Rebecca Yarros, Jodi Picoult and More Bestselling Authors Recommend Their Favorite Fall Books (Exclusive)

We asked 14 of the best writers in fiction, thriller, romance, fantasy and literary fiction to add to our fall reading list

Fall brings crisp autumn breezes, new school supplies for the kids (and kids-at-heart) and a fresh crop of great books. We asked some of the best authors writing in fiction, thriller, fantasy, romance and literary fiction what they're reading and loving this fall because the only thing better than wandering into a bookstore and picking up whatever calls to you is having an expert recommendation to guide the way.

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You'll see old favorites on this list, like Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Sophie Kinsella as well as fantastic authors whose names you may not recognize — yet! With a list like this, you've got no excuse not to hit the books this fall, even if your school days are far in the rearview.

The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley

Fiercely visceral and exquisitely written, The Lightning Bottles is an ode to rock and roll, the 90s and the power of music to hurt and heal in equal measure. This one will satisfy readers looking for a tumultuous love story, as well as those in the mood for a twisty mystery. Be prepared for the wildly talented, charismatic duo that is The Lightning Bottles to take up permanent residence in your head and heart. — Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of Till Death Do Us Part

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'The Last One' by Rachel Howzell Hall

Masterful storytelling with a female protagonist worth rooting for, The Last One will make readers gasp. Rachel Howzell Hall may be a new voice in this genre, but her thriller-writing skills are on full display in this exhilarating romantasy. — Rebecca Yarros, author of Fourth Wingand Onyx Storm (coming January 2025)

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Related: Rebecca Yarros Has a New Book Coming — And It's Full of Family Drama (Exclusive)

'Alter Ego' by Alex Segura

I blurbed Alex Segura's Secret Identity a few years ago and the sequel, Alter Ego, is also an amusing look at the comic books industry with crime and mystery elements. A perfect follow-up novel. — Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of Mexican Gothic and The Seventh Veil of Salome

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'Echoes of Us' by Joy Jordan-Lake

Joy Jordan-Lake’s Echoes of Us, set in Saint Simons Island, Ga., during WWII and the present day, has all the page-turning goodies that historical fiction lovers devour: love, loss, secrets, sacrifices, courageous pursuits, a powerful female protagonist (yes, please) and a richly entangled love story that claws at the heartstrings and spans decades. Masterful, daring and unputdownable, Jordan-Lake’s gripping new novel soars. — Lisa Barr, author ofThe Goddess of Warsaw

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'Another Lost Girl' by Mary Burton

I love stories that start at a dark place in the past and reignite in the present, and Mary Burton doesn't disappoint with Another Lost Girl. Ten years ago, 15-year-old Scarlett Crosby went through a terrifying ordeal with a girl named Della. Scarlett escaped, but Della vanished.

A decade later, Scarlett is trying to move on when a girl's body is discovered with a connection to Scarlett's horrific past and all her old traumas resurface. As does Della. Drama, intrigue, suspense and an eerie sense of foreboding made this one of my favorite reads of 2024. — Matthew Farrell, author of the Adler & Dwyer thriller series and The Woman at Number 6

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'The Truth According to Ember' by Danica Nava

Danica Nava is such a fresh new voice in romance, and I loved her debut The Truth According to Ember.When Chickasaw woman Ember Lee gets rejected for yet another job where there's obvious bias at play, she decides to take matters into her own hands and just ... not disclose that part of her identity in her job applications. What's the harm, right?

