Historical fiction personalizes events, making them vivid and emotional in human stories, and reflects the failures and successes of individuals who have gone before us. It utilizes real-life instances associated with evolving economic and social concerns and has a remarkable ability to remain relevant for hundreds or even thousands of years afterward.

The following historical fiction books are scheduled for release in July 2024:

1. The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

The poignant, epic new novel of friendship, treachery, and redemption from the nationally renowned author of the profound, tragic The Stationery Shop is set against three pivotal decades in Tehran, Iran.  The Lion Women of Tehran is a comprehensive examination of how people we encounter in our early years greatly influence us and how love and bravery may change our entire existence. Gallery Books is scheduled to release this book on July 2, 2024.

2. Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi

Masquerade is a stunning, lyrical story that explores the actual cost of one woman's quest for freedom and self-discovery, as well as the lengths she would go to protect her future. It is set in a magnificently recreated 15th century West African setting. OO Sangoyomi's Masquerade, loosely inspired on the tale of Persephone, transports you to a world of epic power struggles and political intrigue that upends entire regions. Forge Books is scheduled to release this book on July 2, 2024.

3. The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry

The debut American novel by award-winning author Kevin Barry is the heartbreakingly romantic and viciously humorous story of two young lovers on the run in 1890s Montana. Kevin Barry has once again shown himself to be a master stylist, an unparalleled humorist, and a real poet of the human heart in this timeless love story that is lyrical, vulgar, and propulsive. Doubleday is scheduled to release this book on July 9, 2024.

4. The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

A melancholic and powerful tale about female camaraderie and concealments within a Washington, D.C. boarding house in the time of McCarthy. The Briar Club is an engrossing novel that will captivate readers who enjoy historical fiction featuring strong female leads and compellingly compelling characters. Quinn's outstanding historical mystery deftly addresses racial, economic, and gender concerns while vividly capturing the paranoid climate of McCarthy-era Washington. The anticipated release date of William Morrow's book is July 9, 2024.

5. Come to the Window by Howard Norman

A murder mystery, love story, and redemption tale that takes place in World War I-era Nova Scotia. When Toby Havenshaw reports on the hearing for the Halifax Evening Mail, he discovers that the villagers are in a state of extreme shock, sadness, and confusion. In addition to detailing Elizabeth's tale of infidelity and murder, his journal also chronicles his own idyllic marriage to Amelia, whom he had recently returned after serving as a physician on the front lines in France and Belgium. Come to the Window investigates a common question: how can one find hope during a horrific event? This book is scheduled for release by WW Norton & Company on July 9, 2024.

Since no one is perfect and everyone experiences ups and downs in relationships, some individuals like reading romance novels to see positive portrayals of what a happy and fulfilling relationship may be like. It involves reading about what it takes for various couples to maintain a healthy relationship—communication, trust, commitment, support, and love, among other things.

The following romance books are scheduled for publication in July 2024:

1. The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

In the afterlife waiting room, a recently departed woman finds her soulmate. If she can locate him on Earth before her ten days are up, she will be granted a second shot at life and love. Greenwood puts a lovely, original spin on several of the most beloved romantic clichés. For readers who enjoy Sophie Cousens and Katy Birchall, this book is sure to be a favorite. This book is scheduled to be published by Berkley on July 2, 2024.

2. The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson

In this sensual new romance by USA Today bestselling author of The Nanny Lana Ferguson, a hockey player and a baker take their shot. Ian Chase intends to concentrate on his game when a highly publicized separation turns into a PR nightmare for his team, but that seems less likely than a hat trick. Ian is shocked to discover that Delilah Baker, his closest friend and teammate's older sister, has the answer when both his career and the team's reputation are at stake. This book is scheduled to be published by Berkley on July 9, 2024.

3. Business Casual by B.K. Borison

In the last novel of the adored Lovelight series, two opposites will discover out if one night together is enough to get each other out of their systems. Business casual is incredibly appealing, sensual, and kind. Despite their desire to spend all of time watching Charlie and Nova grow in love, readers were enthralled with the chemistry between them and the way BK Borison skillfully balanced suspense and vulnerability between them. A stunning and poignant way to end our stay at Lovelight Farms. This book is scheduled to be published by Berkley on July 16, 2024. 

