Hi guys! How are you? We readers tend to get very enthusiastic about autumn and since autumn nights are practically made for staying in with a good book for company, it makes perfect sense. Add some scented candles, cozy sweaters and fuzzy blankets and you’ve got the ideal set-up. But the most important thing is the book, of course.
My perfect autumn book is an atmospheric and immersive read that completely draws me into it’s universe. The kind of book I don’t want to put down without reading just one more chapter. I find I’m usually more willing to tackle longer books this time of year, so I’m more likely to pick up a tome of a classic or a chunky fantasy book. I also find myself drawn to darker stories within every genre, especially if there’s some magic or mystery.
Here on the Southern coast of Norway we’re currently in the midst of the worst storm in decades and I can’t think of a more appropriate time to share some of my favorite reads for stormy autumn days and nights with you guys. So let’s talk about books!
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
An Enchantment of Ravens is one of my favorite fae stories and since it tells the story of a portrait painter who’s kidnapped by the fae prince of the Autumnlands – it’s definitley seasonally appropriate reading.
The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride
Set in 1990’s London The Lesser Bohemians explores the tumultuous and complicated relationship between an Irish drama student and an older, famous actor. It’s the perfect autumn read if you’re looking for some literary fiction, a darker love story for the dark season.
In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente
In the Night Garden is a book you can truly lose yourself in. It’s intricate layers of interwoven tales, heavily influenced by folklore will draw you in and keep you immersed on dark and stormy autumn nights.
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
Elmet is a dark and compelling literary fiction novel about a family living on the outskirts of modern society. It explores class and gender in new and interesting ways, and will definitley give you something to think about this autumn.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret History is the ultimate campus novel, which in my opinion also makes it the ultimate autumn read. It’s set a Vermont university and follows a group of classics student who murder one of their friends.
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Imagine Harry Potter if Hogwarts was a school for assassins and every character was a Slytherin. Nevernight’s a little bit like that. The combination of a somewhat creepy magical school and a dark, twisty plot makes this a perfect autumn read in my book.
Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
The Spellbook of the Lost and Found is an incredibly eerie and atmospheric story set in a small town in Ireland, where things suddenly begin to disappear. Then the main character befriends three mysterious runaways and together they find a strange spellbook.
When the Moon was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
When the Moon Was Ours gives me autumn vibes on so many levels. Not only is it an atmospheric, slightly magical read – it’s partly set on a pumpkin farm. It’s meant to be.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
I think autumn’s one of the best time to dive into one of the classics and I can’t think of one more autumnal than Wuthering Heights with it’s windswept moors, stormy nights and intense emotions.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
With it’s eclectic cast of characters, strange magic, and many mysteries The Raven Boys has exactly the kind of atmosphere I’m drawn to. And any book that opens with a graveyard scene should definitley be read during autumn. That’s like the rules of the Autumnlands, guys.
Great list! I agree with all the ones I read – especially AEOR and Spellbook of the Lost and Found, they’re perfect for the season. And I plan to reread When the Moon Was Ours soon because it feels like the right time.
This probably means I should also finally get to In the Night Garden, which I own and haven’t read yet only because procrastination.
…I see at least 8 birds, if we do not count the feathers that do not belong to the main raven in An Enchantment of Ravens.
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Thank you so much! I’d love to reread When the Moon Was Ours this autumn, but I don’t own a copy. I want to reread In the Night Garden though, it’s so complex and wonderful – I’m sure there’s more to discover. Like with most of Valente’s books! I hope you enjoy it once you get to it!
I’d only seen 5 until I read your comment!!! But I found the other 3. Eventually, haha.
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Even these covers look like Fall!! So many of these are on my TBR. I can not believe that I have not read The Secret History or Elmet yet! I am very interested in both. Great list!
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Haha, I definitley tried to go for an autumnal aesthetic! The Secret History and Elmet are both wonderful reads, so well-written and interesting. I hope you enjoy them! Thank you 😊
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Great list! I have Spellbook of lost and found. Let me dig it out for autumn then. 🙂 thank you!
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Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy Spellbook of the Lost and Found! And happy autumn reading 😊
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You too 😘
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I’d like to read The Lesser Bohemians – it sounds interesting, and the setting of 1990s London really appeals – but the last Eimear McBride I read made me cry in a Starbucks.
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I’m not gonna lie, The Lesser Bohemians will also give you reasons to cry. But overall I think it’s a lighter, somewhat less bleak book than her first. I hope you enjoy it!
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These are such good suggestions, I’m definitely trying to get to An Enchantment of Ravens this autumn!
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Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it!
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The Secret History is on my TBR and I can’t wait to get to it! Great picks! I usually tend to read fantasy all year round haha and have more inclination for contemporaries during the summer!
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Thank you so much 😊 I hope you enjoy The Secret History when you get to it!
