October is National Book Month, a time to celebrate the power of books and the authors who bring their stories, ideas, and experiences to life.

Whether you’re looking to escape into a gripping novel, discover a new perspective, learn something unexpected, or simply reconnect with the joy of reading, there’s no better time to pick up a book. National Book Month is an opportunity to celebrate the many ways books inform, inspire, challenge, and entertain us, and to recognize the authors whose work keeps readers turning the page.

To celebrate, we’re highlighting books you won’t want to miss. From compelling stories and thought-provoking nonfiction to fascinating histories and unforgettable voices, there’s something here for every reader. So grab your favorite reading spot, settle in, and discover your next great read.

Fortune and Glass by John Mutter

Berlin, 1932. As Germany’s democracy fractures under rising extremism, young Foreign Ministry official Rudi meets Sara, a fiercely moral and unpredictable Jewish woman who changes the course of his life. Eleven years later, Rudi is working at the heart of Nazi power, outwardly serving the regime while secretly passing intelligence to the Allies—until Sara unexpectedly returns, threatening the carefully constructed life that has kept him alive. Fortune and Glass is a haunting blend of literary fiction, psychological suspense, and philosophical spy fiction, exploring love, identity, conscience, and the private cost of survival under authoritarianism. Intimate, atmospheric, and morally complex, it asks a timeless question: who do we become when the world around us demands that we surrender our humanity?

Smoke Rings: A Scruffy City Novel by R. Scott West

Deep in the hills of East Tennessee, brothers Huck and Tommy West know the rules of bootlegging: protect your family, trust no one, and never get caught. But when they trade moonshine for drug smuggling, their world quickly spirals beyond their control. Then Clementine Wynn—a brilliant, rebellious woman with a taste for danger—enters their lives and pushes them deeper into a criminal underworld of high-stakes deals, fractured loyalties, and devastating choices. As their ambitions carry them from backwoods stills to the streets of Knoxville, family, crime, and love become dangerously intertwined, forcing each of them to confront just how much they’re willing to risk—and what they’ll sacrifice to survive. Based on a true story, Smoke Rings is a gritty Southern crime novel of outlaw family ties, reckless ambition, and the consequences that refuse to stay buried.

Poontown: A Novel of Chasing Tarpon and Glory by L.M. Weeks

In the high-stakes world of tarpon fishing, five elite teams descend on the Tequesta Isles to compete for the coveted Sabalo Cup. Over five grueling days on the flats, every cast matters as anglers battle hundred-pound tarpon, fierce rivalries, and the relentless pressure to win. United by obsession but driven by their own ambitions, the competitors soon discover that the greatest challenge isn’t landing the perfect fish—it’s mastering themselves. Immersive and suspenseful, Poontown takes readers onto the skiff for an exhilarating journey through competition, obsession, memory, and the pursuit of victory.

Miriam in the Shadows by John Winn Miller

Spring, 1944. As the Allies prepare for D-Day, Jewish saboteur Miriam Maduro is given one final mission: infiltrate a Nazi-occupied rocket facility in northern France and destroy its deadly secret before the Third Reich can turn the tide of war. But when Miriam discovers that the man who once helped her escape captivity is being held nearby, her mission becomes a devastating choice between saving thousands and saving the man she loves. Hunted by enemies within and betrayed by those she trusted, Miriam must confront her past, her survivor’s guilt, and the limits of her courage. Miriam in the Shadows is a gripping World War II thriller of espionage, sabotage, betrayal, and sacrifice, featuring an unforgettable heroine caught in a race against time to save D-Day.

Proven in Blood: A Novel of War, Betrayal and Belonging by Chris Cheng

After Pearl Harbor, Japanese-American student Daniel Tanaka and his family are forced into incarceration, stripped of their freedom by a country they call home. Determined to prove his loyalty and fight for the nation he loves, Daniel volunteers for the segregated 442nd Regimental Combat Team, leaving his family behind to face the injustice of imprisonment while he battles through Italy and France. Inspired by the true story of one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history, Proven in Blood is a sweeping historical novel of courage, sacrifice, betrayal, and belonging that brings to life the extraordinary Japanese-American soldiers who fought for a country that had yet to fully accept them.

Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon’s Journey by Craig Yorke

From a poor Boston neighborhood to a successful neurosurgical career in Middle America, Steep follows one man’s remarkable journey from hardship to the American Dream. Haunted by the expectations of his ancestors and shaped by the history he has spent his life trying to outrun, he must confront the identity he built to survive and question what true success really means. A poignant story of resilience, ambition, and self-discovery, Steep explores the lasting power of our past—and what it takes to finally make peace with it.

Chomping at the Bit: How I Became a Horse Vet (Against All Common Sense) by Matt Evans

Inspired by James Herriot and determined to become an equine veterinarian, Matt Evans sets out to pursue his dream despite one major disadvantage: he wasn’t raised around horses. From veterinary school to his first job, Matt faces intimidating horses, demanding clients, skeptical colleagues, and plenty of imposter syndrome—but also plenty of laughs. With humility, wit, and a knack for finding the absurd in every challenge, Chomping at the Bit is a humorous memoir about chasing an unlikely dream, learning from failure, and finding your place in a career you’re not quite sure you’re qualified for.

Chasing Goodfellas: Lufthansa, Henry Hill, Point Shaving, and Making Movies by Ed McDonald (with Jake Brown)

In his debut memoir, legendary mob prosecutor Edward McDonald takes readers behind the scenes of two of New York and America’s most notorious criminal cases: the Lufthansa Heist and the Boston College point-shaving scandal. Drawing on three decades as a federal prosecutor—and his unlikely Hollywood turn playing himself in Goodfellas—McDonald reveals the investigations, courtroom battles, colorful characters, and unexpected twists that brought notorious criminals to justice. From working with Henry Hill to taking on Jimmy “The Gent” Burke, his stories offer an insider’s perspective on organized crime, high-stakes prosecutions, and the realities of criminal trial practice. Entertaining, dramatic, and often surprisingly funny, this memoir brings legendary cases to life through the eyes of the man who helped prosecute them.

Narcissi: A Novel by Babette Fraser Hale

In 1980s Texas, writer Cole Burnett is always on the move, driven first by ambition and later by a death threat that makes staying alive his greatest priority. Charismatic, complicated, and unusually attentive, Cole draws women into his orbit—women carrying troubled marriages, past traumas, postponed dreams, and lives of their own. Their encounters with him become intimate, messy, and sometimes painful, leaving wounds and consequences in their wake. Yet Narcissi, a novel in stories, looks beyond the hurt to explore desire, connection, and the complicated humanity of the people who find themselves caught in Cole’s path.

Twin Moons of Eldradune by A.D. Solomon

Twin Moons of Eldradune follows Lex Anders and Mara Thorne, two friends who are mysteriously transported from Earth to the magical world of Eldradune after discovering an ancient box. As they search for a way home, they uncover secrets about the world’s ancient powers and realize their arrival may be connected to a much larger destiny. For Lex, strange abilities and visions begin revealing unexpected truths about his origins and his connection to Eldradune. Joined by unlikely allies and drawn into a conflict that could affect both worlds, Lex and Mara embark on an epic journey of friendship, self-discovery, and adventure that sets the stage for the seven-book Lex Anders Saga.

Redesigning You: Change Your Inner Story, Transform Your Health by Kim Foster, MD

Redesigning You by Dr. Kim Foster offers a person-centered approach to creating lasting, meaningful wellness changes. Drawing on behavioral psychology, her experiences as a physician, and her own health challenges, Dr. Foster argues that sustainable wellness begins not with rigid rules or quick fixes, but with understanding who you are, what you value, and what motivates you. Through her three-step framework, she guides readers toward authentic, holistic habits that fit their lives while moving beyond fad diets and the one-size-fits-all approach of the wellness industry.

Cutie Pies by the Slice: A 1930s Historical Novel of Strength and Belonging by Kimberly Nixon

Cutie Pies by the Slice follows twenty-year-old Lila Young as she starts over in a small Midwestern town during Prohibition and the Great Depression. After opening a pie shop, Lila finds the sense of belonging she has always craved as neighbors and strangers become a chosen family, including Agnes, Maggie, and the quiet, dependable Vern. But when she discovers that her thriving business has unknowingly become entangled with organized crime, the relationships she has built are tested by secrets, betrayal, and dangerous choices. Blending small-town charm with themes of resilience, redemption, forgiveness, and found family, the novel celebrates the courage it takes to build a new life and trust others again.

