Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the July 2026 Indie Next List flier.
The July title list is also viewable as a collection on Edelweiss and on the Indie Next List page as an Excel file alongside PDFs for the month’s flier and shelf-talker templates. Learn more and visit Matchbook Marketing’s program page to sign up to send the free Indie Next List e-newsletter to customers.
Additionally, to mark the start of the new month, the June Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.
The 25 July Indie Next List Picks
#1 Pick: Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt: A Novel (Indies Introduce)
By Ben Reeves
(Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 9781668216361, $28, July 7, Fiction)
“Unique, heartbreaking, and profound. This novel broke me in half but left me with immense gratitude for life, even for the toughest of times. You will want to share this with everyone you know.”
—Barb Rascon, Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC
Country People: A Novel
By Daniel Mason
(Random House, 9798217197453, $30, July 7, Fiction)
“Entering the magical world of Daniel Mason is discovering the most perfect illustration of literature. The characters are quirky, the plot is inventive, and the landscape defies convention. Loved every page from beginning to end.”
—Mary McBride, Monstera's Books, Overland Park, KS
The Shampoo Effect: A Novel
By Jenny Jackson
(Pamela Dorman Books, 9798217059959, $30, June 30, Fiction)
“This is a juicy and fun summer read, but it also has wonderful depth of character and a truly thoughtful exploration of what happens to a tight-knight group of friends as they reassess their lives, negotiate adulthood, and raise their own kids.”
—Debra Ginsberg, DIESEL, A Bookstore, Santa Monica, CA
A Real Animal: A Novel (Indies Introduce)
By Emeline Atwood
(Catapult, 9781646222964, $29, July 7, Fiction)
“This novel follows Lucy as she navigates her twenties in the aftermath of an assault. Her journey is raw and unflinching, capturing the complexity of trauma and its effects on every aspect of her life, but particularly her relationships. Unsettling, powerful, and unlike anything I’ve read before.”
—Katherine Czyzewski, Thunder Road Books, Spring Lake, NJ
In Stormy Weather: A Novel
By Chelsea Curto
(Atria Books, 9781668217436, $19, July 14, Romance)
“A super swoony and sexy romance between two rival meteorologists, plus a best friend's brother? Say less! If you love banter and rivals-to-lovers, In Stormy Weather is the perfect summer romance for you!”
—Claire McWhorter, River & Hill Books, Rome, GA
Tata
By Valérie Perrin, Hildegarde Serle (Transl.)
(Europa Editions, 9798889661825, $30, June 23, Fiction)
“An absolutely gorgeous read. Perrin's writing quietly wraps its arms around you, and before you know it, you are embracing her back. Take this book on vacation or give yourself a week to be fully immersed in this story.”
—Danielle Glasky, Long Story Books, Atlanta, GA
It Could Have Been Her: A Novel
By Lisa Jewell
(Atria Books, 9781668033906, $29, June 23, Thriller)
“WOW. In perfect Lisa Jewell fashion, this book read like a storm: it started off with a vague swirling that got tighter and tighter, ultimately reaching a thrilling conclusion. The characters and imagery leapt off the pages.”
—Kelly Blazo, 2 Dandelions Bookshop, Brighton, MI
The Romance Revival
By Christina Lauren
(Gallery Books, 9781668017753, $29, July 14, Romance)
“Emery is given the chance to save her husband Luca's life, and their marriage, after an accident. Combining a sweet and spicy romance with a science fiction thriller, this will keep you turning the pages!”
—Melissa Law, Mostly Books, Tucson, AZ
The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #2)
By Brigitte Knightley
(Ace, 9780593819487, $31, July 7, Romance)
“For fear of waxing rhapsodic, I'll simply say I LOVED the second part of this story. The overarching world and plot, the romance, the yearning, the fight scenes, the adventure — this book was magic!”
—Destinee Hodge, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC
Hot Girl Murder Club: A Novel
By Ashley Winstead
(Minotaur Books, 9781250401212, $29, July 14, Thriller)
“If you’re into detectives and the underbelly of the Hollywood elite, this is a fun dual timeline thriller that keeps you hooked. Winstead’s prose is top-notch, and it helps bring the settings and characters to life.”
