Wondering what to read now? Here are all the hot new July 2022 book releases for you. I’ll let you know what I’ve read, what I can’t wait to read, and what’s getting all the attention this month.
In case you’re new to Booklist Queen, every month I cover all the hottest new book releases. I try to read as many new book releases as I can to give you an honest perspective on what to read and what to skip.
However, I realize that my to-read list might not exactly match yours. That’s why I’ve also included some of the most popular July 2022 book releases from your favorite authors.
Enough from me. Let’s get on to the July 2022 book releases so you can fill up your to-read list.
Top July 2022 Book Releases
The It Girl
Ruth Ware
April was the first person Hannah met at Oxford, and they quickly became inseparable with their group of friends until April was killed. A decade after April’s murder, Hannah learns that the recently deceased convicted killer may have been innocent. With a journalist probing for details and the murderer likely still out there, Hannah reconnects with her old friend group to uncover their long-buried secrets.
The 6:20 Man
David Baldacci
Every day, Travis Devine takes the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, staring out at all the mansions of the uber-wealthy. When his coworker and former girlfriend is found dead in a storage room at their investment firm, Travis is forced to secretly investigate the firm, uncovering a high stakes conspiracy that lands him directly in the crosshairs of a killer.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin
On a bitterly cold day, Sam Masur runs into Sadie Green on a train platform and they renew their childhood friendship bonding over video games. Together, they create Ichigo, a blockbuster game that changes their lives. Over the next three decades, their friendship is tested as their success leads them to money, fame, love, and betrayal.
More a heartrending story about friendship than video games, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, is one of the best books I’ve read recently, and I can’t recommend it enough. I read it in one sitting, staying up until 3 am because I could not put it down. Although there are plenty of video game references, the story wasn’t overwhelming nerdy and the complexity of the character development particularly stood out to me. A brilliant read that I will be raving about for years to come.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Knopf Doubleday through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 12 July 2022
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Reputation
Sarah Vaughan
As a female politician, Emma knows it only takes one slip-up to ruin your reputation. Using her position as an MP, Emma is determined to fight for female victims and pass a law against revenge porn, even though it brings a slew of threats, both online and in person. When her teenage daughter lashes out at a high school bully, the consequences could be disastrous as Emma is put on trial for the death of a reporter who threatened to publish the story.
Reputation is like a good Law & Order episode – showcasing the lead-up to the crime and then diving into the court case. Not only did Vaughan write a compelling narrative but also she managed to really hit home on her main themes, violence against women and how our reputation affects our actions. The combination of a killer narrative (pun intended) and deeper underlying themes will make this a great book club choice this summer.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 5 July 2022
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The Bodyguard
Katherine Center
After her mom dies and her boyfriend dumps her, Hannah Brooks is desperate to avoid her mess of a life and sink into work as an Executive Protection Agent, a bodyguard to wealthy corporate clients. In walks her next assignment, reclusive superstar actor Jack Stapleton who needs protection from a middle-aged stalker while visiting his sick mother. The catch: Jack wants Hannah to pretend to be his girlfriend so his family won’t know. Now Hannah must act the part, and decide whether Jack’s just a really good actor or if the connection they seem to share is real.
I rarely read romances, but I am all over Katherine Center’s love stories, especially since they aren’t steamy at all. Don’t expect quality literature here, but a cute engaging contemporary romance that won’t make you think too much, but has the feel-good happily-ever-after ending you crave. I liked how Center flips the script, making Hannah the protector of the male protagonist. If you want a light easy rom-com without steamy sex scenes, The Bodyguard will be the perfect summer read for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 19 July 2022
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Book of the Month – July 2022
Receiving my blue box from Book of the Month Club is a highlight of every month.
Here’s how it works – each month, they pick 5 books and you get to choose one book or skip until the next month. If you want to add any extra books, then you get them at a discounted price.
Each month is usually a mix of new releases and advance copies of unreleased books. If you are interested in joining, right now you can use my Book of the Month Club affiliate link to get your first book for $5!
The July Book of the Month selections are:
See the Complete List of Upcoming Releases!
Jenna Bush Hager’s July 2022 Pick
The Measure
Nikki Erlick
One morning, everyone in the world wakes up to find a box on their doorstep which tells you how many years you will live. What do you do with the knowledge, or do you even open the box? As the world goes into a frenzy, lives are torn apart and unexpected friendships are created and a politician’s box becomes a powder keg.
Good Morning America’s July 2022 Pick
The Dead Romantics
Ashley Poston
Florence Day is a ghostwriter for one of the most popular romance writers of the day. But after a bad breakup, a disillusioned Florence struggles to write about love. With a new book due and her editor refusing an extension, Florence’s career is all but over. When her father dies, Florence returns to her sleepy Southern hometown only to be shocked to find the ghost of her editor, whose unfinished business has her second-guessing everything she knows about love stories.
