You know that old saying about good things coming to those who wait? Well, it definitely applies to bibliophiles this month. September's selection of new book releases [1] is stacked with big name authors, potential book of the year candidates [2] (we're looking at you, The Magician), and must-read nonfiction. And that's just for starters. Thriller and romance fans are going to be absolutely spoiled with choices this month thanks to new releases from the likes of Lisa Jewell, Alice Feeney, Alexis Daria, and Helena Hunting; and YA fans have plenty to look forward to, as well. One thing is certain, no matter what kind of books you love to read, there's no denying this fall is off to an amazing start [3] for book lovers.
The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi
Eden Appiah-Kubi's The Bennet Women [4] is an inclusive reimagining of Pride and Prejudice that Jane Austen fans are sure to fall in love with. The story is set in Bennet House, an all-women's dorm where EJ, a Black engineering student, Jamie, a trans woman studying French and navigating the dating scene, and Tessa, a Filipina astronomy major, all live together. And while the trio of friends tend to focus on each other and their studies, the arrival of a Hollywood producer's son and his arrogant best friend shakes up their lives in unexpected ways.
Out Sept. 1
Constance by Matthew Fitzsimmons
Constance [5] by Matthew Fitzsimmons is a propulsive sci-fi thriller that questions the very nature of what makes us human. In a not-so distant future where human cloning is a reality, a woman named Constance awakes to discover her consciousness has been uploaded into her clone after her death. The catch is, she has no recollection of her final moments, and she's determined not to rest until she discovers what happened to her original body.
Out Sept. 1
These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall
A deceased woman's beloved mementos lead to a whole lot of trouble in Rachel Howzell Hall's nail-biting These Toxic Things [6]. Mickie Lambert's job involves creating digital scrapbooks of people's beloved mementos, but her latest client's collection may put Mickie in the crosshairs of a serial killer who has been off the grid for years.
Out Sept. 1
Act Cool by Tobly McSmith
One of the most powerful YA books of the year, Act Cool [7] by Tobly McSmith follows trans teen and aspiring actor August Greene as he tries to navigate following his heart with his conservative parents' demands. When August's parents allow him to stay with his aunt in New York City to chase his dream of acting as long as he promises not to transition, he'll have to find the courage within himself to live his truth.
Out Sept. 7
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
Beautiful Country [8] by Qian Julie Wang is an astounding memoir from a debut author that you're not going to want to miss. Within the pages of her intimate memoir, Wang shares the realities of growing up undocumented in America, how her mother's illness changed her family's dynamic, and all the ways she searched for beauty in a childhood that was so full of fear.
Out Sept. 7
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
A new Sally Rooney novel is always worth celebrating, but Beautiful World, Where Are You [9] feels extra special. Like Normal People, Rooney's latest novel is concerned with the youthful worries of young adults, but this time she follows four friends as they fumble toward adulthood — and a hope for a brighter future — together.
Out Sept. 7
Brothers on Three by Abe Streep
Journalist Abe Streep takes readers deep into the world of high school basketball stars Will Mesteth, Jr. and Phillip Malatare in Brothers on Three [10]. Beginning with the 2017 basketball season that saw the boys and their teammates take home the state championship for the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana, Streep delves deep into how the teens became champions, the pressures that accompanied their success, and what their win meant for their community and their individual futures.
Out Sept. 7
The Charm Offencive by Alison Cochrun
If you've ever dreamed of The Bachelor [11] being more inclusive, The Charm Offencive [12] by Alison Cochrun is the book for you. When tech whiz Charlie agrees to be the star of the popular dating reality show Ever After in hopes of rehabbing his image the last thing he expects is to fall for the show's producer, Dev Deshpande, instead of one of the women vying for his heart.
Out Sept. 7
Fault Lines by Emily Itami
Emily Itami's debut novel Fault Lines [13] is a dazzling story of a woman rediscovering her identity beyond her roles as a wife and mother. Japanese housewife Mizuki knows she has a life other women envy, but she can't help but want more. Enter Kiyoshi, a restaurant owner who helps her fall in love with Tokyo, while also finding herself against the backdrop of the vibrant city.
Out Sept. 7
Hello (From Here) by Chandler Baker and Wesley King
Hello (From Here) [14] isn't just a book about the pandemic. Chandler Baker and Wesley King have teamed up to tell a sweet love story between two teens that happens to unfold during these strange times we live in. Maxine and Jonah meet just as California goes into lockdown, but over the course of the next few months their relationship blossoms even as mental health issues, the toll of the pandemic, and social distancing threatens to keep them apart.
Out Sept. 7
The House of Ashes by Stuart Neville
Told in alternating perspectives, The House of Ashes [15] by Stuart Neville is set in a house full of secrets in Northern Ireland. Shortly after she has a nervous breakdown, a woman named Sara finds herself uprooted by her husband as they move from England to Ireland, where he's from. Just as she's feeling particularly isolated, a woman shows up on her doorstep covered in blood and claiming the house is hers.
Out Sept. 7
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
Trust us: You will fall in love with The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina [16] by Zoraida Córdova. This beautiful, magical book tells a story of ancestors and descendants, and the threads that hold them together across time. The story focuses on the Montoyas, a family who is used to not asking questions about their good fortune and mysterious matriarch until Orquídea's death leads to a magical transformation that leaves her descendants with a target on their backs.
Out Sept. 7
L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón
It's not just the weather that's threatening the tenuous bonds of the Alvarado family in L.A. Weather [17] by María Amparo Escandón. Despite their success, the Mexican-American family is crumbling as their patriarch obsesses over the weather, and the matriarch decides it's time to end her marriage. This darkly funny and insightful novel follows both the parents and their adult children as they attempt to navigate the emotional storm heading their way.
Out Sept. 7
The Last Beautiful Girl by Nina Laurin
Get an early start on the spooky season with The Last Beautiful Girl [18] by Nina Laurin. After her parents move the family from New York City to a small town in the middle of nowhere, Isabella finds a bright side to their decision when she begins to explore the rambling old mansion they now call home. Within its walls, she finds vintage clothes and jewels, which are perfect for Instagram photoshoots, but as her social media profile rises, it becomes impossible for Isabella to ignore the growing darkness in the house — and in herself.
Out Sept. 7
The Magician by Colm Tóibín
Famed author Thomas Mann's life is the inspiration for Colm Tóibín's sprawling epic The Magician [19]. Beginning in the small German town where Mann grew up and covering the time period between World War I and the Cold War, this astounding novel of repression, desire, and the family of one of the greatest novelists of all time is the perfect marriage of fact and fiction.
Out Sept. 7
Major Detours by Zachary Sergi
Choose your own adventure books get a much-needed modern update in Major Detours [20] by Zachary Sergi. Set during the summer before college, four friends embark on a road trip inspired by a Tarot Deck one of them inherited from their grandmother. Along the way, you get to make decisions for the friends, which will lead them to one of four different outcomes.
Out Sept. 7
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Matrix [21] is Lauren Groff's first novel since her bestselling Fates and Furies, and it's definitely well worth the wait. After being declared too uncouth for courtly life, Marie de France is sent to be the prioress of a crumbling abbey. It's there that she finds a new purpose as a champion for her sisters who welcome her into their home.
Out Sept. 7
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes [22] by Alexa Martin is the kind of book that's destined to be passed from friend to friend. When best friends since elementary school Jude and Lauren both fall on hard times, they decide to fulfil their life-long dream of moving in together — with Lauren's little girl along for the ride. And while their lives are far more complicated than they ever could have imagined when they were just kids, they discover it might just be easier to navigate adulthood together than trying to make it on their own.
Out Sept. 7
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
Vera Kurian asks readers to put themselves in the shoes of a psychopath in her eerie thriller Never Saw Me Coming [23]. Freshman student Chloe Sevre looks unassuming enough, but she's one of seven students participating in a clinical study of psychopaths. And when one of the other students turns up dead, Chloe takes it upon herself to find the killer using her unique perspective as an asset in the search.
Out Sept. 7
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
Thriller maestro Lisa Jewell is back with The Night She Disappeared [24]. One year after the disappearance of a young couple, a writer who recently moved into an English cottage discovers a sign that reads "Dig Here" in the foreboding woods that border her property. Soon, she can't stop wondering if the note is connected to the disappearances or if it's pointing her toward a different mystery entirely.
Out Sept. 7
Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore
Evie Dunmore's historical rom-com series A League of Extraordinary Women continues with Portrait of a Scotsman [25]. This time around it's London heiress Hattie Greenfield's turn to find love, but things take an unexpected turn when she finds herself walking down the aisle with the last man she ever imagined marrying: the surly Lucian Blackstone.
