The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline (publication date 07/15/2025)

 

Lately, Julia Pritzker is beginning to think if she’s cursed. She’s lost her adoptive parents, then her husband is murdered. When she realizes that her horoscope essentially foretold his death, she begins to spiral. She fears her fate is written in the stars, not held in her own hands.

Then a letter arrives out of the blue, informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and vineyard – but her benefactor is a total stranger named Emilia Rossi. Julia has no information about her biological family, so she wonders if Rossi could be a blood relative. Bewildered, she heads to Tuscany for answers.

There, Julia is horrified to discover that Rossi was a paranoid recluse with delusions of grandeur, who believed herself to be a descendent of Duchess Caterina Sforza, a legendary Renaissance ruler. Julia is stunned by her uncanny resemblance to Rossi and even to Caterina, then she unearths eerie parallels between them, including an obsession with astrology.

Before long, Julia suspects she’s being followed, and strange things begin to happen. Not even a chance meeting with a handsome Florentine can ease her disturbed mind. When events turn deadly, she breaks with reality.

Julia’s harrowing struggle becomes a search for her identity, a race to save her sanity, and ultimately, a question of her very survival. - scottoline.com

 

This thriller starts slow but the then creepy factor really starts to build and gets under your skin.  I love when I can predict a few of the twists in a thriller along the way but still be surprised by some of them too and this book kept me guessing.  This book also has a lot of heart mixed into the mystery.  Julia's struggles with heartbreak and grief as she mourns the loss of her husband and works to rebuild a new life are relatable to anyone who has experienced loss.  However what really makes this book shine are Lisa's beautifully immersive descriptions of Italy and the food.  When this book wasn't giving me the chills from reading about the scary things Julia is witnessing at the vineyard, I was salivating over the delicious meals she was enjoying. the wine and finally understanding why my coworker runs off to Italy every summer for a long vacation - it's just gorgeous.  

The Unraveling of Julia is a great summer read.  It's got a little bit of everything; a thrilling mystery with a dash of romance, adventure and the supernatural.   

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy of The Unraveling of Julia thanks to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This book will be released on Tuesday, July 15th but it's available for pre-order now.  Visit Lisa's website for more information on pre-orders, her upcoming book tour and a "Behind the Book" video series.   

 

 

 

Perennials by Mandy Berman

Rachel Rivkin and Fiona Larkin used to treasure their summers together as campers at Camp Marigold. Now, reunited as counselors after their first year of college, their relationship is more complicated. Rebellious Rachel, a street-smart city kid raised by a single mother, has been losing patience with her best friend’s insecurities; Fiona, the middle child of a not-so-perfect suburban family, envies Rachel’s popularity with their campers and fellow counselors. For the first time, the two friends start keeping secrets from each other. Through them, as well as from the perspectives of their fellow counselors, their campers, and their mothers, we witness the tensions of the turbulent summer build to a tragic event, which forces Rachel and Fiona to confront their pasts—and the adults they’re becoming. - penguinrandomhouse.com

I never had a real summer camp experience as a kid, after a week at a Girl Scout day camp, I had enough of bugs, dirt, and awkward swimming lessons.  However, Rachel, Fiona and the girls of Camp Marigold relished their youthful camp days. Unfortunately all that changes as the girls age and face adulthood but that’s where the root of this story really takes hold as alternating narratives by Rachel, Fiona and other campers and counselors give us a fuller picture of the dynamics at Camp Marigold.  Perennials by Mandy Berman is a summer treat that manages to perfectly counterbalance the froth and fun of childhood summer camp friendships while also exploring the complex dynamics of long standing female friendships. ****/5

For additional information, visit the author’s website and look for Perennials by Mandy Berman at your local bookstore online retailer. 

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying me with a digital ARC for review.