New Book Releases in August 2025 You’ll Want on Your TBR
- Alis Page
- 9 minutes ago
- 12 min read
August is shaping up to be a brilliant month for readers, with some exciting new book releases across every genre. Whether you’re in the mood for sweeping fantasy, a trip back in time with historical fiction, a mystery to keep you guessing, or a romance to make your heart flutter, there’s something coming out this month that’s bound to tempt you. I’ve picked just a handful of August’s new releases that I’m especially looking forward to — let’s take a look!
Fantasy Books
Fantasy fans are spoilt for choice this August. From epic adventures to magical new worlds, these stories promise to sweep you off your feet and keep you reading late into the night. If you’re like me, nothing beats getting lost in a richly imagined universe with characters you can’t stop thinking about.
Title: The Society of unknowable Objects
Author: Gareth Brown
Publisher: Bantam
Pages: 352
About Book: The world of unknowable objects - magical items that most people have no idea possess powers - has been quiet for decades . . .But three current members of a secret society have remained watchful, meeting every six months in the basement of a bookshop in London. They are pledged to protect their archive of magical items hidden away, safe from the outside world - and keep the world safe from them. But when Frank Simpson, the longest-standing member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, hears of a new artefact coming to light in Hong Kong, he sends the Society's newest member, author Magda Sparks, to investigate.Within hours of arriving in Hong Kong, Magda is facing death and danger, confronted by a professional killer who seems to know all about unknowable objects, specifically one that was stolen from him a decade before. Magda is forced to flee, using an artefact that not even the rest of the Society knows about.Returning to London, Magda learns hers is not the only secret being kept from the other two members. And that the most pernicious secret is about the nature of the Society’s mission. Her discoveries will lead her on a perilous journey, across the Atlantic to the deep south of the United States - not in pursuit of an unknowable object, but an unknowable person: the killer she first faced in Hong Kong. In doing so, Magda begins to understand that there are even more in the world who are chasing these magical items, and that her own family’s legacy is tied up in keeping all these secrets under wraps.Magic has always been too powerful to reveal to the world. But Magda will learn there might be something even more powerful: the truth.
Title: Aphrodite
Author: Phoenicia Rogerson
Publisher: HQ
Pages: 480
About Book: I’m a liar, to begin with.'
I wasn’t always a goddess, you see. My only real power was my beauty – you’ll have heard. It’s legendary. But that was never going to be enough for me.
It took a web of lies to convince the gods of Olympus I was one of them. But I did. I was that good. Zeus gave me a title and riches and loved me. And all he wanted in return was for me to love him back.
But of course, Zeus was a tyrant. (Not entirely surprising when you’re ninety per cent insecurities and ten per cent raw power.) I couldn’t live at someone’s mercy. Really, I had no choice. I had to take on the mightiest Olympian of all. And this bit’s not a lie… I intended to win.
Title: Katabasis
Author: R.F. Huang
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Pages: 560
About Book: Grad student Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become the brightest mind in the field of analytic magick.
But the only person who can make her dream come true is dead and – inconveniently – in Hell. And Alice, along with her biggest rival Peter Murdoch, is going after him.
But Hell is not as the philosophers claim, its rules are upside-down, and if she’s going to get out of there alive, she and Peter will have to work together.
That’s if they can agree on anything.
Will they triumph, or kill each other trying?
Title: The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Series: Crowns of Naxia Book 4
Publisher: Tor Bramble
Pages: 576
About Book: Mische made the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves – and plunged the world into an eternal night. Now, imprisoned by the gods and obsessed with revenge, Asar is desperate to find her again. When a goddess offers them a final path to redemption – and back to each other – Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together, they must seize the power of the god of death so that Asar can do the impossible: ascend to true divinity. Their journey will take them through mortal and immortal realms, alongside both old friends and ruthless enemies. But, as the underworld teeters on the brink of collapse and the gods prepare for a war, Asar and Mische must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the power to defy death. In a game of vengeful gods and ancient betrayals, there are some debts that even love may not be able to repay.
Historical Books
If you love being transported back in time, August’s historical fiction releases won’t disappoint. These books promise vivid settings, intriguing characters, and stories that shine a light on the past while giving us plenty to think about in the present. I can’t wait to get my hands on these richly woven tales.
Title: Evil in High Places
Author: Rory Clements
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 416
About Book: THE CLOSER YOU GET, THE FURTHER YOU HAVE TO FALL . . .Munich, 1936. All eyes are on the Bavarian capital for the upcoming Olympic Games. As athletes fight for gold and the Nazis fight for power, Detective Sebastian Wolff faces a battle of his own.A famous actress has disappeared and Wolff has been ordered to find her, fast. But Elena Lang is no ordinary film-star: she is the mistress of Joseph Goebbels - Hitler's right-hand-man in the party that Wolff despises.But this is a country on the brink of war, and corruption runs deep. In a search that will take him from high society to the city's darkest corners, Wolff will soon learn just how fine the line is between justice and jeopardy...
