Autumn Vibes: 13 Books For Your Fall Reading List

Maybe I'm a weirdo, but autumn is my absolute favorite season. The rainy days, warm mugs of coffee or cider and sometimes chai, fuzzy blankets, all the candles, crunchy leaves, comfort food and most importantly: books! 

Obviously you can read during any season. But there is just something so soothing about pulling your favorite blanket over your lap, grabbing a cup of coffee and reading your book while listening to the rain or wind outside. I look forward to this time every year and this year, fall also marks the last quarter of this absolutely asinine year.

For me, fall reads tend to have a magical or creepy theme. Not always of course, but fall is definitely the best time to pull out those cozy mysteries! This list is not in any particular order. I will also be adding some YA titles, which will be marked as such. And without further ado, let's get to the list!

1) Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman:

Set in New England, this story features two wise, old aunts and their two stubborn nieces trying to break the 300 year old curse on their family, while also trying to deal with the dead guy in their garden. The writing is beautiful and lyrical and will stay with you after reading it. For me, this book is like seeing an old friend. I read it every couple of years and I never get tired of it. It is also now part of a series with TWO prequels: The Rules of Magic is a prequel about the two aunts in the story and Magic Lessons (which releases in October), is about the ancestor who invokes the curse in the first place.

2) The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle (YA):

Every October, Cara and her family become mysteriously and unavoidably accident prone and this year is exceptionally bad. This is the year that Cara will discover a long-hidden family secret, fall desperately in love and uncover the dark origins of the accident season - whether she wants to or not. Deliciously creepy and I cannot recommend it more. Her other books are also as beautifully written and her writing style actually reminds me a bit of Alice Hoffman.

3) Real Murders by Charlaine Harris:

Librarian Aurora Teagarden is a member of the "Real Murders Club" who gets together once a month to discuss famous cases. It's relatively harmless, well until Aurora discovers the body of a member killed in a manner very similar to the murder the club was just about to analyze... This is book one of the Aurora Teagarden cozy mysteries written by the author of the Southern Vampire series (better known as True Blood). What exactly is a cozy mystery? Basically mysteries featuring amateur sleuths, take place in small towns/villages and without sex and violence (that is done off-stage, so to speak).

4) The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White (YA):

Elizabeth was abused, hungry and almost homeless before she came to the house of Frankenstein. Terrified of living that life again, she makes herself the perfect house guest, even if that means getting closer to their very lonely son and Victor and having to deal with his temper and ... unsettling desires. This is a YA retelling of the story of Victor Frankenstein through the eyes of his adopted sister and (later) wife. It's spooky and absolutely not a love story.

5) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:

The classic story of four very different sisters struggling to survive in New England during the Civil War. I'm not the biggest reader of classics, but I have adored this one since I was 10 years old and Jo March has remained one of my favorite characters ever written.

6) First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen:

An apple tree that doesn't care for men, a house with feelings and four generations of magical women are all a part of this novel that is sprinkled with a little bit of romance, a little heartbreak, a dah of family secrets and a whole lot of whimsy. It's actually the sequel to a novel called Garden Spells but reading the first is not actually necessary. Same characters but its own book.

7) Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice:

The gothic classic story of the vampire Louis, told in his own words, and his journey through both mortal and immortal life with his creator, the master manipulator, Lestat. The first in a 13 book series and most well known due to the movie of the same name.

8) These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly (YA):

A historical mystery set in New York City in the 1890's and featuring a young woman who desires to become a journalist and to learn the truth of her father's suspicious death, despite the fact that it was ruled an accident. Pretty fun and a quick read. Not super scary, just a good mystery.

9) Coraline by Neil Gaiman:

Coraline moves into a new house and sets off to explore the many doors inside and quickly discovers that some doors should remain locked. A fascinating and fully eerie tale. If you loved the movie, you'll love the book. Plus, it's Neil Gaiman.

10) Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz:

Odd has a gift - or maybe it's a curse - but Odd Thomas can communicate with the dead. Sometimes they just want peace. Other times, they want justice, and sometimes they give tips to him so he can try and help prevent crimes. Whatever it is, Odd tries to help them so they can finally rest. Until the mysterious stranger arrives bringing catastrophe with him, and not even Odd's deceased friends can tell him who the stranger is. I seriously need to read the rest in the series because the first 3 where truly wonderful.

11) Mister Tender's Girl by Carter Wilson:

When Alice was 14, two girls viciously attacked her, claiming that Mister Tender made them do it. But that's not possible, after all, Alice's father created the graphic novels featuring the sinister Mister Tender. Ten years later, Alice has changed her name and trying to recover from the trauma of her past. But someone is watching her. Someone knows her name. Inspired by the Slender Man stories, this thrilling story will have you guessing til the end.

12) Little Monsters by Kara Thomas (YA):

Kacey is the new girl in town who is quickly welcomed into a tight knit group of friends and she, Bailey and Jade become inseparable. Which is why it's so strange that they start acting distant and when they don't invite her to the biggest party of the year, it doesn't seem like an accident. But Kacey will never be able to find out if it was accident or not because Bailey never makes it home. Even worse, everyone is starting to look to Kacey for answers she doesn't have. Little Monsters is kind of a Pretty Little Liars meets intense psychological thriller and I was all for it.

13) A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle:

"It was a dark and stormy night." Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure—one that will threaten their lives and our universe. One of my favorites since I was a child, this book has delighted me through the years and I read it every autumn.

And we made it! I hope you find something that you haven't read! I'd love to hear what your favorite fall reads are or if you were able to find a book on this list that interests you! Leave a comment and let me know.

xx Melissa