Out Sept. 7
Rizzio by Denise Mina
Rizzio [26] by Denise Mina is a short, but riveting historical mystery inspired by the real murder of David Rizzio, Mary, Queen of Scots's private secretary. This darkly clever novella dramatizes the days leading up to March 9th, 1566, when Rizzio was stabbed 56 times by a group of assassins.
Out Sept. 7
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Looking for a domestic thriller that will leave you guessing until the final page? Then you need Rock Paper Scissors [27] by Alice Feeney in your life. On their 10th anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Wright win a getaway to a secluded weekend away in Scotland, but it's not long before they realise something about their trip isn't quite right.
Out Sept. 7
The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale
Lillie Vale's rom-com debut The Shaadi Set-Up [28] finds a successful woman named Rita Chitniss questioning all of her romantic choices. When her ex shows up in hopes that she'll help him flip a house, Rita makes profiles for herself and her boyfriend on a famed Desi matchmaking site in hopes of proving they're perfect for one another. Instead, she ends up matched with her troublesome ex and questioning whether her current relationship is as perfect as she thought.
Out Sept. 7
Tides of Mutiny by Rebecca Rode
Tides of Mutiny [29] by Rebecca Rode is a high seas adventure full of swashbuckling goodness. At 16, Lane dreams of becoming a ship's captain like her father, even though she knows any woman found to be a sailor will be executed. As a result, she has lived her whole life as a boy. But the unexpected arrivals of a pirate and a prince might just lead Lane to find a way to change the system.
Out Sept. 7
Unfollow Me by Jill Louise Busby
In Unfollow Me [30], Jill Louise Busby serves up a collection of unflinching and insightful essays on complicity. After years of delivering lectures on race, power, and privilege to nonprofits across the country, Busby uploaded a fiery video about race and performative wokeness on Instagram. The video became an internet sensation leading to her collection of essays on white fragility, tokenism, and her own experiences with internet fame and speaking in predominantly white institutions.
Out Sept. 7
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty, the bestselling author of Big Little Lies, is back with another page-turning domestic thriller in Apples Never Fall [31]. This time around, the focus is on the Delaney family, a collection of privileged tennis enthusiasts whose world is rocked when their mother goes missing. The only trouble is the adult children are torn over whether or not to go to the police, because they suspect their father may be to blame.
Out Sept. 14
Assembly by Natasha Brown
There are shades of Mrs. Dalloway in Natasha Brown's searing Assembly [32], which is narrated by an unnamed Black woman as she prepares to spend the day at her boyfriend's parents' estate in the English countryside. But unlike the Virginia Woolf classic, this novel is about a woman who is about to burn an oppressive system to the ground — even if she has to take herself down with it.
Out Sept. 14
The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman
Full of haunting imagery and Gothic flourishes, The Corpse Queen [33] by Heather M. Herrman is a historical mystery that will give you goosebumps. At 17, orphan Molly is sent to live with an aunt she's never heard of who teaches her a new skill: grave robbing. Soon, Molly is digging up graves and sitting in on anatomy lessons, but with a killer lurking the streets of 1850s Philadelphia, there's no doubt danger is on the horizon.
Out Sept. 14
Dark Things I Adore by Katie Lattari
The genres of dark academia and revenge thrillers collide in Dark Things I Adore [34] by Katie Lattari. Audra is a bright and talented artist and graduate student, but she's also the only person who knows her teacher's terrible secret. And now it's time to make him pay for the sins he committed 20 years ago by springing her carefully constructed trap.
Out Sept. 14
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead's latest novel Harlem Shuffle [35] will transport readers to 1960s era Harlem. Ray Carney is a respectable furniture salesman and husband with a baby on the way, but every now and then he sells a piece of stolen jewellery procured by his cousin. His double life becomes more intense when he is drawn into a heist that upends his life, leaving Ray with a whole lot of problems on his hands.
Out Sept. 14
It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi
When their younger siblings announce they're dating, a pair of exes can't stop themselves from meddling in It All Comes Back to You [36] by Farah Naz Rishi. In the wake of her mother's death, Kiran has taken it upon herself to keep her little sister from getting hurt, so when she discovers her sister is dating her ex-boyfriend's little brother, she can't help but worry. After all, her ex ghosted her, and she's not about to let his brother hurt her sister — even it means facing him again.
Out Sept. 14
A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
A Lot Like Adiós [37] by Alexis Daria is a sexy second chance romance designed to make you swoon. Michelle Amato doesn't have time for dating, much to her family's dismay, and she much prefers focusing on her freelance career anyway. But when a new project reunites her with her childhood best friend and crush, she may have to reevaluate her stance on love.
Out Sept. 14
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
In order to keep from breaking her best friend's heart, scientist Olive fabricates a relationship so she can get back to focusing on her work in The Love Hypothesis [38] by Ali Hazelwood. Unfortunately, her highly unscientific methods involve kissing the first man she sees (an arrogant professor) and getting herself entangled in a complex fake dating plot.
Out Sept. 14
My Sweet Girl by Amanda Jayatissa
My Sweet Girl [39] by Amanda Jayatissa asks whether or not a person can ever truly outrun their past. It's been years since Paloma was adopted from a Sri Lankan orphanage by loving parents who gave her the best of everything. However, at the age of 30, she decides to sublet her apartment to a man who discovers the secret she would do anything to keep from coming out, and when he ends up dead, it's no surprise she's the number one suspect.
Out Sept. 14
Nice Girls by Catherine Dang
True crime fans, this one is for you. In Nice Girls [40] by Catherine Dang, Mary, who was recently kicked out of Cornell, returns home and begins working at a grocery store. It's there that she hears her old best friend has gone missing, leading Mary to wonder if her frenemy's disappearance could be connected to another missing person case in their small town.
Out Sept. 14
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
Bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson's White Smoke [41] is a timely modern haunted house tale. When Marigold's family moves from California to the Midwest for a fresh start, the last thing she expects is to end up living in a haunted house. But between the mysterious occurrences and her stepsister's insistence that her new friend wants Marigold out of the house, it's clear something isn't right in her new home.
Out Sept. 14
With You Forever by Chloe Liese
With You Forever [42] by Chloe Liese is a swoony #OwnVoices novel from an author with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The story follows grumpy artist Axel, who is on the autism spectrum, and sunshiny Rooney as they embark on a marriage of convenience that's definitely destined to become something more, whether they're ready for it or not.
Out Sept. 14
You Got Anything Stronger? by Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union [43]'s second memoir You Got Anything Stronger? [44] is even more open and relatable than her first. This time around the actor and author is opening up about her surrogacy journey, fighting against racial inequality in Hollywood, and her iconic Bring It On [45] character, Isis. Grab a glass of your drink of choice and settle in, because reading Union's essays is every bit as satisfying as a nice, long chat with your best friend.
Out Sept. 14
All These Bodies by Kendare Blake
Clearly Halloween [46] has come early for YA fans this year, because we have yet another spooky must-read in All These Bodies [47] by Kendare Blake. Set in the summer of 1958, the prime suspect in a series of gruesome murders is a 15-year-old girl who was found surrounded by bodies drained of their blood. The girl, Marie, is only willing to talk to an up-and-coming journalist named Michael, who is about to hear a hair-raising tale.
Out Sept. 21
First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
In First Love, Take Two [48] by Sajni Patel, Preeti Patel is dealing with major anxiety as her dream of becoming a doctor collides with her family's expectations and her job search. But Preeti soon finds some relief when she lands the perfect place to live — the only trouble is, the place is already inhabited by the ex she's never been able to get over.
Out Sept. 21
Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words by Annika Sharma
Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words [49] by Annika Sharma is a love letter to New York City and following your heart. Ever since her sister defied their parents, Kiran has vowed to be the perfect Indian daughter and that includes marrying an Indian man. However, when she meets a closed off psychologist named Nash, she finds herself falling for the last person her parents would ever accept.
Out Sept. 21
Maybe We're Electric by Val Emmich
Set in a small museum over the course of one snowy night, Maybe We're Electric [50] by Val Emmich is a story about finding a connection in the most unexpected place. Both the deeply quiet Tegan and star athlete Mac are looking for an escape when they find themselves at the abandoned Thomas Edison Museum during a snowstorm, but as the night wears on, they'll find so much more.
Out Sept. 21
On Location by Sarah Echavarre Smith
Alia Dunn finally has a chance to produce the nature show of her dreams in Sarah Echavarre Smith's On Location [51], but her infuriating coworker might cause her career to come crashing down. Just days before her big break, Alia went on a first date with Drew, and then he promptly ghosted her. Now he's the newest member of her crew and a sexy distraction she doesn't need.
