August 2025 Book Releases

A Dog in Georgia

Author: Lauren Grodstein

Genre: Fiction

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Plot

Amy Webb was a chef who somehow lost her way when she became a wife and stepmom. She has spent the last few months watching YouTube videos of a dog named Angel walking children to school in Tbilisi. When Angel goes missing, Amy goes to the Republic of Georgia to find the missing dog and perhaps find herself in the process.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper

Author: Evelyn Skye

Year: 2025

Genre: Magical Realism

More info: New York Times Bestselling author of The Hundred Loves of Juliet

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Chloe Hanako Quinn starts writing to Oliver Jones, her pen pal in elementary school. Because she is too young to write everything she wants to say, she whispers a note into her letter. Somehow, he hears her. This is the beginning of their friendship that deepens into first love by the time they are 16.

When a disaster strikes, Oliver and his family disappear without a word or a trace. Chloe is heartbroken and devastated. She thinks she will never hear from him again. Twenty years later, Chloe begins folding origami roses as acts of kindness after she loses her job as a guidance counsellor. When Oliver finds one, his life will change forever.

Why Jackie loves it

The message of kindness in this novel makes this a truly feel-good book. The characters have learned to deal with loss in a different way, and their journey feels genuine. I loved the writing and alternated between listening and reading in just one day.

Find this book in: Magical Realism Books / Cozy Fantasy Romance Books

Atomic Hearts

Author: Megan Cummins

Genre: Fiction

Release Date: August 5, 2025

More info: Debut Novel

Plot

Gertie and Cindy are bonded by the fact that their fathers are addicts. When an accident sends 16-year-old Gertie to the hospital, she must go to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to live with her father who is now sober. Now she is once again at the heart of drama and turns to a fantasy novel she is writing to escape.

Years later, Gertie is writing again about the summer of her 16th year, but with a narrative that she wishes were true.

People Like Us

Author: Jason Mott

Genre: Fiction

Release Date: August 5, 2025

More info: Author of Hell of a Book

Plot

Two Black writers are trying to find their place in a world filled with gun violence. One is on a global book tour, and the other is supposed to give a speech at a school that has a shooting. Their storylines come together in this story in which the characters have experienced great loss.

The Secret Book Society

Author: Madeline Martin

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 26, 2025

More info: Perfect for our list of Best Books for Book Clubs

Plot

I cannot wait to read this book from the August 2025 book releases. Eleanor Clarke, Rose Wharton, and Lavinia Cavendish all receive a mysterious invitation to join Lady Duxbury for tea. What they find is a secret book club and a place where they can find friendship and freedom from society’s expectations

The Art of a Lie

Author: Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Plot

Hannah Cole is struggling after her husband’s murder. Her confectionery shop is at risk now that her suppliers do not want to deal with a woman, and the magistrate is threatening to take the money from her husband’s bank account. William Deveruax seems to have some answers when he tells her about ice cream. Soon, William and Hannah’s friendship draws unwanted attention and she is locked in a battle of wits for survival.

L.A. Women

Author: Ella Berman

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 5, 2025

More info: Author of Reese’s Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent

Plot

Gala and Lane were writers and friends until Gala, a socialite, became famous. Lane was envious and made a choice that would change both their lives forever. Now, Lane has written a book about Gala, exposing everything. The problem is that Gala has been missing for months. This is a pick from the August 2025 book releases I cannot wait to get my hands on.

The Harvey Girls

Author: Juliette Fay

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 12, 2025

Plot

Charlotte Crowninsheild is on the run from a Boston society family and is desperate to disappear. Billie Mactavish is the oldest of nine children, and her family needs money. Both women become Harvey Girls, waitresses on the Santa Fe railroad. Hired on the same day, they became roommates. They dislike each other immediately, even though they both have secrets that will ruin everything.

The Lost Baker of Vienna

Author: Sharon Kurtzman

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 19, 2025

Plot

This is a novel inspired by Kurtman’s family. Chana Rosenzweig survived the Holocaust and is in Vienna with her mother and younger brother. She struggles to support her family by working in a hotel kitchen as a night dishwasher and uses the time to bake. She finds herself in a love triangle and is torn between her love of baking and her family’s security.

The Society of Unknowable Objects

Author: Gareth Brown

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: August 12

More info: Author of the International Bestseller The Book of Doors

Plot

I cannot wait to read this pic from the August 2025 new releases. The Society of Unknowable Objects meets every six months to protect its archive from the outside world. When they hear of a new artifact in Hong Kong, they send Magda, the newest member, to investigate. Within hours of arriving, she is faced with a professional killer, who knows more than they should. Magda uses an artifact that the society doesn’t know about to save herself, and realizes she is not the only member keeping secrets. Now she must track down the killer and find the truth about the magical objects and her family’s legacy.

Katabasis

Author: R.F. Kuang

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: August 26, 2025

More info: New York Times Bestselling Author

Plot

Alice wants to be at the top in the field of Magick. She is studying with Professor Jacob Grimms, the best magician in the world, to make that happen. When he dies in a magical accident, she must go into hell to get him because she needs his recommendation. Unfortunately, Peter Murdocj, her rival, realized the same thing. The two must descend into Hell to save him so they can save their careers.

Warrior Princess Assassin

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Genre: Romantasy

Release Date: August 12, 2025

More info: Braided Fate #1

Plot

This is Kemmerer’s adult fantasy debut. King Maddox is a warrior who must marry to forge an alliance and save his kingdom. Princess Jory needs the protection of the warrior king for her people. But he does not know that her magic is fading. Asher is an assassin who was once a nobleman whose childhood friend is Jory. When he discovers that someone wants Ky and Jory dead, he must decide what he is willing to do.

The Magician of Tiger Castle

Author: Louis Sachar

Year: 2025

Genre: Fantasy

More info: Beloved Children’s Author’s Adult Debut

Age Range: 16+

Plot

In the Kingdom of Esquaveta lives the Princess Tullia. In an attempt to save the kingdom, the king has arranged a marriage for his daughter. Unfortunately, she falls in love with someone else one month before the wedding.

Now, the king turns to his magician and asks for a potion to ensure the wedding and alliance happen. This is Anatole’s chance at redemption. However, in doing so, he will betray Tullia, the only person who believes in him.

Why Kirsten likes it

This story reminds me of The Princess Bride if it were told by Miracle Max. Of course, the plot is different, but that’s the closest I can do to explaining the vibes. It’s classic Sacher human in adult form! #gifted by Berkley.

Find this book in: Adult Fantasy Novels

High Season

Author: Katie Bishop

Year: 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

More info: Dual Timeline

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Tamara Drayton died in the family pool in the south of France. Nina, her six-year-old sister, was the youngest person in France to testify in a murder trial after she saw the babysitter push Tamara under the water and drown her. Tamara’s twin brother, Blake, was left with the shattered pieces of his family.

Now, twenty years later, Nina is not sure what actually happened that night. She questions her memories that once seemed so vivid. Now, they are hazy at best. When a true crime documentary about her sister’s murder is announced, she thinks she might finally find answers. But is the cost worth it?

Trigger Warnings

Drug Use

Why Jackie loves it

This thriller was well-written and grabbed my attention immediately. I love the idea of an unreliable narrator who is unreliable because of age. This is an original book, and the audio version was a great listen. #gifted by Macmillan Audio

Find this book in: Books with Unreliable Narrators

The Locked Ward

Author: Sarah Pekkanen

Genre: Thriller

Release Date: August 5, 2025

More info: New York Times Bestselling Author

Plot

Georgia and Amanda Cartwright were adopted as newborns and lived a glamorous life until Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution when she is accused of killing her parents’ biological daughter. When Amanda visits Georgia, she is adamant that she did not do it. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family, or is she a master manipulator. This is a perfect thriller book for my list of books about sisters.

The Dead Husband Cookbook

Author: Danielle Valentine

Genre: Thriller

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Plot

Maria Capello is a famous chef and television personality. When her husband is murdered, his body was never recovered and decades later, people assume that Maria did it. Now, decades later, Thea Woods is headed to Capello’s farm to help work on Maria’s memoir. She senses something is not right and feels increasingly trapped and afraid. There are reasons the body was never recovered and it might have something to do with the secret ingredient in her most famous recipe.

The Family at No. 23

Author: Kathryn Sharman

Genre: Thriller

Release Date: August 28, 2025

Plot

This book f from the August 2025 book releases is perfect for our list of domestic thriller books. Riddleton Road seems like the perfect neighborhood with perfect houses, but they all have dark secrets hidden in the walls. Iris has moved into number 23 to give her son the future he deserves, but they shouldn’t be there and someone knows her secret.

Isabella’s Not Dead

Author: Beth Morrey

Year: 2025

Genre: Mystery

More info: For fans of Where’d You Go Bernadette

Age Range: 14+

Plot

Gwen is 53 and out of a job. When she and her husband were both laid off around the same time, Gwen began making and selling items on Etsy. Her husband started an incredibly successful career as the host of a podcast.

Her kids do not need her like they used to, and she is unsure of her place in the world. After a girls’ night away with her old school friends, she decides it’s the perfect time to find Isabella, the friend who ghosted her 15 years ago.

She is setting off across England and Europe to find herself and find Isabella.

Why Jackie loves it

While there were many things about Gwen that I could not relate to, I feel like there is a little part of Gwen that every woman can relate to. We all have many roles that we play: Friend, child, co-worker, maybe parent, or sibling. It is easy to empathize with Gwen as she looks for her place. #gifted by PRH and Putnam

Find this book in: Friendship Books

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective

Author: Jo Nichols

Year: 2025

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 14+

Plot

Mrs. B is the landlady for the Marigold Cottages, which are a collection of bungalows in Santa Barbara. When an ex-con named Anthony moves in and a dead body is discovered shortly after, Anthony is arrested.

Mrs. B is convinced he is innocent and turns herself in for the crime. Now the tenants come together and form the Marigold Cottage Murder Collective (MCMC) to save their beloved landlady.

Trigger Warnings

Stalking

Why Jackie loves it

This story is part narrative, part text message exchanges between the MCMC, and part screenplay written by Sophie, one of the tenants. The cast of characters is quirky and fun to read.

Find this book in: Cozy Mystery Books

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library

Author: Amanda Chapman

Genre: Mystery

Release Date: August 26, 2025

More info:

Plot

Tory Van Dyne is a book conservator and Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library. When she find a woman in the room who says she is Agatha Christie and announces she is there to solve a murder that has not happened yet, Tory is not amused. When Toy’s cousin gets caught up in a murder scandel, Tory and Mrs. Christie decide to solve a murder together.

Forget Me Not

Author: Stacy Willingham

Genre: Mystery

Release Date: August 26, 2025

Plot

Natalie Campbell disappeared on her eighteenth birthday. The case was closed quickly, but her sister Claire has spent the last 22 years trying to recover from the trauma. Claire decides to accept a job at Galloway Farm, a vineyard close to where she grew up in South Carolina. At first, Claire feels the farm is the perfect escape. But when Claire finds a diary that describes unsolved crimes, she begins to feel like this has a connection to her sister.

Well, Actually

Author: Mazey Eddings

Genre: Romance

Release Date: August 5, 2025

More info: Second-Chance Romance

Plot

Eva Kitt is the host of “Sausage Talk” instead of her dream job as a journalist. So when she calls out her college ex for ghosting her, it goes viral- especially because the ex in question is a social media personality. His shtick is calling out toxic masculinity. So he comes on an episode live and makes a deal to make up for his behavior. Will she be able to forgive him and will she fall for him again?

The Battle of the Bookshops

Author: Poppy Alexander

Genre: Romance

Release Date: August 19, 2025

More info: Romeo and Juliet reimagining.

Plot

Jules leaves her position as a junior publishing agent in London to help her great aunt Florence. Florence can no longer run the bookshop on her own. When Jules arrives, she realizes the bookshop is close to bankruptcy and the rival Montbeau family is opening a big new bookstore right across the street. Roman wants nothing more than to prove the Caepthornes are a relic. Now the battle has begun.

For the Record

Author: Emma Lord

Genre: Romance

Release Date: August 12, 2025

More info: New York Times Bestselling Author

Plot

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were rivals on the stage until their respctive bands fell apart. Two years later, Sam is raising a son and Mackenzie only sings under her pseudonym after an operation on her vocal cords. If they want to revive their careers, they will have to make a comeback album together. When they give up their old rivalry, Will Sparks fly?

