The Future Saints
- Judith D Collins
- Jan 18
- 8 min read
By: Ashley Winstead
Narrators: Ali Andre Ali, Brittany Pressley, Vikas Adam, Tyla Collier
ISBN: 9781668024669
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: 01/20/2026
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
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’s 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).
Praise
“This beautiful novel will resonate with anyone who has ever loved someone with their whole heart.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“An emotionally charged rock ‘n’ roll love story…this one leaves a mark.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
With compelling characters and surprising emotional depth, The Future Saints pays tribute to the glitz and guts required for a life dedicated to music."
—Shelf Awareness
“A heart tugging love story woven into a journey of grief, denial, and the relationships we’ll do anything to hold onto. The Future Saints is not to be missed.”
—Annabel Monaghan, New York Times bestselling author of It’s a Love Story
“Absolutely electric. A wild ride through the highs and lows of fame, creativity, love, and grief. The Future Saints will pull out your heart and leave you begging for more. Almost Famous step aside: the new golden gods of rock have arrived.”
—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters
"A haunting exploration of grief, self-destruction, and fame, Ashley Winstead's Future Saints is, unsurprisingly, a masterpiece. It has all the charm of her romances and propulsion of her thrillers, packaged up in a beautifully crafted, transportative work of literary fiction that's perfect for anyone who has ever had a complex relationship with family (biological or found), spent their summers at Warped Tour, or fallen in love with someone young and reckless. Fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will eat this one up!"
—Genevieve Wheeler, author of Adelaide
"Powerful and propulsive, Future Saints hits all the right notes. Ashley Winstead has written a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that's so raw and emotional, you'll want to play it on repeat. I raced through, stopping only to underline my favorite quotes."
—Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance and The Daydreams
"I absolutely loved this gem of a novel. It pairs darkness and light so well, and left me feeling seen, understood and hopeful. The characters are so well-drawn, and they felt like my friends by the end of it. I feel I am half-Hannah, half-Theo and felt so seen by both of them and by the beautiful things their story said about what it is to make art in this world. I didn't want to leave them behind. It's clear to me that Ashley put her heart and soul into this book, and I'm so grateful I got to experience it."
—Bianca Gillam, author of Bad Publicity
“A solid entry in the ever-more-popular category of music-biz lit, pulled off with notable élan.”
—Kirkus
About the Author
Ashley Winstead is the national bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me, Midnight is the Darkest Hour, The Last Housewife, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, The Boyfriend Candidate, and Fool Me Once. Her books have been Library Read picks, Loan Star picks, Best of Amazon picks, Best of Apple Books picks, and have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, and Library Journal.
Her work has been covered by New York Times, Washington Post, CrimeReads, Parade, Cosmopolitan, Good Morning America, Good Housekeeping, Seattle Times, and Southern Review of Fiction, among others. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages worldwide and optioned for television. Ashley holds a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature and lives in Houston. WEBSITE
My Review
THE FUTURE SAINTS by Ashley Winstead is a poignant and evocative novel that delves into the tumultuous journey of a rock band grappling with profound grief and the shadows of self-destruction.
Following the tragic death of their dedicated manager—who was also the lead singer's beloved sister—the band members find themselves immersed in a turbulent emotional landscape. Intertwined with their struggles is the desperate attempt of a record executive, who is determined to salvage not only their musical career but also their shattered spirits.
The story unfolds against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene, capturing the raw intensity of loss, love, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
About...
A music-biz drama about a band's near-collapse and potential rebirth, centered on the charismatic but troubled Hannah and the executive trying to save her and the music.
The rock band The Future Saints is struggling after the tragic and sudden death of their manager and lead singer, Hannah's sister, Ginny.
Record executive Theo Ford is sent by the label to either save the band and get a new, successful album out of them or drop them.
Hannah, deep in grief, goes off-script during a dive bar performance and debuts a raw, gut-wrenching rock sound that replaces their former California pop style. This performance is a hit and goes viral, gaining the band an unexpected new wave of fans and fame.
Seeing the potential in the new sound, Theo puts his career on the line to give the band one last shot at success with a new tour and record.
