I totally get it. It’s hard to feel like it’s fall when we live in Florida’s obnoxious 90 degree heat in mid-September. I am currently writing this, dripping in sweat, from the two second walk that is Cooper Hall to the library.
But, we drink our pumpkin spice lattes. We change up our Pinterest boards, change Folklore to Evermore on our playlists. And we sweat in our beautiful brown sweaters until the heat consumes us all.
But what truly transports us…are books; and these four books specifically. Take a look.
- Truly, Devious by Mareen Johnson
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“There is nothing so serious as a game.”
If you’re into mysteries, dark academia, or quirky characters, then this book (or series, if you decide to read more) is for you. Truly, Devious follows Stevie Bell, a badass heroine, as she is accepted into an elite boarding school, where students research their unique interests.
What is Stevie’s unique interest, you might ask? She is a prodigy detective, and decides that this year is the year to crack an old deadly case. Our story starts there.
It’s a well written page-turner with a diverse cast of characters. Did I also mention that there might be a romance? Now I’ve got your attention.
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
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“I would have written you, myself, if I could put down in words everything I want to say to you. A sea of ink would not be enough.”
In my opinion, the whole vibe of this adult fantasy just screams fall. I’ll admit that the plot moves a bit slowly at first, but it doesn’t take away from the stunning writing and distinctive characters. While we never judge a book by its cover, this one is a personal favorite.
The story follows Le Cirque des Rêves, a magical experience that only opens at night. The circus features two magicians, Celia and Marco, who undergo intense competition and then intense love.
That’s all I’m going to give you since I feel like going into this novel blind produces the most impactful reading experience. I couldn’t recommend this book enough. You get utterly seduced into the world of magical realism, exotic dinners, and romance.
- Bunny by Mona Awad
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“Why do you lie so much? And about the weirdest little things?”, my mother always asked me. “I don’t know”, I always said. But I did know. It was very simple. Because it was a better story.”
You know how you feel when you walk out of Gerwig’s Barbie and want to call everyone Barbie after the screening…that’s how you’ll feel after reading this book. But instead of Barbie, it’s Bunny.
This one is dark and twisted and confusing but just so good? Mona Awad is the ultimate cool girl. We follow Samatha, an MFA student, who gets intertwined with a clique of rich coquette(esc) girls who call themselves Bunny. And in this context, when I say clique, I kind of mean cult.
I love the commentary on female friendships as well as her mockery of academia. The writing is extremely cinematic and her characters are unnervingly corrupt.
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
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“Reader, I married him.”
I have to end off with a classic. If classic literature is not your cup of tea, I totally understand, but I find Brontë’s work to be incredibly bewitching and enticingly gothic.
We follow Jane, who grows up to be an absolute badass, working as a governess at Thornfield Manor, run by the brooding, sexy and morally gray Mr. Rochester.
Jane is iconic. Rochester is iconic. The rest of the characters are so utterly iconic (shoutout Bertha). It’s a classic for a reason and it’s so classically feminist.
