022: On the READar for FALL 2024
a list of 50+ upcoming titles I'm anticipating or am curious about!
Hi readers! It’s August, and even though it’s hard to believe we are almost at the tail end of summer, I’m super excited my favorite season is almost here, and with it, a whole slew of titles I’ve been anticipating!
So I present to you another special issue on The Eternal TBR, hopefully the first of many in the future:
In this first issue, I’ll be talking about 50+ books with release dates mostly from August to November (a PDF summary of the titles included & their release dates is available at the end of this post 😊)
this is a brand new section on The Eternal TBR & can easily be accessed through a separate section on the homepage.
what to expect/format
I have not finished (started a few) any of these titles yet, although I received ARCs (advance reader copies) of some titles on the list, so the information I can give you will be very limited, but I did some research :)
FORMAT: in order of US publication date, title with links to publisher description | genre, US & UK covers | Publisher | Imprint, some miscellaneous info including why a title made it on the list!
It’s also important to note that based on various sources, a traditionally published novel sells on average 3,000 to 10,000 copies in its lifetime - this will be helpful in context with the announced first print runs for some of these books, and to gauge publisher’s expected popularity/performance of the book.
and let’s get started, shall we?
i present this for your scrolling pleasure…
NOTE: this post is too long for e-mail, so it will automatically appear in truncated form in your inbox, you will have to open and read on the Substack app or on your browser, thank you 🤍
before September
although July/August aren’t technically in the fall, I wanted to include several titles that deserve some attention on this very first issue of on the READar newsletter.
July 30
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell | Contemporary Romance
UK release date is August 8
Slow Dance is the story of two kids who fell in love before they knew enough about love to recognize it. Two friends who lost everything. Two adults who just feel lost.
It’s the story of Shiloh and Cary, who everyone thought would end up together, trying to find their way back to the start.
The publisher announced a first print run of 150,000 copies for this new adult novel by Rainbow Rowell. I have only read her YA works - Carry On, then Fangirl. I enjoyed Carry On which turned out to be a Harry Potter X Draco fanfiction written by the female main character on Fangirl and simply because I read it in the wrong order, I went back and read Fangirl.
I haven’t read any other of Rowell’s works since, but I love stories about childhood friends or the friends-to-lovers trope. I have a good feeling about this one.
Some of you may care, but I just found out as I was finalizing this draft, it’s also the Reese’s Book Club August pick!
August 6
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston | Romance
But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.
Most definitely a popular pick from the author of Red, White & Royal Blue (which was adapted into a film on Prime Video), this is a US trade paperback original with an announced first print run of a whopping 500,000 copies for the special first edition printing with sprayed edges.
Some things taste better together.
A European food + wine tour + a hookup competition? Count me in! Sounds like a deliciously fine way to spend the last days of summer.
The UK trade cover is very similar, and will be available as a hardcover.
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction
A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine—but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the author of Mexican Gothic.
Mexican Gothic and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau are on my list, maybe I’ll finally get to them this fall! This upcoming book is giving old Hollywood vibes.
The UK trade cover is the same, and the UK publisher is Arcadia | Hachette UK Group which is an imprint for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror - to give you an idea of the author’s genre.
I’ve been seeing this around, but paid attention after reading the starred review on Kirkus, published on their July 15 issue.
A rousing success: Moreno-Garcia proves, once again, that she is a master of her craft.
The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow | YA Fairytales & Folklore
UK release date is August 8
A young woman chosen as the crown prince’s bride must travel to the royal palace to meet her new husband—but her world is shaken when she discovers the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries—in this lush fantasy debut perfect for fans of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and Violet Made of Thorns.
There’s been a huge increase in Asian fantasy lately and I am grateful. This one reached my readar because of the artist for the UK cover art, Micaela Alcaino.
It’s also the August YA pick for the UK-based book subscription service, Fairyloot!
I’ve read Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and its sequel, Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White - this was a well-developed and well-concluded duology with rich world-building based on mythology. I thought Violet Made of Thorns had so much promise, but was ultimately disappointing. The author later commented that there was no sequel in the works and that it should be read as a standalone.
I received an ARC for this so hoping to get to it, soon!
August 13
Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv by Andrey Kurkov | Literary Fiction, Magical Realism
Translated from Russian by Reuben Woolley
UK release date was April 4, 2023
Blending Shakespearean comedy with Andrey Kurkov's unique brand of black humor and vodka-fueled magic realism, Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv, is a postcard from a more optimistic era. Populated by a delightful cast of oddballs, Kurkov's novel is an affectionate snapshot of a country finding itself and reclaiming its lost dreams after twenty years of Soviet rule.
