26 August Book Releases We’re Excited About

Plus, what's new in paperback

Reading ahead

Our TBR shelves may be crammed full, but there are always new books that we want to  squeeze in. From heartrending family sagas to long-awaited sequels to atmospheric historical novels, August’s most anticipated list is packed with must-reads! Here are 26 upcoming releases across a mix of genres. These titles are available for preorder, but in the meantime, we have recs for similar reads that you can enjoy now.  

Plus, find out what's new or coming soon in paperback. 

Literary and contemporary

Meet Me in the Garden by Nina Lacour (Aug. 4) 

New Orleans, 1944. Odette is one of the Honore sisters, glamorous and admired in their Creole community. But it is only with her beloved cousin, Delphine, that Odette can express her secret desires. Five years later, Odette's life hasn't turned out as she'd hoped and she and Delphine have spiraled away from each other.   

What to read while you wait: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett 

Etna by Paul Yoon (Aug. 4) 

Told through the eyes of working dog Etna, this unforgettable story traces his odyssey to find his way home after a devastating war. Along the way, he encounters other animals and humans who are attempting to figure out how to start again and learning how to trust one another after profound loss. 

What to read while you wait: North Woods by Daniel Mason 

All That is Left of Life by Roberta Recchia  (Aug. 4) 

It's a sultry August night in 1980s Rome when sixteen-year-old Betta Ansaldo convinces her cousin Miriam to sneak out to the local beach for a party. Only Miriam returns. A bestseller in Italy, this atmospheric and unputdownable family saga explores love, loss, and the secrets we carry. 

What to read while you wait: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante 

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston (Aug. 4) 

In this heart-stirring novel about family and second chances, retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow has lost his appetite. He's done with grief, guilt, and the slop they serve at Care Facility, where he lives. Meanwhile, Lisa, Griff's younger sister and sole visitor, keeps showing up despite their fractured relationship.   

What to read while you wait: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 

A Tender Age by Chang-Rae Lee (Aug. 11) 

At home, Korean-American Jeon-Gi is doted on by his working-class immigrant parents. Out in the neighborhood, he's constantly finding trouble with his friends. But the summer he turns eleven, he becomes embroiled in a staggering series of events reverberating far beyond himself and his family. 

What to read while you wait: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 

Thrills and chills

The Unknown by Riley Sagar (Aug. 4) 

When struggling actress Marin Keane lands a role in a film about the unsolved mystery of five women who disappeared in 1926, she is required to attend a weeklong research trip to the remote Vermont island where it happened. But after the cast arrives, strange and ominous things begin to happen.   

What to read while you wait: The Guest List by Lucy Foley 

The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter (Aug. 11) 

1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential North Falls street. But when gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Everyone in town has ideas about what happened. But it's up to Sheriff Clifton to uncover the truth.  

What to read while you wait: We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter 

The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett (Aug. 25) 

Welcome back to Lower Lockwood. The Fairway Players return with Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald as committee cochairs. This year, they have chosen to stage Agatha Christie's The Hollow. But once again, they find themselves embroiled in murder, blackmail, and betrayal once again. 

What to read while you wait: The Appeal by Janice Hallett 

Find Me by Holly Craig (Aug. 25) 

Estranged sisters Hallie and Gertie are drawn back together when their mother's dying wish is for her girls to find their brother who went missing two years ago on Mount Mercy. But this mountain has no mercy. The sisters must navigate the eerie Tasmanian wilderness as they confront what lies between them.  

What to read while you wait: The Dry by Jane Harper 

Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty (Aug. 25) 

In the long awaited sequel to Big Little Lies, the five women at the center of the story are now raising teens. When the high school principal receives a threatening package in the mail, it ignites an uproar in the community. Meanwhile, Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie have other things to worry about. 

What to read while you wait: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty 

Sci-fi and fantasy

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett (Aug. 4) 

The heir to one of the Empire's most powerful families sits in jail, accused of murder. His hands are covered in the victim's blood, and he has no explanation to give. Brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove his innocence to stop a devastating civil war in book #3 of the Shadow of the Leviathan series. 

What to read while you wait: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett 

Time to Burn by Ellery Lloyd (Aug. 4) 

After mercurial tech entrepreneur Inigo Frank perfects commercial time travel, albeit tightly regulated and prohibitively expensive, he enlists award-winning filmmaker Phoebe Hunt to document his achievement. But the project takes a horrifying turn, and Phoebe must race to untangle dangerous consequences. 

What to read while you wait: Recursion by Blake Crouch 

Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken (Aug. 18) 

From the bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy, the first in a duology. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this is an achingly romantic, slow-burn love story. The deluxe limited hardcover edition features beautiful, stenciled edges and illustrated endpapers 

What to read while you wait: The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jenson 

Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher (Aug. 25) 

Edmond is a disillusioned scholar transporting precious relics from one stuffy temple to another when he encounters Dervish, an alarmingly handsome immortal warrior who's been trapped for centuries in an enchanted sword. Get in on the special hardcover edition of book #2 in the Swordheart series.  

What to read while you wait: Swordheart by T. Kingfisher 

Historical fiction

Sunlight Finds You by Laura Moriarty (Aug. 4) 

It's 1949 in St. Petersburg, Florida, early in the Cold War. For seventeen-year-old Nora, St. Pete feels like paradise, especially after she meets Leonard, the shy, brilliant son of transplanted New Yorkers. Leonard's sophisticated mother welcomes Nora into their lives, but his father distrusts her motives. 

What to read while you wait: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane 

The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman (Aug. 4) 

When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to a newly anointed King Henry VIII, he sets in train events that ensure the Boleyn name will never be forgotten. From an acclaimed Tudor historian comes this richly imagined novel. 

What to read while you wait: The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir 

Sunrise by Téa Obreht (Aug. 11) 

2024: Nina's small-engine plane crashes near an Old West town called Sunrise. 2003: Coll organizes the town's annual historical reenactment. 1902: Town founder Anton Vargas returns. Three strangers separated by time and circumstance. But Sunrise's many secrets refuse to stay buried. 

What to read while you wait: The Antidote by Karen Russell 

Hocus Pocus by Brinda Charry (Aug. 11) 

Samuel Thomas, a man of uncertain parentage, is a young magician convinced that he is destined for greatness in a far-off land. Seeking honor and acclaim, he journeys across the globe—from India to London to the fog-shrouded streets of Boston in 1816. All the while he's hiding a secret.  

What to read while you wait: Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold 

Romance

Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt (Aug. 4) 

Bea always wanted to be a mom. But she never expected she'd have to lose her best friend to do it. Armed with nothing but her best friend's eggs and a bucket list to complete, Bea's world is a sea of changes. Get in on the Deluxe Limited Edition of this stunning novel of heartbreak and hope.  

What to read while you wait: Savor It by Tarah DeWitt 

Pink Ink by Avina St. Graves (Aug. 4) 

There's a serial killer prowling the city, and no one has noticed. Except for me. Gothikana meets Dexter in this sinfully delicious dark romance about a film student who's secretly tracking the murders of a serial killer—unaware he's also her brooding professor. 

What to read while you wait: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver 

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by Brittanée Nicole (Aug. 11) 

After a very public failed engagement, Penny Darling would rather cozy up by the fire with a book boyfriend than a real one any day. And as the owner of Hope Harbor's Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore, she has her pick. Then her high school bff Jake "Monty" Montgomery returns home. And he needs her help. 

What to read while you wait: Darling Daffodils Farm by Brittanée Nicole 

A Summer of Stars by Liana Cincotti (Aug. 11) 

After a messy breakup, it feels like the entire world hates tennis superstar Luna Aldridge. With her reputation ruined and her career at risk, the only way to repair it is a PR stunt: fake-dating Hollywood's golden boy, Kieran Alexander. There's just one problem. Luna can't stand him. 

What to read while you wait: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center 

The True Meaning of Love by Danielle Steel (Aug. 11) 

February 24 is the eighteenth birthday of a Ukrainian ballet school student named Vlad. It also happens to be the day that the first bombs of the 2022 Russian attack land on his homeland. Through Vlad and five others, this novel tells the stirring story of the lives of ordinary people during wartime.  

What to read while you wait: The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo 

Kids' and YA Lit

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2 by Jeff Kinney (Aug. 11) 

In this second tome of Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories, you'll encounter monstrous insects, the Grim Reaper as a boy, and a lost pinkie that's searching for its owner. But reader beware—while these stories are sidesplittingly funny, they'll still give you a delightful fright 

What to read while you wait: Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney 

Little Blue Truck Lost and Found by Alice Schertle (Aug. 25) 

Toad helps prepare for a hayride by loading piles of hay into Little Blue's truck bed. But when they're ready for a ride, Toad is nowhere to be found. Can Blue and his farm animal friends find Toad in time for him to join the fun? This seventh picture book in the Little Blue Truck series features plenty of good old-fashioned fun. 

What to read while you wait: Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle 

Mirrorwoven by Bori Cser (Aug. 25) 

Del has two rules. One: Stay away from royalty. Two: Don't fall in love. The first is because Del is secretly Adeleine Ventris, runaway princess. The second is because the enchantment hiding Del's identity can only be unraveled by true love's kiss. But that's just fine—Del's had enough of love. 

What to read while you wait: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh 

New or coming soon in paperback!

• Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster—A captivating dual storyline historical fiction novel set in 1965 and 1978 on Martha’s Vineyard. 

• The Buffalo Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones—A chilling historical horror about a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice. 

• The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst—This cozy fantasy from the Spellshop series takes readers to a faraway island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes, and honeyed love. 

• The Wedding People by Alison Espach—A woman who's hit rock bottom forms an unexpected bond in this hilarious and moving bestseller. 

• The Portrait by Danielle Steel—A gifted portrait artist and her high-powered subject confront past wounds to embrace new love. 

• Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs—The first major biography of James Baldwin in three decades, this award-winning book reveals how his personal relationships shaped his life and work. 

• The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West by Shaun Walker—The definitive history of Russia's most secret spy program, from the earliest days of the Soviet Union to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. 

• Flesh: A Novel by David Szalay—Winner of the Booker Prize, this novel centers on a man whose life veers off course due to a series of unforeseen circumstances. 

• Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland—The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned for a single objective: to kill the god king Joon. 

• The Widow by John Grisham—A small-time lawyer accused of murder races to find the real killer to clear his name. 

• The Black Wolf by Louise Penny—Book #20 in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series finds him playing a lethal game of cat and mouse. 

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon