Welcome to my kick-off post for Horror in July! Instead of my usual monthly TBR, I’ve decided that this July I’m going to focus on horror. And instead of waiting until October, the oh so predictable month of all things spooky and grim, I thought it would be fun to pick a summer month instead. And because there are some excellent horror titles coming out this year, and several of them happen to be July releases, I thought why not? This is a nice mix of big publisher releases, small press titles and self published as well, and there’s everything from 600 page door stoppers to 100 page novellas.
Not all of my July review commitments are horror, though, so at the end of this post I’ll feature a few other books I’d love to squeeze in as well. And obviously (if you know how slowly I read), you’ll know I won’t be able to read all of these books this month, so this serves more as a menu than a strict TBR. You’ll also see some books on this list that won’t be out for a few more months, and yes, I’m actually breaking tradition and hoping to read and review them early.
Want to join me? Feel free to use the above banner if you’d like and post your own horror reviews!
So what do I hope to read this month? Take a look:
The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig. This will be my first July read, I cannot wait!
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix. I have a couple of slasher-centric titles on my list this month, and this is one of them. I’m always curious to see what Hendrix will do next.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward. Already out in the UK, this book has racked up tons of glowing reviews, including one from Stephen King. This doesn’t release in the U.S. until September, but I definitely want to read it early.
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. Another author I expect great things from and the second “slasher” book I’ll be reading. Should be fun!
Rovers by Richard Lange is a July release and a gritty, contemporary vampire story, and I’m very excited about this.
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo doesn’t come out until September, and I may just push this off until then. But I wanted to included it as a possible read in case the mood strikes me.
Absolute Unit by Nick Kolakowski has been getting some good reviews, and some reviewers are commenting on how funny it is. I’m a big fan of the horror/humor mash-up (I mean Buffy, right?) and I can’t wait for this one.
Transmuted by Eve Harms is, from what I’ve been hearing, body horror to the extreme. The concept is pretty brilliant and I’m a little scared but also intrigued:-)
The Barrens by Joe Goodglass sounds like fun! A horror story involving the Jersey Devil and a secluded camping trip. What could possibly go wrong?
Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw. This is a novella and it’s getting great reviews so far. That cover wins the prize for scariest Horror in July cover for sure!
Come With Me by Ronald Malfi. This appears to be a ghost story, or at least there is a ghost in it. In either case, I’m looking forward to this. I have not read Malfi before and he’s written quite a few books.
Bayou Whispers by R.B. Wood is an overdue review book that I’d love to cross off my list this month. Wish me luck!
Other July review books:
We Have Always Been Here by Lena Nguyen might actually be horror, but I’m not really sure. If so, it will fit in perfectly this month!
I’m very happy I’m finally reading Becky Chambers, A Psalm for the Wild-Built will be my first.
Finally, City of Iron and Dust by J.P. Oakes really sounds good. This is a fae story and I’m always on the lookout for a good one!
In case you missed any of my June reviews, you can read them by clicking the titles below:
Jade City by Fonda Lee
Adrift by W. Michael Gear
Ten Low by Stark Holborn
To Dust You Shall Return by Fred Venturini
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
The Return of the Sorceress by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
I love your banner! It’s just perfect, both in color choice and image – and *scary*!!!
And some horror in July should be perfect to bring a few chills in one of the hottest months of the season… 😉
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…INTERGALACTIC – Season 1 (spoiler-free review)
Thank you! I’m looking forward to lots of chills:-)
love your energy! I’m allll about the horror lately, I’ve been loving The Dead and the Dark & The Devil Makes Three recently
My Heart is a Chainsaw is one I’ve been keen to get hold of! and I like the premise of Nothing but Blackened Teeth but I pout at novellas, I want full-length to sink my teeth into, darn it
OOOH, We Have Always Been Here sounds AMAZING, putting that on my wishlist
I hope we both have some great reads this month:-)
Good luck! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Nothing But Blackened Teeth and The Final Girl Support Group.
