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The Future Saints
Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years—a beautiful, powerful, and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink, from bestselling author Ashley Winstead.
This is a love story, but not the one you’re expecting.
When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral and Theo has been dispatched to coax a new—and successful—album out of them, or else let them go.
Immediately, Theo is struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who’s gone off script by debuting a whole new sound, replacing their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record, and new start.
But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister Ginny—her lifelong partner in crime—undermine Theo at every turn. Hannah isn’t ready to move on or prepared for the fame she’s been chasing, and the weight of her problems jeopardize the band, her growing closeness with Theo, and, worst of all, her relationship with her sister—all while the world watches closely. The Future Saints’s big break is here—if only they can survive it.
A novel about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us, The Future Saints is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that's so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat.” (Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance).
This is a love story, but not the one you’re expecting.
When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral and Theo has been dispatched to coax a new—and successful—album out of them, or else let them go.
Immediately, Theo is struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who’s gone off script by debuting a whole new sound, replacing their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record, and new start.
But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister Ginny—her lifelong partner in crime—undermine Theo at every turn. Hannah isn’t ready to move on or prepared for the fame she’s been chasing, and the weight of her problems jeopardize the band, her growing closeness with Theo, and, worst of all, her relationship with her sister—all while the world watches closely. The Future Saints’s big break is here—if only they can survive it.
A novel about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us, The Future Saints is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that's so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat.” (Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance).
Unknown Binding
First published January 20, 2026
1835 people are currently reading
65868 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Winstead
9 books5,698 followersAshley Winstead's bestselling, critically-acclaimed books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, optioned for television, named Book of the Month, Indie Next, Library Read, Loan Star, and Amazon Editor picks, and covered everywhere from the New York Times to People magazine. She's a former academic who lives in Houston with her husband, three cats, and beloved wine fridge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,514 reviews
February 13, 2026
Hands down—fangirl speech incoming!
Ashley Winstead is, without a doubt, one of the rarest literary talents of our time. She’s proven she can masterfully navigate both razor-sharp thrillers and laugh-out-loud romcoms—but now? Now, she’s outdone herself. With her latest novel, she’s delivered something extraordinary. And yes, I know it’s only 2026, but I’m boldly declaring it: this is one of the best books of the year.
What Winstead has done is nothing short of magic—blending the nostalgic band drama energy of Almost Famous, Daisy Jones and The Six, and The Dirt, with gut-wrenching themes of grief, sisterhood, mental health, and the ache of family dysfunction. But it’s more than that. It’s refined, heartfelt, creatively layered, and emotionally raw in a way that makes it impossible to put down. I savored every single page.
Let’s talk characters—because they own this book.
Hannah: a walking contradiction. A dazzling voice paired with crippling self-destruction. A lyricist who writes like her soul’s on fire, who battles between selfish impulses and unwavering devotion to her late sister.
And then there’s Theo: a suit, a record exec, nicknamed the Grim Reaper of Manifest Records. But beneath his calm, corporate armor lies the heart of a saint. The most patient man in the music industry—wrangling the chaos of the Future Saints, enduring their drama, egos, and emotional implosions until, finally, he snaps.
And yes—the slow-burn love story between Theo and Hannah? Chef’s kiss. It’s messy, magnetic, and completely unputdownable.
The band is pure magic:
Tarak “Ripper” Ravishankar, the bassist with a hunger for control, always one step from stealing the spotlight but still carrying protective big brother energy.
And Kevin Lovins, the crystal-loving, peacekeeping drummer who’s as eccentric as he is loyal. His love for music pulses through every beat, and his energy is contagious.
Now for a quick synopsis:
The story kicks off when Theo Ford—record label enforcer and occasional miracle worker—is sent to a tiny L.A. venue to evaluate the Future Saints. He’s meant to shut them down… until Hannah steps on stage and delivers a soul-splitting final performance that goes viral. Suddenly, Theo can’t look away.
When he learns their crumbling band has just lost their manager—who, twist, was also Hannah’s sister Ginny—he takes on the impossible mission of putting them back together. Tour by tour, stage by stage, he becomes the glue holding them (barely) intact, pushing them from the bright lights of Vegas to the heart of San Francisco.
But Hannah is spiraling—haunted by grief, haunted by Ginny. She numbs her pain with booze, pills, and denial, dragging herself and the band to the brink. And Theo? He risks his job, his sanity, and his heart—because something in Hannah's broken resilience calls to him. Even if they’re destined to crash and burn.
This book is a searing, soaring tribute to music, love, grief, and the pain of creativity. It’s about choosing life when all you want is escape. About raising your head and finding light, even in the darkest night.
Five blazing, gut-punching, electric stars from me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the chance to read this unforgettable story early. I’m still not over it—and I don’t want to be.
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Ashley Winstead is, without a doubt, one of the rarest literary talents of our time. She’s proven she can masterfully navigate both razor-sharp thrillers and laugh-out-loud romcoms—but now? Now, she’s outdone herself. With her latest novel, she’s delivered something extraordinary. And yes, I know it’s only 2026, but I’m boldly declaring it: this is one of the best books of the year.
What Winstead has done is nothing short of magic—blending the nostalgic band drama energy of Almost Famous, Daisy Jones and The Six, and The Dirt, with gut-wrenching themes of grief, sisterhood, mental health, and the ache of family dysfunction. But it’s more than that. It’s refined, heartfelt, creatively layered, and emotionally raw in a way that makes it impossible to put down. I savored every single page.
Let’s talk characters—because they own this book.
Hannah: a walking contradiction. A dazzling voice paired with crippling self-destruction. A lyricist who writes like her soul’s on fire, who battles between selfish impulses and unwavering devotion to her late sister.
And then there’s Theo: a suit, a record exec, nicknamed the Grim Reaper of Manifest Records. But beneath his calm, corporate armor lies the heart of a saint. The most patient man in the music industry—wrangling the chaos of the Future Saints, enduring their drama, egos, and emotional implosions until, finally, he snaps.
And yes—the slow-burn love story between Theo and Hannah? Chef’s kiss. It’s messy, magnetic, and completely unputdownable.
The band is pure magic:
Tarak “Ripper” Ravishankar, the bassist with a hunger for control, always one step from stealing the spotlight but still carrying protective big brother energy.
And Kevin Lovins, the crystal-loving, peacekeeping drummer who’s as eccentric as he is loyal. His love for music pulses through every beat, and his energy is contagious.
Now for a quick synopsis:
The story kicks off when Theo Ford—record label enforcer and occasional miracle worker—is sent to a tiny L.A. venue to evaluate the Future Saints. He’s meant to shut them down… until Hannah steps on stage and delivers a soul-splitting final performance that goes viral. Suddenly, Theo can’t look away.
When he learns their crumbling band has just lost their manager—who, twist, was also Hannah’s sister Ginny—he takes on the impossible mission of putting them back together. Tour by tour, stage by stage, he becomes the glue holding them (barely) intact, pushing them from the bright lights of Vegas to the heart of San Francisco.
But Hannah is spiraling—haunted by grief, haunted by Ginny. She numbs her pain with booze, pills, and denial, dragging herself and the band to the brink. And Theo? He risks his job, his sanity, and his heart—because something in Hannah's broken resilience calls to him. Even if they’re destined to crash and burn.
This book is a searing, soaring tribute to music, love, grief, and the pain of creativity. It’s about choosing life when all you want is escape. About raising your head and finding light, even in the darkest night.
Five blazing, gut-punching, electric stars from me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the chance to read this unforgettable story early. I’m still not over it—and I don’t want to be.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
November 24, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
I've never read this author before, and I liked this book a lot. This one is about the music industry and a band that's trying to get back on track after their manager dies. Theo is a record executive and is trying to save the band's career. He becomes enamoured with Hannah, the lead singer of a band that used to do pop songs but is now into rock. It kind of reminded me of Alanis Morissette when she used to be just "Alanis" and sang bubblegum pop songs. Theo is trying to manage the band and their new popularity while Hannah is in self-destructive mode and fighting with her bandmate and sister, Ginny. Hannah isn't handling her grief very well, or fame for that matter.
This was a very compelling read and very profound. I liked learning about the music industry and the emotional impact fame can have. Reading about Hannah and how she was handling her grief and fame made me empathize with her. The author certainly knows how to write characters that feel real, and I was immediately invested in them. Their lives are messy, and they struggle with their craft and their relationships. The tension between the sisters was evident.
The pace occasionally slows during sections getting into music industry workings, but the book’s best parts were the author's ability to write about relationships and make them feel genuine, romantic and otherwise. This was an absorbing, gut-punching read that captures the drama of rock 'n' roll and leaves a lasting impression. I can honestly recommend this one for fans of character-driven fiction, especially if you enjoy stories of sisterhood and fame.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
I've never read this author before, and I liked this book a lot. This one is about the music industry and a band that's trying to get back on track after their manager dies. Theo is a record executive and is trying to save the band's career. He becomes enamoured with Hannah, the lead singer of a band that used to do pop songs but is now into rock. It kind of reminded me of Alanis Morissette when she used to be just "Alanis" and sang bubblegum pop songs. Theo is trying to manage the band and their new popularity while Hannah is in self-destructive mode and fighting with her bandmate and sister, Ginny. Hannah isn't handling her grief very well, or fame for that matter.
This was a very compelling read and very profound. I liked learning about the music industry and the emotional impact fame can have. Reading about Hannah and how she was handling her grief and fame made me empathize with her. The author certainly knows how to write characters that feel real, and I was immediately invested in them. Their lives are messy, and they struggle with their craft and their relationships. The tension between the sisters was evident.