4. The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, is back with a brand-new sports romantic comedy about a grumpy, single father who develops a strong affection for his eccentric live-in nanny. Bailey is a master at writing rom-com scenes and banter, but she's also the Michelangelo of filthy language for those who want their romance on the hotter side. She handles dirt like Leonardo da Vinci does paint, and there's much to be said for a writer who can convey the necessary heat, fervent consent, and yes, even comedy in these kinds of interactions without going overboard. This book is scheduled to be published by Avon on July 16, 2024.

5. Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

Slow Dance is a brilliant, shining power ballad about a love so real that it refuses to be forgotten, written by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Attachments. The tale of two young people who fell in love before they had enough experience with love to recognize it is told in Slow Dance. Two buddies that have total loss. Two grownups who are simply lost. The plot revolves around Shiloh and Cary, who everyone assumed would wind up together, and their quest to return back to where they began. The anticipated release date of William Morrow's book is July 30, 2024. 

It should come as no surprise to enthusiasts that the mystery and thriller subgenre is the second fastest growing genre in the publishing industry. The mystery and thriller genre has expanded to encompass subgenres like real crime, scientific mysteries, and even cozy mysteries, and is now much more than just the detective books that gave rise to it. Even while a mystery's components—the crime, the hints, the search for the truth—are frequently the same, the trip to the end result is what really matters.

The following thriller novels are scheduled for publication in July 2024:

1. Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist Lisa Jewell (None of This Is True) introduces the adult thriller series Marvel Crime with an original narrative starring Jessica Jones, the private investigator. This is Jewell's most inventive work to yet. The first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, Breaking the Dark, introduces readers to a gritty, everyday side of the Marvel Universe. Original works starring beloved characters such as Luke Cage (written by SA Cosby) and Daredevil (written by Alex Segura) will follow. The expected publication of this novel is on July 4, 2024 by Hyperion Avenue.

2. The Unraveling by Vi Keeland

In this spine-tingling, seductive, and engrossing thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Vi Keeland chronicles the dark decline of a New York doctor into deadly infatuation. You'll be left wondering right up to the very end as The Unraveling spins a delectable web of sorrow, sensuality, and passion. Vi Keeland makes her suspenseful and captivating debut. This book is scheduled to be published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books on July 9, 2024.

3. What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

The New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door returns with another fantastic domestic suspense book. What starts off as a simple mystery eventually develops into a picture of a community that is collapsing at the edges. The book will likely be published by Pamela Dorman Books on July 30, 2024.

4. Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman

A completely terrifying journey that will plunge readers into the depths of darkness is coming from the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water, Lucy Foley (author of The Paris Apartment). A wonderfully, lushly imagined environment and an entire white-knuckle ride of a narrative that carried me into a heart of darkness. Not only does Catherine Steadman's writing consistently give the wonderful twists and shocks I've come to anticipate, but she also makes the changes feel completely new and original. The book will likely be published by Ballantine Books on July 30, 2024.

5. Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight

A gripping book of emotional suspense that challenges the harsh realities we shun and the harmful myths we cling to. It's mostly a love tale between a mother and her daughter, who are each committed to saving the other before it's too late. This book is scheduled to be published by Knopf on July 30, 2024.

It's intriguing—and even a little paradoxical—that reading fiction can offer many of the same advantages for improving oneself, even while delving into imaginary worlds through stories that live only in the imagination. Fiction offers a special and potent means of developing our creativity, understanding others, and sharpening our minds.

Listed below are a few fiction books that will be available in July 2024:

1. Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

From the New York Times bestselling author of Fleishman Is in Trouble comes an exciting new book about a single American family, the tragic event that rocks their suburban utopia, and the wild legacy of pain and heredity. Long Island Compromise tackles the mainstays of American Jewish life, including tradition, the chase of success, the terror of history, fear of the future, old wives' tales, evil eyes, ambition, achievement, boredom, dybbuks, inheritance, pyramid schemes, right-wing capitalists, beta-blockers, psychics, and the mostly unsaid love and shared experience that bind a family forever. It winds through decades and generations, all the way to the outrageous present. Random House is scheduled to release this book on July 9, 2024.

