Home
Discover
Articles
The best books out this month

The best books out this month

min read

It's officially the start of autumn, and with that comes plenty of new books.

This month’s novels include the fifth outing for Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, the return of Dan Brown’s Professor Robert Langdon, and a new work of speculative fiction from Ian McEwan.

Meanwhile, our non-fiction releases include an array of eye-opening memoirs and explorations of everything from fermented food to Big Tech, to penguins.

The best fiction books out this month

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

The members of The Thursday Murder Club have no time for, well, murder: Joyce is planning a wedding, Elizabeth is grieving, Ron has family troubles, and Ibrahim is busy being a therapist. But murder is never far away, and when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, the group is pitted against a villain who is after an uncrackable code. The Thursday Murder Club’s fifth outing is their most explosive yet.

Out 25th September

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

It’s 2119, and Britain’s lowlands have been buried by rising seas. At the University of the South Downs, academic Tom Metcalfe is keenly searching for a fabled lost poem that was read aloud at a dinner party in 2014 and never heard again. Award-winning author Ian McEwan tackles the past and the future with this new speculative novel examining climate change, literature and love.

Out 18th September

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

Symbologist Robert Langdon returns with The Secret of Secrets, Dan Brown’s first novel in eight years. This latest adventure sees Langdon desperately searching for his partner Katherine Solomon, after she disappears from their Prague hotel room. In the biggest test of his abilities so far, Langdon finds himself navigating a shadow city of labyrinthine underground passages and buried graveyards to find the woman he loves.

Out 9th September

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai’s first novel since her 2006 Booker Prize-winning The Inheritance of Loss has similarly been longlisted for the prestigious award this year. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny follows the book’s titular characters after a chance encounter on a train, years after a failed matchmaking attempt by their respective grandparents. The pair’s quest for happiness sees them navigating class, race, history and the strength and complexity of generational bonds.

Out 25th September

The Favourites by Layne Fargo

In this modern retelling of Wuthering Heights, Kat and Heath were childhood sweethearts turned Olympic champions who captivated fans, until scandal and obsession tore them apart personally and professionally. Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, The Favourites is a story of infamous rumours and shocking truths. This new edition features a bonus chapter told from the perspective of Heath.

Out 11th September

The Predicament by William Boyd

The second novel in William Boyd’s Cold War-set espionage trilogy follows travel writer and accidental spy Gabriel Dax, who was first introduced to readers in Gabriel’s Moon. After a stint in Guatemala under the guise of covering a presidential election, Gabriel escapes to West Berlin, where he uncovers news of a plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Combining history with fiction, The Predicament is an engrossing edge-of-your-seat read.

Out 4th September

Alchemised by SenLinYu

According to records, Helena Marino was a healer of little importance for the now-defeated Resistance. But her inexplicable memory loss gets her sent to the powerful and ruthless necromancer High Reeve. There, Helena must fight to protect herself and uncover her own secrets – and those of her captor. Alchemised is the first novel by fanfiction writer SenLinYu, whose online works have been downloaded more than 20 million times.

Out 23rd September

Want this article sent to your inbox every month?

By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, including for our recommendations, please visit our Privacy Policy.

The best non-fiction books out this month

Ferment by Tim Spector

Gut health expert and bestselling Food for Life author Tim Spector returns with a groundbreaking exploration of the importance of fermented food in our diets. From explaining the science of fermentation to the transformative role of microbes, Spector makes the case for consuming more fermented foods. With practical tips for making this achievable, Ferment is an essential addition to your bookshelf and your kitchen.

Out 11th September

Strong Ground by Brené Brown

What makes a good leader? And how do we become courageous and inspirational leaders? Renowned professor, researcher, author and podcaster Brené Brown shares lessons about leadership that will prove useful whether you’re an experienced leader or starting out in your first job. Discussing everything from wholeheartedness to AI, Brown shares how we can more effectively navigate technological change with the strength of the human spirit.

Out 23rd September

Protocols by Andrew Huberman

Learn how to improve your brain function, enhance your mood, and optimise your health with this new guide by Dr Andrew Huberman, host of the health podcast Huberman Lab, neuroscientist, and tenured professor at Stanford School of Medicine. Protocols contains simple, powerful and evidence-based advice for tackling life’s most common challenges, with customisable and actionable tips for achieving optimal mental and physical health and performance.

