Fall Reading List

There’s never a bad time to read a book – at least in my opinion. However, there’s something about the chilly weather, changing leaves, and the smell of spices in the air that makes me want to curl up with a good book. During autumn’s early evenings, you can usually find me on the couch surrounded by cozy blankets, flickering candles, and a cup of tea to go with the book in my hand. I’m usually more of a mood reader as opposed to a list reader, so here are some books that really stir up those nostalgic, cozy fall feelings for me.

CLASSICS

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
By Washington Irving

There is no better late night read than the story of Ichabod Crane and the haunted town of Sleepy Hollow. To really set the mood, gather everyone around the campfire on a cool autumn evening, pass out some cozy blankets, and sip on a pumpkin spice drink – to keep with the theme of course.

Set the mood: “It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance. The forests had put on their sober brown and yellow, while some trees of the tenderer kind had been nipped by the frosts into brilliant dyes of orange, purple, and scarlet.”

Read if: You get a thrill from the spookiness of the season.

 

Northanger Abbey
By Jane Austen

The heroine of this book, Catherine, LOVES Gothic literature. However, she has a bit of trouble separating fiction from reality. Same, Catherine. Same. Also, Northanger Abbey has the best opening line: “No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be a heroine.” I’m saying it now – If someone ever writes a book about my life, this is how it needs to start.

Set the mood: He smiled and said, “You have formed a very favorable idea of the abbey?”

“To be sure I have. Is not it a fine old place, just like what one reads about?”

“And are you prepared to encounter all the horrors that a building such as ‘what one reads about’ may produce? – Have you a stout heart? – Nerves fit for sliding panels and tapestry?”

Read if: You want a lighthearted and endearing read about a girl who would rather live in the pages of her novels than in real life. Also, in my opinion, Henry Tilney is the greatest male lead that Austen has ever written (although, I may have to dodge thrown books from the Darcy lovers for that comment).

 

Anne of Green Gables
By L. M. Montgomery

Oh, Anne. If there ever was a book that takes me back to my childhood – THIS IS IT. My love for the series knows no bounds. Also, as anyone who is a true fan of the books can tell you, the Netflix series “Anne with an E” strays so disastrously far from the spirit of Montgomery’s original books. If you want a good version to watch that is faithful to the books, then do yourself a favor and pick up the Megan Follows 1985 one. It’s pure magic.

Set the mood: “October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths.”

Read if: You want a beautifully descriptive book that perfectly paints the autumn scenery and jumps into the daily shenanigans Miss Anne with an E gets into.

 

Macbeth
By William Shakespeare

Shakespeare is something that everyone should delve into at least once in their life. I love Shakespeare, but sometimes I don’t grasp the full meaning, so I read the spark notes version of each chapter in conjunctive with the actual text. I seriously get so much more out of a story when I dig deep and explore the possible meanings and symbolism. Macbeth is a great read that will set the hair on the back of your neck up on end.

Set the mood: “Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” … “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”

Read if: You want a dark classic that is steeped in murder, mystery, stormy nights, and witches.

FANTASY

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By J. K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series is like an old friend, or like coming home from college for winter break. At its core, it is a story about love. It’s comforting and familiar, has the best trio of friends, and of course – it’s packed full of shenanigans, magical adventures

Set the mood: “On Halloween morning they woke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors. Even better, Professor Flitwick announced in Charms that he thought they were ready to start making objects fly, something they had all been dying to try since they’d seen him make Neville’s toad zoom around the classroom.”

Read if: You enjoy the everyday magic of love, friendship, and family. Plus, bonus points for pumpkin pasties, ghost parties, and flying toads.

An Enchantment of Ravens
By Margaret Rogerson

An Enchantment of Ravens is such a magical read. I was completely swept away and finished it in a day. It has a little bit of everything – adventure, romance, monsters, fairies, good vs. evil… and most of this story takes place in the “autumn lands”, so naturally this is the perfect time of year to cuddle up with this one.

Set the mood: “We were in the autumn lands. Dim as it was, the forest glowed. The golden leaves flashing by blazed like sparks caught in the updraft of a fire. A scarlet carpet unrolled before us, rich and flawless as velvet. Rising from the forest floor, the black, tangled roots breathed a bluish mist that reduced the farthest trees’ trunks to ghostly silhouettes, yet left their foliage’s luminous hues untouched. Vivid moss speckled the branches like tarnished copper. The crisp spice of pine sap infused the cool air over a musty perfume of dry leaves. A knot swelled in my throat. I couldn’t look away. There was too much of it, too fast. I’d never be able to drink it all in…”

Read if: You love a good YA read and are a sucker for forbidden love stories, magic, and plenty of fairies and monsters.

 

FICTION

The Forgotten Garden
By Kate Morton

A book of fairy tales, a lost child, a faraway castle with an aristocratic family full of secrets, a hidden garden, and a forbidden love story (or two). The Forgotten Garden is a beautiful and atmospheric story about family and love. It centers around four women from different times and winds it mystery around each one. A definite page turner.

Set the mood: “And finally it seemed autumn had realized it was September. The last lingering days of summer had been pushed off stage and in the hidden garden long shadows stretched towards winter. The ground was littered with spent leaves, orange and pale green, and chestnuts on spiky coats sat proudly on the fingertips of cold branches.”

Read if: You want a good mystery to escape in for a while – one that keeps you turning the page for more.

 

HISTORICAL FICTION

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This book may not take place in the fall, but there’s something about book clubs by firelight and potato peel pies that have me ready to curl up in front of a fire myself and fade away into another time. It’s such a darling read with plenty of humor, history, lovable characters, and tear jerking moments. Out of all the books on this list, this one held my heart in a vice and didn’t let go the whole ride. By the end of the book I wanted to be in Guernsey – enjoying a late summer raspberry pie with Amelia, playing in the wild flower meadows with Kit and Dawsey, making questionable elixir concoctions with Isola and her parrot, having long talks in the local pub with Eben, enjoying summer visits from Sidney, and generally having the time of my life in the weekly literary meetings with everyone else. If ever there was a book that I wish I could live in – this is it.

Set the mood:  I’m going to step into the meadow of wildflowers right outside my door and run to the cliff as fast as I can. Then I’m going to fall down and look at the sky, which is shimmering like a pearl this afternoon, and breathe in the warm scent of grass… I’ve just come back indoors. It’s hours later—the setting sun has rimmed the clouds in blazing gold and the sea is moaning at the bottom of the cliffs.

Read if: You want to curl up with a heartwarming and hilarious read. Here’s your “feel good read” of the season.

So, now you know where to find me this fall. I’ll be right here, with my pile of books and endless mugs of tea. And since I’m ALWAYS looking for new reads, leave me a comment with your favorite chilly weather read. From one bibliophile to another – happy readings!