August 2026 list by Donalee Jacobs |
|
|
|
An Infinite Love Story
by Chanel Cleeton
When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes.
|
|
|
|
Beginning Middle End
by Valeria Luiselli
This story begins when a mother and her daughter take off on a trip and evolves into a road novel spanning four generations of women. In their travels through Sicily, mother and daughter cross paths with the island's migrants, storekeepers, and elders, and also its volcanoes, its winds, and its waters. Weaving myths, ancient philosophy, and natural history with fleeting moments of contemporary life, the characters in this novel take us on a journey across time, and confront some of life's primary questions: How do stories shape our children's memories and imagination? How do we situate ourselves deeply in the world while accepting our transience in it? Warm, funny, and poetic, this novel is an ode to imagination and possibility in dark times.
|
|
|
|
Candy Apple Kisses
by Amy Clipston
In a pumpkin spice-drenched best-friends-to-lovers sweet romance, a struggling artist returns to her hometown to save her best friend's orchard. Their fight against a corporate giant ignites an unexpected romance full of heart and small-town charm.
|
|
|
|
Cloudthief
by Nathaniel Rich
Forget banks, casinos, museums -- society's most valuable treasure sits in the giant, anonymous data centers that power modern life. There lies the sum of our civilization's knowledge, all of the world's personal and private truths. Tim is a climate journalist disillusioned with chronicling the end of the world. Virginia is an evasive, paranoid, and technologically savvy con artist. Joined by desire and desperation, they hatch a plan to steal secrets. But they have secrets of their own that could destroy them both. With their last few dollars they set out for the outskirts of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the unlikely site of a data center the size of a small city to attempt a brazen heist that, whether they fail or succeed, will change their lives forever. But the heist is only the beginning.
|
|
|
|
Desert Heist
by Alex Dekker
Nate Wilde is a former Green Beret and aspiring Harvard archaeologist. When his dissertation proposal to search for the legendary lost city of Ubar in Saudi Arabia is rejected, Nate resolves to continue his research by any means necessary. And the only path left to him is to enter Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter through war-torn Yemen. Knowing he's going back into harm's way, Nate turns to the only men he trusts -- Sergeant Benjamin Wally Walton, Shane Price, and Sergeant Tim McBride. Hunted by a former Spetsnaz soldier who works for a shadowy organization, and chased through the desert by terrorists, the former commandos must utilize their skills in a race to discover whether the city truly exists, as well as uncover a deeper geopolitical mystery with resounding global ramifications.
|
|
|
|
Destination Funeral
by Paige Harbison
When Babe -- the matriarch of their teenage summers -- dies, four estranged friends return to coastal Georgia's sleepy Mercy Island, for the reading of her will. Didion arrives to find the friends she never thought she'd see again -- along with the tensions, attractions, and unfinished business that once bound them together and broke them apart. What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels when they wake up and discover...it's Saturday. Again. And again. Trapped in a time loop with no end and no instructions, they're forced to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that shattered them all those years ago. Because maybe, just maybe, an endless weekend is exactly what they all need to save their own lives.
|
|
|
|
Fishbone Cinderella
by Elizabeth Lim
A mother and daughter must break their family's curse through trials of war and immigration, love, loss, and redemption from Hong Kong to San Francisco, in this riveting multi-generational saga with a shimmer of magic, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Forgery of Fate.
|
|
|
|
Getting Away with Murder
by Shari Lapena
Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary. So when Ted's inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle? The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder. As long as they trust each other. As long as neither makes a mistake. As long as there are no surprises.
|
|
|
|
Habits of the Sea
by Shea Ernshaw
The night Clay Lockhart's wife dies, a violent storm tears their home and land away from the Scottish coast, sending it adrift into the Atlantic. Thirty years later, Ellie Mills discovers the fabled floating island off the coast of Nova Scotia and finds Clay still living in the weatherworn farmhouse. When the island vanishes overnight, Ellie is left questioning whether it existed at all. Decades later, the island resurfaces and Ellie, now in her thirties, returns, determined to uncover the truth. Faced with the impossible, Ellie learns that some mysteries aren't meant to be solved -- and that a life shaped by wonder may hold more promise than one bound by certainty. With her signature atmospheric, lyrical prose, Shea Ernshaw offers us an original work of folklore with a masterful modern touch.
