The turn of a new month is a great moment for any bibliophile – after all, it means the arrival of a fresh batch of books – but when it comes to October, when publishers release their big autumn books each year, there is possibly no moment better.

From the return of Lessons in Chemistry author Bonnie Garmus to new work from Women’s Prize winning Barbara Kingsolver and Judi Dench’s highly-anticipated memoir, here is our pick of the best…

Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus

In 1980s New York, graduate Batter lands a dream job at the world’s most prestigious poetry quarterly, only to find warring twin editors and a spectacularly dysfunctional workplace. A joyful, quirky follow-up to Lessons in Chemistry.

Partita by Barbara Kingsolver

After her beloved older brother takes his own life, 11-year-old Livia finds solace at the piano. A college music scholarship later offers an escape from her Appalachian family farm – and opens up a seductive, complicated new world in this heart-rending story from the author of Demon Copperhead.

Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li

Two musicians forge remarkable paths across continents: Dublin-born John Field becomes a celebrated composer, while orphaned Adelaide Percheron escapes French India for Europe and falls for pianoforte. Eventually, their lives – and ambitions – collide in this searing new story from the Pulitzer winner.

Bad Words by Ríoghnach Robinson

When feared literary critic Selina tears Parker’s second novel to pieces, their confrontation becomes a viral sensation – and unexpectedly boosts his career. As their feud intensifies, however, the pair begin to see each other differently in this deliciously bookish read.

HarperCollins, £16.99

A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas

An ancient enemy threatens to break free from his centuries-long imprisonment and seize the human lands, forcing the fractured Night Court to reunite. The sixth instalment in the phenomenally popular A Court of Thorns and Roses series brings fresh danger and romance aplenty.

Bitter Melon by Liv Little

Heartbroken Jalissa accepts an invitation to visit Jamaica with the father she has never been close to, knowing he is running out of time. Their road trip becomes a tender reckoning with family, grief and long-held silences.

In One Brief Moment All Eternity by Elif Shafak

What if the women surrounding Gustave Flaubert – including his most famous creation, Madame Bovary – could take up the pen themselves? Shafak’s sweeping novel crosses continents and centuries to reclaim their stories.

Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler’s Wife finally has its long-awaited sequel. Henry’s daughter Alba has inherited his uncontrollable time travelling and is torn between two loves: Zach, who remains in the present, and Oliver, who can travel with her.

Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? by Judi Dench

From childhood in York to the West End and Hollywood, the inimitable Dame Judi Dench looks back over seven decades on stage and screen. It gives a glimpse into the likes of her most famous roles as well as hilarious behind-the-scenes mishaps.

The Garden by Jonathan Bate

From Eden and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to New York’s High Line, this richly illustrated cultural history explores 4,000 years of gardens – and what they reveal about humanity’s relationship with nature.

The American Way of Killing by Malcolm Gladwell

Why does America suffer so much more lethal violence than comparable wealthy countries? Gladwell goes searching for answers everywhere from emergency rooms and police departments to shooting ranges and the Supreme Court in this eye-opening investigation.

Firstborn Daughter by Katherine Ryan

Comedian Ryan turns her attention to “Firstborn Daughter Syndrome”: the tendency towards overachieving, over-functioning and taking charge of everyone else. Part memoir, part social commentary, it explores family, motherhood, marriage, and hyper-independence – all while being very funny.

Vibe by Adam Grant

Some people we click with instantly; others we struggle to connect with. Grant, an organisational psychologist and bestselling author, draws on research and surprising case studies to examine why – showing how stronger relationships can be deliberately built.

Castles by Dan Jones

Jones tells 3,000 years of world history through its fortifications, from ancient Troy and the Tower of London to Japan’s Himeji and the Maginot Line. In the process, he reveals how castles have shaped warfare, empires and the landscapes around us.