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

Mar. 15, 2025

A few of our favorite authors' fall read recommendations.Photo:Amazon

Amazon

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.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!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.

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.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

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.

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Fiercely visceral and exquisitely written,The Lightning Bottlesis 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 isThe Lightning Bottlesto take up permanent residence in your head and heart.— Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author ofTill Death Do Us Part

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Masterful storytelling with a female protagonist worth rooting for,The Last Onewill 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 ofFourth WingandOnyx Storm(coming January 2025)

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I blurbed Alex Segura’sSecret Identitya 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 ofMexican GothicandThe Seventh Veil of Salome

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Joy Jordan-Lake’sEchoes 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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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 andThe Woman at Number 6

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Danica Nava is such a fresh new voice in romance, and I loved her debutThe 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 makehershort-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 ofThe Art of Catching Feelings

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Gripping, fast-paced and full of shocking twists —The Bachelorette Partyis 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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The anticipation is killing me! I’ve been waiting forWarrior of Legendsince 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 ofThe Programseries and founder ofwritinginitaly.com

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If you find yourself wanting the drama of a family epic without the enormous page count, check out Randy Ribay’sEverything 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 ofHeirand National Book Award winnerAll My Rage

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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.

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“The Mighty Redis 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 ofLeave The World BehindandEntitlement

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source: people.com