Every month, Book of the Month releases a list of hardcover books and audiobooks for subscribers to choose from, and July’s catalog is full of great picks. Book of the Month has sent books directly to readers since 1926. The service is not only a way for people to read more, but it also helps new authors get their writing out in the world. In July, subscribers have five hardcover books and six audiobooks to choose from. These books vary in genre and author, yet any of them would be a strong pick to add to your “to-be-read” pile.

This month, Book of the Month subscribers have a diverse collection of books to choose from. In the hardcover section, there is a thriller, a literary fiction novel, a fantasy book, and two historical fiction options. Almost every book comes from an author who has already been featured at Book of the Month, though one is a debut. Meanwhile, the audiobooks have a similar sense of variety. There is contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, romance, and two highly anticipated thriller books. All in all, there is something for everyone to read this summer.

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House Of Glass: Sarah Pekkanen

July 2024 Book Offering

The first pick from Book of the Month’s July hardcover collection is House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen. This thriller follows Stella Hudson, an attorney who takes on an unsettling case. A nine-year-old girl witnessed the murder of her nanny, and she, or any of her family members, could have been the perpetrator. Stella’s suspicions only grow when she meets the girl and her family, who live in a house with no glass in historic Washington, D.C.

House of Glass looks to be an engaging and twisty thriller. Readers won’t know who to trust as Stella unravels the nanny’s murder and her client’s traumas. Sarah Pekkanen has released books via Book of the Month before, but House of Glass is particularly special because it is an early release. For those seeking a creepy and dark story, House of Glass is the ideal pick.

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Husbands & Lovers: Beatriz Williams

July 2024 Book Offering

One of Book of the Month’s two historical fiction books this month is Beatriz Williams’ Husbands & Lovers. This book follows two parallel storylines. In modern-day New England, a woman tries to find a kidney donor for her son, and in doing so, must finally face her life’s two biggest tragedies: her mother’s adoption in the 1950s and her summer fling with a now famous singer and songwriter. Meanwhile, in Cairo, 1951, another young woman tries to keep her perfect life together even as an affair and a revolution come knocking at her door.

Husbands & Lovers is a book for those who love generational stories full of complex connections and emotional hardships. Through two seemingly separate stories in two distinct time periods, Williams weaves a tapestry of heartbreak and family trauma. Husbands Lovers is Williams’ third novel released by Book of the Month. Overall, this historical fiction book will be a complicated, romantic, and moving look at one family’s darkest secrets.

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The God Of The Woods: Liz Moore

July 2024 Book Offering

For those seeking a dark literary fiction story, The God of the Woods is a strong contender. It centers on the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar, a 13-year-old whose family owns the very summer camp she disappeared from. Strangely enough, she isn’t the first Van Laar to disappear, either. Her brother vanished in similar circumstances over a decade ago, never to be heard from again.

Though The God of the Woods is not a thriller, it is a story that will keep readers guessing until the very end. With multiple perspectives and a timeline that jumps from era to era, this book dives deep into a mystery that has deep and disturbing roots. Plus, at over 400 pages, The God of the Woods will keep readers occupied for an entire beach day or more. Plus, Liz Moore is a repeat author at Book of the Month.

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The Lost Story: Meg Shaffer

July 2024 Book Offering

While several of Book of the Month’s July offerings have a darker ambiance, The Lost Story is a breath of fresh air. This fantasy book tells the story of Jeremy and Rafe, two friends who went missing in a forest for six months in their youth. As adults, only Jeremy remembers the magical world they discovered while they were gone, but now, he must let loose this secret to help find a woman’s missing sister. For the first time ever, Jeremy and Rafe must face their forgotten past together.

Although The Lost Story has a spooky edge to it, this is a much more whimsical tale than Book of the Month’s other July picks. While the main characters certainly have issues to work through, the book really centers on self-discovery, romance, and magic. This book has multiple perspectives and includes LGBTQ+ themes. Meg Shaffer is yet another repeat author for Book of the Month. Ultimately, The Lost Story is a perfect LGBTQ+ romance book for lovers of magic and mystery.

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A Thousand Times Before: Asha Thanki

July 2024 Book Offering

Likely the most epic book of July is Asha Thanki’s A Thousand Times Before. This story follows Ayukta, a woman who decides to share a major family secret with her wife: the magical tapestry that allows her to experience the lives of her female ancestors. Together, Ayukta and her wife relive her female relatives’ lives, through Partition-era India and beyond, and in turn, use these moments to make decisions about their own present-day predicament: whether they should have a child.

A Thousand Times Before is the only debut novel to be released as a hardcover by Book of the Month in July. In many ways, this makes it even better. Written by a fresh new author, readers will get to enjoy a distinct voice and what is sure to be a unique story. Plus, as the second historical fiction pick of the month, A Thousand Times Before delves into parts of history that many readers have likely never learned about before. In this way, this book is enlightening, touching, and deeply important.

