A finance bro on a mission, an eerie demonic possession and a meditation on life’s hardships — listed below are ipromiseyoumedia’s picks for one of the best books of August 2025.
‘Cudi: The Memoir’ by Scott “Child Cudi” Mescudi
The Grammy-winning rapper charts his rise to the highest of the charts, alongside together with his personal journey with dependancy, despair and reinvention.
‘The Marigold Cottages Homicide Collective’ by Jo Nichols
Followers of The Thursday Homicide Membership will love this cozy thriller during which a gaggle of misfits attempt to clear their landlady’s title after a lifeless physique turns up.
‘Leverage’ by Amran Gowani
Wall Avenue whiz child Ali Jafar rides excessive as a hedgefund analyst till he loses a serious chunk of money and will get blackmailed by his boss right into a life-threatening race to earn it again. A pulse-pounding plot propels a story steeped within the language and tradition of tech bros. The poignant private journey of Ali, who endures racism and fantasizes about suicide, makes this an thrilling and well timed debut of an unique voice. — Robin Micheli
‘A Truce That Is Not Peace’ by Miram Toews
Requested “Why do you write?” by a literary competition organizer, Toews was spurred to ponder all of the unanswerable questions: Why did her dad and sister die by suicide? Do phrases convey greater than silence? How can she concurrently be full of sorrow and joyful vitality? An incandescent learn. — Kim Hubbard
‘The Possession of Alba Díaz’ by Isabel Cañas
A demonic presence awakens in a Mexico mine and possesses Alba, a younger bride-to-be. When her fiancé’s troubled cousin Elías senses one thing is amiss, Alba and Elías are locked in a battle with good (the church) and evil (the occult) over her soul. One other hit from a suspense grasp.
‘The place Are You Actually From’ by Elaine Hsieh Chou
A mail-order bride, cannibal teenagers, doppelgängers and amorous affairs: This surreal, evocative assortment traces need and self-deception in tales that vary from unsettling to downright weird. You will not need to miss this one.
‘Dominion’ by Addie E. Citchens
On this razor-sharp Southern household drama, a strong pastor, his favourite son and the ladies who love them are rocked by scandal after a fateful encounter.
‘The El’ by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
A younger Indigenous gang member has to information his crew throughout hostile territory after a gathering ends in violence on this city odyssey that’s a love letter to Chicago.
‘The Sunflower Boys’ by Sam Wachman
Brothers Artem and Yuri are having an almost idyllic childhood within the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, although Artem’s emotions for his greatest good friend Viktor are typically complicated, and the boys miss their dad, who works within the U.S. One morning Russian troopers arrive, and their childhood is over. A deeply essential and transferring coming-of-age story celebrating the therapeutic energy of artwork and the indomitable energy of household bonds from a promising younger author. — Marion Winik
‘Lime Juice Cash’ by Jo Morey
Listening to-impaired Laelia Wylde leaves London together with her kids and a brand new man, Aidrian, to begin over within the lush jungles of Belize, regardless of the misgivings of her botanist dad. Enchantment devolves into home violence and a surprising reveal. Sensuous, steamy and chillingly satisfying. — Louisa Ermelino
‘Liked One’ by Aisha Muharrar
On this humorous, heartwrenching novel, Julia embarks on an intercontinental journey to recoup her old flame Gabe’s misplaced possessions after his sudden dying, particularly the indie musician’s treasured guitar. However when she meets his withholding ex Elizabeth, they’re sure by secrets and techniques and revelations.
‘Ladies, Seated’ by Zhang Yueran
When her cost’s mother and father come beneath authorities scrutiny, nanny Yu Ling is left alone with their son. Little do they know she’s acquired secrets and techniques of her personal. Quick, tight and taut as piano wire.
‘Too Outdated for This’ by Samantha Downing
All serial killer Lottie needs to do is retire quietly. However when a journalist tracks her down, she reluctantly returns to her outdated methods. A sensible, hilarious thriller.
‘The Society of Unknowable Objects’ by Gareth Brown
From the thoughts behind The Ebook of Doorways comes a page-turning fantasy a couple of society making an attempt to guard magical artifacts.
‘Folks Like Us’ by Jason Mott
From the acclaimed creator who received the Nationwide Ebook Award for Hell of a Ebook comes this electrical novel about two Black writers who set out on wildly totally different guide excursions. One will get whisked off to France, the place a gazillionaire fan gives to bankroll him, whereas the opposite girds himself to talk at a school just lately devastated by gun violence. Populated by larger-than-life characters, this tour de pressure is without delay gut-bustingly humorous and deeply transferring.
‘L.A. Ladies’ by Ella Berman
The uneasy friendship and rivalry between two writers heart this riveting story loosely impressed by Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. The creativity and hedonism of late-’60s and early-’70s L.A. come to life as one girl strives for fame, the opposite respect and every fights by means of turmoil to embrace her id.
‘The Locked Ward’ by Sarah Pekkanen
Georgia, adopted right into a rich southern household, is imprisoned in a psych ward, accused of murdering her sister. She’s plotting her manner out and relying on the assistance of her twin, Amanda — who beforehand didn’t know she existed. Intelligent, twisty and oozing with desperation. — Robin Micheli
‘This Type of Hassle’ by Tochi Eze
A Nigerian couple torn aside by race, well being struggles and different obstacles come collectively many years later when outdated secrets and techniques resurface. A shocking debut.
‘The Hounding’ by Xenobe Purvis
The Mansfield sisters are turning into canine — or so their 18th-century village believes. The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides on this sharp, incisive novel.
‘The Magician of Tiger Fortress’ by Louis Sachar
Followers of Holes will devour Sachar’s first grownup novel, a richly imagined historical past during which a princess falls for a scribe, and a magician should attempt to save the day.