Everything I Read in July 2026
July was a busier month of books for me, partially thanks to three sets of novellas from Claire Keegan. Six out of the ten books I read took place in either Ireland or Scotland, which probably has something to do with the deep wanderlust I’m feeling lately. Anyway, I feel like I am finally out of my reading rut, having laughed out loud, teared up at moments, and spent days with stories that stuck with me after I closed my Kindle cover. Read on for my full reviews of everything I read this month!
If you’re looking to be more intentional with your reading this year, download my free reading tracker here to help you stay organized and discover patterns in what you love.
Of the 10 books I read this month, here are my top 3 favorites:
- The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
- Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie
- Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
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Table of Contents:
July 2026 In Books
Contemporary & Literary Fiction
Perfect Life by Meredith Lavender
5/5 Stars
I was both drawn in and unsure about this book because of its synopsis. The book is set in Winter Park, Florida (where I went to high school). The summary gave off a version of Winter Park that felt like such a caricature that I really wasn’t sure what to expect, especially when combined with the cartoon-esque cover. However, I found the book to be really engaging — a witty and twisty murder mystery that kept my attention from start to finish. Really, the cover and synopsis just don’t feel aligned with the book itself, and this is a good example of why I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
Technically, this is the second book in a series. I didn’t realize that until about a quarter of the way in. It can be read individually, but it will spoil the first book. So, if you’re interested in reading both, I’d pick up the original book, Happy Wife, first.
Perfect Life by Meredith Lavender is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
5/5 Stars
I’ve been seeing The Shampoo Effect all over Bookstagram lately and I can happily confirm that it lives up to the hype. I listened to this as an audiobook and found myself running errands and doing laundry just as an excuse to listen to another chapter or two. With an ensemble cast that could easily become unwieldy, Jenny Jackson manages to bring the dynamics and baggage of a long-time friend group to life — and to illustrate the strain a new relationship can cause when a group has bonded over so much time.
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie
5/5 Stars
This book had been sitting on my TBR for far too long, and I absolutely loved it. An enemies-to-lovers rom com set in Scotland, Work in Progress manages to be cute without being cutesy, clever without being too on-the-nose. There were a number of times that I literally laughed out loud while reading before bed, whether from the witty banter or just the situational comedy that arose throughout. Plus, Kat Mackenzie clearly knows her Scotland. If you’re wanting to plan a trip, this might be some fun inspiration!
Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
Foster by Claire Keegan
5/5 Stars
A short-but-poignant novella, Foster is a quick read that stays with you. The story follows the daughter of a poor family in Ireland who is sent to stay with well-off neighbors for the summer, unsure when she will be returning home. With her new caretakers, the girl learns comfort and ease through their care and affection, such that, when her stay ends, her world has changed.
Foster by Claire Keegan is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan
5/5 Stars
A set of short stories, So Late in the Day highlights gender dynamics through three different narratives. These are stories of lost love, social imposition, and affection-turned-aggression, each quick reads that will stay with you. Beyond the emotion of the stories, Claire Keegan’s writing is just beautiful throughout.
So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
I Know the Ants by Lang Leav
5/5 Stars
I described this to a friend as part lit fic, part murder mystery. A novel written by and for those of the Tumblr era, I Know the Ants sets out to weave together a number of storylines, and largely does so neatly. Mei, the protagonist and one-part of a childhood friend group, is drawn back in to the unsolved murder of her friend’s little sister. She is in a particularly vulnerable place in her life, and finds herself spiraling with a new sense of obligation to her friend. It’s moving and lyrical, nostalgic and contemporary — and you will not see the ending coming.
I Know the Ants by Lang Leav is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
Historical Fiction
The Housewives of Atomic Lane by Andie Newton
2/5 Stars
The premise of this book was good: it’s about a Cold War era historical fiction novel focusing on housewives trying to uncover a spy ring in their neighborhood. I believe that the novel tries to do too many things, though. Much of the novel is spent discussing protagonist Betty’s now-obvious menopause symptoms, and it is clear that the author is trying to highlight the lack of knowledge around this at the time. However, the way it was handled, plus the repeated use of stereotypical phrases (“Jiminy Christmas” was said 7 times based on a Kindle search), just made the characters feel like caricatures.
The Housewives of Atomic Lane by Andie Newton available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
5/5 Stars
This was actually the first book of my Claire Keegan reading spree this month, and it was my favorite of all three. Set in a small Irish town in 1985, this novella follows a coal merchant during Christmas, one of his busiest seasons. He is married and has a whole cohort of daughters (four, if I remember correctly) and finds himself in conflict with the nuns of his local church who ran a Magdalene Laundry. I want to watch the film version with Cillian Murphy next.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
Land by Maggie O’Farrell
5/5 Stars
First and foremost, if Maggie O’Farrell writes it, I’m going to read it. Land was lyrical and languid in all the best ways, tying together the past, present, and future of both the characters and the land itself. Highlighting both the history and otherworldly nature of a windswept peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, the novel follows map maker Tomás and his son, a reluctant apprentice, in the Great Hunger tore through the land. When Tomás encounters something in their work that fundamentally changes him, his family has to take up his work in order to survive — and it scatters them all in different directions.
Land by Maggie O’Farrell is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Fiona Valpy
5/5 Stars
A compelling dual timeline novel set in Shetland, Sisters of the Midnight Sun is equal parts history book and family drama. Ruby Reid, one of the two protagonists, takes a job as a companion caretaker to an elderly crofter on Shetland, Hanna Kristiansen, only to find out that they share something deeply sad in common — both are twins who have lost their twin sister. Hanna’s story makes up the bulk of the novel, taking place during World War II, when she was swept up in the conflict in her home country of Norway.
The novel covers interesting aspects of WWII that I knew little about, including the Shetland Bus, a secret naval operation that moved between Nazi-occupied Norway and the Shetland Islands. In all, the novel is moving and emotional, but also fascinating in its history. Well worth picking up.
Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Fiona Valpy is available from Amazon here and from Bookshop.org here.
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