The Best Books to Cozy Up With This Fall

Whether you are looking for gothic fiction, thrillers, or classics, these books for fall have all the right vibes!

Books are like balms — grabbing the right book at the right time can provide the perfect antidote for what you’re going through at that very moment.

Whether you need a dose of hope, happiness, comfort, inspiration, courage…you name it, a great book has the power to ease worries and offer a safe haven to rest and recharge. And in the fall, when the air is nice and crisp and the leaves are golden and amber, there’s nothing better than snuggling up with a cozy fall read.

These cozy books listed here will give you all of the fall vibes you know and love — and even a hint of spookiness, minus the nightmares. Heat a cup of your favorite tea, find the comfiest spot in your home, and get lost in one of these cozy stories that will give you your fall fix and leave you able to sleep at night.

1. A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

Beatrice Steele has never fit the definition of what her small English township considers a “true lady.” Her needlework is terrible, she has no affinity for music, and her art is so bad it frightens people.

To make matters worse, she has an embarrassing obsession with true crime. But when eligible bachelor Edmund Croaksworth comes to town, Beatrice promises her family she’ll be on her best behaviour so that her sister may win Croaksworth’s heart. However, Croaksworth drops dead at the autumnal ball, and all bets are off.

As the party descends into chaos, Beatrice partners with an alluring detective to find the killer before someone else gets hurt. This mystery is perfect for fans of Bridgerton and Pride & Prejudice.

2. Autumn Nights by Debbie Macomber

Bursting with seasonal charm, Autumn Nights by bestselling author Debbie Macomber features two tales of romance where falling in love also means finding family. In The Playboy and the Widow, Diana Collins is struggling to raise her two girls on her own. When confirmed bachelor Cliff Howard swoops in and offers assistance one day, their connection is immediate. But Diana isn’t ready to risk her heart again, and Cliff doesn’t think he’s ready for family ties…or so they think.

In Almost an Angel, Bethany Stone has been secretly in love with her boss, Joshua Norris, for as long as she can remember. She’s about to give up — on Joshua and her job — when he asks for her help with a family matter. What follows is a series of sweet moments that bring Bethany and Joshua closer together.

3. Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon

Amber Jamison believes that she is smart and street savvy so when she is stuffed inside a white van, by a serial killer she is more angry than scared.

The next thing she knows, she is rescued but finds herself running across the country to escape her past and stay alive. She has to decide who she can trust and figure out why she is a target. This is a dark and creepy thriller from fall books. If you are looking for a book for fall that will keep you on your toes, this is a perfect pick.

4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Erin Morgenstern’s part fantasy part romance follows the star-crossed magicians Celia and Marco, who set up exhibits at a mysterious circus that appears only at night. Though it’s not set at any particular moment in time, The Night Circus is definitely an autumn read. As Morgenstern writes, “The circus looks abandoned and empty. But you think perhaps you can smell caramel wafting through the evening breeze, beneath the crisp scent of the autumn leaves. A subtle sweetness at the edges of the cold…” It’s best read under a cozy blanket with a candle lit.

5. What We Found in Hallelujah by Vanessa Miller

The Reynolds women don’t typically like the month of November, and this year an autumn hurricane is approaching their family home in Hallelujah, South Carolina.

When Ruby asks her estranged daughters Hope, Faith and Trinity to help prep for the storm and ready the home to become a bed-and-breakfast, they all reluctantly agree. If they can make it through another storm together and weather some newly discovered secrets, they might just have a chance to rebuild and reconnect as a family.

6. The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

As books with unreliable narrators go, this is the best I have ever read. Maya was days away from moving away to college when he best friend Aubrey mysteriously dropped dead in front of her. She blamed Frank, an older guy who she had been hanging out with that summer although there was nothing to prove that he had done a thing to harm Aubrey.

Now, years later, Maya is trying to overcome an addiction to the drug prescribed to help her overcome the loss of Aubrey. When she sees a video of a woman who drops dead in a cafe and Frank is sitting with her, she sets off in a spiral again and needs to prove that Frank is responsible. I love this book with a totally likable and yet, completely unreliable narrator. This is one of the best thrillers of 2023 pick for sure.

7. The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado

Described as “a love letter to all things fall,” this smart, sparkling rom-com is sure to enchant readers. High-schoolers Whit and Zay have been frenemies for years, so when they’re forced to organize the fall formal together, it’s a disaster. Perfectionist Whitney is at odds with the relaxed and aloof Zay, but then sparks start flying. What follows is a series of heartwarming and hilarious events that focus on friendship, family, romance and self-acceptance.

8. The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry. She just has one problem: after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. Her handsome new editor refuses to give her an extension on her deadline, and Florence fears she may have to kiss her career goodbye.

Things take another turn when she receives a devastating call beckoning her back to the small town she left behind and has no desire to return to. When she eventually does return to the funeral parlor her family runs she’s greeted by a literal ghost. And not just any ghost — it’s the ghost of her infuriatingly handsome editor who’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

9. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

This book is an award winner and the writing is undeniably wonderful. The story itself has elements of magic that add to the difficult subject matter. The story deals with drugs, violence, and poverty- all of which are completely relevant in today’s society.

The characters did not develop throughout the story as much as I would have liked, but this ghost book is a worthwhile read when considering the wonderful writing. The paranormal aspect makes this a great book for fall.

10. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Strange, but probably one of the most imaginative novels I have ever experienced. It’s about the night that Abraham Lincoln buried his son and takes place entirely in the cemetery.

I listened to this full cast audiobook which was great because it used 166 voices including David Sedaris, Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Kat Dennings, and Don Cheadle among others. As ghostbooks go, this one is not to be missed! it’s truly one of the best fantasy audiobooks ever!

11. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Maggie Holt spent three weeks in a house that became the subject of a best-selling novel written by her father.

During the three weeks in the house, the family was haunted by ghosts before there were eventually forced to flee. 25 years later, Maggie is shocked to learn that her father still owned the house when he died and the house is now hers.

As Maggie returns to the house to find out what really happened, she might be in for more than she bargained for.

12. Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

This one is actually a book about poverty in Renaissance England. Tidelands is set in 1648 in the midst of the English Civil War. The king has been overthrown and the country is in turmoil, but in the marshlands of the South, the villagers are worried about survival.

Alinor is a healer whose services are both respected and feared. She carefully toes the line between a wise woman and a witch as she struggles to feed her family. One fateful night she decides to help a catholic priest to safety without realizing the danger this secret would bring to her family. Philippa Gregory's books are epic and this one is a perfect book for fall.

13. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

The OG psychological thriller, Rebecca is a book set in Cornwall that will leave you checking behind you when you walk down a dark hallway. As unreliable narrator books go, this one is a must-read.

The new Mrs. de Winter is haunted by her husband’s first wife, Rebecca. The deceit will have you second-guessing everything you read while you yell at the pages.

One of the most acclaimed psychological thriller authors, this novel is Daphne Du Maurier at her best. It is a chilling novel about a naive second wife discovering the truth behind the wife who came before her.

The Netflix book adaptation stars Lily James — and it reignited this popular thriller book’s success. If you have not read this book, it is a perfect book for fall.