imaginary city that was the setting for a successful YA trilogy she published decades before. Of course he’s got a part in it. But he also has a notion. He thinks he knows how he and Sylvia can step off the wheel of mortality altogether. All he has to do is convince her.
Catherine: A story about a writer and the character who lives in her head and has inspired her stories and actually maybe isn’t entirely imaginary at all and would like to have a life of his own. It sounds fascinating and disturbing and apparently, it is full of Shakespeare, and also food, so that’s two of my favourite things right there, and I’m desperately curious to see what Walton does with this premise.
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Unconquerable Sun
Author: Kate Elliot
Released: July 7, 2020 by Tor Books
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: The Sun Chronicles #1GENDER-SWAPPED ALEXANDER THE GREAT ON AN INTERSTELLAR SCALE
Princess Sun has finally come of age.
Growing up in the shadow of her mother, Eirene, has been no easy task. The legendary queen-marshal did what everyone thought impossible: expel the invaders and build Chaonia into a magnificent republic, one to be respected—and feared.
But the cutthroat ambassador corps and conniving noble houses have never ceased to scheme—and they have plans that need Sun to be removed as heir, or better yet, dead.
To survive, the princess must rely on her wits and companions: her biggest rival, her secret lover, and a dangerous prisoner of war.
Take the brilliance and cunning courage of Princess Leia—add in a dazzling futuristic setting where pop culture and propaganda are one and the same—and hold on tight:
This is the space opera you’ve been waiting for.
Susan: GENDERSWAPPED ALEXANDER THE GREAT IN SPACE! Possibly f/f genderswapped Alexander the great in space! Complete with political intrigues and drama! I am absolutely here for it, because that sounds great.
Ellen: It’s a space opera, of course I’m gonna read it!!
Maya: Pretty cover!! Space opera!!
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Forbidden Desire
Author: Robin Lovett
Released: July 13, 2020 by Entangled: Scorched
Genre: Erotica/Erotic Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Planet of Desire #4Being a sex goddess should be my dream come true—as much sex as I want, with magic powers to heal people, too. Until I realize the enormously strong human I desire most is completely off-limits. My people will put me in prison if I’m caught with a human.
But one encounter together leaves me panting for more. So I kidnap him and take him to an alien sex retreat. I soon discover not only is my big strong human a virgin, his bio-engineering might have made him the largest person I’ve ever seen, but also it made him unable to feel any sensation on his skin.
We’ve got three days to try to heal him with my sex powers before I risk someone discovering us. Then I find out his biggest secret…
Aarya: I’ve heard really great things about the sex planet books! That blurb is all kinds of sexy.
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A Sweet Mess
Author: Jayci Lee
Released: July 14, 2020 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceKorean-American author Jayci Lee delights with this delicious and light-hearted romantic comedy that readers will devour and ask for more.
Aubrey Choi loves living in her small town nestled in the foothills of California, running her highly successful bakery away from the watch of her strict Korean parents. When a cake mix-up and a harsh review threaten all of her hard work and her livelihood, she never thought the jaded food critic would turn out to be her one-night stand. And she sure as hell never thought she’d see the gorgeous Korean hunk again. But when Landon Kim waltzes into her bakery trying to clean up the mess he had a huge hand in making, Aubrey is torn between throwing and hearing him out.When she hears his plan to help save her business, Aubrey knows that spending three weeks in California wine country working with Landon is a sure recipe for disaster. Her head is telling her to take the chance to save her bakery while her heart—and her hormones—are at war on whether to give him a second chance. And it just so happens that Landon’s meddling friends want them to spend those three weeks as close as possible…by sharing a villa.
When things start heating up, both in and out of the kitchen, Aubrey will have to make a choice—to stick it out or risk her heart.
Catherine: It has food and baking in it and I am VERY predictable. Also, baker vs. food critic sounds like fun.
