This book was straight-up adorable. Holly is unhinged (in a lovable way), Jonathan is grumpy but lowkey a softie, and the whole hot guys + puppies calendar idea?? Peak marketing and knowing your audience.

Their banter was actually funny and the chemistry felt real (no weird insta-love vibes, thank god). Also loved that Holly was out here chasing career goals and emotional growth, not just a man.

It did slow down a little in the middle, but overall it’s pure serotonin. Would 10/10 recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

Releases July 2025 - thank you NetGalley for the sneak peak!

Sunshine-Grumpy, Workplace romance. Men with dogs - need I say more? A cozy romance with heart and humour.

Holly is starting over, after leaving her lawyer days behind after a scandal left her blacklisted, she now works for an environmental non-profit as an unpaid intern. With the internship coming to an end, there is one final challenge between her and a new job and fresh start abroad for a year. Holly and 4 other interns need to compete by having fundraisers - highest profit wins the job. When all the interns pair off with other coworkers quickly - Holly is left scrambling to find someone creative to help her with her calendar idea. With no one else available, she asks the broody, grumpy web designer Jonathan to help her. With some convincing, and some tequila - and being volun-told by his boss - he's in. But what follows is a series of ups and downs, unwanted chemistry and discovering that life is more than just having the right job, it's about being happy.

They’re putting together a dog calendar so what’s not to love?! Finding Mr July is about a previous lawyer, Holly, working as an intern at an environmental nonprofit where she is competing with other interns to receive a position at the new Glasgow branch. Holly comes up with a hunky dog calendar as her final project and convinces the office’s mysterious and broody Jonathan to be her project photographer. She is set on winning the new position to start fresh and get away from a previous scandal. Along the way, she learns about Jonathan’s own scandal in the past that lead him to the nonprofit organization. They of course fall in love along the way. I LOVE that she didn’t give up on her goal in the end and that he’s along for the ride with her!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC! All opinions and ratings are my own!

I loved that the FMC was a little bit older than her counterparts and resetting her life. It’s a great opposites-attract workplace rom-com. The MMC is a grumpy grump, if that’s your jam. It’s a sweet, cozy-feeling book.

When Holly’s career as a lawyer crashes, she takes her friend Rachel’s advice and signs up as an intern at a nonprofit ,hoping it’ll eventually lead to a full-time job in Glasgow.To land the job, she has to win a fundraising competition—and her big idea? A calendar featuring men and their dogs (honestly, genius). The catch is she’s stuck working with Jonathan, the grumpy office loner who clearly wants nothing to do with this project.

But as they start working together, something shifts. Jonathan, who’s been hiding from his own messy past, starts reconnecting with his old passion for photography. And slowly, the guy who used to dress head-to-toe in black is letting a little color—and a lot of Holly—back into his life.

As they grow closer through the project, Holly stumbles on some old school papers where she answered the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” with just one word: happy. And it hits her that maybe success doesn’t have to mean climbing some career ladder. As the calendar project (and her heart) near the finish line, Holly’s left wondering what it really means to win..

This was such a fun read! Holly and Jonathan’s chemistry was spot-on, and I loved watching their relationship grow. I also really appreciated that not every month of the calendar was just a “beefcake and his dog” — there was so much variety and heart in the project. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the free advanced copy! I’m happy to leave this review voluntarily.

You know that feeling when you start reading a book and it ticks all of your boxes, making it so you can’t put it down until you finish? That was "Finding Mr. July" for me. I went into it expecting a cute little romance; one that I would enjoy, but ultimately wouldn’t stick with me for long after I finished. I was so, so wrong about that. I loved this book so much that I’m going to pre-order a physical copy for my bookshelf. I already know it will become a comfort read for me in the future when life gets to be a little too much to handle.

"Finding Mr. July" is about a woman named Holly who is working as an unpaid intern for a nature conservation company in hopes of winning a prestigious spot at their Glasgow location. She finds herself in a rather unusual predicament one day at work and the only one who is available to come to her rescue is the broody, black-clothes-wearing, mysterious guy in the office who doesn’t ever talk to anyone: Jonathan. His reaction to this rescue seemed a bit over-the-top, which immediately sucked me in as a reader. I needed to know more about this man. Only one intern at the company can win the program liaison job, so Holly begrudgingly asks Jonathan to help her take photos for the calendar she’s putting together for her fundraiser project. Both of them have some baggage in their past that drives their attitudes and motivations, and as he helps her with her final project they end up healing each other in ways neither one saw coming.

I’m not a person that ever has trouble visualizing characters and scenes from books in my head, especially if the author is particularly good at descriptions, but this story was so incredibly vivid for me. The characters practically leapt off the page and straight into my head, and I could see them clearly.

The dialogue was so natural and the emotions behind every single conversation seemed so real. It never felt forced or inauthentic to the characters just for the sake of being clever; every interaction was important and meaningful. It wasn’t just the dialogue that was impressive, either, because I found myself absolutely stunned by the beauty of some of Holly’s inner thoughts, especially in regards to Jonathan. Some lines in this book are like actual poetry, so gorgeous and flowery, and I wrote them down in my notes so I can look back on them when I want to.

I loved the intimate scenes between Holly and Jonathan. Most of the books I’ve been reading lately have been of the “spicier” variety, some downright vulgar and overly detailed. The scenes in "Finding Mr. July" are much softer, more romantic, but still hot and steamy. There are just enough of them to satisfy the desire to explore the intimacy between them without being overwhelming.

I feel like I could literally go on and on about this book forever. Author Anna E. Collins knocked this one out of the park and I will be rushing to read more of her books as soon as possible. "Finding Mr. July" is an absolute gem, and hands-down my favorite read of this year so far. My last parting thought: can we make this calendar a reality please? I need it for my wall.

Finding Mr. July by Anna Bennett is everything you want in a contemporary rom-com: sweet, funny, heartfelt, and packed with chemistry — plus a whole lot of adorable dogs.

At 34, Holly King is at a major crossroads. After burning out in a high-stress law career, she’s decided to start fresh, chasing a dream in the nonprofit world. Her big break is within reach — a full-time job in Scotland — but first, she has to win the nonprofit’s fundraiser competition. Her pitch? A calendar featuring hunky guys and their dogs. It’s a brilliant idea, but it means she has to work closely with Jonathan Summers, the office grump known for being silent, brooding, and maddeningly handsome.

From the start, Holly and Jonathan clash, but there’s an undeniable spark between them that only grows stronger. Underneath Jonathan’s gruff exterior is a genuinely good guy with a soft heart, and Holly’s optimism and bravery slowly break down his walls. Their dynamic is fun, full of tension, and just the right amount of slow-burn romance. Watching them go from reluctant coworkers to something deeper is pure rom-com magic.

I loved how real Holly felt — her fears, her ambition, her willingness to start over even when it’s scary. Her journey is inspiring without ever feeling preachy or unrealistic. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to choose yourself and build a life you love. And Jonathan? Total grump with a marshmallow heart. Their connection was believable, heartwarming, and full of chemistry.

The backdrop of cozy nonprofit offices, a whirlwind of cute dogs, and the frantic pace of putting together a full calendar shoot in just a few weeks made the story even more entertaining. Plus, Scotland looming on the horizon added just the right amount of tension about what the future could hold for Holly and Jonathan.

Anna Bennett’s writing is warm, witty, and transports you straight into the world she’s created. Every page feels cozy and uplifting, and the romance is equal parts sweet and swoony.

If you’re a fan of office romances, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, strong heroines making big life changes, or just want a book that will leave you smiling, Finding Mr. July is a must-read. It’s pure joy from start to finish — and it might just make you want to adopt a dog or move to Scotland by the end.

Cute, fun and inspiring. This was a delightful read.

I really enjoyed Holly's character. Trying a new career at 34 can be daunting but Holly definitely inspired me. She's determined and brave which I found admirable. Plus she has the lovely love interest of Jonathan. If you love grumpy heroes with a marshmallow center, Jonathan is your man. I thought Holly & Jonathan's dynamic was a lot of fun and entertaining.

Would recommend to fans of office romances, romcoms and grumpy heroes.

At 34, Holly is in the middle of a huge career change. After working as a lawyer with long hours and lots of stress she’s now switching to the nonprofit arena. Currently in competition with four other interns for an exciting opportunity in Scotland, Holly has to come up with a fundraiser idea that will make the most money. She’s forced to work with silent, grumpy and brooding Jonathan. But the more she gets to know him the less grumpy he seems. As they grow closer the Scotland job becomes a point of contention. What will they do if Holly wins?

This books was so fun! Filled with adorable dogs, hot men, and cozy characters. Jonathan was so sweet once you got past his grumpy exterior. And I appreciated that Holly was brave enough to try something new at 34. It’s never too late to do something that fills your soul. I absolutely adore all of Anna’s books so you should read them! Her writing is captivating and it truly transports you into the world of her characters.

Shirtless men
Cute dogs
Office romance

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.