Fall 2026 Book Releases
The fall 2026 book releases are fantastic, and I cannot wait to dive into these amazing books. This is the post where we divide the book releases by publication date for the entire season!
If you are looking for new release books divided by genre, I put those in a separate post divided by month. You can find the most anticipated book releases for June 2026, July 2026, and August 2026. I have proclaimed that 2026 is the year of books about books. This is a trend that I am still seeing.
I know that it can seem like a lot, but feel free to jump around. There are so many books that Kirsten and I cannot wait to read, it’s hard to pick which to read first.
The books on this list are divided by release date, so you will know when the books are coming out. Have a look around. And as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Kirsten or me!
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Fall 2026 Book Releases: September 2026
September 1, 2026
Under Story
Author: Chloe Benjamin
Release Date: September 1, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling author of The Immortalists
Plot
Laurel was a biologist who fled her life and her husband to work as a dishwasher in Antarctica. When a strange light appears across the ice, a group of physicists comes to investigate, and Luarel knows her husband will be one of them.
Laurel is convinced that this is a rabbit hole that will allow them to turn back the clock and relive their lives a second time. I cannot wait to read this much-anticipated book from Benjamin
The Three Graces of Pearl Street
Author: Elizabeth Wellington Rollins
Release Date: September 1, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Debut Novel
Plot
Graziella is a 96-year-old former nun who runs the parish’s food kitchen. Her daughter Grace is a psychology professor, and her granddaughter Ella is brilliant, but is having trouble finding where she really belongs. When the Three Graces come back together to live under one roof, they may find out what it means to really be known by somebody else. This is perfect for my list of Books About Mothers and Motherhood.
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger
Author: Hank Phillippi Ryan
Release Date: September 1, 2026
Genre: Thriller
Plot
Elisa and Bea Ramsey are the sole survivors of a plane crash that killed their parents. On the 11th anniversary of the Accident, Bea is suddenly nowhere to be found. She does not come to get her daughter, Piper, from a sleepover at Elisa’s house. Did Bea plan her disappearance? Eliza and Piper have to work together to find a happy ending and find the person trying to destroy it.
Oxford Guide to Scandals and Lies
Author: Kate Westbury
Release Date: September 1, 2026
Genre: Mystery
More info: Debut Novel
Plot
Ginerva Bishop and Sidney Barithwaite both attend Oxford in 1951. Ginerva wants to prove she is more than a debutant. Sidney is trying to get far away from his childhood mining village and memories of the war. The British Secret Service wants to pair her charm with his spy experience to catch the Soviet spy at the university. The previous agent was poisoned, and MI5 wants the two of them to pair up and find him before sensitive information is sent to the enemy.
Plot
This fall 2026 book release had me at cozy Fae romance! We have changelings, Faye, hobgoblins, and forbidden romance. I’m not sure how spicy this one will be, but it seems like a perfect pick for fall.
The Sugar Maple Inn
Author: Laura Bloom
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Solace Springs Book #2
Plot
Grace Sullivan wants to buy the historic Inn on Maple Island so she has something of her own. She has an anonymous online mentor who gives her business advice. Reese Spencer is a billionaire who also wants to buy the remote island because there are family secrets buried there. Neither of them knows they have been chatting to the other online for months until they become trapped in the ends honeymoon suite. Will they fight for the inn or fight for something bigger?
September 8, 2026
Taipei Story
Author: R. F. Kuang
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of Yellowface
Plot
Lilly Chen is spending her summer in Taipei at an intensive language program. She hopes to connect with her culture. But her classes and roommate are nothing like she thought they would be. Rather than bring her closer to her past, she begins to feel even further away and more like a foreigner in a country she hoped would feel like home. When she finds out her grandfather has passed away, she begins to piece together the stories and memories in an attempt to make a connection. This is perfect for my list of coming-of-age novels. It asks many questions about connecting with family and looking for answers.
The Pirate Queen
Author: Ariel Lawhon
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River. Inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley.
Plot
Grace O’Malley is the daughter of a powerful chief. Her role is to secure strong alliances and have children. When she is sent to live with a nearby clan, she falls for a second son whom she can never be with. Grace is forced to marry a brutal warrior who outsts her from his lands. This finally allows Grace to return to her first love, the sea. She is leading clan O’Malley with their fleet. When Queen Elizabeth becomes bolder with her incursions into Ireland, Grace defends her land, her ships, and her people. Grace was known as the pirate queen of Ireland, and I’m so excited to read this amazing book.
The Witches of Cambridge
Author: Alice Hoffman
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Start of a new Series by The Practical Magic Series
Plot
This fall 2026 book release is at the top of my TBR pile. Ava, from a small town in Maine arrives at Radcliffe for her first year. There, she meets Lauren who is from a prominent Cambridge family. It is not long before they are both recruited by the Lilith society, a secret society of witches. When girls from the Lilith society begin to go missing, they fear that the famous witch trials may not be as far away as they thought.
