I’m dipping my toe back into structured reading with my 2025 August TBR and prioritizing books from my overflowing TBR cart. Additionally, I plan on creating the perfect summer vibes with my watchlist and new music. Let’s get into all the ways I’m seeking to make my birthday month spectacular and say good-bye to summer with a bang. 💥
2025 August TBR 📚
While in the past I’ve more ambitious with my TBR this month I’m allowing more flexibility for a less stressful reading month. Additionally, I’m working to read books from my overflowing TBR cart and start tackling my TBR before it becomes too much to handle.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston | Romance, Magical Realism
It has been a goal to read this book because the cover gives happy, sunny, summer vibes. This story follows Clementine who’s navigating the loss of her aunt. Imagine her surprise when she finds a handsome man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. This is when she finds out that her aunt’s apartment is part of a time slip in which the gorgeous man with a seductive Southern drawl exists seven years in the past. Now Clementine’s resolve to protect her heart is in jeopardy as she feels herself slipping into a doomed romance.
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi | Contemporary
While not on my physical TBR I’ve had so many book friends recommend this novel since I enjoyed You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty. When I saw it at the library I knew I had to seize the opportunity and give it a read. During his adolescent years Vivek has a tenuous relationship with his parents and is plagued by blackouts and periods of disassociation. However, in young adulthood Vivek finds connection and friendship with the daughters of the Nigerwives, foreign women married to Nigerian men. Vivek develops a close bond with Osita as she tries to help Vivek navigate the turbulence of his life, a violent act will change their lives forever.
Middle of the Night By Riley Sager | Mystery, Thriller
During Riley Sager’s author event in June promoting the release of his latest book With A Vengence he mentioned how Middle of the Night was a more emotional thriller which piqued my interest and lit a fire within me to prioritize reading it this summer. Set in a quiet suburb in New Jersey, then-year-old Ethan goes camping with his best friend Billy in his backyard and wakes to discover he’s missing a victim of an apparent kidnapping. After thirty years Ethan has returned to his childhood home and finds himself the victim of nightmares and insomnia. It’s then that he notices strange events that occur late at night pointing to the possibility that Billy is alive and has come back. Spurred to action Ethan investigates what happened when Billy disappeared he uncovers secrets and truths that reveal nowhere is safe.
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick | Speculative
This novel is Nikki Erlick’s sophomore release following The Measure which was a phenomenal read. This is another multi-POV story following four strangers, Ava, Ray, Sasha and Sky who are traveling to a remote treatment center in the California desert that promises to ease the heartache and pain of those experiencing loss by allowing them to sleep away their pain and wake up healed. However, there are some potentially unpleasant side effect leading to this being a highly controverial treatment. But as we watch these strangers travel from the midwest to the treatment facility they are confronted by their past, secrets and hidden motivations that threaten their journey.
August Watchlist 🎞️
Recently, I’ve begun getting back into watching shows and movies as a way to diversify my hobbies and enjoy storytelling in a visual format. For August I want to focus on nostalgic vibes and shows that feature strong summer vibes.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime)
Although I’m dreadfully behind with this series and probably won’t catch up by the time summer wraps up. I still want to do my best to get somewhat caught up as the final season for this series released this summer. Based on the three-book series by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty follows the life of teenager Belly as she travels to Cousins beach with her mom and brother Steven to spend summer break with her mom’s best friend Susannah and her sons Connor and Jeremiah. Except this summer Belly wants things to change and is hoping this summer Connor will finally notice her.
Burn Notice (Hulu)
This clever, spy drama was popular in the early 2000’s and had an impressive seven year run before calling it quits. Set in Miami and packed with nostalgia this is the perfect series to re-watch and catch all the summer vibes. Michael Weston’s career as a spy ends abruptly when he finds out he’s been burned and forced to remain in his hometown of Miami. While he tries to uncover who burned him and try to get his job back he’s forced to reconnect with his his ex-girlfriend Fiona, former spy Sam and work on his strained relationship with his mother Madeline.
Sweet Magnolias (Netflix)
This is a series that I started and was obsessed with until per usual my attentions landed elsewhere. But, when I’m aching for those hot, humid, Southern small-town summer vibes it always delivers. A heartfelt drama based on the book series by Sherryl Woods we follow a trio of three friends Maddy, Dana Sue and Helen as they navigate mid-life. Through divorce, dating disasters, parenting stresses and singledom they’re continually there for each other with their signature margarita nights where they “pour it up” offering each other sound advice and unconditional support.
Anticipated New Releases 🆕
When it comes to books and music this month there’s releases from authors that I’ve enjoyed and music artists that are my all-time favorites. Making this an exciting month for two of my favorite things books and music.
Books 📚
The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown | Fantasy
Release Date: August 12
A follow up to his debut novel The Book of Doors Brown has another novel that’s rich with mystery and intrigue with a secret society tasked to protect a hidden archive of magical objects. Their world comes under fire when newest member Magda comes face to face with danger as she’s confronted by a professional killer that not only knows about the unknowable objects but has a grudge against the society as there’s an unknowable object in the archive that was stolen from him. Fleeing for her life and armed with this truth she will soon discover that while she’s holding her own secrets so are others in the society. Perhaps the most dangerous of all is the true reason for the society’s mission and how her family’s legacy is interwoven with the responsibility for keeping these secrets safe.
The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas | Gothic Horror
Release Date: August 19
Perhaps my most anticipated release of the month! This will be Cañas’s third novel and I just know it will be the perfect blend of historical horror with rich, lyrical prose and exquisite storytelling. When Alba’s wealthy parents and fiancé Carlos flee their hometown during a plague seeking refuge in his family’s secluded mine. Soon after Alba becomes afflicted with queer hallucinations, sleepwalking, and aggressive convulsions. Elías, Carlos’s cousin, takes notice of Alba despite being betrothed to his cousin. And, he notices her rapid deterioration as the demons that plague her intensify their hold.
Music 🎶
Private Music, Deftones
Release Date: August 22
The tenth studio album from my favorite alternative metal band. It features eleven tracks with My Mind is a Mountain and Milk of the Madonna being two singles that have been released so far. The musicality and energy maintains their trademark sound and style that long-time fans will enjoy.
Free, Kid Cudi
Release Date: August 22
Kid Cudi has shared that his newest release is a personal project with no guest features and was created to be listened to cohesively from the first track to the last. Inspiration for the themes focused on freedom, self-discovery and authenticity were inspired by the movie The Truman Show. Singles Neverland and Grave have been released.
Books & Vinyl I Want to Buy 📚🎶
Since August is birthday month I figure what better way to celebrate than doing an indie bookstore crawl and visit a local record store with a nice coffee shop and fill my soul with good books and beautiful music.
Books 📚
The Measure by Nikki Erlick (Deluxe Collector’s Edition)
This deluxe collector’s edition comes with the bouquet of flowers same as the original release but in a stunning blue cover with gilded edges, a foil stamped case, sewn in ribbon bookmark, endpapers with a golden motif pattern, and bonus content. I can not wait to get my hands on this!
The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas (New Release)
As mentioned above, I’m eager for the release of Cañas’s newest novel and looking forward to reading it this spooky season! I’ve read both The Hacienda and The Vampires of El Norte last year during spooky season when I first launched this blog, and her writing style and storytelling is a pure delight.
Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil (Bindery Exclusive Edition)
I’ve had this book in my cross-hairs for a while. It’s published by Bindery Books a start-up publisher where book influencers, known as tastemakers, pick and publish books. I’m excited to support a community-led approach to publishing and want to pick-up this novel. Not to mention it’s a stunning edition. A queer Filipino fantasy following the majestic reign of women with the magical powers on a precolonial island, Mayanara. Queen of Mayanara, Hara Duja Gatdula, has the power to move earth but finds her strength failing her. She worries over the future generations that will succeed her. Princess and heir to the Mayanaran throne, Laya wields the power of the skies but her pettiness and casual indifference make her dangerous. Treacherous rival Imeria Kulaw, hungrily circles the throne seeking to claim the throne and elevate her family’s status while utilizing her reckless enhanced powers. Each of these women are focused on a single goal. Take down their rivals at any cost.
The Babysitter Lives/Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones (Collector’s Edition)
As a new fan of Stephen Graham Jones I’m eager to dive into his backlist and explore more of his work. And, since spooky season is right around the corner I saw this as the perfect time to grab this and add it to my collection and spooky season TBR. In The Babysitter Lives high-schooler Charlotte takes a gig babysitting the Wilbanks twins despite her troubling history. Yet, as she hears the mysterious noises and realizes that there’s something about the house that only the twins understand she’s terrified to learn that her worst fear is realized and they’re not alone. Killer on the Road follows sixteen-year-old runaway Harper as her two best friends, little sister and boyfriend try to talk sense in a show of support disguised as a road trip. However, danger lurks as they’ve been marked by a deadly serial killer who’s determined enact his need for violence.
Vinyl 💿
When it comes to the vinyl I’m wanting to purchase it’s as varied as my electic musical tastes from Hip-Hop to Industrial and Country.
GNX, Kendrick Lamar
I’ve been a Kendrick Lamar fan for years and for me this album is the culmination of his hard work and dedication to his craft and is quite possibly one of my favorite albums of all time as it’s constantly on repeat. So, it’s a no-brainer that I need to add this epic album to my vinyl collection.
The Fragile, Nine Inch Nails
I grew up listening to metal, grunge and industrial music as it spoke to a young teenage girl who felt misheard, misunderstood and burdened by the weight of mental health struggles. And this album was one of the ones that got me through that dark period. Not to mention it’s a musical masterpiece and an essential album for hardcore fans of Industrial Metal.
Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé
Speaking of epic albums this creative work does a brilliant job of reclaiming Country music and country, and folk as a historical part of Black culture. Thick with powerful meaning and rich metaphor and crafted with her signature artistic ability to redefine what we think about genres and the importance of Black artists to take up space in genres and spaces where they’re told they “don’t belong”. This album is a cultural and musical reckoning by one of my favorite artists. Of course, I need to add this to my collection!
That’s a wrap for me when it comes to the books, literature, media and music that I’m looking to get into this month. What are your plans for August and what are you most excited for as the summer season comes to a close?
Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only share things I genuinely love and think you will too!
