The Best Books of October 2026

The start of fall means cooler weather, cozier nights and fantastic reading. Settle into the season with the best books of October, featuring the return of Pulitzer Prize winners, enchanting fantasies, captivating nonfiction and more. 

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After the global sensation Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus delivers a charming and funny novel about a young man searching for his place in the world. When he stumbles into a job at an unconventional New York City poetry journal, Batter Gray discovers the transformative power of language and a community he never knew he needed.

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Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Kingsolver returns for an unforgettable story of resilience, possibility and the transformative power of music. Melodies shape memories of heartbreak and loss in this expansive novel that follows a pianist who confronts unexpected ghosts from her past.

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The wait is over: Sarah J. Maas returns to the irresistible world of A Court of Thorns and Roses for the highly anticipated sixth book in the iconic series that took the world by storm. Return to Prythian for another dazzling adventure.

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Dark worlds are colliding. Jack Sawyer faces an impossible task as mysterious forces aim to destroy the universe in Other Worlds Than These. This long-awaited installment blends the worlds of The Talisman series with The Dark Tower series for an unforgettable finale.

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V.E. Schwab’s Villains series comes to a stunning conclusion in Victorious. Years of betrayal and deceit have led to one final showdown with a rival that the ExtraOrdinaries never expected.

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The author of The Only Good Indians returns to the reservation for a bloody tale of revenge. Nate Yellow Tail sets out on a dangerous mission to recover the lost bones of a young boy, but something even more sinister awaits him and the other Blackfeet students in Off The Reservation.

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Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short and Moneyball, shares a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency through the eyes of the public servants who experienced it firsthand.

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What is Public Access Afterworld? It’s only been whispered about for decades. But when a content moderator discovers the horrific realm beyond the static, a harrowing mystery unfolds in this debut novel from the filmmaker behind I Saw the TV Glow.

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With a cat serving as a quiet thread through the narrative, Haruki Murakami, known for his magical realist novels, returns with a beautifully rendered meditation on his relationship with his father and Japan during and after WWII.

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When an emaciated wild white-tailed deer visits him one brutal New York winter, little does Paul Bochner know that what is about to ensue is years of joy, friendship and an extraordinary bond that will change both their lives.

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Paleontology meets vivid storytelling in this fascinating portrait of the T. rex, revealing the day-to-day life of Earth’s prehistoric predator.

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T. Geronimo Johnson's long-awaited follow up to his acclaimed, bestselling novel Welcome to Braggsville plays with time, voice, and point of view as it follows George Washington Jonson across two decades of his life as a Black cop in Atlanta. This sharp-eyed look at America — and the American South — is a terrific recommendation for fans of Percival Everett's inventive novels.

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Save on time, not on flavor, with Yotam Ottolenghi’s delicious new recipes, perfect for busy home cooks looking for inspiration from breakfast to dessert.

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Alice finally makes her way back to Wonderland — but things aren’t as she left them. Take a trip down the rabbit hole in this imaginative twist on the classic tale.

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Hugo Award-winning author of A Psalm for the Wild Built ventures to outer space in her latest novel. This is a whirlwind story of love, hope and survival amidst the stars.

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Acclaimed sports journalist Peter King traces the unstoppable growth of America’s favorite game over his 40 years of reportage. From iconic players to unforgettable moments on and off the field, get to know football in a brand-new way.

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Everyone knows Wikipedia, but do you know how it started? This is both a deep dive into the founding of the famous free online encyclopedia and an urgent call to action to ensure its survival in the new tech age.

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When Nell and her son travel to her family’s remote cabin to sell it, they encounter more than just memories as unsettling events unfold, leading to a terrifying mystery. 

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Loved Commonwealth by Ann Patchett? Julie Orringer's latest, a thoughtful, and thought-provoking novel about the stories we tell about ourselves—and who gets to tells them, is a perfect companion read for Patchett fans.

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See The Beatles through the eyes of George Harrison. From worldly adventures to quiet, behind-the-spotlight moments, George’s camera captured his bandmates, and Olivia Harrison’s curated compilation of over 200 images offers an intimate glimpse into the early days of the iconic musicians.

