22 October Book Releases We’re Excited About

Plus, what's new in paperback

Reading ahead

Our TBR stacks may be taking over the house, but there are always new books that we want to pile on. From haunting new horror to literary family dramas to otherworldly romances, October’s most anticipated list is packed with must-reads! Here are 22 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.

Plus, find out what's new or coming soon in paperback.

Literary fiction 

My Beloved: A Mitford Novel by Jan Karon (Oct. 7)

Can a letter change a life? When Father Tim's wife, Cynthia, asks what he wants for Christmas, he responds with a deeply personal love letter that gets loose circulating among his astonished neighbors. This life-affirming novel sets a generous table for Mitford fans who love these characters like family. 

What to read while you wait: At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers (Oct. 21)

When Cora meets Sam at a baby group in their small town, the chemistry between them is undeniable. But they're both happily married. This witty, emotionally-charged exploration of marriage, family life, and the roads not taken traces their growing connection as their worlds unravel into parallel timelines.

What to read while you wait: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

Wreck by Catherine Newman (Oct. 28)

Rocky is a middle-aged woman living in Western Massachusetts with her family. This delightful follow-up to Sandwich explores the hidden rules of family, the heavy weight of uncertainty, and the gnarly fact that people—no matter how much you love them—are not always exactly who you want them to be.

What to read while you wait: Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Mystery and thriller

Cry Havoc: A Tom Reece Thriller by Jack Carr (Oct. 7)

Fans of The Terminal List have long awaited a novel centered on the legendary father of James Reece. This explosive new thriller delivers, bringing readers into special operations in 1960s Vietnam where Tom Reece is a young Navy SEAL who finds himself isolated, outnumbered, and deep in enemy territory.

What to read while you wait: The Terminal List by Jack Carr

The Intruder by Freida McFadden (Oct. 7)

Casey's cabin isn't built for a hurricane. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers outside her kitchen window. She's young. She's alone. And she's covered in blood. The girl won't explain where she came from, or loosen her grip on the knife in her hand. This girl has a dark secret. One she'll kill to keep.

What to read while you wait: Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

The Proving Ground: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel by Michael Connelly (Oct. 21)

In the eighth Lincoln Lawyer novel, Mickey Haller has swapped criminal court for civil court with a case against an AI company whose product may have caused the murder of a young girl. Facing up against the mega forces of the AI industry, Haller's position is fraught with danger because billions are at stake.

What to read while you wait: Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly

The Widow by John Grisham (Oct. 21)

The master of the legal thriller is back with his first-ever whodunit. Simon Latch is a small-town Virginia lawyer. Working with an elderly widow in need of a new will, Simon begins to realize that nothing is as it seems. And soon he finds himself on trial for a murder he didn't commit. To save himself, he must find the real killer.

What to read while you wait: Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey

The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (Oct. 28)

Several weeks ago, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team uncovered and stopped a domestic terrorist attack in Montréal, arresting the person behind it. A man they called the Black Wolf. But their relief is short-lived. In a sickening turn of events, Gamache has realized that plot was just the beginning.

What to read while you wait: The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Sci-fi, fantasy, and horror

Lore Olympus: Volume 9 by Rachel Smythe (Oct. 7)

Persephone and Hades are finally reunited in the Underworld. But though the pair have defeated and imprisoned Kronos, they learn that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities are helping him continue to wield control over Olympus. To save the realms, Persephone must come into her own power.  

What to read while you wait: Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe

The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski (Oct. 7)

The Crescent Moon Tearoom is thriving after a much-needed expansion and the three magical Quigley sisters are following their passions. But when all three hit major stumbling blocks, the sisters reunite back in the warm comfort of the Crescent Moon to bargain with fate once more.

What to read while you wait: The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

King Sorrow by Joe Hill (Oct. 21)

From the bestselling author of NOS4A2 comes a chilling tale of modern-world dangers, dark academia, and unexpected consequences. When six friends at a Maine college dabble in the occult, they are tragically, horrifyingly successful calling forth an evil entity that demands regular human sacrifice.

