It’s that time of the year again! Sweater weather, leaves are falling and changing color, and all you want to do is get cozy under a blanket with a warm drink of your choice in one hand and the perfect read in the other.
Now, here begs the question — what to read? Well, since it’s autumn, what about a little bit of dark academia, mystery, and thrillers? If any of those genres speak to you, get ready and let’s dig into 5 books you should definitely add to your TBR for this season.
- The Secret History by donna Tartt
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Ah, The Secret History. Considering how it’s the blueprint for dark academia books, this is probably a familiar title. Keeping it nice and short, this story takes place in an elite New England college and follows a close-knit group of Classics students dealing with morality, secrets, lies, betrayal, and best of all — murder. Fair warning, it’s a bit of a long read, which can be difficult to keep up with alongside actual academic work, but it’s definitely worth it!
- If We Were Villains by M. L. RIO
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Now, If We Were Villains, one of my all-time favorite books. This novel is essentially The Secret History meets Shakespeare. It follows a group of seven young Shakespearean actors who attend a prestigious arts school. All goes well until their fourth year, where they find themselves facing their own Shakespearean tragedy. This book has a fascinating and absolutely captivating take on themes such as friendship, love, obsession, and secrets. If you’re a fan of murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, and Shakespeare’s plays, this book is a must read for you.
- Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
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Original photo by Francesca Ceresoli Babel, one of my most anticipated books of 2022, takes place in Oxford in the 1800s. The story explores many themes, including colonialism, racism, resistance, betrayal, and the power of languages. This is known to be a heavy read that is captivating and thought-provoking, so I wouldn’t get into this without mentally preparing yourself for a ride. I know that I’m really looking forward to burying my nose into this one though, and I hope you are too!
- Verity by Colleen Hoover
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If you’re looking for a bit of an easier read that will still leave you absolutely haunted, Verity could be right for you. This romantic thriller follows a young, struggling writer that ends up accepting a job that changes her life, but by doing so, she also uncovers secrets that were never meant to be told. This is your warning if you ever plan to read this book at night.
- The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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If you’re looking to start a quick-paced trilogy (seriously, the chapters in all of the books are VERY short), I highly recommend The Inheritance Games. Yet another thriller, The Inheritance Games is a brilliant page-turner that will leave you guessing and gasping. The story follows a girl who has been left the inheritance of a well-known billionaire, even though she has no idea who he is. She, and the relatives of the billionaire, are obsessed with finding out why her as they solve many puzzles and find out many secrets.
Thanks for taking the time to look through this list, and I really hope you got the chance to find your next new, epic read! Happy reading and happy autumn!