Release Radar: June 2026
People often ask me how I track my reading and keep up with what I want to read. After so many years of being a public reader, it’s become a bit of an ecosystem: systems for tracking what I’ve read, what I want to read, and what new releases are coming out.
When it comes to new releases, I keep an extensive spreadsheet (I love a spreadsheet) of books that have caught my attention. It helps me build my own TBR, request ARCs (advanced reader copies), and share recommendations here on Literary Leanings.
The sheer number of new books published each month, however, is overwhelming. So this isn’t a spreadsheet where I add anything that sounds remotely interesting. The first year I did that and, spoiler alert, it was completely unhelpful. Now, I’m incredibly selective about what earns a spot on the list. If a book gets added, it’s because something about it genuinely stood out to me, and I always make a note of why.
Because I know so many of you enjoy weaving new releases into a reading life that also includes backlist gems, I’m excited to introduce a new monthly series: Release Radar.
Each month, I’ll share a curated selection of recent and upcoming releases that I’m especially excited about. Think of it as a filter for those who want to stay connected to what’s new without feeling overwhelmed by the constant flood of recommendations. And want to discover new releases in addition to the biggest, buzziest titles that everyone is talking about.
As Literary Leanings continues to grow and evolve, one thing I keep coming back to is the idea that curation is a gift. My goal isn’t to recommend every good book. It’s to help you discover the right books for you. The ones that feel immersive, approachable, beautifully written, and worth adding to your reading list.
Each title below includes a short description and a note about what caught my eye to help you decide whether it belongs on your radar, too.
I’m especially excited about this first crop of books this month, so let’s get onto it…
The Headliners
The ones I suspect we’ll be hearing about all summer long.
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
Release date: June 30
About the book: An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town over the course of one summer.
Why it’s on my radar: I adored Jackson’s debut, Pineapple Street, and love her work as an editor, so any novel she writes is an immediate read for me. I appreciate the way she writes such smart, witty, juicy novels that are my ideal type of book I want to spend the day with on the beach.
Best for: Readers who enjoy rich people behaving badly, sharp observations, and novels you’ll immediately want to discuss with a friend.
Country People by Daniel Mason
Release date: July 7
About the book: A year in the life of a family as they strike out into the unknown (aka Vermont), leaving all the comforts of home behind.
Why it’s on my radar: I am a sucker for a New England setting, and the fact that this book is described as “joyous, absurd, and life-affirming” immediately piqued my interest. I’m always looking for literary fiction that is warm and joyful.
Best for: Readers who loved Tom Lake and are always searching for literary fiction that feels hopeful rather than bleak.
The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders
Release date: July 7
About the book: An impulsive and heartbroken woman inherits her father’s share of a Tennessee farm that is rich in family secrets and occupied with busybody ghosts in this sweeping family saga.
Why it’s on my radar: I love a good family saga, and this one promises to deliver with the added twist of a few busybody ghosts. Add in the fact that so many of my favorite authors have already blurbed it, and this immediately shot toward the top of my TBR.
Best for: Readers who love family sagas like Buckeye or Olympus, Texas and appreciate family sagas with a touch of the unexpected.
Atmospheric summer vibes
The ones that will give you the nostalgic feels
The Emilys by Heather Abel
Release date: June 16
About the book: The residents of a New England town become obsessed with finding the cure for a mysterious ailment spreading through their community in this compelling, kaleidoscopic novel.
Why it’s on my radar: This one checks a lot of my boxes. New England. A touch of strangeness. Multiple perspectives. I’m so intrigued by the premise of this novel and can’t wait to dive in. It feels like exactly the kind of atmospheric summer read I gravitate toward.
Best for: Readers who enjoyed any of Karen Thompson Walker’s novels, The Hounding, or stories that blend community dynamics with an undercurrent of mystery.
Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman
Release date: June 2
About the book: A sundrenched and dewy snapshot of modern girl culture set in the blaze of one suburban Midwest summer.
Why it’s on my radar: I can practically feel summer seeping from this book. It sounds like a nostalgic, hazy novel. And I cannot resist adding at least one “long hot summer” novel to my stack during this season.
Best for: Readers who love nostalgic summer novels that capture the intensity of friendship, growing up, and a specific season of life.
Quirky & unexpected
The ones with quirky characters and unusual premises
Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum
Release date: June 2
About the book: An ad exec bombs the biggest pitch of his career and decides to forgo capitalism and live off the land of his suburban Connecticut home.
Why it’s on my radar: This one sounds like a fun romp. And, honestly, couldn’t we all do with a little less capitalism in our lives?
Best for: Readers who enjoy the smart wit and social commentary of authors like Rufi Thorpe or Taffy Brodesser-Akner.
A Perfect Hand by Ayelet Waldman
Release date: May 19
About the book: A richly drawn, endlessly amusing novel of love and subterfuge between a lady’s maid and her clandestine lover, set in the country estates of nineteenth-century England.
Why it’s on my radar: I immediately thought of Emma M. Lion when I read the description and the first few pages. The premise is fun, the banter is delightfully witty, and it is the sort of historical escape I reach for when I want something entertaining, immersive, and fun.
Best for: Readers eagerly awaiting the next Emma M. Lion installment, or anyone who loves a historical escape.
Love & longing
The ones that dive into the complicated ways people connect with one another
I Want You To Be Happy by Jem Calder
Release date: July 14
About the book: A tender, witty, and sharp debut novel about the passions and peculiarities of modern love between a writer and a poet.
Why it’s on my radar: One of my favorite bookstores to follow for recommendations, BookBarUK, put this on my radar recently, and I couldn’t add it to my list fast enough. As soon as someone says “literary romance”, I’m in.
Best for: Readers who love a literary romance and will happily read anything by Sally Rooney, Claire Daverley, or Dolly Alderton.
Make Nice by Ryan Effgen
Release date: July 14
About the book: An irresistible comedy of manners as three generations of a family descend on a ritzy Lake Michigan vacation island.
Why it’s on my radar: A summery family drama is a staple on my summer reading list, and this one comes from one of my favorite imprints, which immediately caught my attention. Add in the fact that it was edited by Jenny Jackson, and it sounds like it has all the ingredients of a book I'd love.
Best for: Readers who loved Sandwich or The Wedding People and are looking for another smart, summery novel filled with family drama.
This first edition of this series is available to everyone because I wanted to give you a taste of what this new series will look like.
Beginning next month, Release Radar will become a paid subscriber feature. Along with Footnotes, read-alikes, book chats, and the rest of the paid-subscriber offerings, it will be one of the ways I help you stay connected to the literary world without feeling overwhelmed.
If you’ve enjoyed this first edition, I hope you’ll consider joining as a paid subscriber.
As always, thanks for being here. And I’d love to hear which of these books you’re adding to your list!
Until next time,
Thanks for being here. I’m really glad you are!
If you’d like more considered book recommendations and essays, you can subscribe here.
I also created a small collection of Kindle cases, designed for readers who want their digital books to feel a little more at home in an analog life. You can take a look here.
