Notable Book Releases for October 2026

Farrar, Straus and Giroux presents 'The Names of the New World' by Kawai Strong Washburn, releasing on October 6. The novel features a climate disaster as a superstorm devastates Minneapolis, bringing together a lawyer/MMA fighter, an investment banker, and a mechanic as they confront corporate greed.

William Morrow will release 'The Occidental Book of the Dead' by T. Geronimo Johnson on the same day. This crime novel centers on George Washington Jonson, a Black cop whose life starts to unravel after a violent encounter with a teenager in an affluent suburb, exploring themes of race and trauma.

Also on October 6, Harper releases 'Partita' by Barbara Kingsolver, which follows Livia Cable as she revisits a pivotal past romantic relationship when contacted by an old lover.

Sophie Robinson's 'Prairie Oyster,' coming on October 6 from University of Iowa Press, explores themes of obsession and addiction through the story of a filmmaker navigating her complex relationships and career.

Anna Dorn's 'Vagablonde,' set to be rereleased by Simon & Schuster on October 6, follows Prue, a lawyer with dreams of being a rap artist, as her ambitions clash with her current life.

Jon Fosse’s 'Vaim Hotel,' translated from Norwegian and due on October 6 from Transit Books, tells the story of a man's strange experience at a remote hotel where he finds himself stuck.

On October 13, 'Her Kind' by Sophie Lefens, published by Mariner, presents a woman's weekend with friends to consider who might care for her son should she pass away, touching on friendship and motherhood.

'Passengers' by Alexander Maksik, releases on October 13 from Europa Editions. This National Book Award longlisted novel details the journey of a father and daughter trapped at LAX, rediscovering their relationship amidst underlying tensions.

Bonnie Garmus’s 'Peck & Peck,' due October 13 from SCRIBNER, centers on a recent poetry grad navigating a chaotic environment at a prestigious literary journal.

Róisín Tapponi's debut, 'Scene City,' launches on October 13 via Verso, featuring a young art history student immersing herself in London's art scene.

Will Maclean’s 'Solace House' will also be released on October 13 from Grove Press; it combines dark academia with horror as university students explore a Victorian mansion filled with mysteries.

James Elkins’ third volume of Five Strange Languages, 'Stories, Like Illnesses,' arrives on October 20 from The Unnamed Press, focusing on the biologist Samuel Emmer.

Chad Harbach's 'The Brightness,' a long-awaited follow-up to 'The Art of Fielding,' will be published on October 27 by LITTLE, BROWN, capturing the essence of being in your 20s.

Jane Schoenbrun’s 'Public Access Afterworld,' also out on October 27 from Hogarth, explores themes of obsession and media through a speculative horror lens.

In poetry, Kimberly Blaeser's 'Red Ants' launches on October 6 from Counterpoint, offering intimate stories rooted in Indigenous culture.

Esther Yi’s 'To God,' a collection of short stories, will be released on October 13 by Astra House, while Mary Jo Salter's 'Cameo Appearance,' filled with warmth and humor, is due on October 6 from Knopf.

Nonfiction titles include Franny Choi's essay collection 'We Radiant Things' on October 6 from Ecco, and Laura Fernández’s 'There's a Monster in the Lake,' also out on October 6, which examines the Loch Ness myth.

Zaina Arafat’s 'Our Arab,' set for release on October 20, describes what it means to be Palestinian today, and A24 will publish 'The Encyclopedia of Movie Cats' on October 26, celebrating felines in film.