Books to “READ NOW” During Your Summer Holiday
Ah, a long Summer weekend! We’re celebrating the extra reading time by making some titles available as Read Now on NetGalley! Whether you’re opting for a picnic blanket in the park, a tent in the woods, a hammock in your backyard, a seat on an airplane, or your couch in front of the AC, you’re sure to enjoy an early look at our exciting upcoming titles (without the hardcover wrist/neck strain).
No approval needed, anyone with a NetGalley account can download these titles from July 3 to July 7. Sneak one in between the BBQ and the fireworks!
Read RED STAR FALLING on NetGalley here.
Wrapping up his latest assignment for the Magellan Billet, Luke Daniels receives a surprise visit from the head of a former-CIA operation named Sommerhaus—a failed attempt to assemble an espionage network within the Ukraine on the eve of the Russian invasion. Sommerhaus ranks high on Luke’s list of painful regrets, for it was during this mission that his friend, CIA case officer John Vince, was captured by Russian operatives and supposedly executed.
But Luke is provided some shocking news. Vince is alive, in failing health, locked behind the walls of Russia’s brutal Solovetsky Island prison, and has a critical message he’ll give to no one but Luke. Luke vows to bring Vince home.
However, just as he manages to extract his friend from prison Vince tragically dies and his final words are rambling and incoherent–but enough to plunge Luke into a hunt for something lost since the 15th century. The legendary library of the first Tsar of All Russia, Ivan the Terrible.
Within that priceless collection of rare manuscripts is the key to unraveling a modern-day cipher and stopping a secret Soviet satellite program that still exists. But Luke is not the only one on the trail. Others, both inside and out of Russia, want the library for a totally different reason–to restart the Red Star program and finally unleash its destructive potential. Luke’s mission is clear: find the lost library, solve the puzzle, and prevent Red Star falling.
Read TARTUFO on NetGalley here.
A 2025 Washington Post Notable Work of Fiction
After nearly losing the election to a geriatric donkey, newly installed Mayor Delizia Miccuci can’t help but feel like the sun has finally set on the rural Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino. Tourists only stop by to ask for directions, Nonna Amara’s cherished ristorante is long shuttered, and the town hall is disgustingly overrun with glis glis poo—even Postman Duccio has been disgraced. All that’s left is Bar Celebrità, a rustic establishment where weary locals gather to quibble over decades-long disputes, submit their poor stomachs to bartender Giuseppina’s volcanic espresso, and wonder what will become of the place where together they’ve spent their entire lives.
Little do the villagers know that local truffle hunter Giovanni Scarpazza has just happened upon something that could change everything. A truffle—un tartufo, that is—sits beneath the soil with the power to either be the greatest gift or the foulest curse the village has ever seen.
Written with the same enchanting style and raucous humor that defines Hollow Kingdom and Feral Creatures, Tartufo is a reflection on the interconnectedness of life in all its manifestations—and how holding on to harmony in the face of hardship can grow something beautiful and rare beneath the surface.
Read REMEMBER, YOU ARE A WILEY on NetGalley here.
Born in a country that has repeatedly traumatized her and her loved ones, Maya Wiley grew up in a household that prioritized activism, hope, and resilience above all else. This attitude landed her father on President Nixon’s enemies list as her mother organized third-party political platforms. Still, they modeled hope for their children. In the decades since, she has borne witness as presidents and political figures used racism and fascism to gain power, and as cities have again and again elected white men, effectively shutting out people of color and women from having a political voice. As a result, she has been forced, time after time, to confront death, injustice, and indifference—just as her Civil Rights activist parents did before her.
After a mayoral race that further exposed our country’s deep divisions, Maya is ready to share her story and that of her parents: one of passion, possibility, and compassion in the face of fear and injustice. She takes readers through her unconventional upbringing, her father George Wiley‘s tragic death and the resulting trauma, as well as how her experiences spoke to racial, gender, and class identity. Against this painful backdrop, Maya charts her journey of coming into herself and finding hope in a dire political landscape. She also digs into how her previous struggles informed her platform, driving her to represent those who have similarly felt voiceless or ignored. In facing and sharing her own past, Maya shows readers how they too can remain optimistic in the face of adversity.
Read THE ART OF THE INTERESTING on NetGalley here.
Traditionally, philosophers and psychologists have thought of the Good Life in terms of happiness or meaning, or some combination of both. But, if it’s really that simple, why aren’t more of us achieving that truly “good” life? You’ve hit all the markers, jumped on the happiness train, committed to a gratitude practice, sought purpose in your work, and yet The Good Life you’re seeking is still out of reach.
Emerging research is revealing that there is more to the good life than the current —and even ancient—conversation suggests. This has been identified as psychological richness. Dr. Lorraine Besser shows how psychological richness helps to make our Good Lives more interesting. Interesting experiences captivate our minds, engage our thoughts and emotions, and often change our perspective. In this illuminating book, you’ll take a deeper dive into the ways that you can cultivate the interesting in your everyday life, including:
·How to develop an interesting mindset
·How to harness the power of novelty
·How to turn obstacles into adventures
Whether you feel like something is missing from your life, or you’re yearning for more, Besser’s groundbreaking manifesto will guide you toward a fuller, more satisfying life.
Longlisted for the 2024 Porchlight Business Book Awards
Read FEAST WHILE YOU CAN on NetGalley here.
For readers of Nightbitch and We Ride Upon Sticks, an “exciting new hybrid horror-romance” about queer love in a small town that serves as an unsettling reminder that the horrors of modern life is a monster ready to possess us all (New York Times Book Review).
Angelina Sicco was born and raised in Cadenze, an ugly little mountain town that’s dead most of the year. Determined to be content with her lot in life, she walks her mongrel dog, attends her brother’s heavy metal concerts, holds court in the local dive bar, and does everything she can to bait hot, queer women to her sleepy, conservative hometown. But on the night of a family party, Angelina runs into the sternly handsome Jagvi, who’s back in town for a spell.
Upon Jagvi’s arrival, an ancient evil is awakened, and a monstrous force infiltrates Angelina’s life. Only Jagvi’s touch repels it — the final trigger for a secret, passionate romance. But this monster feasts on all the passion, heartbreak and mess that makes up a life, and Angelina Sicco’s life has never looked tastier. What will Angelina do to protect her future? And what will it cost her?
Read THE HAPPY HIGH ACHIEVER on NetGalley here.
A game-changing road map for ambitious people to transform chronic stress and anxiety into sustainable happiness and success.
Throughout her years as a licensed clinical psychologist, Mary E. Anderson, PhD—known affectionately as “Dr. A” by her clients—has noticed a pattern: Talented, productive, and often brilliant patients—from business executives to lawyers to grad students—constantly arrive on her couch, drop their flawless facades, and describe feelings of self-doubt, burnout, and worry.
The Happy High Achiever brings Dr. Anderson’s unparalleled expertise to the wider world. The book is a practical guide to her 8 Essentials, a set of powerful principles with actionable, science-based strategies to combat the unique pressures and pitfalls of high-performing individuals. These CBT-based tools help ambitious people like you live free of the perpetual anxiety and fear of failure that can hold you back, and instead enjoy both happiness and high achievement.
The Happy High Achiever will teach you:
- Why striving for perfection actually limits you
- How to navigate uncertainty with less worry and more ease
- How to find relief in moments of overwhelm
- How to overcome the three most problematic ways of thinking that plague high achievers
- Why gratitude is rocket fuel for your success
- How to get clear about what you really want for your life
- How to effectively manage stress to boost your calm and confidence and enhance your performance
Most importantly, you’ll learn anxiety is not the price of admission for your success. You have the power to optimize your life and be your best. You can be a happy high achiever.
Read THE HOUSE HUNT on NetGalley here.
For two years Lucy and Sam renovated their beautiful Victorian home but spiraling debts are forcing them to sell. The agreement with their real estate agent is that they won’t be home for viewings, but when Lucy gets a voicemail saying the Agent is running late, she realizes she will have to show the prospective buyer around herself.
Suffering from extreme anxiety and claustrophobia, Lucy watches the stranger on their doorstep waiting to be let in; she wants to hide and pretend she’s not home, but then she thinks of Sam working at all hours to cover their bills, of how much they need this sale, and opens the door.
Lucy takes a breath and begins to show their house. He is well dressed, polite, and despite her unease everything goes well, until he starts acting strangely. Why is he asking increasingly intrusive questions about her and Sam’s relationship? Why is he trying to take photographs of her? And why does he disappear into the basement and then not answer her when she calls?
There is something very wrong with this stranger, and now he is refusing to leave…
Read I MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE on NetGalley here.
A few years ago, David Alvarez had it all: a six-figure book deal, a loving boyfriend, and an exciting writing career. His debut novel was a resounding success, which made the publication of his second book—a total flop—all the more devastating. Now, David is single, lonely, and desperately trying to come up with the next great idea for his third manuscript, one that will redeem him in the eyes of readers, reviewers, the entire publishing world…and maybe even his ex-boyfriend.
But good ideas are hard to come by, and the mounting pressure of a near-empty bank account isn’t helping. When David connects with a sexy stranger on a dating app, he figures a wild night out in New York City may be just what he needs to find inspiration.
But after one of the best nights of his life, David wakes up hungover but giddy—only to find prince charming dead next to him in bed. Suddenly faced with the implausible idea that he may have actually killed his date, David calls the only person he can trust in a moment of crisis: his literary agent, Stacey.
Together, David and Stacey must untangle the events of the previous night, cover their tracks, and spin the entire misadventure into David’s career-defining novel—if only they can figure out what to do with the body first.
AN INDIE NEXT PICK AND A LIBRARYREADS SELECTION
Read MEDUSA on NetGalley here.
You know how Medusa’s story ends, but you’ve never heard her tell her own story… until now.
The only mortal daughter of two sea gods, and a priestess of Athena, Medusa was a woman who thought she had found her place in the world. But when Medusa suffers a horrific violation at the hands of Poseidon, Athena is outraged over the desecration of her name and sends a message by transforming Medusa into the snake-haired monster of legend. With one look, any who meet her gaze is turned to stone. Word of her monstrosity travels fast, igniting a king’s fear so greatly that he commands the boy-hero Perseus to bring him her head. With a power that will spare no one, Medusa begins to wonder if this is a blessing or a curse. Medusa only knows that she must leave the city she has come to call home before she harms another soul.
Searching for a haven free from mortals, anger buoying her every step, Medusa journeys across ancient Greece. Her eyes are hidden beneath a blindfold, with nothing but the snakes for company. Through her travels, Medusa discovers solace and understanding in the mythical figures she stumbles upon: A debaucherous wine god, an alluring nymph, and a three-headed dog. But one cannot escape fate forever. As Perseus closes in, Medusa faces a choice: become the monster everyone expects her to be, or cling to the last piece of her humanity.
Read SUBMIT on NetGalley here.
Sonnet is a writer. She is a professional with a wide network of important people. She is athletic, creative and successful. She always remembers to send Christmas cards.
Sonnet also likes to be caned. She likes to be humiliated. She likes to go into a room blindfolded with ten strangers and have them do whatever they want to her.
Sonnet likes whatever you tell her she likes.
This is the secret memoir of a submissive. A vivid, electric, stunning account of how one woman gets her kicks. It is all true.
This is an experience that can’t be missed, all we ask is that you SUBMIT…