As winter settles across the southern hemisphere and cozy nights draw in, July offers the perfect opportunity to curl up with an exceptional book. Whether you're seeking warmth by the fireplace or embracing those crisp winter afternoons indoors, these carefully curated fiction picks promise to transport you to captivating worlds and keep you thoroughly engrossed throughout the chilly month ahead. ❄️📖

Dive into a world of compelling narratives with our curated selection of must-read books. From dark academia tales of obsession and control in "The Wildings" and "The Drownings," to powerful stories exploring identity and forbidden love in "The Mapmaker's Wife" and "Room on the Sea." Discover reimagined myths in "Hera," uncover buried family secrets in "Happy Land," and join acts of literary resistance in "Lulu Dean's Little Library of Banned Books." These captivating stories traverse time, place, and emotion, offering perfect summer companions for every reader.