Tag: July New Releases

Here are some of the new books releasing this week to enjoy during your summer vacation!

 

Books for Kids

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Tiny Barbarian – Inspired by a movie character, Tiny becomes a barbarian, facing down fierce creatures – and giant broccoli. But what can a barbarian do to defeat his fear of the dark?
Goat Wants to Eat – Every time Cat tries to find somewhere to nap, Goat shows up and tries to eat something.
Rocket Has a Sleepover – Rocket has trouble falling asleep during his sleepover with his friends. Could the illustrations here be any more adorable?!

 

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series from Chris Colfer, a spin-off from his Land of Stories series. This is the origin story for the character. This looks fun!
Margie Kelly Breaks the Dress Code – Margie notices how the dress code is unfairly applied to just the girls at her school, so she decides to fight back. But in the fight she also starts to recognize her own privilege and ways she can take a stand that helps all students. I like the extra twist on this story.
Ten Thousand Tries – Golden knows if he wants to improve on the soccer field, he has to put in the work – 10,000 tries. But when his father’s health gets worse, more practice and pushing harder isn’t going to be enough to fix things.
Faking Reality – What is Dakota willing to sacrifice when her best friend and crush’s family business is in big trouble?
Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance – In a new community after a devastating disappointment, Radha thinks she will have to leave dance behind her. But Jai sees that Radha could be just the talented partner he needs to find happily ever after – for both of them.

Books for Adults

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Dogged by Death (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Furry Friends Mystery series. Ally moves back to Wisconsin to help her grandfather and ends up investigating a murder when her grandfather decides he can solve the case. This looks so fun! It’s on my review list.
Hex for Danger (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series after the delightful A Spell for Trouble. Alex and Celeste are planning the annual Mermaid Festival when Celeste is suspected of murder. This is on my review list, too!
How Sweet It Is (Trade Paperback) – An event planner used to planning weddings takes on a horror writer’s book launch – and sparks unexpectedly fly. This sounds fantastic!
It Happened One Summer (Trade Paperback) – A pampered Hollywood Princess is cut off and forced to “rough it” running her late-father’s dive bar. The burly local sea captain thinks she won’t stick it out, so she has something to prove.
Make You Feel My Love (Trade Paperback) – Two strangers in Chickadee Creek looking for a fresh start are drawn together by an old violin.
Midnight Spells Murder (e-book) – Book 2 in the Happy Camper Mystery series after Open for Murder. Zo is getting ready for Halloween at the Happy Camper gift shop when a self-proclaimed witch is murdered and Zo is drawn into hunting down another killer.
Murder at the Lakeside Library (Hardcover) – First in the new Lakeside Library Mystery series. After the death of her husband, Rain has moved to the family cabin in Wisconsin and is preparing to re-open the library her mother used to run then when she discovers a dead real-estate buyer. Rumor has it that Rain’s mother was having an affair with the man.
Secrets of the Force: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Wars (Hardcover) – A single volume retelling of the Star Wars saga.
Silence in the Library (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Lily Adler Mystery series. Lily teams up again with a Bow Street Runner when the husband of her new friend is murdered.
Song of Echoes (e-book) – Kicks of a new “epic fantasy series.”
Star Trek The Next Generation: Shadows Have Offended (Trade Paperback) – The crew of the Enterprise is split up to tackle two missions. While Picard, Worf and Troi are dealing with a diplomatic crisis related to Betazed, Riker, Data, and Crusher are investigating a tragedy at a science station. This is at the top of my reading list for this month!
Trusting Molly (Trade Paperback) – A schoolteacher kidnapped along with hundreds of girls in the jungle is rescued by a team of government assassins who thought they were coming in to take out a target and leave.
While We Were Dating (Trade Paperback) – They were just supposed to be working together for an ad campaign. But flirting and banter might turn into something real – if the Hollywood spotlight doesn’t ruin everything.
Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (Hardcover, Nonfiction) – Based on the Instagram account that puts up art based on the National Parks with hilarious, real criticisms. This is supposed to include 50% new material just for the book.
You Can’t Say That: Writers for Young People Talk About Censorship, Free Expression, and the Stories They Have to Tell (Hardcover, Nonfiction) – Thirteen authors of children’s and young adult books talk about what it’s like to have their work banned or challenged.

Happy July! While I am on a personal sabbatical this month, I couldn’t leave you without news on some of the great books releasing this week. There are a BUNCH! Take a look:

Books for Kids

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Bloop – Bloop the alien comes to Earth for conquest, but he thinks dogs are the ones in charge. This sounds fun!
Except Antarctica! – While the narrator is quick to tell the turtle and other animals that they are found on every continent except Antarctica, the animals decide to travel there to prove them wrong. This is already in my shopping cart. The sample pages are hilarious!
The Bad Guys Cut to the Chase – Book 13 in the fun Bad Guys series.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Babymouse Tales from the Locker: Whisker Wizard – Book 5 in the middle grade Babymouse series. Babymouse gets to experience being an online influencer.
Forever this Summer – While Georgie is feeling left out by her family in their new town, a new friend asks for help finding her biological mother, and the journey changes what Georgie thought her summer would look like.
The Last Super Chef – When Curtis’ long-absent father announces a kid’s season of his show, Super Chef, Curtis sees it as a chance to prove himself as well as to meet his dad.
Secondhand Dogs – Miss Lottie has created a pack – a family – out of the rescues she has taken in. But when a new dog threatens their home and harmony, Gus, the pack leader, will have to find his courage and use it to save his family. This looks great!
Time Villains – First in a new series about a mysterious table that brings historical figures to life – and to dinner. And during a dinner party, Blackbeard the pirate escapes. This sounds super fun!
What Is the Story of Willy Wonka? – The backstory of the character Willy Wonka.
Where Are the Constellations? – A book about the constellations.
Who Was Juliette Gordon Low? – A biography of the woman who founded the Girl Scouts.
If You, Then Me – A young woman at an app incubator program for tech prodigies deals with meeting her idol; acquiring a nemesis; and stumbling into a love triangle between herself, her face to face crush, and the guy she’s been interacting with online – who happens to be at the same event. I have this one on my review list.
It Ends in Fire – A new novel from the author of Royal Bastards. A young woman who lost her parents at the hands of wizards and has grown up in a rebel faction cons her way into the magical academy in order to destroy it from within. I never got to finish the Royal Bastards series, but I loved the first book. I have this one in my shopping cart already.
The Queen Will Betray You – Book 2 in the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky series after The Princess Will Save You. The princess and the stable boy she loves face several royals out to claim the kingdom for themselves. I never got to read book one last year, but it releases in paperback this week and both books are on my wish list!
Rise to the Sun (LGBTQ+) – From the author of You Should See Me in a Crown. Two young women at the same music festival find in each other the companion and the support to do what they each need to do that weekend.
Six Crimson Cranes – A princess with forbidden magic is chased away from her home by her step-mother who has turned the girl’s brothers into cranes who will die if she tells anyone what happened. This sounds fascinating!

Books for Adults

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The 22 Murders of Madison May (Hardcover) – A reporter is following a serial killer through the multiverse as he kills the same woman in every dimension. Yes please!
Capture the Crown (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Gargoyle Queen series, a spinoff from the amazing Crown of Shards series. A pampered princess hides the extent of her magic and her role as a spy, but during a mission finds she must partner up with her nemesis if she’s going to survive. I have an autographed copy working its way to me this week – I can’t wait to dig into this one!
A Cup of Silver Linings (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Dove Pond series. A tea shop owner finds her special blends having the wrong effects on her customers. A grandmother in town to tie up her daughter’s affairs and move her granddaughter home finds a wrinkle to her plans – her granddaughter doesn’t want to go. So the granddaughter goes in search of her father and a chance to stay in Dove Pond. The full description of both this book and the first have grabbed my attention. These are now on my list.
Death at the Crystal Palace (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Below Stairs Mystery series which kicked off with Below Stairs (♥♥♥♥). Kat gets embroiled in two dangerous mysteries when she agrees to help a woman who believes her own family members are trying to kill her. I might have to pick this series back up – this one sounds fascinating!
Dog Eat Dog (Hardcover) – Book 23 in the Andy Carpenter Mystery series, one of my favorites. Andy picks up a new client when a man wanted for murder stops to help a dog being abused. This one is on my review list.
A Fatal Footnote (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Open Book Mystery series after Murder in the Margins. Wedding bells hit a sour note when the Duke’s ex is found murdered at his wedding reception.
Half Sick of Shadows (Hardcover) – A reimagined King Arthur story, focused on a young seer named Elaine of Shalott, from the author of the Ash Princess series.
The Hollywood Spy (Hardcover) – Book 10 in the Maggie Hope Mystery series. Maggie travels to America when the woman engaged to her former fiancé is found dead and he suspects foul play.
Kill All Your Darlings (Trade Paperback) – A struggling writer and professor publishes a novel written by a missing student as his own. The student then shows up on his doorstep. And the police want to know why “his” novel includes details related to an unsolved case, trapping him between two undesirable actions. Wow, that sounds fascinating!
Lost and Found Family (Trade Paperback) – The latest novel by Jennifer Ryan. Hiding the truth of her late husband’s behavior has estranged Sara from her mother-in-law who threatens to take Sara’s children’ from her. This sounds fantastic!
The Moonshine Shack Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new  Southern Homebrew Mystery series. When a body is found on the doorstep of her business with a broken bottle of her moonshine next to it, and the police discover Hattie and the victim had an argument, she becomes the prime suspect.
Out of Character (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – Book 2 in the True Colors series after Conventionally Yours (a book I keep re-buying because I haven’t gotten to read it yet and keep forgetting I already own it). Jasper wants nothing to do with his ex-best friend, but Milo is desperate and really needs the help. And maybe he’ll even get to a point where he can tell Jasper how he really feels about him.
A Pumpkin Spice Killing (e-book) – Part of the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. When the staff of the County Seat help out at a veterans home as a team-building exercise, they get drawn into one veteran’s quest to find his son and make amends before it’s too late. But someone keeps blocking their efforts. Sounds like a great mystery!
Tender Is the Bite (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the Chet & Bernie Mystery series. A young woman approaches Chet and Bernie for help but runs off before they can even get her name. But Chet picked up some clues to the case that hinges on the help of a ferret. That description is enough to get me to pick this one up!
Too Good to Be Real (Trade Paperback) – A reporter at a retreat that promises guests the chance at real life meet cutes has a meet cute of her own, but she doesn’t tell the guy she’s just there for the story. This sounds exactly like a Hallmark movie set up! I have to try this one!
Living Brave: Lessons from Hurt, Lighting the Way to Hope (Hardcover, Nonfiction) – I was already following the author, Shannon Dingle, on social media before she lost her husband in a stunning accident in 2019. This is going to be a powerful book!

It’s the last week of July; here are some of the books releasing to wrap up this month!

Books for Kids

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Genetics for Smart Kids (Board Book) – Board book about cells and DNA and genetics.
All Around Arendelle – Oversized picture book with fold out pages of the castle at Arendelle, the kingdom from Frozen.
DC Super Heroes Origin Stories: Batgirl AND Cyborg AND Robin AND Supergirl (August 1) – Paperback picture books of DC heroes.
The Very Last Leaf (August 1) – A leaf is worried about his “final exam” of letting go and falling from his tree in the fall.
Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb – Picture book biography about the first Black woman in Congress.
The Amazing Adventures of the DC Super-Pets: Cave of Kryptonite! AND Crime-Fighting Cat AND The Ice Cream Caper AND Trouble on Paradise Island (August 1) – Picture book adventures starring DC heroes and their pets.
Emma Every Day: Party Problems (August 1) – A deaf girl heads to a party despite her worries. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Disney Mulan: Movie in Comics – Graphic novel retelling of the movie.
Quintessence – A girl experiencing panic attacks after her family moves watches a star that looks like a child fall from the sky. She decides to rescue it.
Titans: The Missing – Sequel to the fantastic Titans. Astraea and her friends continue their battle against the mimics by traveling to other worlds looking for help.
Ever Cursed – Five princesses who bear a curse have the opportunity to challenge the curse caster before their plights become permanent. I have this one on my list for the week.
The Mall – The story of a young woman in the 1990s, working at the mall and preparing to leave for college. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
This Is My America – A teen who has been working for years to get her father’s wrongful conviction overturned before he is executed sees her life turned upside down again when her brother is arrested for allegedly killing a white girl. A timely story, this is on my list, too.
Today, Tonight, Tomorrow – A teen teams up with her nemesis, rivals for valedictorian and other accolades, in a final event for senior year when they find out their classmates are out to beat them. I am curious to read this one.

Books for Adults

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Deal with the Devil (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Mercenary Librarians series. An information broker teams up with an AWOL supersoldier to save America. This is at the top of my wish list for the week.
From Beer to Eternity (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Sea Glass Saloon Mystery series. In memory of her late friend, Chloe leaves Chicago for a fishing village in Florida to help her friend’s grandmother run her saloon. But when the grandmother is accused of murder, Chloe starts asking questions.
Happily Whatever After (Trade Paperback) – When a young woman’s life falls apart, she flees town and moves in with her older brother. In his community she finds new friends and a chance at love, but can she hold onto all she has found when things get rocky? At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Iced Over (e-book) – Book 2 in the Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery series. When an armored car hits an icy patch on Black Friday and slides into an embankment near the cafe, one of the drivers is dead and hundreds of thousands of dollars is missing. Mysterious! This series looks so fun. At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. I already have book 1 on my TBR.
It Cannoli Be Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Italian Chef Mystery series. Tessa is preparing for her restaurant opening and helping cater a book signing at her cousin’s shop when a murderer strikes. Tessa  starts digging into the case to keep herself and her cousin out of jail.
Knot of This World (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Quilting Mystery series. When a friend joins a cult and the cult leader is found dead in their Winnebago, Martha and her friends need to track down a killer and expose the cult.
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the fantastic Countess of Harleigh Mystery series! This time Frances and her friends and family are enjoying George’s family estate in Hampshire when mishaps and murder strike. I will be reviewing this one soon.
The Merry Rise of Skywalker (Hardcover) – A Shakespearean take on the ninth Star Wars movie, The Rise of Skywalker.
Mr. Malcolm’s List (Trade Paperback) – Jeremy Malcolm is looking for a wife, and his list is exacting. Selina, a young woman of no real means, likes Mr. Malcolm more than she expected after what she has heard from her disgruntled friend. But when Mr. Malcolm starts judging Selina based on his list, she determines that she has a list of her own that he must meet if he wants to have anything to do with her. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Night Shift (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Helping Hands Mystery series. A social worker and a detective team up to figure out how a former patient with hallucinations knew about the very real body that has just been found.
Piece by Piece (Trade Paperback) – A woman wracked with guilt when her entire family dies while she takes a “me day” finds solace in the home of an Amish friend from her childhood. From the author of Portrait of a Sister. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Rise of Kylo Ren (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Collects comics 1-4 in this series.
RomeAntically Challenged (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the When in Rome series. A woman looking for a man-free fresh start and a man trying to find his place in his daughter’s life end up sharing a cabin and possibly finding love. This sounds great!
A Royal Affair (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series. As their marriage bureau grows, Iris and Gwen are called to investigate a suitor for the royal family who is being blackmailed. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Tea & Treachery (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the new Tea by the Sea Mysteries series by Vicki Delany (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, Year-Round Christmas Mystery series). The head pastry chef for an English tearoom, Lily is also helping her grandmother run a B&B when a developer’s plans threaten to put them both out of business. When the man is found dead, you can guess who the prime suspects are.
Marvel Eat the Universe (Hardcover Cookbook) – An “official” cookbook from the folks at Marvel.
White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity (Hardcover) – Another book (like The Color of Compromise) that looks at the intersection of the Christian Church in America and racism.

Here are some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

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Music Cats (Board Book) – Board book of feline pictures and names for favorite musicians.
Dozens of Doughnuts – A baking bear keeps sharing her doughnuts with her friends until her supplies are used up – and she never got a doughnut. This looks cute.
Be Amazing: A History of Pride (LGBTQ+) – “Drag kid” Desmond is Amazing shares the history of Pride.
Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg – Picture book biography of the first openly gay Presidential candidate.
Cat Has a Plan – Cat and Dog trick one another in a battle over a favorite toy in this new Early Reader.
Dave the Unicorn: Welcome to Unicorn School AND Team Spirit – The first two books in this new illustrated chapter book series release this month. Dave the Unicorn is not the friend Mira was expecting when she signed up for unicorn school. Dave loves donuts and farts a lot. But Dave is also smarter than your average unicorn, which comes in handy during their adventures. This looks darling! I can’t wait to read these.
Henry Heckelbeck and the Haunted Hideout – Book 3 in the Henry Heckelbeck series, a spin-off of the Heidi Heckelbeck series. Henry uses his magic to make a hideout, but then he worries that his magic made it haunted.
Ranger in Time: Attack on Pearl Harbor – Book 12 in the fantastic Ranger in Time series. (It’s a lot like Magic Tree House, but with a dog.) This time Ranger helps a set of twins during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Unicorn Diaries: Bo the Brave – Book 3 in the darling Unicorn Diaries series from Scholastic BRANCHES. This time Bo and his friends are trying to earn their bravery patch. I thought the first book in this series was darling! If your kids enjoy Owl Diaries, make sure they are checking out this new series from the same author.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Act (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Click graphic novel series. Olive decides to run for student council, even though it means running against two of her friends, in order to be a voice for others in her school. This sounds terrific.
Chloe: Carnival Party (Older Middle Grade – graphic novel) – Book 5 in the Chloe series. Chloe is home and struggling to connect with her best friend in the midst of preparations for a neighborhood carnival.
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez – A Cuban-American boy with the ability to talk to animals discovers the animals around his new home are disappearing because of a witch who wants to absorb their powers.
War Stories – A new book from the fantastic Gordon Korman. Trevor is thrilled to help his hero, his great-grandfather, retrace his path during WWII. But what Trevor finds on the journey leads to questions about the heroic stories he has always been told.
Who Is David Beckham? – Biography of the soccer star.
10 Things I Hate About Pinky – The latest novel from Sandhya Menon (and sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something About Sweetie – ♥♥♥♥½). Pinky convinces her tightly-wound frenemy Samir to pose as her boyfriend to get her parents off her back for the summer. This is at the top of my list for this week; I have loved the whole series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
More Than Maybe – The latest from the author of You’d Be Mine comes another ya story centered around music. A young songwriter with a famous dad  tries to connect with his crush, a driven music podcaster whose perfectly planned life doesn’t include him. This sounds terrific! This is also on my list for this week!
River of Dreams – When her comatose brother starts speaking to her in dreams, Finn discovers she is part of a family of dreamwalkers who wade into nightmares to fight other people’s monsters.
Shielded – While her older brother has the magical powers to help her country in a war, a princess learns her contribution is to be married and secure needed resources for the kingdom. But on her way to her new life she stumbles upon secrets that change everything she thought she knew about this war and her place in it.  The cover art for this one is stellar. I have this on my list, too.
Splinters of Scarlet – A young woman risks death to use her thread magic in order to discover what really happened to her father. The magic elements of this sound intriguing.

Books for Adults

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The Book of Lost Names (Hardcover) – A semi-retired librarian sees a piece of her secret past in a magazine article about the libraries looted by the Nazis. Will she have the courage to speak out and share the truth of the Book of Lost Names where she and a gifted forger recorded new identities given to Jewish children escaping to Switzerland in WWII? Sounds fascinating!
Handbook for Homicide (Hardcover) – Book 14 in the Booktown Mystery series. Tricia looks into the murder of a homeless vet when her shop assistant becomes the prime suspect.
He Started It (Hardcover) – Three siblings and their partners take a road trip to fulfill their wealthy grandfather’s final wishes. I have this on my list for this week, too.
Lineage Most Lethal (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Ancestry Detective series. I absolutely adored book one, Murder Once Removed. This time Lucy is relaxing at the Sutton hotel, preparing to give her report to the hotel heiress herself when she is approached by a dying man who hands her a Montblanc pen. Her grandfather recognizes the pen as a message to him from his days as an Allied spy. This is top on my list, too. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Paris Is Always a Good Idea (Trade Paperback) – A young woman retraces the steps of her gap year in Europe when she realizes that was really the last time in her life she was truly happy. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, as well.
Solace of Bay Leaves (e-book) – The 5th book in the Spice Shop Mystery series. (The trade paperback version will release in October.) When a childhood friend is shot in an incident connected to an unsolved murder, Pepper starts to investigate.
Star Trek Year Five: The Wine-Dark Deep (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Year Five graphic novel series, collecting comics 7-12.
The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life (Hardcover) – A memoir.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week! The slate of new YA books is especially fantastic. Be sure to check them out!

Books for Kids

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Alien Tomato – When a red orb lands in the garden, the vegetables believe it is an alien tomato, while Gopher thinks it’s just a ball. The cover art is calling to me. I can’t wait to read this one!
Poesy the Monster Slayer – A girl fights monsters in her room at night. This looks darling.
A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Pumpkin Monster – Book 4 in the Sparkle series. Lucy loves the scary parts of Halloween, but she takes things too far for Sparkle who does NOT like being scared.
Rocket and the Perfect Pumpkin – A new adventure for Rocket the dog (How Rocket Learned to Read – ♥♥♥♥♥, Rocket Writes a Story – ♥♥♥♥♥) when his perfect pumpkin rolls away from him.
Viola Desmond: A Hero for Us All – Part of the Fearless Girls series of Early Readers. A biography of Viola Desmond, a Canadian Civil Rights activist.
Mia Mayhem Steals the Show! – Book 8 in the Mia Mayhem early chapter book series. Mia gets to play a superhero in a school play.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Babymouse Tales from the Locker: Curtain Call – Book 4 in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series. This time, Babymouse tries out for the school play.
Danny Constantino’s First (and Maybe Last) Date – The latest from Paul Acampora. When Danny asks a local celebrity to the school dance, and she says yes, his whole life becomes something for public commentary. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
DC Super Hero Girls: Weird Science – Everyone is excited about the science fair except Zee Zatana who thinks nothing is as exciting as magic. I’ll be reviewing this one soon. You can read my reviews of other Super Hero Girl stories here.
Diana and the Island of No Return – A boy sneaks onto Themyscira and convinces Diana and her best friend to come back with him to his island where a demon has taken over his people and wants to capture Diana. I’ll be reviewing this tomorrow.
Something to Say – From the author of A Good Kind of Trouble. A girl who likes to stay invisible gets paired with a new kid at school for a debate he desperately wants to win. Which would be worse – speaking in public, or losing the first real friend she’s ever had? This is on my list for this week.
The Do-Over – Six months after she picks the popular guy over the best friend who has feelings for her, Emelia wonders if she made the right decision. So she finds a magical solution that will let her have a second chance. This sounds great!
The Fell of Dark (LGBTQ+) – A boy who hates living in a town that seems to attract all sorts of paranormal drama seems to be the only one who can help when a hot vampire comes to town warning of a terrible evil on the move. I’m curious to see if this is going to be campy or serious. Campy could be a lot of fun.
He Must Like You – A high school senior has hit her limit of thoughtless, selfish men in her life from her brother to her father to her hook up. But the last straw is the handsy harasser at work. He gets a pitcher of sangria dumped on his head. But then Libby has to deal with the fall out because the guy is a home town hero – and her mom’s boss. This is on my list, too.
The Invention of Sophie Carter – From the author of The Last Word. Orphaned twins are at the whims of their various relatives in Victorian England. When an aunt says she can only take in one of them for the summer in London, they decide to travel together, but take turns pretending to be one girl. This sounds amazing! It’s at the top of my list.
Keep My Heart in San Francisco – A teen teams up with her ex-best friend to infiltrate the local bowling scene and try to save her family’s bowling alley.
Running – When Mariana’s father, a US Senator, runs for President, it exposes their family to a whole new level of scrutiny, and shows Mariana that her father’s politics don’t line up with her own. This is on my list, too.
The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope – An original novel based on the comic book series. Nadia Van Dyne is trying to put her days in the Red Room behind her and to embrace her new life and her new family. She struggles to keep all of the balls in the air, so when she’s gifted a virtual assistant, it seems like the best thing ever. But things aren’t always what they appear.

Books for Adults

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How Sweet It Is (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Legacy of Faith series. Jed heads to Boise to try and reconcile with his brother, and he rents a room from Holly who is trying to hold onto the restaurant she inherited now that her fiancé has abandoned her.
How to Save a Life (Trade Paperback) – Dom runs into his ex-fiancée and feels like it’s a second chance for them. When she dies on their date, he wishes for a chance to change things. That pushes him into a time loop where no matter what he tries, she still dies. But Dom is committed to trying everything for one chance to save her. An interesting twist on Groundhog Day. At the time of this writing, this book was available to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers to read for free.
Just Make Believe (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Lady Adelaide Mystery series where there’s a murder at a week-long house party – and that’s only the beginning of the trouble there.  Sounds great!
Murder at the Falls (e-book) – Creature Comforts Mystery, book 3. Perri and Babette take their therapy dogs to an upscale senior living facility, but the troubles they find there, including murder, will need more than just therapy dogs to solve.
Star Trek Discovery: Die Standing (Trade Paperback) – Book 7 in the Star Trek Discovery collection of original stories. (#4 – The Way to the Stars, #6 – Dead Endless: ♥♥♥♥) Mirror Universe Georgiou, forced to take refuge in the Star Trek universe and working for Section 31, gets a chance at a super weapon that escaped her in her own universe when a young Trill, Emony Dax, discovers it. As soon as I read that this would include a Dax, it went on my wish list!
A Sweet Mess (Trade Paperback) – A baker and a food critic have a one-night stand, but her happy memories of their time together are tainted by his scathing review of her shop. In order to save her business, she agrees to his mea culpa offer of a spot on the cooking show he is producing.
Get Wisdom Bible Studies: Leading Wherever You Are (Joshua) AND Living For What Really Matters (Philippians) AND Saying Yes in the Darkness (Psalms) (Trade Paperback) – Each of these is a 7 week Bible study from Nav Press. There’s a nice introduction to each book giving some background on the author as well as answering questions and giving information about Bible translations, using commentaries, etc. The only key resources needed are a Bible in a translation you like, a couple smart phone apps and internet access, a writing utensil and a quiet place to work. The sample pages I have seen include a conversational tone, some historical background information (something I like in a study), and questions with space to write answers. I think these look great!
The Leader in You: Discovering Your Unexpected Path to Influence (Trade Paperback) – The author brings both organizational and church leadership experience into this discussion of leadership and encouragement to find your God-given gifts to lead and serve. This sounds terrific!
Weep With Me: How Lament Opens a Door for Racial Reconciliation (Trade Paperback) – A discussion of lament, specifically as it relates to racial injustice and reconciliation, including prayers of lament.

Happy July! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids – Board Books and Picture Books

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My Little Super Hero Word Book (Board Book) – This darling board book introduces little “readers” to DC heroes and words that describe them like smart, strong and fast.
Beware the Flerken! – This hilarious new picture book stars Goose the Flerken from Captain Marvel. I can not wait to read the whole thing – the sample pages I have seen are fantastic!
Finding François: A Story of the Healing Power of Friendship – Alice, a piglet, in need of a friend, puts a message in a bottle which finds François, a dog. Over time, the friends correspond through bottle messages, but after a big life change, Alice can’t bring herself to send François another message. I want to see this in person to read about what happens to Alice.
I Got the School Spirit – From the author of I Got the Rhythm and I Got the Christmas Spirit comes a book about a girl who is ready to start a new school year.
Princess Power – On the first day at a new school, a girl thinks, “What would a princess do?”
Star Trek Alphabet Book – The latest Star Trek book from Little Golden Books.
Superhero vs. School – A young superhero tackles the fears that come with the first day of school.
We Will Rock Our Classmates – A sequel to the outstanding We Don’t Eat Our Classmates (♥♥♥♥♥). This time, Penelope the dinosaur is participating in the school talent show. This is at the top of my wish list for this week.
Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist – The story of Mary Anning’s dinosaur find. This looks amazing!
How to Write a Story – The sequel to How to Read a Story by super-author Kate Messner. Covers the steps for writing a story, from coming up with an idea to creating conflict for your character. A terrific addition to elementary classrooms and writing spaces.
If You Want a Friend in Washington: Wacky, Wild & Wonderful Presidential Pets – Picture book exploring the pets who have resided in the White House.

