This novel is gripping and emotional. I was intrigued from the first few pages and shocked by the initial twist that Winstead brings out the gate. A combination of a love story, grief, mental health and addiction, relationships, finding yourself and fully embracing your talents and what you're meant to do...I loved this roller coaster that had me crying for the last two chapters. I was invested in every character and they truly brought their whole beings, hearts and souls to the forefront. A beautiful book that we surely will see on a big screen!

I know, it’s been compared to Daisy Jones & the Six and that’s high praise. And I totally see it. It’s the story of a band, in the midst of disfunction and breakdown, trying to finally make it big. But, the pain of the death of their manager, which is always on the surface, begins to show up in their performances, which gets them noticed. The pain is what is selling, so how do they move past the grief in the midst of success?

Predicting now that this one will be a top seller of 2026. It was beautifully written and full of love.

I read this book in 24 hours and when I say it CONSUMED ME!!
The dynamics of the band, family, the music industry and above all fighting for self love. The pacing what perfect, the pining was hitting 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!

Having read a few Ashley Winstead books in the past, this one was such a change of pace! I adored it but I wanted way more Theo. It bounced between the two but I just felt more tied to Theos store even tho Hannah’s was more the focal point.

3.5 stars

The Future Saints is a thoughtful, emotionally layered exploration of grief, relationships, and the complexities of healing. While music plays a central role, the story ultimately dives deeper—into mental health, identity, and how trauma impacts not just individuals but entire groups, both directly and indirectly. Ashley Winstead's writing is evocative and nuanced, especially when portraying the emotional push and pull between Hannah and Theo.

At its core, the novel follows an indie band unraveling after the loss of a pivotal member. The themes of grief and fame are handled with care, and Hannah’s personal journey feels raw and believable. However, the storytelling framework—dual perspectives, behind-the-scenes narratives, and interview-style excerpts—felt overly familiar. Readers who’ve experienced books like Daisy Jones & The Six may find themselves treading recognizable ground. While Winstead writes with skill, the narrative didn’t offer many surprises or fresh angles to distinguish it within the music-industry trope.

Still, there are moments that land with emotional force, and readers new to this type of story may find it especially impactful. For me, though, while beautifully written, it lacked the originality needed to elevate it beyond a well-told, but well-worn, story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Even though “The Future Saints” was well-written and emotionally layered, I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I’d read this story before. At its heart, it’s a story about grief, identity, and the highs and lows of fame, but it followed a path that felt overly familiar, especially if you’ve read Daisy Jones & The Six (which was one I didn’t care for) or anything else with the same music-industry trope.

The story centered on an indie band that fell apart after the loss of a key member, and while the emotional side, especially Hannah’s grief, felt genuine, the way the story was told didn’t bring anything new. The dual point of views, the behind-the-scenes feel, and the interview-style bits were all elements I’ve seen before, and there weren’t enough fresh twists or standout moments to make this one feel unique.

That said, Ashley Winstead’s writing’s strong, and she did a great job of capturing her characters’ emotions-especially the tension between Hannah and Theo. There were definitely scenes that hit hard and I think readers who are new to this kind of book might find it deeply moving. But if you’re already familiar with this type of narrative, it may come across as more of a recycled story than something original. It’s good, just not groundbreaking.

Much thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for this complimentary advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Atria Books for the early copy of this book coming out in January. I LOVED this book! It’s definitely my favorite Ashley Winstead that I’ve read and I’ve read most of her work. It strikes a great middle ground between her darker thrillers, which sometimes are TOO dark for me, and her earlier rom coms, which felt a little juvenile. With Future Saints, Winstead’s romance plot takes on a little more substance while simultaneously taking a backseat to bigger themes of grief, substance abuse, and family dynamics.

I loved the structure of the book with the interstitials from social media and magazines. Both Theo and Hannah were flawed and made frustrating choices but I was always rooting for them. It’s clear from Winstead’s other most recent book, This Book Will Bury Me, that she’s processing or exploring grief. I thought the way she did it in Future Saints was more moving and layered than This Book Will Bury Me.

Another winner from Ashley Winstead! If you are a fan of Daisy Jones, stories about music or stories about sisterhood and grief (or any of the above), you will love The Future Saints. With beautiful writing and so much heart, this is sure to be a 2026 buzz book!

3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for a honest review. This book was really good and delivered on everything that was promised. The band vibes were super strong and it was a good portrayal of grief in my opinion. I do feel like some things for brushed over due to time jumps but overall really entertaining. I wish tik tok was mentioned a bit less. i understand that we are in modern days and tik tok is a big part of that but there’s only so many times someone can mention going tik tok viral in a book before i get irritated.i feel like the book the book would have benefited from being set in the early 2010s as opposed to 2024 but it didn’t make much of a difference for me in the long run. the romance wasn’t super interesting to me so i’m glad it wasn’t a prominent factor. I was really interested in the band itself and not much of the outside events going on. Something about this book definitely pulled me in despite the many flaws i found so definitely feel free to pick this up.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. The Future Saints musical group are in a slump; their manager has died and since then, they have not been outputting the best product. Theo, a record executive, is dispatched to meet with the group and inform them that if they cannot produce a successful album, they will be dropped. Theo becomes interested in Hannah, who has decided on her own to move away from the California pop sound of the band into more of a harder rock. Fans like this pivot, and Theo gives the band another chance. However, Hannah has unhealed grief, and her life choices become more destructive; helping her along is her sister Ginny, and their behavior becomes a problem for Theo. Hannah cannot handle the fame nor can she handle her changing relationships with Theo or Ginny, all while the world watches.

This was such a beautiful exploration of relationships and grief, and how messy everything can become when life gets in the way. This book is more than the musical element, it is an exploration of mental health and its impact on each person, primary or secondary. It is also a wonderful read in regard to relationships and how we heal and forgive, and move together, forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Future Saints portrays grief in a different way than I have read in recent history. Hannah, the front woman of The Future Saints, is not trying to shy away from her grief, or truly, even process it. She uses her music as a vehicle to keep their former manager alive. This is a different take on grief than I have encountered in other books. While Hannah's process was entirely unhealthy, it was refreshing to see Hannah try to keep Ginny alive so vividly by continuously talking about her. It was something she felt comfort in, remembering her as the vibrant woman she was, even when the people around her weren't ready. The addition of Theo to the Future Saints orbit was at first so strikingly wrong, but you quickly learned that he was the balance they needed to avoid imploding. The development of each character was largely a 1 step forward, 3 steps back dance, but Ashley Winstead is able to craft characters that are so flawed and nuanced that it never seems redundant, but honest and raw. Recovery is never linear. Winstead has crafted a story that is full of heart, with a cast of characters that make you want to root for them, even in their darkest moments.

The Future Saints had a lot of elements I’m usually drawn to in a book — a thoughtful portrayal of grief, musical threads woven through the narrative, and a strong focus on character development. While I appreciated the themes and could see the emotional depth the story was reaching for, I just didn’t connect with it as much as I had hoped.

The relationship between Hannah and Ginny was the standout for me — tender, raw, and beautifully layered. I loved how the story explored the intersection of love and grief through their bond, and those moments felt incredibly genuine. On the other hand, the slight romantic subplot didn’t land for me — it lacked the emotional weight and connection I was looking for.

The story opened strong, and I was a fan of how it wrapped up, but I did find the middle to drag a bit. Still, this is a solid story with heart — just one that didn’t fully resonate with me.

I jumped up and down when I got approved for this because I love Winsteads writing! The woman writes everything from Thriller to Romance and does it so well.

This had major Daisy Jones vibes and I loved it. I read half of the book in practically one sitting.

A tour through love, loss, and the chaos of fame — and I loved every second.

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead 💿✨
[4.5 stars]

At first glance, The Future Saints seems like a book about a rock band, and don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for a good fictional band story, but at its core, this is really a heartfelt story about grief, healing, and unexpected love.

Ashley Winstead’s writing is electric here. The pop culture references are pitch-perfect (and there are a lot, but they’re all so fun), and she somehow made me fall for every single member of the band. These characters feel messy and real, like you’re reading about actual people.

The structure, with dual POV, interviews, articles, and snippets of social media, adds a fun, documentary-style vibe. I will say that the social media posts didn’t always land for me; they felt a bit gimmicky at times, but not enough to take away from how much I enjoyed this.

