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The best books out in September

The best books out in September

by Stephen Carlick

1 September 2026

min read

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For some readers, September is the perfect month: we swap t-shirts for big comfy jumpers, and it becomes socially acceptable to spend time indoors, curled up with a great book.

The only thing left to do is pick the right one, and this month it’s easier than ever. Whether you love mind-opening literary fiction, gripping thrillers, thoughtful memoirs, or trenchant cultural criticism about the world we live in, there’s a book for your reading need being released this month.

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Best new fiction

The Disappearers by Marlon James

Out 3rd September

Marlon James’ latest novel returns to Jamaica, the setting of his Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings. Set in 1988, The Disappearers begins with a casting call for a queer play, where the actors gathered are violently attacked leaving one dead, two missing, and everyone injured. In the aftermath, each survivor reckons with the horrific events of the attack – anger, avoidance, acceptance, or otherwise – in this stirring, intimate story that offers an unflinching exploration of homophobia in Jamaican society.

Read it if you like: James Baldwin, Booker Prize-winning novels, Girl, Woman, Other: Big Little Lies, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Lisa Jewell

Farewell to Eden by Sebastian Faulks

Out 17th September

In Sebastian Faulks’ new work of historical fiction, soldier Philip Deval has just arrived in Palestine from the beaches of Normandy, on a peacekeeping mission during the final days of the British Mandate. As conflict simmers beneath the surface, Philip’s time in the region reflects a period of huge personal and historic significance, which will continue to reverberate decades later in his life and pose questions about how we find our humanity and moral compass again in the wake of terrible suffering.

Read it if you like: Historical fiction, Barbara Kingsolver, William Boyd

Switzy by Emma Cline

Out 10th September

The few things David – an ageing executive on the last voyage of his life – knows, he holds close: his assistant will take care of the details of the trip, he’ll have dinner with his daughter in London, then stop in France, and end in Zurich. But the journey is the destination in this Booker-longlisted novel that offers an emotionally rich, darkly funny portrait of a mind – and with it, a whole life – unravelling.

Read it if you like: Elizabeth Strout, Sorrow and Bliss, Departure(s)

Hollywood, Ending by John Green

Out 22nd September

The number-one bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars returns to fiction with this searing new novel about the blurring of private lives and public consumption. Young actors Kai Laramie and Juniper Castillo have just been cast in a buzzy new Andy Warhol biopic, but as their stars rise and they begin to fall in love, their personal lives become just as hot a commodity as the film…

Read it if you like: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Such a Fun Age Hawkins, Gone Girl, Stieg Larsson

Welcome to the Kokoro Cat Clinic by Syou Ishida

Out 24th September

Welcome to the Kokoro Cat Clinic is the third instalment in Syou Ishida’s beloved Kokoro Cat Clinic series, in which each visitor to Dr. Nikké walks away with a prescribed feline companion. Using this framework, Ishida stitches together the stories of a host of characters – people burdened by guilt, anxiety, stress – into something bigger: a compassionate, complex portrait of humanity itself.

Read it if you like: Healing fiction, What You Are Looking for is in the Library, Tsubaki Stationery Store Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Roddy Doyle

Turncloak by L. K. Steven

Out 17th September

With Saffron Killoran now undercover in the Bloodmoon gang, L. K. Steven’s Silvercloak romantasy series is heating up. Saffron is learning to harness her long-dormant Timeweaver power, rivals are closing in quickly, and the fate of Atherin lies in the balance. But will bringing the Bloodmoons’ empire down and fixing past mistakes make Saffron a hero – or will her quest make her the villain?

Read it if you like: Sarah J. Maas, epic romantasy, Fourth Wing

The Strangers by Naomi Alderman

Out 17th September

In this captivatingly original novel about grief, novelist Naomi Alderman – the story’s protagonist – is mourning the loss of her mother when she discovers a new critter: badger-sized, trunk-nosed ‘mimmoths’. As they proliferate worldwide, Naomi can’t help but feel as though she shares a special connection to these odd, clever, enigmatic beings: is it her changing the world, or the world changing around her?

Read it if you like: The Goldfinch, Haruki Murakami

Cold Sunset by William Boyd

Out 3rd September

In Cold War-era Moscow: nothing and nobody can be trusted. For Gabriel Dax, travel writer and reluctant spy, that means even the motives of Kit Caldwell, noted defector, and Faith Green, his mysterious handler, must be weighed up with precision, and every decision made intuitively. But by the end of William Boyd’s latest thriller, Gabriel will have to pick a side – and pick carefully.

Read it if you like: Sebastian Faulks, Robert Harris, classic spy thrillers

Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson

Out 10th September

In this witty, charming novel, acclaimed novelist Kate Atkinson explores post-war life in Britain through the protagonist Harry Flynn, a foreign correspondent turned war reporter trying to help bring the celebratory ‘Festival of Britain’ to life. But just as Harry’s life seems to be picking up, a scruffy dog and its precocious 13-year-old owner raise more questions than Harry’s got answers for…

Read it if you like: Jonathan Coe, Bonnie Garmus

The Housekeeper by Rose Tremain

Out 17th September

In The Housekeeper, Rose Tremain invents a world in which Daphne Du Maurier, researching her forthcoming novel, visits the grand mansion of Manderville Hall, only to fall deeply in love with its housekeeper, Danni. When the novel is published, however, Danni is distraught to find herself portrayed as jealous and cruel. The Housekeeper details her response, in which she sets the record straight by recounting her own experience.

Read it if you like: Rebecca, sapphic romances, Circe. Stedman, Elizabeth Strout, John Boyne

Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

Out 10th September

Fleeing a troubled past, Dan and his daughter Sadie move to Serenity Falls, a perfect town where crime simply doesn’t happen. But when a series of unsettling events bubble up ahead of the town’s 50th anniversary, beginning with a dead body in Dan’s pool, it begins to transpire that Serenity Falls is harbouring a dark secret – and its citizens want it kept under wraps…

Read it if you like: Stephen King, Claire Douglas, Americana horror

Best new non-fiction

An Unexpected Life by Gloria Steinem

Out 22nd September

In this long-awaited memoir from the journalist, activist and feminist icon, Gloria Steinem reflects with warmth, humour and insight on the ordinary moments that shaped her extraordinary life. From her childhood in Toledo, Ohio to landmark moments in the struggle for women’s rights, An Unexpected Life shines a light on the women who paved the way before Steinem, inspiring readers to continue in her trail-blazing footsteps.

Read it if you like: Feminist theory, bell hooks, Simone de Beauvoir

Swan Song by Charles Spencer

Out 22nd September

In this intimate, poignant biography, we are offered an illuminating portrayal of Princess Diana by her brother Charles Spencer, who knew it better than almost anyone. From their inseparable childhood to her final night in August 1997, this powerfully candid yet lovingly written book is the closest readers will get to understanding the life and tragic death of the people’s princess.

Read it if you like: Betrayal by Tom Bower, Spare

All the Wrong Moves by Anthony Scaramucci

Out 17th September

This searing book from the former White House communications director and current host of The Rest is Politics: US podcast astutely tells the story of how history, business and culture converged to deliver this age of cynicism and deeply rooted division. Though unsparing in its analysis, the “money-point-of-view history” of All the Wrong Moves still argues that, against all odds, there is a way forward.

Read it if you like: American politics, The Shock Doctrine, Rory Stewart: Dolly Alderton, All About Love, Annie Lord

Get Back by Hunter Davies

Out 17th September

In this latest book from author Hunter Davies, the only authorised biographer of The Beatles, digs deep into his personal archives. Drawing from stacks of notebooks filled with interviews with friends, teachers, girlfriends and, of course, John, Paul, George and Ringo themselves, Get Back unearths the early days of the world’s biggest band with unprecedented closeness and intimacy.

Read it if you like: The Beatles by Hunter Davies, pop music history and biographies

Journey Across Japan by Chris Broad

Out 24th September

If you’ve never been to Japan – or even better, if you have – this is the perfect travel accompaniment. Written by bestselling author of Abroad in Japan Chris Broad, who has visited all of its 47 prefectures, Journey Across Japan shows you the country far beyond its major tourist hubs, taking us to the far-flung areas of natural beauty, mountain-top towns and ancient tea houses that lie off the beaten track.

Read it if you like: New travel perspectives, Colin Thubron

Plot Twist by Harlan Coben

Out 24th September

In this rare mix of memoir and storytelling lesson, Harlan Coben – one of the world’s best thriller writers and a master of the narrative form – opens up about his life and writing process. Whether you’re a fan of Coben’s thrillers, an aspiring writer, or both, this inspiring, instructive book provides a career’s worth of advice on how to forge a successful creative life.

Read it if you like: Thrillers, How NOT to Write a Novel

Freedom Under Grace by Pope Leo XIV, Robert F. Prevost

Out 15th September

For his first book, current Pope Leo XIV, aka Robert F. Prevost, chose to publish this collection of previously unpublished essays, appropriately subtitled Reflections on the Spiritual Tradition That Formed Me. Less a memoir than a collection of wisdom, Prevost’s writings paint a vision of a world guided by community and social justice – informed by the teachings of Jesus Christ himself.

Read it if you like: Progressive faith-based guidance, Pope Leo XIV by Elise Ann Allen

Redwood by Ben Macintyre

Out 10th September

In this true story of Cold War espionage, a mysterious double agent, known only as Redwood, has a sexual secret to hide – one that could ruin his life. It prompts him to reach out to MI6, with information that may just save the world from nuclear Armageddon. Drawing on interviews with officers from MI6, MI5, the KGB, and the CIA, this is a must-read for espionage enthusiasts.