Thanks Lauren!
I have four of these coming up, but I’m especially eager for Final Girl! Looking forward to all your upcoming reviews.
I’m looking forward to yours as well:-)
The cover to Nothing But Blackened Teeth freaks me out. You’ve got a great-looking line up. Happy reading!
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…One-Sentence Reviews: My 2nd Quarter 2021 Reads
It’s pretty freaky! I hope the story matches it.
So exciting! I can’t wait to see what you think of some of these!!! 🙂
I can’t wait!
Oh yes, I will join in – I’m already reading the Final Girl Support Group so that will count and I have My Heart is a Chainsaw.so a couple of potentials.
Lynn 😀
Lynn recently posted…Hyde by Craig Russell
Cool! I’m happy to have company:-)
Ah, that cover for Nothing But Blackened Teeth again! Can’t get over that one. Looking forward to the summertime horror fest. 🙂
LOL I promise to only show it one more time – maybe.
Come With Me just landed on my doorstep so that’s definitely getting read, and I also just snagged the audio for Final Girl so that’s going to be high priority too. LOL it looks like I may be doing “Horror in July” as well, and without really even trying to 😀
Ha ha it’s hard not to, there are so many horror releases this month.
YASSS! Maybe you’ll actually make me want to read when you post the reviews of the books you’ll read. And yeah the cover of Nothing But Blackened Teeth is SUPER scary. I don’t even like looking at it for a sec.
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Monthly Wrap-Up: June 2021
Ha ha I agree! I so curious to read it to see what’s up with that cover.
This sounds like fun 😀
I have The Last House on Needless Street and was thinking I might save it until autumn but I keep getting tempted so don’t know whether I’ll end up waiting that long.
Looking forward to your reviews for all these, hope you enjoy them.
Pages and Tea recently posted…Booking Ahead: July 2021
Thanks! That book is definitely tempting, which is why I’m reading it early:-)
I like the idea of the menu instead of a TBR!
It definitely takes the stress off:-)
Ooo, horror month, how fun! I may unintentionally do a sci-fi themed month. I grabbed a bunch of backlist stuff to read on vacation and realized after the fact most of it was sci-fi.
Caitlin G. recently posted…June 2021 Book Haul
I love it when an unexpected theme comes together:-)
I love the idea of celebrating Horror not in October, I usually reserve spooky reads for October and because of this habit, I don’t read a lot of horror titles. My TBR for July is a bit packed but I will try to squeeze one or two spooky reads and join you! 😀
Maryam recently posted…Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Recommendations | Pride Month 2021
Cool! I will probably have a lot more to read in October too:-)
I’m excited to read My Heart Is a Chainsaw. Hoping to get to it in July too.
I hope we both enjoy it!
Oh I definitely have some horror books to review so I’ll be using your header to help promote your blog. I have at least 4 horror reviews pending and a few books I’ll be tackling this month so it sounds like a perfect time! For some reason I’ve just recently heard about The Rovers and I can’t get a copy fast enough now because it sounds right up my alley!
Oh cool! I’m just amazing how many horror novels are coming out in the next few months. Or maybe I’m just noticing them more??
YES. Oh my gosh, so much YES! I was just telling someone today that I don’t understand why but I’ve suddenly been in a die-hard horror mood all of a sudden. So glad I’m not the only one. This almost makes me feel downright normal. 😉 Several of these books are on my list, too, and I hope we both enjoy them!
Horror isn’t really my thing so much but I hope you wil have loads of fun reading them in July 😀
Annemieke recently posted…16 Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2021 | #TopTenTuesday 295
I love the idea of Horror in July (horror all the time!!!!) and I hope you’re having a grand time so far. I read and LOVED Nothing but Blackened Teeth so I can’t wait for your thoughts on that one
Kal @ Reader Voracious recently posted…13 New Books Hitting the Shelves in July 2021 | Anticipated Reads