PEOPLE’s picks for the best books in July 2024
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(780x403:782x405)/july-book-picks-f6b0ca3a53ac480e9f14ac015c61307f.jpg "PEOPLE’s picks for the best books in July 2024")
The dog days of summer are upon us, and with them come some great new books to pick up on your next beach trip.
From a McCarthy-era rogue novel to bad rich kids — plus memoirs and biographies of new celebrities — here are PEOPLE’s picks for the best new books to read this July.
“JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography” by RoseMarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil
Simon & Schuster
Twenty-five years after his tragic death, John F. Kennedy Jr. is back in the spotlight in this intimate, one-of-a-kind biography. This comprehensive look at his life – written by his former assistant and close friend RoseMarie Terenzio and PEOPLE editor-in-chief Liz McNeil – reveals a new side of the beloved figure, including insights from his closest friends and confidants.
“Loud” by Drew Afulo
Courtesy of AUWA Books
In 2020, Drew Afulo had enough of the sexist, racist, and bigoted content she was seeing online and took to social media to voice her concerns. Now, the rising internet star, known as a “crusader for women,” shares her message of inclusivity in her first memoir. An empowering read.
“The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn
The disparate residents of an all-women’s dormitory in McCarthy-era Washington are brought together by a mysterious newcomer who harbors a dangerous secret that threatens to be exposed by a murder. Quinn impressively balances the outward cheerfulness of the 1950s with historical observations that examine racism, misogyny, homophobia, and political persecution in this sharply drawn, gripping novel. — Robin Micheli
“Long Island Compromise” by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Carl and Ruth Fletcher’s grown-up children have everything money can buy, but they’re all in a mess – and now the family fortune is in danger. Could it be a blessing in disguise? An absurd, entertaining drama about generational trauma. — Kim Hubbard
“More, Please” by Emma Specter
“For as long as I can remember, my mother was always beautiful.” It’s a compelling opening sentence, and the pages that follow – which delve into societal expectations of the female body and the author’s own struggles with diet culture and binge eating – do not disappoint. Unflinching and insightful. – Kim Hubbard
“Ladykiller” by Katherine Wood
A shared tragedy as teenagers connects heiress Gia and bookworm Abby forever, even as their lives diverge as they grow older. Decades later, glamorous Gia invites Abby on a journey to reconnect, then disappears, leaving behind only an unfinished manuscript detailing the days before her disappearance. A dazzling mystery with shades of Ex girlfriend.
“The Coin” by Yasmin Zaher
When a wealthy, eccentric Palestinian woman moves to New York, begins teaching at a middle school, and becomes involved in a bag-selling scam, she begins to unravel. Watching her become involved in a scam and what follows is a gripping delight.
“All This and More” by Peng Shepherd
“All This and More” by Peng Shepherd
Remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books? This fun, participatory novel is about a television show that allows people to change their destinies and raises questions about technology and fate.
“The God of the Forest” by Liz Moore
In 1961, the disappearance of 8-year-old Bear Van Laar rocked his wealthy family. Now, 14 years later, Bear’s teenage sister has vanished from a summer camp near the family estate in the Adirondack Mountains. Moore intersects past and present, keeping the tension at a boiling point as he paints nuanced portraits of the unworldly Van Laars, their followers, and the locals who both depend on them and hate them. A direct hit. — Kim Hubbard
“Masquerade” by OO Sangoyomi
This brilliant debut takes you to a reimagined 15th century West Africa. The vivid prose tells the story of Òdòdó, a blacksmith who is kidnapped by a king to become his wife. As she navigates the politics of her new life, her journey is captivating – a haunting, unique story. – McKenzie Jean-Philippe
“Teddy” by Emily Dunlay
Teddy has always suffered under the thumb of her powerful family in Dallas and now also under that of her controlling husband, an American embassy employee in Rome. Then a paparazzo photo threatens to destroy her. The glamour of The Dolce Vita and the repressive sexism of the 1960s pulses through this gripping exploration of the female psyche. — Robin Micheli
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