Welcome back to my monthly pop culture roundup, where I share the best books, films and TV shows to look out for this month, as well as any hot pop culture news you may have missed.
New Books in October 2026
There are lots of new books to look forward to this October for both fans of literary and contemporary fiction as well as fans of fantasy and dystopian novels. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to interview author Bonnie Garmus in September and I was provided with an early copy of Peck & Peck, which is simply wonderful. A very different story to Lessons in Chemistry, but a similar writing style and cosy / witty / biting vibe. I would really recommend it!
Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger (13 October)
Follow-up to The Time Traveller’s Wife. Henry and Clare’s time-travelling daughter, Alba, careens from time to time with a secret – she’s in love with two different people.
Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus (13 October)
A college graduate with a passion for poetry gets his dream job at an elite, secretive and dysfunctional poetry journal. Things don’t quite go how he expected…
In One Brief Moment All Eternity by Elif Shafak (15 October)
A reimagining of Gustave Flaubert’s life through the perspectives of the real and fictional women who shaped him. Who gets to speak, and what would the silenced have said?
Victorious by V E Schwab (6 October)
Victor, Sydney, Mitch, and the rest are led into the enemy’s lair at EON HQ, where they encounter unexpected allies, shocking new abilities, and the ultimate confrontation.
The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth (8 October)
A reimagining of Divergent. Tris has a plan to leave Abnegation to join Dauntless, but tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, and everything changes.
A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J Maas (27 October)
Koschei the Deathless is stirring, but Prythian is still piecing itself together in the wake of the Hybern War, so uniting against this enemy is proving difficult. But they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony.
Sarah J Maas lovers who want to relive some of the best quotes from the series before the new book drops may enjoy these posts:
New Films in October 2026
October will see the release of lots of the most talked-about films of 2026: Digger, The Social Reckoning, Primetime and Wicker, to name but a few. A lot of the films being released this month are a little ‘quirkier’ than your standard Hollywood release – think husband made out of Wicker… man stuck inside a giant sperm whale… ‘artificial’ friends… It’s going to be a fun month!
Verity (2 October)
A psychological thriller in which a struggling writer is hired to ghostwrite the remaining books in the successful series by the incapacitated bestselling author, Verity Crawford.
Digger (2 October)
Digger Rockwell, the most powerful man in the world, embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s saviour before the disaster he has unleashed destroys everything.
The Social Reckoning (9 October)
Follow-up to The Social Network that dramatises the 2021 Facebook whistleblower leaks and resultant corporate fallout at the social media giant.
Whalefall (16 October)
A scuba diver is accidentally swallowed whole by an enormous sperm whale. He only has 60 minutes of oxygen left before he suffocates…
Street Fighter (16 October)
Set in the 90s, Ryu and Ken are recruited for the World Warrior Tournament. Beneath the tournament lies a dark conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and their past demons.
Klara and the Sun (23 October)
Set in a dystopian future where ‘artificial friends’ (AFs) are manufactured as companions to lonely humans, Klara is purchased for Josie, a girl who is very sick, and tries to save her heartbroken human family.
Wildwood (23 October)
LAIKA studio animation about a headstrong teenager who ventures into a magical forest outside Portland to rescue her little brother and finds herself caught in the middle of an impending war.
Primetime (30 October)
The story of NBC journalist Chris Hansen as he tries to turn ‘To Catch a Predator’ into a massive primetime TV phenomenon, ultimately losing his grip on reality and ethics.
Wicker (30 October)
A spinster fisherwoman commissions a local weaver to make her a husband out of wicker, sparking unexpected romance, jealousy and local upheaval.
New TV Shows in October 2026
There are lots of interesting book-to-screen adaptations coming to streaming and TV services this month, including The Party, East of Eden and Carrie, as well as further seasons of some of my favourite Netflix shows, The Diplomat and Nobody Wants This.
I’m fortunate enough to have seen the first episode of The Party by ITV already, which I LOVED, so that’s my top recommendation of the month.
East of Eden (1 October)
Based on John Steinbeck’s classic novel and set in the early 1900s, a manipulative woman drives a rift between two brothers, igniting a dark, multi-generational saga.
The Celebrity Traitors (1 October)
The second season brings 21 new famous faces to compete for a £100k charity prize. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, of course.
Carrie (7 October)
Based on the novel by Stephen King, a sheltered girl with telekinetic powers is bullied, leading to a horrific, bloody incident due to her domineering mother’s influence.
The Party (11 October)
Based on Elizabeth Day’s novel, this is a five-part drama series centring on a journalist and his wealthy politician friend whose lifelong bond is fractured by dark secrets during a lavish birthday celebration.
The Diplomat (15 October)
UK and US relations are crumbling, as is diplomat Kate Wyler’s marriage. The US President and VP Hal Wyler conspire to steal Russia’s most powerful weapons, and the US hurtles towards war…
Nobody Wants This (22 October)
In season 3, Joanne and Noah move in together while Joanne begins her conversion journey to Judaism. Sasha and Esther navigate their separation and dating, while Morgan advances her career.
***
What releases are you most looking forward to this month?