The pace occasionally slows during sections getting into music industry workings, but the book’s best parts were the author's ability to write about relationships and make them feel genuine, romantic and otherwise. This was an absorbing, gut-punching read that captures the drama of rock 'n' roll and leaves a lasting impression. I can honestly recommend this one for fans of character-driven fiction, especially if you enjoy stories of sisterhood and fame.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 21, 2026
The Future Saints written by Ashley Winstead was perfect, inspiring, heart breaking, real, deeply emotional, beautiful, empowering, authentic, personal, and raw. Honestly, I was not expecting the emotional damage this book brought me, but I loved every single minute of it. The Future Saints reminded me of Daisy Jones & The Six- which I also loved, but in my honest opinion I loved this book way more, it just spoke to me on a personal level. My emotions were all over the place, I cried, I smiled, I laughed, I was angry, I was happy, and I was heart broken. When I first requested this book, I thought it was going to be a joyful book about music, but boy was I wrong, it was so much more and left me in tears clutching my heart. Ashley, you have a heart of gold, it's like you wrote this book for me. Music is a huge aspect of my life, it's been my lifeline, it has saved my life in so many ways, it's my anchor when life gets hard, and it's my go to when I have to complete life responsibilities. The Future Saints is not only a romance novel, it's a love story between sisters, band mates, and people who don't know what they need yet. Reading The Future Saints is the equivalent of singing along to a sad song on the radio with your windows down and your hair blowing in the wind, it's sad but so beautiful. If you are a music junkie like myself, I better see this book in your hands on January 20th, 2026. The Future Saints authenticity was so beautiful and inspiring. This book will forever be tattooed on my soul and live rent free in my heart.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ATRIA BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
First and foremost, I would like to thank my beautiful best friend, Sarah💓👯 for buddy reading this beautiful book with me. Thank you for being by my side and holding my hand through this emotional music journey. I had the best time sharing our thoughts, screaming together, crying together, and sharing our love for music together. I will forever be grateful for you, it was such an honor to read this with you and share our personal stories with each other. I love you endlessly. Thank you for being my rock in life and for being my built in best friend💗😘.
TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Loss of a Loved One~
~Alcoholism~
~Substance Abuse~
~Mild Mentions of Violence~
~Suicide~
~Nudity~
"✝️❤Making music is a business, but it's also an act of Faith✝️❤".
"🎤🎶You want me to get better, be the girl I used to be, live the life you dreamed for me. I will get better- I will get better- I will get better🎤🎶".
"🦋🌻When you lose someone, everyone expects you to want to heal and get better🦋🌻".
"🎙💘When you are up on stage, no one wants anything less than your whole heart and soul🎙️💘".
"😭💔My soul is gone. Your words mean nothing to me. My heart is wrong. Your help means nothing to me😭💔".
"🧸🌺Does wanting what you can't have ever get easier? Does it ever feel like it's enough🧸🌺?"
"🖤🎁Loss gives us an unexpected gift🖤🎁".
The Future Saints is about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us. The Future Saints consists of four members- their manager Virginia Cortland, lead singer Hannah Cortland, drummer Kenneth "Kenny" Lovins, and bassist Tarak Ravishankar also known as Ripper. Their goal as band mates is to live their lives loving others even though that very act is the thing that will ultimately unravel them. The Future Saints are not perfect, they are just ordinary people that have their fights and disagreements but still love one another. These band members met their freshman year of college and have been best friends ever since. Their manager unexpectedly passed away, but when they are at The Hideout which is a dive bar in Bonita Vista, California- The Future Saints are rediscovered by a new manager. The Future Saints want to be the best fucking rock band in the world- their music captures the fury and the helplessness of grief. I was so sad to see that their playlist wasn't on Spotify, but their lyrics were so beautiful and heart breaking. I absolutely loved that the author made these band mates have fights and disagreements because it showed that they weren't perfect, they were just flawed and real people that will connect with you on a deeper level. The Future Saints new album is a monument for their late manager- it's a beautiful and inspiring way to make her live forever. Their album art was so stunning- it was detailed in pastel colors with hazy lines, palm trees, and blue skies hence the beautiful cover of this book. As I was reading this beautiful book, it felt like I was a member of their group just watching them shine. Their lyrics broke my heart and made me sob like a baby, but they spoke truth and will resonate with so many people like myself.
Hannah Cortland is a freckled sunlit beauty who wears her heart on her sleeve. Hannah has been writing music since she was twelve years old and now she is the ultimate Queen of Sadness. Hannah is drop dead gorgeous- she has messy sunshine blonde hair with midnight roots. Hannah describes herself as hot in a messy depression chic way, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give this woman the biggest hug- she broke my heart so many times. Hannah tries to keep her vulnerability hidden, but I'm so happy she didn't because so many girls will relate to her- Hannah's authenticity and vulnerability truly left me speechless. Hannah's sister Virginia Cortland died at the age of twenty-six due to a surfing accident. Hannah and Virginia were only a year apart in age- it was just so emotional watching Hannah navigate life without her sister. As an older sister, I can't even imagine going through life without my little sister by my side. Hannah's new song- Six Feet Under was one of the most beautiful songs to honor a sister, I seriously love girlhood so much. As Hannah takes on the world and her music career, Ginny becomes the girl who haunts Hannah- it's her own personal ghost, Ginny is a gold immortal creature. Hannah is such a relatable human being- she's terrified to be alone, but she alienates people when she's at hew lowest because she doesn't want anyone to see her while she's struggling. Hannah Cortland truly was so inspirational- she shows young women that you can be flawed and messy and still be talented. Hannah's grief was so heart breaking- "I get mad at the fucking sun for rising, sometimes I still hate other people just for being alive instead of her". Hannah, girl, I love you, you were such a beautiful character.
Theo Ford is a beautiful but damaged soul who deserves the world. Theo is an artist relations manager at Manifest Records where he's known as "The Fixer" and "The Grim Reaper" because he feels like he has to fix everyone's problems. As their The Future Saints's new manager, Theo needs them to produce a record in order to get his new promotion as president of artist relations at Manifest Records- The Future Saints refer to Theo as a soulless corporate drone"- I absolutely loved watching them all form a friendship and bond with Theo, it truly made me smile like a fool. Theo started off super cocky, but as the story went on his character development evolved into something so beautiful. My goodness, Theo's childhood story absolutely shattered my heart, his father walked out when Theo was just thirteen years old which caused Theo to battle his demons alone- he was just too young to understand what was happening which then led to his suicide attempts, which were also caused because Theo got bullied in school for stuttering, but thankfully he had music in his life to bring him peace and happiness. As their manager and after learning Hannah's story, Theo helps her with the inspiration for her lyrics- he just had one of the biggest hearts as this story went on. Hannah and Theo have both loved music since a very young age- so their friendship blossomed over their love for music. Their banter brought tears to my eyes but it also made me laugh- "fuck you for sending me to mandatory therapy". "Fuck you for not sending yourself", I mean how could you not love and root for these two beautiful and damaged souls? I just wanted to jump into my kindle and give Theo a kickass pep talk during his heart breaking childhood, I won't be able to recover from his story. Music will truly leave an impact on someone, Theo Ford and Hannah Cortland are proof of my statement. I will forever be thankful for music and musicians that have changed my life for the best.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ATRIA BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
First and foremost, I would like to thank my beautiful best friend, Sarah💓👯 for buddy reading this beautiful book with me. Thank you for being by my side and holding my hand through this emotional music journey. I had the best time sharing our thoughts, screaming together, crying together, and sharing our love for music together. I will forever be grateful for you, it was such an honor to read this with you and share our personal stories with each other. I love you endlessly. Thank you for being my rock in life and for being my built in best friend💗😘.
TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Loss of a Loved One~
~Alcoholism~
~Substance Abuse~
~Mild Mentions of Violence~
~Suicide~
~Nudity~
"✝️❤Making music is a business, but it's also an act of Faith✝️❤".
"🎤🎶You want me to get better, be the girl I used to be, live the life you dreamed for me. I will get better- I will get better- I will get better🎤🎶".
"🦋🌻When you lose someone, everyone expects you to want to heal and get better🦋🌻".
"🎙💘When you are up on stage, no one wants anything less than your whole heart and soul🎙️💘".
"😭💔My soul is gone. Your words mean nothing to me. My heart is wrong. Your help means nothing to me😭💔".
"🧸🌺Does wanting what you can't have ever get easier? Does it ever feel like it's enough🧸🌺?"
"🖤🎁Loss gives us an unexpected gift🖤🎁".
The Future Saints is about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us. The Future Saints consists of four members- their manager Virginia Cortland, lead singer Hannah Cortland, drummer Kenneth "Kenny" Lovins, and bassist Tarak Ravishankar also known as Ripper. Their goal as band mates is to live their lives loving others even though that very act is the thing that will ultimately unravel them. The Future Saints are not perfect, they are just ordinary people that have their fights and disagreements but still love one another. These band members met their freshman year of college and have been best friends ever since. Their manager unexpectedly passed away, but when they are at The Hideout which is a dive bar in Bonita Vista, California- The Future Saints are rediscovered by a new manager. The Future Saints want to be the best fucking rock band in the world- their music captures the fury and the helplessness of grief. I was so sad to see that their playlist wasn't on Spotify, but their lyrics were so beautiful and heart breaking. I absolutely loved that the author made these band mates have fights and disagreements because it showed that they weren't perfect, they were just flawed and real people that will connect with you on a deeper level. The Future Saints new album is a monument for their late manager- it's a beautiful and inspiring way to make her live forever. Their album art was so stunning- it was detailed in pastel colors with hazy lines, palm trees, and blue skies hence the beautiful cover of this book. As I was reading this beautiful book, it felt like I was a member of their group just watching them shine. Their lyrics broke my heart and made me sob like a baby, but they spoke truth and will resonate with so many people like myself.
Hannah Cortland is a freckled sunlit beauty who wears her heart on her sleeve. Hannah has been writing music since she was twelve years old and now she is the ultimate Queen of Sadness. Hannah is drop dead gorgeous- she has messy sunshine blonde hair with midnight roots. Hannah describes herself as hot in a messy depression chic way, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give this woman the biggest hug- she broke my heart so many times. Hannah tries to keep her vulnerability hidden, but I'm so happy she didn't because so many girls will relate to her- Hannah's authenticity and vulnerability truly left me speechless. Hannah's sister Virginia Cortland died at the age of twenty-six due to a surfing accident. Hannah and Virginia were only a year apart in age- it was just so emotional watching Hannah navigate life without her sister. As an older sister, I can't even imagine going through life without my little sister by my side. Hannah's new song- Six Feet Under was one of the most beautiful songs to honor a sister, I seriously love girlhood so much. As Hannah takes on the world and her music career, Ginny becomes the girl who haunts Hannah- it's her own personal ghost, Ginny is a gold immortal creature. Hannah is such a relatable human being- she's terrified to be alone, but she alienates people when she's at hew lowest because she doesn't want anyone to see her while she's struggling. Hannah Cortland truly was so inspirational- she shows young women that you can be flawed and messy and still be talented. Hannah's grief was so heart breaking- "I get mad at the fucking sun for rising, sometimes I still hate other people just for being alive instead of her". Hannah, girl, I love you, you were such a beautiful character.
Theo Ford is a beautiful but damaged soul who deserves the world. Theo is an artist relations manager at Manifest Records where he's known as "The Fixer" and "The Grim Reaper" because he feels like he has to fix everyone's problems. As their The Future Saints's new manager, Theo needs them to produce a record in order to get his new promotion as president of artist relations at Manifest Records- The Future Saints refer to Theo as a soulless corporate drone"- I absolutely loved watching them all form a friendship and bond with Theo, it truly made me smile like a fool. Theo started off super cocky, but as the story went on his character development evolved into something so beautiful. My goodness, Theo's childhood story absolutely shattered my heart, his father walked out when Theo was just thirteen years old which caused Theo to battle his demons alone- he was just too young to understand what was happening which then led to his suicide attempts, which were also caused because Theo got bullied in school for stuttering, but thankfully he had music in his life to bring him peace and happiness. As their manager and after learning Hannah's story, Theo helps her with the inspiration for her lyrics- he just had one of the biggest hearts as this story went on. Hannah and Theo have both loved music since a very young age- so their friendship blossomed over their love for music. Their banter brought tears to my eyes but it also made me laugh- "fuck you for sending me to mandatory therapy". "Fuck you for not sending yourself", I mean how could you not love and root for these two beautiful and damaged souls? I just wanted to jump into my kindle and give Theo a kickass pep talk during his heart breaking childhood, I won't be able to recover from his story. Music will truly leave an impact on someone, Theo Ford and Hannah Cortland are proof of my statement. I will forever be thankful for music and musicians that have changed my life for the best.
February 4, 2026
3.75
Stories about bands on tour are so much fun, and mixed media books are also so much fun. This one had the potential to be one of my new favs. And while I enjoyed it, it did fall short in a few ways.
Starting with things I liked:
- the overall plot progression
- the incorporation of mixed media
- the themes of grief & stress and how the combination of the 2 were portrayed
But things I didn’t like…
- everything felt very black and white, where I prefer more nuance
- social media excerpts seemed very synthetic and as someone who spends a LOT of time on social media… it felt clunky and not authentic
- some of the timeline felt unbelievable
- things were being fed to you vs allowing you to think for yourself
- story was very one track, where I just prefer more layers to a story
So while for the most part, I enjoyed what was in the book. I think it just fell slightly short because I wanted more of everything. Maybe it needed to be a longer book to make space to dive deeper into these themes.
Stories about bands on tour are so much fun, and mixed media books are also so much fun. This one had the potential to be one of my new favs. And while I enjoyed it, it did fall short in a few ways.
Starting with things I liked:
- the overall plot progression
- the incorporation of mixed media
- the themes of grief & stress and how the combination of the 2 were portrayed
But things I didn’t like…
- everything felt very black and white, where I prefer more nuance
- social media excerpts seemed very synthetic and as someone who spends a LOT of time on social media… it felt clunky and not authentic
- some of the timeline felt unbelievable
- things were being fed to you vs allowing you to think for yourself
- story was very one track, where I just prefer more layers to a story
So while for the most part, I enjoyed what was in the book. I think it just fell slightly short because I wanted more of everything. Maybe it needed to be a longer book to make space to dive deeper into these themes.
December 29, 2025
This novel was an emotional one! It follows a rock band that starts falling apart. It comes with a high stakes drama and an unexpected love story! It starts off very intense, with it making me feel very emotional and sad. The characters in the story were all lovable and came with depth to them. The characters were diverse. Furthermore, the main focus were the flaws of the characters in the story.
I really enjoyed the music aspect of the book and how grief really does make a big impact on people. It is about misogyny in art spaces, resilience, sisterhood and complicated bonds. It reminded me a lot of the movie, “A Star is Born” and “Almost Famous”! This novel is made me feel reflective and hopeful. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. It is believable, well structured, addictive and memorable! I give this novel a 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Ashley Winstead and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 20, 2026!
I really enjoyed the music aspect of the book and how grief really does make a big impact on people. It is about misogyny in art spaces, resilience, sisterhood and complicated bonds. It reminded me a lot of the movie, “A Star is Born” and “Almost Famous”! This novel is made me feel reflective and hopeful. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. It is believable, well structured, addictive and memorable! I give this novel a 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Ashley Winstead and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 20, 2026!
November 22, 2025
Theo Ford is known as either “The Fixer” or “The Grim Reaper” at the record label where he works. He can help a band rise from the ashes of failure or let the band burn to the ground and be forgotten forever. So when he arrives to California after his boss wants him to see if he can help or fire The Future Saints, Theo is enchanted by not only the music roaring through the speakers, but the lead singer, Hannah, who sings with such fire and heartache, he can’t help but want to save the band, no matter the price it will cost.
Hannah Cortland’s life revolves around her music. It used to revolve around her little sister, but when she died, Hannah put her heart and soul into her songs to give her a reason to live and to keep her sister’s memory alive. When Theo arrives and tries to implement his tactics to save the band, Hannah resents it and wants to be left alone with her guitar, her alcohol, and her sister’s ghost. But when her erratic and drunken behavior not only goes viral but saves The Future Saints from becoming a mere memory, Hannah begins to wonder if she can really go only living in anger, grief, and heartache for the camera, or if she needs to heal and mend her broken heart with the help of those who love her.
WOW! What a story! This was nothing like I had expected–it was so much more! 😭❤️🩹🎶
I loved how we got both Theo’s and Hannah’s point of view. It was so much more engaging and interesting to see the band’s journey through both of their eyes. The blurb is right, though. It’s a love story, but not one you’re expecting. It did more than exceed my expectations–it DELIVERED!! 🙌🏼💖
Not only did I love Theo and Hannah, but I also loved the other band members, Ripper and Kenny, and their friends. Everyone felt so real, relatable, and hilarious! There were so many scenes where I was cracking up. 😂 They were a great group, and I loved every moment they were together. 🫶🏼
Ugh, I felt so bad for Hannah! 😭 It hurts to talk about it, but I lost a loved one recently, so I know what she was feeling and going through. The questions, the pain, and the longing for them to be here on Earth with you because it’s not fair that they’re gone. But it was so sweet that Theo and her friends were there for her, willing to help. Ugh! I’m going to stop talking about it before I sob my eyes out. 😭💔
Everything else about this book was fantastic! The writing was easy to read, engaging, and the dialogue wasn’t stiff or forced. The plot flowed well, kept me on the edge of my seat, and was even cinematic. The characters (mainly Hannah and Theo) grew as the story progressed, and I was so proud of them for the character development they went through. And I also enjoyed the bits of romance sprinkled into the mix. ☺🤭 The music aspect was all I could ask for. 🎤🎸🎶 It sounds cliché, but music is literally my life. It has helped me get through SO MANY tough times, and is always there to give me a good cry, lift my spirits, or help me stay sane as I tackle some tasks I’d rather not do. 😂😉
And the ending? SO GOOD! It wasn’t what I was expecting, yet I did expect parts of it, but I’m not at all mad about how everything turned out. I was honestly scared to read the ending because of what I thought was going to happen, lol! But the ending was perfect. 🤌🏼
Ugh, I just loved this book! 🥹❤ I’m so glad Cara and I got to read a book together that we actually liked at the end, lol! 😂 If you love a good story about loss, love, and music, then this book is for you! I highly recommend it!! 💖
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a loved one, mild violence, mentions drugs, alcohol, death, mental illness, suicide, & nudity.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
Hannah Cortland’s life revolves around her music. It used to revolve around her little sister, but when she died, Hannah put her heart and soul into her songs to give her a reason to live and to keep her sister’s memory alive. When Theo arrives and tries to implement his tactics to save the band, Hannah resents it and wants to be left alone with her guitar, her alcohol, and her sister’s ghost. But when her erratic and drunken behavior not only goes viral but saves The Future Saints from becoming a mere memory, Hannah begins to wonder if she can really go only living in anger, grief, and heartache for the camera, or if she needs to heal and mend her broken heart with the help of those who love her.
WOW! What a story! This was nothing like I had expected–it was so much more! 😭❤️🩹🎶
I loved how we got both Theo’s and Hannah’s point of view. It was so much more engaging and interesting to see the band’s journey through both of their eyes. The blurb is right, though. It’s a love story, but not one you’re expecting. It did more than exceed my expectations–it DELIVERED!! 🙌🏼💖
Not only did I love Theo and Hannah, but I also loved the other band members, Ripper and Kenny, and their friends. Everyone felt so real, relatable, and hilarious! There were so many scenes where I was cracking up. 😂 They were a great group, and I loved every moment they were together. 🫶🏼
Ugh, I felt so bad for Hannah! 😭 It hurts to talk about it, but I lost a loved one recently, so I know what she was feeling and going through. The questions, the pain, and the longing for them to be here on Earth with you because it’s not fair that they’re gone. But it was so sweet that Theo and her friends were there for her, willing to help. Ugh! I’m going to stop talking about it before I sob my eyes out. 😭💔
Everything else about this book was fantastic! The writing was easy to read, engaging, and the dialogue wasn’t stiff or forced. The plot flowed well, kept me on the edge of my seat, and was even cinematic. The characters (mainly Hannah and Theo) grew as the story progressed, and I was so proud of them for the character development they went through. And I also enjoyed the bits of romance sprinkled into the mix. ☺🤭 The music aspect was all I could ask for. 🎤🎸🎶 It sounds cliché, but music is literally my life. It has helped me get through SO MANY tough times, and is always there to give me a good cry, lift my spirits, or help me stay sane as I tackle some tasks I’d rather not do. 😂😉
And the ending? SO GOOD! It wasn’t what I was expecting, yet I did expect parts of it, but I’m not at all mad about how everything turned out. I was honestly scared to read the ending because of what I thought was going to happen, lol! But the ending was perfect. 🤌🏼
Ugh, I just loved this book! 🥹❤ I’m so glad Cara and I got to read a book together that we actually liked at the end, lol! 😂 If you love a good story about loss, love, and music, then this book is for you! I highly recommend it!! 💖
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Loss of a loved one, mild violence, mentions drugs, alcohol, death, mental illness, suicide, & nudity.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
November 10, 2025
⭐️ 3 ⭐️ Music is a hard knock industry that attracts hard knock people. Windstead writes an ambitious music tale about loss, grief and ghosts that haunt us, very similar to the realm of Daisy Jones and The Six, and while the momentum is there, it felt like she failed to bring the story whole with multiple loose strings. For a story that weighted heavily in the addiction and grief department, the emotions were almost surface level and missing heart.
This is a story about a band that has lost their manager to enforceable events. The lead singer—Hannah, seems to be struggling the most with this loss, as this was her younger sister and her most closest confidant. Hannah is drowning in substance abuse, erratic behavior. She’s grieving in the worst way possible and refuses to seek professional help. She sees and talks to her sister’s ghost all the time—her instability is evident with her constant off-balance theatrics. While on the rise to fame (thanks to the new manager Theo), the band is stuck in limbo due to unresolved issues. They fight, they storm out, they make up but everyone wallows in their own type of pain. However no one is addressing any of the issues upfront. So here Winstead takes us on a journey that is full of chaos, pain and fame.
I want to begin by saying that I applaud Winsteads dive into contemporary fiction. Having only read her thrillers, the writing was always on point. I think her take on mental health struggles was accurately portrayed. A bit fleshed out but she really grasped the messiness and wild side of rock’n’roll and I loved how true she stayed to its form. The problem that I had with the story was more focused on how little depth was given to the many theme of “ghosts that haunt us”.
Substance abuse, depression, hallucinations and grief are some of the main themes that were explored. Hannah is in the denial stage of grieving cycle. She sees her sister’s ghost, speaks out loud to it and has this fear of letting go. She’s in this spiral for months, having imaginary conversations out loud (in front of others) and none of her band mates or Theo addressed this? The believability of reality was not there at all. I kept thinking there was more to it & that she would drop a twist or a turn as we approached the end but no one from her closest circle ever got around to helping her. The way Winstead draws these strings together left so much of the unsaid behind and I just wish she’d shown the reality of that struggle more openly.
Winstead likes to incorporate “interview style” chapters in between the different POV ones. While I love this style of writing, I did not find them compelling enough to move the story forward. They weren’t my favorite and in the world of TikTok craze and obsession, I would rather not be reminded of its immaturity and stupidity. I think they reduced the quality of the storyline because they neither added drama nor enhanced the plot as a whole.
Truth be told, I had a hard time with understanding Theo’s attraction to Hannah. There wasn’t enough heart in that relationship to make them seem compatible. He appears, he’s attracted to her but where’s the pull that’s between them? He sees a struggling woman but doesn’t really get to know her well enough to know her demons. How can he so easily fall in love with her? They didn’t have a lot of heart to heart conversations that would have shown the reader their magnetism. There was basically love without any foundation.
I loved the take but I didn’t enjoy the resolution. A lot of it was surface level and I was looking for a deeper take. Built on chaos and pain, you can feel the momentum of the novels beat, but it kind of lost me there by the end.
Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books publisher and the author, Ashley Winstead for sending me this early eARC.
Publication date: January 20, 2026
This is a story about a band that has lost their manager to enforceable events. The lead singer—Hannah, seems to be struggling the most with this loss, as this was her younger sister and her most closest confidant. Hannah is drowning in substance abuse, erratic behavior. She’s grieving in the worst way possible and refuses to seek professional help. She sees and talks to her sister’s ghost all the time—her instability is evident with her constant off-balance theatrics. While on the rise to fame (thanks to the new manager Theo), the band is stuck in limbo due to unresolved issues. They fight, they storm out, they make up but everyone wallows in their own type of pain. However no one is addressing any of the issues upfront. So here Winstead takes us on a journey that is full of chaos, pain and fame.
I want to begin by saying that I applaud Winsteads dive into contemporary fiction. Having only read her thrillers, the writing was always on point. I think her take on mental health struggles was accurately portrayed. A bit fleshed out but she really grasped the messiness and wild side of rock’n’roll and I loved how true she stayed to its form. The problem that I had with the story was more focused on how little depth was given to the many theme of “ghosts that haunt us”.
Substance abuse, depression, hallucinations and grief are some of the main themes that were explored. Hannah is in the denial stage of grieving cycle. She sees her sister’s ghost, speaks out loud to it and has this fear of letting go. She’s in this spiral for months, having imaginary conversations out loud (in front of others) and none of her band mates or Theo addressed this? The believability of reality was not there at all. I kept thinking there was more to it & that she would drop a twist or a turn as we approached the end but no one from her closest circle ever got around to helping her. The way Winstead draws these strings together left so much of the unsaid behind and I just wish she’d shown the reality of that struggle more openly.
Winstead likes to incorporate “interview style” chapters in between the different POV ones. While I love this style of writing, I did not find them compelling enough to move the story forward. They weren’t my favorite and in the world of TikTok craze and obsession, I would rather not be reminded of its immaturity and stupidity. I think they reduced the quality of the storyline because they neither added drama nor enhanced the plot as a whole.
Truth be told, I had a hard time with understanding Theo’s attraction to Hannah. There wasn’t enough heart in that relationship to make them seem compatible. He appears, he’s attracted to her but where’s the pull that’s between them? He sees a struggling woman but doesn’t really get to know her well enough to know her demons. How can he so easily fall in love with her? They didn’t have a lot of heart to heart conversations that would have shown the reader their magnetism. There was basically love without any foundation.
I loved the take but I didn’t enjoy the resolution. A lot of it was surface level and I was looking for a deeper take. Built on chaos and pain, you can feel the momentum of the novels beat, but it kind of lost me there by the end.
Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books publisher and the author, Ashley Winstead for sending me this early eARC.
Publication date: January 20, 2026
January 31, 2026
Great Daisy Jones vibes, but yet very different. I liked how the band gave Theo such a hard time in the beginning. The band had this close bond, working their loss and heartache into their songs and this new manager shows up. But poor Theo just wanted to understand them and make them great. Very thought provoking and Ashley describes and captured Hannah's singing moments so great I felt raw reading it.
February 1, 2026
4.5 Stars
I was originally going with an even 4-stars, but I m settling on 4.5 after continuing to think about this long past finishing.
The blurb likens this to Daisy Jones and the Six and that is a great comparison. There is no doubt the author either read that book or absorbed it through osmosis. Cause there are definitely a lot of similarities. And I'm not saying that's bad or anything. Just...noticeable.
That said, I thought Winstead did some cool authoring with the way she discussed the band's former manager...and introduced band members and well as those in their orbit. I would say more, but I don't want to spoil anything.
The author also did a great job with the grief that permeates all members of the group, namely Hannah, and the varying ways that grief can undo you on a visceral level. You felt it and believed it.
So why not 5 stars?
Some of the members of the band felt like caricatures at times....and the band's antics sometimes felt too cliche and fantastical to ring authentic...but mostly, I didn't 100% believe in Hannah and Theo's connection...and I didn't 100% love the ending.
Overall though, this was a really solid read and I enjoyed it immensely.
I was originally going with an even 4-stars, but I m settling on 4.5 after continuing to think about this long past finishing.
The blurb likens this to Daisy Jones and the Six and that is a great comparison. There is no doubt the author either read that book or absorbed it through osmosis. Cause there are definitely a lot of similarities. And I'm not saying that's bad or anything. Just...noticeable.
That said, I thought Winstead did some cool authoring with the way she discussed the band's former manager...and introduced band members and well as those in their orbit. I would say more, but I don't want to spoil anything.
The author also did a great job with the grief that permeates all members of the group, namely Hannah, and the varying ways that grief can undo you on a visceral level. You felt it and believed it.
So why not 5 stars?
Some of the members of the band felt like caricatures at times....and the band's antics sometimes felt too cliche and fantastical to ring authentic...but mostly, I didn't 100% believe in Hannah and Theo's connection...and I didn't 100% love the ending.
Overall though, this was a really solid read and I enjoyed it immensely.
