21 Books You’ll Want To Curl Up With This Fall

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of millions of leaves turning fiery and bright and crunchy. It’s the sound of countless women pulling out their boots and scarves and plaid jackets. It’s the sound of pumpkin spice lattes being made. It’s the sound of a perfectly crisp evening. It’s the sound of the Gilmore Girls theme song. It’s the sound of fall, and it’s all around us.

If there’s one thing women around the world look forward to with bated breath every single year, it’s the arrival of autumn. We can’t help it – the weather, the fashion, and the aesthetic are to die for. And, lucky for us, it’s that time of year yet again.

Autumn calls for coffee and rambling walks through the park, poetry and indie music, and – perhaps most of all – books. There’s just something about getting lost in a good book as the world slowly becomes sepia-toned.

But the thing is, you have to pick the right book. Fall is too special a time of year to be reading the wrong story, a book that doesn’t belong in the season or do anything to bring it to life. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best books you’ll want to curl up with this fall, ranging from fun and cozy to downright scary and spooky.

If You’re in the Mood for a Little Mystery…

Five Little Pigs, by Agatha Christie

You simply cannot go wrong in picking up a Christie. (Honorable mentions for The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and And Then There Were None, two novels of hers that are on nearly every mystery list, and for good reason.) Hercule Poirot, Christie’s beloved Belgian mustachioed detective, is tasked with solving a murder 16 years after it occurred when a young woman convinces him her late mother simply couldn’t have been the person who killed her father – despite having gone to jail for it. And so, Poirot sets out questioning the five other people who were present that day, piecing together what happened bit by bit, using his “little gray cells.” Buy it here.

Still Life, by Louise Penny

The first in a series of 18 books (so you’ll have something new to read for a good long while), Still Life tells the story of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who is called to investigate when the body of local woman Jane Neal is discovered in the woods near the tiny rural Canadian village of Three Pines, a supposed quaint, safe haven. Residents say it must have been an accident – perhaps a hunter mistook her for his prey? Gamache, however, isn’t convinced. Join the countless readers that swear by Louise Penny’s compelling mysteries. Buy it here.

The Guest List, by Lucy Foley

Looking for a tale that’s full of twists and turns, but is also a bit more modern? The Guest List is your best bet. On a small island just off the coast of Ireland, amidst the crashing waves and vibrant green, a lavish wedding is set to take place. The bride? She’s a high-powered woman who runs a magazine. The groom? He’s a rising TV star. The guest list? It’s teeming with characters who are keeping secrets, some darker than others. Not long after the party begins, someone winds up dead. Time to uncover what happened. Buy it here.

If You Want All the Cozy Vibes…

Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” says everyone’s favorite red-headed orphan, Anne Shirley. It’s possible that you read this delightful story years ago, but if your favorite part of autumn is the cozy vibes, then you can’t go wrong with Anne of Green Gables. Set in the charming town of Avonlea, Anne is taken in by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, two elderly siblings who take pity on the impossibly talkative, creative, imaginative little girl who has nowhere else to go. From there, Anne makes Avonlea her beloved home, finds a kindred spirit friend, and forms bonds with her caretakers that will bring tears to your eyes. You won’t regret getting lost in Anne Shirley’s lovely inner world for a spell. Buy it here.

The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman

Can a murder mystery be cozy? Why, yes. Yes, it can. The Thursday Murder Club is proof of that. In a small retirement village, four friends regularly meet to talk about unsolved murders. But after a murder occurs nearby, the club is challenged with solving their first case (sound good to all you Only Murders in the Building fans?). Packed with humor, heartwarming moments, and mentions of tea and cake, this is the perfect pick if you’re looking for a lighter read. Buy it here.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J. K. Rowling

Nothing – and I mean nothing – is more perfectly suited for fall than the Harry Potter series. Sure, you’ve probably read it before, but wasn’t it a long time ago already? And if you haven’t read them, well, what are you waiting for? Get swept up in the world of witchcraft and wizardry and follow along as Harry, Ron, and Hermione traipse about Hogwarts and take part in the fight between good and evil. Buy it here.

If You’re a Dark Academia Girl…

If We Were Villains, by M. L. Rio

A prestigious performing arts college? Check. A group of actor friends (and frenemies) with dark secrets? Check. Innumerable references to Shakespeare? Check. A tragic murder? Check. Years ago, Oliver Marks was put in jail for a murder he says he didn’t commit. If We Were Villains recounts the days leading up to and the months after a student at Dellecher Classical Conservatory mysteriously dies. Jam-packed with dark academia vibes, Shakespearean drama, and whodunnit intrigue, you’ll have loads of fun as you lose yourself in the pages of this novel. Buy it here.

The Secret History, by Donna Tartt

Few novels have the strong reputation that The Secret History does, but it makes sense why. At an elite Vermont college, a small group of misfits becomes a tight-knit community after enrolling in a highly exclusive Greek Classics program, with a magnetic professor at the helm. Together, they soon begin to discover new philosophies, new ways of thinking. When one student is murdered, it’s clear that things have gotten out of hand. Years later, our narrator, Richard Papen, reflects on the events that led to the murder. Buy it here.

Gaudy Night, by Dorothy L. Sayers

Part of Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey series, Gaudy Night tells the tale of Harriet Vane, who is invited back to Oxford, her alma mater, for the Gaudy celebrations. Soon, a string of strange happenings takes place in the form of threatening letters, harassment, and vandalism. Harriet then enlists her friend Wimsey (who just so happens to be in love with her) to help her uncover the culprit. There’s nothing better than an Oxford-set mystery to get you in the mood for fall. Buy it here.

If You’re Looking for Something Spooky…

The House Across the Lake, by Riley Sager

Picture Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, but taking place at a remote lake house with only a few neighbors nearby, and you’ve got the creepy, gripping tale that is The House Across the Lake. Casey Fletcher is an actress whose career and personal life have suffered an assortment of devastating blows in the last few years, so she’s escaping for a while to her family’s lake house in Vermont. With nothing better to do, Casey watches her neighbors through the window at night, a stiff drink (or four) by her side. Soon, she witnesses something alarming at the house across the lake – or did she? Was that her whiskey goggles, or did she actually see what she thought she saw? This fun mystery will have you guessing nonstop. Buy it here.

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

A Gothic masterpiece and one of the original spooky stories, Dracula is a wonderful choice as we get closer to Halloween. Jonathan Harker is a solicitor who travels to Transylvania, staying at Count Dracula’s castle there, to assist Dracula in buying a house in London. When he finds out that Dracula is a vampire, he flees. But Dracula then makes his way to a small English town, which he begins to terrorize. Before long, a group of vampire hunters assembles. Buy it here.

Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury

This dark fantasy novel is the perfect companion to your long fall evenings spent curled up with a book. The carnival, or Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show, comes to town a week before Halloween, but two boys quickly discover that everything is not as it seems. Teeming with suspense and spookiness, Something Wicked This Way Comes is a classic for a reason. Buy it here.

If You’re All About Crime Dramas…

Inherit the Bones, by Emily Littlejohn

Detective Gemma Monroe is six months pregnant when she’s tasked with uncovering the horrific murder of a performer from a circus troupe that had been passing through Cedar Valley, a picturesque Colorado mountain town. With the help of her retired cop grandfather, her bothersome work partner, and various town characters, the physically vulnerable Gemma slowly begins to put together what occurred – but not without many a twist and turn. Buy it here.

The Searcher, by Tana French

Tana French, regarded as one of the finest mystery voices of our time, has more than just one incredible novel to choose from. But The Searcher is a great place to start if you aren’t familiar with her work. Cal Hooper is a retired detective who just wanted some peace and quiet when he moved to a small Irish village after working in Chicago for nearly three decades and weathering a divorce. When a young boy asks him to help him uncover his brother’s disappearance, which the local cops seem unphased by, Cal is pulled back to his detective roots. The Searcher is a detective mystery, but it also tells a touching story of healing and friendship. Buy it here.

Caught Stealing, by Charlie Huston

Pick this book up before Darren Aronofsky’s film starring Austin Butler (shooting now) comes out! We’re in the 1990s on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Hank is working as a bartender when two mysterious men come in and beat him senseless – clearly, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Over the next day, Hank gets tangled up with all kinds of seedy characters, millions of dollars, and the NYPD. Buy it here.

If You Want a Psychological Thriller…

We Spread, by Iain Reid

Reid is an author whose intriguingly strange stories and brilliant prose have kept me coming back for more. His first two novels, I’m Thinking of Ending Things and Foe, are not to be missed – and neither is his latest book, We Spread. We follow along as Penny, an elderly artist, is moved into a retirement home after living in her old apartment for decades. Her memory isn’t the best, and she’s become quite frail, so it’s necessary for her safety to no longer live alone. Penny slowly adjusts to her new living situation, but not before she notices mysterious occurrences that cause her to question reality. Is she just an old woman losing her mind, or is something amiss? And you’ll be asking yourself similar questions all the way through. Buy it here.

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

This twisty, jaw-dropping psychological thriller will have you sacrificing sleep just to get through another chapter. We would all be jealous of Alicia Berenson’s life – she’s a renowned painter, is married to a swanky fashion photographer, and owns a beautiful home in London. But one night, Alicia shoots her husband to death – before going totally mute, offering no explanation or defense for her crime. This is where Theo Faber, a criminal psychologist, comes in. But in attempting to crack Alicia’s exterior, Theo is pulled down a path of obsession. Buy it here.

Rock Paper Scissors, by Alice Feeney

Adam and Amelia’s marriage is very much on the rocks. A weekend away in Scotland over their 10th anniversary sounds like exactly what they need to get back on track. But their romantic getaway soon takes a turn for the worse, and things don’t go as planned – there are too many secrets between them, too much distance to make up. One thing is for certain: this is an anniversary neither one of them will ever forget. Feeney’s vivid prose and suspenseful writing will keep you invested the whole way. Buy it here.

If You’re Hoping for a Classic…

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë

There’s something undeniably dark and gloomy about Brontë’s Jane Eyre, making it perfect for those gray autumn days. Jane is an orphan who has only ever known her uncaring relatives’ house and a cruel boarding school. When she is sent to Thornfield Hall to work as a governess, she meets Mr. Rochester, a mysterious and brooding man. Soon, Jane discovers a shocking secret, amidst the dark and romantic tale that unfolds. Buy it here.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

This classic tale has captured countless readers for generations. Dorian Gray certainly has his priorities worked out – so much that he sells his soul in order to stay youthful and handsome forever, choosing for his portrait to age instead of him. He lives a life of hedonism and darkness while his exterior perception remains intact. However, Dorian’s portrait soon begins to show signs of decay, the consequences of his lifestyle and his hidden ugliness becoming abundantly clear. Buy it here.

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley

Is there anything more suited for fall than the literary classic that is Frankenstein? It’s Europe in the late 18th century, and Victor Frankenstein is a scientist whose greatest desire is to beat death. And so, he creates an experimental being using pieces of corpses. But soon enough, the creature’s monstrous nature becomes evident, and Frankenstein must face the horror that came of his own doing. Buy it here.

There’s no such thing as an autumn that’s complete without a stack of books by your bedside. Let yourself get lost in both a fun story and this whimsical season with a novel that you’ll devour in no time.