The Best Books of Fall 2020—So Far

The season of beach reads—and attempting to read comfortably on the beach— is officially coming to a close. But during difficult times like these, we need books more than ever, so our reading marathons will continue long after August. Luckily, the best books of fall 2020 are here to sweep us away into other worlds—or help us understand this one.

Fall releases are marked by new titles from some of fiction's most beloved voices. Elena Ferrante, the author of My Brilliant Friend, returns to Naples for another dark, blisteringly honest tale of a girl's bumpy path into adulthood as she reevaluates the parental figures in her life. Marilynne Robinson, best known for Gilead, stuns with Jack, a moving story about an interracial relationship during the era of Jim Crow. And award-winning poet Claudia Rankine prompts crucial conversations about race in America with Just Us: An American Conversation.

That's just the start of our favorite books this fall. Expect suspense thrillers, political books, feminist texts, stories about the immigrant experience, and more. Read on to find out what you're reading next—and don't forget to shop from an indie bookseller, if possible.