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From the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz comes a story of resilience and hope told through the eyes of a young girl who seeks refuge with her piano teacher living in Paris during WWII.

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Three young women rediscover themselves in the wake of a tragic, life-altering act in this powerful final installment in Amber Smith’s the Way I Used to Be series.

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The unfiltered story of a legendary actor. Michael Douglas has graced the screen for decades in iconic movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Wall Street, and now he shares his highs and lows from his life both on and off-screen, touching on family drama, addiction, internal struggles and beyond.

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Can’t get enough of Connections? We’ve got just the thing. Discover exclusive new puzzles you’ll want to pore over with a friend in this carefully curated collection from The New York Times.

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After agreeing to pet sit for a very peculiar cat, a cartoonist becomes haunted by violent nightmares and starts to find disturbing imagery in her art. Skin crawling illustrations woven throughout make this a terrifying, immersive read. 

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The legendary Talking Heads frontman explores why brilliant ideas can gather dust for years, what brings them to the surface and how they can eventually gain the momentum to flourish.

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I’ll Believe Anything: The Making of Heated Rivalry by director Jacob Tierney features behind-the-scenes photos, stories and annotated scripts from the show inspired by Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series. Featuring never-before-seen content, this book deserves a spot at the cottage.

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Humans have had cat companions for thousands of years, but when did their feline friendship begin? Rod Phillips travels through centuries of cat content to trace the peculiar relationship between humans and cats in this fascinating deep dive. 

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The author of The Housemaid delivers a new type of thrill. After her life unravels, Julie flees to her family’s Massachusetts estate to care for her grandmother. But not everything is idyllic in this old house, which has a haunting history dating back to the witch trials, and Julie discovers a terrifying truth that will change everything.

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With more wealth and power than ever, interdimensional adventurer Jason Asano has everything to lose. This witty, action-packed LitRPG series is perfect for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl and The Murderbot Diaries.

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Discover the hidden wonders that help protect our ecosystems while preserving history. Explore the beauty and peril of bogs in this heartfelt journey into one of nature’s most mysterious landscapes.

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In a world increasingly dependent on technologies like social media and AI, human connection can seem less attainable than ever. Adam Grant shares his personal struggles alongside expert insights for overcoming loneliness and cultivating belonging.

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America’s beloved home cook is back with more delicious recipes to share with friends and family. From Ina Garten’s newest cookbook to your table, mouth-watering meals in her signature style await.

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Veronica Roth invites readers back to the exhilarating world of Divergent with the first book in a new duology that reimagines the iconic series. 

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Nearly twenty years after his spiritual phenomenon The Shack, William Paul Young returns to Mack and Nan’s story as they confront grief, forgiveness and the man who killed their daughter.

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Return to the irresistible world of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell in this captivating short story of kingdoms, fairies and humans, complete with stunning illustrations throughout.

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Stay away from the pools ... two teenagers tackle a shocking transformation in this dark love story from the bestselling author of We Were Liars.

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Neil Price reconstructs the ins and outs of the Viking Age in this vibrant exploration of hunters to farmers, worshipers and more.

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Professional trickster Kinch sets out to decipher a sentient book filled with dark magic, but one wrong move could unleash unimaginable horrors upon the world in this exhilarating fantasy tale. 

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An epic story about love and betrayal, music and power, creativity and lust, that cuts across time and countries, from the acclaimed author of The Book of Goose.

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Following the path of the gold, Nathaniel Philbrick vividly brings to life the Westerly migration that changed the United States forever, propelling it into a new era of expansion and conflict.

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Acclaimed 60 Minutes producers investigate an unusual string of targeted illnesses in this fascinating exposé that dives into a harrowing globe-spanning mystery.

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Kat Dunn reimagines Hamlet with a gothic, sapphic twist in the tradition of Carmilla to create a haunting love story exploring grief, revenge and longing.

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Step into the Bravoverse like never before. Andy Cohen shares his personal collection of photos, stories and insider moments from hit reality shows like The Real Housewives, Southern Charm, Summer House and more.

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From the acclaimed Japanese thriller author Keigo Higashino comes a terrifying thriller following a geochemist’s investigation into unusual hot springs deaths and one young girl at the center of it all.