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Week of September 28, 2026

New in Paperback

Week of September 28, 2026

Paperback releases for the week of September 28th include BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan, a sweeping novel that weaves the intimate lives of two midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late 20th century; ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVERa landmark memoir from Elizabeth Gilbert that will resonate with anyone who has ever been captive to love --- or to any other passion, substance or craving --- and who yearns for liberation; PENDERGAST: THE BEGINNING by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child  which serves as a golden opportunity for longtime fans and newcomers to learn about Agent Pendergast’s strange and shocking first case; and Angela Flournoy's THE WILDERNESS, an era-defining novel about five Black women over the course of their 20-year friendship, as they move through the dizzying and sometimes precarious period between young adulthood and midlife.  

All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert - Memoir/Self-Help

September 29, 2026

In 2000, Elizabeth Gilbert met Rayya. They became friends, then best friends, then inseparable. When tragedy entered their lives, the truth was finally laid bare: The two were in love. They were also a pair of addicts, on a collision course toward catastrophe. What if your most beautiful love story turned into your biggest nightmare? What if the dear friend who taught you so much about your self-destructive tendencies became the unstable partner with whom you disastrously reenacted every one of them? And what if your most devastating heartbreak opened a pathway to your greatest awakening?

The Book of Luke by Lovell Holder - Fiction

September 29, 2026

Following the car accident that ended his football career and left his body scarred, 22-year-old Luke Griffin joins the cast of “Endeavor,” a new competition-based reality show that pits the tabloids’ darlings against one another in tasks of endurance and problem solving. But Luke has aspirations far bigger than the show's million-dollar prize, and soon a series of betrayals leads to irreversible tragedy. Ten years later, Luke is a father of two and the stay-at-home husband to America’s only openly gay senator. When his husband's serial cheating is exposed, Luke impulsively joins the cast of the latest season of “Endeavor” in a desperate bid to earn some fast cash. Back on set, he is confronted with everything he tried to leave in the past, all of which threaten to tear down the walls he’s spent a decade building.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan - Historical Fiction

September 29, 2026

In the jubilant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, shares a single, life-altering moment with Margaret Salt, a woman determined to outrun her past. Cal is married to Becky, whose spiritual gifts help the living speak to the dead, while Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving at sea, believed to be safe --- until a telegram suggests otherwise. What begins as a fleeting transgression becomes a complex secret that irrevocably binds all four of them in unexpected ways. As their small Ohio town remakes itself in the postwar boom, the Salt and Jenkins families remain in each other’s orbit, and the consequences of choices made long ago begin to emerge, reshaping their lives in ways that will forever impact the next generation.

A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber - Romance

September 29, 2026

Avery and Reed Bond grew up sharing a close-knit relationship. Even so, Avery often finds herself exasperated by her brother’s relentless matchmaking, while Reed can’t resist teasing his sister. Facing their first Christmas without their beloved Grams, the woman who lovingly raised them, Reed and Avery decide to spend the holiday together at Reed’s home. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when the ferry Avery is traveling on stalls in the middle of Puget Sound, stranding its passengers and leaving Reed waiting a now undetermined length of time for her arrival. What is at first an inconvenience threatens to ruin the plans of a number of commuters, but Avery and Reed soon discover that this unforeseen delay might end up being a perfectly timed blessing in disguise.

I Think We Should Kill Other People by L.M. Chilton - Mystery & Thriller/Humor

September 29, 2026

Hazel and Marc were paired together on “Love Synced,” a revolutionary reality AI dating show that matches hopeful lovers. But when it came time to say “I do,” Hazel left her perfect match at the altar. Now all she wants to do is fly home. Instead, she’s trapped at a tiny, snowed-in airport with her ex and his obnoxiously rich family. But when they start turning up dead, a jilted lover is the least of Hazel's worries. There’s a serial killer to catch first. The heart is a fickle thing, so it’s no surprise that AI couldn’t predict true love for Hazel. But can it help crack the case when a murderer is picking off her almost-in-laws one by one?

