The BiblioLifestyle 2021 Fall Reading Guide is finally here, and I’m super excited for it to be out in the reading world! While I get most of my reading done in the summer, fall is my favorite reading season. It’s so comforting to cozy up under a blanket in the cooler weather with a cuppa and a book.
About The 2021 Fall Reading Guide
The 2021 Fall Reading Guide has forty-two new releases organized across seven categories and six classic novels. There is also one extra category dedicated to the minimalist reader. The Minimalist Reads List is for those readers who are only planning to pick up a few books this season. Because we’re all about lifestyle here, you’ll also find some reading tips, fun things to do at home, along with some fall-themed recipes.
RELATED:
- Get our latest Fall Reading Guide here.
- If you’re looking for only a handful of books, check out our Minimalist Reads list from The 2021 Fall Reading Guide.
- If you’re keen on picking up a classic novel, check out our list of classic novels to read in the fall.
More About The 2021 Fall Reading Guide
The Fall Reading Guide is by no means an exhaustive list of the books coming out this season. What I have done is selected my favorites from the books I have read and reviewed, and now I’m sharing them with you. I’ve also included publication dates so you’ll know what comes out when (although these dates may change).
Some of these titles have heavy themes, so if you need trigger warnings, please email me at hello[at]bibliolifestyle[dot]com, and I will do my best to advise you accordingly. I also recommend using The StoryGraph for trigger warnings as well.
Above all, reading is a personal experience! I’ve included summaries to help you decide if that book sounds right for you based on your taste, interests, and current reading mood.
If you like what I’ve put together in The Fall Reading List, please share the guide’s homepage on your favorite social media channels directly with your favorite bookish friends. Don’t forget to tag @bibliolifestyle and use the hashtag #bibliolifestyleFRG in your posts so we can also see what you’re reading.
I hope you’ll find plenty of books you love in this guide, and I’m looking forward to hearing about your favorites!
Books from The 2021 Fall Reading Guide
Literary Fiction
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
It is a novel about friends who desire each other and worry about their friendships and life catching up with them.
Assembly by Natasha Brown
While preparing to attend a lavish party, a Black British woman considers the carefully assembled pieces of her life and whether it’s time to take it all apart.
Lean Fall Stand by Jon Mcgregor
A novel about an Antarctica expedition gone wrong and the far-reaching consequences for the explorers and their families.
Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soyinka
It is a crafty literary whodunit and indictment of political and social corruption set in an imaginary Nigeria.
Dreaming of You by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
A macabre novel in verse about loss, longing, identity, and pop culture. Where a young Latinx poet decides one day to bring Tejano pop star back to life.
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
An independent bookstore’s most annoying customer haunts the shop, and while solving this haunting, a story of grief, passion, isolation, and a complex marriage unfolds.
Historical Fiction
Matrix by Lauren Groff
A feminist reimaging set in 12th century Europe based on the real medieval author Marie de France expelled from the French royal court and banished to England.
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Set in 1960s Harlem with a cast of underworld figures, a historical heist novel shows gradual changes in the city and the novel’s protagonist.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Set in 15th century Constantinople, 22nd century Konstance, and present-day Idaho, this novel tells an epic story of a long-lost book from ancient Greece.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Set in 1950s America, the novel follows four boys and their hatched plan for a different future and new life. A story of farm life, families, and friendships.
Still Life by Sarah Winman
The novel opens in 1944 Tuscany and tells the story of people and kindred spirits brought together by war, art, love, and E.M. Forster.
Harsh Times by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Adrian Nathan West
A novel that tells the story of Guatemala’s political turmoil during the 1950s and 60s and the American-backed coup through characters makes it relatable.
Family & Friendship
Out of Love by Hazel Hayes
After 5 years together, an unnamed 30-year-old woman who moved from Dublin to London to join her boyfriend is now picking up the pieces after he moved out.
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
Told as a long letter that a child is writing to her father who abandoned her and her pregnant mother, the novel tells the story of three generations of women.
The Book of Mother by Violaine Huisman, translated by Leslie Camhi
A novel that chronicles the lives of three generations of women – a charming but manic-depressive mother, her daughters, and their grandmother.
The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon
Two women at midlife who were friends and lovers rediscover themselves and reflect on their life choices, sexuality, and race.
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
A novel that reflects on Lucy Barton and her complex relationship with her first husband William, before and after their divorce, despite their remarrying.
Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart
A group of friends and friends-of-friends gathers in a country house to wait out the pandemic, and over the next 6 months, new friendships and romances occur, while old betrayals will emerge, forcing each of them to reevaluate.
Nonfiction
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
A civil rights lawyer recounts her childhood growing up as an undocumented immigrant living in New York’s Chinatown.
Unbound by Tarana Burke
The founder and activist behind the #MeToo movement share her experiences as a survivor of sexual assault and the advocacy needed in our society.
The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl
The account of the July 1776 kidnapping of frontiersman Daniel Boone’s daughter and two friends by Indians and the aftermath that rippled across the nation.
Concepcion by Albert Samaha
A journalist uncovers his family’s story while giving us a window into Filipino history, experiences of Filipinx immigrants, colonialism, and American imperialism.
Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit
A new biography on George Orwell focused on him being an avid gardener, his love of roses, and all things natural – things that influenced his political writing.
Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones
Jones recounts her upbringing and escape from the Children of God, an oppressive, extremist religious cult founded by her paternal grandfather.
Mysteries & Thrillers
Rizzio by Denise Mina
A historical mystery recreates a gruesome episode from the Tudor era – the bloody assassination of David Rizzo, private secretary to Mary Queen of Scots.
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
A psychological thriller surrounding a woman’s disappearance while also looking at marriage, siblings, and how the people we love the most can hurt us.
We Know You Remember by Tove Alsterdal
After his conviction, Olof returns to his family’s home and finds his father’s dead body, and now he’s the suspect in this character-driven Scandinavian mystery.
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club is riding high off their recent real-life murder case, then Elizabeth receives an SOS written by a secret agent who’s supposed to be dead.
Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
Wren and Adam met online and started an emotional affair. Then, three months later, he vanishes and may be responsible for the disappearance of three women.
A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz
At an exclusive literary festival, a partygoer is found stabbed to death, and detectives Hawthorne and Horowitz find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation.
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror
No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
Laina is mourning her brother, whom a cop killed, but then she discovers her brother was a werewolf and that monsters exist.
Harrow by Joy Williams
In the near future, a teenager named Khristen, whose school closes its doors, ends up at a “resort” filled with elderly eco-warriors.
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
Set in post-war England, a gifted woman who negotiates her own marriage quickly discovers her new husband hides disturbing secrets about his past.
The Brides of Maracoor by Gregory Maguire
A young woman washes up on a foreign island and is taken in by a community of single women committed to obscure devotional practices.
The Seventh Queen by Greta Kelly
Askia witnesses the assassination of her new husband and is imprisoned by Radovan, who is draining her of her magic and plans to trap her soul.
Noor by Nnedi Okorafor
Set in a near-future Nigeria, a woman whose partially robotic is attacked at her local market and kills in self-defense, but she’s randed a murderess and has to go on the run.
Romance
A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
A sexy friends-to-lovers romance where childhood best friends Michelle and Gabe have a second chance at love.
Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
A young witch returns to her magical hometown and is drawn into a plan with her best friend to seek revenge on the man who double-timed them.
All the Feels by Olivia Dade
A former ER therapist hired to keep a volatile actor in line, but the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to keep it professional.
A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King
A Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the world of New York City burlesque; love is the last thing on Liz’s mind, yet the spark between her and Will is undeniable.
Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens
A lifestyle reporter known for interviewing couples about how they met gets involved in a complicated love story of her own.
The Singles Table by Sara Desai
A free-spirited lawyer is determined to find the perfect match for the grumpy bachelor at her cousin’s wedding.
What books are you planning to read this fall?
Are you looking forward to reading any books from the guide? What are some of your most anticipated fall books?
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