Fall is reading season.

In the following months, publishers both big and small will release some of their most anticipated titles, perfectly timed for readers who want to dig into a book in a park, their backyard, or a coffeehouse with a hot drink in hand. (We won’t judge you for ordering something pumpkin-spice flavored.)

You’re bound to find something intriguing in this list of 34 new or forthcoming books, from novels to nonfiction to poetry to titles that resist easy classification. Look for these exciting books at your library or your favorite local independent bookstore.

“Will There Ever Be Another You”

Author: Patricia Lockwood

What It’s About: Author Lockwood won commercial success and critical praise for her 2017 memoir “Priestdaddy” and 2021 novel “No One Is Talking About This.” Her latest novel, marked with her trademark dark humor, tells the story of a young woman who becomes undone after falling ill with a disease that has affected the way she thinks.

Publication Date: out now

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“Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America”

Author: Jeff Chang

What It’s About: Chang, whose “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation” still resonates with readers, takes a look at the life of the martial-arts icon who died at 32 in 1973. More than just a biography, the book considers how Lee’s influence still resonates.

Publication Date: out now

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“Startlement: New and Selected Poems”

Author: Ada Limón

What It’s About: Limón, who grew up in Sonoma, served as the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2022 until this year; one of her projects involved bringing poetry to national parks, while another saw one of her poems heading into space. Her latest book, focused on mystery and wonder, collects new poems as well as ones from her previous books, including the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning “The Carrying.”

Publication Date: out now

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“The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam”

Author: Lana Lin

What It’s About: Experimental filmmaker Lin, inspired by Gertrude Stein’s “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas,” tells the story of her life and that of her partner, the artist Lam. The book, published by Dorothy, a Publishing Project, has been longlisted for the National Book Award.

Publication Date: out now

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“Near Flesh”

Author: Katherine Dunn

What It’s About: Dunn is a literary icon, thanks to her cult-favorite 1989 novel “Geek Love,” which continues to startle and delight readers. Her latest book, published more than 9 years after her death, is composed of 19 short stories that showcase the lives and disappointments of women.

Publication Date: out now

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“The High Heaven”

Author: Joshua Wheeler

What It’s About: The debut novel from USC graduate Wheeler tells the story of Izzy Gently, who grew up in a New Mexico cult, and now finds herself in Texas and Louisiana trying to overcome her troubled past.

Publication Date: out now

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“Shadow Ticket”

Author: Thomas Pynchon

What It’s About: Don’t expect a book tour for this one — one of America’s most famous authors is also the most reclusive (save for two appearances on “The Simpsons,” where he was portrayed with a paper bag over his head). The latest from the author, whose 1990 novel “Vineland” also inspired Paul Thomas Anderson‘s new film, “One Battle After Another,” follows a private detective named Hicks McTaggart who goes in search of a missing cheese heiress in 1932. 

Publication Date: out now

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“Offline Humans: How to Stop Scrolling and Reconnect with the Real World”

Author: Natalie Alzate

What It’s About: Alzate, better known to her fans as Natalie’s Outlet, is a content creator with an unusual message for someone who made her fame on the internet: People should spend less time online. Her new book invites readers to do just that, providing creative prompts, exercises, and other ways for people to cut the digital cord.

Publication Date: out now

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“We Survived the Night”

Author: Julian Brave NoiseCat

What It’s About: Oakland-raised journalist, filmmaker and powwow dancer NoiseCat, a member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq̓éscen̓, earned an Oscar nomination for his documentary “Sugarcane.” His first book is both a memoir of his childhood and a journalistic effort to undo the erasure of the Native peoples of North America.

Publication Date: Oct. 14

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“I’ll Quit When I’m Dead”

Author: Luke Smitherd

What It’s About: Smitherd, who lives in both Los Angeles and Coventry, England, returns with a horror novel that follows two people: Madison, who joins an all-female boot camp to break her breakup-related junk-food habit, and Johnny, who goes to a remote cottage to detox from pain pills. There’s something sinister lurking in both places, though.

Publication Date: Oct. 14

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“Intemperance”

Author: Sonora Jha

What It’s About: Jha won critical praise for her 2023 novel, “The Laughter.” Her latest book follows a 55-year-old professor in Seattle who decides to hold a swayamvar — a contest in which men compete for her hand in marriage. Her decision to hold the competition attracts attention, both positive and negative.

Publication Date: Oct. 14

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“All That We See or Seem”

Author: Ken Liu

What It’s About: Liu is known for his fantasy novels as well as for his translations of Chinese novels into English, such as Liu Cixin’s “The Three-Body Problem.” His new book, the first in a planned sci-fi series, follows Julia Z, a hacker and artificial-intelligence expert who goes in search of a missing “dream artist.”

Publication Date: Oct. 14

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“The Wayfinder”

Author: Adam Johnson

What It’s About: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Johnson’s latest novel is a sprawling epic that follows Kōrero, a young woman who lives on a Tongan island struggling with poverty and hunger, but who becomes the queen of her people.

Publication Date: Oct. 14

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“Looking for Tank Man”

Author: Ha Jin

What It’s About: The latest novel from National Book Award-winning author Jin tells the story of a Harvard student who learns for the first time about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre — the discussion of which is heavily censored in China — and decides to research the topic for her dissertation.

Publication Date: Oct. 21

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“The Ten Year Affair”

Author: Erin Somers

What It’s About: Somers (“Stay Up With Hugo Best”) is one of the funniest and sharpest writers working today. Her new novel follows Cora and Sam, two young married parents who meet at a baby group. In one timeline, the two engage in a long tryst; in another, they choose to remain with their spouses.

Publication Date: Oct. 21

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“Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, From Revolution to Autocracy”

Author: Julia Ioffe

What It’s About: Moscow-born journalist Ioffe has long been an expert on Russia. Her first book, longlisted for the National Book Award, blends history and memoir to tell the story of the women of the country, whose rights have been scaled back during the presidency of Vladimir Putin.

Publication Date: Oct. 21

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“The Rose Field”

Author: Philip Pullman

What It’s About: Pullman delighted young readers with his His Dark Materials trilogy of fantasy novels, and followed that up with another three-part series, The Book of Dust, an expansion of the original books. He brings the new trilogy to an end with this novel, which continues the epic story of his beloved characters Lyra and Malcolm.

Publication Date: Oct. 23

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“The Devil Is a Southpaw”

Author: Brandon Hobson

What It’s About: Cherokee author Hobson was a National Book Award finalist for his 2018 novel “Where the Dead Sit Talking.” His latest follows two boys who were jailed together in a juvenile detention facility in the late 1980s; one, a writer, harbors jealousy of the other, a talented artist.

Publication Date: Oct. 28

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“Wreck”

Author: Catherine Newman

What It’s About: Newman introduced readers to Rocky, a woman contending with her aging parents and grown children during a summer vacation to Cape Cod, in the hilarious 2024 novel “Sandwich.” Her latest is a follow-up to that book, with Rocky and her family back home in Western Massachusetts; Rocky becomes obsessed with a local train accident and a stubborn rash that won’t seem to go away. 

Publication Date: Oct. 28

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“The Uncool”

Author: Cameron Crowe

What It’s About: Crowe was a reporter for Rolling Stone from a young age, an experience he drew upon for his 2000 film “Almost Famous.” In his new memoir, he tells the real story of his teenage career in journalism, which led to his screenplay for the now-legendary 1982 film, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

Publication Date: Oct. 28

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“Tom’s Crossing”

Author: Mark Z. Danielewski

What It’s About: Danielewski’s debut novel, “House of Leaves,” has been a cult classic for 25 years, with fans enchanted by his creative use of typographic trickery. His latest novel, which spans over 1,200 pages, tells the story of two Utah friends who try to rescue two horses set to be slaughtered by a prominent member of their community.

Publication Date: Oct. 28

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“Palaver”

Author: Bryan Washington

What It’s About: Washington is one of the country’s most respected authors, and he’s only 32. His latest book, following the short story collection “Lot” and the novels “Memorial” and “Family Meal,” follows a gay man living in Tokyo who is visited by his estranged mother. The novel has been longlisted for the National Book Award.

Publication Date: Nov. 4

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“Bread of Angels”

Author: Patti Smith

What It’s About: Punk rock icon Patti Smith wowed the literary world with her 2010 memoir “Just Kids,” about her friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe; the book was a bestseller and won the National Book Award. Her new memoir covers more of her life, from her childhood, music career, and her years spent raising her children.

Publication Date: Nov. 4

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“Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts”

Author: Margaret Atwood

What It’s About: Atwood, author of novels including “The Handmaid’s Tale” and its Booker Prize-winning sequel, “The Testaments,” is Canada’s most legendary living author. But she’s never told the story of her life — until now. Her memoir shares tales of her childhood in Ontario and Quebec, her long partnership with fellow novelist Graeme Gibson, and, of course, the creation of some of her best-known books.

Publication Date: Nov. 4

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“Flat Earth”

Author: Anika Jade Levy

What It’s About: The debut novel from the Forever Magazine co-founder follows two women: Avery, a New York graduate student who works for a conservative dating app, and Frances, a lauded documentary filmmaker; her success results in complicated feelings for the floundering Avery.

Publication Date: Nov. 4.

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“Cursed Daughters”

Author: Oyinkan Braithwaite

What It’s About: Braithwaite stunned readers with her darkly comic 2018 thriller, “My Sister, the Serial Killer.” Her newest novel Eniiyi, a girl whose family believes is the reincarnation of her mother’s cousin — and thus the inheritor of a longstanding family curse.

Publication Date: Nov. 4

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“Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore”

Author: Char Adams

What It’s About: Former NBC News and People magazine reporter Adams writes about the past and present of Black-owned bookstores in the U.S., from the first one in New York in 1834, to the ones that came after, including Los Angeles’ own Eso Won Books and Octavia’s Bookshelf.

Publication Date: Nov. 4

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“Lucky Girl”

Author: Allie Tagle-Dokus

What It’s About: High school teacher Tagle-Dokus makes her literary debut with this novel about Lucy Gardiner, a 12-year-old girl who is cast on a dance-themed reality show. As the years go by, she realizes that the fame she once craved might not be all it’s cracked up to be.

Publication Date: Nov. 11

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“Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime”

Author: Sarah Weinman

What It’s About: Weinman is one of the country’s most acclaimed writers of crime nonfiction; her books “The Real Lolita” and “Scoundrel” both received rave reviews from critics. Her latest book is the account of Greta Rideout, who in 1978 accused her husband of raping her; he became the first person in the U.S. to be charged with spousal rape. Weinman also writes about other similar cases that ensued.

Publication Date: Nov. 11

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“This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days”

Author: John Darnielle

What It’s About: Darnielle is best known as the singer-songwriter for the indie-folk band the Mountain Goats, but he’s also the author of three previous novels, most recently “Devil House.” His new book collects hundreds of his lyrics and comes with extensive notes about the songs by the acclaimed musician.

Publication Date: Dec. 2

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“Casanova 20: Or, Hot World”

Author: Davey Davis

What It’s About: Davis’ previous two novels, “The Earthquake Room” and “X,” were bold and stunningly original portraits of lives on the edge. Their latest novel follows two best friends: Adrian, living in New York, whose beauty gains him constant attention, and Mark, who returns to his family home in California and learns that he is dying from a mysterious disease.

Publication Date: Dec. 2

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“Television”

Author: Lauren Rothery

What It’s About: Filmmaker and music video director Rothery makes her fiction debut with this novel that takes a look at Hollywood from the perspectives of a movie star; his best friend and sometimes lover; and a would-be director desperate to get a break.

Publication Date: Dec. 2

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“The Award”

Author: Matthew Pearl

What It’s About: The latest novel from “The Dante Club” and “The Last Dickens” author Pearl is a literary thriller that follows David Trent, who wins a prize for his new novel, drawing the interest (and envy) of his neighbor, an ill-tempered literary lion who previously refused to recognize David’s existence. 

Publication Date: Dec. 2

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“Googoosh: A Sinful Voice”

Author: Googoosh with Tara Dehlavi

What It’s About: Singer and actress Googoosh was Iran’s biggest celebrity until the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which resulted in the banning of women singing. She stayed silent for 21 years before moving out of Iran and making a comeback. She tells the remarkable story of her life and career in this autobiography.

Publication Date: Dec. 2

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By Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service

I came across bottled sangria at the market and was inspired by its fruity, spiced notes—perfect for pairing with tender pork loin chops. The sangria adds a subtle depth of flavor that complements the savory richness of the meat. To round out this early fall dinner, orzo, a rice-shaped past, is simmered with broccoli florets, making a quick, colorful side dish.

If sangria is not available, here’s a simple substitute that mimics some of the sangria flavor. Mix 1 cup red wine with 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 1/4 cup orange juice.

HELPFUL HINTS:

One tablespoon ground ginger can be used instead of fresh ginger.

COUNTDOWN:

Assemble all ingredients.

Place water for orzo on to boil.

Start the pork chops.

When water comes to a boil add the orzo and, for the last 2 minutes, the broccoli.

Continue cooking the pork while the orzo cooks.

SHOPPING LIST:

To buy: 2 6-ounce boneless pork loin chops, 1 bottle sangria, 1 container cornstarch, 1 bottle honey, 1 container orzo. 1 piece fresh ginger, 1 bunch broccoli florets.

Staples: olive oil, salt, black peppercorns

Sangria Pork Chops

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer. Yields 2 servings.

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 6-ounce boneless pork loin chops

1 cup sangria

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat and add chops.
Brown chops 4 minutes, turn over, cover the skillet with a lid and continue to brown second side 4 minutes. A meat thermometer should read 145 degrees. Remove chops to a plate.
Mix 1 tablespoon sangria with cornstarch. Set aside.
Pour the remaining sangria into the skillet, increase the heat and deglaze the skillet by scraping up the brown bits on the bottom.
Add honey and ginger. Stir to combine the honey with the sangria.
Add the cornstarch mixture and stir until the sauce thickens for about 2 minutes.
Slice the pork chops and divide in half. Place on two dinner plates. Spoon sauce on top.

Per serving: 406 calories (22 percent from fat), 10.0 g fat (2.0 g saturated, 3.8 g monounsaturated), 96 mg cholesterol, 40.9 g protein, 27.4 g carbohydrates, 0.6 g fiber, 156 mg sodium.

One-Pot Orzo and Broccoli

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer. Yields 2 servings.

INGREDIENTS

3 ounces orzo, about 1/2 cup

1 1/2- cups broccoli florets

3 teaspoons olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Fill a saucepan with three quarters full of water and bring to a boil.
Add orzo and boil 8 minutes.
Add the broccoli and continue to boil 2 minutes. The orzo should be soft. Boil a minute longer, if needed.
Drain and toss with the oil and salt and pepper to taste.
Place on the dinner plates with the pork chops and sauce.

Per serving: 233 calories (29 percent from fat), 7.6 g fat (1.1 g saturated, 3.3 g monounsaturated), no cholesterol, 7.4 g protein, 34.3 g carbohydrates, 2.6 g fiber, 17 mg sodium.

©2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

A new vaccine against salmonella and typhoid moves closer to approval, according to results of a clinical trial published by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Oct. 8.

“These results are highly encouraging,” study lead investigator Dr. Wilbur Chen said in a statement announcing the news. “They show that [this treatment] has the potential to protect children in regions where both typhoid and salmonella are endemic and deadly.”

Results were published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Salmonella bacteria — usually from contaminated food — infects about 1.35 million people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Another species of salmonella causes typhoid fever, a life-threatening illness usually picked up in international travel. Both diseases are major causes of illness and death among children in sub-Saharan Africa.

