July 2021: 5 Books on my Reading List

Hi everyone!  Here in Vancouver, it’s starting to feel like summer!  I love the longer day lengths, days on the patio and more meals cooked on the barbecue.  July is also a month of great books coming out, and I’d like to share 5 of the books I’ll be reading in July 2021.  So sit back, grab your favourite beverage, and see if I can find your next great read!

From the Publisher:

”The small town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is an unlikely location for a Playboy Resort, and nineteen-year old Sherri Taylor is an unlikely bunny. Growing up in neighboring East Troy, Sherri plays the organ at the local church and has never felt comfortable in her own skin. But when her parents die in quick succession, she leaves the only home she’s ever known for the chance to be part of a glamorous slice of history. In the winter of 1981, in a costume two sizes too small, her toes pinched by stilettos, Sherri joins the daughters of dairy farmers and factory workers for the defining experience of her life.

Living in the “bunny hutch”—Playboy’s version of a college dorm—Sherri gets her education in the joys of sisterhood, the thrill of financial independence, the magic of first love, and the heady effects of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But as spring gives way to summer, Sherri finds herself caught in a romantic triangle—and the tragedy that ensues will haunt her for the next forty years.

From the Midwestern prairie to the California desert, from Wisconsin lakes to the Pacific Ocean, this is a story of what happens when small town life is sprinkled with stardust, and what we lose—and gain—when we leave home. With a heroine to root for and a narrative to get lost in, Christina Clancy’s Shoulder Season is a sexy, evocative tale, drenched in longing and desire, that captures a fleeting moment in American history with nostalgia and heart”.

Why I Decided to Read Shoulder Season:

I really enjoy books set in this time period and the synopsis of this book sounds like it will keep me entertained!  I’ll be listening to the audiobook version so look for my review during early July 2021.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publishes: July 6 by St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, 336 pages or 10 hrs and 44 minutes.

From the Publisher:

“After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything”.

Why I Decided to read The Forest of Vanishing Stars:

Good question, since I’m not one that is attracted to wartime historical fiction!  What convinced me to read this book is the author’s last book The Book of Lost Names which was so beautifully written. I’m hopeful this one will be too.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publishes: July 6 by Gallery Books and Simon & Schuster Canada, 384 pages.

From the Publisher:

“The Buchanan sisters share everything—including their inherited Juniper Inn. But when their mother won’t let go of a decades-long feud with their Aunt Sassy to attend the inn’s grand re-opening, the sisters decide a family reunion is long overdue.

Youngest sister Rose is determined to put together an extravagant celebration. Only she needs to convince a certain surly hardware store owner to help finish the inn’s renovations.

After a heartbreaking end to her marriage, Dahlia and her kids are just starting to rebuild their lives. Dahlia’s even considering opening herself up to love again, but will that upset the stability she’s worked so hard to give her children?

Sassy McGrath has never stopped missing her sister, Lillian, and though they’ve both been too stubborn to reconcile, some shocking news might finally change everything. As family bonds are tested, will these two very different generations of women find the strength to believe in themselves and each other”?

Why I Decided to read The Summer Sisters in July 2021:

After being introduced to the Buchanan sisters in Home for the Holidays, I  wanted to read more about this family!  I love Women’s Fiction and really enjoy the author’s writing style.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publishes: July 6 by Forever (Grand Central Publishing), 352 pages.

From the Publisher:

“Ben Stephens has never bothered with serious relationships. He has plenty of casual dates to keep him busy, family drama he’s trying to ignore and his advertising job to focus on. When Ben lands a huge ad campaign featuring movie star, Anna Gardiner, however, it’s hard to keep it purely professional. Anna is not just gorgeous and sexy, she’s also down to earth and considerate, and he can’t help flirting a little…

Anna Gardiner is on a mission: to make herself a household name, and this ad campaign will be a great distraction while she waits to hear if she’s booked her next movie. However, she didn’t expect Ben Stephens to be her biggest distraction. She knows mixing business with pleasure never works out, but why not indulge in a harmless flirtation?

But their light-hearted banter takes a turn for the serious when Ben helps Anna in a family emergency, and they reveal truths about themselves to each other, truths they’ve barely shared with those closest to them.

When the opportunity comes to turn their real-life fling into something more for the Hollywood spotlight, will Ben be content to play the background role in Anna’s life and leave when the cameras stop rolling? Or could he be the leading man she needs to craft their own Hollywood ending”?

Why I Decided to read While We Were Dating in July 2021:

I have read the previous 5 books in the series (including Party of Two and Royal Holiday ) and this author has become one of my favourite OwnVoices authors. Each book can easily be read as a standalone so don’t feel you have to read 5 books before you pick up this one.

Genre: Multicultural Interest, OwnVoices and Romance.

Publishes: July 13 by Berkley Publishing, 336 pages.

From the Publisher:

“It’s been nearly six years since Julia Jones had her heart broken. After her husband became involved with another woman, she did everything she could to save their marriage, to no avail. Their two daughters continue to stand by Julia in the wake of their father’s behavior—and they’ve had a tough time getting along with the “other woman” who became their stepmother. Distraught after selling the family home, Julia moves into a condominium complex that offers the warmth and charm of a fresh start. Now, having settled into her new community and sold her successful interior design business, she’s embraced a fulfilling new life, one that doesn’t seem to need a man in it. Her beloved father’s trusty saying is ringing truer than ever: It’s better this way.

But when Julia meets a handsome new resident in the building’s exercise room, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Heath Johnson is a welcome change from the men she’s encountered on the occasional—mostly disastrous—dates her sister has eagerly planned for her over the years. As she and Heath, a divorcé himself, begin to grow close, their friendship blossoms into an unexpected love. However, they soon realize that combining families proves to be a challenge, even though their four children are adults.

When a dramatic revelation threatens the happiness they’ve found, Julia and Heath must reconcile their love for their children with their love for each other. If they can’t, their bright future together may be nothing but a dream”.

Why I Decided to read It’s Better This Way in July 2021:

Debbie Macomber is one of my favourite authors and I have read many of her books including A Walk Along the Beach and Jingle All the Way.  Her ability to create strong female characters which have some life experience particularly resonates with me.

So there you have it!  5 Books I’ll Be Reading in July 2021.  Will you be adding any of these books to your To Be Read shelf?  Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading and supporting my blog!  I hope you have a great July!