Ann Patchett Predicted Past Pulitzers! See Her Fall 2026 Reading List

Imagine guessing a Pulitzer Prize winner three years before it happens—and being right. Ann Patchett did exactly that. We know the award-winning novelist, who just released her latest book, Whistler, is a gifted writer. But she’s also a fortune teller, able to predict what books will connect with audiences, become runaway successes and win top literary prizes. It’s all thanks to Patchett being an avid reader with impeccable taste. As the owner of the independent Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, she constantly reads advanced copies of books before they come out. Here’s a look back at Ann Patchett’s book predictions over the years and a look forward at what she thinks readers will be loving and reading this fall.

Patchett recommends books like medicine and readers are transformed

Patchett’s gift for matching readers with the perfect book goes beyond prediction—it’s almost therapeutic. Erin Anderson Whiting, who worked as Patchett’s researcher on the novel Tom Lake, gave Patchett this compliment: “Not only do you work at a bookstore—you are a spokesperson for independent bookstores across the world—but you’re also an absolute genius at prescribing what someone needs to read when they need to read it.” She added that the Whistler author uses stories “like medicine… like the prescription for the problem.”

Patchett has a long history of making great book predictions

And her track record will blow your mind. Here are four times she saw a winner early on…

She recommended ‘Absolution’ by Alice McDermott

Back in August of 2023 Patchett sat on stage at the National Writers Series (NWS)—a yearlong book festival in Traverse City, Michigan—and showcased her classic book prediction skills. There, Patchett made a bold announcement: “I’m gonna tell you things that you’re gonna wanna know. One, I’m gonna tell you what’s gonna win the Pulitzer [next year.] Because I own a bookstore and all I do is read brand new books, and if I’m wrong, when you see the Pulitzers announced next year, you’re not going to think, ‘Well, Ann Patchett’s an idiot.’ But if I’m right, your mind will be blown.”

She called out Absolution by Alice McDermott, which wasn’t being released for three more months. She said, it “is an astonishment, and I blurbed it, and I called it a moral masterpiece.” Fast forward: She was close to the mark. Absolution became a finalist for the 2024 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and won the 2024 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award!

She recommended ‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver

That same night in 2023, Patchett admitted to thinking, “Barbara Kingsolver could never have pushed herself farther—and then she came out with Demon Copperhead, which I gotta say, nothing prepared me for Demon Copperhead.” She was right again: Demon Copperhead became the cowinner for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction later that year.

She recommended ‘James’ by Percival Everett

Patchett’s crystal ball works even farther into the future. Back in August of 2023, she told the audience, “If that’s not enough, wait, I’m gonna tell you what’s gonna win the Pulitzer for [2025]. Because that’s how good I am.” She added, “Percival Everett, James. It’s the retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s point of view. It will rewire your brain. It’s a game-changing novel. It is the book we need, and I was floored by it.” Once again: Patchett nailed it and picked a winner!

She recommended ‘The Correspondent’ by Virginia Evans

Patchett also famously played a role in helping The Correspondent by Virginia Evans become a word-of-mouth success story. She recommended and called it “really beautiful” and “a cause for celebration” in a national interview to put it on the world’s radar. Skip ahead: The book became the breakout hit novel of 2025 and won the 2026 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel.

The 5 books Patchett says you must read this fall

So what does Patchett think you should be reading in the future? When the author returned to the NWS stage in June 2026, she had five book recommendations. Here’s her list of recently released and upcoming books you’ll want to add to your TBR (to be read) pile for fall. Patchett quipped, “The problem with being a bookseller is the books I always want to talk about haven’t been published!” She adds, “Keep these books in your mind.” (And check out this clip of her best one-liners from the night!)

‘Music Against the Night’ by Yiyun Li

Patchett is calling this one now: Book of the year. The novel follows the tandem lives of two aspiring musical prodigies, destined to fall in love, amid political upheaval, fierce competition and the pursuit of success. Patchett has shared, “2026 is the best year for fiction I’ve seen since I opened a bookstore 15 years ago. Amazing, amazing books this year. The best book is coming out in October. Yiyun Li’s Music Against the Night.”

‘Land’ by Maggie O’Farrell

Patchett gifted her interviewer for the night with a stack of books for her birthday. She explained, “I want to take you book shopping.” And one of the books in the pile that Patchett picked out: Land by Maggie O’Farrell. This historical fiction novel came out in June 2026 and Amazon already named it one of the “Best Books of the Year So Far 2026.” And it’s from the author who brought us Hamnet, which was later turned into an Oscar-winning film. The story centers on father Tomas and his 10-year-old son Liam as they work on a project to survey and map the rugged land of Ireland against the backdrop of the Great Hunger of famine and the following migration. But when they discover a dead body, their work and lives are upended. It is described as “a story of buried treasure, overlapping lives, ancient woodland, persistent ghosts, a particularly loyal dog, and how, when it comes to both land and history, nothing ever goes away.” One online reviewer called it “A moving family saga that grabbed me and didn’t let go… If this book doesn’t win every possible award, there is no justice.”

‘John of John’ by Douglas Stuart

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‘The Land and Its People: Essays’ by David Sedaris

“Being on book tour, I am indulging in the great pleasure of books that are out right now that I missed,” said Patchett. “So I just finished reading the David Sedaris, which I loved! I read all of his books, but I especially loved The Land and Its people. I listened to the audio—Libro FM.” Also released in May 2026, this comedic, sometimes shameless collection of stories is about family, friendship and aging. TheNew York Times Book Review says: “[Sedaris] knits the present to the past so that they become the same thing; for him being alive has always been strange and atrocious, contradictory, unfair and hilarious.” One online reviewer called it Sedaris’ best book in years, adding, “I’ve been a huge fan of David for probably 25 years. This is a comeback to his great original form. He weaves a story, takes us on a journey, makes us laugh or choke up and wraps each piece up in his brilliant way. Highly recommend.”

‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed’ by Isaac Fitzgerald

“I listened to Isaac Fitzgerald’s American Rambler. That’s exactly the kind of book I like to listen to,” revealed Patchett. This one just hit bookstores in May. Part memoir, part travelogue, with a dash of history mixed in, this story follows the author as he recreates the path of the legendary conservationist from Massachusetts to Indiana. One online reviewer shared, “Read this if you want to go on a road trip with an honest guy who has got a big heart!”

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a memorable read this fall, consider Patchett’s amazing book picks. When we say she has a good track record of recommending winning books, you can trust us—and her!

Copyright 2026 A360 Media

This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 4:30 PM.