The 15 Best Fall Books to Read During Cozy Season

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The fall season is great for many things: celebrating Halloween, enjoying some family time during the holidays, and, most importantly, staying inside to read books. This is typically the time for deeper and more introspective reads as opposed to the lighter beach reads of the summer, but indulging in a little fantasy is also fun, too. Whether your vibe is cozy and moody or dark and spooky, having a book by your side is sure to make the season an entertaining one. Here, you’ll find aptly-titled seasonal reads like Autumn by Ali Smith, poetry like Useless Magic by Florence Welch, and classics like Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Cue up your weighted blanket and brew a hot cup of tea as you search for your next cozy, fall read.

Autumn by Ali Smith

You can’t have a list of fall books without mentioning Autumn by Ali Smith. The aptly-titled novel, and the first installment of Smith’s Seasonal Quartet, is a rich and luminous ode to the season.

The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

Fall is when many return to school (whether that be high school, college, or graduate school), so a campus novel had to make the list. The Late Americans follows a group of graduate students in Iowa City as they navigate life and come of age.

Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The Before the Coffee Gets Cold series is as cozy as it gets. The novels are about a café in Tokyo that allows people to travel back in time to revisit past loves, but with the caveat that they must return before their coffee gets cold.

Useless Magic: Lyrics and Poetry by Florence Welch

Fall is the perfect time to indulge in some poetry and the work of your favorite musician—and even better if you can get two for one. For fans of Florence and the Machine’s Florence Welch, Useless Magic includes never-before-seen poems and lyrics that will keep you engaged all season long.

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Long, contemplative novels are what fall is for, and The Overstory is exactly that. In this Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Richard Powers waxes poetic about the beauty of trees and the natural world.

The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike

Cozy season is for witches, too. If you’ve seen the film (which has an all-star cast that includes Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson), make sure to add the book to your TBR.

Bunny by Mona Awad

Speaking of, Margaret Atwood once said that Bunny was a combination of Witches of Eastwick and Mean Girls, among other things. That alone should entice you.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

The film adaptation of Practical Magic just turned 25 this year and if you haven’t read the book, now’s your chance to get reacquainted with the Owens sisters.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is a classic and chilling novel that’s perfect for the Halloween season. When the scientist Victor Frankenstein conducts an experiment to create a sentient being, the creature he makes is more grotesque than he anticipated.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

You can really go with any of the Harry Potter books during the fall. And if you really want to make it a thing, quench the thirst of your inner child and have a movie marathon in between reading time.

Misery by Stephen King

Set in snowy Colorado, Misery follows an author named Paul who gets into a near-fatal car accident and is rescued by his “number one fan” Annie. She then keeps him imprisoned in her secluded home.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare is one of the most atmospheric writers of all time and Macbeth is essential to any cozy book list. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, it’s about a Scottish general who receives an intriguing prophecy from three witches.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Many consider Beloved to be a horror novel, which makes it great for this seasonal list. The story follows a formerly enslaved woman named Sethe (played by Oprah in the film adaptation) who is haunted by the ghost of her deceased daughter.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This one’s for the fans of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch—the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This contemporary classic (which is also Tartt’s first novel) follows a group of outcasts at a small liberal arts college in New England.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Cozy season is for lovers. Nora Ephron, of When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle fame, based this 1983 novel on experiences from her own life and marriage. The book even includes recipes throughout (one of the lead characters is a cookbook writer).

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