As I get older, I’m starting to appreciate each season for the positive things they bring us. Fall is the season when we start to head indoors while mother nature is transforming outdoors. The leaves are changing colors, the days are getting shorter, and us bookworms prioritize our reading time. On that note, these are 6 books that are perfect for cozy fall weather. In my opinion, of course!
With the arrival of fall, or autumn, as the Europeans refer to it, we tend to spend more time indoors. Speaking for myself, although I prefer warmer temperatures, I find fall cozy and simply breathtaking. I love the colors of the leaves and how the cooler temperature gives me a sense of calm and refocusing inwards.
I also tend to cook more, read more, and all around slow down a little. Because you blink and summer is over in Quebec, I want to be outdoors as much as possible. But once September rolls around, I run back indoors.
I also start reading more, and my panic kicks in when I realize that my original plan for reading is way behind. I surpassed my yearly reading goal, but the books I intended to read are still sitting on my shelves.
Every year, without fail, I intend to read certain books that I have been neglecting for a long time. For me, a long time means anywhere longer than one year. I’m embarrassed to say that I have some unread books that I’ve owned for more than 20 years! But I dont think I’m the only bookworm that has that problem. At least, I hope not!
So, how did I choose this list?
Before we go any further, I want to go off course for a bit.
Let me reassure you that any genre can be considered cozy, depending on what you like to read. I, for example, find Nordic Noir thrillers my go-to reading. Whether it’s summer or winter, whether I’m happy or sad, I’m always up for reading a dark, Scandinavian thriller. Some of you might find historical fiction soothing, or a funny rom-com.
Hence, the reason I chose the following six books is simple: some of their design covers are very fall appropriate with the orange, reds, and a combination of those hues. Others I chose because of their storylines, with Halloween right around the corner. And finally, there is a new release that I wanted to prioritize this season.
With that in mind, these are the 6 books for cozy fall weather I plan to read this season.
After Everything You Did by Stephanie Sowden
I won this book in an Instagram giveaway a while ago, probably last year. Honestly, I don’t remember, but I’ve been meaning to read it ever since. Of course, me being me, I always have something else that needs my attention, therefore this book ended up sitting on my shelves for a while. I like the cover, with its enticing prompts that led me to enter the giveaway to start with: ‘Chilling’, ‘Incredible’, and ‘Horrifying’ are the words that first caught me attention. The plot as well, which you can read here:
Stephanie Sowden is a new author whom I cannot wait to read, and I urge you to give her a chance as well. She’s also a very sweet human, give her a follow as well while you’re at it.
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
I read The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll when it first came out, back in 2015, followed by The Favorite Sister in 2018. I like the author’s writing and her plots, and I’m looking forward to reading Bright Young Women, which is publishing on September 19 of this year.
Although I preferred the Luckiest Girl Alive as well as its Netflix series starring Mila Kunis, the Favorite Sister was decent.
This is the book I decided to prioritize this fall out of my recently received physical advanced readers copies. Although by the time I’ll read it it will most likely be published, I fully intend to read it this season.
You can read the description here, or even purchase it if it seems up your alley:
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
This book first came to my attention when I first joined instagram. Although the book was published in 2017, it was trending on social media in 2018-2019 when I first joined the platform.
It is a historical fiction that is amongst one of the most popular books ever written.
Judge for yourself after reading the plot here:
If that isn’t enticing you to give the genre a chance, I don’t know what is. With a 4.5 star rating on Goodreads, it is a great piece of literature.
The author’s first novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, saw tremendous popularity since its publication in 2006. If you’re a historical fiction fan or were planning to give the genre a try, Boynes’ books are a great place to start. And while The Hearts Invisible Furies is over 500 pages long, I hear it’s fairly easy to read. So don’t let its length intimidate you!
The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz
I must say that this is a book I purchased because I fell in love with the cover before I even read the plot. I mean, don’t you agree with me? But let’s put the cover aside, and let’s talk about the story.
The strong character development the book promises is something I’ve been appreciating more and more in my literary fiction novels. I heard from fellow reviewers that Korelitz is great at building family dramas that spread over decades. Her previous novel The Plot is also one of her best-known works.
But the Latecomer is a juicy novel that has family dynamics at its center. I like complex novels that deal with topics such as privilege and race. When they’re well done it makes the books stay with me for a long time. Let’s hope this one lives up to the hype for me.
The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck
I hope you’re not surprised that I chose a Nordic Noir thriller for my list of books to read during cozy fall weather. As I previously mentioned, this genre is my comfort, go-to favorite of mine. You can familiarize yourself with the genre by reading this previous article:
A Guide to Nordic Noir Authors
Since the Nordic Noir Readalong group picked this as our selection for our September-October read, I know I need to read it before the end of October. It’s totally doable, plus it will fit in perfectly with spooky halloween-ish vibes. Then maybe I’ll find the motivation to continue with the series featuring Jessica Niemi, which includes The Ice Coven, The Last Grudge, and Ghost Island, which will publish in February 2024.
I’ll let you read the plot here and see if it’s something you might want to pick up.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
And to finish off my list of 6 books for cozy fall weather, The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin is my most anticipated fall read of this year. Like most of the other books on this list, this has been on my to-be-read list for awhile as well. I included it in many other blog posts, but now it will hopefully be the time I’ll actually read it. Let’s hope so.
Five Authors I’d Like to Finally Read in 2023
The book is another historical fiction with magical realism vibes, perfect for the spooky time of year. I pretty much read what I want when I want, but if there’s one book to describe fall to a tee, then this book is it. I will actually be better equipped to make that statement once I read the book, but I’m confident it will live up to its description.
Stay tuned!
Final Words
Although technically fall isn’t for another few days, I hope you enjoyed my list of 6 books for cozy fall weather. I am looking forward to reading them, and I hope you’ll join me in reading at least one of the books from this list.
If you were to pick one, which one seems more enticing to you? Let me know in the comments box below, or contact me in private on instagram at @booksformind. My DMs are always open for book discussions.
Until next time, keep reading fellow bookworms!
