Looking for your next great read, whether for a holiday escape, daily commute, or just some fresh inspiration? August is already set to be packed with exciting new book releases.
From ‘romantasy’ to horror, thrillers to sci-fi, there should be something for everyone, no matter your preference. And with many of our picks being part of a series, you’ll find even more great reads.
As someone who is always on the lookout for the best new releases, who also happens to have read over 40 books so far this year, these are the best books I recommend looking out for in August 2025.
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Release date: August 26
R.F. Kuang, the award-winning author of Babel and Yellowface, is back with one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year.
With the word "katabasis" deriving from the Greek word for descent, and a journey to the underworld at that, we join two graduate students as they quite literally go to Hell and back in a bid to save their professor’s soul.
After working hard to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick, Alice reaches her ultimate goal of working with the greatest magician in the world, Professor Jacob Grimes. That is, until he dies in a magical accident that she may have caused.
With her future in his hands, she will stop at nothing to bring him back, but she’s not alone. Her academic rival, Peter, just so happens to think the same way, with the pair embarking on a quest to rescue their mentor and put things right.
Blending academia, fantasy, plus a sprinkling of horror, this is one August book release that you won’t want to miss.
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Release date: August 19
One of the biggest romantasy releases of the past few years, Quicksilver by Callie Hart is getting a limited edition hardback release midway through August. From the super stylish cover jacket to the silver gilded edges and illustrated endpapers featuring the two main characters – Saeris and Kingfisher – there’s even a brand new bonus scene for readers to discover.
If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, the bestselling story follows Saeris, who is inadvertently transported to the Fae realm and a land of ice and snow. On arriving, she finds herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict between the Fae and the mysterious Undying Queen, and the only way for her to possibly make it home is by binding herself to a Fae warrior called Kingfisher.
Fans don’t have too long to wait until the highly anticipated sequel, Brimstone, hits shelves either, with it getting a November release later this year. Let’s just say we can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning
Release date: August 7
Just seen the new I Know What You Did Last Summer legacyquel and looking for your next slasher fix? Well, Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning makes its paperback debut the first week of August. It combines many of the classic horror tropes that we know and love, as well as twists, turns, and red herrings to keep you hooked (see what we did there) the whole way through.
From its adults-only summer camp setting to the urban legend of Knock Knock Nancy – a witch whose restless spirit knocks on the cabins late at night, before taking the heads of those who foolishly open their door – it has a seriously nostalgic feel to it.
Even though Willow doesn’t believe in ghost stories, when a camper vanishes and she hears a knock, knock, knock, in the night, she realises this might not be the restful retreat that she thought it would be.
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Release date: August 21
Whether you’ve already devoured some of T. Kingfisher’s most popular and beloved stories – from Paladin’s Grace to A Sorceress Comes To Call – the award-winning author is back with a dark reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Snow White, in Hemlock & Silver.
The story follows healer Anja, who has been experimenting with a number of experimental and unorthodox methods to find cures for those whom others have given up on. When she is summoned by the King to help save his daughter, Snow, who is dying, nothing seems to be making her better until Anja discovers a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror, and beyond it may lie the reason behind Snow’s illness. Or could it be something that could threaten them all?
Add in a sassy cat and a stoic bodyguard, and you’ll find yourself drawn into their quest. Just because you know how the classic tale unfolds, this iteration of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale – or Disney movie (whether that be the animated version or the more recent live action adaptation) – offers a completely unique and different spin on it.
The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand
Release date: August 19
Quite a few of us will be familiar with Stephen King’s The Stand, with it even making its way onto our TV screens back in 1994 and more recently in 2020. Clocking in at over 1300 pages, the post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy is often heralded as one of King’s very best. Now, over 46 years later, readers will finally be able to return to the world that he created thanks to a new anthology of short stories penned by some of the most exciting and popular horror writers of our time.
With contributors such as Paul Tremblay, Caroline Kepnes (who wrote the You series of books that inspired the Netflix show of the same name), Chuck Wendig, Josh Malerman (the author behind Bird Box), and Catriona Ward, readers should expect the unexpected.
Taking place during and after the events of the original book, it also features an introduction by King himself alongside a foreword and afterword by horror buffs Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, respectively. So, if you’ve always wondered where the story might have gone next, or want to revisit the world once more, we’d definitely recommend giving it a read.
