Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the September 2026 Indie Next List flier.
The September 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 August Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.
The 25 September Indie Next List Picks
#1 Pick: Exit Party: A Novel
By Emily St. John Mandel
(Knopf, 9780593321461, $32, Sept. 15, Fiction)
“A world descending into chaos. Another strangled by repression and surveillance. Imperfect choices…which do you fear more? More importantly, Emily St. John Mandel asks: which world will be ours?”
—Anmiryam Budner, Main Point Books, Wayne, PA
Grim Tidings: A Novel (Ghosted #2)
By B.K. Borison
(Avon, 9780063572164, $30, Hardcover; 9780063430464, $18.99, Paperback, Sept. 15, Romance)
“B.K. Borison writes about love as if it’s magic, and of course, Grim Tidings is steeped in both. Enemies to lovers with so much yearning and angst and sass, immortals with gooey insides and hard shells cracked open by one another.”
—Becca Miner, Sidetrack Bookshop, Royal Oak, MI
Under Story
By Chloe Benjamin
(G.P. Putnam's Sons, 9780593545218, $32, Sept. 1, Fiction)
“I love the way Chloe Benjamin writes about time — the urgency of this moment, the movement towards something, and the obligation to get it right or try again. This will be one of my favorite books of the year.”
—Daniel Graham, Book Soup, West Hollywood, CA
The Pirate Queen: A Novel
By Ariel Lawhon
(Doubleday, 9780385550345, $32, Sept. 8, Historical Fiction)
“A fierce tale about Grace O’Malley — a pirate, leader of armies, and defender of her people during the reign of Elizabeth I. I was enthralled by the structure of this narrative and by this incredible woman that history almost erased.”
—Carrie Deming, The Dog Eared Book, Palmyra, NY
The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies: A Novel
By Kate Westbury
(Minotaur Books, 9781250424105, $29, Sept. 1, Mystery)
“Post-WWII Oxford has never been this fun to get lost in. Give me a reluctant partnership and a slow burn any day. The thrill of discovery and uncovering kept driving this forward and the romance was the cherry on top.”
—Mackenzie Cooper, Ballast Book Company, Bremerton, WA
Taipei Story: A Novel (Deluxe Limited Edition)
By R. F. Kuang
(William Morrow, 9780063473744, $32, Sept. 8, Fiction)
“This collection of vignettes from a language study summer program in Taipei captures feelings of diaspora, inadequacy, grief, vulnerability, connection, and growth. It’s a tender and bittersweet exploration of how cultures shape you.”
—Sydney Mancini, Content Bookstore, Northfield, MN
Daggerbound (Swordheart #2)
By T. Kingfisher
(Bramble, 9781250400086, $29.99, Aug. 25, Fantasy)
“What an absolute delight of a fantasy adventure! Kingfisher has a way of capturing what it feels like to play Dungeons and Dragons with your friends, but in novel form. The perfect balance of humor, romance, and edge of your seat action.”
—Emma Lucore, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC
The Witches of Cambridge: A Novel
By Alice Hoffman
(Scribner, 9781668074640, $29, Sept. 8, Fiction)
“A delightful return to New England witchy magic with plenty of callbacks to actual history and practices that will resonate with readers. Hoffman is a master of cozy found family sisterhood.”
—Sara Crow, Crow & Co. Books, Hutchinson, KS
Tempest: A Novel (Deluxe Limited Edition)
By Victoria Aveyard
(Harper Voyager, 9780063451360, $34, Deluxe Limited Edition; 9780063566224, $34, Hardcover, Sept. 8, Fantasy)
“This pirate adventure book is equally adventurous as it is romantic. Cat is cunning, deceptive, strong, and most importantly, alive, and she intends to stay that way, regardless of who she might have to reconnect with or betray to do so.”
—Catherine Chapman, Lovestruck in Seattle, Seattle, WA
The Birthing Tree: A Novel
By Amanda Peters
(Catapult, 9781646223695, $28, Sept. 1, Fiction)
“The beating heart of this novel is the beautiful yet fragile act of giving birth. Decades of Mi’kmaq tradition fade then resurface within its pages. Amanda Peters perfectly weaves the connections of nature, family, & community, and remains the best kind of storyteller.”
