Holly and Jonathon are both working at an environmental not-for-profit in Seattle. Holly is an intern and trying to nab a permanent position so she teams up with designer Jonathon for a fundraiser. They both have tricky work histories where they have lost their previous jobs so they both need this to work. They fall into bed, and in love as they create a 'men and dogs' calendar for the fundraiser. There's a countdown on the printing of the calendar, plus plenty of tension around finding the talent and putting it all together. There's also tension for Holly, if she gets the job, she'll leave Seattle, but what about Jonathon?

The audio was excellent, Lauren Ezzo speaks a fabulous Holly and injects just the right amount of expression into her voicing. It's all in Holly's point of view and Jonathon is pretty quiet so there's not too much of the masculine voice but even so, it's handled really well. If anything I liked the audio more than the book itself.

An easy listen of a cute workplace romance. Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC. Opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️
Holly, 34 is starting over as an unpaid intern at a non-profit after leaving her law career. Holly meets grumpy Jonathan as they collaborate on a fundraising calendar contest. The winner gets a big promotion and a move to Scotland. Jonathan is also starting over and the two begin to grow close as the project progresses. Without giving too much away, I liked the characters but feel like Holly was keeping her feelings at a distance when it’s not what she truly wanted - to be happy. I loved the chemistry between Holly and Jonathan and I know there has to be a rift to keep readers interested but in this case I felt like one half was making all the concessions to make the relationship work.
My first Anna Collins book. Looking forward to reading more.
I thought Lauren Enzo did a good job as the narrator.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fine. Nothing about it feels original: scenes, dialogues, all stuff I’ve read before. But the writing is decent… except for the handful of instances in which trying (and failing) to be profound. If you’re in the market for a mellow romance—which I often am, don’t get me wrong—give it a go.

That said, here’s my main gripe:
FINDING ME JULY is classic case of “ambitious woman in love gone awry”: after Holly hooks up with Jonathan, she forgets about everything (despite her backstory), feels juvenile and careless. How was she ever a lawyer? And an astute, successful almost-partner-at-a-firm at that? It doesn’t compute. I dislike it. Not least because Liking Jonathan is her whole personality from the start. (There are instances where the narrative suggests she’s pro-feminism but how that actually manifests remains a mystery.)
Also, the whole time she expects to win. Based on nothing. She laments “Jonathan and I can’t last” because she’s so sure she’s gonna win the competition and get the job abroad. There was so much potential to explore the competition itself, but nope. There’s no tension there, we only hear about the other interns once or twice while Holly works on her project, does the shoots, and so on.

On the plus side, the narrator, Lauren Ezzo, was lovely and her talent kept me listening. I’ll be seeking out more books she’s worked on!

Overall, FINDING MR. JULY is a nice enough book that should’ve gone deeper but delivered a cozy story I’d recommend if you’re looking for pups fluff.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early I listen to the audiobook and loved the narrators and really enjoyed the grumpy to sunshine dynamic I will def read more from this author

I expected more from this book.
Thought it would be easy love story with a cute background scenery, made even better with addition of puppies.
Instead I got two lonely workaholics with failed previous careers somehow falling in love.
Both main characters were dull and annoying. Yes, they had background stories, but it wasn't written well incomplemented. No personal growth either.
And the puppies? I think I needed more. Way more.
For some reason the main character decided randomly to help good cause with making callendar with sexy men and puppies. Not the worst idea, but why? And why was the whole story centered about randomly taking photos of men?
How did they really fell in love? There were few cute Moments, but not enough to make me believe in love between the main characters, or say awww puppies.
I also expected those two being more mature.
Brother of female main character and his daughter did not make this book better either. Their conversations felt repetetive.
What made it better was the narrator of audiobook. Her voice was nice, and the sound clear.
The beginning of the book was good, but then it went downhill. I am so sorry.
I wish we got more love, more laugh, the lightness I expected to feel during this story.
I would love to read more from this author and give her another chance.

Thank you to net gallery shelf for audiobook ARC of this book.

This was a solid listen. Lauren Ezzo nails the narration, and the banter between the leads? Chef’s kiss. The chemistry was on point and carried the story, even when the central conflict started feeling a bit extra. Still, it was fun, flirty, and fast—everything I want in a quick romance listen.

This was a great popcorn romance perfect for summer time reading. I will say that the FMC isn’t very likable from the start but she sort of grows on you over the course of the book. I’m sure many will be able to see themselves in her in today’s work place environment. While the book can seem to have a slight political edge beneath everything it’s simply reflecting real life.

I consumed the audiobook and narrator Lauren Ezzo did a fine job. She spoke at a good pace for the 1x speed and was emotive but not overboard. However, I think k this particular book would have been much better served with dual narration. It needed a male actor to balance it a bit more.

If you’re looking for a quick read with a complicated FMC this may be the book for you. It comes out on July 1, 2025

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Hachette Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Narration 4 stars
Story 2.5 stars

Lauren Ezzo does a great job to bring this book to life. I listened in tandem with the ebook because I much prefer to have a first read with a audiobook when I have a ebook or paperback with me bc I get antsy just listening without knowing what’s happening.

Despite a good premise ended up skimming over lots of sections because I just couldn’t get into it. I finally gave up by about 70%. There’s a lot of elements in this book that are great (why I gave it an extra half star). I liked Holly’s relationship with her brother Jude and niece Ava. I also appreciated that Holly’s journey is about starting over at 34 after her law career was sabotaged her shitty ex-boyfriend which mirrored Jonathon journey with his previous career. Plus, puppies?

But the execution just didn’t work for me. I felt there was weak plot and character development. I never really got that Holly was into the new job other than being able to run away from Seattle. Plus the fundraising competition for unpaid interns to win a paid position as a vague ‘program liaision’ (which didn’t sound like fundraising was part of the duties) was exploitative and really annoyed me. A shirtless calendar featuring domestic animals for a conversation organisation? It was just so far off the mark and very cringy, including how she was trying to attract models via a dating app.

And while I appreciate Holly realises she was judgmental about Jonathon, I still didn't appreciate the way she went behind his back to force him to work on her project. Then she reverted to being immature over his refusal to model to fix her mistake over the permission form. I also hated the side plot with Jude and Ava possibly moving (though I laughed at Rachel calling Texas Gilead). Rachel also got annoying with her constantly salivating over Holly’s brother Jude. Secondary characters can just serve to be secondary (and that resolution of that made me roll my eyes).

Overall, a disappointment. That said, I liked Worst in Show and so I’ll give this author another shot.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

This is the first time that I have read a book by Anna Collins and she is now going to be added to my favorite author list!

Holly is asked to quit her job as a lawyer after a scandalous breakup with her boyfriend. She completely pivots and ends up taking an unpaid internship at a nonprofit. She and 4 other interns are tasked with creating a fundraiser and the person who raises the most money will be given a position in their Glasgow office.

Holly and her friend/co-worker, Rachel, decide to create a calendar featuring hot guys and their dogs. In order to find the models, she joins a dating site specifically for people who love pets. This plan backfires because the men get upset when they find out that she is not looking for a relationship. Holly quickly scrapes together 12 models (#10 is her best friend's boyfriend, #11 is her niece's tennis coach, #12 is her older brother) and enlists the help of her colleague, Jonathan, to photograph the models and edit the photos. Jonathan grudgingly agrees to help. He only agrees to help because he lost a bet that Holly would not be able to out drink him.

Jonathan and Holly have amazing chemistry from the very beginning. They quickly fall in love and Holly's potential relocation to Scotland becomes a stresser on their relationship. Should she choose work or love?

3.5/5 stars

Finding Mr. July is a charming, feel-good rom-com full of heart and humor. When Holly is rescued from a supply closet by her quiet, handsome co-worker Jonathan, sparks fly—and only intensify when they’re paired for a workplace competition to create a “sexy guys with dogs” pin-up style calendar. Holly coordinates the models and pups while Jonathan handles the photography, and their chemistry quickly grows.

Obstacles threaten both their project and potential romance, but the journey is sweet, funny, and satisfying. Perfect for fans of light-hearted workplace romances, this is a delightful read worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Anna E. Collins for the ALC of this book.

3.5/5 stars

Finding Mr. July was a fun and quick read, perfect for summer! I really enjoyed the premise of this book—in order to obtain a position at her current workplace, Holly needs to come up with a winning fundraiser for her nonprofit. She has the idea to create a calendar of hot men with their dogs in the great outdoors, and is forced to team up with a grumpy creative at the company. They fall in love throughout the project, despite some ups and downs. The romance felt a little forced at the beginning but grew on me as the book went on. The end wrapped the story up nicely!

My Ratings:
🧍🏽‍♀️ 3.5/5 Characters
🌶️ 2.5/5 Spice
🎬 4/5 Ending
🧩 3.5/5 Plot
💫 4/5 Overall

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished listening to a good romcom. Finding Mr. July by Anna E. Collins was a good book. Pick it up soon.

