A huge thank you to NetGalley for this Advanced Readers Copy! 🥰

The tragic journey through grief, fame and rock and roll, we get to witness Hannah’s life and Theo’s purpose in music.

This book would’ve been a solid 5 star read for me, but the ending felt super lack luster. All the buildup for not an ounce of closure or payoff? Really sucked the vibe out of the air.

5 Stars – Haunting, Electric, and Full of Heart

“The woman on the stage is haunted.”

That very first line grabbed me by the throat and I knew I was in for something unforgettable. I needed to know who she was, who haunted her, and what brought her to that stage. What unfolded was a breathtaking exploration of grief, fame, the bond between sisters , and the messy, beautiful ways we try to survive both love and loss.

Ashley Winstead’s The Future Saints is a soul-stirring novel about the fictional band of the same name, teetering on the edge of collapse. Frontwoman Hannah Cartland is grieving the recent death of her sister Ginny, but she’s not ready to grieve her, not really, because grieving would mean Ginny is truly gone. The band is unraveling, the label is losing faith, and in walks Theo “the fixer” the label’s last-ditch effort to save the Saints. Told in dual POV between Hannah and Theo, this is a love story, but not the one you’re expecting.

I devoured this book. From the very first chapters, I was completely hooked. Books about fictional bands always intrigue me, but The Future Saints delivered something deeper. Grief carved into lyrics, raw performances, and a visceral push-and-pull between self-destruction and rebirth. Hannah’s voice is electric. Theo’s devotion is grounding. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but it’s complicated, because falling for a suit wouldn’t be very rock and roll, would it?

This novel gave me everything I love in a rock band story: found family, creative tension, messy relationships, the dizzying high of performance, and the painful lows of what’s left unsaid. It gave me Daisy Jones & The Six vibes in the best possible way, but made it feel new, modern, and achingly emotional. I cared deeply about these characters. And when I closed the book, I was genuinely upset that I couldn’t stream their music, because I felt those songs. I heard the emotion in every lyric Winstead described.

Also, do not skip the acknowledgments! Ashley gives a heartfelt shoutout to several indie bookstores that have supported her, including Murder by the Book in Houston, Texas, which is extra special to me. It’s the very first place I heard of Ashley Winstead, and I had the privilege of meeting her there. We were standing next to each other in the audience at a Jeneva Rose event, chatting like fellow book lovers before I even realized who she was. That moment made reading this book feel even more personal and I’ll cherish it forever.

This novel is a beautiful, transportive ride through grief, fame, love, and letting go. The Future Saints isn’t just about music. Its about the ghosts we carry, the families we choose, and the courage it takes to face both heartbreak and healing. I’ll be thinking about Hannah, Theo, Ginny, and this band for a long time. I’d give it 10 stars if I could.

I didn't think this was going to be that great because it ws one of those books that NetGalley seemed to be pushing, and it wasnt an author that I had ever heard of. Wow, was I wrong. This book was beautiful, and sad, and touched the heart. So well done

Raw, restless, and unexpectedly tender, The Future Saints isn’t just a love story—it’s a gut-punch ballad about grief, fame, and the fragile bonds that hold us together. With unforgettable characters and a pulse that mirrors the highs and lows of the music industry, this novel hums with heartbreak, sisterhood, and second chances. A story you don’t just read—you feel it, loud and lingering, like your favorite song on repeat.

I've loved all of Ashley Winstead's thrillers and was so impressed with her first foray into literary fiction. This was an excellent depiction of a relationship between sisters, grief, fame, and was ultimately redemptive.

5 BEAUTIFUL, RAW, MESSY STARS!
I absolutely LOVED The Future Saints! I have no doubt that this will be THE talked about book in 2026, at the top of everyone's TBR, and nominated for every award!

Ashley Winstead created a cast of characters and storyline that the reader can feel in their heart while reading: powerful, vulnerable, yet so messy and unlikeable at the same time. I felt like I was screaming at the book one second, while crying the next. The raw exploration of grief, healing, and love will leave readers begging for it not to end.

I love this author and I absolutely adored this book! An incredible story about the music industry, grief and loss, chosen family and love. I predict that this will be THE BOOK of 2026! Highly recommend to everyone to add to their list!

Ashley Winstead is such a versatile author. Known for both her romances and thrillers, this book felt like a fresh departure in the best way. Winstead immerses you in the world of indie rock, fame, and stardom. Told from the perspectives of Hannah, the lead singer of the band, and Theo, the new manager, along with media clips woven throughout, you get a well-rounded look at life in the spotlight. The story explores grief, mental health, and the pressure of a sudden rise to fame while trying to keep everything together.

If you enjoyed Daisy Jones, this gave me a similar vibe. I just wished there had been a little more romance, because I absolutely loved Theo.

Thank you Atria for the ARC!

Ashley Winstead is quickly becoming a favorite of mine! Solid writing, good emotional depth and a good plot. This books is about a band that is falling apart and a manager that tries to save them. Loved it!

4.5 stars rounded to 5
This story was beautiful! Anything Ashley Winstead writes pulls me right in and hooks me from the start!

