Browse this fall reading list of the new fall books coming to shelves. From murder mystery to magical realism, this cozy autumn list has your next book to read.
There’s a certain magic to the fall reading season, isn’t there? As we welcome the fall foliage and (for many) the comforting chill in the air, it is my joy to introduce you to my carefully curated 2023 Fall Reading Guide.
This is my first fall guide, filled with my most anticipated books of the year. It offers a great starting point for shopping your local independent bookshop or supporting my local indie bookshop, Fables Books.
Finally, you can discover all the upcoming Book Gang podcast guests we will welcome and the final fall book club selections for the 2023 MomAdvice Book Club.
Treat yourself to your favorite latte, open your Storygraph app, and add your favorite choices to your TBR.
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New Fall Books To Reserve For Your Book Stack
Catch those fall vibes with my most anticipated books of fall 2023. This book list offers mysteries, thrillers, feel-good romances, and the perfect spooky season books.
MYSTERY BOOKS FOR ADULTS
Engage your mind in a web of intrigue with captivating mystery books, where secrets unfold in these suspenseful page-turners.
Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
This debut novel was selected as the Reese's Book Club 2023 (September) pick.
A former NASA engineer, Nina Simon, wrote this debut mystery with her mom while undergoing cancer treatment to pass their time together.
You can hear their inspiring journey on Book Gang- The Remarkable Murder Mystery That Changed Everything (LISTEN NOW).
This heartwarming mystery introduces readers to an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths—a spirited grandmother, a determined single mother, and a curious teenage girl—bonding together to unravel a perplexing murder.
Lana Rubicon, a powerful real estate magnate accustomed to the bustling life of Los Angeles, finds her world shattered by a cancer diagnosis.
She must move to a sleepy coastal town with her estranged daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack as she finds her life at a standstill.
However, their life takes a sharp turn when Jack stumbles upon a lifeless body during a kayaking excursion.
If you are curious if there is a Mother-Daughter Murder Night sequel, be sure to join the Patreon for the spoiler-filled bonus episode with the answer.
Release Date: 5 September 2023
What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
This dual-timeline mystery is set in 1999 and 1977 and explores the consequences of family secrets.
John Kim's life is uncertain since his wife's unexplained departure a year ago.
Struggling between hope and resignation, he's confronted by the grim reality when he discovers a lifeless stranger in their backyard.
Although the police label the man as a wandering homeless person, the presence of John's wife's information in the stranger's notebook raises haunting questions.
Kim's first novel was selected as a Reese's Book Club Pick. Don't miss my top celebrity book club picks list while you wait for this new release.
Release Date: 10 October 2023
Redemption (Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran Book 1) by Deborah J Ledford
On the Taos Pueblo reservation, Deputy Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran investigates the mysterious disappearance of four women, including her best friend, Paloma.
Despite resistance, Eva collaborates with tribal police officer Cruz "Wolf Song" Romero.
As Eva unearths the chilling details, the reservation's hidden truths are discovered.
This novel was a Kindle First Reads list. Learn more about this Prime benefit with my tutorial and get your free book.
Release Date: 1 September 2023
YOUNG ADULT MYSTERY BOOK
For the young at heart, this YA mystery book is perfect for your fall stack.
Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
Described as The Inheritance Games meets Ocean's Eleven, this author signed a seven-figure deal for this YA duology.
Seventeen-year-old Ross Quest is a skilled master thief known for her escape plans, until her escape plan backfires, endangering her mother's life.
In a daring move, she enters the treacherous Thieves' Gambit, a contest of perilous heists with a wish as the grand prize.
Related- Captivating Con Artist Books to Read Now
Release Date: 26 September 2023
BEST THRILLERS (2023)
These gripping thriller books blur the line between reality and the mind's darkest corners.
The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak
In this spy thriller, espionage is a family legacy.
Amanda Cole, a brilliant CIA officer like her father, faces a career-defining moment when a Russian defector predicts a US senator's assassination.
Despite her warnings, the senator is killed, igniting a sequence of events that uncovers a dangerous web of international conspiracy, corporate blackmail, and manipulation.
If you love this writer, these Mary Louise Kelly books are must-reads.
Release Date: 14 November 2023
Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
In this new psychological thriller, two crimes converge two decades apart—a stolen baby and a nursing home murder—linked by an unexpected connection.
With mistrust running deep, the women in this twisty thriller must overcome their differences to solve a complex mystery of three suspects, two murders, and one victim.
On Store Shelves Now
Keep Your Friends Close by Lucinda Berry
Kiersten McCann's death in her own swimming pool unveils a web of lies among the exclusive West Hollywood Moms' Club members.
Whitney, Brooke, and Jade, accused of murder, harbor their own secrets and potential motives.
As investigations uncover more profound betrayals and malevolent agendas, the illusion of a perfect life crumbles, shaking West Hollywood's core.
Looking for old Hollywood adventures? Don't miss The Best Books About Old Hollywood to Get Swept Away.
Release Date: 10 November 2023
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
In Knoll’s next book, we journey to 1978 as a serial killer terrorizes the Pacific Northwest.
Amid the chaos, two young women from different communities are united by tragedy.
Delving into the murders, this novel promises to challenge our perception of the media's narrative around cases like these.
Don’t miss my Jessica Knoll interview discussing The Luckiest Girl Alive.
Release Date- 19 September 2023
My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon
Alison, who has always resented the holidays, receives a life-altering call: her estranged mother, Mavis, is terminally ill.
Contemplating Mavis's request to spend her last days with Alison's family, Alison grapples with traumatic memories of her mother's abuse.
Despite her reservations, she takes Mavis in, hoping for reconciliation.
However, as unsettling and inexplicable events unfold after her arrival, Alison begins to doubt her mother's true nature.
Release Date- 3 October 2023
HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS
Journey through time and immerse yourself in captivating worlds of the past with these historical fiction books that bring history to life.
Shoot the Moon by Isa Arsén
This debut is one of my most anticipated.
Annie Fisk, a brilliant but solitary physics graduate, follows her passion for space despite her past losses.
As a NASA secretary during Apollo 11, she's captivated by her work, but a romance with an engineer tempts her.
When her inability to ignore mistaken calculations propels her career, Annie confronts a discovery that defies scientific norms and tests her heart's desires.
Related- The Best Debut Novels of 2023 To Not Miss
Release Date- 10 October 2023
All You Have to Do Is Call by Kerri Maher
Delve into a riveting narrative inspired by the real history recounting the untold tale of the Jane Collective.
Set against the backdrop of the late 1960s and early 1970s in Chicago, follow the journey of women and doctors who, facing societal limitations, form a secret network to provide care and reproductive counseling for women facing few options.
Release Date- 19 September 2023
One Blood by Denene Millner
Essence describes this poignant novel as Homegoing meets The Mothers.
Meet Grace, navigating a world of privilege and tradition after losing her grandmother in post-segregation Virginia.
Alongside her journey, readers meet Delores, a resilient dreamer turned survivor, and Rae, their headstrong descendant, intertwining journeys through generations.
Exploring the complexities of love, identity, and family against the backdrop of historical change from the Great Migration to the 2000s women’s equality movement, this sweeping saga is perfect for historical fiction lovers.
Release Date- 5 September 2023
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
Set in 1958, Krueger's latest standalone novel unfurls in a small Minnesota town rattled by the murder of an influential landowner.
As the community gathers on Memorial Day, Sheriff Brody Dern, a war hero battling his own demons, investigates the death.
Rumors swirl, pointing to Native American veteran Noah Bluestone, who recently returned with a Japanese wife.
Amidst rising racial tensions, the town's residents grapple with personal tragedies and concealed secrets.
Related- Read my William Kent Krueger Interview on Ordinary Grace.
Release Date- 5 September 2023
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Descend into Jesmyn Ward's remarkable reimagining of American slavery.
Annis, a courageous guide through the heart-wrenching story, carries the weight of her own history and her ancestors' tales as she navigates the horrors of the South's plantations.
