It’s July and with that, comes new book releases! And what better way to celebrate the mid-summer heat than with some freshly sweet romance novels? We’ve gathered up 5 of this month’s anticipating reads to look into, with tropes ranging from enemies to lovers and friends-from-the-start. (If you want a more in-depth breakdown of these fun tropes, check out this Bookstr article).
The Mixtape by Brittainy Cherry (Released on July 1st)
“Emery has never felt more alone. Raising her daughter is both her pleasure and her pain as she struggles to hold on to her job as a bartender and keep a roof over their heads.
Reeling from the death of his twin brother and bandmate, rock star Oliver Smith is trying to drink his problems away. Apparently he isn’t very good at it; they follow him wherever he goes.
He could have walked into any bar in California, but he walked into hers. Emery helps Oliver lose the crowd, and they find themselves alone: two people whose paths are marked with loss and pain. However, they hold an unshakable hope for healing. They find solace together, but can their love withstand the world?” Synopsis via Amazon.
Out of Character by Annabeth Albert (Releasing on July 6th)
“Jasper Quigley is tired of being everyone’s favorite sidekick. He wants to become the hero of his own life, but that’s not going to happen if he agrees to help out his former best friend turned king of the jocks, Milo Lionetti. High school was miserable enough, thanks, and Jasper has no interest in dredging up painful memories of his old secret crush. But Milo’s got nowhere else to go. His life is spiraling out of control and he’s looking to turn things back around. Step one? Replace the rare Odyssey cards he lost in an idiotic bet. Step two? Tell his ex-best-friend exactly how he feels—how he’s always felt.” Synopsis via Amazon.
Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev (Releasing on July 6th)
“Yash Raje, California’s first Indian-American gubernatorial candidate, has always known exactly what he wants—and how to use his privileged background to get it. He attributes his success to a simple mantra: control your feelings and you can control the world. But when a hate crime at a rally critically injures his friend, Yash’s easy life suddenly feels like a lie, his control an illusion. When he tries to get back on the campaign trail, he blacks out with panic.
Desperate to keep Yash’s condition from leaking to the media, his family turns to the one person they trust—his sister’s best friend, India Dashwood, California’s foremost stress management coach. Raised by a family of yoga teachers, India has helped San Francisco’s high strung overachievers for a decade without so much as altering her breath. But this man—with his boundless ambition, simmering intensity, and absolute faith in his political beliefs—is like no other.” Synopsis via Amazon.
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (Releasing on July 13th)
Bailey’s newest release tells the story of Piper Bellinger, a rich socialite who is sent to Washington by her father, who is upset at her recent behavior and believes she needs to grow up. It’s here that Piper meets Brendan, a local who is her total opposite and believes she’s unfit for life in their town. As Piper continues to settle into a life she’s never experienced, she finds herself questioning if LA is really where she should be, or here, with Brendan and this small world of memories.
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory (Releasing on July 13th)
“Ben Stephens has never been one to mix business and pleasure, but when he lands a huge ad campaign featuring movie star, Anna Gardiner, and it turns out she’s as funny and down-to-earth as she is gorgeous, Ben can’t help flirting a little.
After a family emergency and a late-night road trip moves them past light-hearted flirtation, Ben and Anna grow closer. But when Anna’s manager decides to use their fling to help Anna’s Hollywood career, will Ben be content to play the background role in Anna’s life and leave when the cameras stop rolling? Or could he be the leading man she’s looking for?” Synopsis via Amazon.