It’s fall, y’all! Bring on the cozy sweaters, fall leaves, warm drinks, and all the pumpkin treats. If you need some inspiration for what to read this cozy season, I’ve put together a list of some of the most-anticipated fall 2023 fiction books – including general fiction, historical fiction, romance, and more.
(If you’re looking for mysteries and thrillers, check out my list of the most-anticipated thriller books of 2023!).
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Exciting Fall Reads of 2023
In this list, I’m including specific genres: general fiction, literary fiction, romance, short stories, historical fiction, and a bit of magical realism. (Check out my list of fall 2023 fantasy, horror, and science fiction books, too!).
Some of these are fiction books by popular bestselling authors like William Kent Krueger, Kate Atkinson, and Beth O’Leary. Some are buzz-worthy novels with strong reviews on Goodreads. Either way, they’re all fabulous choices for your next read this fall!
Be sure to check out my most-anticipated winter 2024 fiction book releases, too!
Fall 2023 Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction & Romance Books
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction/Mystery
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Synopsis: From the author of This Tender Land comes a new standalone novel set in small-town Minnesota in 1958. When the wealthiest landowner in town is killed on Memorial Day, it sends the entire town into a whirlwind of vicious gossip and accusations – many of which are focused on a Native American World War II veteran.
Release date: September 5th, 2023
The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery/Magical Realism
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Synopsis: This Dickensian historical saga follows a young fortune teller in England in the 1700s. After she’s orphaned, she’s raised as a lady in the town of Bath. But as she grows older, she decides to seek out answers about what happened to her mother – and the mysterious secrets her father kept before he died.
Release date: Sept 5th, 2023
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Genre: Historical/Literary Fiction
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Synopsis: This historical novel follows a servant girl who escapes from a colonial settlement to survive in the wilderness, with nothing but willpower and a handful of possessions. From the author of Fates and Furies.
Release date: September 12th, 2023
Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson
Genre: Short Stories/Literary Fiction
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Synopsis: From the bestselling author of Life After Life comes an interconnected short story collection with sly subversions and wry social commentary. Nothing is quite as it seems in these emotional stories about the human condition.
Release date: Sept 12th, 2023
Wellness by Nathan Hill
Genre: Literary/Contemporary Fiction
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Synopsis: Jack and Elizabeth meet in college in the 1990’s, and quickly fall in love. Twenty years later, they’re married with children, trying to navigate the insanity that is adulthood. Can they come to terms with their disappointments and painful memories in order to continue growing as individuals – and save their marriage?
Release date: Sept 19th, 2023
North Woods by Daniel Mason
Genre: Historical/Literary Fiction
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Synopsis: This sweeping story follows one house in the New England woods, and the many lives who inhabit it across centuries. It’s about memory, fate, the cyclical force of nature, and how we – as humans – interact with our environment.
Release date: Sept 19th, 2023
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Synopsis: This enemies-to-lovers romance novel is about two hotel receptionists who are forced to work together in order to keep the hotel afloat during the holiday season.
Release date: Sept 26th, 2023
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
Genre: Contemporary/Literary Fiction/Magical Realism
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Synopsis: A woman flees to the California desert to escape the sorrows in her life. But what she finds – a strange doorway inside a giant cactus – leads her on an unexpected journey. (From the author of Milk Fed and The Pisces.)
Release date: October 3rd, 2023
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
Genre: Historical/Literary Fiction
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Synopsis: Set in 1921 in Penang, Malaysia, this is a fictional story inspired by true events featuring none other than prolific novelist M. Somerset Maugham.
Release date: October 17th, 2023 (in the U.S.)
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Genre: Historical/Literary Fiction/Magical Realism
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Synopsis: This historical fiction novel – set years before the Civil War – follows an enslaved girl in the American South as she journeys from the Carolinas to New Orleans to a sugar plantation in Louisiana. (From the National Book Award-winning author of Sing, Unburied, Sing.)
Release date: October 24th, 2023
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Magical Realism
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Synopsis: A twenty-something young woman who’s feeling beaten down by life suddenly wakes up inside her dream life – in her 40’s, married with children, with a high-end career. But is it truly what she wants? And if not, can she get those lost years of her life back?
Release date: Nov 12th, 2023
There you have it: some of the most exciting fiction books of fall 2023! Let me know which upcoming book releases you’re most excited for. Happy reading! 🙂
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