October 9, 2026
 October 9, 2026Never Miss a Contest or a Promotion!     Authors, Authors: A Week with LOTS of Authors   Many people who have been to our home have been served the Hot Charred Cherry Tomatoes with Cold Yogurt from Yotam Ottolenghi's SIMPLE. It is a favorite! So I very much enjoyed getting to meet Yotam on Tuesday night in Montclair, New Jersey, to celebrate the release of his new book, SIMPLE TOO, at a Watchung Booksellers event. He was in conversation with Ina Garten, who asked really great questions. Hearing them talk shop about creating recipes and the joys of culinary adventures was brilliant fun. He projected photos from the book onto the screen behind him as he discussed them. There was an audience of almost 600. I love seeing events like this in NJ! Fashion note as my Condé Nast training always sneaks in: Yotam’s shirt with two lemons was one cool thing, but I also spotted yellow sneakers. Perfect!  Though she did not mention it during the event, Ina has a new book coming out on October 20th: SIMPLY INA: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. It's “[a] brand-new collection of 85 easy yet impressive recipes for every meal of the day, from make-ahead lunches to effortless appetizers and showstopping dinners, from America’s favorite home cook.” I am looking forward to this one as well.  I will be headed back to Montclair on Wednesday evening to attend Bonnie Garmus’ event for her new book, PECK & PECK, which once again will be presented by Watchung Booksellers. This time, it will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair. Tickets can be purchased here. I talked to Bonnie yesterday for a “Bookreporter Talks To” segment. The interview will run in a couple of weeks.      On Monday, Tom Donadio and I attended a luncheon hosted by Random House where five authors talked about their upcoming books: Tara Westover (BROTHERS AND SISTERS, on sale April 13th), Coco Mellors (GRENADE, on sale April 20th), Caitlin Murray (GET YOURSELF A SNACK: What Not to Expect from Life and Motherhood, on sale January 26th), Jennifer Galvão (MARIA, MARIA, on sale February 2nd), and Nicole Cuffy (THEY WILL KNOW OUR NAMES, on sale March 23rd). We had so much fun chatting with these authors and learning all about their books. We look forward to sharing more about these releases with you as their publication dates approach. As you can see above, the cover for BROTHERS AND SISTERS has yet to be revealed.  A reminder that I will be at the Morristown Festival of Books tomorrow (Saturday) with Tom, along with Francesca and my friend, Beverley. We also will be bringing along bookmarks! Please say hi if you are there...and grab a bookmark or two. I am looking forward to moderating these three panels at the Festival:
Tonight, Husband Tom and I are off to attend the Opening Keynote at the Festival, where Malcolm Gladwell will be talking about his latest book, THE AMERICAN WAY OF KILLING: The Invention of an Epidemic. I am hoping to talk to him at the reception afterwards to compliment him on his project with Paul Simon, MIRACLE AND WONDER: Conversations with Paul Simon, which was excellent. Join Us for Our October “Bookaccino Live”  This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event, which will take place on Wednesday, October 14th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between October 13th and November 3rd, along with a few from December, plus January 2027, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who join us live will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.  Last week, we shared info about our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with Kathryn Stockett on Wednesday, October 28th at 8pm ET. This week, we are excited to announce that Sally Hepworth will be our guest for next month’s event, which we are hosting on Thursday, November 12th at 8pm ET. We will discuss Sally’s latest novel, MAD MABEL, an instant New York Times bestseller and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. This twisty tale of justice and redemption is about an irrepressible woman who is not done breaking the rules just yet. According to Pamela Kramer in her review, “There are so many layers to Mabel's story that delicacy is required so as not to spoil the novel for those who haven’t read it.... This powerful novel, exhibiting the full gamut of human emotions, is a must read. Mabel is truly an unforgettable character.” I will talk to Sally for a bit before handing it off to readers who would like to share a question for her on screen (we have special sign-in directions for these attendees, and they will get to chat with Sally in our “backstage green room” before the program starts), followed by audience questions. Click here to sign up. If you would like to ask Sally a question, all you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, November 12th at noon ET. Remember to include your name, city, state, email address and phone number, as well as your question. And indicate if you prefer to be on camera or off. What I love about this event is that when we are live, it already will be Friday in Australia for Sally. Whenever we shoot with authors there, I feel like tomorrow is secure. Whew!  