Review - - Finding Mr. July

Finding Mr. July

by Anna E. Collins

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Intern Holly King knows there are pros and cons to everything, including competing in her nonprofit’s big fundraising competition.
 
The Pros:

• Winning means a full-time job at the new office in Scotland
• Scotland is thousands of miles away from her toxic ex-boyfriend
• Her pitch includes PUPPIES! Lots of ‘em!

     The only con? Working with Jonathan Summers. But if Holly wants her calendar of hot, outdoorsy guys and their dogs to win against everyone else’s fundraising ideas, she’ll need Jonathan’s undeniable talent as a photographer…even if he is the office grump.

     When their collaboration accidentally gets off to a steamy start, Holly vows she won’t be distracted again. But as they scramble to shoot a year’s worth of hunks and pups in just a couple of weeks, the spark between Holly and Jonathan can’t be ignored.

     With Holly’s career dreams finally coming into focus, whatever’s developing with Jonathan makes her wonder—could she be missing the bigger picture?

PJ's Thoughts:

What a fun read, perfect for vacation, the beach, the backyard, or wherever your summer happy reading spot is located. 

I love a MMC with a grumpy attitude and a soft center. Jonathan has both, as well as some significant emotional baggage. It's fun to watch him square off with Holly (great banter!), especially when their undeniable chemistry comes out to play. He's a good guy but issues have steered him away from his passion (photography) and into a new field where he keeps his head down and interpersonal contacts to a minimum. I loved watching him slowly reopen and begin to regain his confidence.  

Holly is an intern at a new company who brings a single-minded focus to her new position. She's determined to win a promotion that will take her far away from her backstabbing ex and the betrayal that cost her a promising law career and she's determined to do it with Jonathan's assistance. Easy peasy. Except, Jonathan doesn't want to help, she's struggling to find twelve dogs with agreeable owners, and then there are those pesky feelings that keep cropping up.

I enjoyed both Jonathan and Holly though, I admit, it did take me longer to warm up to Holly. She has the more significant growth arc, resulting in moments throughout the book where I wondered just how - or if - the author would get these two on the same HEA page. No worries. She accomplishes it in a realistic and believable fashion.

Secondary characters add a lot of humor, emotion, and texture to this story. I especially enjoyed Holly's mentor and Jonathan's dad as well as Holly's brother and niece. And, of course, the dogs. Their photo shoots were an absolute delight, especially the socially awkward ones. 

If you're looking for a fun, light, workplace romance with snappy banter, sizzling chemistry, unexpected twists, and a happy ending, check out Finding Mr. July.