So with all that in mind and without further ado, TheReviewGeek team presents our picks for the top 20 books to check out in September 2022!
Babel – R.F. Kuang
Babel is the latest novel from R.F. Kuang and is dubbed as the “most anticipated fantasy book of 2022.” And it’s easy to see why. Boasting 560 pages, the story is set deep in the heart of Oxford, 1836. At the center of this bustling city is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation; the tower from which all the power of the Empire flows. Brought to England by a mysterious guardian after being orphaned in Canton, Robin Swift is our protagonist and whose perception of this idyllic world soon turns to that of a prison. Can a student stand against an empire?
Release Date: 1st September 2022
Spell For Forgetting – Adrienne Young
From the New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young, Spell For Forgetting is a compelling novel chock full of ancestral magic, an unsolved murder and a second chance at love. The story begins with Emery Blackwood, who finds her life changed forever on the eve of her graduation when the love of her life, August Salt, is accused of murdering her best friend Lily. When August returns after 14 years to bury his mother’s ashes, Emery is forced to confront her love – and the reason he left so abruptly. As the island begins to show signs of strange occurrences, Emery looks set to face the truth behind Lily’s death once and for all.
Release Date: 27th September 2022
Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3) – Kerri Maniscalco
Sizzling romance, sexy secrets and unexpected twists; Kerri Maniscalco returns with the unforgettable conclusion for her Kingdom of the Wicked series – and this one looks like an absolute scorcher! Emilia is still reeling after that shocking discovery about her sister Vittoria. Before she can face the demons of her past though, Emilia yearns to claim her King, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, evidence seems to point to Vittoria as the murderer. Emilia and Wrath are then forced to come together in order to solve this murder and prevent the unrest brewing between witches, demons, shapeshifters and the Feared.
Release Date: 27th September 2022
The American Roommate Experiment – Elena Armas
If you’re looking for a swoon-worthy slow-burn romcom this September, Elena Armas’ new novel might just be what you’re looking for. The story centers on Rosie Graham, who quits her well-paid job to focus on her secret career as a romance writer. Unfortunately, she has terrible writer’s block. When the ceiling of her New York apartment crumbles, she heads off to stay at her best friend Lina’s place while she’s out of town. However, Rosie doesn’t realize that Lina has actually lent her apartment to Lucas, who Rosie has been stalking on Instagram. Lucas arrives like a knight in shining armour, letting her stay with him until Rosie can get some temporary housing. To try and jumpstart her writer’s block, Lucas proposes he take her out on a series of dates. Strictly platonically of course! But can Rosie keep her crush under control? She has six weeks to find out!
Release Date: 6th September 2022
The Last Girl to Die -Helen Fields
The plot centers on 17 year old Adriana Clark, whose family moves to the Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland. Unfortunately, Adriana soon goes missing. Faced with hostile locals and inept police, Adriana’s desperate parents turn to PI Sadie Levesque for help. When Sadie finds Adriana’s body in a cliffside cave, a seaweed crown placed on her head, Sadie realizes she’s dealing with something she’s never seen before. And as the mystery deepens, Sadie starts to wonder whether Adriana is really the last girl to die.
Release Date: 1st September 2022
Dreamland – Nicholas Sparks
Another heavy-hitting bestselling author, Nicholas Spark,s returns with his latest love story, one that mixes poignancy with risking everything for a dream. Coby Mills is our protagonist here and when he spontaneously takes a gig playing at a bar in Florida, he meets Morgan Lee who turns his world upside-down. Morgan is on her way to Nashville with plans to become a star. She wants Colby to join her. Complicating matters further is Beverly, who’s on a heart-pounding journey of her own. She’s fleeing an abusive husband with her 6 year old son. Dreamland interweaves the fate of all three characters together into 384 pages that promise to be an unforgettable ride.
Release Date: 20th September 2022
Fairy Tale – Stephen King
The master of horror returns with his long-awaited story, one that promises to mix in a delightful blend of fantasy, drama and, of course, horror. Charlie Reade is a regular high school kid and a decent student. At least, on the surface. The truth is, he’s haunted by the ghosts of the past as his mum was killed in a hit and run accident when he was 10. To make matters worse, grief drove his dad to drink. When Charlie meets Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house with a locked shed, the pair form an unlikely bond. However, when Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe. To give much more away about the story would be a disservice but expect plenty of twists and turns, along with beautifully written prose to boot.
