Welcome to Quick Lit: July 2026 Edition, where I share books I chose for my own reading enjoyment in a mini-review format. These are not books I received for review, but books I’ve wanted to read or that have caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time, so they don’t really need a full review. But I’d still like to give them some space here on the blog, so instead, I’m offering mini-reviews of the books that won’t get full-page space here on the blog.
I’ll be sharing with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit post. Be sure to head over to see others share their Quick Lit posts in her comments.
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Did you know I also regularly review children’s books? Check them out HERE.
I’m currently reading LITTLE PIECES OF HOPE as part of my Read the Gifts Challenge. I’m also reading HIDDEN CREATURES on my Kindle for review and listening to DEMON COPPERHEAD for book club.
I recently reviewed JUNE BABY. My Summer-Read-to-Learn series is back, full of great children’s books to keep kids reading and learning all summer.
What I’ve been watching lately: Pat and I are still watching Modern Family together. We are now into Season 6, and it is still making us laugh out loud. On our recent vacation, I watched The Life List on the plane trip home. I read the book back in 2014 and loved it then. I also enjoyed the movie and told our daughter she needed to watch it too. Great life lessons, including the important 4 questions to ask yourself about the person you are dating.
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Quick Lit: July 2026
S’MORE OF YOU
Summer Lovin’ #1
By: Tessa Bailey
Published: May 26, 2026
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Romance Novella
Format: eBook
I’ve been dipping into romance a bit more, and these Prime Reading novella series seemed like the perfect way to read romance without a huge commitment. Plus, this whole collection was FREE with Amazon Prime! All six books in the Summer Lovin’ series downloaded to my Kindle, and when I’m done, I return them to Amazon, just like if I were using Libby, except there are no time constraints. You should also know that when you download them, if you have Audible, you also get the audiobook for free.
So far, this one has been my least favorite in the collection, mostly because the characters were 21 years old, and since I have a daughter that age, it made me a bit uncomfortable because it was quite explicit and graphic. Set at a summer camp, Dean and Margot have worked together every summer for years, and this is the summer Margot is going to tell Dean how she really feels about him. Of course, he has also been harboring feelings for Margot, and when they finally reveal their secrets….well, you get the idea. I’m glad this one was short because I couldn’t have taken much more of their immaturity and escapades.
SAVE A HORSE, KEEP THE COWBOY
Summer Lovin #2
By: Jessica Peterson
Published: May 26, 2026
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Romance Novella
Format: eBook
Josie returns home for her brother’s wedding after she left for Nashville to start a singing career. Her career took off, and she is now a country music sensation flying home in a private jet. What she wasn’t looking forward to was seeing Weston, her brother’s best friend. They had a horrible breakup right before she left for Nashville when Weston chose the family ranch over staying with her, and they haven’t seen each other since. Weston, knowing Josie would be coming home, has been working on a plan to win her back, and Josie never expected the surprise.
Even though this was a bit far-fetched, I still liked the banter and romance. I tend to like stories where the character returns to her home, usually a small town, for some reason, and meets back up with an old fling. This was a fun one to read.
HELLO, SUMMER
By: Mary Kay Andrews
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney
Published: May 5, 2020
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Romance
Format: Audiobook
This has been on my shelf since 2020. Every summer, I would plan to read it. Then the summer would go by, and I would never get to it. I think the number of pages kept me from starting it. At nearly 500 pages, I think it could have easily been 100 pages shorter. Since this was my first Mary Kay Andrews book, I’m noticing that she writes doorstopper novels. So, this summer, I chose it as our book club read, as I wanted a lighter story, and June seemed like the perfect time to finally read it.
Conley is returning to her small town, Florida Panhandle home after losing her job at a big newspaper. She hasn’t been home in years and has been at odds with her sister, who took over the small town newspaper. Conley wants nothing to do with the newspaper and begins looking for another job. After a night on the town with her high school neighbor, they come upon an accident that ends up leading her down an investigative path and back at the newspaper with her sister.
There is a mystery woven through the story, as well as a bit of romance and family drama. It was light and a good story that kept me guessing until the end. I just think it could have been a bit shorter. I chose the audiobook even though I owned the physical copy, and the narration was enjoyable. One thing I enjoyed from the book is Grandma Luella’s summer cocktail, a sunsetter, which is pink grapefruit juice, vodka, club soda, and a slice of lime. I know Mary Kay Andrews is well-loved by many, and she has a new book out this summer, ROAD TRIP.
FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING
By: Matthew Perry
Narrated by: Matthew Perry
Published: November 1, 2022
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Memoir
Format: Audiobook
This has also been on my shelf since it was published. When Perry died less than a year after the book was published, I wasn’t quite as interested in reading it because it felt like it would be too hard. After a friend recently read it, I decided to give it a try. I chose the audiobook knowing Matthew Perry narrated it, and since I had the physical book, I could still enjoy the photos and read it if I wanted to switch back to the book.
I admit to being sad as I listened to him continue to struggle with his addiction while also knowing that that addiction killed him. I struggle to understand addiction even though it has affected someone in my family, so I was mostly angry and broken-hearted at the struggle Perry shared, his numerous relapses, and the reasons behind them. As a huge fan of Friends, I can’t believe how drugged up he was doing some of the scenes.
Perry also shares personal stories of his relationships with women like Julia Roberts and his close friendship with Bruce Willis. I especially loved the stories behind both of them having guest spots on the show.
Even though the book is heavy, Perry keeps it lighthearted. I laughed several times, especially when he was talking about an annoying leaf blower and how he can’t understand how we sent a man to space but can’t make a silent leaf blower. I would have to agree! Overall, his story is an honest one about the struggles of alcohol and drug addiction. He offers wisdom and advice, but, sadly, he couldn’t follow it himself.
SEX ON MURDER ISLAND
Luella van Horn #2
By: Jo Firestone
Published: June 30, 2026
Publisher: Bantam
Format: eBook for Review
I received this one for review, and the premise sounded fun. Unfortunately, it was not. I did not care for this one at all. Marie Jones, aka Luella van Horn, travels to Murder Island, hired by Mark for a PI job to find out with whom his wife, Caitlin, is having an affair. Murder Island, off the coast of New York City, is an exclusive island with fewer than 10 houses owned by the wealthiest and most despicable humans. There is only one ferry a day to Murder Island, and you have to have a special pass to board.
Luella meets the staff on the island during her ferry ride out, and right away, her suspicions are high. She can tell something is off on this island. Once Luella meets Mark, under the ruse that she is his cousin visiting for a few days, Luella is thrown into a ridiculous and unbelievable situation and forced to adapt to the outrageous luxury on the island. Immediately, a murder happens, and now Luella is being targeted, but by whom?
The antics are over-the-top, the island is full of debauchery and crudeness, and it just wasn’t believable at all. Luella gets herself in several pickles, and I just didn’t care if she found her way out or not. The only thing that kept me reading was finding out who the murderer really was, and even that wasn’t satisfying. The only time I laughed was when I came across a quote referencing Survivor.
“If someone was watching me watching Josh and Caitlin, they’d have to be in a tree, like Tony from Survivor.”
This is the 2nd in the series, with more to come. I won’t be reading any others. I’m clearly in the minority though as goodreads and Amazon rank it at 3.8 stars.
ONE HOT SUMMER WEDDING
Summer Lovin’ #3
By: Falon Ballard
Published: May 26, 2026
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Romance Novella
Format: eBook
Another wedding setting, this time in Costa Rica. Lucy hasn’t seen or spoken to her childhood best friend in ten years, but when she’s asked to stand up for her friend Sara at her destination wedding, Lucy can’t say no. Lucy’s always had a crush on Sara’s older brother, and when she arrives at the resort, they are accidentally forced to share a room with bunk beds.
As the wedding festivities take place, Lucy and Beckett are forced to hang out, and sparks fly, but is there too much hurt from the past to keep them apart? When Sara reveals a big secret, Lucy isn’t sure she can forgive either Sara or Beckett.
I enjoyed this one and the bit of drama that surrounded the past secret. It reminded me of my own crush on a friend’s older brother when I was growing up.
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE SUN
Summer Lovin #4
By: Rachel Lacey
Published: May 26, 2026
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Romance Novella
Format: eBook
I didn’t realize this was a sapphic romance until I started reading it. I appreciated the story of the two characters who shared one kiss 8 years ago and have thought about the other ever since. Morgan notices a woman with a very unique tattoo on the beach at the lakefront home she is sharing with friends, and KNOWS it’s the woman she kissed 8 years ago. She can’t believe she is on the same beach, and she knows she has to talk to her. Juliette tries to ignore Morgan even though she remembers their kiss. She’s trying to relax and soak in all that nature has to offer on this trip and doesn’t want any distractions.
This one wasn’t graphic and left more to the imagination, which I appreciated. I liked how the story was connected around Juliette’s tattoo and her love of nature, while Morgan had to learn to paddleboard and then be stranded on an island for a bit to wait out the storm…snakes and all.
