Fall is Coming!

26 titles giving autumn vibes

As the frenzied days of summer come to an end, many of us draw a collective breath of relief. The autumnal shift can be bittersweet, but also comforting—the crispness in the air; the shortening days; the sweet scent of the changing leaves. We begin to look forward to the hallmarks of fall, from Halloween thrills and Thanksgiving feasts to steaming cups of tea, heavy blankets, and piping bowls of gingery soup. And, as always, we need the right reading material. Here are 26 books giving all the fall vibes, from soothing to scary.

Beloved classics

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old. . . From the perfect opening paragraph of Merricat's eerie narrative, a spell is cast. Readers will remain captivated by this slim volume until they reach the final page.     

The Shining by Stephen King
Jack Torrance's new job as the caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel seems like the perfect fresh start—time spent with his family and working on his book. But as winter descends, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A naïve young woman impetuously marries a wealthy English widower she meets while traveling with her overbearing employer. But after arriving at his isolated estate on the windswept Cornish coast, things take a chilling turn.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Pursuing questions of identity and insanity along the paths and corridors of English country houses and the madhouse, this novel tells the story of drawing master Walter Hartright as he becomes embroiled in sinister intrigues.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Determined and outspoken, Anne stands up for what's right and pursues her dreams with vigor. When the young orphan arrives at Green Gables (a girl instead of the requested boy), she wins hearts and changes lives.

The October Country by Ray Bradbury
Chilling tales of love, death, and fear populate this collection from America's master of the short story. The book is described as the author's own netherworld of the soul, inhabited by the horrors and demons that lurk within us all.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
After enduring loneliness and cruelty in the home of her heartless aunt and the cold charity of the Lowood School, a spirited young woman takes a position as a governess. But her new home comes with its own challenges.

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice
Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly sensual, this spellbinding classic is a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses.

All-time favorites

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with her twin sister, Aggie, tasked with reintroducing gray wolves into the Highlands despite fierce local opposition. Meanwhile, she and Aggie are haunted by the terrible secrets that drove them out of Alaska.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Set across five decades, this dark fairy tale examines the indelible bond between two siblings. After losing their parents and being exiled from the house where they grew up, Danny and Maeve cling to one another amidst a shifting foundation.

The Whisper Man by Alex North
Looking for a fresh start after the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy moves with his young son Jake to a town called Featherbank. But this town has a dark past. And Tom and Jake become caught up in a deadly mystery.

Pony by R. J. Palacio
This enthralling middle-grade coming-of-age story centers on twelve-year-old Silas. After three menacing horsemen take his father away, Silas sets out to rescue him with a ghost as his companion and a mysterious pony as his guide.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer's son mourning the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book. "This is one gorgeous read." —Stephen King

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
The first in a trilogy, this medieval fairy tale casts an irresistible spell. Set on the edge of a deep, dark Russian forest, it is the story of Vasya, a young woman who must channel her hidden powers to save her village and herself.

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Ree Dolly's father has skipped bail and her family will lose their Ozarks home if he doesn't show up for his court date. With two young brothers relying on her, sixteen-year-old Ree sets out to bring her father back, dead or alive.

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle L. Gómez
Louisiana, 1850s: Gilda is a young woman who escapes slavery after being inducted into a family of vampires. She embarks on a raucous two-hundred-year quest to find a place to call home. Call it the OG sexy vampire novel.

New releases

Malas by Marcela Fuentes
This cinematic debut follows one family living on the Texas Mexico border and a curse that reverberates across generations. From dusty rodeos to a Selena concert to boisterous family gatherings, this novel is a love letter to Tejano culture.

Lone Women by Victor LaValle
The year is 1915 and Adelaide is on the run. Her parents dead, she burns down their California farmhouse and makes her way to Montana as a homesteader. The enormous steamer trunk she carries with her must remain locked at all times.

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez
A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the mysterious death of the wife and mother they both loved. United in grief, the pair travel to her ancestral home, where they must confront her terrifying legacy.

The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis
Eight years ago, Lizzy Moon left, determined to distance herself from her family's strange legacy. But after the death of her beloved grandmother, Lizzy must return and face the tragedy still hanging over Moon Girl Farm.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
It is 1985 in a small Irish town. Bill Furlong is a coal merchant and family man. In the busy weeks leading up to Christmas, while making an early morning delivery to the local convent, Bill makes an unsettling discovery.

Most anticipated

The Haunted Mask (Goosebumps Graphic Novel #1) by R. L. Stine (Sept. 3)
Carly Beth has found the perfect monster mask for Halloween. One that will scare everyone she comes across—including her annoying little brother and the bullies at school. But when the mask won't come off, will the monster take over?

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson (Sept. 17)
Lennon Carter's life is falling apart when she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a mysterious school of magic where she can learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan (Sept. 24)
Now a high school senior, Percy Jackson continues his pursuit to secure admission into New Rome University with three recommendation letters from the Greek Gods. His challenge this time? Pet-sitting for Hecate. No problem, right?

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden (Oct. 1)
Sydney has had terrible luck in dating—until now. Her new boyfriend is perfect. But a string of murders perpetrated by a mystery man who dates his victims before killing them has her wondering if her perfect man is a little too perfect.

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (Oct. 29)
The 19th mystery in the bestselling Armand Gamache series begins with a sequence of strange and unsettling events, including a murder, that propel Inspector Gamache and his team toward a terrible realization.

Settle into fall with one of these great reads, from enduring classics to thrilling new titles.

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon