As the brisk autumn air rolls in and the leaves begin to fall in rustic hues, there’s no better time to indulge in a good read.
Happily, many of our favorite authors have new books that just dropped — from YA superstar John Green to more from the Big Little Lies crew, courtesy of Liane Moriarty.
Get cozy, grab yourself a cup of cider and settle in under the comforting weight of a chunky cable-knit blanket and check out one of the season’s most highly anticipated books. Thriller fans, rom-com lovers, memoir enthusiasts and One Direction superfans will all find something to enjoy in our lovingly curated list of new fall 2026 books.
Scroll on for the full list:
Hollywood, Ending
YA maestro John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) is back with his adult fiction debut: a feelings-forward winner that follows Kai and Juniper, two actors on the cusp of fame about to share the screen in an Andy Warhol biopic. The book is a love story but also an interrogation of modern stardom, art and the struggle to be real in a social media-fueled world of artifice and performance. Come for the Hollywood intel, stay for the breathtaking passages.
Bad Words
If you’re looking for a fresh enemies-to-lovers tale, Ríoghnach Robinson’s sharp romance (out October 6) — following an author and the scathing book critic who despises his work — is consistently surprising and thoughtful, with a slow-burn relationship that feels earned and true. The novel is a lovely look at passionate, fumbling people and the ways we hurt and discover each other without really trying.
Big Little Truths
Come on, we had to know what happened next! Ten years after the events of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies, this sequel finds the kids, now in high school, dealing with their own drama. Meanwhile, when a mysterious stranger appears, Celeste, Madeline and the rest of our favorite moms face the repercussions of the secrets they haven’t yet shared with those kids. Reese Witherspoon recently confirmed that season 3 of Big Little Lies, based on this book, is in the works. Bring it on!
Thank You for Remembering
What if you woke up one day with no memory of the past year? That’s the goofy hook for Emily Harding’s tender romance, which reminds readers that it’s never too late to change your life. Marnie can’t figure out how she wound up in the hospital, so when she’s back home — in a Boston apartment she doesn’t remember — she and her friendly, mysterious neighbor (of course) embark on a quest for her past. Will she like who and what she discovers?
The Amateur
This off-kilter literary legal thriller follows Mira, a teen golf prodigy whose stray ball kills a classmate. Accident? Murder? The 1970s-set page-turner from hitmaker Chris Bohjalian (The Flight Attendant) zooms way out to examine thorny questions of reputation and blame, following Mira and a host of others far into the future. It’s set up like a memoir Mira writes years later — to say more would spoil things — and readers will not be able to put this twisty tale down until the very last page.
October might be the perfect month to pick up a cozy — or terrifying — mystery, but authors have spooky-themed books lined up for the rest of the year (and in early 2026). Reese Witherspoon, for one, partnered with twisty thriller author Harlan Coben for Gone Before Goodbye, which made her a New York Times […]
Daphne & Me
Calling all Frasier fans! This memoir (out October 20) from Jane Leeves serves up plenty of behind-the-scenes dish about playing Daphne on the long-running comedy, including favorite episodes, guest stars and more. Cowritten with her daughter, Isabella Kathryn Coben, the book also explores Leeves’ life before and away from the cameras, and the surprising ways Daphne changed her and her family. A must for anyone who loves tossed salad and scrambled eggs!
A Whole Lotta History
This biography of One Direction (out November 3) dives deep on the music and the phenomenon, from their origin story on X Factor to their massive worldwide tours and chart-topping albums. (“Night Changes” devotees, this one is for you!) Speaking with their collaborators, Billboard editor Jason Lipshutz also tackles their enduring relationship with fans, who remain devoted to the now-defunct boy band. That’s what makes them beautiful.
