Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This genre is not typically one I go for, but this book has alll the feels. Great one.

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.

Ashley’s best book and I was a firm IMDIHAK girl!

The way she captures grief is so raw and relatable. I was sobbing throughout. And the ending??? Perfect. It’s not going to be for everyone but it was definitely for me!

The pacing was done so well with Hannah slowly losing more control as the story progressed. Watching her unravel was heartbreaking. The story felt so real like I was living it with them. I couldn’t put it down.

If you like your MCs messy, your heart stabbed, and your nose clogged grab it immediately!

This novel reminded me of Daisy Jones and the Six. Will it be optioned to a streaming service? Only time will tell. This one has a ghost, something Daisy did not have. Hannah is the star of the Future Saints. She talks to her dead sister, the band’s former manager, and has a complicated relationship with their new manager, Theo. At its core it’s a book about sisterhood, friendship and the ghosts who haunt us. Recommended for all public libraries.

“Overall opinion: Holy fucking shit.”

A story of loss. Grief. Sisterhood. And life.

I stayed up till 4am to finish this in one sitting. I sobbed like an absolute baby for the entire last 10% of that book all the way to the last sentence of the acknowledgment section.

Warning: If you’re a big sister? SOS. Because this is about a big sister coming to terms with the loss of her little sister. And as a big sister….I was not emotionally prepared for the warfare my heart went through.

This book is advertised for fans of Daisy Jones and The Six and a love story but it’s really more than that. It starts about a band in destruction mode (and boy are the characters FUN!) and our darling MMC, Theo, (who falls on swords to save everyone else) is determined to bring them together. But as the story progresses you realize that and the heart of it, it’s truly a story about grieving and what it means to be remembered.

Truly it is very heavy. Very raw. Very emotional.
But also very hopeful. Very inspiring.
I think this gave me several existential crises.

I highlighted soooo many quotes that took the breath clean out of my lungs.
(Particularly a quote in the last chapter which I wish I could share and will share when the book is published.)

I will be thinking about it…truly forever.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria books for the eARC. Please let me know what address I should be sending my therapy bill to? Thank you.

WOW! Just WOW! I have loved reading Ashley Winstead in the past so I stopped everything to read this one.

The best types of books are the ones that inhale you from the first page, and you don't stop until you're done. This book does just that. Told in two POV's Theo (the new band manager). and Hannah (the lead of the band) you fit right into the scene. Think a modern Daisy Jones and you're right on the money.

This book explores friendship, love, sisterhood and grief. Let me tell you - the last quarter of this book the TEARS WERE ROLLING.

When you think of a book about a band - you don't typically think of the themes of love and loss, you think music but this book was the perfect mix of the two.

I can already tell this is going to be the hit of 2026, literally.

Winstead has done it again. An absolute must read!

I'm not ready to give this one up yet.

it's difficult to find books that speak so clearly to you and that so effortlessly explain feelings that you yourself have struggled to explain for years. this book is fun in all the best ways and is gut wrenching in all the worst ways. I respect a book that doesn't really care about genre or about a clean plot or ending, and just focuses on the heart of the story, which is hannah. I feel hopeful after this one.



Thank you @atriabooks @netgalley @ashleywinsteadbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this eARC!

I was beyond excited to be pre-approved for The Future Saints. Not only am I a fan of Ashley Winstead’s previous books, but rock star romance is my favorite genre. Even better when it’s female rock stars out there kicking ass and taking names (Fuck you, Roger Braverman)!
This book has everything you want from rock and roll- all of the pain and drama to produce the best art. The characters were fully realized and I was there to root for them all, even Ripper’s constant Jan Brady behavior (Hannah, Hannah, Hannah). Speaking of Hannah, her grief and genius bled through every page of this book. I dearly hope we get to learn more about her life as I’ll be thinking about what happened next for a long time to come! Until then, I can’t wait for release day as I’ll be listening to the audiobook to experience the adventure again!

That said, the beginning of the book had some inconsistencies that made me want to contact the publisher. I received an advance copy so I’m hoping that they will tweak the first chapters upon final edits. Theo entered the picture from the record company side, fully prepared to step in as their new manager. Of course he would have known who their previous manager was and what she meant to the band. The first scenes don’t sit right. It took me well into the book to move on (but seriously, please consider editing the first chapters to do right by Theo- “The Fixer” deserves that respect.)

Thank you @atriabooks @netgalley @ashleywinsteadbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this eARC!

Asheleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!! Girl. You did it. Not everyone can casually hop between genres and absolutely slay — but Ashley Winstead? She slayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyed with The Future Saints. 👏🔥

I went in blind (as I always do — it’s a me thing 😂) and had no idea this was a romance/contemporary fiction vibe. And let me tell you… it 100% gave me Daisy Jones & The Six and classic TJR energy. If that’s your jam, you need to preorder this one and grab some tissues because whew, the FEELS.

This book hit me hard. Having lost my mom unexpectedly 6 months ago and with my sister being my absolute ride-or-die best human, this story stirred up every emotion in the book. Ashley flawlessly captured our FMC, Hannah — a little broken, a little messy (think Britney, Paris, and Lindsay circa the early 2000s hot mess express), just trying to navigate grief, trauma, and healing in front of millions. My heart shattered for her again and again.

It’s a story of grief, loss, love, messy mistakes, and finding your way back to yourself. And it’s written with so much heart and raw honesty. This one felt different than Ashley’s other books in the very best way — like she peeled back a layer and just laid it all out there.

No secret I’ll read anything this woman writes, but this book just solidified why. The Future Saints is tender, fierce, emotional, and unforgettable. Bravo, Ashley. You absolutely crushed it.

A gripping, speculative thriller with a haunting undercurrent of faith and power. Winstead delivers a sharp, thought-provoking ride through a chilling near-future landscape.

I didn’t even know this book was coming out until the ARC landed in my hands — and once I started, I couldn’t stop. I didn’t just read about the Future Saints, I felt like I was living with them. The chaos, the music, the heartbreak — it all felt close, like I was standing right there next to them.
Hannah is the heart of everything. She’s that kind of person who draws you in without even trying, but underneath all that presence is so much pain. The loss of her sister is something she carries in every move, every word, every silence. Nothing in this book tries to simplify what she’s feeling, and that’s what made it hit so hard.
And then Theo walks in. A total contrast — sharp, focused, polished — the one the band calls the suit. But he’s not just there to manage the band. He’s steady in a way Hannah doesn’t even realize she needs at first. He sees her — not the version she shows the world, but the one that’s tired and raw and unsure. Their connection builds in the in-between moments, the quiet tension, the space where grief and love start to overlap.

There’s friction. There are setbacks. But it never feels forced — more like watching two people try to figure out how to move forward with all the weight they’re carrying. I loved that about them. It wasn’t just attraction. It was real effort, care, and something that felt earned.

The story got under my skin. There’s so much energy in the band’s world, but the emotion sits just beneath it all — humming, waiting, aching. It’s not just about fame or success. It’s about holding on to people, to yourself, to memory.

Certain moments, lines, and silent exchanges stayed with me long after the last page. They spoke louder than words, carrying everything that needed to be felt — complex, raw, and unforgettable.

I expected a breezy summer read but I found myself immersed in the chaotic yet hopeful world of The Future Saints. The mixed media format was a welcome addition to the dual perspectives from Hannah and Theo. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

I was asked to review “Future Saints” by Ashley Winstead. I had read a few previous books of Winstead, but I felt this novel was quite a departure from her earlier work.

The focus of this novel is on a band called Future Saints and its lead singer, Hannah. But this book is about much more than a rise to stardom. Hannah has lost her sister and the author takes the time to explore Hannah’s grief. It’s because of that grief that Hannah wants to explore a different type of music.

I thought the author’s writing was strong, developing both Hannah and the other characters in a way that makes the reader care. While a lot of novels focus on the rise and fall of stardom, I appreciated Winstead’s unique spin. There are some romantic elements in the book, but they serve as more of a distraction versus anything else.

Three and a half stars rounded up to four.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this book.

Thanks to Atria for the gifted book!

I just LOVE a story about a fake band…. Almost Famous, Daisy Jones, Mayluna — I’m in.

THE FUTURE SAINTS is a departure from Ashley Winstead’s norm as a thriller and romance author, with SAINTS being a contemporary fiction work focused on grief, sisterhood, and friendship. She does love a good feminist theme, and that did come out strongly in SAINTS as well in our FMC Hannah. Overall, I adored Hannah’s raw character and I think it was obvious that Ashley was laying a lot of her own emotion and experience with grief on the page. I love how the band name played into everything at the end and thought the grief storyline was top-notch.

I’d totally read a story centered on Kenny or Ripper because I just loved the band and would absolutely have fun getting to know those two characters more.

The romance in SAINTS is a subplot, but one where I did struggle to feel some of the chemistry, hence not putting this one quite up to 5 stars.

I’m glad Ashley branched off in this new direction because I’m here for it and think contemporary fiction is a good fit for her!

I’m so torn on a review for this book!!! In a lot of ways it could be a five star read but I think I’m stuck between a 4 or a 4.5.

First can we hold space for this gorgeous cover??

