Best Fall Books to Read on a Rainy Sunday!
Alas, summer is almost gone, and with it comes a period much beloved by any parent - fall, when the weather gets colder, the leaves start to fall, and the kids go back to kindergarten or school, so you can finally enjoy a good book in peace!
Honestly, is there anything better than curling up under a cozy blanket on a Sunday afternoon, making yourself a cup of tea, getting your favourite fall books out and immersing yourself in a fantastic story, while the rain is beating slightly against the windows?
I’m a big bearded guy, and I can guarantee you that there isn’t!
And if you’re a genre hopping weirdo like myself, I know you won’t be satisfied with committing to only one genre. So here is my selection for the best fall books to read this rainy season! Some of these I’ve read already, but plan to re-read quite soon. Others have been on my TBR (to-be-read) list for ages, but I think their time has finally come!
Quick reminder, there are some affiliate links below, where for no additional cost to yourself you can guarantee that we get the massive paycheck of approximately 0.40 cents per purchase, so go crazy on the “add to cart” button, because papa needs some ramen noodles!
Best Fall Books: Classics for Rainy Afternoons
Like KFC, Coca Cola, or that bottom-shelf gum brand that hasn’t changed in the last 50 years, there’s no reason to mess with the classics. They’re classic for a reason.
The three works below are the perfect fall books for any classics lover could enjoy on rainy Sunday afternoon!
Best Fall Books: Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë
Gothic atmosphere, moody weather, and an unforgettable heroine - what more could you want?
A while ago I finished reading Jane Eyre, and fell in love with it. Definitely a book that should be read by everyone at least once! I did a mini-review of it in the past, so feel free to check that out if you’re still debating whether to go for it!
Best Fall Books: Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
Dark, philosophical, and perfect for stormy nights.
One of my all-time favourite classics. To imagine that Mary Shelley wrote it over the course of a rainy summer, simply as a response to a challenge by Lord Byron is crazy!
If you’re looking for a classic with strong Gothic elements from the Romantic Era, this is the book for you.
Best Fall Books: Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronthë
Passion and turmoil set against windswept moors.
This one has been sitting on my TBR for probably several years already, but I feel like I’ve almost read it form all the great things I’ve heard about it from friends and family.
And with the new movie coming out soon, now is the perfect time for both you and me to explore the bleak and windswept Yorkshire Moors of Northern England (nothing says fall books like British weather, to be honest).
Best Fall Books: Romance and Cozy Escapes
There’s a reason why so many romantic stories are set during autumn. The canopy of multicoloured leaves that creates the most romantic settings ever. The slight chill in the air, prompting you to cuddle close to that special someone. It’s a season for love, whichever way you look about it.
I’ll be honest with you, I’m not the biggest romance reader. In fact, I spent the first 30-something years of my life actively avoiding the genre like the plague, thinking it’s mostly talentless hags promoting unrealistic standards for men. Over the last two years though, I’ve decided to give it a go, and while I can honestly say there is some absolute drivel that I’ve come across, I’ve also read some absolutely fantastic stories.
And while I’m still not a massive romance books reader, I no longer shy away from them either.
My wife, on the other hand, loves them! So here are 3 romance fall book recommendations from her and her friends, which should help you find a cozy escape this rainy season.
Best Fall Books: The Ex Hex, by Erin Sterling
A witchy rom-com with small-town autumn vibes.
I haven’t read this one yet, but after hearing the premise, it’s definitely going on the fall books list for this year!
The Ex Hex tells the story as old as time: that of a woman scorned. As we know, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, especially if that woman is a witch that can hex you into oblivion.
When the man who broke her heart years ago returns to her small town, our witch is forced to make magic with him (ahem…), which in turn sets a whole bunch of supernatural disasters in motion.
A complicated relationship, supernatural elements, and a small-town fall setting? Sign me up!
Best Fall Books: People We Meet on Vacation, by Emily Henry
Warm, witty, and like wrapping yourself in a blanket.
People We Meet on Vacation tells the story of Poppy and Alex, two best friends with VERY different personalities, who had a falling out a couple of years ago during a trip to Croatia. Poppy, a travel writer that’s constantly dissatisfied with things in her life reaches out to Alex to rekindle their friendship, convincing him to restart their annual trip tradition. The destination this time - Palm Springs (a tad underwhelming, I know, but bear with me).
The book is presented in a dual-timeline, where we slowly get to fill the blanks of what happened during that famous last trip to Croatia, while also navigating the complicated relationship Alex and Poppy share.
It’s been described to me as the ultimate “will they, won’t they?” romantic journey without world-shattering stakes: simply two normal people working through issues we all face to hopefully find love.
Best Fall Books: Persuasion, by Jane Austen
Melancholic, reflective, and ideal for a quiet, rainy day.
Okay, okay - I know that technically Persuasion should fall in with the classics above, but since I’m trying to keep it to a maximum of 3 recommendations per category, I’m trying to sneak it in here - sue me!
But in all honesty, I’m a huge Austen fan (check out my list of surprising facts about her) and if you’ve been following my series of book reviews you’ll soon see quite a few titles from her pop in there.
Persuasion tells the story of Anne Elliot, whose world turns upside down when her former lover (who she was persuaded to break her engagement from in the past) enters her life again.
It’s complex. reflective, and passionate, in typical Austen fashion, making it an ideal fall book for you to fall in love with this rainy season!
Best Fall Books: Thrillers and Mysteries to Curl up With
For me, autumn is the season that most resembles the temperament of women. It’s usually mild, sunny, and beautiful, filling you with feelings of coziness and content. But just as quickly, those sunny days can be replaced by thunderous clouds, rain falling sideways, and winds that will make you run for cover, to avoid their wrath.
I’ve covered some of my favourite (or most anticipated) classic and romantic fall books to read this rainy season, but now it’s time to look towards the grittier, more ghastly aspect of autumn. It’s time for unsolved mysteries, dark academia, and tension built up to a boiling point.
Best Fall Books: The Secret History, by Donna Tartt
Dark academia at its finest, with fall in every sentence.
This one has been recommended to me by so many people, both within and outside of my immediate circle, that I’m going on a limb here and will include it as one of my most anticipated books to read this fall.
This book is dark academia at it’s finest - a Vermont college, students dabbling in ancient and forbidden mysteries, and of course - a murder with tragic consequences for everyone involved.
Even as I’m typing this, I just want to stop what I’m doing and grab it off the shelf to see what happens next.
But, unfortunately, the sun is shining today, so it will have to wait a few more days…
Best Fall Books: The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
A Gothic mystery set in rainy Barcelona.
The Shadow of the Wind introduces us to Daniel, a young boy living in post-war Barcelona, who comes across a mysterious book called The Shadow of the Wind, by a rather obscure author called Julián Carax. Daniel is instantly mesmerised by the book and as he grows older his curiosity turns to obsession, for he realizes that someone is very deliberately and systematically destroying any surviving works by Carax.
Daniel’s obsession leads him on a quest to uncover a tragic murder, filled with madness and doomed love, set against the backdrop of a Barcelona that is still haunted by the shadows of its civil war.
Fair warning, this is the first book in a series of 4 books, so if you’re like me and you simply NEED to know how the story ends, be ready for a lengthy adventure ahead.
Best Fall Books: And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie
Classic, tense, and perfect with a cup of tea.
If you’re expecting me to make a list of the best fall books and not include the master of thrillers, suspense stories, and whodunnits, you’ve got another thing coming!
I’ve been reading Agatha Christie stories for as long as I can remember - she was one of my mom’s favourite authors, and I still fondly remember her spending many a quiet rainy autumn afternoon trying to guess, quite literally, who-dun-it?
And Then There Were None is one of Christie’s most famous novels, following 10 strangers as they are lured to a remote island by a mysterious host, who accuses each of them of murder.
One by one the guests meet their demise, mirroring a chilling children’s rhyme, and the survivors race against time to find the actual murderer… before he finds them.
Best Fall Books: Spooky and Atmospheric Reads
It’s time to give my recommendations for my favourite autumn period - Spooky Season. A time where the veils between worlds grow thin, and evil spirits, hungry demons, and worst of all - tax collectors, begin prowling the streets after dark, looking for unsuspecting victims.
I’ve already done a post on 11 scary books to keep you up at night, so I’ll try to add some different suggestions here. But by all means, if you want to absolutely immerse yourself in worlds of eldritch horrors and gothic monstrosities, check out the full list above (at your own peril!).
Best Fall Books: Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Creeping horror in a decaying mansion.
This one has also been on my Kindle TBR for ages, and honestly, I feel that this autumn is the right time to completely immerse myself in it.
Mexican Gothic tells the story of Noemi Taboada, a socialite during the 1950s, who finds herself in an English-owned mansion after a disturbing letter from her newlywed cousin.
Upon arrival, she finds her cousin’s new family to be a rather strange bunch, but what seem initially like quirky oddities quickly turn to horror, as Noemi uncovers the house’s dark secret - a parasitic fungus, which has bestowed upon the residents a twisted form of immortality. And they won’t let anyone stand in the way of them keeping it.
Best Fall Books: Dracula, by Bram Stoker
Iconic gothic chills for stormy nights.
I couldn’t help myself including at least one classic. And if I had to choose only one, let it be the one that quite literary started the horror genre.
There’s doubtfully a person on the planet that hasn’t heard about the story of the Prince of Darkness before, so I won’t go into detail about what you can expect from this book.
But I will say two things. Firstly, if your impression of the story comes only from having seen one of the numerous adaptations, stop what you’re doing immediately and go pick up a book copy. It will change your life.
Secondly, if you’ve read and re-read Dracula multiple times and don’t want to go for it again, spice things up a little and go for the Icelandic version. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Google it. Definitely worth a read!
Best Fall Books: Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
Darkly whimsical, unsettling, and timeless.
I know that Gaiman has been getting some very bad publicity recently - and rightly so - but however you feel about the man himself, it’s hard to deny that he’s authored some of the most thrilling stories of our generation.
Coraline tells the story of, well, Coraline - an adventurous but disengaged girl, who discovers a hidden door in her new home, which leads her to an alternate, seemingly perfect world.
But unfortunately for Coraline, this world is not Narnia. While exploring the world, the girl meets an entity known simply as “Other Mother” whose physical description I will not mention here for fear of scaring you off too badly before you even pick up the book.
Needless to say, Other Mother has plans for Coraline, and other curious children that end up in her realm, and those plans don’t involve treating them to sugar plums and candy.
In a race against time, Coraline must find a way to escape this alternate world, free her captured parents, and end Other Mother’s reign of terror… before Other Mother ends her.
Best Fall Books: Contemporary Comfort Reads
Whether you’re looking to fall in love, or running for your life from an eldritch horror, you must admit that above all else, autumn is a magical time.
Therefore, I’ve saved for last those 3 fall book recommendations that will fill your world with wonder, and hopefully make you believe in the magic of the season.
Best Fall Books: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman
Heartwarming and quietly powerful.
I first came across this title while browsing BookTok, and it immediately grabbed my attention with it’s whimsical phrasing.
But after reading the premise, I immediately decided that this will be one of the books I simply have to read in the autumn, for no other season would be worthy of it’s heartwarming message.
The novel tells the story of Eleanor, who as you’ve probably guessed from the title, is anything but fine. She is socially awkward, isolated, and her life is structured almost to the minute.
Things look rather bleak for Eleanor, until a chance encounter involving her colleague, Raymond, and a an elderly man named Sammy begins a series of events that will break down the walls she’s built for herself.
Best Fall Books: The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
Magical, lush, and perfect for cozy nights.
The Night Circus follows the story of Celia and Marco, two rival young illusionists, who have trained their entire lives in the art of magic with the goal to compete in a duel played out within the ethereal circus Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of Dreams).
The Circus of Dreams never stays in one place too long, appearing in different locations without warning, and only those out and about in the small hours of the day can enter the magical world of mysteries within.
But as Marco and Celia’s competition becomes fiercer, so do their feelings for each other. Which, as you can imagine, severely complicated having to compete in a deadly game where there can be only one winner. Will they be able to break the cycle of doom and save each other, or will they become just another unsolved mystery surrounding the Circus of Dreams?
Best Fall Books: Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree
Low-stakes, cozy fantasy about starting fresh.
I’ve decided to end the list with a book that fills me with equal parts excitement and dread.
On one hand, Legends & Lattes became an absolute sensation when it came out, with everyone and their grandma singing its praises.
On the other hand, I’ve been burned by books like that before, and I have this awful fear that the book will fall short of the hype.
That is the only reason why the book is still on my to-read list. But this fall, things will finally change.
Scared or not, I will take the trip to Viv’s coffee shop and see if a blood-thirsty barbarian could really hang up the double-bladed axe for a coffee apron.
That’s the end of my list for the best fall books to read on a rainy Sunday. Let me know if you’ve found the suggestions helpful, or if you’d like to pick up a torch, raise a mob, and storm my house in retribution for the time wasted.
Oh, and before you go, here are a couple of my other posts that I think you might enjoy, if you’ve liked this one:
25 Famous Book Quotes From Our Library
1984 Book Summary and Review (with quotes and recommendations)
The Master and Margarita Book Review - A Russian Classic Like No Other!
Honestly, is there anything better than curling up under a cozy blanket on a Sunday afternoon, making yourself a cup of tea, getting your favourite fall books out and immersing yourself in a fantastic story, while the rain is beating slightly against the windows?