32 Buzzy Book Club Books for Fall 2025

Updates August 7, 2025.

I can’t believe fall reading is upon us and it’s time pick out the best book club books for fall 2025! Some of the best book club books of all time tend to be released in the fall or late summer, in my opinion.

We’re talking best thriller books for book club and best dark academia books, for starters. And these book club books for fall 2025 definitely hit the mark. I like a hard-hitting literary read, too!

Sometimes the buzzier the book recommendation, the better—at least when it comes to book clubs. It’s definitely easier to get book club readers on the same page (pun intended) if it’s a hyped book that leads to great book club discussions.

Here are the top buzzy book club books to pick in the fall 2025—some of which I can’t wait to pick up myself!

Top Best Fall Books for Book Club: 2025 Releases

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Junie is a coming-of-age Civil War historical fiction novel that’s gotten a TON of hype already! It’s about a sixteen-year-old enslaved girl in Alabama living on a plantation with Violet, the plantation owner’s daughter who teaches Junie to read.

It has a little fantasy/paranormal elements (her sister’s ghost awakens?! 👻 Spooooky!) and it sounds like there will be a lot to unpack in a book club (female friendship, hope amid the horrors of the American South, emotional and generational trauma, etc).

That’s why we picked Junie for my August Book Club Pick for the Mollie Reads Book Club! Not-so-subtle plug: You should join. It’s free. And then you won’t miss an update from me!

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

A young girl must face a life-altering decision after awakening her sister’s ghost, navigating truths about love, friendship, and power as the Civil War looms.

Sixteen years old and enslaved since she was born, Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet.

Her daydreams are filled with poetry and faraway worlds, while she spends her nights secretly roaming through the forest, consumed with grief over the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie.

When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet and upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her.

She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship soon becomes something more. Yet as long-held truths begin to crumble, she realizes Bellereine is harboring dark and horrifying secrets that can no longer be ignored.

With time ticking down, Junie begins to push against the harsh current that has controlled her entire life.

As she grapples with an increasingly unfamiliar world in which she has little control, she is forced to ask herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?

Junie was published on February 4, 2025, from Ballantine Books.

The Names by Florence Knapp

The Names is such a heartbreaking, poignant book about domestic abuse. Don’t let the heavy topic deter you: It’s such a compelling read.

The book follows one woman who is trying to figure out what to name her newborn son.

She has an older daughter and an abusive husband, and the story follows three alternate and alternating timelines based on the name she decides and the butterfly affect of that decision.

The structure of the book with the various timelines makes it possible for Florence Knapp to really communicate these small, quiet, but startling and destructive truths about domestic abuse, toxic masculinity, misogyny . . . there’s soo much to talk about in a book club setting.

I will say, this book is heavy, and there’s not a ton of levity. You need to make sure it’s the right fit for your book club, especially if you have sensitive readers. I don’t think it should be pushed on readers, but if everyone’s willing, it can be an eye-opening and immersive read.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life?

In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son’s birth.

Her husband, Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she’d like to call the child, Cora hesitates . . .

Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora’s and her young son’s lives, shaped by her choice of name.

In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.

With exceptional sensitivity and depth, Knapp draws us into the story of one family, told through a prism of what-ifs, causing us to consider the “one . . . precious life” we are given.

The book’s brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional, gut-wrenching power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.

The Names was published on May 6, 2025, from Pamela Dorman Books.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein

I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve heard it’s a surprising standout for 2025! Reese’s books tend to be hot or cold for me, but people who read this book are raving about it.

And don’t let the summery cover fool you. While it looks like it would be a good book to read in the summer, it’s a bit heavier of a read.

I love a good sister story with emotional complexities, and it sounds like this one will be beautiful and heartbreaking—the perfect combo for book club. It’s also about soccer, so if you’re a sports fan, check it out!

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

Two sisters examine what they owe each other and what they are willing to sacrifice to make their family dreams come true.

What would you give up for the person you love most? What would you expect in return?

