Hello Coliver!
July may not always be the absolute hottest month of the year, but it’s when summer really hits its stride. Long sunny days, evenings that seem endless, beaches at their liveliest, swimming pools in full swing, and that summer energy buzzing in the air—July is made for living outdoors. So, to make sure you’ve got plans and inspiration to match the vibe, here are our recommendations to make this July unforgettable. Get your summer on!
Code of Silence (BritBox)
Imagine a British thriller with all the drama, but with a twist that makes it unique: the protagonist is a deaf employee who helps the police by lip-reading to unravel a criminal network. It’s one of those series that not only has mystery, but also draws you in because the characters are flesh and blood, with fears, secrets and a lot of strength.
Dope Girls (Hulu)
London, the 1920s, post-war, cigarette smoke and women who decide not to stay on the sidelines. Between illegal clubs, ambition and danger, this series has a Peaky Blinders vibe but with a female focus that gives it all the spark. Visually, it’s amazing, and the dialogue is razor sharp.
The Hunting Wives (Netflix)
Drama, luxury, secrets and a good dose of scandal. This small group of women from Texas live between expensive parties and problems bigger than their egos. There are crazy twists, crimes, deceit and that feeling of ‘I can’t believe this is happening’ that keeps you watching episode after episode.
Rage (HBO)
An intense series, the kind you can’t pause. It’s a thriller with a lot of tension, powerful emotional moments, and characters that leave you wondering whether to hate them or embrace them. The pace never lets up, and each episode ends with you thinking, ‘OK, I need to watch the next one NOW.’
The Pitt (Max)
A medical drama, but a good one, the kind that hooks you and leaves you thinking about life. Noah Wyle is spectacular, and the series is not only about impossible operations and diagnoses, but also about relationships, difficult decisions, and second chances. If you like to get excited while watching three episodes in a row, this is the one for you.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
The classic slasher film returns with Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., and yes, they still know how to keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for watching with friends, commenting out loud, and scaring yourself silly while eating popcorn.
Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise hanging from helicopters, running across rooftops and defying physics… again. If you’re looking for adrenaline, explosions and scenes that make you wonder ‘how on earth did he do that?’, this is the film for you.
Freakier Friday
The legendary body-swap comedy returns, and with the original duo: Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Crazier, more absurd and with twice as many situations where you’ll think, ‘I’ve felt that way too.’
Final Destination: Bloodlines
Death returns with its ‘impossible accidents’ that leave you paranoid for the rest of the day. It’s pure guilty pleasure for summer: tension, scares and lots of macabre creativity.
Jurassic World Rebirth
Dinosaurs, chases and landscapes that look like they’re from another planet. Non-stop action and that touch of nostalgia that makes you want to watch the first films again.
Empire of Pain – Patrick Radden Keefe
This book is not just an essay, it is a dark and addictive journey through the history of the Sackler family, owners of one of the most controversial pharmaceutical companies in the world. Keefe writes with the pulse of a novelist, so as you read you find yourself thinking, ‘It can’t be true’… but it is. It’s perfect if you like investigative journalism with thriller-like tension, and if you’ve ever wondered how a surname can be built on an empire of pain (literally).
Atmosphere: A Love Story – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid has a gift for writing romances that feel like summer movies. Here, she draws you into a story that smells of the sea, long afternoons and conversations that change you from the inside out. It’s not a saccharine love story: it has layers, doubts, second chances and characters who feel like people you might meet in real life. Ideal for reading in a hammock, with sunglasses and a slushie in your hand.
We Can Do Hard Things – Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach
More than a book, it’s like sitting down to chat with two friends who tell you things straight but with love. Glennon and Abby talk about love, resilience, messing up, getting back up, and how to find beauty in chaos. It’s full of quotes you’ll want to underline and conversations that give you that push you sometimes need. Perfect for a quiet summer moment, when you want to read something that leaves you feeling like ‘everything is going to be okay.’
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafón
One of those books that is pure cinema in your head. Post-war Barcelona, a mysterious ‘Cemetery of Forgotten Books’, impossible loves and secrets that span generations. Zafón’s prose envelops you and doesn’t let go, and the story is one that stays with you years after you’ve read it. If you’ve never opened it, do so this summer. If you’ve already read it, treat yourself to the pleasure of losing yourself in its cobbled streets once again.