|
|
|
|
If Books Could Kill
by Kate Eberle
When Roxie Mitchell makes a wish to live out the plot of her favorite author's next novel, she has the sweet, safe, romantic storylines Anna Matthews is known for in mind. When her wish is granted, she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger. Except for one little hiccup: That handsome stranger threatens her with a knife. Roxie may be the new Anna Matthews protagonist but this time, Anna is writing a crime thriller. Thrown into a genre she's never read, Roxie is desperate to escape. When she encounters Grant Hoffman, an English professor with a love of crime novels, she kidnaps him to help. Together they navigate a madcap story in which the lines between fiction and reality blur. They'll find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End -- or maybe even Happily Ever After.
|
|
|
|
In Stormy Weather
by Chelsea Curto
Nothing can rain on Quincy Monroe's parade. She's a woman with a PhD in atmospheric sciences, the host of a successful online weather show, and has one million followers on her meteorology Instagram. And with a new job opportunity, nothing can derail her success. Except for the ill-timed arrival of Sebastian Dunn. Sebastian is her best friend's brother, her longtime academic and professional rival, and a flashy TV weatherman from New York City. Over a scorching Florida summer and record-breaking hurricane season, Sebastian and Quincy are forced into close proximity. Setting aside their grudges to chase storms and stay alive is one thing, but can they weather the inevitable collision of their hearts?
|
|
|
|
It Will Come Back to You
by Sigrid Nunez
Over the course of thirty years, Sigrid Nunez has become one of contemporary fiction’s most distinctive voices, producing nine penetrating, profound novels celebrated by fans and critics alike. But she has not, until now, produced a book of stories. In It Will Come Back to You, Nunez brings together thirteen of her best stories from the decades-long sweep of her career, tracing the origins of her style and her remarkable artistic range. Moving from the momentous to the mundane, Nunez maintains her expert balance between gravity and levity while probing the philosophical questions that illuminate her work.
|
|
|
|
Just a Highland Fling
by Naina Kumar
Neelu Pillai flies to Scotland for her estranged father's wedding with one goal: to get through it with as little conflict as possible. But when her tipsy tirade at the rehearsal dinner is the reason her father gets left at the altar, she agrees to help him track down his runaway bride. There's just one problem: The third member of this road trip is Jacob, the hot desi bagpiper from the wedding who just happens to be Neelu's recent one-night stand. They couldn't keep their hands off each other a few nights ago, but now he can't seem to stand her. Their journey to Skye is certainly not smooth, but as the two work together through the obstacles, they realize that there's more to each other than meets the eye. And that the electric connection they'd felt the night they met is still as strong as ever.
|
|
|
|
A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile
by Angela Bell
Wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for a covert team of lady inspectors. When her expertise is needed to infiltrate the domain of London's most prolific inventor, she teams up with the inventor's secretary, Charles Noble. As strange occurrences surface, they must unravel a plot of sabotage while grappling with sparks of attraction.
|
|
|
|
Make Nice
by Ryan Effgen
When the Pickford siblings arrive at The Grand Hotel they have every intention of spending the long weekend making nice. Pete is in search of a rare Carthusian snail. Viv is reeling from marital problems and is determined to put on a brave face for her daughter. And Corey has lucked into some cocaine he plans to sell. But when Pete falls for the mother of a local kid, Viv's daughter gets up to teenage trouble, and Corey finds the guests are not interested in party drugs, the weekend veers into disaster. Why did their father bring them to this cushy island resort in the first place? And why does Corey seem to be the only one who knows the truth? In a story that is as sneakily wise as it is absurdly funny, Ryan Effgen's debut shows how sometimes the people who bring out your worst -- your family -- can also be the ones to bring you out of your shell.
|
|
|
|
The Mortal Enemy Murder Club
by Gloria Chao
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is back with a twist in this smart, hilarious mystery by bestselling author Gloria Chao. Kathryn Hu is not getting into the business of solving murders. Yes, she and her friends Olivia and Elle figured out who killed their cheating ex-boyfriend. But now Kat can get back to her usual existence. Then she gets an unexpected plea for help. Mandy Thorne has ruined countless lives through her revenge podcast. She also did her best to frame the girls. Now, she claims, someone is trying to kill her and the girls are the only ones who can save her. But can the trio and Mandy put aside their mutual contempt long enough to prevent a murder and solve this case? Can they become...the Mortal Enemy Murder Club?
