New Books Released in October 2025
The Book Guide® is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
October has arrived, bringing crisp, golden days, the deepening hues of autumn, and the perfect chance to update your reading list with some of the season’s most captivating new releases. As fall unfolds across the United States, there’s no better way to embrace the changing season than by diving into stories filled with adventure, laughter, and heartfelt moments. Whether you’re savoring cool afternoons outdoors, enjoying a quiet moment with a warm cup of cider, or curling up for a cozy indoor escape, these October book picks will keep you entertained all month long.
A Diverse Selection of Must-Reads Awaits this October
The Book Guide’ editorial team creates a monthly list of popular new books, based on several ratings. The monthly curated preview of new books covers various genres, including contemporary fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult, and nonfiction. This month, three standout titles demand your attention.
October’s new releases present a captivating blend of suspense, romance, and hidden truths, ideal for the season’s introspective atmosphere. First, The Intruder by Freida McFadden offers a tense psychological thriller full of twists and chilling suspense. McFadden masterfully builds a gripping narrative about secrets and danger lurking just beneath the surface, keeping readers hooked until the very last page. Fans of heart-pounding suspense will be drawn into this dark and compelling story of trust and betrayal.
Next, Mate by Ali Hazelwood delivers a smart and touching romance that explores attraction, identity, and connection. Hazelwood’s witty, sharp writing and deeply relatable characters make for an engaging read that perfectly balances humor with emotional depth. This novel is a heartfelt celebration of love and self-discovery that resonates with the modern reader..
Finally, Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber enchants with its lush fantasy world filled with magic, mystery, and alluring secrets. Garber weaves a mesmerizing tale of power and transformation, inviting readers into a richly imagined universe where nothing is as it seems. This story’s blend of intrigue and enchantment makes it a perfect escape for autumn’s reflective mood.
What to Read This October 2025: Best Book Releases.
October’s standout titles bring a thrilling range of passion, mystery, and wonder—ideal for cozying up as the season shifts or savoring the last golden days. Be sure to add these to your reading list for a memorable autumn filled with adventure and discovery.
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
“The Intruder” by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller centered on Casey, a reclusive former teacher living in an isolated cabin battered by a fierce storm. One night, she discovers a young, bruised girl named Nell outside—filthy, bloodied, and clutching a knife—refusing to reveal her origins or intentions. As Casey offers shelter, dark secrets unravel: Nell fled a violent scene involving abuse from her mother Jolene and her boyfriend Jax, prompting Casey to take vigilante justice into her own hands with shocking consequences. McFadden’s fast-paced narrative explores themes of trauma, trust, and moral ambiguity, delivering unrelenting tension and twists in a claustrophobic off-grid setting.
Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Mate by Ali Hazelwood is a paranormal romance and companion novel to Bride, centering on Serena Paris, a rare half-human, half-werewolf hybrid orphaned and packless in a world rife with tensions between weres, vampyres, and humans. Seeking protection amid political conspiracies and bounties on her life, Serena turns to Koen Alexander, the formidable Alpha of the Northwest pack, who reveals himself as her fated mate despite their initially frosty dynamic. As they navigate forbidden attraction, a cult tied to her family’s dark past, and the challenges of destiny versus free will, their bond deepens through danger, passion, and mutual growth, culminating in a hard-won happily ever after.
Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben
“Gone Before Goodbye,” co-authored by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben, follows Maggie McCabe, a disgraced Army combat surgeon whose life unravels after personal tragedies lead to the revocation of her medical license. At her lowest point, she accepts a secretive, high-stakes job from a former colleague to treat a powerful, anonymous patient in a world of elite wealth and shadows. When the patient mysteriously vanishes, Maggie becomes entangled in a fast-paced conspiracy of betrayal, survival, and global intrigue among the super-rich.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison is a whimsical holiday romance infused with magical realism. The story centers on Harriet York, a kind-hearted antique shop owner and chronic people-pleaser, who is unexpectedly haunted by Nolan, a grumpy Irish Ghost of Christmas Past, just before the holidays. As they journey through her seemingly innocent past, they uncover deeper emotional truths, sparking an intense connection complicated by Nolan’s impending departure on Christmas Eve. Blending festive charm, banter, and heartfelt growth, the novel explores self-worth, toxic relationships, and unexpected love.
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
“Alchemy of Secrets” by Stephanie Garber follows Holland St. James, a graduate student immersed in urban myths, whose life unravels when the enigmatic Watchman predicts her death at midnight on Halloween unless she retrieves the powerful Alchemical Heart. Thrust into a hidden magical underworld of secret societies, cryptic puzzles, and treacherous alliances in Los Angeles, Holland grapples with betrayal from figures like her professor, her boyfriend, and even her twin sister January, who harbors her own magical secrets. As she races against time, the story weaves themes of deception, family legacies, and the perilous allure of magic, culminating in Holland’s discovery of hidden truths and a transformative choice for truth-detection powers.
The Widow by John Grisham
The Widow by John Grisham follows Simon Latch, a struggling small-town lawyer whose life changes when wealthy widow Eleanor “Netty” Barnett walks into his office to rewrite her will and quietly manage a secret fortune left by her late husband. When Netty is hospitalized after a serious car accident and later dies under suspicious circumstances, Simon is accused of murder and becomes the prime suspect in a high-profile case. As evidence mounts and his own flaws and bad decisions come to light, Simon must navigate a tense courtroom battle and a twisting whodunit to uncover the truth, clear his name, and expose how greed and secrecy have corrupted everyone involved.
Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
“Bonds of Hercules” by Jasmine Mas continues the story from “Blood of Hercules,” following Alexis (known as Hercules) after her forced marriage to Augustus and Kharon, heirs of the Underworld. She flees to Crete for safety under her parents Persephone and Hades, training for a brutal gladiator competition while navigating threats like the escaped Medusa and Zeus’s schemes. Amidst battles, revelations about her abusive past, hidden disabilities, and evolving bonds with her husbands, Alexis unlocks her full powers, exposes Zeus’s crimes, and confronts enemies in a high-stakes clash of gods, Titans, and personal vengeance.
Remain by Nicholas Sparks
In Remain, Nicholas Sparks crafts a supernatural romance centered on Tate Donovan, a grieving New York architect who travels to Cape Cod to design a friend’s summer home after losing his sister and grappling with her revelation of seeing spirits—a family gift he doubts. Staying at a historic bed-and-breakfast, Tate meets the enigmatic Wren, sparking an intense connection that challenges his rational worldview amid hints of her ghostly ties to the past. As dark forces of jealousy and greed threaten their bond, Tate races to uncover Wren’s tragic history, questioning life’s mysteries and the transformative power of love.
Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn
“Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal” by Meghan Quinn is a hilarious holiday romcom set in the small town of Kringle, where rivals Max (also known as Atlas), who runs his family’s beloved Christmas tree farm, and Betty, who arrives to help her uncle launch a competing farm next door, clash amid festive chaos.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow is a genre-defying adult fantasy novel blending time loops, mythmaking, and poignant romance. It centers on Sir Una Everlasting, Dominion’s legendary lady-knight whose heroic death forged a nation, and Owen Mallory, a timid historian obsessed with her tale who finds himself hurled into the past to chronicle her doomed final quest—repeated endlessly across timelines. Bound under a mystical yew tree, the pair grapples with rewriting their fated tragedy amid themes of nationalism, propaganda, and defiant love, challenging the power of stories to control history.
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
In Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden, a mysterious elderly stranger named Theo arrives in the small southern town of Golden, captivating locals with his quiet curiosity and enigmatic presence. He frequents a coffeehouse adorned with ninety-two pencil portraits of residents, methodically buying them to return each to its subject, sparking stories, friendships, and profound personal transformations through acts of kindness. As connections deepen, Theo’s anonymous generosity fosters a sense of being truly seen, weaving themes of giving, community, and redemption until his poignant backstory emerges.
Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice is a posthumous memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, published in 2025, detailing her harrowing experiences of childhood molestation, institutional abuse, and sex trafficking by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell starting at age 16. Giuffre recounts her recruitment at Mar-a-Lago, coercion into sexual acts with prominent men, daring escape at 19, and subsequent rebuilding of her life in Australia amid resurfacing trauma. The book emphasizes her resilience, advocacy for survivors, and critique of institutional complicity in protecting abusers.
Conform by Ariel Sullivan
Conform by Ariel Sullivan is a dystopian romance novel set in a post-apocalyptic world after The Last Great War decimated humanity. Society is stratified by genetic perfection, ruled by the elite Illum from towering cities, while “defects” like protagonist Emeline live as outcasts on lower levels, forbidden from love or individuality and valued only as vessels for repopulation. At 27, Emeline is selected as a Mate for Illum member Collin, pulling her into luxury shadowed by brutality and a brewing rebellion; torn between Collin’s enigmatic protection and her attraction to resistance leader Hal, she uncovers dark secrets that challenge her loyalty and force life-altering choices. The first in a trilogy, it explores forbidden love, conformity’s cost, and uprising against oppressive control.
The Wrath of the Fallen by Amber V. Nicole
The Wrath of the Fallen by Amber V. Nicole is the gripping fourth installment in the Gods & Monsters series, where Samkiel, the rightful heir to the throne, grapples with his uncontrollable Oblivion power while fearing it endangers those he loves. Dianna faces harrowing trials, including capture and public humiliation by the tyrant queen Nismera, who rallies forces for godhood amid escalating war across realms. Forced alliances form as Death binds Dianna’s life to reluctant brothers Isaiah and Kaden, leading to betrayals, memory manipulations, epic battles, and a tragic climax that tests bonds and reshapes destinies.
The Defender by Ana Huang
The Defender by Ana Huang is a steamy sports romance about star footballer Vincent DuBois and Brooklyn Armstrong, a sports nutritionist who also happens to be his coach’s daughter and his best friend’s sister. When Brooklyn moves in with Vincent for safety reasons, their forced proximity turns long-standing tension and irritation into undeniable attraction, even though a relationship could threaten both their careers and her father’s trust. As danger from Vincent’s fame closes in, the two must navigate public scrutiny, family expectations, and their own insecurities to decide whether they will play it safe or risk everything for love.
Breathe With Me by Becka Mack
Breathe With Me by Becka Mack is the emotional final installment in the Playing for Keeps hockey romance series. It follows Cara Hunter, a driven and fearless self-made woman, and Emmett Brody, a charismatic Vancouver Vipers player who falls instantly in love with her. Their passionate relationship blossoms into marriage, but their dream of starting a family shatters when they confront infertility, enduring grueling treatments, heartbreak, and emotional strain that tests their bond to its limits. Through raw struggles with loss and self-doubt, they find healing via fostering, reaffirming their unshakable love and redefining family.
Twice by Mitch Albom
Twice by Mitch Albom follows Alfie Logan, who at age eight discovers he can rewind any moment in his life by saying “twice,” allowing him to relive and alter it while accepting the new consequences. He uses this gift to fix childhood mistakes, dodge dangers, and refine his romantic pursuits, eventually winning the love of Gianna, whom he sees as his soulmate. However, temptation leads him to test the limits of his power, revealing a heartbreaking rule: undoing a love means that person can never love him again, forcing a life-altering choice that explores themes of desire, regret, and the true cost of second chances.
Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose
Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose is a romantasy novel blending zombie apocalypse horror with enemies-to-lovers romance. It centers on Casey Pearson, a doctor raised by a doomsday-prepping father, who flees his compound at 18 but returns during a viral outbreak that turns people into zombie-like creatures. There, she reunites with her high school bully, Blake Morrison, now part of the survivor group, forcing them to navigate grudges, compound tensions, and external threats amid a slow-burn romance. The story prioritizes emotional growth and second chances over extensive horror world-building, using the claustrophobic setting to heighten stakes.
Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews
In Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews, seventeen-year-old Evander lives confined within the decaying gothic estate of Hazelthorn, haunted by fragmented memories of being buried alive by his childhood friend-turned-enemy, Laurie, and forbidden from the estate’s sinister, carnivorous garden. When his stern guardian Byron dies horrifically—poisoned by something unnatural from his throat, issuing a final warning against the garden—Evander inherits the vast mansion and wealth but suspects murder. Forced into an alliance with the enigmatic Laurie, Evander uncovers buried family secrets, a monstrous red door, and encroaching horrors from the bloodthirsty garden, blurring lines between enmity, obsession, and unexpected attraction. .
A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar unfolds over one intense week in a near-future, climate-ravaged Kolkata gripped by famine, heat, and scarcity. Ma, a shelter manager who steals food to sustain her aging father Dadu and toddler daughter Mishti, faces catastrophe when Boomba—a desperate young man supporting his starving family—steals her purse containing their precious “climate visas” for escape to America. As Ma hunts for the thief amid police corruption and societal collapse, Boomba’s small crime spirals into escalating dangers, revealing how both characters blur the lines between guardian and thief in their fierce bids for survival. Majumdar masterfully weaves their parallel tales of parental love, moral ambiguity, and encroaching doom, portraying a world where hope clashes with unrelenting desperation.
