The Fall Book Guide

Something for everyone! 🍂📚

We're officially in September (I know, it’s crazy), so it's the perfect time to talk about the upcoming releases that have caught my eye. We've got grieving siblings (a lot of them!), some very passionate vampires, all the romance you could ask for (of course!), plus scammers, rockstars, and even a little peek inside Taylor Swift’s closet.

This Fall feels a bit different. With the election cycle, there’s a rush of releases in September, but after that, things slow down until the end of the year. As for me, I'll be spending the rest of the year catching up on my ever-growing TBR and finally diving into those books I’ve been telling myself I’ll get to.

But first, let’s take a look at what’s NEW this fall.

Big-name authors with buzzy new books:

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors: The author’s follow up to literary darling Cleopatra & Frankenstein came out earlier this year in the UK and has been getting major buzz. The book follows three sisters in the wake of their fourth sister’s death. I love a sister novel, so I’ll be first in line with my tissues. Out Sept. 3.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: How does one follow a hit as massive as The Midnight Library? I’m curious to find out! A retired teacher inherits a house in Ibiza from a dear late friend. As she settles into this new chapter of her life, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, where unexpected magic unfolds. One of the top Goodreads reviews says “Weird AF,” which only intrigues me more. Out Sept. 3.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty: I love a fate vs. free-will novel, and this is an interesting twist! The passengers of an otherwise unremarkable domestic flight disembark with a prophesy: a prediction for the day they’ll die. No one takes it too seriously until the deaths start occurring exactly as foretold. This one is chunky—512 pages—but reviewers agree the multi-POV structure keeps you engaged. Out Sept. 10.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman: A new series from the author of The Thursday Murder Club. An ex-PI is lured out of his sedate retirement when his daughter-in-law, who is working private security for a renowned author, calls with a dead body problem. Out Sept. 17.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave: I’ve been a Laura Dave superfan since Eight Hundred Grapes, and my allegiance is already pledged. So, I’m eagerly awaiting this one about estranged siblings trying to unravel the mysterious death of their even more mysterious father. Out Sept. 17.

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop: Allow me this liberty. She may not be a literary heavyweight (yet!), but who am I to snub Emily Gilmore and risk a dressing down like she gave Shira Huntzburger at the USO-themed D.A.R. party (iykyk). The actress’ memoir spans her six-decade career with special focus on her role in Gilmore Girls. Out Sept. 17.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney: An ARC of this book was the literary status symbol of the summer. This time, Rooney, hailed as the voice of millennial women, turns her attention to… men. Her latest follows polar-opposite brothers both dealing with the death of their father (a lot of grieving siblings this fall, huh?). Out Sept. 24.

The Squel by Jean Hanff Korelitz: An aptly named sequel to 2021’s The Plot. The wife of the first book’s main character embarks on her own literary career. But when she publishes her debut novel, she starts receiving mysterious excerpts from a book that shouldn’t exist and threaten to expose her. Early reviewers are saying they liked this even better than the first! Out Oct. 1.

Fantasy/Paranormal:

Casket Case by Lauren Evans: A debut novel! A woman who runs her family’s casket business falls in love with a stranger… only to find out he works for death himself. Out Sept. 10.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang: The early reviews on this one are RAVES. Inspired by Chinese mythology, this historical fantasy follows a woman renowned for her beauty who gets the opportunity to use it as a weapon, becoming a spy tasked with infiltrating the neighboring kingdom. Out Oct 1.

Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London: It’s campy, it’s horny, it was written in homage to Buffy. SOLD! A night manager at a hotel spends her evenings reading vampire novels but doesn’t actually believe vampires exist. Until, the villain of her favorite series is trapped, and she’s the only one who can save her. Out Oct 1.

Romance:

You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane: Probably my personal most-anticipated this fall! A surprise sequel to one of my fave celeb/normal person romances (2015’s Who’s That Girl?). Out Sept. 3.

How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes: A heavy romance (think rom-dram, not rom-com) about a woman returning home for a family wedding. Reviews praise the book’s OCD representation but warn you’ll want tissues nearby. Out Sept. 10.

Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff: In this novella (a tasty little morsel at 176 pages), a disgraced political strategist gets a call from an ex-boybander looking for help launching his solo career. My fave review reads “If Harry Styles and Audrey Gelman dated.” Accurate! Out Sept. 10.

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk: I am powerless against a book that uses a Taylor Swift song as a title. It’s just a fact. A small-town teacher who moonlights as a smutty romance novelist begrudgingly enlists the help of a know-it-all marketing exec to save her book. Out Sept. 17.

Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat by Lauren Applebaum: Another debut! Called a Jewish millennial Pride & Prejudice retelling, Rachel—newly 30 and life in shambles—finds herself confiding in the uptight tech bro next door. Out Sept. 24.

Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark: Ready for some holiday hijinks? The three Belvedere siblings, raised in the shadow of their movie star mother, return home for the holidays, each with their own romantic and career messes to sort out. Think of it like 3 romances for the price of 1! Out Oct. 15.

Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens: Newly-divorced and with her newspaper column at risk, Anna pitches a story about seven dates… all arranged by her children. One review positions it as “If How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and The Hating Game had a baby.” *Adds to cart!* Out Nov. 19.

A grab bag of miscellaneous books:

Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten: In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten--aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon--shares her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table. Out Sept. 1.

Exposure by Ava Dellaira: One night. Two sides of a story. In multi-perspective storytelling filled with humanity and empathy, Exposure forces readers to reckon with conflicting truths that are not easily reduced to right or wrong. Out Sept. 10.

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout: A hopeful, healing novel about new friendships, old loves, and the very human desire to leave a mark on the world. Out Sept. 10.

Songs for the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari: A dual timeline historical fiction novel set in 1950 and 1995 split between New York and Israel, about a Yemeni-Israeli family and the secret affair the matriarch took with her to her grave. Out Sept. 10.

The Most Famous Girl in The World by Iman Hariri-Kia : If it has even a whiff of Anna Delvey vibes, I’m there! And this one reeks of them! A reporter who broke the story of a socialite grifter becomes obsessed with exposing the full extent of the newly-famous pop culture icon’s crimes. Out Sept. 17.

The Lightening Bottles by Marissa Stapley: I love a rock ‘n’ roll novel, and this one has my name all over it! A reviled former rock star goes searching for her ex-bandmate—and lover—whose mysterious disappearance broke up their band. Out Sept. 24.

When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson: THIS IS NOT A DRILL! My favorite YA author (Have you read I’ll Give You The Sun? You must!) has a new book! Three siblings living in Northern California wine country each have a mysterious encounter with a rainbow-haired girl who might be a ghost, but will definitely change their lives. Out Sept. 24.

Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras by Sarah Chapelle: An intricate chronicle of the popstar’s style throughout her career. But it’s more than just the clothes, it’s also about the ‘why’ behind them. (Also, I know it’s early… but perfect gift for any Swiftie on your list this holiday!) Out Oct. 8.

This Motherless Land by Nikki May: I loved the author’s debut, Wahala, and am looking forward to seeing what she does next with this retelling of Mansfield Park set over two decades and moving between Nigeria and England. Out Oct. 29.

I’d love to know which books are on your radar this Fall and which of the ones mentioned you're most excited about! Here’s to overflowing library holds and ever-growing TBR piles!

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