10 Trending Goodreads Books Released This September (You Can Read Right Now!)
September has brought a wave of new releases from some of readers’ favorite authors, and Goodreads members have been buzzing about all of them. If you’re looking to update your reading list with titles you can pick up immediately, no waiting for pre-orders or future release dates, we’ve gathered ten of the top-trending books that have already hit shelves this month. From a beloved retiree-detective duo and a new Nora Roberts thriller to a heartfelt multigenerational family saga, here are the most talked-about September books available right now.
10 Trending September Books Available Now
1. Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Released September 1)
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger
- Genre: Psychological Thriller / Family Suspense
- Why it’s trending: From the Emmy-winning investigative reporter turned bestselling novelist comes a twisty thriller about two sisters racing to uncover the truth after their family history turns out to be built on a lie. Fans of family-secret suspense are calling it Ryan’s most gripping book yet.
2. The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins (Released September 1)
The Three Graces of Pearl Street
- Genre: Family Drama / Women’s Fiction
- Why it’s trending: A warm, wise debut about an Italian American grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter, all named after the Three Graces, whose lives collide when they’re forced to live under one roof again. Praised by Adriana Trigiani, this one’s being called one of the most heartfelt family novels of the year.
3. The Black Orchid by Loreth Anne White (Released September 1)
- Genre: Suspense Thriller
- Why it’s trending: Nine elite guests board a luxury yacht for its maiden voyage through the Aegean Sea, unaware that a retired FBI profiler on board believes a serial killer is among them. A true-crime-inspired page-turner from a Washington Post bestselling author.
4. Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson (Released September 8)
- Genre: Literary Mystery / Historical Fiction
- Why it’s trending: Set during London’s 1951 Festival of Britain, this witty, brilliantly plotted novel follows a war-scarred journalist who becomes the prime suspect when a woman he can’t remember spending the evening with goes missing. From the author of Life After Life.
5. Fury in Death by J.D. Robb (Released September 8)
- Genre: Crime Thriller
- Why it’s trending: The 63rd installment in Nora Roberts’ phenomenally popular “In Death” series finds Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigating a killer whose brutality suggests there’s nothing ordinary about this case. Longtime fans say the series hasn’t lost a step.
6. The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (Released September 8)
- Genre: Historical Fiction / Adventure
- Why it’s trending: A sweeping, high-seas novel inspired by the real life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary 16th-century Irish pirate queen who defied her family, her husband, and the English crown to rule her own waters. From the bestselling author of The Frozen River.
7. We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman (Released September 10)
- Genre: Mystery / Crime Comedy
- Why it’s trending: Steve, Amy, and Rosie are back in the second globe-trotting mystery from the author of the Thursday Murder Club series, this time chasing a killer from Italy to Palm Springs to Barcelona. Osman’s trademark warmth and wit are fully intact.
8. Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Released September 15)
- Genre: Family Drama / Contemporary Romance
- Why it’s trending: The fifth installment in the beloved Peachtree Bluff series reunites the Murphy family for a fall-themed round of love triangles, new beginnings, and small-town secrets. Fans are calling it the coziest entry yet.
9. In These Hills by Tamera Alexander (Released September 8)
- Genre: Historical Romance
- Why it’s trending: A USA Today bestselling author of nearly 20 novels, Alexander sets this clean, enemies-to-lovers romance in 1905 Tennessee, where a suffragist on the run from a deadly rally lands at Jack Daniel’s real-life distillery town and finds an unexpected protector in a rough-edged local rancher. Inspired by the author’s own family history — sweet, well-researched, and squarely in the tradition of Francine Rivers and Lynn Austin.
10. Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult (Released September 15)
- Genre: Literary Fiction / Family Drama
- Why it’s trending: A woman who has spent her career preparing for disaster, after losing her own mother on 9/11, sees her carefully built world upended in this moving novel about the stories we tell ourselves to feel safe. Vintage Picoult: emotional, thought-provoking, hard to put down.
At a Glance: September’s Trending Books
| Title | Author | Primary Genre | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother Daughter Sister Stranger | Hank Phillippi Ryan | Psychological Thriller | Twisty, Tense |
| The Three Graces of Pearl Street | Elizabeth Wellington Rollins | Family Drama | Warm, Multigenerational |
| The Black Orchid | Loreth Anne White | Suspense Thriller | Glamorous, Deadly |
| Our Noble Selves | Kate Atkinson | Literary Mystery | Witty, Atmospheric |
| Fury in Death | J.D. Robb | Crime Thriller | Fast-Paced, Familiar |
| The Pirate Queen | Ariel Lawhon | Historical Adventure | Sweeping, Fearless |
| We Chase Shadows | Richard Osman | Mystery/Crime Comedy | Charming, Globe-Trotting |
| Falling for Peachtree Bluff | Kristy Woodson Harvey | Family Drama | Cozy, Fall-Ready |
| In These Hills | Tamera Alexander | Historical Romance | Sweet, Southern, Enemies-to-Lovers |
| Hollow Bones | Jodi Picoult | Literary Fiction | Moving, Emotional |
Whether you’re in the mood for a globe-trotting mystery, a cozy family saga, or a high-seas adventure, this month’s lineup has something for every reader. Grab a cold drink, curl up in your favorite spot, and let us know in the comments which of these September releases is heading straight to the top of your reading stack!
Love the book lists. I will put in at my library for all of these. Thank you!
Glad you survived your trip. These look like some great books. I have so many to read now maybe I need to visiting the library again instead of buying them 🤷🏻♀️ Have a great week.
I’m ordering a few today. I can’t wait to dig in!