Love’s a Witch

Author: Tricia O’Malley

Year: 2025

Genre: Fantasy Romance

More info: The Scottish Charms #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Sloane needs to return to Scotland to break a curse that has haunted her bloodline for decades, so that when she comes into her magic, chaos doesn’t follow. Knox is the mayor who has tried to make their magical town a haven for magical people. The last thing he needs is somebody trying to break a curse and upending his world, but Magic has plans of its own.

Why Kirsten loves it

From the hysterical ways that Sloane’s magic goes wrong to the charmingly magical Scottish village, this story was exactly what my romantasy-loving heart wanted in a cozy fall romance. I loved Blue, Sloane’s familiar, and all the other secondary characters, and I can’t wait for the rest of the Scottish Charms series!

Find this book in: Cozy Fantasy Romance Books / Best Romance Books of 2025 / Books Set in Scotland / The Best Witch Books

Anywhere With You

Author: Ellie Palmer

Year: 2025

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Charley thought she had everything she wanted until her husband announced he wanted a divorce after only a year of marriage. So when her sister announces she is going to marry her childhood sweetheart, Charley knows that she has to stop the wedding.

This means she will need to be road tripping into the woods of Minnesota with her childhood best friend, Ethan. In fact, the two were best friends until he no-showed as her best man at her wedding.

When the trip begins to remind Charley of old feelings, she wonders how things could ever work between them. She craves stability and Ethan is unreliable.

Why Jackie loves it

I loved this friends-to-lovers romance. Yes, it was predictable, but it was such an enjoyable read. #gifted from PRH Audio and Penguin Random House

Find this book in: Road Trip Books

The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold

Author: Ally Carter

Genre: Romance

Release Date: August 5, 2025

More info: Blonde Identity book 2 of 2

Plot

Ten years ago, they were CIA recruits. Five years ago, they fell in love. One year ago, she disappeared without a trace.

Now, rival spies wake up handcuffed together, bloody and bruised, with no memory of how they got there—or who is hunting them. As they race against time to survive, old wounds and chemistry resurface. But to escape, they’ll have to do the one thing they never could before: trust each other.

This second-chance rom-com thriller is a must-read from the June 2025 book releases.

Disney Adults (Exploring (And Falling in Love With) A Magical Subculture

Author: AJ Wolfe

Genre: Nonfiction

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Plot

I had no idea that there are a large group of adults who are obsessed with Disney. They collect merchandise, cosplay in Disney inspired costumes and have a passion for all things Disney. This book looks into the Disney mania and the passion for all things Disney by adults. This book pairs well with our Beyond the Bookends Book Club pick for April- Queens of Animation– and I cannot wait to read it.

Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance

Author: Jane Harrington

Genre: Nonfiction

Release Date: August 19, 2025

More info:

Plot

This pick from the August 2025 book releases looks at the biographies of seven female authors from 17th-century Paris. These women called themselves conteuses (female storytellers) and used their stories to complain about their husbands, lack of freedom and the oppression of King Louis XIV. This book also contains 12 of their original stories. It is a delightful mix of fairytales and nonfiction.

All the Tomorrows After

Author: Joanne Yi

Genre: YA Fiction

Release Date: August 19, 2025

Plot

Winter Moon wanted to escape with her grandmother, but when her mother steals all the money she was saving, she turns to her father for help. Until recently, she had not seen him in more than a decade. They agree that she will spend time with him in exchange for money. Winter is faced with anger and sadness, and the only person who sees her for who she really is, is Joon. When winter discovers her father has been keeping secrets from her, she must learn about forgiveness. Can she move forward?

The Girls of Dark Divine

Author: E.V. Woods

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: August 5, 2025

More info: Debut Novel

Plot

This pick from the August 2025 book releases is perfect for my list of Books About Ballet. The New Kora ballet is legendary for the beauty of the dancers on stage. Emberlyn had dreamed of becoming one of the dancers until she began living the nightmare. The dancers are cursed by the show’s mastermind, Malcolm who controls every move the dancers make. They will dance until they turn to dust unless Emberlyn can break the curse. But with the help of a boy made of shadow, she might succeed.