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In the book world, as in real life, August feels like a bit of a transition period. It’s technically still summer here in the Northern Hemisphere, but it also has a tinge of “back to school” energy. Maybe it’s because I spent so long in school, then working in higher ed for many years, but August always feels a bit more like fall than summer to me.
It tends to be that way in publishing, too. A few more “beach read” style books might slip in, but by and large, August’s release calendar is packed with cozy vibes and witchy goodness ahead of fall.
This month’s list of most anticipated new releases reflects that, with a handful of cozies, a little magic, and not much in the way of straightforward contemporary romance. Given that I’m emotionally ready for my annual Witchtober reading extravaganza, I’m not mad at it.
**Bonus Action is a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. That means buying items from the Amazon links in this article will help support our writers via a small amount of money earned per purchase.**
Table of Contents
Plant Lady by Minyoung Kang, Translated by Shanna Tan
- Release Date: August 4th
- Price: $28 on Amazon
- Publisher: Berkley
- ARC Received: Yes
I love reading books in translation, and Plant Lady is the next one on my list. This novel from author Mingyoung Kang is already a hit in South Korea, and its English translation is almost here. Plant Lady blends sinister psychological tension with quiet humor, while also exploring the horrors of misogyny. From the synopsis, it’s giving me Convenience Store Woman vibes, and I am here for it.
In Play Lady, Yoohee runs a quaint but successful plant shop. Alongside her gardening advice and plants, however, Yoohee secretly offers another service. By night, she helps her female clients “take care” of the men in their lives, then buries the evidence in her garden. Might this wind up being too scary for me? Perhaps. But is that going to stop me from reading it? Absolutely not.
Homeward for a Spell by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos
- Release Date: August 18th
- Price: $19 on Amazon
- Publisher: Del Rey
- ARC Received: Yes
If you’re in the market for your next cozy queer read, here it is. Homeward for a Spell is a sapphic romantic fantasy that follows two completely different adventurers on a quest that’s almost surely doomed to fail. Sage is a long-roving Ranger stepping into a leadership role for the first time.
Meanwhile, Araphi is a Bard embarking on a final adventure before settling down with a man she doesn’t love to appease her family. Despite their different motives and overall approaches to life, the two make up part of a ragtag band taking on a dangerous task.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a romantic fantasy if sparks didn’t fly along the way. As they come up against the dangers that lie between them and the rare magical artifact their party seeks, Sage and Araphi must also navigate their growing chemistry. Monsters, magic, and spot-on flirtation with opposites attract vibes? Yes please.
The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium by Lexie Sharabianlou
- Release Date: August 18th
- Price: $20 on Amazon
- Publisher: Dell
- ARC Received: Yes
Small town stories centered on coffee shops are kind of my jam. That’s why I’m one of Bonus Action‘s resident Coffee Talk enthusiasts. And this book definitely sounds like one for Coffee Talk fans. It’s a small town story about a coffee shop that secretly doubles as a magical witness protection program. Color me interested.
Talula Smith runs the titular Blue Moon Cafe & 24 Hour Occult Emporium, which is notoriously the worst coffee shop in Pine Hollow. But its bad reputation is by design, as the shop doubles as a refuge to those who need to go into hiding.
But Talula’s mission to keep humans far away from the magical beings that are her true customers comes up against a challenge from curious human local Dahlia. Antics (and romance) ensue.
The Cozy Nook Bookshop by Jeannie Chin
- Release Date: August 25th
- Price: $19 on Amazon
- Publisher: Forever
- ARC Received: Yes
What book lover doesn’t enjoy a good book centered on a bookshop? While I’ll admit some of these can fall flat, this one sounds like it’s going to deliver. And as I’m ready to start the shift into quieter, more autumn-coded reads, The Cozy Nook Bookshop fits the bill. We’ve got a small town bookshop and a grumpy/sunshine trope, not to mention probably a cute dog unless that cover is full of lies.
The Cozy Nook Bookshop follows down-on-her-luck Emma Rogers-Li. At the end of a tough stretch of bad luck, she jumps at the opportunity to start over in a small town as its new resident bookseller. But a run-in with a surly park ranger gets the gossip mill going, and Emma isn’t sure she’s ready to try again with love.
Books, Iced Coffee & a Side of Dragons by Amanda Lovelace, Illustrated by Raquel Trave
- Release Date: August 25th
- Price: $25 on Amazon
- Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
- ARC Received: Yes
Amanda Lovelace is the author behind one of my absolute favorite tarot decks, the Cozy Witch Tarot Deck. Now, Lovelace is bringing us a new cozy graphic novel with a sweet love story featuring dragons and a cozy bookstore. Billed as a “sweet, sapphic summertime romance,” this feels like a perfect blend of cozy fall vibes that still acknowledge August is, in fact, summer.
In Books, Iced Coffee, and a Side of Dragons, we meet Luci, the owner of Sea Witch Cove’s Little Lighthouse Books. She’s doing just fine, thank you, except for one big problem: she just can’t seem to catch the attention of her own personal girl next door. Aster owns the coffee shop next door, and Luci desperately wants to get to know her better. Thanks to the help of a mischievous little dragon, the two might finally have a good reason to spend more time together.
Looking for more book recs to round out your summer reading? Check out our list of fantastic books to read while we wait for Astarion to return in Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion this September.
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**Bonus Action is a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. That means buying items from the Amazon links in this article will help support our writers via a small amount of money earned per purchase.**
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