|
|
|
|
The Night Hunter
by Natalie Moss
When their mother passes, Danielle and her sister Grace must return to their family house nestled within a wild-game reserve. While Grace clings to nostalgia, only Danielle carries the knowledge of her mothers final request: Find the storehouse and burn everything inside. To ease the pain of their homecoming each sister invites two friends on the two-day journey into the bush. What starts as a safari adventure, turns into a nightmare when one of them is murdered at the campsite. In the chaos that follows, they crash their vehicle, stranding them, with no way to call for help. Now, with dwindling supplies and only one rifle, Danielle must lead them on foot across miles of merciless savannah. As the group navigates land where every rustle could mean death, a truth emerges: someone is sabotaging their escape.
|
|
|
|
Not with a Bang
by Temi Oh
The Minton family is in crisis. After losing his job, Marcus begins stockpiling cans, running evacuation drills and digging a doomsday bunker in the back garden. At the same time, his daughters are unravelling in their own ways - Chantale is being haunted by dreams of disaster, and Briar's obsession with a missing classmate draws her deeper into the seductive world of a UFO cult. Meanwhile, no one is aware of the diagnosis their mother has been trying to keep hidden. When, on the morning of the eldest daughter's wedding, an extinction-level event tears the world apart, the Mintons must fight their way through a devastated city--back to safety, survival, and each other.
|
|
|
|
A Quiet Place
by Seicho Matsumoto
While on an important business trip, Tsuneo Asai receives word that his wife, Eiko, has died of a heart attack. Asai throws himself into his work, using routine and responsibility to keep grief at bay. Yet something about Eiko's death begins to trouble him. She collapsed while walking alone on a quiet residential street in Tokyo -- a place with a hotel perched at the top of the hill, unmistakably designed as a discreet rendezvous for lovers. He begins to wonder whether his wife may have been leading a secret life. As Asai's suspicions deepen, his mental state unravels, and the boundaries of normalcy slip away. In the process, Matsumoto lays bare the tensions between ambition, domestic life, and emotional repression in postwar Japan.
|
|
|
|
The Romance Revival
by Christina Lauren
Three years ago, scientist Emery Finch got married to Luca -- the charming landscaper who made her laugh, dance, and feel. But now, Emery is consumed by her research, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge discoveries come to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her. Desperate not to lose him, Emery uses the technology she's developed to bring him back to life. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it's her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won't waste it -- because true love is always worth reviving.
|
|
|
|
Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils
by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
Savvy Summers has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon on Chicago's South Side. Stepping out of her soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course. But when someone is found dead in the company's conference room, Savvy's culinary creations and beloved café becomes the center of a murder investigation once again. Somebody's hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out to find who is to blame. With familiar faces turning up the heat on her investigation and her café still in hot water, will Savvy be able to save her reputation before it's too late?
|
|
|
|
Sea of Charms
by Sarah Beth Durst
Sarah Beth Durst brings cozy fantasy romance to the high seas in Sea of Charms, the third magical adventure in the Spellshop series. Betrayed by love, Marin 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 her friend Dax 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, passion for stories and charming smile, begging the question -- who's saving who.
|
|
|
|
Self-Help for Serial Killers
by Asia MacKay
In this rollicking sequel to A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, two (mostly) reformed serial killers discover something more deadly than murder: living in suburbia. Hazel and Fox have it all: two children, a beautiful home, and a late-night habit of eliminating people who deserve it. Yet work-life balance is hard when you want to kill bad men but raise good kids. Therapy isn't helping, and bullet journaling has taken on a whole new meaning. But when they accidentally draw a dangerous group to their doorstep, the couple must pull it together -- and fast. Because surviving in suburbia is no longer just a challenge. Now it's a real fight for their family's lives.
|
|
|
|
She Had Enough
by Stacie Grey
Six friends. One dinner. And a secret that won't stay buried. Mallory Taylor was looking forward to a fun night out with old college friends -- nostalgia, laughter, nothing more. But Caitlin, always the quiet one of the group, seems even more withdrawn than usual. Then, hours after the women head their separate ways, a massive earthquake reduces San Francisco to rubble -- and Caitlin disappears. Six months later, as the city begins to recover, Mallory learns the truth. Was her disappearance related to the earthquake or was it something else, something sinister? The more Mallory digs, the more she uncovers secrets from that night. The kind of secrets people would kill to protect.
|
|
|
|
The Story Keeper
by Kelly Rimmer
In the aftermath of a tumultuous year, Fiona Winslow finds solace in the decaying grandeur of Wurimbirra, the rambling family estate she once called home. Intent on restoring it, she discovers the keys to more than just the dilapidated mansion. Beneath the crumbling plaster and dust are secrets that have been buried for a generation. When a curious book, The Midnight Estate, catches her attention in her late uncle's library, Fiona is plunged into a tale that mirrors her own -- a story of love, loss and betrayal. But as the lines between fiction and reality blur, Fiona must ask herself: Is the true mystery the one hidden within the walls of her ancestral home, or is it within the pages of a book that chose her as much as she chose it?
|
|
|
|
This Changes Everything
by Lisa Scottoline
Julia Pritzker loves her new life as a wife and mother in beautiful Tuscany -- except that she misses her best friend Courtney, back in the States. One night, Julia calls Courtney and reaches her as she's arriving at her grandmother's farm in Pennsylvania. When Courtney finds her beloved grandmother murdered, and the killer escaping out the back door, Julia flies home to help. The police believe the murder was a botched burglary, but the women suspect something much more sinister and enlist Bennie Rosato, the hotshot Philly lawyer, to assist. But in a town filled with explosive secrets, events take a deadly turn, and Julia becomes the target of a murderous conspiracy. She ends up fighting for her life, with no one to save her but herself.
|
|
|
|
Three Reasons for Revenge
by Dervla McTiernan
Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault. By the end of the day, she is nowhere to be found. Soon after she disappears, three identical packages arrive at three very different doors: a respected psychologist's home, a socialite's mansion, and a struggling single father's run-down apartment. Inside, each gift is perfectly tailored to its recipient -- and each will tear apart the life of its intended victim. Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is smart and experienced, but this is no ordinary case. Someone with intimate knowledge of their targets is orchestrating these attacks. As she races to uncover the connection between three unrelated people, Judith discovers she's no longer just investigating the game -- she's being forced to play.
|
|
|
|
Unreliable Narrator
by Araminta Hall
A new twisted psychological thriller from the author of Imperfect Women, now a #1 hit Apple TV show. When Hope Jenkins arrives at Shadowlands estate, she is eager to spend her summer assisting up-and-coming literary star Ambrose Rosie Glencourt. Rosie and his wife, Delia, preside over a circle of glittering guests. Hope is transfixed by their beauty, their brilliance, and by Tom, the young man who resides on the property. Hope quickly realizes she's willing to do anything to secure her place among them -- even if it ends in fatal disaster. Ten years later, Hope has no family, no friends, and no future -- until she opens Rosie's bestseller and discovers it's an almost exact retelling of her story. But this time, Hope isn't going to stay quiet.
|
|
|
|
Wisdom Corner
by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
From the award-winning author of Winter Counts comes a new thriller about life and death on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Virgil Wounded Horse is desperately trying to escape his past as a hired vigilante on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. But when a legendary figure from the reservation is murdered, he's forced to return to the job. Making matters more complicated, threats are coming from the Pine Ridge 705 street gang and Mitch Gagnon, a shady politician desperate for power. With a heated tribal council election looming, as well as new revelations regarding past injustices at the local Native boarding school, the stakes grow even higher. Will Virgil find the justice he's seeking before it's too late?
|
|
|
|
Yellow Pine
by Claire Vaye Watkins
In her homestead deep in the Mojave, Rose lives with an intentionality that's brought her hard-won peace and freedom. She's navigating single parenthood, and has found a community at Yellow Pine, where a group of spirited misfits have mounted a stand against the green energy gold rush Rose is certain will destroy her beloved desert. Enlisting her on-again-off-again lover, her fellow activists, and her oddball neighbors, she embarks upon an unorthodox scheme to recover from her rugged individualism, embrace love in all its pain and grace, and come home to the divine. As furious, bawdy, searching, and searingly original as ever, in Yellow Pine Watkins blazes a trail toward a radically reimagined vision of a good life in a ravaged time.
|
|
|
|
|