The 10 Most-Anticipated Fall Books To Cozy Up With This Autumn

Ghost Fish by Stuart Pennebaker

If you believed in reincarnation, what would you want to come back as? An eagle to soar above the treetops? A dog to enjoy the comforts of companionship?

Whatever your answer, you might not be thinking "goldfish." But in Ghost Fish, that's what happens to the younger sister of the main character, Alison.

At just 23 years old, Alison lost her little sister after she drowned at sea, and has been grieving the loss in her tiny New York City apartment ever since. But one night, she turns the corner in her house and spots a ghost that resembles a gold fish.

Alison immediately believes the ghost fish is her sister, who has returned to her, and starts bringing the ghost fish in a pickle jar wherever she goes. She feels called to keep her sister safe, something she failed to do in the past.

"But as Alison’s new life in New York begins to grow, and as she navigates the murky waters of dating, friendship, and desire, she must ask: what if her sister is keeping her away from a life outwardly lived?" the synopsis asks.

Ghost Fish was recently released on August 5 and can be found at a bookstore near you.

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (August 26, 2025)

If fantasy and dark academia are two mainstay genres on your reading list, then you absolutely must check out Katabasis.

It follows Alice Law, a graduate student who wants to become renowned in the field of Magick. That's why she has dedicated all of her energy to attending Cambridge and working with Professor Jacob Grimes, who's famous for being the best magician in the world.

However, the professor winds up dying and going to Hell due to a magical incident that might be Alice's doing. That's what sets her and a male rival, Peter Murdock, on a dangerous quest.

"Grimes is now in Hell, and she's going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands, and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams," the synopsis reads.

This twisty, world-bending novel is set to debut on August 26.

Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian (August 12, 2025)

Seduction Theory is arguably as messy as it gets, chronicling two married professors who get caught up in infidelity.

Spouses Simone and Ethan both work at Edwards University. She's a Woolf scholar and "campus sex icon," meanwhile, he's a somewhat forgotten lecturer in the same creative writing department. And their marriage is rattled when Ethan winds up sleeping with an administrative assistant named Abigail.

But Simone isn't innocent, either, and starts getting close to her graduate student, Roberta "Robbie" Green. And little does Simone know that Robbie is planning to use her marriage as inspiration for an explosive thesis.

"Determined to tell her version of the story, Robbie paints a revealing portrait of Simone, Ethan, Abigail, and even herself, scratching at the very surface of what may–or may not–be the truth," per the synopsis.

If you're already dying to dig into this train wreck, keep your eyes peeled for the release of Seduction Theory on August 12.

I Know This This Ends by Holly Smale (August 12, 2025)

If you loved Holly Smale’s Cassandra in Reverse, you’ll fall deeper for her latest. I Know How This Ends is funny, clever, and powered by a protagonist you can’t help but root for — maybe even more than Cassandra herself.

Margot Wayward’s life is chaotic in the best way. Reeling from a breakup and gleefully torching her own carefully built life, she’s messy, self-destructive, and utterly likeable. Smale writes her with such wit and charm that you’ll happily follow Margot into disaster after disaster. Then, just when you think things couldn’t get more unhinged, Margot starts having visions of her future — and every one of them comes true.

That twist turns the book into more than just a rom-com. It’s a story about fate, choice, and what it really means to live in the moment when you already know what’s coming next. And while single dad Henry is an irresistible addition, it’s Margot’s voice — sharp, hilarious, and vulnerable — that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (September 9, 2025)

Dan Brown is returning with another Robert Langdon tale this fall. In The Secret of Secrets, the symbology professor finds himself venturing to Prague to hear a lecture by his partner and noetic scientist, Katherina Solomon.

She's gearing up to publish a revolutionary book containing new findings about human consciousness, which will turn long-held beliefs on their heads. But then, Katherine and her manuscript go missing, and Robert starts getting hunted by something from Prague's ancient myth.

"As the plot expands into London and New York, Langdon desperately searches for Katherina...and for answers. In a thrilling race through the dual worlds of futuristic science and mystical lore, he uncovers a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind," per the synopsis.

The Secret of Secrets, which marks novel number six in the Robert Langdon series, will be released on September 9.

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (September 16, 2025)

Mother-daughter duo Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham worked together to create this nuanced novel about a New England boarding school (and the drama that overtakes its students).

The boarding school, known as Tiffin Academy, has a higher reputation for its social life than its academic prowess. Yet, it shockingly climbs national rankings and becomes the second-best boarding school in the country, according to America Today, right before move-in day.

Of course, though, the high doesn't last. Soon, a new app named ZipZap starts delivering "blind items" to students' cellphones, and it becomes clear that all peers, no matter their backgrounds, have secrets they want to hide.

"As the year unfolds, bonds are forged and broken, secrets are shared and exposed, and the lives of Tiffin's students and staff are changed forever," the synopsis reads.

You can get your hands on The Academy following its release on September 16.

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard (September 30, 2025)

Calling all fans of the roommates-to-lovers trope: this contemporary romance novel is for you. It follows June Wood, who previously lived in a Manhattan brownstone with her ex-best friend, Adam Harper. Then, five years later, she receives an email about their former unit and a pretty amazing opportunity.

"It turns out that, thanks to an unbelievable legal loophole, if she and Adam can live together in the stunning West Village brownstone for a month, it's theirs," the synopsis reveals.

The only issue? There's unfinished business between June and Adam, and as they try to move forward together again, they're forced to confront their deepest, unresolved feelings.

Mark your calendar, because It's Different This Time will be released on September 30.

The Intruder by Freida McFadden (October 7, 2025)

This new thriller centers on a woman named Casey, who dwells in a wilderness cabin that can't really hold up to the wrath of Mother Nature. But that's honestly the least of her worries–because one night, she finds a young girl covered in blood outside her kitchen window.

The girl, who also happens to be holding a knife, won't let go of the weapon or open up about what led her there. Then, the plot thickens even more when Casey makes one more shocking revelation in the dead of night.

"The girl has a dark secret. One she'll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning," per the synopsis.

The Intruder is set to hit bookshelves on October 7, 2025.

Bog Queen by Anna North (October 14, 2025)

A strange discovery kicks off the plot in Bog Queen, a new novel that blends mystery with historical fiction. After a body is found in an English bog, a forensic anthropologist named Agnes is brought in to investigate. Yet, the case is unlike anything she's ever encountered before because the body, which belonged to an Iron Age woman, is practically entirely preserved, despite being buried over 2,000 years ago.

This sets Agnes on a mission to avenge the woman's death while fighting against peat-cutters and activists, who all have their own agendas, as well as the bog itself.

"As Agnes faces the deep history of what she has unearthed, she is also forced to question what she thought she knew about her talent, her self-reliance, and her place in the world," the synopsis reads.

Bog Queen is expected to be published later this fall on October 14.

The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee (October 21, 2025)

The late Harper Lee is an iconic American novelist best known for To Kill a Mockingbird. Now, fans of the author can look forward to The Land of Sweet Forever, which will blend short fiction from her early days with nonfiction from her later life.

This brand-new collection, which features an introduction by Harper Lee's biographer, Casey Cep, will span decades and locations, from schoolyards in Alabama to midcentury movie houses in New York City.

"The Land of Sweet Forever invites still-vital conversations about politics, equality, travel, love, fiction, art, the American South, and what it means to lead an engaged and creative life," per the synopsis.

This latest work is expected to debut on October 21.