The dog days of summer are upon us, along with some hot new books to pack with you on your next beach trip.
From a McCarthy-era caper to rich kids behaving badly — as well as new celebrity memoirs and biographies — here are PEOPLE’s picks for the best new books to read this July.
‘JFK Jr: An Intimate Oral Biography’ by RoseMarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil
Simon & Schuster
25 years after his tragic death, John F. Kennedy Jr. is back in the spotlight in this intimate, first-of-its-kind biography. Including insight from his closest friends and confidantes, this comprehensive look at his life — written by his former assistant and close friend RoseMarie Terenzio and PEOPLE editor-at-large Liz McNeil — shows a new side of the beloved figure.
‘Loud’ by Drew Afualo
Courtesy of AUWA Books
In 2020, Drew Afualo, fed up with the sexist, racist and bigoted content she saw online, took to social media to voice her concerns. Now, the rising internet star, known as the “Crusader for Women,” is sharing her message of inclusivity in her debut memoir. An empowering read.
‘The Briar Club’ by Kate Quinn
The diverse residents of an all-women boarding house in McCarthy-era Washington, D.C., are brought together by a mysterious newcomer, but she harbors a dangerous secret that a murder threatens to reveal. Quinn evocatively balances the outward cheerfulness of the 1950s with historical observations exploring racism, misogyny, homophobia and political persecution in this sharply drawn, gripping novel. — Robin Micheli
‘Long Island Compromise’ by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Carl and Ruth Fletcher’s grown children have everything money can buy, but each one is a hot mess — and now the family’s fortune is in peril. Could it be a blessing in disguise? A farcical, entertaining drama about generational trauma. — Kim Hubbard
‘More, Please’ by Emma Specter
“For as long as I can remember, my mother has been beautiful.” It’s an arresting opening sentence, and the pages that follow — exploring societal expectations about the female body and the author’s own struggles with diet culture and binge eating — don’t disappoint. Unflinching and insightful. — Kim Hubbard
‘Ladykiller’ by Katherine Wood
A shared tragedy when they were teenagers forever bonds heiress Gia and bookish Abby even through their lives diverge as they get older. Decades later, the glamorous Gia invites Abby on a trip to reconnect, then disappears, leaving only an unfinished manuscript detailing the days leading up to her disappearance. A glitzy mystery with shades of Gone Girl.
‘The Coin’ by Yasmin Zaher
When a wealthy, eccentric Palestinian woman moves to N.Y.C., starts teaching at a middle school and gets caught up in a bag-selling scheme, she starts to slowly unravel. Watching her get embroiled in fraud and all that follows is a page-turning delight.
‘All This and More’ by Peng Shepherd
‘All This and More’ by Peng Shepherd
Remember “choose your own adventure” books? This fun, participatory novel is about a TV show that enables people to change their destiny, raising questions about technology and fate.
‘The God of the Woods’ by Liz Moore
In 1961 the disappearance of Bear Van Laar, 8, left his wealthy family shattered. Now, 14 years later, Bear’s teenage sister has gone missing from a summer camp near the family’s Adirondack estate. Intercutting past and present, Moore keeps the suspense at a fever pitch amid nuanced portraits of the out-of-touch Van Laars, their hangers-on and the locals who both depend on and resent them. A winner. — Kim Hubbard
‘Masquerade’ by O.O. Sangoyomi
This brilliant debut transports you to a reimagined West Africa in the 15th century. The vibrant prose tells the story of Òdòdó, a blacksmith kidnapped by a king to become his wife. As she navigates the politics of her new life, her journey is gripping — an immersive, one-of-a-kind story. — McKenzie Jean-Philippe
‘Teddy’ by Emily Dunlay
Teddy has always struggled under the thumbs of her powerful Dallas family and now, her controlling husband, an American embassy employee in Rome. Then a paparazzo photo threatens to destroy her. The glamour of La Dolce Vita and the repressive sexism of the 1960s pulse through this captivating exploration of the female psyche. — Robin Micheli
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