Get ready for another week of disrupted sleep. After a fairly quiet end to the summer, the fall is almost here, and that means it’s time to get cozy with some new novels. September kicks off in an epic way, whether you want a new Brandon Sanderson novel or if you’re more interested in a Phantom of the Opera retelling.
There is something for absolutely everyone once more. There are new horrors, fantasies, and romances. The question for you is where you start first! We’ve got an initial list to help, but beware of zero productivity!
‘Our Strange Duet’ by Erin A. Craig
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Phantom of the Opera, and what better way to celebrate that than with a retelling of the story from Christine’s POV? Erin A. Craig had the honor of developing that story, an idea that came straight from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s team, creating a gothic romance that puts thought, feeling, and emotion into the woman who isn’t the damsel in distress that Phantom seems to make her out to be.
Whether you love Phantom of the Opera or you’ve never seen the production, Out Strange Duet is an absolute must. It brings all the romance tropes you love, brings heart to Christine’s story, shows us why Raul is the man she ends up with, and develops the universe in a gorgeous and mesmerizing way. You’ll just have to try your hardest not to get some of the epic songs stuck in your head as you read — and I do recommend reading with the soundtrack playing.
‘I Hope This Email Finds You In Hell’ by Mackenzie Reed
Many people use compartmentalization to survive, and that’s exactly what our main character in I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell by Mackenzie Reed, Brie, does. We follow a 27-year-old who is a receptionist at a life insurance company. That is just as exciting as it sounds, until one day, she catches her uptight boss in the middle of an exorcism.
Yes, a real exorcism. It turns out that he’s from a line of demon hunters, and Debra from accounting was possessed, because isn’t Debra from accounting always possessed? Brie decides it’s time to leave her boring life behind and convinces Luke to let her join in on the mission to protect the world. Oh, and it turns out that Times Square is the entrance to hell, and now everything makes sense about the world! This is packed with romance, humor, and fantasy, making it the perfect fall read.
‘The Heart Trials’ by J. Elle
Need a bit of romantasy with dystopia? The Heart Trials by J. Elle is described as the perfect read for those who want The Hunger Games mixed with a bit of Love Island, and I totally agree! In this world, Axira Merreri is simply surviving the decaying districts, and her heart is locked up tight. She’s a lowborn, so she can only feel whatever the Benevolent allows.
However, her heart is about to end up on the line. She agrees to steal something, but to do that, she needs to enter the Tournament of Hearts, a competition for the highborn citizens. If she wins, she doesn’t get love. Instead, she gets freedom. But what if love is on the line? It’s packed with a ruthless regime and a reality competition that makes it perfect for fans of The Selection and The Red Queen.
‘Blightfall’ by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
If you love the Skyward series, then you need to pay close attention to this next release. Blightfall is the first in a three-part story by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson that is set in the same universe. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the original series, though, as this is the perfect starting point for new readers, and it’s why I highly recommend it for the week of Sept. 1 releases.
After decades of war, the galactic alien government known as the Superiority has finally been defeated. What does that mean for society? Well, for Arturo Mendez, freedom is nothing as he expected. So many people focus on the success of the rebellion, and nobody really thinks about what comes next, but Blightfall is going to make you do just that.
‘Blacktail’ by Scott Hawkins
Many stories are told from the human’s point of view, but Blacktail by Scott Hawkins does something different. It tells the story from the wolf’s POV. In this, the wolf is faithful to his Forest God, but as the world is being destroyed by man, Blacktail decides that it’s time for revenge. After all, man has killed his mate, and he isn’t going to sit by and suffer.
As he seeks vengeance, he catches the attention of a feline witch, who makes him an offer. If he can wake the Forest God, he can end the human race forever. Along his journey to find his god, he encounters other animals, mortal strangers, and much more who want to also rid the world of humans. It’s a beautiful, fantastical tale full of meaning but one that is also going to keep you up at night as it delves into the horror of revenge.
‘Under Story’ by Chloe Benjamin
Sometimes, you need something a little more than a romance. You want an epic love story, and Under Story by Chloe Benjamin offers just that. Some want a story that offers meaning and heart, making us think about the people around us, and you get that in droves with this contemporary piece of fiction.
Laurel Salter spends her days at an isolated research base in Antarctica. She hasn’t told anyone about her past, but that past soon comes back to haunt her. As a strange light appears across the ice, Laurel’s former husband, Eli, is one of the many physicists drawn to it. The two head out on an adventure to understand this Arc that appears, fixing their love story and maybe finding a way to help it thrive. If you adored The Midnight Train and An Infinite Love Story, this is the next on your list.
‘Bones’ by K.L. Speer
You may have listened to the dystopian story of Bones by K.L. Speer, but it’s time to get the paperback version with gorgeous sprayed edges and foiled endpapers. This is a dark romantasy that brings an element of The Last of Us and Alchemized in a world of gods, mountain strongholds, and adventure.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world that is all about survival, Bones follows the titular character, a woman with the power to heal, but in a world where all it’s ever done is bring death. After being imprisoned for 12 years, she has finally escaped, but there are plenty out there who have heard of her and her abilities, and they hunt her down. As she starts to develop feelings for one man, she has to figure out whether letting people in is safe or not in a world with a mounting rebellion.
‘Kiss Slay Replay’ by Rachel Harrison
Do you want more of a murder mystery this week? Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison is going to be at the top of your list. This one brings a picture-perfect wedding and gorgeous weather, helping to hold onto those summer months a little longer, and a serial killer!
Willa Sullivan is supposed to be celebrating her best friend’s wedding, but things aren’t quite going to plan. When a masked killer attacks, Willa finds out that she’s not the final girl she hoped to be. Or maybe she is,b because when she wakes up, it’s the morning of the wedding, and she’s stuck in a Groundhog Day of events. Is it just deja vu, or is this a loop of carnage until she can save the day?
‘The Tower of Beggars’ by Torsten Weitze
You may have heard about the Stormfell Academy series. The Tower of Beggars by Torsten Weitze is the first in the series, and it’s about to make its U.S. debut after becoming a million-copy-sold fantasy success around the world. If you love the likes of The Hunger Takes and Red Rising, you’ll want to dive into this release.
It follows Niri, who is suddenly penniless after tragedy strikes her family. She has one hope: a copper coin that will get her into the prestigious and alluring Stormfell Academy. While there, she will experience training in martial arts, magic, and much more, but it’s not as simple as paying for entry and getting the lessons. That coin gives her access to the Tower of Beggars, and now she needs to find a way to pay for lessons if she wants to change her fate. It’s a story of survival, grief, and determination, which is the perfect way to start off the fall months.
