The October 2024 Indie Next List Preview

Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the October 2024 Indie Next List flier.

The October title list is also viewable as a collection on Edelweiss and on the Indie Next List page as an Excel file alongside PDFs for the month’s flier and shelf-talker templates. Learn more and visit Matchbook Marketing’s program page to sign up to send the free Indie Next List e-newsletter to customers.

Additionally, to mark the start of the new month, the September Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.      

The 25 October Indie Next List Picks

#1 Pick: The Night We Lost Him: A Novel
By Laura Dave
(S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, 9781668002933, $28.99, Sep. 17, Fiction)
“Laura Dave’s signature blend of twisty mystery, family drama, and moving love story is top-notch in this tender and profound exploration of grief, truth, trust, and forgiveness. A perfect follow-up to The Last Thing He Told Me!”
—Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA

The Bog Wife: A Novel
By Kay Chronister
(Counterpoint, 9781640096622, $28, Oct. 1, Fiction)
“This one blew me away! The whole human experience contained in an immersive tale about the five children of a strange family navigating their relationship to each other, the land, and their history. A spectacular accomplishment.”
—Christie Olson Day, Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books, Mendocino, CA

The Crescent Moon Tearoom: A Novel
By Stacy Sivinski
(Atria Books, 9781668058398, $18.99, Paperback, Oct. 1, Fantasy)
“Sisters and secrets. Magic and mystery. Tea and tarot! I could not have been more invested in what happens to these triplets and their tea shop in Chicago, bursting with magic and a house that loves
them just as much as they love each other.”
—Rhiannon Gupta, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT

Entitlement: A Novel
By Rumaan Alam
(Riverhead Books, 9780593718469, $30, Sep. 17, Fiction)
“In Entitlement, Rumaan Alam’s prose is at its most effortless, his storytelling at its most engrossing, his pacing at its most propulsive. Questions of race, class, generosity, and obsession weave through a thoroughly unpredictable story.”
—Joelle Herr, The Bookshop, Nashville, TN

Intermezzo: A Novel
By Sally Rooney
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 9780374602635, $29, Sep. 24, Fiction)
“Rooney’s dazzling masterpiece explores the hidden depths of our relationships to one another. Peter and Ivan grieve the recent loss of their father. Never close, they struggle to avoid estrangement while navigating their very different lives.”
—Cody Morrison, Square Books, Oxford, MS

A Song to Drown Rivers (Deluxe Edition)
By Ann Liang
(St. Martin’s Press, 9781250289469, $32, Oct. 1, Fantasy)
“As enchanting as it is heartbreaking, A Song to Drown Rivers follows a young woman turned deadly spy, who uses her beauty and charm as a devastating weapon to topple kingdoms. This book
will take your breath away!”
—Claire Deeds, Covered Treasures Bookstore, Monument, CO

Swordcrossed
By Freya Marske
(Bramble, 9781250341624, $28.99, Oct. 8, Fantasy)
“In this vibrant story, a struggling heir hires a charming con artist to be his swordsman at his upcoming wedding. Through sword-fighting practice and an unexpected mystery, white-hot desire sparks and they risk losing everything they hold dear.”
—Joshua Lambie, Underground Books, Carrollton, GA

The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story
By Olga Tokarczuk, Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Transl.)
(Riverhead Books, 9780593712948, $30, Sep. 24, Historical Fiction)
“The Empusium is a sardonic tale that holds nothing back, taking institutional misogyny to task in a world on the brink of World War I. Tokarczuk brings all her brilliance and creates a poignant narrative that’s eerily reminiscent of modern day.”
 —Dominic Smith, Underbrush Books, Rogers, AR

The Sequel: A Novel
By Jean Hanff Korelitz
(Celadon Books, 9781250875471, $29, Oct. 1, Thriller)
“The meta fictional humor of this sequel to The Plot works on every level — as a straightforward thriller, as a satire of the literary industrial complex, and as a knowing wink to the secret strivings and longings of artists everywhere.”
—Errol Anderson, Charis Books & More, Atlanta, GA

The Last One at the Wedding: A Novel
By Jason Rekulak
(Flatiron Books, 9781250895783, $28.99, Oct. 8, Thriller)
“What is more powerful: love or money? This book takes the reader on a twisty journey of how far one will go to help their kids and do the right thing, even when they don’t want (or need) help.”
—Tara Goldberg-DeLeo, Mystery Lovers Bookshop, Oakmont, PA

Sorcery and Small Magics        
By Maiga Doocy
(Orbit, 9780316576758, $19.99, Paperback, Oct. 15, Fantasy)
“When you find yourself magically bound to the guy you hate, what else is there to do but explore a magical forest full of bizarre, deadly monsters together in hopes of finding an elusive sorcerer who can cure you? I can’t wait for book two!”
—Jenna Kaufman, Brick & Mortar Books, Redmond, WA

Playground: A Novel
By Richard Powers
(W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324086031, $29.99, Sep. 24, Fiction)
“Powers raises his poetic prose to the heavens in Playground. A thematic triad of intense but flawed relationships, a powerful environmental message, and fantastical technological advancement results in nothing less than a masterpiece.”
—Kay Wosewick, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

Season of the Swamp: A Novel
By Yuri Herrera, Lisa Dillman (Transl.)
(Graywolf Press, 9781644453070, $26, Oct. 1, Fiction)
“There isn’t a writer out there like Yuri Herrera, one of my favorite Latin American writers. His newest novel is just as brilliant. An extraordinary, vivid, and ingenious novel. I couldn’t look away from the minute I started reading.”
—Oscar Almonte Espinal, Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books, Philadelphia, PA

American Rapture
By CJ Leede
(Tor Nightfire, 9781250857927, $27.99, Oct. 15, Horror)
“In lesser hands, American Rapture would feel like well-trodden apocalyptic ground; here, it feels fresh and bleak. CJ Leede is really doing the horror lord's work! American Rapture will rip your heart (and throat) out!”
—Audrey Kohler, BookWoman, Austin, TX

Graveyard Shift: A Novella
By M. L. Rio
(Flatiron Books, 9781250356772, $26.99, Hardcover; 9781250356796, $16.99, Paperback, Sep. 24, Thriller)
“Graveyard Shift is an ode to insomniacs — to the students squirreled away in their corners writing and studying, to the faculty and staff with their own troubles, and to the truly sleepless watching the sun set and rise again. Fun and creepy.”
—Maxwell Leaning, Paragraphs Bookstore, Mount Vernon, OH

A Dark and Drowning Tide: A Novel
By Allison Saft
(Del Rey, 9780593722343, $18.99, Paperback, Sep. 17, Fantasy)
“Mesmerizing, romantic, and charged through poignant critiques of nationalistic literature. Saft’s adult debut challenges the dark origins of twisted fairytales with empathy while weaving a tense web of sapphic yearning. A new favorite!”
—Isabel Agajanian, The Oxford Exchange, Tampa, FL

The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi
By Wright Thompson
(Penguin Press, 9780593299821, $35, Sep. 24, History)
“Thompson’s research not only reveals the depth of depravity and barbarity of Emmett Till’s murderers, but illuminates the commitment to collective forgetting by the white townspeople. This book is a necessary admonition and critical to the historical record.”
—Destinee Hodge, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC

The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science
By Dava Sobel
(Atlantic Monthly Press, 9780802163820, $30, Oct. 8, Biography)
“There’s a very short list of biographers whose books I’ll read no matter the subject. And there is an even shorter list of science communicators who make complex subjects both accessible and fascinating. At the center of that Venn diagram is Dava Sobel. A deeply satisfying read!”
—Susan Tunis, Bookshop West Portal, San Francisco, CA

A Sunny Place for Shady People: Stories
By Mariana Enríquez, Megan McDowell (Transl.)
(Hogarth, 9780593733257, $28, Sep. 17, Short Stories)
“Mariana Enríquez is willing and able to explore the darkness simmering in both Buenos Aires and the Argentinean countryside. Be prepared for her mesmerizing storytelling and otherworldly horrors.”
—Elizabeth Ahlquist, Blue Cypress Books, New Orleans, LA

The Mighty Red: A Novel
By Louise Erdrich
(Harper, 9780063277052, $32, Oct. 1, Fiction)
“A stunning look at small town life. A beautiful look at a place and a way of life that is harmful to those that live it. Erdrich draws you right into the hearts and souls of her characters and their surroundings.”
—Marisa Neyenhuis, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT

Bull Moon Rising
By Ruby Dixon
(Ace, 9780593817025, $30, Oct. 15, Fantasy)
“Bull Moon Rising was a great mix of fantasy worldbuilding and steamy monster romance that we expect from Ruby Dixon. The tension in Aspeth and Hawk’s marriage of convenience is delicious.”
—Mekhala Villegas-Rogers, Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg, FL

