What do you think?
Rate this book
The Future Saints
Not yet published
Expected 20 Jan 26Perfect 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
Expected publication January 20, 2026
28531 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Winstead
9 books5,450 followersAshley Winstead's bestselling, critically-acclaimed books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, optioned for television, named 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 585 reviews
November 24, 2025
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
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.
November 21, 2025
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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
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
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 18, 2025
Buddy reading with my bestie babe Sarah❤🎤👯!!!!!!!
REVIEW TO COME WHEN I STOP SOBBING😭😭❤❤!!!!!!!!
REVIEW TO COME WHEN I STOP SOBBING😭😭❤❤!!!!!!!!
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
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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. 🤭
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 9, 2025
Ashley Winstead has done it again—but also, she’s done something completely different. THE FUTURE SAINTS is a stunning, emotionally charged exploration of grief, fame, and the messy, beautiful contradictions of life. It's unlike anything she’s written before, yet still distinctly, unmistakably Winstead: sharp, tender, and impossible to put down.
At the heart of the novel is Hannah Cortland, one of the most compelling and complex female main characters in the Ashley Winstead fictional universe. After the tragic death of her sister Ginny—who also happened to be the band’s original manager—Hannah is struggling and her rising indie band The Future Saints is floundering with one bad gig after another; but with the help of viral TikToks and emotionally fraught group dynamics, the band just may make it to success after all. Enter Theo, the new manager with charm, patience, and a suit. IYKYK.
Fans of Daisy Jones & The Six will devour this—but The Future Saints doesn’t just ride the coattails of musical nostalgia. It digs deeper, exploring Hannah’s spiraling mental health, her toxic patterns of self-sabotage, and her refusal (or inability) to process Ginny’s death. It’s raw, it’s messy, and it’s utterly beautiful. The band’s rise to fame may be the hook, but Hannah’s internal unraveling is the heart of the story— and it beats with painful, lyrical precision on every page.
Winstead proves, once again, that she can effortlessly do it all. She's my cult queen writing pitch-black thrillers like In My Dreams I Hold A Knife and The Last Housewife, and now she’s delivered a gut-wrenching, soul-stirring piece of women's fiction that left me teary-eyed and emotionally wrecked—in the best way. I finished it and immediately wanted to start over.
Thank you ATRIA for an early peak! January 2026!
At the heart of the novel is Hannah Cortland, one of the most compelling and complex female main characters in the Ashley Winstead fictional universe. After the tragic death of her sister Ginny—who also happened to be the band’s original manager—Hannah is struggling and her rising indie band The Future Saints is floundering with one bad gig after another; but with the help of viral TikToks and emotionally fraught group dynamics, the band just may make it to success after all. Enter Theo, the new manager with charm, patience, and a suit. IYKYK.
Fans of Daisy Jones & The Six will devour this—but The Future Saints doesn’t just ride the coattails of musical nostalgia. It digs deeper, exploring Hannah’s spiraling mental health, her toxic patterns of self-sabotage, and her refusal (or inability) to process Ginny’s death. It’s raw, it’s messy, and it’s utterly beautiful. The band’s rise to fame may be the hook, but Hannah’s internal unraveling is the heart of the story— and it beats with painful, lyrical precision on every page.
Winstead proves, once again, that she can effortlessly do it all. She's my cult queen writing pitch-black thrillers like In My Dreams I Hold A Knife and The Last Housewife, and now she’s delivered a gut-wrenching, soul-stirring piece of women's fiction that left me teary-eyed and emotionally wrecked—in the best way. I finished it and immediately wanted to start over.
Thank you ATRIA for an early peak! January 2026!
December 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. We have 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. I loved it.
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.
September 5, 2025
Music and reading have always been the two things to get me through life. They've always been the two things that could illicit such emotion. This book combines those two things flawlessly. Just as music can illicit that emotion, it can serve as a reminder of how messy life can get.
For Hannah Courtland, lead singer of Future Saints, life got real messy when her sister Ginny dies. Their small notoriety dwindles and their record label sends in their new manager, Theo, who is known as the fixer. Theo is known for his ability to take bands whose image and music sales need improvement and turn them around.
Theo is instantly drawn in by Hannah. The Saints go viral in tiktok with a blunder with Hannah when she's singing a new song about his sisters death. Everyone seems to be able to relate to the raw emotion from the band. As the band rises to more fame, Hannah can't deal with losing her sister and it's clear from her performances she's hooked on alcohol and using other substances as well. People love her rawness and realness but it's clear des stumbling and her and Theo are dealing with their attraction.
Hannah's addiction stirs up the band at times and as she struggles more so dies the band.
This book could be triggering for some because its storyline revolves around death and addiction while serving as a reminder of what addiction can do to a family. I'll be thinking of this book for quite some time.
A big thanks to Netgalley and Atria Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date Jan 20, 2026
For Hannah Courtland, lead singer of Future Saints, life got real messy when her sister Ginny dies. Their small notoriety dwindles and their record label sends in their new manager, Theo, who is known as the fixer. Theo is known for his ability to take bands whose image and music sales need improvement and turn them around.
Theo is instantly drawn in by Hannah. The Saints go viral in tiktok with a blunder with Hannah when she's singing a new song about his sisters death. Everyone seems to be able to relate to the raw emotion from the band. As the band rises to more fame, Hannah can't deal with losing her sister and it's clear from her performances she's hooked on alcohol and using other substances as well. People love her rawness and realness but it's clear des stumbling and her and Theo are dealing with their attraction.
Hannah's addiction stirs up the band at times and as she struggles more so dies the band.
This book could be triggering for some because its storyline revolves around death and addiction while serving as a reminder of what addiction can do to a family. I'll be thinking of this book for quite some time.
A big thanks to Netgalley and Atria Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date Jan 20, 2026
August 12, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Future Saints, by Ashley Winstead, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Hannah is in a band, called The Future Saints, but Hannah is not acting like a saint at all, self destructive, and not listening to people, on her side. This book was hard to read at time because of Hannah's attitude and self destructing ways, but it was a good read.
October 11, 2025
Add this to your January must buy list!!! I always look forward to Ashley’s new releases, but this is my favorite book of hers to date. I was captivated from the start and couldn’t put it down. The POVs and pace of the story were absolute perfection. 100% recommend the read!
Thank you to the publisher & Ashley for the gifted ARC
Thank you to the publisher & Ashley for the gifted ARC
November 16, 2025
The Future Saints is as much about a band as it is about the profound impact of grief. The band at the heart of the story includes three college friends who find some success before experiencing a tragedy. Grief propels the band into a new sound and a higher level of popularity.
I was hesitant to read this. Daisy Jones and other books were good but didn't excite me, and I expected the same here. I was happily mistaken. While the behind-the-scenes look into the band's rise is a main focus, the problems and emotions felt authentic. The slow-burn romance unfolded naturally. While Hannah is damaged, it wasn’t the typical crazy rock girl damage. I enjoyed the multiple layers of her grief and processing. This will be a hit of 2026 for sure!
Advanced copy provided by Atria books. All opinions are my own.
I was hesitant to read this. Daisy Jones and other books were good but didn't excite me, and I expected the same here. I was happily mistaken. While the behind-the-scenes look into the band's rise is a main focus, the problems and emotions felt authentic. The slow-burn romance unfolded naturally. While Hannah is damaged, it wasn’t the typical crazy rock girl damage. I enjoyed the multiple layers of her grief and processing. This will be a hit of 2026 for sure!
Advanced copy provided by Atria books. All opinions are my own.
November 18, 2025
Ashley Winstead can do no wrong! Wow, this book is intense and it broke me emotionally. Now everyone knows that I don’t do romance but if Ashley writes it I will read it. I was a bit of a mess of tears by the end of this book, I loved it so much.
I am a sucker for a book that goes behind the scenes in the music or film industries. We meet The Future Saints playing a gig that is half empty and has no feeling. That is until lead singer Hannah announces that they are playing a new song and the crowd goes wild. In the crowd is their new manager, a manager that they don’t want. Theo doesn’t let this stop him from getting backstage and into their lives.
I don’t want to say too much more about the story, it is one of those books that you just have to read to find out more. More than a story about a band, The Future Saints is an emotional roller coaster that will stay with me for a very long time.
It is a story of grief, of love, family, fame, friendship and so much more, it will break your heart and then stomp on it. Hannah is a brilliant character, not the most likeable person but so incredibly talented and broken, that you can’t help but feel for her. There is only one thing in the world that she wants, and coming to terms with the fact that she can never have it is what makes this story so special .
I loved her bandmates and long time friends Ripper and Kevin. They were the kind of friends that everyone wants, so loyal even through the really dark times. Theo was lovely too, so much patience.
This book is going to be top of everyone’s favourite books list when it comes out in January. You just have to read it. I don’t think anything I can say will do it the justice that it deserves.
Thank you so so much Aria and Aries for my early copy to read. Such an honour. Out in the world on January 22nd.
I am a sucker for a book that goes behind the scenes in the music or film industries. We meet The Future Saints playing a gig that is half empty and has no feeling. That is until lead singer Hannah announces that they are playing a new song and the crowd goes wild. In the crowd is their new manager, a manager that they don’t want. Theo doesn’t let this stop him from getting backstage and into their lives.
I don’t want to say too much more about the story, it is one of those books that you just have to read to find out more. More than a story about a band, The Future Saints is an emotional roller coaster that will stay with me for a very long time.
It is a story of grief, of love, family, fame, friendship and so much more, it will break your heart and then stomp on it. Hannah is a brilliant character, not the most likeable person but so incredibly talented and broken, that you can’t help but feel for her. There is only one thing in the world that she wants, and coming to terms with the fact that she can never have it is what makes this story so special .
I loved her bandmates and long time friends Ripper and Kevin. They were the kind of friends that everyone wants, so loyal even through the really dark times. Theo was lovely too, so much patience.
This book is going to be top of everyone’s favourite books list when it comes out in January. You just have to read it. I don’t think anything I can say will do it the justice that it deserves.
Thank you so so much Aria and Aries for my early copy to read. Such an honour. Out in the world on January 22nd.
September 2, 2025
Ashley Winstead completely blew me away with this one!
Thank you Atria Books for the gifted copy of The Future Saints{partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 1.20.2025
Pages: 352
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
The Future Saints follows a band finding success, led by a wickedly talented female singer, but it’s so much more than just music. The story dives deep into grief, loss, and the importance of mental health, making the characters feel real and raw.
What I loved about this book is that everything felt so real. The characters could be based on real life celebrities that we’ve seen go through a tough time following a heartbreaking loss and was the perfect reminder that we all handle grief in our own way but celebrities tend to have to share their grief in a very public and often criticized way.
While reading The Future Saints, I kept thinking about how badly I wish I could listen to the music that this group was creating because I just know it would be incredible.
By the end, I was completely absorbed in the book and did not want it to end—and yes, I may have shed a few tears (are they tears of sadness or joy? You’ll have to find out yourself when it releases in 2026 😅).
Read if you enjoy:
🎤 Band-driven stories
🌟 Complex female leads
💔 Emotionally rich narratives
🎶 Music-centric fiction.
🫂 Second chances
I highly recommend adding this one to your reading list. If it ends up having a full cast narration, I’ll definitely be reading The Future Saints again through the audiobook.
____
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on StoryGraph:https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Thank you Atria Books for the gifted copy of The Future Saints{partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 1.20.2025
Pages: 352
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
The Future Saints follows a band finding success, led by a wickedly talented female singer, but it’s so much more than just music. The story dives deep into grief, loss, and the importance of mental health, making the characters feel real and raw.
What I loved about this book is that everything felt so real. The characters could be based on real life celebrities that we’ve seen go through a tough time following a heartbreaking loss and was the perfect reminder that we all handle grief in our own way but celebrities tend to have to share their grief in a very public and often criticized way.
While reading The Future Saints, I kept thinking about how badly I wish I could listen to the music that this group was creating because I just know it would be incredible.
By the end, I was completely absorbed in the book and did not want it to end—and yes, I may have shed a few tears (are they tears of sadness or joy? You’ll have to find out yourself when it releases in 2026 😅).
