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Wondering what to read now? Here are all the hot new September 2023 book releases for you.
In case you’re new to Wrote a Book, every month I cover all the hottest new book releases. I try to read as many new book releases as I can to give you an honest perspective on what to read and what to skip.
In this month’s edition of “The Most Anticipated September 2023 Book Releases,” I’ve curated a list of all the upcoming bestsellers and book club picks that are sure to enchant you. I’ve also included some of the most popular September 2023 book releases from your favorite authors.
I hope you will enjoy this list of September 2023 book releases for your to-read list.
Top September 2023 Book Releases
The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang
This thrilling story is about two women, Gemma and Suling, living in San Francisco in 1906. Gemma is a talented singer in need of a career boost, while Suling is determined to avoid an arranged marriage. Their lives intersect when they meet Henry Thornton, a wealthy railroad magnate with an impressive collection of Chinese antiques, including the legendary Phoenix Crown from Beijing’s fallen Summer Palace.
Thornton’s support offers Gemma and Suling a golden opportunity, but their lives are turned upside down when a powerful earthquake strikes San Francisco, and Thornton mysteriously disappears. This event leads to a mystery that goes beyond anyone’s imagination, one that only deepens when the Phoenix Crown resurfaces.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 5, 2023
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
In 1958, a murder in a small Minnesota town shocks its residents and ignites old grievances. The victim is Jimmy Quinn, a prominent figure in Jewel, and his body is discovered on Memorial Day in the Alabaster River.
Sheriff Brody Dern, a war hero with his own scars, leads the investigation amid growing rumors that a Native American WWII veteran, Noah Bluestone, is the killer. As tensions rise, a cast of diverse characters, including a war widow, a newspaper publisher, and a lawyer, grapple with their pasts and hidden secrets.
“The River We Remember” is a gripping mystery and a poignant reflection on the scars of war and the stories that shape our homes.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Evil Eye by Etaf Rum
In her powerful second novel, the New York Times bestselling author of A Woman Is No Man delves into the complexities of Palestinian-American women’s lives and the impact of intergenerational trauma.
Yara, after facing probation at work due to a racist altercation, grapples with her mother’s belief in a family curse as the root cause. She begins to scrutinize her challenging upbringing in Brooklyn, seeking answers for her unfulfilled life in contrast to her mother’s aspirations.
Etaf Rum’s compelling narrative explores the enduring effects of generational trauma and the struggle to break the cycle of abuse in a thought-provoking mother-daughter drama, praised as a “most anticipated” book by Time magazine.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Holly by Stephen King
Stephen King’s latest novel, “Holly,” features the return of the beloved character Holly Gibney, who now faces a daunting challenge investigating multiple disappearances in a midwestern town.
Holly has evolved from a shy recluse into a skilled private detective, and in this thrilling story, she confronts unimaginably depraved adversaries on her own. When Penny Dahl seeks help finding her missing daughter, Holly is compelled to take the case despite personal hardships. Nearby, Professors Rodney and Emily Harris, seemingly respectable elders, harbor a dark secret related to the disappearance.
Holly’s formidable talents are put to the test as she faces these cunning and ruthless adversaries in Stephen King’s chilling masterpiece, showcasing his enduring love for the character Holly Gibney.
Genre: Horror
Release Date: September 5, 2023
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith’s “The Fraud” is a vivid historical fiction novel set during the Victorian era, centered around a legal trial that fractured society.
In 1873, Mrs. Eliza Touchet, a housekeeper and cousin by marriage to the declining novelist William Ainsworth, questions the authenticity of her cousin’s talent, Charles Dickens’ morality, and the facades of England itself. On the other hand, Andrew Bogle, a former slave from Jamaica, understands the human cost of sugar and the manipulation of the rich over the poor. As he becomes a key witness in the famous “Tichborne Trial,” where an Australian butcher claims an estate and title, Mrs. Touchet and all of England become captivated.
Amid a world of hypocrisy and self-deception, determining what’s real becomes an intricate challenge in this dazzling novel exploring truth, deception, authenticity, and the enigma of “other people.”
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood
Fran Littlewood’s “Amazing Grace Adams” is a top-rated contemporary British fiction novel that introduces readers to Grace Adams, an ordinary woman facing midlife crisis at the age of forty-five. After giving birth, she finds herself stuck in a rut and unhappy, which she believes is the unhappiest age according to the Guardian.
One day, in a moment of frustration, Grace walks away from her car and embarks on a journey across London with a £200 cake in hand. Her mission is to reconnect with her estranged teenage daughter on her sixteenth birthday and show that one can always bounce back from life’s challenges.
Grace’s determination to recapture her past amazing self sets the stage for a touching and unforgettable story of resilience and self-discovery.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Build the Life You Want by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey
In “Build the Life You Want,” Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey offer a path to greater happiness, regardless of your current challenges.
Drawing from the latest science and their experience in helping individuals turn ideas into action, they provide tools for immediate life improvement, without relying on external changes. Brooks and Winfrey emphasize emotional self-management and recommend research-based practices to strengthen the four pillars of happiness: family, friendship, work, and faith. They share personal wisdom and stories of everyday people who find joy amid adversity.
Armed with these emotional self-management tools and a commitment to fortify your four pillars, you can take charge of your present and future, rather than passively waiting for circumstances to improve. “Build the Life You Want” serves as your roadmap to a more fulfilling life.
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
This biography, penned by the author of bestselling biographies like “Steve Jobs,” delves intimately into the life of Elon Musk, a groundbreaking innovator who played a pivotal role in the rise of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence while also taking over Twitter.
