Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the August 2025 Indie Next List flier.
The August title list is also viewable as a collection on Edelweiss and on the Indie Next List page as an Excel file alongside PDFs for the month’s flier and shelf-talker templates. Learn more and visit Matchbook Marketing’s program page to sign up to send the free Indie Next List e-newsletter to customers.
Additionally, to mark the start of the new month, the July Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.
The 25 August Indie Next List Picks
#1 Pick: When the Cranes Fly South: A Novel (Indies Introduce)
By Lisa Ridzén, Alice Menzies (Transl.)
(Vintage, 9798217006731, $18, Aug. 19, Fiction)
“This honest, beautiful journey to the end of a life is the most affective piece of literature I’ve read in a long time. I haven't gone a day without thinking of this book, these characters, and this author since I closed it.”
—Casey Gerken, Innisfree Bookshop, Meredith, NH
The Hounding: A Novel (Indies Introduce)
By Xenobe Purvis
(Henry Holt and Co., 9781250366382, $26.99, Aug. 5, Historical Fiction)
“The Hounding is a chilling, defiant tale that dares to expose a brutal truth: sometimes, the world is safer for anything but a woman. What if survival means becoming something untamed, something with teeth, something to be feared?”
—Maris Herrington, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI
Lucky Day
By Chuck Tingle
(Tor Nightfire, 9781250398659, $27.99, Aug. 12, Horror)
“This is such a funky, beautiful horror novel. With luck and the meaninglessness of the universe as the villain and true-to-life queer characters, what's not to love? You’ll feel lucky to read this…maybe too lucky.”
—Lillie Reimer, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI
Automatic Noodle
By Annalee Newitz
(Tordotcom, 9781250357465, $24.99, Aug. 5, Sci-fi/Fantasy)
“Short yet as complex and beautiful as life, this is a hopeful novella of bots, noodles, and found family, perfect for anyone who has been ‘othered’ in life. A new cozy SFF novella with lots to say about society.”
—Valeria Salas Ibarra, Front Street Books, Alpine, TX
Not Quite Dead Yet: A Novel
By Holly Jackson
(Bantam, 9780593977057, $28, July 22, Thriller)
“It's not every day that a victim gets to solve their own murder. The clock is ticking for Jet, but no matter the outcome of her investigation…she’s a dead woman walking.”
—Maxwell Leaning, Paragraphs Bookstore, Mount Vernon, OH
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
By Sangu Mandanna
(Berkley, 9780593439371, $19, July 15, Fantasy)
“A charming tale of a not-so-magical witch, a defensive magical historian, a cunning fox (who's really a cursed witch), and the inn’s myriad guests. A perfectly written, cozy up with your tea, fantastic and romantic comedy.”
—Amanda Nurse, The Doylestown & Lahaska Bookshops, Doylestown, PA
Well, Actually: A Novel
By Mazey Eddings
(St. Martin's Griffin, 9781250333315, $19, Aug. 5, Romance)
“Well, Actually is a true masterpiece full of humor, romance, bickering, and hot dogs. In this forced proximity, second chance romance, we follow Eva and Riley as they go from viral social media bickering to manufactured dating to something real.”
—Brenna Cade, A Novel Romance, Louisville, KY
Mendell Station (Indies Introduce)
By J. B. Hwang
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639736188, $26.99, July 22, Fiction)
“A thoughtful meditation on friendship, grief, and new ways forward. The suicide of her closest friend shatters 33-year-old Miriam’s religious faith and sends her into despair. She finds unlikely succor working for the postal service.”
—Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books, Davidson, NC
Love Is a War Song
By Danica Nava
(Berkley, 9780593642627, $19, July 22, Romance)
“A pop star rehabilitates her reputation while connecting with her Native American roots on her grandmother’s horse farm. She spends time with one of the ranch hands, who teaches her more about her culture. A forbidden, steamy love.”
—Juliana Reyes, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
The Library at Hellebore
By Cassandra Khaw
(Tor Nightfire, 9781250877819, $29.99, July 22, Fantasy)
“Visceral, violent, and disturbing, The Library at Hellebore is an ode to anyone who’s ever felt different. The students are calamities made flesh, the teachers ominous and hungry. A fever dream full of emotion.”
