7 of My Favorite Fall Reads
Cold, crispy days, warm drinks, and spending time curled up in a cozy chair make me want to read all the dark academia and fantasy novels I can get my hands on. There’s just something about Fall… Below I’ve collected some of my favorite books I love to reread during the fall months leading into winter. There’s even a post-apocalyptic recommendation, which I’d normally reserve for winter for some reason, but felt right to include. Let me know if you’ve read any of these–there’s also a mix of old and recent. Happy fall reading!
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
One of my favorite books of all time, and I’m completely due for a reread. It’s also part of a series that I didn’t know existed when I first read it (it’s book one), but it can be read as a standalone. Set primarily in Barcelona, it’s a thriller/mystery surrounding a specific book a young boy discovers, with danger, revenge, and love. It’s a beautifully written story, and everyone should read it at least once.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Another one of my favorite books of all time, this book is a vibe. It’s not for everyone. It’s not a Romance, but it IS Romantic. A lot of people get this mixed up. Gorgeously written, and extremely atmospheric.
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
If you know me even a little bit, you know LOTR has the most special place in my heart. I feel like the fall is the perfect time to revisit Middle-Earth, and I’m so excited to see so many people discovering Tolkien for the first time with The Rings of Power being released (BTW, have you seen the LOTR-inspired collection in the Shop?)! I can’t wait to talk to more Tolkien nerds.
Babel by RF Kuang
A recent five star read for me. Absolutely heartbreaking, but beautiful writing, and an incredible alternate history with magic that’s just believable enough to make you wonder… If you love stories with strong, diverse characters that go deep on motivations, and how we choose what’s right, this is the book for you.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Prepare for a brutal cliffhanger, but thankfully, book two was just released. I absolutely LOVED this book when it blew up on Booktok last summer. At the time it was still self published, and I’ve just reread it, but the traditionally published version, and while most of the changes are minor, I did enjoy the updates. Still an excellent read that’s not for everyone. To enjoy this book, you have to love character driven stories with some unlikable characters, and the combination of physics and magic. It’s a vibe, as they say.
Wool by Hugh Howey
The first in a trilogy that was originally self published. It’s a post-apocalyptic story about survival, love, and the lies ‘governments’ tell us in order to keep control of people. But what happens when someone begins to question everything they’ve ever believed to be true? This had me
Jonathan Strange + Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Full Disclosure: this book is a chonker. It’s one of the most intricate, character driven stories of magic I’ve ever read though. There are copious footnotes of made up world histories, and if you enjoy the traditional fae (the mischievous ones), then you might love this book. Plus, if you’ve just finished Babel, and are desperate to read something similar in style, this is the read.
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