Mia and Cricket have always been close. The gifted daughters of a young single mother, the “Lowe girls” are well-known in the small Maine town they call home.

Each sister has a role to fill: The responsible and academically minded Mia assumes the position of caregiver far too young, while Cricket, a bouncing ball of energy and talent, seems born for soccer stardom.

But the cost of achieving athletic greatness comes at a steep price.

As Mia and Cricket grow up, they must grapple with the legacy of their mother’s secret past while navigating their own precarious future.

Can Mia allow herself to fall in love at the risk of repeating a terrible history?

Will Cricket’s relentless chase of a lifelong goal drive her sister away? When does loyalty become self-sabotage?

A sharply observed and tender portrait of sisters, love, and ambition, Spectacular Things is a sweeping story about the impossible choices we’re forced to make in pursuit of our dreams.

Spectacular Things was published on July 1, 2025, from The Dial Press.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McGonagy

This. BOOK. Definitely going to be on my top favorite books of 2025! This is a slow burn climate literary mystery, which I know sounds like a LOT, but hear me out. Wild Dark Shore is SO good.

If you’re looking for a mystery thriller that centers on complex characters and a little bit of unreliable POVs, you will definitely want to add this one to your fall reading list for 2025.

@molliereadsbooks My spoiler-free review of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy 🥹🫶🏼 #WildDarkShore #booksthatmademecry #literarymystery #bookreviews ♬ original sound – Mollie Reads | 🎧📚 Blogger

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants.

Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.

Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.

But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets.

As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.

A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.

Wild Dark Shore was published on March 4, 2025, from Flatiron Books.

Honey and Heat by Aurora Palit

OKAY, tbh, I don’t read a ton of romance in the fall, but I do think it’s a great palate cleanser between the heavier literary reads 😂 . Honey and Heat looks fantastic!

This is a enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance book that somehow escaped my 2025 new romance books list I shared a bit ago. We love a good one-upmanship and career rivalry romance!

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

She’s known as the Ice Princess. He’s got a reputation for melting hearts . . . except hers. Let the rivalry begin.

Cynthia Kumar always wins. She’s successful, competitive, and knows exactly what she to be the heir to her father’s multimillion dollar business.

Except, her father just chose his successor and it’s not her…it’s her one-night stand.

Rohit Patel can’t believe his luck. He’s just landed the opportunity of a lifetime, his future is once again on track, and the woman he just spent the night with could be the love of his life.

Except, she’s his new boss’s daughter and now she hates him.

When Kumar Constructions falls under scrutiny, both Cynthia and Rohit are determined to see its tarnished reputation restored to its original glory.

As they each try to swoop in and save the day, their game of one-upmanship fails spectacularly, leaving them no choice but to set their differences aside and work together.

But as their partnership to save the company—and their feelings for one another—blossoms, they’ll have to decide what’s more important…their careers or love?

Honey and Heat will be published on September 16, 2025, from Berkley.

My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner

This is a literary historical fiction book, which is really my go-to for fall reading.

My Other Heart is a coming-of-age story about two Asian girls exploring their identities: One is adopted, another lives with her single mother, and another story of a young mom whose baby is stolen in an airport is also tied in to the novel.

This looks heartfelt and moving, and I can’t wait to check it out!

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

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A missing child, two girls in search of their true identities—a stunning novel of mothers, daughters and best friends

In June 1998, Mimi Truang is on her way home to Vietnam when her toddler daughter vanishes in the Philadelphia airport.

Seventeen years later, two best friends in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, discuss their summer plans before college. Kit, with the support of her white adoptive parents, will travel to Tokyo to explore her Japanese roots.

This dizzying adventure offers her a taste of first love and a new understanding of what it means to belong.

Sabrina had hoped to take a similar trip to China, but money is tight. Her disappointment subsides, however, when she meets a bold, uncompromising new mentor who prompts Sabrina to ask questions she’s avoided all her life.