A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid
Release date: August 5
The follow-up to Ava Reid’s hit dark academia fantasy, A Study In Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming picks up where the first book left off, with readers finding out exactly what happened following the publication of Effy and Preston’s thesis on the beloved local poem, Angharad.
Effy may have become the first woman to enroll at the literature college, but that comes with challenges of its own as she struggles with self-doubt alongside the pressure from those who are waiting for her to fail. She can also no longer escape into the imaginary worlds that she once did. In contrast, Preston starts to have visions of a palace under the sea, a setting where he is king, with these dreams beginning to blur into his everyday life.
Will the young couple have a happy ending or not? You’ll have to pick up a copy to see. But either way, this second book wraps up the story and closes the chapter on this duology. So, if you want to dip your toe into the world of fantasy, and YA (young adult) fantasy at that, without having to worry about the series spanning five books or more, this is a terrific book to start with.
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
Release date: August 5
It’s the not-so-distant future of the year 2064, and we find ourselves in a post-war San Francisco, following a struggle for Californian independence. Where do the noodles come in, you might ask? Well, when a group of robots that had been turned off in what is now an abandoned ghost kitchen unexpectedly reboot and come back online, they decide to do the only thing they know how – make tasty noodles.
But when their business becomes the target of a slew of one-star reviews, due to the discrimination of them essentially being othered as robots, they have to band together and call upon their community to keep Automatic Noodle open.
At just 168 pages, this cosy sci-fi novella has been compared to The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, as well as Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot series. So, if you enjoyed either of these and are looking for something new to try, or want to start reading the emerging subgenre of cosy sci-fi more generally, this is a great book to give a go. And don’t be surprised if you end up having a real craving for hand-pulled noodles as you read it, either. We certainly did.
Too Old For This by Samantha Downing
Release date: August 28
With a whip-smart female lead and a story that immediately draws you in, I couldn’t put this book down when I read an early copy last month. All I can say is don’t let the cartoon-style cover fool you.
OAP Lottie spends her days catching up with friends at their weekly bingo game and pottering around her house, that is, after she changed her identity many decades ago. So, when an investigative journalist unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep asking a number of questions about her past, and specifically her involvement in a number of unsolved cases, well, Lottie can’t be having that. And when she receives another knock at the door, she soon realises that getting away with murder in 2025 is a bit trickier than it was back in her day.
With a mix of more macabre scenes and some excellent dark humour, you can’t help rooting for Lottie. If you enjoyed other serial killer thrillers like Bella Mackie’s How To Kill Your Family, we have a feeling you’ll find yourself engrossed in this one.
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Release date: August 5
As someone who races through several romance books a month, I’m always on the lookout for the latest and greatest romantic releases, and there are several to keep on your radar in August. From Meg Jones’ Game Point to Love Arranged by Lauren Asher, these two are both part of an existing series. However, if you’re looking for a fantastic standalone, look no further than Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings.
Taking inspiration from the concept of Chicken Shop Date, it focuses on Eva, who hosts the Sausage Talk podcast. When she decides to call out her ex from college, who just so happens to now be a beloved social media personality who teaches men to be good partners, it’s not too surprising that the whole thing goes viral.
What she doesn’t expect is that she’ll have to reunite with her ex, Rylie, on a live episode of the show, with him suggesting that he takes her on a series of dates, to show how he’s changed, before debriefing on his channel. And when the higher-ups agree that this would be a great idea, one that could result in even more listeners and sponsorship opportunities for the show, Eva isn’t all that keen to reconnect with Rylie.
This is definitely a unique take on a second-chance romance, and an excellent one to pick up if you’ve found yourself in a bit of a reading rut recently.
Accomplice To The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Release date: August 7
If you’ve not yet started Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s Assistant To The Villain series, let this be your excuse to do exactly that, as the third book drops at the start of August.
It’s safe to say that Evie didn’t expect to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most imposing and formidable villain. What started out as an entry-level position, which, okay, did advertise “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” soon devolved into magical mayhem and murder plots. So, who’s to blame her when she ends up developing a bit of an inappropriate crush on her incredibly handsome and brooding boss?
With a blend of magical realism and a grumpy x sunshine rom com, it makes for a really accessible foray into the world of fantasy and romantasy, especially if you haven’t read one before.
Ellis is a freelance journalist, based in the UK, with a love of all things books. She also routinely chairs bookish events up and down the country, getting the scoop from some of the biggest and bestselling authors to keep you in the know.
