4 Exciting September Book Releases, BIPOC Edition

18 hours ago 8

While I’m eager to bust out my best librarian-chic sweaters, September has had a few false fall starts. So far, there have only been a few truly autumn-feeling days nestled in between the still-hot ones. Despite the weather being iffy, we are in full fall season, books-wise. There are so many exciting new books coming out this season that I almost don’t know where to start.

The end of August kicked us off with what is probably one of the biggest books of the year (Katabasis by R.F. Kuang), and we continue on into September with a memoir by the iconic Arundhati Roy, new historical fiction by The Sweetness of Water author Nathan Harris, the story of a woman hoping to become the first Cherokee astronaut, and a sizzling second-chance romance.

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

Legendary writer Arundhati Roy writes about her experience growing up with a single mother in Kerala, India. Her mother, Mary, passed away in 2022, and Roy was startled by the depth of her grief. She began to write about her mother “to be able to continue to love her.” Roy’s first memoir is a stunning rumination on grieving and the messiness of truly loving someone. — Kendra Winchester

Amity by Nathan Harris

The author of The Sweetness of Water is back with a new historical fiction novel about a brother and sister searching for true freedom after the Civil War. When the Confederacy lost, some men weren’t ready to let it go. Mr. Harper was one of them. Desperate to cling to the past, he flees to Mexico with June. Her brother, Coleman, stayed on with the family in the hopes his sister would one day return. But now, a letter from Mr. Harper has renewed Coleman’s hopes, and he sets off into the desert to find her. What he doesn’t know is he’s not the only one looking for Mr. Harper. As both siblings try to find their way home to one another, they’ll have to fight tooth and nail for the freedom that was promised to them. — Rachel Brittain

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage

I just finished this and loved it! To the Moon and Back is about Steph, who is determined to become the first Cherokee astronaut. We also follow her sister, an Indigenous artist and social media influencer; her mother, who is keeping secrets about her past; and Steph’s college girlfriend, whose custody case between her Cherokee biological father and white adoptive parents made her a household name as a toddler. It’s a fascinating and complex literary fiction novel that I hope will get the attention it deserves. — Danika Ellis

Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola

The “sweet heat” referenced in the title is between Kiki and her ex, Malakai, and comes at the most inconvenient time. It’s been three years since their breakup, and Kiki has moved on—she’s now got a career on the fritz, a best friend’s wedding to worry about, and a boyfriend who is maybe a little too robotic at times. Eek. It’s actually during her bestie’s wedding when Malakai is front and center as best man, and suddenly, she can’t help but think of their sizzling chemistry. And there’s the little fact of both of them still getting nervous around each other. — Erica Ezeifedi