New Book Releases: October 20th to October 26th, 2025

Yeah, I get it. I don’t want the time to go by any faster than it already is, but we’re half-way through October and even if you’re not eager to start thinking about Christmas, why not get ahead of it anyway by rounding up the books you plan to gift this holiday season?

(And, of course, the books you’ll be adding to your own wishlist.)

With 460 new books releasing this week alone, 2025 has plenty of book options hoping to make it down the chimney and to your shelves! I’ll cover off 5, and Vince’ll fill you in on another 10 at our Booknotification podcast.

The Widow by John Grisham (Standalone)

#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham is back – and this time it’s with his first-ever whodunit! After a legacy of legal thrillers, Grisham is releasing The Widow on shelves October 21st!

In rural Virginia, small-town lawyer Simon Latch is barely making ends meet and watching his marriage dissolve. Soon, fate would bring an elderly widow named Eleanor to his office, requesting a new will. She’s amassed a small fortune since her husband’s passing, and Simon will do all that he can to keep it quiet for her. However, all isn’t all that it seems and after she’s hospitalized from a car accident, Simon finds himself convicted of a crime he knows he didn’t commit. Now he’s running against the clock to find the actual murderer before he winds up spending life as an innocent man behind bars.

A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber (Standalone)

It’s the holiday season aboard a delayed ferryboat in #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber’s A Ferry Merry Christmas.

Siblings Avery and Reed Bond are preparing to spend their first Christmas without their Grams, the woman who raised them. Growing up, the pair shared a close relationship despite Avery’s frustration with Reed’s matchmaking and his relentless teasing of her.

But their Christmas plans this year take a dramatic turn when the ferryboat Avery is travelling has stalled, stranding her and her fellow commuters – and there’s no telling how long it will be before she reaches Reed. But this delay might just end up being the blessing no one could have foreseen.

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly (Lincoln Lawyer series)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly, the Lincoln Lawyer returns in The Proving Ground out on October 21st.

In this gripping novel, Mickey Haller has filed a civil lawsuit against an AI company whose “chatbot told a sixteen-year-old boy that it was okay for him to kill his ex-girlfriend for her disloyalty.”

The case examines the AI business as an exploding new sector, largely unregulated. Mickey represents the victim’s family and soon joins forces with Jack McEvoy, a journalist hoping to write a book about the trial. Mickey taps him to work on investigating discovery materials about the case, and soon, he discovers a whistleblower afraid to speak out. Billions are at stake, making the case even more dangerous for Mickey and Jack.

The Christmas Ring by Karen Kingsbury (Standalone)

The highly anticipated new holiday novel from #1 New York Times Karen Kingsbury arrives October 21st in book form – and in theatres November 6th!

In The Christmas Ring, Vanessa Mayfield is a military widow on a mission for her family’s long-lost heirloom ring. In her search, she meets Ben Miller, the handsome antique dealer who finds himself drawn to her and forms a friendship that will soon become romantic. As Ben learns more about Vanessa’s missing ring, he discovers a truth about it he can’t ignore. Days before Christmas, he believes he’s found the ring and leaves town to obtain it. Will Ben be able to claim the ring and Vanessa’s heart?

A Moment to Love by Tracie Peterson (The Hope of Cheyenne)

USA Today bestselling author and “Queen of Historical Christian Fiction” Tracie Peterson takes us back to Cheyenne, Wyoming October 21st with A Moment to Love!

Dr Carrie Vogel finds herself leaning on her faith after her medical research has been both stolen and falsely credited to her ex-fiance. Her heart shattered, she must cope with this turn in her career when she learns that her friend, Spencer Duval, is headed to Cheyenne on a justice-driven mission. In an effort to assist him with a cover story, Carrie agrees to an arranged marriage; but she’ll soon learn that simply pretending to be in love with Spencer is becoming more difficult during the time they’re together. For Spencer, he’s here to apprehend the man who killed his father. As he closes in on who it may have been, he and Carrie will need their faith to carry them through all that’s coming.

Here are all the new books releasing this week: