Get Ready to Celebrate July!

Schedule e-Gift Cards and peruse the month's best gift books

Got any July-born friends and family to celebrate this month? Treat your loved ones to a bookish birthday! (Or any other type of celebration, for that matter!) Choose something special for your July birthday buddies from our roundup of some of the hottest titles of the moment, like Glorious Rivals, the much-anticipated sequel to The Grandest Game, the YA fantasy thriller by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. (Pre-order now and get a free book reward when your copy ships!)

New July-specific e-Gift Card design!

If you'd prefer to go with ThriftBooks e-Gift Cards for your offerings, choose from an assortment of fun designs, including our new month-specific birthday e-gift cards to be delivered on the day of your choosing. Purchase now and schedule for delivery on your recipient's special day. The process is quick and easy. This is a great way to get all your monthly birthday shopping done in one fell swoop!   

This month's best gifting books

Here are some of the reads that are currently getting rave reviews from a range of readers.

Fiction finds

• Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by E. Schwab—The new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger from the bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid—From the author of Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program.
• Never Flinch by Stephen King—Holly Gibney does double duty against two potent threats—a diabolical killer on a revenge mission and a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker.
• With a Vengeance by Riley Sager—In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson's family. Twelve years later, she's ready for retribution. But her plan is thwarted by an unexpected murder.
• The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb—A young father grapples with unbearable tragedy as he searches for hope, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness.

Nonfiction gems

• Murderland by Caroline Fraser—From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Prairie Fires comes a terrifying true-crime chronicle of serial killers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
• On Her Game by Christine Brennan—Drawing on interviews and behind-the-scenes reporting, this energetic account traces Caitlin Clark's star-making 2024 season to the 1972 passage of Title IX.
• The Gunfighters by Bryan Burrough—This epic history interrogates the lore of the Wild West, without sacrificing tales of outlaws, cattle drives and carnage.
• We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle—The award-winning authors and podcasters drew from their own challenges and the wisdom of a host of celebrity contributors to create this guidebook for life.
• Baddest Man: The Making of Mike Tyson by Mark Kriegel—A veteran sports journalist’s nuanced portrait of the creation of the most feared and mesmerizing fighter in boxing history.

Winsome picture books

• Shark Girl by Kate Beaton—A laugh-out-loud tale from a bestselling comics creator introducing a tenacious new hero. (Ages 3–6)
• The Urban Owls by Christian Cooper—A breezy, appealing whoo’s whoo about the real-life owls who have made a home in New York City. (Ages 4–8)
• Home by Matt de la Peña and Loren Long—From the powerhouse duo behind the bestselling Love, comes a deeply moving ode to the places we feel safe, loved, and true to ourselves. (Ages 4–8)
• Let's Be Bees by Shawn Harris—Father and child become buzzing bees, rustling trees, and more in this delightful make-believe romp from Caldecott Honor winner. (Ages 4–8)
• Leave the Trees, Please by Benjamin Zephaniah—This gorgeously illustrated book calls on young readers to safeguard trees and the riches of the natural world. (Ages 4–8)

Middle-grade goodies

• A Copycat Conundrum by Lisa Yee—The elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, are back on the case in the sequel to A Royal Conundrum, book two of The Misfits, a hilarious illustrated series. (Ages 8–12)
• The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley—A rollicking fantasy adventure about a girl who strikes a deal with an ancient, cranky dragon she hopes will help her save her mother. (Ages 8–12)
• A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya—Reality proves more epic than fantasy in this family road trip story starring a reluctant young hero and his curmudgeonly grandfather. Also available in Spanish! (Ages 9–12)
• Survive this Safari by Natalie D. Richards—This novel about a group of kids competing in a giant safari park challenge, is packed with animal facts, puzzles, and more. (Ages 8–12)
• Would You Rather?: Summer Edition by Lindsey Daly—This edition of the bestselling series offers hilarious questions about the joys of summer for kids who love fun, laughs, and a challenge. (Ages 8–12)

YA winners

• I Love You S'more by Auriane Desombre—A sapphic rival-to-lovers story about two camp counselors who find an unexpected romance during a summer they will never forget! (Ages 12 and up)
• A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim—A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord. (Ages 13–17)
• Rick Riordan Presents: It Waits in the Forest by Sarah Dass—This thriller inspired by Caribbean mythology is perfect for fans of Angeline Boulley and Tiffany D. Jackson (Ages 14 and up).
• Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer—This '90s mixtape of a young adult novel delivers a summer romance with an unearthly twist. (Ages 14 and up)
• Beach Cute by Beth Reekles—Equal parts romance and humor, this sizzling story follows three very different girls on summer vacation. (Ages 14 and up)

Culinary keepers

• Salt Sugar MSG by Calvin Eng and Phoebe Melnick—This collection represents a mashup of styles, from American greasy spoon joints to Cantonese street food. Try their recipe for XO sauce.
• Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian Flavors by Pooja Bavishi—With inspired flavors like Masala Chai and Coffee Cardamom, you'll want to make every ice cream recipe in the book.
• By Heart by Hailee Catalano—From a professional chef and TikTok star comes this collection of over 100 restaurant-quality recipes designed to be made in your home kitchen.
• Snacking Dinners by Georgia Freedman—This tidy book is packed with low-lift, high-reward dishes like Okonomiyaki Tater Tots, Sweet Potato Chip “Salad,” and a vibrant antipasti board.
• Coastal by Scott Clark—A celebration of California home cooking with 130 recipes and more than 300 photos that capture the beauty, magic, and bounty of the coast.

Special editions

• The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw—The gorgeous Deluxe Edition of this deeply dark academia features cobalt blue sprayed edges. Perfect for fans of A Deadly Education.
• The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst—This cozy fantasy set in the world of The Spellshop comes in a gorgeous hardcover edition.
• The Deal by Elle Kennedy—The limited Collector's Edition of this OG hockey romance includes a newly designed cover, printed edges, and more
• You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao—If I Stay meets Your Name in this heartrending novel about love and loss, available in a luxe Special Edition with cherry blossom-stained edges, a bonus Sam & Julie chapter, and a deluxe transparent jacket with a disappearing Sam.
• The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid—This fantasy romance inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology is now available in a Deluxe Collector's Edition featuring new cover art, illustrated endpapers, stenciled edges, and more.

Happy birthday to all the July babies! Whether you're celebrating a loved one or yourself, we hope you find something perfect here at ThriftBooks to bookify the occasion!

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon