July is shaping up to be a good month for book lovers (Image: Getty)
Between Taylor Jenkins Reid and V. E. Schwab’s latest releases and new thrillers from Lisa Jewell, Freida McFadden and Riley Sager, June was a big month for readers. And July is already shaping up to be just as big, with lots more exciting releases on the way, including a romantasy debut perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and a novel described as The Devil Wears Prada for foodies.
Without further ado, here are 10 books being released in July 2025 you need to read this year, whether you’re a fan of romance, literary fiction, thrillers or fantasy. For more book recommendations, reviews and news, you can also click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack.
READ MORE I read every day — these are my 10 favourite books of the year
1. The Compound by Aisling Rawle
As a recovering Love Island fan, I absolutely cannot resist any fiction inspired by or based on the world of reality television.
Aisling Rawle’s The Compound follows 20 contestants as they live in a remote desert compound and complete personal and group challenges in exchange for luxury prizes and basic necessities, while also trying to find a romantic connection. Oh, and of course, they’re filmed 24/7.
With unexpected twists, an uneasy undercurrent, and an ending I still think about all the time, this is a debut that needs to be on your summer reading list.
You can buy The Compound here.
2. Food Person by Adam Roberts
Food Person by Adam Roberts (Image: Talya Honebeek/Reach Plc)
Food Person follows Isabella Pasternack, a food writer who reluctantly accepts a job ghostwriting the once popular actress Molly Babcock’s cookbook after she is fired from her job at a digital food magazine. The problem is Isabella and Molly have very different ideas of what the cookbook should look like.
With comparisons to Bridget Jones and The Devil Wears Prada, this is a fun read with some memorable side characters. Just make sure you eat before reading this!
You can buy Food Person here.
3. The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward
The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward (Image: Talya Honebeek/Reach Plc)
The Catch is a compelling debut about Clara and Dempsey, twin sisters who have struggled to connect since their mother vanished into the River Thames when they were children.
But when Clara sees a woman who looks exactly like their mother, but hasn’t aged a day and enjoys a childless life, the sisters clash and are finally forced to confront their pasts together.
Expect complex mother-daughter relationships, discussions on privilege and mental illness, and twists that will make you question everything.
You can buy The Catch here.
4. A Kiss of Hammer and Flame by Amy de la Force
When Cahra, a young blacksmith, accidentally designs a symbol that invokes an age-old prophecy and awakens an immortal with the power to shape or shatter worlds, she must flee her kingdom along with the stranger whose sword she was crafting.
A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is the first in a new series, Fated for Hael, and with an interesting world, as well as plenty of action and romantic tension, it’s the perfect read for fans of Sarah J. Maas’ books, as well as Quicksilver and The Book of Azrael.
You can buy a Kiss of Hammer and Flame here.
5. The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst (Image: Talya Honebeek/Reach Plc)
Sticking with the fantasy genre, The Enchanted Greenhouse is another must-read for July 2025. Set in the same world as The Spellshop, we meet Terlu, a librarian who was turned into a wooden statue after she broke the law by using magic to create a sentient spider plant.
She remains on display in the library until one day she wakes up on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. When she learns the magic that keeps the greenhouses alive is failing, Terlu sets out to find the secret to saving the island.
Singing plants, a grumpy yet handsome gardener and tiny dragons with a sweet tooth are just some of the characters we meet along the way in this charming cosy fantasy, perfect for the summer.
You can buy The Enchanted Greenhouse here.
6. Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh
Park Avenue follows Jia Song, a junior partner in a high-powered law firm, as she takes on a case involving a deeply personal matter for one of the most famous Korean families in the world.
Described as “Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession”, expect international jet-setting, intense sibling rivalries, and unexpected secrets as Jia sets out to find the truth.
You can buy Park Avenue here.
7. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
The bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is back with her debut adult novel, Not Quite Dead Yet.
When Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder, she suffers a catastrophic head injury, with the doctor predicting she has at most seven days. As her condition deteriorates, she sets out to solve her own murder with the help of her childhood friend Billy.
You can buy Not Quite Dead Yet here.
8. Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair
Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair (Image: Talya Honebeek/Reach Plc)
Terror at the Gates is the first in a new romantasy series from bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair. This feminist retelling of the myth of Lilith follows Lilith Leviathan as she is forced to turn to Zahariev, ruler of Nineveh and the only man who can help her, after she comes into the possession of a beautiful, yet deadly blade.
Together, they set out on a mission to discover the true power running their world, while also avenging those they have lost along the way. With slow-burn romance, frenemies to lovers and an urban fantasy landscape, this is a great new series to look out for this summer.
You can buy Terror at the Gates here.
9. My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner
My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner (Image: Talya Honebeek/Reach Plc)
My Other Heart opens in 1998 when Mimi’s infant daughter Ngan suddenly goes missing in the airport while they travel from Philadelphia home to Vietnam.
Fast forward seventeen years and best friends Kit and Sabrina are talking about their plans for their final summer before college. They’ve planned journeys to Tokyo and China respectively, both looking to learn more about themselves and their families.
A memorable coming-of-age tale, My Other Heart deals with universal themes such as motherhood, love, identity and friendship, and readers will undoubtedly find aspects of themselves reflected in at least one of the characters.
You can buy My Other Heart here.
10. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
From the author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches comes A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping, a whimsical story about a witch who gets a second chance to get her powers—and her life—back on track after being exiled from her Guild.
A celebration of found family and second chances, Sangu Mandanna’s cosy read is the perfect addition to your summer reading list.
You can buy A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping here.