Leaves are starting to change colors, the semester is rushing by quickly and a new season is already knocking at our door. The air is growing cooler, the nights are growing longer and the world around us is starting to glow with shades of orange, red and gold. Whether we want to face it or not, pumpkin spice time is upon us, with all its spooky magic and enchanting warm tones. Something about it just makes us want to slow down, wrap up in a fuzzy blanket and forget the world outside for a minute. What could be a better way to embrace it all than by fully indulging in the coziness of fall with a good book?
It is no small feat to narrow down a list of stories that can help us transition into this magical season. Be it a bone-chilling horror, a romance as warm as a bonfire or a mystery that keeps us guessing long after the leaves have fallen, so many tales seem perfect for fall. Although everyone has their own favorites when it comes to seasonal reading, there’s something undeniably captivating about the way certain books seem to be made for this time of year. So, I invite you to grab a mug, coffee or tea, whatever your preference may be, and explore one of the five stories I’ve gathered as recommendations for this fall!
1 – “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury (3.9 stars on Goodreads)
I get it, most people aren’t fans of older books or classic literature, and with good reason! They can be boring, long and most of us associate them with high school classes we’d rather forget. However, Bradbury is a magician when it comes to captivating storytelling, and this book is no different.
Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show is a traveling circus arriving at a small town in Illinois. It is surrounded by mystery, magic and just enough creepiness to pique your interest. Two young boys set out to uncover the shady secrets kept hidden behind lavish shows and unexpected attractions. The book explores themes about the weight that comes with the idea of growing up, as well as the power and ease with which desires can be manipulated, while also providing just enough horror to keep you on the edge of your seat.
2 – “Bunny” by Mona Awad (3.47 stars on Goodreads)
One of my personal favorite reads of this year — I finally picked up “Bunny” after hearing so many great reviews. It’s witty while also being incredibly self-aware and doesn’t fear leaning into the weirdness of the story. The development is unexpected, sitting somewhere between magical realism and psychological thriller in the best way possible.
Samantha Mackey participates as a scholarship student in a prestigious writing program. The popular group of girls who all refer to each other as “Bunny” eventually invite her to join their clique. Slowly, the seemingly absurd but harmless group proves to be obsessive, violent and sinister, while also leaning into their twisted creativity and slowly testing the stability of Mackey’s mentality.
3 – “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern (4 stars on Goodreads)
One of the main things that made me fall in love with this book was how descriptive the writing is, with clear images being set up through words beautifully strung together to paint the overall picture. Although not necessarily fall-themed, the book fits perfectly into that weird little magic that always seems to float around the air during this season. It has romance, magic, tragedy and suspense, while still keeping the mystic essence of the story alive.
No one has ever seen the circus set up, and it only opens at night after magically moving from town to town. The black and white circus offers attractions beyond one’s wildest imagination inside its tents. Magical trees, gardens made entirely of ice and spectacles that will blur the line between reality and whatever lies beyond. The story follows Celia and Marco, star-crossed lovers who are destined to be rivals, fighting against the clock and the destiny that has been set up for them.
4 – “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson (3.81 stars on Goodreads)
Most people are probably familiar with this title because of the Netflix production that gained a lot of positive attention, not only because of the great story that used the book as inspiration, but also because of the exceptional acting. Reading the actual story is a completely different experience. The amount of detail and insight, as well as how alive the house feels, is unmatched. You dive into it, slowly losing yourself to the story and the psychological horror of it all.
A group of four people who have grown interested in poltergeists, the occult and anything macabre that falls in between, become aware of a property that is widely regarded as being incredibly haunted: Hill House. The group’s initial experiences hold some eeriness, but none of them are prepared for what is about to unfold as the house grows more powerful, intending to make one of them part of the home permanently.
5 – “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo (4.01 stars on Goodreads)
Bardugo is mostly known for her “Shadow and Bone” series, and rightfully so. However, the books in the “Alex Stern” series lean into a much darker side of her writing that I found incredibly intriguing. It’s relatable but still feels magical while maintaining the ideas of fantasy that are so easily associated with her stories. The book itself is sharp, commenting on things like class and power in very clever ways, while also making space for morally complex characters with mysteries and sophistication.
The story follows a freshman student with a troubled past at Yale University who is given a second chance. In exchange, she must join one of the existing secret societies of the occult to monitor them. Quickly, it becomes clear that there are much darker, terrifying secrets bubbling under the surface surrounding the practice of magic, her trauma and the mysteries that lie between the university’s hallways.
With all these new suggestions in mind, give into the coziness that is beginning to coat the air and let yourself explore worlds beyond your imagination. Books are powerful — especially during this magical time of year.
Rafaela Tomal-Reis is a web writer. Contact her at [email protected].
