Book of the Month is a subscription box in which members choose up to 5 hardcover books to receive each month.
You can sign up here to get your first book for $5.
This month, Book of the Month (BOTM) chose five main selections and one add-on.
Main Picks | Add-Ons | Predictions | My Choices
Main Picks
The Connellys of County Down
Tracey Lang
In this moving tale about forgiveness, loyalty, and love’s limits, one family tries to keep it together, together.
Contemporary Fiction | Repeat Author | Early Release
The First Ladies
Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
Two brilliant women—a First Lady and Civil Rights leader—become friends and agents of progress for a changing nation.
Historical Fiction | Repeat Author
Dark Corners
Megan Goldin
From the pen that brought us The Night Swim, a new true-crime-inspired nail-biter where anyone could be the killer . . . on the menu…
Thriller | Repeat Author | Early Release
Hello Stranger
Katherine Center
After an accident, a struggling artist realizes it’s hard to face your issues when you literally can’t recognize faces.
Romance | 4Peat Author
Immortal Longings
Chloe Gong
In this action-packed adult debut from Chloe Gong, Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra is remade into a fantasy epic.
Fantasy | 3Peat Author
Add Ons
Little Monsters
Adrienne Brodeur
Over the course of one Cape Cod summer, a complicated family slowly unravels as its patriarch loses his grip on life.
Literary Fiction | Repeat Author
Predictions & Thoughts
There are five main and one add-on Book of the Month (BOTM) selections for July, including absolutely no debuts and exclusively books by repeat authors. Two of the books were June releases – The First Ladies and Little Monsters – and two are August releases – The Connellys from County Down and Dark Corners.
I predicted 6 out of 6 books correctly in my July predictions. I did add The Connellys of County Down to my list this morning before the choices were released. (I originally forgot that it was coming out at the beginning of August.) Otherwise, all of the books were included on my post when I published it yesterday.
There was at least one book this month that I could not see BOTM NOT choosing – Hello Stranger. Each of Katherine Center’s past three books have been popular selections.
I also thought that based upon Chloe Gong’s past popularity with BOTM members that it was a fair bet that Immortal Longings would show up this month, especially since it is a retelling. (Am I the only person who is not as keen on retellings as BOTM is?)
With all of the great thrillers being released in July, I am a bit disappointed to only see Dark Corners. While I did not think there were a ton of great contemporary or literary fictions choices, that was not an issues with thrillers.
I am also disappointed by the number of add-ons. I think we have been spoiled as of late with so many choices and seeing only one this month was a let down. And before you argue with me, Love, Theoretically and The Only One Left were added in June; so, I count those as June add-ons.
I am slightly surprised, but at the same time not that surprised, that The Connellys of County Down is a selection. Based on BOTM not choosing any Celadon books for a year plus, I had assumed that they were no longer working together.
Obviously, none of this month’s BOTM choices were all that surprising since EVERY SINGLE ONE is by a repeat author (even if BOTM does not label them all as such). I am curious to see if there will be any mid-month add-ons in July. Perhaps Crook Manifesto?
My Choices
Although I am a bit disappointed to only see books by repeat authors, I will still be receiving a box this month.
Even though I have an e-ARC of Hello Stranger that I am in the middle of reading, I added it to my box assuming that I will love it as much as Katherine Center’s other books.
Despite loving We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange, I hesitated whether to add The Connellys of County Down to my box. I have not been pick up books that are emotional or family dramas as of late. But I know that I will eventually read it, especially once the hype train comes to town (i.e., Instagram).
I was a little sadden to not see The First Ladies among the June picks. Even though I complained about the number of repeat authors, I am happy to grab a copy this month. I really loved The Personal Librarian and cannot wait to read this duo’s book that includes feminist icon Eleanor Roosevelt.
I waffled about adding Dark Corners to my box. I enjoyed The Night Swim, but I have heard that Dark Corners does not live up to it. Honestly, this follow up is coming so long after the first was published I remember little to nothing about it. Since I have a stack of thrillers to read in July, I am going to hold off on ordering this one.
I am also going to skip Little Monsters for the time being. While I have heard wonderful things about Brodeur, the synopsis sounds like it would be too close to home for me. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, family dramas have not appealed to me lately.
Finally, I will be passing on Immortal Longings. I have heard loads of praise for Chloe Gong, but fantasy is not my genre.
What books did you choose for your July BOTM selections? Let me know in the comments!
