It’s hard to believe that the first 8 months of 2025 are already over! Another month passing means it’s time to talk about what books we added to our shelves in August. Did we add anything? Were we good? Keep on reading for our August bookhaul.
Candyce
In August I added 26 books to my shelves. My haul is bigger than expected this month. Switching work locations and receiving a gift certificate as well as sending some books on Vinted left me with some book money. So let’s take a look at what I got. I’ve read six of them so far, so I’m off to a good start!
Arcana Academy – Elise Kova
I was so excited to receive Arcana Academy in my Fairyloot subscription. When this came in the mail, I was already 17% into this fantasy story and I’m loving it so far. This is a stunning edition that looks great on my shelves.
A Dance of Lies – Brittney Arena
A Dance of Lies is another book I have an eARC of that is now a Fairyloot edition on my shelves. When I read the synopsis it gave me a lot of Throne of Glass vibes. That being one of my favorite series makes me nervous, but I have read some great reviews.
The Nightblood Prince – Molly X. Chang
The Nightblood Prince wasn’t on my radar, but it definitely should be. This story sounds amazing. “Two kingdoms on the brink of battle. One prophesied empress to unite them who finds herself caught between two princes, and the fact that love alone may not stop the coming war.” are the first two sentences of the synopsis and that’s all I need to know to want to read this one.
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy – Brigitte Knightley
This book has had a lot of hype before it released and I’m glad I got the Illumicrate edition. It’s truly stunning! This is the first book of an enemies to lovers romantasy duology. That’s all I know and want to know. I plan on going in blind.
The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love & The Geographer’s Map to Romance – India Holton
I’ve seen these stunning covers around everywhere and have enjoyed books by India Hilton before, so it wasn’t hard to decide to pick these up. I feel like these will be perfect fall reads.
Collide & Spiral – Bal Khabra
Sports romances are some of my favorites and I feel like I haven’t read many this year. Collide & Spiral are two I’ve seen around and have been wanting to read. The third book in this series releases in October, so it’s time to catch up.
Save the Date – Allison Raskin
I don’t know much about this book, but the fact that our main character is sharing her journey online caught my attention. I love things like that in books.
Zomromcom – Olivia Dade
Olivia Dade has written a few contemporary romances that I’ve loved, so I had to get her first paranormal romance. Our main character experiences a zombie outbreak and has to team together with her neighbor. He just happens to be a vampire. I’m intrigued!
The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah has been on my list of authors to try and everyone says I need to start with The Nightingale. I know this book is going to hurt, but I’m so curious about what I’m going to read.
Face Off – Chelsea Curto
Face Off is a hockey romance that I keep seeing everyone rave about. Chelsea Curto wrote a holiday romance I loved, so it’s time to try some of her other books. This is the first in a series that now has four books available.
Atmosphere – Taylor Jenkins Reid
So I have an eARC of Atmosphere and it’s my swoonalong read of the month. I knew I was going to love this story, so I also needed it on my shelves. It’s also floppy and that makes everything even better.
Time of Your Life – Jessa Hastings
I’m almost caught up with the Magnolia Parks series and it’s so much drama, but it’s been addicting. So I decided to make sure I have the other books by this author on my shelves before I’m done.
Holding the Reins – Paisley Hope
Ever since I finished the Chestnut Springs series, I’ve been looking for more cowboy romances. I actually have eARCs of books 3 & 4 of this series on my Kindle, so I decided to pick up book one. I read this right after it came in, and I loved it! I have a feeling I found a new favorite series.
Training the Heart – Paisley Hope
Like I said, I have eARCs of books 3 & 4, so I decided to get Training the Heart physically after loving Holding the Reins. Wade was an interesting character that we met in the first book and I’m really excited for his love story.
Accomplice to the Villain – Hannah Nicole Maeher
The first two books in this series were so silly and fun, so I had to pre-order book three. So far all books have had sprayed edges for their first printing, so I needed my books to match.
If Not For My Baby – Kate Golden
A rockstar and backup singer romance? I don’t think I’ve ever read one of those. I will say that the cover is what really caught my eye and had me picking this up. Hopefully I love it as much as I think I will.
Wyatt – Jessica Peterson
I loved Cash and I’m really in my cowboy romance era. Now that Bloom is doing these editions for the first prints of this book, I had to get this. I’ll definitely be reading this one soon.
The Listeners – Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie Stiefvater is the author of The Raven Cycle and it’s one I enjoyed. This is an adult historical fantasy I think? I don’t know much about it, but I’ll be reading The Listeners for a group discussion.
Love Arranged – Lauren Asher
The first two books in the Lakefront Billionaires trilogy were amazing, so I needed to add the third and final book to my shelves. I’ll be reading this with my Discord book club, so there’s a big chance this one will already be read before this bookhaul comes online.
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards – Sara Raasch
I read and loved the Royals and Romance duology, so The Entanglement of Rival Wizards caught my eye right away. Even more so when I read that this was being pitched as Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons. That just sounds so cozy. It also helps that this paperback is stunning.
Wolf.e – Paisley Hope
I’ve now read a small town, cowboy romance by this author and it was so good! Paisley Hope has also written a dark romance that I’ve heard amazing things about. Wolf.e has pretty sprayed edges and I wasn’t expecting that when I ordered this book.
Beautiful Things – Emily Rath
Emily Rath has written quite a few different kinds of books and I have yet to read one of them. Beautiful Things is also a pretty book. From what I understand this book is a why choose historical romance. Sign me up!
These Summer Storms – Sarah MacLean
I’ve been seeing These Summer Storms all over bookstagram and I have to say I’m intrigued. A family that doesn’t have the best relationship loses their father and has to do a series of things for their inheritance. We all know this is going to be filled with drama.
The Compound – Aisling Rawle
Another book I keep seeing everywhere is The Compound! Lord of the Flies meets Love is Blind? Everyone seems to be reading this one and I’ve read some good reviews. Only the ending seems to be a let down for some people? I’ll have to read this one soon!
Isabelle
You’re not going to believe it, but I actually added 3 new books to my shelves this month! I love buying myself a book or two when it’s vacation time and I’m really excited about the ones I got.
Can You Solve The Murder? – Antony Johnston
I’m really excited about this one! It’s a mystery novel, but you don’t read it in like a normal ‘order’. After reading a little bit, you have to make a decision and that tells you where to continue reading next and so forth. You get clues along the way and you have to try and solve the murder! I really like this concept and I hope it’s as fun as it sounds.
Matchmaking For Psychopaths – Tasha Coryell
I picked this one up at my favorite bookstore in Rotterdam; Donner. The title spoke to me and then I liked the sound of the synopsis as well. I haven’t heard anyone talk about this one or about the author yet, so I’m going in pretty neutral.
Katabasis – R.F. Kuang
I couldn’t resist getting this one! So far I’ve loved every R.F. Kuang book I’ve read (I only still need to read Babel), but I feel like this one will be very different from the ones I’ve read. I’m really excited though. The reviews are all over the place, can’t wait to find out where I will fall.
Audible
The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
Since the movie was being released this month, I finally had to get my hands on a copy of this book. I decided to go with the audiobook and I already listened to it. This is a beloved murder mystery series and I really enjoyed it!
So that’s our August wrap up! Have you read any of these? Or what is a book you added to your shelves that you’re really excited about? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.