January 26, 2026
I got the arc!! I’ve already read a couple of chapters and it’s giving Daisy Jones & The Six vibes🤭
September 4, 2025
always a good day when you have a new Ashley Winstead book to read!! this was a fun one — readers will enjoy it come release in Jan 2026!
this cover thooooo🤩🤩🤩🤩
what i love most about Ashley is how she constantly reinvents herself and tackles new genres. she’s best known for her thrillers (and as a thriller girlie those are my personal faves… esp MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR and IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE) but she’s also done romance and here is some contemporary fiction! the skill to do all those genres is 🤌🏼👏🏼 her writing is always so fun to read and easy to get into the story. the first 100 pages grabbed me right away and i was captivated by our main character Hannah.
the plot is awesome—THE FUTURE SAINTS follows a band crumbling from a personal loss and then all of a sudden a performance of theirs goes viral and their lives are forever changed. following the band through this was fun and i would have loved another 50 pages of the rise of fame / Hollywood drama of all that! like the SNL after party? juicy!
the plot is also heavy on family, grief and friendship with a romance side plot. so much going on and woven together really well!
overall i liked it and was captivated right away / eager to finish but it is not my fave of hers. i’ve read all her 6+ books so the comparison game is inevitable and tough sometimes!! i think as the biggest DAISY JONES & THE SIX fan i struggled with some of the plot similarities but that is a personal issue. it’s definitely similar but also very different and those were my favorite parts. i think i wanted more from the romance, Theo was such an enjoyable character! Hannah’s character ARC was also inspiring and good to see play out. and the ending 🥹🥹🥹🥹
overall readers will enjoy this—if you like Taylor Jenkins Reid books you should check it out. Ashley will always be an auto buy for me. deff recommend this one but personally love her thrillers a bit more :)
thanks to Atria for the gifted copy. this is out Jan 2026!!
this cover thooooo🤩🤩🤩🤩
what i love most about Ashley is how she constantly reinvents herself and tackles new genres. she’s best known for her thrillers (and as a thriller girlie those are my personal faves… esp MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR and IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE) but she’s also done romance and here is some contemporary fiction! the skill to do all those genres is 🤌🏼👏🏼 her writing is always so fun to read and easy to get into the story. the first 100 pages grabbed me right away and i was captivated by our main character Hannah.
the plot is awesome—THE FUTURE SAINTS follows a band crumbling from a personal loss and then all of a sudden a performance of theirs goes viral and their lives are forever changed. following the band through this was fun and i would have loved another 50 pages of the rise of fame / Hollywood drama of all that! like the SNL after party? juicy!
the plot is also heavy on family, grief and friendship with a romance side plot. so much going on and woven together really well!
overall i liked it and was captivated right away / eager to finish but it is not my fave of hers. i’ve read all her 6+ books so the comparison game is inevitable and tough sometimes!! i think as the biggest DAISY JONES & THE SIX fan i struggled with some of the plot similarities but that is a personal issue. it’s definitely similar but also very different and those were my favorite parts. i think i wanted more from the romance, Theo was such an enjoyable character! Hannah’s character ARC was also inspiring and good to see play out. and the ending 🥹🥹🥹🥹
overall readers will enjoy this—if you like Taylor Jenkins Reid books you should check it out. Ashley will always be an auto buy for me. deff recommend this one but personally love her thrillers a bit more :)
thanks to Atria for the gifted copy. this is out Jan 2026!!
September 25, 2025
The Future Saints is a gripping, thought provoking and riveting book about music, love, sisters, second chances, friendship, destructive behavior, comebacks, substance abuse, mental health issues, and guilt. This book was nostalgic, heartbreaking, riveting, and wonderfully written. I found the characters to be fully fleshed out, and I felt for many of them during this book. I enjoyed the characters, their plight, their passion for music, and their compassion and loyalty to each other.
The Future Saints are bombing in a dive bar in the beginning of this book. They are reeling from the tragic death of their manager and have been going downhill ever since. Hannah, the lead singer, is grieving the death of her sister, Ginny, their manager. She is spiraling out of control and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.
Theo, a record executive, has been sent to coax The Future Saints back to their glory days. He is blown away when Hannah switches from the bands usual 'pop' music and sings a heartbreakingly beautiful rock song. Hannah pours all her grief, her loss, and her pain into that song that goes viral. Theo sees a way to get the band back on the right path, but will his efforts be enough when the lead singer is walking a tight rope of destruction?
I thought the author did a great job of depicting loss and grief. The author also did a great job showing addiction, self-medication, destructive behaviors, and mental health issues. What must it be like to have the whole world witness your downward spiral? What is it like to care about someone who is spiraling, and what must it be like to carry on? I thought these were all well done and handled with care.
This book shows both sides of the music industry - the musicians and the executives. The ugly side of fame is shown as well as the human parts of loving someone. This book shows how Hannah is consumed with the loss of her sister who she speaks to daily. Will rock-n-roll be enough to save her soul?
Gripping, thought provoking, and moving!
*A Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth, Brenda, and Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on The Future Saints!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
The Future Saints are bombing in a dive bar in the beginning of this book. They are reeling from the tragic death of their manager and have been going downhill ever since. Hannah, the lead singer, is grieving the death of her sister, Ginny, their manager. She is spiraling out of control and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.
Theo, a record executive, has been sent to coax The Future Saints back to their glory days. He is blown away when Hannah switches from the bands usual 'pop' music and sings a heartbreakingly beautiful rock song. Hannah pours all her grief, her loss, and her pain into that song that goes viral. Theo sees a way to get the band back on the right path, but will his efforts be enough when the lead singer is walking a tight rope of destruction?
I thought the author did a great job of depicting loss and grief. The author also did a great job showing addiction, self-medication, destructive behaviors, and mental health issues. What must it be like to have the whole world witness your downward spiral? What is it like to care about someone who is spiraling, and what must it be like to carry on? I thought these were all well done and handled with care.
This book shows both sides of the music industry - the musicians and the executives. The ugly side of fame is shown as well as the human parts of loving someone. This book shows how Hannah is consumed with the loss of her sister who she speaks to daily. Will rock-n-roll be enough to save her soul?
Gripping, thought provoking, and moving!
*A Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth, Brenda, and Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on The Future Saints!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
November 21, 2025
Move over, Daisy Jones - there's a new chart queen in town.
When record executive Theo is sent to coax the dying rock band The Future Saints back from the brink for one last album, he hits a wall - but he also meets Hannah, the Saints' impetuous lead singer, whose grief-soaked new sound goes viral. Soon, the world is watching as Hannah's destructive art collides with Theo's ambitions. Grief, fame, addiction, and love crash together in a whirlwind of music, ambition, and raw emotion.
"The Future Saints" is an exhilarating, electrifying, maddening, and often unexpectedly tender ride. Snarky one-liners, dry humor, spot-on song lyrics, and a perfect band name all add flavor - but underneath it all, this book is a serious ode to the transformative, transcendent power of music and to sisterhood, as well as an unforgettable exploration of love, loss, and grief. It reminds us of the bonds that hold us, tear us, and remake us.
Switching between Hannah and Theo's perspectives - and sprinkled with brilliantly captured social-media transcripts and news articles - Ashley Winstead gives each voice distinct clarity while delivering a flowing, immersive narrative. "The Future Saints" is a rare treat: equal parts rock chronology and heartache, written with impeccable pacing, full of strong characters and unforgettable prose. And yes, if this book doesn't get the full "Daisy Jones & The Six" treatment (and I mean a full-fledged series with top-notch actors who can actually sing, and an impeccable soundtrack), I will riot.
Raw, loud, vulnerable, and unforgettable, this book hits every note. Highly recommended.
Huge thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Future Saints" is slated to be released on January 20, 2026.
When record executive Theo is sent to coax the dying rock band The Future Saints back from the brink for one last album, he hits a wall - but he also meets Hannah, the Saints' impetuous lead singer, whose grief-soaked new sound goes viral. Soon, the world is watching as Hannah's destructive art collides with Theo's ambitions. Grief, fame, addiction, and love crash together in a whirlwind of music, ambition, and raw emotion.
"The Future Saints" is an exhilarating, electrifying, maddening, and often unexpectedly tender ride. Snarky one-liners, dry humor, spot-on song lyrics, and a perfect band name all add flavor - but underneath it all, this book is a serious ode to the transformative, transcendent power of music and to sisterhood, as well as an unforgettable exploration of love, loss, and grief. It reminds us of the bonds that hold us, tear us, and remake us.
Switching between Hannah and Theo's perspectives - and sprinkled with brilliantly captured social-media transcripts and news articles - Ashley Winstead gives each voice distinct clarity while delivering a flowing, immersive narrative. "The Future Saints" is a rare treat: equal parts rock chronology and heartache, written with impeccable pacing, full of strong characters and unforgettable prose. And yes, if this book doesn't get the full "Daisy Jones & The Six" treatment (and I mean a full-fledged series with top-notch actors who can actually sing, and an impeccable soundtrack), I will riot.
Raw, loud, vulnerable, and unforgettable, this book hits every note. Highly recommended.
Huge thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Future Saints" is slated to be released on January 20, 2026.
October 6, 2025
The Future Saints wants to capture the rise and unraveling of a band, but it never feels like its own story. From the first chapters, it reminded me so much of Daisy Jones & The Six that I kept waiting for it to find a new rhythm, something distinct. It never really did.
The setup had promise—a grief-stricken band, a record exec trying to pull them back together, a love story tucked inside all the chaos—but it never came alive. Theo and Hannah’s connection didn’t feel earned or believable, and the rest of the band blended into the background. The story leans on grief, addiction, and fame to create weight, but the emotions stay surface-level.
I read it fast because Ashley Winstead’s writing moves easily, but the heart wasn’t there. Every time I thought the story might dig deeper, it skimmed past the messy parts that could have made it meaningful. The ending landed softly and had a quiet sort of peace, but it wasn’t enough to make up for everything that came before.
It’s not terrible, just forgettable. Like a song that sounds familiar the first time you hear it, then fades the second it ends.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The setup had promise—a grief-stricken band, a record exec trying to pull them back together, a love story tucked inside all the chaos—but it never came alive. Theo and Hannah’s connection didn’t feel earned or believable, and the rest of the band blended into the background. The story leans on grief, addiction, and fame to create weight, but the emotions stay surface-level.
I read it fast because Ashley Winstead’s writing moves easily, but the heart wasn’t there. Every time I thought the story might dig deeper, it skimmed past the messy parts that could have made it meaningful. The ending landed softly and had a quiet sort of peace, but it wasn’t enough to make up for everything that came before.
It’s not terrible, just forgettable. Like a song that sounds familiar the first time you hear it, then fades the second it ends.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
February 13, 2026➳Pre-read:
I know Daisy Jones and The Six exists n I know people say they’re similar. But this one’s just calling my name 🙂↕️ so I’m picking it up to romanticize my life before the parodontal pathology exam inevitably ruins me 🥲.
I know Daisy Jones and The Six exists n I know people say they’re similar. But this one’s just calling my name 🙂↕️ so I’m picking it up to romanticize my life before the parodontal pathology exam inevitably ruins me 🥲.
February 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
The Future Saints have been going on a downward spiral since the death of their manager- the lead singer’s sister Ginny. Their record label sent out their company’s “grim reaper” Theo to either coax out a new album from them or let them go from the label. When he arrives, he’s immediately struck by the lead singer Hannah and her lyricism as well as the new rock sound she debuted that night. The band went viral overnight with this new sound, making Theo give them another shot with this newfound success. Unfortunately, the band defied Theo any chance they got and pushed him when he was only trying to help them out. Hannah especially pushed back on him, with the ghost of Ginny by her side. She was acting out, defying instructions, and drinking excessively.
