If you’re new to Hide Your Wallet, this is where we list new releases we’re pretty excited for in the coming month.
Each reviewer has a book maximum (five per person), and we’ve separated HYW into two parts. The first HYW of the month will cover books that release from the 1st to the 14th. The second HYW will cover books released from the 15th to the end of the month.
We also think this will help us feature books from smaller publishers who don’t have buy links up as early as the bigger trade houses.
As always, if we missed any books that you’re particularly looking forward to, tell us all about them in the comments.
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Ben and Beatriz
Author: Katalina Gamarra
Released: August 2, 2022 by Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, RomanceThere’s nothing like falling for your worst enemy.
Beatriz Herrera is a fierce woman who will take you down with her quick wit and keen intellect. And after the results of the 2016 election worked hard to erase her identity as a queer biracial woman, she’d be right to. Especially if you come for her sweet BFF cousin, Hero. Beatriz would do anything for her, a loyalty that lands Beatriz precisely where she doesn’t want to be: spending a week at the ridiculous Cape Cod mansion of stupid-hot playboy Ben Montgomery. The same Ben Montgomery she definitely shouldn’t have hooked up with that one time… The things we do for family.
White and wealthy, Ben talks the talk and walks the walk of privilege, but deep down, he’s wrestling with the politics and expectations of a conservative family he can’t relate to. Though Beatriz’s caustic tongue drives him wild in the very best way, he’s the last person she’d want, because she has zero interest in compromising her identity. But as her and Ben’s assumptions begin to unravel and their hookups turn into something real, they start wondering if it’s still possible to hold space for one another and the inescapable love that unites them.
This retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is both razor-sharp and swoon-worthy: the perfect love story for our time.
Aarya: Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite Shakespeare play.
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Every Rogue Has His Charm
Author: Susanna Craig
Released: August 2, 2022 by Lyrical Press
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: Love and Let Spy #4Love, intrigue, and a fresh spin on historical romance make a sexy and suspenseful mix in the latest novel in Susanna Craig’s Regency-set series—as the wife one man left behind becomes the woman he can’t live without…
Caroline, Marchioness of Chesleigh, has been married for six years—at least in name. In fact, Caro has hardly seen her husband since the early days of their union. Scarred and reclusive, Maxim wasn’t ready to trust his wife with his secrets—or his heart. Instead, he quickly resumed his life of espionage in France, believing Caro was better off alone.
When the spy who left her returns upon inheriting the Dukedom, he finds his wife is not the girl she once was. Her heart is a little harder. She’s learned to stand on her own. Yet the desire that once ignited between them burns as hotly as ever…
Now, the more Caro learns about the past Maxim tried to hide from her, the deeper their bond grows. But danger haunts her husband’s every move, jeopardizing their passionate reunion…
Claudia: This is a fun book and looks like it caps the Love and Let Spy series, which was enjoyable for me.
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Husband Material
Author: Alexis Hall
Released: August 2, 2022 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance
Series: London Calling #2Wanted:
One (very real) husband
Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his bestIn BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.
Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL.
Elyse: Alex + Miffy 4EVA!
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Thank You for Listening
Author: Julia Whelan
Released: August 2, 2022 by Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceFrom the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.
For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.
On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.
As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.
If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.
Sarah: An audiobook narrator writing a romance about audiobook narration? Hello!
Susan: I’m with Sarah, this sounds great. I love it when authors get to go all-in on a subject they know all about!
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Bend Toward the Sun
Author: Jen Devon
Released: August 9, 2022 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance“Heart-warming, sensual, beautifully written.” –Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis
Two imperfect people. One year under the sun. A love story you won’t ever forget.
Rowan McKinnon doesn’t believe in love. With a botany PhD, two best friends who embrace her social quirkiness, and some occasional no-strings sex, she has everything she needs. But she hides deep wounds from the past—from a negligent mother, and a fiancé who treated her like a pawn in a game. When an academic setback leads Rowan to take on the restoration of an abandoned vineyard, she relishes the opportunity to restore the grapes to their former glory.
She does not expect to meet a man like Harrison Brady.
An obstetrician profoundly struggling after losing a patient, Harry no longer believes he is capable of keeping people safe. Reeling, Harry leaves Los Angeles to emotionally recover at his parents’ new vineyard in Pennsylvania.
He does not expect to meet a woman like Rowan McKinnon.
As their combative banter gives way to a simmering tension, sunlight begins to crack through the darkness smothering Harry’s soul. He’s compelled to explore the undeniable pull between them. And after a lifetime of protecting herself from feeling anything, for anyone, Rowan tries to keep things casual.
But even she can’t ignore their explosive connection.
“A lushly drawn portrait of two people with a magnetic, soul-deep connection.” – Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author
“A gorgeous love story full of lyrical writing and raw emotion.” – Jennifer Probst
“Soul satisfying, sensual, and unforgettable.” – Libby Hubscher
Aarya: As of today, my favorite romance novel of 2022.
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High Times in the Low Parliament
Author: Kelly Robson
Released: August 9, 2022 by Tor.com
Genre: LGBTQIA, Novella, Science Fiction/FantasyAward-winning author Kelly Robson returns with High Times in the Low Parliament, a lighthearted romp through an 18th-century London featuring flirtatious scribes, irritable fairies, and the dangers of Parliament.
“Funny, literally outlandish, and deeply relevant.”—Malka Older
A Most Anticipated Pick for Autostraddle | LGBTQ Reads
Lana Baker is Aldgate’s finest scribe, with a sharp pen and an even sharper wit. Gregarious, charming, and ever so eager to please, she agrees to deliver a message for another lovely scribe in exchange for kisses and ends up getting sent to Low Parliament by a temperamental fairy as a result.As Lana transcribes the endless circular arguments of Parliament, the debates grow tenser and more desperate. Due to long-standing tradition, a hung vote will cause Parliament to flood and a return to endless war. Lana must rely on an unlikely pair of comrades—Bugbite, the curmudgeonly fairy, and Eloquentia, the bewitching human deputy—to save humanity (and maybe even woo one or two lucky ladies), come hell or high water.
Amanda: Tor has been absolutely crushing it with their novellas. I want all of them!
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The Hookup Plan
Author: Farrah Rochon
Released: August 2, 2022 by Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: The Boyfriend Project #3Strong female friendships and a snappy enemies-to-lovers theme take center stage in this highly anticipated romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Dating Playbook.
Successful pediatric surgeon London Kelley just needs to find some balance and de-stress. According to her friends Samiah and Taylor, what London really needs is a casual hookup. A night of fun with no strings. But no one—least of all London—expected it to go down at her high school reunion with Drew Sullivan, millionaire, owner of delicious abs, and oh yes, her archnemesis.
Now London is certain the road to hell is paved with good sex. Because she’s found out the real reason Drew’s back in Austin: to decide whether her beloved hospital remains open. Worse, Drew is doing everything he can to show her that he’s a decent guy who actually cares. But London’s not falling for it. Because while sleeping with the enemy is one thing, falling for him is definitely not part of the plan.
Aarya: Childhood enemies reuniting!
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The Monsters We Defy
Author: Leslye Penelope
Released: August 9, 2022 by Redhook
Genre: Historical: American, Science Fiction/FantasyA woman able to communicate with spirits must assemble a ragtag crew to pull off a daring heist to save her community in this timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.
Washington D. C., 1925
Clara Johnson talks to spirits, a gift that saved her during her darkest moments in a Washington D. C. jail. Now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So, when the Empress, the powerful spirit who holds her debt, offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, a desperate Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.
Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need help from an unlikely team, from a jazz musician capable of hypnotizing with a melody to an aging vaudeville actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they encounter increasingly difficult obstacles, a dangerous spirit interferes at every turn. Conflict in the spirit world is leaking into the human one and along D.C’.s legendary Black Broadway, a mystery unfolds—one that not only has repercussions for Clara but all of the city’s residents.
Amanda: A Jazz Age magical mystery from one of my favorite fantasy writers.
Aarya: Black historical heist from an awesome fantasy romance author!
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Storm Echo
Author: Nalini Singh
Released: August 9, 2022 by Berkley
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #6NYT bestselling author Nalini Singh takes us into the hearts of two fractured people in a world on the brink of a psychic Armageddon . . .
Silence has fallen. The Psy are free to feel emotion. Free to love. But Silence was never a prison for Ivan Mercant. The biggest threat to his future lies dormant in his brain—a psychic monster that wants only to feed. And now, the brutal leash he’s kept on that monster is slipping. He prepared for this day, for the end of Ivan Mercant . . . but that was before he met Lei.
As primal as she is human, this wild changeling brings color into his life, laughter to his soul. Then the dream shatters in a rain of blood, in silent bodies in the snow. Lei is gone. Vanished without a trace . . . until he meets strangely familiar eyes across a busy San Francisco street.
Soleil Bijoux Garcia is a healer who has lost everything. She exists in a world of desolate aloneness . . . till the day she finds herself face-to-face with a lethal stranger. The animal who is her other half knows this man, but her memories are tattered fragments. Sorrow and a need for vengeance are all that drive her. Her mission? To kill the alpha of the DarkRiver leopard pack.
But fate has other plans. Soon, a deadly soldier who believes himself a monster and a broken healer might be all that stand between life and death for the entire Psy race.
Aarya: Happy to revisit the cats in San Francisco!
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You’re Invited
Author: Amanda Jayatissa
Released: August 9, 2022 by Berkley
Genre: Mystery/ThrillerWhat could be worse than your ex-boyfriend marrying your childhood best friend? Getting accused of her murder…
From the author of My Sweet Girl comes a dangerously addictive new thriller about a lavish Sri Lankan wedding celebration that not everyone will survive.
When Amaya is invited to Kaavi’s over-the-top wedding in Sri Lanka, she is surprised and a little hurt to hear from her former best friend after so many years of radio silence. But when Amaya learns that the groom is her very own ex-boyfriend, she is consumed by a single thought: She must stop the wedding from happening, no matter the cost.
But as the weeklong wedding celebrations begin and rumors about Amaya’s past begin to swirl, she can’t help but feel like she also has a target on her back. When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, all evidence points to Amaya.
However, nothing is as it seems as Jayatissa expertly unravels that each wedding guest has their own dark secret and agenda, and Amaya may not be the only one with a plan to keep the bride from getting her happily ever after…
Elyse: This thriller features a revenge plot and a very unreliable narrator.
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The Monsters We Defy sounds like it has all of the good things!
The Undead Truth of Us by Britney S. Lewis releases August 9. “Death was everywhere. They all stared at me, bumping into one another and slowly coming forward. Sixteen-year-old Zharie Young is absolutely certain her mother morphed into a zombie before her untimely death, but she can’t seem to figure out why. Why her mother died, why her aunt doesn’t want her around, why all her dreams seem suddenly, hopelessly out of reach. And why, ever since that day, she’s been seeing zombies everywhere. Then Bo moves into her apartment building—tall, skateboard in hand, freckles like stars, and an undeniable charm. Z wants nothing to do with him, but when he transforms into a half zombie right before her eyes, something feels different. He contradicts everything she thought she knew about monsters, and she can’t help but wonder if getting to know him might unlock the answers to her mother’s death. As Zharie sifts through what’s real and what’s magic, she discovers a new truth about the world: Love can literally change you—for good or for dead. In this surrealist journey of grief, fear, and hope, Britney S. Lewis’s debut novel explores love, zombies, and everything in between in an intoxicating amalgam of the real and the fantastic.”
I have been waiting feverishly for Husband Material to come out. A bunch of these others are intriguing and will hopefully be enough to keep me going after the inevitable crash on August 3, when I have nothing else to look forward to so deliriously this year…
The release dates on a number of books I’ve been waiting for have been postponed several times over the last few months. I understand that things happen on both personal and professional levels that cause due dates to be moved, so these are the dates that Amazon is showing as of right now:
Amelia Wilde’s BLACKMAIL is now showing a release date of August 2. As the title indicates, there’s blackmail afoot as the temp heroine is caught embezzling money (this is a romance, so you know it’s for a good reason: she’s supporting her younger siblings) from her wealthy boss. He won’t alert the authorities and break up her family, but he will demand, um, other things. Amelia Wilde writes really hot dark romance, and BLACKMAIL appears to be exactly what it says on the tin.
Also showing an August 2 release date is Katie Golding’s RELENTLESS. This is the second in her Bad Reputation series. The hero here is the brother of the hero of Golding’s Motocross romance, FEARLESS. It appears to involve a no-strings-attached affair that develops into something deeper.
J. Kenner’s CHARMED BY YOU (August 9) is another in her Stark Security series. This one features one of my favorite tropes: bodyguard & client (in this case, a celebrity who is being threatened about a secret from her past).
FORCE OF NATURE by Skye Warren & Amelia Wilde (August 9) has been postponed several times, and it has undergone a title change since last month. It was originally titled THE CRASH. THE CRASH is now the title of a prequel novella (available for free in the Kindle store). FORCE OF NATURE is a couple-against-the-elements story about a plane piloted by the hero crashes on the way to taking the photographer heroine to a remote site. The book’s blurb indicates that there is another person on the island where the couple crash and there might be an MMF-menage involved.
Sybil Bartel’s ZULU (August 13) has also seen a number of publication dates come and go. It’s the latest in Bartel’s romantic-suspense Alpha Elite series. Bartel writes to a template (beyond-gonzo alpha heroes; resilient heroines in trouble through no fault of their own; lots of fire power & high body counts; and plenty of sexy-times with a D/s dynamic). If you don’t like the template, her books will not be for you. But if, like me, you do like Bartel’s style, ZULU will be a good read.
Skye Warren’s TWO FOR THE SHOW (August 16) is the sequel to her ONE FOR THE MONEY and is part of the multi-author Midnight Dynasty series. ONE FOR THE MONEY ended on a cliffhanger and I’m assuming TWO FOR THE SHOW picks up right where the first book left off. It’s no spoiler (it’s revealed in the blurb) to say that the heroine is pregnant, and the hero has a family history that makes him less than enthusiastic about becoming a father. (As an aside, who decided that a cover showing a female hand holding what appears to be an alcoholic drink was a good idea for a book with a pregnant heroine?)
August 23 is a banner day! Romances written by my four “Queens of Angsty Harlequin Presents Heartache” arrive: Jackie Ashenden’s STOLEN FOR MY SPANISH SCANDAL (step-siblings, unplanned pregnancy); Clare Connelly’s EMERGENCY MARRIAGE TO THE GREEK (marriage of convenience); Caitlin Crews’s WILLED TO WED HIM (forced marriage due to the terms of a relative’s will); and Maisey Yates’s THE SECRET THAT SHOCKED CINDERELLA (amnesia). When it comes to Harlequin Presents, you know if you like the operatic over-the-top that is HP’s stock in trade. I love it and can’t wait to read all four books.
C.M. Nascosta’s MOON BLOODED BREEDING CLINIC (August 27) is another oft-postponed book. I have my fingers crossed that this story of a human female who visits a werewolf-run fertility clinic and falls for her sperm donor will arrive as scheduled.
A.E. Via’s RAYNE (now scheduled for August 28) is the third & final book in her True Lover’s Stories series of m/m romances. Via could never be described as a great prose stylist, but her books have a lot of heart, sincerity, and passion. Another thing I like about Via is that her stories are set solidly in the working class (no secret billionaires here). In RAYNE, one hero is pushing 50 and owns a landscaping business; the other hero is a recovering sex addict (there’s a vague indication in the blurb that he’s been a sex worker at some point). I liked the little peek we got of this couple’s dynamic in the previous book (WOOD), so I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out in RAYNE.
@kkw I was lucky enough to read Boyfriend Material just last week. It was so, so good. Thankful my wait for Husband Material will be short!
I NEVER (almost) pre-order anything, but Julia Whelan’s new book is one I have to have as soon as possible. I loved her My Oxford Year, and I generally love any of the books she narrates (not a fan of audio? try listening to her magnificent versions of Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds or V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.)
And I was lucky to listen to an ARC of BEND TOWARD THE SUN. It started a little slow, but it found its pace about of the third of the way in and was very good. It’s the author’s first, but she laid the groundwork for several follow-up stories that I’m already eagerly anticipating.
I had the ARC of Storm Echo (has this pub date been pushed back at least twice?) – it has a real callback to the events of Allegiance of Honor, so you might want to be fresh with that one before reading it.
Mhairi McFarlane’s new book, MAD ABOUT YOU, is releasing August 9. Her books are more women’s fiction than romance — and definitely angstier than the cute illustrated covers would lead you to believe — but there’s usually a nice romantic subplot. I’m excited for this one and can’t wait for my preorder to arrive!
I LOVE an unreliable narrator! YOU’RE INVITED to my tbr list.
After the new Psy/Changeling it’s all about feeding my current addiction to historical mystery with romantic elements.
First one my list is a new Rhys Bowen, WHERE THE SKY BEGINS. I don’t love her the way I do Susan Elia NacNeal or Anna Lee Huber, but it’ll be nice to read what appears to be a stand alone.
And in the same vein (and the same release date), THE SECRET OF BOW LANE is the newest Kat Holloway mystery from Jennifer Ashley. I believe my prediction from away back in book two is about to come true. .
I’m all about The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri this month! It comes out 8/16 and it’s the 2nd in her Burning Kingdom’s trilogy. The 1st, The Jasmine Throne, was my favorite read of 2021 and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Not light reading but so, so good.
I’ve already got Husband Material. I saw it while I was on the hunt for another book and had a moment of – oh, did I miss the release date? – and scooped it up. Someone must have disregarded the on-sale embargo.
Thank You for Listening was a sold B+ for me; everything else is on my TBR!
Oh! Charlie Adhara has a new spin off/installment out called PACK OF LIES on August, 30. Really excited for this one. And finally it’s time to get your hands on RUBY FEVER by Ilona Andrews.
I enjoyed all the LOVE AND LET SPY books; EVERY ROGUE HAS HIS CHARM is a great ending to the series.