Welcome to Future Fiction, my reimagining of the Waiting on Wednesday meme! There are so many amazing new books coming out, that I can no longer pick just one. My goal with Future Fiction is to share at least three new books each week, a combination of recent cover reveals and books that I’ve recently added to my TBR pile. I’m still going to be linking up with Wishful Endings/Can’t Wait Wednesday, and I also want to give a shout out to Jill at Breaking the Spine for starting the original Waiting on Wednesday meme. I hope you’ll find some new books to add to your TBR piles, and as always, I look forward to hearing what YOU’RE looking forward to:-D
We’re celebrating three upcoming Fall horror releases today, take a look:
From the three-time Bram Stoker Award–winning author of Good Neighbors comes a chilling tale of a journalist’s descent into horror as she uncovers the dark secrets behind a trad wife influencer, blending suspense with a critique of modern femininity and the manipulative forces of social media.
Every day, millions watch Mia Wright, the “trad wife” queen, on her idyllic 300-acre farm. With her handsome husband, seven perfect children, and a life of from-scratch meals and pastoral bliss, she’s an icon of modern femininity. But behind every perfect image is a secret. And in this case, the secret is a horror.
Desperate to save her tarnished career, journalist Jenny Kaplan arrives at Black Swan Farm to profile Mia. Jenny is ready to write a scathing exposé, determined to expose the deception behind Mia’s curated life. But soon, Jenny has more to contend with than staged videos and picture-perfect poses. There’s something wrong at the farmhouse. Something slithers through Jenny’s dreams, and at night, the children sing strange nursery rhymes.
She’s losing time. She’s losing her hair. She starts to worry that she’s losing her mind.
There is a horror at the heart of Black Swan, and it’s waiting just for Jenny. Trad Wife will make you question what’s real and what’s just a perfectly curated deception…
Will you see the lie?
Trad Wife by Sarah Langan. Releases in September 2026 from Atria Books. Not to be confused with another recent release with the same name (this trad wife subgenre is so popular right now!), this book has been getting some rave reviews, and I’m very happy I was just approved for it on NetGalley.
A woman haunted by the disappearance of her sister and best friend thirty years ago uncovers the terrifying urban legend behind the last film they watched together, in this chilling riff on the cursed film subgenre by the Bram Stoker award-winning author of Queen of Teeth.
Perfect for fans of Gretchen Felker-Martin and Andrew Joseph White.
In November 1994, three girls visit their local movie theater to see an obscure film. Only one of them is ever seen again.
Thirty years later, Val McQueen has never forgotten the day she lost her little sister and best friend, but she’s closed the curtain on it, certain she’s moved on despite her parents’ resentment and hounding by true crime enthusiasts.
That is until a stranger’s murder brings it all screaming back—a terror she’s tried to tell herself is only a movie. Enlisting the help of cinephile and former classmate Roxie de la Fontaine to find the film, Val soon realizes that hers is not the only pursuit. Someone, or something involved with the movie is on the hunt, too…
… For the girl who got away all those years ago.
This Movie Doesn’t End the Way We Want by Hailey Piper. Releases in September 2026 from Titan Books. I’m a big fan of “cursed film” books, and I’m happy that Hailey Piper is joining the subgenre:-)
A mother and son travel to a dilapidated cabin in the woods that haunts more than just her memories in this new unnerving horror from the author of The Whistler and Sisters of the Lost Nation.
Nell Marin swore she would never return to the place where part of her died.
The passing of her estranged father, however, leaves her with no choice but to take her teenage son, Oscar, back to the run-down family cabin on Torchlight Lake, where horrific memories linger. The two will fix the place up, sell it, and ensure Nell never has to return to that dreaded lake again.
But when the roads—which pass through Native land—are barricaded by the local Tribe, the quick trip turns into weeks. Oscar, a horror movie buff, knows this is exactly how it starts. As the long summer days drag on, unsettling things begin to occur: screams ring out over the water and a mysterious figure watches the cabin from the trees at night. Most disturbing of all, his mother is becoming less and less herself.
As the strange events lead Oscar to uncover the secrets Nell has shielded him from, he is forced to confront a reality that is far more frightening than movie monsters. He must uncover answers to the questions that stole so much from his mother…before the horror that traumatized Nell drags him under as well.
Savage Lake by Nick Medina. Releases in October 2026 from Berkley Books. I have so many Nick Medina books on my TBR but haven’t read any yet, but I always hear so many good things about them. Maybe this will be my first!
Ooh just checked to see when Trad Wife releases over here as the concept intrigued me and it turns out its next month. I quite like the cover the UK version comes with too. Im glad you found another cursed movie novel to check out too and have to confess that the blurb alone sent a shiver down my spine.
I really like the UK cover too:-)
I had no idea the trad wife horror thing was popular, but this one does sound good!
I’m so curious about it, I can’t wait to check it out:-)
Trad Wife seems to have Stepford Wives vibe going there – but that might just be my age:)). They all look fantasically creepy and I hope you love them all, Tammy:)). *sniffles behind the sofa*
Yes, I thought the same thing!
Just reading the synopsis of Trad Wife and going no no no no at this part: “Something slithers through Jenny’s dreams, and at night, the children sing strange nursery rhymes.” Ahhhh sounds so creepy!
Right? I can’t wait to read it:-)
I love the concept of “cursed film”, but I’m such a wuss, ahaha. It does sound fun though!
Not too surprised that the whole “trad wife” thing is spawning horror stories, it’s often so regressive and symptomatic of frightening social trends.
I’ve read so many cursed film books, I actually made a list on my blog!
Trad Wife looks like fun! The topic seems to be everywhere right now — I just got a giveaway book (Yesteryear) that also involves a trad wife influencer and strange things that happen… Great picks!
I just bought a copy of Yesteryear!
These all look great but how many books have “trad wife” references now. I even think there are more than 2. Of all of these though, Savage Lake is screaming the loudest.
There are a lot. I am excited to try one, because it seems like the perfect set up for a horror story.
I think they all seem to have one blend of horror or another and that IF I was a fan of the genre I would propbably read them all!
These are definitely horror!
Not me having to google what a “trad wife” was… LOL But shout out to Paul Trembley also getting on two of the these three covers
LOL I only know about the trad wife movement because so many books revolve around it these days:-)
Have fun with these! They all sound WAY too creepy for me,
LOL I will!
Each time I see a new Nick Medina book I think it’s one I’d like to try, and this one is no different. But like you I’ve yet to read anything by the author.
I’m the same! His books always look good but for some reason I never get around to reading them.
They all sound interesting, but I think Piper’s one is the most… intriguing of the three. I know that these are not my cup of tea, but I am still intrigued as heck!
I really want to read the Piper book!
TRAD WIFE looks like it’s kinda inspired by ballerinafarm (an IG trad wife person/business) between the farm setting and that the Swan Lake comp is a comp to a ballet.
Haha I added both Trad Wifes to my list. Funny how horror trends work like that.