Find Similar Books in: Alice Hoffman Books in Order
Tempest
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Book 1 of The Lyrian Sea
Plot
Cat Rose was once a noblewoman trapped in a loveless marriage. Now, she is a widow who is the Queen of a pirate Tavern in the Lyrian Sea. The empire gives her a choice. Deliver Valerian Kane, the legendary pirate captain, or risk all the pirates being destroyed. The problem? He is the only man Cat has ever loved.
Big Bad Wolf
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info: Maple Hollow Book 1
Plot
Here is the scoop. If you have read A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan, you know what this story is about. Laurie and Melissa are the same person. Everything that was dark in ACOBAW has been replaced with the small-town charm we have all come to love Gilmore for. She took the opportunity to think about this Red Riding Hood retelling and rework the story and characters.
I am really looking forward to reading this book. I admit that I read ACOBAW and did not like it. It was too dark for me. This one seems right up my alley. You should also be aware that if you have ACOBAW on your Kindle, it will not be available once this book is published.
September 15, 2026
Hollow Bones
Author: Jodi Picoult
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Number one New York Times bestselling author
Plot
Molly Fitzgerald lost her mother when she was two months old in the attack on the World Trade Center. Now, she runs the Rhode Island Department of Emergency Preparedness. Her husband, Jesse, is a police polygraph expert who also has a history of crisis of his own. When the unexpected happens, they question everything they knew, even each other. This is a dual timeline narrative that looks at the plans we make to protect ourselves from the worst moments.
Falling for Peachtree Bluff
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author Pechtee Bluff Book 5
Plot
Kirsten and I are so excited to read a book by Kristy that is perfect for fall. Harvey is one of our go-to summer authors. Emerson is planning her dream wedding, but it seems like there is too much going on. Sloane, the middle sister, is pregnant, and her dream house has turned into a nightmare.
Caroline, the eldest sister, has started to fall for Emerson’s co-star when her soon-to-be ex-husband decides he wants a second chance. And Ansley, the matriarch, becomes caught in a scandal that seems to be centered around her new husband, Jack. She starts to question if he is who she thought. I cannot wait to jump into this small town!
Our Noble Selves
Author:
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: #1 International bestselling author of Life After Life
Plot
Harry Flynn has just returned to Britain from Singapore in 1945, and takes a job with the Festival of Britain. It is a government-funded endeavor to create a positive identity for Britain after the Second World War.
When a French woman goes missing, Flynn becomes the primary suspect because he was the last person to see her alive. He has no memory of that evening. He is surrounded by people who have their own agendas and may benefit if he is to blame. I cannot wait to read this fall 2026 new release from Atkinson.
The Palace Beneath the Sea
Author: Lauren Wiesebron
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Mermaid-inspired
Plot
Nolwenn has devoted her life to defending her city of Ys as its lighthouse keeper. When she is attacked by deadly monsters who are trying to destroy the city, she is saved by a mermaid named Morvan. He takes her below Ys, into the ocean, against her will. But as she spends time below, she feels less sure about what she wants and has to decide between her heart and her home.
We Chase Shadows
Author: Richard Osman
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Genre: Mystery
More info: We Solve Murders Mystery
Plot
Amy, Rosie, and Steve are ready for their first case at We Solve Murders HQ. Their first client seems a little sketchy, but they are happy to take the case anyway. When they start digging, suspects start piling up. The murderer is very good at hiding. The team travels all over once again to catch a killer.
Plot
Mattie is a copywriter at an independent ad agency vying for a promotion. When she is given the opportunity to get a big new account, she knows that this could be her opportunity. The only thing standing in her way is Campbell Porter. He is a senior copy editor at Chicago’s biggest ad agency and Mattie’s rival since their time as interns together.
They are thrown together, and a four-week trip is required to make the pitch. As they start to get to know each other, Mattie realizes the story she made up about Campbell might need a different ending. Might this fall 2026 book release be a pick for road trip novels?
September 22, 2026
Hollywood, Ending
Author: John Green
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling author
Plot
This is a story told through two points of view- Kai and Juniper. They have been cast in a biopic movie, Andy Warhol never gets old. The book follows the two of them from their first days on location to the movie’s premiere while they’re falling in love. But it also shows the contrast to the parts they are portraying on screen. This book will make you think about the private versus public lives of celebrities.
The Wretched Divine
Author: Adalyn Grace
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling Author
Plot
Aurelie Chantelune was raised as a night who slays monsters in the kingdom. She is trying to inherit her legacy by making a soulbond with the angel Yuriel. When she realizes that humans are being turned into monsters, she forms a second bond with Severin, a demon. The three of them must team up to find a cure and turn the demons back into humans, but she will need to make a choice. Will she stand with the angels or risk everything by trusting a demon?
