July Happenings at Martin House Books
Events, New Releases, and More!
Dear Book Lovers,
Welcome summer! We hope you’ve all managed to stay cool as the sun turns up the heat. When in need, remember our partner Cafe 1888 serves delectable, iced drinks—we’re particularly fond of the Mango Green Tea Lemonade special.
Please note, Martin House Books and Cafe 1888 will be closed 7/4/25, so pop by and grab your Independence Day reading beforehand! If you’re not sure what you’re in the mood for, check out one of July’s featured book lists (like 12 Nonfiction Reads for the American History Buff or Fiction That Explores the American Experience), or simply scroll and let upcoming new releases, staff picks, or author events inspire you. We’re also shining the spotlight on our new paint-by-numbers kits.
A big thank you to Dunn’s Corners School for this cute drawing of Martin House Books.
Upcoming events in July
Ocean House Speaker Series: Jim Pierce
Wednesday, July 2nd from 5:00-7:00PM
New York Times bestselling author Jim Pierce will be discussing (and signing) his historical novel: The Beginning. Join us as Ocean House owner and award-winning author, Deborah Goodrich Royce, moderates a conversation with a featured author.
Tickets include wine, light bites, and a signed copy of the featured book.
→ Tickets can be purchased here
Ocean House Speaker Series: Mary Alice Monroe
Wednesday, July 9th from 5:00-7:00PM
New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe will be discussing (and signing) her latest novel: Where The Rivers Merge. Join us as Ocean House owner and award-winning author, Deborah Goodrich Royce, moderates a conversation with this week’s featured author.
Tickets include wine, light bites, and a signed copy of the featured book.
→ Tickets can be purchased here and are non-refundable
The Peculiar Book Club with Chrissie Lorraine
Friday, July 11th from 6:30-7:30PM
We’re meeting on the second Friday in July because the first Friday is the Fourth of July. Our July pick is replete with witchcraft, sunken treasure, and forbidden love. Author Katy Hays calls it “a thrill-seeking ride through the world of underwater archeology, the archives of Naples, and a coven of witches who will stop at nothing to protect those they love. Readers will be spellbound by this atmospheric, unmissable stunner.”
Don’t forget to mention the book club for 10% your book club purchase. If you can’t make it in June, get started on our July read: The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner.
→ The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner (July pick)
→ The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller (August pick)
RSVP here. RSVPs not necessary but appreciated.
Ocean House Speaker Series: Victoria Christopher Murray
Wednesday, July 16th from 5:00-6:30PM
You won’t want to miss this event—especially if you’re a fan of historical fiction! Deborah Goodrich Royce moderates a conversation with New York Times bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray, who will be discussing (and signing) her latest novel Harlem Rhapsody.
Tickets include wine, light bites, and a signed copy of the featured book.
Tickets can be purchased through Ocean House Events and are non-refundable.
About Harlem Rhapsody
“Murray's meticulous research brings this exciting period in American literary and artistic history into the spotlight and sheds a welcome light on an important and intriguing figure whose influence often goes unmentioned.”—Booklist (starred review)
“In tracing Fauset’s journey, Murray artfully re-creates the excitement and exhilaration of Harlem at the blossoming of its literary and cultural heyday.”—The Washington Post
Ocean House Speaker Series: Jessa Maxwell
Wednesday, July 23rd from 5:00-6:30PM
Join us at the Ocean House as nationally bestselling RI author Jessa Maxwell will be in conversation with author Deborah Goodrich Royce. Maxwell will be discussing (and signing) her latest novel Dead of Summer.
Tickets include wine, light bites, and a signed copy of the featured book.
Tickets can be purchased through Ocean House Events and are non-refundable.
Jessa Maxwell is a staff favorite and if you’d like to whet your interest before the event, we recommend The Golden Spoon, a delightfully clever and cozy whodunnit.
To see the rest of our upcoming events, visit the Events page on our website.
New releases
Coming Tuesday, July 1st
Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance
A merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger in this saucy romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars.
Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden
Mystery, Thriller, Psychological
Quinn Alexander has committed an unthinkable crime.
To avoid spending her life in prison, Quinn makes a run for it. She leaves behind her home, her job, and her family. She grabs her passport and heads for the northern border before the police can discover what she's done.
But when an unexpected snowstorm forces her off the road…
Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster
Literary Fiction, Summer Reads, New England
Following a dual timeline between 1965 and 1978, and filled with the vibrant, sunlit nostalgia of the cherished New England vacation setting, Our Last Vineyard Summer poignantly captures two generations of women navigating love, loss, and womanhood while trying to find the courage to stand up for what they believe in—and the strength to decide if the home they once loved is worth saving.
The Original by Nell Stevens
Historical Fiction, Art Forgers, Literary Thriller
Deftly plotted and shimmering with Nell Stevens’s distinctive intelligence, style, and wit, The Original takes readers on an unforgettable adventure through a world of forgeries, family ties, and the fluctuations in fortune that can change our fate.
Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein
Fiction, Coming of Age, Friendship
What would you give up for the person you love most? What would you expect in return?
Two sisters examine what they owe each other and what they are willing to sacrifice to make their dreams come true—from a New York Times bestselling author whose writing has been called “witty, heartfelt” (New York Times), "lively [and] intelligent” (People).
An Enemy in the Village by Martin Walker
Mystery, Series You Can Jump Right Into, International
A real estate agent’s death sends shockwaves through the idyllic town of St. Denis, leading Bruno, Chief of Police, to suspect that there’s more to this tragedy than meets the eye.
Out in Paperback Tuesday, July 1st
Come & Get It by Kiley Reid
Fiction, Coming of Age
Sharp and intimate, Come and Get It, the new thought-provoking, singular novel by the bestselling and critically acclaimed author Kiley Reid, explores the choices we make, particularly for the things that can and cannot be paid for.
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
Psychological, Thriller
“The story is a brilliant, charming, and invigorating illustration of its closing quote from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (we’re not going to spill that). A fresh, funny, ambitious, and nuanced take on some of our oldest existential questions.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Intricately plotted, with the wonderful wit Liane Moriarty has become famous for, Here One Moment brilliantly looks at friends, lovers, and family and how we manage to hold onto them in our harried modern lives.
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
Psychological, Dark Humor, Out in Paperback
From Rachel Kushner, two-time finalist for both the Booker Prize and National Book Award, a “vital” (The Washington Post) and “wickedly entertaining” (The Guardian) novel about a seductive and cunning American woman who infiltrates an anarchist collective in France—a propulsive page-turner filled with dark humor.
Don’t Miss These Tuesday, June 24th Releases!
The House on Buzzards Bay by Dwyer Murphy
Mystery, Gothic, New England
“Gothic chill wafts like ocean mist throughout this tale of college friends reuniting at an old house one them has inherited.”
—Maureen Corrigan, NPR’s Fresh Air
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
Mystery, Thriller
“Jewell effortlessly toggles back and forth in time…setting up a wicket and satisfying cat and mouse game .... Readers who like their psychological suspense on the dark side will be delighted with the results."
—Publishers Weekly
The Dallergut Dream-Making District by Miye Lee
Fiction, Magical Realism, Sequel
In this bestselling follow-up to The Dallergut Dream Department Store, Penny and her crew of coworkers must visit a special dream-making district to unlock new secrets about the customers they lost and hope to bring back. Why do some customers buy a dream and never return? Will Penny and her colleagues be able to bring their regulars back?
Curious what else is coming out soon? View a selection of Upcoming Releases on our web store.
Gift spotlight: Paint by Numbers
Is it too hot to do anything else outside? Are you looking for a chill, non-screen activity for you and the family to take part in? Do you want to lose yourself in art without worrying about perfection?
Check out our new Paint by Numbers kits. Everything you need ~1945
to complete each project is included!
The latest at Cafe 1888
Summer’s Here—Let’s Make It Sweet
There’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book with the sound of waves nearby… unless you’ve got a chilled drink or iced latte from Cafe 1888 in hand, of course.
Whether you're heading to the beach, strolling through downtown, or just need a quick pick-me-up, we’ve got everything you need to keep it cool and delicious—think iced matcha, classic iced caramel macchiato, summer fav Ayurvedic Total Body Iced Tea (hello, balance!), and refreshing espresso martinis (yes, even in the morning).
Hungry? Don’t sleep on the smoked salmon bagel or our fresh summer salad with strawberries, almonds, and feta. Perfect for a beach picnic or a shaded seat in the bookstore. Rain or shine, we've got you covered.
Grab your favorite beach read from Martin House Books, swing by for something sippable, and savor every sunny moment. We’re open daily at 7 a.m.—see you soon!
Martin House Books opens daily at 9AM, Cafe 1888 opens at 7AM. We’re open until 6PM Monday–Wednesday, until 8PM Thursday–Saturday, and until 5PM on Sundays.
Thanks for stopping by,
Martin House Books