Read it if you like: The Spy and the Traitor, Cold War history, spy thrillers

The History of Mankind in Its Entirety (Abridged) by Fin Taylor

Out 10th September

Fin Taylor isn’t just the host of the irreverently funny ‘Fin vs History’ podcast; he’s also an “academic pariah and pseudo-historian” far more interested in cracking wise about history than treating it with reverence. This History of Mankind in Its Entirety, abridged to remove the bits Taylor finds unbearably boring, is therefore the perfect read for anyone who loves history but prefers a laugh.

Read it if you like: Fin vs History, Unruly by David Mitchell

End Times Fascism by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor

Out 15th September

In this level-headed analysis of the frightening state of our world, Naomi Klein and writer, organiser, documentary-maker Astra Taylor take a microscope to the new elite of the far right – Silicon Valley magnates, religious fundamentalists, and billionaires – and what their cruelly individualist, resource-hoarding vision of the future could mean for the welfare of democracy, people, and our planet. Through this lens, Klein and Astra propose a bold, community-driven plan for changing that future.

Read it if you like: The Good Ancestor, Naomi Klein’s cultural criticism

Nights Out in the Kitchen by Jay Rayner

Out 3rd September

Following the success of Nights Out at Home, esteemed writer Jay Rayner returns with Nights Out in the Kitchen, comprising a further collection of recipes and anecdotes from his experiences as a restaurant critic. Some recipes here are based on Jay’s favourite dishes from restaurants; others are family favourites from home. Between them, throughout this warm, passion-infused book, are stories about food and a life spent in thrall to it.

Read it if you like: Yotam Ottolenghi, Nigella Lawson, waxing poetic about food

How to Be Hopeful by Caitlin Moran

Out 17th September

Exhausted by doomscrolling and at peak-level anxiety, Caitlin Moran yearned for a grand gesture, an escape: like moving to the country or embarking on a life-affirming epic walk. Instead, she opted for something smaller: she began picking up litter in her community, donating blood, gardening, taking bus journeys without the crutch of headphones – and in the process, found a way to love the world again. This book might just help you do the same.

Read it if you like: Atomic Habits, Manifest, feeling hopeful

Fictional Selves by Kyle MacLachlan

Out 29th September

In this long-awaited memoir, beloved actor – and now “the internet’s dad” – Kyle MacLachlan (Blue Velvet, Showgirls, Twin Peaks, Sex and the City) shares his unique life story, from his inauspicious Hollywood debut to his fruitful relationship with director David Lynch. Wry, earnest, insightful, and self-aware, Fictional Selves is as endearing as it is unflinchingly honest – not unlike MacLachlan himself.

Read it if you like: Refreshingly honest Hollywood memoirs, David Lynch

New paperbacks out this month

Discover more reading inspiration with our roundup of the best new paperbacks of 2026.

Middleland

Rory Stewart (Author)

Buy from:

Clearing the Air

Hannah Ritchie (Author)

Buy from:

Book of Lives

Margaret Atwood (Author)

Buy from:

Craftland

James Fox (Author)

Buy from:

A History of England in 25 Poems

Catherine Clarke (Author)

Buy from:

Indignity

Lea Ypi (Author)

Buy from:

Caller Unknown

Gillian McAllister (Author)

Buy from:

A Deadly Episode

Anthony Horowitz (Author)

Buy from:

The Wax Child

Olga Ravn (Author) , Martin Aitken (Translator)

Buy from:

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny

Kiran Desai (Author)

Buy from:

A Theory of Dreaming

Ava Reid (Author)

Buy from:

Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief

Benjamin Stevenson (Author)

Buy from:

There Is No Antimemetics Division

qntm (Author)

Buy from:

Greedy

Callie Kazumi (Author)

Buy from:

Earth Angel

Madeline Cash (Author)

Buy from:

How to Hold Someone in your Heart

Mizuki Tsujimura (Author) , Yuki Tejima (Translator)

Buy from:

Best new audiobooks

These new audiobooks feature star-studded narrators, a full cast of actors bringing characters to life, and heartfelt narrations from the authors themselves – making them the perfect choice for an immersive listening experience.

Protocols

Andrew Huberman (Author) , Andrew Huberman (Read by)

Buy from:

Hollywood, Ending

John Green (Author) , Zachary Chastain (Read by) , Julia Whelan (Read by) , John Green (Read by)

Buy from:

The Strangers

Naomi Alderman (Author) , Naomi Alderman (Read by)

Buy from:

Serenity Falls

C. J. Tudor (Author) , Jot Davies (Read by) , Iola Evans (Read by) , Christopher Ragland (Read by) , Hunter Johns (Read by) , Jill Winternitz (Read by) , Laurel Lefkow (Read by)

Buy from:

The best books out in September

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Best new fiction

The best books of 2026

Debut novels to read this year

New paperbacks to read in 2026

Best new non-fiction

New autobiography books and memoirs to read this year

Fascinating books about Psychology

The ultimate guide to Dark Academia

Extract: The Winter Guest by Karen Swan

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