For book lovers, fall is a particularly special time, because it means that you can snuggle up in your oversized sweater with some of the coziest books around.
From heartwarming romances to spooky mysteries to gothic tales, fall is a truly diverse season that has so many great options for readers.
The thing is though, there are so many books to choose from, it can be difficult to pick one!
But don’t worry, that’s where we come in. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the coziest fall reads to help give you some inspiration.
To find out more, simply keep reading below, as we take a closer look.
We couldn’t begin our list with any other novelist than Alice Hoffman.
She exudes everything that we adore about the fall season, with the perfect level of spookiness to keep readers enthralled.
If you’re a fan of the movie ‘Practical Magic’, then why not delve into the book series it was based upon?
The Book of Magic transports you back to the witch trials in Salem, where the Owens bloodline first began with Maria Owens.
Maria falls in love with a lawman who is to eventually convict and have her hanged as a witch.
As a result, she puts a curse on her own bloodline, so that they never have to experience the heartache of love.
But Maria regrets her decision and meets a young sailor who’s about to change her life forever, and with her daughter dabbling in the dark arts, she’s going to need all of the help she can get.
If you loved this one, be sure to check out the later books in the series too, one of which is featured later on in our list.
Pros
Strong Female Lead – The books all follow the Owens family, a long line of female witches who display strength and grace throughout the books.
Real Witchcraft – This book makes interesting ties between fact and fiction, blending in real magical concepts from practitioners around history.
Romantic – Lovers of romance will enjoy the insights about love offered by Hoffman.
Cons
Heavy Reading – Some people might find this book a little heavy to read, as it uses a lot of archaisms.
Breaks In Narrative – There are lots of breaks in the narrative where Hoffman describes various herbs and plants, and their magical purposes. Some people will love this, but others might find it tedious and want to move on with the plot.
If you’re looking for the ultimate cozy fall romance to read this fall season, then we absolutely have to recommend that you pick up this book by Lisa Kleypas.
Kleypas is heralded as the Queen of romance novels, and this one is one of her best.
This book is the second in a series of books called ‘The Wallflowers’.
The wallflowers are essentially a group of hapless women in regency England, who seem to get sidelined in every ball they attend.
They each make a pact with one another that they won’t let this happen anymore, and that they’ll help each other find a husband before the season is out.
The second novel in the series that we’ve mentioned follows Lillian Bowman, an American heiress who cares nothing for polite and cordial English manners.
So surely, when she meets the starched front, stuffy, and pompous Lord Wescliff, she’d be completely adverse to him?
This one reminds us of a modern reimagining of Pride and Prejudice.
It adopts a common trope within romance novels termed ‘enemies to lovers’.
The dynamic between Lillian and Westcliff is fantastic, and we love witnessing them spar witticisms with one another.
If you want a super cozy romance book to read this fall, then this is the book for you.
Pros
Atmospheric – One of the best things about Kleypas’ writing is that it’s highly atmospheric. She describes the nuances of the season beautifully, and it’s sure to leave you feeling warm inside.
Exciting – Despite primarily being a romance novel, there are some twists and turns along the way which are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Pride and Prejudice Retelling – For those of you who are lovers of Pride and Prejudice, you’re sure to love this retelling of the classic story.
Cons
A Little Steamy – We want to point out that this book can be a little bit steamy in parts, so if this isn’t to your taste, maybe skip this one.
Second In The Series – Although these books can be read individually and out of order, you might want to read the first book, Secrets Of A Summer Night first in order to truly immerse yourself.
Some of you might be shuddering at the mere thought of a Stephen King book and might be tempted to skip this one on our list.
This book by the author, however, isn’t actually a horror novel, but rather a fantasy. In fact, it’s one of the most heartwarming books we’ve read this fall.
It follows a young teen called Charlie, who saves his aging neighbor Mr. Bowditch from a nasty fall.
This seemingly grumpy and unpleasant man takes a liking to Charlie, and as a result, they develop a friendship that takes place within the setting of his decaying old gothic house.
One day, Mr. Bowditch decides to entrust Charlie with a great secret. In his garage outside, he holds the key to another world, a world much like ours on the surface, but deeply steeped in fairy tales.
With this fairy tale world in sudden peril, and Mr. Bowditch too old to help, Charlie must take over and protect this wondrous land from the evil forces that threaten to take over.
Can he, and his trusty dog Radar save them? Read this spectacular tale to find out.
Pros
Fairy Tale Tropes – If you’re a great lover of fairy tales and all the nostalgia they hold, then we can guarantee you’ll love this book, as there are many references throughout the course of the novel.
Immersive – Nobody does world building quite like Stephen King, and at over 500 pages long, you can really immerse yourself in the character’s world.
Heartwarming – This is truly a heartwarming book, and in particular, we love the special friendship displayed between Charlie and his dog, Radar.
Cons
Lengthy Read – If you prefer shorter novels, then this might not be the right pick for you. As we mentioned before, it stands at over 500 pages long, so some readers might find this tedious.
Slows Down Halfway Through – The pacing of the book is excellent, particularly towards the start, but towards the end, it does drag out a little bit, and readers might find this frustrating.
The Ex Hex by Rachel Hawkins is actually the first in a series that the author is currently writing, so it’s the perfect time to jump into this novel.
This book is a romance/fantasy, set in the modern day.
It follows a woman called Vivienne, who starts out the novel heartbroken and soaking in a bathtub.
She’s recently been dumped by her boyfriend Rhys, an illustrious gentleman from the far reaches of Wales, in the UK. Well, rather than wallow in self pity, Vivienne decides to get her revenge, and what better way to do so than by putting a curse on her ex?
Many years later, Rhys returns to Vivienne’s town, and she’s disconcerted to find that she still feels that magical spark in his presence.
But, she’s even more disconcerted that strange and evil things are beginning to happen in her little town, and they might just somehow be connected to the curse she placed on Rhys all those years ago.
Can the two of them put their differences aside in order to rescue everyone?
And can they spend more than two whole days together without reluctantly falling in love?
If you’re a lover of soft, magical reads, then we think this one will be perfect for you.
It’s super lighthearted and easy to get through, which makes it great for when you’re having a lazy fall day.
Pros
Reminds Us Of Harry Potter – If you’re a lover of Harry Potter vibes, then you’re going to love this book. There’s a secret school that witches and wizards attend in the town that the others living there know nothing about.
Easy Read – This book is an incredibly easy read, and you can probably get through it in the space of a day if you want something to pass the time.
Humorous – There are lots of funny parts peppered throughout the book that will make you want to laugh.
Cons
Short – For the same reason why some people might love this novel, others might not. It’s a short and easy read, and some might feel that they’re not really able to get their teeth stuck into it.
Chemistry – Some readers felt as though the main two characters, Rhys and Vivienne lacked the chemistry needed to drive the plot.
If you want to read a book that’s super spooky, and teeters on the verge of being a horror novel, but not quite, then we’d say that this book is the perfect one for you.
Grady Hendrix has catapulted into stardom in the past five years, with some of the freshest and most original horror novels we’ve seen in a while.
It follows a group of ladies living in the South, who care for nothing but keeping up appearances.
They meet on a weekly basis for their book club, which they believe will broaden their minds.
One of the members, however, feels completely bored by their reading list, and suggests that they read some true crime instead.
At first, they’re all aghast by the suggestion, but eventually, they give way to temptation.
All of a sudden, a strange and illustrious gentleman moves into town, and he may not be all that he seems.
In fact, the book club began to suspect that he might actually be a vampire.
Can they use their newfound skills acquired from their detective books to catch him in the act, or will he catch them first?
Pros
Entertaining – We’d say that this was one of the most entertaining reads on our list. We loved all of the humorous scenes that Grady peppers throughout the novel.
Character Development – The characters in the novel go from being proper ladies to vampire hunters, and we’re here for it.
Twists And Turns – This book has a lot of twists and turns along the way that are sure to keep you on your toes.
Cons
Borderline Horror – For those who aren’t really big fans of horror novels, this might not be the right book for you. Some parts of it can be a little bit scary.
Don’t Get To See Main Antagonist Much – Despite being centered around the arrival of a vampire in town, you don’t actually get to see his character very much until the very end of the book.
This book follows a woman called Annie, who gets broken up with just before her 30th birthday.
She decides that she’s going to make a change in her life, and move to a quieter town away from the stresses of city life.
She finds herself in the seemingly perfect village upstate, where leaves and apples fall in abundance.
Here she meets the mysterious Sophie, who Annie begins to develop a friendship with and they hang out in her spectacular gothic manor in the woods.
The villagers, however, seem to be weary of Sophie, and sometimes downright afraid of her.
As time grows, Annie begins to suspect that all is not what it seems, and Sophie might actually be, dare we say it?
A witch! How will Annie react to this new information, and does Sophie have ulterior motives?
This is a super fun read, and we loved the friendship displayed by the main characters, which stands at the forefront of the novel.
Pros
Feminist Read – Instead of having romance drive the plot, this is a truly feminist book that places two women at the forefront.
Plenty Of Fall Tropes – We loved the many fall themes displayed throughout the book. From warm coffees, to pumpkin pie, to changing leaves, they’re all in here.
Page Turner – This book is a real page turner, and isn’t a drudge to get through.
Cons
Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously – This book features a very cute anthropomorphic spider called Ralph, and isn’t afraid of including silly parts here and there. If you’re looking for something more serious, maybe steer away.
Magic At The Background – This one is primarily about the friendship between Annie and Sophie. The magic in the novel isn’t featured heavily until towards the end.
This book takes place in a small little village, where all of the kids are preparing to venture out in their costumes for Halloween night.
One is dressed like the Devil, another like a ghost, another as a witch, one as a gorilla, and finally one as a skeleton.
They come across the oldest house in the village on their travels, where some pumpkins sitting in a tree begin to speak strange words to them.
All of a sudden, they find themselves transported to a series of different worlds.
Each of these different worlds teaches them the history behind the costume they’re wearing, and its connection to the Halloween season.
Pros
Beautiful Description – Bradbury is the master of beautiful descriptions, and you’ll find many related to the fall season here.
Real History – Bradbury guides you through the history of Halloween through the decades, from the Salem witch trials to the sugar skulls of Mexico.
Fantasy – Fantasy lovers will adore being transported through time in this novel.
Cons
Short – This is a novella, so it’s very short which might be disappointing for readers who want a slightly heavier read.
Written For A Younger Audience – We don’t like putting age labels on books, but it’s worth pointing out that Bradbury originally intended this book to be for kids.
Calling all lovers of high fantasy, we’ve got the perfect fall read for you.
If you literally want to be transported to another world, then we’d recommend that you pick up this incredibly immersive book by Stephanie Garber.
It follows a young girl with pink hair who has been raised in a curiosity shop by her father.
She has her heart broken by the boy she loves, as he decides to marry her sister instead, which seems to be a ploy by her evil stepmother.
She decides that she’s going to take matters into her own hands, and chooses to contact the fates.
The fates are immortal beings who hold power over time and space, and are incredibly dangerous.
She pleads with the Prince of Hearts, Jacks, to help her, and he agrees. But it’s not exactly what she imagined, as he turns the entire wedding party to stone.
Evangeline must go on a journey to save her family, and during the course of the novel, she receives an invitation to one of the most prestigious balls in all the four kingdoms.
Jacks tells her that as repayment for his services, she must kiss three people of his choosing.
An odd request that leaves Evangeline pondering his ulterior motives.
Pros
High Fantasy – We loved the immersive, high fantasy aspects of this novel. Garber does a really good job of making you feel as if you really are a part of this magical land.
World Building – Garber does a good job of describing the setting of the novel, and her world building sets the scene for the next in the series too.
Inserts – We really loved the fun inserts that were included in the novel. Garber uses letters and newspaper clippings in order to drive her plot, which is very innovative.
Cons
Distracting Sub Plot – As well as the main plot driving the narrative, there’s also a subplot that takes place. This falls flat a little bit, and takes away from the excitement of the main story.
Confusing – With such an influx of characters, worlds, and concepts, this book can feel a little bit confusing to read at times.
How To Choose The Best Autumnal Books
Choose Atmospheric Books
One of the key pieces of advice we’d give when choosing the perfect book for fall, is to choose one with plenty of atmosphere.
We’re talking about descriptions of leaves turning gray, warm cups of hot chocolate by the fire, and lots of pumpkin based snacks.
Choose Paperback Books
What better way is there to enjoy an Autumnal themed book than in a coffee shop?
In this case, we’d recommend picking up a paperback version of your favorite Fall reads, this way you can simply take them with you in a bag and transport them easily.
Choose Vintage Editions
Sometimes it can be fun to shop around for some vintage editions of your favorite fall time classics!
There are so many gorgeously aesthetic aspects of the Autumnal season, so why not translate this to your book collections too?
Final Thoughts
To sum up, there are a whole host of books to keep you occupied this fall season.
If you’re looking for some cozy romances, then we’d definitely recommend that you pick up It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas, or The Ex Hex by Erin Starling.
If you want something that’s got some great witchy vibes, then we’d suggest that you pick up the Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman.
Start with Magic Lessons, featured at the top of our list, which features Maria Owens, the first witch in the Owen’s line.
Cackle, by Rachel Harrison is also great if you’re looking for a light, witchy read with a feminist edge.
If it’s fantasy that you’re after, then we’d say that either Fairy Tale by Stephen King, or Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber will satisfy.
Finally, if you’re looking for true Halloween vibes, The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury is an absolute marvel.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires also hits all the Halloween-ey notes too, but is slightly more adult and has a horror edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Fall Called In The UK?
In the UK, British people will refer to fall as ‘Autumn’ in regard to the season.
What Are The Best Books To Read If I’m A Gilmore Girls Fan?
If you’re a fan of the Gilmore girls, then we’d recommend picking up the book Empire Falls by Richard Russo.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
