• The Ninth House – Leigh Bardugo

The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo was relatively new and published in 2019. It is a dark fantasy horror novel that follows a young woman attending an elite university who can see ghosts. The story includes themes of dark magic, murder, secret societies, dark rituals, hidden agendas, privilege, and power. The book’s ghost elements, dark themes, and rich descriptions of autumn make this book the perfect book for this fall.

• The Ex Hex – Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex is a fun and light paranormal romantic comedy novel that follows a rekindling romance between two witches who must put their pasts aside to break a mysterious magical curse that affects the magic in their hometown, Graves Glen. This book includes hexes, curses, and tons of witchy mayhem. This book is perfect if you want a light and refreshing romantic read without dark and gruesome themes while still immersed in the fall season.

• If We Were Villians – M.L Rio

If We Were Villians by M.L Rio is a book that centers around a group of Shakespearian actors attending a prestigious university set in Illinois, primarily during the fall and winter. This is a literary diction novel whose main plot revolves around their friend Richard’s death and takes the reader on a journey to figure out which one of the characters killed Richard. This book also has LGBTQ representation. The Shakespearean element adds a moody atmosphere, which adds to the eerie fall vibe of the book.

• The Halloween Tree – Ray Bradbury

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury is a fantasy and science fiction novel that follows a group of trick-or-treating children who embark on a magical journey to save their friend who a mysterious magical force has captured. This book is perfect for children and adults alike and is considered a Halloween staple for many. This is the ideal book to read if you are in the midst of a reading slump because it is a short novel. This book has made such an impact that a Halloween Tree is displayed annually at Disneyland. The book follows the Halloween spirit and vividly describes autumn and Halloween, immersing readers in this fall wonderland.

• The Secret History – Donna Tartt

The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a psychological thriller that follows a group of elite college students attending a small liberal arts college in Vermont set in the 1980s. The group of students gets involved in the murder of their classmate Bunny and their struggle to keep it a secret, which ultimately leads to their downfall. The novel is considered a classic and is one of my personal favorites. The book’s dark academic theme, dark story elements, and descriptions of the college campus during fall and winter create a unique fall setting. It is the perfect book if you want motivation for the fall semester.