Release Date: 6th September 2022
Liminal Zone – Junji Ito
Three-time Eisner Award winner Junhi Ito returns with his latest brand of nightmare-fueled drama. Although this is the only graphic novel on this list, it’s certainly one worth checking out. Armed with four terrifying tales, Liminal Zone is a slightly different offering from Ito’s previous works. The plot teases a couple encountering a weeping woman sobbing uncontrollably at a funeral, along with another featuring a couple who decide to die together, entering the infamous suicide forest known as Aokigahara. What shocking secrets will these different characters uncover? We’ll find out very soon! Expect beautiful artwork, a delightfully twisted storyline and plenty of shockers along the way.
Release Date: 2nd September 2022
The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2) – Stephanie Garber
Written by Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After is the long-awaited follow-up to Once Upon A Broken Heart. Fans can expect plenty of magic, mystery and heartbreak within. After being betrayed by the Prince of Hearts, Evangeline Fox sets out to discover her own magic to try and reach her happily-ever-after. When a new curse is revealed though, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. Will Evangeline come out of this on top?
Release Date: 13th September 2022
The Bullet That Missed: (The Thursday Murder Club 3) – Richard Osman
The third book from writer Richard Osman brings back the Thursday Murder Club for what should be a delightfully delicious murder mystery. A decade-old case leads the Thursday Murder Club to a local news legend – and a murder with no clear answers. Things are complicated further when a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. And her mission given by this person? Kill or be killed. It’s an enticing set-up and between Elizabeth’s woes and a new killer on the loose, expect an intricately plotted mystery and plenty of pressure-cooker tension.
Release Date: 15th September 2022
The Sunbearer Trials (The Sunbearer Duology, #1) – Aiden Thomas
A new Mexican-inspired fantasy book is the next highlight on our list, coming from the mind of Aiden Thomas who’s the author of the New York Times-bestselling book, Cemetery Boys. Teo, and Xio, the thirteen-year-old child of the god of bad luck, are the central focus of this fast-moving plot. The pair are forced to compete in five trials against Gold opponents who are more powerful and better trained. Worst of all, Teo’s annoyingly handsome ex-best friend and famous semidiós Hero, Aurelio, is favored to win. Expect this story to really scratch that Hunger Games-sized itch when it comes to romance, drama and intriguing trial-based fantasy!
Release Date: 15th September 2022
Killers of a Certain Age – Deanna Raybourn
Deanne Raybourn delivers what should be a fun, exciting and fast-moving story. Billie, Mary Alice, Helen and Natalie have worked for the Museum (an elite network of assassins) for 40 years. But now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates their resourcefulness in an age of technology. When the foursome are sent on an all-expenses-paid trip to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board – the top-level members of the Museum – can order the termination of field agents, and as such, the women realize they’ve been marked for death. To get out alive they have to turn against their own organization…
Release Date: 8th September 2022
The Golden Enclaves – Naomi Novik
Ignoring the subjective tagline of “TikTok made me read it”, The Golden Enclaves actually looks like a decent read and should mark a dramatic conclusion to this bestselling trilogy that began with A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate. El has changed the nature of Scholomance forever, but now that she’s back in the real world at the start of The Golden Enclaves, how will the lessons she’s learned inside the school apply? Will her grandmother’s prophecy come true? Is she really destined to spell doom of all the enclaves forever? From the looks of it, it doesn’t look like the last we’ll see of these characters either but to say much more about this one would be marching into spoiler territory!
Release Date: 27th September 2022
Silver Under Nightfall – Rin Chupeco
Well it wouldn’t be a list of books without a vampire novel, right? Silver Under Nightfall looks like it’s set to take the undead world by storm, full of court intrigue, queer romance and terrifying monsters aplenty. The story revolves around Remy Pendergast, the only son of the Duke of Valenbonne, an elite bounty hunter of rogue vamps and an outcast among fellow reapers. Of course, the rumours are that Remy is half-vampire himself. When a new breed of vampire are sighted outside the city, Remy prepares to investigate alone. But then he encounters warm-hearted vampire heiress Xiaodan Song and her infuriatingly arrogant fiancé, lord Zidan Malekh, they may hold the key to defeating the creatures. When Remy is offered a spot alongside them to find the truth about the mutating virus, drama – and romance – inevitably ensues.
Release Date: 13th September 2022
When in Rome – Sarah Adams
Ah yes, another friends-to-lovers romance, and this one definitely looks like it’s worth a read! Amelia Rose is burnt out from years of maintaining her ‘princess of pop’ image. Desperate for a getaway from the music business, she drives off in the middle of the night for a respite in Rome. Rome, Kentucky of course. When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems. But his heart softens when it becomes clear that years in the public eye have left Amelia lonely and isolated. Noah shows Amelia all the small-town experiences she’s been missing and of course she falls for Rome…and her grumpy tour guide. But then the real world is beckoning too, right?