—Liz Laconis, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
The Disappearers: A Novel
By Marlon James
(Riverhead Books, 9780593717202, $32, Sept. 1, Fiction)
“A detailed, alive, intense novel that gazes unflinchingly at the violence — physical, emotional, and existential — that generations of gay men have endured in Jamaica and beyond. These characters have a space in my heart forever.”
—Maris Fessenden, Country Bookshelf, Bozeman, MT
Kiss Slay Replay
By Rachel Harrison
(Berkley, 9798217188574, $30, Sept. 1, Horror)
“Kiss Slay Replay makes the time-loop wedding weekend feel fresh by grounding every bloody turn in friendship, regret, and the lives we keep pretending we still want. I tore through it and immediately wanted to start over.”
—Stephanie Rose, Death by TBR Books, Bremerton, WA
Hollow Bones
By Jodi Picoult
(Ballantine Books, 9780593726259, $34, Sept. 15, Fiction)
“Picoult once again touches on deep, complicated and timely issues from multiple points of view. Tragedy, pain, forgiveness, hope and love carry the book along at an unputdownable pace. I loved this book!”
—Nadine Melahn, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
See You Next Tuesday: A Novel
By Kate Stayman-London
(Dial Press Trade Paperback, 9780593980118, $19, Paperback, Sept. 8, Romance)
“Like the author, I worked on Democratic campaigns. This book transported me back to my campaign days of late nights, endless pizza and emotions running high. Anya and Gabe reminded me so much of my campaign crush back in 2016, and I couldn't help but think about what could have happened between us. I loved everything about this book.”
—Sam Miller, The Novel Notion, Athens, OH
Crocodilopolis: A Novel
By John Manuel Arias
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639738434, $29.99, Aug. 25, Fiction)
“A rich, fiery modern retelling of Cain and Abel with all the lush greens of Costa Rica. As a spider spins a web to catch his prey, Seth conspires to trap his brother Osario in the death roll of a crocodile; the ripples in the water reflecting their lineage of envy and corruption.”
—Sarah Valencia, Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC
Switzy: A Novel
By Emma Cline
(Random House, 9780593595244, $32, Sept. 8, Fiction)
“Much has been written about dementia and Alzheimer’s from the outsider’s perspective. But to write the experience from the inside, from the point of view of memory itself, is truly remarkable. This is a book of overwhelming insight, compassion, and ingenuity.”
—Kristen Iskandrian, Thank You Books, Birmingham, AL
Ship Happens: A Novel
By Mason Deaver
(Avon, 9780063394346, $18.99, Paperback, Aug. 18, Romance)
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that this book has everything I’ve wanted in any piece of media ever. Transgender AND disability rep, and a diverse found family of characters that makes your stomach hurt from laughter and your heart ache all at once? Heaven.”
—Joey Santo Domingo, Black Garnet Books, Saint Paul, MN
Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise
By Katherine Rundell
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9798217230747, $17.99, Sept. 1, Essays)
“A fun little book focused on the joys and wonders of children's books. Recommended for those who think they are too old to read kids’ books and for readers who adore them.”
—Lauren Brown, The Story Shop, Monroe, GA
A Study in Sparkling: A Novel
By Jodi McAlister
(Atria Books, 9781668236338, $19, Paperback, Sept. 15, Romance)
“I loved the continuation of this universe through Fiona and Satoshi’s story! The struggle and the stressors of their lives, coupled with differing life stages and ages make for a tension-filled story of yearning. It was a book I couldn’t put down!”
—Tess Starman, Shelf Love DSM, Des Moines, IA
She's a Doll
By Barbara Truelove
(Bindery Books, 9781967967186, $19.95, Paperback, Sept. 8, Horror)
“This is not your usual haunted doll story. Violent, devastating, and surprisingly serious as well as hilarious. When Lucy is killed unexpectedly, she possesses one of her grandmother’s dolls and is determined to get revenge on her killer. Preferably by killing him.”
