13 Must-Read Autumn Books
Don't miss these 13 autumn book recommendations that are perfect for spooky season.
As a self-certified bookworm (and autumn enthusiast) I know that receiving book recommendations is the best. When it comes to autumn, it’s the ideal time to snuggle up with a cup of tea and a good book.
That’s why I’ve created a list of all of my best spooky book recommendations that I think are perfect for this time of year. So, grab your favourite blanket, light your autumn candle, and enjoy.
Cosy Book Recommendations
Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree
Themes: Love, found family, community, friendship, and low-stakes fantasy.
Viv has decided it’s time to hang up the battle axe and swap sword fights for cinnamon buns. Now the new owner of the first coffee shop in the medieval city of Thune, Viv must convince her new locals that her lifetime of bloodshed is well and truly behind her. But she won’t be able to do it alone. Alongside her new friends brought together by pastry, magic, and coffee, she may have discovered the secret to living life to the fullest.
This novel is a warm hug in a book. It's the most wholesome, low-stakes fantasy novel I’ve ever read and is absolutely perfect for autumn. With its adorable bundle of characters, a delicious array of baked goods, and the perfect autumn vibes, it’s just right.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Themes: Love, loss, regret, living in the present, family, and time travel.
In Tokyo, there stands a small café over a hundred years old. Unlike any other coffee shop, this one specialises in carefully brewed coffee, giving its drinker the chance to travel back in time. Voyage back into memories from the past alongside four individuals hoping to right a wrong, all before the coffee gets cold.
This is a beautiful, soulful book that begs the question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? Full of touching scenes, wholesome conversations over a cup of coffee, and a sprinkling of magic, it’s a cosy read for this October.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Magical Witchy Book Recommendations
Circe, Madeline Miller
Themes: Power, women, magic, witchcraft, feminism, and family.
Circe, daughter of Helios—god of the sun—has never felt like she truly belonged. Rejected by all who look upon her, she turns to mortals in the hope of finally being accepted. But after she discovers witchcraft, she is banished by Zeus to the island of Aiaia. There, she must harness her power to fight against monsters, men, and the gods, and establish once and for all, where her true place in the world really is.
I absolutely adore Greek retellings, and this one is one of my favourite books of all time. If you’re in the mood for a thrilling tale full of dark magic, the wrath of Greek gods, and a ruthless, feminist heroine who learns that empowerment and acceptance come from within, this is the book for you. Not to mention that the front cover is stunning and will look great as part of autumn decor!
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Themes: Magic, illusion, love, family, community, freedom, belonging, and rivalry.
Beneath the black-and-white striped tents, amidst the shadows and applause, two young magicians are battling it out. Since their childhoods, Celia and Marco have been training, but for what, they don’t know. As love slowly blossoms between the two and tensions rise, the circus must go on, and only one can succeed.
The Night Circus is a magical book, perfect for cosying up with a cup of tea, where reading the book is all part of the experience too. This book is more character-led than plot-led so it’s truly a unique read.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Horror Book Recommendations
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
Themes: Family, home and the familiar, coming of age, bravery, the supernatural
Coraline’s life in her family’s new flat is grey, dull, and boring. That is until she discovers a hidden door while exploring. On the other side is an alternate world where everything is perfect. From the food and toys to the neighbours and her other parents, it’s a dream come true - until they ask her to stay forever. Now, Coraline must use all of her strength and bravery to fight her way back to her ordinary life and save herself.
Coraline is one of my favourite films - it’s my guilty pleasure movie whenever I’m feeling down, and the book is just as good. Illustrated by Chris Riddell and full of some of the most eccentric characters there are, it’s the best form of escapism for this spooky season.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
Themes: Coming of age, family, community, love, loss, life and death, and good and evil.
Raised by ghosts, Nobody Owens isn’t exactly an ordinary boy. Under the watchful eye of his mysterious but trusted guardian, Bod must learn to navigate both the land of the dead and the land of the living. But dangers are lurking just around the corner, and Bod is soon to learn that the living are far more dangerous than the dead. Particularly a man named Jack who killed Bod’s parents, and is in search of the baby who once escaped him.
You simply cannot go wrong with Neil Gaiman. Another one of his best books which offers an opportunity for escapism. I loved reading this book, especially the version illustrated by Chris Riddell. And with the ghosts, ghouls, and magic, it’s the perfect read for spooky season.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
We Used to Live Here, Marcus Kliewer
Themes: Home, family, strangers, the familiar, appearance vs. reality, fear of the unknown, and alienation.
When Charlie and Eve move into their new home, they can’t quite believe it’s theirs. In a beautiful neighbourhood, and at a reasonable price, it truly feels like a dream. That is, until a man turns up at the door with his family, insisting he used to live there. He asks if he can show his family around, and Eve politely obliges. But once they’re in, they never truly leave, and soon, strange things begin to happen. After Charlie disappears, Eve slowly descends into madness, but is it all simply in her imagination?
I’ve read several horrors and had yet to be truly scared. I had heard good things about this one and boy did it live up to its expectations. Even reading it in broad daylight was not enough to stop the shivers running down my spine. I can’t wait to try more horrors like it! Perfect if you want a little scare this spooky season.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Final Girls, Riley Sager
Themes: Memory, trauma, victim vs perpetrator, survival, and good vs evil.
Quincy Carpenter is the sole survivor of a horror-movie-worthy murderous rampage. Deemed by the press as a Final Girl, along with two other female sole survivors of similar crimes, Lisa, and Sam, the three attempt to recover from their trauma. Years later, Quincy seems to have gotten her life back on track. But everything changes when Lisa is found dead, and Sam turns up at her door. At first, Sam wants to help Quincy. But as Sam’s lies start to unravel, Quincy begins to question her intentions as she starts to remember what really happened that night.
This was a fantastic, fast-paced read that I just could not put down. Jam-packed full of chaotic twists and turns, it had my heart racing at every moment. If you’re interested in a dark, psychological thriller this spooky season, you won’t be disappointed.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Dark Academia Book Recommendations
If We Were Villians, M. L. Rio
Themes: Identity, disguise, art, love, corruption, and guilt.
After spending ten years in prison for murder, Oliver Marks is being released. Faced with the man who put him there, Oliver decides it’s time to tell the detective what happened all those years ago. As a student at an elite drama university, Oliver and his classmates pride themselves on the characters they play onstage. But when the casting changes, the lines between what is real and onstage are blurred, and when one of them is found dead, the classmates must use their acting skills to pull off their greatest performance yet – to convince the police, and each other, that they are innocent.
This is one of my favourite novels of all time. If you have never read a dark academic novel, let me introduce you to possibly the best genre to read in autumn. It's just elite and full of aesthetically pleasing settings, knitted-vest-wearing, cigarette-smoking, and coffee-sipping characters.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
Themes: Isolation, identity, superficiality, appearance vs reality, secrecy, illusion, love, and corruption.
A group of students whose friendship is founded on their shared love of ancient Greek literature stumbles upon a new way of living life to the fullest. But beyond the piles of old books, ashtrays full of cigarette butts, and a glass of wine in hand, the group soon begin to come away at the edges as they descend into chaos and slip further and further into obsession, corruption, and untimely betrayal.
The Secret History is the OG–original–dark academia novel of all time and Donna Tartt did not miss a beat. This is a dark book that delves into what happens when several students take the matter of life and death into their own hands. A moody, autumn novel perfect for a dark, stormy evening.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Classic Spooky Book Recommendations
The Woman in Black, Susan Hill
Themes: Fear, isolation, past vs. present, and the supernatural
A young solicitor is sent to a gothic village to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow. After arriving, it is clear that something more sinister is at play. But before he can leave, he must venture across the eerie marshlands, alone, to sort through Alice’s papers. There he discovers a woman, with a haunted face, shrouded in black, and he soon realises that no one is safe.
If you’re up for a seriously spooky read that is sure to send shivers down your spine, this classic is one to read this autumn. Having seen the film and watched the play (which I would also highly recommend), I just had to read the book - and it did not disappoint. It had me biting my fingernails and scrambling up my stairs in the dark. Absolutely chilling!
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Themes: Family, responsibility, science vs religion, human vs animal, good vs evil, revenge, and isolation.
Tormented by the concept of life, scientist Victor Frankenstein embarks on a gruesome path to create life from dead body parts. Abandoned by his maker and despised by all who come into contact with him, Frankenstein’s monstrous creature sets out to exact revenge against the man who breathed life into him.
A heartbreakingly tender, and haunting novel that explores what it means to be human. I read this after watching Mary Shelley (an amazing film that I also recommend for autumn). A truly thrilling book with a frightening monster for this spooky season.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier
Themes: Love, obsession, power, jealousy, past vs. present, and the gothic.
A young girl lives a life of simplicity, working as a lady’s companion, until she is swept off her feet by a dashing widower. Upon accepting his surprising marriage proposal, she believes she is the luckiest girl alive. Until, she arrives at his stately home and discovers that his late wife, Rebecca, seems to loom over them from beyond the grave.
A gothic, magical novel with all the glitz and glamour of a fairy-tale, while darkness awaits just beneath the surface. This the the perfect read for an autumnal getaway.
Purchase from: WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, or World of Books
Disclaimer
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I’m Layla, the home and garden editor, and I started working at MyVoucherCodes in November 2022. I have always loved to write, especially after getting my degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, and since getting my own place, I’ve gotten stuck into all things home and garden.
When I’m not writing about saving money on homely purchases, I’m either sitting with my head in a new book, painting a piece of art for my walls, or binge-watching an interior design programme on Netflix. I love to get inspiration and transform my space, usually with the help of a few Pinterest boards and a couple of tins of paint.
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