Be it thriller, fantasy, romance or reflection, these riveting August reads offer something for everyone.

25.07.24 | By Erin Elizabeth | Journal

10 Books We're Excited to Read in August

Be it thriller, fantasy, romance or reflection, these riveting August reads offer something for everyone.

They say a good book is like a good friend, because they stay with you for the rest of your life. If that’s true, the gates to your friendship group are about to be flung wide open this August with plenty of potential BFFs to page through.

With new reads by #1 New York Times bestselling authors Jodi Picoult, Casey McQuiston, Abi Daré, and Adalyn Grace alongside captivating debuts and highly anticipated follow ups, get your book bags ready for a workout this month. From buzzed about rom-coms to suspense-drenched thrillers and plenty of fantasy folklore, here are 10 books we’re excited to read this August.

1. By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

Out: 20 August 2024

What’s in a name? Well, if the name’s Jodi Picoult, then usually a compelling and thought-provoking best seller. In By Any Other Name, the acclaimed author (of 28 books and counting) weaves the parallel tales of two women from very different times faced with a similar fate. One is Emilia Bassano, a writer from 1581 who credits William Shakespeare for her words in order to see them come to life on stage. The other is Melina Green, a modern-day playwright who has written a play based on Emilia’s life and is grappling with whether she too will have to forfeit credit for her work to see it performed. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or do they?

2. The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

Out: 6 August 2024

In one of the most buzzed about rom-coms of the year, two bisexual exes take “the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else” to new heights – and countries. Four years post-break up, sommelier Theo and pastry chef Kit accidentally book the same Euro-bound food and wine tour they had originally planned together years ago, finding themselves forced to spend three weeks sampling the best wine and food across France, Spain, and Italy while simultaneously competing for lovers. What could possibly go wrong?

3. The Assistant by Nicole Trope

Out: 12 August 2024

Sydney-based writer Nicole Trope has built a steady following of fiction fans thanks to her brand of subtle suspense and wow-worthy plot twists. Her latest domestic thriller delivers both in droves, telling the tale of two women, Grace and Ava, from two different points of view. Their lives become entwined after Grace interviews to become Ava’s assistant at work, but what are her intentions? Shady past, meet suspicious present.

4. House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias

Out: 6 August 2024

A gory coming-of-age story set in a Puerto Rican slum, House of Bone and Rain follows a group of five men on a dark quest for revenge after the murder of one of their mothers. Weaving English and Spanish together while telling a blood-soaked tale of grief, friendship, violence and family, Gabino Iglesias’ latest novel is a must-read for any horror/supernatural thriller fans out there while definitely not for the faint of heart.

5. And So I Roar by Abi Daré

Out: 6 August 2024

After her stunning 2020 debut, The Girl with the Louding Voice, the world has been waiting for Abi Daré to grace our pages with her prose once more. The bestselling Nigerian author has rewarded our patience with this powerful and heart wrenching sequel, which picks up days after the end of the first book. Protagonists Tia and Adunni take us on an immersive cultural crash course as they navigate tribal traditions, socio-economic disparity, and gender inequality while giving a (roaring) voice to the strength and resilience of girls who find themselves in impossible situations.

6. The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe Chow

Out: 6 August 2024

Eastern mythology meets YA fantasy in this epic enemies-to-lovers romance by Melbourne-based author Keshe Chow. Easy to indulge in yet impossible to put down, Chow’s lush fantasy debut follows Princess Ying Yue as she uncovers the dark secrets of the royal family she’s about to be married into. Confined to her quarters, Ying begins to see things before being pulled into a mirror world on the eve of her wedding, falling in love with the mysterious Mirror Prince and uncovering an unsettling history.

7. The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord

Out: 13 August 2024

The only thing worse than going through a breakup alone is going through it publicly on TikTok. Ex-best buds June and Levi know that all too well after their respective breakups went viral. Though they haven’t spoken in a decade, the two old friends decide to dupe the internet into believing they’re dating in a questionable attempt to make their exes envious and get their lives back on track. Fun, flirty, and heartfelt, The Break-Up Pact proves once again why Emma Lord is the queen of contemporary rom-com reads.

8. Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

Out: 20 August 2024

YA fantasy fans, assemble! They say to never judge a book by its cover, but this one sure is pretty. Dubbed ‘peak gothic ghost vibes’, Wisteria is the final instalment of the dark and moody Belladonna trilogy written by #1 New York Times best-selling author Adalyn Grace. Promising ‘dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers' hearts ablaze’, Sigma, Blythe, Death and Fate come together for one last dark and dazzling dance.

9. The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich

Out: 27 August 2024

A brilliant horror read that will shake you to the core, Dawn Kurtagich’s latest psychological thriller takes us to the windswept shores of Wales, where reality and delusion meet. Aptly titled The Madness, the novel follows Dr. Mina Murray, a psychiatrist who returns home to investigate the troubling mental and physical symptoms her childhood friend Lucy is plagued by. Her investigation drags her into a dark web of mystery, madness, and Welsh mythology, forcing her to confront her own demons in order to uncover the truth.

10. Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa

Out: 13 August 2024

Dubbed ‘an elegant jewellery box of a book’, Mina’s Matchbox is the new novel from the award-winning Japanese author of The Memory Police, Yoko Ogawa. The story is recounted to us by Tomoko, whose memories are spurred by various photographs and objects that transport her back in time to 1972 when she was sent to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle at 12-years-old. Brimming with nostalgia and reflections on childhood, gossip, family, and the fleetingness of life, this memory-infused story proves hard to forget.