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27 Hottest October Releases to Add to Your Shelf
October is here, and it’s the perfect time to add the 27 hottest releases of the month! And it looks like there going to be many romance tropes this month, including enemies to lovers, small-town romance, brother’s best friend, and even some slow-burn stories. These books are perfect for October reading list, November book club, or even to get a head start on your Christmas reading. I’m really excited about these upcoming Christmas books and cozy fantasy reads.
Anticipated October Releases 2024
The Striker by Ana Huang
The Striker follows football star Asher Donovan, known for his controversial reputation. After a feud with a teammate costs them a championship, he must bond with his new trainer during the off-season. Enter Scarlett DuBois, a former ballerina turned dance teacher, who has no interest in training Asher, especially since he’s her brother’s rival. As their chemistry grows, Scarlett finds it difficult to stick to her vow of avoiding footballers.
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Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Heir by Sabaa Tahir explores the intertwined lives of three characters. Aiz, an orphan from the Kegari slums ends up in prison after a reckless act. Sirsha, a banished tracker with magic skills. Quil, the crown prince, struggles with his royal duties. As they confront treachery, love, and greed, their journey could cost them everything.
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Sunlight by Devney Perry
Next we have Western romance with sizzling romance. Sunlight follows Sasha who gets into a playful tug-of-war over a grocery cart with the most handsome man she’s ever seen. Just as she’s about to accept his date invitation, he reveals his name: Jax Haven, the owner of Haven River Ranch.
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The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling
The Wedding Witch is about Bowen Penhallow, who practices dark magic all alone on a mountaintop in Wales. His quiet life gets shaken up when his ghostly friend, Declan, who convinces him to go to a big wedding during the Yuletide season at a fancy estate.
Tamsyn Bligh isn’t a witch, but she sells magical items and hopes to make a lot of money at the wedding. She knows that getting involved with a witch like Bowen could be risky, but she dreams of finding a valuable artifact at Tywyll House that could let her retire early.
Things get wild when a powerful spell at the wedding accidentally sends Bowen and Tamsyn back to the Yuletide Celebration of 1957. As they explore the history of Tywyll House and deal with its spooky past, they also face doubts from other witches. In the middle of all the chaos, Bowen and Tamsyn find themselves falling for each other.
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Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
Don’t Let the Forest In is the story of high school senior Andrew Perrault, who has always cared for his friend Thomas Rye. Andrew writes twisted fairytales for Thomas, who is struggling after the disappearance of his abusive parents and showing signs of distress.
When Andrew follows Thomas into an off-limits forest, he discovers that the monsters from Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are attacking those around them. As they battle these nightmarish creatures each night, their growing obsession complicates their friendship
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How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
Next in the list is How My Neighbor Stole Christmas, a laugh-out-loud enemies-to-lovers romance set in a town. Every Christmas, Storee Taylor returns to Kringletown to spend the holiday with her Great Aunt Cindy. Ten years ago, she left after an embarrassing incident. Now a movie editor, Storee enters the Christmas Kringle competition at her aunt’s urging, only to discover Cole, the town’s Christmas grinch, is also competing and wants to pretend they’re dating.
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Bloodguard by Cecy Robson
Bloodguard by Cecy Robson follows Leith of Grey, a gladiator in the brutal arena of the Kingdom of Arrow. He came to fight, hoping to earn gold to save his dying sister, but he soon learns that the kingdom is built on lies. The arena has taken everything from him—his hope, freedom, and humanity.
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Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts
Haunt Your Heart Out is the story of Lex McCall, a bookseller in a sleepy Vermont town who loves her quiet life. When handsome ghost hunter James visits her bookstore, Lex assumes he’s just another tourist. However, he’s part of a crew investigating local ghost stories—stories Lex created for her hobby vlog years ago.
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The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy
Callie is heartbroken after being dumped by her childhood sweetheart. Now she’s determined to avoid Christmas this year, especially since her ex will be next door with his new girlfriend. However, her sister Anita isn’t ready to let Callie give up on love and the holidays. She stages a Christmas intervention with a homemade Advent calendar filled with cheerful challenges to help Callie reconnect with the spirit of the season. The Christmas Countdown is a fun, family themed romance to read.
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The Debutantes by Olivia Worley
The Debutantes is a thrilling YA mystery set during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The glamorous Les Masques Ball is overshadowed by last year’s tragedy when debutante Margot Landry was found dead. This year, poised debutante Lily LeBlanc seems set to shine—until a mysterious Jester crashes the ball.
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A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of Ancient China’s Four Beauties. Xishi is known for her beauty, and military advisor Fanli sees a chance to use that to take down the rival kingdom of Wu. Her mission? Sneak into the enemy palace, charm the immoral king, and get revenge for her sister’s murder. With training in deception under her belt, Xishi faces the challenges of the Wu court, but her growing connection with Fanli makes things more complicated.
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Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is another fun addition to the Ernest Cunningham mystery series. Ernest Cunningham, a former fan of Golden Age murder mysteries, finds himself backstage at a show featuring world-famous magician Rylan Blaze.
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Swordcrossed by Freya Marske
Swordcrossed explores a world of merchant houses filled with scheming and secrets. Mattinesh Jay, heir to a struggling family business, must hire a swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Later, He ends up with Luca Piere, a part-time con artist looking to make easy money and escape his past.
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The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom that follows Kira North, who despises Christmas but has just purchased a charming tree farm in the overly cute town of Dream Harbor. Kira North is looking for a fresh start and buys a Christmas tree farm sight unseen. While preparing to open the farm, she encounters Bennett Ellis, a charming man vacationing in Dream Harbor, who sees her as another fixer-upper. As Ben tries to help Kira embrace the holiday spirit, she grapples with her stubborn, anti-Christmas attitude. This cozy winter romance for October.
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For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga
For She Is Wrath is a sweeping Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. The story follows Dania, who has been wrongfully imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit. As she counts down the days until she can seek revenge against Mazin, the boy who betrayed her and the one she still loves, she discovers that a fellow prisoner may hold the key to her vengeance
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No Better Than Beasts by Z.R. Ellor
No Better Than Beasts is a dark and enchanting reimagining of the classic Nutcracker story. This standalone YA fantasy draws inspiration from Russian folktales and centers on the Gogitdan siblings, who have endured great hardship as immigrants from the cursed kingdom of Kolznechia.
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Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn tells the story of Maren Laughlin. After a public proposal from her boyfriend goes wrong, she returns to Wisconsin to renovate her inherited bait shop and figure out her next steps. Meanwhile, Josiah Cole, a former military man running his family’s resort and raising his two children, begins to see Maren as more than just his best friend’s little sister. As Maren bonds with Joe’s kids and proves her skills in fishing charters, a budding connection develops between her and Josiah.
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All Too Well by Corinne Michaels
All Too Well explores themes of healing, second chances and brother’s best friend romance trope. Ainsley returns to Ember Falls to interview Lachlan, her brother’s best friend and the man she has secretly loved for years. As they spend time together, both characters confront their traumas and the possibility of a future.
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The Fake Wedding Project by Pippa Grant
The Fake Wedding Project is a steamy romantic comedy that combines the elements of Romeo and Juliet with a Hallmark Christmas movie. Amanda Anderson, a dog walker from NYC, and Dane Silver, an engineer from LA, come from feuding families who own rival businesses in the Christmas-themed town of Tinsel. To escape her family’s expectations, Amanda panic-engages Dane, who agrees to the fake engagement to help end the feud.
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Mr. Heartbreaker by Piper Rayne
Mr. Heartbreaker follows Kyleigh who made a pact with her brother to never date his teammates. Technically, Rowan Landry, the hot center for the Chicago Falcons, isn’t her brother’s teammate anymore. Despite insisting they’re just sleeping together, things heat up quickly.
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Bananapants by Penny Reid
Bananapants is a quirky romantic comedy about estranged childhood friends who unexpectedly reunite in wild circumstances. It follows Ava Archer and Desmond “Des” Sullivan, a thief with a questionable moral compass.
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The Romance Line by Lauren Blakely
The Romance Line by Lauren Blakely centers on a publicist managing PR for a hockey team, where the first rule is to never hook up with a player. That rule gets tested when she’s assigned to give a makeover to the team’s notoriously grumpy goalie, Max.
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All Folked Up by Penny Reid
All Folked Up centers on Isaac Sylvester, a mysterious figure recently returned to Green Valley. Rumors swirl about his intentions as he’s spotted lurking near the old Townsen farm and the Hill’s homestead. No one knows what this enigmatic man wants, but the town can’t stop talking. On the other hand, Hannah Townsen is preparing for her last night as an exotic dancer. After years of local gossip about her troubled past, she’s finally ready to retire. Just as she thinks she’s left the spotlight behind, Isaac shows up at her retirement party.
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
Make the Season Bright follows Charlotte Donovan, who is recovering from being left at the altar five years ago. Now thriving in New York with her string ensemble, she’s persuaded by her bandmate Sloane to spend Christmas in Colorado. Things get complicated when Charlotte discovers that Sloane’s sister has brought home her ex, Brighton Fairbrook. As they participate in festive activities, old memories resurface. Can they reconnect and melt the ice between them this Christmas?
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Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe
Christmas Sweater Weather is a steamy holiday romance featuring Charlotte Calhoun and Hayden Porter. Charlotte has avoided Hayden, her brother’s best friend, ever since he rejected her years ago. But when they find themselves at a snowy ski resort for her brother’s bachelor party, things heat up with cozy fireplaces and mistletoe.
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More Books For Your October Reading List
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Stephy George