This soul-stirring novel portrays the enduring spirit of Black Americans and promises to cement Ward's legacy as a masterful storyteller.
Release Date- 3 October 2023
LITERARY FICTION
With thought-provoking prose, these literary fiction and contemporary fiction are my top picks for your fall book stack.
Family Meal by Bryan Washington
Cam's life in Los Angeles spirals after losing his beloved partner.
Haunted by Kai's ghost, Cam's return to Houston rekindles his connection with former best friend TJ and his family bakery.
Struggling to navigate their strained relationship, Cam and TJ must confront unsaid truths to save each other.
Spanning Los Angeles, Houston, and Osaka, this novel explores how the people who know us the longest can hurt us the most.
Release Date- 10 October 2023
Wellness by Nathan Hill
Join Jack and Elizabeth on a nostalgic journey from their 90s college days to navigating the complexities of modern married life.
Readers are taken through art scenes, parenting challenges, and the quirks of the digital age as they find themselves entangled in unexpected trials.
From cult-like mindfulness groups to Facebook wars, the two must acknowledge their past demons or risk losing each other.
Release Date-19 September 2023
Evil Eye by Etaf Rum
Yara's journey from a conservative Palestinian family in Brooklyn to her suburban life as a wife and mother seems to embody her dreams.
Yet, her world unravels as the weight of unfulfilled ambitions and past traumas resurfaces.
Confronting workplace challenges and family curses, Yara must navigate a path to self-discovery, questioning her choices and the legacy she's passing on to her daughters.
Release Date- 5 September 2023
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
A servant girl flees a colonial settlement with very little except her wits.
In this uncharted realm, she discovers realities that defy her upbringing and reshape her beliefs.
The novel blends history and imagination, reflecting America's journey through the lens of one girl's transformative experience.
Release Date- 12 September 2023
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
A woman seeks unexpected refuge at a Best Western in the California desert.
Escaping her father's ICU and her husband's worsening condition, she embarks on an unexpected path suggested by a motel receptionist.
While hiking, she encounters a mysteriously out-of-place cactus with an inviting gash.
Entering it, she embarks on a transformative journey set against the backdrop of Death Valley.
Related- The Best Books About Road Trips to Read Now
Release Date- 12 September 2023
BEST NEW ROMANCE BOOKS
These are the best new romance books to sweep you off your feet and tug at your heartstrings for this Fall.
Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz
Fourteen years after a final conversation at summer camp shattered their friendship, Daniel Rosenberg and Liyah Cohen-Jackson are unexpectedly reunited as airplane seatmates.
As bitterness resurfaces, they part ways after landing, seemingly for good.
Fate, however, has other plans when Daniel's marketing firm is commissioned by the Chicago museum, where Liyah works as a junior curator, sparking unexpected feelings.
Release Date- 12 September 2023
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary
In this enemies-to-lover romance, two rival hotel receptionists, Izzy and Lucas, are thrust together when they discover a collection of old wedding rings.
As they embark on a mission to return the rings to their owners, a heartwarming love story of their own unfolds amidst the holiday chaos at Forest Manor Hotel.
Release Date- 26 September 2023
Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
From the National Book Award-winning author of Felix Ever After comes a poignant tale of two actors embarking on an offscreen romance amidst the glitz of Hollywood.
When Logan and Mattie secure co-leading roles in an upcoming romantic film, Logan's scathing declaration of Matt's "zero talent" triggers a PR disaster. Reluctantly, they embrace a fake dating scheme to salvage the film's reputation.
Yet, as their lives intertwine both on and offscreen, the façade crumbles under the weight of genuine emotions that emerge.
Release Date- 10 October 2023
Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg
Maggie Vine finds herself in a unique predicament as two people she jokingly said she would marry if she were still single at 35 suddenly reappear on her birthday.
As Maggie navigates this unexpected love triangle, career opportunities and past connections converge, forcing her to confront her past, present, and future.
Release Date- 3 October 2023
YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE
These YA romances are the perfect teen romance to share with your teen or tween.
Betting on You by Lynn Painter
In this young adult romance, seventeen-year-old Bailey takes on a summer job at a hotel waterpark with her polar opposite, Charlie.
When two waterpark guests begin flirting, the two make a bet on whether they will stay together.
From irritating exchanges to unlikely camaraderie, Bailey and Charlie form an unexpected bond as they navigate the waters of romance, friendship, and hidden feelings.
As they playfully bet on the love lives of others, they must confront their own emotions. It turns out, though, that Charlie has a secret wager of his own that threatens to shatter the trust they've built.
Release Date- 28 November 2023
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
In her debut young adult romance, Hazelwood introduces us to Mallory Greenleaf, who has sworn off chess due to the havoc it wrought on her family years ago.
With her focus on her mom, sisters, and a mundane job, Mallory's life takes an unexpected turn when she reluctantly participates in a charity tournament and triumphs over the infamous "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer.
Mallory grapples with her family's past and newfound success as she rises in the ranks.
Release Date- 7 November 2023
FANTASY BOOKS FOR ADULTS
Take magical adventures with these fantasy book for adult readers.
Curious Tides (The Drowned Gods Duology)
Described as Ninth House meets A Deadly Education, this dark academia fantasy is the perfect fall escape.
Emory, a student at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics, experiences unexpected magical powers following a tragedy in the Dovermere sea caves.
After surviving while her classmates perish, Emory grapples with her newfound abilities.
To master her magic, she seeks assistance from Baz, skilled in darker arts, who lost his sister in the same incident.
As they uncover the truth behind the drownings and secretive society, Emory realizes the survivors are dying in mysterious, magical ways.
Release Date- 3 October 2023
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
June Farrow resides in the mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, haunted by the curse that shadows her family's flower farm.
A year of strange occurrences and eerie signs convince June that fate is closing in, but she's determined to break the generational curse—even if it means forgoing love and family.
After her grandmother's passing, cryptic clues about her mother's disappearance emerge, pointing toward a mysterious door.
When June crosses its threshold, she embarks on a transformative journey that transcends time in this magical realism novel.
Related- The Best Time Travel Books to Escape Real Life
Release Date- 17 October 2023
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
In the small and cursed town of Eden, Kentucky, Opal is determined to create a better life for her brother, Jasper.
She's obsessed with the mysteries of E. Starling, a reclusive author who vanished a century ago.
When she enters Starling House, the eerie mansion left behind, she's driven by curiosity and a desperate need for money.
However, the house holds secrets that might be too dark to handle, and the mansion's heir, Arthur, is not what he seems.
Release Date- 3 October 2023
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab
There were four worlds connected throughout London.
Once harmonious, these worlds were forced to seal their doors to protect themselves from unchecked magic.
Now, only three Antari remain—Kell, Delilah, and Holland.
Amidst the chaos throughout the world, Tes, a girl with unique magic, possesses a device that could change everything.
Her journey holds the key to unity or unraveling a tapestry of destiny and power.
Release Date- 3 October 2023
Playing the Witch Card by KJ Dell'Antonia
Flair Hardwicke's beliefs in magic are challenged when her grandmother's bakery in Kansas becomes hers to manage.
Flair is determined to steer clear of magic and love because she believes both bring disaster.
However, a batch of Tarot card cookies baked for a Halloween event unravels her plans.
The magic of the family deck sets off a chain of events, drawing Flair's mother, her magic-enthusiast daughter, her first love, and even her ex-husband into the chaotic mix.
Release Date- 12 September 2023
MEMOIR BOOKS
Follow personal journeys through these poignant and inspiring memoir books.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
In June 2021, the global spotlight was on Britney Spears as she addressed the court openly.
The profound impact of her words reverberated worldwide, altering her life's trajectory and influencing numerous others.
Spears shares her insights with honesty and wit, underscoring the enduring significance of her music through the years.
Release Date- 24 October 2023
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
Educated meets Born a Crime in this compelling memoir.
Safiya Sinclair delves into her tumultuous childhood in Jamaica, marked by her Rastafarian father's strict and oppressive beliefs.
