Unboxing My Latest Book Haul
Book Mail: A Roundup of the Book Mail I Received Last Week
The end of July has that bittersweet glow of a summer romance you never want to end, and this week’s book mail felt like one more perfect chapter. My TBR pile has grown into a delightfully wobbly stack of possibility, thanks to a book haul overflowing with new book releases that seem made for golden evenings and one-more-chapter nights. Each package arrived with thoughtful book recommendations, like handwritten notes from fellow readers who know that the best stories always find you at just the right time. And as I settle them onto the shelf, I can't help but imagine that a few of these titles will soon be celebrated among the best books of 2026—the books that will forever remind me of sunshine, long days, and the incomparable joy of finding a new favorite in the mailbox.
Where to Buy These Books:
I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.
This Week’s Book Mail Includes:
Living in the Long Shadow by Suzanne Sherman — A moving dual-timeline memoir about growing up with a mother battling schizophrenia and discovering that love can endure even after unimaginable loss.
Marla by Jonathan Janz — A chilling horror novel in which a mysterious woman at the center of small-town legends becomes the key to an unspeakable nightmare.
The Camino by Anya Niewierra — After her husband's shocking death on the Camino de Santiago, a grieving widow retraces his steps and uncovers dangerous secrets that someone will kill to protect.
The Runner by Scarlett Thomas — A man hunted for decades races across continents to outrun assassins while risking everything for an unexpected chance at love.
An Accident of Birth by T. Alex Blum — A powerful memoir about an adoptee whose life is transformed by a DNA test that uncovers the family he never knew existed.
Icefall by Michael Newman and Jon Land — When an ancient alien threat is unleashed from a melting glacier, humanity's survival depends on extraordinary heroes awakening to face it.
The Swiss Agent by Anna Pitoniak — Two CIA operatives unravel a deadly international conspiracy where political corruption and long-buried secrets collide.
War Boys by Jason Prokowiew — An emotional memoir exploring the lasting scars of war as a son seeks to understand the trauma that shaped his abusive father.
The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury — Two Oxford students are recruited by MI5 to uncover a Soviet spy while navigating danger, romance, and postwar intrigue.
The Brides by Charlotte Cross — A gothic reimagining of Dracula's brides follows four women whose journey to Transylvania leads them into unimaginable horror.
Games by Anna Maria Volkova — A brilliant graduate student becomes entangled in a passionate, complicated romance that forces her to confront ambition, desire, and identity.
Love You More by Emily Giffin — A newly engaged woman's carefully planned future is upended when a call from her first love sends her back to the past.
Lady X by Molly Fader — Three generations of women become connected through the explosive legacy of a legendary feminist vigilante.
When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams — A young widow returns home and finds herself swept into a centuries-old treasure hunt intertwined with lost love and family secrets.
This is Jazz and Other Modern Dances by Dr. Rekha S. Rajan — An energetic picture book introducing young readers to the joyful world of jazz and modern dance through movement and creativity.
The Treasure House by Amy Matthews — A single mother's fresh start in a cluttered fixer-upper uncovers forgotten secrets, unexpected romance, and a chance to rebuild her life.
The Mortal Enemy Murder Club by Gloria Chao — The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club returns to solve another murder after joining forces with the very podcaster who once framed them.
Unpredictable Magic by Faith Hunter — Paranormal investigators must stop supernatural forces from plunging their city into chaos after a missing-person case spirals out of control.
Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels — Former Hollywood sweethearts reunite on the set of their past, forcing them to confront old heartbreak and hidden truths.
Summer People by Sally Blakely — A secret summer romance resurfaces years later when lifelong friends reunite at the beach house where everything began.
Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs — Inspired by true events, this unforgettable novel follows six young women forging friendship and resilience inside a brutal Catholic reform school.
Strange Bedfellows by Amanda Mortlock — A magical love story follows a young woman who can become a cat as dark secrets threaten the future she longs to build.
Where Wilted Flowers Bloom by Johanna Rojas Vann — A grieving mother's move to Nashville leads to an unexpected friendship that offers hope in the wake of profound loss.
The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood — The Marlow Murder Club faces its most personal mystery yet when Judith herself becomes the center of suspicion.
Vengefully Matched by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff — A runaway witch and her buttoned-up rival fake a relationship to catch a killer, only to discover real sparks between them.
Bump, Set, Sparks by Jennifer Moffatt — Rival beach volleyball players discover that fierce competition and undeniable chemistry can make the perfect match.
The Paddock Club by Madge Maril — A professional heartbreaker enters the glamorous world of Formula 1 only to fall for the one man she was never supposed to love.
What Do I Tell My Daughter?: Hard-Won Wisdoms for Tomorrow's Women by Katie Trexler — A candid memoir about motherhood, identity, and reclaiming yourself after sacrificing everything for your family.
When Paris Whispers by Marianne C. Bohr — A young woman's dream of Paris becomes an unforgettable journey of self-discovery as the city reveals truths she never expected.
