Best Contemporary Fiction Books July 2025

Dear Wife

Sabine’s life is a carefully constructed facade, hiding dark secrets and a desperate plan. Her husband’s controlling nature has pushed her to the brink, and now she’s determined to vanish without a trace. Meanwhile, Beth Murphy is on the run, fleeing an abusive marriage with nothing but hope and fear as her companions. As their stories intertwine, a web of lies and deception unravels, revealing the lengths some will go to escape their past and protect those they love. This gripping thriller will keep you guessing until the very end, exploring the complexities of marriage, survival, and the power of second chances.

Don’t You Cry

In this gripping psychological thriller, Mary Kubica weaves a tale of deception and obsession that will keep you guessing until the very end. When Quinn’s roommate Esther vanishes without a trace, she’s left to unravel the mystery. Meanwhile, a young man becomes entangled with a mysterious woman in a nearby town. As their stories intertwine, dark secrets emerge, challenging everything you thought you knew. Kubica’s masterful storytelling had me on the edge of my seat, unable to put it down. A must-read for anyone who loves a good twist!

The Good Girl

Mia Dennett’s life takes a chilling turn when she vanishes without a trace. As her mother and a detective frantically search for answers, dark secrets unravel. Kubica’s gripping debut weaves a tale of deception, obsession, and unexpected twists that will keep you guessing until the very end. With richly drawn characters and a haunting atmosphere, this psychological thriller explores the blurred lines between victim and captor, leaving readers breathless and questioning everything they thought they knew.

Every Last Lie

Clara’s world shatters when her husband Nick dies in a car crash, leaving her alone with their newborn son and four-year-old daughter. As she grapples with grief, Clara becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind Nick’s death. Haunted by her daughter’s cryptic comments and her own nagging suspicions, Clara delves into Nick’s past, unearthing secrets that threaten everything she thought she knew. A gripping tale of love, loss, and the lies we tell ourselves, “Every Last Lie” will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Paris Apartment

Jess arrives in Paris, desperate to find her half-brother Ben who’s mysteriously vanished. She moves into his eerily empty apartment, surrounded by eccentric neighbors who seem to know more than they’re letting on. As she digs deeper, dark secrets emerge, and the building’s sinister history unravels. With each clue, Jess realizes she’s in over her head, caught in a web of lies and danger. Will she uncover the truth before it’s too late? A gripping thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the very end.

The Hunting Party

Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, a group of old friends gather for their annual New Year’s getaway. As the snow falls and tensions rise, dark secrets begin to surface. When one of them goes missing, the others are forced to confront their shared past and the lies they’ve told. With each passing hour, suspicions grow and loyalties fray. Lucy Foley weaves a chilling tale of friendship, betrayal, and murder that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Guest List

On a remote island off the Irish coast, guests gather for the wedding of the year. The bride, a rising TV star, and the groom, a handsome magazine publisher, seem picture-perfect. But as the celebration unfolds, old secrets and simmering resentments surface. The wild landscape and stormy weather mirror the tension among the guests. When someone turns up dead, everyone becomes a suspect. I couldn’t put this thrilling whodunit down, with its clever twists and atmospheric setting. Foley’s characters are deliciously complex, each harboring their own hidden motives.

The Language of Sycamores

Karen Sommerfield has always felt out of place in her fast-paced corporate world. When a family crisis forces her to take a leave of absence, she finds herself drawn to the small Missouri town of her childhood. There, amidst the gentle rhythms of rural life, Karen rediscovers the healing power of nature and family. As she tends to her ailing grandmother and reconnects with old friends, Karen begins to question the path she’s chosen. With lyrical prose and heartfelt insights, Wingate weaves a tale of self-discovery and second chances that will resonate long after the final page.

Good Hope Road

Sarah Brandt never expected to find solace in the dilapidated farmhouse on Good Hope Road. Fleeing a troubled past, she’s drawn to the quiet strength of the old place, its weathered boards holding secrets of generations past. As she uncovers hidden letters and faded photographs, Sarah feels a connection to the women who came before her, their hopes and struggles echoing her own. With each passing day, she finds herself healing, learning to trust again, and maybe, just maybe, opening her heart to the possibility of love in this small town that’s beginning to feel like home.

Tending Roses

Kate Bowman reluctantly returns to her grandmother’s Missouri farm, tasked with convincing the stubborn matriarch to move to a nursing home. As she sifts through her grandmother’s belongings, Kate discovers a journal filled with wisdom, stories, and life lessons. Amidst family tensions and personal struggles, Kate finds herself drawn into the simple beauty of rural life, learning to appreciate the art of tending roses—both in the garden and in relationships. This heartwarming tale explores the bonds of family, the power of forgiveness, and the unexpected ways we find our true selves.