Tales & Tea: New Books to Read in August 2026

Whether you’re craving a slow-burn romantasy, a spine-chilling thriller, or an achingly beautiful romance, this month has a crop of new books worth getting into. Here are the ten titles worth clearing your calendar for.

Amelia Green is the first female coach in the NHL, and Grant Everett is the DC Stars’ most charming right winger—and the one person on her roster she absolutely cannot afford to notice. A secret relationship, banter sharp enough to cut glass, and a man devoted enough to get her words tattooed on his body—Cross Check is the slow burn the D.C. Stars series has been quietly building toward, and it will be worth the wait.

When a heist goes wrong, Reya Connery—the most notorious thief in Rhiterra—needs to find different ways and tons of coins to pay off her debt to a ruthless crime lord. Desperate, Reya decides to help Caelan Halycon, a dying immortal warrior, search for a fabled cure across the kingdom in exchange for her survival. Now, Reya must confront deadly foes, ignore her attraction for Caelan and hold in her feminine rage. This epic slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy is perfect for the colder days.

Haunting, terrifying and plot-heavy, Riley Sager’s newest book follows actress Marin Keane who lands a role that requires her to travel to New Avalon, Vermont, to research the mystery of the island—a tale of five women who disappeared, leaving only five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree. Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates experience supernatural sounds and sightings, leading to more disappearances and questions.

Achingly beautiful and intimate, Tarah DeWitt is back to break our hearts and put them back together. Lost and Found follows Bea as she navigates the loss of her best friend and learns how to grieve, armed with her best friend’s egg and a bucket list to complete. When Silas, a firefighter, steps in to give her friendship and a place to live, they find solace in each other, forming love they never thought was possible and starting a new beginning.

When bounty hunter Kyrene commits an unexpected crime, she becomes a target for mortals and gods. But after a devastating loss, she’s still out for revenge; to survive it all, she needs to make a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongued vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her the chance to kill all the gods. But navigating prophecies and curses together draws them close, and an unexpected kinship that deepens into attraction. Still, Kyrene will stop at nothing for revenge, even if it means sacrificing the only love she has ever known.

When Kian Ishida finds out he’s headed to the NHL without his degree. Desperate to graduate, he joins a study group led by Scarlett Kilner, someone Kian cannot cross a line with—she’s the daughter of the hockey coach. But when sparks fly, things get complicated. Now all they crave is stolen glances, lingering touches and love, and Kian must decide what to choose for his future.

Evie Sage never meant to become anyone’s adversary, but a looming prophecy and a scramble to secure Rennedawn’s most powerful artefacts before the king does have pulled her deeper into danger than ever. As the prophecy—and the Villain’s own magic—increasingly point her way, Evie starts to wonder if leaning into her villain reputation might be the smarter move. The catch: her boss, Trystan, seems convinced he’s the hero of this story, and he’s getting far too close for comfort. With the kingdom’s magic hanging in the balance, Evie has to figure out which side she’s really on—before she becomes the very threat she’s trying to stop.

This book will put you on the edge of your seat after every page. When Claire’s fiancé mysteriously dies from an unknown neurological illness, her life goes up in flames. So, when Elias’s family invites her to a wake honouring her husband—desperate to connect and feel belonging—she agrees. But when Elias’ home stirs up memories from her childhood, she’s torn between not wanting to be lonely again and wanting to escape.

For those yearning for a wild west hero, then this fits the bill. When Lainey Brown is tasked with rebranding the legendary Wallace Ranch, she finds herself at odds with its infuriatingly gorgeous foreman Colton Wallace—a man who wants her gone. He’s spent years building something worth leaving to his son, and the last thing he needs is an outsider poking around. Lainey has zero interest in cowboys and cattle, but she needs his help to salvage her career, and he needs her expertise to build a legacy worth passing on. Somewhere between the clashing and the chemistry, something shifts—Lainey realises she doesn’t want to leave, and Colt starts imagining a future with her in it.

If you loved Big Little Lies, then you’re in for a treat, because Liane Moriarty is releasing her first-ever sequel to the well-loved book. Perfect for longtime fans and new readers, this book is set 10 years in the future, and the world still revolves around the women of Big Little Lies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, Bonnie and their teenage kids. When the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, secrets start to unravel, and the group of women must face the repercussions of it, since the stakes are even higher now.