Release Date: 20th September 2022
The Ways We Hide – Kristina McMorris
Described by some as The Queen’s Gambit meets The Alice Network, Kristina McMorris delivers a sweeping World War II tale of an illusionist recruited by British intelligence, setting her off on a perilous and heartrending path. Tasked with designing escape aids to thwart the Germans, MI9 seeks those with specialized skills for a war nearing its breaking point. Fenna reluctantly joins the unconventional team as an inventor. A test of her loyalty draws Fenna deep into the fray, where she discovers no mission is more treacherous than escaping one’s past. Inspired by true events, this gripping story of love and loss looks like it’s going to be a solid read.
Release Date: 6th September 2022
Ledge (The Glacian Trilogy #1) – Stacey McEwan
A brand new trilogy looks to take on an ice-cold edge. Written by Stacey McEwan, this thriller looks like a wonderful blend of fantasy and romance – and a must-read in September. In a place known as The Ledge, civilization is trapped by a vast chasm. There is no way for anyone to escape without facing a deathly drop. They know nothing of the outside world except that it is where The Glacians reside – mystical winged creatures who bring them meagre rations to survive, in exchange for a periodic human sacrifice. Dawsyn is the only remaining member of her family, and has so far avoided the annual culling, but her luck has run out. She is chosen and ripped from her icy home. The fates align and Dawsyn manages to escape The Glacian clutches with the help of a half-Glacian called Ryon. While they journey together down the slopes, distrust and questions are asked about what the future may hold.
Release Date: 13th September 2022
Loving the Dead and Gone – Judith Turner-Yamamoto
Written by Judith Turner-Yamamoto, Loving the Dead and Gone is a novel exploring how both grief and love are the ties that bind. Clayton’s discovery of dead Donald Ray from a freak car accident upends his longtime emotional numbness. Darlene, the seventeen-year-old widow, struggles to reconnect with her late husband while proving herself still alive. Soon Clayton and Darlene’s bond of loss and death draws them into an affair that brings the loneliness in Clayton’s marriage to a crisis. When Aurilla Cutter, Clayton’s mother-in-law, learns about the affair, her own memories of longing and infidelity are set loose. As Aurilla’s own forbidden and tragic story of love, death, and repeated loss alternates with Darlene’s and Clayton’s, the divide of generations narrows and collapses, building to the unlikely collision.
Release Date: 6th September 2022
Foul Lady Fortune – Chloe Gong
Written by Chloe Gong, Foul Lady Fortune is a speculative historical thriller that appears to be inspired by Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Interestingly, the events here follows on from those depicted in both These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends (Gong’s previous two excellent novels). However, the events of those stories are explained within Foul Lady Fortune, so you don’t need any prior background knowledge to dive into this one! The story takes place in 1931 Shanghai. Four years back, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death but a strange experiment saved her. However, it also stopped her from sleeping and allowed her to heal from any wound. In order words, Rosalind is immortal. Desperate for redemption, Rosalind uses her abilities as an assassin for her country, codenamed ‘Fortune’. The story really picks up here when a series of murder causes unrest in Shanghai. Rosalind is under new order to infiltrate foreign society and identity the culprits behind a terror plot. With a wicked blend of mystery and drama, Foul Lady Fortune certainly looks like an intriguing book.
Release Date: 27th September 2022
Thistlefoot – GennaRose Nethercott
For fans of American Gods, Thistlefoot may just whet the appetite for more modern fairytale-esque fantasy. This time though, the focus is on Eastern European folklore. And, in particular, the Russian legend of Baba Yaga. The protagonists of this tale happen to be the Yaga siblings; Bellatine, a young woodworker, and Isaac, a street performer and con artist. Separated by resentment, the pair are brought together when they receive a mysterious inheritance. Only, they discover it’s not land or money they’re getting but checks notes a sentient house on chicken legs. The house is called Thistlefoot and has arrived from Yagas’ home in Russia. Only, a strange figure known as the Longshadow Man has tracked it to American shores and is not in the mood to share. The story certainly looks like an intriguing read and early reviews are certainly positive for this one too!
Release Date: 13th September 2022
And there we have it, our picks for the top 20 books to check out in September 2022! What do you think of our list? Have we included your favourites? Or have we missed any books that you’re super excited to read? We love to hear from you so do feel free to let us know in the comments below!
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