The Most Anticipated Fiction of August 2024

Upcoming reads you won’t want to skip.

Katrīna Biele
Hooked on Books
3 min readAug 5, 2024

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Cover photos via Goodreads

From a failed marriage to strangers for hire, upcoming August fiction picks are bound to impress.

Enjoy a hand-picked selection of four outstanding reads released within the month, ones I cannot wait to get my hands (and eyes) on.

Cover photo via Goodreads

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M. J. Wassmer

A fun turn of end-of-the-world mixed with romance, Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend follows Dan who finds himself in the middle of an apocalypse while on vacation.

Along with comic relief, the book provides an exploration of class and privilege. Thankfully, the title does not match the ratings — plenty of early five-star reviews credit its unique perspective.

I will be reading Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend as soon as it’s out — a fresh take on survival, romance and locked-room tension will mark the perfect escape this summer.

Publication date: August 6, 2024

Cover photo via Goodreads

Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang

Another star-related title, Five-Star Stranger explores the concept of people for hire — from best men to extra mourners and pretend fiancés, the book imagines an app which offers strangers for hire.

When boundaries between their roles begin to blur, strangers are forced to confront their past and reasons for putting themselves up for rent.

Five-Star Stranger observes the gig economy and isolation within a hyperconnected world — a concept worth reading about. With early reviews deeming the novel full of depth and unease, Five-Star Stranger goes right to the top of my to-read list.

Publication date: August 6, 2024

Cover photo via Goodreads

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes

Deemed an unforgettable family drama, A Great Marriage follows a young couple and their families after a sudden decision to cancel their wedding.

What is it that makes a marriage great, and what makes a good divorce? These and other questions are among those explored within the novel, and early reviews prove it to be a success.

For those partial to passionate, heartfelt, family-centred character studies, A Great Marriage is set to be a hit.

Publication date: August 13, 2024

Cover photo via Goodreads

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

You Will Never Be Me offers an interesting take on the modern problem of influencer competition. Following social media stars who give in to jealousy, the novel delves into the dark side of fame, full of toxicity and threats.

With early reviews marking it shocking and unputdownable, You Will Never Be Me is bound to satisfy those who crave well-executed drama and end up among the top thrillers of the summer.

By tackling relevant topics of concern, the novel is bound to gain popularity among anyone familiar with socials — me included.

Publication date: August 20, 2024

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Hooked on Books
Hooked on Books

Published in Hooked on Books

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Katrīna Biele
Katrīna Biele

Written by Katrīna Biele

Partial to contemporary lit, the kind that goes against the grain.

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