The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
Jenn Bennett has quickly become one of my favorite authors within the past two years. Novels such as Alex, Approximately, Serious Moonlight, and Starry Eyes all have the hallmarks of a great coming of age story: a delightful protagonist, a charming love interest, and a refreshing plot. But, The Lady Rogue is probably my favorite out of the bunch of Bennett books that I’ve devoured. It takes place in 1937 and all Theodora Fox wants to do is travel the world with her father to help him uncover artifacts from the past. Throw in a good, old-fashioned ‘best friends who drift apart and then grow together as love interests’ setup and you’ve got yourself a fast paced, intriguing read for a crisp autumn evening.
The Season by Sarah MacLean
I’ve read The Season probably a total of six times. It’s become a sort of comfort book for me and one that I pick up whenever I’m in a reading slump and I’m never disappointed. This book takes place in Regency London with Lady Alexandra Stafford as our main character. I will warn you that The Season is cheesy from time to time, but what Regency romance isn’t? Alex and her friends must uncover a plot against England by the French all while attending fabulous parties, wearing divine gowns, and catching the eyes of eligible bachelors. The Season provides the perfect quick and witty read to enjoy in just a couple of hours.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
If non-fiction is more your speed, Just Mercy is an amazing, educational collection of stories that really delve into the criminal justice system in America. Stevenson is a lawyer who created the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), which represents the poor, incarcerated, and wrongly accused. The organization works to stop the death penalty and change the justice/prison system one case at a time. This book will make you cry, make you angry and make you hopeful which are all necessary emotions when combating racism and injustice. I promise you won’t be the same after reading this stunning novel. If you want to learn even more, read The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton or watch 13th directed by Ava Duvernay on Netflix.
Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
For anyone who regressed back to their 2010 Twilight phase over quarantine due to Tiktok, just know I’m right there with you. And, luckily, Stephenie Meyer was generous enough to put out Midnight Sun just as fans now in their twenties reminisced about a certain rainy town in Washington. Midnight Sun is Twilight but told from Edward’s perspective, and honestly,isn’t that what all of us YA readers crave? The same story seen through the eyes of the love interest with background detail we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. The release of Midnight Sun is a great excuse to reread the series during the most paranormal time of year. I would even recommend reading Midnight Sun and Twilight simultaneously to know what both characters were thinking during the same scene.
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
Marianne Daventry longs to leave behind her less than exciting life in Bath, so she jumps at the chance to join her sister in the English countryside. Her sister has her sights set on snagging a wealthy, handsome heir. Marianne’s encounter with a mysterious stranger makes for a more intriguing summer than she had planned. I don’t know what it is about Regency romance novels that scream cozy fall afternoon to me, but I find these quick stories so comforting. Another fun read is Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson with a similar feel to Edenbrooke.