Books are my favorite things; they’re affordable and portable, filled with mind-expanding possibilities. Through their pages, I explore new experiences and worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and deepen my understanding of…everything.
These are the books I read in July 2026, listed chronologically, and graded by recommendation (highly recommend, recommend, and do not recommend).
He, She and It
Shira Shipman has lost everything; employment, marriage, custody of her son, even face (she has to move back home, with her grandma).
Her grandmother is a brilliant computer science who lives in Tikvah, a Jewish “free zone” (not under the control of a corporation, like most cities in the mid-twenty first century), snug in a automated house, happy among her little electronic experiments.
Malkah insists that Shira is no burden. In fact, she needs help with a new project. A super secret one.
Questions posed in this novel, like:
- can “rugged individualism” be marketed, and, therefore, weaponized?
- does convenience actually increase productivity?
- is it permissible to boink an attractive, sentient robot?
seemed creative in 1991 (the year of publication), but have grown more realistic since; highly recommend.
Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation
This biographical anthology isn’t super well-written, but it doesn’t need to be; the lives covered therein are super interesting.
Skim this work and consider it a jumping-off point to learn more about these awesome ladies, recommend.
G.M. (George Moore)
I was on a Nancy Cunard streak (inspired by this YouTube video), and I started with her biography of author George Moore.
Having never heard of this dude, (not sure if that’s a personal failing or a sign of the times), I was eager for education.
But G.M. was more illuminating of Nancy than George.
Maybe because she assumed her audience would have a more foundational knowledge of him than I did. Or maybe, trying to obscure herself only brought her own anxieties, prejudices, etc, to the forefront; recommend.
Magnificent Rebel: Nancy Cunard in Jazz Age Paris
Nancy Cunard had an amazing life as an heiress, poet, divorcee, publisher, fashion icon, muse, and more; Rebel focuses on the most fantastical part. Paris was the place to be in the 1920’s, and Nancy embodied it.
This is a great place to begin your Cunard exploration, highly recommend.
These Were The Hours: Memories of My Hours Press (Not Pictured)
Owning a press was a chic hobby of the twentieth century intelligentsia. Naturally, Nancy had one, which published some really important stuff: a dream of George Moore, Samuel Beckett’s first poem, obscure translations, and more.
Bibliophiles will love the book-making descriptions, Cunard-worshippers will appreciate a glimpse of her work ethic, and book snobs will be devastated to learn that most editions mentioned are gone; highly recommend.
Perfidia
Maddy Stern doesn’t feel liked or seen, let alone loved, by her mother (art gallery owner Anita).
But did she need to resort to matricide for attention?
Maddy claims it was the freedom that she wanted, and violence the only route. Read this quietly unsettling novel and see if you agree; highly recommend.
Bailey’s Cafe
At Bailey’s Cafe the food is subpar and the service is worse, but that’s still pretty good, considering it’s a metaphysical eatery.
Bailey’s exists on a different plane, that caters to a certain clientele, and only visible when they need it. Lucky for us, the owner is willing to narrate; highly, highly recommend.
The Uncollected Essays of Elizabeth Hardwick
Ever been ice skating, and you’re feeling pretty good, gliding competently, not relying on the wall? But then a real figure skater shows up and you’re immediately like, “oh, I am as unwieldy as a water buffalo on this rink?”
Yeah. In this analogy I am the regular lady and Elizabeth Hardwick is the figure skater.
Her articulation silences me; highly recommend.
Austerlitz
Many books are buttressed by time, featuring several character interactions during a short span (“Mrs. Dalloway” immediately comes to mind). Sebald does the opposite, recording one conversation (a continuous narrative) over decades.
Austerlitz is one of two characters (but obviously the important one, hence the title). While both possess a healthy degree of existential dread, Austerlitz literally does not know who he is.
His quest to find out is the only thing the two men ever discuss. Will knowledge bring happiness? Of course not; highly recommend.
Images of Truth
Glenway intimately knew many of the writers he covered in these critical essays, including Collette, W. Somerset Maughm, and Thornton Wilder.
That knowledge makes his portrayals layered and sharper, not watered down; highly recommend.
Conclusion
In the quiet company of these July 2026 reads, I found stories and echoes of the human experience: resilience in the face of despair, the enduring power of connection, and timeless wisdom woven into words.
I hope these bite size book reviews open up new literary adventures for you. What are you reading? I’d love to hear!
Want More?
Here’s some more bookish articles:
Happy reading!
Love,
