There’s something for everyone.
Once summer hits, we need all the recommendations for books, movies, TV shows, and podcasts we can get. Between all those lazy days spent at the beach, poolside, or traveling to a summer getaway, we have lots of time to spend getting swept away in a good story. And you’re in luck because this week, there’s no shortage of engaging options coming out. From suspenseful thrillers to fascinating documentaries, this list has a little bit of everything. (And for even more summer reads where these came from, check out our staff’s top picks.)
With these excellent choices to look forward to, the week will fly on by. Just try to see how many you can make it through before the weekend hits!
What to watch and read this week
The Best Lies by David Ellis (July 23)
#1 NYT bestselling author of Look Closer has another twisty thriller about attorney Leo Balanoff, who’s an attorney who’s also been diagnosed as a pathological liar. When Leo’s fingerprints are found on the weapon used to kill a drug dealer with whom Leo has a complicated history, nobody believes he’s not responsible. His only chance to clear his name and find out the truth is to go undercover with the FBI.
The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville (July 23)
NYT bestselling author China Miéville and Keanu Reeves – yes, that Keanu Reeves – have teamed up for a genre-bending novel that the LA Times calls “action-packed” and “profoundly stylish.” A warrior known as “B” is a soldier who’s lived through many millennia and is unable to be killed. He thought he was the only one, until he finds himself in present-day U.S., where a soldier has come back to life.
Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose (July 24)
Think you know everything about Pete Rose’s betting scandal? This new four-part docuseries on HBO Max may change your opinion. Drawing from interviews with Rose himself, it presents a rich and, at times, contradictory portrait of the life and career of the record-breaking baseball player. Check it out right here.
Presumed Innocent (July 24)
The highly anticipated finale of Apple TV+’s legal thriller drops on Wednesday — so if you aren’t caught up yet, there’s still time. The series centers on Rusty Sabich, a rising star in the District Attorney’s office, who finds himself named the number one suspect in the brutal murder of one of his colleagues — who also happened to be his affair partner. After many twists and turns, we’ll find out who really killed Carolyn Polhemus in the series finale. Watch it here.
Mothers’ Instinct (July 26)
Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain star in this thriller, which is set in the 1960s and is about two best friends and neighbors, Alice and Celine, whose bond is shattered after Celine’s son dies in a tragic accident. Soon, grief turns to suspicion and they each grapple with how far they would go for their children.
