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The Biggest Books of Fall
Fall is in the air, which means it's time to cozy up with some of the biggest books your fellow readers can't wait to get their hands on.
This season we're seeing long-awaited sequels, including Margaret Atwood's The Testaments, Elizabeth Strout's Olive, Again, and André Aciman's Find Me. We also have Erin Morgenstern's sophomore fantasy, The Starless Sea, Ta-Nehisi Coates' first novel, The Water Dancer, Stephen King's paranormal thriller The Institute, and many more.
How did we create this list? We took a look at some of the most popular page-turners publishing in the U.S. between now and the end of the year. Next we measured their anticipation by looking at the number of times Goodreads members have added these books to their Want to Read shelves.
Now let's get to the good stuff. How many of these gems will you be reading?
FICTION
From the National Book Award–winning author of Between the World and Me comes his first full-length work of fiction. Set during the American Civil War, this novel follows Hiram Walker, a slave born with the ability to tap into an otherworldly power.
Release date: September 24
Release date: September 24
Over the course of five decades, two siblings will return again and again to their childhood home. More than a lavish estate, the Dutch House is a symbol of a past that will not let them go in this moving novel from the author of Commonwealth.
Release date: September 24
Release date: September 24
The sequel to the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Olive Kitteridge brings readers back to the town of Crosby, Maine. Here the wry and prickly eponymous character observes the lives of those around her as she struggles to understand her own story.
Release date: October 15
Release date: October 15
In this follow-up to the novel that inspired the Academy Award–winning film, Elio has become a gifted pianist, while Oliver, who now has a family, thinks of making a return trip across the Atlantic. Can their hearts bridge the distance between them?
Release date: October 29
Release date: October 29
Berlin, 1941. Lea Kohn is sent to a rabbi to escape the Nazi regime. To protect her, the rabbi's daughter, Ettie, creates a mythical golem named Ava. Now all three are eternally bound in this magical new novel from the author of The Dovekeepers.
Release date: September 24
Release date: September 24
Based on a true story, this debut follows two secretaries who become spies for the CIA at the height of the Cold War. Their mission? Smuggle the manuscript of Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR and ensure that it makes it to print around the world.
Release date: September 3
Release date: September 3
This new novel from the National Book Award–winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming begins in 2001, on the evening of a young girl's coming-of-age ceremony. Going forward and backward in time, the story unravels her complicated family history.
Read our article on Woodson's favorite books.
Release date: September 17
Read our article on Woodson's favorite books.
Release date: September 17
Five women band together and ride across the Kentucky mountains to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt's new traveling library. What follows is a journey of love, loyalty, and literacy in this novel from the author of Me Before You.
Release date: October 8
Release date: October 8
MYSTERY & THRILLER
Moving to Featherbank was supposed to be a new beginning for Tom Kennedy and his son. But the town has a dark past. A young boy vanishes, reigniting old stories of a serial killer known as "The Whisper Man." Will Tom's son be next?
Release date: August 20
Release date: August 20
The "king" of terror invites readers to the Institute. Here children with extranormal gifts are studied like specimens. Sometimes they disappear. Luke Ellis doesn't want to be one of them and plots a desperate, if not impossible, escape.
Release date: September 10
Release date: September 10
The acclaimed author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower pens a haunting new novel about a mother and son who find refuge in a seemingly tight-knit community. Then the son disappears, only to return days later unharmed—but not unchanged.
Release date: October 1
Release date: October 1
After learning her birth parents' identities, Libby Jones stands to inherit millions. What she doesn't know is that there are others who have been waiting for her to uncover her past in this new thriller from the bestselling author of Then She Was Gone.
Release date: November 5
Release date: November 5
FANTASY
The wait is over! From the author of the 2011 bestseller The Night Circus comes a new fantasy about graduate student Zachary's discovery of a book full of adventures, secrets, and something truly strange: a story from Zachary's own childhood.
Release date: November 5
Release date: November 5
The bestselling author of the Grishaverse novels writes her first adult fantasy series about a woman who's traded her life of dead ends for an education at Yale. The only catch is that she'll have to monitor the university's most occult secret societies.
Release date: October 8
Release date: October 8
The coauthor of The Illuminae Files pens the epic conclusion to his adult fantasy series, The Nevernight Chronicle. Fans will follow famed assassin Mia Corvere one last time as she undertakes a perilous journey across the Itreyan Republic.
