Top new literary-fiction books in August 2024
Last updated:
August 31, 2024
August 2024 featuring new releases by Jodi Picoult, Kate Atkinson, Matt Haig, Abigail Rose-Marie, Peter Heller, Amanda Prowse, Kat Tang, Katie Cotugno, Alexa Riley, Kate Weinberg and many more.
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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
Two women, centuries apart--one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare's plays--are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.In 1581, Emilia Bassano--like most young women of her day--is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain's mistress, she has access to all theater in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly...historical-fiction · fiction · contemporary · feminism · family · literary-fiction · female-mc · friendship · book · adult -
Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson
The stage is set. Marooned overnight by a snowstorm in a grand country house are a cast of characters and a setting that even Agatha Christie might recognize – a vicar, an Army major, a Dowager, a sleuth and his sidekick - except that the sleuth is Jackson Brodie, and the ‘sidekick’ is DC Reggie Chase... -
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
The remarkable next novel from Matt Haig, the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Midnight Library, with more than nine million copies sold worldwide“What looks like magic is simply a part of life we don’t understand yet…”When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her...europe · south-europe · spain · fiction · contemporary · historical-fiction · literary-fiction · fantasy · female-mc · aliens -
The Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie
In a powerful and poignant novel, an artist unravels her mysterious family history and its generations of women who depended on each other to survive.Tig Costello has arrived in Darren, Kentucky, commissioned to paint a portrait honoring her grandfather Benjamin. His contributions to the rural Appalachian town and his unimpeachable war service have made him a local hero...historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · rural · literary-fiction · family · audiobook · crime · murder -
Burn by Peter Heller
From the acclaimed author of The Last Ranger, a novel about two men—friends since boyhood—who emerge from the woods of rural Maine to a dystopian country wracked by bewildering violence.Every year Jess and Storey have made an annual pilgrimage to northern Maine where they camp, hunt, and hike, leaving much from their long friendship unspoken...fiction · dystopia · sci-fi · outdoors · literary-fiction · contemporary · mystery · post-apocalyptic · suspense · realistic -
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Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse
A poignant and inspiring story from million-copy bestselling author Amanda Prowse about how it’s never too late to follow your dreams and find your way back to happiness.Tawrie Gunn feels stuck. She’s spent her whole life in the same seaside town with her beloved Nana and grief-stricken mum, all of them still reeling in different ways from the tragic loss of Tawrie’s dad at sea...fiction · contemporary · love-triangle · family · drama · death · cheating · domestic-drama · audiobook · literary-fiction -
Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang
In Kat Tang’s exciting and resonant debut, a “Rental Stranger”—a companion hired under various guises—walks the line between personal and professional in surprising new ways...fiction · contemporary · audiobook · literary-fiction · realistic · poc-author · psychological · family · book · adult -
Heavy Hitter by Katie Cotugno
The beloved New York Times bestselling author of Birds of California hits it out of the park with this smart, sexy, thrilling take on the celebrity-athlete story—a funny, sizzling, ripped-from-the-headlines romance between an international pop star and a major league baseball player who thought his best days were behind him.Taylor and Travis. Jennifer and A-Rod. Marilyn and Joe...romance · fiction · sports · contemporary · humor · female-mc · young-adult · new-adult · literary-fiction · book -
The Good Girl by Alexa Riley
Karmen is being punished. Okay so she might have "accidentally" stabbed her teacher with a pencil, but he had it coming. Unfortunately for Karmen, her mother still had the power to send her to Bellevue Asylum for an evaluation. Being locked up isn't so bad. Especially when Dr. Rourk is assigned to her case. He's the only one who's ever made her want to be a good girl. Dr...romance · contemporary · dark · age-gap · insta-love · steamy · multi-pov · stalking · forbidden-love · alpha-mc -
There's Nothing Wrong with Her by Kate Weinberg
"Beautiful." —Sarah Jessica Parker"Funny and painfully true. . . . The best thing you'll read this year." —Kiley Reid, author of Such a Fun Age A raw, tenderly comic, and perfectly off-kilter novel about a woman with a mysterious illness who occasionally finds herself in "The Pit” — a delirious state of semi-consciousness — and the improbable, sometimes-imagined people who meet her there...fiction · mental-illness · contemporary · audiobook · literary-fiction · disability · humor · family · friendship · female-mc -
Hum by Helen Phillips