Out Sept. 21
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door [52] is a warm hug of a book. It's at once a fantasy novel, a queer love story, and a book about second chances. When a reaper collects him from his funeral, Wallace wants nothing more than to have a second chance at life, and with a little help from a tea shop owner named Hugo, he is granted seven days to cram in a lifetime of experiences.
Out Sept. 21
When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
When Sparks Fly [53] by Helena Hunting will warm your heart and make you cry — sometimes at the same time. Avery has a perfect life: a great job, wonderful family, and a roommate she loves hanging out with. But when a car accident leaves her in need of someone to take care of her, her roomie and best friend Declan steps up. And in the process, he opens the door to their friendship becoming something more.
Out Sept. 21
Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray
Beasts of Prey [54] by Ayana Gray is the first book in a new epic fantasy series about two Black teens on a collision course with destiny. Indentured at the Night Zoo, Koffi possesses a magic that could get her killed, but it also makes her capable of warding off a monster known as the Shetani. Meanwhile, Ekon dreams of becoming a warrior, something he believes will become a reality if he and Koffi can bring down the Shetani for good.
Out Sept. 28
Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen
What does it mean for a modern woman to have it all? That's the question at the heart of Jayne Allen's emotional, funny, and heartbreakingly real Black Girls Must Die Exhausted [55]. Tabitha's checklist for her life is going to plan — she has the perfect boyfriend, the right job, and the best education. But when an unexpected diagnosis throws into doubt whether or not she'll ever have children, the women in Tabitha's life rally around her as she embarks on a journey she never planned on taking.
Out Sept. 28
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land [56] spans hundreds of years to tell the story of a young girl in Constantinople, an octogenarian in Idaho, and a young woman in space. Each of them is touched by the story of Aethon, and although their paths can never cross, the power of literature transcends space and time.
Out Sept. 28
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
Set in 19th century London, this engrossing new fantasy novel draws readers into a world of intrigue, magic, and deadly battles for the fate of the world. In Dark Rise [57] by C.S. Pacat, Will is on the run from the men who killed his mother when he stumbles upon his own secret destiny. Now he'll join forces with a group known as the Stewards to save the world from a coming darkness.
Out Sept. 28
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Writing under the pen name Erin Sterling, bestselling author Rachel Hawkins has penned the perfect autumnal read in The Ex Hex [58]. After Rhys Penhallow broke her heart, Vivienne Jones hexed her boyfriend, but she never imagined the trouble her late night magic session would wreak. When Rhys returns to town to recharge the ley lines and appear at the fall festival, it quickly becomes apparent that Vivienne's curse was far more powerful than she anticipated.
Out Sept. 28
As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy concludes this month with As Good as Dead [59]. This time around, Pip is heading off to college, but a series of threatening messages make it clear someone is watching her. Pip goes to the police, but they refuse to help, leaving her to solve the case before she becomes a victim.
Out Sept. 28
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
No, it's not too soon for holiday reads as the delightful The Matzah Ball [60] by Jean Meltzer proves. Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt has a secret: she loves Christmas so much she has a secret career as a Christmas romance novelist. But when her publisher asks her to write a Hanukkah romance, she needs inspiration fast . . . but what she definitely doesn't need is to run into her childhood enemy on a research trip.
Out Sept. 28
Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson
Phoebe Robinson knows the world is upside down right now, but she's going to give you plenty of reasons to laugh anyway in her latest essay collection Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes [61]. From the trials of quarantining with her boyfriend to the performative allyship she has witnessed in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, there's no topic Robinson is afraid to tackle with her trademark wit and incisive eye.
Out Sept. 28
It Started With a Dog by Julia London
Dog lovers, rejoice! Julia London is back with another dog-centric romance in It Started With a Dog [62]. This time the story focuses on Harper and Jonah, who accidentally swap phones and discover they have lots in common, including a love for dogs and coffee. Unfortunately, Harper also happens to work for a coffee chain that's about to put Jonah's store out of business.
Out Sept. 28
The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo
Part romance, part a story of self-discovery, The Sweetest Remedy [63] by Jane Igharo follows Hannah, who is travelling to Nigeria to attend the funeral of the father she never met. While her reception from her newfound family is mixed, Hannah meets a man who steals her heart and shows her the beauty of Nigeria even as she's struggling to connect with a part of herself she's never really gotten to know.
Out Sept. 28