13 Brilliant New Books to Read September 2025 (That Belong on Your TBR)
Looking for the best books to read September 2025? From gripping mysteries to heartfelt romances and thought-provoking literary fiction, here are 13 new releases you’ll want on your TBR this month.
13 Brilliant Books to Read September 2025
If your September TBR is looking a little thin, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with a new list of books. This month brings an incredible mix of new releases: literary powerhouses, twisty mysteries, swoony romance. Here are 13 books to read September 2025 that I’ve read and loved and I’m recommending you add to your reading list.
The September 2025 Book List
Amity by Nathan Harris
A smartly imagined Western that introduces Coleman, a newly emancipated young man caught in the crosshairs of family betrayal, desert misadventures, and his sister’s escape from a predatory patriarch. With vivid imagery, a rich cast, and Harris’ signature lyricism, Amity promises to be a gripping, violent, and unforgettable read.
You can get a copy of Amity by Nathan Harris on Amazon.
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
McEwan takes us into a post-apocalyptic 2119, where a professor hunts down a lost poem amidst a climate-ravaged Britain and resurrected digital archives. Blending mystery, philosophy, and questions about knowledge itself, What We Can Know is a sweeping, cerebral novel that asks: how do we know what we think we know? Expect classic McEwan brilliance with a speculative twist.
You can get a copy of What We Can Know by Ian McEwan on Amazon.
Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman
This dual-timeline debut spans decades in publishing, following Rebecca Blume as she navigates grief, hot-desking chaos, and the posthumous legacy of a literary giant, while uncovering her mother’s 1980s entanglement in the same world. Funny, heartwarming, and layered with romance and female friendship, Hot Desk is a love letter to books, ambition, and the ties that bind.
You can get a copy of Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman on Amazon.
Boy From the North Country by Sam Sussman
Part autofiction, part family saga, Sussman explores the mystery of his mother’s relationship with Bob Dylan and the narrator’s journey through loss as she dies of cancer. Tender, lyrical, and brimming with love, Boy From the North Country balances father-son intrigue with one of the most moving mother-son portraits in recent memory.
You can get a copy of Boy From the North Country by Sam Sussman on Amazon.
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
Flournoy’s The Wilderness weaves decades of friendship among four Black women, navigating love, loss, Covid, and the future of American life. By shifting perspectives across time, The Wilderness captures both intimate character work and sharp social commentary, reminding us that community and chosen family are essential for survival.
You can get a copy of The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy on Amazon.
Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei
In a climate-ravaged world of rising seas and blight, two sisters set sail in search of their missing sibling and uncover a conspiracy that stretches into the heart of global agriculture. Equal parts dystopian eco-thriller and intimate family drama, Saltcrop is a luminous, urgent story of resilience, science, and the bonds of sisterhood.
You can get a copy of Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei on Amazon.
Want To Save This Post?
Enter your email below & I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get themed lists and posts from me every week!
The Killer Question by Janice Hallett
Hallett returns with another dazzling puzzle—this time set in a cozy British pub where quiz night turns deadly. Through emails, texts, and pitch notes to a documentary producer, The Killer Question layers humor with menace, turning a quirky local rivalry into a darkly clever mystery full of rug-pull twists.
You can get a copy of The Killer Question by Janice Hallett on Amazon.
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club crew is back in top form! As Elizabeth slowly re-engages with life after Stephen’s passing, a wedding reception murder attempt pulls the gang into a case involving bitcoin, remote storage secrets, and old gangsters. Packed with red herrings, warmth, and wit, this is a high point in the series.
You can get a copy of The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman on Amazon.
The Librarians by Sherry Thomas
In her first contemporary mystery, Thomas introduces a cast of crime-solving librarians in Austin who find themselves suspects after two suspicious deaths. Mixing suspense with heart, international backstory, and richly drawn characters, The Librarians blends The Thursday Murder Club’s charm with the glamour of Crazy Rich Asians.
You can get a copy of The Librarians by Sherry Thomas on Amazon.
Witch You Would by Lia Amador
This debut rom-com follows perfectionist witch Penelope and her jokester partner Gil (secretly her academic pen pal) as they compete on a magical reality TV show. Cute, funny, and full of enchanting details, Witch You Would is a breezy, low-stakes romance perfect for fans of cozy contemporary fantasy.
You can get a copy of Witch You Would by Lia Amador on Amazon.
Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola
In this follow-up to Honey & Spice, Kiki Banjo finds herself torn between her old heartbreak, Malakai, and her future career ambitions. With sharp writing, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt exploration of second chances, Sweet Heat is a spicy, satisfying romance readers will devour.
You can get a copy of Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola on Amazon.
The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy by Roan Parrish
Parrish blends cozy and steamy in this queer paranormal romance about Edgar, a man plagued by ghostly visions, and Jamie, a genderqueer burlesque performer and haunted-house designer. Equal parts tender and passionate, Edgar Lovejoyis a heartwarming story of found family, self-acceptance, and love that transcends fear.
You can get a copy of The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy by Roan Parrish on Amazon.
The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell
When two actors adapting Northanger Abbey are zapped back to Regency England, sparks fly as they navigate balls, courtships, and the customs of Austen’s world. With its witty banter, heartfelt romance, and nods to Austen’s legacy, The Austen Affair is both homage and fresh love story—a treat for Janeites and romance fans alike.
You can get a copy of The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
September 2025 is a reader’s dream, whether you’re craving haunting dystopias, witty mysteries, or swoony romances, this month’s releases have something for everyone. Now it’s your turn, what are your must-read books for September 2025? Which of these are you adding to your list? Let me know in the comments!
P.S. If you’re looking for even more books, check out my list of: 16 Best New Books to Read in October 2025 (Personal Picks), I also shared 13 New Books to Read in November 2025 (Across Genres) and to round out the year 15 Brilliant Books to Read in December 2025 (New Releases).
