Book Report Vol. 17

Books I read in June, July new releases, and book-to-screen news

Hi book pals,

I read 6 books in the 6th month of the year—fun!

And nothing was below 4-stars—rare!

And I think one of them is my current favorite read of 2025—wow!¹

Let’s get into it. (As always, new releases and book-to-screen updates are toward the bottom. They’re worth the scroll!)

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood · Bookshop · Amazon

I think this is my favorite Ali Hazelwood romance yet. Interestingly, it’s also the least similar to her past contemporary romances. In it, Maya—Eli from Not In Love’s little sister—has a massive crush on his business partner Conor, and her brother’s (potentially cursed) nuptials throw them together for a week in a Sicilian villa (not a beaker or microscope in sight!). The problem? She’s 23 and he’s 38. While age gap isn’t an auto-read trope for me, Hazelwood really makes it work and the chemistry (both friend and romantic) leaps off the page. If you haven’t read Not In Love (potentially my least favorite AH), I think you can skip it and go directly to this one.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan · Bookshop · Amazon

I cannot stop gushing about how much I loved this book about a former child actress turned development exec striving to get her first film made. After telling a giant lie in a meeting, Jane attempts to make the lie a reality. Her only ally? A pompous capital-A artiste cinematographer she hates. Or does she…? The book is so witty and warm, and I started it over halfway through because I didn’t want it to end.

Also, I did an event with Annabel last month and was struck by how many women told her that they buddy read her books with their mom every summer. (This is her spiciest, but still totally mom-friendly, IMO.) Truly, a delightful tradition you might consider stealing if you have a bookish mom.

All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman · Bookshop · Amazon

This was our Bad on Paper book club pick for June, and after a spring of heavier literary picks, it was such a fun palette cleanser! Former pop star Florence—a true hot mess as both a person and a mom—reluctantly investigates the disappearance of her son’s posh private school classmate when it seems like her son might be a suspect. This book is laugh out loud funny, pacy without being scary, and has an unexpected female friendship storyline that kept it grounded. And after you’re done, you can listen to our episode discussing it.

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (out 7/8) · Bookshop · Amazon

I’m wondering if this genre mash up (part family drama, part romance) has book of the summer potential after getting a Book of the Month pick and garnering rave reviews from so many bookstagramers on my feed. After the unexpected death of her billionaire father, black sheep Alice returns home to her family’s private island retreat off the Rhode Island coast for his funeral. While there, she navigates an inconveniently blossoming romance, reconnecting with her estranged siblings, and the sneaky inheritance game her father left as a condition in his will. If you ever wished Succession was sexier, you’re going to devour this.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith · Bookshop · Amazon

Want a warmer family drama? (More Family Stone than Succession, as one commenter astutely phrased it in last week’s Sunday Sundries.) This is it! The four Ednicott siblings—three of whom are famous in different fields: an pro athlete, an award-winning author, and an actress—haven’t spoken in years, until their youngest sister mysteriously summons them to North Dakota, a state they have absolutely no personal connection to. If you enjoy multi-POV stories—I was fascinated by how the same childhood trauma affected the four siblings differently—this one is for you!

Heart the Lover by Lily King (out 10/7) · Bookshop · Amazon

I saved the best for last. I think this might be my top book of the year so far. If you’re a fellow Celine Song-head, the vibes are very Past Lives. I swooned, I sobbed, I was incandescently jealous that someone could write a book this short (256 pages) yet expansive. A college student finds herself at the center of a love triangle between two best friends. Twenty years later, a surprise visit forces her to reckon with the choices of her youth. Oh my god, this was phenomenal. I cannot wait until it comes out in October and you can read it, too.

What newness do we have to look forward to in July?

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The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager | Contemporary Fiction | July 1

I was entranced by this magical realism story about a museum janitor who learns she can step inside the paintings and falls in love with a one’s subject. Highly recommend!

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Let’s Make A Scene by Laura Wood | Romance | July 1

An actress has to revive a decade-old fake relationship with her co-star to get the movie’s sequel made. Gosh, I love a celeb romance trope!

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Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon | Thriller | July 8

Siblings with a culty past get caught up in a murder investigation at a luxury hotel. The author assured me this is scaredy cat safe!

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Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams | Literary Fiction | July 8

Calling all lovers of books set in the publishing industry! A young publicist has an ill-advised affair with a much older, married author.

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Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman | Romance | July 8

Yay! A return to the Funny You Should Ask universe with a romance between Gabe’s widowed sister and a much younger actor that was supposed to be a one-night fling.

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Bring the House Down by Charlotte Runcie | Literary Fiction | July 8

An comedienne unknowingly sleeps with a theater critic who pans her one-woman show, so she revamps it into a send up of the critic himself. Big Female Rage: The Musical vibes. (iykyk.)

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Slanting Toward the Sea by Lidija Hilje | Literary Fiction | July 8

A love triangle set against the backdrop of a Croatian summer.

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A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna | Romance | July 15

A witch teams up with a magic historian to reclaim her lost powers and finds love in the process. Cute, cozy, and quirky!

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My Train Leaves at Three by Natalie Guerrero | Contemporary Fiction | July 15

Morgan Pager

gave a rave review of this debut novel about a struggling actress who gets her big break as she’s mourning her sister’s death on the podcast recently!

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Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee | Contemporary Fiction | July 22

Fans of Catherine Newman (so, all of us?) will love this voice-y debut about a woman who gets served divorce papers and a cancer diagnosis in quick succession.

Here’s the latest book adaptation news on my radar. Publicists, producers, bookish insiders: if you have tips for next month, my inbox is open.

• Project Hail Mary has a trailer and it looks so good! There’s a bearded Ryan Gosling, a Harry Styles song, the quickest glimpses of Rocky! March 2026 feels so far away.

• Less far away: My Oxford Year comes to Netflix August 1 and also has a trailer. Note to self: stock up on tissues.

• Daisy Edgar Jones is starring in a Sense and Sensibility remake. This feels right.

• Some vague but promising mentions of an Addie LaRue movie in this V.E. Schwab interview.

• The People We Meet on Vacation adaptation has a release date: Jan 9, 2026!! As a rare PWMOV #1 ranker, this is huge news for me and my people!

• One of my friends (and her smut book club) are obsessed with the Mindf*ck series, so they’ll be thrilled to hear there’s an adaptation in the works.

• Elsie Silver’s hit cowboy romance series—Rose Hill—is also getting an adaptation.

• I haven’t read Divine Rivals, a mega popular YA romantasy duology, yet. But this adaptation news reminded me that I should loop back for it next time I’m in a YA mood.

And that’s this month’s book report. Until next time.

Becca

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1. I’m putting together a separate top reads of the year so far list. Look out for it in the next couple weeks.