12 New Releases // August 2026
The next few months are going to be difficult with just 12 new releases, August being particularly hard. So many Autumnal, Witchy Romance and Horror releases on my radar.
For August, I picked….
I have included the title, author and synopsis of the books in the image above, below…
Lost And Found by Tarah DeWitt
“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. When Silas steps in to give her a place to live when she needs it. Bea is half-relieved she has a longtime friend in her corner. A firefighter living in the wake of an accident, Silas has his own challenges to work through. That have left him cautious and vulnerable in equal measure. At first, they expect nothing. But as these two former sunshines knit together in a love that has been unfulfilled till now. A new beginning comes out of the ashes of the past. One that will lead to a love that can withstand all the slings and arrows, joys and triumphs, that life can throw.”
The Unknown by Riley Sager
“A hundred years ago, five women disappeared. Now, it’s happening again…Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major film about the mystery of New Avalon. An island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. New Avalon isn’t an ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums, until, in 1926, they vanished. The only trace of them left was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree. One for each missing woman. The stories say that when a séance went wrong, something supernatural took them all. One by one… When Marin and her castmates visit the island, they begin to realise that even now all is not right with New Avalon. Strange noises are heard in the night, and mysterious symbols are found… left by the island’s previous occupants. And then the disappearances begin again. One by one…As panic and superstition rise, Marin must uncover the island’s terrifying secret to prevent its dark history from repeating itself…and escape the island alive.”
Sea Of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst
“Marin has always belonged on the great blue sea. Betrayed by love, she lives and works as a supply runner. Sailing from island to island, delivering an array of goods with Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub as her crew. On one of her routine trips to the capital, Alyssium, Marin finds a revolution underway, and a friend in the line of fire. What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home. But against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile. And realises that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around.”
(Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall
“Alexys works for Entity, the organisation responsible for managing the world’s monsters. She prefers staying behind a desk and continuing her late father’s legacy. That changes when she travels into the Appalachian Mountains for a routine check-in with a new Warden, Elliot. When she arrives, he is gone. After reports of an unknown creature surface, Alexys knows she cannot ignore the danger. She sets out to find him, despite every instinct telling her to stay away. Nic, Entity’s ambitious Director of Research and Cataloguing, joins the search. He sees the mysterious creature as the discovery of a lifetime. Together, Alexys and Nic venture deeper into the ancient mountains. They soon uncover secrets that explain why some monsters remain hidden. With danger lurking around every corner, they must survive the creatures they were never meant to find. Because in these mountains, the unknown is often the most terrifying thing of all.”
The Matchmaker’s Cottage by Kat Sloane
“Julia Schaeffer runs a charming bed and breakfast in Upstate New York, but her business is struggling. When Ethan Duchamp arrives with a plan to host his celebrity clients at the inn, she reluctantly agrees. Working together could save both of their careers. The problem is Ethan is the man who broke her heart. Forced to spend time together, old memories soon come rushing back. Ethan hopes the cosy inn will help his clients fall in love, but he never expected to fall for Julia all over again. As they work side by side, long-buried feelings begin to resurface. However, the past is not so easy to leave behind. In a small town where secrets never stay hidden, Julia and Ethan must decide if they can move beyond old heartbreak. Their second chance at love is finally within reach, but only if they are willing to heal from the past together.”
Kiss Me Like You Mean It by Laura Wood
“Ophelia “Lee” Turner-Jones has spent the last year trying to forget one unforgettable night in Las Vegas. Waking up beside her brother’s best friend, Nico, was bad enough. Discovering they accidentally got married is even worse. After a surprise email from the wedding chapel, Lee tracks Nico down to a small town in Maine to break the news. She expects to sort everything out and leave. Instead, she learns Nico needs a wife to save everything he cares about. The only solution is to pretend their marriage is real. Playing the role of a happily married couple is complicated, especially when Lee has secretly loved Nico for years. With the whole town cheering them on, keeping their feelings hidden becomes harder every day. As fake moments begin to feel real, Lee starts to wonder if their unexpected marriage could turn into the love story she has always dreamed of.”
You’ll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner
“The Dixon family home was once the pride of the White Mountains. Perched on a cliff with stunning views, it was the perfect place for family holidays and cosy winter evenings. Then, one August night, both parents and their four children vanished without a trace. All they left behind were bloody footprints and a mystery that has haunted the town for thirty years. Now, the mansion has new owners. Raquel and Theo Collins hope restoring the house will give them a fresh start after their own tragedy. Police chief Amanda Grady is pleased to see the abandoned property come back to life. But when a stray dog uncovers a skeleton on the grounds, the past refuses to stay buried. As long-hidden secrets begin to surface, Raquel, Theo, and Amanda must uncover the truth behind the family’s disappearance. If they fail, the darkness surrounding the house may claim more victims.”
Halloween Town by Joss Wood
“Poppy McMaster was supposed to be getting married, not climbing out of a bathroom window in her wedding dress… She’s leaving her life behind and fleeing to the only place she’s ever truly felt like herself. The small town she grew up in, where Halloween lasts all year. But home isn’t waiting for Poppy the way she imagined. Her grandparents’ beloved inn is now owned by Thom Sheffield. Who just happens to be her childhood hero, her ex-fiancé’s brooding older brother and the last man on earth she should be fantasising about. Because in a town full of pumpkins, cosy traditions, and Halloween magic, falling in love might be the scariest thing of all…”
Fall Shook Up by Piper Sheldon
“The grumpy recluse begrudgingly rents me his guest house if I agree to leave him alone. Too bad I’ve never been good at doing what I’m told. I am in desperate need of a place to live when my ex-boyfriend unceremoniously kicks me out weeks before a huge break in my career. Things look hopeless until I find a listing for a home that would be perfect. Complete with a concise list of dos and don’ts. All I have to do is ignore the alarmingly good-looking owner, Levi, and follow his strict rules. As the days pass and I continue to push boundaries. It gets harder to avoid his sweet compassion, capable hands, and attractive glower. The lines of our strict owner/tenant relationship continue to blur as the truth behind his protective shell is uncovered. Can I let him be, or will my instincts for information trample the intense attraction growing between us? I’m under deadline, over my head, and (F)all shook up thinking about Levi.”
If We Survive The Night by Jo Salazar
“Quinn has spent her life being told she is difficult. At sixteen, she has been through multiple foster homes and has narrowly avoided juvenile detention. She is now living in a residential treatment centre for “troubled” girls. One night, she sneaks onto the roof with her best friend, Keisha. Together, they witness the start of the zombie apocalypse. Soon, deadly “carriers” overrun the centre. Quinn and Keisha make a pact to escape together. Their plan quickly falls apart as danger closes in from every direction. As they fight to survive, Quinn begins to question who she can trust. She also discovers something unexpected about herself. For the first time, she feels like she belongs. The apocalypse may be terrifying, but it also makes her feel more alive than ever before. As impossible choices pile up, Quinn must decide how far she is willing to go to survive and whether anyone can truly outlive the end of the world.”
Something About September by Julia McKay
“Sweater weather is better together. This September, Rebecca McIntosh is back in Bramley Hollow, and she’s not sure how she feels about it. The crisp air and golden light usually fill her with that delicious back-to-school sense of anticipation… but even that can’t quell her nerves. Because the last time she was in Bramley Hollow, she and Cort Adams, had a nearly-almost moment that left her reeling. She’s been summoned home by town-spirit tyrant Mayor Crispin. And has thirty days to fix up her late grandmother’s diner or face the consequences. And the only contractor in town? Cort Adams. As the leaves start to fall, will the spark between them finally catch fire? And give her a reason to stay for good?”
Bonfire And Bliss Bookstore by Brittanee Nicole
“Sparks fly as the leaves fall this autumn… For Penny Darling, love is best enjoyed second hand. As the owner of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore, she’s content selling happily ever afters, just not living her own. Then Jake “Monty” Montgomery comes home. Her best friend. A struggling author. And now unfairly attractive, with inked forearms and wicked green eyes. When Monty proposes a fake-dating deal, Penny can’t resist temptation. The plan is simple. She’ll teach him to write the perfect book boyfriend to save his career. He’ll keep Hope Harbor’s busybodies and their obsession with Penny’s love life at bay. But as their lessons unfold, the line between fiction and reality grows dangerously thin. As Hope Harbor glows with autumn, will Penny and Monty finally become more?”
And we have another autumnal / Halloween-inspired want list for the month!
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As always, thanks for reading…
