July is here — and so is the heat. While I count down to my August beach trip, I’m happily escaping into books that bring the vacation vibes, no packing required. I’m also logging every title for my local library’s summer-reading challenge — because why should kids get all the fun? (Shout-out to Chesterfield County Public Library for knowing we grownups like stickers, too.) If you’re staying close to home this month, these novels will provide the perfect feel-good escape.     

*****

In When Javi Dumped Mari (Putnam), Mia Sosa delivers a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romcom filled with zingy banter, heartfelt emotion, and a hero to swoon for.

On the eve of their college graduation, best friends Javier Báez and Marisol Campos made a pact to always seek each other’s approval before getting serious with anyone. Aside from one almost-moment when their friendship nearly turned into something more, they’ve kept things strictly platonic. But some feelings don’t stay buried forever.

Now in their 30s, Mari is a successful entertainment lawyer engaged to a man Javi has never even met, and the wedding is just six weeks away. Javi has been waiting until he got his life together to tell Mari how he feels — but now that his playwriting career is finally gaining momentum, he’s out of time. When Mari asks him to be her man of honor, he agrees…and quietly sets out to sabotage the wedding before it’s too late.

Told through dual timelines, the novel moves between their college years and the lead-up to the big day, tracing a decade of near-misses, emotional growth, and the deep bond that defines their friendship. Sosa gives both characters depth and nuance — Javi’s dedication to his creative life and his friendship with Mari balances perfectly against Mari’s determination to build the stable and committed life she wants.

The romance unfolds slowly, as Mari and Javi finally get on the same page, and the emotional payoff is more than worth the wait. Sosa reminds us that the best romcoms aren’t just about timing, they’re about having the guts to go after the love that’s been there all along.

*****

Katelyn Doyle’s Total Dreamboat (Flatiron) is one of my favorite books of 2025 — a fizzy, feel-good romance that’s filled with laugh-out-loud moments, a boatload of emotional honesty, and the unexpected magic of a Caribbean cruise.

Months after a painful breakup, Hope Lanover is floundering professionally and in desperate need of a reset. So when her influencer best friend, Lauren, invites her along on a free luxury vacation on the Romance of the Seas — a cruise marketed to seniors — she reluctantly agrees. All she’s expecting is to get some sun, go on a few excursions, and maybe sing karaoke. She definitely doesn’t intend to fall for a charming and handsome British chef.

Felix Segrave is aboard to celebrate his parents’ anniversary alongside his two sisters, Pear and Prue, who alternate between teasing him mercilessly and nudging him toward love. Felix is focused on maintaining his sobriety, and the structure of his work routine back home keeps him steady. Family dynamics and a cruise full of strangers aren’t exactly his comfort zone — but then he meets Hope, and everything changes.

Their spark is immediate, and what starts as lighthearted flirting quickly becomes a vacation fling. Both of them know their relationship has a time limit, which helps relieve some of the pressure they’re both feeling — at least, until real feelings start bubbling up. Then Hope’s ex appears, derailing their budding affair, and the pair find themselves stranded in the Bahamas after missing the ship’s departure. The forced proximity (including that romcom staple, the single bed) means they must confront the feelings they’ve been trying to ignore.

Doyle handles Felix’s sobriety journey with care, and Hope’s path to reclaiming her confidence and creative spark is a joy to watch. With a quirky supporting cast, plenty of cruise-ship shenanigans, and the kind of slow-burn chemistry that leaves you smiling, Total Dreamboat feels like a vacation in book form.

*****

Melanie Sweeney delivers a warm-hearted, quietly compelling romance rooted in resilience, found family, and the transformative power of shared spaces in Where You’re Planted (Putnam).

After a hurricane destroys her Houston library branch, single mom and children’s librarian Tansy Perkins is forced to relocate her staff and her story times to a ramshackle shed in the botanic gardens. The move comes with strings — namely, Jack Reid, the surly, short-tempered, plant-obsessed, newly appointed garden director who rescued Tansy and her young daughter, Briar, during the storm.

Jack has kept to himself since his divorce, content to tend to his plants and avoid emotional entanglements. Tansy is struggling to rebuilding stability for her child while also making room for Briar’s long-absent father to be part of their lives. She resents having to play by Jack’s rules in his carefully cultivated domain, but she’s not one to back down — especially when it comes to serving her community. When they’re tasked with co-organizing the spring festival, a last-ditch effort to secure funding for the library and the gardens, their clashing personalities begin to soften into something neither expected.

Sweeney beautifully captures the emotional weight of rebuilding — not just brick-and-mortar structures, but trust, connection, and purpose. Through Tansy and Jack’s reluctant partnership, she highlights how essential public spaces like libraries and gardens are to healing, belonging, and community. Where You’re Planted is a gentle, rewarding tale about weathering life’s storms — and finding something wonderful in the aftermath.

Kristina Wright lives in Virginia with her husband, their two sons, two Goldendoodles and a ginger cat. She’s a regular contributor at BookBub and a lifelong fan of romance fiction. Find her on Bluesky at @kristinawright.