Originally published in Russian in 2012, this is a Trade Paperback Original with an announced first print run of 25,000 copies.
This was published in April of last year in the UK by MacLehose Press | Hachette UK.
I read about this on Kirkus and was interested after previously having discovered a nonfiction work by the author - Diary of an Invasion - that was featured on Boxwalla. Andrey Kurkov is a writer/journalist based in Ukraine in Kyiv and offers remarkable insight and access to true accounts of the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid | Historical Fiction, Medieval
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid comes a reimagining of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.
I’m always on the lookout for a reimagining of a classic tale and this has a lot of buzz largely due to the popularity of the author’s work last year, A Study in Drowning, which was a fairly enjoyable dark academia tale with touches of gothic. I’m curious to see if this will be more to my liking!
Ghostsmith by Nicki Pau Preto | YA Dark Fantasy
In this action-packed finale to the House of the Dead Duology, Wren and her friends put everything they know to the test as they battle the living and the undead to save their world.
This concludes The House of the Dead duology following Bonesmith, which is still sitting on my shelf, unread! I did get an ARC of this as well, so as soon as the temps go down, I’ll be grabbing Bonesmith off the shelf! I remember starting it last year and thought it started on an exciting pace, not sure why I put it down.
August 20
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult | Women’s Fiction
UK release date is October 10
Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten.
I received an ARC of this and read the first couple of chapters - it was already so good. This was on my readar after reading Picoult’s The Pact back in 2016 and loving it. As a matter of fact, I e-mailed her at the time with praise and some questions and even got a very detailed response! That was the first time I ever interacted with an author, and definitely contributed to making it an even more memorable reading experience.
My interest was only cemented after reading about it on Kirkus - where I found out that this is actually based off a woman suspected to have written at least some of Shakespeare’s plays! I’m quite intrigued, and I’ve never heard about this theory before.
Wisteria by Adalyn Grace | YA Dark Fantasy
#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers' hearts ablaze.
This is the third and final installment to the popular YA series, Belladonna - following Belladonna and Foxglove. I have read Belladonna and enjoyed it, and am waiting to get back to Foxglove this fall!
The announced first print run is 150,000 copies.
Death is a character in this series, and the beautiful covers for both US & UK (which were selling for hundreds of dollars on secondhand sites) probably helped in increasing popularity! Consequently, a reprint of books 1 & 2 in a complete boxset of the series* is releasing in October! There’s also quite a bit of fanfare in the UK due to the beautiful standard editions with hidden foiled covers + the Fairyloot editions (book 1 was included in their Sep 2022 YA box).
August 27
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan | Fantasy, Romance
UK release date is August 1
THIS IS A TALE FOR EVERYONE WHO’S EVER FALLEN FOR THE VILLAIN…
This is a US paperback original and has an announced first print run of 25,000 copies. It is an adult epic fantasy debut from Sarah Rees Brennan.
Unlike in US, this is available as a hardback in UK, and the cover is almost exactly the same, with a brighter purple.
Although I don’t particularly love that title, I am really curious about this because I remember loving In Other Lands back in 2018, tbh I think it’s so underrated so I’m hopeful if nothing else, Long Live Evil will encourage more readers to read that previous work by the author! «linked here is my 2018 Goodreads review of In Other Lands»
The Four-Way Path by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles | Self-Help, Personal Growth, Happiness
UK release date is August 29
An inspiring guide to achieving happiness through purushartha (pronounced poo-roo-shar-tuh), or the four ultimate goals of human life, by the bestselling authors of Ikigai and The Book of Ichigo Ichie. In our complex modern world, it can be easy to doubt we’re living the life we’re meant to be living. But the authors of the global bestseller Ikigai, about the Japanese concept that has helped millions of people discover their reason for being, are now on a mission to show how the ancient Hindu concept of purushartha provides a powerful framework for charting a path toward a life of purpose and fulfillment .
I’m excited to see this upcoming release, since I read the previous works by this author duo: Ikigai and Ichigo Ichie (I’m over halfway through!)
I was really impressed with how informative the first 2 books were, the amount of research is apparent but the presentation is also concise and simplified. It will be interesting to learn about Hindu concepts this time around!
The UK publisher is Cornerstone Press | Penguin Random House UK: “launched in January 2022 as a home for big ideas with practical applications. Encompassing titles that were previously published under Random House Business, it includes smart thinking, politics, economics, psychology, business, self-development, health and lifestyle.”
Marriage & Masti by Nisha Sharma | Romantic Comedy
The third and final installment in Nisha Sharma’s beloved Shakespeare-inspired rom-com trilogy—an ode to Twelfth Night—is the perfect friends to lovers romp featuring an accidental wedding, meddling families, and plenty of sizzling chemistry.
This will be published as a trade paperback original in both US & UK, and has an announced first print run of 75,000 copies.
I have been looking forward to reading this final installment of Nisha Sharma’s If Shakespeare Was An Auntie trilogy, a standalone sequel to Dating Dr. Dil and Tastes Like Shakkar. The series is about best friends falling in love with another group of best friends. Predictable, but so so good! My favorite scenes are always those comfortable and fun moments between friends.
I’m a little sad I wasn’t approved for an ARC of this because I have a fond memory of reading the last book at the beach last year, but I think it will be worth the wait!
September
September 3
The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart | Epic Fantasy
UK release date is September 5
In this sweeping epic fantasy comes a story of magic, betrayal, love, and loyalty, where two sisters will clash on opposite sides of a war against the gods.
Purely because I have the author’s The Drowning Empire series (book 1 is Bone Shard Daughter) on my TBR, I’m adding this one, too! This will be the first book in The Hollow Covenant series, and has an announced first print run of 40,000 copies. In the UK, this is also the September Adult pick for Fairyloot.
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma | YA, Vampires
UK release date is September 5
The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the handsome vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister.
I’ve been hearing a lot of excitement over this debut, and it has an announced first print run of 100,000 copies for the Deluxe Limited Edition (with the sprayed edges) + 10,000 copies for the standard edition. Considering this is about vampires, it should be a popular pick for the season! The UK publisher is describing this as “a highly anticipated Black vampire romantasy title of 2024.”
This is the first book in The Immortal Dark trilogy.
The Illusionist: The True Story of the Man Who Fooled Hitler by Robert Hutton | History, WWII
UK release date was last April 25
The astonishing story of how in 1942, in Egypt, Colonel Dudley Clarke's ingenious "A Force" thwarted the Nazis while inventing a whole new playbook of military deception. The Illusionist tells for the first time the dazzling tale of how, at a pivotal moment in the war, British eccentricity and imagination combined to thwart the Nazis and save innumerable lives—on both sides.
Although distributed by Simon & Schuster in the US, the publisher is Pegasus Books, “an independent publisher of a diverse catalog of works including history, philosophy, biography and memoir, literary fiction, and noir titles. Pegasus strives to reach readers nationwide who share its conviction that good literature is essential to the health of our cultural life.”
The UK publisher is W&N | Hachette UK Group, “one of the most prestigious and dynamic literary imprints in British and international publishing, home to a wide range of literary fiction and non-fiction, modern classics, prizewinning debuts and worldwide bestsellers.”
I read about this on Kirkus which gave it a starred review:
A delightful account of a crucial piece of the Allied victory.
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig | Women’s Fiction
UK release date is August 29
Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.
I have only read The Midnight Library by the author, but it is quite memorable and lesson-filled. How to Stop Time* - set to be adapted into a series starring Benedict Cumberbatch - is also on my list, along with this upcoming release!
To be published in the UK by Canongate Books, an independent publisher founded in 1973, based in Edinburgh and London.
UK blurb by Benedict Cumberbatch:
“A beautiful novel full of life-affirming wonder and imagination”
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors | Women’s Fiction
UK release date was last May 23
Three estranged sisters return to their family home in New York after their beloved sister's death in this unforgettable story of grief, hope, and the complexities of family, from the acclaimed author of Cleopatra and Frankenstein. Imbued with Coco Mellors’s signature combination of humor and heart, Blue Sisters is a story of what it takes to keep living after loss—and, ultimately, to fall in love with life again.
I actually received an ARC of this and also had purchased a UK copy published earlier this year - I started it right after finishing and appreciating the author’s debut, Cleopatra and Frankenstein - but took a break due to heavier themes, hoping to pick it back up after the summer.
But let me tell you, it has quite the opening chapter!
As long as you are alive, it is never too late to be found.
The UK publisher is 4th Estate, which was founded in 1982 but was acquired by HarperCollins in 2000. This imprint is home to many known & award-winning works like Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Anthony Doerr’s To All the Light We Cannot See.
The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen | Fantasy, Romance
The gods of myth are alive and well. Once every century, they select a new ruler in a cutthroat competition, pushing mortal players to the limit. But this year, Hades is done sitting on the sidelines. And he’s picking a champion no one expects—in this modern mythic romantasy, she’ll fight for her life…for the god of Death.
I’m not seeing any planned publication of this title in the UK. In the US, it will be published by the same publisher as Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing. The announced first print run for the deluxe limited edition with the sprayed edges is 400,000 copies + 500,000 copies for the standard first editions.