Despite their burgeoning success, Hannah is not ready to move on from her grief and engages in increasingly destructive antics (e.g., performing drunk, causing scandals), which create tension with Theo and her bandmates.
The Future Saints features a central trio of band members and a record executive, each navigating the "messy" intersection of fame and personal trauma.
Main Protagonists
~Hannah Cortland:
The "haunted" lead singer and guitarist of The Future Saints. She is a gifted songwriter struggling with a "downward spiral" of alcohol abuse and self-destruction following the tragic death of her younger sister. Hannah is the creative engine behind the band's shift from "California pop" to raw, viral rock music.
~Theo Ford:
An ambitious record executive at Manifest Records known as "The Fixer" (or the "Grim Reaper"). Sent to either salvage or cut the band, he becomes their champion, risking his career to support their new sound while falling for Hannah. He is described as a "suit" with a grounded, patient nature that contrasts with Hannah's chaos.
Band Members & Family
~Ginny Cortland:
Hannah’s younger sister and the band’s former manager, who died in a surfing accident ten months before the story's start. She remains the "heart of the story," appearing to Hannah as a "ghost" or a manifestation of her grief.
~Tarak “Ripper” Ravishankar: The band's bassist, described as having "protective big brother energy". He is hungry for creative control and recognition for his talent, but remains loyal to the group.
~Kenny (or Kevin) Lovins: The band's eccentric, peacekeeping drummer. He is often characterized as "loyal" and "crystal-loving," serving as a stabilizing force between the more volatile members.
A strong emotional connection forms between Theo and Hannah as they navigate chaos, hinting at a potential rock-and-roll love story amidst the struggle for survival and success.
My thoughts...
In THE FUTURE SAINTS, the narrative skillfully explores the complex themes of sisterhood (through flashbacks to Hannah's relationship with Ginny) and a developing, complicated romance between Hannah and Theo, who tries to help her through her self-destructive behavior.
The pressure escalates as the band receives Grammy nominations and an invitation to perform. The central tension becomes whether Hannah can overcome her grief and destructive behaviors to save the band, her relationships, and herself.
The novel is a strong character-driven story told from the alternating perspectives of Hannah and Theo, and uses mixed media elements, such as news articles, social media posts, and interview snippets, to unfold the suspenseful plot.
THE FUTURE SAINTS explores themes of womanhood, fame, and unexpected love in the midst of a moving arc of redemption. The title serves as a poignant irony that highlights the gap between public perception and Hannah’s internal reality. While she engages in erratic and self-destructive behavior, the world increasingly views her and the band through a lens of tragic reverence.
The "Saints" in the title refers not to moral perfection, but to the endurance required to "claw yourself out of the darkness" and continue loving despite the certainty of loss.
The word "Future" suggests a potential for healing that Hannah initially resists. While she acts out to "undermine" her own success, the narrative arc explores whether she can eventually inhabit the "Saint" role more healthily—by choosing life and recovery over escape and destruction.
The central takeaway of "The Future Saints" is the incredible human instinct to persist. Rather than being a tragedy, the novel explores the messy, non-linear process of "clawing yourself out of the darkness" and choosing to continue loving others despite the certainty of loss.
Key Themes
~Persistence Over Tragedy
~The Healing Power of Art
~Honoring Personal Chaos
~Duality of Fame and Self-Worth
Author Ashley Winstead (favorite author) wrote the book while grieving her own father's death, realizing the story needed to focus on the drive to survive rather than just the tragedy itself.
Beautifully written and emotionally intense, THE FUTURE SAINTS explores grief, addiction, depression, the dark side of fame, sisterhood, the complexities of family, creativity, and unexpected romance. A love story between sisters, bandmates, and people who do not know what they need. From love, grief, and friendship, self-destruction, the pressure of fame, the heartbreak of loss, and the brave act of starting over.
Recs...
Readers who enjoyed THE FUTURE SAINTS may also like other books that feature the music industry, complex character dynamics, and themes of grief and ambition. Here are some similar titles:
~Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
~A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
~The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk
~Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
~Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon
Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The audiobook...
I look forward to listening to the audiobook, notably brought to life by a full talented cast of stars including Ali Andre Ali, Brittany Pressley, (favorites) Vikas Adam, and Tyla Collier.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 20, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