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Great recommendations, I feel like the raven cycle just screams fall for some reason — something to do with cabeswater probably. And yeees Nevernight, I really can’t wait for Darkdown, I have no idea what’s going to happen but I’m super excited to find out. I’ve been meaning to pick up The Spellbook of the lost and found for ages, it sounds like the kind of book I’ll love.
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Thank you so much! Agreed, forests always give me autumn vibes. Especially magical, kind of creepy ones! I’m so excited for Darkdawn, I NEED to know what happens next. Those books are so twisty. I hope you enjoy The Spellbook if you pick it up 😊
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I needed some good autumn recs!! I’ve been looking all over Goodreads lately for them but this is a perfect list to start from 😊
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Thank you! I hope you found something you want to pick up! Happy reading 💕
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The Spellbook of the Lost and Found sounds like my kind of book. We’ve just finished Winter here in Australia and moving on to Spring, but I loved the seasonal theme! 🍃
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It’s kind of similar to The Raven Cycle, they’re both focused on friendship and have a kind of eerie atmosphere. The magic element is much more ambiguous in The Spellbook though. I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up! Thank you! I love Spring, all the pretty flowers 🌸
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I didn’t use to be much of a seasonal reader but after joining the blogging community I find myself getting more into seasonal reading. For autumn I like dark spooky stories (the more supernatural the better)!!! I am really intrigued by The Lesser Bohemians; adding to my TBR!
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I hadn’t thought of that, but I think blogging’s made me a more seasonal reader too! I’m so here for the dark, spooky reads. I hope you enjoy The Lesser Bohemians if you pick it up!
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Thank you!!
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Crows, yellow, orange, and scraggly trees–your cover-picking game is ON POINT! 😀 And I’ve been avoiding Nevernight because of all the hype but between your description and another blogger’s description (“Harry Potter but with sex and murder”), I’m sold!
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Thank you so much, Kathy!!! I was trying hard for an autumnal aesthetic. I didn’t think I’d like Nevernight at all and it took nearly half the book for me to fall in love with it, but once I did I fell HARD. There’s also a cat shaped talking shadow with a lot of sass. (I’m telling you this cause if someone had told me, I’d have read it a lot sooner 😂)
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……*sprints to the library* Seriously, that sounds AMAZING!!
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I hope you love it!!!
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Strangely enough, I don’t have a type for my autumnal reading. I love it and I am here waiting for its coming because here in Italy it’s still hot, too hot! I’m daydreaming about scented candles, warm tea, and a good book to read in the coziest possible way but I don’t have a specific kind of books for this season. I have them for summer and winter, but not for spring and autumn.
But I loved to see Nevernight in your list *_* And I hope to read soon An Enchantment of Ravens! 🙂
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That’s really interesting! I don’t really a have type for spring reading either, but ever other season I definitley like my seasonal reads! I hope you enjoy An Enchantment of Ravens and that you get some cozy, autumnal reading nights soon 😊
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Oooh these are some good Autumn recommendations. I still have my nice little hardback edition of Wuthering Heights that I haven’t read yet, maybe now is the perfect time haha
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Thank you so much 😊 It’s definitley a perfect read for those stormy autumn nights!
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These books are all so fit into autumn mood!
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Thank you! I’m glad you think so 😊
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I love autumn, it’s my favourite time of year because I feel like I can throw away the ‘guilt’ of reading. In summer it’s more about socialising and travelling and I squeeze in the reading but it’s often a squeeze. The bonus is no one wants to go out in autumn! I can read to my hearts content with hot drinks and my cat!
I love your choices (as usual) and I have a few on my TBR already but am now adding Spellbook of the Lost and Found. Anything magical and witchey and I am a goner!
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So do I! I call every season my favorite season, but I really, really love Autumn. It’s so beautiful and I love getting to curl up with good book and not feel like I should be out enjoying the sun while it’s there (A very Norwegian sentiment)
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy Spellbook! 😊
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Omg yes An Enchantment of Ravens is such a perfect book for autumn, as it just has this really great atmospherical feeling to it 😍 The Raven Cycle also always gives me the fall vibes 🙂
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I’m glad you agree! They’re both such wonderful, atmospheric reads 💕
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I think I’m a seasonal reader, for sure. Though this summer, I read anything, but summer-y books. But as soon as autumn came, I started reading The Wicked Deep, which is very atmospheric and haunting. I love the books you’ve mentioned, The Spellbook of the Lost and Found sounds amazing and I really want to get my hands on it. The Secret History is totally an autumnal book and one of my favourites reads of all the time ❤
Great post!
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I’ve been saving The Wicked Deep for autumn/Halloween, so I’m very happy to hear it’s a haunting, atmospheric read! Spellbook of the Lost and Found is a very autumnal, atmospheric one as well. I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up! Thank you so much, Marta 💕
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Almost all of these books are on my tbr, except The Raven Boys and Wuthering Heights, which I’ve read. 😊 An Enchantment of Ravens sounds particularly fitting for this season. ☺️ Awesome list! 💕
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