I just know this audiobook is going to be fire. The format practically begs to be heard out loud.

By the end, I felt like I’d been on tour with the Saints myself. It’s raw, emotional, and the kind of book you’ll want to hand to your best friend the second you finish.

This one felt like a departure for Winstead and I’m glad to have read it. Very much set in present day but giving off Daisy Jones vibes as it follows a band that is spiraling out of control while also beginning to make their ascent toward stardom. Music manager Theo catches a drunken performance for the Saints where lead singer Hannah debuts a new song written about their recently deceased manager who also happened to be her younger sister Ginny. It’s raw and vulnerable and goes viral immediately.

Strait laced, rule following Theo steps in to try to manage the group and get them back on their feet but quickly finds himself off balance with this close knit group. As the Saints skyrocket toward infamy, Hannah falls spectacularly apart and Theo must decide where his loyalties lie…with the musical label paying his bills? Or with this broken musical family that has adopted him as one of their own?

Thank you you to Net Galley and then publisher for the ARC. I don’t think this author is for me. I read another book her and didn’t like it and I didn’t enjoy this one either. This was trying way, way, way too hard to be Daisy Jones and the Six.

As a huge fan of this author, I was ecstatic to receive this arc. It did not disappoint- even though it was a bit different than the other books I’ve read by her. Characters were well fleshed out and the unorthodox writing style was very well done. Can’t wait for what she does next.

Wow! I completely loved this one. It was so raw and so emotional. I think it’s going to be on people’s top reads lists of 2026 🙌🏻

Here are my big take aways:
▪️ sisterhood
▪️ major Daisy Jones and the Six vibes
▪️ dealing with loss
▪️ keeping loved ones’ memories alive
▪️ it’s ok, and normal, to be flawed
▪️ rock and roll
▪️ the glory days
▪️ recognizing when you need to focus on your mental health
▪️ found family
▪️ sticking to your morals
▪️ being incredibly real about your feelings
▪️ enneagrams
▪️ California Love
▪️heart-wrenching last lines

Absolutely floored. I think I’m a part of the floor now actually, I melted in my own tears.

Ashley Winstead didn’t just write a book about a band, she wrote a gorgeous book that encompasses every single aspect about being human, from the highest highs to the lowest lows. This was passionate, emotional, heart-shattering and yet it remained fun, gripping and ultimately hopeful at the same time.

💫 I was pleasantly surprised by several things in this book. *no spoilers of course*

1. This isn’t a story that follows a normal cadence and sequence of events like most comparable books in this genre. I never fully knew what was going to happen next, it continuously kept me guessing and turning the page. Unique in its own ways from start to finish.

2. The emotional aspects were beyond what I thought I could feel in a single contemporary book. It’s been a while since I have felt my soul being pulled out of me while reading a book. Winstead wrote grief, suffering and trying to rise again with a stunning expertise.

3. I have read both books the blurb likens this book to - Daisy Jones & the Six and In Five Years. I have read and enjoyed both those other books so my expectations shot up for this book and that can get a little scary. Well, this blew away my expectations.

4. This is a new-to-me author and by the 40% mark I knew for a fact that I would be tracking down her backlog and reading those books as well.

💫 Lastly, I need to say that this is one of those books that will impact you far beyond shutting the book. This has made me think of so many things in my own personal life and even inspired me to make some changes and efforts while I’m here. To me, that can be nothing less than a five-star read.


Thank you thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review! ⭐️

*I will be posting full social media reviews closer to release date!*

Whoa! The Future Saints didn’t disappoint.

We meet Hannah, the frontwoman (or woman) of The Future Saints, grappling with the loss and grief of her sister and the band’s manager, Ginny.

Unbeknownst to the band, Theo stumbles into their hometown bar, intending to watch what he believes is a struggling band. However, Hannah performs Six Feet Under, setting the stage for Theo’s involvement.

Known for his talent as a band fixer, Theo faces a challenge with this particular group.

The Future Saints explores themes of grief, mental health, and substance abuse.

As a fan of the movie Almost Famous and the book Daisy Jones & the Six, I found myself vividly imagining every aspect of this book.

I genuinely hope we see a movie adaptation of this captivating story!

Rating: 5 stars

I want to express my gratitude to Atria, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.