October is another big month for new book releases, with a number of highly anticipated sequels and fantastic new releases hitting shelves. Whether you’re looking to lean into a good thriller or horror, with Halloween fast approaching, or want something to curl up with as the temperatures start to dip, here are the October books that you won’t want to miss out on.
Missed September’s roundup, or want to see more of my bookish recommendations? You’ll find them right here. And for audiobook lovers, we've also found a brilliant new deal that you may find hard to resist.
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
Release date: October 7
While it might be the fourth Freida McFadden book to be published in 2025, The Intruder just so happens to be one of her best.
With a ‘cabin in the woods’ setting and an incoming storm threatening to sweep in, Casey’s biggest concern is that the cabin’s ramshackle roof won’t survive the night. That is, until she finds a young girl lurking outside. Not only is she alone, but she’s covered in blood, holding a knife and won’t offer up an explanation as to how she stumbled across the remote location.
Will offering her a place to wait out the storm be the biggest mistake that Casey has ever made? Or could there be more to the story? From her trademark twists to a dual POV that keeps you on the edge of your seat, just who is this intruder, and what does she have planned?
The Rose Field: The Book of Dust Vol. 3 by Philip Pullman
Release date: October 23
It might have been six years since the last instalment in The Book Of Dust series; however, the third book is well worth the wait.
When readers last saw Lyra, she was alone in the deserted ruins of a city haunted by daemons, as she searched for Pantalaimon. At the same time, Malcolm is looking for Lyra, with all three following the trail of roses said to hold the secret of Dust.
This most recent outing sees their paths converge, and in doing so, they must accept the help of everyone from spies and thieves to gryphons and witches.
Moving east, towards the red building that will reunite them and give them the answers they’ve been searching for, the Magisterium is moving in the same direction, with everything that Lyra cares about being on the line.
Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Release date: October 7
Returning with his first novel in almost a decade, Joe Hill is known for his cinematic storytelling, with many of his hit stories making their way onto our screens. His latest tale follows student and bookish dreamer, Arthur, who finds himself being forced to steal the rare and valuable books from the college library by a duo of local drug dealers.
With no idea how to get out of the predicament, he turns to his closest friends for help. The plan they put together involves summoning a fabled dragon, King Sorrow, but even though they don’t anticipate it will actually work.
The story sees the six of them enter into a deadly bargain whereby each year they will need to choose a new sacrifice for King Sorrow to stop it consuming one of them.
With unexpected consequences that none of them can predict or control, this almost 900-page beast of a book just went to the top of our TBR (to be read) list.
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Release date: October 7
Even though many of us may know Reese Witherspoon as an actor, she’s been involved with all things books for a while now. From her beloved book club, which still offers up brilliant recommendations to this day, to her production company, bringing books such as Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere and Where the Crawdads Sing to our screens, it’s probably not too surprising that she would write a book. And her very first one sees her team up with crime writer Harlan Coben to tell the story of Maggie McCabe, a renowned army combat surgeon.
After a series of personal tragedies befall her, Maggie finds herself being thrown a lifeline by a former colleague, an elite surgeon whose anonymous clientele demands the very best care–and discretion–money can buy. But when her patient, one of the world’s most mysterious men, suddenly disappears while under her care, she must go off-grid and become a fugitive herself, or she could be next.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
Release date: October 28 (US) and October 30 (UK)
Combining fantasy, an epic love story and some time travel, The Everlasting revolves around a legendary lady knight and the historian who has been sent back in time to ensure that her story is told correctly. What they don’t realise is the forces at work, beyond their control, which will intertwine their fates.
The orphaned girl who became a knight and died for her queen and country, Sir Una Everlasting inspired an entire nation. And her legacy and legend live on to this day through songs, stories and recruiting posters. But her life, as it truly happened, has been forgotten. It’s only centuries later that failed soldier and struggling scholar, Owen, has the chance to rewrite history and change both of their lives in the process.
Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews
Release date: October 28 (US) and October 30 (UK)
Giving us the gothic vibes that many of us (myself included) crave at this time of year, this story follows Evander. After being taken in by a reclusive billionaire, he moves to the Hazelthorn estate, and there are rules that he must follow.
Namely, that he can never leave the property, go out into the gardens or be alone with Laurie, the boy who tried to kill him seven years ago. But when his guardian is killed and Hazelthorn and his vast wealth are left to Evander, the one person that he has been warned to stay away from might be the only one who can help him find the murderer before they come for him next.
Brilliantly blending YA (young adult) horror and a queer dark romance, Evander quickly realises that what he has inherited might not be all that it seems. With secrets abound and the outdoors and overgrown garden ominously seeping inside, he must discover what is happening before Hazelthorn's exterior demands to be fed.
Boom Town by Nic Stone
Release date: October 14
Already drawing comparisons to Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, mixed with the TV show P-Valley, Boom Town transports readers to Atlanta’s most notorious gentlemen's club and follows former headliner Michah, stage name Lyriq, as she attempts to discover exactly what is going on after a new daytime dancer doesn’t clock in for her shift. With her former partner–and lover–vanishing under similar circumstances, this isn’t a one-off.
What ensues is a slow-burning mystery thriller that pulls you into the city’s underworld as Michah stirs up a whole lot of privilege, power and deceit. And as she does so, she soon begins to wonder whether her search for the truth and the missing women could be putting her own life in danger.
The Lucky Ride by Yasushi Kitagawa
Release date: October 7
Fans of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library will surely enjoy this heartwarming and hopeful tale. Translated from Japanese by Takami Nieda, The Lucky Ride questions what life would be like if luck weren’t completely random. What if it is something that you build up over time and comes as a result of the choices that you make and the positive energy that you bring into the world?
The story follows “the unluckiest man in Japan” as he–and we, as readers–go on a journey of self-discovery. At a crossroads in his life, that all changes when he meets a mysterious taxi driver who offers him the chance to change his fortunes. This is a book about recognising opportunities, embracing happiness and destiny, while discovering what matters. And it’s certainly one that you won’t forget in a hurry.
Editor's Pick: Daedalus is Dead by Seamus Sullivan
Release date: October 2
Hello! Editor Robert Anderson selfishly chiming in with my own little bonus suggestion this month as well. I love all of Ellis’ picks, and think she’s done a brilliant job at making me want to pick up every single one of them. For my top pick for this month, it’s something a little more obscure.
Daedalus is Dead is a novella by debut author Seamus Sullivan, and features an emotional reimagining of the Greek myth of Daedalus, focusing on his relationship with his son Icarus, alongside King Minos, Ariadne, and the Minotaur.
I went into this as a lover of all Greek myths, but this fresh take really blew me away, especially the use of a second person narrative; it truly gripped me from start to finish. They say the best stories stick with you long after you’ve finished them, and I still haven’t stopped thinking about Daedalus is Dead.
Ellis is a freelance journalist, based in the UK, with a love of all things books. She also routinely chairs bookish events up and down the country, getting the scoop from some of the biggest and bestselling authors to keep you in the know.
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