Fall Books Roundup
It's the time of year that we all crave something cozy and, possibly, disturbing
Is there a better time of year to hunker down with a good book than the fall? There’s something almost magical about getting cozy with an unputdownable story, preferably with a football game on in the background. So we decided to share some books we think would be great for those moments this fall! These aren’t new releases, but instead are titles we hold dear, that get to the heart of the best things about fall.
The Headmaster’s Wife: This book has all the things we love about a good fall read: set in a boarding school in autumn in New England, with a dark, foreboding tension that permeates the whole story. Plus a midpoint twist. This book, in our opinion, needs more fall love from readers.
Shutter Island: Again with the atmosphere and the foreboding tension. Plus, this one takes place in the 50’s, a time period that is having a literary moment (along with the 60’s and 70’s). You may have seen the movie, but now’s a really good time to curl up with the book. Because, as we all well know, the book is always better.
November Road: the title itself tells you when you need to read it. Plus there’s a woman fleeing an abusive husband with her little kids, and a gangster on the run who crosses paths with her. What will happen next? You should read and find out.
11/22/63: While this book’s title has more to do with the significant date it focuses on, we think the fall is an excellent time to invest in it. If you’ve always wanted to read Stephen King but are, like some of us, a little afraid to do so, this book is probably the least scary of his stories. Fantastical, yes. Sad, yes. Heartwarming, yes. But worth the read, and at a length that’ll keep you busy for many a fall afternoon.
The Sugar Queen: Warning, this book will make you feel so cozy. And hungry. A heartwarming story brimming with magical realism from the brilliant Sarah Addison Allen. The Sugar Queen is about Josey, oppressed by her overbearing mother, who finds Della Lee, a woman from her town with a checkered past, hiding in her closet. Della Lee challenges Josey to push back against the constraints she’s accepted for far too long, and an adventure ensues. This brings all the fall feels and is best read in a diner on a chilly rainy morning with a cup of coffee and a plate of pancakes with a side of crisp bacon. Ask us how we know.
The Wishing Game: How far would you go to meet your favorite childhood author and participate in a game of wits to win the rights to their next book? The Wishing Game is a cozy novel about the enduring hold childhood stories have on our hearts and how they can redeem our adult lives too, if we let them.
The Secret Book Of Flora Lea: Speaking of childhood stories, this book brings those stories to vivid life. When the secret, imaginary world of two sisters winds up in a bestselling book twenty years later, we follow two separate timelines trying to unravel the mystery and find the missing sister. Such a satisfying, magical story. There’s a reason this one is a New York Times Bestseller.
Fourth Wing: Dragons + fight to survive + magical school + steamy romance = pure fantasy and romance escapism. We loved it and we can’t wait for the sequel, Iron Flame, releasing next month!
What is your go-to fall book? We’d love to hear in the comments.