10 Must-Read Cozy Fall Books Including BookTok Sensation ‘The Pumpkin Spice Cafe’: Our Full List
First for Women editors and book lovers share their favorite autumn reads
As summer slowly fades into fall, autumn lovers are anticipating what’s to come: crisp air, trees and leaves in a kaleidoscope of colors from golden to maroon, apple orchards, baking, pumpkin spice everything — and more weekends spent at home. It’s also one of the greatest times of year to get lost in a good book. If you’re a seasonal reader, meaning you match reading material based on the time of year, you’re likely in the market for an on-theme fall read. Whether you enjoy idyllic autumnal settings, cozy food and drink details or holiday themes, we have you covered. Here, we gathered up 10 popular, feel-good books that will have you feeling all the fall feelings. And if you’re searching for this season’s biggest book, look no further than the BookTok craze surrounding The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore. This simply charming small-town love story — which has garnered millions of views on TikTok and keeps selling out online — is perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls and its picturesque town of Stars Hollow.
@queenvreads 🍁The Pumpkin Spice Cafe🍁 Book Review! This book was so cute! Loved the characters, the town, the plot! Such a fun Fall read! Small town romance, slow burn, funny, who done it vibes everything you could need in a book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️ thank you so much @KK’s Book Reads for gifting me this book! I loved it!#booktoker #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #fallreads #bookreviews
Keep scrolling for all of our must-read fall book recommendations in a variety of genres, from cozy mystery to romance, fantasy and more. Happy reading!
‘The Pumpkin Spice Café’ by Laurie Gilmore
Small-town charm, pumpkin spice lattes, found family dynamics…The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore has it all. Awarded TikTok shop’s Book of the Year 2024 award, this cozy book is all the rage on socials right now. The story follows Jeanie, who is thankful to leave her humdrum desk job behind when her aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the tiny town of Dream Harbor. Logan, a handsome and grumpy local farmer, tries his best to avoid Dream Harbor’s gossip no matter what — and he has no interest in getting to know this cheery new café owner. Will opposites attract in this heartwarming story?
What readers are saying: “This contemporary romance is a sweet autumn-themed slow-burn story. I love the book’s small-town, midlife and grumpy/sunshine tropes. The book was lighthearted, with a little mystery and some very lovable characters. Jeanie and Logan have some sizzling intimacy as they go from acquaintances to lovers and embrace their relationship. The autumn vibes were cozy and nostalgic. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.”
‘At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities’ by Heather Webber
Coffee, magic and intrigue meld in bestselling author Heather Webber’s At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities. The story centers on Ava Harrison, who receives a mysterious letter about a job offer as a live-in caretaker for an old man in Driftwood, Alabama. What follows is a series of events involving a magical coffee shop, making new friends and starting over.
What readers are saying: “After long weeks staring at emails, texts and video calls, I always need a tech break, and my remedy is curling up on the couch with a good book — like this one! This tale was like a warm hug on a chilly fall day.”
‘A Cup of Autumn’ by Melissa McClone
This lovable seasonal story begins when ambitious university professor Keaton Andrews finds out that he not only lost his tenure, but also his position within the university due to departmental cuts. He heads to Silver Falls to regroup with family and one day he takes a risk and orders a pumpkin spice latte from a beautiful, overworked barista named Raine Hanover. Raine is taking a break from romance to focus on her busy coffee shop and she refuses to let a charming academic distract her…even if he’s staying in town longer than expected. But when Raine is put in charge of heading up the town’s Halloween bash, Keaton jumps in to help. As the leaves fall, Raine wrestles with her heart and the idea of taking another chance on happily ever after.
What people are saying: “A charming, straight-to-the-heart romance. McClone proves that sometimes simple can be the most irresistible. A Cup of Autumn turns deep emotion into a flavorful experience.”
‘The Story Collector’ by Evie Woods
From the author of the bestselling novel The Lost Bookshop comes an equally magical novel set in a quaint Irish village. Readers are taken back 100 years as Anna, a farm girl, helps an American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English, but soon Anna finds herself involved in a mystery. In present-day New York, Sarah Harper travels over to the west coast of Ireland only to unearth something otherworldly.
What people are saying: “I adore the magical feeling this book brings throughout both timelines. I have always loved the fairy stories from Ireland so I really enjoyed reading this book. The Story Collector is a quick and easy-to-follow read. Perfect for the start of fall and getting all cozy at home with a good book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced time travel story.”
‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’ by T.J Klune
Magical moments and masterful prose abound in this bestselling novel about discovering an unlikely family in a surprising place. Forty-year-old Linus Baker leads a quiet life in his tiny house with his temperamental cat. He’s employed as a caseworker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth and oversees the well-being of children in orphanages. His latest assignment? He must travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous kids reside. Soon, Linus learns the children aren’t the only secret the island is keeping.
What readers are saying: “I thought it was lovely that the overall themes of the book were found family, and overcoming hate and prejudice with love and hope. It wasn’t lost on me how relevant these topics are nowadays. While there were difficult experiences and situations described in the book, it was handled with such a deft hand that it never felt too heavy. There’s also humor in there, I remember laughing or smiling while reading certain scenes. And of course I was rooting for the characters, and just wanted to give them all a hug and tell them everything’s going to be okay. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a delightfully cozy fantasy.”
‘You, Again’ by Kate Goldbeck
Kate Goldbeck’s You, Again follows Ari and Josh, who instantly hate one another when they first meet. Ari is a free-spirited comedian — and one of her main goals is to keep dating casual. Josh is her opposite in many ways. When Ari and Josh cross paths years later, they realize they have more than a few things in common. Both recovering from brutal breakups, they strike up a friendship. What follows is a series of late-night movie marathons, in-depth conversations, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles…and a mutual slow-burning attraction. A heartfelt, autumnal, witty romance about love in all forms!
What readers are saying: “My favorite movie of all time is When Harry Met Sally, and this book was a very fun retelling of that story in modern times. I love to read and am very particular about which books I actually buy, and this one is definitely one I wanted to buy so I could read it again!”
‘Checking Out Crime’ by Laurie Cass
Readers in the mood for a cozy autumn-set whodunit will delight in this charming cozy mystery by Laurie Cass. This tale follows librarian Minnie Hamilton and her clever cat named Eddie. Minnie and Eddie spend their days delivering books in their bookmobile in Chilson, Michigan. Then one day Minnie stumbles upon a dead bicyclist — and she thinks something sinister is at play. She vows to find the culprit, with her feline friend, but she soon learns this case is more than meets the eye.
What readers are saying: “I absolutely love this series and was thrilled with this book. It’s well-written with well-rounded characters you’ll enjoy getting to know. I was drawn in from the start and didn’t want to put the book down. Laurie Cass expertly captures small-town life and living with a cat. She has also kept the series fresh. I’m really looking forward to the next book.”
‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ by Sangu Mandanna
Described as “a warm and witchy hug of a book,” this novel follows Mika Moon, one of the few witches in Britain. Mika knows she has to hide her magic and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan, she’s used to spending time alone and hiding who she is — except on YouTube, where she posts videos of herself “pretending” to be a witch while thinking no one could ever take her seriously. But one day, a message arrives asking her to travel to the mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks the rules, but Mika goes, and is caught up in the magic of it all. She also meets the House’s handsome, grouchy librarian Jamie. Now, Mika is faced with the scariest possibility of all: finally finding a place to belong and a chance at true love, too.
What readers are saying: “This is a wonderfully executed story with extraordinary and diverse characters and a setting that came alive. The writing and dialogue flow well. The chemistry between Mika and Jamie creates an added layer to the storyline.”
‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern
Spellbinding action and descriptive seasonal language (like “caramel wafting through the evening breeze beneath the crisp scent of autumn leaves”) abound in Erin Morgernstern’s bestselling novel The Night Circus. In this saga, a mysterious circus called Le Cirque des Rêves only appears at night. Behind the scenes, an intense competition between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, rages on. They’ve both been trained since childhood by ancient instructors. The hitch: The contestants don’t know the rules of this ongoing game. When romance sparks between the two rivals, things get even more complicated.
What readers are saying: “The story wraps your soul in a warm, familiar soft blanket that feels like a sense of coziness that only a special kind of novel can provide. A love story, a story about an extraordinary circus, and a tale of dreams-turned-reality. Don’t pass this one up!”
‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman
Mystery fans will rejoice over this cozy and clever page-turner by Richard Osman. In a charming retirement village in England, a group of four friends get together each week for the Thursday Murder Club, where they piece together unsolved crimes just for the thrill of it. But when a local property developer is murdered, the group decides to crack the case for themselves.
What readers are saying: “This was quite an enjoyable book. Definitely the sort of read you should be reading with a cup of tea under a cozy blanket. I also really liked that it centered around older characters — each of them were fascinating!”
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