Book Recommendations for July 2018

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The temps are rising and the A/C is on full blast. In other words, the month of July is the perfect time to catch up on your reading. Whether you plan to read a book each week or once a month, there’s lots of good new reads out there. Here are my book recommendations for July 2018.

Literary fiction

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is an impactful story about class, privilege and race. There is quite a bit of character study in the beginning half of the book, which is important to the overall story. However, the story really takes off when characters take sides on a custody battle. There are many different characters and it’s truly impressive how Ng can weave several different perspectives—and scenes— all on the same page. Check out my spoiler-free review here.

Beach read

Still Me by Jojo Moyes is heartfelt and full of humor. The three books in the series—Me Before You, After You and Still Me—features Louisa Clark at very important stages in her life. Me Before You finds Louisa sheltered and scared of the world. After You shows Louisa lost and depressed. Still Me is the one where she is truly coming into her own. For fans of Me Before You, this is one not to miss. If you haven’t read the previous two books, Moyes does provide background information so you won’t get lost. Check out my spoiler-free review here.

Historical fiction

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon is a fascinating work of historical fiction. Even if you think you know the Anastasia Romanov/Anna Anderson stories, you’ll learn something new. I Was Anastasia is one of the most well-researched historical novels I’ve read. The attention to detail is extraordinary. After I finished the book, I spent a good amount of time Googling the various people who make appearances in this novel. Check out my spoiler-free review here.

Psychological suspense

Tangerine by Christine Mangan is a retro take on psychological suspense. It’s not exactly a thriller but there are some chilling moments (definitely features the college roommate from hell). To me, the setting in Tangier and the era of the ’50s absolutely made this book. This one isn’t a big commitment, it’s a quick read and I think most could read it on a summer afternoon. Check out my spoiler-free review here.