Hello and welcome to Monday, which is really sort of like a Thursday this week, because Wednesday is the Fourth of July, making Tuesday like a Friday! You get all of that? Even if you didn’t quick track, it’s fine. Because we’re celebrating a holiday in the middle of the week, and you know what that means: tons of food, family, friends, and rest and relaxation. With some extra time off, now is the perfect time to dip into your TBR pile — and add some of the books coming out this week to it.
But first, I’m excited to announce that our July pick for the HG Book Club is Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton! Pick up your copy and dive right in, because we’ll post the first round of questions on Friday, July 6th. This thriller, which has been described as a modern day version of The Talented Mr. Ripley, is the perfect book to start during the holiday week. Show us where you’re reading with #HGBookClub!
And now, here are eight books coming out this week that you don’t want to miss.
1The Intermission by Elyssa Friedland, out July 3rd
We all know that relationships aren’t always what they seem on the outside. But The Intermission takes things a step further, going inside of a marriage that’s on the rocks. It’s about Jonathan and Cass, a husband and wife that decide to take a six-month break from their relationship to see if it’s what they really want. As we all know, there are two sides to every story. And through alternating perspectives, The Intermission delivers both.
2The Banker’s Wife by Cristina Alger, out July 3rd
When Annabel loses her husband Matthew, a banker, in a plane crash, she begins desperately searching for answers. Marina, a journalist mourning the loss of her editor and mentor, finds information that could implicate some of the world’s most powerful men in finance. With two strong female characters at the helm, The Banker’s Wife is one of the best thrillers you’ll read all summer.
3Safe Houses by Dan Fesperman, out July 3rd
Speaking of strong female leads, Safe Houses has three of them, banding together against men who abuse their power. This murder mystery/espionage thriller hybrid unfolds across two timelines. In 1979, Helen Abell, the woman who oversees CIA safe houses in Berlin, overhears a conversation and decides to expose dark secrets. And in 2014, her son has murdered her and her husband. You won’t be able to put this one down.
4Can You Tolerate This? by Ashleigh Young, out July 3rd
Can You Tolerate This? is a compelling combination of personal essays about coming of age in New Zealand and observational historical essays. Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know Ashleigh Young and the world around her.
5Still Water by Amy Stuart, out July 3rd
If you loved Still Mine, you don’t want to miss Still Water. When a woman named Sally and her son go missing, Claire pretends to be a friend of Sally’s to get to the bottom of what really happened. Let’s just say that everyone is hiding WAY more secrets than you’ll expect. We loved getting to know more about Claire and Malcom, and we’re crossing our fingers for a third installment.
6How to Be Famous by Caitlin Moran, out July 3rd
Picking up a few years in the future after How to Build a Girl ends, How to Be Famous is set in 1994. Johanna, a rock journalist, is in love with John, her best friend who has made it big in the music world. So she writes a column under the name Dolly Wilde about fame, hoping to catch his attention and make him feel understood. Though it’s set in the ‘90s, with themes of consent and slut shaming, How to Be Famous rings true in our current #MeToo era. And it’s just as witty and gritty as Caitlin Moran fans can expect.
7The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan, out July 3rd
The list of books coming out this week is heavy on thrillers, and we have one more addictive one for you. The Ruin, set in Ireland, follows detective Cormac Reilly as he reopens an investigation from 20 years ago. He’s determined to connect Hilaria Blake’s overdose in the past to her son Jack’s recent death. Get invested now, because there are at least two more Cormac Reilly books coming in the future.
8Trickster Feminism by Anne Waldman, out July 3rd
If that title doesn’t pull you in, we don’t know what will. Anne Waldman’s Trickster Feminism is the poetry of the resistance, and you need this collection on your bookshelf.
Happy reading, and happy Fourth of July!
