6 Must-Read August 2025 Book Releases
Oh my god, I am excited for the book releases in August. Some B.A.N.G.E.R.S. are dropping this month.
Personally, one of my most anticipated releases is Katabasis—I’ll be diving into that the minute it arrives. But having read all of Chuck Tingle’s horror already, I’m also counting down the days to Lucky Day (and yes, I’ll be at the tour stop in Raleigh!).
Genuinely, there is not a single book on this list I don’t want to dive into immediately. With cozy season creeping up, I’m officially in “stockpile for winter” mode—starting with these August releases.
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Release Date: 08/26/2025
Genre: Fantasy
Perfect For: When you’re looking for complex dark academia with deep themes.
Pre-Order Links: Bookshop.Org | Kobo | Libro.FM | Amazon
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R.F. Kuang continues on her Dark Academia adventures with Katabasis. Babel was one of my favorite reads in 2024, so I have high hopes for this descent into hell.
Alice Law and her academic rival, Peter Murdoch, are graduate students at Cambridge. Who descend into Hell to rescue Professor Jacob Grimes. Guided by the tales of Dante and Orpheus, they come to realize that Hell isn’t exactly what they thought, and they may not be able to use Magick to solve everything they face on their descent.
Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
Release Date: 08/26/2025
Genre: Horror
Perfect For: When you’re looking to roll the dice on life…literally
Pre-Order Links: Bookshop.Org | Kobo | Libro.FM | Amazon
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Four years ago, the world was hit with the Low Probability Event (LPE), where 8 million people died in the most improbable and bizarre ways possible. Raining fish in Chicago, Chimps eating faces, exploding manhole covers, balloon strangulations, and more.
Vera is a once-passionate statistics professor now turned apathetic survivor. When Special Agent Layne knocks on her door, he wants to know if the statistically unlikely Lucky Casino Vera once wrote about could be involved.
Can they not only solve the problem of what caused the LPE, but also prevent the next one from occurring?
Accomplice to the Villain
Release Date: 08/05/2025
Genre: Cozy Fantasy
Perfect For: When you’re looking to roll the dice on life…literally
Pre-Order Links: Bookshop.Org | Libro.FM | Amazon
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The much-anticipated release of the third installment in the viral Apprentice to the Villain Series. This continues the story of the sunshine assistant to the evil villain. Who knew that answering a simple little job ad would have led Evie Sage to being the right hand to the worlds most notorious villian.
FIlled with the banter and romance the fueled books one and two. This is expected to be a cozy good time.
Well, Actually by Mazy Eddings
Release Date: 08/05/2025
Genre: Romance
Perfect For: You’re looking for a cozy-ish Ex to lovers story
Pre-Order Links: Bookshop.Org | Libro.FM | Amazon
This is another highly anticipated release for me. I loved Late Bloomer; it was super cute and cozy, so I am hoping for the same with this one.
Eva Kitt once dreamed of a serious career in journalism; now she hosts a YouTube show, Sausage Talk, where she interviews B-list celebrities while eating lukewarm hotdogs. When her ex, Rylie, secures a spot on the show from his rising celebrity status as a podcaster dismantling toxic masculinity, he proposes a concept that he will go on a few dates to demonstrate just exactly how much he has changed. As their dates start to feel real, Eva wonders if he just could be the one…again.
Red Card by Maren Moore
Release Date: 08/12/2025
Genre: Romance
Perfect For: Anyone looking for (Ted Lasso - Soccer + Rugby) Meets Ali Hazelwood and To summarise the dedication – for the girls who have gotten themselves on rugbytok
Pre-Order Links: Bookshop.Org | Libro.FM | Amazon
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Cillian finds himself in the good old USA, mid rugby season, on a team that doesn’t want him after tragedy and mayhem got him kicked out of his school in London. Dragged through the mess with him is his younger sister, Ainsley. Cillian wants to keep his head down, play the game, and survive the next two years. The team and coach need more than that for him to stay on the team. In comes Rory St. James. Not just the team equipment manager but also best friend of nearly everyone on the team and, most importantly, the coach’s daughter.
Tired of being friend-zoned by guy after guy, Rory is looking to have fun her junior year, she strikes a deal with Cillian – he can help her learn to date and flirt, she will help him with the guys on the team. In a heartfelt Ted Lasso-like story, the romance unfolds like it’s the next Ali Hazelwood. Spicy, fun, and heartwarming, this book has a little of everything. Found family, romance, spice, and of course…Rugby players.
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Release Date: 08/19/2025
Genre: Fantasy
Perfect For: When you’re looking for snow white but from the perspective of a single mid-thirties witch.
Pre-Order Links: Bookshop.Org | Libro.FM | Amazon
T. Kingfisher continues her retelling prowess with this twist on Snow White. Her first best-selling retelling of What Moves the Dead, based on Edgar Alan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, was phenomenal, and I can’t wait to see what she does with this one.
Healer Anja is regularly drinking poison…not to die but to help save others. When Snow, the King's daughter, falls ill, Anja is summoned to save her. Along with her “narcissistic cat,” she discovers a secret realm through a magic mirror that may be the key to Snow’s failing health.