It is my favourite time of year! It is also my favourite time of year to read. There are very specific types of books I liked to read this time of year, everything from witchy books to high fantasy. I am going to share a good mix of these books with you today! Selfishly, I would love recommendations from you all as well!
I highly recommend the entire Practical Magic series- it is the epitome of fall vibes and is my favourite witchy series. Magic Lessons is the first prequel and focuses on the origins of the family curse and a portion of the book takes place in Salem during the witch trials. The final book comes out in October, so now is the perfect time to marathon the entire series. You are in for such a treat! Side note- I think that anything that Alice Hoffman writes is perfect for this time of year.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is a recent read for me and I had so much fun with it. It screams fall as it follows the daughters of popular Gothic characters, like Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll. Sherlock Holmes and Watson are also important characters in the novel! It is also atmospheric and has a historical fiction element that just adds to the fall vibes.
If you enjoy anthologies, I highly recommend His Hideous Heart. Thirteen amazing YA authors came together and wrote short stories inspired by different Edgar Allan Poe, who is just the quintessential fall author! Like most anthologies, some stories are stronger than others, but the entire thing is worth reading. The second half of the book includes the original Poe stories, which is a nice bonus!
All’s Well is not a book that I would universally recommend, so know that going into this one! It is one of the weirdest books I have ever read and I was confused a lot of the time. but I thought it was incredible. It is classified as dark academia and it was more emotional than I had anticipated. The main character has chronic pain and that is truly the focal point of the novel. Even though Miranda does some terrible things, I found myself rooting for her.
House of Salt and Sorrows is not at all what I expected and I had no idea that I would be as invested in it as I was. It is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and it is so haunting- literally, there is a ghost! It has to be one of the most atmospheric novels I have ever read and it is the book that made me realize I love books set on islands.
Is anyone surprised to see Circe on this list? I had to include it! I feel as though Greek mythology was made to be consumed in the fall and no one writes Greek mythology quite like Madeline Miller does.
The Fifth Season was the best book I read in 2020 and it continues to haunt me. I feel as though fall in the perfect time to settle down with an intense fantasy and The Fifth Season is definitely that. N.K. Jemisin is a genius!
Don’t let the size of Plain Bad Heroines scare you! It is the perfect fall book! There is a school setting, a haunting, murder, terrifying wasps, sapphic romances, and more. I am so jealous of anyone who hasn’t read it yet because it was one of my favourite reading experiences ever.
I read Night Film before I started this blog and it has stayed with me all this time. There is something about the way the story is told through mixed media that makes the reader that much more invested. It is such a creepy book and it felt so real!
Don’t Look For Me is my go-to thriller recommendation. It is so fast-paced and intense! If you are looking for something you can read in one sitting, this is it. I need to read more from Wendy Walker.
Of course a book with the title The Bone Witch would make for a perfect fall read! Ideally, I will finish the trilogy at some point this year. This first book was a lot darker than I was expecting and I thought that the magic was unique. I have a feeling the other two books are going to be even better, especially knowing how the first one ended!
Piranesi is my favourite book of the year so far and it also won The Women’s Prize, so I am sure a lot of people will be reading it this fall, which is perfect! The writing is immersive and the setting is so rich and unique. It is the perfect fantasy in my mind!
I could go on and on, but I think I will stop here… at least for now. I might post a part two soon! I feel as though so much of waht I read is perfect for this time of year.
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Yes! His Hideous Heart is on my fall TBR. I absolutely adore Poe and can’t wait to read this anthology and see some modern interpretations of his work. My library hold of Piranesi also just came in and I can’t wait to dive in. Fall is such great time for reading. 🍁
Added these to my TBR. This is such a brilliant list. Thank you Kristin.
I’m so glad!!
Since you swear by it, I’ll try to get to Plain Bad Heroines this fall!
Ahh I’m dying to know what you think!
I recently read, When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McClain, which is a gorgeously written murder-mystery about a manhunt for a missing child in Mendocino, California. Highly recommend!
I’ve been meaning to get to that one!!
These sound like excellent books. Practical magic is now on my ever growing to read list!
That makes me so happy. I adore that entire series so so much!
☺️ I found it on the library app so once I’ve finished A Court of Silver Flames I’ll borrow it!!
Nice list of books. I’ve been wanting to read the Practical Magic series for a while now, and I think after this I’ll have to get to it.
Yes!! I am so attached to that series.
House of Salt and Sorrows is definitely going my TBR now, thank you! I love a fairy-tale retelling, and the 12 Dancing Princesses is perfect for it!! In the spirit of exchange, my fall recommendation is The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick. It’s a ghost story but more heartwarming and bittersweet than conventionally spooky. And also incredibly funny!
That sounds like something I would absolutely love! Going to add to to my TBR now. Thanks!!
house of salt and sorrows has absolutely incredible atmosphere! night film and all’s well are both on my tbr, they sound so good! wonderful post💜
Thank you! I need to read Erin A. Craig’s newest book!
Intriguing list! I will definitely add some to the TBR. I’m glad you liked Don’t Look For Me. We did a buddy read on it and the ending was unexpected to say the least, but I do remember it being super intense
Definitely a page turner!
I have the Practical Magic series still to read. Would you recommend reading in publication order or starting with the prequels? It sounds like it should be a great series.
I actually think it would be more interesting to start with the prequels! Alice Hoffman says you can read them both ways.
I need to get myself a physical copy of The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter. I’ve tried reading it before via audiobook and ebook, but for me the way it is written and constructed doesn’t work well in those formats so I need the actual book. I just don’t know why it has taken me so long to get a copy because I know it is something I will love once I properly get into it. I also want to read Practical Magic at some point. It is certainly perfect for this time of year and I love everything witchy!
It is definitely told in a unique way and I read it physically myself! Took me a bit to get used to the style.
While I’ve read and loved a few of Alice Hoffman’s books I didn’t really get on with Rules of Magic which put me off the other books in that series. Would you say the others are similar or is it worth giving the series another shot?
I tried Plain Bad Heroines but made the mistake of listening to it on audio. I did feel like it would be better as a read so it’s still on my tbr
I think because they are all set in different time periods they each have different vibes. If you like historical fiction, I think Magic Lessons is worth trying!
Plain Bad Heroines has some gorgeous illustrations!