autumn reading guide
20+ books for starting the best season early
I am a summer defender. I know it’s hot, and if you, like me, live in an East Coast city, it’s three months of humidity and also, often, scents. To put it politely.
Yet I am capable of drumming up the childlike wonder that is the feeling of summer break. I like to eat my dinners out at a rickety little table that’s fully blocking the sidewalk. I enjoy the idea that I might take any weekend to jaunt up to Maine or down to the shore, even though I genuinely never do that because I vastly prefer reading in my house. That’s enough for me!
But I am not a time nerd. I was not the kid at a sleepover saying “did you know it’s tomorrow” the second the clock struck midnight. I believe the term “last week” refers to any point in the last month and a half. I’m a hater of the prefix “bi” for monthly or weekly or annually — please pick a meaning and stick with it.
And therefore, to me, the first three weeks of September are intermittently summer or fall depending purely on my mood.
Lately the weather here has been so crisp in the mornings that I have no choice but to order my lattes hot, begin contemplating Halloween costumes, and watch Instagram reels where people make cheesecakes where the crust is that sugar cookie dough with the little pumpkins and ghosts in the middle. I don’t even like cheesecake.
In other words, it’s fall, baby. And that is the best reading month of all.
In that spirit, here are some of my favorite autumnal reads:
Vibes-Based
We’re talking your dark academia, your generally dark, your overall autumn-to-the-core vibey books. My favorites, in other words.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
This whole post could’ve been an excuse for me to try to convince you to read this book. A fantastical bookish world within ours?! It deserves what The Night Circus has. And THEN SOME!
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I’m very picky about my fantasy. This one and the last one are two of the only ones in the genre I truly love. It’s dark and it’s fun and I have no comment whatsoever on the sequel.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
In many ways I could have put any book by Shirley Jackson here, but this is my favorite and I make the rules. Also, if you read this you unlock the ability to watch the show on Netflix, which is also very good and different.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Obviously this was going to get a mention. You cannot even think the words dark academia too hard without paying Donna Tartt her dues. (The Goldfinch is also a nice autumn-y read to me. Museums just feel that way in my view.)
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
I read this because it was described to me as “Phoebe Bridgers’ favorite book” (lol) (could there be a more 2021 sentence) but then it and the author’s other book (also fits this list) became two of my favorites. Anyway. This is dark and fairytale-y.
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
I don’t know if anyone remembers that this book exists, but I do and I’ve read it 6 times. It’s just a very sweet graphic novel about a fall festival and it feels like the season distilled to me. (Wish idea if I ever encounter a genie.)
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
If I go too long without talking about Sally Rooney I start developing alarming symptoms. Any of her books are good for any time of year, obviously, if you’re me, but this one has a very academic vibe and that is fall to me.
Autumn by Ali Smith
I mean. It goes without saying. It’s titular.
But the Girl by Jessica Zhan Mei Yu
Is it cheating that I’m now adding my second book to this list just because it feels academic which feels like back to school which feels like fall? I’m worried that if I think too much about this I might just associate books with autumn. Moving on!
