October 2026 New Book Releases: 8 Books I Can’t Wait to Read

October is shaping up to be a very exciting month for audiobook lovers, with plenty of new releases vying for a spot on my already overflowing TBR. From emotional stories and second chances to family drama, romance, mystery and plenty of holiday cheer, this month’s lineup has something for just about every mood. Since I listen exclusively to audiobooks, I’m always keeping an eye out for the new releases that I can add to my listening queue, and these eight have particularly caught my attention. I can’t wait to press play and see which ones become my next favourite listens! Introduced by release date, here are the October 2026 New Book Releases on my TBR.

Evie Walters Takes The Wheel by Kathleen Fox:

After the death of her husband, seventy-one-year-old Evie Walters receives an anonymous egret orchid—the same flower once given to her by a Montana ranch hand who believed in her dreams. Refusing to let her children decide her future, she buys a camper van, sets off from North Carolina with her loyal rescue dog, and embarks on a cross-country journey to find the man from her past. Along the way, unexpected friendships, memorable encounters, and reflections on her childhood and family ranch inspire Evie to embrace adventure, rediscover her independence, and prove that it’s never too late to create the life you truly want. Expected Publication: October 6.

The Witch by Freida McFadden:

After losing both her job and her apartment, Julia Barlow returns to Pemberton, her family’s centuries-old estate in rural Massachusetts, intending to care for her aging grandmother and regroup. Instead, she finds herself surrounded by unsettling events, including a grandfather clock that stops at 3:41 a.m., flickering lights, and a mysterious voice calling for help outside her bedroom door. As Julia investigates Pemberton’s dark past, she uncovers long-buried family secrets and the story of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692, leading her to believe the house may be haunted by restless spirits determined to have their voices heard. Expected Publication: October 6.

Falling Into Us by Denise Hunter:

Gabby Donaldson travels to a small town to fulfil her late mother’s final wish: delivering a letter to the grandmother she never knew. When finding Rosemary proves more complicated than expected, Gabby accepts help from journalist and single dad Mason Morrison in exchange for sharing her story. But as Gabby becomes entwined in Mason’s life and grows close to his twelve-year-old daughter, what was meant to be a brief visit begins to feel like home. As long-buried family secrets surface and professional boundaries blur, Gabby must decide whether to return to the carefully planned life she left behind or take a chance on the unexpected family, love, and sense of belonging she’s discovered. Expected Publication: October 13.

Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus:

Batter Gray is in his early twenties, living in New York City and searching for purpose in a world that expects him to pursue a respectable, secure career. Instead, he chooses poetry, believing it holds the power to preserve humanity, and begins working at Peck & Peck, a publishing company with thirty-nine editors. Named after his mother’s heroic dog and an identical twin whose brother died at birth, Batter is fascinated by life’s constant dualities—right and wrong, truth and lies, rejection and acceptance. But as he navigates his own uncertainties and the lingering presence of the brother he never knew, Batter begins to realize that perhaps every story has not two sides, but three. Expected Publication: October 13.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown by Sheila Roberts:

Jordan Frost’s dream of becoming a published author comes true when her novel about an eccentric family’s Christmas vacation is picked up for two books, but she’s terrified her family will discover she wrote it under a secret pen name. Unfortunately, her former high school friend Charles Pine recognizes her immediately from the author photo and uses her secret to get closer to her when she returns home to Port Carol for the holidays. As Jordan struggles to balance writing, family chaos, and keeping her identity hidden, Charles steps in to help with a series of mishaps and show her that coming home—and perhaps finding love—might be exactly what she needs. Expected Publication: October 13.

A Married Little Christmas by Abby Jimenez:

This delightful collection of three feel-good Christmas novellas is filled with holiday cheer, romance, humour, and plenty of festive mishaps. In the first story, Anna’s disastrous Christmas dinner takes an unexpected turn when her high school ex arrives, forcing them into a fake-dating scheme to save face with their families. Next, Matty’s punishment for losing a bet has him spending the day dressed as a zombie Santa in a diner, but a cute and funny server may make the experience worthwhile. Finally, Lauren travels to the magical town of Little Christmas to stop her best friend from marrying someone after only three days, only to find herself falling for the best man. Along the way, readers can enjoy an unforgettable granny, accidentally matching Christmas sweaters, a Mission Impossible-style cat rescue involving a saxophone, mouthwatering recipes, and charming full-page illustrations. Expected Publication: October 20.

The Best Christmas Ever by Sarah Morgan:

Reclusive author Mabel Miller plans to spend another quiet Christmas alone with her cats, but a massive snowstorm changes everything when two cars crash outside her isolated cottage, leaving her unexpectedly sheltering a family with two children and two colleagues with a complicated history. As her unwanted guests slowly break through her carefully guarded privacy, Mabel finds herself baking cookies, making cocoa and opening up her library—and the secrets hidden within it. With Christmas bringing unexpected friendship and forcing Mabel to confront the past she has worked so hard to hide, she may finally find the courage to rewrite her story and discover a little holiday magic of her own. Expected Publication: October 27.

Dina Gets Lucky by Uzma Jalaluddin:

🇨🇦 Toronto attorney Dina Haq is determined to keep her failing marriage secret while attending her influencer sister’s extravagant South Asian wedding, but her plans are complicated when she comes face-to-face with Luqman “Lucky” Latif, the law school crush who disappeared from her life six years earlier. Lucky, now a successful contractor in Chicago after giving up his legal career to support his family, still carries the pain of what he believes was Dina’s rejection and subsequent marriage to his best friend. As wedding celebrations bring them together, old feelings resurface and the pair uncover long-hidden truths about Dina’s manipulative ex-husband and the misunderstandings that tore them apart. Forced to confront the past, Dina and Lucky must decide whether they can move beyond old heartbreak and take a chance on the future they once almost had together. Expected Publication: October 27.

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With eight new audiobooks calling my name this October, my TBR certainly isn’t getting any shorter—but I wouldn’t have it any other way! There’s a wonderful mix of stories here, from heartfelt and thought-provoking to romantic, mysterious and festive, and I’m excited to add them to my listening queue. Of course, there are always more new releases to discover, so I have a feeling a few more audiobooks may sneak onto my October TBR before the month even begins. For now, though, these eight October 2026 New Book Releases are the ones I’m most excited to press play on. What new audiobooks are you looking forward to listening to this October?