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Honey: Isabel Banta

July 2024 Audiobook Offering

A particularly exciting audiobook hitting Book of the Month this July is Isabel Banta’s Honey. This contemporary fiction story follows Amber Young, a young woman whose dreams come true when she is invited to join the pop girl group Cloud9 in the late 1990s. However, fame is not exactly what Amber expected, and her life quickly begins to spiral as friends become foes and public opinion morphs her into someone entirely different.

Honey is an examination of celebrity culture, fame, and the music scene in the 1990s and early 2000s. On one hand, it is a nostalgic read bursting with pop culture, but on the other, it is a devastating story of ambition and talent being corrupted by the entertainment industry. For those who love celebrity tell-all documentaries or the Daisy Jones and the Six book or show, this debut is perfect.

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Under Your Spell: Laura Wood

July 2024 Audiobook Offering

Though several of Book of the Month’s July books have romance weaved throughout them, Under Your Spell is the only romance book coming out in July. The book follows a young woman named Clemmie who, after being cheated on and losing her job, does a childhood ritual with her sisters called the Breakup Spell. As a result, Clemmie ends up in an even worse situation: spending six weeks with an attractive and unavailable rock star. As her summer heats up, Clemmie must decide if she will be defined by her past or on the way to a new future.

Under Your Spell has everything a romance reader might want. From a messy protagonist to a musician love interest, this book seems to hit all the classic romance marks. Yet, with all its unique quirks, Under Your Spell will still be a wild ride with some unexpected twists and turns. This book is for lovers of Practical Magic and music-centered books.

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A Talent For Murder: Peter Swanson

July 2024 Audiobook Offering

July is a big month for thrillers, and A Talent for Murder is another exhilarating option. The novel tells the story of Martha, an archival librarian who agrees to marry a kind divorcee who is off on business for half of the year. The marriage goes well at first, but Martha soon begins to suspect that her husband may not be who he says he is. After discovering a suspicious trail of murders in her husband’s path, Martha enlists help from an old friend to figure out if she’s married to a serial killer.

A Talent for Murder has a premise that is immediately hair-raising. Though Martha suspects her husband is a murderer, it is almost guaranteed that this book will provide a plot twist that readers cannot see coming. Among the many thrillers in Book of the Month’s catalog in July, this story may have less mystery but is already infused with horror.

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The Lion Women Of Tehran: Marjan Kamali

July 2024 Audiobook Offering

Another historical story available at Book of the Month in July is The Lion Women of Tehran. Set in 1950s Iran, this story follows Ellie, a young girl whose privileged life is turned upside down when her father dies unexpectedly. Luckily, though, Ellie finds solace in another young girl named Homa. After Ellie returns to her wealthy lifestyle, she forgets about Homa, but the girls eventually reunite, and must decide who they want to be as revolution brews around them.

The Lion Women of Tehran is yet another moving depiction of young women trying to survive in a time and place that does not treat them fairly. However, with the power of friendship, the characters find their place in the world, and more importantly, stand up for what they believe in. Along with being steeped into the culture and history of 1950s Tehran, The Lion Women of Tehran will leave readers feeling emotional and nostalgic for their childhoods.

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Bad Tourists: Caro Carver

July 2024 Audiobook Offering

The final thriller being offered by Book of the Month is Caro Carver’s Bad Tourists. This murder mystery story revolves around Darcy, Camilla, and Kate, three best friends who take a much-needed post-divorce vacation to the Maldives. However, their relaxation comes to a halt when a body appears on the beach. Suddenly, their secrets, and those of their fellow guests, become of the utmost importance.

Summer is already a great time to become invested in a fast-paced thriller, but Bad Tourists raises the stakes with its beachy summer setting. This is the ideal book to keep readers occupied on summer vacation. Plus, its themes of female friendship make this story not only riveting, but relatable as well. Those who love Big Little Lies may be fans of Bad Tourists.

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Margo’s Got Money Troubles: Rufi Thorpe

July 2024 Audiobook Offering

Likely the funniest and strangest book among Book of the Month’s July picks is Margo’s Got Money Troubles. The literary fiction novel follows Margo, a young single mother who has no job and no future. However, when her pro-wrestler father moves in with her, she comes up with a plan. Using his advice about building a character and an audience, Margo starts an OnlyFans account to support herself and her child. However, her internet fame quickly gets out of control.

Readers who are looking for a laugh should most definitely pick Margo’s Got Money Troubles. Though the premise is odd, the book promises to explore important issues such as generational trauma, class differences, and internet culture. Plus, as much as this book is comedic, it is also full of heartwarming moments. Overall, this is Book of the Month‘s most interesting book of July.