5 new books to read this weekend (October 30-November 1)

From the new Sarah Maas to Jane Schoenbrun’s debut novel, this week has something for everyone

As we move through an era where cinema is popping off, giving us great films that everyone is talking about like You Can See Everything and The Devils, it can't be forgotten that this week is also a great one for new book releases from the past year. A new Sarah J. Maas book, a horror occult book by a Nebula-winning author, and the first novel from Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma director Jane Schoenbrun. We would say it's a good week to pick up a book, but honestly, it's always a good time to read.

These are books that most likely have a long hold list at the library, so if you want to read these books now, find them at your local indie bookstore or on bookshop.org. Some highly anticipated releases this week, some of which are perfect, cozy Halloween reads. Grab a blanket, make yourself a hot beverage, gear up your Kindle or open that beautiful paper book, and get reading.

Other notable books that came out recently include Frieda McFadden's The Witch, Barbara Kingsolver's Partita, and Victorious, the third book in the Villains series by V.E. Schwab. Book enthusiasts are eating well this fall season.

1 A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas

Everyone's favorite romantasy series has returned — Sarah J. Maas is the reigning champion author in this category, and the new book has nearly everyone lining up at the bookstore for their own copy. The sixth book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, known colloquially as ACOTAR, which picks up after the events of A Court of Silver Flames and House of Flame and Shadow, serving as "Movement 1" of a larger multi-story arc called The Valkyrie Cycle.

If you are a diehard romantasy reader, as many are, you were probably well-aware of this release. It's been highly anticipated, as it is one of the most successful fantasy series of all time. The next parts of this particular cycle will continue with the next book in the series, A Court of Forgotten Memory, which releases on January 12, 2027. That's plenty of time to catch up on this series, so get reading!

2 Public Access Afterworld by Jane Schoenbrun

With the success of their recent film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and their 2024 hit I Saw the TV Glow, it seems like Jane Schoenbrun is unstoppable. They have now released their first book, Public Access Afterworld, a horror novel that, similar to the rest of their body of work, focuses on obsession with media and TV. A collective searches for their inner TV show, with out-of-this-world results. It's a solid debut from Schoenbrun, and fits in well with other stories they have told through the cinematic medium.

Be warned, this book has some psychedelic horror that will make you feel like you've been sucked into the world of the novel itself. It's one of those novels that leaves the reader feeling trapped in the pages, unable to stop reading. It's a binge-worthy book just in time for spooky season, one you are certain to love if you are a horror fan.

3 From the Library of Jurgen Leitner by Premee Mohamed and Jonathan Sims

Another horror novel for your perusal this Halloween weekend. A part of the Magnus Archives, co-written by Nebula award-winning author Premee Mohamed and Jonathan Sims of Rusty Quill, From the Library of Jurgen Leitner is a book that focuses on dealings with the occult, following a fierce collector of books. Jurgen Leitner's private library has books that cannot land in the hands of just anyone, causing Leitner to guard and research them extensively. Everything from an ancient scroll that can cause chilling breezes, to a bound hardcover that implores you to DIG, DIG, DIG. Who knows what horrors await in Leitner's library?

This is a perfect read for Halloween (or Samhain, depending on how you spiritually identify), and guarantees you thrills and chills as you make your way through Jurgen Leitner's deadly library. It'll definitely have you looking twice at those weird books you found at the thrift store, because who knows what powers they hold?

4 The Brightness by Chad Harbach

Chad Harbach experienced massive success in 2011 with his debut book, The Art of Fielding, and now The Brightness is out as his long-awaited follow-up. Clocking in at nearly 700 pages, this novel takes place at the fictional Westish College in Wisconsin, circa late 2015 to early 2016. A lot goes down during that time period, as two close friends bear witness to a politically charged campus prank regarding sexual assault. There is also a meta twist to the book, with one of the characters having written The Art of Fielding, reframing the events of that original book from a new perspective.

While the book deals with some heavy topics, it's received praise already from The New York Times Book Review, calling it "A Bold and Ambitious Campus Novel, 15 Years in the Making". The length of the book makes it a weighty tome, but it's sure to move you throughout the entire narrative.

5 Venus, Vanishing by Rebecca Birrell

Rebecca Birrell has made her literary debut, releasing a historical fiction novel set in Berlin during the underground art scene of the Weimar Republic. Certainly a period in history with political strife and powerful art, Birrell, an art historian herself, has written a narrative that focuses on a young Jewish artist who runs away from an arranged marriage to study painting in Berlin. If you are a historical fiction person who enjoys reading about this time period, then this book is for you.

A novel that explores queer desire, hedonism, and men taking credit for the work of women during the rise of the Third Reich, this is one for all of the art history buffs out there. Berlin in 1928 was period of great political upheaval and gorgeous art, something that we can certainly relate to in the modern era. A perfect book to dive into this fall.