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Entangled
Author: Melissa Brayden
Released: July 14, 2020 by Bold Strokes Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance
Series: Tangle Valley Romance #1Josephine Wilder’s torrid love affair is with Tangle Valley Vineyard, her family’s legacy. She’s grown up dreaming between the vines. She’s always had secret ideas about how to make the place shine, so when it passes to her, Joey vows to make Tangle Valley everything she knows it can be. Her biggest obstacle? That overly commercial hotel going up, and the uppity manager trying to kill the vineyard’s rustic charm.
Becca Crawford loves to unwind with a good glass of wine. An astute businesswoman who has climbed the hospitality ladder, she’s the perfect person to head up Elite Resorts’ newest property, The Jade Hotel, and give tourists all the luxury they desire. As a bonus, The Jade is not far from the cutest vineyard with the best pinot she’s ever tasted. If only the captivating owner would get on board with her plan and stop badmouthing the hotel to everyone in town.
Is it possible that a nice glass of red could help Becca and Joey see each other in a new and alluring light?
Tara: Melissa Brayden is one of my autobuy authors and I tend to love the first books in her series best. This one has me particularly interested because I am ready to read a romance at a vineyard. Also, f/f enemies-to-lovers can be a lot of fun.
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The Extraordinaries
Author: TJ Klune
Released: July 14, 2020 by Tor Teen
Genre: LGBTQIA, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: The Extraordinaries #1Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune’s YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.
Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?
After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick’s best friend (and maybe the love of his life).
Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl meets Marissa Meyer’s Renegades in TJ Klune’s YA debut.
Aarya: Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favorite 2020 reads and I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS.
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One Woman’s Treasure
Author: Jean Copeland
Released: July 14, 2020 by Bold Strokes Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, RomanceAfter Daphne accidentally “steals” a family heirloom from Nina’s front lawn thinking it’s junk left for trash pickup, she learns she’s wanted by the police for questioning. Once the dust settles, Daphne and Nina form a friendship inspired by their mutual love for antiquing and a desire for a fresh start in their lives.
As they grow closer, their attraction moves way beyond friends. But who will be brave enough to confess her feelings first? Daphne, the self-conscious procrastinator who’s working hard to get her new business off the ground, or Nina, the newly-out mom whose priority is creating a stable life for her son? Before they can take a chance on becoming lovers, they’ll have to decide if love is worth the risk.
Tara: This sounds like the coziest romance ever, which is exactly what I’m looking for right now. Two women meet because of a misunderstanding, become friends and fall in love over antiquing.
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The Only Good Indians
Author: Stephen Graham Jones
Released: July 14, 2020 by Gallery/Saga Press
Genre: HorrorThe creeping horror of Paul Tremblay meets Tommy Orange’s There There in a dark novel of revenge, cultural identity, and the cost of breaking from tradition in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones.
Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.
Amanda: This has been such a great year for horror.
Maya: I really WANT to be brave enough to read this.
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The Relentless Moon
Author: Mary Robinette Kowal
Released: July 14, 2020 by Tor Books
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Lady Astronaut #3Mary Robinette Kowal continues her award-winning Lady Astronaut series, which began with The Calculating Stars and The Fated Sky, with The Relentless Moon.
The Earth is coming to the boiling point as the climate disaster of the Meteor strike becomes more and more clear, but the political situation is already overheated. Riots and sabotage plague the space program. The IAC’s goal of getting as many people as possible off Earth before it becomes uninhabitable is being threatened.
Elma York is on her way to Mars, but the Moon colony is still being established. Her friend and fellow Lady Astronaut Nicole Wargin is thrilled to be one of those pioneer settlers, using her considerable flight and political skills to keep the program on track. But she is less happy that her husband, the Governor of Kansas, is considering a run for President.
Shana: I see a meeting of the Bad Decisions Book Club in my future.
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The Safe Place
Author: Anna Downes
Released: July 14, 2020 by Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery/ThrillerSuperbly tense and oozing with atmosphere, Anna Downs’s debut is the perfect summer suspense, with the modern gothic feel of Ruth Ware and the morally complex family dynamics of Lisa Jewell.
Welcome to paradise…will you ever be able to leave?
Emily is a mess.
Emily Proudman just lost her acting agent, her job, and her apartment in one miserable day.
Emily is desperate.