Out 15th September

No Is Not a Lonely Utterance by Sara Ahmed

People who complain can often develop a bad reputation, particularly in the workplace. But complaining is also necessary for creating a world that is better for all. In No Is Not a Lonely Utterance, feminist scholar Sara Ahmed dissects how institutions create hostile environments for those who complain, and explains how we can listen to grievances with “feminist ears” to address the root causes of injustice and inequality.

Out 18th September

The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet

This heartfelt work of human storytelling by renowned BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet centres on the Inter-Continental Kabul, Afghanistan’s first luxury hotel. A symbol of the country’s dreams of modernisation, the hotel has seen occupation, coups, civil war, invasion and the rise, fall and return of the Taliban. Through the hotel and its staff, including longtime housekeeper Hazrat, Doucet tells the history of modern Afghanistan and the survival of its people.

Out 18th September

Mother Mary Comes To Me by Arundhati Roy

Renowned novelist and essayist Arundhati Roy turns her hand to memoir for the first time, examining her relationship with her late mother. Roy, who fled home when she was 18, began her memoir after responding to her mother’s death with more intensity than she expected. Mother Mary Comes to Me is a chronicle of Roy’s life, and a tribute to difficult love and relationships.

Out 4th September

Speaking My Mind by Leo Varadkar

Leo Varadkar’s election as Taoiseach of Ireland in 2017 broke multiple barriers: he was the youngest person ever to assume the position, Ireland’s first gay leader, and the first Taoiseach of colour. His decision to bow out of politics in his mid-40s was no less extraordinary. In Speaking My Mind, Varadkar shares his story for the first time, his pride in bringing about transformational changes, and the cost of life in office.

Out 11th September

How to Save the Internet by Nick Clegg

Former politician Nick Clegg takes us behind the scenes at Meta, where he served as president of global affairs for seven years, to offer fresh insight into the future of Big Tech and its role on the world stage. In doing so, he sets out a blueprint for reforming Big Tech and balancing regulation with freedom to ensure the openness of the internet remains.

Out 4th September

How To Art by Kate Bryan and David Shrigley (Illustrator)

The world of art can be intimidating. How should you identify and interpret good art? And is art really for everyone? Art historian and curator Kate Bryan believes the answer is ‘yes’. With How to Art, she shares tips on how make art at home, how to enjoy famous works like the Mona Lisa, and how art can enrich everyone’s lives.

Out 18th September

Night People by Mark Ronson

Award-winning producer, DJ and songwriter Mark Ronson has always been a night person, feeling most at home at parties. Night People is the coming-of-age story of Ronson’s time spent in New York in the 1990s, where the club scene brought together characters from all walks of life and created a world that was diverse, glamorous, hedonistic, and above all electrifying.

Out 16th September

All the Best for the Future by Greg James

Taking its name from a formative meeting with the Chuckle Brothers when he was ten years old, All the Best for the Future sees national radio icon Greg James delve into funny and life-affirming tales from his childhood. As he looks back on his younger self, James ruminates on how he imagined his life would turn out and implores everyone to retain their sense of childish wonder.

Out 25th September

The Penguin Book of Penguins by Peter Fretwell and Lisa Fretwell

From their comical waddle to their clumsiness and cheerfulness, penguins are among the most charming animals on earth. Now, prepare to be more enamoured, thanks to The Penguin Book of Penguins by Peter Fretwell, a leading scientist at The British Antarctic Survey. With illustrations by Lisa Fretwell, you’ll meet 18 charismatic species of penguin and learn about the fascinating lives they lead.

Out 18th September

Want this article sent to your inbox every month?

By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, including for our recommendations, please visit our Privacy Policy.

The best books out this month

The best fiction books out this month

A guide to speculative fiction

The best new paperbacks of 2025

22 must-read romantasy books

Want this article sent to your inbox every month?

The best non-fiction books out this month

7 books about nutrition and healthy eating

Compelling new memoirs and autobiographies to read this year

Fascinating books about Psychology

Want this article sent to your inbox every month?

The best horror books to read this spooky season

Where to start reading the Penguin Archive collection

A guide to speculative fiction

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter