6 of the Best New Book Releases Out October 20, 2026

As we near Halloween, we’ve got yet another witchy release by a big name. Philippa Gregory’s Royal Witch is out this week. Like any good book by Gregory, there are court politics and maybe even a regicide plot. And, of course, there are also rumors of one woman summoning the devil for clout, as one does. There are more seasonal releases in The Turning of Sally-Mae by Nuzo Onoh (known as the Queen of African horror), and the devil-filled Soot & Sacrifice by Qurratulayn, the second in The Blood and Breath Duology. Speaking of series, the mystery Hanging and Burning by Walter Mosley, and queer graphic novel romance Chef’s Kiss Again by Jarrett Melendez are also out. Then there are the latest collections of The Best American series: The Best American Short Stories 2026 by Viet Thanh Nguyen and others, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2026 by Olivie Blake, and The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2026 by Randall Munroe, to name a few. Lastly, there’s a memoir by someone who uses their free will as they should. Lil Jon—who went from King of 2000s Southern rap to releasing a meditation album–has a memoir titled I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me. As for the books bel...