Hannah’s grief was destructive as well as her drinking habits and addiction. She was so messy and chaotic. This new fame was more than she could handle as she was fighting her own demons, but now it was even
more of a struggle with the whole world watching her navigate it. This had very impactful effects on the band and their image. She was refusing to seek professional help, which was frustrating to read about.
Although this book took a different turn than I was expecting, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself! It shows the power of sisterhood, grief, love, mental health struggles, and how the music industry operates. My biggest issue with this book is the romance. Theo and Hannah had something going on, but it felt very much to me like Hannah did not care as much as Theo did. He was bending over backwards for her, but she was not putting in the same effort. I do acknowledge that she was going through a lot, but I don’t know- it didn’t sit right with me. He also fell in love with her without really knowing her. I didn’t see the appeal or what drew him to her. Very surface level relationship.
I recommend this book if you like books about the music industry, sisterhood, and dealing with grief. Just don’t go in with super high expectations tbh. I have not read Daisy Jones and the Six, but I’ve heard that this book is similar to that- so if that’s your cup of tea then this might be a book for you too!
Read if you like books about:
🎸sisterhood
🎸the music industry
🎸mental health representation
🎸messy characters
🎸grief
january 20, 2026:
HAPPY RELEASE DAYYY 🫶🏻 so excited for this to be out in the world!!!
preread:
i am so excited for this one! i love reading books about the music industry, plus i've been loving literary fiction lately!!🤭🥰
thank you BOTM for the early release copy <3 this book comes out jan. 20th!
The Future Saints have been going on a downward spiral since the death of their manager- the lead singer’s sister Ginny. Their record label sent out their company’s “grim reaper” Theo to either coax out a new album from them or let them go from the label. When he arrives, he’s immediately struck by the lead singer Hannah and her lyricism as well as the new rock sound she debuted that night. The band went viral overnight with this new sound, making Theo give them another shot with this newfound success. Unfortunately, the band defied Theo any chance they got and pushed him when he was only trying to help them out. Hannah especially pushed back on him, with the ghost of Ginny by her side. She was acting out, defying instructions, and drinking excessively.
Hannah’s grief was destructive as well as her drinking habits and addiction. She was so messy and chaotic. This new fame was more than she could handle as she was fighting her own demons, but now it was even
more of a struggle with the whole world watching her navigate it. This had very impactful effects on the band and their image. She was refusing to seek professional help, which was frustrating to read about.
Although this book took a different turn than I was expecting, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself! It shows the power of sisterhood, grief, love, mental health struggles, and how the music industry operates. My biggest issue with this book is the romance. Theo and Hannah had something going on, but it felt very much to me like Hannah did not care as much as Theo did. He was bending over backwards for her, but she was not putting in the same effort. I do acknowledge that she was going through a lot, but I don’t know- it didn’t sit right with me. He also fell in love with her without really knowing her. I didn’t see the appeal or what drew him to her. Very surface level relationship.
I recommend this book if you like books about the music industry, sisterhood, and dealing with grief. Just don’t go in with super high expectations tbh. I have not read Daisy Jones and the Six, but I’ve heard that this book is similar to that- so if that’s your cup of tea then this might be a book for you too!
Read if you like books about:
🎸sisterhood
🎸the music industry
🎸mental health representation
🎸messy characters
🎸grief
january 20, 2026:
HAPPY RELEASE DAYYY 🫶🏻 so excited for this to be out in the world!!!
preread:
i am so excited for this one! i love reading books about the music industry, plus i've been loving literary fiction lately!!🤭🥰
thank you BOTM for the early release copy <3 this book comes out jan. 20th!
October 2, 2025
3.5 stars
Confession: This one is a bit different from what I’m used to from the author, and honestly, I’m not sure it fully worked for me.
What Lit My Mood
I’m a total sucker for stories about fame, tortured souls, and raw emotion poured into music with that iconic Daisy Jones vibe. Hannah, our haunted “Daisy,” is drowning in grief for her sister and channels that ache into her songs, fueled by booze and egged on by social media for her reckless ways. It felt like watching her cast a spell of self-destruction—her wildness not just masking her grief but magnifying it, while her audience devoured every spiral. Where Daisy was the broken starlet, Hannah feels rawer, more tortured, and achingly human.
The author works her own magic here, weaving a spell of grief and sisterhood that lingers long after. The portrayal of self-medicating, mental health struggles, and the messy push-pull of grief felt brutally authentic.
Where My Mood Flickered
Hannah is a mess, and her band seems to drift toward a saintly future where they rise above every struggle without much weight behind it. While that casts a hopeful spell, the journey there didn’t feel fully grounded, and I couldn’t quite buy into how those themes of hope unfolded.
Witchy Mood Reader Rating
Almost Aligned – The emotional spell was strong, and the grief and sisterhood themes carried me through, even if the story’s hope and ending didn’t fully land.
Verdict
Add this to your altar if you’re in the mood for a story of music, grief, and raw emotion with a side of fame’s wild influence. Hannah’s journey isn’t perfect, but the emotional pull and her outlet through music make it a spell worth reading, even if the glittery ending leaves you rolling your eyes.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra, Carolyn and Mary Beth
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Confession: This one is a bit different from what I’m used to from the author, and honestly, I’m not sure it fully worked for me.
What Lit My Mood
I’m a total sucker for stories about fame, tortured souls, and raw emotion poured into music with that iconic Daisy Jones vibe. Hannah, our haunted “Daisy,” is drowning in grief for her sister and channels that ache into her songs, fueled by booze and egged on by social media for her reckless ways. It felt like watching her cast a spell of self-destruction—her wildness not just masking her grief but magnifying it, while her audience devoured every spiral. Where Daisy was the broken starlet, Hannah feels rawer, more tortured, and achingly human.
The author works her own magic here, weaving a spell of grief and sisterhood that lingers long after. The portrayal of self-medicating, mental health struggles, and the messy push-pull of grief felt brutally authentic.
Where My Mood Flickered
Hannah is a mess, and her band seems to drift toward a saintly future where they rise above every struggle without much weight behind it. While that casts a hopeful spell, the journey there didn’t feel fully grounded, and I couldn’t quite buy into how those themes of hope unfolded.
Witchy Mood Reader Rating
Almost Aligned – The emotional spell was strong, and the grief and sisterhood themes carried me through, even if the story’s hope and ending didn’t fully land.
Verdict
Add this to your altar if you’re in the mood for a story of music, grief, and raw emotion with a side of fame’s wild influence. Hannah’s journey isn’t perfect, but the emotional pull and her outlet through music make it a spell worth reading, even if the glittery ending leaves you rolling your eyes.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra, Carolyn and Mary Beth
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years—a beautiful, powerful, and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink, from bestselling author Ashley Winstead."
When record executive Theo Ford becomes the new manager for California band The Future Saints, he knows he has his work cut out for him. They are all reeling from the death of their previous manager. The lead singer Hannah has been hit the hardest and is spiraling out of control. Despite how difficult and unpredictable Hannah is, Theo is drawn to her like a moth to the flame. The band is experimenting with a new sound and miraculously, it goes viral. They are on the cusp of fame and success, but can they overcome their grief and challenges to achieve their dreams?
This book captivated me from start to finish. The characters are fully formed and you are drawn to them even though they make many wrong choices. Theo's selflessness made him my favorite. Themes of grief, ambition, love, friendship, and sisterhood are explored in a visceral and moving way. Winstead's gift of storytelling is evident throughout the novel. She continues to write books that pull you into the story and she keeps you invested in it. I have no doubt this will be one of the biggest novels of 2026.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ashley Winstead for an advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
When record executive Theo Ford becomes the new manager for California band The Future Saints, he knows he has his work cut out for him. They are all reeling from the death of their previous manager. The lead singer Hannah has been hit the hardest and is spiraling out of control. Despite how difficult and unpredictable Hannah is, Theo is drawn to her like a moth to the flame. The band is experimenting with a new sound and miraculously, it goes viral. They are on the cusp of fame and success, but can they overcome their grief and challenges to achieve their dreams?
This book captivated me from start to finish. The characters are fully formed and you are drawn to them even though they make many wrong choices. Theo's selflessness made him my favorite. Themes of grief, ambition, love, friendship, and sisterhood are explored in a visceral and moving way. Winstead's gift of storytelling is evident throughout the novel. She continues to write books that pull you into the story and she keeps you invested in it. I have no doubt this will be one of the biggest novels of 2026.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ashley Winstead for an advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
January 3, 2026
4-4.5⭐️
February 12, 2026
Love novels about the music industry? Think: Daisy Jones & The Six (2019), The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (2021), and The Lightening Bottles (2024).
Go ahead and add The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead to the list.
In her recent release, Winstead ventures into new territory from her usual thriller genre.
It's a familiar story arc: musical rise to fame, collapse, and transformation-reinvention.
But what elevates the novel beyond standard music-industry fiction is its unflinching examination of complicated grief.
We follow singer-songwriter Hannah — The Futute Saints frontwoman — as she navigates the aftermath of her younger sister Ginny's drowning in a surfing accident.
The band's transition from breezy California pop rock to rage-filled, sorrow-filled alternative rock mirrors Hannah’s internal devastation.
The descriptions of Hannah onstage, lost in her music, are deeply raw and emotional. Winstead recounts the performances so vividly, you can almost see and hear them.
In Hannah’s frenetic performance style and increasingly erratic behavior off stage, we witness her walk the razor’s edge between artistic transformation and self-destruction.
The inclusion of mock magazine articles, social media posts, and interview transcripts provides texture and immediacy.
Although these interpolations occasionally disrupt the narrative flow, the novel held my attention from start to finish.
January 20, 2026
I loved this book. I was immediately drawn into the story and glued to its pages. It is about musicians and the music industry. Except it is much more than that. It is about love, grief, and fame.