Reese Witherspoon’s July 2022 Pick
Honey & Spice
Bolu Babalola
Kiki Banjo, the host of a popular student radio show, has one mission: to keep the women of the Afro-Caribbean society at Whitewell University from falling from players. But when she kisses Malakai Korede, who she just denounced as the worst player of all, they are forced to fake a relationship to salvage their reputations. But the more Kiki gets to know Malakai, the more she wonders if her presumptions about him were wrong.
The Most Anticipated July 2022 Book Releases
Upgrade
Blake Crouch
In a future where the world has been ravaged by the unintended consequences of gene editing, Logan Ramsay works for the Genetic Protection Agency, tracking down unauthorized gene editors to atone for his family’s role in the disaster. When an explosion infects Logan with a virus, he undergoes a genetic transformation and now must use his new abilities to stop it from happening to anyone else.
I’ve enjoyed Crouch’s smart sci fi thrillers previously, but Upgrade might be too smart for its own good. I was bored to tears throughout the entire book, which failed to make DNA science interesting, and I actually don’t mind reading fat science books about genetics. Even the action scenes were putting me to sleep. I’m honestly ashamed to say I even finished the book because it was that dull.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 12 July 2022
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The Last to Vanish
Megan Miranda
Even after a decade in her small North Carolina mountain town, Abby Lovett feels like an outsider. Known for its outdoor recreation, Cutter’s Pass also has a history of mysterious disappearances, seven in the last 25 years. When a man arrives looking for his missing brother, the town closes ranks and Abigail learns how much she doesn’t know about her friends and coworkers.
Megan Miranda’s latest thriller gets five stars for its setting, but only three for its story. Cutter’s Pass makes for an excellent atmospheric town but the supporting characters lack depth and complexity. A slow-build mystery, The Last to Vanish takes its time getting to the action, hoping the tension will keep you engaged. Which means you’ll either love this moody thriller or you will find that it drags too much for your mood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Scribner through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 26 July 2022
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The Retreat
Sarah Pearse
In the sequel to her hit thriller, The Sanatorium, Sarah Pearse returns with a new mystery for Detective Elin Warner. Back from her extended leave, Elin investigates a woman who fell to her death at an eco-wellness retreat on an island off the English coast. When another guest dies, Elin begins to suspect something more is going on, possibly tied to the island’s past connection to a serial killer.
Things We Do in the Dark
Jennifer Hillier
When Paris Peralta is arrested for her celebrity husband’s murder, found covered in blood standing over his dead body holding a straight razor, she knows she’s looking at a murder charge. Yet, Paris is more worried about her past secrets. Twenty-five years ago, Ruby Reyes was convicted for a similar murder in Canada. Unexpectedly released from prison, Ruby threatens to expose Paris’s past, which might force Paris to face two murder charges.
Acts of Violet
Margarita Montimore
A decade ago, magician Violet Volk disappeared during a performance and hasn’t been seen since. Although she leads a quiet life with her daughter, Sasha has never been able to escape her sister’s celebrity. When a podcaster obsessed with Violet aggressively pursues Sasha for an interview, Sasha finds herself pushed to her emotional limit and is forced to confront the painful truths of her past.
Why Didn’t You Tell Me?
Carmen Rita Wong
Growing up, Carmen Rita Wong always wanted to belong. Whether in Harlem among the Latina women like her mother or in Chinatown with her immigrant father. When Carmen’s mother Lupe remarries a white man, they move to the wealthy suburbs of New Hampshire. After Lupe quickly has four more children, Carmen’s relationship with her mother becomes fraught. After her mother’s death, Carmen finally learns her mother’s secret history and finds her own identity is shaken in this poignant memoir.
Cold, Cold Bones
Kathy Reichs
In a North Carolina winter, forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is enjoying the return of her daughter Katy. While Katy seems to be having trouble adjusting to civilian life, Tempe gets caught up in a case when an eyeball lands on her doorstep. Soon, Tempe realizes that a serial killer is trying to replicate her old cases.
If you’ve read one Temperance Brennan book, you’ve basically read them all. Kathy Reichs delivers the same formula as all her other books – Tempe has a case that nags at her, she figures it out but puts herself in a risky position, gets captured, and then is saved at the last moment. Yet, if you’ve managed to read this far into the series, you know what you are getting into. I will say, Cold, Cold Bones seemed to be a rather forgettable episode in the Temperance Brennan saga.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Scribner through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 5 July 2022
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
Popular July Upcoming Releases
What July 2022 Book Releases are You Most Excited to Read?
What books can you not wait to get your hands on this month? Did I miss any July 2022 book releases that you are anticipating? As always, let me know in the comments!
More New Book Releases:
