Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the November 2026 Indie Next List flier.
The November 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 October Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.
The 25 November Indie Next List Picks
#1 Pick: Public Access Afterworld: A Novel
By Jane Schoenbrun
(Hogarth, 9780593978382, $33, Oct. 27, Horror)
“This gorgeous book feels like the memory of a show about your own life that you woke up to playing in the middle of the night on a static-laced TV. For internet lovers and physical media fans alike, this is a book for the painfully nostalgic.”
—Ramona Flores, White Whale Bookstore, Pittsburgh, PA
Whale Harbor: A Novel
By Mary Beth Keane
(Scribner, 9781668224632, $29, Oct. 20, Fiction)
“Whale Harbor is a beautifully observed, deeply compassionate novel about grief, belonging, and the memories that bind generations across decades and continents. This is a novel of recognition rather than revelation — a moving reminder that what is lost is not always gone.”
—Lisa Tuchek, Watermark Books, Beaufort, NC
Stations: A Novel
By Louise Kennedy
(Riverhead Books, 9780593714607, $28, Nov. 3, Fiction)
“I finished Stations in one heart-seizing sitting, unwilling to close the book on this gorgeous story, unable to catch my breath from falling so hard and so fast for these characters. Louise Kennedy will break your heart with the cheeky banter and the terrible beauty of this complicated life.”
—Hannah DeBree, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
O Now!
By Niall Williams
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639739530, $16.99, Nov. 10, Fiction)
“To read Williams' books is to want to talk directly with his characters. This is a story of friendship that death cannot break, and why we have each other. A thoughtful and lovely ‘tail’ of companionship.”
—Philip Smith, 2 Dandelions Bookshop, Brighton, MI
Shut Up, I Love You, I'll Call You Tomorrow: Stories
By Sloane Murphy
(LittlePuss Press, 9781964322148, Paperback, $16.95, Nov. 10, Short Stories)
“Sloane Murphy doesn't just write about the Chicago trans party scene, she drops you right in the middle of it. Reading this book feels like a glorious, hazy lost weekend where plot is gleaned from snippets of overheard conversations and characters crystalize as you stumble, a little buzzed, from story to story.”
—Shualee Cook, Women & Children First, Chicago, IL
Undone: A Novel (The Undone #4)
By Peyton Corinne
(Atria Books, 9781668223369, Paperback, $19, Oct. 20, Romance)
“Hey, sometimes family is a bunch of mentally ill college students (who get help!!) and their partners and a dog! I love my freak for freak weirdos who have loved each other since before they even knew what that meant. The perfect ending to this series that means the world to me.”
—Rachel Johnson, Tropes & Trifles, Minneapolis, MN
The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)
By Ana Huang
(Bloom Books, 9781464223341, Paperback, $19.99, Oct. 27, Romance)
“A perfect read no matter if you're a newbie to sports romance or a seasoned veteran, complete with a ‘doesn't do relationships’ goalkeeper hero and his daughter’s nanny. (AKA the one woman he can't resist, obviously!)”
—Kyra Purgason, Meet Cute Romance Bookshop, San Diego, CA
The Killing of a Chestnut Tree
By Oliver K. Langmead
(Tordotcom, 9781250448613, Hardcover, $24.99, Oct. 27, Fantasy)
“I can't love anything more than a talking forest and a gay crime-fighting duo. Havelock and Sebastian are two of my favorite characters and Farleigh forest is up there, too. Cozy mystery at its finest. Oliver K. Langmead has a forever fan in me.”
—Jenna Gehman, Towne Book Center & Cafe, Collegeville, PA
Upstate: A Novel
By Kim van Alkemade
(William Morrow Paperbacks, 9780063438033, Paperback, $19.99, Oct. 27, Fiction)
“This tender novel follows Audrey — a new widow desperate for a fresh start — as she moves to a small upstate New York town to repair a crumbling farmhouse and take over the long neglected antiquarian bookshop tucked into its barn. Audrey discovers the store’s history and the sapphic love story behind its founding.”
—Rachel Person, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, NY
The Man Who Read Books
By Rachid Benzine, Sam Taylor (Transl.)
(Cardinal, 9781538781159, $20, Nov. 10, Fiction)
“In Palestine, an old man sits outside his shop, determined to offer books to customers who come by amidst the rubble of destruction from war. A young French photographer stops to take his picture. Instead, the elderly man asks him to listen to his story. I was moved by the author’s depth of understanding and ability to create this particular story.”
—Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, WA
To Dream in Darkness: A Novel
By Ann Liang
(St. Martin's Press, 9781250289483, $32, Oct. 27, Fantasy)
“Even the gods can’t alter fate. But Rujia, noble god of healing, and Keran, the Death God, try. The consequences are devastating. In this rich and beautiful fantasy, Liang takes us into the world of ancient Chinese gods who freely roamed among the three realms.”
—Nancy Sims-West, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
The Slantwise Histories: Collected Stories
By Alix E. Harrow
(Tordotcom, 9781250345363, Hardcover, $29.99, Oct. 20, Fantasy)
“Alix E. Harrow simply dazzles and flexes with this collection of short stories. With complex yet simple writing, and a style that’s uniquely Harrow's, you’ll want to read this over and over again.”
—Jess Schneider, Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, KS
The Brightness: A Novel
By Chad Harbach
(Little, Brown and Company, 9780316455695, $32, Oct. 27, Fiction)
“Nuanced and layered, The Brightness is a perfect book to sink into and lose yourself in. Whether you're a reader remembering those exhilarating and confusing college years or going through it now, this novel will resonate.”
—Debra Ginsberg, DIESEL, A Bookstore, Santa Monica, CA
Defy the Dusk
By Danielle L. Jensen
(Del Rey, 9780593975121, $36, Nov. 3, Sci-Fi)
“Jensen’s introduction to the Sundering Duet is an action-packed powerhouse. In this dystopian fantasy reminiscent of Mad Max and Snowpiercer, readers get a masterclass in worldbuilding, a full cast of well-rounded characters, and a perfect slow-burn romance.”
—Jurni Bayoc, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO
Sunflower Season
By Danica Nava
(Berkley, 9798217188550, Paperback, $20, Nov. 3, Romance)
“If Danica Nava writes it, I’m going to read it! It’s a relatable thing to have everything implode at work, and to want to go back to a place of safety. June and Noah are the cozy second-chance romance we all need.”
—Destinee Hodge, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC
The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian: A Novel
By Rose Smith
(Hawthorne Books, 9798993660202, $28, Nov. 3, Fiction)
“A debut novel that captures your heart. Identical twin brothers, Egan and Lucian, are so very much alike yet different. This book explores their closeness, their distance, their love of the same woman, and each of their relationships with their parents and friends. I became immersed in this story told over many decades.”
—Barbara Wojcik, Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC
Love, Like Apples
By Jeff Zentner
(Grand Central Publishing, 9781538773604, Paperback, $19.99, Nov. 3, Fiction)
“Jeff Zentner books make you want to slow down and take in every word and Love, Like Apples is no exception. This book reminds you of the beautiful depths of humanity and the power of creating — in any form — to shape lives and put goodness into the world.”
—Hadley Beacham, Harlem Book Company, New York, NY
Notes on Postcards: A Memoir
By Jennifer Croft
(Catapult, 9781646221035, $36, Nov. 10, Memoir)
“This beautiful little book about postcards manages to be both vulnerable and intimate and totally universal at once. Much like the titular postcards themselves.”
—Ryan Connell, Magic City Books, Tulsa, OK
Captive Traitor King: A Novel (Deluxe Limited Edition) (Braided Fate #2)
By Brigid Kemmerer
(Avon, 9780063391741, $32, Nov. 3, Fantasy)
“Captive Traitor King picks up right where Warrior Princess Assassin left off. As a neighboring country infiltrates, Ky will need Jory and Asher's help in identifying the threat. Full of intrigue, action, magic, and spice, Kemmerer excels with her sophomore adult romantasy and will leave you begging for more!”
—Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser, Marietta, GA
Swipe Bite
By Alexandra Vasti
(Berkley, 9798217189434, Paperback, $20, Nov. 10, Mystery)
“Alexandra Vasti writing paranormal romance with her signature heat, humor, and heart? And there’s vampires?? Be still my rapidly beating heart! I absolutely can’t wait to share this phenomenal story!”
—Lucy Perkins-Wagel, Blinking Owl Books, Fort Myers, FL
Queen of Lombard Street: A Novel
By Lisa Kleypas
(Avon, 9780063247635, $30, Oct. 20, Historical Fiction)
“Kleypas has done it again! She effortlessly weaves characters with rich detail and humor into a historical novel steeped in overturning the patriarchy. Kleypas gathers a motley crew and masterfully layers mystery, romance, and feminism during a time of radical change.”
—Lissa Bak, Book Club Bar, New York, NY
Almost Animal: A Memoir of Motherhood, Wildness, and the American West
By Amy Irvine
(Spiegel & Grau, 9781966302384, $29, Nov. 10, Memoir)
“Irvine confronts her past and the generations of Mormons she is descended from to understand both trauma and her deep connection to the natural world. Querying myths of the American West and gender roles, this memoir is a mirror for all of us and the times we find ourselves in.”
—Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books, Davidson, NC
The Two Wills: A Novel
By Blair Fell
(Alcove Press, 9798892426565, Hardcover, $29.99; 9798892426572, Paperback, $19.99, Oct. 20, Romance)
“I didn't know I needed a sometimes angsty, always heartfelt, queer, hilarious, and empathetic take on William Shakespeare's life. I did. There's scheming, vexation, and so much raw feeling. This story is carved into my heart, and I am glad for it.”
—Izzy Mumm, Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, Steamboat Springs, CO
Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times
By Tracy K. Smith
(W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324050988, Hardcover, $24; 9781324134299, Paperback, $12, Oct. 27, Poetry)
“Smith’s close readings of favored poems made me want to immediately read more, write more, live more. She reminded me how much depth is in a line, how much space is in a breath, the way that a poem cracks open for both reader and writer.”
—Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books, Denham Springs, LA
Peregrine Hill: A Novel
By Nina de Gramont
(Simon & Schuster, 9781668214732, $28, Nov. 10, Historical Fiction)
“Nina de Gramont brilliantly illuminates the golden handcuffs of the times in Peregrine Hill. Filled with fascinating characters and a plot worthy of Edith Wharton, step back in time and prepare to be mesmerized.”
—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN
November 2026 Indie Next List Now in Paperback
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
By Heather Fawcett
(Del Rey, 9780593973271, $20, Oct. 27, Fantasy)
“I loved Agnes, her cats, and her discomfort (and growth) with magic. She was kind, with the right amount of quirks to get you to root for her and her menagerie. I enjoyed the journey and the Howl’s Moving Castle vibes!”
—Krista Carlton, The Bookies Bookstore, Denver, CO
Bog Queen
By Anna North
(Bloomsbury, 9798260200377, $17.99, Oct. 13, Fiction)
“Bog Queen is an expertly crafted reminder that the human condition transcends time and place. North beautifully weaves past and present together all to bring us back to our roots deep within the moss.”
—Rachel Diep, Lovestruck Books, Cambridge, MA
Cursed Daughters: A Novel
By Oyinkan Braithwaite
(Vintage, 9780385551496, $20, Oct. 27, Fiction)
“Cursed Daughters is a gorgeous, haunting novel about a generational curse. Weaving between three women in the cursed Falodun family, Braithwaite explores the weight of expectation from family and culture and what it means to make your life your own.”
—Olivia Marchese, Author's Note, Medina, NY
The Heart of Winter
By Jonathan Evison
(Dutton, 9780593473559, $20, Oct. 27, Fiction)
“The best stories are about ordinary people living ordinary lives and The Heart of Winter is one of the best. The characters are your friends, neighbors, family, and you. It’s about the joy and hardships of our lives. This is a timeless story.”
—Susan Hildebrandt, Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, WA
Son of the Morning
By Akwaeke Emezi
(Avon, 9780063323193, $19.99, Nov. 3, Romance)
“Hot damn what a novel! This is the angel/demon story I have been thirsting for, for years. Emezi's prose is deeply sensual and dark, a rum-filled bonbon on the tongue exploding as you bite in.”
—Alicia Jessmon, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO
Television
By Lauren Rothery
(Ecco, 9780063443334, $17, Nov. 3, Fiction)
“Such a fresh, nimble novel, with so much depth. It's a story about uncanny love and the inconvenience of celebrity, about restlessness and contentment and the ways we move between them.”
—Kristen Iskandrian, Thank You Books, Birmingham, AL