Musk’s early years in South Africa were marked by physical and emotional abuse, leaving lasting scars. His father’s influence left him with a complex personality—tough yet vulnerable, risk-prone, dramatic, and intensely focused on his mission. Despite his extraordinary success in 2022, Musk acknowledged his perpetual crisis mode and the need for a mindset shift.
Isaacson, the author, spent two years closely following Musk, offering a revealing inside story filled with triumphs and turmoil. The biography explores whether the inner demons driving Musk are the same forces propelling innovation and progress in the world.
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Chenneville by Paulette Jiles
In “Chenneville,” a gripping novel by Paulette Jiles, grief-stricken and fueled by vengeance, Union soldier John Chenneville embarks on an unyielding journey across the lawless post-Civil War frontier in search of redemption.
After suffering a traumatic head injury in battle, John spent months recovering, only to return home to the devastating news of his sister’s brutal murder. The killer, known as A. J. Dodd, is a remorseless former Union soldier and lawman who must be stopped.
Traveling through the unforgiving post-war landscape during Reconstruction, John faces harsh winters and desperate individuals as he relentlessly pursues Dodd. Despite threats from a U.S. Marshal and the assistance of Victoria Reavis, a telegraphist who hopes for a different life with him, John remains single-minded in his quest for justice.
As he tracks Dodd into the heart of Texas, John confronts the realization that this final reckoning may exact an even greater toll than the losses he has already endured.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 12, 2023
The Traitor by Ava Glass
In “The Traitor” by Ava Glass, British spy Emma Makepeace takes on a perilous mission on a Russian oligarch’s superyacht, where a single misstep could lead to a watery demise.
When an MI6 operative is found dead in a locked suitcase in his apartment, Emma and her handler, Ripley, discern it as an unmistakable assassination, driven by a mysterious message. As Emma delves into the operative’s investigation, she uncovers his obsession with two Russian oligarchs in London and a shadowy third man. MI6’s abrupt halt to the inquiry raises questions about the dangerous secret he might have unearthed.
To continue the investigation and avoid sharing the operative’s fate, Emma goes undercover on the oligarch’s luxurious yacht, setting sail from the Côte d’Azur to Monaco. Although it seems like a dream vacation, revealing her true identity would be a death sentence.
As Emma uncovers perilous secrets, the danger intensifies, and the killer may be closer than anyone imagines. Emma’s safety hinges on capturing the elusive murderer, whose identity remains a deadly mystery.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Release Date: September 19, 2023
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
In “The Running Grave,” the seventh installment of the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith, private detective Cormoran Strike is tasked with rescuing a young man, Will, who has become entangled in a perilous religious cult hidden deep within the Norfolk countryside.
The Universal Humanitarian Church initially appears as a peaceful organization advocating for a better world, but Strike uncovers disturbing secrets and unexplained deaths lurking beneath the surface.
To save Will, Strike’s partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult undercover. She journeys to Norfolk, unaware of the dangers awaiting her and the toll it will exact. This thrilling narrative propels the ongoing story of Strike and Robin, making “The Running Grave” an unforgettable and suspenseful addition to the series.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong
Chloe Gong, the bestselling author of “These Violent Delights,” presents “Foul Heart Huntsman,” the second book in the Foul Lady Fortune duology.
Set in 1932 Shanghai amid the imminent Japanese invasion, national spy Rosalind Lang faces exposure and fights to rescue her love, Orion, whose memories have been erased. She undertakes a national tour to hide her identity but faces unexpected challenges that force her to seek allies and confront her past.
To save Orion and her nation from a dangerous chemical weapon, Rosalind must find a cure before time runs out. “Foul Heart Huntsman” weaves love, espionage, and impending danger in a thrilling narrative.
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Release Date: September 26, 2023
The Armor of Light by Ken Follett
Ken Follett’s “The Armor of Light” marks the long-awaited sequel to “A Column of Fire” and ushers in a new era for Kingsbridge, England. Set against the backdrop of the Spinning Jenny’s invention in 1770, the story explores the clash between progress and tradition, class struggles, and the turmoil of European wars.
The characters grapple with life-altering events: a husband’s work-related death, a young woman’s fight to educate impoverished children, an unexpected business inheritance, and ruthless wealth protection. As Europe teeters on the brink of upheaval with Napoleon’s ambitions, institutions crumble, setting the stage for a world in need of rebuilding.
This electrifying addition to the Kingsbridge series, three decades after “The Pillars of the Earth,” delves into the battle between compassion and greed, love and hate, and the tension between progress and tradition. Through each character’s perspective, readers gain insights into the seismic shifts that shook nineteenth-century Europe.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Killing the Witches by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard’s “Killing the Witches” delves into the Salem witch trials of 1692 and 1693 in Massachusetts, a mysterious and terrifying episode in American history.
It began with two young girls experiencing unexplained afflictions and strange behavior, eventually leading to accusations of witchcraft and demonic possession. The hysteria spread, resulting in the arrest of more than 200 people, the conviction of thirty, the execution of twenty, and the ruin of others’ lives.
The book explores how Puritan traditions and the influence of early American ministers shaped the nation, impacting its founding fathers, the American Revolution, and the Constitutional Convention. It also delves into the lasting legacy of Salem, evident in cultural works like “The Exorcist” and modern “witch hunts” fueled by social media, illustrating the power of fear to distort facts and reason.
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Popular September Upcoming Releases
What September 2023 Book Releases are You Most Excited to Read?
What books can you not wait to get your hands on this month? Did I miss any September 2023 book releases that you are anticipating? As always, let me know in the comments! Happy reading! ❤️