As the autumn air rolls in and the days grow crisper, readers everywhere are eager to revamp their "To Be Read" (TBR) lists with compelling new releases and timeless seasonal favorites. Recently, a team of editors gathered to share the standout titles that consumed their reading hours over the past month, revealing a surprisingly cohesive thematic undercurrent across their collective nightstands. Rather than a random assortment of genres, nearly half of the editorial team’s selections focused on complex women either slowly coming undone under the weight of their circumstances or deliberately blowing their lives up to start anew.
From historical dramas and sharp contemporary fiction to eerie gothic short stories and thought-provoking memoirs, the September reading list captured a wide spectrum of the human experience. Alongside tales of personal reinvention, the editors also ventured into speculative fiction, middle-grade graphic novels, historical witchcraft, and even interactive children’s books for the theater lovers of tomorrow. Here is a comprehensive look at everything the editorial team read, analyzed, and loved for the early fall season.
Mixed Signals by Sara Amini
For readers who fell in love with Sara in Mixed Feelings, the upcoming sequel, Mixed Signals, delivers an even messier and more relatable middle-school experience. Set to release on October 6, the graphic novel follows Sara as she officially steps into her teenage years, attempting to navigate the delicate balancing act of drama club, volleyball, a burgeoning crush, and a mother who interprets these milestones as a call for increased responsibility. Senior Editor Katie Garrity notes that the dual timeline of trying to straddle childhood and young adulthood is captured so perfectly that anyone who survived middle school will find themselves reading through their fingers. It stands out as an ideal fall graphic novel recommendation for middle-grade readers and tweens.
The Betrayal of Cora Wexford by Bethany Joy Lenz
Following her critically discussed memoir, Dinner for Vampires, actress and author Bethany Joy Lenz returns with her latest work of fiction, The Betrayal of Cora Wexford, scheduled for release on October 20. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of 1880s London while the Whitechapel murders of Jack the Ripper unfold, the novel follows an American expatriate who makes her living painting the dead. When she meets a charming new man, a psychological dismantling unfolds that echoes the themes of emotional entrapment explored in Lenz’s memoir. Deputy Editor Julie Sprankles praises the novel’s strong feminist foundation, vivid Victorian setting, and the meticulous build-up to a genuinely shocking twist that creates an immersive, unforgettable world.
Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor
For those drawn to flawed protagonists who make questionable choices, Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor offers a cringeworthy yet deeply relatable narrative. The story centers on Caroline, a television writer who inadvertently glimpses confidential patient notes left on her therapist husband’s desk. When she impulsively pitches a show based directly on those private notes, her life spirals rapidly out of control. Associate Editor Katie McPherson highlights the book’s ability to elicit genuine groans of secondhand embarrassment from readers who will repeatedly ask themselves how the protagonist could possibly make such choices.
Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich
For readers seeking a subtle, gothic horror experience tailored for the spooky season, Emily Ruskovich’s Nightjar delivers a powerful punch through a collection of five interconnected short stories. Deputy Editor Sarah Aswell compares the collection to a feminist-forward version of The Twilight Zone, noting its creepy, atmospheric rural settings in the Pacific Northwest, complex female characters, and an underlying sense of uncanny disorientation that keeps readers completely absorbed from start to finish.
If Not You by Ellen O’Clover
Already earning high praise as a Book of the Month pick and a Kirkus-starred novel, Ellen O’Clover’s If Not You brings a scorching rivals-to-lovers romance to the forefront. The story pairs two Chicago advertising copywriters with five years of contentious history who find themselves forced together on a month-long business trip. Katie Garrity points to the novel’s sharp banter, scorching slow-burn tension, and early reader comparisons to hit romances like The Hating Game as proof that this is a must-read contemporary romance for the season.
Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine
Diving deeper into historical fiction and ghost stories, Erin Crosby Eckstine’s debut novel Junie explores the harrowing realities of slavery through a supernatural lens. The narrative follows Junie, an enslaved girl working on a plantation who navigates a life stripped of freedom. Following the tragic death of her sister, who reappears as a ghost visible only to Junie, the young protagonist must decipher a lingering message. Sarah Aswell highlights the book as a gripping historical fiction debut that addresses the complex horrors of slavery with nuance and emotional resonance.
A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London, Madeline Martin presents A Time of Witches, a dual-timeline historical fiction novel that connects a modern woman in Savannah discovering strange gifts after her mother’s death to a 17th-century widow in Suffolk accused of witchcraft simply for being educated and independent. Katie Garrity emphasizes that the atmospheric and spellbinding narrative is tailor-made for reading under a blanket as autumn weather sets in.
All Fours by Miranda July
Miranda July’s acclaimed novel All Fours explores midlife, motherhood, perimenopause, and monogamy through the eyes of a nameless protagonist who feels creatively stifled in her marriage. Hoping a cross-country road trip to New York will provide clarity, she instead pulls her car over at a motel just 30 minutes from home to spend two weeks indulging her every whim. Katie McPherson describes the book as wildly unpredictable, painfully accurate, and hilarious, noting its masterclass prose exploring female autonomy and midlife liberation.
Land by Maggie O’Farrell
Set in post-Famine Ireland, Maggie O’Farrell’s Land chronicles a struggling family whose survival takes a dramatic turn upon the discovery of a mysterious spring in the woods. Sarah Aswell praises the novel as historical fiction at its finest, driven by gorgeous prose and profound commentary on colonialism, family dynamics, and humanity’s deep connection to the natural world.
How to Be Less Useful: The Joy of Inefficiency by Priyanka Mattoo
Serving as a practical counterweight to tales of dramatic life-upending, Priyanka Mattoo’s accessible memoir How to Be Less Useful: The Joy of Inefficiency arrives on November 3. Katie McPherson recommends the book as a grounded, honest account by a wife and mother who chose not to escape or demolish her life, but rather to abandon modern life-optimizing pressures in favor of nurturing personal joy.
Sky Full Of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
Offering a chilling speculative premise, Cebo Campbell’s Sky Full Of Elephants imagines a world where every white person suddenly walks into the nearest body of water and drowns, leaving societal power structures to collapse. The narrative follows Charlie, a man newly released from prison as correctional facilities shut down, and his estranged daughter, Sidney, as they navigate an uncertain future together. Sarah Aswell hails it as the standout science fiction read of the year.
The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Bringing a definitive close to Alice Hoffman’s beloved Practical Magic series, The Book of Magic unites generations of the Owens family to face a final reckoning with their generational curse. Julie Sprankles notes that while the book is not an entry point for newcomers, it functions as a deeply satisfying narrative payoff that ties together every loose thread from the previous installments just in time for cinematic adaptations.
Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell
Rainbow Rowell’s contemporary romance Cherry Baby focuses on a woman undergoing a painful divorce who unexpectedly reconnects with a long-admired old friend. Sarah Aswell highlights the novel’s refreshing handling of complex body image issues and real-world relationship hurdles, offering a grounded alternative to more idealized romance tropes.
The Road To Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
Annie Hartnett’s dark comedy follows a cantankerous older man who accidentally becomes the guardian of two children and embarks on a chaotic road trip to locate a future wife who is entirely unaware of his intentions—all while traveling alongside a cat capable of predicting death. Sarah Aswell praises the novel for its quirky characters, gallows humor, and profound exploration of the human condition.
Summer by Edith Wharton
Rediscovering a classic, Edith Wharton’s 1917 novella Summer captures the coming-of-age journey of Charity, an adopted, repressed young woman navigating a stifling New England town and her first experiences with romantic love. Sarah Aswell points out how remarkably modern the short, powerful narrative feels, showcasing Wharton’s timeless foresight regarding female independence and emotional self-discovery.
Welcome to Broadway by Carolyn Sloan and Arief Putra
Rounding out the seasonal recommendations for younger readers, Welcome to Broadway is an interactive sound-button picture book designed for children ages four and up. Featuring twelve buttons that play iconic Broadway show tunes performed by Tony Award-winning stars, the book guides young readers through New York City’s theater district via three pigeon guides, offering an exciting introduction to the magic of musical theater for the next generation of fans.