Book Description
In Mumbai, 16-year-old Ravi Ojha senses something off about his new neighbour, Xander, whose high-tech gadgets seem otherworldly. Across the globe in Nairobi, Ooma Yego grows suspicious of the distant and calculating new girl, Zuri. In Lima, Yaretzi Guzman is puzzled by Matteo, a co-worker whose perfect routine is disturbed by a strange, flickering glitch. In Helsinki, Gustav Blomqvist is intrigued by Eerika, whose seemingly ordinary bag hides more than just everyday items. And at a theatre camp in Virginia, Belle Pang finds herself drawn to Ming Wei, a boy whose fantastical stories seem too real to be mere fabrications. These five teenagers, each living in different corners of the world, are on the brink of discovering hidden truths that will change their lives forever. As they delve into the mysteries surrounding their enigmatic new acquaintances, they are drawn together by forces beyond their control, unravelling secrets that threaten to reshape reality itself. Red in July is the thrilling first book in a six-part series that will take you on an epic journey across our planet and beyond, with advanced technology, and ancient secrets. Dive into the Red in July, where nothing is as it seems, and everything is connected.
Born and raised in Singapore, Suzie Siraman has always felt a bit like an outsider—not just in Singapore but in the world in general. Being a minority within a minority within a minority has meant constantly charting her own unique path, which can be quite the painful adventure at times. But she wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
A lifelong teacher to teenagers, Suzie has always had a special bond with young people. As her student once told her, “You’re just a grown-up kid!” She wanted to write something that resonated with them—a story about embracing diversity and how our unique skills and quirks are what makes us strong. It’s not about what we know; it’s about what we do and how we do it.
An avid fan of sci-fi, fantasy, Suzie believes that the greatest truths are found in fiction. She also loves playing and designing board games—she has a collection of over 30 board games and has co-designed 10 of her own.
The idea for her first novel took years to germinate, growing during her long swims, treadmill runs, and endless commutes—basically, anytime she needed a distraction! But every moment spent daydreaming turned into a world she was excited to finally bring to life.
Suzie also has a slight obsession with colours and their endless gradients. Just like people, each shade is unique but connected to all others in ways that make the world a more vibrant place.
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7 reviews
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I love this page turner. The author brought me into a very different world and exposed me with the idea that we are different but also connected in a strange way. There are tons of challenges we are facing as human being, and there are a lot of naysayers out there...but it is up to us to reach out, to be perseverent and to find the ultimate solution!
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Red in July impressed me with how cleanly it frames a mystery: unusual signals, unexplained events, and multiple remotely connected teenagers approaching the problem with analytical discipline that is hard for even an adult to manage. They form hypotheses, test assumptions and adjust their thinking as new information appears.
It’s a story that models curiosity and structured reasoning without being preachy about it. At a time when most young people are surrounded by constant digital noise, this book offers a narrative that rewards focus and observation. The second book, Orange in September, promises to be even more exciting!
A strong read for anyone who appreciates intrigue, science fiction and global friendships!
I must admit this is not a genre I read regularly, but this book has certainly whetted my appetite. Bring on the next one ... and soon, please!
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As a mum with young adult kids myself, I wasn’t expecting a YA sci-fi book to hit me the way this one did. There’s something very touching about these five kids scattered around the world, each noticing something unusual, each trying to make sense of it in their own way.
The tension builds quietly but steadily, and by the halfway mark I genuinely felt protective of them - especially Belle in Virginia, where I am from. The book balances mystery, science, and heart surprisingly well.
And by the end, I found myself thinking about these characters long after closing the book.
Highly recommend if you enjoy stories that mix suspense with real human feeling. I’ll be buying the next one.
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Red in July is a captivating read that beautifully blends childlike imagination with edge-of-your-seat suspense. From the opening pages, the story draws you in and maintains its momentum until the very end.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its structure. The story unfolds through a series of short, engaging episodes that give readers time to absorb and appreciate each twist before eagerly moving on to the next. The author skillfully interweaves five distinct characters, each bringing a unique perspective and a different flavor of excitement, while seamlessly connecting them under a compelling science fiction narrative.
The writing is rich yet remarkably fluid, enhanced by vivid imagery and imaginative storytelling. Every chapter adds another layer of intrigue, making the book difficult to put down. The combination of suspense, creativity, and emotional depth makes Red in July a distinctive and memorable literary experience.
My congratulations to Suzie for crafting such an engaging novel. I eagerly look forward to reading Orange in September
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Red in July has been a mighty exciting read - as the plot thickens and as one gets familiar with the characters in the story, one soon realises that there isn’t one protagonist in this story but many heroes and heroines - and the one energy that may or may not be an antagonist- intriguing mix of cultures and scenarios, united by technology and global conditions - the story shrinks the world into a little capsule - be it samskritham, Finnish, or ancient Inca mythologies - universal human conditions are at play - bordering on the believable and the unbelievable — this first of the sequel successfully teases the reader to think differently - flight fight or
Freeze - right up to the end and still
Leaves one with more questions than ever ? Great read on the road .. read it through a 6 hour drive from Wagga Wagga to Sydney !
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Bought this for my grandaughter aged 13. She received it with enthusiasm but have not had feedback from her yet. I read it in advance and felt it would be just up her street. She has to take a book to school every day. So, keeping fingers crossed but she seemed pleased to get it
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What a delightful debut novella!
Fluid writing, very easy read, very tightly plotted, edge of the seat suspense! The bite-sized chapters are perfect for my attention deficit self!
The backdrop of the story is particularly fascinating…very very contemporary, spanning six different continents, and leaves you thirsty for more.
Waiting for the nest in the series. Literally, agog and, metaphorically, waiting to exhale!
Bravo!
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