In this contemporary piece of fiction, the author successfully steps away from her usual path of writing chick lit or mystery thrillers. Instead, we are taken into the lives of a band of musicians that are struggling with alcohol dependency and grief as they attempt to claw their way back to creating hit songs and a new album. Ms. Winstead tackles these topics with delicacy and finesse. I found myself cheering for the characters at every turn.
Joining together during their years in college, Kenny, Ripper, and Hannah became pop singing icons, The Saints, with an extremely popular single. However, it's not until a tragedy strikes six years later that they turn to rock music and hit the top of the charts.
When they are at their lowest point, The Saint's record company sends in a new manager, Theo, who has a talent for dealing with disasters in the music industry. He finds The Saints in a downward spiral in their personal lives but with his help, and thousands of fans on social media, they go from playing in a dive bar that holds fifty people to packed audiences in San Francisco and Las Vegas, followed by appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and SNL.
Unfortunately, even though Hannah channels her grief into her music, she can't seem to pick up the pieces of her life after the death of their first manager, someone that she was very close to. From friends that were always glued at the hip, the band members become toxic enemies. Something that their fame and fortune and new manager may not be able to overcome. What happens to the remaining trajectory for this band? You'll definitely want to read this book and find out.
Fiction lovers and readers who loved books like Daisy Jones & The Six, Mary Jane, Songs in Ursa Major or The Final Revival of Opal & Nev should hurry out and get a copy of this book because once the word gets out it is going to be flying off the shelves and will be on a long waitlist at the library.
TW: alcoholism, addiction, depression, and mental health
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Zakiya Jamal at Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.
In this contemporary piece of fiction, the author successfully steps away from her usual path of writing chick lit or mystery thrillers. Instead, we are taken into the lives of a band of musicians that are struggling with alcohol dependency and grief as they attempt to claw their way back to creating hit songs and a new album. Ms. Winstead tackles these topics with delicacy and finesse. I found myself cheering for the characters at every turn.
Joining together during their years in college, Kenny, Ripper, and Hannah became pop singing icons, The Saints, with an extremely popular single. However, it's not until a tragedy strikes six years later that they turn to rock music and hit the top of the charts.
When they are at their lowest point, The Saint's record company sends in a new manager, Theo, who has a talent for dealing with disasters in the music industry. He finds The Saints in a downward spiral in their personal lives but with his help, and thousands of fans on social media, they go from playing in a dive bar that holds fifty people to packed audiences in San Francisco and Las Vegas, followed by appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and SNL.
Unfortunately, even though Hannah channels her grief into her music, she can't seem to pick up the pieces of her life after the death of their first manager, someone that she was very close to. From friends that were always glued at the hip, the band members become toxic enemies. Something that their fame and fortune and new manager may not be able to overcome. What happens to the remaining trajectory for this band? You'll definitely want to read this book and find out.
Fiction lovers and readers who loved books like Daisy Jones & The Six, Mary Jane, Songs in Ursa Major or The Final Revival of Opal & Nev should hurry out and get a copy of this book because once the word gets out it is going to be flying off the shelves and will be on a long waitlist at the library.
TW: alcoholism, addiction, depression, and mental health
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Zakiya Jamal at Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2025
3.5
Washed up, a disaster area, that’s the general opinion on The Future Saints, until an inebriated Hannah Cortland sings that last new song at The Hideout, a Californian venue also past its prime. It halts Manifest record label fixer Theo in his tracks, giving him goosebumps, maybe The Saints do you have a future. Indeed it seems so as this new music goes viral. However, Hannah is deep in grief for her sister Ginny, her partner in crime for everything. Will Hannah embrace the potential of success or detonate all Theo’s efforts at every return?
I love Ashley Winstead’s last few books but less so this one which I think maybe is because I have read Daisy Jones and The Six???? The characterisation is very good, Hannah is very vulnerable and on a path to self-destruction, her behaviour is contradictory yet remains constant and true to the memory of her sister with her love of Ginny shining through all the chaos. Her grief is palpable and almost a living thing. Theo has the patience of a saint trying to manage and handle this lot as they create their own brand of anarchy.
This is a real slow burner which I generally like and it’s an emotional, raw, haunting rollercoaster of a book as it explores a number of themes beyond the obvious one of grief and Hannah‘s spiralling mental health. It also looks at the music industry and handling fame but Hannah and of course Ginny, lie at the heart of it all and everything she’s going through is conveyed very well. I’m glad the romance element isn’t the biggest part of the novel as I just don’t see these two as a couple.
Overall, I cannot deny this is very well written and it’s clearly from the heart which I admire, but this is my least favourite book of the authors as it’s just a bit too slow in places for my taste.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus, Aria and Aries for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
Publishes in the UK on 22/1/26.
Washed up, a disaster area, that’s the general opinion on The Future Saints, until an inebriated Hannah Cortland sings that last new song at The Hideout, a Californian venue also past its prime. It halts Manifest record label fixer Theo in his tracks, giving him goosebumps, maybe The Saints do you have a future. Indeed it seems so as this new music goes viral. However, Hannah is deep in grief for her sister Ginny, her partner in crime for everything. Will Hannah embrace the potential of success or detonate all Theo’s efforts at every return?
I love Ashley Winstead’s last few books but less so this one which I think maybe is because I have read Daisy Jones and The Six???? The characterisation is very good, Hannah is very vulnerable and on a path to self-destruction, her behaviour is contradictory yet remains constant and true to the memory of her sister with her love of Ginny shining through all the chaos. Her grief is palpable and almost a living thing. Theo has the patience of a saint trying to manage and handle this lot as they create their own brand of anarchy.
This is a real slow burner which I generally like and it’s an emotional, raw, haunting rollercoaster of a book as it explores a number of themes beyond the obvious one of grief and Hannah‘s spiralling mental health. It also looks at the music industry and handling fame but Hannah and of course Ginny, lie at the heart of it all and everything she’s going through is conveyed very well. I’m glad the romance element isn’t the biggest part of the novel as I just don’t see these two as a couple.
Overall, I cannot deny this is very well written and it’s clearly from the heart which I admire, but this is my least favourite book of the authors as it’s just a bit too slow in places for my taste.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus, Aria and Aries for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
Publishes in the UK on 22/1/26.
January 31, 2026
Rating: 2.5⭐️
I randomly decided to pick up this book and it surprised me… but not in a good way.
I thought I was going to read a powerful and emotional story about love and loss and that just wasn’t the case. The way the author tackled these subjects was very surface-level. The plot of the band’s unexpected rise to fame was more of a focus. And so, I couldn’t help comparing it to every other generic rockstar novel out there. The grief and healing journey of the characters was what drew me to this book, but the author didn’t nail the execution.
I also felt like we never really got to know the characters. This was even more apparent when it came to the female lead Hannah. She took no accountability and was just spiralling and lashing out at everyone. I wanted to better understand her. The three chapters where she was with a therapist were probably the most interesting part of this book and I wished we got more of it. The romance was pretty bland as well. I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Theo and Hannah. It felt more like infatuation and two people trauma bonding than love.
Overall, the story lacked substance and just became very repetitive. It also didn’t have the emotional depth I was looking for.
I randomly decided to pick up this book and it surprised me… but not in a good way.
I thought I was going to read a powerful and emotional story about love and loss and that just wasn’t the case. The way the author tackled these subjects was very surface-level. The plot of the band’s unexpected rise to fame was more of a focus. And so, I couldn’t help comparing it to every other generic rockstar novel out there. The grief and healing journey of the characters was what drew me to this book, but the author didn’t nail the execution.
I also felt like we never really got to know the characters. This was even more apparent when it came to the female lead Hannah. She took no accountability and was just spiralling and lashing out at everyone. I wanted to better understand her. The three chapters where she was with a therapist were probably the most interesting part of this book and I wished we got more of it. The romance was pretty bland as well. I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Theo and Hannah. It felt more like infatuation and two people trauma bonding than love.
Overall, the story lacked substance and just became very repetitive. It also didn’t have the emotional depth I was looking for.
January 7, 2026
4⭐️
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
As soon as I read the first few pages, I was hooked to see the journey of the band The Future Saints. Theo seemed so cool right off the bat and knew that it was the start of something big. 😎
I was connected to all of the characters in this story and found myself laughing and understanding their grief with them. Plus that there was a South Asian depicted in a not so normal type of situations and lifestyle. Kenny and Ripper are ride or die and loved that about them.
There def was tension with the two central characters Hannah and Theo and loved the way he admired her. The silent looks, the exhales!!! They had a great connection that made the story even more beautiful.
I enjoyed all the formats and view points we get of the story of The Future Saints … we see articles, reddit posts and TikTok comment sections which made it much more realistic and made me much more invested in the story and where public perception will lead next. It was made to fit the world we live in now and loved that part.
There were emotional moments and found family moments and you just felt connected to everyone and understood what they wanted from the world. Great writing and great storyline… genuinely felt the emotions Hannah was feeling.. moving story.
This would be so good as a movie.. I just kept picturing it as a movie.. amazing !! Listened to a reading Patti Smith playlist. Was the best!
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
As soon as I read the first few pages, I was hooked to see the journey of the band The Future Saints. Theo seemed so cool right off the bat and knew that it was the start of something big. 😎
I was connected to all of the characters in this story and found myself laughing and understanding their grief with them. Plus that there was a South Asian depicted in a not so normal type of situations and lifestyle. Kenny and Ripper are ride or die and loved that about them.
There def was tension with the two central characters Hannah and Theo and loved the way he admired her. The silent looks, the exhales!!! They had a great connection that made the story even more beautiful.
I enjoyed all the formats and view points we get of the story of The Future Saints … we see articles, reddit posts and TikTok comment sections which made it much more realistic and made me much more invested in the story and where public perception will lead next. It was made to fit the world we live in now and loved that part.
There were emotional moments and found family moments and you just felt connected to everyone and understood what they wanted from the world. Great writing and great storyline… genuinely felt the emotions Hannah was feeling.. moving story.
This would be so good as a movie.. I just kept picturing it as a movie.. amazing !! Listened to a reading Patti Smith playlist. Was the best!