It’s Not What You Think
Author: Clare Mackintosh
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair and is determined to catch him in the act. But when she arrives home to catch and confront him, he is dead. The entire house is a crime scene. From one of my favorite mystery thriller writers comes one of the most anticipated fall 2026 book releases.
Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel
Author: Lucy Foley
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Book 1 in the new Miss Marple Series
Plot
This is perfect for my list of Mysteries and Thrillers set at a hotel, but even better because it is Miss Marple, written by the great Lucy Foley. The Grand Alpine Hotel is in the Swiss Alps. It is the perfect place for a holiday until a guest turns up dead, and nobody can leave with a blizzard cutting off an escape. Can Miss Marple find the killer before they choose their next victim?
Well Versed
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Author: Jen DeLuca
Genre: Romance
More info: Well Met #5
Plot
Caitlin Parker used to love the Willow Creek Renaissance faire until she had her heart broken there when she was 18. Now, she is 24 and unemployed, so she has no choice but to go back to the faire and work. Alexander Wright is the last person she wants to see. When he broke up with her, he thought he was ending a summer fling, but didn’t realize how much he liked her until it was too late. He is determined to fix his mistakes and bring them back together again.
Plot
Gloria Steinman is one of the world’s most famous feminist icons, and in her new memoir, she shares her early life and her journey to becoming the woman we all know. She talks about decades of activism and setbacks and reflects on victories, one for women and human rights. This is the memoir we all need to read in 2026.
The Little Shop of Merry and Bright
Author: Jenny Bayliss
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Christmas Romance
More info: A Contemporary Christmas Carol Retelling
Plot
When Casey declined her boyfriend’s marriage proposal three years ago, she never dreamed that it would go viral, and she would still be dealing with the backlash years later. Now, she has chosen a job with no potential for humiliation. But there is no potential for a boyfriend either.
When Casey meets Margo, the spirit of Christmas present, they make a bargain. Margo will use her powers to erase the video, but Casey must witness five alternate realities first. If she still wants the video erased, Margo will do it. Casey will have to decide what she really wants from life.
Christmas at Honeycomb Bay
Author: Lilac Mills
Release Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Christmas Romance
Plot
Ok. I love a great Christmas romance. This one fills all the cups with a small-town, later-in-life, forced-proximity holiday situation. Eloise needs to get away for the holidays because they are always so lonely for her. Bartholomew has not opened his guest house to visitors since his wife passed away.
When Eloise contacts him about renting his guest house, she assures him that she dislikes Christmas as much as he does. When Bart is forced to give shelter to a single mom and a child whose holiday has been devastated by a fire, Eloise finds herself playing the role of Mrs. Claus to Bart’s Santa. But the more they get into their roles, the more they realize its not so bad to have some Christmas spirit. Sometimes the best way to escape Christmas is to open your heart.
A Curse for Christmas Past
Author: Morgan Lockhart
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Christmas Romance
Plot
Hayleigh has been cursed, and the only way she can think to break it is by going to Elk Ridge, Washington, for the winter festival with a clan of witches. There, she bumps into Stephan Midwinter, who offers to help break the curse. As Hayleigh and Stephan face holiday spirits and being snowed into a B&B together, there might be a few sparks. Will Hayleigh be able to find holiday magic? Where will the curse continue?
September 29, 2026
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman
Author: Deesha Philyaw
Release Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Historical fiction
Plot
Scharisse Freeman never quite fit in after she married a man 15 years older than her who also happened to be the pastor of a mega church. Her old friends thought she had become too holy and the church members thought her not holy emough.
On her 40th birthday, she is finally invited to participate in the First Lady USA pageant. These first ladies are the pastors’ wives, but are actually just religious mean girls. When a scandal breaks with Schar at the center, her curated life implodes all around her, and secrets from her childhood are revealed.
The Weight of Angels
Author: Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s Life
Plot
When Oscar Wilde received a card with the words “For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite”, he sued the Marquess of Queensbury for libel. The result was that he was arrested and sent to prison. In this fall 2026 book release, Boyne reimagines what Wilde’s life would have looked like if he had simply ignored the insult. What would his life have looked like?
Mestra: A Short Story
Author: Madeline Miller
Release Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Mythology
More info: #1 New York Times bestselling author
Plot
Mestra, the daughter of King Thessaly, is granted the ability to transform into any being she can imagine by Poseidon. Her father is cursed with insatiable hunger. She wants to help her father, but how much will he take from her? She has to decide if she will keep helping him survive or break free.
The Vanishing Family
Author: Robert Kolker
Release Date: September 29th
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road
Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick for November 2026
Plot
Robert Kolker is the author of Hidden Valley Road, which was the story of one family and schizophrenia. In this book, Kolker looks at one family and their fight against frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The family has a genetic mutation in which there’s a 50-50 chance the children will have this form of dementia as well. Barb, the youngest of the nine children, watched as her mother became someone she didn’t know in her 40s. Slowly, four of her siblings begin to change as well. Koler’s writing is captivating. This is a must-read pick from the fall 2026 book release.
Trust Fall
Author: Lynn Painter
Release Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: YA Rom Com
More info: #1 New York Times bestselling author
Plot
When Julia’s next-door neighbor passes away, she learns he is a secret multimillionaire who has left everything to her and her family. Soon after, Julia moves to New York City to attend an elite private school. But what should be an amazing opportunity turns into a nightmare when Julia doesn’t fit in and is failing her classes. Damion says that he will tutor her, but he has an ulterior motive. His great uncle was the man who left everything to Julia, and he is determined to figure out why. As they get to know each other, they start to see past their differences, and sparks fly.
The Twelve Loves of Christmas
Author: Alexandria Bellefleur, Elise Bryant, and more
Release Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Advent Romance Short Story Collection
More info: Twelve Holiday Love Stories
Plot
This is a Christmas advent calendar and should be on everyone’s list for the holiday. There are twelve SEALED love stories from favorite authors like Sarah Hogle. There is a forced proximity, second chance romance, and more.
Snowed Inn
Author: Valerie Bowman
Release Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Holiday Romance
More info: Honeycrips Orchard Romance #2
Plot
When publicist Maria is snowed into the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn over the holidays, the last thing she wants is her nemesis, Jesse, to be stuck there with her. But with the holidays around the corner and small town festivities all around, Maria might find hot chocolate, snow drifts, and romance where she least expects it.
Fall 2026 Book Releases: October 2026
October 6, 2026
Every Story is a Love Story
Author: Imbolo Mbue
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author and Oprah Book Club author of Behold the Dreamers
Plot
Three years ago, Wolo’s pregnant wife died in a car accident just before finishing her Ph.D program. He has been trying to rebuild a life after the insurmountable grief when he receives a letter from Victoria, the woman who was driving the other car. Despite protests from his friends, family, and pastor, he reads the letter and agrees to meet with her. When he realizes how much the accident affected her life as well, he begins to wonder if there is a chance at healing if they do it together. This looks like a book Oprah might choose for her book club. It will be beautifully written and there will be much to discuss.
Partita
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre:
More info: Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Demon Copperhead
Plot
This is a dual timeline story that follows Livia from her past as a music conservatory student to the present, in which she is married and living on the farm she grew up on. When she receives a phone call from an old lover from her conservatory days, it shakes up everything in her life. She has to decide if she is going to meet with the man from her past who broke her heart and altered the course of her life.
Life Out of Order
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Magical Realism
More info: The Time Traveler’s Wife #2
Plot
Alba DeTamble was born with the same Chrono-Displacement disorder as her father, Henry. She involuntarily travels through time, without control over where and when she will go. Alba is a talented violinist who tried to maintain a normal life. She has Zach, the one she can always count on, and Oliver, a fellow time traveler. Alba also has a stepsister named Isadora, who becomes important in Alba’s life, if only for the danger she may represent. I cannot wait to read this pick from the fall 2026 book releases.
Bad Words
Author: Rioghnach Robinson
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Debut, Romance Books About Books
Plot
Parker’s debut novel was trashed by Slina Chan, making it the flop of the decade. When he publishes his sophmore novel, she is reviewing it once again. This time when she bashes it, it starts a literary feud unseen in the industry. When they start a private dialogue, outside the public sparring matches, they begin seeing a different side of each other.
What Happens at Nightfall
Author: Lauren Willig
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Gothic Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Jess is separated from a nighttime cemetery tour and finds a group of strange boys and an ancient key instead of the tour group. She also finds Gree-Wood arborist, Adam. He has been recently widowed, and his children have been acting strangely. It seems there is a haunting, and Jess knows more than she is saying. Jess and Adam uncover the cemetery’s history, which includes a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pack that goes back for generations. Jess will have to confront her connection with the past if she wants to live happily ever after.
The Pools
Author: E. Lockhart
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: New York Times bestselling author of the We Were Liars series
Plot
Lexie is the new girl who has an immediate connection with Chester, the town golden boy. She will not talk about her past life and he is hiding his own secrets. One winter morning, five people go for a swim in the pools. Their lives are changed forever.
Wondrous
Author: Heather Fawcett
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: YA Sequel to Alice in Wonderland
Plot
Timed with the 75th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland, this is the story of teenage Alice taking another trip down the rabbit hole. Once down there, Alice meets another girl who claims she is the true Alice. When the Queen of Hearts captures them both, they realize there have been many Alices in Wonderland.
Wonderland has been invaded by dragons and whoever can stop them will be named “The Alice” while the reast will be exhiled, never to return. Alice sets out on a quest to become the one and meets a boy who has a connection to the jabberwocks. Will be be the true Alice or just a supporting character for someone else’s story?
Counting Down to You
Author: Emily Stone
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Christmas Romance
More info: Bestselling author of Always, in December
Plot
Ali is grieving the loss of her best friend this Christmas. The two had a tradition of exchanging advent calendars every December. This year, before Robyn died, she gave Alione last calendar. It starts with a seasonal job at a ski lodge. They always planned on visiting together. A challenge leads to her fake dating a man named Leo, who has also experienced loss.
Mistletoe All the Way
Author: Lauren Blakely
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Holiday Romance
More info: Bestselling Author
Plot
Noah Lennox avoids cheerful people, his hometown, and Christmas. When his grandfather announces he’s retiring and is handing down his sleigh ride Farm to Noa or his cousin Stephan, he has to go home to Feith for the Farm that means everything to him. The only problem is that the town isn’t exactly welcoming to him because of his Scrooge behavior. He needs the help of Eloise, a tourism bureau, hopeful. The two may be able to help each other.
October 13, 2026
The Mother-in-Law Book Club
Author: Kate Hash
Release Date: October 13, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Perfect for our list of Books About Book Clubs
Plot
Andi is a consultant who will be living in Durham for the next little while. She is soon to be divorced and gets into an argument on the plane about the impossible expectations of mothers-in-law. When the 70-something-year-old invites her to a book club, andi says yes. Soon, Andi is giving the book club suggestions on how to repair their relationships with their grown children.
Andi loves her job, her new friends in the book club, and the new romance she has with a college professor. But when her past comes through her front door, she has to decide what her future holds.
Peck & Peck
Author: Bonnie Garmus
Release Date: October 13, 2027
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
Plot
Batter Grey has been hired by Peck & Peck, a poetry journal in NYC. He is an identical twin who lost his brother at birth. He understands duality and knows there is more than one side to every story. This October 2026 book release is the sophomore novel of Bonnie Garmus.
Samantha: The Next Chapter
Author: Fiona Davis
Release Date: October 13, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Bestselling Author of Lions of Fifth Avenue
Plot
This fall 2026 book release is about American Girl Samantha Parkington, who is 25 years old. She is a suffragette who is trying to get women to vote. When he childhood home, Mount Bedford, is stolen from her family in a scheme, she loses everything overnight. Now a shopgirl, she is looking for the clues to help her family get their legacy back, even if it means infiltrating a criminal family!
Please Enjoy Your Stay
Author: Tara Goedjen
Release Date: October 13, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Perfect for our list of Thrillers and Mysteries Set in Hotels
Plot
Mia’s cousin was murdered during their stay in a Castle in the Austrian Alps. Mia was a witness, and her testimony put the killer in jail. However, her aunt, who was a controversial true crime author, was rumored by the media to be involved in the murder. Now, it is a decade later, and the murder case is being appealed. Mia is desperate for answers, so she returns to Austria, where the castle has been redone to be a luxury hotel. She gets a job as a nanny at the hotel to get answers, but soon realizes she may have accused the wrong person.
Look What the Cat Dragged In
Author: Jason Rekulak
Release Date: October 13, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling author of Hidden Pictures and The Last One at the Wedding
Plot
Penny is a tesnty-seven year old cartoonist in Philadelphia who loves cats. She agrees to pet-sit Godfrey in her home. He seems to be an affectionate cat who follows Penny around the house and sleeps next to her at night. Soon, strange things start happening. Penny is troubled with terrible nightmares, there was an insect invasion in her basement, and her cartoons are becoming dark. When her health starts failing, she begins to think Godfrey may not be a normal cat. This book is filled with more than 80 pages of original artwork. Who knew that Jason was so multitalented? We are not surprised and cannot wait to read this pic from the fall 2026 book releases.
An American Girl: How a Billion-Dollar Doll and Its Unlikely Founder Changed Girlhood Forever
Author: Amanda FitzSimons
Release Date: October 13, 2026
Genre: Nonfiction
More info:
Plot
This is the story of Pleasant Rowland, the founder of the American Girl indutry, a woman who changed girlhood for more than four decades. This book explores the creative process and the legacy of the creation. It touches on the debates over the historical accuracy and examines the brand’s relationship with race, class, and diversity.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder
Author: Ally Carter
Release Date: October 13, 2026
Genre: Christmas Mystery
More info:Stenciled edged paperback!
Plot
Ella Chambers didn’t kill Liam Montgomery. He is missing, but alive. She just has to prove it. But someone wants Liam dead and he needs to figure out who. Can these two childhood rivals (the grandson of a billionaire and the housekeeper’s daughter) trust each other to catch a killer?