The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill - Fiction

September 29, 2026

It’s been years since the three Ryan sisters were all together at their beloved family home. Two decades ago, their lives were upended by a fatal accident on their brother Topher’s boat. Now the Ryan women are back and eager to reconnect, but each carries a heavy secret. The eldest, Cait, still holding guilt for the role no one knows she played in the boat accident, rekindles a flame with her high school crush. Middle sister Alice has been thrown a curveball that threatens the career she’s restarting and faces a difficult decision that may doom her marriage. And the youngest, Maggie, is finally taking the risk of bringing the woman she loves home to meet her devoutly Catholic mother. When Cait invites a guest from their shared past to dinner, old tensions boil over and new truths surface.

A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary - Mystery/Humor

September 29, 2026

Editor Christine Russo can't believe her luck. She's been chosen by the iconic Gloria Beaufort, founder of a billion-dollar beauty empire, to cover her grandson's wedding for Bespoke, the elite fashion magazine read by every A-lister. It feels too good to be true. Because it is. Gloria is found dead on the first morning of the celebratory weekend, and her entire family wants to keep her death a secret and for the wedding to march on. When Gloria's heirs issue a chilling warning to Christine to keep things quiet, she can't help but wonder if one of them is guilty of murder. As she navigates a world where glamour masks grimy secrets and everyone she meets is a suspect, she realizes that among this glitzy elite nothing is as it seems.

Lady of Uncanny Charms by Charlie N. Holmberg - Historical Fantasy

September 29, 2026

Owein arrives in England to marry Lady Cora of Leiningen, his dearest friend and confidante he’s known mostly through letters. However, Queen Victoria has other plans in store for the centuries-old wizard. The queen is obsessed with preserving magic, and she believes Owein is the key to pursuing her lofty ambitions. Torn from his family, his home and his betrothed, Owein is pushed into the Queen’s League of Magicians, where he learns that the Crown’s upheaval of his life is only the beginning of his problems. Meanwhile, Cora must push aside her broken heart and use her own spells and resources to uncover truths that the queen wants hidden. As new threats, former loves, untapped spells and even older souls than Owein collide, his next choice could be his last.

Lucky Night by Eliza Kennedy - Fiction

September 29, 2026

After six years of a stolen hour here, another there, tonight is going to be different for Nick Holloway and Jenny Parrish. They’ve booked a room in a new luxury hotel in Manhattan, where they’ll spend the entire night together for the first time. Expectations are running high for this brief reprieve from ordinary life: they both need a good bout of ravishing sex and witty conversation. But that’s not what they get. Because they’ve barely gotten started when a smoke alarm goes off. Nick is annoyed but not worried about what must be only a minor glitch. Jenny is anxious and guilty. Is karma coming for them at last? LUCKY NIGHT seamlessly shifts between Nick and Jenny’s perspectives as the reality of their situation becomes apparent, and all their secrets, evasions and regrets come spilling out.

The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay - Historical Mystery

September 29, 2026

1926. Diana Gold, owner and impresario, throws open the doors to the most opulent new hotel in London. As the champagne flows and the chandeliers shimmer, millionaires and gamblers rub shoulders with film stars and royalty. But things at the Hotel Artemis aren’t quite what they seem --- including the two guests Diana expects at midnight. Powerful and dangerous, they’ve dragged her from the gutter and taught her all she knows. Now Diana must take perfect care of them --- unless they take care of her first. But when a body is found in the hotel’s finest suite, the lavish opening night begins to spiral out of control. And over 24 fateful hours, the staff and guests of the Artemis will find out why they are really there.

The October Film Haunt by Michael Wehunt - Supernatural Thriller/Horror

September 29, 2026

Ten years ago, Jorie Stroud was the rising star of the October Film Haunt --- a trio of horror enthusiasts who camped out at the filming locations of their favorite scary movies, sharing their love through their popular blog. But after a night in the graveyard from Proof of Demons --- perhaps the most chilling cult film ever made, directed by the enigmatic Hélène Enriquez --- everything unraveled. Now, Jorie has built an isolated life with her young son in Vermont. In the devastating wake of her viral, truth-stretching Proof of Demons blog entry, Jorie has put it all behind her. Until a videotape arrives in the mail. Jorie fears someone might be filming her. And the “Rickies” --- Enriquez obsessives who would do anything for the reclusive director --- begin to cross lines in shocking ways. It seems Hélène Enriquez is making a new kind of sequel…and Jorie is her final girl.

Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - Thriller

September 29, 2026

It only took six months for the life of Special Agent Dwight Chambers to crumble around him. First, he lost his partner, and then, tragically, his wife. Returning to work at the New Orleans Field Office, Chambers is dismayed to find himself saddled with mentoring a brand-new FBI agent --- A. X. L. Pendergast. As Chambers tries to pull himself together, his enigmatic and exasperating junior partner pulls an outrageous stunt that gets both of them suspended. Pendergast welcomes the banishment, because it gives him the opportunity to investigate a peculiar murder in Mississippi that has captured his fancy. Chambers grudgingly goes along. Thanks in large part to Pendergast’s brilliance and unorthodox methods, they solve the case and find the killer. That is when the true horror begins.

A Sea Glass Christmas by Davis Bunn - Romance

September 29, 2026

Two days before his 21st birthday, Brody Reames left the Outer Banks to fulfill his dream of sailing. He knew leaving his hometown wouldn’t be forever, but to mend a disillusioned heart in Fortunate Harbor, it was for the best. Still, he never expected that a family upheaval and his loving mother’s plea would call him back. With Christmas nearing, Brody is coming home again --- to a crisp chill in the air and a warm former flame. An attorney for the Outer Banks’ five-star oceanfront resort and resident treasure hunter, Rae Alden has a life that is adventurous, rewarding...and lonely. But now, after eight years, she sees Brody again. Like waves along the Crystal Coast, emotions thought long-gone come rushing back. But with both of them facing family turmoil and secrets yet to be revealed, how promising is a new chance at happiness, no matter how powerful the yearning?

The Sisters of Crimson House by Melissa Anderson Sweazy - Supernatural Thriller/Gothic Horror

September 29, 2026

The only woman in a long line of famous psychics to not inherit the family gift, Charley Bryde spends her days inside Crimson House, the coveted family mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, living in the shadows of her talented older sister, Miranda. But when a shocking tragedy scatters the Brydes across the globe, Charley is forced to grow up on her own. As the money runs dry and Charley's ownership of Crimson House is put at risk, she turns the manor into a haunted attraction and starts representing the family brand with lies, cons and expertly read tarot cards. When a skeptic starts targeting Charley for the fraud that she is, she'll stop at nothing to save the family legacy. But the skeptics' arrival cracks something open in Charley that the Brydes wanted to remain buried. Deep.

The Sword of Light by Heather Graham - Fantasy/Romance

September 29, 2026

The mystical Tuatha Dé Danann walked the hills of ancient Ireland long before the first Rí, or king, ever ruled the land. Before they stepped back to make way for mankind, they left behind objects of incredible power that would reveal themselves when most needed. When invaders from the North arrive, it feels like the moment that has long been foretold has finally come. Deidre, the daughter of a Rí, and Kylin, the son of a Northman who found peace and a home in Éire, have little in common, until they begin seeing visions of these fantastical gifts. The revelation that a traitor exists among the many Irish kings forces them to work together using their newfound powers in defense of their homeland. As all they hold dear comes under threat, it may be more than just dreams that the two begin to share.

Trust No One by Mary Burton - Psychological Thriller

October 1, 2026

After 17 years away, public defender Raine Hale returns to her family’s crumbling Virginia estate when her estranged cousin, Maria, is hospitalized following a near-fatal cyanide poisoning. As sole beneficiary of Hale House and guardian to Maria’s five-year-old daughter, Molly, Raine confronts a troubling legacy she vowed never to revisit --- and is thrust into a deadly mystery. But she can’t trust anyone. When people begin dying, Hale House becomes as dangerous as the secrets it holds. With a killer circling closer and Molly’s life in her hands, Raine must unravel generations of family deceptions before she becomes the next victim buried in the family plot.

Twelve Months: A Novel of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher - Urban Fantasy

September 29, 2026

Harry Dresden has been through a lot, and so has his city. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to save Chicago from being razed to the ground, everything is different --- and it’s not just the current lack of electricity. In the battle, Harry lost people he cared about. And that's the kind of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he’s doing his level best to help the city and his friends recover and rebuild. But it’s a heavy load, and he needs time. But time is one thing Harry doesn’t have. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and taking out innocent civilians. Harry’s brother is dying, and Harry doesn’t know how to help him. And last but certainly not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Court of vampires --- and Harry has been betrothed to the seductive, deadly vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez - Fantasy/Romance

September 29, 2026

Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything has been stolen by the Immortals --- her family, her home, her freedom. Each year, humans are forced to journey into the Immortal Realms, but 20-year-old Rune orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and destroy anyone who stands in her way. Rune is used to doing whatever it takes to survive, and now she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. When Rune’s magic reveals itself to be the rarest and most powerful, she must live with its only other wielder: Prince Draven. As arrogant as he is ruthlessly ambitious, he’s the last person she can trust. Rune’s abilities also draw the eyes of the most dangerous druids in the realms. Some want to use her. More want her dead. Draven offers to train her…for a price.

What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher - Gothic Horror/Dark Fantasy

September 29, 2026

Alex Easton does not want to visit America. They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted. But when their old friend, Dr. Denton, summons them to help find his lost cousin --- who went missing in that very mine --- well, sometimes a sworn soldier has to do what a sworn soldier has to do.

What a Time to Be Alive by Jade Chang - Fiction

September 29, 2026

Lola Treasure Gold can’t figure out her life. She’s broke, unemployed and back in her childhood home, a crumbling cottage in the Hollywood Hills. Worse --- unspeakably worse --- one of her closest friends has just died. So nobody is more surprised than Lola when a jackpot falls in her lap: she stars in a viral video, opening a surprising path for her to become a self-help guru. With the encouragement of her other best friend, Celi, Lola embraces the public interest in her perceived message. But is she a scammer or a sage? Just as Lola is telling others to be their own guiding lights, she can’t seem to find hers. She’s grieving, accused of using the notoriety of her friend’s death to fuel her rise, and full of questions about the fate of her mother.

Wild Animal written by Joël Dicker, translated by Robert Bononno - Domestic Thriller/Mystery

September 29, 2026

On July 2, 2022, two criminals set out to rob a jewelry shop in Geneva. But even with a foolproof plan, their “perfect” heist will prove far from uneventful. Twenty days earlier, on a luxurious estate along the shores of Lake Geneva, Sophie Braun prepares to celebrate her 40th birthday. Her life seems perfect, but her idyllic world is about to crumble. Her husband is becoming embroiled in petty schemes. Her neighbor, a policeman with a spotless reputation, is obsessed with her and spies on the most intimate moments of her life. Then, on her birthday, she receives a gift from a mysterious prowler that endangers her life. It will take many journeys into the past, far from Geneva, to unravel the origins of this diabolical plot from which no one will emerge unscathed.

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy - Fiction

September 29, 2026

Desiree, Danielle, January, Monique and Nakia are in their early 20s and at the beginning. Of their careers, of marriage, of motherhood, and of big-city lives in New York and Los Angeles. Together, they are finding their way through the wilderness, that period of life when the reality of contemporary adulthood --- overwhelming, mysterious, and full of freedom and consequences --- swoops in and stays. As these friends move from the late 2000s into the late 2020s, from young adults to grown women, they must figure out what they mean to one another --- amid political upheaval, economic and environmental instability, and the increasing volatility of modern American life.

Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce - Legal Thriller

September 29, 2026

When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in a park, the city of Edinburgh is stunned. The shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with the murder. Rumors of bullying are overshadowed by something more wicked and frightening: whispers of dark rituals, feverish obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong. Matthew Phillips is a respected heart surgeon picked for the jury. As the trial unfolds --- and the girls’ lawyers offer a surprising and unsettling defense --- the reluctant Matthew finds himself questioning everything: the motives, the evidence, even his own judgment. Then he begins to have strange visions of terrifying things --- hallucinations he tells himself. After all, witchcraft isn’t real. Or is it?

A Wooded Shore: And Other Stories by Thomas McGuane - Fiction/Short Stories

September 29, 2026

In these nine peerless stories, a family boating trip veers into emotional disaster while very narrowly avoiding the physical; a would-be cheater hands over his car --- his prized possession --- for a shot with a pretty girl; a furniture magnate and his filmmaker daughter visit his impoverished hometown; a doctor’s long-ago affair returns with a bitter pill. Crackling with wry humor, shot through with both wisdom and pain, these are stories of grifters and dreamers, of the lovelorn and the lawless, stories of the ongoing dissonance between the lives we want and the lives this world will allow.