Scott Denny, a successful and charismatic CEO, has a problem that neither his business acumen nor vast wealth can fix. Until he meets Emily.
Emily is perfect.
Scott offers Emily a summer job as a housekeeper on his remote, beautiful French estate. Enchanted by his lovely wife Nina, and his eccentric young daughter, Aurelia, Emily falls headlong into this oasis of wine-soaked days by the pool. But soon Emily realizes that Scott and Nina are hiding dangerous secrets, and if she doesn’t play along, the consequences could be deadly.
Elyse: A thriller set in a sun-soaked French villa is exactly the summer reading I need.
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Sex and Lies
Author: Leila Slimani
Released: July 14, 2020 by Penguin Books
Genre: NonfictionThe women of Morocco speak out about the secrets and lies of their intimate lives in this fearless exposé by the bestselling author of The Perfect Nanny and Adèle.
“All those in positions of authority–politicians, parents, teachers–maintain the same line: ‘Do what you like, but do it in private.‘“
In Morocco, adultery, abortion, homosexuality, prostitution, and sex outside of marriage are all punishable by law. Sexuality is both an obsession and a taboo, provoking violence, frustration, secrecy, and shame, and women have only two choices: They can be wives or virgins.
Leila Slimani was in her native Morocco promoting her first novel, Adèle, about a woman addicted to sex, when she began meeting women who confided the dark secrets of their sexual lives, from assault to their closeted homosexuality to the perils of leading a sexually liberated lifestyle. Their vivid, often harrowing testimonies, combined with Slimani’s passionate and intelligent commentary, make a galvanizing case for a sexual revolution in the Arab world.
Sneezy: I think I first read and heard about sexual revolution in the Arab and Muslim world when engaging with Mona Elthahawy’s work. I very much want to hear more about it from different writters and thinkers!!! Judging by the synopsis, Slimani is diving into complexity. Combined with the subject matter, it’s just the kind of think you bait Sneezy traps with.
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Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Womanhood
Author: Trixie Mattel
Released: July 14, 2020 by Plume
Genre: Humor, LGBTQIA, NonfictionThe RuPaul’s Drag Race legends, stars of UNHhhh, and expert biological women share the secrets of their feminine mystique in this satirical guide to beauty and homemaking.
Drag superstars Trixie Mattel and Katya have long captivated fans with their stunning looks, onscreen chemistry, and signature wit. In Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Modern Womanhood, the pair channel that energy into an old-school etiquette guide for ladies.
In essays, conversations, and how-to sections peppered with hilarious, gorgeous photos, Trixie and Katya will advise readers on beauty and fashion and tackle other vital components of a happy home, such as money, self-love, and friendship; sharing advice and personal stories in high-concept fashion.
Informative, humorous, and heartwarming, Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Modern Womanhood is the book that their fans have been waiting for.
Lara: I’ve read this book and loved every glorious, ridiculous second of it. It’s a keeper, for sure.
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Wonderland
Author: Zoje Stage
Released: July 14, 2020 by Mulholland Books
Genre: HorrorIf Shirley Jackson wrote The Shining, it might look like this deliciously unsettling horror novel from the acclaimed author of Baby Teeth.
A mother must protect her family from the unnatural forces threatening their new and improved life in a rural farmhouse.
The Bennett family – artist parents and two precocious children – are leaving their familiar urban surroundings for a new home in far upstate New York. They’re an hour from the nearest city, a mile from the nearest house, and everyone has their own room for the very first time. Shaw, the father, even gets his own painting studio, now that he and his wife Orla, a retired dancer, have agreed that it’s his turn to pursue his passion.
But none of the Bennetts expect what lies waiting in the lovely woods, where secrets run dark and deep. Orla must finally find a way to communicate with – not just resist – this unknown entity that is coming to her family, calling to them from the land, in the earth, beneath the trees… and in their minds.
Amanda: Considering I found The Shining to be significantly scary, I’m excited for this one.
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Huh, on amazon.fr the blurb for ‘One to Watch’ says: ‘The surprising amount of guys named Ben’ instead of Chad…
Just Make Believe by Maggie Robinson: The next in the Lady Adelaide mysteries. This is a fun, light series, where the ghost of a woman’s rakish husband has to help her out in order to get to heaven.
Peace Talks by Jim Butcher: NEW DRESDEN
July 14: BLACKTOP WASTELAND by S. A. Cosby. “Ocean’s Eleven meets Drive with a Southern noir twist.”
Ooh, I was just thinking today, “I wonder when the next Mia Vincy comes out,” and here it is!
Also, if The Heir Affair doesn’t have some Jasper Fforde/Thursday Next references, I’m going to be bummed.
A bit of a smorgasbord for me this month. Clare Connelly has a new HP, HIRED BY THE IMPOSSIBLE GREEK, but neither of my other two HP/Dare favorites, Caitlin Crews and Jackie Ashenden have new books in either of those imprints. That’s because Caitlin Crews, under her alternate pen name of Megan Crane, is releasing her next Alaska Force book, DELTA FORCE DEFENDER; and Jackie Ashenden is releasing COME HOME TO DEEP RIVER, beginning a new series set in Texas.
CD Reiss has two books scheduled for release this month: LEAD ME BACK, which appears to be a rock star romance—but I can rely on Reiss to put her own spin on that trope—and CROWNE RULES, her third book about the Crowne family. I liked the previous two books in the series (IRON CROWNE was one of my favorite books of 2019) and I’m looking forward to this one.
Skye Warren has a dark romance, DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, scheduled for July release, but I’ve learned never to get my hopes up—her release dates often get pushed to the future.
Sybil Bartel next Alpha Bodyguards book, SHAMELESS, and Ainsley Booth’s final (?) Forbidden Bodyguards book, FILTHY LIAR, are both scheduled for mid-July. “Client falls for his/her bodyguard” is one of my favorite tropes—and these two writers know how to bring it.
And the end of the month comes full circle with another book from Clare Connelly: IT STARTED WITH A LIE, the next book in her Montebello Family series.
But, other than these, I won’t have a thing to read!
I was excited to see that Kari Lynn Dell just released Relentless in Texas, the latest book (#6) in her Texas Rodeo series. It focuses on Gil Sanchez, the older brother of Delon Sanchez (hero of book #2).
Girl, Serpent, Thorn’s cover looks so much like Helen Oeyemi’s Boy, Snow, Bird https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Snow-Bird-A-Novel/dp/1594631395 that I honestly at first thought it must be another book in the same vein by Oyeyemi and I was there for it…
JULY IS LIT.
I have the Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim coming my way (the sequel to Spin the Dawn, which was just beautiful), as well as the new Dresden File, Peace Talks. I’ve waited so long, and am actually contemplating taking July 14th off so that I can dedicate to it the time it deserves.
I bought the first sex planet book on sale one day and it was really good! I was also procrastinating moving and ended up getting the next two in the series. It’s definitely a lot of sex and sometimes has some gendered stereotypes but for escapist sci-fi romance it was great. (But like, a lot of sex, which does make sense considering it’s a sex planet.)
One To Watch by Kate Staymon-London was spectacular (I was lucky enough to read an ARC). There is a romance, but I would classify this more as Chick Lit, which I’m normally pretty indifferent to. I love the reality show trope and this book did a fantastic job in evoking the feel and pacing of The Bachelor franchise. In fact, the whole time I was reading it, all I could think was how much I’d love Elyse to read it and grace us with a review. I think she’d approve….
@DiscoDollyDeb – I read an arc of Lead Me Back by CD Reiss and loved it. The hero is the former lead singer of a popular boy band with a seriously entitled attitude, but he really does have a good heart underneath the casual arrogance. As the book goes on, because the heroine basically has no f*cks to give and refuses to just fall in line with what he wants, he slowly starts to see just how much he’s taken his success and the people around him for granted.
I’m very excited to read Mariana Zapata’s new book _Hands Down_ out in July! I’ve been waiting and waiting for word from the author and in true Zapata form, she simply announces it’s done and will be out in mere weeks.
I’m hoping that Mia Vincy’s _A Dangerous Kind of Lady_ is as good as her past ones. This is one of my most anticipated books for the year.
