August is giving us a book stack that feels deliciously dramatic, and we are absolutely here for it. From Victorian London and haunted small towns to magical perfume, mysterious islands, time travel agencies, supernatural secrets, cryptid paperwork, family drama, Hollywood curses, and a much-anticipated sequel, this month’s new releases are not holding back.

This is normally the time I remind you that these are books the OUABC team is excited for and won’t be appearing in our book boxes, but not this time. We are so excited to be featuring The Unknown by Riley Sager in our OUABC Lite book box. 

If you haven’t experienced OUABC Lite, you’re missing out. It’s a book-only experience with an elevated twist and perhaps the most immersive experience you will have all month. Get ready for your senses to be activated as each book is accompanied by five envelopes you open as you read. Each envelope contains a flat paper item that works to incorporate the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) to highlight moments that will make you feel like you're part of the story  

So grab your favorite drink, make a little more room on your TBR, and let’s take a look at the August new releases we’re excited about.

 

The Whitechapel Full Moon Society by Elizabeth DeLozier

Release Date: August 25th, 2026

Set in Victorian London during Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror, The Whitechapel Full Moon Society follows Caroline Foster as she arrives at a strange society in search of her missing brother. In exchange for room and board, she becomes the Full Moon’s maid, but the rules are unsettling, the previous maid was murdered, and more bodies soon connect back to the Society. 

They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough

Release Date: August 25th, 2026

Anna Maybourne hoped Harper’s Creek would be a fresh start, but the drought-plagued town has a dark history of murders linked to a killer called the Farmhandman. Anna discovers a clue suggesting the case may still be unsolved and she begins digging into the town’s secrets. As the anniversary nears and her grandmother grows stranger, Anna wonders if her new home is haunted by its own bloody past.

Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: August 18th, 2026

Get ready for a world ruled by magical perfume (you may just want to have a look at our Literary Perfume selection for added drama). 

Immortal Rose follows Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne, a family who can infuse fragrance with magic. When Albion is threatened after a shocking murder, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton forces Viola into helping him craft Immortal Rose, the perfume that may save the kingdom. Of course, danger, attraction, and a very costly bargain are all part of the scent trail.

The Unknown by Riley Sager

Release Date: August 4th, 2026

Featured in our OUABC Lite Box, The Unknown begins with a chilling mystery. In 1926, five women vanished from New Avalon, a remote Vermont island once home to spiritual mediums. One hundred years later, actress Marin Keane joins a film research trip to that very island. Soon, strange symbols, eerie noises, and sudden isolation turn the movie project into something far more terrifying when the disappearances begin again.

Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty

Release Date: August 4th, 2026

Time Travel for Beginners follows Anna, Teddy, and Jade, three strangers drawn to a mysterious storefront in Sydney known as the Time Travel Agency. Each is facing a turning point, and each has a reason to question whether going back might change everything. Whether the Agency is truly traveling into the past remains uncertain, but the ripple effects in their lives becomes impossible to ignore.

You’ll Love It Here by Natalie Sue

Release Date: August 11th, 2026

Mona’s life falls apart in one day. Instead of getting promoted and escaping her tiny apartment, she loses her job and becomes the reluctant super of her crumbling building. The deal sounds simple: help prepare the place for sale and secure the upgrade she wants. Unfortunately, her neighbors treat boundaries as optional, and as Mona gets pulled into the chaos, she starts questioning what she is really running from.

 

 

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

Release Date: August 4th, 2026

In 1964, four young women became part of parapsychology experiments at a prestigious university, only to mysteriously vanish before a major breakthrough. Decades later, newly divorced Riley Bell takes a caretaker job for Betty, an elderly widow living in total isolation. Told across two timelines, The Women in White unravels old secrets, missing women, and a mystery that has been waiting sixty years to be solved.

The Calamities by Chuck Wendig

Release Date: August 18th, 2026

The Calamities introduces the Maynes, one of the oldest and most powerful fiendish families, beings who are half-human, half-demon, and connected to dark magic. Mourning Mayne has always struggled with the legacy he is expected to inherit. When his terrifying father demands his return, Mourning must decide whether to accept the family’s power or forge a different path out of the shadows.

(Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall

Release Date: August 4th, 2026

In a world where cryptids and monsters are part of everyday life, Alexys works in human resources at Entity, the company that manages them. It is not quite the heroic legacy she imagined, but at least it is safe. That changes when a Warden goes missing after asking about a dangerous monster. Alexys heads into the Appalachian wilderness, followed by her annoyingly attractive work nemesis, Nic. Paperwork suddenly sounds peaceful.

Dreamland by Olivie Blake

Release Date: August 11th, 2026

Dreamland is a contemporary Gothic story of family secrets, unsolved murders, and dangerous summer love. In LA, girls are being murdered during the “summer of exsanguination,” while Anya Morris is trying to recover from a career setback. Then, William de Witt offers her access to Hollywood’s powerful circles if she spends time with his reclusive son, Jude. But the de Witt villa hides bloodstained secrets and possible curses.

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston

Release Date: August 4th, 2026

Retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow has lost his appetite for life and for the food at Sunny Glen Aged Care Facility. When he sneaks into the kitchen to make one final tart, cooking unexpectedly brings him back to himself. Soon, he is secretly serving comfort to fellow residents, while his sister Lisa faces her own life changes. Secrets, soufflés, and second chances may become the perfect recipe for forgiveness.

Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty

Release Date: August 25th, 2026

The highly anticipated sequel to Big Little Lies has finally arrived! Big Little Truths looks at shame, family secrets, and those tangled truths that make stories feel juicy, gripping, and impossible to put down. We love how Liane Moriarty explores the complexities of modern women’s lives with wit and compassion.

One More Chapter, August Edition

This month’s new releases are really bringing all the drama, mystery, magic, and touch of emotional chaos we love. There are supernatural societies, unsolved murders, magical perfumes, remote islands, time travel agencies, nosy neighbors, missing women, demonic family legacies, monster-filled mountains, Gothic Hollywood secrets, second chances, and long-awaited truths.

In other words, our TBR lists are once again in trouble.

Of course, if you love your reading with a little extra magic, our Once Upon a Book Club subscriptions are always ready to bring stories to life with beautifully wrapped gifts you open as you read. Because sometimes the only thing better than a brilliant book is a brilliant book with surprises waiting inside. Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!