Book Review
The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: January 20, 2026
Format: Hardcover - 352 pages
Paperback - 352 pages
Kindle - 352 pages / 2.1 MB
Audiobook - 11 Hours 11 Minutes
Nook - 352 pages / 4 MB
ISBN (Hardcover): 978-1668024669
ISBN (Paperback): 978-1035920303
ASIN (Kindle): B0D36C7JF1
ASIN (Audiobook): B0FCYVFSC3
ISBN (Nook): 978-1668024683
Genre: Literary Fiction
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, in addition to purchasing a hardcover copy of the book from my monthly subscription to Book Of The Month.
Book Description:
Perfect 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’ 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).
My Book Review:
In The Future Saints, author Ashley Winstead weaves an emotional story that follows the journey of a band on the brink of a downward spiral when their lead singer is so grief stricken and bent on a self-destructive path that the music label sends in their "fixer" to get one more album out of the band.
The Future Saints have been under contract with Manifest Records, a major label for six years and have been underperforming and never achieved the success they've dreamed of, and it's now taking a toll after the unexpected death of their manager and downward spiral of their lead singer, Hannah Cortland.
Theo Ford is the artist relations manager at Manifest Records. The executive board consider him "The Fixer" because he specializes in managing disaster bands, and they use him to work with improving or cutting ties with underperforming bands.
When Theo goes to California to work with The Future Saints, his attempt to bring them back from the brink and get one more album out of them is paramount because there is a promotion for him at stake. Theo is determined to help the grief-stricken lead singer and the band, so he becomes their new manager. Can Theo help Hannah work through her grief, or will her self-destructive antics destroy The Future Saints' career for good?
Set in California and told in the first-person alternating perspective of Hannah and Theo, the reader follows along as Theo tries to help Hannah and bandmates Kenny Lovins (drummer) and Tarak "Ripper" Ravishankar (bass) get back on track after the death of their manager and downward spiral. As the band switches their musical style from pop to a darker edgier rock sound, Theo sees something special in the band, but the struggle is real and the band's survival is put to the test time and time again.
I absolutely loved this beautifully written messy rock and roll story. You can't help but feel the full gamut of emotions as Theo desperately tries to help Hannah and the band, as he becomes their manager and champion, and Hannah's protector. Their story is simply full of angst and drama. I also loved the behind the scenes of the music industry, and the impact it has on the band's struggle for fame.
The Future Saints is a powerful and hauntingly raw tale that will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of delving into the characters' lives, as their musical journey is filled with grief, pain, trauma, mental health issues, and undying love.
RATING: 5 STARS
About The Author
Ashley 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.
