Bay Books

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Archives for July 2025

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July New Arrivals

New Arrivals: Stories to Steal Your Heart, Tickle Your Brain, and Keep You Guessing

Whether you’re in the mood for something mysterious, magical, or marvelously witty, our newest arrivals are here to sweep you off your feet—and maybe off the grid for a weekend of reading bliss.

Mystery lovers, get cozy—because murder is afoot (and it’s charmingly British). With secrets hiding behind garden hedges and a matchmaker who may just be matching more than hearts, these whodunits pair perfectly with a quiet afternoon and a bit of intrigue.

Literary fiction fans, prepare for lush, thought-provoking reads that dance between reality and the surreal. Expect unforgettable characters, lyrical prose, and that satisfying moment when you pause mid-page just to take it all in.

Need a laugh? Our newest memoirs blend truth and humor in equal measure—because sometimes, the best way to face the world is with a sharp wit and an open heart.

Young readers and little bookworms, rejoice. From fearless teens challenging fate to sweet stories made for bedtime, these new picks bring magic, mischief, and meaningful messages to every age and stage.

Stop by and browse. Discover a new author, revisit a favorite genre, or let a story find you. The shelves are waiting.

New Arrivals

    • Children’s New Arrivals

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    Reading with Tanya Anne Crosby

    On your nightstand now: I am mostly reading audiobooks at the moment, so nearly every book I have is on my nightstand!However, I also keep a wellness journal there, and I write it in morning and night.This is a good time to remind people you can support your favorite local bookstore by buying audiobooks through https://libro.fm 

    Favorite book when you were a child: Can I choose a children’s book I loved as an adult? It’s crazy, but beyond all the “Dick & Jane” books, and “Nancy Drew,” I don’t remember a childhood favorite. However, I have a clear winner as an adult—and as a mom reading to my kids. “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss holds a special place in my heart.

    Oh, and I also love “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” – another Seussian treasure.

    Your top five authors: Yikes, so hard! Living or dead? I have SO MANY faves! I have many dear friends who are also authors, so I try to stay away from this question generally. These days, I’m reading a lot of fantasy, both YA and adult. However, I adore Emily Brontë, Daphne du Maurier, Juliet Marillier, Joyce Maynard, and Barbara W. Tuchman.

    And… I love Pamela Morsi and Judith McNaught. I am so fortunate that Pamela was my dearest friend in life. How lucky was I to know her?

    Book you’ve faked reading: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo –though, actually not faked. I just never correct people when they assume I’ve read it. If you ask me straight out, I won’t lie!

    Book you’re an evangelist for: Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi. 

    Book you’ve bought for the cover: Most recent: The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde, Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs, Anathema by Keri Lake, Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole, and Morrighan by Mary E. Pearson

    Book you hid from your parents: Strangely, the Bible (which I’ve read three times), because as a Spanish Catholic, my mother wasn’t familiar with the King James Bible.

    Book that changed your life: Two of them:Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch and Please Understand Me by David Keirsey

    Favorite line from a book: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” –Atticus Finch

    Read Tanya’s Series: The Golden Child Prophecy

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    July Staff Picks

    Every month we let you know what we’ve been reading and our monthly recommendations. You’ll get to see new titles with fabulous reviews from the Bay Books team. We’re sure you’ll love these fantastic books just as much as we do. We recommend a wide range of genres and themes. So get ready to explore more books!

    Tina’s Picks

    The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed
    A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbed ways — an utterly original mystery and who doesn’t love a good mystery while lounging on the beach? Not this girl!


    North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson
    Anybody who has ever grown up, or wanted to, in the rough and tumble, never ending summer of Northern Michigan, will immediately identify with preteen Jessica, someone who doesn’t feel like she’s in the right body because ALL the things she loves to do, boys get to do, and she doesn’t. She doesn’t like to wear dresses but makes a bargain with her mother that she will wear them twice a week during the school year and she wants to cut her long, blonde hair but she can’t. But things change when she once again receives a doll for Christmas, which she names ‘Mickey’ and who will say all the things that she can’t seem to say. A fantastic growing-up story, finding out who you are, and helping others to understand as well.

    The Cornish Princess (The Goldenchild Prophecy, #1) by Tanya Crosby
    I started reading this before I went to work and was riveted! I couldn’t wait to get home to read it and did until the wee hours of the morning. This is historical fiction with fae characters as well, and each character is so vividly portrayed that you truly become invested in the story and in them. I’m looking forward to reading the next two in this series. Based upon a real Warrior Queen, you will feel her situation and emotions deep in your bones. And who doesn’t love Scottish Highlanders?

    Becky’s Pick


    The Martha’s Vinyard Beach and Book Club By Marth Hall Kelly
    As a former librarian and current book lover, this book spoke to me.
    2016, as Mari grieves the death of her mother, she travels to Martha’s Vinyard, in
    search of a name and address she found on a scrap of paper while going through her
    mother’s belongings. Mrs. Devereaux turns out to be a rather famous artist living on a
    stunning waterfront farm on Martha’s Vinyard. As they share stories over the weekend
    visit, Mari learns of the Smith sisters who once lived on the farm.
    1942, the Smith sisters, 19 year old Cadence who is an aspiring writer, and 16 year old
    war obsessed Briar are trying to hold their family farm together when the US Army
    arrives. Briar is certain there are German U-boats just off shore and Candance falls into
    an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy. As their simple, quiet lives are upended, and
    their brother is sent off to war, a mysterious man washes ashore. How to keep a secret
    on such a small island? In an attempt to create some normalcy, the girls start a book
    club and find ways to share books with the soldiers. 2016, Mari learns her relationship to the island is even deeper than she thought possible. A great read, based on the author’s family history.

    Wendy’s Pick

    The Sirens by Emelia Hart
    Set across 3 distinct time periods (1800, 1999 and 2019), we follow the interconnected stories of a group of young women and their unique, inexplicable and ultimately life-saving connection to the sea. The novel begins in Australia, 2019, as Lucy, a young woman with a rare skin condition, is experiencing disturbing dreams that begin to manifest into alarming and violent actions, against her better judgement or understanding. This drives her to flee college and seek respite with her older sister. Upon arrival at her sister’s seaside home, she finds it vacant and neglected – sister is nowhere to be found…but her dairy is! Lucy delves into her sister’s story and within it finds answers to many questions about her own life. In 1999 we meet Jess, a lonely Australian teen with a rare allergy to water, who finds acceptance and validation through an inappropriate relationship with one of her high school teachers. The year 1800 introduces us to two twin sisters who have been snatched from their home country of Ireland and are suffering aboard a slave ship headed for Australia. Though they both have a deep fear of water because of their mother’s drowning – as the voyage turns increasingly perilous, they feel that the sea may be their only salvation. This is an engrossing read with themes of fantasy/myth, female sisterhood across time and space and individual strength and resilience. Fans of Emilia Hart will not be disappointed!

    Karin’s Picks

    Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

    Paul Lynch won the 2023 Booker Prize for this novel about a fictional Ireland that descends into autocracy. Readers like us enjoy horror stories, fantasy fiction, or dystopian novels. We sit in the safety of our seats immersed in a world an inventive author creates, happily being caught up in the unreality of the tale. But what happens when the horror story or the dystopian novel suddenly seems all too plausible? When, instead of happily suspending disbelief, we instead wonder if the book’s action could “actually happen here?” Without being unrealistic or overwrought, this disquieting novel poses that all-important question. Read it to decide for yourself!

     This Is Happiness by Niall Williams

    If you’re looking for a great summer read, look no further than this novel set in rural Ireland in the 1950’s. Its warm, funny, sweet, and exasperating characters come to life in a tale told with wry humor and love. Beautifully evocative in its description of the Irish countryside and just as specific and detailed about the strengths and the foibles of the village denizens, you will truly be happy you came to this place!

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