Check ’em out: 14 new books in July that are not ‘Harry Potter’

If you’ve stepped into any book or art store recently, or even Target’s dollar section, the title of this book might be your reaction to seeing yet another iteration of the childhood pastime-turned-adult activity books. This one certainly turns the “adult” factor way up, poking fun at the whimsical and relaxing theme of many coloring books with color-it-in swear words and phrases.

These two coloring books are billed as “ultimate tribute[s] to the next president of the United States,” but they’re irreverent and borderline scandalous.The drawings place the presidential candidates in iconic moments of American history and/or have them replace iconic figures including but not limited to:

Clinton as Abraham Lincoln, Betsy Ross and one of the soldiers raising the flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima; and Trump as Franklin Roosevelt, either Lewis or Clark and a pilgrim who’s just been dropped off by the Mayflower.

Respectively subtitled “The Politically Incorrect History of Conservative Concoctions” and “The Party Animal’s History of Liberal Libations,” these are history books first and cocktail recipe books second. But that’s a very good thing.

They’re full of funny and interesting anecdotes related to drinking during each presidential administration. Some are so relatable to 21st century living that I wouldn’t be surprised if these stories were made up, and I wouldn’t even be mad about it.

Chances are you’ve tried a good handful of the cocktails compiled in this handy little book, but all 101? That’s a good bucket list goal. Each cocktail recipe comes with a brief history of the drink and notes on how to prepare and present, a difficulty rating and how it should taste if you did it right. Oh, and it’s in alphabetical order for maximum organization. Bottoms up!

Don’t judge a book by its cover, and certainly don’t judge an author by its book. Master patissier Eric Lanlard does not look at all like the pearl-clutching, prim and proper grandmother type you’d expect from the pastel and frills that fill the pages of this book, but he’s put together a collection of the dantiest delicacies that look almost too good to eat. If you’re not much more than a beginner in pastry-making, these recipes might be a bit too challenging to tackle just yet, but they are lovely to look at.

Whether you just like looking at food porn or you want to make your Instagram feed more appetizing, this book has got you covered. The tips are a little more technical than what a casual nom snapper might need, but if you want to dabble in photography more seriously or start a serious blog, this handbook delves into lighting techniques, playing with all the adjustments on your camera that you’ve probably been ignoring and even how to edit photos and set up props.

Just because it’s healthy doesn’t mean it has to taste bad or the same. This recipe book tosses together 365 different salad recipes, one for every day of the year. It might be a bit ambitious to stick to that schedule (and expensive), but at least you’ve got alternative options to droopy greens tossed together. Better yet, the salads are organized by month, with the recipes taking advantage of what’s in season during that time of year.

The writer behind “Downton Abbey” stays in the world he knows best—”the great and the good of British Society.” Much like on Fellowes’ popular TV show, the book deals with the uncomfortable interaction between the old landed aristocracy and new money. The novel starts on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo and a secret that comes to light 25 years later. (“Belgravia” was originally released in serialized form earlier this year, but all parts have been compiled in novel form.)

For 70 years, Penguin Classics has been publishing works of literature with iconic book designs … or designs that eventually became iconic. This gorgeous collection of the most recent wave of near-instant-classic Penguin covers is the second-best thing to actually owning the books themselves.

We’ve all been there: a few hours away from leaving on a trip, closet in complete disarray, suitcase still empty. That’s where Lonely Planet comes in. The travel experts have compiled this packing guide (in a compact travel size) to answer all your questions. The first half walks you through the pros and cons of different kinds of luggage depending on your needs and destination and breaks down all the different methods of packing, from throwing everything in and hoping the suitcase closes to the roll-everything-and-fill-the-gaps strategy. The second half deals with what items to actually pack, depending on what you’re doing. And because this is Lonely Planet, that includes trips to the jungle and the North or South poles, but also good old camping or the beach.