News and Updates
My birthday is getting closer, which can only mean one thing around here—it’s getting hot. Lately, I’ve been hiding indoors with fans running full blast, a steady supply of ice-cold drinks, and a stack of good books, doing my best to outsmart the heat and humidity of this Georgia sauna. Tell me—how are you surviving this heatwave?
In other news, our Favorite Author Digital Reading Tracker is now live in our Etsy shop! If you’ve ever struggled to keep track of everything your favorite author has written, what’s still on your TBR, and how you rated each book, this tracker was made with you in mind. I’ve been using a version of this system for years to stay on top of series and standalone novels from favorite authors like William Kent Krueger and Marc Cameron, and I’m so excited to finally share it with fellow readers.
This Week
Realistic fiction featuring LGBTQ+ characters resonates because it keeps the stakes grounded in everyday life: family dynamics, first love, evolving friendships, school, work, identity, and the search for a place where someone can be fully known and accepted. When queer characters are written as complete, complex people—not symbols or lessons—the story feels less like a message and more like life itself, with all its humor, heartache, joy, uncertainty, and contradictions.
That’s one reason readers are drawn to these books again and again. They offer recognition, empathy, and deeply personal experiences all at once. Some readers find themselves reflected in the pages; others are drawn to the intimacy of watching a character build a life that feels authentically their own. For this week’s challenge, consider authors like Alice Oseman, Kacen Callender, Leah Johnson, Becky Albertalli, Bryan Washington, and Madeleine Gray—writers who remind us that queer stories can be tender, awkward, funny, romantic, complicated, ordinary, and unforgettable all at the same time.
Monthly Reading Challenge: Realistic Fiction
Weekly Reading Challenge: LGBTQ+ Character
I’ve yet to read a T.J. Klune novel that didn’t leave me impressed by his gift for creating meaningful, authentic representation. While Under the Whispering Door includes a strong fantasy element, it still fits beautifully with this month’s Realistic Fiction theme because the supernatural setting serves primarily as a backdrop for a deeply human story.
At its heart, this novel is an exploration of life, death, love, and what it means to truly connect with others. Klune’s signature focus on found family shines throughout, creating relationships that feel genuine, heartfelt, and deeply relatable. The LGBTQ+ representation is woven naturally into the story, becoming an integral part of the characters’ lives rather than the sole focus of their identities. While the premise may venture into the afterlife, the emotions, vulnerabilities, and relationships at its core feel wonderfully real—making this a moving, memorable read that lingers long after the final page.
If you’re looking for other great books for this prompt, try one of these reads recommended by our StoryGraph community:
- The Calamity Club, Kathryn Stockett
- The Guncle, Steven Rowley
- The House in the Cerulean Sea, TJ Klune
- Mad Honey, Jennifer Finney Boylan & Jodi Picoult
New This week
The new release lists are empty of our Most Anticipated reads, but I do have a book on preorder that is hitting stores Tuesday!
If you loved our review of William Kent Krueger’s upcoming release, you’ll want to add The Sins of Summer Daughters by Lo Patrick to your preorder list this week.
Set in small-town Georgia—a setting that feels especially close to home for me—this atmospheric thriller follows four generations of women whose lives are shaped by scandal, secrets, and murder across summers separated by decades. Patrick crafts a story that’s as much about family legacy as it is about uncovering the truth, with characters who linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page.
As long-buried mysteries begin to surface, the women must confront difficult questions about memory, loyalty, and self-preservation. What really happened, and what stories have been told to protect those left behind? The answers unfold in a gripping, emotionally layered narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.
This is exactly the kind of compelling summer thriller you’ll want tucked into your beach bag, carry-on, or favorite reading chair.
In Case You Missed It
Last Week’s Prompt
After years away, Sara Lancaster returns to Savannah to care for her father and help run his bookstore, only to find that the painful past she thought she had escaped is still waiting for her. As old secrets, family tensions, and unexpected relationships resurface, Sara must decide whether healing is possible without erasing what she has endured.
Terah Shelton Harris’ debut novel, One Summer in Savannah, made waves when it was released in 2023. A Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Debut Novel, the book shows exactly why Target chose Harris as its inaugural Author of the Year. Harris never shies away from difficult topics or moral dilemmas, and hearing her speak about the inspiration behind this work immediately added her to my “must buy” list.
I give One Summer in Savannah 4.9 out of 5 stars. Harris handles difficult topics with sensitivity, and she brings humanity to every character on the page. I found myself invested in each character’s struggles and rooting for them to find some measure of peace. My only complaint was the presence of a few typos, but they did not diminish the meaning or emotional impact of the narrative. What makes the novel stand out is its refusal to offer easy answers; Harris gives readers a story where forgiveness, accountability, and survival remain complicated from beginning to end.
Readers who enjoy Charmaine Wilkerson, Sadeqa Johnson, and Virginia Evans will likely connect with Terah Shelton Harris’ work, especially One Summer in Savannah. Because the novel addresses sensitive topics, including sexual assault and its aftermath, it may not be the right fit for every reader. Still, for those drawn to layered family secrets, moral complexity, and Southern gothic atmosphere, this is a powerful choice.
If you’re a fan of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, Ashley Poston, or Carley Fortune, Same Time Next Summer should be next up in your beach bag this summer.
Last Week’s Articles
Even when my TBR is overflowing, I find myself returning to the authors I trust most—the writers whose voices, pacing, and storytelling feel like coming home. I know they’ll deliver the kind of reading experience I’m looking for, whether I need comfort, escape, or a story that lingers long after the final page.
In last week’s article, I explored why we return to favorite authors again and again, and what our reading loyalties reveal about the books and stories that matter most to us.
Inspired by last week’s favorite author challenge prompt—and with our Southern Gothic challenge coming up later this month—I’m making a point to spend more time with the authors who have earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf. What about you? Who makes your favorite author list, and which writer can you always count on for a great read?
Last Week’s Preview
I give God’s Country 5 out of 5 stars. William Kent Krueger’s 21st Cork O’Connor novel is a gripping, atmospheric mystery that sends Cork into the Boundary Waters while forcing him to confront a terrifying vision of his own death.
With suspense, family stakes, layered characters, and Krueger’s trademark sense of place, this is a powerful installment for longtime fans. Cork’s courage, integrity, and complicated family legacy give the story emotional weight, while the Boundary Waters setting adds tension and atmosphere to every turn.
Readers who enjoy crime fiction, mystery, and suspense—especially stories with moral stakes and richly drawn characters—will find plenty to discuss and admire in God’s Country.
Read our full review here.
Reading Challenge Prompts
With my birthday coming up at the end of July, I chose this month to explore a few of my favorite subgenres around the library. From beach reads to get you ready for vacation, to southern gothic stories that will pull at your heart, I am excited to get started on our books this month!
I am also including what my kids would call a “free space” prompt – something easy to check off your list without it feeling like a real challenge. For us, that is going to be our “favorite author” prompt. One note – it definitely like work trying to narrow down my choice for this prompt – I have too many favorite authors to choose from!
I invite you over to our StoryGraph reading challenges where you can follow along, check off the prompts, and see what the rest of our community is choosing for these challenges. Don’t forget you can also follow along on our social media pages like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest to continue the conversation!
What reading adventures are you most excited for this month?
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Abscond, Abraham Verghese
- Current audio book: Pop!, Angel Luis Colon
- Book I’m most looking forward to: The Incredible Winston Browne, Sean Dietrich
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