New Releases for July
Here are 12 books by authors on and of the West, including The Silver State, Little Red Barns, and Salt Bones, that we’re excited to see publish this month.
TYPEWRITER BEACH, BY MEG WAITE CLAYTON
In 1957, a screenwriter and an aspiring actress are sequestered in a romantic Carmel-by-the-Sea cottage together, each anticipating the next phase of their career. Many years later, in 2018, a young screenwriter is tasked with selling her grandfather’s Carmel cottage and, in the process, discovers a trove of information about the memories that the place holds. Questions of love, femininity, work, power, family, and future abound in this compelling tale of old Hollywood and new stars. Harper, July 1
FOG AND FURY, BY RACHEL HOWZELL HALL
Sonny Rush arrives in the heavenly seaside town of Haven, California, hoping for a peaceful new life as a private investigator, away from the drama of a decade on the LAPD. But her first case—rescuing a goldendoodle—drags her back into a world of death and crime. Once again, Hall keeps readers on the edge of their seats in a thrilling tale of misplaced trust and the quest for justice. Thomas & Mercer, July 1
WANTING, BY CLAIRE JIA
Jia crafts a powerful ode to friendship in Wanting. After a decade in California, Luo Wenyu returns to Beijing, back into the orbit of her childhood best friend Ye Lian. As the two women rekindle their friendship, long-buried secrets come to light, casting their past—and present—in a startling new light. Both must choose between the stability they’ve built and an uncertain future that could carry unexpected consequences. Tin House Books, July 1
WHICH WALKS, BY LAURA MORIARTY
Moriarty is back with Which Walks, a bold feminist collection of poems about making art, walking, and writing. Inspired by her everyday walks, these poems, which also extend her visual practice, dig into what it means to age and continue to create in an increasingly terrifying world. Following in the footsteps of Nathaniel Mackey and Charles Baudelaire, Moriarty highlights the rarely seen moments that shape how we live and perceive. Nightboat Books, July 1
HIGH DESERT BLOOD: THE 1980 NEW MEXICO PRISON RIOT AND THE TRAGEDY OF THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS, BY ANDREW BRININSTOOL
Although it lasted less than 36 hours, a 1980 prison riot just south of Santa Fe resulted in the deaths of 33 inmates and 200 injuries. The Williams brothers were both incarcerated in the prison at the time: One was forced into the chaos, and the other disappeared. Brininstool traces the brothers’ unlikely arrival at the prison and where one went without the other. In doing so, the author makes a powerful case for carceral reform and better conditions for prisoners. University of Iowa Press, July 2
LITTLE RED BARNS: HIDING THE TRUTH, FROM FARM TO FABLE, BY WILL POTTER
Investigative journalist Potter is an expert on the crumbling of civil liberties in the name of national security. But he turns his attention to a new subject in his latest book: factory farms and unsustainable agriculture. In his research into the links between climate change and farming, Potter uncovers a connection between the rise of fascism across the world and how authoritarian control accelerates environmental destruction. Little Red Barns affirms the important role of investigative journalism in our society. City Lights Books, July 8
THE SILVER STATE, BY GABRIEL URZA
In this gripping crime thriller, Santi Elcano’s past comes back to haunt him. When he was fresh out of law school, Elcano defended a man accused of brutally murdering a young mother, Anna Weston—a man he believed was innocent. Now, eight years later, a letter from the convicted killer forces Elcano to question everything about the case and the choices he made. The twisty legal drama of The Silver State offers an unsettling look into a flawed justice system. Algonquin Books, July 8
DAYDREAMERS, BY ALVIN LU
Lu brings to life a haunting story of immigrants and artists in Daydreamers. When a son discovers his father’s unfinished manuscript, he sets out to translate it—only to uncover an unexpected narrative. The story spirals into artistic rivalries, betrayal, and even a murder, blurring the line between fiction and confession. Told through interviews, travelogues, and letters, Lu’s is a novel of memory, identity, and mystery. Fiction Collective 2, July 15
NORTH TO THE FUTURE: AN OFFLINE ADVENTURE THROUGH THE CHANGING WILDS OF ALASKA, BY BEN WEISSENBACH
Weissenbach, a 20-year-old with minimal wilderness experience but plenty of screen time, sets off on a bold adventure into the wilds of Alaska—and takes us with him. Along the way, he meets experts in their fields, like Roman Dial, Kenji Yoshikawa, and Matt Nolan, and learns to survive brutal minus-49-degree weather and navigate around massive glaciers. As he pushes through the extremes, Weissenbach reconnects with the natural world and rethinks our dependence on technology. Grand Central Publishing, July 15
SALT BONES, BY JENNIFER GIVHAN
This mesmerizing retelling of the Persephone and Demeter myth is set in the Mexicali borderlands and steeped in magical realism. Malamar Veracruz has never stepped foot outside her hometown of El Valle, doing her best to move past the mysterious disappearance of her sister, Elena. But when another girl goes missing, Mal must face the past and follow a local legend into the unknown. Blending Latina and Indigenous cultural references, Salt Bones highlights the fierce, unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters. Mulholland Books, July 22
MENDELL STATION, BY J.B. HWANG
It may be shortly before the COVID pandemic will shut down much of the world, but Miriam’s life already feels as though it’s ending: She’s lost her best friend, along with her faith in God and her job teaching at a religious school. Unmoored, she takes an unlikely job at the post office. Surrounded by correspondence, Miriam pens letters to her dead friend, slowly healing from the loss. But as soon as she begins to stabilize, she finds herself taking on a new title: essential worker. Bloomsbury Publishing, July 22
ROCKS AND RICHES: EXPLORING CALIFORNIA’S STUNNING GEOLOGY, BY GARY L. PROST
Geologist Prost takes us on a road trip to better understand California’s past. Blending science, history, and travel, he explores everything from the state’s earthquake activity to the messy legacy of the gold rush. Making 56 stops as he travels from the Marin coast to the Central Valley, Prost offers an engaging, in-depth look at the geology that continues to shape California and the lives of those who call it home. Heyday Books, July 22
Jessica Blough is a freelance writer. A former associate editor at Alta Journal, Blough is a graduate of Tufts University where she was editor in chief of the Tufts Daily.
Elizabeth Casillas is an assistant editor at Alta Journal. A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, she has previously written for the Poly Post and Enspire Magazine.
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