25 October Books We're Excited About

And what you can read in the meantime

Reading ahead

Our TBR shelves may be overflowing, but there are always new books that we have to find space for. From beloved series sequels to esteemed authors to kid lit hits, October's most anticipated list is especially packed with must-reads! Here are 25 upcoming releases across a mix of genres. These titles are available for preorder, but in the meantime, we have recs for similar reads that you can enjoy now.

Literary fiction

The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich (Oct. 1)

Argus, North Dakota is a starkly beautiful prairie community whose members must cope with devastating consequences as powerful forces upend them. From the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author comes a novel of tender humor, disturbance, and hallucinatory mourning.

What to read while you wait: LaRose by Louise Erdrich

What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella (Oct. 8)

Based on the author's own experience, this is the story of Eve, a successful novelist who wakes up in the hospital with no memory of why she's there. Her husband explains that she is recovering from the removal of a large, malignant brain tumor. During her slow recovery, she recalls what she loves about her life.

What to read while you wait: Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger (Oct. 29)

Spanning generations, and populated by complex, unforgettable characters, this enthralling novel is about three generations of strong-willed women. It's an exhilarating portrait of family, marriage, ambition, power, the stories we inherit, and the lies we tell to become the people we believe we're meant to be.

What to read while you wait: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Mystery, thriller, and suspense

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden (Oct. 1)

Like every single woman in New York City, Sydney Shaw has had terrible luck in dating—until now. Her new boyfriend is perfect. But a string of murders perpetrated by a mystery man who dates his victims before killing them has her wondering if her perfect man is a little too perfect.

What to read while you wait: You by Caroline Klepnes

Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell (Oct. 8)

Summoned to an abandoned theme park to retrieve a body, medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds a bizarre murder scene and the devastating surprise that the victim is a man she once had an intense love affair with. As far-fetched theories swirl, Scarpetta suspects an explanation both more basic and far more evil.

What to read while you wait: Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell

In Too Deep: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Oct. 22)

Jack Reacher wakes up handcuffed to a makeshift bed. The last thing he can recall is the car he hitched a ride in getting run off the road. The driver was killed.

His captors assume Reacher was the driver's accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk. A plan that will backfire spectacularly.

What to read while you wait: The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child

Dreaming of Autumn Skies by V. C. Andrews (Oct. 22)

The Sutherland series from the author of Flowers in the Attic centers on Caroline, a young girl navigating a whirlwind of family drama. The third novel in the series finds Caroline doing whatever is necessary to take back her agency when she's sent to live with her controlling grandfather.

What to read while you wait: Losing Spring by V. C. Andrews

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (Oct. 29)

The nineteenth mystery in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series begins with a sequence of strange and unsettling events—including murder—that propel Inspector Gamache and his team toward a terrible realization. Something much more sinister than any one murder or any one case is fast approaching.

What to read while you wait: Still Life by Louise Penny

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins (Oct. 29)

Eris is a remote Scottish island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out. Unreachable for twelve hours each day. Once home to Vanessa, an artist whose cheating husband famously disappeared. Now home to Grace, content in her isolation. But after a shocking discovery in a London gallery, a visitor comes calling.

What to read while you wait: The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

Sci-fi, fantasy, and horror

Lore Olympus: Volume Seven by Rachel Smythe (Oct. 1)

Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—the Greek myths get a modern update in this series of gorgeously illustrated graphic novels. In this installment, Persephone's trial threatens to upset everything—even her relationship with Hades—as the other gods face perils of their own.

What to read while you wait: Lore Olympus 3-Book Boxed Set by Rachel Smythe

Model Home by Rivers Solomon (Oct. 1)

As adults, the Maxwell siblings were eager to leave the gated enclave outside Dallas where they were the only Black family in the neighborhood and where bad and scary things often happened. But when their parents die mysteriously, Ezri, Eve, and Emmanuelle return to Texas to try and find out what happened to them.

What to read while you wait: A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer (Oct. 22)

Who was complicit in creating the conditions for Area X to take hold? Get the full story about what happened on the first mission into the Forgotten Coast before Area X was called Area X. The surprise fourth volume to the Southern Reach series answers lingering questions that the original trilogy left unsolved.

What to read while you wait: Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Apples Dipped in Gold by Scarlett St. Clair (Oct. 29)

Book #2 in the Fairy Tale Retelling series centers on the orphaned Samara, left at the mercy of her three horrible brothers. Finally, she is escaping to marry a handsome prince. But on her way to salvation, her carriage is ambushed. She is rescued by Lore, the wicked Prince of Nightshade, who demands a favor in return.

What to read while you wait: Mountains Made of Glass by Scarlett St. Clair

Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco (Oct. 29)

Gabriel Axton, aka the Prince of Gluttony, has always lived for indulgence. But when his adventures turn deadly, he turns to an unexpected source for help. Reporter Adriana Saint Lucent is hell-bent on uncovering the truth about the no-good prince. But she never expected to turn up a rumor this terrifying.

What to read while you wait: Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco

Historical fiction

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman (Oct. 8)

On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to an active senior community in southern Florida, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father's old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.

What to read while you wait: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Romance

Triangle by Danielle Steel (Oct. 1)

As she approaches the milestone birthday of forty, Paris art gallery owner Amanda Delanoe lives well and adores her dog, Lulu, but so far love has eluded her. Then she meets Olivier Saint Albin, a dashing publisher, who's also married. As she finds herself falling for him, a mysterious man starts leaving her threatening messages.

What to read while you wait: Resurrection by Danielle Steel

Spectacular: A Caraval Holiday Novella by Stephanie Garber (Oct. 22)

It's Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular celebration. Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green. And Legend? Sadly Legend is not fond of the holiday, but Tella hopes her gift will change his mind. Welcome back to the enchanting world of Caraval.

What to read while you wait: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

The Striker by Ana Huang (Oct. 22)

Footballer Asher Donovan is one of the best. But when a feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, the two are forced to "bond" during off-season cross-training. When Asher meets their gorgeous new trainer, Scarlett, he can't take his mind off her. The problem? She's his rival's sister.

What to read while you wait: The Player by Claire Contreras

Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore (Oct. 29)

Josie Davis has spent her entire twenties building her fashion brand. When her biggest investor asks her to hire a consultant, it turns out to be Will Grant, her ex-best friend's twin brother, who she once mistakenly kissed. Romance isn't on the table for either of them, so why can't they stay away from each other.

What to read while you wait: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Kids

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3-Book Collection by Jeff Kinney (Oct. 1)

This collectible boxed set includes three of the top titles from the popular series, each featuring covers from the new Disney+ original movies. It's a great gift for diehard fans or readers who are new to the series. Volumes include Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules, and Cabin Fever.

What to read while you wait: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian

Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin by Julia Donaldson (Oct. 1)

Excited by his aunts' stories of the South Pole, plucky penguin Jonty Gentoo sneaks out of the zoo and sets off to find the land of the gentoo penguins. But the world's a big place and he swims the wrong way. Join Jonty Gentoo on a pole-to-pole adventure in this charming picture book.

What to read while you wait: The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson

Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life by Jennifer Aniston (Oct. 1)

Everyone in the Clyde family knows what their "thing" is, except Clydeo. Will Clydeo ever find what he loves to do most? From global superstar and everyone's F-R-I-E-N-D comes a delectable and fun-filled picture book about self-discovery and self-confidence starring her food-loving pooch Clydeo.

What to read while you wait: The World Needs More Purple People by Kristen Bell

FGTeeV: Blasts Off! by FGTeeV (Oct. 8)

In the fifth volume of this action-packed middle-grade graphic novel series, the FGTeeV family goes on a trip to the National Space Center. The kids can't wait to see the inside of the next-generation rocket, but when Shawn pushes a button he shouldn't have pushed, the family finds themselves blasted into space.

What to read while you wait: Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L. D. Lapinski

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin (Oct. 8)

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. In this middle grade historical adventure, they're living inside of one. Jakob joins the top minds at Bletchley Park working to crack Nazi codes as fourteen-year-old Lizzie tries to find their missing mother.

What to read while you wait: Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz

Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney (Oct. 22)

The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it's a recipe for disaster. Can Greg unpack all of his family's mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot? Fans will delight in volume nineteen of this beloved series.

What to read while you wait: Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce

We hope you find some titles here that you want to add to your TBR list! Let us know which new books you're most excited about this month.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon