I've lived in New England my whole life. At this point, I can't imagine living anywhere where the seasons don't define the rhythm of life.
Just as summer reaches a tipping point, when I tire of the heat, wonder if I've worn my favorite sundress too many times around the same people, and yearn for a nice guilt-free indoor day, the weather starts to shift and brings in fresh energy.
The autumn equinox is this weekend, and we officially welcome fall. Over the last few weeks, I've brought my sweaters to the front of my closet, lit my favorite fall candles, and started weaning off summer romances and beach reads.
This time of year, I love sinking into a good literary fiction novel, a cozy small-town romance (perhaps with some magic!?), and any book with great writing that makes me feel like fall.
I've rounded up 29 books that I think are perfect for this time of year, as well as a few on my TBR for this season. I have shared them below, broken up by category!
Now, onto the recommendations…
Cozy Fall Reads
As you peruse the list below, I encourage you to Google what catches your eye to find titles that fit with what you’re looking for. If you’ve been around for a while and know we have similar tastes, then I can wholeheartedly recommend all of these. But if you have specific questions, leave a comment, and I’m happy to give more info about a title I read!
Campus novels
These span genres and moods, but if you have some back-to-school energy about you this month, any of these are fantastic additions to your TBR.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan
The Other’s Gold by Elizabeth Ames
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin
Old Enough by Haley Jakobson
Cozy fall settings
Basically, these books feel like Gilmore Girls in book form.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller
The Late Bloomers’ Club by Louise Miller
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
A little witchy
I love a little magic in my books this time of year. Some of these are rom-coms, some of these are more literary, but they all feel a little cozy with magic.
The Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
The All Our Hidden Gifts trilogy by Caroline O’Donoghue
Literary mysteries
A number of these are set on campus, so it’s kind of like a two-for-one.
The Honey Farm by Harriet Alida Lye
Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
The Likeness by Tana French
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Autumnal literary fiction
These books have seriously great writing and, for some reason, just feel like fall to me. Perfect for cozying up with a hot cuppa.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
At the top of my TBR this season
Here are a few titles I’m looking forward to this season
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
The Truants by Kate Weinberg
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi
Plus, a few more fall-themed posts I loved recently:
The Best Sweaters of 2024 (so far) from
Also from Sara at , the 2024 Fall Fiction Compendium, which has so many wonderful under-the-radar gems for you to explore.
Fall Read, Watch, Listen from is brimming with great suggestions.
10 books to read in the autumn from is another fantastic list of books for your TBR.
released the Downtime Fall Books Issue last week, to which I contributed a few more recommendations.
And lastly, if you’re thinking, “How the heck am I going to organize all these great recommendations this season?” then has you covered with her Autumn Reading Reflection. I used her summer reading reflection, and it made my reading season so joyful! I’m excited to use her guide again to carry me through the fall.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! What are you excited to read this fall? Or what books feel like fall to you?
‘Til next time,
Gosh I love a book list!! The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is such a cozy read. I also just finished The Unmaking of June Farrow, and it was pretty mind blowing! Definitely a fall read.
I love seeing Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny on this list! Such a cozy and wonderfully written novel that I think deserves more attention.