Title: LA Women
Author: Ella Berman
Publisher: Aria
Pages: 448
About Book: After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She's secured a new book deal based off the life of her sometime friend and, more often, rival Gala Margolis. Lane's only problem is that notorious free spirit Gala has been missing for months. Ten years earlier, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was a Hollywood outsider amidst the glittering 1960s L.A. party scene. Though they were never best friends, Lane found Gala sharp and compelling. Gala liked that Lane took her seriously. They were both writers. They were drawn to each other. That was until Gala's star began to rise, and Lane grew envious. Then Lane did something that she wouldn't ever be able to take back, changing the trajectories of both their lives.
Title: Last Light over Galveston
Author: Jennifer L Wright
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Pages: 368
About Book: Amid the 1900 Galveston hurricane, one woman s perseverance is tested in this captivating story from the author whose work has been called intelligent and arresting (Foreword Reviews) and historical fiction as it is meant to be told (Library Journal). I walked until I could go no farther, until open water was all I could see. Galveston, Texas. September 1900. Only months ago, Kathleen McDaniel returned from finishing school in Switzerland to her family home in New York s Hudson Valley with a future of promise and privilege set before her. But one horrific event shattered her picturesque life. Now she has fled as far as the train line and a pocketful of money would take her, finding refuge at the St. Mary s Orphan Asylum on Galveston Island, where she helps the nuns care for their young charges and prays her past will not find her. Despite her tenuous standing at the orphanage and the grief and betrayal that drove her from home Kathleen slowly begins to make friends. There is Emily, the novice nun she rooms with; Maggie, the tempestuous young girl who only bonds with Kathleen; and Matthew, a kind, handsome man recently employed by Isaac Cline at Galveston s office of the US Weather Bureau. Then in one fateful day, Kathleen s fragile new life begins to crack as it becomes clear that she can t run far enough to escape the reach of her former life. Meanwhile, as troubling news about a storm crossing the Gulf from Cuba swirls in the Weather Bureau offices, Matthew holds fast to Cline s belief that no hurricane can touch Galveston. But as darkness falls on the island, Kathleen must gather her courage and reach for a strength beyond her own if she and those she loves are to survive.
Title: Dear Miss Lake
Author: AJ Pearce
Series: The Emmy Lake Chronicles book 4
Publisher: Picador
Pages: 336
About Book: England, July 1944.After nearly five years of war the nation is weary, and the readers of Woman’s Friend need agony aunt Emmy Lake more than ever. With London under attack from the doodlebugs, the magazine decamps to the countryside, determined to keep helping the women of Britain and give hope to readers feeling powerless in the face of desperate news.With husband Charles now posted closer to home, and best friend Bunty at her side, Emmy throws herself into rural life, juggling children, competitive knitters and plans for a very important wedding. And then a phone call comes that means she may finally have the chance to become the war correspondent she always dreamed of.But disaster strikes, and suddenly Emmy is faced with her biggest challenge yet. Because when your own heart is breaking, how do you help everyone else?
Mystery Books
What would August be without a few new mysteries to keep us guessing? This month’s new releases are full of suspense, clever twists, and protagonists determined to get to the truth — no matter the cost. Perfect for curling up with a hot drink and letting the pages fly by.
Title: Wolf Hour
Author: Jo Nesbo
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Pages: 432
About Book: his killer has a story. When a small-time crook is shot down in the streets of Minneapolis, all signs point to a lone wolf, a sniper who has vanished into thin air.
To tell it, he needs to get caught. When the shooter strikes again, it’s maverick detective Bob Oz they call in to crack the case. They don’t think this victim will be the last.
And this wolf wants the world to know...As the body count rises, Oz suspects something even more sinister is at play. And the closer he gets to the truth, the more disturbed he becomes. Because this serial killer reminds him of someone dangerous: himself.
He’s only just getting started. Wolf Hour is a gritty standalone thriller packed with unexpected twists, dark secrets and bubbling personal and political tension, from the king of the cliff hanger.
Title: Forget Me Not
Author: Stacy Willingham
Publisher: Hemlock Press
Pages: 336
About Book: “I have a sister. But we haven’t spoken in years”
That’s what I told everyone. I lied.
My sister’s been missing for 22 years, her body never found.
Her disappearance has haunted me ever since.
After quitting her job at as a NYC journalist, Claire Campbell heads home to South Carolina, planning to finally face her past.
