Remember when you couldn’t wait for school to be over so you could read your way through summer? I chose these 10 new releases to recapture some of that can’t-put-it-down energy—even if you don’t have the entire summer off anymore. Each has an incredibly compelling hook—a romantic quest, a sex party gone wrong, the discovery of a dead husband’s dark secrets—that’s guaranteed to grab your attention.
Oh, and whether you prefer reading on paper or on screen, scroll down to find three ways to make building your summer book stack a little more affordable.
Fiery actress Sadie, who’s famous for her controversial one-woman play about her mixed feelings toward motherhood, has to contend with Jude, the daughter she secretly abandoned, when Jude’s own star begins to rise. (Out now)
Art history professor Ava tags along to her husband’s Bulgarian film set and connects with an ancient Greco-Roman story of divine female power. An engrossing drama about self-discovery and the rites of womanhood. (Out now)
Filmmaker Jane’s new husband, Dom, a contractor, has been hired to restore a remote hotel to its former glory. As she digs into the hotel’s past, Jane discovers secrets that threaten her marriage—and maybe her life. (Out now)
Talented photographer Jin is at a crossroads, and she’s also carrying a heavy family secret. Then she meets Lidija, a world-renowned ballerina, and their creative passion fuels a fierce connection that upends Jin’s world. (Out now)
After coming out at 30, Bette falls utterly in love with Mei. Then Mei, worried about Bette’s inexperience, suggests she play the field for a few months. A clever romance that’s as much about friendship and finding yourself as it is about love. (Out now)
Broken-hearted Kalu attends a high-end sex party and meets two sex workers whom he believes need his help—an assumption that has dangerous repercussions. A thrilling ride through the corrupt underbelly of Lagos, Nigeria. (Out now)
Poor, dead Delphie meets the man of her dreams in the afterlife “waiting room.” As it turns out, he’s there by mistake and sent back to London, alive. So she embarks on a quest to find him in this hilarious British romance. (July 2)
A romance author’s appearance on a reality dating show was supposed to revive her career—after all, she knows a thing or two about love. But the plan implodes when she finds out she’s been given the dreaded “villain edit.” (July 2)
Desperate to fix her life, Marsh wins a spot on a game show that allows her to redo her past and change the present. An emotional and inventive choose-your-own-adventure for adults. (Literally! This book is such fun.) (July 9)
In this heart-wrenching memoir, widow Jessica discovers her husband’s dark secrets—affairs, drugs, a porn addiction—and deals with the aftermath of his betrayal while building a new life with her son. (July 30)
If your appetite for books is no match for your budget—and you don’t always have time to hit the library—try these wallet- friendly ways to ensure a steady supply:
Get all-you-can-read e-books for just $10 a month; you can tack on an extra $3 for unlimited audiobooks, too.
This app allows you to access your public library’s e-book and audiobook collection. You can sign up (for free!) with your library card.
Prefer reading on paper? The fiction section at most VVs is surprisingly good, and it’s oh-so-satisfying to snag a book from your TBR list here.
Read an excerpt of bestselling Canadian author Shari Lapena’s new thriller.
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Alicia Cox Thomson has worked for 20 years as an editor, writer and content producer for some of Canada's biggest lifestyle brands. Today, she writes about culture, business and the arts for Chatelaine, the Globe and Mail and more. She also speaks about books as a columnist for CBC Radio's The Next Chapter.