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Good news: our roundup of the best books coming in July is officially free to read, so if you haven't checked it out yet, take a look here! And if you're the kind of reader who likes planning your TBR in advance (same), Pix Plus members get early access to August's list and every monthly roundup after that.
Speaking of Pix Plus, today's edition of Worth the Read tackles a question I've been thinking about all week: what's been the biggest book of each month so far? From surprise bestsellers to books that completely took over the conversation, I'm making the case for the 2026 titles that have defined the year...at least so far.
Yours,
Genevieve
Senior Books Content Manager @ Pix
Current 📖: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Quick links
Bookmarks | Exciting New Releases
THRILLER SPOTLIGHT
Helpless
by Jessica Knoll
One of the year's most anticipated thrillers has finally landed. Jessica Knoll (Bright Young Women) returns with a chilling new novel The New York Times Book Review describes as "like Misery but with your ex." It's been twelve years since Faye broke Henry's heart, and when the former college sweethearts reunite, things quickly spiral into terrifying psychological manipulation as Henry exacts his revenge. Laura Dave calls this one "fearless, powerful and completely original."
CRITICAL LOVE
Country People
by Daniel Mason
The newest GMA Book Club pick! Daniel Mason, the acclaimed author of North Woods, is back with another wildly imaginative novel. Country People follows an aimless father who moves his family to rural Vermont hoping for a fresh start, only to find himself swept up in an eccentric community, strange local legends, and a mystery that blurs the line between folklore and reality. Equal parts funny, whimsical, and deeply moving, it's already earning praise as “the book of the summer”(Mick Herron).
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Kaimana Beach Hotel
The Vibe: Aloha lives here.
The Location: Honolulu, HI
Instaworthy Activities:
Along the sun-kissed shores of O'ahu's coast rests a Waikīkī staple with 120 mid-century modern-inspired rooms. Start your day the Kaimana way by booking with the special hotel offer, kaimana by morning, for a complimentary daily breakfast from Hau Tree or a warm slice of homemade banana bread and your daily coffee perk from Sunset Provisions. During the day, experience the sparkling waters with a complimentary paddleboarding lesson, or canoe along the coast for a history lesson of Kaimana Beach. At the end of the night, admire the cosmos with an on-site stargazing event!
Guess the Book: Emoji Edition
🏒 ⛸️ 💘 🔥 ❄️ 🎓 📚 🥅 💋 ❤️
Answer in footer
The Overstock
Here are a few more new books out this week that we didn’t have room to feature, but definitely deserve a spot on your radar.
Every Version of You by Natalie Messier
(Romance)
Debut. After dying unexpectedly, a woman rewinds to age eighteen for one last shot at love. But this time, her biggest enemy suddenly looks a lot more like her soulmate.
Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
(Thriller)
New from the author of Winter Counts. A murder on the Rosebud Indian Reservation forces a retired vigilante to confront gang violence, political corruption, and buried secrets.
The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders
(Contemporary Fiction)
Debut. A heartbroken woman inherits her family's Tennessee farm, where generations of ghosts have plenty to say about the living.
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Page to Screen
The Five-Star Weekend
Grab your favorite beach tote, because we’re heading to Nantucket! Jennifer Garner leads the adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling novel, The Five-Star Weekend, arriving on Peacock today, July 9. After the sudden death of her husband, Hollis Shaw invites four friends to her Nantucket home for a healing getaway, but long-buried secrets, old resentments, and unexpected romances quickly turn the idyllic reunion into something far more complicated. The all-star cast also includes Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Gemma Chan, and D'Arcy Carden.
Bookworld
😬 There’s some serious drama happening behind the scenes of the Children of Blood and Bone adaptation…
🍿 Britney Spears’ memoir is going to be a Wicked-ly interesting film.
📚 Dua Lipa has founded a library of banned books.
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Guess the Book: Emoji Edition Answer
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace! Click here to see the cover reveal for her upcoming F1 romance, Champagne Problems.