But unable to face her mother’s melancholy, and the eerie stillness of her childhood home, she seeks refuge at Galloway Farm. In exchange for free room and board she agrees to work the summer harvest.
But as she gets to know the farm's other inhabitants – an illusive elderly couple and a young man named Liam – Claire begins to realise that she isn’t the only one with a mysterious past. And Galloway Farm has secrets of its own.
Title: The Locked Ward
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: St Martins Press
Pages: 320
About Book: Some doors should never be opened.
Was it bitter, all-consuming jealousy? Pathological sibling rivalry? Pure insanity?
Whatever the cause―and everyone has a theory―it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a new born, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.
Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, "I didn't do it. You've got to get me out of here."
Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that's so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?
Title: 13 Months Haunted
Author: Jimmy Juliano
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 384
About Book: Piper Lowery, a public library clerk in charge of liaising with the local middle school, can tell right away there's something strange about the new girl in eighth grade. Avery Wallace won't touch any kind of technology, not even the computers at the library, and her mother comes to school with her every day, refusing to leave her side--not even when Avery uses the restroom.
And then there are the rumours, the whispers Piper hears from kids in the hallway and parents around town: Avery's mother is a witch. Her sister and father were killed by something supernatural. A strange virus killed them.
Seeing how isolated and lonely Avery is, Piper befriends her but quickly realizes it might just be the worst decision she's ever made. Because there's something dark inside Avery Wallace, and it's spreading . . .
Romance Books
And of course, August brings us plenty of romance! Whether you like your love stories sweet and comforting or messy and full of drama, there’s a little something for every mood. I’ve already added these new romance releases to my list and can’t wait to fall in love with the characters.
Title: Mariposa
Author: Lexie Axelson
Series: Queens Command book 1
Pages: 456
About Book: I made it into the special forces course, but there are three problems. Problem number one? One of my instructors is the infamous Special Operator Beast—a man everyone fears due to his cold heart and polished career. He loathes being away from his team, which makes graduating nearly impossible for all of us, mainly his least favourite student, me.
Problem number two? My heart skips a beat whenever I look into his cruel eyes, and my blood heats whenever he’s near me. He’s tall, scarred, and a devastatingly irresistible man who never smiles.
Oh, and problem number three? He’s my ex-boyfriend’s dad.
We try to stay out of each other’s way to make our reckless attraction fade, but fate keeps bringing us together. The military calls me The Unbreakable Soldier, but falling for Kade O’Connell might be my undoing.
Title: I Know How This Ends
Author: Holly Smale
Publisher: Century
Pages: 416
About Book: If you could see your future, how would you live now? Margot Wayward is in manically gleeful self-destruct mode. Following the implosion of a ten-year relationship, she’s wilfully derailing her successful career, joyfully taking down men on dating apps, and living in total chaos. Until one day, when Margot has a vision of herself with a man she’s never met before. She doesn’t believe in fate. But when Margot meets single-dad Henry, the vision comes true: exactly as she’d foreseen it. As her future continues to reveal itself, a glimpse at a time, Margot realises she knows exactly what’s going to happen, and when. And there’s nothing she can do to change any of it. So Margot has to decide how to live, how to love again, and how to be herself… Because if you can’t change your destiny, how on earth do you live your present?
Title: Well, Actually
Author: Mazey Eddings
Publisher: Headline Eternal
Pages: 384
About Book: Eva Kitt dreamed of pursuing a journalism career all her life. Instead, she's the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hotdogs. When Eva's impromptu public call out of her college ex goes viral, she's thrust into the spotlight. It doesn't help that said ex is Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality, who built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners. Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behaviour, then debrief them on his channel to show he's changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but this could advance her own career... and she wouldn't mind defaming Rylie's good name in the process. When their manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.
Title: Game Point
Author: Meg Jones
Series: Game Set and Match book 2
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 464
About Book: For Dylan Bailey, second place is a curse she can’t break. Walking away from her tenth grand slam final empty handed is the last straw, and Dylan decides to hang up her racket for good and retire. That is, until she meets fellow pro Oliver Anderson. He knows the highs and lows of professional tennis all too well, and they have an instant connection. Oliver convinces Dylan she still has one last title fight left in her, with him as her coach. But as they work on Dylan’s game, sparks start to fly between them. Can Dylan and Oliver keep things professional for the sake of the win, or will their relationship cost Dylan her final shot?
So there we have it — a snapshot of just a few of the new book releases in August 2025 that I’m most excited about. From magical fantasy worlds to heartfelt romances, gripping mysteries, and unforgettable historical fiction, this month is packed with stories to enjoy.
Which of these August releases are you adding to your TBR? I’d love to hear what you’re most looking forward to!
Love Alis x
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