‘Tis the season for fall reading! As we shove our swimsuits back into our drawers in lieu of sweaters and cozy up on the couch, our reading preferences begin to change too. I have compiled a list of books that emit fall vibes which to me means they are either thrillers, take place in an academic setting, or have some element of fantasy to them. So, without further ado, here are 18 books that I have read and recommend when you are looking for a good fall read.
Thrillers
1. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This twisty thriller/mystery features famous artist Alicia who one night shoots her husband in the face. After the incident, she refuses to speak again. Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist tries to get her to talk and uncover why she shot her husband.
2. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Jen is up late waiting for her son Todd to come home from a night out when she sees a man running towards him. To her shock and horror, Todd pulls out a knife and stabs the man. Todd is arrested, and Jen and her husband Kelly go to bed, unsure of how they’ll face tomorrow. But when Jen wakes up, instead of it being the next day, it’s actually the day before the murder. And as the days progress, Jen keeps moving further backwards in time, stuck in a time loop. She must figure out why Todd murders the man in order to prevent it from happening in the future.
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
On their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne’s wife Amy disappears. Unflattering truths come to light about Nick and Amy’s relationship in the aftermath of Amy’s disappearance. The evidence seems to be piling up against Nick as the investigation carries on, and everyone is left wondering: what really happened to Amy?
4. The It Girl by Ruth Ware
Hannah Jones is starting Oxford, and she has a new roommate: April Coutts-Cliveden. April is full of life and popular, and she draws Hannah into her circle of friends. But at the end of their freshman year, Hannah finds April dead on the floor of their dorm room. Ten years later, Hannah is questioning whether or not they put the right man behind bars, and begins to question what really happened that fateful night.
5. Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
Although Paris is married to a famous comedian, she likes to lead a private life. However, this all changes when she wakes up in her bathroom, covered in her husband’s blood with no recollection of what happened. While the murder charge is concerning, what Paris is really worried about is the new found attention in the public eye. As predicted, her old life starts to collide with her new life, and Paris is forced to face the ghosts from her past that she had hoped to leave behind.
6. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
When things go south at her job, Jess decides its time to get out of London and go see her half-brother, Ben, in Paris. He confirms the trip with her; however, when Jess shows up, he’s not answering his phone, and when she finally gets in to the apartment, he is nowhere to be found. Things seem awry to Jess, and it is up to her to unearth the truth about what happened to Ben.
7. None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
After meeting on their 45th birthdays, Josie and Alix discover that they are “birthday twins.” Josie soon discovers that Alix is a podcaster and proposes that Alix do a podcast about her. Alix accepts, and the two start working together. But it doesn’t take long for Alix to realize that Josie exhibits some odd behavior. Before Alix knows it, Josie has wormed her way into her life, something that will have long-lasting repercussions.
8. What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
Naomi, Olivia, and Cass have been best friends since kindergarten and live relatively ordinary lives. However, the summer before they enter middle school changes their lives forever. While the three play in the woods, Naomi is stabbed 17 times and miraculously survives. Her testimony lands wanted serial killer Alan Stahl in jail. Twenty-two years later when Stahl dies in jail, Naomi starts to question the neat narrative the three of them constructed. Deep down, she knows that there is more to the story than what she has allowed herself to remember, including the secret from that summer that the three of them kept, and she starts to dig for answers.
Young Adult
9. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Pippa decides to focus her senior capstone project on how the media covered the murder of a girl in her town 5 years ago. In reality that is just a cover: she really is seeking to exonerate the boy they pinned the murder on. As she begins to uncover new truths about the case, it becomes clear that someone wants her to stop digging.
10. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
5 teenagers go in to detention, but only 4 leave alive. While they are in detention, a boy named Simon dies suddenly. The four teenagers who were there in detention, aka the “Bayview Four,” become suspects in what quickly turns into a murder investigation.
11. The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
18 year old Daunis is half Ojibwe, half white. She is not officially part of the local tribe, but has been raised in the culture and partakes in all the local customs and traditions. Daunis’ life is drastically changed when someone she knows is murdered: suddenly the dark secrets of her community are brought to life, and Daunis must decide whether or not she is going to help uncover them to help bring about healing.
Academic Setting
12. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
I’m not sure I even need to provide a synopsis for this one. And by recommending this book, I am recommending the entire series. Ok here we go:
Harry Potter is the black sheep of his family. After the death of his parents when he was an infant, Harry is sent to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. Try as they might, the cannot stop Harry from performing strange acts. Upon his 12th birthday, Harry receives word that he has been admitted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is thrilled to learn he is actually a wizard, and enters his first year at Hogwarts with curiosity and excitement. He soon discovers that there was a lot that his aunt and uncle had been keeping from him.
13. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Elsie Hannaway is a theoretical physicist who recently graduated and is on the hunt for a full-time job. Unfortunately, she is stuck working as an adjunct— a gig that barely pays and doesn’t provide health insurance. In order to make ends meet, Elsie begins working for a fake dating app. She manages to keep these two worlds separate until the older brother of one of her clients turns out to be a renowned experimental physicist who is on the hiring committee for the job she’s applying for. What’s worse is the attraction she feels for him despite the fact that he ruined her mentor’s career.
14. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
In this fantasy romance (the first in an unfinished series), Violet Sorrengail is forced to enroll in her country’s war college where she will train to be a dragon rider. Beyond the dangers of surviving the training, she also must watch her back as many of her peers want her dead just because of her last name. And unfortunately for Violet, number one on that list is Xaden Riorsan, a handsome third year wingleader.
See my full review of Fourth Wing here.
Fantasy
15. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Adeline LaRue was not content to live the provincial life planned out for her. In a moment of desperation, she makes a choice that will forever change her life: in exchange for her soul, she can live as long as she wants. But there’s a catch (there’s always a catch): as soon as Adeline is out of someone’s sight, they immediately forget her. And so, Adeline (Addie) must learn to navigate through life within these new terms.
Romance
16. You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
Ari and Josh first meet when he is dating Ari’s roommate—who Ari is also hooking up with. It is definitely not love at first sight. The two clash, but soon their paths diverge. However, New York City keeps throwing them together again, and again. They meet several times every few years. The fourth time they meet, they become friends, bonding because they are both recovering from breakups. As the two grow closer, it becomes clear that the relationship is becoming more than platonic, but can they both admit that it could be more than friendship?
Classic
17. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Victor Frankenstein, wanting to push the boundaries of science, brings life to his “creature.” He is thrilled with his advances until the creature actually becomes a sentient being, and Victor is horrified. Victor attempts to reject the creature and pretend he doesn’t exist. But the creature is lonely, curious, and angry and refuses to be ignored by his creator.
Nonfiction
18. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The first true crime book of its kind, In Cold Blood focuses on the 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. Capoate follows the detective who worked on the case as well as the murderers themselves, providing insight into these men and their motivations.
Now that you have a list of fabulous books, snuggle up on your couch for some amazing fall reading!