Looking for a good beach read? Don’t worry, July’s got some new and exciting new book releases in store for you. Just get your credit card ready and get shopping for your latest obsession.
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
An incredible thriller with a twist that takes a deep dive into the issues of trust, toxic friendships, and loyalty. Emily is having the time of her life on holiday with her best friend Kristen, until one night she finds their hotel room caked in blood. Well, what would you do if your bestie had killed someone? Kristen says a backpacker attacked her, leaving her no other choice but to kill him – and Emily helps her hide the body. Trying to move on and forget the horrific event, the walls soon start to close in on their cover-up, leaving the question: Can you really trust your best friend?
Shop here for Dhs88.
Escape by James Patterson
There’s something about this novel that is shiveringly dark, and despite the topic, you can’t help but turn the pages. When five teenage girls are abducted, Chicago PD Detective Billy Harney leads the investigation to find them. Him and his partner, Carla, are led to a remote house, where they find themselves caught in a deadly trap. A huge explosion rips through the building, killing Carla and allowing the kidnapper to escape. With the loss of his partner fuelling him, Harney makes it his mission to find her killer, and make sure the number of murders ends there.
Shop here for Dhs97.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
How would you react if one day you received a box containing the exact length you’ve got left to live? If this question intrigues you, this book will have you hooked. It’s gripping, poignant and thought-provoking yet incredibly life-affirming. It seems like just another morning. You make a cup of tea. Check the news. Open the front door. On your doorstep is a box. Inside the box is the exact number of years you have left to live. The same box appears on every doorstep across the world where the characters’ stories weave together.
Shop here for Dhs97.
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Powerful and timely, Pride and Piazza have captured today’s complex issues of race and class within a novel. Riley and Jen have been best friends since they were children, and they thought their bond was unbreakable. It never mattered to them that Riley is black and Jen is white. And then Jen’s husband, a Philadelphia police officer, is involved in the shooting of an unarmed black teenager and everything changes in an instant. This one act could destroy more than just Riley and Jen’s friendship. As their community takes sides, so must Jen and Riley, and for the first time in their lives, the lifelong friends find themselves on opposing sides.
Shop here for Dhs74.
One Last Secret by Adele Parks
From the Sunday Times Number One bestselling author comes a perfect poolside thriller read about power, money and revenge. Before turning her back on the escort world, Dora has one last trip to make to a gorgeous chateau with Daniel, who has paid for her services before. But when she arrives in the south of France, Dora finds herself face to face with a man she knows, and that man also knows her extremely well. As old gripping secrets surface, it becomes terrifyingly apparent that one last secret could cost Dora her life.
Shop here for Dhs42.
Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter
It’s 1982 when Emily Vaughn is getting dressed up for her prom – a night that is meant to be remembered forever. And it is one to remember, but for all the wrong reasons. Emily has a secret, which leads to her brutal murder. Years later, newly qualified US Marshal, Andrea Oliver, receives her first assignment, but instead, she was dedicated to finding out what really happened to Emily that night.
Shop here for Dhs97.
In Case of Emergency by Poorna Bell
Bel Kumar is the most relatable character – finds it hard asking others for help, keeping up connections and convincing herself she is fine on her own. But when she has an accident and wakes up in hospital with her ex-boyfriend beside her, it’s safe to say she is confused. With nobody to turn to, Bel must reconnect with the most important people from her past, leading to a heartfelt warming plot.
Shop here for Dhs97.
Honey & Spice (hardback) by Bolu Babalola
From the author Love in Colour, Bolu Babalola delivers a witty rom-com that is packed full of tension and romantic intrigue. Featuring Kiki Banjo, an expert in relationship evasion and host of the popular student radio show, Brown Sugar – she makes it her mission to help women of the Afro-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University to not fall into any difficult ‘situationships’ with players. But Kiki meets Malakai Korede and finds herself in the exact situation she wanted other women to avoid – a fake relationship that could lead to heartbreak. But if it saves both of their reputations, could it really be that dangerous for Kiki?
Shop here for Dhs91.
The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell
If you loved The Family Upstairs and are dying to find out what happened next, this is the creepy sequel to get your teeth into. When a bag of human bones was found along the river Thames, the community was left shook when discovering the young woman was killed years ago. But it’s not just bones inside the bag, but also a trail of clues – in particular the seeds of a rare tree which lead DCI Samuel Owusu back to a mansion in Chelsea where, nearly thirty years previously, three people lay dead in a kitchen, and a baby waited upstairs for someone to pick her up. The clues also lead to a pair of siblings located in Chicago, but solving four deaths, an unsolved mystery and a cupboard full of secrets seem to be impossible.
Shop here for Dhs103.
The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle
The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant story of grief, loss and the things we leave behind. Reading this will give a new meaning and appreciation for possessions – those that we once took for granted. When Jess’ mother dies suddenly, she attempts to empty her childhood home and sell it on, stumbling across Alex. Together they find a series of letters, photographs, mementoes and collections, AKA The Museum of Ordinary People. But history unravels heartbreaking stories that span across generations, and Jess discovers secrets that lie very close to home.
Shop here for Dhs90.
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
This thriller novel is so dark and tense, it’s the perfect read for anyone lounging in the sun this summer, grateful that your holiday isn’t so chaotic. Set among an island wellness retreat, the trip is anything but tranquil. When a woman’s body is washed up to shore at the bottom of the cliff beneath the yoga pavilion, DS Elin Warner arrives to investigate. Guests are warned of a storm ahead, and to ignore any rumours of the island’s history… Some guests were actually here for a recharge, but some were here for revenge.
Shop here for Dhs99.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
If you fancy a story about love that isn’t a romance storyline, this one’s for you. It’s a charming tale of friendship, identity, and, er, gaming. When two kids named Sadie and Sam meet in a hospital gaming room in 1987, their love of video games creates a bond between them, paving the way for a moment of escapism in long hard times. One is visiting her sister, the other is recovering from a car crash. When the pair spot each other eight years later in a crowded train station, they are catapulted back to that moment. The spark is immediate, and together they get to work on what they love, soon becoming famous.
Shop here for Dhs107.
Via Cosmopolitan UK