Before the Revolution: The Untold Story of 100 Years of Friendship Between The United States and Cuba by Mario Cartaya

Before the Revolution by Mario Cartaya explores the largely overlooked century of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Cuba before the Cuban Revolution. Drawing on extensive historical records, the book examines the nations’ deep connections across diplomacy, commerce, agriculture, banking, science, and military cooperation, as well as the cultural exchange that flourished through music, literature, film, art, and baseball. Bringing together the people, institutions, and landmarks that shaped this relationship, Cartaya offers a richly documented account of an era defined by collaboration, cultural connection, and mutual prosperity while reflecting on the lessons this history may hold for the future.

After the Good War: A Vietnam Memoir by Jerome Loving

After the Good War: A Vietnam Memoir by Jerome Loving offers a deeply personal reflection on his nearly nine months serving in Vietnam during the first major wave of American troops deployed to the conflict. Drawing primarily from letters he wrote to his wife and a diary kept during his service, Loving recounts his experiences between Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay while reflecting on the devastating human cost of the war. More than a traditional war narrative, the memoir examines the lasting effects of Vietnam on those who served and on American society, exploring memory, loss, disillusionment, and the enduring legacy of the conflict.

Etched in Ink by Corinne Price

Book two of The Vollmagus and The Etched series, Etched in Ink follows Sybil Wyntres, a young woman forced to confront everything she once believed about her magic, the rune etched into her body, and the order she trusted. Sent across the fractured lands of Crae Vost with an enigmatic ancient enchanter as the threat of the Void grows, Sybil begins uncovering a dangerous truth about the enemy she was taught to fear. Meanwhile, Raekin, broken by his past and bound once again to the forces controlling him, is ordered to hunt the very person who may hold the key to unleashing the Void. As their paths converge, Sybil and Raekin must unravel the mystery behind the tome that divided them while navigating a world where knowledge is power, loyalty is uncertain, and the wrong choice could cost countless lives.

Objects May Appear: A Novel by Khristin Wierman

Objects May Appear follows Quinn, a former child actor who has finally built the quiet, stable life she always wanted after a traumatic childhood and complicated relationship with her mother. But when she unexpectedly discovers that she can fly, her carefully constructed world is turned upside down. As her new abilities challenge her sense of security and raise questions about what is possible, Quinn’s friendship with her neighbor Georgia deepens as they each navigate major changes in their lives. Blending contemporary women’s fiction with a touch of fantasy, the novel explores friendship, healing, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to embrace an uncertain future.

All You Need is Balle Balle by Sarina Jain

Sarina Jain, creator of Masala Bhangra® and “The Indian Jane Fonda,” shares her story of grief, cultural identity, and building a global dance fitness movement in her debut memoir, All You Need Is Balle Balle. Part personal story, part joyful manifesto, it’s for anyone who has ever dreaded a workout — and found themselves dancing instead. (She Writes Press / Simon & Schuster, October 13, 2026)

Own It: A Guide to Confidence, Clarity, and Unshakable Self-Trust by Bitsy Hamilton

Feeling stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed by what’s next? Own It helps you stop second-guessing and start moving forward with greater confidence and clarity. Through her Own It Framework of authenticity, vulnerability, and accountability, Bitsy Hamilton shares relatable stories, practical strategies, and thoughtful prompts to help you rebuild self-trust, navigate life’s transitions, and create a life that feels authentically yours.

Eat to Heal by Lee Holmes

Bestselling author Lee Holmes delves into the hidden driver of many chronic health challenges – systemic inflammation. Drawing on the latest scientific research, insights from integrative medicine, and over a decade of clinical experience, this book provides a comprehensive, evidence-based roadmap for holistic healing. Holmes empowers readers to take charge of their well-being by addressing inflammation at its core. The book is a toolkit for anyone seeking vibrant health. 

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Cover Photo by Curated Lifestyle for Unsplash

Kathleen Thompson is a Publicity and Digital Media Intern at PR by the Book, where she supports authors through publicity and social media initiatives. She is passionate about books, publishing, and connecting authors with their audiences, with a particular love for fantasy.