Our Favourite August Reads

August is here, and that means long afternoons, iced drinks within arm’s reach, and the perfect excuse to disappear into a stack of addictive reads. This month’s lineup is a buffet of genres and moods, from swoony romance and heart pounding fantasy to small town secrets and slow burn suspense. You’ll meet chemists who accidentally become TV icons, cursed lovers caught between destiny and desire, and rebels risking everything for freedom. Whether you’re in the mood for an immersive romantasy, a sharp and funny rom com, or a twisty thriller that keeps you up past midnight, these stories will make August feel like your own personal book festival. Clear your calendar, grab a bookmark, and let’s dive in.

1. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

This thriller follows Maggie Holt, who inherits Baneberry Hall, the eerie Victorian home her family fled from twenty five years ago. Her father’s bestselling memoir claimed the house was haunted, but Maggie never believed it. Returning to renovate and sell the property, she faces a hostile local community and unsettling events straight from her father’s book. As the truth unfolds, Maggie is forced to confront the dark secrets hidden within the walls of Baneberry Hall and question everything she thought she knew.

Find it here: Home Before Dark

2.  Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann

A small town dreamer named Stevie once shared a spark with Lexington Hall, the rising star who is now a Hollywood sensation. Their brief connection in high school ended in heartbreak, and years later Lex has turned their past into a hit television story. When he proposes a staged romance to keep public interest alive, Stevie agrees for the financial security it offers. As they pretend for the cameras, old emotions and new complications blur the line between acting and reality, forcing Stevie to face the risk of falling for the man who once broke her heart.

Find it here: Dream On

3. Fearless by Lauren Roberts

Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya where Paedyn must make a choice that will change her life and the lives of many others. Her decision will shape the future of the kingdom as love and loyalty collide in a final test that will decide who prevails.

Find it here: Fearless

4. What did I miss by Holly Brunnbauer

Makayla is newly divorced and about to turn thirty. Regretting her rushed marriage to her high school boyfriend, she creates a list of adventures she missed while her friends enjoyed single life. As she tackles the list, a one night stand reappears and a revenge plan against her ex gets out of hand. With her birthday approaching, Makayla must decide what truly matters before making a choice she might regret forever.

Find it here: What Did I Miss

5. Reckless by Lauren Roberts

After killing the King and sparking a Resistance, Paedyn Gray is on the run from Kai Azer, the man she once wanted to be with. Now serving as Ilya’s Enforcer, Kai is sworn to capture her for his brother, the new King. Their chase spans dangerous lands and leads to a city without Elites, where the power between them shifts and the fight between loyalty and longing becomes perilous.

Find it here: Reckless

6. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

In 1960s California, brilliant chemist Elizabeth Zott sees her career derailed by sexism at her research institute. After a romance with fellow scientist Calvin Evans and an unexpected turn of events, she becomes a single mother and the unlikely star of the hit cooking show Supper at Six. Her scientific approach to recipes captivates audiences, but her real impact comes from inspiring women to challenge societal expectations. Filled with humor, sharp insight, and memorable characters, this story celebrates intelligence, independence, and the courage to break the rules.

Find it here: Lesson in Chemistry

7. Severed Heart by Kate Steward

This second book in the Ravenhood Legacy series tells Tyler’s story. As a determined young man seeking to prove himself, he turns to Delphine, his best friend’s troubled aunt, for guidance. Twelve years older and guarding painful secrets, she agrees to train him into the soldier he must become. Their forbidden attraction deepens, shaping them in unexpected ways, and the heartbreak that follows becomes the catalyst for Tyler’s transformation into a warrior.

Find it here: Severed Heart.