Meanwhile, Mimi purchases a plane ticket to Philadelphia. She finally has a lead in her search for her daughter.

When Mimi, Kit, and Sabrina come face to face, they will confront the people they truly are, in this tremendously moving novel that is propelled to its astonishing climax in a way you will never forget.

My Other Heart was published on August 5, 2025, from Pamela Dorman Books.

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

The Poppy Fields has been on my radar for a while, and it looks like the perfect book to add to your 2025 reading list.

Self-discovery, forgiveness, found family—all buzz words for me! This is a contemplative story about grief, which is so deeply personal.

I’ve heard that it’s impossible to put down and that while it’s intense, it’s well-balanced emotionally.

Plus, Marin Ireland narrates the audiobook, and she’s my favorite audiobook narrator! I’ll definitely do this one on audio.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit The Measure Read with Jenna TODAY Show pick—comes a stunning speculative story of healing, self-discovery, forgiveness, and found friendship.

Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.

Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain…and keep on sleeping.

After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects.

On a journey to this mystical destination are four very different strangers and one little dog: Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ.

As they attempt to make their way from the Midwest all the way west to the Poppy Fields—where they hope to find Ellis, its brilliant, enigmatic founder—each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage.

A high-concept speculative novel about heartache, hope, and human resilience, The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions:

How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?

The Poppy Fields was published on June 17, 2025, from William Morrow.

Everything Is Probably Fine by Julia London

This August 2025 book release looks so good!

This is a literary romance that highlights the impact of addiction on families. It seems like it will probably be light on the romance and more of a twisty family drama and an emotional journey with found family.

I’m hoping the sensitive topics are handled with care, and judging by the reviews, it seems as though they will be. I’m excited to pick up this raw, emotional read in the fall.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

One woman is forced to finally forgive herself—with the help of a winsome eight-year-old sidekick—for not being able to save her sister from her life-long substance abuse.

The impact of a person’s addiction on family is traumatic and all consuming.

Lorna learned at an early age she would always play second fiddle to her older sister Kristen’s addiction and her problems.

It has made Lorna hard and untrusting—everyone she should have been able to trust has betrayed her in some way.

As an adult, she has retreated into what she thinks of as her internal bomb shelter—always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

She keeps to herself, her dog her only companion, until an eight-year-old boy from across the hall befriends her dog and then her.

Bean is the only person who doesn’t seem to mind Lorna’s gruff awkwardness, and at times, he speaks truth and wisdom beyond his years.

When an opportunity to buy her grandmother’s house comes up—the only place she has ever felt happy—Lorna is faced with the terms of a trust her mother left. She must address the things in her life that have left her so bitter and make amends for them.

As she embarks on this journey through her life with Bean, her small Greek chorus, Lorna begins to realize that events that seemed ruined by her sister’s addiction may not have happened as she remembers.

And even if they did, her chance to make amends for them is freeing her from the guilt she has felt for her sister’s troubles.

She begins to accept that there is nothing she could have done to change the course of Kristen’s life, but she can change the course of her own. And maybe, her grandmother’s house is not the home she thinks it is.

Everything Is Probably Fine will be published on August 12, 2025, from Harper Muse.

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

This genre-bendy science fiction dystopia and literary fiction book is perfect for fall reading!

From what I know about this book, it’s masterfully told, and will be a modern classic. High expectations FOR SURE. This is a glimpse into how we treat history and how we retell it.

The book takes place one hundred years in the future and starts with a university history professor researching a “lost” poem from 2014.

I’ve heard it’s immersive, maybe a little slow at first, but worth the payoff.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

2014: A great poem is read aloud and never heard again. For generations, people speculate about its message, but no copy has yet been found.

2119: The lowlands of the UK have been submerged by rising seas. Those who survive are haunted by the richness of the world that has been lost.

Tom Metcalfe, an academic at the University of the South Downs, part of Britain’s remaining island archipelagos, pores over the archives of that distant era, captivated by the freedoms and possibilities of human life at its zenith.

