Our Most Anticipated Fall 2024 Book Releases

Some stellar books are coming our way, and with fall right around the corner we couldn't be more excited about these upcoming reads. All we can think about is cuddling up with a new book as we watch the seasons change, the leaves fall, and the autumn air cool us off after a balmy summer. Some of these upcoming releases offer a seasonally-appropriate spooky vibe, like "The Last One at the Wedding" by Jason Rekulak, whereas others are globally anticipated thanks to the sheer clout of the author, like Sally Rooney's "Intermezzo."

2024 has been a great year for books. May 2024 was inundated with incredible new publications like Kathleen Hanna's memoir "Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk." June 2024 was equally stellar, with new releases like Julia Phillips's "Bear" and the hilarious "Margo's Got Money Troubles" by Rufi Thorpe. As the year winds down, we're closing strong with some major names in the literary world, like Louise Erdrich, and her highly anticipated "The Mighty Red." Narrowing down the list of pending publications was no small feat, but we've listed our top five upcoming books and included a methodology to explain why these particular books made our autumn list. So charge up that Kindle, renew that library card, or get ready to visit your local bookseller. However you get your books, you're in for a treat this fall. 

If you're in the mood for horror, Kay Chronister's "The Bog Wife" is certain to please. Excitedly discussed on "Books Are Magic's" Most Anticipated Books of 2024, this novel has already gotten a lot of hype. With an expected publication date set for October 1, 2024, this Gothic family tale will give you the spooky story you've been waiting for all year. Set in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, the novel centers around the Haddesley family and their cranberry bog. Weaving in elements of the paranormal, Chronister gives us the long history of the family and their dark relationship with the land, complete with family secrets laid bare, and complicated sibling dynamics. It's full of tales of family sacrifices, a missing mother, and deadly rituals. 

Even before its release, "The Bog Wife" has earned over 4.35 stars on GoodReads, with early reviewers generously dolling out 4- and 5-star ratings. "Atmospheric, gothic, and totally immersive, this book sent me into a frenzied obsession with bogs, easily the coolest of the four wetlands," one reviewer wrote. Reviewers continually called the book weird, noting that it was unlike anything else they'd read, and loved the bizarre story. "What an absolutely splendidly strange book," another reviewer began. "I had no idea what I was in for when first starting this book, but I enjoyed the folk horror vibes." This novel certainly fits our atmospheric goals for fall. 

It's no surprise that American author Louise Erdrich made several lists for most anticipated book releases in 2024. In fact, "The Mighty Red," slated to hit shelves on October 1, 2024, made it on Publisher's Weekly's Fall 2024 Preview list. An Erdrich publication is a big deal in the literary community. After all, Erdrich is a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, so the hype is intense. Set in Argus, North Dakota, near the Red River, "The Mighty Red" centers around a troubling wedding, and a related love triangle. But Erdrich pulls in so much more, weaving an economic crisis into the fragile climate, and studying how those two factors impact a rural community, "The Mighty Red" captures daily grief with greater, global concerns. 

Already well over a 4/5 on GoodReads, Erdrich's novel has reviewers excited. "Erdrich makes you feel the desperation in each character, on every page," one reviewer began. "Such a well-written story about family, love, loss, the changing farming community." What reviewers repeatedly noted was how much ecological power Erdrich wove into this compelling story. "Louise Erdrich weaves a complicated beautiful tale about a few families in North Dakota and a doomed wedding," another reviewer began. "Love, loss, ghosts, and the sacredness of the land permeate this story." On top of all of this, many readers noted how funny Erdrich is, so get ready for a good laugh, too. 

What is perhaps the most highly anticipated book release of fall 2024 is Sally Rooney's "Intermezzo." Everyone from The Cut to USA Today has been eagerly anticipating Rooney's next novel. For the author herself, "Intermezzo" has been a long time coming, and she's also eager to share the new book. "Since I began work on this novel several years ago, its characters and their relationships have become an important part of my life," Rooney said in a statement, per USA Today. "I hope that I've done them some justice in writing the book, and that they might find a place in the lives of readers too."

With an expected publication date of September 24, 2024, fans on GoodReads are already eager to talk about Rooney's newest project, and the consensus is that "Intermezzo" is Rooney's best work yet. "absolute perfection," one review began. "dare i say sally rooney at her best???? feeling quite positive about life in general after this – thanks sally for inadvertently providing therapy in the form of this book." Another reader wrote, "SENSATIONAL. her best novel, point blank period. have never been so moved by themes of brotherhood, grief, despair, loneliness. my GOD." Jeez, guys, tell us how you really feel! Kidding. Obviously, Rooney's fall read is set to be major. 

For fans of TJ Klune's first novel, "The House in the Cerulean Sea," fall 2024 is going to be very satisfying. The second novel in the Cerulean Chronicles, "Somewhere Beyond the Sea," is slated to be released on September 10, 2024. This fantasy novel follows the life of Arthur Parnassus, who runs an orphanage and is a hopeful adoptive father. The epic novel features romance and magic, and features LGBTQ+ storylines, making it a great queer read to add to your list. 

Well over 4/5 stars on GoodReads, fans of Klune's first novel are very excited for this upcoming sequel. "As beautiful and amazing as the first," one reviewer wrote, in case any readers were worried that "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" wouldn't hit in the same way as "The House in the Cerulean Sea" did. "Stepping back onto Marsyas Island felt like coming home," another reviewer began, adding a heart emoji. "Thank you, TJ Klune, for this beautiful sequel." In fact, fans are so pumped that even those who didn't get advanced copies jumped on GoodReads with thoughts. Many added the subject heading "Want to Read," and raved about Klune's literary capability. "A freaking SEQUAL to ONE OF MY FAV NOVELS OF ALL TIME???? *INTERNALLY SCREAMING*" was one fan's reaction. People are getting psyched! 

Beloved author of "Hidden Pictures," Jason Rekulak is exciting readers again this fall. Slated to reach publication on October 8, 2024, "The Last One at the Wedding" is a mystery thriller that's sure to make your autumn that much more suspenseful. It's a father-daughter story, with protagonist Frank Szatowski unexpectedly hearing from his estranged, adult daughter, Maggie. She invites her dad to her wedding, and when he arrives, Frank realizes all is not as it seems. Her fiance is a withdrawn, shady heir, and as Frank delves into this man's family history, he encounters some horrors along the way. 

Readers were eager to share their positive experiences with "The Last One at the Wedding" on GoodReads. "This was one of the best thrillers I've read this year, and I'm at over 150 reads at this point," one reviewer began. "The plot was so layered and complex and the storytelling so deft and accessible that you will forget where you are–it's that immersive." As is the case with any quality thriller, readers didn't want to stop. "Jason Rekulak, you have done it again!I ATE this one up and if I didn't have to go to bed, I would have read this in one sitting," a happy reader wrote. So if you want a novel to keep you on your toes this fall, look no further than Rekulak's newest release. 

With so many excellent books slated for publication in the fall of 2024, we had to narrow down our selection carefully and consciously. To choose these five books, we mindfully combed through curated lists of pending publications, which gave us a sense of what publishers and pros were excited about. Each book that we selected was represented on lists of the most anticipated releases for the year, shared by a range of outlets, from Publisher's Weekly, GoodReads, The Washington Post, as well as publications by independent bookstores. We did this to make sure that personal bias didn't reflect or cloud what readers at large were most hopeful for. 

These books also had to score well on GoodReads with readers who've received advanced copies. Each book had over 100 reviews on the site (naturally, more will come flooding in once these books hit shelves), so we knew we were getting a balanced response from readership. There were no deliberate choices made around autumn themes; if a book on this list had spooky or cozy vibes (so fitting for the fall), that was coincidental or reflected the publisher's choice to release certain themes during certain seasons.