Read if you enjoy:
🎤 Band-driven stories
🌟 Complex female leads
💔 Emotionally rich narratives
🎶 Music-centric fiction.
🫂 Second chances
I highly recommend adding this one to your reading list. If it ends up having a full cast narration, I’ll definitely be reading The Future Saints again through the audiobook.
____
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on StoryGraph:https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
July 28, 2025
4.5 🌟. I needed to think about this book for a bit before talking about it. Ashley Winstead is one of my favorite thriller writers (I don’t read her romance books because I just can’t do romance.) but Future Saints was different than any romance book I’ve ever come across. This was not straight romance. It was the story of the band the Future Saints. Hannah is the lead singer and we follow her through her band’s rise to stardom, all while she is grieving the death of her sister/manager of the band.
Once again, Ashley’s writing about grief and love is so beautifully done. Only someone who has experienced such grief can write about it so well. The connection of love and grief the character feels for her deceased sister is heartbreaking.
I’m used to Ashley’s books with murder, so if there had been a murder thrown in with this story, it would have been 5 🌟 for me. But Ashley never disappoints me and this just adds to her incredible library of books.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this arc.
Once again, Ashley’s writing about grief and love is so beautifully done. Only someone who has experienced such grief can write about it so well. The connection of love and grief the character feels for her deceased sister is heartbreaking.
I’m used to Ashley’s books with murder, so if there had been a murder thrown in with this story, it would have been 5 🌟 for me. But Ashley never disappoints me and this just adds to her incredible library of books.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this arc.
Want to read
July 8, 2025A book for fans of Daisy Jones written by Ashley Winstead? I'm sold and I need this is my hands RIGHT NOW!
December 9, 2025
Hannah Cortland is the lead singer of the Future Saints, a rock band from California that hasn't lived up to its early promise. Besides disappointing album sales, the band is struggling with the sudden and tragic death of their manager. Their record company assigns Theo Ford, known as "The Fixer," to manage the band and get them back on track, as they are under contract for one more album. If they can't recover, the label will drop them. However, when Theo hears one of their new songs at a small venue in their hometown, inspired by the deep grief Hannah is feeling, it is clear that the band is worth saving. A viral video of the performance confirms that Hannah and her bandmates Ripper and Kenny, with Theo's help, could be headed for stardom. To Hannah, Theo is just a suit, thinking only of company profits and a potential promotion. While Hannah grieves, Theo harbors the pain stemming from a father who walked out on the family. Can they help each other heal?
The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead is a hit. Winstead became a must-read author after her 2021 debut, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, and she has continued to write dark, chilling stories as well as swoony romance. Now, contemporary fiction is on the list of genres she has conquered. With an engaging setting in the music industry, this is an emotional tale about family relationships, navigating grief, and pursuing your dreams. This book grabbed me from the start and didn't let me go, hitting all the right notes.
Many thanks to Atria for the advance.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead is a hit. Winstead became a must-read author after her 2021 debut, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, and she has continued to write dark, chilling stories as well as swoony romance. Now, contemporary fiction is on the list of genres she has conquered. With an engaging setting in the music industry, this is an emotional tale about family relationships, navigating grief, and pursuing your dreams. This book grabbed me from the start and didn't let me go, hitting all the right notes.
Many thanks to Atria for the advance.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
July 25, 2025
I read this book in 24 hours and when I say it CONSUMED ME!!
The dynamics of the band, family, the music industry were so addicting. And we love a strong, complex
female character fighting for self love. The pacing was perfect, the longing was surprisingly tender and the humor was clever.
I will definitely be buying this hard copy when it’s released in January! The Future Saints stole my heart. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
The dynamics of the band, family, the music industry were so addicting. And we love a strong, complex
female character fighting for self love. The pacing was perfect, the longing was surprisingly tender and the humor was clever.
I will definitely be buying this hard copy when it’s released in January! The Future Saints stole my heart. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
not-released-yet
August 1, 2025read the description & im in yearning,,
Displaying 1 - 30 of 585 reviews