I really enjoyed this book! It's a good, charming summer read. Nothing too complex and even the 3rd act breakup was resolved like adults!

Holly is in a major transition period in her life and Jonathan has been in a major transition for a few years. Both end up at a non-profit. Jonathan is a seemingly unaffected and detached web designer, Holly is a people-pleasing try-hard with her eyes on the literal prize. They are definitely opposites attract and they sizzle together.

My literal only "eh" of this book is the premise of interns being challenged to a contest to decide who moves to Scotland to help start up the new office there as the Program Liaison. This seems so far fetched I had to keep checking my eye roll every time it was brought up.

DESPITE THAT - a lovely book with great writing and a ton of adorable dogs! What's not to like?

This is a cute office romance. Holly needs a new start, her ex used her to get her position, she doesn't have her own apartment, her love life is non existent, she currently is an intern but everything finally seems to be going her way. She just needs to win this last competition and she will get a position in Scotland - a completely new beginning. The story is funny, cute and full of hot guys and adorable puppies.
I listened to the audiobook and that was brilliant. The narrator was exceptional good at transporting the emotions. She is really good at working with her voice and fit the story perfect.

2.5 stars
Storyline was ok, thought it could have had a little more umph but it was good. I really didn’t connect with FMC and found her rude and annoying. She claims to be such a put together organized person but she fumbled this project time and time again. Found both MC pretty immature at times.

this was cute but also while she was an older in age intern in the workplace, she acted like someone right out school and that didn't fit with her age, or life experience.

This one was a fun summer romance and such a good time!

Holly is a starting-over intern who needs that internship to turn into a full-time job. But she won’t be able to do that without the help of grumpy, brooding Jonathan.

They’ve both got baggage, but they put their creative heads together and the chemistry starts to bubble.

Will they be able to get out of their own heads and into each other’s arms?

Oh, and there are dogs. Lots of dogs ❤️

This one lost some zing as it went on for me, but I liked it overall. It’s a light, somewhat predictable romance, and I did really like some of the supporting characters (Jude, Rachel, etc).

The audio did make this one fun and kept my attention, and it was a great companion for my work commute!

Holly has to use her creative side in this one. Do you have any creative hobbies or interests?

The audiobook is the perfect companion for this read! The narrator does a wonderful job forcing emotion into her voice and delivering every word with such ease.

Ultimately, this wasn’t the right read for me, but I’d still recommend it!

𓃦 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Grumpy sunshine
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
HE fell first

Book itself: 1 ★
Audiobook: 4 ★

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 & 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠!

Title: Finding Mr. July
Author: Anna E. Collins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Medium: Audiobook
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: Finding Mr. July by Anna E. Collins is a heartwarming and fun rom-com that truly shines in audiobook format. I found myself smiling often throughout the story—thanks in large part to Lauren Ezzo’s fantastic narration, which brings the characters to life with warmth, wit, and great emotional range. Each voice is distinct and engaging, making the listening experience all the more enjoyable.
The plot follows Holly King, a burned-out attorney who takes an unpaid internship at an environmental nonprofit. When a quirky fundraising competition is announced, she pitches a “hunks and rescue pups” calendar—and ends up reluctantly teaming up with Jonathan, the grumpy office photographer. Their banter is sharp, the slow-burn chemistry is electric, and the story delivers a decent amount of spice, making the romantic payoff all the more satisfying.
While Holly’s behavior occasionally felt a bit immature, the charm, humor, and unique premise more than made up for it. This audiobook was a light, uplifting listen—perfect for fans of workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, and swoony, spicy moments.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy of this book.

Two colleagues both trying to prove themselves are forced to work together on a charity project that could mean winning a workplace exchange in Scotland for a year. I really loved the premise of this grumpy x sunshine romance that starts off with a one night stand, then has co-workers Holly and Jonathan becoming friends and more as they track down candidates for a outdoor men and their dogs calendar. I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting and thought it made for a fun light hearted read. The PNW/Seattle vibes were strong, the men and their dogs were varied and cute and the relationship between Holly and her brother was heartwarming. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Rachel Lynn Solomon. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Finding Mr. July 🇺🇸🗓️🐾
3 ⭐️
3🌶️

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio for the chance to listen to this advanced copy!

