To Be Read: July 2026

Ride the Wave by Katherine Reilly

Continuing my trend of reading sports romances, I’ve decided to check out Ride the Wave. This is a type of sports romance I’ve never read before though, surfing. I know nothing about surfing as it’s not a common sport in the UK, but I’m excited for the summer vibes – I imagine they’re off the charts in this one.

I’m pretty sure I haven’t read anything by Katerine Reilly but the name does sound familiar. It could be because I’ve owned this book for a while so I’ve read her name many times while browsing my Kindle books, but who knows? Either way, I’m looking forward to reading this.

Synopsis: In surfing, everyone’s chasing the perfect ride…

Twelve years ago, Leo Silva was a world champion surfer-until reckless partying and tabloid scandals ended his career. After a mysteriously sudden and early retirement, Leo retreated to a sleepy seaside village in Portugal, where he’s remained out of the spotlight ever since. But when he receives a surprise invitation to compete in Australia’s legendary Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest, the news of his comeback sends shockwaves through the surf world.

Enter Iris Gray, an ambitious sports journalist from London. Her editor wants her to make Leo and his comeback the topic of glossy Studio magazine’s next big feature, but there’s one small catch – he happens to be the son of TV star and media proprietor Michelle Martin, the owner of Studio. With a lot of pressure riding on this project and Iris’s career hanging in the balance, there’s simply no room for mistakes.

When Iris flies to Portugal, she expects to uncover the truth behind Leo’s infamous past, but she is unprepared for his stubbornness-or the undeniable chemistry that simmers between them. But as her interviewee and the boss’s son, Leo is strictly off-limits…

With a fierce rival threatening to derail Leo’s comeback and the competition fast approaching, can they stay focused on their goals, or will love pull them under?

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich

I had planned to read this during June (Pride month) but life very much got in the way, which I imagine will happen again in July, but better late than never. By late I mean that I’ve owned this book for multiple years now but haven’t thought about pickling it up until now. 

I’ve read one other Sophie Gonzales book and I really enjoyed it. I’m intrigued to see how the collaboration plays into this – I’m assuming one POV is written by each author, which is fun. I do love books that do that. 

This one is about two members of a boyband who develop a secret romance, so I can only imagine how off the charts the angst is. 

Synopsis: Eighteen-year-olds Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining under the pressures of fame, and Ruben confides in Zach that he’s feeling smothered by management’s pressure to stay in the closet.

On a whirlwind tour through Europe, with both an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, Ruben and Zach come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. But when they decide they’re ready to tell their fans and live freely, Zach and Ruben start to truly realize that they will never have the support of their management. How can they hold tight to each other when the whole world seems to want to come between them?

Your Time Is Up by Sarah J Naughton

I have to say, I enjoy a thriller that’s told in real time, and this one takes place during an exam so the stress levels are going to be high. 

I’ve been neglecting thrillers recently, not really sure why, just haven’t found myself reaching for them. So it will be nice to get into them again. I did read They Wish They Were Us recently, and that has made me want to pick up thrillers again – not my favourite though but you’ll have to wait for my review to find out why (it won’t be posted until late August).

This is another new author for me, which is always a fun time. I may make a 2027 goal to be reading X amount of new authors but that’s getting way ahead of myself. I haven’t even posted my mid-year wrap up yet (coming very soon).

Synopsis: One has a secret, one of them saw, there’s blood on the papers, who’ll take the fall?

Zaina never meant to get involved. The plan was always to focus on her exams, make her dad proud.

But none of this is what she’d planned for. Chanelle never made it to the exam; Nero’s convinced he saw something last night and Ysla can’t stop crying.

As Zaina starts to scratch the surface of secrets which desperately want to stay hidden she begins to wonder … how far will they go to keep her from the truth?


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