17 new books for August 2026 including dogs, dragons, witches and toads Erik Pedersen and Sarah Batcha, The Orange County Register Aug 3, 2026 Aug 3, 2026 0 1 of 6 “Meet Me in the Garden,” by Nina LaCour (Flatiron Books/TNS) MCMILLAN/TNS “Sunrise,” by Téa Obreht (Random House/TNS) PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE/TNS “The Witches of Cambridge,” by Alice Hoffman (Scribner/TNS) SIMON & SCHUSTER/TNS “Triage,” by Claudia Rankine (Graywolf/TNS) Graywolf/TNS “Dragonlance: War Wizard,” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Random House/TNS) PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE/TNS “The Amateur,” by Chris Bohjalian (Doubleday/TNS) PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE/TNS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Erik Pedersen and Sarah Batcha, The Orange County Register Few things boast a sleeker summer look than a slim, 200-page novel.kAmp?5 H9:=6 ?@E 2== @7 E96 @776C:?8D 96C6 2C6 E92E 3C:67[ D6G6C2= 2C6[ 2?5 J@F 92G6 E@ :>28:?6 E9:D EC6?5 >:89E 92G6 E@ 5@ H:E9 2 56D:C6 E@ E6== 2 4@>A6==:?8 DE@CJ H:E9 2? 64@?@>J @7 H@C5D] ~C :E >:89E 36 3642FD6 :E’D 2 =:EE=6 62D:6C E@ 9@=5 2 D9@CE 3@@< 2=@7E H:E9 @?6 92?5 2D J@F C64=:?6[ D:AA:?8 2 4@@=[ 7CF:EJ 36G6C286 :? E96 @E96C]k^AmkAm|2J36 E92E’D ;FDE FD] x? 2?J 42D6[ 96C6 2C6 `f ?6H 3@@<D 4@>:?8 7C@> D@>6 72G@C:E6 2FE9@CD 2D H6== 2D 563FE HC:E6CD J@F 42? A:4< FA 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ae^_d^a_^>2A\`__\D@FE96C?\42=:7@C?:2\:?56A6?56?E\3@@<DE@C6D\E@\G:D:E\:?\a_ae^QmJ@FC =@42= :?56A6?56?E 3@@<DE@C6k^2m– @C E96 2:CA@CE 2D J@F >2<6 J@FC H2J @FE @7 E@H? E@ D@>6 6?5\@7\DF>>6C 86E2H2J]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth County to close trash collection stations an additional day Smyth County treasurer describes financial situation as 'perfect storm' 'If I Were Mayor': Northwood student wins regional award for essay Smyth students get inside look into justice system Virginia Tech administrators Wurthman, Brugger McSorley lose their jobs ATV's on roadways drawing debate Baxters help downtown Marion space continue to evolve after 120 years Smyth planners recommend proposed data center regs go back to committee Son of Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy arrested for shooting mother in Virginia home Family, Smyth Animal Rescue unite to keep Olivia's light shining Ex-pastor at Botetourt church led 'double life' sexually exploiting young girls Sheriff shares Nancy Guthrie update after video plea Smyth hospital CEO says SCCH is not at risk of closure Smyth County residents must be stewards of community in data center debate For veterans: Marion's American Legion service officer, commander receive state honors kAmkDEC@?8mpF8FDE ck^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%96 p>2E6FC” 3J r9C:D q@9;2=:2? Ws@F3=652JXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm$6E :? E96 `hf_D[ E96 =2E6DE ?@G6= 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ad^_b^_f^49C:D\3@9;2=:2?\5C6H\E96\DE2CD9:A\6?E6CAC:D6\@?\9:D\>@>D\96>:?8H2J\7:CDE\65:E:@?^QmE96 2FE9@C @7 >F=E:A=6 36DED6==6CDk^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 “%96 u=:89E pEE6?52?E[” 562=D H:E9 E96 C6A6C4FDD:@?D @7 2 7C62< 244:56?E[ :? H9:49 2 E66? 8@=7 AC@5:8J 244:56?E2==J <:==D 2 4255J H:E9 2? 6CC2?E 32==[ 2?5 2 56=F86 @7 D64C6ED 4@>6D A@FC:?8 7@CE9]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“%96 t8@ %C:Ai !DJ49656=:4 %@25D[ 2 %C2:= @7 s62E9D[ 2?5 E96 vFCF (9@ !655=65 %C2?D46?56?46” 3J z:>@? 56 vC667 Ws@F3=652JXk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmx? 2 3@@< k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ae^_c^_h^2\E66?D\>JDE6C:@FD\562E9\=65\E@\A2EC:4<\C2556?\<6676D\=@?5@?\72==:?8^QmAC2:D65 3J !2EC:4< #2556? z6676k^2m[ ;@FC?2=:DE 56 vC667 6IA=@C6D 2 ECF6 4C:>6 DE@CJ E92E :?G@=G6D 4=2:>D @7 D64C6E C:EF2=D[ 2 ADJ49656=:4 v@5 >@=64F=6[ 2?5 E96 8C@HE9 @7 D@\42==65 “E@25 >65:4:?6” 2?5 :ED 67764ED @? E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 5C2H? :?E@ :ED H@C=5]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“|66E |6 :? E96 v2C56?” 3J }:?2 {2r@FC Wu=2E:C@? q@@<DXk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmuC@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_aa^_e^_a^?@G6=:DE\?:?2\=24@FC\6IA=@C6D\42=:7@C?:2\7C@>\=2\2?5\=@?8\36249\E@\32J\2C62\:?\J6C32\3F6?2^QmE96 a_`f !C:?EK pH2C5 H:??6Ck^2m 4@>6D 2 9:DE@C:42= 7:4E:@? 23@FE 2 rC6@=6 72>:=J :? `hc_D }6H ~C=62?D 2?5 {@D p?86=6D[ :?DA:C65 3J {2r@FC’D @H? 72>:=J 2?5 E96 vC62E |:8C2E:@?]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“tI9F>65i &?62CE9:?8 E96 w:DE@CJ @7 E96 p>6C:42? '2>A:C6” 3J p2C@? |29?<6 W#F??:?8 !C6DDXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm$@>6E:>6D 9:DE@CJ 42? 36 BF:E6 8C:>[ @C vC:>>[ 2?5 ?@ @?6 <?@HD E92E 36EE6C E92?k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_`e^`_^ah^96C6\2C6\E96\DE@C:6D\369:?5\d\E@A\A@542DED\4@>:?8\E@\?@H\962C\E9:D\76DE:G2=\:?\2?296:>^Qm“{@C6” A@542DE6C |29?<6k^2m] w6C6[ 96 6IA=@C6D E96 C62= 42D6 @7 |6C4J qC@H? 2?5 E96 vC62E }6H t?8=2?5 '2>A:C6 !2?:4 :? E96 `gh_D]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“%96 q=F6 u=2>6” 3J v6@C86 !6=642?@D Wr2C5:?2=Xk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm~?6 @7 E96 36DE 4C:>6 HC:E6CD H@C<:?8 :? 2?J >65:F>[ E96 AC@=:7:4 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_`f^_h^_g^93@D\E96\56F46\562=D\:?\5CF8D\AC@DE:EFE:@?\2?5\A@C?\2>:5\E96\9FDE=6\@7\f_D\E:>6D\DBF2C6^Qm?@G6=:DE 2?5 D4C66?HC:E6C @7 “%96 (:C6[” “%96 s6F46” 2?5 “%C6>6”k^2m 3C:?8D 9:D (2D9:?8E@? s]r] AC:G2E6 :?G6DE:82E@C s6C6< $EC2?86 324< 7@C 2 ?6H 42D6 :?G@=G:?8 5CF8D[ 8C665 2?5 C6G6?86]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“z:==:?8 $25:6” 3J #2496= !6E6CD@? W$:>@? !F=D6Xk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmx? E9:D 563FE ?@G6= 7C@> 2 ?6H ?2>6 :? J@F?8 25F=E E9C:==6CD[ 2 A2CEJ EFC?D 5625=J 2?5 :D C64@F?E65 3J F?C6=:23=6 ?2CC2E@CD[ E96 E66?D H9@ H:E?6DD65 E96 >FC56C]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%C:286” 3J r=2F5:2 #2?