Jun 30

Jun 30 Books Publishing This Week

As June gives way to July, summer feels as though it has reached its stride. The season is no longer arriving; it is here in all its abundance. The days are warm and languid, stretching lazily toward evenings that seem reluctant to end. The air smells faintly of sunscreen and freshly mowed lawns, and somewhere nearby, hydrangeas are blooming with cheerful confidence. You can hear the hum of cicadas in the trees and the occasional laughter of children whose summer schedules are blissfully unstructured.

There is something particularly lovely about this threshold between months. June carries the excitement of summer's arrival, but July promises its fullest pleasures. Vacations are planned, gardens are flourishing, and the world seems to collectively agree that some things are simply better when savored slowly.

Which is why it feels like the perfect moment to begin a new book.

The book has been sitting nearby for days now. Perhaps it arrived in the mail earlier in the week, or maybe you've been saving it, waiting for exactly the right moment. You didn't know what that moment would look like, but now, as the last days of June blend into the first days of July, you recognize it immediately.

You carry the book outside with you, along with a tall glass of something cold. Maybe it's iced tea with slices of lemon floating on top, or sparkling water poured into a glass that catches the afternoon sunlight. You settle into a wicker chair on the porch or stretch out on a chaise lounge beneath the shade of an umbrella. A gentle breeze moves through the trees overhead, stirring the leaves and carrying with it the scent of warm earth and blooming flowers.

For a few moments, you simply sit and take in the day.

The sunlight dapples across your feet. Bees drift lazily among the lavender. A cardinal lands briefly on the fence before disappearing into the trees. Somewhere down the street, a sprinkler clicks rhythmically, and a wind chime offers an occasional soft note. Everything feels unhurried.

And perhaps that is what you love most about this time of year.

Summer does not demand urgency. It rewards lingering.

You open the book.

There is something deeply satisfying about those first pages. The uncreased spine. The crispness of the paper. The sense of possibility contained within the covers. Entire lives and stories are waiting for you, and you haven't the slightest idea where they will lead.

The first chapter unfolds with the same easy rhythm as the afternoon itself. You read slowly, occasionally pausing to take a sip of your drink or admire the movement of the clouds overhead. The story begins to reveal itself, one careful page at a time. Characters emerge. A setting takes shape. Questions arise.

You feel that familiar excitement building—not the kind that rushes you forward, but the quieter kind. The kind that makes you eager to return tomorrow. The kind that transforms a book into a companion for the days ahead.

As the hours pass, the sunlight shifts. Afternoon slowly softens toward evening. The air grows slightly cooler, and the shadows lengthen across the yard. Fireflies will come later, and perhaps a spectacular sunset. But for now, the world remains bathed in golden light, and you remain happily absorbed in the pages before you.

Eventually, you close the book and mark your place. Not because you're finished for the day, but because there is pleasure in anticipation. The story will wait for you. Summer itself seems to understand that some things are best enjoyed gradually.

You lean back in your chair and glance at the sky, which seems impossibly blue against the green canopy of leaves overhead. June is ending. July is beginning. And somewhere between the two, with a new book resting in your lap and the warmth of summer surrounding you, you realize that happiness often arrives in moments exactly like this—quiet, sunlit, and entirely ordinary, yet somehow unforgettable.

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Books Publishing June 28 - July 4

The Moon Papers by Emmalea Russo

A controversial arts collective is rolling out their most audacious project to date: a second moon, set to launch from the Mojave Desert and into the Earth’s atmosphere at the summer’s end. The problem? No one seems to understand how “Moon2” actually works, or how it may alter the mind of every creature on the planet.

The project is classified, but a malcontent member of the collective, Dean Konig, threatens their privacy with his secret long-distance relationship with an East Coast artist, Vesta Furio. Their constant video calls allow him to escape the confines of this isolated desert compound, while giving Vesta an escape from her failing marriage to an aging art gallerist who is spiraling down a rabbit hole of conspiracies surrounding Moon2.

The Moon Papers tracks an intricately linked collection of characters between the East Coast and the Mojave Desert in the deliriously hot summer months leading up to the divisive launch event. A raucous, psychedelic, and humorous meditation on artistic and mystical vision, surveillance, conspiracy, and what makes us human.

