Tis the season dearest readers. The leaves are changing color and we’ve even had our first snowfall this past week! What better time to cozy up with your blankets and a good book (maybe even a pumpkin chai) than now. Here are some fall favorites that you won’t be able to put down and get you in spirit! 

Finley’s Takes

Starting us off strong, we have The Secret History by Donna Tart. You’re in for a real treat with this one. Be prepared for several twists, turns, ups, and downs. The book takes place in New England, as a group of charismatic and intelligent college students come upon a new way of life, past mortality. Along the way of their journey, they end up murdering one of their friends. As a result of this, the characters find themselves struggling with remorse and regret from the events that happened to their friend. You are able to experience the story firsthand as it is being told through the eyes of one of the main characters. The Secret History is a must-read this fall.

Next up, we have The Accident Season written by Moria Fowley Doyle. Every October, Cara and her family experience a series of unexplainable accidents. The family is unsure why this happens to them, but over the years they have learned to accept their fate and just simply try to get through each season without any tragedies. Filled with suspense and anticipation, you will just want to keep turning the page. This is your perfect October read.

Furthermore, we have the Still Life by Sarah Winnman. The year is 1944, World War ll is nearing its end, and you’re in Florence, Italy. This is what Evelyn Skinner and Ulysses Temper were experiencing the first time they met. Evelyn is a passionate art historian who has a growing interest and love for Italy. Ulysses is a former British soldier and globe maker, who is brought to Florence because of an unexpected inheritance issue he has to deal with. This book shows that special people can have a large impact on your life, even if you only share a few moments together. Cozy up by the fire, grab your favorite drink, and read this amazing story about discovering who you truly are and what you truly love.

Up next, is Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. In this thrilling, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat novel, go through the chilling experiences of the Holt Family firsthand, as it is told from first person point of view between a daughter and father.

Sophia’s Takes

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng:

This novel is quite literally a masterpiece that will take you on an exciting journey through a child’s quest for his mother while also learning valuable life lessons. This story is told through the eyes of 12-year-old Bird Gardner who has been living with his dad ever since his mom, a famous mysterious writer, left him three years ago. Bird has gone through his whole life without thinking about his mom until he receives a mysterious letter that will lead him into this secret world of underground librarians, missing children, all the way to NYC! Don’t miss out on this read!

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson:

An amazing thriller, Shirley Jackson will not let you put this down with the twists and turns on every page. At the notoriously haunted ‘Hill House’, four seekers arrive looking for evidentiary proof that it is in fact haunted. But what at first they don’t see slowly reveals itself to become a terrifying visit for them all. 

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson:

Another beloved book by Shirley Jackson has made it onto our list! This story portrays an odd young girl named Merricat who begins to spiral into suspicion when she notices her family acting…strange. This is an unforgettable thriller that will have you constantly on the edge of your seat wondering if this family isn’t quite as they seem…

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston:

A break from mystery or thriller, Ashley Poston brings us a charming and heartwarming romance novella. The main protagonist, Florence Day, is depicted as a ‘Ghost Writer’: a writer who writes stories under other people’s names. But, after a terrible breakup, she’s not sure what she believes in anymore and it sure isn’t love. This is until she finds a new (and handsome) editor, who turns out to be an actual ghost. Come on this journey where she learns to love again through the help of a handsome ghoul. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury:

The last book on our list is a classic dark fantasy that delves into a world of carnival games! The Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Show has finally come to Green Town, Illinois a week before Halloween. In seek of destroying any soul who dares enter, it’s haunting songs beckon citizens near. Two young boys, Jim and William, soon realize the carnival’s true intentions and work together to save their town from total despair before it’s too late.