6 of the Best New Book Releases Out October 20, 2026

From the author of Going Clear comes a look at the seemingly unlikely bond that develops between women on death row at a Texas prison and a group of nuns. It’s 2014 when Deacon Lastovica goes to the prison to give communion and promises to return regularly, but he doesn’t just return. He invites the Sisters of Mary Morning Star to accompany him to the prison, and what follows is the two groups of women bonding over surprising similarities, spirituality, and absolution. —Erica Ezeifedi

Fantasy fans, now is your time. The writer of Piranesi has a new illustrated short story set in the Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell world—specifically 700 years before. The city of Durham has become entrapped by trees, and its Bishop knows he needs to find a way to unite humans and fairies, and sets out to find the new fairy King. Thing is, he’s 14-year-old who doesn’t speak a lick of English. —Erica Ezeifedi

This has to be one of my all-time favorite graphic memoir series, and the great thing is you don’t necessarily have to read them in order (though it’d be better if you did). In this latest snippet of Huda’s life, we follow the teen during the summer after her high school graduation, when she is ready for love. But is love ready for her is the question. She’s got great new supportive friends, and she’s getting set up with lots of eligible guys her age, but gender roles and her ambitions start to clash. All of it has her wondering if she can be happy and have it all. —Erica Ezeifedi

One of my auto-buy authors! In this book, several of Alix E. Harrow’s fabulous short stories are collected in one place for the first time, plus five new tales as well. Every little thing Harrow writes is magic, and she’s fresh off her 2026 Locus Award win for Best Fantasy Novel for The Everlasting! —Liberty Hardy

In this historical novel, Willy Hughes is at a low point: he’s heartbroken over his first great love, Barnaby Stubb, and he’s cleaning toilets and conning drunk men to get by. That’s when he meets the up-and-coming poet, William Shakespeare, who offers him roles in his productions. William is married, but that doesn’t stop Willy from falling for him—and he’s convinced he’s not alone in his feelings, especially when William starts writing him sonnets. Then, the seductive rival poet Christopher Marlowe knocks on Willy’s door. —Danika Ellis

As timely a novel as ever. The titular Employee No. 9 is going through it: his wife needs surgery after overworking herself at the grocery store, his son’s college tuition payment is coming up, and the company he helped build is trying to push him out. He’s thinking of fighting back, but at what cost? —Erica Ezeifedi