The Peculiar Gift of July by Ashley Ream ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Penguin Group Dutton
Pub Date: 7-1-25

Thank you @netgalley, @duttonbooks, and @a.ream.writer for the opportunity to read this eARC.

A small island town full of secrets and quirky characters? I'm all in! I loved the relationship between Anita and July, as well as the friendship that develops between Anita and Carol. A sweet story of family—in all its forms.

"July spent all of her time trying not to bother Anita, who was family— at least to her mother— but felt to her like a stranger with an extra bed. July knew she was a thing that had happened to Anita. She’d fallen on her like something pushed out a window. And the same was true for July. All of this had fallen on her, too. Not one thing but many things."

"She wanted a place where she fit. She wanted that click when a puzzle piece slides into the right spot, not the pressing and smacking of trying to force it. She wanted that thing she’d seen the first time she’d gone to Mack’s with Anita, when July had looked from one to the other and known they belonged to each other."

This book was nothing I expected. By the description, I thought it would be a lighthearted, funny read. It ended up having a lot of depth and heart , and was funny yet serious as well. I got drawn in from the beginning and was engaged throughout. Lots of interesting characters and several overlapping storylines. I thank the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read the advance copy. I definitely recommend!

When July arrives in Eden’s End a charming island town many things begin to happen . she’s 14 years old and comes to live with her cousin Anita the town grocer. This book is charming and emotional .Every character is a delight to know . You will not want to leave this magical world and these fantastic characters. This is one of the best books books I’ve read this year . Absolutely delightful

Ebey's End, a small island off the coast of Washington State, reached only by ferry (if the weather holds and it's not Tuesday), filled with quirky, small-town characters. Their world is shaken up when Anita, the owner of the grocery store, finds out she is the closest sort-of relative of July, a fourteen-year-old orphan. When July arrives, the news spreads quickly. Anita has no idea what to do with a teenager, or any child for that matter. As July learns to help out at the grocery store, she seems to have a magic touch for knowing what each shopper might need, a Martha Stewart magazine for the aloof older banker, a pie for the pastor. July is befriended by Malcolm, the pastor's son who is also a loner. We meet overworked people, unfaithful couples, the liars, the shiftless, the families who are struggling to put food on their tables.
July's intuition as to what each person needs spreads across the small community, with surprising results for many people. July is determined to find her birth mother and this opens up a whole set of issues involving many in the community, but allows the book to end on a positive note.

The Peculiar Gift of July is a heartwarming and utterly enchanting novel that stole my heart from the very first page. With its hopeful tone and a cast of fabulous, multi-dimensional characters, this story is an absolute delight. Elements of magical realism were present, but weren't integral to the story. I absolutely loved this book. It’s the kind of story that lingers with you long after the last page is turned. The Peculiar Gift of July is a must-read. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

This is the story of a girl and how her arrival to a small island town could affect so many lives. I enjoyed the relationships of the townspeople and how they evolved after their interactions with July. I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.

Entertaining and a quick read. I just wish it focused more on July and her unique gift. Too much focus on the other characters and circumstances that didn't really add much to the story.

I very much enjoyed this book. The characters and the way their lives all intersect reminds me of the small town I currently live in. I loved the way each character grew and found out how strong they were in their own way. The touch of "magic" was perfect and I was surprised by the secrets unfolding. I will recommend this book and I have already asked our director to buy this book for our library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Peculiar Gift of July is one of those books with interconnected threads that at first seem hard to fit but weave together thanks to some light magic or, in this case, a peculiar gift or two. July is the one at the helm of the spinning wheel, though she is so charming and curious that you hardly believe it at first. Orphaned when her adopted mother dies (despite July trying to prevent it), she finds herself on the island Ebey’s End in the care of her distant adopted relative, Anita. As July gets to know the other residents of the island she also tries to find her birth family while helping bring the residents those things they need most, whether they realize it or not. Everything comes together in a way you could only believe in a story like this, and it’s done in such a quirky way with the best characters, you can’t help but love it. Warm comfort in book form!

I am SO glad that I decided to take this journey with July and Anita and the townspeople of Ebey's End! At first I thought it was going to be a cutesy kind of story, but it turned out to be so much more than that. July truly has a gift of foresight, and the way that she uses her gift changes the people in the town, and the town itself. It feels magical, but it is so much more than that. There is also a mystery running through the book- who are July's parents? No spoilers though!

The author does a masterful job of weaving in the current stories and backstories of several main characters- including Anita and July, but also Anita's father (Mack), the town doctor and his wife Carol, the baker Tiny, and the town minister Chet, and his son who is July's age. Other characters are deftly woven in and I never felt at a loss as to who was who and the importance of each person's place in the town.

I have the author's other books on my Kindle now and look forward to reading more from her!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The cast of characters in The Peculiar Gift of July were quirky. The remote island setting was interesting. The story had plenty of secrets and surprises, but didn’t spend enough time on July’s gift. I wanted that storyline to be more of a main focus, but I enjoyed the way her gift set other things in motion across the island.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A tad unsettling but nevertheless an outstanding read July is someone who sees a situation and figures out a solution - in very unimaginable ways.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
A delightful mix of small town characters. Fascinating story with lots of twists

A little draggy but mostly maintained a nice pace.

this was a good and enjoyable read! I liked the science-fiction elements, and how it was so entertaining. I really liked the flow that this book had, and how it kept me entertained and engaged while reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I adored this charming little cozy read! July is a great character and the storyline was written so well. I didn't want to put this book down!

This is a wonderful book! I know our patrons will love it and I will be reading Ms. Ream’s other books.

My favorite type of story- multigenerational, family drama and plenty of skeletons in the closets. July is an amazing young girl who has been through a lot but now has a “family” and new friends. She also has a crazy gift of knowing what someone needs to help them in their lives. Really good book!

This was a cozy, atmospheric read that really brought the small town to life! Ebey’s End felt like a place you could step into—rich with history, quirks, and an undeniable charm. The pacing was steady, keeping the plot moving without ever feeling rushed, and the characters were wonderfully layered. They each had their own struggles and growth, which made their journeys feel meaningful and rewarding to follow.

I particularly enjoyed how the magic was woven into the story. It wasn’t overpowering, but instead added just enough intrigue to keep things fresh and engaging, while still staying true to the emotional heart of the narrative. The moments of healing and growth among the residents were genuinely heartwarming, reminding me of the power of community and connection. What really stood out, though, was how the writing made it easy to feel immersed in the town’s rhythms and emotions—it’s the kind of story that wraps you up in its world.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel – my first exposure to the author. It not only explored some weighty issues – infidelity, adoption, death, loneliness, love, and forgiveness – with sensitivity and compassion, but it also had well-crafted subtle humor woven into the story. I was impressed by the colorful and imaginative descriptions that reflected the author’s skill in creating evocative prose.

Ebey’s End, a fictional small island off the coast of Washington state, is populated by a host of quirky characters who spread gossip at the speed of light. Anita Odom is one such character - a never-married manager of the local grocery store – who notices everything about her patrons’ purchases and deduces the states of their lives. When she suddenly finds herself the guardian of July, her 14-year-old adopted niece, Anita is thrust into a new and very unfamiliar role. July possesses the unusual ability to sense what others (unconsciously) require for much-needed change and thus, sets off a wave of shifting relationships on the island. July’s determination to find her birth mother is the catalyst that unearths deeply held secrets that bring about healing for multiple residents.

I enjoy novels with a touch of magic or paranormal, so this story kept me entertained and engaged from the first chapter. I would have liked more exploration of July’s “peculiar gift,” and perhaps the title can be interpreted on a second level – that July herself was the gift to the islanders.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.