Book Riot Editorial is made up of passionate readers, writers, and book lovers dedicated to delivering insightful book recommendations, literary analysis, and the latest in book culture. With expertise spanning multiple genres and a deep understanding of the publishing industry, we offer thoughtful commentary, book deals, and news that matters to readers. Whether it’s uncovering hidden gems, analyzing literary trends, or championing diverse voices, Book Riot’s editorial team is here to keep you informed and inspired.
From romance novels to thrillers to historical fiction, these were the most read books on Goodreads this month. As you might expect, most of the titles in the top five are new releases: three of them came out this year. The Wedding People by Alison Espach came out mid-2024. But The Housemaid by Freida McFadden came out in 2022, and McFadden has had many new releases since that haven’t been unable to unseat it in the top five. There’s a simple explanation, though, which is that The Housemaid has a movie adaptation coming out later this year. Will you be watching?
Three New Books Out in September You Should Know About
Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a few new books out last month that deserve wider readership.
To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage
I just finished this and loved it! To the Moon and Back is about Steph, who is determined to become the first Cherokee astronaut. We also follow her sister, an Indigenous artist and social media influencer; her mother, who is keeping secrets about her past; and Steph’s college girlfriend, whose custody case between her Cherokee biological father and white adoptive parents made her a household name as a toddler. It’s a fascinating and complex literary fiction novel that I hope will get the attention it deserves. —Danika Ellis
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
Legendary writer Arundhati Roy writes about her experience growing up with a single mother in Kerala, India. Her mother, Mary, passed away in 2022, and Roy was startled by the depth of her grief. She began to write about her mother “to be able to continue to love her.” Roy’s first memoir is a stunning rumination on grieving and the messiness of truly loving someone. —Kendra Winchester
Book Deals
Sign up for our Book Deals newsletter and get up to 80% off books you actually want to read.
Fate’s Bane by C. L. Clark
Agnir has grown up a captive of an enemy clan, a part of their world for as long as she can remember. When her love for the chieftain’s daughter reveals a magic that could bind her family and their enemy together—or destroy them—they must decide what they will sacrifice to keep the peace. —Liberty Hardy
The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
#5:
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Emily Henry is a staple author on the bestseller lists and the Goodreads most read list, so it’s no surprise to see her newest title here. It follows two writers competing to write the official biography of a reclusive heiress. It was read by 48,000 users in September and has a 4.0 average rating.
#4:
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
This Read With Jenna pick follows Phoebe, a suicidal woman who has decided to give herself one last splurge at the Cornwall Inn. When she arrives, everyone assumes she’s there for the wedding, and she and the bride end up confiding each other. This was read by almost 58,000 users, with a 4.1 average rating.
#3:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
This is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It’s about a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of. It was read by almost 69,000 Goodreads users, with a 4.3 average rating.
#2:
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is best known for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six. Now, she’s back with a new novel about two women astronauts in the 1980s. It came out in June and became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. It’s also a Good Morning America Book Club Pick. 76,000 Goodreads users marked it read last month, and it has a 4.4 average rating.
#1:
Wild Card by Elsie Silver
This is the fourth book in the Rose Hill series, all about single dads who “find their happily ever afters in a rugged lake town, nestled in the Rocky Mountains.” In Wild Card, Sebastian is a pilot with smoldering chemistry with his new roommate, Gwen—who also happens to be the ex-girlfriend of his estranged son. If he ever hopes to repair the relationship, she’s strictly off limits. But how long can they deny the sparks flying between them? Almost 87,000 users marked it as read in September, and it has a 4.2 average rating.
If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists.
Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.
English (US) · 