A classic at your own pace – One Hundred Years of Solitude or Don Quixote
Sometimes summer is the perfect time to dive into those books you’ve always said, ‘I’ll read someday.’ One Hundred Years of Solitude is a magical journey through Macondo, full of magical realism and unforgettable families. Don Quixote is an adventure that, beyond being ‘required reading,’ is full of humour, tenderness, and reflections on life. Read them slowly, at your own pace, and you’ll see how they become part of your summer.
Soleao – Myke Towers & Quevedo
It’s one of those songs that, from the very first beat, makes you think of a beach bar. Myke Towers and Quevedo mix Caribbean flow with catchy lyrics that stick in your head. It’s ideal for playing in the background on a beach afternoon, but also for lifting the mood of any plan. A great song that calls for sunshine, sunglasses and good company.
Blackout – Emilia, TINI & Nicki Nicole
A trio of powerful female voices come together for a song that has party energy and complicity. It’s sensual without being obvious, with a rhythm that makes you tap your foot even when you’re sitting down. Perfect for listening to just before you go out and feel invincible.
Mojaíta – Lola Indigo
It has that cheeky, summery touch that Lola Indigo knows how to nail. It’s the song to put on while you’re getting ready to go out, dancing in the kitchen or singing at the top of your lungs in the car with the windows down. Pure summer, with a beat that sticks in your head.
Malibú – Rusowsky
Softer, more chill, like a sea breeze in song form. It sounds like sunset on the beach, like those conversations that flow without haste. Ideal for winding down after a busy day, while watching the sky turn orange.
Da Me – Bad Gyal
Bad Gyal knows how to make every song an invitation to let loose. ‘Da Me’ has that urban rhythm that goes straight to your body and a chorus that sticks. Perfect for when the night begins and all you want to do is dance until your body can’t take it anymore.
Madrid
Veranos de la Villa (7 July – 24 August)
A festival that turns the city into a giant stage. There are open-air concerts, theatre performances in historic sites, circus shows, dance… and all in places that you often don’t know about. The best thing is that you can go and see something on any Tuesday and feel like you’re on holiday without leaving Madrid.
EuroCopa at Citynizer Plaza (11 July)
Football, beer and giant screens, but in a relaxed, neighbourhood atmosphere. It’s in Lavapiés, so you can round off the evening with a good dinner at one of its international restaurants. Even if you’re not a big football fan, the collective energy is contagious.
Jurassic World: The Experience
Who said dinosaurs were a thing of the past? This immersive experience brings you face to face with life-size replicas that seem to move for real. Perfect for going with friends, children or even as a couple, because yes, screaming together brings you closer.
La Terraza Magnética (4 July – 2 August)
A rooftop terrace with outdoor cinema and concerts, where music and films blend with views of Madrid. It’s the perfect way to end the day, watching the sun go down and the city lights come on.
Candlelight Ballet – Swan Lake
A classic like Swan Lake, but performed by candlelight. It’s romantic, spectacular and an experience you’ll never forget. You don’t have to be a ballet fan to enjoy it: the magic is in the atmosphere.
Malaga
Catamaran at sunset
The most relaxing plan for summer: hop on a catamaran, let the wind and sea do their work, and toast with a glass of cava as the sun sets. Ideal for disconnecting from everything and taking photos that are perfect for your Instagram.
Visit the Alcazaba, Cathedral and Picasso Museum
A walk that combines history, art and architecture. Start by exploring the Alcazaba, with its walls and views, pass by the imposing Cathedral and finish at the Picasso Museum, with works that remind you that Malaga is not just sun and sand, it is also culture with a capital C.
Roman Theatre + Alcazaba
They are next to each other and together they tell centuries of history. Walking around there is like opening a 3D history book, but with the Mediterranean as a backdrop.
Atarazanas Market
An explosion of colours, smells and flavours. It’s the perfect place to try local products, buy something fresh for a picnic or simply lose yourself among the stalls and chat with the vendors.
Caminito del Rey
A spectacular route through gorges that combines wild nature with a touch of adrenaline. It’s not as dangerous as its name suggests, but it’s impressive enough to leave you speechless in more than one section.
As you know, this August there are no excuses to get bored: series, books, good music and great plans. Summer is yours, go out and live it!
