Cozy reading season is upon us.
Fall is the perfect time to curl up with a good book. If you dread the end of daylight saving time or the temperature dropping, set your worries aside and step into a far-off fantasy world or an engrossing memoir.
There’s plenty to choose from, including a buzzy new memoir from Sylvester Stallone and a posthumous book of life lessons from Gloria Steinem. Or pick out one of this fall’s biggest fiction titles, which include a new Fourth Wing installment and new stories from “Lessons in Chemistry” author Bonnie Garmus and the world of Percy Jackson.
Whatever you’re craving, USA TODAY has recommendations to keep you turning the page.
What to read next: 15 new books to read now
Your next great book is here. These 15 new books span heart-wrenching literary fiction,
spooky mysteries and gripping memoirs, and they're all available at bookstores or libraries near you.
‘Fruit Fly’ by Josh Silver
"Fruit Fly" is a dark satire that will have you gasping, cringing, howling and biting your nails until the very end. It follows a washed-up author searching for a buzzy new topic to revive her career. She’s heard the hottest contemporary books are gay, sad and dark, so she bumbles her way through Grindr for inspiration. She hits the jackpot in Leo, a struggling addict, but how far will she go to co-opt his story and convince herself she’s the one who deserves to tell it?
‘Hollywood, Ending’ by John Green
Perhaps no novel captures the strangeness of this cultural moment like "Hollywood, Ending," which follows two young starlets as they film the movie that will change their lives forever. Green’s first novel for adults tackles the fame machine and privacy with heart and nuance, pulling from the author’s own experience with celebrity.
‘Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines’ by Sherry Turkle
From grief companions to AI for household tasks, Turkle’s "Artificial Intimacy" is an “urgent warning” about the humanistic traits we stand to lose when we stop talking to our loved ones in favor of computers. This book builds on decades of the author’s research and offers solutions for reclaiming humanity as the tech sector grows.
‘Taipei Story’ by R.F. Kuang
Kuang departs from her usual dark academia and fantasy for a more personal tale. "Taipei Story" follows a college student at a rigorous summer language intensive in Taipei, already struggling with coursework, cultural connection and campus gossip when her grandfather dies. It’s Kuang’s take on an “extremely flawed” character who has a lot of growing up to do.
‘Never Say Die’ by Ke Huy Quan
If you shed a tear every time you watch Quan’s Oscars acceptance speech, read the “unabridged version” in his memoir. In "Never Say Die," the actor opens up about fleeing Vietnam, starring in a blockbuster franchise just years later, his 20-year hiatus from acting and his triumphant return in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Quan’s memoir is brimming with hope, a message to follow your dreams no matter the setbacks along the way.
‘Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel’ by Lucy Foley
“The Guest List” writer Foley takes Agatha Christie’s beloved character Miss Marple on a ski holiday in "The Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel." This is the first full-length Marple novel in 50 years, and Foley delivers quirky characters, chilling murders and twists that keep you guessing.
‘Samantha: The Next Chapter’ by Fiona Davis
Whether you’re a fan of Davis or just miss playing with your American Girl dolls, "Samantha: The Next Chapter" has something for every historical fiction nerd. The first adult American Girl novel finds Samantha Parkington grown up and fighting through New York City streets to save her family’s inheritance from a scam.
‘Hungered’ by Amanda Rizkalla
by Amanda Rizkalla • Fiction • October 2026
About: A 12-year-old whose days are categorized by passing freeways and strip malls while her mom looks for a safe place to park for the night. She awaits the days her mom promised – her own bedroom, going back to school, seeing her friends.
Buzz: “Rizkalla compassionately tackles the difficult subject of families who live outside the margins, living unhoused, and makes us see not only their struggles, but their hopes, dreams, and the perseverance it takes to face another day."" id="92254756007">
Oprah Winfrey wasn’t lying when she called this debut novel “riveting.” "Hungered" is a gut-wrenching coming-of-age following 12-year-old Sofia as she, her mom and her brother move out of an abusive home and into their car. While her peers worry about homework, strict parents and crushes, Sofia must shoulder adult problems and find herself, even though “home” has no set definition.
‘Bad Words’ by Ríoghnach Robinson
In "Bad Words," Parker Navarro is still reeling from the bad review that turned his debut novel from literary darling to a thumbs-down think piece when the same critic reviews his second novel. As the pair feud publicly online, they also engage in a quieter, more private dialogue that challenges everything they assumed about each other.
‘Hollow Bones’ by Jodi Picoult
Fans of “My Sister’s Keeper” will be delighted by a character’s return in "Hollow Bones." The novel follows Molly Fitzgerald, who grew up without her mother after she disappeared on Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center. Now an adult, Molly turns her fear of disasters into a career working on emergency strategy in Rhode Island. She finds the love of her life: a police polygraph expert. Then, everything changes.
‘The Disappearers’ by Marlon James
"The Disappearers" is the aftermath of eight gay men in Jamaica in 1988 who are beaten – one of them killed – after a play rehearsal one night. Some choose to ignore it and move on, others seek payback and others disappear, but they all must confront a world reluctant to accept them.
‘Other Worlds Than These’ by Stephen King and Peter Straub
King ties up both “The Talisman” and “The Dark Tower” series in "Other Worlds Than These," the final collaboration between King and his friend Peter Straub, who died in 2022. Flipping between America and an alternate magical landscape, protagonist Jack must stop a gang of infected teenagers while also battling the Gullet, a mysterious force threatening to consume both worlds.
‘Once in a Timeline’ by Iman Hariri-Kia
New York City influencer Laia gets stuck in the last “day in my life” video she filmed, reliving her perfectly curated, aesthetic routine on a never-ending loop. Then she realizes she’s not alone: brooding, unfiltered Noah is Laia's complete opposite, but he’s also trapped in the same loop. Can they break this algorithm together?
‘You’re the One that I Haunt’ by Katie Jung
"You’re the One That I Haunt" is a fitting romance for spooky season. Libby is secretly in love with her best friend Carter, and he’s getting married to someone else. But even his bride-to-be doesn’t know about Carter’s family curse, and Libby is the only one he trusts to tell. If she wants to save him from the dark magic, she’ll need help from Carter’s cousin, a handsome ghost only she can see.
‘The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman’ by Deesha Philyaw
Scharisse Freeman has climbed the megachurch social ladder by marrying a much older pastor. She’s got book deals, a business empire and an invitation to the First Lady USA pageant. She’s on the cusp of finally being accepted by the other pastors’ wives – but only if she can survive one more scandal.
Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, covering buzzy releases, chatting with authors and diving into the culture of reading. Find heron Instagram, subscribe to our weeklyBooks newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at cmulroy@usatoday.com.
Contributing: Brian Truitt
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Need a new book? 15 new ones from 2026 you might have missed
