Behold, it’s August and — for the moment, at least — the weather is almost….nice? The heat and humidity aren’t conspiring to make our lives miserable; instead, there’s something almost cozy in the air. “Cozy” and “August” aren’t two words often used together, so it’s a moment worth savoring. Also? Books. We have some we’d like to recommend. Unnerving takes of the uncanny, thoughtful works of nonfiction, and sharp explorations of familial dynamics are all on the menu; read on for what we’re reading this month.

Willy Vlautin, The Horse
(Aug. 1, Harper)

Willy Vlautin’s tautly-written, emotionally perceptive fiction has earned him a considerable number of admirers over the years, plus a critically acclaimed screen adaptation of one of his novels. His new book chronicles the life of a man living in isolation, reckoning with past mistakes and roads not taken, who finds himself caring for an unexpected presence in his life. (Think four legs, hooves, and a mane.)

Joshua Chaplinsky, Letters to the Purple Satin Killer
(Aug. 6, CLASH Books)

To read Joshua Chaplinsky’s writing is to venture into the uncanny from odd angles, finding familiar concepts mashed together and transformed into something new. In a recent interview, he spoke of his fondness for “structural flourishes and playing with narrative and mixing genres” — and this story of a serial killer’s unsettling celebrity provides a number of ways to be formally inventive.

Gabino Iglesias, House of Bone and Rain
(Aug. 6, Mullholland Books)

First, writer, editor, and Vol.1 Brooklyn contributor Gabino Iglesias wins an unofficial award for memorable titles this month; I’m not sure how you can see this title and not feel a surge of dread. Iglesias’s new novel follows a group of friends in Puerto Rico who must reckon with threats human, environmental, and supernatural as they seek revenge on a drug lord; if you’re seeking thrills and atmosphere in equal measure, look no further.

Helen Phillips, Hum
(Aug. 6, Simon & Schuster)

August brings with it plenty of fiction from writers we’ve long admired, and the new novel from Helen Phillips is no exception. Hum taps into a host of contemporary anxieties about technology, including AI’s economic impact and the rise of surveillance tech; for Phillips, this near-future setting also reveals plenty about her characters and the decisions they’re willing to make.

Sarah Seltzer, The Singer Sisters
(Aug. 6, Flatiron Books)

We’re always up for a compelling work of fiction set against a musical backdrop, and Sarah Seltzer’s new novel provides exactly that. As Seltzer mentioned in a recent interview, the fictional musicians in this were loosely inspired by the Wainwright family; the narrative follows two generations of a family making music in the 1960s and 1990s.

Kristopher Jansma, Our Narrow Hiding Places
(Aug. 13, Ecco)

It’s going to be a very busy second half of 2024 for Kristopher Jansma, as this is the first of two (very different) books he has due out in the coming months. Jansma’s new novel transports the reader back to Nazi-occupied Holland, as this novel’s protagonist reckons with her own childhood growing up under those conditions — and the impact of that trauma on the rest of her life.

Navid Sinaki, Medusa of the Roses
(Aug. 13, Grove Press)

Continuing in the theme of novelists who’ve been keeping busy this year, let’s turn to Navid Sinaki. Sinaki’s artistic work goes beyond prose; he’s also an acclaimed visual artist whose interest in narratives spans different mediums. Medusa of the Roses juxtaposes mythical resonances with a story set in contemporary Iran that reckons with questions of gender and sexuality. It’s a heady, immersive work of fiction.

Emily Adrian, Daughterhood
(Aug. 20, Autofocus Books)

Much of Emily Adrian’s writing has focused on close interpersonal connections, whether within the confines of intimate relationships or via the close-knit bonds of family. Her new book Daughterhood ventures into territory very close to home for her, as Adrian takes a candid look at her own mother’s unpredictable life and how it shaped her.

Pascal D’Angelo, Of Clouds and Mists
(Aug. 23, Sublunary Editions)

In 1925, the New York Times dubbed Pascal D’Angelo the “Poet of the Pick and Shovel.” D’Angelo, an Italian immigrant who settled in New York and wrote until his untimely death at the age of 38, has a life story that plenty have found compelling. This new volume, edited by Dennis Barone, brings together all of D’Angelo’s poetry in one place — and might introduce his work to a new generation.

Mark Krotov, Nikil Saval, and Dayna Tortorici, editors, The Intellectual Situation
(Aug. 27, n + 1)

Literary magazines grow up fast. This month sees the publication of The Intellectual Situation, a compendium of highlights from n + 1‘s second decade of existence. In its pages, you’ll find writing by the likes of Andrea Long Chu, Gabriel Winant, A. S. Hamrah, and Ari M. Brostoff, all of which makes for a thoroughly compelling trip into political and cultural thought.

Note: all cover art and release dates are subject to change.

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