Autumn is definitely well under way where I am here, with cold crisp air, the trees turning yellow and brown, the occasional rainy days, and I just love putting on a jacket and not drowning in my own sweat. I love autumn also because it’s my birthday month in October, and I prefer colder weathers than warm ones. Rainy days are the perfect excuse to stay at home under the blanket and read, and in this post I have five books with autumn vibes that I’d recommend and an addition five books that I would love to read this autumn. Let’s get on right to it!
Recommendations
English Animals by Laura Kaye
With a uniquely simple writing that is at the same time so atmospheric and beautiful, this story is set in the English countryside and focuses on the main character Mirka who moves to a couple’s house as their helper. She develops a deep relationship with these people and the whole story felt cold, windy and wet, filled with gorgeous landscape descriptions and lots of nature.
Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng
Though I this novel is mostly set in winter, I think it will still make for a lovely autumn read. This fantasy novel with stunning cover art is set in a world where the sun is a pendulum, and that the season is always cold. There are faes, misty places, a whale with sea inside it, beautiful Gothic writing, and overall amazing magical elements that tackle themes such as brother-sister relationships, religion, and love.
Mab threw back her head and laughed.
It was a sound that filled every nook and cranny of that tiny chapel and squirmed its way, writhing, under my skin. Reverberating, it shook the foundations of the stone and shivered through my bones, like an ote through a tuning fork.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
One of the best horror-spooky reads I’ve read ever, The Little Stranger is set in the 20th century where our main character, a doctor, befriends the family living in a huge manor in England. In this large, dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere strange things start to happen and we do not know if it’s just the inhabitant’s minds that are going awry, or if there really is something sinister living within the walls of the house. Similarly to Under the Pendulum Sun, this book is quite thick is just perfect to read under a blanket on a cold windy day.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.
I have not raved much about Maggie Stiefvater in this blog, but you all must know that I absolutely adore her books. Though I do admit her Raven Cycle books are also perfect to be read in the autumn months, I chose this stand-alone that I enjoyed tremendously because I feel like not many people have talked about it as much. Set in a magical island, two young people meet during the Scorpio Race. The horses in this book are not normal ones – they are beautiful and wild creatures that appear in the island from the sea once a year, and it’s such an atmospheric book with amazing writing and such great characters.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
I’m adding in a favourite classic of mine here, just because I love this book and I know people love reading this slightly creepy, very Gothic, absolutely amazing novel in the autumn months as well. I love the plot and the characters of the book, but most of all I think the setting is perfect to read about during autumn. So if you have always wanted to read it but haven’t yet, now is the right season to pick it up.
Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! – I have as much soul as you, – and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you!
Want to Read
The Stand by Stephen King
All I know about this book is that it is a post-apocalyptic novel by the king of thrillers, and highly rated in Goodreads with an average rating of 4.3. Definitely a chunky book but something I’m highly excited to start.
The Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun
I started this cozy mystery series when I was in high school and have only read three books of the series even though I highly enjoyed it. Focusing on a journalist in a small town who owns a few cats, it’s about these small funny mysteries happening in the character’s life and his efforts to solve them, with the help of his cats.
The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey
I have this book on my Kindle and have heard amazing things about it. I don’t know much about it other than that it is a historical fiction and a combination of literary fiction and mystery, and that’s all I want to know about it.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
I think mysteries and thrillers are perfect to be read in autumn, and as a person who has only read one book by Gillian Flynn, I feel like I am not a mystery lover if I haven’t read more of her work.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Another highly-raved book, this Gothic fiction sounds absolutely creepy. Not to mention the fact that a TV show adaptation will come out soon, so I’m definitely picking this up in October or November this year.
Further related links:
- Thriller novels in my TBR and Currently Reading – Ayundabhuwana’s Blog
- Autumnal Reading Recommendations – Jean Bookishthoughts
- Creeptober: Spook Reads – The Perks of Being Noura
- Autumn Book Recommendations & TBR – Pace, Amore, Libri
- Monthly recommendations: Fall reads – Ally Writes Things
- New releases: October books by Asian Authors! – Lit CelebrAsian
What are some of your autumnal reads that you love? Feel free to let me know in the comments below!
I’m so excited to see Dark Places and The Stand on your list. They are both among my favourite books ❤ I hope you'll enjoy them too!
The Little Stranger sounds spooky, all right 😀 And the Pendulum one's cover is gorgeous. Not my kinda book, but defo eye candy!
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Ooooh good to know! I’m very interested to start The Stand soon 😀
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Great recommendations!!
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Great post! I really want to try English Animals, and I’ve been meaning to get to Jane Eyre for what feels like years now 🙈
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Hope you get to it soon then 😀
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Thank you for featuring my post!
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Ahhh thank you for including my post!! English Animals sounds so interesting, I’ll have to look into it!
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No problem, loved your post! ❤
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What fantastic recommendations! And thanks for linking to me! ❤
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Lovely post! I agree, Under the Pendulum Sun is a perfect autumn read. Especially for Halloween, it’s so creepy! I have The Scorpio Races on my TBR for the autumn, so I’m happy to hear it’s a good one to read this time of year 😊
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The Scorpio Races and Jane Eyre are two of my favourites. Your other recommendations sound great too 🙂 and I hope you love The Haunting of Hill House, it’s so eerie and perfect for this time of year!
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Thanks so much! I’m starting Haunting of Hill House soon, I know I’ll just love the eeriness of it.
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The Cat Who mysteries sounds so dang adorable & I’ve also only read one Gillian Flynn novel so I’ll be adding Dark Places to my TBR, for sure.
Thanks for sharing!! ♡
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It absolutely is 😀
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I might end up reading Under the Pendulum Sun in January. I keep forgetting about it though I really want to read it.
I’m actually reading The Stand now. Am only a few pages in. Hope you get to it too. I keep expecting to be scared because I remember being a little scared when watching the movie though it’s not totally scary. I just don’t remember at which moment I felt that way. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen it.
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Oooh exciting! Hope you enjoy Pendulum Sun ❤ I'm planning on reading The Stand either this week or next week 🙂 I didn't know it had a movie either, will definitely check it out once I finish the book.
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Oh cool! Well, if you ever want to discuss something while reading, just link me! 🙂 So far…I’m intrigued but not sure if I like it.
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Great recs! I definitely agree with Scorpio races and Jane Eyre! I didn’t realise Haunting of Hill House was a book- definitely want to check that out before I watch the show now!
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Yes, I’m also excited to read Haunting of Hill House even before I found out the show was being made ❤
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Libby Day from Dark Places is probably one of the most pragmatic heroines I’ve ever read about. I hope you enjoy it!
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