Must Read
Books to add to your shelf this month.
Some People
What happens when a man teetering on the edge of divorce gets forced into nursing his injured future-ex-mother-in-law? Releasing on 7th July, Parini Shroff's Some People turns seven chaotic days into a masterclass in forgiveness as the characters navigate cultural misunderstandings, emotional walls, and the wreckage of their daughter's marriage.
Beginning Middle End
After a marriage collapses, a mother and her teenage daughter escape to Sicily for a road trip that becomes a quest for origins. Coming out on 28th July, Valeria Luiselli's Beginning Middle End unravels amidst rapidly changing winds and volcanic rumbles. With her own mother showing signs of dementia, the narrator questions: Where is home?
Cool Machine
Colson Whitehead completes his vibrant Harlem Trilogy on 21st July, with an entertaining portrait of 1980s New York in transition. Cool Machine follows Ray Carney and his associate Pepper as they navigate heists, missing artefacts, murder, and corruption against a backdrop of urban change, crime, ambition, and survival.
Must Watch
Riveting on-screen recommendations.
Trying, Season 5
Trying returns for its fifth season on July 8th, exclusively on Apple TV+. The acclaimed comedy reunites Nikki and Jason, a couple continuing to navigate the joys and complications of family life. Across eight new episodes, the series blends its trademark warmth, humour, and heartfelt storytelling as the pair face fresh parenting and relationship challenges.
Enola Holmes 3
Enola Holmes 3 is set to arrive on Netflix worldwide on July 1st, marking the return of Millie Bobby Brown as the spirited young detective. The latest chapter follows Enola as she navigates new mysteries and challenges while forging her own path in Victorian England.
The Five-Star Weekend
Premiering on JioHotstar on July 9th, The Five-Star Weekend stars Jennifer Garner as a woman who reunites friends from different stages of her life at her Nantucket home. Adapted from Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling novel, the drama unravels old tensions, hidden truths and unexpected relationships over one transformative weekend.
Must Listen
Highly anticipated tunes to set the tone for the month ahead.
Loveland
British indie-pop icon Suki Waterhouse unveils her third studio album, Loveland, on July 10th, 2026, a 14-track journey that explores heartbreak, self-discovery, and the messy distance between who we were and who we become, capturing the evolution from a former self who couldn't be loved to her present, empowered identity.
Daughter from Hell
GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams drops her latest album, Daughter from Hell, on July 17th, co-produced and co-written with two-time GRAMMY-winning collaborator Aaron Dessner. The album's lead single, Hit the Wall marks a new chapter as she digs deeper into raw, introspective songwriting.
Full Moon Chamber
Indian indie-folk darling Prateek Kuhad returns with his full-length studio record Full Moon Chamber on July 10th, a 14-track album released via Atlantic Records. With its lead single Blush already out, he treads the lines of emotional intimacy with the same intimate guitar work and warm production that have made him one of India's most beloved contemporary artists.
L: Loveland R: Daughter From Hell
Must Attend
Concerts, festivals and screenings to watch out for.
Belly of the Beast
Kalki Koechlin and Sheena Khalid's Belly of the Beast premieres at Mumbai's iconic Jamshed Bhabha Theatre on 11th and 12th July. This Aadyam Season 8 production reimagines motherhood through a mythic lens, examining identity, transformation, and the complexities of women's lived experiences.
Holding Space
Holding Space, the latest group exhibition at Muziris Contemporary, brings together works by six artists to examine faith, belief, and their shifting meanings in contemporary life. The exhibition is open until 31st July.
Lucky Ali Live
Lucky Ali is set to perform live at Shanmukhananda Hall on 11th July, bringing his timeless catalogue of songs to Mumbai audiences once again. Fans can look forward to hearing beloved tracks such as O Sanam, Ek Pal Ka Jeena, and Hairat, alongside other favourites from his extensive repertoire.
Must Eat Live Drink
Exciting, innovative new places to dine at.
Gong, Mumbai
Mumbai's Pan-Asian dining scene gets a luxurious new player with Gong, Bandra's newest sensory restaurant that blends expansive sushi menus, Japanese-Italian fusion [Itameshi], Chinese-Japanese comfort [Chuka], and immersive interiors inspired by the resonance of a gong.
Kalpaney, Bangalore
Kalpaney is a Bangalore’s unique and modern vegetarian restaurant in JP Nagar that reimagines Indian and global vegetarian classics with inventive techniques like dal dhokli as tagliatelle, lotus-stem seekh kebabs, and Japanese-inspired vegetarian plates.
Katha Craft House, Hyderabad
In a city filled with cafés and bars, few venues bridge the transition from workday productivity to evening leisure as seamlessly as Katha Crafthouse. Launched by Aditya Jaiswal, the space combines a café and cocktail bar under one roof.
Words Platform Desk
Date 1.7.2026
L: Katha Craft House R: Kalpaney