‘The Future Saints’ by Ashley Winstead tells the story of record executive Theo, who has a reputation at his label for monetising and then culling “problem” bands. Dispatched to a dive bar to meet drifting rock band the Future Saints in their hometown, Theo realises that the group - who have been in a downward spiral since the death of their former manager - have something incredibly special. Having fallen in love with the magic of their music and the haunting vocals of grieving lead singer, Hannah, will he be able to keep things strictly business?

I recently read and enjoyed a couple of Winstead’s thrillers, but it’s been a while since I read a contemporary/romance novel from her… and this has reminded me what a talented and versatile author she is.

I became pretty obsessed with the band and found Theo so loveable… even more so when the rockstars were making fun of him for being a “suit”. Spiky, damaged Hannah had a lot of depth and was a captivating female lead! I also loved the mixed media style of the narrative.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid, ‘The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits’ by Jennifer Weiner or Ava Wilder’s angsty celebrity romances!

This the first 2026 release I’ve given five stars to, and I’m hoping it’s a sign of what’s to come! I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Aria & Aries via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Future Saints was definitely a departure from Ashley Winstead's more lighthearted, fluffier romances - this felt more literary and emotional, slightly darker and more provocative. It was truly fantastic to read- I couldn't put it down! Whilst I don't get the sense Theo and Hannah are made for forever together, I think that really added to it. The way Winstead has written the band (very much Hannah/ Theo focussed at the start, then hearing more and more from Rip and other characters) really reflected the character development nicely. I loved that we saw Hannah and Theo's attitude towards alcohol progress as the book got darker and I think it was handled really sensitively without being glib. The tenderness from Theo and his persistence really endeared me to him.

I'm not sure about the Hannah/Ginny dialogue but it definitely had the desired effect of showing the true darkness and longing within Hannah. I enjoyed that despite being in a band and a book about the music industry, Winstead didn't get too bogged down in lyrics. This isn't a pick-up and read every day book- it requires the time, care and emotional commitment that Winstead has clearly poured into it.

I find myself unsure where to start. Not my favourite Ashley Winstead and I kept thinking of Daisy Jones and the Six... but it was still better than majority of the books I read this year. It's a really interesting character study and exploration of grief. It was harrowing, it was loud, it was quiet, it was cathartic and it was beautiful. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who wants to get inside a psyche of characters going through it, fighting to come out the other end.

I said it reminded me of Daisy Jones, but honestly it's a much better book, with tighter writing, more fleshed out characters and dynamics. So if you're a fan of Daisy, I'm sure you'll also find a lot of appreciation for this one.

Sounds like a very important book for the author, and I will always clap and cheer (but she also always deserves it.) For sure pick it up once it's out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This definitely isn’t the normal type of book by Ashley and it was good to see her out of her comfort zone. The book was engaging and I really enjoyed it!

Hannah, who is both beautiful and broken, is the front woman of the band The Future Saints. They are falling apart rapidly because Hannah is losing her mind due to the death of Ginny, her sister and band manager. Everything changes when their record label's "fixer," Theo, takes over the band. This is an extremely well written book full of the highs and lows of the rock and roll life.

The Future Saints is about a band who have had some success but haven't quite lived up to their full potential. They are assigned a new manager following the passing of their much loved old manager, As they explore a new sound and experience some viral success they explode in popularity and the band and new manager Theo have to navigate their newfound success whilst also trying to come to terms with their grief and evolving personalities and feelings. In summary this book is a whirlwind of emotions and follows the band but most closely the lead singer Hannah who is struggling with grief and dealing with life in the spotlight. I absolutely adored this story. It was heartfelt and had some great depictions of grief and the struggles that Hannah faced. I loved all the members of the band and enjoyed the levity that their joint interactions brought to the book. I also really enjoyed Ashley Winstead's writing style and having only read one book by her before I look forward to reading more of her backlist.
I'm sure this will be a popular book upon its release! A really heartfelt emotional look at grief, addiction, evolving friendships and complex family issues whilst also very entertaining and an addictive read. Highly recommend!

Wow! I devoured this. Ashley Winstead has another 5 star read and this seems to be different from everything so far yet carries her signature style.

This is a serious page turner and I love how emotionally in touch this book is. Th characters make you feel and root for them and quickly turn the pages to know their fate. The supporting characters are amazingly written and add to the story. They show both the positives and negatives of the world they inhabit.

I loved the insight into the music world. Something that the fans of Daisy Jones and the Six would love. The writing style in terms of excerpts and pov is definitely engaging. But this book also beautifully integrates aspects of grief, loss, family, love, ambition, sacrifice. Th dialogues bring out the banter and witty nature of the characters amidst what they are facing. I have to say I loved the band and how the story is brought together. The dynamics play out beautifully.

I loved how the pap culture, social media, rivalry and industry control is shown. Not going to give any spoilers but it also has some good twists and amazing chemistry, but not what you would expect. Definitely recommend picking this one up! If you read one book this year let it be this one. If makes you wanting for the next book my Winstead as always!

Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

3.5

Washed up, a disaster area, that’s the general opinion on The Future Saints, until an inebriated Hannah Cortland sings that last new song at The Hideout, a Californian venue also past its prime. It halts Manifest record label fixer Theo in his tracks, giving him goosebumps, maybe The Saints do you have a future. Indeed it seems so as this new music goes viral. However, Hannah is deep in grief for her sister Ginny, her partner in crime for everything. Will Hannah embrace the potential of success or detonate all Theo’s efforts at every return?

I love Ashley Winstead’s last few books but less so this one which I think maybe is because I have read Daisy Jones and The Six???? The characterisation is very good, Hannah is very vulnerable and on a path to self-destruction, her behaviour is contradictory yet remains constant and true to the memory of her sister with her love of Ginny shining through all the chaos. Her grief is palpable and almost a living thing. Theo has the patience of a saint trying to manage and handle this lot as they create their own brand of anarchy.

This is a real slow burner which I generally like and it’s an emotional, raw, haunting rollercoaster of a book as it explores a number of themes beyond the obvious one of grief and Hannah‘s spiralling mental health. It also looks at the music industry and handling fame but Hannah and of course Ginny, lie at the heart of it all and everything she’s going through is conveyed very well. I’m glad the romance element isn’t the biggest part of the novel as I just don’t see these two as a couple.

Overall, I cannot deny this is very well written and it’s clearly from the heart which I admire, but this is my least favourite book of the authors as it’s just a bit too slow in places for my taste.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus, Aria and Aries for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.

Will post to social media nearer publication date

This was exactly what I wanted Daisy Jones and the Six to be - all the decadence of the rock star lifestyle with deep emotional depictions of grief. I was hooked and couldn't put this down, the structure of excerpts of interviews and TikTok transcripts mixed with prose kept this interesting. It broke my reading slump with aplomb.

I particularly enjoyed that the refreshing focus was on Hannah's grieving, rather than the burgeoning romance with Theo, which allowed the romance to grow more organically in the background, whilst giving the grief respect it deserved. Having started the read assuming this would be light and fluffy, the depth of emotions conveyed were unexpected and I felt that Winstead respected me as a reader to be able to cope with this. It won't be for everyone due to potential triggers but I loved it.

I haven't read any Ashley Winstead before but will quickly now work my way through her backlist - the writing style entranced me. The ambiguous ending will not be for all readers, but it left me with a hopeful feeling for the characters on closing the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A 4 star rating from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling and relatable, likable characters. Loved every single second reading it.

Ever since the bands manager and lead singers sister passing The future saints has been on a downward spiral. Despite everything Theo is willing to put his good name on the line to give the band a new chance. But everything seems to be working against them, even their own members.

Winstead is excels at writing captivating stories with memorable characters and relationships. But there’s a lot going on at once, Hannah is dealing with the loss of her sister while getting the band back on track.

I found the multiple POV’s a little confusing and the amount of characters didn’t exactly help the situation. It is eerily similar to Daisy Jones and the six, which I also gave three stars. If you enjoyed that one I highly recommend giving Future saints a read.

Read this you like
✨General fictional
😭Emotional reads
🤍Sisterhood
📖Multiple pov

I can't say I was ever familiar with Ashley Winstead's books, but I'm not disappointed.

The Future Saints is about The Future Saints, a band of three people in their late-twenties declining in popularity years after their one commercial hit. The passing of the main character's sister and band manager, Ginny, is pushing them to take a completely different path regarding what they start to write and perform. Enter Theo, nicknamed "The Fixer", sent by the label to help the band write one last album before they can drop them. From there starts a story not only between him and the main singer, Hannah, but also about grief, self-acceptance, found family and the love and impact of music in one's life.

What drew me is obviously the music aspect, which I absolutely love in books. It was heavily character-focused and not only about the main characters' love story, who we have the POVs through the book. Hannah is a force to be reckoned with and I absolutely loved her authenticity and her flaws. She is such a strong woman and her development was amazing. Theo's growth was also remarkable, and his choices were taken with a lot of maturity.

The only thing that did not do it for me was the period when the actions took place (2024-2025) and so references to TikTok for example. I definitely think it's more of a personal preference with having some of my favorite books about bands set in the 1980s/1990s.

