I know summer reading gets the most attention, but you guys love planning my fall reading list.
my fall reads are always a mix of very atmospheric fall books, cozy books of any kind, moody dark fantasy, and gothic literature that makes you want to sit in a comfy sweater and sip tea by a window while you you have fun in the beauty that is autumn.
You are reading: Books to read this fall
I want all the cozy fall reads that make me feel the chill in the air, hear the rustle of leaves, and smell fall in all its goodness, you know that fresh smell of fall.
then somewhere in october my fall reading tends to veer down the suspenseful/creepy/horror route because this girl needs to feel that shiver down my spine and wrap me more in my blanket. I want to be immersed in that feeling where my mind plays tricks on me.
I have a lot of fall/halloween reads from years past (so check them out: 24 must-reads for fall/halloween, 10 halloween reads for every type of reader, halloween reads for teens, a reading list based on your mood) but without further ado, here is my fall reading list for 2021! I hope you can find some cozy fall reads to kick off the season while you gather up all your pumpkin spice and break out your cozy sweaters.
this list is full of books that feel like fall (you know what I mean by those books that have fall vibes) and books that match the season perfectly: dark, heavy on atmosphere, cozy, a little contemplative and melancholy at times. I hope you enjoy it!!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I have discussed or recommended, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale. see my disclosure policy for more information
Fall 2022 Reading List: Books with Fall Vibes for September, October & November
This post was first written in September 2018, but has been updated for 2021.
new books in 2021 to add to your fall reading list
here are some new 2021 releases that will make great fall reads this year! If you’re looking for new books with fall vibes, look no further!
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p.s. If you’re looking for some of the most anticipated releases of 2021, check out: 2021 Adult Fiction To Read & 2021 already books to read
supernatural dark & fantasy books for fall
I always crave dark fantasy books and paranormal/supernatural stuff in the fall.
erin morgenstern’s night circus:
This beautiful prose-laden atmospheric fantasy about a dreamy black and white circus is magical and totally perfect for the season. It’s definitely not for those who want an action-packed adventure, but if you appreciate magical writing and a slower-paced book, this might be the perfect book to wind down on a fall night.
house of salt and pain by erin a. craig
oh, this book. I read it last fall and it’s one of the best books to read in October if you like gothic and it’s pretty creepy/chilling but not scary. this dark fairy tale about cursed sisters is so atmospheric that you can feel the sea with all your senses.
emily lloyd jones’ houses of bones:
This book was a perfect October read, as well as the most beautiful and moving zombie book I have ever read. don’t let him lose you in zombies. it’s much more of a dark fantasy fairy tale with zombies (the risen dead, aka houses of bones) than your typical horror zombie fare. come for the atmospheric world-building and beautiful writing, but in the end you will have stuck with the characters that slowly work their way into your heart.
snake & dove by shelby mahurin:
Dark atmospheric fantasy books for fall, like this one, will always make me happy. plus, this one has witches: a witch running away from her coven and an arranged marriage with a witch hunter…makes all lovers’ enemies have the romance your heart desires too.
Autumn reads perfect for mystery & thriller lovers
Gothic mysteries really are the ultimate fall read for me and the setting for this one is super atmospheric with this mysterious heritage and spooky farmhouse (complete with a spooky housekeeper a mrs danvers in rebecca). I listened to the audio book for this one and I will say it really set the mood too!
you should also read ruth ware on a very dark wood!
the secret story of donna tartt
find any fall reading list and i bet they have this one there and for good reason with a new england college campus setting (seriously why does this kind of setting always feel like i’m falling in love) and a literary murder mystery? .
the lady sherlock series by sherry thomas:
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It’s not a cozy mystery, but it’s a bit cozier, and it’s a loose, gender-swapped sherlock narrative. this series is a bunch of cozy fall books for that reason and honestly the books in the series are better!
still life of louise penny
Does your idea of a cozy fall read sound like a cozy, literary, charming mystery series? this series is just a giant cup of tea and some warm reading. you will love the small and cozy town that you will meet. one of those super cozy fall books!
alex north’s whisper:
This is just plain creepy and is one of the best books to read in October on this list for that factor. is a dark and suspenseful crime thriller (in a slow way) that also has a real exploration of father and son relationships. It’s set in a town where there was a notorious serial killer luring kids out the window… and now, many years later, with the killer in jail, it’s happening again.
the beekeeper’s apprentice by laurie r. king:
a cozy mystery series about a retired sherlock holmes and the smart young woman who becomes his student and partner when a villain enters the scene.
truly devious by maureen johnson:
a must-read mystery series about a girl trying to solve an unsolved case that happened at the school she just started attending and it seems the perpetrator of the crime is back.
Check out this year’s must-read thrillers for even more fall reads!
books that I feel like I somehow fall for
all things kate morton: so many of her books just feel like they drop me: the forgotten garden, the distant hours, the house at riverton.
classic books to read in the fall
Any book recommendations to get you in the mood for fall? always looking for new books to read in the fall!
p.s. I also have recommendations for good fall books for babies and toddlers.
pin these great fall reads for later when you need reading inspiration
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