The Stone Witch of Florence: A Novel
By Anna Rasche
(Park Row, 9780778310457, $30, Oct. 8, Historical Fiction)
“When a thief steals holy relics from churches in Florence during the outbreak of the Black Plague, one woman formerly accused of witchcraft and exiled is brought back to investigate by a deceitful, powerful bishop. A fascinating historical read.”
—Jane Simons, The Dog Eared Book, Palmyra, NY

The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry
By Maria Popova, Ofra Amit (Illus.)
(Storey Publishing, LLC, 9781635868838, $22, Oct. 1, Science)
“Imagine aliens asking us about the human experience, about what it is like living on earth, and us giving them a guide. I’d like it to be this book. I’ve been a subscriber to Popova’s newsletter for a long time and my life is better for it. And now there’s a BOOK!”
—Andrea Iriarte, Molly’s Bookstore, Melrose, MA

American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era (Indies Introduce)
By Nico Lang
(Abrams Press, 9781419773822, $30, Oct. 8, Social Science)
“Following eight trans and nonbinary teenagers, American Teenager shows us that there is no one way to be trans — or a teen. At their heart, these trans teens dream of what’s after high school, gossip, dread tests and class assignments, and try to figure out life.”
—Kristin Saner, Fables Books, Goshen, IN

The Ancients: A Novel
By John Larison
(Viking, 9780593831168, $30, Oct. 15, Science Fiction)
“In this apocalyptic story, Larison sweeps us across a landscape through the eyes of characters each with a unique view of the devastation of the past. Different societies clash as resources grow scarce, and plans for colonization of other lands become paramount.”
—Josie Williams, Invitation Bookshop, Gig Harbor, WA

The 6 Now in Paperback Titles

America Fantastica: A Novel
By Tim O'Brien
(Mariner Books, 9780063318519, $19.99, Oct. 1, Fiction)
“A brilliant romp across the continent. Boyd Halverson feels the urge to shake things up. So, he gets up from his Kiwanis Club brunch, strolls across the street to a bank with a .38 revolver, robs it, and takes Angie Banks, the teller, hostage. Away we go!”
—Deon Stonehouse, Sunriver Books & Music, Sunriver, OR

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder: A Novel
By C. L. Miller
(Atria Books, 9781668032015, $17.99, Oct. 1, Mystery)
“Charming and cozy, this murder mystery plus antique treasure hunt manages to be both a page-turner and a comfort read. Miller delivers twists and turns along with a satisfying tale of a woman rediscovering her talents and her strength.”
—Colleen Schneider Cameron, Read Between the Lynes, Woodstock, IL

Chenneville: A Novel of Murder, Loss, and Vengeance
By Paulette Jiles
(William Morrow Paperbacks, 9780063252691, $18.99, Sep. 24, Historical Fiction)
“Paulette Jiles has done it again. John Chenneville’s travails through the post-Civil War US are written in a way that is thoughtful, profound, and fluid like poetry. Even if you’re not familiar with Jiles, once you read it, you'll want more.”
—Vicki Honeyman, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI

Family Meal: A Novel
By Bryan Washington
(Riverhead Books, 9780593421109, $18, Oct. 8, Fiction)
“Family Meal is a heartbreaking story of love, loss, and grief. Cam returns to Houston after the love of his life, Kai, dies. He and his estranged best friend, TJ, try to work through their grief and past hurts. A painful, gorgeous read.”
—Kristen Beverly, Half Price Books, Dallas, TX

Interesting Facts about Space: A Novel
By Emily Austin
(Atria Books, 9781668014240, $18.99, Oct. 15, Fiction)
“Emily Austin is the author for lesbian stories that explore mental health issues! Her writing is so funny, and relatable, I want to absolutely devour every word she’s written. I love Enid and I know queer women everywhere will too!”
—Hannah Cloutier, The Bookery Manchester, Manchester, NH

Land of Milk and Honey: A Novel
By C Pam Zhang
(Riverhead Books, 9780593538258, $18, Sep. 24, Fiction)
“Zhang’s gorgeous prose sets a stark contrast between a world destroyed and a seemingly pristine utopia. While darkness pervades this literary thrill ride, thoughtful questions about humanity save the reader from total madness.”
—Page Berger, Barrett Bookstore, Darien, CT