Plot
Katie is a Hollywood actress like she always dreamed she would be. She doesn’t go home to Dutch Ridge, PA unless she has to because everything reminds her of her ex, Drew. When a promise to her sister forces Katie home for Christmas, she runs into Drew. She begins to wonder if the Hollywood life was everything she thought it would be. Will she get a second chance at love?
October 20, 2026
Miss Wolcott’s Ghost
Author: Louise Penny
Release Date: October 20, 2026
Genre: Mystery
More info: Chief Inspector Gamache Book 21 or 21
Plot
I look forward to reading Louise Penny’s books as soon as they are released. She has become my favorite mystery writer. In this book, Gamache receives a phone call in the early morning saying, “There’s a body in Lost Nation”. Gamache does not know where Lost Nation is. And so begins the mystery that Gamache, Lacoste, Beauvoir, Reine Marie, and other villagers from Three Pines rush to solve before more bodies pile up. If you want to be reminded of the Characters from the previous Louise Penny book, you can check out my posts to remind you before release day.
Land of Ghosts
Author: EL James
Release Date: October 20, 2026
Genre: YA Romance
More info: Bestselling author of Fifty Shades of Grey
Plot
In this YA paranormal romance, the main character is living in London after losing her family. Life feels so heavy, until she meets a young man who is a ghost. Only she can see him and she begins to have feelings for him.
A Knight Before Christmas
Author: Cara Stout
Release Date: October 20
Genre: Holiday Romance
More info: Christmas Romance for 13+
Plot
A dating show leads to a real romance in this YA Christmas romance. Juliet agrees to help run a dating show. Garrick is fake royalty at his family’s fairtale theme park. When the two of them meet, sparks fly!
October 27, 2026
The Brightness
Author: Chad Harbach
Release Date: October 27, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: from the author of The Art of Fielding
Plot
This pick from the fall 2026 book releases is a story about Pella and her best friend Irma as they navigate life in their 20s. Pella just graduated and is engaged when her plans begin to spiral, and she finds herself living in NYC. Irma is involved in a school prank that goes wrong. This threatens her future. The two women navigate love and loss together.
Untitled (A Court of Thorns and Roses 6)
Author: Sara J. Maas
Release Date: October 27, 2026
Genre: Romantasy
More info: ACOTAR book 6 of 7
Plot
This is book six of seven in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. It is currently unnamed, and we are not sure what it will be about. If you want a reminder of the previous books in the series, A Court of Thorns and Roses Books in Order will remind you of the plot of each book before this release.
To Dream in Darkness
Author: Ann Liang
Release Date: October 27th, 2026
Genre: Historical Fantasy
More info: Bestselling Author of A Song to Drown Rivers
Plot
Death God has always collected souls on time until he goes to collect Rujia, the god of healing. She is also a god that he is fated to kill with his own hands. When she offers him a chance to lift a curse placed on him in exchange for one more month, he cannot refuse the offer. Rujia is trying to figure out a way to escape Death, but her plan causes the collapse of the Celestial Palace and the disappearance of the crown prince. Now, Death and Rujia must travel together across the realms to find the prince and return him safely.
The Seventh Ribbon
Author: Gus Krieger
Release Date: October 27, 2026
Genre: Speculative Fiction
More info: Perfect for readers of In Five Years, Debut
Plot
Caroline is mourning the loss of her husband in her oceanfront cottage. When she discovers a typewriter in the attic, she begins writing her story as a “what if “. She is shocked when it comes true. Caroline begins rewriting her story in which her husband never dies in a hit and run accident. But every wish has a cost and how far is she willing to go?
Eight Ways to Say I Love You
Author: Amanda Elliot
Release Date: October 27, 2026
Genre: Hanukkah Romance
More info: USA Today bestselling author
Plot
I cannot wait to read this pick from the fall 2026 book releases. This is a romance that follows Shira and Leo over eight years at Hanukkah. Their lives drift and come back together, but if the timing is right, they might be able to find love.
Christmas Trees and Weak Knees
Author: Katrina Emmel
Release Date: October 27, 2026
Genre: Holiday Romance
Plot
Music, and a Christmas tree farm come together in this holiday romance. Paisley is happy to work at her family’s Christmas tree farm. When Kash Murray shows up looking for inspiration after his band breaks up, sparks fly between them. Is love worth the risk of heartbreak?
Fall 2026 Book Releases: November 2026
November 3 2026
Plot
Paulette left her grandmother, who called her Sweet Pea and taught her about love and forgiveness, in St. Kitts when she moved to England. Now, twenty years later, she thought she would have it all- a home, a husband, and a child. When tragedy strikes, she is left with her son, Bird. When another child the same age as Bird appears and calls her Sweet Pea, she will find love and connection in unexpected places.
The Friday Bookshop
Author: Sawako Natori
Translator: Yui Kajita
Release Date: November 3, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Perfect for Books about Bookstores
Plot
Fumiya is trying to find a book for his father and heads to the Friday Bookshop. He discovers that it not only includes a cafe, but an underground vault of books in a converted, abandoned subway platform. Fumiya learns about the joy of reading and finds that books can help people understand life.
Beyond the Bath of Stars
Author: Schneider K. Rancy
Release Date: November 3, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: The Odyssey retelling
Plot
Eurick Ulysse is trapped by poverty and him imimgrant parents’ expectations. When he drags Ana Maria Cortez out of the water and saves her life, everything changes for him. She takes him into a world he has never known, which makes him desperate for an escape.
Whale Harbor
Author: Mary Beth Keane
Release Date: November 3, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Books Set in Ireland
Plot
This pick from the fall 2026 book releases is inspired by the author’s own family history. In Ireland in the 1960’s a father has to make a choice for his eleven sons. One will go to England for work, and the second eldest goes to Montana to work on a cattle ranch. Rian begs to go to Montana as well. Mac agrees to bring him as soon as he’s old enough. But Rian goes missing, and the disappearance will follow the family for decades to come.
Defy the Dusk
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Release Date: November 3, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Book 1 of The Sundering Suet
Plot
This is the first book in a post-apocalyptic fantasy duology. Twenty years ago, Lirien unleashed her magic, which fractured the world and unleashed creatures that decimated humanity. The survivors were invited to board a high-speed ship that would deliver them to safety while the rest of humanity was left to die.
Since then, Lianne has used her magic on the ship while plotting a way to overthrow the tyrant who rules it. When she is abducted by the king of the feralists, she has to choose to live or die, fight or be fed to the creatures.
Queen of Foxes
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: Romantasy
More info: Robin Hood Inspired
Plot
A master thief must confront her power when she attempts to steal a world-changing relic. She must also evade the man trying to kill her for the relic’s return. This November 2026 book release has a stunning cover!
The Art of Organizing Thoughts: Slow Wisdom for a Fast World
Author: Shigehiko Toyama
Release Date: November 3, 2026
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: Translation of Japanese bestseller
Plot
We live in a world that is filled with AI. It is becoming increasingly clear that we are raising gliders rather than airplanes. This is a book that helps explain how to move forward from overload. I cannot wait to read this book from the November 2026 Book Releases/
November 10, 2026
Peregrine Hill
Author: Nina de Gramont
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of The Christie Affair (Reese Witherspoon Book Club Author)
Plot
Kirsten and I love a Gilded Age Book, so we cannot wait to read this pick from the November 2026 book releases. Isabelle Bishop has lost her husband and three of her children in a shipwreck. The only chance she has to save her family- now her daughter and mother- is to marry a wealthy man. But it is her daughter, Mariah, who captures the attention of John Whitten. He knows that Mariah had a romantic scandal and uses that as his bargaining chip to ensure Mariah marries him.
Now, Maria is in her husband’s home under his watchful eye. She finds an ally in her maid, and the two of them work together to try and claim some self-determination.
The Last Prince of Florence
Author: Zoe Sivak
Release Date: November 17, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Based on the life of Alessandro de’ Medici
Plot
This historical fiction pick from the fall 2026 book releases is based on the true story of Alessandro de’ Medici. Simonetta arrived at the Santo Spirito hospital with a bronze dagger strapped to her chest and refused the life of a nun or wife. Years later, Prince Lorenzo de Medici owes Simonetta his life after a brawl, and she makes her way into the Medici family. When she becomes pregnant with Alessandro, she is determined to put him on the throne.
Prudence Marsh is Not a Nobody Anymore
Author: Emily Krempholtz
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance
More info: Author of Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore
Plot
Prudence March is determined to get out of her small town and become a famous bard. She is determined to be the violinist at the royal wedding. When Pru has a run-in with Callum and his thieves, they break her violin. She insists on traveling with them until they replace it. But the bandits have their eyes on a heist that will happen the same night as the wedding. She will have to choose between her old dreams and new possibilities. This book from the Movember 2026 book releases is perfect for my list of Novels About Thieves.
Plot
Annie Fagan is one of Ireland’s first female electronic DJs and producers, but spent her twenties playing at illegal raves all over Ireland. When he friend Sean disappeared without a trace, Annie stopped the raves forever.
When Sean’s body is found years later, it is clear that his death was not an accident. Moreover, it was caused by someone at the party- one of her friends. Now, Annie knows that the killer will stop at nothing to remain anonymous and stop anyone who gets too close to answers.
Murder of a Merry Gentleman
Author: Celeste Connally
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: Holiday Mystery
More info: Lady Petra Inquires Book 4
Plot
Lady Petronesses of Almack is having a series of bachelor auction dances in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Over five nights, the families of unmarried ladies will bid for their daughter to be the evening’s hostess and Dance with five eligible bachelors, called the Merry Gentlemen as an ode to the season.