2. Tell It to Me Singing by Tita Ramírez

In this delicate and twisted debut book, a Cuban American family is thrown into complete disarray when the sick matriarch tells her daughter the first of several startling revelations before having heart surgery. The narrative Tell It to Me Singing travels from Miami to Cuba to the Costa Rican woods while delving into the themes of belonging, life construction, and how to recognize when we are at home. This book is scheduled to be published by S&S/Marysue Rucci Books on July 9, 2024.

3. Liars by Sarah Manguso

From the author of 300 Arguments and Very Cold People comes a sharp novel about marriage's tendency to turn everyone into liars and what it takes to be a wife, mother, and artist. Liars, a masterwork of wit and fury, combines the passion of Elena Ferrante's Days of Abandonment with the astute insight of Jenny Offill's Dept of Speculation. It tells the riveting tale of a marriage as it burns to the ground and of a woman rising unstoppably from its ashes. This book is scheduled to be published by Hogarth on July 23, 2024.

4. Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

A year in the life of the iconic Catalina Ituralde, a heartbreakingly sensitive and wickedly sardonic student at an exclusive institution who had to deal with catastrophes on two continents, an unclear future, an opaque past, and the alluring prospect of freedom and love. One World is scheduled to release this book on July 23, 2024.

5. The Wedding People by Alison Espach

A compelling and unusually intelligent book about an unexpected wedding guest and the unexpected individuals who give us a fresh start. Alison Espach's The Wedding People is a look at the meandering pathways we may take to places we never imagined—and the unexpected contacts it sometimes takes to reroute us—that is at once outrageously amusing, heartbreakingly poignant, and hilariously ridiculous. The anticipated release date of Henry Holt and Co.'s novel is July 30, 2024.

“It’s weird to think that outside this house other lives are continuing as they did before – whereas inside everything is on pause.”

― Sue Watson, The Empty Nest

A psychological thriller as compelling and frightening as a rollercoaster, with plenty of twists and turns. This captivating narrative of a mother's unwavering love for her kid will captivate readers who have enjoyed The Wife Between Us, The Girl Before, and Gone Girl.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

‘Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us, Kat. Everyone has secrets, even the people we love, the people we live with…’

Kat remembers the days when her only daughter Amy wouldn't leave her side. Amy was the baby who cried when you walked out of the room, the toddler who was too shy to speak to strangers, the small child who clung to Kat's legs in the school playground.

But now Amy is grown up, and Amy is gone – to university in a town several hours away. Kat's house – which once felt too full, too noisy, too busy – is deathly quiet, and Kat awaits the daily phone call to tell her that her beloved daughter is thriving and happy.

But one day Amy doesn’t call. Kat’s husband and friends think she is being paranoid – surely Amy is just out, having fun with her friends. But Kat knows right away that something is very wrong. Her daughter would never forget to call. She would never just disappear... After all, Amy has nothing to run from. Or does she?

My reaction to this novel...

This book has been with me for a long time, and honestly, I had forgotten about it. I suddenly came across it while looking for something to read. I enjoy psychological thrillers, similar to Gone Girl, so when I found out that this story was somewhat similar, I immediately bought it. And Sue Watson was a terrific author, so I was extremely thrilled to get it straight away, so I had a lot of hopes for this story. When I found this on my shelf, I instantly read it, even though I had first forgotten that I had acquired this sort of book much too long ago. 

The book cover is fine; it's attractive and appears well thought out. Readers will be curious what it is about, especially if they haven't read the synopsis yet. These sorts of book covers always capture my attention since they get me intrigued about the story. That's one of the reasons why I was compelled to buy this book.

I found the author's word choice in this book to be acceptable. Even inexperienced readers would be able to understand them easily. Additionally, readers wouldn't be perplexed as to who was telling the narrative. The mother of the teenager who is narrating is clearly obsessive, as I saw right away. I strongly feel her obsession and panic as a mother. To be honest, the story starts off nicely, but as it progresses, I find it to be too sluggish, and the mother's intense love for her daughter feels stifling. I understand that a parent's love is distinct, but this is unhealthy. The mother's abnormal behavior is immediately apparent, and it is obvious that she requires significant psychiatric support. Because of this, I got annoyed so many times while reading because it seemed repetitive and very slow, making it really boring to read.

