If you’re looking to feel those cozy fall vibes these are the best books to start with. Whether you’re into lovable monsters, found family or magical baked goods one of these reads is sure to get you into the fall spirit. Bonus cozy points for fuzzy blankets, fairy lights and warm beverages.
Cackle by Rachel Harrison
It’s cottagecore but make it upstate New York in the fall.
Annie moves to Upstate New York after a breakup with her long time boyfriend. Insecure and heartbroken, she moves to an adorable house (except for the weird spider problem) and meets Sophie, who she feels immediately drawn toward, despite the townsfolk treating Sophie oddly.
This story is gothic and atmospheric with a “Halloweentown” feel. Like Annie, you will want to find out what makes Sophie so uncanny, and what’s with all the spiders?
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
If the Sanderson Sisters lived in Stars Hollow, had more emotional depth and had to raise children that would be the vibe of this cozy fall classic.
Sisters Sally and Gillian try to escape their upbringing by blending into “normal” society, but find they cannot escape their magic or their need for each other. This is a quirky story of a multi-generational family of women who love and need each other, with magical realism woven through out.
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Vampires and werewolves are openly accepted in this steampunk Victorian society. In fact, they are some of the more elite members of society. Alexia however, is in the regrettable social position of both having no soul and also being a spinster. When she is investigated for a supposed crime strange things begin happening in London’s high society.
Combine excellent banter, quippy comebacks, a sassy heroine and excellent accessories with dreary steampunk Victorian London and you have the making of a remarkable series that will suck you into its delicious ambiance.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Mika typically follows the “rules” except for where she posts her videos about “fake magic” assuming no one will believe her skills are real. Only to recieve a message begging her to come to Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. Mika quickly becomes entangled in the lives of the residents of Nowhere House, including Jamie, the overprotective librarian.
If you love a found family trope and a slow-burn romance, and a story full of love, magic and shenanigans then Mandanna may have written the perfect story for you.
Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
This might be the perfect book for a Millennial cozy read. It has plants, second chance romance and uses AOL Instant Messenger to highlight the characters’ history.
Everyone in the Flores family has a magical talent, and for Sage that means plants. She can hear them, make them grow, and uses her gift to find new heritage plants at her job. While at her job she reconnects with her first love, Tennessee Reyes. Sage wrestles with a dysfunctional family, heartbreak and the magic of her gift.
Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams
The first book in this cozy mystery series will have you craving pie and small town charm. Ella Mae LeFaye has just discovered her penchant for baking emotion into pies, but when a townsman is found dead, killed with her own rolling pin, she has to use her skills to uncover the truth.
If Stars Hollow were in Georgia and Sookie St. James could bake magic into her food, that would be the feeling this series provides. Along with the added bonus of solving crime along the way.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
It’s “You’ve Got Mail” but make it spicy and also there are zombies. Hart is a demigod marshal who patrols the lands of Tanria, keeping it safe from drudges. Mercy runs her family’s undertaker business. Due to some murky reasoning the two are enemies for life, but when they unknowingly become penpals, it unlocks something new for both of them.
Full of delicious banter, longing and spice, this is a great monster book to start out with this fall.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor and is excellent in her field of study- faeries. She is not however, what you would call a “people person.” So when she travels to a small town in Norway and must rely on the help of the locals and the “help” of her colleague Wendell, she may discover there is more to life than the study of her work.
This story is full of mythical creatures, acerbic wit, and is written in a journal format with the Victorian tone of its setting. Grab a mug of tea and let the story unfold around you.
My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Cassie is an artist and a bit of a mess. But when she is in dire straights she takes a chance on a Cragislist apartment ad that sounds too good to be true.
If you love the epistolary trope, a vampire who just wants to fit in, found family and a bit of spice, this might be your new favorite monster read of the fall.
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
All magic comes with a price, and for Sadie the price is four heartbreaks that will result in the loss of her magic. She has faced two already, and the potential for more are on the horizon.
Cozy? Check. Autumnal? Check. Baked goods? Check. Magic? Check. Romance? Check. Heartbreakingly poignant and will make you feel all the feels? Check.
Trigger warning for death of a family member by cancer.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
The age old conundrum of writing about time travel is bypassed through a set of rules that must be observed for the process to take place. All of which must take place before your cup of coffee gets cold. While participants may not change the past, experiencing it may change them.
Does this take place during the summer? Yes. Does it contain the wistful, longing and poignant vibes of a cozy fall read? Also, yes. This closed-room story focuses on the lives of characters, building on their connections and the reader’s connection to them, rather than extensive world building. This makes a relatively quick and cozy read to get you in the mood for fall.