If there’s a cozier time of year to read, I haven’t met it yet. It’s crisp enough that you don’t feel bad about curling up inside with a book, but nice enough outside that you can bring said book to a park or coffee shop to devour while you listen to some smooth jazz or classical.
I share my reads and my progress towards my yearly reading goal (150 books!) at the end of each month, but given fall is basically Carnivale for readers, I decided a special dispatch was incredibly necessary.
The doctor is in, folks— and I have remedy for nearly every condition! Read on for the books I’m pulling off my shelves to share with you this October and November.
Rouge by Mona Awad // Described as “Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in a surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters”… yeah, I’d say that’s correct. Creepy, weird, clever, and a favorite of mine from last year.
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig // A fog‑shrouded gothic fantasy that’s utterly unique. It’s misty, foreboding, and ends with a twist!
Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods // An utterly unique tale that draws motifs from classic tales like Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, the tale of Bluebeard and others. A little magic, a little misty, a little intense— but delightful.
The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis // This one is currently on my nightstand, and it couldn’t be a better pre-Halloween read. It’s a gothic parable about the dangers of being strange as a young woman, with a sinister and somewhat comic medieval feel. Think: witchcraft, ravens, and rebellious little girls who won’t conform…
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier // Last year, in the week leading up to Halloween I wanted to take on a new audiobook that was a little spooky, and I decided to revisit one of my old favorites of all time, Rebecca. Audiobook was the way to go here again, this is my first time reading Rebecca as a fully cooked adult, and I will say I viewed things…. differently. I quite adored it though. Is there a better, more iconic opening chapter, or even sentence?
The Raise by Ali Kriegsman // I’ve written several times about the making of this Girlboss-era thriller set in the 2019 NYC start-up landscape, but if it’s something sinister and propulsive you crave, order The Raise.
Quicksilver by Callie Hart // If you’re a Romantasy lover, you probably already know this one. If you somehow haven’t read it yet, I’m here to remind you that this is the perfect season to do so! (The sequel will come out in November, so even better.)
The Compound by Aisling Rawle // Set in a twisted reality show that doles out luxury goods for high-stakes, sometimes gory or debasing tasks— I loved this.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore // If you’ve made it this long without reading this hit from last year… this is your moment! Sinister, with an incredibly strong sense of place, lyrical, brilliant.
Death in Her Hands by Otessa Moshfegh // An incredibly written and scarily unstable tale in the first person from an unreliable narrator. I never saw as much buzz for this as Otessa Moshfegh’s other books, but its one of my favorite scary books!
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy // I had heard many great recommendations about this one, and it still impressed me and swept me away. Creepy, sinister, propulsive and fascinating.
Clear by Carys Davies // Also a propulsive novel set on a remote island like Wild Dark Shore above— but an altogether different bent, and set in Scotland in the 1800s during the Highland Clearances. This was one of the most beautiful books I’ve read in recent memory.
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham // Set at a storied New England boarding school, drama between students, teachers, and parents unfolds over the school year in a juicy, idyllic setting. It’s so fall!
Wives Like Us by Plum Sykes // A cheeky, satirical romp about the mischief and mayhem lurking behind manicured hedges in the Cotswolds, which feels very fall to me for some reason. Very light on plot, but I enjoyed the ride and the sense of place! Think Gossip Girl for moms in the Cotswolds.
Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten // What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said!?
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore // Laurie Gilmore is a pen name that is, yes, inspired by Gilmore Girls. That should tell you everything you need to know about this Gilmore-ean cozy fall fiction, set in a fictional New England town in fall.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall // This is one of the most-loved books of 2025, so I’m sure I won’t be the first to suggest you read it— it’s notably “fall” feeling and set in Dorset in the 60s with a bit of a mystery/thriller element, but not one that has you too scared to read, if that makes sense.
The Paris Deception by Bryn Turnbull // This book about smuggling priceless art out of Nazi hands in occupied Paris was inspiring, engaging, and had me on the edge of my seat at times! Like all her other books, it’s fiction that’s based on true historical events. I really love the audiobook performer’s commitment to doing fantastic accents.
Alas, there are definitely a few books that fit this criteria that I’ve yet to get to! Behold, a few books in my TBR pile that I haven’t tackled just yet.
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London // A Halloweenish romance! How fun.
Soul Searching by Lyla Sage // Speaking of, Lyla Sage is back with a new series. I loved her Rebel Blue Ranch books, so excited to dig into this, which allegedly has supernatural elements…
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte // I am trying really hard to read this right now because it is truly the gothic novel that inspired all other gothic novels… but I’d be lying to you if I told you I was having a good time.
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn // I know we’re not supposed to judge books by their covers, but I love this one…
What did I miss? Meet me in the comments and we can share more spooky and cozy recs with each other! I want to add your favorites to my list.
I cannot recall if I have asked you this...have you read The Correspondent? Fabulous and such a unique take on writing a book. Just started another interesting book a librarian told is the best book she has read this year so far...Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. I just started it but I think I will like it a lot.
Try the audible version of Jane Eyre read by Thandiwe Newton.