The Book Review 10 Novels We're Looking Forward To This Fall
Dive into the excitement of the fall literary season with a sneak peek at upcoming novels from authors like Ian McEwan and Richard Osman. Discover the unique narrative styles and themes of highly anticipated titles, including a new adventure featuring Robert Langdon. The discussion also hints at intriguing film adaptations and offers playful banter alongside a fun quiz about must-read releases. Get ready for a whirlwind of immersive storytelling and heartfelt memoirs that will light up your fall reading list!
33:46
Fall Is Peak Book Season
- Fall is the richest season for major book releases and cultural buzz around new titles.
- Gilbert Cruz and Joumana Khatib frame the episode as a seasonal preview for anticipated fiction.
Dan Brown's New Langdon Adventure
- Gilbert introduces Dan Brown's new Robert Langdon novel set around Prague and a missing girlfriend with a manuscript.
- He predicts readers will enjoy the puzzles, mysteries, and romantic Prague setting in The Secret of Secrets.
A Big Pacific Epic Arrives
- Adam Johnson's The Wayfinder is a sweeping, map-filled epic set in Polynesia with a young heroine named Corero.
- The novel explores island culture, resettlement, and a looming societal collapse in a less-covered region of fiction.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Exciting New Reads and Anticipated Releases
01:57 • 11min
Exploring the Absurd Humor of 'Taskmaster'
12:46 • 2min
Anticipated Literary Releases
14:19 • 8min
Fall Literary Preview
22:34 • 11min
Exciting Upcoming Novels and Memoirs This Fall
33:51 • 3min
#59572
We Love You, Bunny
Mona Awad
#33409
Bunny
Mona Awad
Bunny is a darkly comedic novel that follows Samantha Heather Mackey, a scholarship student at a prestigious New England university's MFA program.
She feels alienated by her wealthy, cliquey classmates, whom she refers to as 'the Bunnies.
' As Samantha becomes entangled in the Bunnies' bizarre world, she discovers their strange ritual of turning small animals into human-like creations, which they then destroy.
The novel explores themes of female friendship, identity, and the pressures of creative writing programs.
Awad's sharp prose and surreal imagery create a disturbing and thought-provoking commentary on the art world and the search for belonging.
The book's blend of humor and horror has earned it a cult following, with readers drawn to its exploration of the dark side of creativity and the complexities of human relationships.
#11089
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Housemaid
Freida McFadden
In this psychological thriller, Millie, a young woman with a criminal record, secures a job as a live-in housekeeper for the affluent Winchester family.
Despite the opportunity for a fresh start, Millie's past and the family's hidden truths soon surface, leading to escalating tensions and danger.
The novel explores themes of deception, power dynamics, and the complexities of the relationships within the household.
#55578
Shadow Ticket
Thomas Pynchon
#3646
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
The Running Man
ben benson
#57889
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
None
Kiran Desai
#35523
The inheritance of loss
Kiran Desai
Kiran Desai's 'The Inheritance of Loss' intricately weaves together the lives of its characters against the backdrop of globalization and cultural identity.
Set between India and the United States, the novel explores themes of displacement, colonialism, and the search for belonging.
Through the stories of Judge Jemubhai Patel and his granddaughter Sai, Desai examines the complexities of post-colonial India.
The novel delves into the impact of Westernization on traditional societies and the struggles individuals face in navigating a rapidly changing world.
Desai's rich prose and insightful observations offer a poignant reflection on the human condition.
#14820
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Orphan Master's Son
Adam Johnson
The Orphan Master's Son follows Pak Jun Do, a young man raised in an orphanage, as he navigates the harsh realities of North Korea.
The novel is a blend of thriller, love story, and dystopian satire, offering a unique perspective on life under totalitarian rule.
Through Jun Do's experiences, the book explores the resilience of the human spirit and the power of storytelling in the face of oppression.
#2640
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Atonement
Ian McEwan
The novel centers around Briony Tallis, a thirteen-year-old girl who, in 1935, witnesses a flirtation between her older sister Cecilia and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant.
Briony's incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination lead her to make a false accusation that changes all their lives.
The story follows the repercussions of this event through World War II and into the late 20th century, as Briony spends her life trying to make amends for her mistake.
The novel is a complex exploration of guilt, atonement, and the nature of writing and memory.
#6227
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
The wayfinders
Wade Davis
#15509
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Clown Town
Dixie Willson
#16351
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Vineland
Thomas Pynchon
Vineland is set in 1984 and follows Zoyd Wheeler and his daughter Prairie as they navigate a world where the counterculture of the 1960s has faded under the pressures of Reagan-era authoritarianism.
The novel critiques the decline of revolutionary ideals and explores themes of identity, belonging, and the impact of societal expectations.
It features a complex web of characters and subplots, blending humor with biting social commentary.
#4552
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
Hamnet
Lolita Chakrabarti
Maggie O’Farrell
The novel is set in Warwickshire in the late 16th century and revolves around the life of Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, and their children.
It fictionalizes the events surrounding the death of their son Hamnet, who died of the plague in 1596 at the age of eleven.
The story delves into the grief and emotional turmoil faced by the family, especially Agnes, and how this tragedy influenced Shakespeare's writing, including his play 'Hamlet'.
The narrative alternates between different timelines, exploring Agnes's early life, her marriage, and the years following Hamnet's death.
The book is a poignant study of motherhood, childhood, and the depths of grief, offering a vivid portrayal of family life during the Tudor period.
#18253
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Trip
Tao Lin
In 'Trip', Tao Lin delves into his experiences with psychedelics, including psilocybin and DMT, and explores how these substances influenced his life and perspective.
The book also examines the life of Terence McKenna, a prominent figure in the psychedelic movement.
#562
• Mentioned in 35 episodes
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown
In 'The Da Vinci Code', Robert Langdon is called to the Louvre Museum in Paris after the murder of the curator, Jacques Saunière.
Along with French cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Langdon embarks on a perilous journey to decipher cryptic clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci.
The plot revolves around an alternative religious history, suggesting that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a child, and their descendants are protected by the Priory of Sion.
The novel is a blend of relentless adventure, scholarly intrigue, and cutting wit, with numerous twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the astonishing conclusion.
#55452
Secrets of the soul
A Social and Cultural History of Psychoanalysis
Eli Zaretsky
#6961
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Impossible Fortune
Richard Osman
Richard Osman's 'The Impossible Fortune' is set to release on September 23, 2025.
While specific details about the plot are not yet available, Osman's works are known for their engaging mysteries and intriguing characters.
This book follows his previous successes in the mystery genre.
#3061
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Angels and Demons
Dan Brown
In this novel, Dan Brown introduces Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist, who is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist.
This discovery leads to the revelation of the resurgence of the ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati, which has a vendetta against the Catholic Church.
Langdon teams up with Vittoria Vetra, a CERN scientist, to follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols across Rome to prevent the Illuminati from carrying out their deadly plans, including the detonation of an antimatter bomb in Vatican City.
The story is a blend of relentless adventure, scholarly intrigue, and cutting wit, exploring the battle between science and religion.
Every fall brings the promise of some of the year’s biggest books and this one is no different. On this week’s episode of the Book Review podcast, the host Gilbert Cruz and fellow editor Joumana Khatib talk about several of their most anticipated titles as well as a few upcoming big screen adaptations. (Come back next week for our fall nonfiction preview.)
Books mentioned in this episode:
“The Secret of Secrets,” by Dan Brown
“The Wayfinder,” by Adam Johnson
“Clown Town,” by Mick Herron
“The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny,” by Kiran Desai
“The Impossible Fortune,” by Richard Osman
“We Love You, Bunny,” by Mona Awad
“Shadow Ticket,” by Thomas Pynchon
“What We Can Know,” by Ian McEwan
“Trip,” by Amie Barrodale
“King Sorrow,” by Joe Hill
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