Fall Book Recommendations

my favorite books to read as the months get colder!

We’re well into October now, and while I probably should’ve sent this out earlier, it’s been hard to feel like fall with summer temperatures lingering. But finally, the leaves are changing, and it’s starting to feel like the cozy season I’ve been waiting for.

I’m a fall girl. I love a candle. I love a chai latte.  I love a good sweater. I love an atmospheric fall read.  Whether you’re in the mood for something haunting or heartwarming, here are a few of my favorite books to curl up with as the colder months settle in. (To be honest, I’d happily read most of these books in the summertime, too!) 

The book for the girl whose Halloween costume is a niche literary reference:

Bunny by Mona Awad  

A fever dream of literary references and descriptions of outfits that would feel right at home at a Betsy Johnson fashion show. Weird, but deliciously so.  

Samantha Heather Mackey, an outsider in her elite MFA program, is drawn into a strange, saccharine clique of wealthy girls who she calls the “Bunnies.” As she becomes more entangled in their dark, ritualistic world, the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, putting her friendships and her grip on sanity at risk.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

My favorite book of 2022! It’s as if the narrator from A Series of Unfortunate Events meets that season of American Horror Story where the characters are on a reality show (Roanoke).  

The tragic deaths of two students in 1902 at The Brookhants School for Girls, linked to their obsession with author Mary MacLane, haunt the school for over a century. When writer Merritt Emmons’ book about the school's queer, feminist history inspires a horror film, actors Harper Harper and Audrey Wells arrive on set, only to find the dark events of the past eerily resurfacing. As reality and fiction blur, the sinister history of Brookhants threatens to entangle them all.

Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda

A vampire novel, but it’s less about the fact that she’s a vampire and more about the fact that she isn’t quite sure how to live her life as a young person who also happens to only drink blood.  

In this story, Lydia, a half-vampire living in London, struggles with her identity and hunger, as she can only digest blood while longing for the foods of her Japanese heritage. To survive, Lydia must confront her inner demons and find a balance between her human and vampire nature, all while battling constant hunger.

The book for someone whose favorite movie is Halloweentown (aka no scares, just vibes)

Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

While this book technically takes place in the summer, I’ve never read anything that feels quite so firmly, like if Hallmark did a Halloween movie.  

Florence Day is a disillusioned ghostwriter who no longer believes in love after a painful breakup. When her new editor refuses to extend her book deadline and she’s forced to return to her hometown for her father’s funeral, Florence encounters an unexpected ghost. As she helps him resolve his unfinished business, Florence begins to rethink love, life, and her future.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

If you want slightly heavier Halloween vibes, this witchy romance is perfect! 

In The Ex Hex, witch Vivienne Jones hexes her ex-boyfriend Rhys Penhallow after a painful breakup, never expecting any real consequences. But when Rhys returns to Graves Glen nine years later, strange magical disasters follow his every step, revealing that Vivi’s curse is more powerful than she thought. As chaos ensues—complete with vengeful toys, an angry ghost, and a chatty cat—Vivi and Rhys must set aside their past feelings to break the curse and save both the town and Rhys’s life.

The book for the girl who repeatedly checked out the scary stories to tell in the dark from the school library

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

If Carmen Maria Machado has no fans, I have unfortunately passed away.  While In the Dream House is my favorite of her books, I’m also obsessed with her short story collection.  

In Her Body and Other Parties, Carmen Maria Machado masterfully blends genres like psychological realism, horror, science fiction, and fantasy to create powerful narratives that explore the complexities of women’s lives and the violence inflicted on their bodies. From a wife with a mysterious green ribbon around her neck to a dystopian tale of a plague, each story delves into the surreal and unsettling. 

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

I will give a warning about this book; it’s a bit strange and confusing initially, but I was blown away when I saw all the pieces fall together.  One of my all-time favorites! 

This is the story of a serial killer. A stolen child. Revenge. Death. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. All these things are true. And yet they are all lies… You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. You think you've read this story before. That's where you're wrong. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. But it's not what you think...

Haunted House Stories for Girls Who would never willing step foot in a real haunted house (aka me) 

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

A historical horror with a hot priest, what more could you really ask for?  