At its core, this book is a love letter to siblings. In her acknowledgements, Ashley says “Everyone who has a sister or brother knows what it feels like to be willing to run into Heaven or Hell for someone, to want to place a person inside a protective bubble, or give them the shirt off your back.” And boy ain’t that the truth?! I would quite literally die for my sister, and if I could I would wrap her in bubble wrap and never let her leave home. The unflinching love for a sibling is some of the purest.

All that being said, it was quite difficult to watch Hannah drown in the grief of losing her sister. There are times where I felt immense frustration with her, but in those moments I had to check myself because 1. People handle grief differently and 2. I would probably be the same. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t hard to watch her journey as well and watch her self sabotage for the majority of the book. However, I do feel like a lot of people will be able to relate to Hannah and her grief. I think it’s quite an accurate representation of loss & trying to move forward after that loss, or on the flip side, letting grief consume you.

The romance is very much a SUBplot of this book. It’s so minor that I didn’t necessarily buy it and I didn’t necessarily connect with it. I just wish we would have gotten a little bit more of their feelings developing for each other.

The side characters were perfect though!! I could read two other books just about Kenny and Ripper!!

I also looooooooved Theo!! ❤️

All in all this was a wonderful read. I didn’t want to put it down and that’s not a feeling I get with a lot of books these days.

This book deals with loss of a sibling, grief, addiction (alcohol, heavily), some drugs, depression… so make sure you know what you’re getting into! I don’t believe there are trigger warnings anywhere in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for an ARC of The Future Saints!!

This wasn't what I expected... But it's not a bad book.

I am so conflicted - this was advertised as a romance, but the romance is far from the most important element of the story. This feels more like a contemporary lit fic about the processing of grief and how it impacts a band on the verge of viral fame. And yes, there is a romance that feeds the decisions that our two MCs make, but there was another relationship that took center stage (literally). So my expectations were skewed from the beginning.

A band suffers the loss of their friend and manager, and a few months later goes viral when their lead singer/guitarist nearly crashes out on stage. Enter their new manager, Theo, who is tasked with either moving the band toward dismissal from the label OR revamping them to a new success. But when Hannah struggles to appropriately process her grief in private and instead unleashes her most intense emotions for the world to see, they all walk the line of balancing what they love with the pain it can bring.

I have LOVED every single book from Ashley Winstead before this, and while the writing style is still her beautiful storytelling, the plot here lost me a lot. There was a large portion in the middle where the story was stagnant, nothing felt like it was moving forward and the energy from the beginning just did not continue throughout. By the end, I realized this vibe was not for me. And that saddens me greatly. But I do think the grief element of this can speak to a lot of people, and the harsh reality of the music industry (and fame in general) can also be very much appreciated here.

Thank you to Atria Books and Ashley Winstead for the advanced access to this title. My review is completely voluntary, completely my own, and always completely honest.

3.5 rounded up. A very easy to read story of a band’s rise to fame, with a sprinkle of romance in between the chaos. Pretty unrealistic, but nonetheless an enjoyable escape.

This opening statement is probably going to make me one of the most hated people on the internet, but The Future Saints was better than Daisy Jones and the Six. I said what I said and I stand by it.

The book is absolutely perfect. I loved the characters, I loved the story, I loved the mixed media elements. The last 50 pages had me absolutely bawling.

It’s so hard to write a review on something that is so spectacular.

I already pre-ordered my copy so I can relive it again on January 20th.

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

"𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍."

Special thanks to @atriabooks @ashleywinsteadbooks & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

➡️ swipe for synopsis 👉🏼

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕️

Powerful emotional and raw with a hint of lingering romance. This novel shows the grittyness of the demanding world of music through powerful expression and grief.

I am a DIE hard @ashleywinsteadbooks fan so even though this isn't a thriller, I just HAD to get my hands on this one.

The music industry is something I've always been curious of. I've grown up watching all sorts of genres and artists. While they come and go, it has always fascinated me how talented some people are. This story is no different following Hannah Cortland and her band, The Future Saints through the rollercoaster that is their journey. Theo has come in to do damage control, and has possibly bit off more than he can chew, but eventually surprises himself in his dedication to the band, and Hannah.

This book is swelling with emotion. You can tell from page one. It deals with someone who feels her girlfriend so deeply she needs to find an outlet, which im sure many of us can relate to. It's given to you in doses between dual POVs, music lyrics, and media excerpts. The ending brought a tear to my eye. The perfect ending for this musical rollercoaster.

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
January 20, 2026


ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Who is your favorite band/singer? What's your favorite song by them?

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#fictionread #ashleywinstead #thefuturesaints #atriabooks #atriapartner #influencer #changeofspeed #griefandloss #powerful #emotional
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Dare I say this might be Ashley Winstead at her best? Elegantly written with her trademark prose and a stunning portrayal of grief. This is right up there for my favorite novel of hers, and I can’t wait to see her play further in this genre.