Just as snow provides ‘the perfect texture for running’ autumn’s ambiance allows for an incredible reading atmosphere.
With rainy days, cool weather and the loss of daylight hours the best way to relax after a long day of classes is cuddling up in bed with a good book. From substantial stories of human connection to fantastical fables, these are some of the best fall-time reads to indulge in!
One of my all time favorite authors, Frederick Backman, has some of the best autumnal reads in his collection. With over thirteen novels, Backman’s backlist is exploding with options, none of which could be the wrong choice! For those looking for more of a fall-themed read, standalone titles such as “Anxious People”, “My Friends” and “A Man Called Ove” are sure to leave you feeling emotionally fulfilled. For those looking to be transported into a series, Backman’s “Beartown” novels are the way to go. Each exploring the complexities of life and connection, I’d recommend having tissues nearby when reading these tearjerkers!
For those interested in finding one’s place in society in post-war era Spain, learning more about the 1950s French Quarter New Orleans and how one family survived communist Romania, Ruta Sepetys’s novels are for you! Another one of my all-time favorite authors, Sepetys’s novels are perfect for historical fiction lovers looking for complex character dynamics as well as to learn complicated and often overlooked histories. “The Fountains of Silence”, “Out of Easy” and “I Must Betray You” are some of her greatest works. If that isn’t enough to satisfy interest in her beautiful writing, Sepetys’ novels “Between Shades of Gray” and “Salt to the Sea” are still some of the most impactful and harrowing books I have ever read. They even got me back into reading as a child. Even more exciting news, Sepetys is set to come out with a new novel entitled “A Fortune of Sand” on June 2, 2026!
Staying on the historical fiction theme, Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Schaffer’s novel “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” is an incredible pick. Written as a series of letters exchanged during German occupation of the island of Guernsey, this novel’s themes of the importance of creation and connection in dark times have stuck with me ever since I opened the first page! Now, a movie starring Lily James as Juliet Ashton on Netflix, this film is a great way to spend a warm night in, alongside some baked goods after finishing the novel!
For those who appreciate the dedication of our rowing teams, Daniel James Brown’s “The Boys in the Boat” is another incredible novel to movie adaptation that can create the perfect night spent away from the rainy cold! Following nine working-class boys during the Great Depression and their journey to the Olympics, this story is a classic underdog tale that is sure to have you tearing up!
Looking to be transported into a more fantasy-like world? Then take a look at TJ Klune’s “The House on the Cerulean Sea” and Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”. In Klune’s novel, follow Linus Baker, a Case Manager at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, as he learns the impact of discovering unexpected friendships that will last a lifetime. Kawaguchi’s beautifully written story tells the tale of customers of a cafe in Tokyo who are given the opportunity to travel back in time to change their futures for the better, before their coffee gets cold!
On a similar note, for readers who are looking for a fun way to indulge in the joy of the fall season, “Pumpkin Heads” by Rainbow Rowell is a beautifully crafted graphic novel following two teens as they work together on their last shift at the pumpkin patch.
As the days become shorter and the nights excruciatingly longer, it is difficult to find time between classes and extracurricular activities to wind down. During the fall season, there is no better time to curl up with a good book! Hopefully, one of these recommendations will be the perfect companion for you during the month of November!
Happy reading Stags!