What to read while you wait: Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez

Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines (Oct. 21)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Golden Girls in this heartwarming standalone fantasy about a group of former Chosen Ones coming out of retirement to save the world one last time. Cozy lovers looking for a dash of magic will devour this novel about community, second chances, and the healing power of scones.

What to read while you wait: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (Oct. 28)

Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion's greatest hero: The orphan girl who became a knight and built a nation. Centuries later, Owen Mallory is a cowardly historian sent back in time to make sure she plays her part—even if it breaks his heart. This genre-defying novel is available in a gorgeous hardcover Deluxe Edition.

What to read while you wait: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Historical fiction 

The Hong Kong Widow by Kristen Loesch (Oct. 7)

Set in 1950s Hong Kong, this horror-tinged novel centers on Mei, a young refugee invited to participate in an unusual competition hosted by none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei's life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there's only one prize Mei wants: revenge.

What to read while you wait: The Haunting of Moscow House by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory (Oct. 14)

The "queen of royal fiction" returns with the 11th novel in her Plantagenet and Tudor Novels series, shining a light on the untold story of Jane Boleyn, devoted sister to Anne. Watching from the shadows of the Tudor court, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her.

What to read while you wait: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell (Oct. 28)

When reclusive art appraiser Eve Shaw shakes the hand of a silver-haired man in her office, she has the strange sense that she's held his hand before. In this historical fantasy, journey to a magical hotel high in the Swiss Alps, where two lost souls living in different centuries meet—hoping for a second chance.

What to read while you wait: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Romance 

Mate by Ali Hazelwood (Oct. 7)

Serena Paris is orphaned and pack-less. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid has made her a target. With her enemies closing in, she has only one option. As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander's authority is absolute. If Serena is his mate, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

What to read while you wait: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

The Devil She Knows by Alexandra Bellefleur (Oct. 21)

In less than 24 hours, Samantha's life has unraveled, leaving her single and with nowhere to live. Adding insult to injury, she's trapped in an elevator with a gorgeous woman claiming to be a demon. And she's here to offer Samantha a deal she can't refuse. Six wishes in exchange for one tiny trade—Samantha's soul.

What to read while you wait: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Pickle Perfect by Ilana Long (Oct. 28)

Former teen tennis star Lulu, now a thirtysomething single parent, takes an all-inclusive pickleball vacation to de-stress after an unanticipated blunder at work. But when her high school fling shows up on the beachside courts of her picklecation, Lulu finds it hard to keep her head in the game.

What to read while you wait: Pickleballers by Ilana Long

Kids and YA 

Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat by Julien Chung

A told B, and B told C, "Let's sneak to the top of the creaky old tree." The classic alphabet chant from Chicka Chicka Boom Boom gets a seasonal twist as the letters make their way up the tree, all donning their spiffiest costumes. But when a witch snoops in, will it mean the end of their Halloween fun?  (Ages 4–8)

What to read while you wait: Clifford's Halloween by Norman Bridwell

Partypooper by Jeff Kinney (Oct. 21)

It's a Diary of a Wimpy Kid birthday party and you're invited to the chaos. Greg Heffley is planning the ultimate party—for himself. But when the guest list grows, the decorations flop, and the surprises backfire, this birthday bash turns into a total blowout. Just not the kind Greg had in mind.

What to read while you wait: Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney

The Book of Dust: The Rose Field by Philip Pullman (Oct. 23)

The breathtaking conclusion to a landmark trilogy—set in a world introduced in The Golden Compass—finds Lyra alone in a city haunted by daemons, searching for her beloved Pan. Malcolm Polstead isn't far behind, searching for Lyra. And they're both following the trail of roses said to hold the secret of Dust.

What to read while you wait: The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman

New or coming soon in paperback!

• The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride—An award-winning novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore—When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide in this literary thriller.
• Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer—The final chapter in the bestselling speculative Southern Reach series.
• The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister—A haunting Appalachian folktale perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Karen Russell.
• To Die For by David Baldacci—In book #3, The 6:20 Man travels to the Pacific Northwest to aid in a complicated FBI case.
• The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins—A gothic thriller about the tangled legacy of a notorious heiress.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon