The best new books out in paperback in July 2025

There is something immensely satisfying about getting your hands on a great book in paperback – lighter, cheaper, and easier to stuff into a suitcase or beach bag. July’s crop of new paperbacks makes that even better, with excellent titles that are perfect for holiday reading, lazy weekends, or just escaping the heat with a good story.

From David Nicholls’s You Are Here, a lovely tale of connection and second chances, to Zeinab Badawi’s brilliantly revisionist An African History of Africa and Gillian Anderson’s Want, a fearless deep-dive into female desire, here are the best new paperback releases to add to your stack…

Safe Enough by Lee Child

A must for thriller fans, this collection pulls together 20 short stories, plus a brand-new Jack Reacher tale. All of which is classic Lee Child: high-stakes, pacy and perfect for binge-reading on holiday.

Penguin, £9.99

Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink

Midlife uncertainty meets quiet yearning in this moving, wonderfully crafted novel. When Ann, a vicar’s wife, meets the charming Jamie, she’s forced to reckon with what she really wants – and whether it’s too late to ask for something more.

Phoenix, £9.99

Safe Enough by Lee Child, Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink, So Thrilled for You by Holly Bourne, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister, You Are Here by David Nicholls, The Woman Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle, Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, Guide Me Home by Attica Locke, What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci, Unheard by Rageshri Dhairyawan, The Position of Spoons by Deborah Levy, Want by Gillian Anderson, An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

So Thrilled for You by Holly Bourne

A scorching summer baby shower turns chaotic when long-buried tensions between four friends erupt – ending in a house fire. A smart, suspenseful look at jealousy, identity, and the brutal expectations placed on modern motherhood and female friendship; all while being an utter page-turner.

Hodder, £9.99

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Phoebe arrives at a grand hotel, alone, depressed and heartbroken – and the only guest in the entire building not to be part of a wedding taking place that weekend. What follows is an unexpectedly tender, absurdly funny, and beautifully observed story about loss, accidental friendships, and starting over.

Phoenix, £9.99

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Camilla returns from the school run to the news of a hostage situation developing in London – and her doting husband is the gunman. This taut, emotionally charged thriller dissects love, loyalty, and how well we really know those closest to us.

Penguin, £9.99

Safe Enough by Lee Child, Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink, So Thrilled for You by Holly Bourne, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister, You Are Here by David Nicholls, The Woman Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle, Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, Guide Me Home by Attica Locke, What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci, Unheard by Rageshri Dhairyawan, The Position of Spoons by Deborah Levy, Want by Gillian Anderson, An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

You Are Here by David Nicholls

Marnie and Michael, both lost in their lives, meet on a walking trip across England. What begins as a reluctant journey turns into a tender, funny exploration of connection, healing, and the possibility of second chances.

Sceptre, £9.99

The Woman Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle

When Paula’s grown daughter turns up unannounced with a secret, it forces a reckoning neither can avoid. A story about family, memory, and the weight of unspoken truths, it is another finely observed read from the Booker-winning author.

Vintage, £9.99

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Margo, a broke 20-year-old single mother, starts an OnlyFans account in a bid to survive. Hilarious and unafraid, this novel unpacks sex, capitalism, and motherhood in the digital age – and there is a TV adaptation already on the way.

Sceptre, £9.99

Safe Enough by Lee Child, Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink, So Thrilled for You by Holly Bourne, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister, You Are Here by David Nicholls, The Woman Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle, Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, Guide Me Home by Attica Locke, What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci, Unheard by Rageshri Dhairyawan, The Position of Spoons by Deborah Levy, Want by Gillian Anderson, An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

The Woman Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle; Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe; Guide Me Home by Attica Locke

Guide Me Home by Attica Locke

In this tense, timely finale to the Highway 59 trilogy, A Black girl vanishes from a sorority house in a small Texas town. Locke delivers both a suspenseful mystery and a searing portrait of race and justice in America.

Viper, £9.99

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci

From jam sandwiches to pasta dishes in Rome, the actor and foodie recounts a year through everything he ate. Rich with humour, warmth, and giddy appetite, this memoir is a joyful reminder of how meals can shape our lives.

Penguin, £10.99

Unheard by Rageshri Dhairyawan

Dismissed during her own excruciating pain, Dr. Dhairyawan reveals how women – especially women of colour – are routinely let down by medical systems. Both personal and political, this book is a rallying cry for better care and better listening.

Trapeze, £10.99

Safe Enough by Lee Child, Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink, So Thrilled for You by Holly Bourne, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister, You Are Here by David Nicholls, The Woman Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle, Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, Guide Me Home by Attica Locke, What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci, Unheard by Rageshri Dhairyawan, The Position of Spoons by Deborah Levy, Want by Gillian Anderson, An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

The Position of Spoons by Deborah Levy

Levy’s essays on writing, gender, language, and mortality are suffused with both wit and piercing clarity. Much like her triptych of autobiographies, this is a deeply personal, sharp-eyed reflection on the creative life and the shifting sands of identity.

Penguin, £10.99

Want by Gillian Anderson

Anderson’s collection of anonymous sexual fantasies from women worldwide is raw, honest, and varied. With her own secret entry included, this fearless and empowering book reframes female desire as something worthy of both attention and celebration.

Bloomsbury, £10.99

An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

Badawi travels across 30 African nations, speaking with local historians and thinkers to reclaim the continent’s complex history. The result is a vivid, necessary correction to colonial Western narratives and a stirring retelling of African origins.

WH Allen, £10.99

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