Book Club Picks for July 2026
It’s time to check out book club picks for July 2026!
Yay, for summertime! I hope you are having a wonderful summer with lots of reading! Can’t believe it’s almost the 4th of July here in the States.
This July book club list is dedicated to nine books that will all serve as great selections for book clubs. This list features five new releases and four older titles. Since July includes the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, several of the older titles are ideal reads for the U.S. holiday.
And bonus, the older titles already include my original book club questions.
If you’re looking for more new releases, check out my big summer list here. Additionally, here’s my list of must-read book club picks for 2026, covering the entire year. I also update it when new books are announced.
Let’s get to the July 2026 book club list!
New Releases
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
You’ve probably seen that Reese’s book club selected A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray for her June pick. So what a perfect time to pick up this read. The two authors have previously collaborated on the bestselling The Personal Librarian, which I still need to read!
And I’m so looking forward to A Pair of Aces. This story follows two women of very different worlds: Eunice Carter, Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, and Polly Adler, a woman running a high-class brothel business. However, the unlikely duo team up to take on Lucky, who is the head of NYC’s largest organized crime family.
This sounds so intriguing and unique! Check back soon for a review and book club questions.
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves
There is a lot of buzz surrounding Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves. The publisher says this book is ideal for fans of Theo of Golden, My Friends, and The Correspondent, which is certainly a huge audience indeed!
The narrator is Travis, also known as Death. His role is to offer people comfort in their final hours of life, and while he’s empathetic, he also understands his role.
But everything changes when he meets Dalia and her eight-year-old daughter. It then becomes difficult for Travis to maintain detachment.
Whew, it sounds like a tearjerker for sure. But the comparisons to the above titles lead me to believe that the heavy topics will be handled with care.
Check back soon for a review and book club questions!
Every Version of You by Natalie Messier
This is the debut by Reese’s Book Club LitUp Fellow Natalie Messier. It follows a 32-year-old woman who gets a second chance at life when she finds herself 18 again.
She has another chance to make it work with her first love, but why is she drawn to the other guy she thought she always hated?
It sounds like a charming and engaging read.
Check back soon for a review and book club questions!
Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey
If you’re looking for a title that is the epitome of ‘summer reading,’ check out Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey. The novel follows a burnt-out NICU nurse, an injured baseball star, and a southern aunt who have to work together when an abandoned baby comes into each other’s lives.
Really enjoyed Beach House Rules by Kristy, and so looking forward to reading her latest! Check back soon for a review and book club questions!
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
It’s been almost 20 years since The Help was published, which became a huge bestseller with a popular film adaptation. The author Kathryn Stockett marks her return to the literary world with the release of The Calamity Club.
The story is set in 1933 and follows a group of very different women who band together to fight for what’s rightfully theirs. This is a long read at just over 600 pages, but I heard it’s so engaging that the length is not an issue. Looking forward to it!
Check back soon for a review and book club questions!
Older Titles
The Women by Kristin Hannah
With the incoming 4th of July holiday, what a perfect time to pick up The Women by Kristin Hannah if you haven’t yet. This is one of my favorite Kristin Hannah books.
The story is about a woman’s experience working as a nurse during the Vietnam War. But it’s also very much about what war does to an individual, and dealing with the aftermath upon returning home. It’s fantastic and definitely worth your time. Check out more of my review here.
And my book club questions here.
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan is another great choice with a look at life in America from pre-WWII to the early ’80s. It shows the impact of war on the people and the small American towns.
This is a quiet character study about normal people who make mistakes. But it’s also about perseverance, forgiveness, and moving forward. Check out more of my review here.
And my book club questions here.
James by Percival Everett
James is a huge success. But I want to highlight it again as it’s an ideal read for a month dedicated to celebrating America. It’s a reminder that when the founders declared equality, that was not the case for Black Americans.
James is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. The story is about a tragic time in our nation’s history.
But among the darkness, there is wit and some humor, along with a surprising ending. Check out more of my review here and my book club questions here.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I love all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novels, and Atmosphere is one of my favorite books by her. This novel is an adventurous and emotional story about two astronauts’ journey to space and finding love along the way.
When we talk about celebrating America, this book certainly does as it focuses on two American astronauts and their love of space, and embracing who they really are. Great one all around. Check out my review here and my book club questions here.
Happy reading!
About the Author
You note that “James is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. The story is about a tragic time in our nation’s history.”
With the controversial acts perpetrated on Black Americans recently by the current administration, I stand by the view that some have reverted back to that same mindset.
That said, I suggest NOT posing this as a potential book club question due to its inflammatory nature.