July’s Book of the Month picks are here and summer reading season is in full swing. I always love seeing how my predictions stack up against the actual picks and this month had some surprises but I actually did a great job with predictions this go around, yay! Whether you’re looking for something to binge by the pool, a thriller to keep you up past your bedtime, or a romance that’ll make you swoon, there’s a solid mix this month. Let’s get into what’s in the box and what I’m adding to mine.
Reminder: if none of this month’s picks are calling your name, don’t forget to scroll through my Most Anticipated New Releases for more inspo. And if you’re looking to bulk up your box, check out my regularly updated BOTM add-on recommendations, you might just discover a new favorite tucked in there.
July MOST ANTICIPATED
July Most Anticipated
Summer MOST ANTICIPATED
BOTM ADD-ON GUIDE
June 2026 Picks
July Add-ons
July Collections
My Box
I’m actually skipping this month because I already have copies of so many of these: The Shampoo Effect, In Stormy Weather, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, The Great Wherever, The Romance Revival, and The Mash Up are all already on my shelf waiting for me. I’ve also already read and reviewed Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox (review coming tomorrow) and I’m almost done with Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood which I’m really enjoying. If you loved The Love of My Afterlife this one has the same fun, heartfelt energy and is a perfect summer read.
Pretty Dead Things Review
Games: A Love Story by Anna Maria Volkova is described as pretty high brow and literary which just isn’t my lane in the middle of summer. I’m sure it’s beautifully written but I know what I’m reaching for right now and it’s not that. Ruinous Ends by I.V. Marie caught my eye though. It’s the second book in The Souls of Blackwood Academy series and the dark academia fantasy vibes are right up my alley. I just haven’t read Immortal Consequences yet so I’m adding book one to my TBR and will get to both through the library. Tropesick by Lauren Okie sounds like a fun meta take on romance tropes and Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy has an interesting premise. Both are on my radar but not enough to grab this month. For the special collections, I’m planning to grab Learning by Courtney Bush from the library: seeing life through a three-year-old’s eyes feels very fitting when all your kids are in daycare and I love the idea of the centennial picks. I’m going to start using the centennial editions as a classics backlog and try to read one every month or so but will be library picks only because I don’t need to be spending money on books I have good intentions or reading and then never get to.
If I had to pick one from the box this month it would be The Winged Game by Sophie Kim. It’s a dark academia fantasy where sports romance meets magical competition with a slow burn and it’s the one title I don’t have a copy of that I’m genuinely curious about. It sounds like it could be a really fun, unique read and if you’re only grabbing one from the box this month it might be worth a look. That said, if you’re on the fence about what to add, Pretty Dead Things is perfect for mystery fans and Romantic Hero is a great lighthearted pick if you want something swoony and fun.
Happy reading!
That’s what’s in my box this month! Did we pick any of the same books this month? Let me know in the comments below, over on my Instagram HERE, or on my TikTok HERE.