Turn the Page: July
Your July reading itinerary with no passport or extra deodorant required.
Turn the Page highlights upcoming literary events at local bookstores, book-related media, exciting book releases, and reveals the next book club theme.
Bibliophile Collective Book Club
June Book Club in Review
Thank you to everyone who joined this month’s book club for a lap around the Central Park Reservoir, coffee on the Upper East Side, and a browse at The Corner Bookstore! June’s Personal Growth & Wellness theme sparked some stellar recommendations, whether we intentionally picked them up or stumbled upon them at just the right time. We reflected on what growth looks like in our lives right now, shared moments that resonated deeply, and considered what we’d tell our younger selves if we could. From mindset shifts to simple daily habits, everyone left with a takeaway to carry into the rest of the summer.
Check out this month’s book club picks:
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
Lead Like You Mean It by Laysha Ward
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
July Book Club: Passport Not Required
We’re all trying to escape the NYC summer, whether that means ducking into air-conditioned shops in SoHo or pretending an Aperol spritz counts as hydration. But let’s be honest: what we really want is a first-class ticket somewhere far, far away. The Amalfi Coast. Martha’s Vineyard. A vineyard in the South of France. Literally anywhere but here.
That brings us to this month’s book club theme: Passport Not Required. Pick a book that whisks you out of the five boroughs and into a setting worth daydreaming about. It’s the cheapest (and chicest) way to travel this summer.
Some potential picks for this month’s theme could be…
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullogh
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
A Separation by Katie Kitamura
Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
RSVP Here: July Book Club
When: Saturday, July 26th @ 12pm
Where: Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park
This July, book club is headed outdoors for a picnic in Central Park. No need to hop a plane, just bring a book set somewhere dreamy and a food or drink to match the vibe. Italy? Local pizza joint. Paris? Brie and baguette. If you're going Mediterranean, we expect olives and something sparkling. Bonus points for thematic drinks. It's giving girl dinner meets literary layover, and we’re absolutely here for it.
Looking forward to seeing your picks (and adding them to my ever-growing TBR)!
Follow the Bibliophile Collective Instagram for more: @bibliophile.collective
Upcoming Independent Bookstore & Library Events
When the sidewalks feel like lava and your social battery’s at 2%, there’s something deeply healing about sitting in a bookstore or your local library with strangers and hearing someone talk about their novel. These are the events this month I’d happily trade rooftop plans for:
Yu & Me Books: Hot Girls with Balls Book Launch and Performance (7/1)
Corner Bookstore: Amy Blumenfeld presents Such Good People (7/8)
Book Club Bar: Drink ‘n Draft - Creative Writing Workshop (7/9)
Ripped Bodice: Emily Harding presents How Freaking Romantic (7/10)
The Strand: Wanting by Claire Jia (7/11)
NYPL: Getting Started at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (7/12)
McNally Jackson: Rachel Kushner presents Creation Lake (7/14)
Greenlight: Kate Russo presents Until Alison in conversation with Emily Russo (7/24)
Bookish Podcasts to Start the Day
July in the city means iced coffee that melts before you finish it and walks that turn into mini existential crises. Luckily, these podcasts are here to keep things grounded (or at least entertaining). Bite-sized and a little dramatic, they pair perfectly with sweating through your linen on the subway.
Secret Life of Books: If Looks Could Kill - The Picture of Dorian Grey
What Should I Read Next?: Branching out with escapist, emotionally resonant novels
So Many Damn Books: 22 Short Books for Short Attention Spans
NPR’s Book of the Day: Madeleine Thien’s new novel The Book of Records is a story that traverses centuries
B&N Poured Over: Susan Morrison on Lorne
July Book Releases
July’s new releases are bringing the drama, with storm clouds, secrets, and a cold case or two. Whether you're in the mood for family tension, museum magic, or a thriller with bite, there’s something here for every kind of reader. Looking for your next read? Keep an eye out for these exciting titles hitting the shelves this month (with links to Goodreads so you can add them to your ever-growing TBR!):
July 1
The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager A boy trapped inside a painting by his father. A girl who dares to step through the frame. An impossible rescue becomes an even more impossible romance.
The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English What if books could shift the tide of history? This is the untold story of a secret literary mission, where novels became tools of resistance and hope.
Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster Betsy thought this summer would bring a ring, not a reckoning with her family’s legacy, long-buried secrets, and the home she’s not ready to say goodbye to.
July 8
These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean Cue the stormy skies and family side-eyes; an unexpected death brings everyone home for a high-stakes inheritance game and some classic island estate drama.
Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Their lives were never meant to intersect, but when they do, long-buried truths threaten everything they thought they knew about loyalty and love.
July 15
Until Alison by Kate Russo When her childhood rival turns up dead (at the site of their falling out, no less) Rachel calls on her old journalism crew to help investigate. As the mystery unravels, so does the truth about the night before… and the past she thought she left behind
July 22
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson It’s hard to plan for the future when you’ve only got a week left. Jet didn’t ask to be murdered, but she’s determined to solve it before her time’s up.
July 29
Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams A hidden chest, a shipwreck, and a centuries-old mystery connect three women across time in this tale of family secrets, second chances, and stormy truths that refuse to stay buried.