Books for Kids – Early Readers and Early Chapter Books

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Batman: Harley at Bat! – A new Early Reader starring Harley Quinn. Includes stickers.
Wonder Woman: Three Big Bullies! – Wonder Woman goes up against Giganta and other big villains in this new Early Reader with stickers.
WW84: Destined for Greatness – A new Early Reader tied to the new Wonder Woman movie coming out… eventually. Includes pictures from the movie. Young Diana competes for the first time in the Amazon Games.
13th Street: Battle of the Bad Breath Bats AND The Fire- Breathing Ferret Fiasco AND Clash of the Cackling Cougars – The first three books in a new Early Chapter Book series about three cousins who find a street populated by dangerous beasts.
Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Roller Skates (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in this graphic novel spin-off series. Karen is excited to use her new skates, but she falls and breaks her wrist.
The Bad Guys: Dawn of the Underlord – Book 11 in the Bad Guys series – The guys are about to celebrate a recent victory when they make a discovery.
The Binder of Doom: Hydrant-Hydra – Binder of Doom, book 4. The kids think they are teaming up against a hot monster, but it’s a water monster instead.
Diary of a Pug: Paws for a Cause – Diary of a Pug, book 3, from Scholastic BRANCHES.  Bub and his human hold a fundraiser to buy toys for the animal shelter – a pet wash!
Dragon’s Halloween – Dragon is getting ready for Halloween in this new book from Scholastic ACORN.
Magic Tree House: Late Lunch with Llamas – Book 34 in the newly-renumbered Magic Tree House series. Jack and Annie climb Machu Picchu to rescue a stolen baby llama.
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Llamas and the Andes – The nonfiction companion book to Late Lunch with Llamas.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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After the Worst Thing Happens – When Army’s dog dies, she knows it’s an accident, but she also knows it was her fault. She takes her grief and turns it into action by watching out for a new kid in the neighborhood.
Dress Coded (Older Middle Grade) – An eighth grader starts a podcast to protest an unfair dress code at her school that targets girls for things that are outside their control. This is also at the top of my wish list for this week.
Elements of Genius: Nikki Tesla and the Traitors of the Lost Spark – Book 3 in the Elements of Genius series. I got such a kick out of the first book! In this book, Genius Academy is under attack, and Nikki and her friends need to clear their names in order to get their school back when they take the blame for an international incident. I am a book behind, but I’m looking forward to getting caught up on Nikki’s adventures.
Seekers of the Wild Realm – First of two books about two kids who secretly care for a baby dragon while an enemy stirs up trouble for their village.
Upside Down Magic: Hide and Seek – Book 7 in the Upside Down Magic series. This time, Nory and her friends have to leave their magic school because of flooding and go instead to her dad’s magic school – the one she wasn’t good enough to attend. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day USA – This is a gorgeous book of biographies of Black figures in history including Egyptian pharaohs and African tribal leaders as well as modern scientists and athletes. The layout is an illustrated picture on the left and the biography on the right. The sample pages are beautiful. At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. This one is on my list for this week, too.
History Smashers: The Mayflower AND Women’s Right to Vote – Even more books by Kate Messner are on our list this week! The History Smashers series kicks off this week with two books about the Mayflower and Women’s Suffrage. There will be a third book out this fall on Pearl Harbor.
I Am Not a Label: 34 Artists, Thinkers, Athletes and Activists with Disabilities from Past and Present – Another biography collection, although I haven’t yet seen any pages to tell you how the book is laid out. I love the idea of this. This would be a great addition to classroom libraries looking to add diversity to the shelves as well as to conversations about history and historical figures.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Accidental – A teen discovers her role in the death of her mother, something she had always been told was a car accident.
Cinderella Is Dead (LGBTQ+) – Two hundred years after Cinderella had her magical night at the ball, the kingdom’s young women must appear at a similar event where they are ogled and selected by the men of the kingdom. The girls who go unchosen are never seen again. One young woman flees from the ball and meets the last descendant of Cinderella’s family, and together they hatch a plot to bring down the king once and for all. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Daphne and Velma: The Dark Deception – Book 2 in the Daphne and Velma series based on characters from Scooby-Doo. This time the girls are looking into what happened to the original settlers of Crystal Cove.
Faith Taking Flight – From the author of Dumplin‘. An origin story of Faith Herbert/Zephyr, a character from Valiant Entertainment comics.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn – A princess cursed to be poisonous to touch looks for answers from a demon in the palace dungeon and for love from a young man who isn’t afraid of her.
Love, Jacaranda – A foster kid with a mother in jail gets the chance at a new life when a video of her singing goes viral.
Not Another Love Song – A high school senior enters a songwriting contest for her idol, but when a new guy shows up at school, she might have to choose between her musical dreams and a chance at love.
A Peculiar Peril – First in a new series. A teen who inherits a mansion discovers a path to an alternate Earth called Aurora.  As the teen discovers his place in a society tasked with keeping Earth and Aurora separate, evil comes for him and his friends.
The Princess Will Save You – When the stable-boy she loves is kidnapped to force her into a political marriage, a princess fights back. This is on my list for this week.
The Voting Booth – When a teen passionate about voting and civil engagement sees another teen turned away at the polls, she drops everything to help him get his vote counted.
Into the Streets: A Young Person’s Visual History of Protest in the United States – A survey of historical protests in the life of the United States.

Books for Adults

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The Backpacking Bride (July 10 – e-book) – Book 3 in the Backpacking Housewife series. When her fiancé dies during the final moments of their wedding ceremony, Maya’s life is upended. She responds by setting off on the honeymoon he planned for them. I have this on my list for this week, too.
Boyfriend Material (Trade Paperback – LGBTQ+) – Two young men in need of dates – one who actually needs a whole new reputation – agree to pretend to date to deal with their individual issues. But spending all that time together in a fake relationship has a way of starting to feel real after awhile.
Christmas in Bayberry (Trade Paperback) – From Hallmark Publishing. A guy sent to check out a small candle company in his home town for his job runs into his old crush, whose family runs the struggling candle company.
Haunted Heroine (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Heroine Complex series. Evie and Aveda go undercover to investigate a series of “hauntings” at a local women’s college. It gives Evie, who has mixed feelings about her pregnancy, a chance to see what her life might have been like if she had stayed in grad school instead of becoming a demon-fighting superhero.
The Heir Affair (Hardcover) – Sequel to The Royal We. Bex and Prince Nicholas are in self-imposed exile after their disastrous wedding ceremony. Everyone is furious with them and the paparazzi can’t wait to see what disaster happens next. A crisis calls the new couple back home where they must deal with not only the new issues, but also with the fall out they left behind the first time.
Muzzled (Hardcover) – Book 21 in the terrific Andy Carpenter series. Andy receives a call for help from a friend who is contacted by a dead man looking for his dog. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Not Like the Movies (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Waiting for Tom Hanks series. (Waiting for Tom Hanks: ♥♥♥♥) Annie used her best friend Chloe and Chloe’s boss, Nick, as inspiration for her movie which is about to release. But Chloe isn’t certain her real life will have a happy ending like the one in the movie. You can read my full review here.
Of Mutts and Men (Hardcover) – Book 10 in the Chet & Bernie Mystery series. Chet and Bernie find a potential new client dead before they can find out why the man wanted to meet. Even though they aren’t being paid, they start to investigate the murder.
One to Watch (Trade Paperback) – A plus-size fashion blogger gets a call to star in the next season of her favorite reality dating show. She agrees with the stipulation that she will not be falling in love. She is doing this to advance her career and show that you don’t have to be a size 0 to find love on television. But the swoony suitors and the emotional highs and lows of the show could push her to give love a chance. This is on my list, too.
You Again (Hardcover) – A married woman with a career and kids is haunted by sightings of her younger self which leaves her questioning her choices as her life barrels towards a crossroads.
The Book of Isaiah 12- Week Study Guide (Trade Paperback) – Part of the Passionate Life Bible Study series. Discover God’s love through the book of Isaiah. I haven’t yet seen how this is structured, but looking at the structure of the study of the book of John shows thought questions even for the introductory material like authorship and themes. The study of John looks very thorough. I have this one on my list for the future.
Say It Louder!: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy (Hardcover) – Look at the impact of Black voters on the 2018 midterm elections as well as historical moments of Black impact as well as efforts to shut down Black voters.

Around here, our public schools are back into the swing of things, which seems so hard to believe. Maybe you need a new book to sooth the back-to-school-blues! Or maybe you are a work/stay-at-home parent who is celebrating – you need a new book too!