All You Need Is Flights by Jen Ruiz

In All You Need Is Flights, Jen Ruiz transforms an unexpected breakup into a gift: the catalyst for an inner journey toward greater self-worth through another year of solo travel adventures.

A major life transformation starting on your thirtieth birthday, leading to an entirely different and exciting new career? Jen Ruiz (aka @jenonajetplane) has been there and done just that … and shared that first adventure with readers in 12 Trips in 12 Months.

Getting dumped and having to restart your life completely (again!) just before your thirty-fifth birthday? Definitely not on the agenda.

Abruptly single, Jen made a wish on an Egyptian statue, which became the catalyst for another year of adventure and personal growth.

In All You Need Is Flights, readers are whisked away again for a year of exploration and growth as Jen regains her solo travel magic and learns to love herself. Whether she is eating pizza on a volcano in Guatemala, mending ceramics with gold in Japan, marveling at the Moai on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), or walking among the giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park, this intrepid travel writer faces health scares and mountain climbs with curiosity and her signature wit—all while discovering what truly matters and how setbacks can make you stronger.

The Lost Chateau by Dinah Jefferies

Amid tangled gardens and crumbling walls, Chateau Rousseau guards its secrets well.

Pushing open its faded door, Thirza Caruthers arrives to care for her great-aunt. She's made a promise – unaware of what awaits.

As the skies darken above Europe, the chateau begins to reveal its secrets: stories of forbidden love, devastating betrayal, and a child who vanished years ago.

But in uncovering the truth, Thirza may lose herself forever.

Keep Them Close by David Ellis

From the bestselling author of Look Closer comes a new domestic thriller about betrayal and murder inside one twisted family

Two siblings. One murder. So many lies.

Siblings Allison and Luke have been through a lot together. They’ve always stood by each other. They’d do anything for each other.

Or so it seems.

When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation threatens to expose the siblings’ darkest secrets. An illicit affair. A decades-old accident. A stunning deception. How do these events explain Finley’s death? How far will Allison and Luke go to keep their secrets buried? And can the siblings even trust one another anymore?

As the investigation winds tighter and past and present collide, the most shocking betrayal might lie a little too close to home…

The Ghost City by Ryan Pote

An ancient secret hidden in a forgotten city holds the key to modern riches in this exhilarating sequel to Blood and Treasure.

Once you've made your first ten billion, what's more money? What any billionaire really wants isn't money, it's power, and Shan Zhang has the perfect plan to achieve that. The discovery of a manuscript from the renowned explorer Marco Polo leads to an ancient city buried under the snows of Antarctica. Within that city lies the key to a forgotten technology that will transform modern society, but that transformation may cause the deaths of millions.

Professional treasure hunter and adventurer Ethan Cain is working on the Mekong River in Vietnam when the massive waterway suddenly goes dry. It's a stunning ecological disaster. One that Ethan can't ignore. His quest for answers will lead him to Zhang and ultimately a confrontation from which only one of them will emerge.

Winners and Liars by Aleema Omotoni

Knives Out meets Death at Morning House in this thrilling standalone mystery layered with family secrets, the whitewashing of history, and a high-stakes literary competition for the keys to a Victorian-era English estate—from Aleema Omotoni, the NAACP Image Award-winning author of Everyone’s Thinking It.

Derin’s acceptance into Cambridge University is the end of an era—just not the one she expected.

When she and her ultra-competitive Uni prep group, the Kenfield Set, were first invited to Professor Darnley’s summer ball, they planned on celebrating the group’s success, surrounded by the riches of his historical Kenfield estate—not kicking off the festivities with the professor’s will reading.

But when the Darnleys’ aristocratic children are disinherited, the students are offered the opportunity of a lifetime: compete in a Victorian, literary-inspired inheritance competition to be named the new heir—winner takes all!

For Derin, it’s a chance to help her working-class family. But the remaining Darnleys won’t take losing their stately home and its multimillion-pound inheritance lying down. And added to the mix, a mysterious note is slipped under Derin’s door alluding to a dark family secret lying in wait.

Now Derin must balance the cutthroat games; scheming relatives; and a cute Kenfield intern amid her dawning realization that the history of this inheritance might be soaked in lies . . . and blood.

Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Castle

Nightmares become real when a woman trying to rebuild her life enters the Hotel of Dreams in this exhilarating Harmony novel by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle.

Alice Radstone should have known not to return. Her life before the Hotel of Dreams had been the perfectly cloistered world of a teacher at the Ballantine Academy. When the death of her mentor forced her out, she was left to reinvent herself in the big city. Since then, things have not gone well. Ten months ago, after her first trip to the hotel, she woke up in the locked ward of a hospital for the criminally insane, told that she had murdered her husband on their wedding night. She has no memory of the husband or the wedding but after escaping the asylum, one thing is certain—she is never going back.

Unfortunately, Alice’s second reinvented life is also deteriorating rapidly, which is why she finds herself once again at the Hotel of Dreams—this time hiding in the shadows of her room, a dead body in the shower, and two men wearing masks creeping toward the bed to kidnap her. Again.

When the enigmatic and decidedly dangerous Owen March shows up, claiming he’s there to rescue her, she has no choice but to accept his offer—and hope that he doesn’t intend to kidnap her, too.

With Alice and now Owen in the killer’s sights, time is running out. Alice and Owen must trust each other and the electric passion between them if they are to make it out of this hotel alive.

The Wash-Ashores by Hannah McKinnon

With only one summer to turn things around, one woman finds herself fighting to hold together the one place that’s always felt like home with the people who have become like family, in this summery novel from USA TODAY bestselling author of The Sandy Page Bookshop.

Thirty-year-old Holly has inherited the historic Cranberry Inn on Cape Cod from her grandmother, Francine. Only Francine is not dead. At least not yet. And she’s not fully convinced the Cranberry Inn is the right fit for Holly; despite its rich maritime history, the Victorian beauty is showing its age and it’s so much work. Besides, she has an offer from a developer that she’s not sure she can turn down.

Unsure what to do, Francine decides she cannot let Holly take over without a dry run summer. As Francine tries to sequester herself to the sidelines, Holly finally has the chance to prove herself. And time is of essence because this summer they are hosting the Suttons, a prominent New York family of a famed social media influencer who expect no less than perfection for their only daughter’s summer nuptials. A move that Holly is convinced will boost the inn’s revenue and steer it back on track.

If that weren’t enough, Ben is back. Ben’s family has summered in the house across the cove from the Cranberry Inn since Holly and Ben were kids. Like her, he’s starting his own family business: an oyster farm just up the shore. Only Holly hasn’t seen Ben since he shocked her with news of his engagement to another woman several years ago. The way they left things was like a conversation unfinished, and one that Ben seems interested in revisiting.

With a wedding looming and a bride hedging and a staff feeling adrift, can Holly pull everyone together to ensure that the beloved Cranberry Inn will survive another summer?

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim

Fantasy meets sports romance in this sizzling slow-burn novel in which the disgraced star of a brutal magical sport must team up with the rival who destroyed her career, from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The God and the Gumiho.

This trophy-worthy first edition hardcover features designed sprayed edges, illustrated endpapers with a high-flying romantic moment, and a deluxe jacket with sculpture emboss and foil—show off your team colors, while supplies last!

“Fourth Wing-meets-rugby is something I didn't know I needed in my life, but now I’m obsessed. The Winged Game is going to be the next big thing for sure!”—Ruby Dixon, New York Times bestselling author

Carriwitchet, the violent, rugby-esque game played atop winged beasts, was once Taissa Cho’s whole life, and she was once the United Kingdom’s most promising player. Until her nemesis, rival player Kion Locke, destroyed her career in a single moment. Expelled from the sport in disgrace, Taissa has spent the last two years dreaming of nothing but revenge and relishing watching Kion’s team plummet to the bottom of the league.

So when Taissa is offered the chance to redeem herself and her career, she can’t refuse—even if the offer is coming from the very man who ruined everything in the first place. It’s close to a dream come true . . . except for that pesky clause in her contract that demands she and Kion enter a fake relationship in order to garner some much-needed positive PR for the team. This could not be a worse match. Taissa and Kion only have two things in common: their love of the game, and their undying hatred for each other.

Yet as a mysterious illness befalls the winged creatures of the entire league—putting both the beasts’ lives and the very sport itself at stake—the athletes find themselves partnering up in other ways, determined to crack the case of the eerie sickness. As their investigation takes them on a whirlwind adventure, Kion and Taissa are prepared for anything . . .

Anything, that is, but their fake-for-the-cameras relationship to maybe, just maybe, become something real after all.

The Delivery by Gregg Hurwitz

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X series comes a tense novella, a psychological thriller about an AI companion that will do anything to serve―with terrifying consequences.

Rebecca and Mark Higgins are doing their best to hold their family together. She’s healing from the pain of a miscarriage, he’s drowning in pressure at work, and their neurodivergent daughter, Maddy, needs all the care she can get. So when a cutting-edge tech company offers the perfect solution, they jump at the chance. And they welcome “Mr. Man”―a humanoid AI companion―into their home.

Designed to anticipate their needs, he’s like a miracle at first. The house runs like clockwork. Meals appear on the table. And Maddy thrives under his patient attention. But when inexplicable tragedies start to strike the neighborhood, Rebecca glimpses a darker pattern at play.

Each incident is an answer to an unspoken fear, each kindness shadowed by violence. Mr. Man isn’t just following instructions―he’s anticipating what they want. Even the things they never dared to say. And if he’s executing their darkest desires, it’s their responsibility to stop him…at any cost.

Mother & Slaughter by Liz Shipton

The Handmaid's Tale meets Kill Bill...but make it a fantasy book.

A hundred-and-fifty years ago, the women of Draconia were stripped of their magic. Since then, every girl who comes of age in the kingdom has been given a choice: have kids or become a gladiator.

Eleanor Skinner chose gladiator, and at 35, she's now the oldest undefeated gladiator in the history of Draconia. She's wealthy, she's notorious, and overall, she's pretty happy being a child-free lady-killer, thank you very much.

Then a one-night stand leaves her knocked up.

Eleanor would literally rather be decapitated in the arena than have to raise a child. Unfortunately, she gets no say in the matter. So when she hears about a witch who lives outside the kingdom and might still have her power, Eleanor and her best friend Rosalind embark on a quest to find her and end the pregnancy with magic.

But the journey takes an unexpected turn, bringing Eleanor face-to-face with old flames, new friends, and secrets about Draconia that would make any self-respecting feminist want to stand up, pick up a sword, and use it to slaughter the patriarchy.

This is a found family tale of female friendship, trans rights, immigration, and putting a sword up the president's butt. It uses humor to engage with sensitive topics, and directly satirizes the US administration under Donald Trump. The enemies-to-lovers romantic subplot is secondary to the plot and politics, but the banter is second to none. Perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood, Terry Pratchett and Quentin Tarantino.

Sketch by Ros Hill

Author and illustrator Ros Hill is releasing an action-packed debut novel perfect for Marvel fans: “Sketch” (July 1, 2026, ages 14+). When an artist draws his superhero character, “Sketch,” with magic ink, Sketch miraculously manifests in real life–but it will take an adventure of self-discovery for him to recover his powers, defeat his nemesis, and learn what it really means to be a hero–and a human.

Tarot for the Flawed and Fearless by Shavonne Readus

Tarot for the Flawed and Fearless is an informative, hands-on guide to working with the Major Arcana to create, embody, and express confidence in one’s daily life. Using the meanings and energies of the cards, symbology, and astrological influences, readers will be able to pinpoint their preferred archetype(s) to work with through mind, body, and spirit integration practices. This will allow them to step into their true sense of self, enabling them to navigate the world and create an abundant life on their terms.

Palms on the Cape by Jenn Bouchard

After a tumultuous childhood with a mother she describes as “a train wreck compounded by a dumpster fire that smelled like cheap perfume,” Rachel Sinclair has made a life for herself. On the verge of turning forty, her upscale beach bar–Palms on the Cape–is packed with vacationers and regulars throughout the busy Cape Cod summer season. She has surrounded herself with a chosen family of devoted staff and great friends, including her best friend, Carlos...who she might be in love with. When a visiting study group from a Vermont business school–known as the A-List–descends on Rachel’s bar in late August, she gets pulled in by the charms of their leader, Tripper, a younger man with good looks, access, and tremendous connections in the restaurant industry. When Rachel learns of the A-List’s plans to take over her business, she must decide if it’s worth the gamble to join forces with an unlikely ally, or risk losing everything she has worked for.

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