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Must-Read Books October 2026 |
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| Under Story by Chloe BenjaminAfter a terrible loss and a divorce, grieving Wisconsin scientist Laurel Salter takes a job washing dishes at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station. When a surreal light, dubbed the Arc, suddenly appears near the research base, it draws in more scientists, including Laurel’s ex, Eli. Believing the Arc is evidence of Eli’s theory of a second universe where time moves backward, Laurel tries to talk him into entering the Arc. For fans of: Scott Alexander Howard’s The Other Valley. |
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| Immortal Rose by Alexandra BrackenWhen the king of Albion is poisoned, underground perfumier Viola is the only one who can save him. She reluctantly teams up with Hugh Thorton, the royal spymaster, to hunt down the ingredients she'll need. But danger lurks around every corner, and both Viola and Hugh harbor secrets that could doom their quest. This slow-burn 1st in the Immortal Rose duology is perfect for fans of emotionally intense romantasy. Try this next: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan. |
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| The Barman of the Ritz by Philippe CollinIn 1940 Paris, while other businesses close, the legendary Ritz Hotel hosts locals, celebrities, and Nazis. Frank Meier, the hotel’s acclaimed barman who’s secretly Jewish, adapts to his new clientele while doing what he can to help other Jewish people, including his young mentee and the hotel manager’s wife. Based on a true story and translated from French, this is an absorbing, thought-provoking novel.
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| Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy FoleyAgatha Christie’s Miss Marple returns in this latest from bestselling author Lucy Foley. In 1950, Miss Marple travels to a luxury Swiss Alps resort with her friend Dolly Bantry, finding an interesting assortment of guests. But it isn’t long before a murderer strikes and a blizzard snows them all in. For fans of: twisty Golden Age mysteries; Sophie Hannah’s Hercule Poirot mysteries.
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| The Silent Appeal by Janice HallettTruth emerges one message at a time as two investigators sift through emails, texts, and case files to solve a murder tied to an amateur theater group. The latest entry in Janice Hallett's innovative series, it rewards attentive readers with ingenious plotting, dry wit, and satisfying, clue-driven twists. |
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| Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel HarrisonShaken after a run-in with her ex-fiancé at a mutual friend’s wedding, Willa Sullivan’s night goes from bad to worse when a masked figure kills everyone at the reception. But then Willa wakes up...and discovers she’s re-living the day of the wedding. Stuck in a time-loop in which she is killed in increasingly disturbing ways, Willa alone must fight back to unmask the killer and save herself and her friends. Read-alike: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle. |
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| Sublimation by Isabel J. KimWhen you immigrate, you create a copy of yourself that stays behind. Soyoung Rose Kang hasn't spoken to her "instance" in years, but when she returns to Korea for a funeral, she realizes that the other Soyoung has a plan to steal her life. Fans of the TV show Severance will devour this provocative and complex speculative horror novel, along with similar books such as Ezra Claytan Daniels' Upgrade Soul or Maud Woolf's Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock. |
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| Daggerbound by T. KingfisherWhile transporting an ancient sword to a temple, scholar Edmund is set upon by bandits, and is forced to draw the sword to defend himself. But instead of unsheathing a weapon, he summons the Dervish, an immortal warrior cursed to serve whoever wields the sword. As they traverse a dangerous countryside, the pair's banter-filled misadventures unexpectedly lead to love. Read-alike: Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers. |
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Meet Me in the Garden
by Nina Lacour
In 1944 New Orleans, 18-year-old Odette, from a Creole family, and her cousin Delphine share secrets, including Odette's affair with a woman and Delphine's with a married white man. To avoid Jim Crow, Odette and her sisters move to California. Passing as white, Delphine moves, too, eventually running into Odette. Inspired by the author's Creole family, this novel is "a masterpiece" (Booklist). Read-alikes: Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul; Kin by Tayari Jones.
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| The Pirate Queen by Ariel LawhonIn 16th century Ireland, Grace O'Malley dreams of a life at sea, but her chieftain father insists she marry to forge an alliance. She obeys and has children, but after her husband’s death, she becomes the leader of her clan’s ships, fights battles, and finds love. This well-researched, adventure-filled saga moves back and forth across time, with alternating chapters depicting the three eras of Grace’s life (Maiden, Mother, and Matriarch). For fans of: intriguing biographical novels based on strong heroines. |
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The Last Contract of Isako
by Fonda Lee
Isako's long legacy as a legendary samurai for hire is close to an end. When she's offered one last job she can't refuse, she's suddenly thrust into a world of espionage far more complex than she can handle...and secrets that may change all of humanity. Immersive, evocative, and full of unique worldbuilding, this space opera with an older female protagonist will be a treat for readers of Shannon Chakraborty's The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi and Bethany Jacobs' These Burning Stars.
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The Complex
by Karan Mahajan
A brilliant, sweeping, tour de force moving between America and modern India, following the illicit liaisons, real estate dramas, political ambitions, and mortal betrayals of one prominent Delhi family-- Provided by publisher.
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| They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah PinboroughA skilled con artist with a talent for assuming new identities finds her carefully controlled world threatened when she is assigned her most dangerous job yet. Stylish and fast-moving, this psychological thriller combines deception, shifting loyalties, and clever twists with a sharp, character-driven narrative about identity, survival, and reinvention. For fans of: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson. |
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| The Savage Landscape: How We Made the Wilderness by Cal FlynJournalist Cal Flyn proposes the ironic notion that the very concept of “wilderness” is manufactured by humans, since we tend to define it by the areas where people aren’t. The author travels to wild landscapes in her native Scotland, Brazil, Uganda, and Antarctica, marveling at the sights while referencing mythology, philosophy, and literature to examine the meaning that humans have invested in wild places. If you enjoy this, try Flyn’s last book, Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape. |
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| The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill LeporeTaking inspiration from Hannah Arendt’s 1951 classic The Origins of Totalitarianism, Pulitzer Prize winner Jill Lepore’s thought-provoking latest examines the origins and evolution of artificial intelligence, detailing AI’s damaging influence over politics, economics, and the everyday fabric of life. Try this next: Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy by Beth Simone Noveck. |
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| The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men by Jon RonsonIn his nuanced and compelling latest, bestselling investigative journalist Jon Ronson (So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed) explores the modern masculinity crisis, focusing on the eyebrow-raising exploits of predatory steel industry heir Chris Mark; actor and alleged cannibal Armie Hammer; Ronson’s former friend, disgraced Irish showrunner Graham Linehan; “manosphere” content creator Dan Bilzerian; and more. Read-alike: What Is Wrong with Men: Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything by Jessa Crispin. |
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| Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature by Emily WilsonIn this engaging and accessible essay collection, classical studies professor Emily Wilson, whose work includes revered translations of Homer’s The Odyssey (which served as the inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s recent film adaptation) and The Iliad, discusses the complex history and challenges of translating ancient literature. Try this next: Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old by Mary Beard. |
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| Anger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth AcevedoAs Liliana awaits trial for her latest impulsive mistake, she notices her brother acting unusually. Visiting him while he’s away at college would violate the terms of her release, but she may be his only hope. This nuanced verse novel explores the complex realities of juvenile detention and mental illness. |
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Immortal Game
by Allison Saft
When Midir of Bri Leith, the fae High King of the Otherworld, hosts a chess tournament, the prize is the granting of a single wish. Chess grandmaster Shea Fury knows this is her chance to reclaim her sister, lost to the fae realm six years ago. Read-alikes: Malindo Lo’s Huntress; Bex Hogan’s Nettle.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Michigan City Public Library
100 E. 4th Street
Michigan City, Indiana 46360
219-873-3044mclib.org/ |
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