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Although I haven’t been to the beach in many years, I forever associate summer reading with surf, sand, and sun. July is the peak of new beach read releases before we head into the fall slate of spooky goodness. And boy, did this year’s slate of new July book releases deliver.
July 2025 is bringing us a packed lineup of swoony romance reads, along with some engaging seaside titles perfect for imaginary travel. Paring back to get a lean list for our most anticipated new releases this month was tough. But, in the name of helping you hone in on some stellar new books for your shelves, I made it happen.
Table of contents
Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
- Release Date: July 1st
- Price: $30.00 on Amazon
- Publisher: Random House Worlds / Critical Role
- ARC Received: No
The extended universe of the actual play podcast Critical Role continues to expand with this latest novel. Rest assured, I’ve got it on good authority from friends who snagged an early copy that you don’t need to know anything about Critical Role to enjoy this one.
Tusk Love is a spicy fantasy romance set in the world of Exandria. Gunievere, daughter of an ambitious merchant, longs for freedom but is destined to marry into a noble house to raise her family’s station. But when her caravan is attacked by bandits, she finds herself on the road alongside aloof half-orc Oskar. Together, they’ll forge a new path… and navigate the growing feelings between them.
The Convenience Store by the Sea by Sonoko Machida (Translated by Bruno Navasky)
- Release Date: July 15th
- Price: $29.00 on Amazon
- Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
- ARC Received: Yes
This quiet novel set in a quaint seaside town in Japan is already an international bestseller, now with an English translation coming out this month. After falling in love with Convenience Store Woman, I am always here for a book set in a Japanese convenience store, so I knew I had to check this one out.
The Convenience Store by the Sea book follows Mitsuhiko, who works at the strange but charming Tenderness convenience store. The manager has an oddly charming effect on their eccentric customers, but every day is entertaining even if it’s a little strange. This story follows the ins and outs of the convenience store and its regulars, and it’s written with clarity and humor that will keep you turning the pages.
Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
- Release Date: July 15th
- Price: $18.00 on Amazon
- Publisher: Dell
- ARC Received: Yes
Listen, I will always read a D&D romance. Every single time. And I’m glad to see these kinds of stories are getting so popular, with another contemporary romance with a D&D focus headed our way in July.
Roll for Romance finds Sadie Brooks fleeing her life in New York City for a summer in small-town Texas. She joins her best friend’s D&D campaign, only to find herself falling for fellow tabletop gaming newbie, Noah. Can they navigate love in and out of their campaign, when real life keeps trying to get in the way?
How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin
- Release Date: July 15th
- Price: $19.00 on Amazon
- Publisher: Berkley
- ARC Received: Yes
When you read a lot of contemporary romance, you get used to the same old setups. So, when a book’s premise takes things in a new direction, you pay attention. And that’s what grabbed me about How to Sell a Romance.
This book stars Emerson Pierce, a kindergarten teacher in need of extra cash. She falls into Petunia Lemon, a makeup MLM that promises to help her make extra money on the side. Enter investigative reporter Lucas Miller, who blames Petunia Lemon for destroying his marriage when the MLM ensnared his wife. Out for revenge, he infiltrates the annual convention, only to run into Emerson… who happens to be his daughter’s teacher. Can she be his ticket to take the MLM down from the inside?
Taste the Love by Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters
- Release Date: July 15th
- Price: $17.99 on Amazon
- Publisher: Forever
- ARC Received: Yes
An LGBTQIA+ romance written by two real-life wives, featuring the classic fake marriage trope? Count me all the way in.
In Taste the Love, a pair of culinary school rivals with some serious simmering tension reunite under unexpected circumstances. Kia wants to buy Alice’s beloved Portland greenspace to finally leverage her food truck stardom into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The only problem? A massive food conglomerate is also eyeing the space. But a legal loophole could let Kia and Alice both keep what they love. They’ll just have to pretend to get married to snag the deed. No big deal, right?
**Bonus Action is a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. That means buying items from the Amazon links in this article will help support our writers via a small amount of money earned per purchase.**
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