31 Books Coming Out In Fall 2026 You Need to Know About

Hi Book Pals,

I’ve read 38 books so far this year, and I’m hoping the best reading is yet to come with a slate of heavy hitters this fall. Barbara Kingsolver! Sarah J. Maas! Min Jin Lee! Me! (OK, the latter is more of a walk-on with something to prove.)

I’m back with my final new release round up of 2026 with 31 books releasing between September–December that I think you need to know about. If you missed them, you can check out January–April’s roundup HERE and May–August’s HERE.

So, pour yourself a beverage, make sure you’ve stretched your “add to cart” finger, and let’s get ready to pre-order!

* = I’ve already read and enthusiastically endorse!

A new bombshell—ahem, exciting literary voice—has entered the villa.

1. The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins | Family Drama | Sept 1: This family drama about three generations of Italian-American women living under the same roof has been racking up glowing Goodreads reviews since being an August Book of the Month selection

2. You’re The One That I Haunt by Katie Jung | Paranormal Romance | Sept 22: Pitched as My Best Friend’s Wedding meets The Dead Romantics, a woman teams up with a ghost to woo her childhood crush. It sounds full of hijinx, if you’re in the mood for something romp-y.

3. *Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle | Romance | Oct 6: A 5-star romance about a woman who wakes up in the hospital missing 7 years of memories, only to discover she married to her high school bully. If you like the sprawling moneyed friend group of Magnolia Parks, you’re going to love this!

Lots to discuss in these books, and I have a feeling people are going to be talking about them. (Maybe that includes your book club!)

4. Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult | Contemporary Fiction | Sept 15: I heard Jodi pitch this book live, and she told us it was inspired by a Post Secret thread that said “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 thinks I’m dead.” That’s all I need to know. What a hook!

5. The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw | Contemporary Fiction | Sept 29: The brash wife of a megachurch pastor lands at the center of a scandal in this novel from the author of The Secret Life of Church Ladies.

6. American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee | Literary Fiction | Sept 29: A chonker of a book—656 pages—tackling the Korean diaspora’s obsession with education. This book has received glowing praise from basically every acclaimed living author you can think of. I’ll absolutely be carving out time in my calendar for it!

7. Partita by Barbara Kingsolver | Literary Fiction | Oct 6: Barbara Kingsolver is tackling a romance plot? I’m there! A decades-old affair sends shockwaves through a former music prodigy’s simple life.

8. Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus | Contemporary Fiction | Oct 13: Set in the 1980’s, a recent college grad gets a job at a prestigious—and idiosyncratic—poetry journal. I can’t wait to see how Garmus follows up her mega-bestselling debut, Lessons in Chemistry.

9. Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li | Historical Fiction | Oct 13: Emma Straub gave a glowing review to this novel about rival music prodigies destined to marry in a recent newsletter, adding that Ann Patchett told her it may be the best book she’s ever read. I’m not a historical fiction reader—it’s set in the 1700’s—but that was all the convincing I needed.

HEA enthusiasts rejoice!

10. See You Next Tuesday by Kate Stayman-London | Romance | Sept 8: Has there ever been a better title? And an apt one, too, for this enemies-to-lovers romance about a brilliant political campaign strategist and the communications whiz she can’t stop crossing paths with. It had me at West Wing vibes…

11. *Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson | Romance | Oct 6: The buzz in romance reading circles has been deafening for this book about a novelist and the book critic who pans his work. It’s a corner of the publishing industry I’ve never seen fictionalized before! (There’s also a section written in emails mid-way through that had me absolutely giddy!)

12. *Back Where We Started by Becca Freeman | Romance | Oct 13: I cannot wait for you to read my second novel about childhood best friends turned first loves who are bonded by their ambition. She wants to be a famous actress, he wants to be president. When they run into each other as adults, only one has achieved their dream, but the spark between them is still alive and well. (Think Notting Hill meets Sweet Home Alabama!)

13. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder by Ally Carter | Romystery | Oct 13: The heir to a billionaire is murdered at his family’s Christmas party and the housekeeper’s daughter is the prime suspect. She’s also the only person who knows he’s still alive. I loved Carter’s first spicy holiday mystery and am excited for another helping!

Romantasy, Paranormal, Speculative… oh my!

14. Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison | Paranormal Romance | Sept 15: Spooky season enthusiasts will want to check out this romance between a grim reaper and a guardian angel. I haven’t read Borison’s previous paranormal romance, but have loved her contemporary romances!

15. The Court of Venus by Bel Banta | Romantasy | Sept 29: Think romantasy with a tarot twist. A powerful magician finds herself drawn to the insufferable monarch she must rule beside.

16. Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey | Dystopian Romance | Oct 6: I love when big authors try out a new genre, so I’m eager to see what the “Michelangelo of Dirty Talk” is doing in the dystopian romance realm! I’ve heard this one about a time-traveler caught between two brothers is super addictive!

17. Once in a Timeline by Iman Hariri-Kia | Speculative Romance | Oct 13: An influencer gets trapped reliving her own “Day in the life” video. She and the grump stuck in the video with her must find their way out of this Groundhog’s Day time-loop of projected perfection.

Some little weirdos. Will they be good? We’ll see.

18. Under Story by Chloe Benjamin | Literary Sci-Fi | Sept 1 : I’ve heard people say this is the best book of the year. I’ve heard other people say they have no idea what happened in this epic love story about an undercover scientist making a world-shattering discovery. I can’t wait to find out which camp I fall into.

19. Switzy by Emma Cline | Literary Fiction | Sept 8: I’ve never read an Emma Cline novel. I have a notion that they’re too weird—too literary?—for me. But I’m still intrigued by this story about a man making his final pilgrimage that’s already been long-listed for the Booker Prize.

20. Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel | Literary Dystopia | Sept 15: I’ve read the description for this book no less than 10 times, and have absolutely no idea how to sum up this seemingly kaleidoscopic novel set in a dystopian near-future into a couple sentences. But the sky-high Goodreads rating gives me cause to believe the author landed the plane with it!

21. Hollywood, Ending by John Green | Romance | Sept 22: I’m biased against romance novels written by men. But I still find myself curious about the adult debut from this beloved YA author that follows two young actors making a movie about the final year of Andy Warhol’s life. See: wild card!

22. Samantha: The Next Chapter by Fiona Davis | Historical Fiction | Oct 13: Did you ever wonder what happened to Samantha Parkington—yes, the American Girl Doll—after she left grandmeré’s mansion? Apparently, she came to New York City! OK, I’ll bite…

23. The Museum of Modern Love by Mariko Turk | YA Romance | Oct 13: A teen schemes to get locked in overnight at the Met with her crush, but instead gets stranded with her ex. I know there’s a big contingent here that loves books set in the art/museum world—me included!—and this sounds like a fun twist.

We’ve been waiting! These books are part of pre-existing series.

24. The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig | Romantasy | Sept 1: The second novel in a planned duology about a phophetess and the heretical knight that brings her world crashing down. Honestly, I’d be happy with 368 pages of Roderick and Bartholomew side-questing. This is one of the most unique—and atmospheric—romantasy novels I’ve read, and I can’t wait to see where the second installment goes.

25. The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham | Contemporary Fiction | Sept 15: School is back in session, and we’ll finally get to find out what’s in Cinnamon’s last email in this boarding-school-set series that roves POVs between the students and staff.

26. Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey | Contemporary Fiction | Sept 15: A fifth—and fall-themed—installment in this beloved family drama series from the author dubbed “The Elin of the South.” I have a lot of catching up to do as I’ve only read book 1 so far!

27. Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffinger | Speculative Fiction | Oct 6: This is fun! 23 years later, we’re getting a sequel to The Time Traveler’s wife following Alba, who inherited her father’s time-traveling gene.

28. Untitled ACOTAR #6 by Sarah J. Maas | Romantasy | Oct 27: Is this book still not having a cover, title, or description as we near the two-month-mark a flex or a warning sign its gonna get pushed? Either way, it’s sure to shatter records whenever it releases.

I would buy these completely blind. These authors have earned my unending loyalty.

29. Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason | Literary Fiction | Sept 8: I was transfixed by Mason’s writing style in her debut, Sorrow & Bliss, and I’m ready to follow her anywhere. In this case, “anywhere” happens to be an English literary festival where the organizer, whose perfect world has fallen apart, inserts herself in her favorite author’s life.

30. *Lina & June by Genevieve Wheeler | Contemporary Fiction | Dec 8: From the author of Adelaide, comes this book about polar-opposite best friends who are inseparable until their spectacular implosion after an unexpected medical diagnosis. I love friendship fiction, and this one tackles the heartache of a friend breakup so well.

31. Rabbit Rabbit by Jennifer E. Smith | Contemporary Fiction | Dec 15: I’ve loved both of Smith’s adult novels—The Unsinkable Greta James and Fun for the Whole Family—so my expectations are high for this book about a woman who decides to have a baby on her own, only to meet the man of her dreams who doesn’t want children an hour later. I’m really drawn to themes about the push/pull of potential-motherhood lately, so this sounds right up my street.

Alright, your turn: What sounds good here? What fall releases are on your radar that I’m missing? Anything you’re already looking forward to in 2027?

Happy reading,

Becca

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