October’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick is PARTITA, Barbara Kingsolver’s first novel since her 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner, DEMON COPPERHEAD. It tells the story of a brief, passionate and life-changing love affair, wrapped up in what might be the greatest romance of all: our eternal human longing for art and beauty. Jenna says, “We know within the first page Livia loses her brother, which sets her off on a journey to put the broken pieces of her together.” Here’s a preview of Rebecca Munro’s rave review: “Much like the complicated melodies that Livia studies and conquers, PARTITA unfolds like a symphony. Melodies heartfelt and sentimental crash against staccatos of joy and transformation, and every note --- no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential --- provides a necessary balance for the rest. This brilliant and quietly affecting novel cements Barbara Kingsolver as one of our best chroniclers of the human condition.” Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest  OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE is Stephen King and Peter Straub’s long-awaited finale to the Talisman Trilogy (which includes the novels THE TALISMAN and BLACK HOUSE) and a wrapping up of the fate of the worlds in King’s iconic Dark Tower epic. The publisher says, “It is also a magnificent stand-alone novel that will appeal to new readers, as well as to King’s Constant Readers.” Ray Palen has our review and says, “Sadly, we lost Straub in 2022, but his contributions to and spirit behind the characters and worlds that he and King created are on full display in this lengthy and fast-paced finale that sees a middle-aged Jack Sawyer in a battle for the very soul of Mid-World…. The characters are what drive this story even more than the nonstop, often violent, action.”  John Green’s first novel for adults, HOLLYWOOD, ENDING, is an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and an upcoming Bets On selection. It follows the rise of young actors Kai Laramie and Juniper Castillo. Being cast in the buzzy biopic Andy Warhol Never Gets Old is the opportunity they’ve both been waiting for. They’re on the verge of breaking out, and maybe even falling in love. Soon, the movie is blowing up, and so are their lives --- in exciting but also terrifying ways. According to Norah Piehl in her review, the book is “a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at the Hollywood machine and its vast apparatus, as well as the betrayals both small and large that keep it running. The novel's dual perspectives also serve to offer deep observations on each character's interior life and how they view each other. Green's legions of fans --- many of whom, of course, grew up alongside his YA works --- will welcome this new, more mature but equally appealing side of a beloved author.” I finished listening to HOLLYWOOD, ENDING. I enjoyed the interview at the end where John and the two narrators, Julia Whelan and Zachary Chastain, talked about the performance and what they loved about it. Don't miss my Bets On commentary later this month. Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
Fall Reading Contest Update October’s New in Paperback Feature Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll In our previous poll, we wanted to know which of 20 nonfiction titles releasing in September and October you have read or are planning to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
  Oprah’s Book Club pick for October is HUNGERED by debut novelist Amanda Rizkalla. Here’s how Oprah describes the book in an Instagram post: “Told from the POV of 12-year-old Sofia, the story follows her, her mother, and her brother, Rafa, as they navigate life while living out of their car after Sofia’s parents separate. In the midst of it all, Sofia still has to attend school and deal with the growing pains of being a preteen while also doing what she can to support her mother and brother.” BAD WORDS, Ríoghnach Robinson’s first novel for adults, is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, “Good Morning America” Book Club selection, and #1 Indie Next pick. The book lays bare the costs of creation --- the pull between ambition and integrity, the vulnerability of being seen, and the unexpected closeness that can grow in the space between critique and care. For more October selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.  On Monday, we learned that Jeffrey Archer passed away suddenly at the age of 86 --- just one day before the publication of his final book, ADAM AND EVE. Archer topped bestseller lists around the world with books that included the Clifton Chronicles, the William Warwick novels and KANE AND ABEL. He is the only author ever to have been a #1 bestseller in fiction (19 times), short stories (four times) and nonfiction (THE PRISON DIARIES). He also was a member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century. Archer’s family announced the sad news on his website: “Jeffrey’s life was filled with loyal friendships and deep interests --- from a love of his country to books to politics to art to sport and Italian food --- and he was truly a happy man (despite never reaching his ambition of captaining the England cricket team).” Click here to read the full tribute.  