As the crisp autumn air settles in and leaves begin to turn vibrant shades of gold and crimson, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book. The cozy atmosphere invites us to slow down, sip on a warm drink, and lose ourselves in captivating stories. Whether you’re nestled by the fireplace or wrapped in a soft blanket, the right book can transport you to enchanting worlds or offer a comforting escape. This season, I’ve curated a selection of delightful reads perfect for those tranquil autumn evenings. From heartwarming romances to thrilling mysteries, these titles promise to engage your imagination and warm your spirit. So grab your favorite mug and let’s explore the literary treasures that await!
1. Fall I want
By: Lyra Parish
“My first impression of Zane Alexander isn’t great. The second is worse, but when he forces me to hang out with him, I can’t say no. We quickly go from familiar strangers to flirty friends. When my ex returns, Zane flawlessly pretends to be my boyfriend to protect me. He’s so damn good at it, I almost believe it. Afterward, we devise a plan to fake date through the holidays. I become his plus one and he becomes mine. I don’t know when our relationship moves from pretending to passionate, but I catch feelings. As our exes desperately crawl back into our lives like zombies, I realize there is only one man for me, and (f)all I want is him.”
2. Unbearably Yours
By: Elodie Colliard
“Charlee lives her life by one single rule: don’t dredge up the past. That’s why she loses herself in her work as a journalist: always on the move, always heading for the next adventure. So when the Wild Planet offices in Toronto are on the brink of closure, she jumps at the chance to save the place by helping shoot a documentary in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Until she realizes who she’ll be working with. For Oliver Reynolds, there’s nothing like the peace and quiet of nature. That’s why working for Wild Planet is a perfect fit. In the small touristic town of Pine Falls, he has everything he needs. Well, almost. If only he could buy back the family’s restaurant he lost five years ago. When his boss offers him a hefty raise to guide a Wild Planet crew filming a documentary in the area, Oliver doesn’t think twice. At least, not until he finds out who he’ll be spending those two weeks with.”
3. Autumn By The Shore
By: K. Marlowe
“When overworked marketing executive Emily Bennett returns to the charming seaside town of Seabreeze Haven to renovate her late grandmother’s house, she plans to finish the project quickly and get back to her busy city life. But as autumn paints the town in golden hues and the crisp sea breeze fills the air, Emily finds herself enveloped in the warmth of her childhood memories and the close-knit community she once knew. Enter Jack Turner, her high school sweetheart turned dependable town handyman. With his rugged good looks and kind heart, Jack offers to help Emily with the renovations, sparking both humorous mishaps and touching moments. As they work side by side, old feelings resurface, and Emily begins to question the life she left behind.”
4. Happily Haunted Afters
By: Brittany Kelley
“I’m done juggling dead-end jobs and deadbeat boyfriends. It’s time to nail down my goal of owning a hotel — and fix my friendship with my ex-best friend, Jack Colson. He’s a big shot investor, and I’m going to need one. Nailing him barely crosses my mind. I might actually get my life in order, especially if I snag the deep (and deeply weird) discount for staying an entire weekend at my dream property. It’s hard not to fall in love with the place. Though I could do without the creepy doll that lives there, the noises Jack insists are raccoons, and the eerie AF abandoned hotel I’d need an even spookier amount of money to renovate. The worst part is, I’m falling for Jack… again. He’ll never invest if he finds out I have feelings for him. But as we work through the phantoms of problems past, we’ll have to figure out if the property is infested with rodents — or something else that goes bump in the night.”
5. Given Our History
By: Kristyn J Miller
“Assistant professor Clara Fernsby is nothing if not driven. She’s wanted to teach history since she was fourteen, and she hasn’t let anything stand in her way―not even the love of her life. And it all paid off in the end, because she landed a well-paid position at a private liberal arts college fresh out of grad school, and this year, she’s finally up for tenure. When Theodore Harrison is brought on for the fall semester as a visiting scholar, it’s an unexpected blast from Clara’s past. She hasn’t spoken to Teddy since rejecting him over a phone call ten years ago. Now that he’s here, she’s reminded of their time together at every turn: autumns spent at a sleepaway camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, trading battered history books and burned CDs with the quiet, dark-haired boy she once fell in love with. That boy might’ve been her best friend, but the man teaching HIST-322 is a total stranger―or so she thinks. As they spend evenings working on a shared project and brainstorming over drinks at a college bar, Clara realizes she’s at risk of falling all over again. Given their history, she knows there’s every chance he’s not interested. But history’s all down to interpretation, and this time around, she’s got no intentions of repeating it.”
6. The Cider Shop Rules
By: Julie Anne Lindsey
“The Fall Festival is in full swing. Civil War reenactors from three counties are partaking in Blossom Valley’s tribute to John Brown. Blue Ridge Mountain foliage is in full bloom. And best of all is Jacob Potter’s pumpkin farm where his hay rides, piglet races, pumpkin picking and corn maze are time-honored draws for locals and tourists alike. That’s why it’s such a shock when Mr. Potter is found dead, hidden under a tarp in the back of Winnie’s pickup truck. This certainly betrays Potter’s reputation as one of the town’s most popular citizens. Fortunately, when it comes to solving a murder, no one has a patch on Winnie. Now, all eyes are on her to do it. Unfortunately, that includes those of the killer who’ll do anything to keep an orchard full of secrets buried.”
7. If It Makes You Happy
By: Julie Olivia
“My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear. I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out. Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff. Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard. Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe. Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards. So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.”
8. Pumpkin Spice Cafe
By: Laurie Gilmore
“When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job. Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her. Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…”
As the days grow shorter and the nights become cozier, there’s no better time to dive into a good book. Each of these selections offers a unique way to experience the magic of autumn, whether through heartwarming narratives or thrilling escapades. So, find your favorite reading nook, brew a comforting cup of tea, and let the stories carry you away. Don’t forget to share your own cozy reads and recommendations; after all, the best book recommendations often come from fellow readers. Embrace the season’s charm and let these literary companions enhance your autumn experience. Happy reading!
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