The Future Saints is incredible and makes you understand that it's okay not to have everything fixed even if you're 28, that no matter what comes in your way you can fulfill your dreams if you surround yourself with good people, and that you should always reach out for help when needed. I definitely would recommend it.

Thank you to Aria or Aries and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for a honest review!

How is it possible that I’ve already read the best book of 2026? The Future Saints blew me away. Wow, wow, wow!

Ashley Winstead has once again proven she’s a master of crafting deeply human, unforgettable characters. I was completely invested in their stories from the very first page—I laughed with them, I cried with them, and I felt completely transported into their world. Her writing is so immersive, I could practically feel the locations and environments come to life around me.

This book is smart, emotional, and full of heart. I absolutely loved it. Don’t walk—run to read this when it releases. Winstead just keeps getting better and better.

Wow, Ashley Winstead has done it again; this is my 3rd Five Star Read of hers. I can understand why The Future Saints has been likened to Daisy Jones & The Six (another Five Star Read) because both Hannah and Daisy are electric characters that just spark off the page. I wish their albums were real so I could play them on repeat.

I could relate so strongly to Hannah, who’s messed up after her younger sister, Ginny tragically drowned and how determined she is to make sure she isn’t forgotten. I lost Mum last year and I feel like the author really understands what it’s like to lose your person, the one who truly gets you in a way nobody else can and how utterly adrift it leaves you. I highlighted so many paragraphs because they captured my feelings so beautifully.

I’ve always had a soft spot for books about musicians and The Future Saints delves into the internal politics (and misogyny) in the music industry. Theo, who’s brought in as replacement manager for the band is a great character. He starts off as the Suit who’s trying his best to wrangle one final album from the band to impress his odious boss but you can tell it’s actually the music that drives him not the business and he becomes an honorary Saint.

I can’t wait for this to be published so more people can discover The Future Saints.

Ashley Winstead never disappoints me.

I've been anticipating this book for a while, as I love anything music/band related, so I was overjoyed when I was approved for the ARC and immediately dived right in.

The comparisons to Daisy Jones aren't exactly wrong - here, again, we have a rock band on the brink of success with their personal dynamics and issues threatening to ruin it for them - but Ashley always brings a darker edge to her work, and this is really a book about grief, and what that means, and how to explore a tragedy through art.

There's also a great look at how women are treated by fame - Hannah is going through something very publicly while creating great art and her gender is never something that the men or media around her are able to put aside (even Theo, their new manager, is fairly accused of favouritism towards her by the male members of the band).

I know I'm jumping around here. I waited a few days to write this after finishing the book to try and gather my thoughts and yet the book feels so wide and deep that it's still hard for me to collect them. I loved the members of the band - Hannah, our frontwoman, talented and spiralling. Ripper, a queer South Asian guitarist who is so aware of representation and what he means to people. And Kenny, the drummer and beating heart of the band. I loved these characters' relationships to each other - that even when they fought, they loved each other, and we got to see that unwavering support.

I do think for me, Theo and the romance were the weakest parts. He reminded me a lot of William Miller in Almost Famous pining after Penny Lane - he didn't really understand what was going on with Hannah, and he wanted to save her. I'm glad that Hannah found support in him, but I was more interested in her relationship with grief, with Ginny, and the other members of her band. Still, Theo creates the throughline and our introduction to the band and their journey - but to me, he was the least interesting member of the Future Saints.

I will say, I am more of a fan of her darker work (The Last Housewife is peak, This Book Will Bury Me) and this didn't quite have the same impact or pacing, but it was still fantastic - and I knew that going into it. Everything Ashley Winstead writes has the same kind of sharpness to it, and I really appreciated that here. I know that this is a book I'll be coming back to, and that there'll be something new for me to find here each time.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria books for the eARC.

I’m a big fan of Ashley Winstead’s books, always something fresh and different.

The Future Saints follows the band The Future Saints, they never quite made it and are on a downward spiral since the death of their manager. Record company fixer Theo has been despatched to see if he can coax out the album they owe the record company.

It’s fresh, contemporary and the character writing is excellent. Chaotic, charismatic lead sister Hannah is grieving and Theo doesn’t know if he’s facing a breakdown or a rebirth.

Thoroughly believable and compelling, Ashley Winstead really captures the rock band dynamic, the creative struggles and the commercial pressure. Hard to define, I wouldn’t exactly call it a romance. Don’t get hung up on the Daisy Jones and the Six comparisons, this is a very different book, ‘now’ instead of nostalgia, though just as great in its own way.

Very moving, involving and highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries

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.