But then she's surprised to meet fellow Native Danuwoa Colson, the swoony IT guy who can also make her short-circuit a little. One small white lie ends up spinning out of control in ways she couldn't have predicted. If you love grounded, character-driven romance, if you want to feel those butterflies in your stomach every time they touch, you need to read this book! — Alicia Thompson, author of The Art of Catching Feelings

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Related: Essential Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir and Short Stories by Native American and Indigenous Authors to Add to Your List

'All Signs Point to Malibu' by Jennifer Snow

A spicy enemies-to-lovers dream so full of delicious tension and chemistry that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! With its clever speculative twist, All Signs Point to Malibu uniquely explores connections in every sense — love, friendship, forces bigger than ourselves. The perfect read for anyone who loves a magical twist of fate with their romance! — Holly James, author of Name Your Price

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'What Does it Feel Like?' by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella’s What Does It Feel Like? is the most courageous book I’ve ever read - it is a fictionalized account of the author’s own journey battling a glioblastoma, and looking death in the eye. Not only will you desperately wish for a happy ending to this novel — you’ll be hoping for one for Kinsella in real life. — Jodi Picoult, author of 29 novels, including By Any Other Name

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Related: Shopaholic Author Sophie Kinsella, 54, Diagnosed with 'Aggressive' Brain Cancer: 'It Can Feel Very Lonely'

'The Bachelorette Party' by Sandra Block

Gripping, fast-paced and full of shocking twists —The Bachelorette Party is a perfect fall read. Sandra Block has crafted a breathtaking thriller where a true crime reporter fixated on a chilling serial killer might regret uncovering the truth. Passion, loyalty and murder collide with a vengeance in this cinematic cat-and-mouse thriller. You won’t want to miss this one.” — Hank Phillippi Ryan, author ofOne Wrong Word

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'Warrior of Legend' by Kendare Blake

The anticipation is killing me! I’ve been waiting for Warrior of Legend since the moment I finished the first book. Kendare Blake creates mesmerizing stories that combine elements of fantasy, horror and romance — ramping up the tension until you’re breathless waiting for the next chapter. — Suzanne Young, author of The Program series and founder of writinginitaly.com

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Related: What Is Dark Fantasy? We Asked Author Marianne Gordon to Break It Down

'Everything We Never Had' by Randy Ribay

If you find yourself wanting the drama of a family epic without the enormous page count, check out Randy Ribay's Everything We Never Had. The book follows four generations of Filipino men from the mid-20th century to through the COVID-19 pandemic, and movingly explores what it is to be a father, a son, a boy, a man.

The prose is spare and beautiful, and Ribay packs humor, history and wisdom into every page.” — Sabaa Tahir, author of Heir and National Book Award winner All My Rage

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'The Girls of Skylark Lane' by Robin Benway

Robin Benway perfected the young adult novel with her National Book Award Winner, Far From The Tree. But this fall, Benway brings us her debut middle grade novel, The Girls of Skylark Lane, about twin sisters who join a neighborhood girls softball team at a time when growing up could mean growing apart. It is full of complicated relationships between characters with huge hearts.

As a Los Angeles-based gay dad of twins in middle school, I was so moved by the beautiful, complex, hilarious, heartfelt humanity of twin sisters Aggie and Jac, and of their gay dads, as they all relocate to Los Angeles to start a new chapter in their lives. This is a perfect fall book for middle grade readers and their families. — Abdi Nazemian, author of Desert Echoes

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Related: PEOPLE’s Picks for the Best LGBTQ+ Kids Books for Pride Month

'The Mighty Red' by Louise Erdrich

“The Mighty Red is a family story, its central focus the bond between a mother and daughter, but like all of Louise Erdrich’s novels, the book broadens to tackle such vast subjects as the disregard of humans for our planet and life on the margins during the 2008 economic collapse. It’s a thrilling book that reminds us — as if we needed further proof — that Erdrich is one of this country’s greatest writers.” —Rumaan Alam, author of Leave The World Behindand Entitlement

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'I’ll Have What He’s Having' by Adib Khorram

I'll Have What He's Having by Adib Khorram is a heartfelt romance featuring a new bistro owner and a future sommelier who work together to accomplish their shared career dreams. Although this is Adib's adult debut, he's spent years writing award-winning stories in the young adult genre. This fun, fresh, steamy M/M story is one you don't want to miss! — Nisha Sharma, author of Marriage & Masti and Dating Dr. Dil

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Related: Here's How James Baldwin Changed How One South Asian Author Reads Shakespeare (Exclusive)

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