Wondering what to read now? Here are all the hot new October 2023 book releases for you. I’ll let you know what I’ve read, what I can’t wait to read, and what’s getting all the attention this month.
In case you’re new to Booklist Queen, every month I cover all the hottest new book releases. I try to read as many new book releases as I can to give you an honest perspective on what to read and what to skip.
However, I realize that my to-read list might not exactly match yours. That’s why I’ve also included some of the most popular October 2023 book releases from your favorite authors.
Enough from me. Let’s get on to the October 2023 book releases so you can fill up your to-read list.
Top October 2023 Book Releases
The Leftover Woman
Jean Kwok
Fleeing her abusive husband, Jasmine Yang arrives in New York from China with no money but a fierce determination to do anything to find the daughter stolen from her due to China’s one-child policy. Meanwhile, publishing executive Rebecca Whitney has a perfect job, marriage, and the most adorable adopted Chinese daughter. When a scandal at work threatens to ruin her marriage, Rebecca and Jasmine find themselves on a shocking collision course.
Going Infinite
Michael Lewis
After tackling the financial sector in The Big Short and Flash Boys, Michael Lewis dives deep into the collapse of the crypto company FTX. Virtually overnight, Sam Bankman-Fried shot onto Forbes’ billionaire list and captivated the world as he played video games during meetings. Lewis paints a character profile of Bankman-Fried, a man who never liked playing by the rules, a trait that lead to immense success and even more immense failure.
Let Us Descend
Jesmyn Ward
Blending magical realism with a reimagining of American slavery, Let Us Descend follows Annis, a Black girl sold South by the white slave master who fathered her. As Annis marches south, she finds solace in thinking of her mother and her warrior African grandmother. Communing with spirits, both good and bad, along the way, Annis’s descent toward the further hell of slavery is a surprising tale of rebirth and reclamation.
My Darling Girl
Jennifer McMahon
Alison has always hated Christmas, but her holiday season gets worse when her mother calls and tells her she only has a few weeks to live. Wanting to repair their relationship, Alison agrees to take in Mavis despite Alison’s traumatic memories of her abusive alcoholic mother. Instead of healing the relationship, Alison begins to realize her mother is not who she thought. Suspecting her mother is possessed by a demon, Alison must decide how far she is willing to go to save her family from this nightmare.
Jennifer McMahon has penned an atmospheric slow-burn horror story that will give you chills. At first, Ali discards her worries since everything is just a shade off, desperately wanting to believe she’s imaging it. By the time Ali realizes the truth, everyone now thinks that Ali is the problem, setting up a cat-and-mouse psychological game that keeps you on edge throughout the second half of the novel
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery/Scout Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 3 October 2023
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People to Follow
Olivia Worley
Ten teenage influencers are invited to a remote island to film “In Real Life,” a reality show where they live unplugged for three weeks. With several friends-turned-enemies invited, the influencers quickly realize that the producers are looking for maximum drama. When the production crew fails to show on the first day and one influencer dies, they realize they are trapped on the island without any way to escape. A mysterious “Sponsor” is pulling strings backstage, revealing their secrets to the entire world as more influencers end up dead.
People to Follow was an over-the-top young adult thriller that was still an addictingly good read for me. At first, I had to make a cheat sheet of all the characters but, once I sorted them all out, I was completely hooked. Worley masterfully manipulates this isolation thriller, adapting the And Then There Were None trope to a younger generation of readers. With plenty of drama and a few excellent twists, People to Follow has all the delicious beach read vibes that make it a quick fun read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 31 October 2023
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The Exchange
John Grisham
In a sequel to his debut thriller, The Firm, John Grisham returns to tell you what happened to Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of his corrupt Memphis law firm. Fifteen years later, Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan where Mitch is a partner in the world’s largest law firm. When Mitch gets caught up in another sinister plot with worldwide implications, he must do all he can to stay one step ahead of his enemies.
What We Kept to Ourselves
Nancy Jooyoun Kim
In 1977, Sunny Kim arrives in Los Angeles with her workaholic husband John and struggles to make a home in America. But a chance encounter at a bus stop leads to long-term consequences. In 1998, John Kim and his adult children are completely upended when Sunny, disappears. A year later, John discovers a stranger’s dead body in his backyard carrying a letter for Sunny and search for the truth threatens everything he thought he knew.
The Most Anticipated October 2023 Book Releases
Judgment Prey
John Sandford
The community of St. Paul is shocked when a wealthy federal judge and his two young sons are shot while playing baseball in their yard. Now his grieving widow looks for answers while deciding whether to continue his planned donation to a local housing charity. When the police are stumped, they call in Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers to find the truth.
Christmas Presents
Lisa Unger
As a teenager, Madeline Martin was the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, who was convicted of murdering her best friend Steph and suspected in the disappearance of two other friends. Now Madeline runs a thriving bookstore while caring for her aging father, the former sheriff. When true-crime podcaster Harley Granger arrives just before Christmas, he suspects there is more to the story. Women are still disappearing and Harley wonders if Evan might have had an accomplice.
Lisa Unger can certainly set a scene with this novella about a decades-ago murder at Christmastime. Christmas Presents had a good mix of tension and twists to keep you wanting more. The novella’s short length made it a very quick read; however, it didn’t leave as much time as I would have liked for character development.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penzler Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 24 October 2023
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
Hidden Potential
Adam Grant
While innate talent has natural advantages, in life, success generally comes more from how well you are willing to learn and develop yourself. Using research and insightful storytelling, Grant shows how you can unlock your hidden potential by building character skills and motivational systems that will help you achieve more.
A Winter in New York
Josie Silver
Moving to New York to escape an abusive ex, Iris is charmed by a family-owned gelato shop in Little Italy that her mom visited decades ago and was given the secret recipe. When Gio, the handsome owner, admits to Iris that his uncle forgot the secret family recipe after a stroke, Iris doesn’t have it in her to admit that she has the key. Not wanting to cause family drama, Iris agrees to help recreate the recipe, but secrets from the past threaten to ruin her new love.
A Winter in New York is a cute little love story that reminds you that honest communication would prevent a whole lot of unnecessary drama. The miscommunication trope among fully-grown adults never sits well with me and I was disappointed Silver didn’t add a more nuanced message like she did in The Two Lives of Lydia Bird and One Day in December. Other than that, A Winter in New York was a pleasant romance with a little steam and mostly adorable characters that worked well as a quick light read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 3 October 2023
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
Family Meal
Bryan Washington
After his boyfriend dies, Cam decides to move back to his hometown and try to start life afresh. Quickly he runs into his former best friend TJ at TJ’s family’s bakery. As Cam and TJ try to navigate their estrangement and build a new friendship as adults, Cam learns that you can find hope in the most unexpected of places.
Sword Catcher
Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare has a new fantasy series set in the hedonistic kingdom of Castellane. Since childhood, Kel has been raised as the Sword Catcher – the body double and personal bodyguard of Prince Conor Aurelian. After an assassination attempt, Kel meets the magical healer Lin. Working together, they become entangled in a corruption scandal that threatens to take down the entire kingdom, making them wonder if the kingdom is even worth saving.
Making It So
Patrick Stewart
Legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart tells of his life, from his humbling beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to his rise to fame in Hollywood. Along the way, he shares a portrait of an artist who has become famous for his Shakespearean roles, as Captain Picard in the Star Trek series, and as Professor Xavier in the X-Men series.
Popular October Upcoming Releases
What October 2023 Book Releases are You Most Excited to Read?
What books can you not wait to get your hands on this month? Did I miss any October 2023 book releases that you are anticipating? As always, let me know in the comments!
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