Listen, I pretty much never need an excuse to read. But, if I had to come up with one, I would say the cooler months are definitely a good reason to pick up a book. The weather in Florida is getting (sort of) cooler, which means my desire to curl up with a mug of tea and a good book is getting stronger.
I have a lot of books I want to get to in fall: some are spooky, some are cozy and some plain-and-simply give off that unnamable autumn energy. I’ve split this article into two lists: books I’ve read, loved and think would be great for this time of year and books that I’m hoping to get around to soon that also seem to fit the mood. I made these lists as comprehensive as possible, for every type of reader.
Books I’ve Read and Recommend
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
This book contains one of the most enchanting fantasy worlds that I’ve ever read. And you know why it’s the best pick for this season? Our love interest is the Autumn Prince, whose entire mission in the book is to transport our main character to the Autumn Court to stand trial for her perceived crimes. The setting descriptions are so lush, and this author’s take on faeries is very interesting, if a little disturbing to read about.
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
Do you miss Sherlock as dearly as I do? Truly Devious will definitely help to scratch that itch. This falls into the classic boarding school murder mystery trope while still feeling wholly fresh and new. A terrible, unsolved crime occurred at Ellingham Academy almost a century ago. Stevie Bell arrives in present-day to try and solve that mystery, but something equally sinister seems to be happening at Ellingham again, and if she’s not careful, Stevie could end up right in the center of it. I loved this book. It was engrossing, the writing was addictive and the characters were so enjoyable to read about.
There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
This one is for my horror fans out there that are looking for a creepy pick. While I would classify this as more thriller than straight horror, it definitely has some gory parts in it, so beware! It’s set in small-town Nebraska, where a serial killer is on the loose. Our main character, for one reason or another, finds herself at the center of all this chaos. This is honestly one that I recommend going into knowing as little as possible because it makes the twists and turns even more surprising and scary. Even the cover makes me want to check under the bed for monsters.
Books I Haven’t Read but Can’t Wait to Get To
The Lovely War by Julie Berry
Something about historical fiction just screams fall to me – especially in the case of The Lovely War which follows two different love stories: one from WWI and the other from WWII. Oh, and did I mention the love stories are told by the Greek gods, including goddess of love Aphrodite herself? I haven’t finished this one yet, but I recently started it, and the writing alone is carrying me away. I can’t wait to read more!
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
If you clicked on this post looking for ghosts and graveyards, look no further! Cemetery Boys features a trans boy determined to prove to his Latinx family that he is still worthy of his culture by becoming a brujo. He manages to summon an actual ghost! The only problem? The ghost isn’t quite ready to be set free. The two have to work together to get each other the happy ending they’re both looking for. I have a feeling this is going to pack both a spooky and emotional punch, so I’m excited to pick it up. Plus, this novel just made history as being the first fiction book featuring a trans main character by an openly trans author to make the New York Times Bestseller list, hitting No. 8 in its first week.
Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett
Finally, a book for all my contemporary fans out there. Maybe you don’t want something super spooky or sad, in which case Serious Moonlight seems to fit the bill. All I know about this book is that it’s set in Seattle and it follows a romance between two teenagers working the graveyard shift at a hotel with a reclusive writer who is up to something mysterious. I’ve read other Jenn Bennett books in the past, and she always nails her characters, so I expect nothing but greatness from this one as well!
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