It’s that time of year when finding an autumnal book to read becomes more palpable. Especially as summer turns to autumn, the sunset changes, and the desire to cozy up with a good book becomes a simple way to escape the dark and find solace in another world. For me, autumn is when I notice my pile of books to read and start brainstorming which one to begin my reading marathon with during the cold months. Below are eight autumnal books I’d recommend reading this autumn! Find classics, romances, mysteries, and horror.
Find Some Autumnal Books to Read
Dracula by Bram Stoker is the ultimate spooky season read. Audible just launched a new edition with a Hollywood A-list cast. Here’s the synopsis: When Mina’s fiancé disappears in Transylvania, she pieces together that a predator is stalking the people she loves most; little does she know he’s already hiding in the shadows, appearing in her dreams and taking over much of her thoughts. It’s Mina’s intellect that starts to make Dracula’s plan go awry. Can Mina solve the murderer?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is another autumn classic. Seen through the eyes of young, troubled Jane Eyre, an orphan loathed by her extended family and sent to the cold, unwelcoming Lowood School. Jane’s life begins to turn when she is moved to Mr. Rochester’s house, where she is tasked with being the governess of the estate, where she hopes to improve her outlook on life- until she learns the mystery in the attic.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley is one of my favorite books and introduced me to the magic of audiobooks that tell a great story. This story takes place on an island just off the coast of Ireland, where guests gather for a wedding. The story is told from each guest’s and the wedding party’s perspective – it’s a real whodunit mystery. To solve the mystery, the reader learns about each person’s unique, and sometimes sinister, thoughts. This murder mystery is filled with funny interactions, layered backstories and twists and turns around every corner.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is an epistolary debut novel that follows Sybil Van Antwerp through a series of letters and correspondence. The story spans a decade of letters between Sybil and connections ranging from family to strangers she admires from a distance. In the letters, you find humor, past traumas, family secrets and budding friendships through pen and paper. Through her letters, she reflects on past choices, blooming modern relationships, and a second chance at love.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a dark academia thriller where a working-class transfer student falls under the spell of an elite, insular group of classics scholars at a small Vermont college. Driven by an obsession with ancient Greek ideals, the group attempts to recreate a Dionysian ritual in the woods, which goes horribly wrong when they accidentally murder a local farmer. When their obnoxious classmate Bunny Corcoran (great name, right?) learns the truth and threatens to expose them, the group masterminds his murder to protect their secret. The second half of the novel details the psychological unraveling, guilt, and moral decay of the surviving students as their close-knit circle completely disintegrates under the weight of their crime.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman follows retirees Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron, who regularly meet to solve unsolved cold cases for fun. This first novel in the series tries to solve the mystery of a shady local property developer who winds up murdered. Using a mix of sharp intellect, deep life experience, and the underestimation of those around them, the group charms and outmaneuvers the local police to untangle a web of past and present secrets. This clever and heartwarming mystery balances a multi-layered murder plot with poignant meditations on aging, friendship, and grief.
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser follows the Cinderella story from the “wicked” stepmother’s perspective. The twice-widowed Lady Etheldreda “Ethel” Tremaine fights fiercely to protect her family and save her crumbling manor in an oppressive patriarchal society. When her priggish stepdaughter becomes courted by the prince, Ethel uncovers a sinister secret hidden deep within the royal family. Forced to choose between the safety she desperately craves and the stepdaughter who continually spurns her, Ethel reveals the true lengths a mother will go to for her household.
Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle drops Molly into a life where her worst childhood nightmare has become her legal reality: she is married to Aster Bishop, her insufferable boarding school nemesis. Trapped in six lost years of memories, Molly is forced to piece together a marriage to a man she remembers hating, only to find an unexpectedly tender partner who is clearly shielding her from a painful truth. Navigating a sea of hidden secrets and newfound intimacy, she must untangle who she was, who he has become, and whether a second chance can survive the weight of the past.
These are my current cozy fall book recommendations. It’s a mix of must-read classics and some new, noteworthy debut novels. If you are looking for any other exciting novels to try, there are several new and exciting books from this year.
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