30 Must-Read Books for This Fall

Peak publishing season is upon us. This fall offers a rich collection of books from prominent authors like Danzy Senna, Rachel Kushner, Sally Rooney, Michael Connelly, and Richard Price, along with newcomers Kay Chronister and Weike Wang. Readers can expect an array of novels that mark the end of beloved franchises and returns to familiar worlds. Our must-reads also include biographies on writers Dorothy Parker and Sanora Babb and raw memoirs from Annie Ernaux and Sarah Moss. From explorations of race to examinations of right-wing sheriffs’ crusades, there’s something for everyone.

SEPT. 3

USC professor Senna follows up her previous successes with a hilarious Los Angeles-based novel. It follows Jane, a biracial novelist seeking stability by working on a TV series with an old college friend. Senna’s wry observations about writing, Hollywood, and her existence as a mixed-race woman make this novel a tour de force.

Rachel Kushner’s fourth novel, a Booker Prize finalist, is a literary take on the spy genre. It’s narrated by Sadie, an agent infiltrating a French group of environmentalists determined to undermine a national reservoir project. Devious schemes and assassination plans feature prominently in a narrative rich with riffs on human evolution and mob mentality.

“The Fallen Fruit” blends historical fiction and gripping fantasy. Set in 1964, it follows Cecily Bridge-Davis, who discovers that her ancestors have been “falling” into the past, revealing a tangled and poisoned family tree.

“Guide Me Home” completes Attica Locke’s Highway 59 trilogy with Texas Ranger Darren Mathews. Locke wraps up the series with authenticity and wisdom, as Mathews grapples with the clash between his race and his official duties. A personal quest involving his estranged mother and a missing Black sorority girl leads him into a deep web of local corruption.

SEPT. 10

Icelandic crime writer Jónasson offers a standalone mystery tied intriguingly to his bestselling Hulda trilogy. Helgi Reykdal, a criminology graduate student, investigates two unsolved deaths from 1983 at a former tuberculosis sanatorium, linking it to the 1950 TB epidemic.

Fans of Elizabeth Strout rejoice; Lucy Barton is back, alongside familiar characters like her ex-husband William and Bob Burgess. This time, the narrative explores the characters’ stories and their mistakes.

SEPT. 24

Sally Rooney’s new book, “Intermezzo,” shifts from romance to family dynamics. It centers on two brothers, Peter and Ivan, grappling with their father’s death.

Richard Powers’ latest novel, “Playground,” does for oceans what his Pulitzer-winning “The Overstory” did for forests. Set on a French Polynesian island, it features scholars, entrepreneurs, and oceanographers in a multifaceted narrative.

OCT. 1

This debut novel set in Appalachia centers on a family’s cranberry bog and its significance across generations. Wenna, one of the Haddesley daughters, challenges the family’s secrets as they come to light.

In 1934 New Brunswick, a newborn girl and a foundling bear cub grow up together. When the bear is taken, Pearly ventures into the wilderness to claim him back, facing human evil and a harsh landscape.

OCT. 8

From the “The Puzzle Master” universe, Mike Brink goes to Tokyo to open the deadly Dragon Box, a quest that involves a disgraced samurai clan and an imperial secret. It’s an action-packed adventure with puzzles woven into the plot.

OCT. 15

Chilean novelist Zerán’s riveting novel narrates an interrogation by Estela. Suspected after the young girl in her care dies, Estela challenges detectives to follow her trail of secrets.

Detective Renée Ballard of Los Angeles tackles a 20-year-old cold case with a new volunteer team, including Maddie Bosch, who brings an additional layer by reopening the city’s most infamous unsolved murder.

OCT. 22

In “Seeing Further,” Kinsky offers a cinematic exploration through a character intent on reviving a dilapidated movie theater in Hungary, blending her unique narrative style with vivid place descriptions.

OCT. 29

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns in a thriller that begins with a phone call and expands to a break-in, murder, and political intrigue, balancing the idyllic village life with complex suspense.

NOV. 12

Richard Price’s “Lazarus Man” marks his return with a tale about working-class New Yorkers. A collapsed apartment building in Harlem leads to a plot involving missing residents, activists, and one man’s surprising survival.

NOV. 19

This darkly comic novel by an International Booker Prize winner is set in a post-seismic event world. The protagonist seeks her missing roommate, navigating a chaotic city and encountering destabilizing ideologues.

First published in 1982, DeLynn’s coming-of-age tale, “In Thrall,” about a 16-year-old girl’s lesbian longing, returns with a new introduction. It’s a poignant addition to the fall’s TBR list.

NOV. 26

Don’t miss this young adult thriller where a high schooler wins an internship at the Veda Foundation. She enters a high-stakes game with unexpected dangers.

DEC. 3

Wang’s latest book follows Keru and Nate over two vacations, examining the evolution of their partnership through sharp detail and gentle humor.

NONFICTION

SEPT. 17

Pishko examines constitutional sheriffs’ ties to far-right militias and toxic masculinity, offering a compelling narrative on rural resentment and the empowerment of sheriffs as ultimate legal arbiters.

Ugrešić’s posthumous book, based on extended interviews, serves as an introduction to her sensibilities and career, marked by exile and her fight against misogyny.

SEPT. 24

Combining history and true crime, Thompson’s book about Emmett Till’s murder dives into family trees, court records, and witness accounts, highlighting the enduring human tragedy of hate.

OCT. 1

Annie Ernaux’s new book chronicles her love affair during cancer treatment, offering an intense exploration of order amidst chaos through photographs and writing.

OCT. 15

Gail Crowther delves into Dorothy Parker’s ambivalent relationship with Hollywood, examining her work, failed romances, and activism through a humane lens.

Sanora Babb’s biography reveals her as a brilliant and enterprising author, overshadowed by John Steinbeck’s usage of her research for “The Grapes of Wrath.”

OCT. 22

Sarah Moss’s memoir on her adolescent eating disorder weaves a stunning narrative of control and healing, marked by a wolf spirit guide.

NOV. 12

Anolik’s dual biography of Eve Babitz and Joan Didion explores their friendship and iconic differences, offering fresh insights into both writers.

NOV. 26

Tove Jansson’s travel chronicle “Sun City” offers humorous and poignant observations on American retirement homes.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Source: Los Angeles Times