As the year draws to a close, now is the perfect time to reach your reading goals with some of the latest autumn releases. From romantic comedies to speculative fiction and magical realism, this season’s books offer a diverse array of genres and styles from best-selling authors worldwide.
Here are the must-read picks for autumn:
1. The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Matt Haig returns with a captivating story about self-reflection. Retired math teacher Grace Winters inherits a rundown house on a Mediterranean island from a long-lost friend. With no concrete plan, she books a one-way ticket to Ibiza. As she delves into her friend’s life, she uncovers a truth stranger than she could have imagined, forcing her to confront her past.
2. Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami
Acclaimed Japanese author Hiromi Kawakami presents a speculative fiction novel set in a dystopian future where humanity is on the brink of extinction. Small tribes survive under the guidance of “Mothers,” with some children manufactured in factories while others scavenge from nature. Spanning thousands of years, this story examines how humanity adapts and evolves when fundamental aspects of life are redefined.
3. Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
Set in rural France, this thrilling espionage novel follows American mercenary Sadie Smith. On a secret mission, she starts a relationship with Lucien, a young Parisian. However, her mission becomes complicated when she encounters Bruno Lacombe, a mysterious mentor to local activists. Torn between duty and desire, Sadie must decide what path to follow.
4. Entitlement by Rumaan Alam
In this novel, Brooke Low, a Black woman with a privileged upbringing and Ivy League education, feels unfulfilled working as an underpaid teacher. Taking a job as an administrator for billionaire Asher Jaffee’s foundation, she makes risky financial decisions, including her desire to purchase an apartment she can’t afford. Brooke’s journey unfolds through a series of events that test her ambitions and could cost her everything.
5. The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
Nora is still mourning her mother’s death when her father, Liam Noone, dies in an accident near his coastal California cottage. Though authorities rule the death accidental, Nora and her estranged brother, Sam, suspect foul play. As they dig into their father’s mysterious life, they uncover secrets that strain their relationship and challenge what they thought they knew about him.
6. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney returns with a character-driven story set in rural Ireland. Estranged brothers Peter and Ivan Koubek struggle to make sense of their lives after their father’s death. Peter, an outgoing lawyer, and Ivan, a socially awkward chess prodigy, grapple with their difficulties in forming lasting connections. As their struggles mirror each other, they realize they are more alike than they thought.
7. Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen
Evie Lang, reeling from her aunt’s death and the loss of her job, discovers her aunt left her a San Francisco home—on one condition: she must first attend a matchmaking tour in Vietnam. There, she meets Adam Quyen, the CMO of his sister’s matchmaking business. Though they clash initially, they soon learn they have a lot to teach each other about love.
8. The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister
In this gothic fantasy, the Haddesley family maintains an eerie pact with a cranberry bog: in exchange for a ritual sacrifice, the bog produces a “bog-wife” who carries on the family line. When the bog fails to uphold its end of the bargain, siblings Eda, Wenna, Percy, and Nora must uncover secrets about their family’s past and work together to find a solution.
9. A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of ancient China’s four beauties, this historical fantasy follows Xishi as she uses her beauty as a weapon to avenge her sister and aid her people. Under the guidance of military advisor Fanli, she infiltrates an enemy palace as a spy. But as she grows closer to Fanli, her loyalty and her mission are put to the test.
10. The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
Translated for international release, Haruki Murakami’s latest novel explores a young man’s journey between reality and fantasy. As he searches for his lost teenage love in an imaginary city filled with strange creatures and a dreamlike library, he must navigate the blurred lines between the two worlds and make a difficult choice that could determine his fate.
Wrap Up
Whether you’re craving a romantic escape, a mysterious thriller, or a journey through fantastical worlds, this season’s book releases offer something for everyone. So, grab a cozy blanket and settle in for a reading adventure that will carry you through the autumn months. Happy reading!