Finding Mr. July
By: Anna E. Collins
Narrated by: Lauren Ezzo

Holly King is starting over. After her ex sabotaged her legal career, she’s desperate for a fresh start, and a shot at redemption. Now working at a nonprofit, she sees her chance: competition where the winner scores a new position in Scotland, far from the ghosts of Washington.

But there’s a catch, she needs a team to make it happen, and everyone’s already pairing off. Enter Jonathan: the office grump with a sharp mind and zero interest in her wild idea—a charity calendar featuring hot men and their dogs. One tequila-fueled bet later, Holly wakes up in Jonathan’s arms... in the office.

What follows is a whirlwind of photo shoots, puppy wrangling, and undeniable chemistry, all while trying to keep her heart in check.

Lauren Ezzo’s narration brings the perfect charm and energy to this story. Her performance added even more personality to an already delightful rom-com.

I gave Finding Mr. July 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s witty, warm, and just the right amount of chaotic. A perfect pick for fans of office romance, forced proximity, and dogs.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read (and listen to) Finding Mr. July.

I’m a total sucker for a romance that involves dogs! They are always so cute! I loved the premise and thought a calendar with hot men and cute dogs would make for a great rom-com. I found Holly’s hunt for men for the calendar to be entertaining and made for some funny moments throughout the book! Obviously, the only man who really matters is the one who ends up being Mr. July!

The FMC, Holly, was a difficult character to love. She’s a bit juvenile and often lets her emotions get the best of her. It’s surprising since she is supposed to be a former attorney. Also, the opening scene with her is a bit over the top!

The MMC, Johnathon, was oddly grumpy, but started to grow on me as the story progressed. He adopted a senior dog and I thought it was so sweet! I love when an older dog finds a good home. Plus it made for the perfect lead up to being in the calendar!

Holly and Johnathon were cute together. I do wish that Holly had been a bit nicer to Johnathon, but they still had their cute moments and fun banter.

Overall, this is a cute romance that involves dogs, romance, and philanthropy. I definitely recommend checking out the audiobook! I thought the narration was great!

This audiobook was such a fun and charming listen. The story had a great balance of humor, heart, and romance, with characters that were easy to root for. I really enjoyed the playful banter and the lighthearted vibe, but it also touched on some more meaningful moments in a thoughtful way.

The narration was excellent—engaging, expressive, and really brought the characters’ personalities to life.

The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is that a few parts felt slightly predictable, but honestly, that didn’t take away much from how enjoyable the overall experience was. Definitely a great pick if you’re looking for something fun and uplifting.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley and Hachette Audio.

Audiobook review

1 ⭐️

While the audio is fine and the narrator is good. This book isn’t. All I wanted was a cute summer romance and with dogs! Instead I got a politically charged terrible book. MFC is awful!

I loved this book so much!! Not that I necessarily need a super good reason for a grumpy man to be grumpy but I really liked learning Jonathan's (and I just really liked him overall). I thought the whole cast of characters was great (and am hoping we get a book about a certain set of side characters). Finding Mr. July is sweet and fun and also lightly touches on some big issues in a way I thought really worked.
I thought the narration was good—I didn't always love how she did the male voices (which is often my biggest issue with narration, this definitely isn't specific to this narrator) but aside from that I liked it!

Overall I would absolutely recommend this audiobook!

Romance + Dogs! yess! This was a very cute romance. Two people wanting to switch up careers + life paths and getting out of their comfort zone for each other. I enjoyed the story and banter. Spice was focused in just a couple scenes nothing too crazy. It reminded me of a Sarah Adams love story. I enjoyed both main characters. A great fast paced romance.

The audio was amazing!!
The narration was great you could hear the emotion and tone very well. I think this one is perfect for audio!

At 35, I was excited to read a romance featuring a more mature heroine, and I loved the premise of Finding Mr. July: a former attorney turned reluctant intern tasked with curating a fundraising calendar featuring shirtless men—and their dogs. Holly’s journey, navigating the fallout of a derailed legal career and the lingering hurt of a past relationship, was both unique and relatable.

While I appreciated her vulnerability, there were moments when her reactions didn’t quite align with her age or professional background, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. That said, the book’s charm, humor, and heart kept me engaged—and the dogs were an undeniable bonus. It may not be my favorite read of the year, but it was a light, fun, and slightly offbeat romance that I would still recommend.

Lauren Ezzo did an admirable job bringing the story to life. I usually prefer duets over solo narration, but understand that’s not always feasible, especially with a single POV. Did the audio elevate the story? Not quite. But it certainly didn’t detract, and it’s a solid option for those who enjoy listening while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Hachette Audio, and Anna E. Collins for the privilege of receiving this ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review!