This sounds like it will be an exciting read!
September 10
UK release date is September 26
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty | Women’s Fiction, Suspense & Thriller
Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.
There will surely be a lot of buzz surrounding this because a number of Liane Moriarty’s novels such as Nine Perfect Strangers and Apples Never Fall have been adapted to screen. I haven’t read any of her works so I’m thinking why not now and why not this one?
Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel by Kiersten White | Paranormal Romance, Vampires
A vampire escapes the thrall of Dracula and embarks on her own search for self-discovery and true love in this epic and seductive gothic fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide. Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness has always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?
This wasn’t on my readar until the publisher surprised me with an ARC, and I was delighted having heard of the author’s The Conqueror’s Saga starting with And I Darken. I’m also a sucker for a retelling of a classic - I read the original Dracula by Bram Stoker back in October of 2022 but thought it was very slow-paced and repetitive (although I enjoyed the first half much more). The resolution was also enjoyable, when the action picks back up.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune | Fantasy, Romance
UK release date is September 12
Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.
This is the second book of the Cerulean Chronicles following the 2020 release, The House in the Cerulean Sea. TJ Klune’s following has grown and that’s apparent in the announced first print run of 750,000 copies for this, vs. the first book’s first print run for the hardcover of 50,000 copies back in March 2020.
If this is anything like the first book, much of it will be about found family and acceptance. While the first book is told in the perspective of Linus Baker, this one will be told in the perspective of Arthur Parnassus, the gentle caretaker of the House in the Cerulean Sea. The fantastical elements in this world are whimsical, and I expect to see just as much heart and humor!
September 17
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft | Fairytales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
A sharp-tongued folklorist must pair up with her academic rival to solve their mentor's murder in this lush and enthralling sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic.
Although this is a US paperback original, it will be published in the UK as a hardcover by UK publisher, Daphne Press. I got an ARC for this because I saw that it was the author of A Fragile Enchantment which came out earlier this year, and it’s also the announced September pick for the Illumicrate box. It also has dark academia vibes, y’all + rivals-to-lovers romance.
The Road: a graphic novel adaptation by Cormac McCarthy & illustrated by Manu Larcenet | Literary, Comics & Graphic Novels
UK release date is September 26
This first official graphic novel adaptation of McCarthy’s work is illustrated by acclaimed French cartoonist Manu Larcenet, who ably transforms the world depicted by McCarthy’s spare and brutal prose into stark ink drawings that add an additional layer to this haunting tale of family love and human perseverance.
Cormac McCarthy personally approved the making of this book before his death, and the adaptation bears the approval of the McCarthy estate.
The announced first print run for this graphic novel adaptation is 100,000 copies. This will also be available in the UK to be published by Abrams & Chronicle Books.
I actually have not yet read The Road yet, but it’s on my classic TBR this year, so I will be checking this out soon after!
September 24
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio | Thriller & Suspense
A story about a ragtag group of night shift workers who meet in the local cemetery to unearth the secrets lurking in an open grave. Atmospheric and eerie, with the ensemble cast her fans love and a delightfully familiar academic backdrop, Graveyard Shift is a modern Gothic tale in If We Were Villains author M. L. Rio’s inimitable style.
With an announced first print run of 100,000 copies, this is an anticipated gothic novella from the author of dark academia novel, If We Were Villains - which is on my priority TBR this fall!
The UK publisher is Wildfire | Headline Publishing Group | Hachette UK Group.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney | Literary Fiction
For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude—a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.
The announced first print run is 500,000 copies. The covers are very different because while the US publisher is Macmillan, the UK publisher is Faber & Faber - an independent publisher founded in 1929 (with T.S. Eliot as the first Poetry Editor).
This is probably one of my most anticipated 2024 releases since the announcement. Sally Rooney’s novels make me think! They are just so deliciously intellectual but also such complex character studies.
I requested an ARC of this just right after announcement before they even started shipping out ARCs, and I thought there was slim to no chance that I would get one. But lo and behold, I received a surprise physical ARC literally on my doorstep one day! It was WILD. Probably one of the most exciting days of my reading life, lol.
I first read Normal People «FULL REVIEW HERE» and loved it at least partly because of the amazing Daisy Edgar-Jones (as Marianne) and Paul Mescal (as Connell) on the Hulu series adaptation. After this novel was announced, I went back and read Beautiful World, Where Are You then Conversations With Friends (her debut novel) in March. Beautiful World ended up being my favorite.
All that said, I have read the first few chapters but am saving the rest until probably later this month/closer to publication. I think I will risk taking my precious ARC to the beach!
What I can tell you, between the two brothers, I’m already all for Ivan 🥺
Also, the prose is even more unhinged in this one! Sally Rooney prose to the next level.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan | Juvenile, Legends, Myths & Fables, Greek & Roman
In his continuing quest to earn college recommendation letters from the gods, Percy has to pet sit the goddess Hecate's polecat and giant mastiff during Halloween week. What could go wrong?
The reboot of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series - this is the second of The Senior Year Adventures, following Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods. If you’re new to the series, this is not the starting point. I found this really helpful guide on the recommended reading order for Rick Riordan’s books!
It will be a while before I can get to this, but I’m so happy it’s an ongoing series!
Playground by Richard Powers | Literary Fiction
UK release date is September 26
Set in the world’s largest ocean, this awe-filled book explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize in a still-unfolding oceanic game, and interweaves beautiful writing, rich characterization, profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity in a way only Richard Powers can.
This has not even published yet, but it’s already been longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize alongside Percival Everett’s JAMES. The author’s 2018 novel, The Overstory, won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was also shortlisted for the 2018 Booker Prize.
Richard Powers is not playing around.
AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor | Computers, Artificial Intelligence
In AI Snake Oil, computer scientists Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor cut through the confusion to give you an essential understanding of how AI works and why it often doesn’t, where it might be useful or harmful, and when you should suspect that companies are using AI hype to sell AI snake oil—products that don’t work, and probably never will.
We have entered the age of AI - it seems that every industry is affected at this point. It’s better to get ahead than fall behind, if not for implementation then at least for awareness. This got on my readar after reading the starred review on Kirkus: “Highly useful advice for those who work with or are affected by AI—i.e., nearly everyone.”
September 26
Odyssey by Stephen Fry | Myths & Legends
UK only
A tale of love and longing, return and redemption, home and hope, Stephen Fry’s Odyssey sees the author and national treasure weave the final threads of the fabulous story begun in the worldwide bestseller, Mythos, into an astonishing and mesmerising tapestry for the ages.
The fourth & final installment to Stephen Fry’s Greek Myths series following Mythos, Heroes, and Troy. I’ve been meaning to read the series because I love Greek mythology, especially after I found out that the audiobooks are narrated by Stephen Fry himself. Unfortunately, this fourth book is only going to be published in the UK (at least, for now) so the audiobook will be inaccessible to me 😔
But really, I should finish reading my copy of Homer’s The Odyssey first, before I even think about starting this series.
October
October 1
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle | YA Dark Fantasy
UK release date is September 26
In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love in this searing young adult fantasy.
The UK cover is similar, and the UK publisher is Simon & Schuster Children’s UK | Simon & Schuster UK.
You may be familiar with the author’s ongoing Twin Crowns series. The Dagger and the Flame is book 1 of The City of Fantome series.
Publisher’s Weekly describes this as a “a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance set in an intricate world full of magic and mystery that checks all the boxes for romantasy lovers looking for the next series to sink their teeth into.”
This definitely sounds like something I would enjoy reading (rivals-to-lovers, yes please!), and also the cover caught my eye, somehow reminding me of Kell Maresh from V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series*. .
Heir by Sabaa Tahir | Epic Fantasy
Prepare for the action-packed, ruthless, and romantic new fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award–winning author Sabaa Tahir about love, legacy, and vengeance. An orphan. An outcast. A prince. And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees. Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives—and their hearts. Literally.
Although the UK cover is the same, the UK publisher is Atom | Little, Brown Book Group | Hachette UK Group.
I absolutely loved Sabaa Tahir’s Ember Quartet, which begins with An Ember in the Ashes, so I most definitely have been watching out for her next fantasy! I already know I’m going to love it!
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates | Essays, Social Science, Domestic Politics
UK release date is February 6, 2025
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Between the World and Me travels the world to explore how the stories we tell--and the ones we don't--shape our realities. Written at a dramatic moment in American and global life, this work from one of the country's most important writers is about the urgent need to untangle ourselves from the destructive nationalist myths that shape our world--and our own souls-- and embrace the liberating power of even the most difficult truths.
The UK publisher is Hamish Hamilton | Penguin Random House UK and it will be released next year. Most recently, this imprint published Zadie Smith’s The Fraud and Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting, which I saw on so many lists last year!
I actually have not yet read any of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ works, but I ought to start with this one! Of course, I want to know what the message is.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang | Fairytales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
UK release date is October 3
Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic novel steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds.
The announced first print run for the deluxe edition with the sprayed edges is 250,000 copies.
I definitely was drawn by that stunning blue cover, and I’m always up for a tale based on mythology.
Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter | YA Romantic Comedy
In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better Than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.
I read and adored Liz & Wes’ love story in Better Than the Movies so I’m so excited for this! I have the ARC and I started it 😍 I always want more more more so I have no problem with unplanned sequels.
Now Comes the Mist by Julie C. Dao | Paranormal Romance
The first book of a duology that retells Dracula from the point of view of Lucy Westenra, this gothic romance is perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful and Danielle L. Jensen. Dracula’s Lucy Westenra like you’ve never seen her before: In this retelling from critically acclaimed author Julie C. Dao, the perfect woman bites back.
This is also a Dracula retelling like above-mentioned Lucy Undying (out on Sep 10!) and I just happened to see this while browsing Edelweiss and noticed that it’s the author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns* which is a villain origin story I enjoyed back in 2017. It looks like this will be available on Kindle Unlimited* on release date, October 1.
To be published as a trade paperback original by US publisher, Podium Publishing, which is “a digital-first publisher committed to discovering, developing, and amplifying the works of emerging and bestselling authors.” This will not be available in the UK.
October 8
Paper Boat: New and Selected Poems: 1961-2023 by Margaret Atwood | Poetry
In pieces that are at once brilliant, beautiful, and hyper-imagined, Atwood gives voice to remarkably drawn characters—mythological figures, animals, and everyday people—all of whom have something to say about what it means to live in a world as strange as our own. “How can one live with such a heart?” Atwood asks, casting her singular spell upon the reader and ferrying us through life, death, and whatever comes next. Atwood, in her journey through poetry, illuminates our most innate joys and sorrows, desires and fears. Spanning six decades of work—from her earliest beginnings to brand-new poems—this volume charts the evolution of one of our most iconic and necessary authors.
After reading the masterpieces The Handmaid’s Tale and The Blind Assassin, I am always watching out for new works from Margaret Atwood!
From Here to the Great Unknown: a memoir by Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough | Autobiography, Celebrity Memoir
Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley tells her whole story for the first time in this raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough. This extraordinary book is written in both Lisa Marie’s and Riley’s voices, a mother and daughter communicating—from this world to the one beyond—as they try to heal each other. Profoundly moving and deeply revealing, From Here to the Great Unknown is a book like no other—the last words of the only child of an American icon.
The UK cover is the same, but the UK publisher is Macmillan.
I am really eager to read this because my dad is a huge Elvis fan and watched the 2022 biopic starring Austin Butler with him. Not knowing that Riley is Elvis’ granddaughter at first, my mom and I also loved her as Daisy Jones when we watched the Prime Video series adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six (which is about a fictional band in the 60s).
The PLAN by Kendra Adachi | Self-Help, Time Management
The New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way brings her signature Kind Big Sister Energy to a practical time management book for people weary of productivity but eager to live a good life.
This will be available in the US as a hardback from Convergent Books:
“Convergent publishes books for the human spirit. Our authors are community builders, experts, and storytellers helping people to nourish their inner lives and find meaning, connection, and understanding in a changing world. Drawing on deep experience both in mainstream and Christian publishing, we carefully curate the most impactful writing in the categories of spirituality, personal growth, self-help, relationships, social commentary, memoir, and lifestyle.”
I received an ARC for this, and am hoping to get to it before the publication date. The author is the host of The Lazy Genius Podcast.
October 15
Sonny Boy by Al Pacino | Autobiography, Celebrity Memoir
Sonny Boy is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide. All the great roles, the essential collaborations, and the important relationships are given their full due, as is the vexed marriage between creativity and commerce at the highest levels. The book’s golden thread, however, is the spirit of love and purpose. Love can fail you, and you can be defeated in your ambitions—the same lights that shine bright can also dim. But Al Pacino was lucky enough to fall deeply in love with a craft before he had the foggiest idea of any of its earthly rewards, and he never fell out of love. That has made all the difference.
Since I am a huge fan of The Godfather movies, I’m quite excited for this! I’m so glad that Al Pacino will also be narrating the audiobook*.
Januaries by Olivie Blake | Fantasy, Collection & Anthologies
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes Januaries, a stunning collection of short fiction featuring fourteen magical ruminations on life, death, and the love—or desire for revenge—that outlasts both. With both iconic fan-favorite stories and entirely original pieces, Januaries features modified fairy tales, contemporary heists, absurdist poetry, and at least one set of actual wedding vows.
The Atlas trilogy by the author is a favorite - although I thought The Atlas Six was the best of the three, and The Atlas Complex was the worst. Olivie Blake’s prose works for me - I love how it is almost stream-of-consciousness and I love the depth it will take you if you follow it. It’s smart and inquisitive, but also questionable. It’s a whole mood.
I also really liked One for My Enemy*, which was a clever urban fantasy retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
I’m excited to see some more favorites in this new collection by the author. Initially, I thought this was going to be a novel, but a short story collection will do!
What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci | Celebrity Memoir, Biography & True Stories, Culinary
UK release date is October 10
From Stanley Tucci, award-winning actor and New York Times bestselling author, a deliciously unique memoir chronicling a year’s worth of meals.
I have yet to pick up his previous memoir, Taste: My Life Through Food.* Like Taste, this will also be published in the UK by Penguin under the imprint, Fig Tree: “carefully curated, yet wide-ranging, with books that start conversations. They include literary and upmarket fiction, memoir, history, and beautifully designed and produced illustrated cookery titles.”
October 22
Spectacular by Stephanie Garber | YA Fantasy
Welcome, welcome back to the enchanting world of Caraval! Return to the legendary magic and the whimsical wonder with this beautifully illustrated holiday novella.
Stephanie Garber probably has one of the largest following in more recent YA, starting with the Caraval series and arguably the even more popular follow-up companion series, Once Upon a Broken Heart (especially with the stunning Fairyloot editions). The author returns to the world of Caraval, with this holiday novella, illustrated by Rosie Fowinkle (aka @rosiethorns88) who is also one of the most followed artists with her signature papercraft illustrations. This has an announced first print run of 500,000 copies.
I’ve read the Caraval series and thought it was okay, but loved the first 2 books of the OUABH series, and thought the third/final book was disappointing.
I don’t recommend starting with this book, if you’re new to the series!
As an aside, a new holiday box set* of the Caraval series (in white to match Spectacular) + Spectacular is going to be released on November 12.
The UK publisher is Hodderscape | Hachette UK Group.
The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker | YA Dark Fantasy
UK release date is October 1
The sequel and conclusion to the acclaimed dark YA fantasy duology that began with The Scarlet Alchemist. Zilan sets out on an epic and dangerous quest through alternate Tang Dynasty China in search for a mysterious place, hidden by alchemists, that could hold the power to resurrect her loved ones and fix past mistakes.
I read and really enjoyed The Scarlet Alchemist early this year, so I’m looking forward to this conclusion of the quest for power and immortality! I was hoping to get an ARC, but alas 😭 I am hoping to check out the first duology by the author - The Keeper of Night and The Empress of Time.
You definitely don’t want to start with The Blood Orchid, before reading the first one, The Scarlet Alchemist.
The UK cover is the same, but the UK publisher is Hodderscape | Hachette UK Group. It will be published as a UK trade paperback original.
Roman Year by André Aciman | Biography, Memoir
UK release date is September 12
In this memoir, the author, a genius of "the poetry of the place" (John Domini, The Boston Globe), conjures the sights, smells, tastes, and people of Rome as only he can.
The announced first print run is 50,000 copies. I am an aspiring completist of Aciman’s works since first reading Call Me By Your Name just right before the movie came out. I have yet to read any of his nonfiction works, though I’ve read several of his other novels including Enigma Variations, Harvard Square, and Find Me (a sequel to CMBYN published much later).
I’m now even more excited for this one, especially after having just finished Anthony Doerr’s memoir, Four Seasons in Rome.
Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters | Holiday Romance
A former child star learns that holiday magic can come from a change in perspective in this charming and hilarious holiday rom-com. Now an illustrator, Charlotte accepts a commission illustrating iconic holiday movie scenes in London and its environs. Graham offers to help escort her, as long as she’ll commit to an art workshop at Eden Priory. But as Charlotte’s chaotic family holiday goes awry, she begins spending more time scouting locations with Graham. She may not love a Christmas romance…but what if she has one of her own?
This is a trade paperback original to be published in the US by Atria Books | Simon & Schuster. It will not be available in the UK, at this time.
I have previously read and enjoyed 2 books out of 5 in The Regency Vows series by the author: To Love and to Loathe (#2) and To Swoon and to Spar (#4). These are lovely and lighthearted historical romance novels and can be read as standalones, though probably best read in order if you’re going to read them all anyway! I am planning to read them all, eventually!
I did get an ARC of this VERY early and since I didn’t get to it for Christmas in July, I’m planning to get on it when I start watching holiday movies which is usually around mid-to-late September.
October 29
Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco | Epic Fantasy
Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt - and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale - in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.
A sinful prince. A determined reporter. A dangerous rivalry.
Although this can be read as a standalone, it’s also the second book in the Prince of Sin series about the Prince of Gluttony, following Throne of the Fallen about the Prince of Envy. Events in the Prince of Sin series follows the end of the OG Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy, which tells the story of the Prince of Wrath.
This has an announced first print run of a whopping 375,000 copies.
Expect the steam to be 🔥🔥🔥
For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga | YA Fantasy, Romance
UK release date is November 7
A sizzling Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo where one girl seeks revenge through the use of forbidden magic against the boy she once loved and those who betrayed her.
This is from a debut author with an announced first print run of 75,000 copies. You don’t need to tell me twice whenever I hear a book is a retelling of a classic, and The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my top 10 all-time favorite books!
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins | Literary Fiction, Suspense/Thriller
UK release date is October 10
A masterful and propulsive novel that asks searing questions of ambition, power, gender, and perception, The Blue Hour recalls the very best of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Hawkins’s place among the very best of our most nuanced, powerful, and stylish storytellers.
This has an announced first print run of 250,000 copies. I’ve only read the author’s debut, The Girl on the Train «FULL REVIEW HERE from 2018» and also enjoyed the movie adaptation starring Emily Blunt. I honestly haven’t heard much about the author’s other works after, but I think I might try this one!
November
November 7
Boy from the Valleys by Luke Evans | Celebrity Memoir
UK only
Luke's story is a powerful tale of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of finding a sense of belonging and identity, but mostly (and hopefully) a story of inspiration.
I first saw Luke Evans on The Hobbit, but later found his Gaston memorable on the live-action The Beauty and the Beast. I’ve been loving celebrity memoirs in recent years, so when I saw this one I knew I’d have to check it out!
Also, I became a fan after seeing Luke Evans and Taron Egerton have a Welsh off!
I’m not seeing that it will be published in the US at this time, but if you are interested in a UK copy, I highly recommend Blackwell’s (shipping to US included in price) or Waterstones (signed edition available)!
November 12
Games Untold: An Inheritance Games novella collection by Jennifer Lynn Barnes | YA Mysteries & Detective Stories
I absolutely love The Inheritance Games series, including the OG trilogy and Brothers Hawthorne, and am also excited for the newest installment & the start of a new companion series, (released July 30!) The Grandest Game - I didn’t include it on here since it’s already apparent with the inclusion of Games Untold how excited I am about it!
This is a popular YA series so the announced first print run is 300,000 copies!
Because this is a collection of novellas and will likely contain spoilers, it is not a good entry point to the series.
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson | Fantasy, Romance
From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance
With an announced first print run of 250,000 copies for the limited stenciled edge edition, this is from another author with a huge following. I have read the first 2 books of The Remnant Chronicles, but have yet to check out the Dance of Thieves and Vow of Thieves.
Also, fae + romantasy, it’s hard to go wrong with that combination! I’m excited and I hope this lives up to the hype.
November 19
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami | Literary Fiction
translated from Japanese by Philip Gabriel
The long-awaited new novel from Haruki Murakami, his first in six years, revisits a Town his readers will remember, a place where a Dream Reader reviews dreams and where our shadows become untethered from our selves. A love story, a quest, an ode to books and to the libraries that house them, and a parable for these strange post-pandemic times, The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a singular and towering achievement by one of modern literature’s most important writers.
Here’s another author I seem to have been missing out on! I particularly have my eye on the Folio Society editions of Kafka on the Shore and Norwegian Wood! Maybe I’ll start with this brand new release…
The Serpent Sea by Maiya Ibrahim | YA Epic Fantasy
UK release date is November 21
Get swept away by the sequel to the instant Sunday Times bestseller Spice Road! In this romantic fantasy set in an Arabian-inspired land, Immani must use her magic to navigate the serpent sea—and her heart—to save her people from an invasion after the enchantment that once protected them has been shattered.
I probably will push this one off until winter, after reading Spice Road, a beautiful copy of which I received in the Jan 2023 YA Fairyloot box.
The UK publisher is Hodderscape | Hachette UK Group.
WHEW 😮💨 I did it! please forgive any typos/errors, I’m sure I made some.
Of course, we all know I can’t possibly get to all of this, but half the fun is looking through all the choices ☺️
for easy reference, here’s a free printable/PDF with all the titles I’ve mentioned!
I hope you had as much fun perusing as I did putting this together, and as always, I appreciate your time! This was a labor of love for books and you, my fellow readers 🤍
*AMAZON ASSOCIATES LINK
your turn…
what are some of your most anticipated titles this fall?
are any of the ones I listed on your list?
were there any titles that you added to your list after seeing it on this list?
have you read any of the featured authors’ previous works & what did you think? what would you recommend to me?
since I only featured frontlist titles, can you recommend any backlist titles perfect for fall reading?
what do you think about the new On the READar newsletter? any suggestions/recommendations? I’d love to hear your feedback!