As the leaves fall and the nights grow longer, October delivers a bumper crop of chilling thrillers, magical mysteries, heartwarming romances, and speculative tales perfect for curling up with. This week’s releases (hitting shelves on October 7th) offer something for every kind of reader.
From Freida McFadden’s cabin-in-the-woods thriller to Stephanie Garber’s dark academic fantasy, here’s your guide to the books you need to add to your fall TBR.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Thanks for supporting my book-loving habits!
Intruder by Freida McFadden
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
If you're craving a taut, edge-of-your-seat survival story with serious stormy-night energy, Intruder is the read for you. In a remote cabin, Casey’s peaceful retreat is shattered when she finds a blood-covered girl with a knife outside her window, and that’s just the beginning. With a hurricane raging, secrets unravel, and trust becomes a matter of life or death.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Isolated setting with Agatha Christie vibes
- High-stakes suspense and jaw-dropping reveals
- Unreliable characters you can’t stop watching
Perfect for fans of The Last House Guest or The Guest List—and anyone who thinks “just one more chapter” at 11PM is a good idea.
Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Ali Hazelwood, queen of STEM-based romance, returns with a high-stakes paranormal love story that expands the universe of Bride. Serena, a rare Human-Were hybrid, must seek protection from the powerful (and brooding) Alpha Koen Alexander. But politics, secrets, and the shadow of her past threaten to rip them apart before they can even come together!
We all know if Ali Hazelwood writes it I will read it!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Werewolves, Vampyres, and hybrids, oh my!
- Hazelwood’s trademark emotional tension and sassy banter
- A heroine worth rooting for in a world that's stacked against her
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Genre: Dark Academia Fantasy
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Magic is real and dangerously unpredictable in this addictive tale of folklore and fate. When Holland enrolls in a mythology class and meets the mysterious Watch Man, she learns she has 24 hours to live unless she can find the elusive Alchemical Heart. With a strange ally and a city full of secrets, she races against time to save herself and uncover the truth. I am a huge Stephanie Garber fan so I am so excited to read this one!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Urban fantasy with lush, cinematic world-building
- A strong, curious female lead
- If you love Ninth House or The Atlas Six, this one’s for you
The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder by Kiri Callaghan
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Mystery
Publisher: Angry Robot
Imagine being sentenced to 500 years of nightmares… and then asked to solve a crime to earn your freedom. That’s the setup for Avery Hemlock, an awkward changeling trying to adjust to the modern world while solving magical murders. She teams up with Saga, the struggling witch next door, and the result is part mystery, part heartfelt friendship, all wrapped in Fey mischief.
This one is perfect for your fall TBR!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- A found-family dynamic with LGBTQ+ rep
- Cozy magic meets high-stakes danger
- A must-read for fans of Legends & Lattes
Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Librarian Ingrid’s happily-ever-after gets complicated when a month-long “break” from her longtime boyfriend introduces real feelings for her grumpy coworker, Macon. Full of bookish vibes, slow-burn tension, and just the right amount of awkward longing, Overdue is a cozy romance about second chances and finding out what and who you really want.
I love a small town librarian romance and this one did not dissapoint!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Small-town setting and relatable adulting feels
- A cinnamon roll love interest hiding behind a scowl
- For fans of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez
The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller
Genre: Feminist Fantasy
Publisher: William Morrow
Three powerful women. One haunted hill. And a legacy of witches rising to reclaim their magic and confront the patriarchy. In The Women of Wild Hill, Kirsten Miller weaves multigenerational storytelling with feminist rage and magical realism in a tale that’s fierce, funny, and just spooky enough for fall.
This is such a perfect October release!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Intergenerational witchy goodness
- Magic with teeth
- Family drama and sisterhood
- Like The Change meets Practical Magic
Twice by Mitch Albom
Genre: Literary Fiction / Magical Realism
Publisher: Harper
What if you could undo any moment of your life… but only once? That’s the curse/gift Alfie Logan carries in Mitch Albom’s new novel. From youthful mistakes to romantic regrets, Alfie’s do-overs come at a heartbreaking cost. Beautiful, philosophical, and utterly moving, Twice is a story about love, temptation, and learning to live with our choices.
I recently read The Stranger In The Life Boat and I really enjoyed it so I am looking forward to trying this!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Thought-provoking premise
- Emotional storytelling that hits deep
- A perfect pick for fans of The Midnight Library
The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski
Genre: Witchy Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
The magical Quigley sisters are back! After forging their paths in the outside world, they reunite at the Crescent Moon Tearoom just as fate begins to unravel. With the help of a charming necromancer (of course), they must preserve their city’s magical future and maybe mend their own lives in the process.
I love a cozy witchy story!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Cozy witchcore setting with warm fall vibes
- Sisters + magic + fate + a little romance
- A follow-up fans of The Crescent Moon Tearoom will adore
Heartsick by Kristina Forest
Genre: YA Romance / Sci-Fi Twist
Publisher: Kokila
In this high-concept romance, a heartbroken teen working at a clinic that “erases heartbreak” must decide if she’s ready to forget her first love or fight to heal together. Heart Sick offers emotional depth, playful banter, and a plot full of twisty ethical dilemmas (with a side of corporate conspiracy).
This one sounds so good!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Clean, swoony YA with a sci-fi edge
- Dual POVs with strong voices
- Fans of They Both Die at the End will eat this up
Yours for the Season by Emily Stone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Publisher: Dell
It’s never too early to start your holiday TBR! In this cozy fake-dating romcom, a single mom enlists a handsome stranger to be her plus-one for a Christmas wedding. It’s supposed to be fake until it’s not. With snowy Scottish settings and all the warm fuzzies, this one’s perfect for fans of The Holiday or One Day in December.
You know I am always down for a holiday read!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Fake dating + holiday magic + grumpy/sunshine pairing
- Found family and second chances
- Just the right amount of swoon
Snow-Kissed by ReAnne Thayne
Genre: Second-Chance Holiday Romance
Publisher: Boldwood Books
A revenge-fueled fake dating setup becomes an emotional rediscovery of real love in this wintry romance. Melanie agrees to play along as her ex’s girlfriend to help him save face on the condition that she gets to dump him again in front of his family. But as sparks fly in the Scottish Highlands, will old wounds finally heal?
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Bitterness, banter, and believable chemistry
- Cozy Highlands setting
- A smart holiday romcom with heart
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re in the mood for atmospheric thrillers, magical mysteries, bookish slow-burns, or swoony second chances, October 7th is delivering an epic release day!
Which of these are going straight to your TBR? Share this post with your friends who need a good bookrec!