Books for Kids

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Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO – Tallulah knows everything the manual says about being an amazing tooth fairy. But what happens when something comes up that is NOT in the manual?
Bruce Lee – Picture book biography.
Game for Life: John Madden AND Michael Strahan AND Troy Aikman – New Early Reader biographies of big names in the NFL.
Bee the Change – Book 3 in the Big Idea Gang series of early chapter books. This time the kids are trying to show their peers how important bees are to the environment.
Dodging Dinosaurs – Book 4 in the BRANCHES Time Jumpers series. This time the kids jump back to the prehistoric era with the help of a dinosaur egg.
Let’s Play, Crabby! – Book 2 in the Crabby series from ACORN, an early chapter book series from Scholastic. I adored the first book, so I am eager to check this one out and read how Plankton tries to get Crabby to play a game.
Sadiq and the Desert Star (August 1) – First in a new transitional chapter book series. In this book, Sadiq looks for other kids who might like space as much as he does and want to help him start a space club. This looks great! The book includes information about Somalia and Somali terms used in the story. The first four books in the series all release this week.
Snow Place Like Home – Diary of an Ice Princess, book 1. An ice princess longs to go to non-magical school with her best friend.
Tabby and the Catfish – Book 3 in the Kitten Kingdom series for kids venturing into chapter books. Tabby and her brothers have to find the stolen Torch of Peace if the kingdom is going to be able to enjoy the Peace Parade.
Trip to the Pumpkin Farm – Book 11 in the always delightful Owl Diaries series from Scholastic and BRANCHES. Eva and her friends get to solve a mystery at the pumpkin patch.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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For Black Girls Like Me – This is a middle grade novel about a black girl adopted by a white family who wonders what it would feel like to grow up in a family with people who looked like her. I love books that deal with identity – it’s such a big part of growing up.
The Hero Next Door – A collection of short stories about acts of bravery. This could be an awesome classroom read aloud.
Miraculous – A boy who records examples of the miraculous has his faith shaken when his eight-day-old sister dies. This is on my list for this week.
Not If I Can Help It – A girl with strong opinions discovers her strongest one is that she is NOT a fan of her father dating her best friend’s mother.
The Poison Jungle – Book 13 in the Wings of Fire series. This book will dig into the lost tribe of the LeafWings. I can’t wait to see what happens next with this series. I pre-ordered this one months ago.
Return to the Isle of the Lost (Graphic Novel) – The graphic novel version of the second book in the Descendants series.
Shake It Off – A Chicago girl finds herself on a family farm for the summer and everyone seems to think she is a snobby city girl. But when the farm is in trouble, maybe some of her city ideas can make a difference.
Awesome Space Tech: 40 Amazing Infographics for Kids (August 1) – Information about cool space-related technology presented in a graphic format. The sample pages I have seen are gorgeous. This would be a hit in a school or classroom library – or for something to read and look at on a long car ride.
The Merciful Crow – A prince on the run fakes his death and convinces one of the undertaker caste to protect him in exchange for his protection of her people when he is crowned king. I’ve seen this one on a lot of teen fantasy lists for this summer.
Skyjacked – Four teens in a private plane are on their way to New York after a camping trip. But there’s a replacement pilot, one of the kids gets mysteriously sick, and they realize they are heading in the opposite direction from New York. This sounds fantastic! It’s on my list for this week
Truly Madly Royally – A young woman in a prestigious program plans to ignore her pampered peers and focus on her program. But the one guy she clicks with turns out to be an actual prince, who brings more distractions with him than she ever imagined. This looks adorable!
The Year They Fell – Five kids who have grown up together but are virtual strangers are pulled into one another’s orbit when their parents are all killed in the same plane crash. In a lot of ways, they only have each other which means their pasts and their secrets will be drawn out. But they will also have each other when questions arise about the mysteries their parents left behind. I already have this one on hold from the library!! Some triggering topics may be addressed in the course of the novel.

 

Books for Adults

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And Then There Were Crumbs (Mass Market Paperback) – First book in the new Cookie House Mystery series. When Kate loses her restaurant and her fiancé in one fell swoop, it’s time to start over somewhere new. That’s how she ends up working at The Cookie House. But a developer is desperate to get his hands on it, and when he is found dead, the shop owner – and Kate’s new boss – is the prime suspect. This is on my list for this week – sounds terrific!
The Book Charmer (Trade Paperback)  – A librarian and book whisperer has the power to place just the right book into a reader’s hands. And the books have told her that a newcomer could be the savior the town has been needing. This is on my list, too.
The Healing Jar (August 1 – Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Prayer Jars series. An Amish schoolteacher who thinks her last chance for love has passed her by discovers a jar buried in her grandmother’s garden. I have the first book in the series on my TBR shelves.
How to Hack a Heartbreak (Trade Paperback) – A helpdesk tech tired of having her skills overlooked creates her own dating app that helps users track online dating abusers and harassers. I have had this on hold from the library for ages. Can’t wait to dig into it this week!
Knot on Her Life (Mass Market Paperback)  – Book 7 in the Quilting Mystery series. Martha gets distracted from the quilt she is making for her new granddaughter because her neighbor has gotten sick. The woman’s foster daughter needs looking after, but Martha may have to dig up clues to the girl’s parents’ murder in order to keep the girl safe. I haven’t read any books in this series before, but that description makes me want to jump right into this one!
Let’s Fake a Deal (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. Sarah’s business, and her good name, are in jeopardy when a downsizing job unwittingly turns her into a “fence” for stolen merchandise. When her friend becomes a suspect in a local murder, Sarah’s got her hands full!
Love at First Bark (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Rescue Me series. Ben and Mia have known each other for ages as Mia was married to Ben’s best friend. She has no idea that he has secretly loved her all that time. But now that she is a widow with a young son, Ben feels like he can’t share his feelings with her. Their work at the animal shelter draws them closer together, though, when a dozen border collies are abandoned at a local park. I’ve read book 3 in this series and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to getting into the rest of the series.
Needled to Death (Mass Market Paperback)  – Book 1 in the new Helping Hands mystery series, a spin-off of the nurse-turned-deputy-coroner Mattie Winston series). Mattie’s friend, social worker Hildy Schneider and her therapy dog get drawn into the details of a murder connected to one of her grief group clients. I love trying out new mystery series. I haven’t read any of the Mattie Winston books, but I might try them if I like this one – two series to try from one book!
Penne Dreadful (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Italian Chef Mystery series. When a local chef’s husband’s death is ruled suspicious, she can’t imagine why someone would have wanted him dead. But she starts looking into the local pizza joint where he was last seen alive to see if she can dig up some clues. Another first-in-a-series I’ll have to check out.
Star Trek Discovery: The Enterprise War (Trade Paperback) – Discover the events that kept Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise out of the Federation/Klingon War explored during the first season of Star Trek Discovery. I can’t wait to read this!!
What Lola Wants (e-book) – Book 4 in the Lola Cruz Mystery series. Lola goes undercover at a salsa club that is a possible front for prostitution.
A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons (Hardcover) – A memoir from musician and song writer Ben Folds.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Peek-a-Bruce (Board book) – Bruce’s goslings are ready to play. The latest in the Mother Bruce series, which is delightful.
Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster for a Pet – Ginny has a plan to get the perfect pet!
Look! I Wrote a Book! (And You Can Too!) – The narrator is ready to teach readers all about writing books that are interesting, accurate, and appropriate for their audience. The sample pages I have seen are absolutely fantastic! I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
My Big Dumb Invisible Dragon – A story for children’ dealing with loss. When a boy’s mother passes away, a dragon comes along, following him everywhere. As the boy grieves, his relationship with the dragon changes. The sample pages had me in tears. This is going to be a very powerful book for kids – as well as for adults and professionals helping kids with this difficult and heavy topic.
Turtle and Tortoise Are NOT Friends – Sworn enemies learn they have more in common than they expected.
How to Be Cheeri – Book 3 in the Team Taekwondo chapter book series. While Baeoh (Book 2) has trouble being serious and focused, Cheeri is a classic overachiever who often gets so caught up in her work she forgets to have fun. How will these two ever work together?

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Fate of Earth – The final book in the Space Runners series where the Moon Platoon is trying to stop the war between humans and aliens. Sounds like a fun science fiction series for middle grade readers.
Let Me Fix That for You – Gladys is a middle grade fixer, doing favors in exchange for friendship. But when she tries to use her fixing skills on her parents’ marriage, she gets in over her head. Will she be able to call in some of those favors to help her out? I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man – A graphic novel origin story for Miles Morales.
Red Panda & Moon Bear – A new graphic novel starring a pair of sibling heroes. This is on my list for this week; it’s getting a lot of positive buzz online.
Sunny – Book 14 in the Dog Diaries series, this one based on a true story of a dog on the Titanic.
Code Your Own Website AND Coding With Scratch – New coding books from Basher.
Hello, Crochet Friends! – Jonah Larson caught media attention as a “crochet prodigy.” And now he shares his love of crochet with others in this picture book. Part autobiography (including his adoption story), part instruction manual. First in what will become a series about young people making an impact in the world.
The Arrival of Someday – From one of my favorite middle grade authors, Jen Malone, comes this story of a high school senior whose plans for the future are in jeopardy when she discovers she needs a liver transplant.
Soul of Stars – Book 2 in the Heart of Iron series by Ashley Poston. A crew of misfits search for answers in this science fiction adventure series. I have book 1 on my list at the library.
The Undoing of Thistle Tate – Thistle is only 17, and she’s already a best-selling author. Only one other person knows she isn’t actually the author of the wildly popular Lemonade Skies series. Now that the final  book in the series is going to be turned in, Thistle will be able to leave the lying behind, but secrets have a way of coming out. I have had this on hold at the library for months! I can’t wait to read this.