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The researchers completed a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 clinical trial involving 22 healthy adults, each of whom received either a low or high dose of the vaccine or a placebo. They reported only minor pain at the injection site, according to the release, but all participants developed a strong immune response to the ingredients of the vaccine, even at the lower doses.

The vaccine was developed from sugar molecules taken from the outer coating of the salmonella typhi bacteria that cause typhoid and from two common types of salmonella infections that do not cause typhoid. These sugars help the body’s immune system recognize and respond to the bacteria.

The vaccine was developed in collaboration with India-based Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL).

Anthony Edwards was asked early in camp for his impressions of the Timberwolves’ rookies.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joan Beringer (19) takes a free throw during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

Of rookie center Joan Beringer he said, “Joan don’t stop playing hard. He just don’t get tired. So, stuff like that. He’s just got a nonstop motor. I think that’s going to push him to the next level.”

That has been a common refrain regarding the No. 17 overall pick in this summer’s NBA draft. Beringer, 18, has only been playing basketball for four years, and was competing professionally in Slovenia last season. But he has already able to contribute defense and, most emphatically, everyday energy in training camp.

Fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert discussed the challenges that come with transitioning from a different country to the United States as a rookie, and his hopes to help Beringer navigate those waters. But in terms of on-court success, Gobert said, “I think it’s going to be about how hard he’s willing to work and who he thinks he can become as a player.”

“From what I’ve seen,” Gobert said, “I’m not really worried about it.”

The commitment to the craft is evident. You don’t make such a meteoric rise in a sport without it.

“He has opened a lot of our eyes with his strong play this summer and his work ethic,” Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said.

“I think he’s a real NBA player. I mean, there’s no doubt about that,” Wolves coach Chris Finch added. “I think he has got an extremely bright future.”

The light just may not shine frequently this season. As excited as Minnesota is about Beringer and his potential as a backline defender, the reality of the current rotation still exists.

“The way we’re constructed, he plays behind three really quality bigs,” Finch said. “So I think patience out of the gate is key.”

Finch added that Beringer could see playing time via “situational opportunities.” Certainly, an injury to any of Minnesota’s three big men — Gobert, Julius Randle or Naz Reid — would open up minutes Beringer could potentially seize.

“You never know,” Finch said. “We’re certainly going to try to find opportunities to play him.”

Youth development is a forte of Finch’s. That doesn’t always come in the form of on-court minutes, which frustrates segments of the fan base. But the coach has a track record of molding young players into valuable assets.

“He’s so good at identifying what players are good at,” Connelly said, “and allowing them to build off that developmental path.”

At their proper pace. Beringer noted the speed and physicality of Minnesota’s preseason games have been eye-openers. He was thrown into the deep end, already combatting opposing centers such as Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas and Karl-Anthony Towns.

But each outing provides an opportunity to learn and grow. Beringer seems eager to do both.

“Valanciunas was very, very strong, I think it’s a really good experience for me to play against this type of player, because when I was in Slovenia last year, I never played against this type of player,” Beringer said. “I really enjoy. I really, really learn about every game and every player I have in front of me. It’s really, really good for me.”

Finch called Beringer’s IQ and feel “outstanding” for his experience level. He loves that the rookie is too new to the sport to have developed bad habits the team needs to break, and noted that Beringer has sometimes been bogged down by thinking too much. Finch called that “normal rookie stuff.”

“It’ll come back to being instinctual. He has done a great job of picking up everything as fast as it’s coming at him,” the coach added. “We always have to slow down a little bit and check how much English he’s really absorbing in the moment. But we have (assistant coach Kevin Hanson) working with him, and there’s no better coach there. So, we’re pleased.”

Finch said there are things Beringer needs to add to be able to do more within the Timberwolves’ system, but added that time will come. This is a development process, but all parties seem satisfied with its current trajectory.

Connelly said Beringer has “just an amazing story.”

He’s enjoying each chapter, and already knows how he wants it to end.

“I want to be one of the best players in the league, be the best defender,” Beringer said. “This is my goal. Every day, I wake up for it.”

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