July 22, 2025
The setting is a rock band that explodes into stardom after grinding in the Indie Rock circuit for years. “We may be devils but in the future we’ll be saints” is the line that Ginny says in their youth that inspires their band name, The Future Saints. In a somewhat coincidental way, they are assigned a new manager Theo from the record company the same day they go viral on TikTok. Their former manager, Ginny, died in a drowning accident. Ginny was frontgirl Hannah’s sister. And Hannah keeps seeing her and talking to her everywhere. Her bandmates are excellent characters.
Told in alternating POV (Hannah/Theo) as well as interviews and transcripts. I absolutely loved it. This is not really a romance, romance was such a small piece of this, but I can’t fault the publisher for marketing it as romance.
At its core, this is a book about the very human desire to want to bring someone back from the dead. Raised to never give up and that determination will make you successful, Hannah just doesn’t want to let Ginny go. And she melts down on a very public stage, having issues with depression and alcoholism. Strong comparisons to Britney, Whitney, and Amy.
There are 3 things you want to have in a musical act; talent, looks and presence. But if you can only have one, pick presence. And the public loves her, connects with her talent an raw emotion and grief. This book is so emotionally powerful. How can we be lovable in this kind of grief stricken madness?
If you like books about the grieving process, music industry, and human connection, you will love this book. Boy oh boy I cried.
Don’t skip the acknowledgements. There are 4 indie bookstores named and I immediately followed all of them on instagram. Bucket list to visit them someday if I land in their towns.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC. Book to be published January 19, 2026.
Told in alternating POV (Hannah/Theo) as well as interviews and transcripts. I absolutely loved it. This is not really a romance, romance was such a small piece of this, but I can’t fault the publisher for marketing it as romance.
At its core, this is a book about the very human desire to want to bring someone back from the dead. Raised to never give up and that determination will make you successful, Hannah just doesn’t want to let Ginny go. And she melts down on a very public stage, having issues with depression and alcoholism. Strong comparisons to Britney, Whitney, and Amy.
There are 3 things you want to have in a musical act; talent, looks and presence. But if you can only have one, pick presence. And the public loves her, connects with her talent an raw emotion and grief. This book is so emotionally powerful. How can we be lovable in this kind of grief stricken madness?
If you like books about the grieving process, music industry, and human connection, you will love this book. Boy oh boy I cried.
Don’t skip the acknowledgements. There are 4 indie bookstores named and I immediately followed all of them on instagram. Bucket list to visit them someday if I land in their towns.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC. Book to be published January 19, 2026.
November 7, 2025
I was very scared to read THE FUTURE SAINTS...
I have been holding off on reading and reviewing Ashley Winstead's THE FUTURE SAINTS (I know, I know everyone that it doesn't come out until January 2026, but everyone has been bugging me to give them a review ASAP!) because this pivot from thriller to literary fiction was a bit scary for me. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! Thank you @atriabooks for this gifted copy.
When record exec Theo stumbles upon a washed-up band, The Future Saints, barely holding it together, he’s floored by their lead singer, Hannah, whose raw, grief-fueled performance reignites their fame overnight. But as the spotlight burns brighter, Hannah’s pain spills into chaos, threatening her career, her sister, and the one person brave enough to believe in her. This is VH1's Behind the Music with Winstead's notable flair.
Ashley Winstead never fails to surprise me. She’s the kind of writer who can jump from thrillers to romance to contemporary fiction without missing a beat. THE FUTURE SAINTS feels like another bold reinvention, pulling readers into the chaotic world of a band grappling with grief, sudden fame, and the messy beauty of starting over. If you liked Daisy Jones & The Six or ML Rio's Hot Wax, this book is for you! The book showcases themes of love, loss, friendship, and self-destruction, all set against the intoxicating backdrop of the music industry. It’s emotional, heartfelt, sharp, and unflinchingly human. Although I prefer my Winstead books to be thrillers, THE FUTURE SAINTS is proof that Ashley can do it all. STARS: 4, PUB: 1/20/26
I have been holding off on reading and reviewing Ashley Winstead's THE FUTURE SAINTS (I know, I know everyone that it doesn't come out until January 2026, but everyone has been bugging me to give them a review ASAP!) because this pivot from thriller to literary fiction was a bit scary for me. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! Thank you @atriabooks for this gifted copy.
When record exec Theo stumbles upon a washed-up band, The Future Saints, barely holding it together, he’s floored by their lead singer, Hannah, whose raw, grief-fueled performance reignites their fame overnight. But as the spotlight burns brighter, Hannah’s pain spills into chaos, threatening her career, her sister, and the one person brave enough to believe in her. This is VH1's Behind the Music with Winstead's notable flair.
Ashley Winstead never fails to surprise me. She’s the kind of writer who can jump from thrillers to romance to contemporary fiction without missing a beat. THE FUTURE SAINTS feels like another bold reinvention, pulling readers into the chaotic world of a band grappling with grief, sudden fame, and the messy beauty of starting over. If you liked Daisy Jones & The Six or ML Rio's Hot Wax, this book is for you! The book showcases themes of love, loss, friendship, and self-destruction, all set against the intoxicating backdrop of the music industry. It’s emotional, heartfelt, sharp, and unflinchingly human. Although I prefer my Winstead books to be thrillers, THE FUTURE SAINTS is proof that Ashley can do it all. STARS: 4, PUB: 1/20/26
July 29, 2025
In one sense so different to the authors other books, but in another Ashley Winstead has always been able to seamlessly deliver haunting and poetic chapters that have so much more hidden layers to the surface level genre.
The book follows a famous music band, they are struggling after the tragic death of their manager and practically drowning in their grief which ultimately sends the band in a different direction musically, they tap into something new and unique, their record label is not happy about it but they have one true supported who sees their new vision and the way it resonates with the fans.
I loved the band members and their emotional journey, there is a lot of character depth and development, their emotions are honest and raw and bleed off the page.
If you are passionate about music and willing to travel to something beyond that this book is absolutely for you.
I see the comparison to daisy jones and the six and I understand why but imo that book / tv adaption is full of toxicity which you won’t find in this one and im glad for that, it would take away from the beauty that is “the future saints”.
A novel about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us, The Future Saints is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that's so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat.”
Thank you to Atria Books and Ashley Winstead for this #netgalley #gifted copy.
It’s quite a long time until the publish date (January 2026) but absolutely worth the wait, put this one on your wish list so you don’t forget!
The book follows a famous music band, they are struggling after the tragic death of their manager and practically drowning in their grief which ultimately sends the band in a different direction musically, they tap into something new and unique, their record label is not happy about it but they have one true supported who sees their new vision and the way it resonates with the fans.
I loved the band members and their emotional journey, there is a lot of character depth and development, their emotions are honest and raw and bleed off the page.
If you are passionate about music and willing to travel to something beyond that this book is absolutely for you.
I see the comparison to daisy jones and the six and I understand why but imo that book / tv adaption is full of toxicity which you won’t find in this one and im glad for that, it would take away from the beauty that is “the future saints”.
A novel about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us, The Future Saints is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that's so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat.”
Thank you to Atria Books and Ashley Winstead for this #netgalley #gifted copy.
It’s quite a long time until the publish date (January 2026) but absolutely worth the wait, put this one on your wish list so you don’t forget!
September 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Sadly, I teetered between three and four stars for this one. I would describe it as a run-of-the-mill read that gave me nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either. As the lead singer of The Future Saints, Hannah is always in the spotlight. After the death of her sister, the paparazzi capture her in some not so great situations. How is Hannah supposed to heal when she is constantly being followed? Enter Theo, the band’s new manager who will take The Future Saints back to the top. While I enjoyed the multiple points of view, I had a hard time staying connected to the story and its characters. I just thought it would be better… but it’s not Winstead’s fault that she wrote this novel post-Daisy Jones & the Six. 🤭
Sadly, I teetered between three and four stars for this one. I would describe it as a run-of-the-mill read that gave me nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either. As the lead singer of The Future Saints, Hannah is always in the spotlight. After the death of her sister, the paparazzi capture her in some not so great situations. How is Hannah supposed to heal when she is constantly being followed? Enter Theo, the band’s new manager who will take The Future Saints back to the top. While I enjoyed the multiple points of view, I had a hard time staying connected to the story and its characters. I just thought it would be better… but it’s not Winstead’s fault that she wrote this novel post-Daisy Jones & the Six. 🤭
February 2, 2026
I really enjoyed this audiobook. With themes of friendship, family, loss, grief and healing, this one really was quite emotional, but in the best way. I loved these characters and was completely immersed in the story. Highly recommend.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 8, 2025
ARC for review. To be published January 20, 2026.
4 stars.
Theo is a record company “fixer” in line for a big promotion and he’s been sent to salvage what he can (if anything) from the Future Saints, a band signed to his label that showed some initial promise but has been reeling, changing musical direction since the death of the band’s manger and sister of the band’s lead singer/guitarist, Hannah. Hannah is self destructing since Ginny’s death and may be pulling her two bandmates down too. Can Theo cut them loose? Or is there something in the new music?
I liked that Hannah was a real mess; who wouldn’t be? What I liked a bit less was the idea that Ginny was around in such a literal sense. I wish the other members of the band and the road manager had been a bit more fleshed out as characters, but overall, I enjoyed the book which definitely gives DAISY JONES vibes, and if you enjoyed that book you’ll probably like this one OK too.
4 stars.
Theo is a record company “fixer” in line for a big promotion and he’s been sent to salvage what he can (if anything) from the Future Saints, a band signed to his label that showed some initial promise but has been reeling, changing musical direction since the death of the band’s manger and sister of the band’s lead singer/guitarist, Hannah. Hannah is self destructing since Ginny’s death and may be pulling her two bandmates down too. Can Theo cut them loose? Or is there something in the new music?
I liked that Hannah was a real mess; who wouldn’t be? What I liked a bit less was the idea that Ginny was around in such a literal sense. I wish the other members of the band and the road manager had been a bit more fleshed out as characters, but overall, I enjoyed the book which definitely gives DAISY JONES vibes, and if you enjoyed that book you’ll probably like this one OK too.
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