—Jeff Morse, Partners in Crime Bookshop, Chicago, IL
Fabulous Bodies
By Chuck Tingle
(Tor Nightfire, 9781250398567, $27.99, July 7, Horror)
“Gruesome, intelligent, and full of biting commentary about parasocial relationships with celebrities, clout and wealth chasing, social media influencing, body image and how self-absorbed we can be when we limit our world to what’s on our phones.”
—Jennifer Tidwell, Favorites Bookstore, Batesville, MS
Tropesick: A Novel
By Lauren Okie
(Avon, 9780063479616, $18.99, June 16, Romance)
“Tropesick was a beautiful and tortured second-chance romance with a healthy balance of new beginnings, past traumas, and a dash of magic. Okie solidified herself as a voice in romance that demands to be heard.”
—Kristina Muffoletto, Afterglow Books, Buffalo, NY
Helpless: A Novel
By Jessica Knoll
(Scribner, 9781668062302, $28, July 7, Thriller)
“Helpless was a wild ride in the best way. The story has it all — reuniting with the one that got away, kidnapping, murder, and Hollywood! I was hooked from the first few pages and stayed up way too late to finish.”
—Courtney Hyzer, Wonderland Bookshop, Shorewood, WI
The Death Row Club
By V. A. Vazquez
(Gallery/Scout Press, 9781668217627, $29, July 14, Thriller)
“V. A. Vazquez has written an enthralling story about the adult children of serial killers. A darkly fascinating look at the usually unspoken horrors that killers leave behind which asks how far you’ll go to protect yourself and your family.”
—Kris Stephens, Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, KS
Man Overboard!: A Novel
By Kathleen Rooney
(Gallery Books, 9781668212387, $27, July 7, Fiction)
“Kick Kilpatrick is in his early 30s, treading water (metaphorically). Alone in open water after going overboard on a cruise, he’s at the mercy of sting rays, sharks, and his own mind while treading water (literally) to stay alive. A beach read like you've never seen before.”
—Laurel Rhame, Phoenix Books, Essex Junction, VT
The Someday Garden
By Ashley Poston
(Berkley, 9780593952757, $20, June 16, Romance)
“Will Sophie be able to help the handsome man trapped in a magical garden while grieving her best friend and deciding if she still loves her job? I can't wait for everyone to read this beautiful and heartfelt story!”
—Amanda Nurse, The Doylestown & Lahaska Bookshops, Doylestown, PA
It's All River: A Novel (Indies Introduce)
By Carla Madeira, Alison Entrekin (Transl.)
(Liveright, 9781324098119, $26.99, June 23, Fiction)
“A powerful book that focuses on obsession, tragedy, betrayal and ultimately forgiveness. A trio of unlikely characters work to overcome hardship and heartache to forge a new relationship. Well worth the challenge!”
—Jocele Skinner, Shared Stories Books, Caldwell, ID
70,000: Poems (Indies Introduce)
By Lenna Jawdat
(Central Avenue Poetry, 9781771684545, $22, July 7, Poetry)
“I was so enraptured by Jawdat’s project and her multi-media approach to exploring unspeakable loss, heartache, bewilderment, exile, identity, family, love, and yes, hope. A truly original and remarkable work.”
—Toni Thayer, Loganberry Books, Shaker Heights, OH
Every Version of You: A Novel
By Natalie Messier
(Gallery Books, 9781668213643, $29, July 7, Romance)
“I absolutely adored Every Version of You. Messier crafts a beautifully messy and compelling love story in a world where second chances aren't just wishful thinking. These characters are people you can root for with all your heart.”
—Sarah George, Bookish, Modesto, CA
The Very Definition of Love
By Sophia Benoit
(Slowburn, 9781638933557, $19, June 23, Romance)
“This was such a refreshing take on historical romance from a brilliant new voice in the genre. I stayed up all night to finish this. I look forward to more from Benoit, hopefully with the rest of the Bancroft sisters.”
—Sami Melaragno, Riverstone Books, Pittsburgh, PA
Voyagers: A Novel
By Meg Charlton
(Harper, 9780063441217, $28, June 16, Fiction)
“I love Voyagers’ exploration of memory, friendship, and the way a single day in childhood can define us. The complex family relationships and the narrator’s willingness to interrogate his own flawed memory make for a page-turning read!”