When he stumbles across a clue that may lead to the lost poem, a story is revealed of entangled loves and a crime that destroy his assumptions about people he thought he knew intimately well.

What We Can Know is a masterpiece, a fictional tour de force that reclaims the present from our sense of looming catastrophe, and imagines a future world where all is not quite lost.

What We Can Know will be published on September 23, 2025, from Knopf.

Loved One by Aisha Muharrar

This literary fiction book is about love, loss, grief, and complex relationships.

It seems like the ideal book to pick up in fall, especially if you’re captivated by interesting relationship dynamics and those formative young adult years.

I’ve heard it’s fresh, sharp, and heart-wrenching. It seems like it would be a great book club pick. I’m excited to see for myself.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

When Julia’s first-love-turned-best-friend Gabe, a musician with a cultish following, dies unexpectedly at age twenty-nine, Julia launches herself into an intercontinental quest to recover the possessions he left with friends and acquaintances across the world.

Along the way she encounters Elizabeth, Gabe’s effortlessly perfect and endlessly cool ex-girlfriend. Now Julia can’t stop talking to, thinking about, and googling Elizabeth.

As the two women struggle to reconcile their respective claims on Gabe’s memory, can they find their way from rivalry to friendship?

Loved One will be published on August 12, 2025, from Viking.

The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley

This is definitely at the top of my 2025 fall reading list! Climate fiction isn’t always what I want to read (as an anxious bean), but this one looks super interesting.

This literary dystopia/sci-fi book is about two zookeepers at the last zoo in the world. I love the premise, and I’ve heard it’s reminiscent of Charlotte McConaghy’s work, so I really think I’ll love it.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

A soaring, propulsive, and unforgettably poignant novel about two zookeepers at the last zoo in the world, in the vein of Téa Obreht and Charlotte McConaghy

Camille has always preferred animals to people. The wild has nearly disappeared, but as a zookeeper at the last zoo in the world, on Alcatraz Island, she spends her days caring for playful chimpanzees, gentle tree frogs, and a restless jaguar.

Outside, resistance groups and brutal cartels fight to shape the world’s future, but Camille is safe within her routines. That is, until a new zookeeper, Sailor, arrives from Paris.

From their first meeting, Camille is drawn to Sailor, who seems to see something in Camille that no one has before.

They bond over their shared passions and dream up ways to improve their lives.

When Sailor whispers the story of an idyllic, secret sanctuary where wild animals roam free, Camille begins to imagine a new kind of life with Sailor by her side.

Sailor knows all too well the dangers beyond Alcatraz, but she increasingly chafes at the zoo’s rigid rules.

She hatches a reckless plan to smuggle one of the most prized animals off the island to freedom, and invites Camille to join her.

The consequences if they fail would be catastrophic, and Sailor’s contacts at the sanctuary go dark just as the threats from the cartels grow more extreme.

Camille must decide if she’s ready to risk everything for the promise of a better world.

Propulsive and fiercely hopeful, with a heart-stopping final twist, The Island of Last Things is an elegy for a disappearing world and a gorgeous vision for the future.

The Island of Last Things will be published on August 12, 2025, from Flatiron Books.

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

This literary tragicomedy has made it to my top favorite books of all time, along with her other book, Unlikely Animals (full review!). She is such a talented writer, and this dark comedy made me laugh out loud several times—despite its heavier topics like death, grief, divorce, family abuse, etc.

The Road to Tender Hearts is a road trip story with found family, and the quirky characters, unique plot, and heartwarming moments will stay with you for a long time.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

A darkly comic and warm-hearted novel about an old man on a cross-country mission to reunite with his high school crush—bringing together his adult daughter, two orphaned kids, and a cat who can predict death—from the beloved author of Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals

At sixty-three years old, million-dollar lottery winner PJ Halliday would be the luckiest man in Pondville, Massachusetts, if it weren’t for the tragedies of his life: the sudden death of his eldest daughter and the way his marriage fell apart after that.

Since then, PJ spends both his money and his time at the bar, and he probably doesn’t have much time left—he’s had three heart attacks already.

But when PJ reads an obituary of his old romantic rival, he realizes his high school sweetheart, Michelle Cobb, is finally single again.

Filled with a new enthusiasm for life, PJ decides he’s going to drive across the country to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community in Arizona to win Michelle back.

Before PJ can hit the road, tragedy strikes Pondville, leaving PJ the sudden guardian of his estranged brother’s grandchildren.

Anyone else would be deterred from the planned trip, but PJ figures the orphaned kids might benefit from getting out of town.

PJ also figures he can ask Sophie, his adult daughter, adrift in her 20s, to come along to babysit.

And there’s one more surprise addition to the roster: Pancakes, a former nursing home therapy cat with a knack of predicting death, who recently turned up outside PJ’s home.

This could be the second chance PJ has long hoped for—a second shot at love and parenting—but does he have the strength to do both those things again? It’s very possible his heart can’t take it.

The Road to Tender Hearts was published on April 29, 2025, from Ballantine Books.

Top Best Fall Books for Book Club: 2024 Releases

Here are the best 2024 book releases to pick as a backlist book for your book club this fall! My virtual book club that I run with my friend, Katie, loves to mix it up with new, buzzy book club books and backlist books.

It’s often easier to get backlist books at the library, which encourages book club participation.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

This is on my list of dark academia book releases of 2024! I read The Secret History by Donna Tartt for my online book club, but I anticipate wanting MORE dark academia when I finish my current read, and this one dabbles in horror and fantasy. 

An Academy for Liars has a unique magic system and all the best tropes of dark academia, including forbidden romance, secret societies, and complicated friendships and rivalries. Sign me up for all the morally grey characters!

The gothic and horror elements this book is giving seems perfect for fall, and I know An Academy for Liars is going to be on a lot of readers’ to-be-read list. 

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

An Academy for Liars was published on September 17, 2024, from Ace.

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

This was on my most anticipated books of 2024 list, and so many readers said it lives up to the hype. 

This is a book about estranged sisters navigating grief together in New York, and I think if your book club is willing to tackle some heavier topics, it could bring on some wonderful discussion.

Just warn your book club that this one—while beautiful in prose—will most likely lead to some ugly crying sessions. 

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

Blue Sisters was published on May 23, 2024, from Ballantine Books.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

Matt Haig is a beloved author after publishing The Midnight Library. If your book club is looking for a fantastical, hopeful story with heartwarming characters, you should definitely look into this one. 

Full of cozy vibes, adventure, and culture, The Life Impossible is a book for the book club that likes a little poetry and wonder in their historical literary books. 

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

The Life Impossible was published on September 3, 2024, from Viking. 

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty 

If your book club is more of a wine-and-chat, less structured book club, what better than to gush about the next Liane Moriarty book!? Her books are candy! 

Here One Moment is a heartwarming thriller/mystery book with all the drama. Your book club will have a lot to dive into: destiny, grief, control, love . . . there’s a lot to cover! There’s also an element of humor a lot of readers will enjoy.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

Here One Moment was published on September 10, 2024, from Crown. 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Thanks to @prhaudio for the complimentary book! The God of the Woods was one of my favorite fiction books of 2024! It’s such a fun mystery/thriller, and it’s incredibly layered. If you loved Long Bright River by her, you should definitely pick this one up.

This book takes place at a summer camp and follows the behind-the-scenes crew who own the camp. Liz Moore created really complex POVs, and the story itself is layered and unique.

If your book club likes interesting character studies and less thriller-y but more mystery, definitely put this book on your book club books for fall list.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

The God of the Woods was published on July 2, 2024, from Riverhead Books.

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I’m a huge fan of Silver Moreno-Garcia, and a 1950s Hollywood horror/gothic novel?! Are you kidding? This is the perfect read for fall, and I think it will scratch the itch for a lot of book clubs out there.

I love that the publisher calls it a “sexy technicolor saga.” 😂This is a story about three different women, and as usual with Silvia, it’s heavily researched and full of drama.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

The Seventh Veil of Salome was published on August 6, 2024, from Del Rey.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

This is a generational family saga, which always seems to be a good way to go for most book clubs. While it is more character driven, the storytelling will hook you, and the three timelines and POVs will keep you turning pages. 

This book follows a Chinese American family with characters trying to shape their own destinies. There’s so much to discuss in book club: Race, class, ambition, forgiveness, family inheritance, and so much more. 

If you’re looking for a historical literary fiction novel that holds some weight, definitely check this one out. 

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

Real Americans was published on April 30, 2024, from Knopf. 

Pink Glass Houses by Asha Elias

This is a story about wealthy PTA moms in Miami. Think a less thriller-y Big Little Lies–level drama and gossip!

This one would also be perfect for spring, but if you’re looking for some non-spooky books to read this fall, definitely check it out. 

Pink Glass Houses is a satirical novel about leveraging power in certain social circles, which I think would just be so fun to talk about in a book club setting. 

If you want to watch a train wreck about a bunch of wealthy moms cat fighting (let’s be real, this one is for the Real Housewives fans), you will have fun with this book.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis. 

Pink Glass Houses was published on July 30, 2024, from William Morrow. 

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

If you love a funny, tender stories with nuggets of wisdom, check out The Wedding People. There are some dark moments, especially in the start of the book, but this book touches on so many themes and emotions: the desire to belong, to be loved and understood, etc. 

I do think it will resonate with a lot of different kinds of book clubs as there seems to be such a universal appeal. 

This is a sharp, honest, and hopeful book about a chance encounter and unexpected friendship. 

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

The Wedding People was published on July 30, 2024, from Henry Holt and Co.

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

This historical literary fiction novel follows three different people in three different timelines in three different parts of the world, with Nineveh at the heart—all connected by water. 

It’s an enchanting epic that packs a punch. If your book club likes heavy history that can lead to in-depth discussions of geography, music, different cultures, and complex storytelling, you should absolutely give it a try. 

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis.

There Are Rivers in the Sky was published on August 20, 2024, from Knopf.

Top Best Fall Books for Book Club: 2023 Releases

These are the best fall books for book club that were buzzy in 2023 but still have that staying power!

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

Is there a better author for book club discussions? I’ll wait. I love William Kent Krueger’s storytelling and rich prose. This Tender Land is another great book club book recommendation, but I think The River We Remember will be just as memorable, atmospheric, and expansive for book club readers.

The publisher describes The River We Remember as “an unflinching look at the wounds left by the wars we fight abroad and at home, a moving exploration of the ways in which we seek to heal, and a testament to the enduring power of the stories we tell about the places we call home.”

The River We Remember was published on September 5, 2023, from Atria Books.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

I’ve been into sleuthing books since finished Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective, and while Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers came out in March 2023, I think it’s perfect as a fall 2025 book club pick. Here’s my full review!

This is definitely a buzzy book and has been all year, so I don’t think you’ll have trouble getting other book club members on board—especially for a cozy mystery that actually has surprising twists and turns.

The publisher describes the plot as “a lonely shopkeeper [who] takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way in this captivating mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.”

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers was published on March 14, 2023, from Berkley.

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

I think Zadie Smith has mastered the formula for a good book club book. There’s always so much to discuss in her work! And The Fraud is no different—historical fiction about privilege and tyranny and the themes of racism and class disparity—all unraveling from how we recount real historical events and who we choose to believe.

If your book club is full of readers who are hungry for deep discussions and made up of a more intellectual crowd, you’ll probably love The Fraud as a fall 2025 book club book.

The publisher calls The Fraud a “dazzling novel about truth and fiction, Jamaica and Britain, fraudulence and authenticity and the mystery of ‘other people.'”

The Fraud was published on September 5, 2023, from Penguin Press.

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Supernatural suspense is perfect for fall, and I think Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work is perfect for book club discussions, too. It’s no secret that I loved Mexican Gothic, especially after interviewing the author and learning about all the research that went into the gothic horror novel.

Silver Nitrate is a heart-pounding thriller about the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. A sound editor and former soap opera star discover the mystery of an occultist film maker from long ago.

One of my favorite details about Silvia Moreno-Garcia is that she likes to make playlists that go with her books. Here’s the playlist for Silver Nitrate. Perfect to play in the background at your book club meeting!

The publisher describes Silver Nitrate as a “fabulous meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film—and awakens one woman’s hidden powers.”

Silver Nitrate was published on July 18, 2023, from Del Rey.

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

Who doesn’t love a whodunit thriller mystery where all the characters have secrets, which unravel in omniscient POV? I mean, seriously? I think Everyone Here Is Lying is a great book club pick for the fall in 2025, and I think it will make for some really fun book club discussion.

If your book club is looking for more addictive popcorn reads, you can’t go wrong with Shari Lapena. This is an intimate, straightforward mystery, and if you’re a fan of Ruth Ware’s thrillers, you will most likely love it.

In fact, Lisa Jewell, the next author on this list, said it was the most addictive book she’s read in ages. She said it was “so slick and disquieting and clever.”

Everyone Here Is Lying was published on July 25, 2023, from Pamela Dorman Books.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

None of This Is True is a propulsive psychological thriller that has taken bookstagram by storm. This is definitely a buzzy book club pick, and I think a dark, twisty psychological thriller is perfect for the fall.

If you and your book club members like strong female characters, unreliable narrators, and secret motives that affect how everyone thinks and acts, you should definitely pick up None of This Is True.

The publisher describes it as a “scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.”

None of This is True was published on July 20, 2023, from Atria Books.

RELATED: Book Review: The House in the Pines

Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue’s buzzy new book, out in August of last year, is perfect for a fall book club pick! I’ve always loved her her books, and Learned by Heart is based on a true story, which makes it even better.

This is a coming-of-age love story that’s heartbreaking and full of dangerous secrets, taking place in a boarding school in 19th century York. There’s lots to discuss here, and Emma Donoghue’s storytelling will hook readers of all kinds!

The publisher describes it as “emotionally intense, psychologically compelling, and deeply researched,” and an “extraordinary work of fiction by one of the world’s greatest storytellers. Full of passion and heartbreak, the tangled lives of Anne Lister and Eliza Raine form a love story for the ages.”

Learned by Heart was published on August 29, 2023, from Little, Brown and Company.

What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

What We Kept to Ourselves is a dual-timeline story about a Korean family living in California. Secrets unravel after the disappearance of their mother, and what follows is a dazzling, complex, and suspenseful family saga.

While this is a page-turner to enjoy, there’s a lot of substance and much to discuss, including the themes of motherhood, obligation, migration, and more. A moving family story and addictive plot are great ingredients for rich book club discussion!

The publisher says What We Kept to Ourselves “masterfully explores the consequences of secrets between parents and children, hus­bands and wives. It is the story of one unforgettable family’s search for home when all seems lost, and a powerful meditation on identity, migration, and what it means to dream in America.”

What We Kept to Ourselves was published on October 10, 2023, from Atria Books.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

Pineapple Street isn’t a fall release, but I think it would be a great fall 2023 book club selection, especially if you’re looking for a palate cleanser from all the thrillers! Pineapple Street follows a flawed, interesting and very rich family in New York City.

I’ve described it as Gossip Girl for adults as it follows the secrets of New York’s one-percenters. It’s sharp, funny, and a fascinating glimpse into love and class. The book club discussion questions would be endlessly entertaining for this one! If your book club loves a good theme, I think you could really get into the setting for this one.

The publisher has described this as “full of recognizable, lovable—if fallible—characters,” and a story about the “peculiar unknowability of someone else’s family, the miles between the haves and have-nots, and the insanity of first love.”

Pineapple Street was published on March 7, 2023, from Pamela Dorman Books.

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

Dirty Laundry is a twisty domestic suspense debut about mothers and a murder. Need I say more?! The book follows a friend group that’s all about curating the perfect image, but things aren’t what they appear.

This one doesn’t have a fall release, but domestic thrillers in the fall are just **chef’s kiss** right?!

I have to say, if terrible characters aren’t your thing, you might want to steer clear. But if you want to gather with your girlfriends with a glass of wine, snacks, and the most delicious gossip, this is one for the books.

The publisher says Dirty Laundry “revolutionizes age-old ideas of love and deceit. What ensues is the delicious unspooling of a group of women desperate to preserve themselves.”

Dirty Laundry was published on April 4, 2023, from Ballantine Books.

RELATED: Author Interview with NYT Bestselling Author Nicole Baart

Frequently Asked Questions about Choosing Book Club Books

How do you prepare for a book club?

How you prepare for a book club meeting totally depends on the vibe of the book club!

Are you primarily meeting to be chatty, catch up and maybe gush about the book or even what you’re currently reading? If so, keep the atmosphere fun and cozy. Drinks, food, blankets, and music are a must, in my opinion.

Are you looking for a more intense and focused discussion of the book every member has read together? Maybe you’ll want to send out the discussion questions ahead of time or even divide the night into “catching up time” and “book talk time.” Set up chairs in a circle so everyone can participate in the discussion.

Regardless of the book club vibe, I love to listen to a podcast inspired by the book, whether it’s put together by the author, a fellow reader, or me.

If you want to get into a themed night, perhaps the food or decorations will reflect something in the book. Get creative! I once hosted my own Midnight Dinner after reading The Night Circus (iykyk).

How do you determine books for book club?

This also depends on your group! First of all, here are all my tips for how to start a book club of your dreams. Some book clubs prefer to have one person who puts together a reading list, and other book clubs prefer a book club voting system or book club book generator for a more random selection. You can even rotate through different members and their top pick.

I’ve done it several ways in the past, but I think my favorite is for everyone to come prepared with one to three book titles. After all the titles are written on a piece of paper, everyone shares a one-sentence pitch or blurb for the book they want to read.

Then, you pass around the piece of paper, and you put a tally mark next to the title you’re most interested in. Whichever book gets the most tally marks wins!

Do you read the same book in a book club?

Typically, everyone reads the same book so you can have an in-depth discussion. However, that’s not always the case! I’m in a “casual book club” currently where we all meet up at our local bookstore and talk about all the books.

We bounce off each other and gush about all of our latest reads—usually contemporary romance—what we liked and didn’t like, and then we meet around the corner for tacos and margaritas to talk about one book we’ve all read at some point.

What are good rules for a book club?

In general, these are 5 good rules for book clubs:

1. Read books that come with book club discussion guides from the publisher. It’s easier that way.
2. Some readers would prefer to only select books that are available in paperback so no one has to pay an arm and a leg for a hardback.
3. Always disclose content warnings, and if it is a controversial topic, just make sure you know your group and everyone feels safe discussing heavier topics.
4. Reiterate that everyone’s opinions are valid, and disagreement is okay. When we disagree, it makes for a rich discussion. Even so, mutual respect is key. Don’t trash someone’s favorite, and don’t shame someone for not liking it, period.
5. Come prepared to talk spoilers. If someone hasn’t read the book and they are planning to join that month, make sure it’s clear that it’s a spoiler zone. Nothing makes a book club fizzle out more than if you’re trying to appease everyone by making it a spoiler-free club. Trust me on this one.

If you’re looking for a low-pressure book club to get all the best recommendations for book club books, check out my virtual book club!

What are some of your favorite book club books of all time? What are your top best book club books for fall? I’d love to know what’s on your radar and what kind of books your book club likes to read!