We have THREE awards announcements to tell you about this week. The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2026 has been awarded to Anne Carson “for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.” Throughout her career, Carson has combined poetry writing with translation work and teaching at various universities. Almost all of her literary production has centered on the intersection between the philologist’s obsession with words and the poet’s desire for new meaning. She herself has identified the etymology of words as the starting point for all of her work.  This year’s National Book Awards finalists include BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli (Fiction), THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL: The Secret Prison History of American Music, by Colin Asher (Nonfiction), HIDE by Carolina Ebeid (Poetry), NIGHT OF A THOUSAND HELLS by Intan Paramaditha, translated from the Indonesian by Stephen Epstein and Tiffany Tsao (Translated Literature), and WHEN TOMORROW BURNS by Tae Keller (Young People’s Literature). The winners will be announced on November 18th at the 77th National Book Awards Ceremony, which will be livestreamed for all to see. You can sign up to watch it for free by clicking here.  Kirkus Reviews announced the winners of the 13th annual Kirkus Prize in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction and Young Readers’ Literature at an in-person ceremony that also was livestreamed on Kirkus's YouTube channel. They are KIN by Tayari Jones (Fiction), CATCH THE DEVIL: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast by Pamela Colloff (Nonfiction), and ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW by Elizabeth Acevedo (Young Readers’ Literature).  News & Pop Culture Reader Mail: Mary Lou wrote, “So excited to receive THE SHARED LIFE OF EGAN AND LUCIAN. Thank you so much. Attached is a little spooky season cheer. (See the photo above.)” Gail wrote about winning HOLLYWOOD, ENDING and THE PIRATE QUEEN in a recent Word of Mouth contest: “Thanks so much, Francesca! I am looking forward to reading both of these titles! I have been a loyal reader of Bookreporter for over 20 years and depend on the newsletter for information on new books and authors. Thanks to you and all the Bookreporter crew for your hard work!” Jill wrote, “Kudos to Tom for doing the research on the Books on Screen feature. I appreciate it, and it makes it so much easier for me to find what I want to watch. Thank you, Tom.” Barbara wrote, “I just want to say that I so look forward to your weekly newsletter about books, interviews and anything else you let us know about. It is always so thorough and concise. I love reading it weekly. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Unabomber on Netflix: This film offers a very interesting look into the world of Ted Kaczynski. There are names that immediately call us back to times of terror, and this was one of them. I had forgotten that he died by suicide. “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV: The season finale was great! Current Pet Peeves #1 & #2: On Monday, I was headed back to my car from the Random House lunch, which took place in downtown Manhattan. The cab driver and I got into a discussion about traffic in New York City and how it really has not improved with “congestion pricing,” which was added last year. As he was driving, we noted that there is now a bike lane, parallel parking next to the bike lane, then the bus lane. There is a lane for cars, and the second lane is delivery trucks double-parked. I also harped upon the fact that no one dresses up anymore. As we headed uptown, we were looking for people who were dressed in something besides sweats, jeans and athletic wear. We spotted no one. We had such a spirited and amusing conversation about this. He knew I was tight on time to get my car out of the parking lot, so he clocked out the meter a couple of blocks before my stop. I gave him a big tip, and he was still laughing as he pulled away. He told me that I was his “BEST passenger of the day.” Sometimes it is the little things! Current Pet Peeve #3: Remember when the online codes that we need to type to get access to bank accounts, etc. were four digits long? These days, we seem to have moved to six-digit codes. There is a clock ticking down to ensure that you get it entered in time, or else you are back to getting a new code, typically just when you memorized the old one. Yes, it is in the name of security. But throughout the day I find myself remembering many more six-digit codes than I used to! And they all ask if this computer is secure. I answer “YES,” but the next time we play this game all over again. Then they tell me not to share the code --- the one that I barely remembered the first time! October means that it's time to get out and cut back all the perennial flowers that are spent and to negotiate with Husband Tom which plants will be wintering over in the house. I suggested we buy a greenhouse for outside to “winter over” the plants there. He reminded me that we would then have to shovel to the greenhouse, and we would need to heat it. He feels, probably correctly, that him shoveling to the greenhouse (since, let's face it, that will not be something that I would rush to do) brings no guarantee that we will a) keep these plants alive, or b) have them looking as good as they currently do, and thus would not justify the high heating bill. Now back to the discussion of what moves into the house. Our office is closed on Monday for Columbus Day, or Indigenous Peoples' Day, or “The Bookreporter Staff Needs a Day to Sleep In” Day. Any one of them works! Read on, and have a great week. Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop/IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy! Featured Review: PARTITA by Barbara Kingsolver  PARTITA by Barbara Kingsolver (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE  OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE: A Talisman Novel written by Stephen King and Peter Straub, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (Supernatural Thriller/Dark Fantasy) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: HOLLYWOOD, ENDING by John Green  HOLLYWOOD, ENDING by John Green (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. HOLLYWOOD, ENDING will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Featured Review:  SOPHIE, STANDING THERE by Meg Mason (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review:  WHAT HAPPENS AT NIGHTFALL by Lauren Willig (Paranormal Gothic Romance/Horror) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: ONE SPLIT SECOND by Robert Dugoni  ONE SPLIT SECOND by Robert Dugoni (Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual  Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. In our Fall Reading Contests and Feature, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about this fall. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here. Our final two contests will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, October 13th and Wednesday, October 14th. The prize books will be THE BLUFF by Wade Rouse and HOME FOR THE HOMICIDES: A Holly & Mark Mystery by Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey.
Click here to read all the contest details    October’s New in Paperback Roundups
October's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes THE TIN MEN --- the final novel from the legendary Nelson DeMille, coauthored with his son, Alex DeMille --- in which Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor plunge into a deadly web of military intrigue, AI technology and robot soldiers as they unravel the shocking murder of a senior scientist; the 20th installment in Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series, THE DEVIL’S BIBLE, a tale of mystery and intrigue stretching back over four centuries; and SHADOW TICKET, Thomas Pynchon's first novel since 2013’s BLEEDING EDGE, which is set during the Great Depression and follows a private investigator in Milwaukee on a mission that ultimately takes him to Hungary amidst political and criminal intrigue.
Our nonfiction highlights include JOYRIDE, which is a magic carpet ride through Susan Orlean’s life and career, where every day is an opportunity for discovery and every moment holds the potential for wonder; DEAD AND ALIVE, in which Zadie Smith brings her unique skills as an essayist to bear on a range of subjects that have captured her attention in recent years; FUTURE BOY, a poignant, heartfelt and funny memoir about how, in 1985, Michael J. Fox brought to life two iconic roles simultaneously --- Alex P. Keaton in "Family Ties" and Marty McFly in Back to the Future; and Marisa Meltzer's IT GIRL, the first comprehensive biography of Jane Birkin --- actress, singer and legendary style icon --- and her profound cultural impact.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
October 5th, October 12th, October 19th and October 26th.    Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for OctoberEach month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the “Good Morning America” Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the “Read with Jenna” Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club. Below is a preview of October's “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.” For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here. Indie Next LibraryReads Barnes & Noble Book Club "Good Morning America" Book Club Oprah's Book Club PBS Books Readers Club "Read with Jenna" Book Club Reese's Book Club Target Book Club Click here for October's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.    More Reviews This WeekTHE WITCH by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller) PLY by Hernan Diaz (Fiction) DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? by Peter Swanson (Psychological Thriller/Mystery) THE QUEEN OF BAD INFLUENCES: Stories by Jim Shepard (Historical Fiction/Short Stories) WITCH TRIAL by Harriet Tyce (Legal Thriller) DRIVEN by Mason Coile (Science Fiction/Psychological Thriller & Horror) WHEN YOU TELL by Steena Holmes (Psychological Thriller)   
Next Week's Notables:
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