The narrator of an audiobook can really make or break the story. Unfortunately, the narrator of this specific book broke the story for me. The cadence and delivery of the narration was difficult for me to follow, and it definitely made the book harder for me to enjoy.

I do think that this is a really cute summer romance! Especially for those who are dog lovers- it is clear that Anna E. Collins has a passion for dog-based romance after their last two releases, and I think that it’s absolutely wonderful.

I wish that I could say that I really loved the FMC or that I really loved the MMC, but they felt very two-dimensional and flat to me, which I unfortunately relate back to the style of the narration. I do think that I could have liked this book much more if I had eyeball read it versus listening to it.

At times, the plot of the story felt repetitive and I just wasn’t fully invested. I do think that this book would be wonderful in print and that a lot of readers will enjoy it!

Thanks to Hachette Audio for an advanced audiobook of Finding Mr. July by Anna E. Collins. Any book that has a dog on the cover sounds cute to me!

While this sounded cute, the more I read, the more the plot of this book bothered me. The whole interns' fundraising comeptions was ehhh and while I didn't mind the calendar idea, but that Holly was going on a dating app to find the guys was a little weird. Also, she seemed very immature.

Unfortunately, the romance wasn't enough for me to get past the plot I wasn't enjoying.

I did enjoy the narrator, Lauren Ezzo and it was because of her I continued listening to the book.

3.5 stars. This one started off fairly strong for me. I liked the MMC a lot, even if he was considered a grumpy (I didn't see it... just a bit aloof or closed off, but I think that's fairly common at work). The premise was really cute and I liked the progression of trying to find men and their dogs to make a calendar as a work project. The 4th quarter drama was so stressful. I hate miscommunication and ultimately I thought the ending was just meh.

Otherwise... very entertaining!

If I had to cast the two main characters... I'm going Darren Barnett and Sofia Carson.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for the ARC.

This had such great banter and I love the dog calendar of the story plot. They started as colleagues who never really interacted (hes the office grump) to him having to help her with her work project to get a job and promotion. I love how as the calendar started to take real shape so did their relationship. This story came at just the right time for me. This is my 1st book by this author and I'm excited to read more from her.

Thank you NetGalley for this Audio-arc in exchange for my thoughts.

First off, Johnathan you freaking suck. I don’t care if Holly could get over it because I personally could never.

I really struggled to get through this audiobook, for me it was frustrating all the way through. The constant dates with men are perfect examples of why I hate men, and Johnathan only added to that!!!!!!! I wish there was less conflict with finding models, that part of the plot felt annoying and retold too many times. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them other than maybe just needing to release some sexual tension. Because at the end of the story, I truly don’t understand how they got together. He really let ME down as the reader.

The audiobook narration was a bit hard for me to get into. The way the story is told and the speed had me confused at times where we were in the story

Tropes
Grumpy x Sunshine
Workplace romance
Banter

I enjoyed this story about Holly and Jonathan. It made me giggle, laugh, kick my feet, and swoon over the dogs and story. I liked the fact that the main characters are a little older but did think that Holly was a little immature at times.

The premise of a former attorney doing an unpaid internship at 34 was a little strange. Being that the story is set in the PNW makes sense for the premise of GCL and their conservation efforts.

Anna Collins is a new to me author. Lauren Ezzo was a new to me narrator as well. Lauren did a fabulous job as the solo narrator navigating the different voices, even the male characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ALC.

I enjoyed this audiobook a lot! I finished it in a day because I needed to know how it ended. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a cute little romance.

It was a fun, unique book. The narrator was great! Production was done very well.
The one part of the book that I disliked was the unnecessary political aspect. We read books to escape, it felt forced and unnecessary. Put a sour taste in my mouth. Other than that it was a good book. I haven’t seen a concept like it before.

First of all thank you to Anna E. Collins, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me early access to this audiobook! All opinions in this review are my own.

I ate this shit UPPP.

Its about Holly, a bad ass lawyer who was forced to leave her firm. To find a new challenge she join a nonprofit for a fundraiser. To make a chance at a move to Scotland!
She wants to make a calendar with sexy men and adorable puppies. BUTT she needs a photographer and a creative designer. That’s where the divorced Jonathan comes in.
The office grump who gets pulled out of his shell by holly her bright and bubbly persona.
What will happen when she falls inlove with Mr July a potential move in the future?

THIS BOOK HAS A 3RD ACT BREAKUPPP

I loved this. Its just so damn cute with the puppies and the men of course. I also loved Jonathan his claustrophobia representation. This was such a great book and such a cosy read. I wish I could have read this in the fall.

Finding Mr July by Anne E Collins
Contemporary romance.
After a bad experience at a law firm, Holly King changes direction and takes an unpaid intern job at a nonprofit. Hoping to win a coveted job in Scotland, Holly joins a fundraising contest. She needs to partner with a photographer to be a success, but the only person left at the firm is grumpy Jonathan Summers. She convinces him to help with her pitch of hot men and their dogs on a calendar and the steamy photo shoots lead to a growing attraction between Holly and Jonathan. If she wins, she’ll go to Scotland. Which means leaving Jonathan. Is that still what she wants?

🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook narrated by Lauren Ezzo. The performance is filled with discernible angst, passion and uncomfortable tension as the two work their way through the relationship, all of which is clearly heard and felt in the performance. There are distinct voices for the two main characters and the audiobook helps make clear their emotional journey. I did speed up the playback to 1.5 and slightly higher to be able to read along with the ecopy.

I didn’t understand her walking away from her career as a lawyer. Why not sue the law firm for defamation? But that would be a different story. Not a fan of some of the unfortunate arguments and spoken words that can’t be taken back. Forgiveness is inherent in a romance so they figure it out, but it was a bit angsty there at the end.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.
3.5

Finding Mr. July by Anna E. Collins is a charming and heartwarming romantic comedy that effortlessly blends slow-burn chemistry, witty banter, and a touch of heat. At its core, this novel thrives on the irresistible tension between two characters who are thrust into close proximity and slowly discover that they might just be exactly what the other needs.

Collins does a wonderful job crafting a believable and engaging buildup between the leads. Their dynamic feels authentic, and the emotional depth behind their growing connection adds richness to the lighthearted premise. As their relationship develops, the reader is pulled along for the ride, experiencing the hesitations, the sparks, and the moments of genuine vulnerability that make their romance feel earned.

While the story includes some well-placed spice, it’s tastefully executed and never overshadows the heartfelt narrative. Instead, it enhances the emotional intimacy between the characters and complements the romantic arc.

Overall, Finding Mr. July is an enjoyable, feel-good read with just the right amount of humor, heat, and heart. It’s a perfect pick for fans of contemporary romance looking for a story that delivers both laughter and love.

Finding Mr. July is a super cute, easy read that gave me all the feel-good vibes I was hoping for. I really enjoyed all the Seattle references since I lived there for two years. The book does a great job capturing the spirit of the area and made me feel a bit nostalgic.

The story is pretty predictable, but in the best way. Sometimes you just want a cozy rom-com with an office grump, a bunch of adorable dogs, and a calendar full of hot outdoorsy guys. What more could you ask for?

I wasn’t a fan of the third act breakup, but that’s just a trope that never works for me. The rest of the story made up for it, though, especially the fun subplots with the other interns, Holly’s friend Rachel, and her brother. And honestly, hot guys and dogs together? It’s impossible not to love that.

Thank you to HachetteAudio for the ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.