Release date: September 3
Release date: September 3
January Scaller is just one of the many curiosities kept in the sprawling mansion of her benefactor, the wealthy Mr. Locke. Then one day she discovers a door—the kind of door that leads to Valhalla, Atlantis, and other impossible places.
Release date: September 10
Release date: September 10
The story that began with a magically gifted student named Davian in The Shadow of What Was Lost comes to a close. Here Davian fights the remaining Venerate as he grapples with the path before him. Can he live with the choices he's made?
Release date: December 10
Release date: December 10
NONFICTION
The podcast host of Revisionist History and author of acclaimed books, including Blink and The Tipping Point, introduces readers to another intellectual adventure that challenges our assumptions about how we interact with people we don't know.
Read our interview with Gladwell.
Release date: September 5
Read our interview with Gladwell.
Release date: September 5
In a series of letters addressed to her daughters, stand-up comedian and actress Ali Wong dispenses her hilariously unfiltered take on dating, marriage, Asian culture, and working as a woman in a male-dominated profession.
Release date: October 15
Release date: October 15
Augusten Burroughs may not believe in ancient aliens or past lives, but he does believe he's a witch. Alone in the world, he'll have to learn how to use his preternatural powers in this new memoir from the author of Running with Scissors.
Release date: October 1
Release date: October 1
Her memoir, Shrill, turned up the volume on feminism and was the inspiration for the Hulu series starring Aidy Bryant. Now West is turning her sharp humor and cultural insights on the moments that led up to the state of today's gender politics.
Release date: November 5
Release date: November 5
This new essay collection from the bestselling author of The Recovering and The Empathy Exams uses a combination of memoir, criticism, and journalism to explore the universally human themes of longing and obsession.
Release date: September 24
Release date: September 24
Told through vignettes that take place across the American landscape, this haunting coming-of-age memoir is the story of a young, black, gay man from the South and his fight to carve a place for himself among his family and his country.
Release date: October 8
Release date: October 8
The National Book Award finalist and author of Her Body and Other Parties pens an unflinching and true account about domestic abuse. Every chapter is driven by its own narrative trope, expanding the definition of what a memoir can do.
Release date: November 5
Release date: November 5
YOUNG ADULT
From Queen of Faerie to queen of absolutely nothing, Jude now languishes in the mortal world. It takes an evil curse to draw her back to her true home—and back to the man she loves despite his betrayal—in the final book of The Folk of the Air trilogy.
Release date: November 19
Release date: November 19
Madrid in 1957 is a glowing haven of sunshine and wine, but it has a dark side. American tourist Daniel sees both sides of the city as he befriends Ana in this tale of love, longing, and postwar hardships from the author of Salt to the Sea.
Release date: October 1
Release date: October 1
After bringing magic back to Orïsha, Zélie and Amari struggle to unite their allies and avoid a devastating civil war in this sequel to Children of Blood and Bone, which won a Goodreads Choice Award last year.
Release date: December 3
Release date: December 3
What does a "Chosen One" do after saving the day? Take a vacation, of course. Joined by his best friend and the love of his life, Simon Snow goes on a good ol' American road trip. Monstrous trouble ensues in this charming sequel to Carry On.
Read our interview with Rowell.
Release date: September 24
Read our interview with Rowell.
Release date: September 24
Frank is a Limbo, his term for Korean American kids caught between their Los Angeles upbringing and their traditional parents. To make his family happy, he pretends to date a fellow Limbo in this debut about identity, love, and finding happiness.
Release date: September 10
Release date: September 10
Their perfect world is unraveling. In a future society that claims to have conquered hunger, disease, war, and even death, those living (and some who are not) must band together in the final book of the Arc of a Scythe trilogy.
Release date: November 5
Release date: November 5
Their revolution saved the Republic of America, but who will save the revolutionaries? As Daniel hides from the world, his younger brother, Eden, descends into darkness in this conclusion to the beloved Legend series.
Release date: October 1
Release date: October 1
SCIENCE FICTION
Thirty-four years after the publication of her dystopian classic, The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood returns to Gilead to continue the story of Offred. The sequel is narrated by three female characters and will not be connected to the Hulu adaptation.
Release date: September 10
Release date: September 10
In this new novel from the award-winning author of The Three-Body Problem, Earth is showered in deadly levels of radiation. In a year, everyone above the age of 13 will die. Will our legacy live on in the last generation? Or is this the start of a darker era?
Release date: October 22
Release date: October 22
Merging science fiction and epic fantasy, this new series follows Gideon—a swordswoman ready to embrace a necromancy-free life. She's packed all the essentials for a daring escape, including her dirty magazines. But her childhood nemesis has other plans.
Release date: September 10
Release date: September 10
This standalone novella from the acclaimed author of the Wayfarers series tells the story of explorer Ariadne O'Neill, who's sent to survey other habitable planets light-years away. As time passes more quickly on Earth, her crew risks being forgotten.
Release date: September 3
Release date: September 3
Inspired by the Hugo Award–nominated song "The Deep" by actor Daveed Diggs' rap group, this novella follows the underwater-dwelling descendants of an African slave woman. Only Yetu, a historian, remembers their traumatic past.
Release date: November 5
Release date: November 5
ROMANCE
Every day is a new battle between Morgan Grant and her daughter, Clara—a conflict that becomes more fraught when a tragic secret is brought to light in this new novel about family and first love from the bestselling author of It Ends with Us.
Release date: December 10
Release date: December 10
Can a "once in a lifetime" romance happen twice? Breakout actress Tate Jones isn't sure. Not even when her first love (and heartbreak), Sam Brandis, reenters her life 14 years later in this new book from the coauthors of The Unhoneymooners.
Release date: October 22
Release date: October 22
The bearded boys of Green Valley are back. After watching everyone around him find their soul mate, now it's Bill's turn. This is the pun-loving final book in Reid's Winston Brothers series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Release date: September 16
Release date: September 16
The holidays are arriving early for fans of The Wedding Date series. Here Vivian Forest expected to spend her Christmas vacation touring the sights of England. Instead she only has eyes for Malcolm Hudson, the queen's private secretary.
Release date: October 1
Release date: October 1
Gavin Scott may be a baseball legend in the making, but his marriage is in major league trouble. When his wife, Thea, asks for a divorce, he turns to an unlikely source of support: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men.
Release date: November 5
Release date: November 5
Which books are you most excited to read this season? Let us know in the comments!
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Check out more recent articles:
44 Fantastic Paperbacks to Pick Up Now
Jenna Bush Hager Shares Her Book Club Secrets
12 Books that Goodreads Editors Highly Recommend
Comments Showing 51-96 of 96 (96 new)
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Where's The Lucid Chronicles Orson...sci-fi New Author David J Pearson?
Agesilaus wrote: "Just about zero male authors, you should call this the Women's List. And the few male authors on the list have soft chick-lit books."Did you actually read the list? No way can you characterize Stephen King and Jay Kristoff as having soft chick-lit books!
I thought Starsight will be on the lost, BUT I DIDN'T.
Catherine wrote: "Alyssa wrote: "I'm surprised Phillip Pullman's The Secret Commonwealth isn't on here, especially since HBO has the His Dark Materials series coming out this fall."me too - I will ..."
I usually go to Half Price Books or the library, but I'll be at Barnes and Noble on release day for The Secret Commonwealth.
I would like to read more about health, like the book How not to Die..How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
Patti wrote: "Where is the historical fiction????"How can this list not include "
, This Tender Land, the masterpiece by William Kent Krueger, the best books I've read all year that was just released September 3 ???????????????
Where oh where is the historical fiction??????????????
Looking forward to reading Canadian author Louise Penny's A Better Man. Inspector Gamache series.Just read Terry Fallis' Albatross. Creative writers and avid golfers would enjoy this one.
John wrote: "I know Goodreads is very fiction oriented, but the Nonfiction list above is pathetic. When did it happen that Nonfiction = Memoirs and Essays?? Where is History? Science? Health? Current Events? Po..."Exactly. I can't find anything on this list that interests me.
Romances *I'm* looking forward to:Vendetta in Death by JD Robb
The Christmas Dare by Lori Wilde
The Duke's Stole Bride by Sophie Jordan
Archangel's War by Nalini Singh
Madalina wrote: "'The Institute', for sure. I love Stephen King!"Oh gosh me too!!
I am surprised that The Poison Garden by A J Banner wasn’t included in the thriller section I read the ARC , and absolutely loved this new novel, to be published Oct. 22nd!
Instead of trying really hard to find a problem with this article (Russell) enjoy it's merits regardless of the season. There are some really good reads on here that I'm looking forward to this "Fall."
Wish you included Locrian by P. C. Brown. Good read. She is a good story teller.