But after the first evening, one of the bachelors is found dead. Everyone thinks it is an accident until another of the bachelors nearly loses his life the next day. Petra must investigate from within by pretending to be one of the ladies. Can she find the killer before the killer finds her?
Bad Company
Author: Sara Paretsky
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: International Bestselling Author
Plot
Lily Sedako is a septuagenarian living in Chicago who appears to be unexceptional in every way. But she is a former CIA field agent who spent her career in Central Asian countries. In 2002, she was removed from Hayalistan after there was a coup and the newly elected President was presumed dead.
When she finds an anonymous package with a magazine article with a picture of her in it, she knows somebody is trying to expose her more than two decades after her extraction. She is determined to find out who is behind this and what really happened in Hayalstan more than 20 years ago.
Revenge Plot
Author: Stephanie Wrobel
Release Date: November 10th
Genre: Thriller
More info: Mystery and Thriller Novels About Writers
Plot
Arnie has written the perfect book, and he is determined to get it into the hands of Claudia Connley. She rejected him once, and he has never forgiven her. He was never able to move on from the rejection. He finds out where Claudia is spending our holidays and makes the trip to the remote house in the Catskill Mountains. He is not going to take no for an answer this time.
Plot
I cannot wait to read this romance set in Venice from the fall 2026 book releases. Fen gets to go on a Venetian vacation with her grandmother, Disa. She does not know that Disa received a letter a few weeks ago with information about her dead husband. She wants answers.
Jamie is used to girls falling for him rather than his friend Leon. But what happens when the girl he wants only has eyes for his kind-hearted and less good-looking friend?
You, Me, and the Conspiracy
Author: Emma Barry
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Books About Secret Societies
Plot
In this romance from the fall 2026 book releases, two historians try to unmask a secret society. Jessica Wilson discovered a coded message, and she wants answers. She turns to Cal Morgan, a Harvard PhD student who was forced to leave graduate school after presenting theories about a secret revolutionary organization. Jessica thinks he might have been onto something, and the two of them set out to uncover secrets that want to stay hidden.
Take My Word for It: A Memoir
Author: LeVar Burton and Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: Memoir
Plot
LeVar Burton shaped my childhood with Reading Rainbow and then Star Trek: The Next Generation. This is a memoir that celebrates his mother and his calling as a storyteller that defined a generation. This is at the top of my TBR!
The Sign of the Raven
Author: Pippa Dunn
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
More info: Set in 19th-century London
Plot
I am so excited for this pick from the fall 2026 book releases. Ashlyn works as a government messenger during the day, but every night she escapes into lucid dreams in the Stream- a world of lucid dreaming that may be hiding secrets. One night, Ashlyn sees her long, dead mother in a dream. As she searches for answers, she joins a secret society of dreamers fighting to protect the stream from those who wish to manipulate people’s thoughts and seize control of London.
November 17, 2026
Tiger’s Mouth
Author: Lucy Tan
Release Date: November 17, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Friendship Books
Plot
Jack Chen has landed an internship at a tech giant and is prepared to fake it til he makes it. His officemate is Jack Owens, the son of the company’s billionaire founder. They connect immediately and admire each other for what they each do not have. But by the end of the summer, they cannot evade the lies they have been telling themselves and each other.
Peculiar Stars
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Release Date: November 17, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Callista and Darren have only just been engaged when a sailing trip goes horribly wrong and leaves Callista stranded on an island for 18 months. While she is there, she finds a strength she did not know she had and a love she didn’t know existed. She finds true love with Dominic. When they are found, everything has changed for them and the world has gone on without them.
Alma Vampires
Author: Elena Armas
Release Date: November 17, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Icarus University Series
Plot
This is the first book in a new paranormal romance series. Valle was an Ivy League scholarship student until she inherited a fortune from a mother she never met. An entire fashion empire, Alma, is now in her hands. She must enlist the help of Hadrian, a vampire who can provide her with the protection that she needs from those who would try to take Alma away from her.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most anticipated fall 2026 book releases?
There are so many books this season in our TBR stacks, we could not pick just the top 5. Here is a list of the books we cannot wait to read!
Under Story by Chloe Benjamin
Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon
Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan
The Vanishing Family by Robert Kolker
Every Story is a Love Story by Imbolo Mbue
Partita by Barbara Kingsolver
ACOTAR #6 by Sarah J. Maas
Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny
The Pools by E. Lockhart
Counting Down to You by Emily Stone
Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane
Sweet Pea by Kit de Waal
Party in the Woods by Fiona McPhillips
Epilogue
Did you find any fall 2026 book releases to add to your to-read list?
The Best New Release Books You Must Read in 2026
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The Beyond The Bookends 2026 Reading Challenge
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