<:?6k^DEC@?8m W kDEC@?8mvC2JH@=7k^DEC@?8m Xk^AmkAmx? E9:D ?6H 3@@<[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_a_^_h^`_^4=2F5:2\C2?<:?6D\;FDE\FD\6IA=@C6D\5:77:4F=E\4@?G6CD2E:@?D\23@FE\C246\H9:E6?6DD^Qm#2?<:?6k^2m[ H9@ H@? E96 }2E:@?2= q@@< rC:E:4D r:C4=6 pH2C5 7@C !@6ECJ :? a_`d 7@C “r:E:K6?i p? p>6C:42? {JC:4[” C6EFC?D H:E9 2 A6CD@?2= ?2CC2E:G6[ DA2C<65 3J 2EE6?5:?8 E96 =64EFC6 @7 2 @?46\4=@D6 4@==686 7C:6?5[ E92E C66G2=F2E6D E9@D6 62C=J 52JD 2?5 H92E’D 92AA6?65 D:?46]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“sC28@?=2?46i (2C (:K2C5” 3J |2C82C6E (6:D 2?5 %C24J w:4<>2? W#2?5@> w@FD6Xk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm%96 7:CDE 3@@< :? E96 sC28@?=2?46 r9C@?:4=6D[ “sC28@?D @7 pFEF>? %H:=:89E[” :?DA:C65 3J E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ac^`_^aa^5F?86@?D\5C28@?D\EFC?D\d_\E9:D\J62C\H92ED\:ED\6?5FC:?8\2AA62=^QmsF?86@?D 2?5 sC28@?D 82>6k^2m[ H2D AF3=:D965 >@C6 E92? c_ J62CD 28@] %96 =2E6DE 7C@> E96 @C:8:?2= 2FE9@CD[ (6:D 2?5 w:4<>2?[ <:4<D @77 2 AC6BF6= EC:=@8J[ >2<:?8 :E A6C764E 7@C ?6H3:6D 2?5 G6E6C2? 72?E2DJ C6256CD 2=:<6]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“tE?2” 3J !2F= *@@? W$4C:3?6CXk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmx? E96 =2E6DE 7C@> E9:D 244=2:>65 ?@G6=:DE[ 2 H@C<:?8 42?:?6 E92E 92D D6CG65 2=@?8D:56 D@=5:6CD :? 2 3=@@5J H2C E2<6D @77 :? D62C49 @7 2 9@>6 E92E >2J ?@E 6I:DE] %9:?<k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ae^_f^`_^49C:DE@A96C\?@=2?\@5JDD6J\492C24E6C\8F:56^Qm“%96 ~5JDD6J[”k^2m 3FE H:E9 2 5@8 :?DE625 @7 |2EE s2>@?]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mpF8FDE ``k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%96 (:E496D @7 r2>3C:586” 3J p=:46 w@77>2? W$4C:3?6CXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm(9@’D C625J 7@C 2 ?6H D6C:6D 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_a_^_h^af^>28:4\=6DD@?D\2FE9@C\2=:46\9@77>2?\E2=<D\A2?56>:4D\A=28F6D\2?5\=@G6\A@E:@?D^QmE96 2FE9@C @7 “!C24E:42= |28:4”k^2mn Wp== @7 FDnX $6E 2E #254=:776 r@==686 5FC:?8 E96 `hd_D[ E96 ?@G6= H62G6D E@86E96C 2 DE@CJ E92E :?4=F56D |4r2CE9J:D>[ D64C6E D@4:6E:6D[ H:E496D 2?5 H:E499F?ED]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“p %6?56C p86” 3J r92?8\C26 {66 W#:G6C9625Xk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_a`^_a^_a^492?8\C26\=66\E2=<D\?6H\?@G6=\2?5\E96\36DE\6=E@?\;@9?\D@?8\7@C\<2C2@<6^Qm%96 2H2C5\H:??:?8 2FE9@Ck^2m C6EFC?D H:E9 2 4@>:?8\@7\286 DE@CJ 23@FE 2 z@C62? p>6C:42? AC6E66?[ E96 49:=5 @7 :>>:8C2?E A2C6?ED[ 2?5 E96 6G6?ED E92E F?C2G6= 5FC:?8 2 DF>>6C 2E 2 49FC49 42>A]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“uC6:89E” 3J #J2? {@H6== W|F==9@==2?5Xk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmpFE9@C {@H6== DA6?E >@C6 E92? 2 564256 :? E96 ECF4<:?8 3FD:?6DD[ 2?5 9:D 72DE\A2465 563FE ?@G6= :?G@=G6D 2 D6>:\ECF4< 7F== @7 5CF8D 2?5 2 42DE @7 492C24E6CD ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E96:C 92?5D @? :E]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“$F?C:D6” 3J %é2 ~3C69E W#2?5@> w@FD6Xk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm%96 =2E6DE 7C@> E96 2FE9@C @7 “%96 %:86C’D (:76” 3C:?8D E9C66 DEC2?86CD’ DE@C:6D E@86E96C[ H9@ 364@>6 4@??64E65 3J E96 89@DE E@H? @7 $F?C:D6 2?5 E96 D64C6ED :E 9@=5D 36EH66? `h_a 2?5 a_ac]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“#6=:BF2CJ” 3J w2??29 (9:EE6? W#F? u@C xEXk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmz?@H? 7@C 96C 72?E2DJ HC:E:?8[ (9:EE6? 5:AD :?E@ 2E>@DA96C:4 9@CC@C H:E9 “#6=:BF2CJ[” H9:49 7@==@HD 2 8C:6G:?8 H@>2? H9@ C62=:K6D 96C =2E6 7:2?4é’D 72>:=J :D <66A:?8 52C< D64C6ED]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mpF8FDE `gk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%96 |2=E6D6 '6CD:@?” 3J z2EJ $:>AD@? $>:E9 Wu$v ~C:8:?2=DXk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm#62=:K:?8 D96 >:89E 36 AC68?2?E[ {6@?:6 6?=:DED 96C 7C:6?5[ 2 EC2G6= HC:E6C[ E@ EC24< 5@H? E96 6CC2?E 72E96C[ |2I[ H9@ 5C@AA65 @77 E96 >2A W2?5 DE@AA65 2?DH6C:?8 96C >6DD286DX D@>6E:>6 27E6C C6249:?8 E96 |65:E6CC2?62? :D=2?5 @7 |2=E2]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mpF8FDE adk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“|2<6D9:7E” 3J !6E6C #@4< W$@7E $<F==Xk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm$6E @? 2 D>2== :D=2?5 @77 E96 4@2DE @7 E96 !24:7:4 }@CE9H6DE[ E96 ?@G6= E6==D E96 DE@CJ @7 E9C66 D:DE6CD H9@ 36=:6G6 E96J’C6 E96 =2DE 9F>2?D @? t2CE9]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“%96 s6G:= z?@HD w6C }2>6” 3J r]}] '2:C Wq6C<=6JXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmp ?6H ?2>6 :? E96 82>6 E2<6D 2 DE23 2E pAA2=249:2? 9@CC@C] (:E9 96C 563FE ?@G6=[ '2:C 2D<D H92E 92AA6?D H96? J@F’C6 H:==:?8 E@ >2<6 2 562= H:E9 E96 56G:= ?@E @?46[ 3FE EH:46]k^Am 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular This week's bestsellers from Publishers Weekly Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, July 25, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers… Victoria Chang describes the loss at the heart of ‘Tree of Knowledge’ Victoria Chang says her new collection began with the loss of a neighborhood tree, but eventually grew to encompass a variety of influences, p… Column: What Taylor Sheridan taught me about prison life "How to Not Die in Prison" carries two bylines: One (larger font) is Taylor Sheridan, the North Texas show runner who's built a TV empire on r…
This week's bestsellers from Publishers Weekly Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, July 25, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers…
Victoria Chang describes the loss at the heart of ‘Tree of Knowledge’ Victoria Chang says her new collection began with the loss of a neighborhood tree, but eventually grew to encompass a variety of influences, p…
Column: What Taylor Sheridan taught me about prison life "How to Not Die in Prison" carries two bylines: One (larger font) is Taylor Sheridan, the North Texas show runner who's built a TV empire on r…