In a society where her father's reggae music and rigid adherence to tradition shaped her upbringing, Sinclair found solace and a voice in books and poetry.
The memoir explores her journey from obedience to rebellion as she grapples with the suffocating patriarchy, the legacy of colonialism, and the clash between her desire for self-expression and her family's traditions.
Related- The Best Memoirs to Read for Nonfiction November
Release Date- 3 October 2023
Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones
This humorous autobiography by Leslie Jones is one of my most anticipated this year.
In it, she shares her life story, from her childhood in the South to her stand-up comedy experiences and rise to fame.
Leslie discusses her challenges as a Black woman in the entertainment industry.
The book provides an inside look at the world of comedy and the personal journey of a woman who's fought to make her voice heard and her presence felt in a male-dominated field.
Release Date- 19 September 2023
HORROR BOOKS
These are the best new horror books for spooky season.
Holly by Stephen King
A walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes stole Stephen King's heart, and this book is "all her,” according to the author.
When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping to reconnect with her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to take the case.
Holly must unravel a web of secrets woven by the seemingly ordinary yet sinister Professors Rodney and Emily Harris.
Racing against time, Holly summons determination to outwit adversaries who are as patient as they are ruthless.
Release Date- 5 September 2023
Spin a Black Yarn: Novellas by Josh Malerman
Step into a world of suspense with the Birdbox author's newest horror novella collection.
Within its pages, five harrowing tales will take you on a journey through the darkest corners of the human experience.
On Store Shelves Now
Related- Read more in our best Josh Malerman book guide with my creepy Birdbox interview.
The September House by Carissa Orlando
In this horror debut, Margaret's resolve to keep her dream home transforms into a nightmarish battle against escalating hauntings.
As the horrors intensify each September—dripping walls, spectral figures, and a basement terror—Margaret clings to her house no matter what it costs her family.
Release Date- 5 September 2023
Rouge by Mona Awad
Belle's obsession with skincare videos takes a chilling turn when her estranged mother's death leads her to Southern California's enigmatic spa, La Maison de Méduse.
As she becomes entangled in a world of cult-like beauty rituals and seductive secrets, cryptic clues offer her the truth behind her mother's demise.
Release Date- 12 September 2023
Book Series (Not the First in a Series) Also Hitting Store Shelves
Bookshops & Bonedust (Prequel to Legends and Lattes) by Travis Baldree
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman (Book 4 in the Thursday Murder Club Series)
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games Book 4)
System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries Book 8)
Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 4)
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean Book 2)
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose (Molly the Maid Book 2)
Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score (Knockemout Book 3)
Meet the Book Gang Guests for Fall & Winter
The Remarkable Murder Mystery That Changed Everything (Nina Simon, Author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night– LISTEN NOW)
The Best Novels About Motherhood (Adele Griffin, Author of The Favor, airing on September 15th)
LGBTQ History Month- Part 1 (Jeffrey Dale Lofton, Author of Red Clay Susie, airing on September 29th )
LGBTQ History Month- Part 2 (Matt Cain, Author of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, airing on October 15th )
Beautiful Lessons from a Book Club for Inmates (Jennifer Williams, Founder of the Second Chance Book Club, airing October 27th)- GIFT A BOOK TO AN INMATE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Literary Wellness with Chronic Pain: Expert Tips for Reading (Alexandra Orfanide, Creator of The Hypermobility Helpline Podcast & Osteopath, airing on November 10th)
The Best Books About Art (Antonia Angress, Author of Sirens & Muses, airing November 14th)
December 1st- 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced (celebrating my 20th blog anniversary and our FIRST backlist book club year)
MomAdvice Fall Book Club (see the full list)
August Book Club: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins Veldez (catch up on chat)
September Book Club: True Biz by Sara Novic RSVP
September Patreon Exclusive Chat: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin RSVP
October Book Club: The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner RSVP
October Patreon Bonus Chat: My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix RSVP
November: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson on November 17th
December: The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller RSVP on December 15th
TELL ME: What book are you most excited to read this fall?
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