Summer is officially here, and so is a brand new batch of books. And this month there are so many great releases from some of our favourite authors.
From Paul Tremblay and Chuck Tingle to Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Colson Whitehead and Elise Kova, June sees the continuation of many an existing series, as well as a few fantastic new stories.
So, if you’re looking for a brilliant new book – or series – to become obsessed with, these are the best new July 2026 books to get reading.
Thieves’ Sky by Wil McCarthy
Release date: July 7
Book four in Wil McCarthy’s Rich Man’s Sky series hits shelves this month, and we could not be more excited. So, if you’ve yet to get caught up on these action-packed sci-fi stories, now is the perfect time.
This latest installment follows the tenacious crew of the CV Defender as they attempt to track down a band of pirates who just happen to have found themselves in possession of a dangerous alien technology, known as the Fracture, that could destroy the solar system in its entirety. And that’s not the only thing that they’re up against, as the Cislunar space falls into an undeclared war. So, it’s safe to say that things are more perilous and complex than ever. The same can be said for who to trust.
The Last to Drown by Noelle W. Ihli
Release date: July 16
If, like me, you flew through some of Noelle W. Ihli’s previous books, most notably Ask For Andrea and the standalone prequel, Forget You Saw Her, you’ll be very glad to know that she’s back with a brand new story this month, in the form of The Last to Drown. And whether you’re outdoorsy or not, the idea of a rafting trip taking a perilous and murderous turn, especially when the ruggedly isolated Camas Creek was the site of a gruesome murder just seven years prior, isn’t exactly making me want to grab a paddle, that’s for sure.
As Kaia attempts to move on following the loss of her husband, this rafting trip is meant to be a reset and a way to take her mind off the everyday reality of her life. But when a number of incidents seemingly start to mirror the horrors of the past, it soon becomes clear that things are not going to plan. With no means of escape, and finding themselves miles from safety and civilisation, this is a survival thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Dominion by Jean Kwok
Release date: July 14
The beginning of a brand new trilogy, Dominion immediately caught our eye after it was compared to Fourth Wing – by way of Chinese mythology – meets The Hunger Games. And given that Jean Kwok has turned her hand to quite a few genres over the years, we’re definitely intrigued to see how her always impactful writing style will fare in this.
Back to the story itself, this world is divided into four rival Dominions, and after the Annihilation destroyed her homeland, Rubi now lives as an Azure refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger. Even though the leader of the royal Tyger warriors is the last man an Azure should trust, Rubi is bonded to Blake in order to survive, and when she does, it means that she is now stuck on his elite team, who are racing to reseal the Anchors to the demon realm. What ensues is a woman attempting to unlock her magic, while at the same time resisting the warrior who could cause her redemption, or downfall.
Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle
Release date: July 7
Having thoroughly enjoyed Chuck Tingle’s Bury Your Gays and Lucky Day, his latest release was always going to be at the top of our TBR list, and it sounds just as wild and exhilarating as we’ve come to expect from the bestselling author.
Set in the balmy and laid-back location of Palm Springs, Fabulous Bodies follows Poppy, who just so happens to be a fashion influencer by day and a grave robber by night. So, when she gets the call to retrieve the body of the recently deceased rockstar and queer icon, Eddie Michaels, it’s pretty much par for the course. That is until Eddie suddenly wakes up. What ensues is a night that Poppy certainly won’t forget in a hurry, as she fights for her life. It also has a fantastically transportative nature to it, which will certainly come in handy if you don’t have any vacations planned for the summer.
Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay
Release date: June 30 (US) and July 2 (UK)
Another author that has quickly become one of our go-tos is Paul Tremblay. From his fantastic The Cabin At The End Of The World – that ended up being adapted into M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin – to 2024’s Horror Movie, Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep sounds like it could quickly become a new favourite. It follows Julia, a twenty-something former professional gamer who is floundering in life, that is, until her estranged mother and CFO of one of the world’s largest tech companies offers her a temp job.
With a paycheque that she can’t turn down, she’s been tasked with chaperoning a man in a vegetative state from California to the East Coast. Sounds easy enough; however, he’s not completely brain-dead thanks to the AI that the tech company has implanted in his mind. Told in alternating POVs by Julia and “You” (the man implanted with AI), it brilliantly blends sci-fi, horror, and a thriller into one gripping story.
The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Release date: July 14 (US) and July 16 (UK)
With hits such as Mexican Gothic, Silver Nitrate, and The Bewitching under her belt, Silvia Moreno-Garcia brings us another this month, with The Intrigue. Set in 1940s Mexico, this tale of greed and desire follows the roguishly handsome con artist Ulises, who has a history of using his looks and charms to part lonely women from their money. Yet, even he knows that his good looks won’t last forever, and this is what causes him to come up with a new scheme.
But as he cosies up to Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse, it’s her niece, Inés, who calls his bluff by wanting in on the action and the money that he’s planning on getting away with. However, Perla isn’t as desperate or clueless as he thinks she is. In fact, she has secrets of her own. All the while, things start to get complicated, and his attraction to Inés threatens to derail the plan entirely.
Prince of Swords by Elise Kova
Release date: July 21
When it comes to the best romantasy book series to read, we’ve been eagerly anticipating the follow-up to Elise Kova’s Arcana Academy ever since it was released last summer, and thankfully, book two is finally here.
Can Clara trust the mysterious Worldkeepers? And could they, in fact, be the key to changing her fate? At the same time, she is bound to Prince Kaelis, and now they find themselves growing even closer to one another and the most powerful secrets of the tarot. When every choice that she makes teeters between salvation and ruin, she must risk everything – from her power to her beliefs and even her heart – to make a real change to change the world in which they inhabit.
Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead
Release date: July 21
Two-time Pulitzer winner Colson Whitehead brings his incredibly entertaining and immersive Harlem Trilogy to an end this month with Cool Machine. Taking place over three distinct years – 1981, 1983 and 1986 – in New York City, it centres around Ray Carney, as he finds himself being drawn into and entangled in criminal goings-on, all in a bid to help his beloved wife.
Add in a rich and storied cast of characters, and if you haven’t already been glued to these books, as we have, you’ll be kicking yourself that you haven’t picked them up until now. But the good thing is, you don’t necessarily have to have read book one and two – set in the ‘60s and ‘70s respectively – to enjoy this one. Yet, you’ll find yourself transported to the duality of Harlem in the ‘80s, as well as plenty of other iconic and legendary locations in New York, as rampant change and violence take hold of the city.
Daybreak by Autumn Woods
Release date: July 28 (US) and July 30 (UK)
Another one of the most anticipated books of 2026, especially if you love a good romantasy or dark academia romance, it’s time to return to Sorrowsong University. Following on from the events of Nightshade, Daybreak satisfyingly concludes the duology, even if we will be sad to say goodbye to Ophelia and Alex.
With Ophelia being left behind and all alone in the Scottish Highlands, Alex is forced back to New York in a bid to salvage his family’s empire. However, when a new and anonymous harasser threatens to reveal evidence that the duo committed a murder on campus, they will need to reunite and help one another, once again, to keep themselves out of danger. Will doing so repair their bond and get them back to the place and love that they once had? You’ll need to pick up a copy to find out.