From the National Book Award–longlisted author of The Need comes an extraordinary novel about a wife and mother who—after losing her job to AI—undergoes a procedure that renders her undetectable to surveillance…but at what cost?In a city addled by climate change and populated by intelligent robots called “hums,” May loses her job to artificial intelligence...sci-fi · fiction · dystopia · 21st-century · ai · horror · parenthood · contemporary · season-summer · technology -
Divorce Towers by Ellen Meister
Welcome to Divorce Towers, the Beverly Hills condo where there’s more money than sense…more drama than money…and more heat than one high-rise can hold.Addison Torres has nothing left to lose in New no job, no fiancé, no parents to lean on. So when Uncle Arnie offers her a concierge gig in sunny California, she hops on a plane without looking back...romance · fiction · contemporary · mystery · womens-fiction · audiobook · literary-fiction · urban · billionaire · female-mc -
Then Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald
Six people land on a desert island ready to make their reality show debut. The contestants are suitably glamorous and dramatic—and also hungry to prove themselves. The stakes are high, and with millions of viewers watching, losing is not an option. But three weeks and eighteen episodes later, five of the six contestants sit in a Portuguese police station, none of them winners...mystery · fiction · lgbtq · audiobook · crime · murder · contemporary · thriller · young-adult · season-summer -
The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera
A saucy, searingly original debut about two sisters raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s brutal dictator, El Gran Pendejo, and their flight from genocide, which takes them from Hollywood to Paris to cannery row, each followed by a chorus of furies, the ghosts of their murdered friends, who aren’t yet done telling their stories.El Salvador, 1923...north-america · central-america · el-salvador · urban · california · france · historical-fiction · fiction · magical-realism · fantasy -
Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander
From the author of The Littlest Library —a heartwarming novel about a widowed children’s book author who moves into a cottage in the English countryside and finds herself face-to-face with the handsome and brooding blacksmith who lives next door...romance · contemporary · fiction · womens-fiction · season-winter · literary-fiction · audiobook · enemies-to-lovers · female-mc · book -
The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter
A diverse group of New Yorkers are brought together by the search for a missing woman in this kaleidoscopic novel of betrayal, race and human connection from the critically acclaimed author of The Travelers.Brooklyn, 2020. Theo Harper and his pregnant wife, Darla, head upstate to their summer cottage to wait out the lockdown...fiction · contemporary · poc-author · mystery · family · literary-fiction · psychological · thriller · humor · comedy -
The Republic of Salt by Ariel Kaplan
In this riveting sequel to The Pomegranate Gate, Toba, Naftaly, and their allies must defend a city under siege—while the desperate deals they’ve made begin to unravel around them.After a near-disastrous confrontation with La Caceria, Toba and Asmel are trapped on the human side of the gate, pursued by the Courser and a possessed Inquisitor...romance · fantasy · historical-fiction · lgbtq · myths · epic · sword-sorcery · literary-fiction · historical · fiction -
Frequent Fliers by Noué Kirwan
Her life is up in the air—literally…Lanie Turner has some loose ends: • A nearly complete PhD. • A job she basically enjoys. • And a lifelong crush…that she’s almost gotten over.On a trip to reunite with her family in England—and said crush, Jonah—Lanie intends to take care of one of those items. Her favorite cousin, Gemma, is engaged…to Jonah...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · england · urban · new-york-state · romance · fiction · contemporary · poc-author -
The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer by Anonymous
One of the great books of world literature--an unforgettable tale of jealousy, unrequited love, greed, and vengeance. Based on Viking Age poems and composed in thirteenth-century Iceland, The Saga of the Volsungs combines mythology, legend, and sheer human drama in telling of the heroic deeds of Sigurd the dragon slayer, who acquires runic knowledge from one of Odin's Valkyries...europe · scandinavia · classics · myths · medieval · fiction · epic · fantasy · historical-fiction · historical -
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Eye of the Beholder by Emma Bamford
Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller Vertigo , the author of the “subtle and ominous” (Lee Child) debut Deep Water returns with a wholly original and sinister novel about the beauty industry, a ghostwriter, and the reappearance of the lover she thought was dead.When Maddy Wight is hired to ghostwrite the memoir of world-renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr...mystery · fiction · horror · retellings · mental-illness · psychological · thriller · suspense · supernatural · literary-fiction -
The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet
This is a story of change seen through the eyes of a child. In 1870 when Prussian forces under Otto van Bismark attacked and captured parts of France. The historically French districts of Alsace and Lorraine were governed by the Prussians. The new Prussian rulers discontinued the teaching of French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine...fiction · classics · literary-fiction · war · historical-fiction · university · politics · tragedy · anthologies · coming-of-age -
Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore
Rule #1: They can't speak. Rule #2: They can't move. Rule #3: They can't hurt you. Ezra Friedman sees ghosts, which made growing up in a funeral home a bit complicated...romance · fantasy · lgbtq · paranormal · ghosts · fiction · trans-mc · contemporary · family · supernatural -
Off Limits Mafia King: An Enemies To Lovers Billionaire Romance by Breanna Lake
The plan to escape my mafia life was simple… until my best friend’s brother accused me of arson and took me captive.Running away was a dumb idea, and now I'm in the hands of my uncle’s enemy.Thomas Warwick, the rich mafia boss and my best friend’s brother, saved me from the fire.His muscular frame pins me to the wall, his eyes dark and dangerous, calling me beautiful... -
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer
White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson in this whip-smart social satire about a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun literally explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help fellow guests make it off the island alive…Vacation Checklist: Pack swim trunks. Apply sunscreen...fiction · humor · dystopia · sci-fi · suspense · apocalyptic · post-apocalyptic · contemporary · audiobook · lgbtq -
Stalked by the Ghost Hunter by Sara Hazel, Simone Black
A seriously OVER THE TOP and OBSESSIVE spicy instalove romance from Sara Hazel and Simone Black with paranormal levels of obsession.In a world riddled with darkness, my purpose is to uncover the truth behind the paranormal. But the moment I lay eyes on Tessa, my focus shifts. Her vibrant spirit captivates me, igniting a fierce obsession that pulls me deeper than I ever intended... -
Stalked by the Writer by Sara Hazel, Simone Black
This book gets pretty spicy. May be slightly too much for some. But it's still kinda sweet at the end of the day, ya know?A Curvy Girl finds herself the object of a writer's intense obsession in this heart pounding instalove novella from Sara Hazel and Simone Black!I am a man possessed by an all-consuming obsession. From the moment I first laid eyes on Rosalind, I knew she had to be mine... -
Stalked by the Mechanic by Sara Hazel, Simone Black
From the twisted minds of Sara Hazel and Simone Black comes another instalove obsessive alpha stalker doing whatever it takes to get the curvy girl of his dreams and then never letting her go... I’m a man who lives and breathes the world of pistons, metal, and horsepower... -
The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable
A stunning debut novel of music, intoxication, and betrayal inspired by the true story of Anna Maria della Pietà, a Venetian orphan and violin prodigy who studied under Antonio Vivaldi and ultimately became his star musician—and his biggest muse.Anna Maria della Pietà was destined to drown in one of Venice’s canals. Instead, she became the greatest violinist of the 18th century... -
Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer
Is he the real deal…or did she truly summon a golem?Faye Kaplan used to be engaged. She also used to have a successful legal practice. But she much prefers her new life as a potter in Woodstock, New York. The only thing missing is the perfect guy.Not that she needs one. She’s definitely happy alone...romance · contemporary · fiction · fantasy · paranormal · amnesia · magic · humor · witches-wizards · shapeshifters -
A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike
Listen. My one-time friend Maria did tell me once: "Make your own paradise, Tibb, since this world is no sweet place for people like us."Born a vagabond, Tibb Ingleby has never had a roof of her own. But her mother has taught her that if you're not too bound by the Big Man's rules, there are many ways a woman can find shelter in this world... -
Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen
Inspired by Kailee Pedersen's own journey being adopted from Nanning, China in 1996 and growing up on a farm in Nebraska, this rich and atmospheric supernatural horror debut explores an ancient Chinese mythology.The last thing Nick Morrow expected to receive was an invitation from his father to return home...horror · lgbtq · fiction · paranormal · splatterpunk · graphic-violence · dark · crime · fantasy · literary-fiction -
Unspeakable Home by Ismet Prcic
A stunningly original, stylistically brilliant, and brutally honest novel from an award-winning Bosnian refugee and writer who, decades after escaping his war-torn home country looks back on his childhood, imploded relationships, and battles with addiction—offering powerful insight into the human cost of conflict... -
Mystery Lights by Lena Valencia
Set against the stark background of the Southwestern desert, Lena Valencia’s Mystery Lights glows with the promise―and fear―of the world we know and the worlds we don’t, following women and girls as they navigate dangers both supernatural and existential.An influencer attempts to derail a viral TV marketing campaign with her violent cult following...horror · fiction · season-autumn · paranormal · anthologies · literary-fiction · supernatural · family · female-mc · adult -