Fall is my favorite season, and I’m sure it’s yours too. How could we not love its cool days and cozy nights? I have always loved reading, but in college sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to read MORE than you already do during the week. If you’re like me and have to read countless essays and documents for class, reading can seem like the absolute last thing you want to do. However, fear not! These amazing books will surely inspire you to read, and they will definitely get you into that fall feeling. What better time to read then cozied up inside on an autumn day?
1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
This book was popular a couple of years ago and grew to greater popularity with the release of its 2016 movie starring Emily Blunt. As a novel, this book is short and intense. It is a thriller for sure and more than just a bit haunting. The plot is difficult to explain, as there are many twists and turns due in part to its three different narrators. This is a great book to read to get your heart pumping and to give you a little fright, just in time for Halloween.
2. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Just by the name alone, you know this book is going to be a bit of a mystery, and it is just that. While the secret is pretty easy to guess, this book is a great read for fall. It will keep you enticed and intrigued to figure out what is going to happen next. Read this book to escape from all of the drama around school, and dive into this book to read some fictional (although convincing) real-world drama.
3. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Another book that was popular a couple of years ago, All the Light We Cannot See is an enriching and lively story, even for a novel set during WWII. The book follows a young French girl and a German boy who navigate the trials and horrors of war in their own way. The story is simple, but again, will keep readers captivated by its subtle beauty and intrigue. A perfect book to read on a calm fall morning.
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I was recently reminded of this classic, and I felt that it was the perfect book for fall. Even though it is a standard high school English class read, the story does have a lot of weight to it. The small town, the court case and the deep thematic elements of the book make it a perfect book for fall. Not only will it remind you of high school, but reading this book again may give you another chance to really understand it and get a better sense of its deep meaning.
5. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
When I first started reading this book, I was worried that my lack of knowledge about rowing would hinder my experience. This was not the case. This is a phenomenal read. It does make sense to read this book in the fall as the main season of training and practice for the rowers is autumn. This book is historical and very captivating.
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book will get you into the Halloween mood. Definitely a quirky read, this books takes a while to get interesting, but once it gets going it is worth it. There are a lot of twists and turns and some characters may not be all that they appear. Bonus: if you love The Greatest Showman you will love this novel.
7. The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienThe precursor to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit tells the classic tale of dwarves, dragons and dangers, oh my! Even though, yes, this book is technically for children, no one can argue that it isn’t loved by adults worldwide. This is a great read for fall with adventure, heroism and large climatic battle scenes. Who doesn’t love a good fantasy quest for fall?
8. Harry Potter and the … by J.K. Rowling
Finally, concluding our list of fall reads, of course, is Harry Potter. Any Harry Potter novel is great to read during fall. My personal favorites are the second and fourth book. Each book starts with a new school year, there is always a Halloween feast, there is a mystery, there are secrets, monsters and evil villains. Take a break this fall and indulge yourself by reading your favorite childhood books; you know you want to.
These are just a couple of amazing books to read this fall. From classic novels to more contemporary thrillers, there are books on this list to fit every need. These books will definitely keep you company on cold fall days or maybe just give you a well-deserved break from studying for midterms!