Curl up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea and these perfect autumn reads!
For me, autumn is a magical time. Leaves change colour. The weather becomes nippier. My boots replace my sandals. I suddenly feel the need to wear oversize sweaters and listen to Taylor Swift on repeat as I walk through a misty forest.
My reading is also affected by the autumn blues. My tastes suddenly become less upbeat and more somber. I am more drawn to books that make me cry than ones that make me laugh. Books that make me feel heavy and inclined to stay in bed all day. Books that are hard to shake and that stay with me for days, if not weeks. Perhaps even books that are little spooky and haunted.
To me, autumn books are not depressing books. They are books with depth and emotional weight to them.
I am a mood reader, and my mood is definitely affected by the seasons. If you're the same, these books might just bee perfect for you this autumn season!
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Usually a marriage has only two people. But their marriage is plagued by the ghost of a third party. Her. Rebecca. Maxim's former wife, who vanished mysteriously. Maxim is older. Dashing and seductive. But Rebecca looms large and threatens to destroy everything.
If you're looking for that unsettling, spooky feeling without any paranormal activity, this is certainly the book for you. It has no ghosts, magic or hauntings, just a looming presence of a woman who once was. Rebecca is the titular character - but she is also not even a present figure in the book. She is talked about and thought about but never seen - a shadow. And that was very powerful to me.
Read it if you like: Spooky mysteries, unsettled feelings, romance with an age difference
The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Maria Romanov was the angel-faced third daughter of the powerful Romanov rulers. Before, her days were filled with glittering balls, servants and beautiful clothes. Now, in 1918, all she has left is her family - her sisters, her brother and her parents. Their isolation is suffocating, but a flirtation with one of the guards provides a much needed break for Maria. Flirting couldn't hurt anyone. Could it?
The mystery of what actually happened to the last Romanov family has always fascinated me. I have devoured any book I could find, which provided an interesting counter-narrative. But none have fascinated me as much as this! Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions!
Read it if you like: Dual timelines, Romanov mysteries, overcoming adversity
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cath is a fangirl. And not just any fangirl. She is a famous Simon Snow fangirl. Her fanfiction is read by thousands of people. Now she is starting college, trying to juggle classes, family, her fandom and what should pass as a social life, if Cath even knew how that worked. Can Cath make college work without giving up on herself?
There's something about college novels that just always scream autumn to me. And while this is one of the lighter books on this list, it still has some emotional baggage and heavy topics as Cath tries to navigate a college life she is in no way equipped for.
Read it if you like: College novels, fanfiction and fandoms, friends to lovers
Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bernadette has mysteriously vanished. Her daughter Bee - who was supposed to go on a trip to Antarctica with her mother - refuses to believe that her mother is dead. Not many others agree with her. Bernadette used to be a shut-in, trying to conform to a life she never really desired, leading many to believe that she did something to harm herself. Bee, however, remains hopeful.
This book had an almost manic feeling about it. Bernadette is both relatable and a total enigma. The mystery of what actually happened to Bernadette was engaging and riveting, and I was entertained until the very end.
Read it if you like: Mysterious disappearances, strong personalities, alternative storytelling
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In a tavern known as a place for stories, a story like none other arrives at the doorstep. An injured man barges in carrying a dead girl in his arms. Everyone agrees that the girl is dead - until she rises and proves to be very much alive. No less than three families seem to have a claim on the mystery girl while the girl herself remains mute.
Be prepared to get totally and utterly sucked in to this emotional, magical mystery. It will tuck at your heartstring, it will make you feel like swimming along a slow flowing river, carrying you ever onward.
Read it if you like: Magical realism, poetic writing, historical mysteries
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A the beginning of WWII three generations of the Polish Kluc family are scattered throughout Europe. They must each face unspeakable horrors and hardships in order to survive. All of them must call upon their deepest, most hidden strength to make it through alive in order to see each other again.
This is one of those books that hit you square in the chest. It will make you feel so much, it will make you think and reflect on your own life. And it will make you fall in love with the endurance of the human spirit in the face of hardship and terror.
Read it if you like: WWII narratives, overcoming adversity, familial love
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Every night Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Aiden Bishop is the only one who can safe her. He must identify her killer. But the task is not straight forward. Every morning Aiden wakes up in the body of one of the guests at Blackheath Manor. Some guests are welcoming and hospitable. Others are not. And time is running out for Aiden.
At first I was super confused by this book. I was close to giving up. But then a light was turned off for me and I was totally sold! I got completely wrapped up in the mystery and swept away by the intrigue. It's haunting, magical and dark. It's engaging, riveting and mysterious. Just what I like reading in autumn.
Read it if you like: Dark mysteries, time turner tales, show stoppers
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As his death draws near, Enzo looks back on his life. He knows he is not a dog like all the others. He is educated, philosophical and has an almost human soul. His owner, the up-and-coming racer, Denny Swift, has tought Enzo that life, like racing, is not always about going fast. Sometimes its okay to slow down.
This is both a heartwarming and gut-wrenching story. Enzo is the most lovable character I have ever encountered. He shows that dogs truly are man's best friend. And he makes me love dogs even more than before. But beware - tissues are a requirement when picking up this book!
Read it if you like: Canine life-companions, thoughts on life and death, faith in humanity
History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Even though Theo and Griffin had broken up, even though Theo had moved away and fallen in love with Jackson - Griffin knew they were going to get their happy ever after. That is, until Theo died in a tragic drowning accident. Now Griffin is spiraling out of control and, in an ironic twist of fate, Jackson is the only one, who can relate to his pain.
Losing someone you love is a terrible feeling that most of us can relate to. Griffin's pain was raw and all-consuming and I was very drawn to the mystery of why he held on to Theo so tightly even with all they had been through.
Read it if you like: Overcoming grief, LGBTQ characters, hope for the future
The Vagrants by Yiyun Li
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In the provincial town of Muddy River a young woman prepares for execution. Her name is Gu Shan. Once she was a faithful Communist and a follower of the late Chairman Mao. But now she has renounced her faith, for which she must die. Gu Shan's death, however, impacts so many more than just herself. All who know her must now come to gribs not only with her death but also with her rebellion against the regime.
A social commentary on the Cultural Revolution and Communist China. Here we follow a diverse cast of characters from all social layers of society. Prepare for an impactful ensemble novel of the highest caliber.
Read it if you like: Cultural Revolution China, ensemble novels, questioning authority
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