Unboxing My Latest Book Haul
Book Mail: A Roundup of the Book Mail I Received Last Week
Mid-June feels like the part of a romcom where everything is bathed in golden light, and this week’s book mail arrived with exactly that kind of charm. My TBR pile has grown into a sunlit stack of possibility, thanks to a delightful book haul filled with new book releases that practically beg to be tossed into a beach bag or read under a shady tree. Each package carried thoughtful book recommendations, little reminders that the right story always seems to arrive at exactly the right moment. And somewhere among these pages, I’m certain, are a few of the best books of 2026—the kind you press into a friend’s hands and say, “You absolutely have to read this.”
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:
Tell Two Friends by Ann Garvin — A seemingly ordinary woman becomes the target of a chilling decades-long scheme in this darkly funny thriller about survival, revenge, and underestimating women.
A Treason of Magic by Melissa Marr — Star-crossed destinies, dangerous faery beasts, and forbidden love collide in this lush historical fantasy steeped in magic and heartbreak.
The Woman I’ve Become by Debra Webb — A psychologist’s carefully rebuilt life unravels when the secrets of her escape from a serial killer resurface in terrifying ways.
Landscape in Lavender by Brooks Kolb — This heartfelt memoir traces one man’s search for identity, love, and belonging through the AIDS crisis and beyond.
The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin — The legendary feud between Wallis Simpson and Queen Elizabeth unfolds amid scandal, rivalry, and royal intrigue during the abdication crisis.
The Danger to Be Sane by Rosa Montero — Part memoir, part literary exploration, this dazzling book examines the fragile line between creativity and madness.
Their Will Undone by R.J. Valldeperas — An Inca-inspired YA fantasy where a future emperor’s bride and her brooding escort battle forbidden attraction, dark magic, and impossible loyalties.
Fancy Meeting You by Louise Marburg — A sharp, witty portrait of a middle-aged woman reinventing herself through lies, awkward encounters, and unexpected connections.
Murder by Design by Lee Goldberg — A brilliant but abrasive investigator uncovers murders hidden in plain sight through the architecture and systems of the modern world.
Stranded in the Future by Robyn Hitchcock — Music, obsession, memory, and the strange haze of the 1970s intertwine in this lyrical memoir from the legendary musician.
Class Reunion by Gail Ward Olmsted — A lawyer defending an old classmate accused of murder must untangle loyalty, betrayal, and buried resentments from the past.
Witch Daughter by Tanaz Bhathena — Ancient Persian mythology comes alive in this sweeping tale of prophecy, forbidden love, and a mother’s desperate fight against fate.
The Secret Dinner by Raphael Montes — Four struggling friends descend into a horrifying underground world of elite dinner parties with deadly appetites in this shocking thriller.
Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne — A suburban mom who moonlights as a hired assassin is stunned when her next target turns out to be her husband.
Miriam in the Shadows by John Winn Miller — A Jewish resistance operative undertakes a deadly mission behind Nazi lines in this gripping World War II espionage thriller.
The Scoop by Erin Van Der Meer — A desperate journalist gets pulled into the ruthless world of tabloid reporting where ambition and morality dangerously collide.
The Missed Connection by Tia Williams — A chance airplane encounter sparks an international search for “Seat F” in this glamorous, heartfelt romantic comedy.
The Forty-Year Grudge by Liza Tully — A sorority reunion at a remote ranch turns deadly, forcing a famed detective to untangle decades of resentment and secrets.
Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni — A death mage and a poison mage bound by magic must stop a killer stalking their dark academia-inspired magical institute.
KPop Saves the World Activity Book by Zumi Starling — K-pop fans can design bands, solve puzzles, and battle mythical demons in this energetic interactive activity book.
Summer at the French Bakery by Jo Thomas — A woman chasing a fresh start in rural France discovers community, courage, and romance while reviving a struggling boulangerie.
If Books Could Kill by Kate Everle — A romance reader trapped inside a murderous thriller must survive her own fictional story with help from a crime-loving professor.
The Imaginary Life of a Laurel Tree by Mario Fortunato — Secrets, desire, and power ripple through old friendships and a controversial teacher-student scandal in this literary novel.
The Performed Man by Mike Poliwoda — This reflective guide explores the emotional toll financial pressure places on identity, self-worth, and modern masculinity.
The Brave and the Fearless by Dilan Dyer — A fake engagement between a struggling musician and a country music star begins to feel dangerously real.
Let’s Kill and Tell by Joss Richard — A fake dating arrangement between a cynical sex columnist and a reporter leads to unexpected vulnerability and romance.
Tentacles and Triathlons by Ashley Bennett — A grumpy park ranger and a charming kraken fall for each other in this delightfully steamy monster romance.
Dark is the Morning by Rupert Thompson — Jealousy and obsession slowly poison a seemingly idyllic love story set in the mountains of modern Italy.
The Open Era by Edward Schmit — An openly gay tennis star navigates fame, anxiety, rivalry, and unexpected love during a high-stakes US Open.
Summer’s Never Over by Darby Bozeman — Returning to her family’s summer camp forces one woman to confront the deadly secrets of a haunting summer long ago.
The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest — A fake relationship between a struggling student and a wealthy heir blossoms into something much deeper over one unforgettable summer.
Divergent Witchcraft by Jenny C. Bell — This empowering guide blends traditional witchcraft with intuitive spirituality in an accessible approach to modern magic.
Hunger by Choi Jin-Young — A haunting, visceral novel about grief, capitalism, and love pushed to its most unsettling extremes.
This is a Lie by Cleo Ballard — A woman rebuilding her life after divorce creates an AI companion that soon becomes dangerously uncontrollable.
The Last Page by Katie Holt — A beloved bookstore employee clashes with the owner’s estranged grandson in this rivals-to-lovers romance for book lovers.
The Black Cat Detectives by Kit Gray — Three magical kittens race to solve a murder and save their beloved human in this whimsical cozy mystery.
The Memory Foundation by Amanda West — Wealthy guests trapped at a mysterious memory-loss clinic uncover terrifying secrets in this atmospheric thriller.
Isis of Egypt: Goddess of Thrones by Malayna Evans — The legendary goddess Isis takes center stage in this feminist retelling of love, betrayal, and power in ancient Egypt.
Tillinghast by Clare Cavenagh — A lonely, bloodthirsty minister’s isolated existence is disrupted when a mysterious girl arrives carrying secrets tied to his past.
Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack — After a bizarre accident, a nearly forty-year-old woman gets the chance to revisit and reshape the choices of her twenties.
Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee — A cannabis entrepreneur and her uptight doctor nemesis reignite an old rivalry that quickly turns flirtatious and fiery.
The Girl in the Lake by Lauren Oliver — A psychologist investigating a child’s past-life memories is pulled back into the mystery of her friend’s decades-old disappearance.
A Way Home by Cinelle Barnes — After a traumatic brain injury erases her memories, one woman pieces together her identity, family, and sense of self.
