The Best Bingeworthy Books Out This October, According to Goodreads Editors and Readers
From Sarah J. Maas to Freida McFadden, these reads deserve a spot on your TBR
Key Takeaways
- October brings new books spanning romantasy, thrillers, science fiction and literary fiction.
- Sarah J. Maas, Freida McFadden and V. E. Schwab headline October's new book releases.
- From a Massachusetts estate to a fantasy world, these stories are the perfect fall escape.
It’s officially October, which means it’s time to curl up on the couch with a good book. Not sure what to read? No worries! Goodreads users and editors have you covered! The popular bookish app recently revealed the titles their users and editors are most excited for this month, and trust us when we say there is something for everyone. To learn our top seven picks, keep scrolling!
‘A Court of Splintered Harmony’ by Sarah J. Maas
After years of waiting, readers are finally getting the sixth book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series. Far away, the dangerous Koschei the Deathless is stirring and its presence is disrupting both the fae and the mortal lands. The only ones that can stop him are the members of the Night Court, who are still trying to piece themselves together after the deadly Hybern war. A magical story filled with love and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. (Out October 27, 2026)
What early Goodreads users are saying: Most of the time readers get early copies of books, but there haven’t been any sent out for this title yet.
‘Partita’ by Barbara Kingsolver
From the bestselling author of Demon Copperhead comes another moving tale. Livia Cable lives a quiet life on a farm. She’s happy there. But when a phone call from a past lover comes in, everything changes. What her family doesn’t know is that years ago, she went by the name Livia Bohusz and was a talented pianist who fell in love with a man. Now that man is back in her life and Livia isn’t sure if she’s ready to reveal her secrets. A beautiful dual-timeline story. (Out October 6, 2026)
What early Goodreads users are saying: “Oh my goodness, I love Barbara Kingsolver. Demon Copperhead, The Poisonwood Bible, Prodigal Summer are all favorites of mine. I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book. I loved Livia and related to her so much—making big decisions that you question, life taking unexpected turns, learning to take the good with the bad. And of course, the book is typical Barbara Kingsolver; brilliantly written, beautiful prose, a story that keeps the reader second guessing. It was amazing!”
‘Victorious’ by V.E. Schwab
The third book in V.E. Schwab’s bestselling Villains series follows Eli Ever and Victor Vale, who went from best friends to enemies and now are each other’s shadows. And they aren’t the only ones. All around the world there are enemies and allies fighting to the death to try and survive, and now they’re on a brand-new playing field that none of them could have seen coming. A mysterious, magical tale with an ending no one will see coming. (Out October 6, 2026)
What early Goodreads users are saying: “Such a well-crafted culmination of this trilogy with callbacks to the previous two books and tying up loose ends. The story of how power corrupts and ego is man’s own downfall is perfectly encapsulated. Victor Vale is one of my favorite characters ever. So layered, complex and flawed. Is he a villain? Is he a hero? Can you be a hero if you’ve done bad things? Can you be a villain if you do good for some? If you right your wrongs? Eli is his perfect foil because who knows us better than our enemy, and who could we hate more than someone we also love?”
‘The Tulip Poplars’ by Silas House
Set in 1990s Kentucky, this novel follows Amos and Tom, two men who fall in love one summer. Tom knows his religious family will never support the relationship, so he decides to make a different decision. Elsewhere, Tom’s friend Maeve also loves a man she cannot have, and it’s tearing her apart. Inspired by the real-life experiences of author Silas House, this novel will make readers laugh and cry.
What Goodreads editors are saying: “You know what your Want to Read shelf needs? A lush tale of forbidden love spanning the 20th century! Get ready for yearning, passion, and, I suspect, a few tears. At the heart of this tale are two couples kept apart by convention and prejudice.”
‘The Witch’ by Freida McFadden
From the bestselling author of The Housemaid comes another chilling tale. After losing her job and apartment, Julia Barlowes escapes to her family’s 17th-century estate in rural Massachusetts. But when weird things begin to happen around the house, Julia is forced to realize that the home might be haunted. As she continues to investigate, Julia learns that a woman was executed nearby for witchcraft in 1692 and she is still holding a grudge. (Out October 6, 2026)
What early Goodreads users are saying: “I think this is my favourite Freida McFadden book I’ve read so far! This book gave me the same thrill and excitement I had whilst reading The Housemaid a few years back, and I honestly couldn’t put it down!”
‘Mortal Things’ by Marie Lu
Marie Lu’s best selling dystopian series Legend put her on the map, and now she’s back with a brand-new epic tale. Rose Lin Fairchild might not believe in gods, but that didn’t stop Raven, the god of death, from choosing her to be his Harbinger, a human tasked with doing whatever a god wants. If it were up to her, she would quit, but being a Harbinger is the only thing keeping her best friend alive. Then, when a murder rocks the world of the gods, Rose is thrust into their immortal realm as Raven’s heir, which might be her chance to free her best friend. The only thing standing in her way is Étienne Beauchard, a handsome Harbinger who has secrets that could destroy the world. A genre-bending tale that will leave readers turning the pages long into the night. (Out October 27, 2026)
What early Goodreads users are saying: “Can we also talk about the plot twists?!? Because they just kept on coming! There was a point in the book where my mouth was hanging open for a full minute. Safe to say that I was SHOCKED. This book was just impossible to put down (I mean I read it in like 24 hours lol).”
‘Broken Rival’ by Tessa Bailey
From bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes her first science-fiction tale. Magnolia Brown is a typical 18-year-old who loves school, swim meets and Friday night football. But one thing sets her apart: She’s from 50 years in the future. As she navigates her reality, she finds herself caught between two Kansas brothers—Fallon, her high school sweetheart, and Ramsey, the militia commander who hunts and kills time travelers like her. As Magnolia spends more time with the brothers, secrets emerge and relationships are put to the test. (Out October 6, 2026)
What early Goodreads users are saying: “I went into Broken Rival not knowing what to expect with Tessa Bailey stepping outside the rom-coms that we know and love, and I’m still sitting here trying to process how much this story unabashedly moved me! I stayed up until 3 a.m. and read this in one sitting because I could not put it down. I needed to see it through, and I wasn’t ready to leave it when I got there. It’s definitely a book I wanted to savor and draw out just so it never ended, but in the same breath, I HAD to know what happened next.”
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