I'm grateful that a big part of my work has always involved reading as much as possible. And it's been a good summer for books. My batch for July includes graphic novels, magical technofutures, murder mysteries, and a very fun slasher pastiche. Thanks as always to the generous reviewers and publishers who send their advance copies my way!

(Candle is Garden Shed Library, the July scent of the month from Frostbeard Studio. Get book-inspired candles from their website!)

READY OR NOT
by Andi Porretta
Available now

It's Cassie's last summer before her close-knit friend group heads off to college. Everyone else, from the artistic Marcy to the musical Nico to future lawyer Aaron, seems to have their future sorted out. But Cassie can't seem to get her life together as quickly as the rest of the world would like. As she stares down adulthood, she only has two things on her mind: her seemingly unrequited crush on Nico, and making memories while she still can.

To that end, she suggests a summer-long game, based on one the four invented as kids. A travel cup carries slips of paper around, each inscribed with a dare. Some are simple, some are downright illegal. But they'll all be memorable. Failing your dare means you're out of the game. Winning carries with it a variety of forfeits for the losers, depending on who wins. But as the friend group navigates their game, cracks form. Nico appears to be invested in someone other than Cassie, and she can't hold her jealousy in. Meanwhile, Marcy and Aaron seem to be changing... or maybe Cassie just wasn't paying close enough attention to them. What began as forging precious memories is now threatening to tear the group apart, and Cassie can't help but feel she's to blame.

Ready or Not is a single-sitting graphic novel read, full of bright colors and vibrant art. Porretta's layouts are excellent, integrating group chats (a major part of the friend group's communication) in a way that's still visually interesting. Most of all, though, it's a relatable story of that time in our lives when we and the people we love change forever—and how to weather those changes.

LADYKILLER
by Katherine Wood
Available now

Gia and Abby have been best friends since childhood, separated by class and brought together by teenage tragedy. Years later, heiress Gia has made a snap decision to marry near-stranger Garrett in the wake of her father's death. Abby has been keeping her distance from this ill-advised match, foregoing the wedding and agreeing to meet up again only because Benny—Gia's brother and Abby's longtime crush—will also be along.

But things are becoming uncomfortable. Gia has failed to show up for the reunion, sending apology texts that sound nothing like her. Alongside these are threatening emails, calling Abby out for a long-buried lie. When Abby and Benny make it to Gia's home in Greece, all they find is her latest autobiographical manuscript: a terrifying story of betrayal, scandal, and infidelity. All signs point to Garrett, as well as the couple's two new friends, targeting Gia. But how much of Gia's manuscript is true? As the truth of Abby and Gia's shared trauma resurfaces, Abby and Benny scour the city for both the truth and absolution.

On the surface, Ladykiller is a slow-burn mystery. But dig deeper, and readers will discover that it is in fact a long-form character study. Gia's manuscript plays out alongside Abby's own narrative chapters. As we discover more about both ladies, we are cast as judge and jury: who is telling the truth? Is anyone telling the truth? Katherine Wood subverts expectations right in front of our noses, with the true convoluted mystery emerging in the final pages and sitting with us long after the book has been closed.

A MAGIC FIERCE AND BRIGHT
by Hemant Nayak
Available now

Four centuries ago, magic entered the world, bringing technology down with it. Now, in a rebuilt future, only technomancers can operate electronics and machines, speaking to their "souls" to bring them back to life. Adya is one of these rare practitioners, and she's putting all her energy into one goal: crossing the deadly spell wall that keeps her isolated and finding out if her twin sister Priya is still alive.

Her adventures unite her with unlikely friends: old frenemy Dsouza, a princess who can't control her magic, and an enthusiastic motorcycle who dreams of racing once again. But crossing the spell wall is just one challenge: petitioning the maharajah for help in finding Priya is an even bigger ask than anticipated, and uncovers unpleasant truths about the war raging between England and India. To survive, and to bring her family back together, Adya must reach out to new allies and embrace her trie potential.

A Magic Fierce and Bright is a fascinating techno-future vision, depicting magical castles built over the bones of skyscrapers and rusted vehicles with burning spirits. The little Yamaha in particular is one of the most compelling characters. The backdrop of Indian religion, legend, and culture makes this a stand-out entry in the genre, and the combat leaps off the page in epic fashion. This is truly gorgeous sci-fantasy.

THE PERFECT SISTER
by Stephanie DeCarolis
Available July 16

Despite being a year apart, sisters Maddie and Alex have always been as close as twins. But that changes after the death of their aspiring actress mother. Maddie disappears to the Hamptons, abandoning her sister and her medical school dreams in the wake of a fight. Desperate to reconnect, Alex follows her. But instead of Maddie, she finds the Blackwells.

The wealthy family is full of secrets, lies, and guilt. And it seems everyone around her has more information than they're letting on, and no intention of revealing it. The narrative changes hands throughout, from Alex to each Blackwell, and even to Maddie herself in flashback, as a web of deceit begins to form. Why did Maddie disappear into the Blackwells' home? What are Blackwell patriarch James's actual intentions for her. Will Alex make it out of the Hamptons alive?

The majority of The Perfect Sister is enticing and intriguing, with an undercurrent of untempered grief as the sisters struggle with their conflicting memories of their mother. However, the build-up of the story is a bit hampered by an eleventh-hour twist that feels a bit unsatisfying, coupled with an in-the-moment monologue to justify it. While the central mystery of the book—what happened to Maddie and why—is compelling and well handled, the final confrontation feels like it doesn't blend with the rest of the book. A decent enough summer read, but the finale may feel people leaving a bit turned around.

THE BLONDE DIES FIRST
by Joelle Wellington
Available July 30

Devon and Drew are twins, but they couldn't be more different. Drew is smart, driven, and goes to a high-end private school from which she's about to graduate a year early. Devon prides herself on her bleached blonde hair, vibrant makeup, and chill personality. But Devon is determined to have the Best Summer Ever™ before Drew goes off to take her genius to the next level. Unfortunately, the first stop on this summer sojourn involves taking their friend group to meet Drew's friends at a rich kid party, complete with a Ouija board—and the whole thing is flying scarily close to a recent horror movie.

Devon doesn't know how close until a coworker is killed by a literal demon: a demon that was coming after her first. As more people are targeted, the group realizes that the attempted kills and their surrogates are following the classic horror movie pattern. The bleached-blonde Devon nearly died first, only to be replaced by her natural blonde coworker. Now they have to use genre awareness to predict the kill order, save themselves, and stop the demon. That includes training up Yaya—a lovely ballerina and Devon's unrequited crush—to be the Final Girl and slay the demon. But along the way, Drew and Devon both discover that their preconceptions may be off.

This self-aware supernatural slasher is a perfect summer read. Beyond the surface-level fun and terror, it's also an insightful treatment of identity: how we view ourselves and others, the expectations that come with those assumptions, and how the roles we assign ourselves may hold us back from realizing our true potential. You can be a genius and an asshole; a love interest and a victim; and you might just have it within yourself to be the Final Girl.