As autumn approaches, I find myself gravitating towards cozy hobbies: drawing, watching movies, and reading books. There’s something unmatched about curling up under a blanket after a long day with a good book. If you have been searching for your next read, then you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a thrilling murder mystery or Rory Gilmore-esque romance, there is bound to be a book suited to you in this guide. 

For fans of Knives Out: twisty, thrilling mysteries 

In the spirit of spooky season, I have selected two titles that evoke the “small town where something’s not quite right” mood. First, Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson. The story follows Jet as she scrambles to solve her own attempted murder. The catch? She has seven days until she will succumb to her injuries. With the help of her childhood friend, Billy, the two race against the clock, uncovering the town’s secrets along the way. Yes, there is a romance subplot, and yes, prepare your tissues. The next book is a lighter read. Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces follows Ollie, an 11-year-old girl, after she steals a haunted book and later stumbles upon the graves of the people in that very book during a field trip to the local farm. After their bus breaks down on the way out, Ollie and her two classmates find themselves in the woods, near a cornfield where the scarecrows seem to be watching them. Despite being for a middle school audience, this book gave me goosebumps multiple times. 

For fans of Crimson Peak: gothic academia, eerie atmospheres 

Every autumn, I rewatch Eileen (2023). Last year, I decided to finally give the book a try. Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh is a story about a boy sentenced to prison for killing his father and the secrets underlying his motive. Falling under the category of “weird girl literature,” the book follows Eileen, a secretary at the juvenile prison, as she becomes captivated by Rebecca, the newly hired psychologist, and slowly finds herself in more trouble than she anticipated. If you are into off-putting towns, 1960s jazz, and queer subtext, then this may be for you. On a similar note, a book that I plan to read before the film is released is Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito. Set in 1850s England, Winifred Notty has been hired as a governess for the Pounds family. She intends to behave while working, but as the confines of the estate begin to rot and reveal darker layers, so does Winifred’s sinister history. Consisting of just over 200 pages, the book is perfect for a fast, gripping read. Saving the best for last, I recommend Nightshade by Autumn Woods. I read this in early September and have not stopped thinking about it since. The story follows Ophelia as she arrives at Sorrowsong University on a rare scholarship. Taking advantage of her situation, she investigates the death of her parents, which occurred on the campus grounds. While balancing her studies, she clashes with Alex, the son of Ophelia’s main suspect. Perfect for fans of Dead Poets Society, New York Times puzzles, and the enemies-to-lovers trope.

For fans of Practical Magic: fantasy, featuring magic and vampires 

Why can’t real life have speaking gargoyles and romantic vampires? I recently finished The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig and had a blast. Sybil, a diviner, is part of a group of foundlings in a cathedral tasked with foretelling people’s futures. Nearing the end of her service, a knight arrives, and shortly after, her fellow diviners disappear. Sybil sets out with a talking gargoyle, a newly crowned boy king, and a reluctant earring-wearing knight in search of her missing companions and uncovers the truth of her upbringing. If you’re looking for something more gothic, look no further than Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab. This tale of vampires spans three centuries: the 1500s, the 1800s, and the 2000s, blending an array of longing, female autonomy, and immortality across its timespan. I discovered this book through an interview in which Lili Reinhart said Hollywood is too scared to make a film about lesbian vampires, and that was enough for me to prioritize it this season. 

For fans of Gilmore Girls: pumpkin spice and all things nice 

If ghouls and grime aren’t your thing, these last books will have you living your best Rory Gilmore life. Trust Fall by Lynn Painter follows Julia, a small town girl, as she navigates moving to New York after her family inherits millions from a wealthy stranger on one condition: she must attend an elite private school while in the city. At the school is Damion, the great-nephew of the stranger, and he isn’t exactly happy upon discovering that his great uncle has given away the estate that was intended for him. However, he doesn’t have much time to ruminate, since he will soon be tutoring Julia in math as she struggles to find her footing in the new environment. If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia has been mentioned in every autumnal book list, and I am no different. The cover art screams Gilmore Girls fall. Michelle, a recent divorcee, has temporarily moved to a small town in Vermont to help her mother’s bed and breakfast, where she runs into Cliff, her neighbour who happens to be a single father — and a baker. It sounds quite formulaic, but I will be tuning in; sometimes that is all you need in a cozy autumn read. 

With the weather growing colder, I hope you will find warmth in immersing yourself in good books and the worlds they offer. If you are to read only one of these, please let it be Nightshade. I am forever recommending that one to all my dark academia lovers.