 

Books for Adults

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The Floating Feldmans (Trade Paperback) – 70-year-old Annette Feldman plans a cruise with her whole family to celebrate her birthday. Family quirks and family secrets mean this is not going to be the celebration Annette had in mind.
Decades: Marvel in the 00s: Hitting the Headlines (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Collects some of the iconic Marvel comics of the 00s.
One Good Deed (Hardcover) – First in a new series from Baldacci, this time starring a war veteran in 1949. Aloysius Archer is an ex-con just trying to  get a fresh start on life, but his job as a “debt collector” for a local businessman puts Archer in the middle of a murder investigation. And an ex-con makes an easy suspect.
Star Wars – Thrawn: Treason (Hardcover) – The third in the Thrawn series from Star Wars. Thrawn struggles to secure his place in the Empire when Krennic’s Death Star project derails Thrawn’s TIE defender program.
The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet (Paperback) – Look at that cover! This is a revised edition of the earlier book with new recipes and healthier options.  Includes gluten-free recipes.
The Jesus Who Surprises: Opening Our Eyes to His Presence in All of Life and Scripture (Trade Paperback) – Book plus Bible study that looks at Jesus through the scriptures of the Old Testament. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
The Middle Matters: Why that (Extra) Ordinary Life Really Looks Good on You (Hardcover) – The author of Never Unfriended (terrific!) brings us a new book this month all about midlife. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month, too.

July is half over, and I can already hear the call of school supply lists. Maybe a new book is just what you need to help you savor the final weeks of summer!

Books for Kids

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Bad Kitty Does NOT Like Thanksgiving – No, she doesn’t like it, she LOVES it. And she will do anything to get her paws on some turkey.
A Boy Like You – Boys are encouraged to lean into all the ways they are unique, to embrace their stories and to listen to the stories of others.
Ultrabot’s First Playdate – The professor is planning a playdate for Ultrabot with the girl next door.
A Royal Ride: Catherine the Great’s Great Invention – Catherine the Great of Russia longs to enjoy the fun of winter ice slides year round. The sample pages I have seen of this look outstanding! And I adore the illustrations.
Dinosaurs: By the Numbers – Kicks off a new nonfiction series of Infographic readers by Steve Jenkins
Llamas – Leveled Reader
Mia Mayhem Breaks Down Walls – Book 4 of the Mia Mayhem series. When Mia’s super strength gets away from her, she’ll have to figure out how to make things right again.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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A Pinch of Phoenix – Series finale for the Mystic Cooking Chronicles series. In a war between elves and scientists. a young master chef is caught in the middle.
Survivor Girl – A girl whose father is a reality-tv survival show star finds herself in a real-life quest for survival.
SW Adventures: Flight of the Falcon (graphic novel) – A First Order spy is on the hunt for the Millennium Falcon.
Where Is the Serengeti?
My Ideal Boyfriend Is a Croissant – When a plus-sized teen on a doctor-ordered diet encounters a personal tragedy, losing weight is the last thing on her mind. But her food diary becomes a place to record her thoughts and feelings about what is happening with her family. I have requested this from the library.
The Infographic Guide to American Government – If you are looking for a way to get a better grasp on American Government – no matter what your age – check out this visual guide. Covers the Revolutionary War and the set up of our government as well as the branches of government, elections and voting, and state and local government.
They Called Us Enemy – A new autobiographical graphic novel from George Takei about World War II.

Books for Adults

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Bark of Night (Hardcover) – Book 19 in the terrific Andy Carpenter series. Andy gets pulled into a murder trial when a dog is surrendered to his vet to be euthanized. I’ll be reviewing this next week.
The Body in Griffith Park (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Anna Blanc historical mystery series. An ex-heiress is employed by the L.A.police department to work with delinquent kids and women in jail, but she really wants to find criminals – including the one who murdered the guy she found in the park. This sounds like a fun series! Book 1 is The Secret Life of Anna Blanc.
Desire and the Deep Blue Sea (e-book) – Book 1 in the new Love Unscripted series. A research librarian finds himself in luck when the girl of his dreams needs a stand in boyfriend for an episode of a tv show. I pre-ordered this weeks ago. I adore the fake-relationship trope in romance books.
A Genuine Fix (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Allie Cobb literary agent mystery series. Allie is the prime suspect when the guy who stood her up for prom is killed. I have book one on my wish list.
The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets (Trade Paperback) – Estranged sisters are drawn together when their mother needs help recovering from a stroke. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (Hardcover) – A women returns to the town her mother fled in order to bury her grandmother. But while she plans to leave as soon as possible, she is drawn to the town. I picked up a free teaser for the book online, but I haven’t gotten to read it yet.
The Pawful Truth (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the delightful Cat in the Stacks mystery series. This time, Charlie is drawn into a mystery surrounding a history class he is auditing at the college. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, too.
Sophia Princess Among Beasts (Hardcover) – The latest from James Patterson. A beloved princess fights to protect her kingdom from mythical creatures and an invading army. I don’t read much from Patterson, but I might give this one a shot.
The Wedding Party (Trade Paperback) – The latest from romance author Jasmine Guillory, book 3 in the Wedding Date series. Enemies in the wedding party (both best friends of the bride) spend the night together and then can’t stop thinking about one another. They try to keep up their abrasive banter, but they keep sneaking off when the bride isn’t looking. They are certain the relationship will dissolve once the wedding is over – but what if they don’t want it to?
The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom From a Faith that Feeds on Making Enemies (Hardcover) – I was recently accused of being divisive by posting an article critical to the current presidential administration. Shouldn’t Christians be able to just get along?  I am eager to read this author’s take on the issue of our conflicted culture and the followers of Christ caught in the middle.
Ferocious Warrior: Dismantle Your Enemy and Rise (Hardcover) – Learn to fight through personal battles like grief, depression, and insecurity by thinking like a warrior. I am eager to check this one out, too. That cover is amazing!

 

Hope you are enjoying some sunny summer weather wherever you are! Here are some new books out this week that you might want to make part of your summer fun. (If you love pet stories, don’t miss the picture books this week!)