—Kara Balcerzak, Bonfire Bookstore & Yarnery, Woodstock, VA
Should the Waters Take Us: A Novel
By Stephanie Soileau
(Doubleday, 9780385551786, $30, July 14, Fiction)
“This is a force of nature (human and otherwise), no less powerful than the disasters faced by the characters at the story’s heart. A family saga that takes on environmental change and disaster, history, race, immigration — a remarkable debut.”
—Kathy Crowley, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
Agnes Lives!: A Novel
By Hallie Elizabeth Newton
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639738564, $26.99, June 23, Fiction)
“A non-stop whirlwind 24 hours in which a successful, busy NYC woman seeks someone, anyone, who will do her a really big favor and end her life. This is a sharp, feral, and funny rollercoaster.”
—Seth Tucker, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
Most Ardently Yours: A Novel
By Freya Sampson
(Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781464277894; 9781464264764, $32.99; $18.99, July 7, Romance)
“Austen fans rejoice! Any romance reader who thinks that a book boyfriend is better than the real thing will love this modern-day romp with the ‘real’ Fitzwilliam Darcy who suddenly appears from a worn copy of Pride and Prejudice.”
—Terry Gilman, Creating Conversations, Redondo Beach, CA
Devotions
By Lucy Caldwell
(Faber & Faber, 9780571398256, $17.95, June 30, Short Stories)
“Lucy Caldwell writes ‘about the thin membrane between normal and psychosis’ in the second story in this collection. There is an immediacy to these tales I cannot quite describe, but they will leave readers gasping for oxygen.”
—Veronica Brooks-Sigler, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury, CT
July 2026 Indie Next List Now in Paperback
Cry for Me, Argentina: Stories From My Messed-Up Life
By Tamara Yajia
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639739332, $18.99, July 14, Humor)
“Tamara Yajia finds a not-so-delicate balance of irreverent crassness and heartfelt storytelling. Her life is almost unbelievable while still somehow relatable. Perfect for fans of Samantha Irby, Jenny Lawson, and Maria Bamford.”
—Mara Panich, Fact & Fiction Downtown, Missoula, MT
The Emperor of Gladness: A Novel
By Ocean Vuong
(Penguin Books, 9780593831892, $20, July 14, Fiction)
“Ocean Vuong’s sophomore novel is a societal epic as seen beneath a microscope. A lonely young man meets a lonely older woman, and after that? Everything. This book is a quiet marvel.”
—Laurel Rhame, Phoenix Books, Essex Junction, VT
Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature
By Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
(Spiegel & Grau, 9781966302407, $19, July 14, Nature)
“A wonderful celebration of the beauty and strangeness of the natural world, as well as a fascinating memoir about growing up different. You will love Kaishian’s clear, vivid prose!”
—Michael Bender, Split Rock Books, Cold Spring, NY
A Magical Girl Retires: A Novel
By Park Seolyeon, Anton Hur (Transl.)
(HarperVia, 9780063388277, $17.99, June 23, Fantasy)
“A quixotic blend of fantasy and reality. Magical girls are real, but so too are credit card debt, COVID-19, and mass unemployment. This strangely nostalgic, deceptively simple novel taps into both the dreams and anxieties of millenials.”
—Shay Shortt, Brick & Mortar Books, Redmond, WA
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck (Indies Introduce in Hardcover)
By Sophie Elmhirst
(Riverhead Books, 9780593854297, $20, June 30, Biography)
“A raw telling of the fight a young couple endures physically and mentally as their boat is capsized by creatures in the middle of the sea. Reads like a novel — it’s wild that this is a true story!”
—Alex Hammett, Serendipity Books, Chelsea, MI
What We Can Know: A Novel
By Ian McEwan
(Vintage, 9798217007943, $20, June 16, Sci-Fi)
“The world has been greatly reduced in both size of dry land and population, and an academic in 2130 feels nostalgia for our era through his search for a lost poem. I love McEwan’s eternal ability to find beauty in the most mundane moments.”
—Anne Peck, Righton Books, St. Simons Island, GA