Column | Top books to read in August 2026

Family, and the feeling of belonging and togetherness it can provide, lies at the heart of many of the books in this month’s reading list. Moving between literary and historical fiction, thrillers and horror, these titles feature works by familiar, much-loved writers alongside some newer names too. Together, they present a world that is at once intimate, fleeting and foreign.

In this collection of “unsettling tales”, the title story begins with a baby born with six fingers in 1970s Lahore. The mother is certain the extra finger is scratching her of its own accord. From there, things get steadily less stranger. Loosely inspired by true events, Muzaffar’s stories draw on family lore, superstition and the supernatural, with the old city sketched out vividly, gathering history and myth within it. The horror is slow and atmospheric rather than startling, making for a truly enjoyable read.