The future saints felt like a mix of Daisy Jones and the Six and Malibu Rising vibes. It was beachy, musical, and all the feels! Ashley Wibsstead’s writing is so good and this is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year!

When I got offered an early copy of The Future Saints from Atria Books, I dropped everything to read it, and I’m SO glad I did. This book was incredible, a total emotional roller coaster in the best way. I absolutely adored Theo, and Hannah, and honestly every character in this book - except maybe Roger 😉. I also really enjoyed the interspersing of TikToks, interviews, articles, etc. to really pull everything together. Everyone should add this to their TBR, I feel confident this is going to be on all of the best books lists in 2026!

I enjoyed this book! I thought it was a little slow in the beginning, but it picked up in the middle. Overall, the writing was great and the growth of the characters throughout the book kept me hooked!

I think that fans of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits will enjoy this one. I wanted more of an ending from this one than what we got, but I also understood why it wrapped up the way it did.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read this book in two sittings, loved it. As mentioned in the description, very reminiscent of daisy jones and the six. While both books follow the up and coming success of new bands, the stories are very different.

The Future Saints is a story of a band who signed with a big record label but never seemed to rise to fame. While still reeling from the death of their previous manager, their record label sends a new replacement in as ‘a fixer’. The story that unfolds is so spellbinding because it’s not some cheesy romance. It digs in to real issues and is believable to be set in today’s world.

Thank you to #netgalley and #AshleyWinstead for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, #Partner @atriabooks and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 1/20/26.

It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me! Okay, let me say I hate writing this review because I am a HUGE Ashley Winstead fan. I love all her books and she is such a talented and versatile writer, but this one just fell a little flat for me. I found myself a bit bored and skimming some scenes, but again it is probably just me. I still 100% recommend reading this book, because I think it will be a huge hit come January. 

The band, The Future Saints, suffers a devastating loss of their manager, and now the band is falling apart. One night the lead singer Hannah sings an emotional song and the video of her goes viral. This is an emotional story about a band, grief, sisterhood, friendships, and life.

5 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and Simon and Schuster for this ARC read.

Music is one of my love languages so I am big fan of Daisy Jones, Mayluna and movies like Almost Famous & A Star is born. This book fits right in. Each character was so beautifully and tragically written. Every single one I became invested in. The plot was heartbreaking but a love letter at the same time. We’ve all experienced an all encompassing grief in life and they had a unique avenue to express that. What a tribute to someone you love.

This author is new to me but I will be exploring more of her work now. Beautiful book.

Special thanks to Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions!

Ashley Winstead changes her thriller and rom-com tunes with The Future Saints, exploring the dynamics between a rock band and a music executive trying to bring them back into relevancy. As readers, and their new manager Theo, learn to understand the band members and what they have been through, a beautiful story of love, loss, and family unravels.

Full of tough topics, powerful emotions, and mesmerizing music, The Future Saints will appeal to lovers of Daisy Jones and the Six and stories of messy, yet relatable relationships - platonic, romantic, and familial.

Ashley Winstead is usually auto-read for me. I love her suspense stories, but romance is not really my thing. I gave this a chance because, hey, Ashley Winstead and I am SO happy I did! Lordy, what a ride! First of all, not really a romance. This is also an excellent character study and a story of handling deep grief and all the self-destructive issues and pain that come with that. Hannah fronts a band That has recently sky-rocketed due to a Tik Tok video. The band is managed by Hannah's sister Ginny. Ginny dies and Hanna spirals. Big time. Enter Theo, determined to restore the band to its former glory. The story is also told from interviews and articles, in addition to character POV's, which was interesting. Be warned, this is an extremely emotional story that will stay with you for a long time, but in a good way. And those last lines will get ya! Yes, I do hope the next book is back to murders, but I did love this story!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Ashley Winstead and Atria Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day Jan 20, 2026.

The Future Saints is sort of Daisy Jones and the Six meets Almost Famous. It's about an indie rock band that explodes into stardom after going viral on TikTok, with the band members themselves embroiled in an emotional downspiral after having lost their band manager, Ginny. It's a story about grief, love, fame, and the pressures of the music industry. It's an exploration into the rawness of art and music, into the messiness of life.

I liked the dual narrative perspective as well as the inclusion of interviews and transcripts. Theo, as the band manager, and Hannah, as the lead singer/songwriter of the band, were engaging narrators. Hannah was visibly wrecked with grief, her meltdowns on stage and her substance abuse issues were ineffective coping mechanisms for her to deal with the loss of her sister. Theo was a good counterbalance to her reeling self-destructive behavior, a man who had demons of his own to battle. Romance was only a marginal part of this, which I appreciated, as grief and loss truly deserved to take center stage. And it did. Pulling at reader's hearts with each strum of a guitar string.

Perfect for readers who like books about music, who know what it means to transmute pain into art that connects people.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
So. Much. Drama! Also very emotional. I read this because of my love for Daisy Jones and the Six; I didn't think it was as good as that, but I still enjoyed it.