—Paley Goldberg, Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook, NY
The Magician of Tiger Castle
By Louis Sachar
(Ace, 9780593952306, $30, Aug. 5, Fantasy)
“A lovably clumsy magician of the royal court finds inventive ways to do the right thing despite enormous risks! A rambling story of adventure, wits, potions, and love faked, lost, and — found again.”
—Jackson Tejeda, Christopher's Books, San Francisco, CA
Arcana Academy
By Elise Kova
(Del Rey, 9780593726341, $32.99, July 22, Fantasy)
“A thief and illegal practitioner of magic, an academy for wielders of said magic, a grumpy but gorgeous department head and a plan to outmaneuver his royal family…what could go wrong? A fantastical adventure!”
—Stephanie Staton, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
Zomromcom
By Olivia Dade
(Berkley, 9780593818206, $19, Aug. 5, Romance)
“Humor, drama, and spice are perfectly balanced in Zomromcom. Edie and Max are richly characterized with delicious banter, and I easily fell into their post-zombie apocalypse world. Crossing my fingers for a sequel!”
—Cierra Cook, Spoke + Word Books, Milwaukie, OR
Trying: A Memoir
By Chloe Caldwell
(Graywolf Press, 9781644453476, $18, Aug. 5, Memoir)
“Trying is at first obsessive — a claustrophobia familiar to anyone who has tried and failed to conceive a child — then unconventional and lovely in its freedom. A perfect portrait of a woman living fully, unapologetically, herself.”
—Jill Yeomans, White Whale Bookstore, Pittsburgh, PA
Women, Seated
By Zhang Yueran, Jeremy Tiang (Transl.)
(Riverhead Books, 9780593851920, $29, Aug. 12, Fiction)
“Riveting, smart, funny, and introspective, Women, Seated paints a portrait of a family's fall from grace from the inside. This book will leave you questioning your sense of freedom, desire, and security.”
—Sophia Abuabara, Seminary Co-Op Bookstores, Chicago, IL
This Happened to Me: A Reckoning
By Kate Price
(Gallery Books, 9781668036228, $29.99, Aug. 5, Biography)
“Price gets comparisons to Jeannette Walls and Tara Westover, and they are deserved! An unflinching tale of overcoming repressed childhood trauma and breaking cycles of abuse. Her story of growth will inspire you.”
—Andi Richardson, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA
People Like Us: A Novel
By Jason Mott
(Dutton, 9798217047116, $30, Aug. 5, Fiction)
“Jason Mott grapples with America, gun violence, fatherhood, and what it means to have a safe space to call your home. The novel is original, shape-shifting, funny and rollicking, with unforgettable and returning characters.”
—Keith Vient, Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC
Tantrum
By Rachel Eve Moulton
(G.P. Putnam's Sons, 9780593854600, $28, Aug. 5, Horror)
“Maternity horror at its most gruesome. Thea’s newborn daughter, Lucia, grows at an unnatural rate and develops a thirst for blood. Thea must summon every ounce of strength within to save her daughter from a monstrous fate.”
—Anna Anabseh, Underground Books, Carrollton, GA
You Belong Here: A Novel
By Megan Miranda
(S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, 9781668080979, $28.99, July 29, Thriller)
“Megan Miranda delivers a fast-paced thriller set on a small college campus in the mountains of Virginia. Ghosts and memories of the past eerily surface in this suspenseful, tension-filled novel!”
—Caroline Buchta, Andover Bookstore, Andover, MA
Dogs: A Novel
By C. Mallon
(Scribner, 9781668084427, $26.99, Aug. 12, Fiction)
“Narrated by Hal, a member of the high school boys wrestling team, Dogs is about tight male friendships, trauma, and one night in which everything explodes. C. Mallon is a new voice steeped in the West to watch.”
—Caitlin Baker, Island Books, Mercer Island, WA
Little World
By Josephine Rowe
(Transit Books, 9798893380163, $22.95, Aug. 12, Fiction)
“Is a saint a victim, an exercise in wishful thinking, an exculpation of someone else’s sins, or truly something miraculous? Poetic and transcendent, yet very much of this plane, Little World is its own miracle.”
—Jennifer Ray, Powell's Books, Portland, OR
The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold: A Novel (The Blonde Identity Series #2)
By Ally Carter
(Avon, 9780063386976, $24.99, Aug. 5, Romance)
“I’m obsessed with this book and the way the tension builds deliciously; watching Alex and King fall in love with each other was a delight. Carter knows how to write a captivating romance and I was enthralled the whole time.”
—Mallory Melton, BookPeople, Austin, TX
We Should All Be Birds: A Memoir
By Brian Buckbee, Carol Ann Fitzgerald
(Tin House Books, 9781963108293, $28.99, Aug. 5, Science & Nature)
“Buckbee’s memoir is so raw and introspective, it’s as if he performed open-heart surgery on himself. We Should All Be Birds is proof that an epic natural adventure can play out on a landscape as humble as a patch of lawn.”
—James Crossley, Leviathan Bookstore, St. Louis, MO
The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey
By Kathleen Kaufman
(Kensington, 9781496753908, $28, July 29, Fantasy)
“This book said, ‘What if spiritualism, feminine rage, and the Gothic asylum aesthetic had a seance?’ I said, ‘Take my money.’ Kaufman weaves a darkly mesmerizing tale perfect for fans of Sarah Penner and Alice Hoffman.”
—Julia Young, Four Seasons Books, Shepherdstown, WV
The Man Who Died Seven Times
By Yasuhiko Nishizawa, Jesse Kirkwood (Transl.)
(Pushkin Vertigo, 9781805335436, $17.95, July 29, Mystery)
“What could be worse than spending New Year’s with your dysfunctional family? Getting stuck in a nine-day time-loop. Oh, and your grandfather who is planning to announce the sole benefactor of the family inheritance dies each day.”
—Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Bookseller, Savannah, GA
August 2025 Indie Next List Now in Paperback
Didion and Babitz
By Lili Anolik
(Scribner, 9781668065495, $20, July 22, Biography)
“Anolik tells a great tale of two fascinating women. Didion and Babitz not only tells of the lives of Eve and Joan, but also gives a social studies glimpse of the time: celebrities, places, clothes, parties, and events all included.”
—Suzy Takacs, The Book Cellar, Chicago, IL
Horror Movie: A Novel
By Paul Tremblay
(William Morrow Paperbacks, 9780063070028, $19.99, Aug. 5, Thriller)
“Horror Movie chronicles the creation and aftermath of a fictional, disastrous cult-classic ’90s film. When you think you know what’s going to happen, Tremblay twists the knife. A sharp dive into one character’s traumatic experience.”
—Anna Moritz, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ
The Horse: A Novel
By Willy Vlautin
(Harper Perennial, 9780063346598, $17.99, July 29, Fiction)
“Al Ward is flawed — alcoholism, a never quite good enough country guitarist and song writer. When a blind horse shows up at his isolated shack on a snowy, freezing night, the best of Al comes out. Yes, Al is flawed, but you'll root for him.”
—Karen Emmerling, Beach Books, Seaside, OR
The Lion Women of Tehran: A Novel
By Marjan Kamali
(Gallery Books, 9781668036594, $18.99, Aug. 5, Fiction)
“This beautiful book takes you on an emotional journey, following a profound friendship during the Iranian revolution. The plot is rich and the characters are captivating. Your heart will break in the best way.”
—Sarah Dupriest, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS
Loneliness & Company: A Novel
By Charlee Dyroff
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639736454, $17.99, Aug. 12, Fiction)
“Lee is an overachiever, but when she’s hired to teach an AI program the meaning of loneliness, her life skills are challenged. Dyroff draws an artful and memorable portrait of a woman trying to find answers in a world consumed by technology.”
—Manda Riggs, Elm Street Books, New Canaan, CT
The Stone Witch of Florence: A Novel
By Anna Rasche
(Park Row, 9780778310464, $18.99, Aug. 5, Historical Fiction)
“When a thief steals holy relics from churches in Florence during the outbreak of the Black Plague, one woman formerly accused of witchcraft and exiled is brought back to investigate by a deceitful, powerful bishop. A fascinating historical read.”
—Jane Simons, The Dog Eared Book, Palmyra, NY