—Clara Gauthier, Courageous Books, Dexter, MI
Acid Green Velvet: A Novel
By Grace Krilanovich
(Two Dollar Radio, 9781953387653, $19.95, Paperback, Sept. 8, Gothic)
“Acid Green Velvet is the hallucinogenic hard stuff; I’ll be feeling the effects of its vertiginous language, its scary truths about power and money, and its portrayal of a deranged (yet still moral) world for a long time.”
—Benjamin Rybeck, House of Books, Kent, CT
Books, Iced Coffee & a Side of Dragons: A Graphic Novel
By Amanda Lovelace, Raquel Travé (Illus.)
(Andrews McMeel Publishing, 9798881600860, $24.99, Aug. 25, Romance, Fantasy)
“This was the sweetest graphic novel ever. As a fat, sapphic bookseller myself, the ending made me tear up. Sweet, realistic but fantastical, and the cutest love stories spread as diversely as they are in real life.”
—Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
Saving Noah: A Novel (Deluxe Edition)
By Lucinda Berry
(Poisoned Pen Press, 9781464292132, $19.99, Paperback, Sept. 8, Fiction)
“This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is dark and heavy, and it does not shy away from uncomfortable themes. It pushes you to examine beliefs, assumptions, and morality in a way no book has done before or since for me. (Be sure to check the trigger warnings before you pick it up as the topics are HEAVY.)”
—Candace Lynn, Sower Books, Lincoln, NE
The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State
By Jill Lepore
(Liveright, 9781324098423, $29.99, Aug. 25, Political Science)
“Lepore does a masterful job laying out how we got to this point with AI and the role a small number of tech billionaires play in our lives. Their inspirations are frightening and something everyone should know. What we do with that knowledge is up to us!”
—Amber Taylor, Fonts Books, McLean, VA
The Poison Daughter
By Sheila Masterson
(Slowburn, 9781638935971, $32, Aug. 18, Romance)
“Standalone fantasy is so hard to come by but this one checked all the boxes! Harlow is a woman full of poison who meets her worst nightmare: a man she cannot kill. I breezed through these 600+pages!”
—Elizabeth Gorby, Charter Books, Newport, RI
September 2026 Indie Next List Now in Paperback
Among the Burning Flowers (The Roots of Chaos)
By Samantha Shannon
(Bloomsbury Archer, 9798260201190, $20.99, Sept. 8)
“I just loved this novella! I love how this story provides more background to Priory of the Orange Tree. I feel like you could read this before Priory or afterwards.”
—Amy Plants, Booktenders WV, Barboursville, WV
The City Changes Its Face
By Eimar McBride
(Faber & Faber, 9780571404919, $17.95, Aug. 18)
“The City Changes Its Face is the story of a struggling romance, of Eily’s and Stephen’s inability to resolve misunderstandings. A beautiful reflection on modern love. Once you start, you will not be able to stop.”
—Lori Feathers, Interabang Books, Dallas, TX
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
By Kiran Desai
(Hogarth, 9780307744555, $21, Sept. 8)
“This book is so ambitious, yet intimate. Desai covers enormous ground — both geographically and on family, class, race, and love in its many permutations.”
—Sharon Weinberg, The Chatham Bookstore, Chatham, NY
Middle Spoon
By Alejandro Varela
(Penguin Books, 9780593835197, $19, Sept. 8)
“A beautiful exploration of heartbreak, polyamory, and life. Varela’s inventive novel is a collection of emails sent to the main character’s ex, therapist, and anyone who will provide relief from the pain of loss.”
—Reid Ransom, The Little Gay Shop, Austin, TX
We Love You, Bunny: A Novel
By Mona Awad
(Scribner, 9781668059876, $20, Sept. 8)
“I was so excited to revisit the world of Bunny, and could not have predicted the journey Mona Awad would bring me on. It has the dark feminine occult mood of the first book, but with an added biting humor and deep heart.”
—Ann Branson, Look Around Books, Seaside, OR
Wreck: A Novel
By Catherine Newman
(Harper Perennial, 9780063453920, $17.99, Aug. 18)
“Catherine Newman might just be the funniest fiction writer working today. If you fell hard for Rocky and her family in Sandwich, then prepare yourself for yet another rollicking, rich literary meal.”
—Rosamond Kreshak-Hayden, Broadside Bookshop, Northampton, MA