books we’re foaming at the mouth for - august edition.
There’s something about August that begs for a good book—maybe it's the long, golden evenings or the quiet shift toward fall. This month brings a wave of fresh releases from beloved authors and bold new voices, including queer stories, international debuts, and genre-bending fiction that reminds us how powerful storytelling can be.
At Hot People Read, we don’t just recommend books—we offer doorways. Whether it's a sapphic coming-of-age in 1980s Ireland, a horror story rooted in queer trauma and memory, or a fantasy about grad students descending into hell (literally), we believe in books that make you feel something, think differently, or stay up too late under a porch light.
We love recommending books because they help us connect—with ourselves, with each other, and with people we might never meet otherwise. A good book cracks something open. And around here, we’re all about being cracked open in the best possible way.
So check out our August picks. Let a book find you. And tell a friend what you’ve been reading—we’re building a community of curious, creative, emotionally expansive people. One story at a time.
🌈 Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth (August 2025)
Set in late‑’80s Ireland, this coming‑of‑age queer romance follows Lucy as she navigates first love with her friend Susannah amid religious guilt and societal constraints. Editors praise its emotional authenticity, vivid prose, and heartfelt portrayal of adolescent identity and longing.
🔥 Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (August 26)
A dark academia fantasy following two PhD candidates who journey into Hell to rescue their advisor’s soul and secure recommendation letters. Blending academic satire and mythic adventure, this sixth novel from Kuang has generated buzz among fantasy lovers and literary academia fans.
💔 Loved One by Aisha Muharrar (August 12)
The debut novel from the Parks and Recreation writer explores grief, love, and unexpected connections. When Julia travels to London to retrieve her deceased friend Gabe’s belongings, she meets his former lover—Elizabeth—and must navigate the overlapping lives and histories of both. Muharrar dubs this genre a “relationship post‑mortem.”
Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories by Torrey Peters (2025)
From the acclaimed author of Detransition, Baby, this new 2025 release combines short stories and a novel that explore trans love, rivalry, and self‑exploration with Peters’s characteristic sharpness and emotional nuance.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
a poetic literary novel narrated through the lens of a Vietnamese American caretaker exploring memory, trauma, and belonging. Included in multiple “most anticipated queer books of 2025.”