Summary:  In The Hacienda, Beatriz marries Don Rodolfo Solórzano after the overthrow of the Mexican government, seeking security at his estate, Hacienda San Isidro, despite ominous rumors surrounding his first wife's death. But the hacienda is far from the refuge she imagined, as she becomes haunted by sinister visions and unsettling voices in her sleep. Isolated and desperate for help, Beatriz turns to Padre Andrés, a priest with witchcraft abilities, to confront the malevolent force within the house. Together, they must battle the darkness threatening to consume Beatriz and reveal the truth about the hacienda’s terrifying secrets.

No Child of Mine by Nichelle Giraldes

I wrote this one. 

Essie Kaur’s life unravels after an unexpected pregnancy brings a generational curse to light. As her husband Sanjay grows distant, their home starts to whisper, haunted by a sinister presence. With the curse threatening her and her husband, Essie must confront the dark force that aims to take everything from her.

Quick fall vibes fantasy (request via instagram!)

My favorite fall fantasy always feels a little fairytale-inspired & these are two of my absolute favs!

Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid

I wasn’t familiar with the story this book is inspired by before I read it, but I was immediately enamored with the dark, magical world Ava Reid created.  

As magic disappears from her city, Marlinchen and her sisters live under the control of their tyrannical wizard father, offering archaic remedies as Oblya’s last true witches. By night, Marlinchen sneaks out to enjoy the city’s delights, falling in love with a ballet dancer, even as her father’s dark magic looms. As a monstrous force threatens Oblya, Marlinchen must harness her own power to protect herself and her city.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

I’m going to eat up a book about sisters every single time! This book was so gross-pretty, with lots of descriptions about stuff rotting, but in the prettiest way possible.  

Iris Hollow and her two older sisters have always been strange, ever since their mysterious disappearance as children, when they returned a month later with no memory and unsettling changes—white hair, black eyes, and an eerie allure. Ten years later, when her sister Grey vanishes without a trace, Iris and her sister Vivi must follow cryptic clues and face supernatural forces to uncover the truth about their past. As the mystery unravels, the sinister world that once took them might be calling them back.

Atmospheric Fall Reads

Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

You know how I feel about an epistolary novel (I love them).  Add vampires and I’m totally sold.  

A Dowry of Blood is a lyrical reimagining of Dracula’s brides, centered on Constanta, a medieval peasant saved from death and transformed into an immortal bride. As Dracula seduces others into his web of obsession, Constanta discovers the depths of his cruelty and begins to seek solace with her fellow consorts. With their lives at stake, she must decide between her own freedom and her enduring love for him. 

Witches at the End of the World by Chelsea Iversen

If books were months, Witches would be so November.  A historical fantasy about sisters set against the gorgeously atmospheric background of Norway.  I loved it so much! 

In the birchwoods of Norway, two sisters, Kaija and Minna, possess powerful magic but are haunted by memories of their mother’s death. While Kaija longs for a life of peace and community, Minna, embraces her witchcraft and freedom in the woods. When Kaija leaves to build a new life, Minna, feeling betrayed, casts a curse that unleashes a deadly chain of events. But once a witch's rage boils, regret means nothing—she can't take back what's already done.

Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

The writing in this book is so, so lush!  It’s so easy to get tangled in this story about friendship and secrets.  One of my favorite books so far this year. 

In The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, a scholar of myths marries the mysterious and wealthy Indigo under one condition: he must never pry into her past. But when they return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, secrets begin to unravel, especially surrounding Indigo’s childhood friend, Azure, who mysteriously vanished. As the bridegroom delves deeper into the house’s dark secrets, he must decide between reality and fantasy, a choice that could shatter their marriage—or endanger their lives. 

If you are still having nightmares about billionaires in their submarine

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

I had to find some way to include this melancholy story about grief and the horrors of the deep ocean.  The premise is unique, I haven’t stopped thinking about it, since I read it last year.  

In this haunting story, Miri’s joy at her wife Leah’s return from a catastrophic deep sea mission quickly turns to dread when she realizes Leah may not have come back the same. Whatever happened at the ocean’s depths has followed Leah to the surface, altering her in unsettling ways. As Leah slips further away, Miri is forced to confront the possibility that the life and love they once shared may be lost forever.  

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Nichelle