Alyssa wrote: "I'm surprised Phillip Pullman's The Secret Commonwealth isn't on here, especially since HBO has the His Dark Materials series coming out this fall."indeed, i looked for it too .., he's a superb writer and the series looks like it's going to be good too. i'm eagerly anticipating both.
Not being listed due to reasons someone already kindly explained (still weird it's not here, though). But mine is The Tyrant's Tomb
Iam very hapy to be with you in new good reads .Have good time to spend it in reading this books , Lot of thanks. I hope that i can be able to read more and more. Dafalla Abukotry
How had I missed that there was a new Becky Chambers book? Have just reserved it from my library - very happy!
Emma wrote: " Ana wrote: "Where is The Tyrant's Tomb? :(" Middle grade books are not included in this list"
YEA!!!!!!
I'm personally looking forward to Shannon Messenger's Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8), for the YA section.
CASSANDRA wrote: "Hello my name is CASSANDRA FARRIN ,i'm from USA and i want to testify of a great and powerful spell caster. my husband left me and the kids for 2 weeks when i called him he didn't pick up when he c..."flagged mess 84 & 85 plus more than 5 in other threads. Flagged. Bloody spammers.
A YA for spring is a new one in the Pandora English series by Tara Moss, the Cobra Queen is coming out in March
Thank you for this list and thanks to the others who added books they are excited about in the comments.
Jh wrote: "Am I the only one unmoved by any of them?"Probably not, but then there are millions of other books available to you to choose from :)
Personally, out of the 41 books listed, I'm, interested in 17 across different genres so that's pretty good.
Where the hell is Serafina and the seven stars, the Internet told me it came out in JULY but I haven't seen it in a single bookshop anywhere!!!!! Help me aahahhagagagagagghhhhhh
JazzyBooks wrote: "Where the hell is Serafina and the seven stars, the Internet told me it came out in JULY but I haven't seen it in a single bookshop anywhere!!!!! Help me aahahhagagagagagghhhhhh"
Jazzy,
We have a library here in Manchester, Vermont that is 3 stories, wall to wall books. I bet they have Serafina and the seven stars!
Jazzy,
We have a library here in Manchester, Vermont that is 3 stories, wall to wall books. I bet they have Serafina and the seven stars!
I am reading
by Hanya Yanagihara. It is a "fat" book but don't know if it is on the list. Will check it out. If it isn't, it should be!
by Hanya Yanagihara. It is a "fat" book but don't know if it is on the list. Will check it out. If it isn't, it should be!
JazzyBooks wrote: "Where the hell is Serafina and the seven stars, the Internet told me it came out in JULY but I haven't seen it in a single bookshop anywhere!!!!! Help me aahahhagagagagagghhhhhh"
Jazzy,
You may have found it already, but it is on Amazon......
Jazzy,
You may have found it already, but it is on Amazon......
Patti wrote: "I am reading by Hanya Yanagihara. It is a "fat" book but don't know if it is on the list. Will check it out. If it isn't, it should be!"I have this and I really need to read it!! Did you enjoy it dear?
Ashlee wrote: "Agesilaus wrote: "Just about zero male authors, you should call this the Women's List. And the few male authors on the list have soft chick-lit books."Did you actually read the list? No way can y..."
I agree Ashlee, Stephen King, no way
Pam wrote: "Madalina wrote: "'The Institute', for sure. I love Stephen King!"Oh gosh me too!!"
Just got this last week, I am in Heaven lol
Pam wrote: "Patti wrote: "I am reading by Hanya Yanagihara. It is a "fat" book but don't know if it is on the list. Will check it out. If it isn't, it should..."
Pam,
Sorry it took me so long to respond. There are so many threads and I do try to keep up. I am currently reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I almost put it down as the very beginning was a little bit confusing. However, when I got into the "actual" beginning of the story, I couldn't put it down. It is an amazing story albeit disturbing and so very sad. I am hopeful for a happy ending, but I am not optimistic. The "meat" of the story involves something that has happened/is happening in society today.
by Hanya Yanagihara. It is a "fat" book but don't know if it is on the list. Will check it out. If it isn't, it should..."Pam,
Sorry it took me so long to respond. There are so many threads and I do try to keep up. I am currently reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I almost put it down as the very beginning was a little bit confusing. However, when I got into the "actual" beginning of the story, I couldn't put it down. It is an amazing story albeit disturbing and so very sad. I am hopeful for a happy ending, but I am not optimistic. The "meat" of the story involves something that has happened/is happening in society today.
So many amazing American books by amazing American authors they can it the "fall list" if they want.