July Book Recommendations & Recipe Pairings
Summer is officially here! As we slide into July, we're looking forward to long, lazy days soaking up the sun or relaxing by the water. There's no better time to find a comfortable spot and lose yourself in a captivating story. To that end, our team has curated four incredible book recommendations to keep you entertained all month. These aren't your typical beach reads or vacation thrillers. These are the books our team is reading right now, just for fun.
If you love women's history, step back in time with Rebel of the Regency, a captivating tale written by first-time author Ann Foster, host of the no-holds-barred Vulgar History podcast. Jane has paired this salacious read with a related book and film for even more entertainment! For contemporary nonfiction, check out Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child's Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods. To celebrate this timely pick, Shannon has selected a rich Shiraz and a savory Irish cheese for an extra hit of dopamine while you read.
If you're looking for a summer vacation read that carries you away, dive into Carley Fortune's Our Perfect Storm, which Katelyn has paired with a maritime wine and a lovely scented candle to create a cozy reading atmosphere. Finally, don't miss Kristin Hannah's modern classic The Nightingale, which is set to become a major motion picture starring sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning. It's coming out February 2027, so now is the perfect time to read the book! Check out our full book reviews and recipe pairings below. In case you missed it, take a peek at our monthly reading list for June 2026 for more titles to add to your TBR.
Liz's Pick
Looking for a historical novel with a fast pace and strong female leads? The Nightingale is one to try! This was my first Kristin Hannah book, and it did not disappoint.
There's an eerie sense of foreboding as the Germans invade France, and the plot really accelerates about halfway through as The Nightingale earns her nickname.
It's a satisfying and well-researched take on the French Resistance. As much as they talk about coffee and coffee substitutes ranging from barley to acorns, you'll definitely want to reach for a cup of Joe, if you can put the book down long enough to wait for the Keurig.
Shannon's Pick
Interested in neuroscience, psychology, and habit remodeling?
You’ll love Doucleff’s deep dive into dopamine and how to harness it to reshape your and your family’s lives for the better.
As you’ll discover, dopamine functions differently than our wider culture is currently aware, but I won’t spoil the fascinating revelation!
Jane's Pick
Add some TMZ-worthy real history to the fictional Bridgerton timeline. This isn't your typical royal biography. (The author hosts the Vulgar History podcast, after all.)
The pages are packed with spies, faked pregnancy, riots, adultery investigations, accusations of bigamy and treason, expressed outrage from Jane Austen, Mary Shelley and Lord Byron, mad spending sprees (why rent a villa on Lake Como for a summer when you can buy two?) and enough royal sass to fuel an entire season of binge TV.
At the center of the chaos is Caroline of Brunswick, Princess of Wales and the deeply inconvenient wife of the future King George IV. Their first meeting in April 1795 set the tone for everything that followed: George arrived drunk and promptly fled in tears. Somehow, things only got worse from there. My favorite moment? Caroline gatecrashing the guarded barriers of her estranged husband's coronation like the original royal disruptor. Equal parts fascinating, infuriating and darkly funny, this is history at its most gloriously unfiltered.
Royal Witches for other women who stood up for themselves, refused to follow the script and were persecuted for it.
Sliding Doors because Caroline's life is one giant royal "what if ...?" History was balanced on the edge of a teacup, one scandal, one birth or one royal decision away from an entirely different future. 👑🚪⏳
Katelyn's Pick
I love Carley Fortune books, so when I saw this beautiful cover I knew I had to have it.
The second-chance / best friends-to-lovers romance delivered exactly what I wanted, but the setting is what made me want to book a flight!
As someone who usually tunes out long, descriptive writing, I now have Tofino on my bucket list thanks to this book.