Penny Reid’s _Engagement and Espionage_ is out mid-month and I’ll be looking for reviews of it but hope they are positive ones. I could go for some conniving Cletus about now.
Finally, I’m debating whether or not to read the third book in Maggie Robinson’s Lady Adelaide cozy mystery series, _Just Make Believe_. I really like the Scotland Yard detective hero, but on the whole, the series hasn’t bowled me over. It’s fun but I have lots of more exciting books calling to me. I’ll definitely look for reviews first.
@Emily: I like the Planet of Desire books, but think it was Sarah McLean who said of them, “They’re a full five bananas on the banana scale.”
@JenM: So glad to know LEAD ME BACK is good. I love CD Reiss, but I’m not a huge fan of rock star romances, so I’m looking forward to her take on it.
@DiscoDollyDeb: Truth! The sex planet books are SO MANY bananas! (But I like them.)
THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS is excellent. It’s a great paranormal horror story, and it’s also an #ownvoices story about being Indigenous. CW for violence against women (I know, such a shock in a horror story) and violence against wild animals and pets. I had to put it down and take a deep breath a few times.
And I love ONE TO WATCH! It’s got romance in it, but it’s not a romance. It’s more of a pop culture takedown, and a fun, funny one at that.
@mirandab the only book I care about in July is the new Dresden! We have all been waiting 6+ years for this ! And the another in august! I had to lie down and put a cold cloth on my head
[…] releases: Smart Bitches (romance), Gizmodo […]
I wrote a fake dating AU over much of February and March, and have re-read my own damn fic at least ten times. So I’m preordering Boyfriend Material IMMEDIATELY and thanks for mentioning it
Oh, wow, so excited for these July books! I’m so burned out working remotely and need some good comfort reads, especially now that I’m pretty sure my kids will be remote-learning while I’m remote-working full time in the Fall.
Don’t want to keep re-reading but don’t want to take too many chances, and new books from authors I like sound just perfect. I see 2-3 library loans and at least a few purchases, too.
@Blackjack, thank you for mentioning Penny Reid’s “Engagement and Espionage” – I had no idea it was coming out! I related so hard to Jenn, I was much like her for early years of my life, and Cletus is so different and interesting. Seeing them solve mysteries together is like a dream come true (please be good, book, because i’m preordering).
Mia Vincy’s “A Dangerous Kind of Lady” is also on my to-buy list, although I’m going to read the reviews before I buy. I liked both of the first two, “A Wicked Kind of Husband” and “A Beastly Kind of Earl” and they came close to (but not quite there) in terms of sufficient guy who’s screwed up has to go through to truly deserve their HEA. My standards for “sufficient grovel” might not be achievable in romance though? Vernon’s “The Tyrant” is the only one I can think of in a single-book format. Meaning “I know I blew it, and I don’t really deserve a second chance, so I’m going to give you space, but I’m also going to try really hard to show how much I love you and how much I’m committed to be there for you and I hope you decide to be with me despite my boneheaded mistakes.”
Oh, and also Curran in the Kate Daniels series, over time, in baby steps – so very satisfying to me to read over time, both the groveling and the growth.
I’d love recommendations for books with sufficient groveling. Right now, I just have a list of books that really like, but with heroes who still have some groveling left to do when the books decided to call it good. For example, the otherwise-great Avery Ames series (and I know many think he has a backstory/excuse, but seriously, he couldn’t be sorry for what he’s put her through regardless?). If I had more time I’d write my own fanfic versions.
The Bayron, Hall and Vincy are all amazing.
I want to read The Extraordinaries, a Sweet Mess, One to Watch, and all of the f/f contemps listed.
Also I will buy anything with Trixie and Katya’s faces on it automatically, so I’m excited to read their book.
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones is amazing! Side note: I’m a squeamish ‘fraidy cat. It was the first horror novel I’ve ever listened to (I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend), and loved it! It’s a good blend of horror and thriller, similar Edgar Allan Poe’s suspense/thriller stories. Content warning for: graphic depictions of human and animal death. That being said, I highly recommend this book!