Best New Book Releases By Genre: August 2025
Discover which books you should add to your reading list that are being published in August. This month is always a little bit slower in the publishing world, but I still found a decent number of books for you to check out!
I sorted my list by genre so you can easily find a new book you’ll love. There are options in romance, mysteries/thrillers, and fantasy this month.
*Disclosure – I earn a small commission from any purchases you make through the links below at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting this book blog!
August Romance New Releases
The Blonde Who Came In From The Cold by Ally Carter
A second, third, and more chance romance scenario where two CIA agents flit in and out of each other’s lives over the course of ten years. I’m obsessed with this cover! The publisher’s description starts off so snappy – Ten years ago, they joined the CIA. Six years ago, he left the game. Five years ago, they fell in love. One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back. And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.
Doesn’t that sound incredible!? Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime as these two must rely on each other to literally stay alive. Flashbacks and time jumps reveal the layers of Alex and King’s romance—and the secrets they still haven’t shared—while their forced proximity forces them to face unresolved tensions and buried passions. Sign. me. up! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Eva Kitt never imagined she’d be interviewing B‑list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs on a show called Sausage Talk. But everything changes when a video calling out the disgusting behavior of her college ex goes viral. The man in question is Rylie Cooper, who has built his own social media following based on dismantling toxic masculinity. Now they’re both under pressure to connect and Rylie proposes a deal: she goes on a series of staged dates with him, and he’ll debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed.
She agrees to the scheme in hopes of building her own brand, but these fake dates start to feel all too real. The social media aspect of this romance sounds really fun! I love Mazey’s quirky characters and storylines so this sounds like a blast. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander
This is another cover I’d love to show off on my bookshelves! Plus, it’s a charming, seaside town take on Romeo and Juliet! Jules Capelthorne leaves behind her publishing job in London to help her ailing great‑aunt celebrate Capelthorne’s Books’ 100 year anniversary. But time has not been kind to the once-beloved shop—it’s facing bankruptcy, the lease is up for renewal, and a six‑figure sum is needed to keep it afloat.
Across the street, Roman Montbeau—a rival from a local family—has just opened a gleaming, ultra-modern bookstore and he owns the lease on Jules’ family shop. The Montbeaus and Capelthornes have long feuded, and Roman seems intent on proving his point: that Capelthorne’s Books is a nostalgic relic of the past. Jules has some ideas of her own though and she’ll do whatever it takes to prove Roman wrong and win the hearts of the locals.
With plenty of bookshop talk and a plethora of literary references throughout, bookworms are going to love this one! | Buy From Amazon
Mystery/Thriller New Releases
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
I just finished this a day ago and gave it 4 stars! Sarah is always a solid thriller author and I can count on her for twisty stories that will keep me hooked.
Georgia wakes up and finds herself locked in the mental ward of a hospital. She’s out of options and her only defense is insanity after she was accused of murdering her adopted sister. The only person who might be able to help is the twin sister she only discovered recently, who was raised by a different family. Amanda agrees to meet with Georgia, but the revelation is shocking and she has no idea whether or not Georgia is actually a killer.
Growing up as the black sheep of a powerful Southern family meant Georgia was constantly belittled and rejected. And she knows asking Amanda to dig for the truth may even put her in danger. As Amanda attempts to discover what actually happened that night and who else had reasons for murder, the stakes keep raising. At times creepy and with a sense of growing desperation and danger, this thriller constantly kept me on my toes! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
I chose this as my August Book of the Month option, so I’m looking forward to diving into it soon! Stacy Willingham does a masterful job crafting intense Southern thrillers.
Claire is an investigative journalist who returns to her childhood home in South Carolina when her estranged mother suffers an injury. She’s haunted by memories of 22 years ago when her sister Natalie mysteriously vanished. Claire reluctantly takes a summer job at Galloway Farm—a vineyard where Natalie once worked—hoping it will give her a sense of peace. Instead, she discovers a hidden diary written decades earlier, and as she reads, what begins as romantic youthful recollections quietly morphs into a record of chilling unsolved crimes and long‑buried secrets that may be connected to her sister’s fate.
Stacy weaves two timelines together as she unravels Natalie’s story leading up to her disappearance and Claire following along in present day. A slow burn that seems to lead in one direction then apparently takes a wild twist that will leave you breathless! | Buy From Amazon
Fantasy New Releases
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
A reimagined Snow White is the basis for this enchanting new fantasy book. I haven’t read anything by T. Kingfisher but I’ve been meaning to, so this might have to be my first try!
Our main character Anja is an expert in poisons and antidotes. She regularly doses herself with toxins to discover cures for those who society has forgotten. Her life is interrupted when the king arrives, seeking help for his ailing daughter, Princess Snow. Accompanied by a stoic guard and a narcissistic cat, Anja brings her scientific curiosity to royal halls. As she investigates Snow’s mysterious illness, she stumbles upon a hidden world within a magic mirror—an eerie, uncanny domain that may hold the key to the princess’s condition… or threaten to destroy them all.
I love a play on a classic fairy tale and this seems like a darker version, which I love! This edition with the green sprayed edges and foil is also simply gorgeous! | Buy Deluxe Edition From Amazon
Other New Releases
The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron
It’s been ages since I read a WWII (or any historical fiction), but I’m adoring this one! I’m about a third of the way through and entranced by the story. There’s also a Julia Child cameo that I’m thrilled about – I love everything about her! The French Kitchen is a dual timeline historical fiction novel that follows a female American spy during WWII and a decade later in France.
Kat Fontaine is now living in Paris in the 1950’s, dealing with the fallout of her time as a spy during the war. She ends up as part of a cooking class led by the incredible Julia Child and continues her search for her brother who disappeared a decade ago. As she digs deeper into what happened during the war, she uncovers unexpected secrets, including about her new husband.
The story jumps back and forth between the war and the current 1950’s timeline, which keeps the pace moving. I’m loving the main characters and curious to see how all these secrets will shake out! | Buy From Amazon
Let me know in the comments which one you’re most looking forward to reading!