This narrative contains a plethora of poorly considered twists. The story's purported twist didn't sit well with me. I would have preferred a more satisfying conclusion, and the revelation of the protagonist's secret isn't really surprising. Considering that the tale was likened to Gone Girl, one of my favorite psychological thriller novels, I had great hopes but am terribly disappointed with the story.

It seemed like all I read were moments of dread and panic, and as I went farther, that was just the extent of the story's planning. To allay suspicions, they even included the biological father, even though it was clear he wasn't at blame. The narrative would have been more interesting if the mother had been to blame, as this would have been more shocking than what actually happened. This novel lacks a thriller element in my opinion; it's more annoying than thrilling.

For me, I cannot recommend this book because it is filled with stress-inducing events and has a shallow ending. It will only frustrate readers because it keeps repeating and the conclusion is lacking. It's as if the author suddenly lost interest and didn't know how to finish the story, leaving readers irritated after all the stress they went through. I can categorically state that this book has a toxic story thus I will not be recommending it. Nevertheless, I will still read other books by Sue Watson.

My Overall Rating: ⭐(1/5)

"In life, there are ups and downs. There are lots of turns too. Sometimes, you'd lost your way. Just remember that it'd be a boring ride if you're trailing the straight path ahead of you. Don't be afraid to take turns. Unpredictable twists and unexpected quests make our life more incredible and unforgettable."

--Love at First Read, Angelica Bianca C. de Makapili

Synopsis from Goodreads...

It all started with a lost diary. A diary that I never knew could turn my world upside down! 

I am your typical guy. I lead a boring life, and aside from being the MVP of my university's basketball team, there's nothing special about me. There's nothing unusual about the cycle of my boring world—basketball, academics, hanging out in a Cubao apartment, and eating at home in Antipolo. 

And because of a green diary, everything has changed. Storm of feelings. Lightning of fear. Thunder of doubt. Flood of what ifs. I don't know how to calm it down. It's drowning me. Sweeping me away. Maybe even deadly. I saw the warning but it just intrigued me. I wanted to read more. I was lured. I couldn't stop myself from flipping the pages anymore.

And the next thing I knew, I was screwed!

My reaction to this novel...

This book is one of the ones I bought during the last Book Festival here in the Philippines. Actually, the title is familiar to me. At first, I couldn't remember where I encountered it, but after some time, I realized that it already had a TV series adaptation on one of the popular TV networks here in the Philippines, so I've heard of the title before. I'm not really into watching TV, so I haven't seen it. I prefer reading it instead, to avoid disappointment if the adaptation doesn't live up to my expectations.

I was impressed by the book cover, which immediately caught my attention. What's great about the Book Festival is that you can buy books at affordable prices, and some even come with the author's signature. Despite rarely reading Tagalog books, I decided to give it another try, hoping to find something as good as the first novel I tried by Binibining Mia. And since many people have purchased it and I've seen that it's a number 1 bestseller, I have decided to include this in my cart. I am very excited and my expectations are very high.

So there, I started reading this. Turns out, it has more points of view from the male main character. The beginning is okay, but I got a bit thrown off because there are a lot of negative expressions written. The guy's attitude towards picking up and reading a diary is also weird. And then the character falls in love right away. It's creepy to me. Plus, the owner of the diary didn't even notice it was missing, which adds to the weirdness of the story. I didn't like it when they added the religion of the female main character, AB, who is Christian and even claimed to be Born Again. I am a Born Again Christian myself, but based on what I read in AB's diary, her behavior doesn't align with that. She praises herself excessively, uses bad language, and has beliefs and actions that are not typical of someone like us who are Born Again. I was very disappointed in the writer. I think that before including a religion in her novels, she should thoroughly research it or perhaps it would be better for her not to include any religion at all. Many people read what she writes; I saw on Wattpad that millions have already read this novel, so she should be careful in her writing because others might follow her example. I know many people would say that I am too sensitive about this matter. Yes, I am very sensitive when it comes to this because the Lord and being Born Again are not to be taken lightly, and they should not be included in novels without thorough research.

I also expected more from this novel because it has a lot of readers, but it turned out to be shallow. The female character attended a Science High School but she can skip classes, cheat, and choose which room or class to enter. I also attended a Science High School, but such behavior was not allowed there. If someone did that, they would definitely be expelled. I know this is a fictional story, but I hope it stays closer to reality rather than just being written for the sake of it. 

I was really disappointed, and in the end, they introduced a character who turned out to be important. It made me wonder if this was the twist in the story. Very superficial. Although I felt sad about the death of her first love and the other crush who impregnated another girl, after that, it was all shallowness. I don't know the rating for this because I couldn't find it on Goodreads, but I searched and found out that it was made into a TV adaptation, so I think many people liked the story for it to be adapted that way. But for me, I didn't enjoy the story. I can't recommend it because from the beginning, it's off. Hopefully, the other works by the author are better written, because that's how authors should be, right? They need to research thoroughly before writing and publishing a book. I've bought a lot of books by this author because I expected a lot due to her number of readers, so I really hope that the next ones I read from her are good.

My Overall Rating: ⭐✨(1.5/5)

“When a woman leaves there is no human or divine power that can stop her.”

― Gabriel García Márquez, Until August

Gabriel García Márquez, a Colombian writer, released his work Until August in March 2024, following his death. The publication of it occurred on March 6, which is his 97th birthday.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

The extraordinary rediscovered novel from the Nobel Prize–winning author of Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude

Sitting alone beside the languorous blue waters of the lagoon, Ana Magdalena Bach contemplates the men at the hotel bar. She has been happily married for twenty-seven years and has no reason to escape the life she has made with her husband and children. And yet, every August, she travels by ferry here to the island where her mother is buried, and for one night takes a new lover.

Across sultry Caribbean evenings full of salsa and boleros, lotharios and conmen, Ana journeys further each year into the hinterland of her desire and the fear hidden in her heart.

Constantly surprising, joyously sensual, Until August is a profound meditation on freedom, regret, self-transformation, and the mysteries of love—an unexpected gift from one of the greatest writers the world has ever known.

My reaction to the novel...

I haven't read any books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez yet, so I don't have high expectations. I just really want to read a different kind of story, and since I saw this and got curious about the book cover, I immediately started reading it. I feel like it falls under the thriller genre, which is why I was drawn to it. I still haven't read any reviews about this book before diving in, so I really don't know what the story is about. I just feel like reading it because of its book cover, so whatever the story is, I'll just go with it.

I can say as a reader that the author's writing style and approach are okay. He used simple and easy-to-understand words, making it easy to read continuously. Honestly, even though I'm busy with work, I finished this book in just three days, which is quite impossible for me nowadays. But because the words used were straightforward, I didn't realize I was already close to finishing it. I just have a few parts that I really don't like.

The story is about an affair. The main character is too adventurous, especially considering her age. Personally, I find the story a bit off, making me wonder why it happened. The woman also appears promiscuous, as she keeps getting involved with different men every August, and I don't understand how she can tolerate being passed around like that. Can she really do it in front of everyone without even flinching or being scared of what she's doing? She seems pathetic and her behavior is vulgar to me. I didn't like reading it because of this. I just put up with it since I make a sincere effort to finish anything I start and don't just stop reading. Due to the fact that I had already begun reading it and felt compelled to complete, I ultimately finished what I had read. The main character is a shallow, self-centered lady who only consumes others surrounding her, which is why I found it so upsetting.

Fortunately, it's a brief story with no obvious moral that I could find. Anyway, I have only just now tried reading a book authored by Marquez, even though I was somewhat disappointed with this story. Nonetheless, I am still interested in reading other books written by him.

Honestly, I can't recommend this book, especially to young people. There's really no lesson to be learned, just a lot of worldly things happening, like the main character repeatedly making the same mistakes, which is similar to what her mother does. It's a bit confusing in that part, so I didn't really like it. It might be better if I just read a different book of his.

My Overall Rating: ⭐✨(1.5/5)