New Book Releases: Rachel Cusk, Liane Moriarty, and More

A notable slate of new titles lands in bookshops today, led by some of the most anticipated fiction and non-fiction releases of the late summer. Heading up today’s publication day is Rachel Cusk’s latest novel, Life of M, alongside a long-awaited follow-up from Liane Moriarty and major political commentary from historian Jill Lepore. As publishers gear up for the busy autumn trade period, a time when US publishing revenue growth and international sales face their biggest test, today’s releases offer a remarkably varied mix of international translations, memoirs, and sharp social criticism.

Heavyweight Fiction and Political Commentary

Rachel Cusk’s Life of M arrives with significant anticipation, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The novel offers a characteristically sharp reflection on identity, time, and fame, continuing the stylistic focus that has defined her recent fiction. Joining Cusk on the fiction shelves is Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Truths, published by Crown. Serving as a sequel to her blockbuster bestseller Big Little Lies, Moriarty returns to the domestic drama and secrets that built her international readership.

In non-fiction, Jill Lepore releases The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State via Liveright. Lepore’s work examines the structure of modern American governance and political history, offering a detailed critique of contemporary state institutions. These three flagship titles anchor a broader publishing week that spans multiple genres, echoing the depth seen across this season’s key autumn book releases.

Fiction, Memoirs, and Translated Works

Beyond the marquee names, today brings a rich collection of literary fiction and translated prose from across the globe. Highlights from today’s new releases include:

• Life of M by Rachel Cusk (Farrar, Straus and Giroux): A compressed narrative exploring memory, public identity, and self-invention.
• Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty (Crown): The continuation of the multi-layered social drama introduced in Big Little Lies.
• The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore (Liveright): An expansive historical analysis of American political power.
• Dèy by Edwidge Danticat (Knopf): A new novel rooted in the immigrant experience and Haitian American identity.
• Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America by Rozina Ali (Crown): A closely reported account tracking systemic prejudice and surveillance across four American households.
• Gaining Ground by Joan Barfoot (Faber & Faber): A reissue of the original second-wave feminist novel exploring independence and retreat.
• The Black Shield: An American Memoir of Family and Power by Wilbert L. Cooper (Farrar, Straus and Giroux): An insider investigation into modern police culture and family heritage.
• Crocodilopolis by John Manuel Arias (Bloomsbury): A surreal, atmospheric novel combining mythic elements with contemporary storytelling.
• A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War by Shane White (Liveright): A historical work uncovering the cultural and commercial life of Black New Yorkers prior to the Civil War.
• The Anniversary by Andrea Bajani, translated by Geoffrey Brock (Other Press): An Italian novel probing family dynamics, memory, and personal history.

Science, Identity, and International Voices

Today’s list also touches heavily on environmental writing, social history, and translated thrillers. If you are looking to broaden your reading list this week, these titles round out today’s publication schedule:

• The Ghost of the Mountains by Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi (Riverhead): A field-based study of snow leopards and high-altitude conservation.
• Jacaranda by Gaël Faye, translated by Sarah Ardizzone (Hogarth): A novel grappling with history, recovery, and human resilience in the wake of tragedy.
• The Time Tax: How the Government Wastes Our Time, and How to Fix It by Annie Lowrey (Ecco): An examination of bureaucratic inefficiency and its impact on everyday life.
• Ghost Cities by Siang Lu (Summit): A speculative satirical novel dealing with identity, modernity, and urban displacement.
• Changing Gender by Susan Stryker (Farrar, Straus and Giroux): A crucial history and analysis of gender identity in modern discourse.
• Last Day of a Prior Life by Andrés Barba, translated by Lisa Dillman (HarperVia): A tense psychological novel exploring memory and trauma.
• The Man in 119 by Kazim Ali (Copper Canyon): A reflective new literary collection offering an entry point into the author’s work.
• Makeshift by Peter Rock (Soft Skull): A narrative touching on survival, spirits, and isolated landscapes.
• The Shame is Over by Anja Meulenbelt, translated by Ann Oosthuizen (Astra): A foundational text of European second-wave feminism translated for modern readers.
• The Camino by Anya Niewierra, translated by Eileen Stevens (Simon & Schuster): A suspense novel combining European pilgrimage routes with personal mystery.

With major literary awards keeping a close eye on late-year submissions, much like the recent momentum surrounding the 2026 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists, today’s heavy release schedule provides plenty of fresh material for readers across every genre.