Books for Kids

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Cookie AND Elmo (Board Books) – Part of the new Sesame Street Friends series of board books.
Baby’s First Jailbreak (July 11) – Sequel to Baby’s First Bank Heist where Baby Frank tries to rob a bank to get money for a pet. Now Baby Frank has a zoo, but Baby Bruce has opened a rival zoo nearby, and all of Bruce’s animals are unhappy. I can only guess what the “jailbreak” is going to be! This sounds fantastic. I’d love to read both of these.
Grover’s Own Alphabet – Grover bends and contorts his body to make every letter of the alphabet.
Little Unicorn Is Angry AND Little Unicorn Is Scared – A picture book series about strong emotions. When the little unicorn has a strong emotion, his mane changes colors. Books explore breathing techniques to help cope with strong feelings.
Mighty Reader and the Big Freeze – Hugo the Beagle puppy transforms into Mighty Reader whenever his friends run into a reading emergency, like when his friend Barkley freezes up before reading out loud. This sounds ADORABLE!
Not Quite Snow White – Tameika was born to be on stage, but when she tries out for the title roll in a Snow White musical, the other kids mutter about how she is not quite right for the role. I am eager to read this one and see how the author deals with this situation.
The Pawed Piper – A little girl longing for a cat of her own like her grandmother’s beloved Hector sets out dishes of milk and balls of yarn to lure in a pet. But she gets a big surprise when Hector and a bunch of other cats show up – and her neighbors post signs for lost felines. This book is at the top of my picture book wish list. Sounds darling!
A Quieter Story – When a girl starts to write a story about her kitten, he wants one with adventure worthy of a TIGER. But the kitten finds there can be too much of a good thing when he jumps into the more adventurous story she writes.
Truman – Truman the tortoise is alarmed when his Sarah leaves on  a big bus for the first time. Oh my goodness, the sample pages for this are so sweet and endearing. This is another must read for me. Cue heart eyes.
Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All – Sequel to Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. Unicorn is ready to take the school by storm, but a new rubber band trend has already done that, leaving Unicorn feeling not-so-special.
The Invention Hunters Discover How Machines Work AND Discover How Electricity Works – A new series! The Invention Hunters travel the world looking for cool inventions, and with the help of some great kids they discover things about science. These would be cool in classrooms!
Pete the Cat’s Trip to the Supermarket – In this new leveled reader, Pete and his brother help their dad at the grocery store when he loses his shopping list.
Night of Soldiers and Spies – Book 10 in the terrific Ranger in Time series (like Magic Tree House with a dog). This time Ranger is off to the Revolutionary War to help a kid chosen to be a spy for General Washington.
To the Future, Ben Franklin! – Speaking of Magic Tree House, this is the 32nd Magic Tree House story (I think they launched the Merlin Missions into their own line and re-started the counting.). This time, Jack and Annie meet Ben Franklin, and he is very curious about their tree house.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray – The first book in the new Elements of Genius series that has been described as Oceans 11 meets Spy School. When Nikki’s death ray accidentally blows up her bedroom, she is sent to Genius Academy to learn to channel her ideas. But when her death ray is stolen she’ll have to team up with her fellow geniuses to track down the thief. I can not WAIT to read this one!
School-Tripped – Book 3 in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series. When Babymouse’s middle school art class heads to the museum for a field trip, Babymouse decides to test her freedoms by exploring the city instead.
Titans – First in a new series from the author of the Pegasus series. When Olympus was destroyed, the Olympians resettled on Titus. And so far the Titans and the Olympians are keeping peace with one another. When a Titan named Astraea and her winged horse, Zephyr discover a human on Titus – something that should be impossible -, it seems he is only the beginning of a plot to unsettle the peace and maybe destroy Titus. I haven’t been this interested in a mythology-related story in a long time! This sounds fantastic.
William Wenton and the Lost City – Book 3 in the William Wenton series. William is a puzzle-solving genius, but when his secret skill was discovered, it set off a series of events that have left William unsure who to trust. This next event will send William to the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean.
Wish on All the Stars – Sequel to See You on a Starry Night.  Three girls who are in the Starry Beach Club look for ways to save their beloved bookmobile. Both of these books sound terrific.
From an Idea to Google AND Lego – Books 3 and 4 in this fun nonfiction series for kids.
Cheshire Crossing – Ever wondered what happened to Dorothy, Alice and Wendy when they get back from their respective adventures? This graphic novel tells that story when the three girls meet at Cheshire Crossing, a boarding school for magical multiverse travelers. They use their world-crossing powers to visit other lands – and leave a heap of trouble in their wake.
The Last Word – It’s 1861. When a young woman discovers her favorite author has died before finishing her favorite series, she coerces her father’s young business partner to help her track down the reclusive author’s whereabouts and try to discover how she planned to end the series.  How fun!
Maybe This Time – A young woman who works for the local florist finds herself at every major event in her small home town. The son of the fancy new chef in town finds himself at all those same events. Will he just be an annoyance keeping her from getting her job done so she can move on to the things that matter in her life – or will he become something more? From author Kasie West.
Past Perfect Life – When a small town Wisconsin girl applies for college, her world comes crumbling down as she discovers her name – and her life – aren’t real.
The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate – A young woman ready to embrace all the new opportunities of college can’t shake her nemesis – the guy who ruined her life in middle school and the hottie she made out with at her first college party. Now every where she looks, Carter is there, and she can’t get rid of him. Is there a do over available for this college thing?
Stealing Home – A young woman ready to take over her family’s minor league baseball team runs into a snag when she sees the team’s finances. If she teams up with the charming Sawyer Campbell will he help her find sponsors and save the team, or will he be a distraction she actually can’t afford. I’ve heard great things about this one!

 

Books for Adults

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The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (Trade Paperback) – A quiet, bookish woman is living her best, quiet life when she discovers her estranged father has died and left her with a slew of family members who live close enough to expect her to visit – and speak to them. And her trivia nemesis seems to want to see her socially – what is he thinking?.  Is it too late to change her name and go into hiding? I have already requested this from the library.
Crashing the A-List (Trade Paperback) – An unemployed book editor is desperate enough to take a temporary gig cleaning out storage units. Among all the creepy and gross things she finds there, she finds the secret past of a famous British actor. While she tries to assure him she has no interest in cashing in on her find, her attempts go awry and leave him certain she wants to blackmail him. I have this on my list, too.
Hope Rides Again (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Obama Biden Mystery series. While I am personally over  Biden in the political sphere, the idea of these books is still a hoot to me. In this one, the politicians-turned-detectives start sleuthing again when Obama’s prized Blackberry gets stolen and their prime suspect winds up dead.
Peach Clobbered (Hardcover) – First in the new Georgia B&B Mystery series. An ice-cream shop mascot dressed in a penguin costume arrives on Nina’s porch saying his great-aunt pledged to leave him the house. Later, a developer is found dead – in the penguin suit. Did the killer get the wrong man? Nina and the mascot, Harry, team up to track down a killer and protect her new B&B – at least until Harry decides if he is going to contest the sale and his great-aunt’s will. Sounds like a fun series kickoff!
The Queen Con (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Golden Arrow Mystery series. In The Frame-Up, comic book writer, MG Martin deals with someone recreating crimes from her favorite comics. She thought all that was behind her, but the Golden Arrow seems to be back and MG has been called back in by the police to help them track down the supposed hero. When a sting goes sideways, MG and her friends are back to sleuthing. I have book one already – I need to get into it so I can pick this one up!
The Queen’s Advantage (e-book) – Book 2 in the Rogue Queen series by the author of one of my favorite books for 2019, Jessie Mihalik. Queen Samara has worked diligently to keep her Rogue Coalition OUT of interstellar war. But the warring factors refuse to trade with any neutral parties and her people are suffering. Samara’s plans to rescue the kidnapped Kos emperor go sideways and the man she tried to save becomes her partner in evading mercenaries.  And that was just in book one! Now, the emperor wants her to meet his advisors – and help him root out the traitors in his midst. I just bought the first book, and I can’t wait to dig into this series!
Risky Biscuits (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sugar & Spice Mystery series. Two friends launched a community cookbook publishing business, but their latest fundraiser ends with a dead body. This series sounds so fun! I have book one of this on my list.
All My Friends Have Issues (Trade Paperback) – A faith-based book about finding and keeping friends.
Star Trek Illustrated Handbooks (Hardcover) – Star Trek resources on the original Enterprise NCC-1701 and 1701-A and the Enterprise NCC-1701-D from The Next Generation.
Vegan Comfort Cooking – To be honest, I only put this on the list because of the cover. That looks amazing! I would love to try some of these recipes to do more meat-less meals at home.