The best new book releases in July to add to your TBR list

The summer sunshine and heat are well and truly upon us, and we're already dreaming of sitting out in the back garden on a lazy day with a good book in hand.

A lucky few of us will even find ourselves jetting off on our summer holidays in July, meaning a plane and poolside read is needed.

If you're overwhelmed by the sheer volume of fantastic literature on offer at the moment, never fear, we've narrowed it down for you. Here are eight new books landing on shelves in July to add to your TBR list.

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell
Release date: July 2

It Could Have Been Her has landed straight on our TBR list. Its official synopsis reads: 'It was the night she almost died. Jane Trevally, newly divorced and feeling a little lost, agrees to accompany a man she doesn't know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath.

'She's offered a drink, goes in, and then - a scream and the sound of something falling upstairs - and Jane senses she's in a bad place and in danger. She runs.

'25 years later, Jane finds herself outside the same house, this time to return a small white dog who's been found near her home in the country; a dog whose owner has just been reported missing.

'A fleeting glimpse of a haunted-looking woman through the window sends Jane on a mission to uncover the house's secrets - secrets more terrifying than she could have ever imagined, especially when she realises it could have been her...'

A Taste of Paradise by Melissa Hill
Release date: July 2

Melissa Hill's new novel, A Taste of Paradise, is perfect for those looking for a good beach read.

'Erin Howard has just joined The Palms Hotel in sunny St Lucia as guest relations manager. She is determined to make her mark, and a deal with Daniel MacKenzie, the enigmatic CEO of the hottest new ecotourist agency, could be just the way to do that,' a synopsis explains.

'Meanwhile, events coordinator Lily Carter is drawn to Shay Brady, a heartbroken groom seeking solace in the island’s tranquillity after his fiancée leaves him. As their bond deepens, Lily starts to question her own desires for the life she’s built.

'Naomi Sparks, a vibrant social media influencer, has just arrived to celebrate her milestone birthday with family and friends. As she begins to see the cracks in her relationship with her boyfriend Greg, new and unexpected connections form, leading her to question what true love really means.

'Against this stunning backdrop, the lives of staff and guests intertwine. But when a threat to The Palms emerges, it becomes clear that trusting the wrong person could put the survival of the beloved resort in jeopardy...' It's kind of giving The White Lotus energy!

Never To Be Found by Jo Spain
Release date: July 2

There is a chilling phenomenon in Japan known as Johatsu, where people voluntarily disappear from their lives. It's said that 100,000 people per year are Johatsu, and an entire industry has sprung up to support those who choose to. Life is hard.

For some people, it's just too much. That's what I thought when I brought the concept to England. People will disappear anyway. What if I could help them? So I pack their belongings discreetly, create new identities, forge documents, give directions to the cities and towns where the 'night-mover' can live anonymously.

It's just a business. I never saw it as a shameful act. I've helped people flee from abusive relationships, from work pressure, from debt, from unfulfilled lives—people in need. I consider what I do to be honourable. Until now, that is. Because I've just learned that I'm not exempt from responsibility.

That I am capable of doing a terrible thing. That it's not just a business. I helped somebody flee from a crime. From the police. I disappeared a murderer. And if I don't find him, I can't live with what he might do next.

The Life Swap by Jeananne Craig
Release date: July 2

The Life Swap by JeanAnne Craig sounds like a combination of The Parent Trap and The Holiday.

'Sinead is a "single girl living the dream". At least, that's what her Tinder profile says. In reality, she's just been fired from the job she pretended was glamorous, her flatmates are fed up with her, and her sister won't answer her calls.

'Single parent and out-of-work actor Sarah doesn't have the energy to deal with Sinead right now. Her home is, apparently, on the verge of collapse. Repairs are going to cost a fortune, and she's counting on her agent to come through for her (her ex certainly won't).

'When Sarah lands a high-paying movie role 100 miles from home, Sinead has a brainwave that will solve all their problems: she'll take care of her sister's kids in Dublin (what could be easier than keeping two six-year-olds out of trouble?), and Sarah will move into Sinead's house-share in Belfast while she resurrects her career. And possibly even has some fun for a change.

'But the swap is less straightforward than expected. And as Sarah and Sinead step into each other's lives, they discover that they don't know each other as well as they thought - and maybe have a lot more in common than they realise..,' its synopsis reads.

Crash Into Me by Robinne Lee
Release date: July 8

Crash Into Me comes to you from the bestselling author behind The Idea of You.

It's been teased as 'old desire collides with reinvention between cities'.

'Paris and LA give the romance glamour, but the emotional pull is unfinished selfhood. Cecilia’s past does not simply return; it tests who she has become, making the story appealing for readers who like desire mixed with memory and regret,' its brief synopsis reads.

Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard
Release date: July 16

Ellie is in search of a fresh start. She moves to a place where no one knows her name, her history, or her secrets.

But what she doesn't know is that her new home is hiding someone else's secrets, and the people determined for them to remain a secret are watching her.

Ellie starts to unravel the house's disturbing backstory, coming closer to the shocking mystery at its core. Buyer Beware is 'a chilling exploration of the dark secrets that any house can hold — and the lengths we'll go to start over'.

Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena
Release date: July 16

Shari Lapena's new thriller, Getting Away with Murder, has been described as a 'delicious twist on the classic whodunnit'.

A synopsis reads: 'Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own.

'It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary.

'So when Ted's inheritance runs out, and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle?

'The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder. As long as they trust each other. And as long as there are no surprises...'

Sharp Force by Patricia Cornwell
Release date: July 16

For those who watched Scarpetta on Prime Video, you're going to want to sink your teeth into Patricia Cornwell's latest novel, Sharp Force.

In this new thriller, Scarpetta faces a tech-driven killer on Mercy Island. 'The Mercy Island setting gives the case a haunted edge, while the Phantom Slasher plot keeps the series firmly in high-stakes crime thriller territory,' a synopsis teases.

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.