Friday, September 11, 2026

The best new books according to readers

 
Readworthy by BookBub
This Month’s Best New Reader Favorites
What are readers saying about the buzziest books of the month? We’ve rounded up their top-rated picks — including a charming tale set in coastal Maine, a gripping thriller from J. D. Robb, and more!
 
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Book cover for Fury in Death by J. D. Robb
Stellar reviews are pouring in for this ‘intricately crafted thriller’ (Library Journal)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • When a biotech executive meets his brutal end at home, NYSPD lieutenant Eve Dallas goes in search of a killer fueled by rage — and gets tangled in a web of secrets
  • The beloved, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the In Death series keeps you glued to the page
  • Readers say: “The In Death series is highly entertaining, with fantastically imaginative mysteries. Fury in Death is no exception. Highly recommended!”
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Media mentions for Fury in Death by J. D. Robb MEDIA MENTIONS: Library Reads, Library Journal
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Book cover for The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman
The beloved author of Practical Magic is at her best in this enchanting historical tale
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • September’s Read with Jenna pick is “rich with history, heartbreak, and magic” (Leigh Bardugo)
  • In 1950s Massachusetts, college students Ava and Lauren are drawn into a secret organization of witches — and find their bond tested as they confront the group’s legacy
  • Readers say: “Ava and Lauren were great characters that I became invested in and wanted to know they would be okay”
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Media mentions for The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman MEDIA MENTIONS: TODAY Book Club/Read with Jenna, Book of the Month, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, People, Vanity Fair, The Boston Globe, Smart Bitches Trashy Books, Reactor, Indie Next List, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Literary Hub
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Book cover for The Treasure House by Amy T. Matthews
Cozy up with a ‘warm and inviting novel’ (Holly Gramazio) earning rave reviews
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • After buying a cluttered cottage in a seaside Maine town, single mom Zoe and her daughter, Florence, are left to sort through the mountain of objects inside. And the story they uncover transforms their idea of home…
  • “Tender, beautifully layered… This is a novel to savor” (Christina Lauren)
  • Readers say: “It was a beautiful story about healing, hope, found family, and discovering that home is more than just a place!”
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Media mentions for The Treasure House by Amy T. Matthews MEDIA MENTION: Booklist
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Book cover for Untamed Coast by Kevin C. Morris
Three timelines intertwine in this sweeping, propulsive novel that’s wowing readers everywhere
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • After hearing an unusual distress signal, widowed boater Marco goes in search of a missing woman — and is pulled into a decades-old mystery
  • “A bold, intricately plotted debut unfolding against the beauty and danger of the Alaskan wilderness” (Kate Quinn)
  • Readers say: “I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for a gripping, atmospheric story with unforgettable characters”
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Media mentions for Untamed Coast by Kevin C. Morris MEDIA MENTION: Publishers Weekly
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Book cover for Because of a Dog by Matthew Sigman
Keep the tissues handy for this moving memoir that’s perfect for animal lovers
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • When Matthew Sigman’s beloved dog passed away, his life fell apart — so he ran away to a remote Italian mountain village, where he found friendship, community, and a path to healing
  • “Poignant, insightful, and often just laugh-out-loud funny” (Booklist)
  • Readers recommend it for armchair travelers, book clubs, and anyone who has loved a pet
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Media mentions for Because of a Dog by Matthew Sigman MEDIA MENTION: Booklist
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Book cover for Tangled Webs by Callie Coles
Loved Broken Country? Here’s your next unputdownable read
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Fleeing her unhappy marriage, Sage takes her young son to her grandparents’ estate in Newmarket — where her world collides with that of racehorse trainer Rafe
  • Readers say: “I really liked Sage. Watching her begin to trust herself again was probably my favorite part of the book”
  • Will sweep you away to the lush British countryside
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Media mentions for Tangled Webs by Callie Coles MEDIA MENTIONS: Harper's Bazaar, The Times
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Book cover for City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi
An acclaimed author delivers ‘a tender and beautiful family story’ (Khaled Hosseini)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • “An essential read… Heartbreaking, powerful, and indelible” (Booklist starred review)
  • After the Taliban regains power in Afghanistan, women residents of Kabul fight to protect themselves and their loved ones amid danger and upheaval
  • Readers say: “Nadia Hashimi’s City of Widows followed me around the house, because every time I tried to put it down, I kept wondering what was going to happen to these women next”
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Media mentions for City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, People, Bustle, Los Angeles Times, New York Post, Booklist, Literary Hub
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Book cover for Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan
A riveting read with a final twist that’s leaving thriller fans stunned
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Praise from Lisa Scottoline, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, who calls it “another brilliant novel from the master of the domestic thriller”
  • What if everything you knew about your family was a lie? Eliza and Bea formed an unbreakable bond after they lost their parents in a plane crash. But 11 years later, Bea disappears — and Eliza confronts a chilling revelation
  • Readers say: “Clear your calendar before beginning, as you will get nothing else done until you reach the end of this convoluted trail!”
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Media mentions for Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan MEDIA MENTIONS: People, The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist
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Book cover for An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino
Fans of Mexican Gothic will devour this highly anticipated gothic page-turner
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Readers say: “If you like a moody, atmospheric book that will have you questioning everything, then look no further. This is a debut that shouldn’t be missed!”
  • Raised in a religious household in 19th-century Brazil, pregnant Madalena flees to the crumbling estate of Leandro, the baby’s father. But Leandro is nothing like she remembers — and that’s just the beginning of her frightening and strange new reality…
  • “Vivid and exhilarating, with a breathtaking twist” (Shen Tao, author of The Poet Empress)
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Media mentions for An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino MEDIA MENTION: Library Reads
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Book cover for Up on Cove Mountain by Earl Swift
Don’t miss this discussion-worthy account of a double murder on the Appalachian Trail
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • While hiking in 1990, Earl Swift crossed paths with two people who wound up murdered. Now in his 60s, he returns to the trail to continue his search for meaning
  • John Grisham calls it “a helluva book”
  • Readers are raving about this fascinating blend of memoir, true crime, and outdoor history
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Media mentions for Up on Cove Mountain by Earl Swift MEDIA MENTIONS: The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, New York Post, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, BookPage, Literary Hub
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Book cover for Switzy by Emma Cline
One of 2026’s buzziest novels is earning high praise from both critics and readers
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • The latest from the New York Times bestselling author of The Girls and The Guest has been longlisted for the Booker Prize
  • An aging man embarks on a final pilgrimage to Zurich — and reckons with the past — in this “profoundly moving” novel (The Guardian)
  • Readers say: “Switzy stands among my favorite books of the year… It is an extraordinary, perceptive achievement that will resonate for a long time”
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Media mentions for Switzy by Emma Cline MEDIA MENTIONS: The New Yorker, NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Financial Times, Elle, Good Housekeeping, Vulture, The Guardian, The Times, The Boston Globe, Indie Next List, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, Literary Hub
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