- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Wuthering Heights is not a cozy fall novel. It is dark and gloomy in atmosphere, and the themes it explores are incredibly introspective. Much of it is tragic, and the parts that aren’t are usually brutal. Despite all of that, Wuthering Heights is one of the first gothic novels, and there is never a better time to read gothic novels than October. Wuthering Heights is about a toxic love across social boundaries. Since it crosses social boundaries, Catherine, the main female protagonist, makes a choice against her heart that damns everyone around her, including herself. None of the characters are particularly likeable, and yet their story reveals to the reader many lessons and morals to follow throughout their life. And no, it is almost nothing like the movie.Â
You should read Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights because of the lessons it can teach you and the conversations it could spark between you and your peers. It is a deep novel that can provide a multitude of deep conversational topics deepening your relationships and understanding of the people and the world around you. Wuthering Heights, and literature generally, provides its reader with a new perspective through which to view the world. Since Wuthering Heights is an old novel, it can be found online in the Gutenberg Project’s library entirely for free. The Amazon Classics edition is also available on Kindle Unlimited. Outside of that, most local and school libraries carry it, it’s available on the Libby app which is essentially an online library where you can borrow copies of almost any text, and Wuthering Heights can be found at most local booksellers!Â
- You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
You, again is exactly what you’d expect when you pick up a book with colorful leaves and fall dressed characters on the cover. It is a cozy romance with lots of funny moments and a happy ending. Kate Goldbeck’s You, Again is about an aspiring comedian with avoidant attachment issues and a chef who has no luck with romantic relationships. They meet numerous times over the course of years until they build a hesitant friendship, and then fall in love. The comedian, Ari, is spontaneous and free spirited, and the chef, Josh, is ambitious, driven, and stoic. Josh is searching for “the one” while Ari is always looking to have a good time. These two extraordinarily different characters make for a good fall love story. You should read You, Again as a fantastic way to enjoy your leisure time. It’s not a classic, nor a difficult read, but it is a truly enjoyable one for the season. You, Again is available at some local book sellers and on amazon!Â
- A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
A Game of Thrones is a perfect high fantasy novel for late fall. From the entertaining plot to the constant reminder that “winter is coming”, you won’t be able to put it down this autumn. The show Game of Thrones  is based on this best selling 1996 novel, and the first few seasons follow the first few books in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga incredibly closely. It is a brilliant novel about the battle for a throne once it’s discovered by a select few that the king’s sons are not his own, but bastards. The battle that ensues spans years, and includes multiple different contenders for the throne. You should read this book for two primary reasons; it’s better than the show, and it’s likely to be a modern classic in its genre. You can find a copy of A Game of Thrones at most public libraries, on Libby, and at most local booksellers. Â
- Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria MachadoÂ
This fantastic short story collection, Her Body and other Parties, a debut novel written by Carmen Maria Machado should be read in fall purely due to vibes. It is science fiction, psychologically thrilling, comedic, horrific, and fantastical. While it explores incredibly deep themes surrounding the challenges women face throughout their lives. Once again, it is not a cozy fall novel, but it is best read in a reading nook with a candle going and a calm environment in the case you need some time to reflect and look at your own life with hindsight. You should read this novel, whether male or female, to gain another perspective or outlook on life and your experiences as a man or woman! Her Body and Other Parties is available at many local booksellers and on Amazon.Â
- Babel by R.F KuangÂ
Babel is a historical fantasy that explores themes of imperialism, ethics, and race. Although this is still not a cozy read, its dark academia environment is perfect for this fall season. It explores the aforementioned themes through amazing world building and a unique magic system, where a boy from Canton, China is brought to Oxford and taught several languages to fuel the linguistic magic in this world. Over time, he begins to realize he is fueling something much worse; British imperialism. You should read this book for both its entertainment value and its educational value. As most other books on this list, it will change your perspective about life and history. Babel can be found at most local booksellers and on Amazon.