8 Fall Book Releases to Preorder Now

Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison (September 1, 2026)

This book really surprised me. I’ve been a Rachel Harrison fan for a while now, but WOW. For a horror novel that gets pretty darn graphic at times, Kiss Slay Replay offered a surprisingly philosophical consideration of questions about what’s really important in life. I loved that the main character, Willa, had broken off her engagement despite all the social pressures on her. More than that, the portrayal of her friendships in all their cute, annoying, deep-rooted glory felt realistic and made (of all things) a time loop slasher feel relatable. Also, there were lots of laugh-out-loud moments in this one because, you know: slasher + time loop + wedding = shenanigans.

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With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling (September 8, 2026)

If you’re on the hunt for a cozy romance with Halloween vibes, look no further. With All My Haunted Heart delivers a talented (but disgraced) witch, her sexy-baker love interest, and an adorable soon-to-be-haunted bed and breakfast. Sterling’s twist on a haunted house tale is that Pippa needs to use her witchy powers to haunt an ordinary B&B. It was really interesting to see how Pippa thought about the ghosts who would be right for the haunting. Alongside this professional challenge, Pippa, her college bestie Xander, and his childhood bestie (and Pippa’s love interest) Elle create the kind of found family that helps each other navigate traumas (past and present). The book’s treatment of grief and loss is incredibly well done (which makes special sense if you read the author’s note at the end).

Cloud Runner: Poems by Joy Harjo (October 13, 2026)

Joy Harjo’s poetry has always been accessible—and this is coming from someone who used to be scared of reading poetry. This evocative collection is no different in that regard, although it did feel distinct from her previous work to me. I think this is because while her poetry always brings in deeply personal experiences, Cloud Runner moves through Harjo’s grief upon losing her daughter to cancer. At its heart, the collection is an homage to the bond between mother and child. It’s an immersive, musical experience (which fans of the 23rd US Poet Laureate will recognize as a signature aspect of her work) that blends Harjo’s personal grief with Indigenous (Muscogee) mythos and epistemologies. It is one of the most tender poetry collections I’ve ever encountered.

Love You to Death by Jenna Levine (October 13, 2026)

If you’ve read Jenna Levine’s My Vampires series, you’re familiar with her trademark blend of humor, spice, and morbidity—elements which are definitely present in her latest book. And, okay, there aren’t any vampires in Love You to Death…but there is a really hot Grim Reaper. Twentysomething protag Lucy was vivacious and fun, and the depiction of her relationship with her sister was really well done. The slow burn romance with Daniel (Lucy’s Reaper) was exceptionally sweet, and Levine delivered on the spice later in the book. I also especially enjoyed the characters’ individual journeys toward self-acceptance.

Savage Lake by Nick Medina (October 27, 2026)

If Summerween is all about bringing the chills and thrills of Halloween into the warm summer months, Nick Medina’s latest book is the inverse of that. Set at a lakeside cabin in a secluded (and extremely racist) midwestern community, it brings summer camp vibes into a cabin-in-the-woods horror story. And it does it so well. Poor teenage Oscar: struggling to ease his mom’s mental health issues and dealing with a potential crush, all while trying to figure out if the creepy occurrences and slasher-style visions he’s having are real or the results of watching too many horror films. Medina deftly weaves together classic horror tropes and Bigfoot mythologies with social issues like racism and settler colonialism. The result is an amazing book that will have you reading through the night to figure out who’s behind the murders plaguing so-called Savage Lake.

The Love Operation by Melissa R. Collings (November 1, 2026)

This one was a unique read—and I mean that in a very good way. Melissa R. Collings has written a delightfully strong and human protagonist in Cord. It’s (still) refreshing to encounter a smart, capable woman like this character, and Cord is all that while also managing to be relatable. The premise of the book—a speculative twist on a memory study—was also fascinating and allowed for a thoughtful exploration of how we remember (and regret) the past. This one’s as much a fun take on the second-chance trope as it is a well-crafted study of human nature.

Sunflower Season by Danica Nava (November 3, 2026)

Danica Nava’s latest is a small-town romance about childhood sweethearts whose love story was abruptly interrupted by grief. When June quits her job in big tech (and oooh, what a mic-dropping moment that is!), she moves back home to Oklahoma to reclaim her family’s land and revive a sunflower farm. There are so many well-written comedic moments in this one, right alongside the big drama that sometimes attends small-town politics. And love interest Noah is a great character because his love for June means he’s determined to meet her where she is, trauma and all, no matter what the rumor mill says about the slow pace of their rekindling relationship.

An Edge Sharp Enough by Jesse Q. Sutanto (November 17, 2026)

I love it when authors try new things, and that’s exactly what this book is. Jesse Q. Sutanto is one of my favorite authors when it comes to hilarious and empowering cozy fiction, so I was super excited when I learned about this work of epic fantasy. And let me tell you: Sutanto does not disappoint. Featuring four characters from very different walks of life whose worlds come crashing together, this first part of an anticipated duology kept me on my toes every step of the way. It’s hard to decide whether I loved Sutanto’s character development or her richly layered worldbuilding more.