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12 Must-Read Books That Capture Perfect Fall Vibes
Fall is one of my favorite seasons to read books. I’ve probably said this a thousand times, but it’s true—I love the crisp air and gorgeous kaleidoscope of colors. So if you love autumn and want to curl up with a good fall-themed romance, check out this post. I’ve gathered beautiful books with fall vibes. They have gorgeous fall covers and are perfect for a cozy autumn night. I also recommend reading these books in your fall book club too!
12 Must-Read Books With Fall Vibes
Funny Feelings by Tarah Dewitt
Summary : Farley Jones is a rising stand-up comedian who’s loud, chaotic, and secretly in love with her older manager, Meyer. Meyer, a former stand-up star, is focused on raising his deaf daughter, Hazel, and helping Farley’s career. When a fake dating scheme for publicity forces them to confront their feelings, their close friendship might turn into something more. This slow burn romance is such a fun read—it’s packed with humor, love, and all the tension of hidden emotions. If you’re looking for a cozy book with autumn vibes, this one’s perfect. It’s got all the warmth and laughs you need as the characters figure out their complicated feelings.
Most anticipated by Book Riot, Her Campus, and San Diego Union Tribune !
When falling in love is the punchline…
Farley Jones is a loud, chaotic, and hilariously clever standup comedian on the way to stardom. The only thing she loves more than the rush of telling jokes in front of a revved-up audience is her hot older manager Meyer, though he doesn’t have a clue. Keeping her feelings hidden from him is agony (a tragedy, even―in lieu of flowers, please send cash…) but Meyer has been Farley’s closest and most treasured friend, not to mention vital to the trajectory of her career. She can’t risk ruining their relationship by telling him how she truly feels. After all, who else would have the patience to put up with a hot mess like her?
A former standup star himself, single father Meyer Harrigan left the stage years ago in order to focus on raising his deaf daughter Hazel. Farley has been everything to them since she came into their lives three years ago, and despite his grumpiness, his protectiveness over Hazel, and his disdain for public attention, Meyer will do anything to make her standup dreams come true.
When the biggest opportunity of Farley’s career comes along and forces the pair to fake-date in order to stir up publicity, it doesn’t take long for their act to bring all those other funny feelings out into the open. Like most matters of the heart, it quickly begins to feel like anything but a joke.
Touching on the creative spirit and all that comes with sharing that gift, Tarah DeWitt’s Funny Feelings is a swoony story about friendship, love, and looking for the laugh in life.
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Every Rule Worth Breaking by Amanda Chaperon
Summary : Mackenzie Jean is back in school at Michigan State University, hoping to rediscover herself after a tough few years. Aiden Fuller, a star hockey player, is facing a suspension that could ruin his future. When their paths cross, they start to realize that sometimes, breaking the rules is the only way to find what you’re really looking for—whether it’s success, love, or a fresh start.
Rules are made for a reason, but some rules are meant to be broken.
After dropping out of NYU, moving across the country, and spending the last two years as the co-owner of a successful activewear brand, Mackenzie Jean has decided it’s time to go back to school. Does she want to finish her degree? Absolutely. But enrolling at Michigan State University is about so much more. Somewhere along the way, she lost herself in the fog of her anxiety, and it’s time she rediscovers who she is.
Aiden Fuller is an MSU hockey standout set to embark on his senior season. He’s flying high, all of his dreams within reach, until a seemingly harmless dare from his teammates ends with Aiden staring down a ten-game suspension. Now, he’s terrified he’s on the verge of losing the one thing in his life that means the most to him.
When a chance encounter during Welcome Weekend pulls Kenzie and Aiden into each other’s orbits, suddenly all the rules they’ve carefully laid out for their lives seem to be hindering more than helping.
Can Aiden be a safe place for Kenzie, a place where her mind is at rest and she can simply be? And will Kenzie help Aiden realize he can have it all—the game and the girl?
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Off the Beaten Path by Madison Wright
Summary : Wren Daniels is juggling a charity auction, cabin renovation, and a mysterious online friendship. She’s shocked to discover that her online friend is her grumpy neighbor, Holden, who she’s never gotten along with. As they work together on the cabin, their relationship shifts from animosity to something deeper.
Wren Daniels is in over her head.
Between organizing a charity auction and trying to renovate a cabin she can’t afford, she’s barely keeping her head above water. The only bright spot is her new friend she met on an anonymous dating app four months ago. That is, until she discovers he’s the last person she would have expected—her grumpy neighbor who she’s never gotten along with.
Holden Blankenship likes his life just the way it is.
After his wife left him, he spent years putting his life back together. Now he’s got his daughter who is the light of his world, his family, and surprisingly, an anonymous friend. But when his anonymous friend turns out to be his neighbor who drives him crazy, he’s not sure what to make of it. Especially when her contractor backs out of her cabin renovation project and he finds himself offering to help her. Now Wren is getting under his skin in a completely different way and turning all his carefully laid plans upside down.
As Wren continues to show up for Holden and Holden keeps proving to Wren that he’s not really as standoffish as he seems, the lines between friendship and more start to blur.
Their relationship may have gotten off to an unusual start, but some of the best things in life are just a little off the beaten path.
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Awkward in October by Teresa Yea
Summary : Theodora Dy is tired of living with her parents and feeling stuck. So, she quits her job, buys a fixer-upper in Connecticut, and hopes for a fresh start. Her grumpy neighbor, Carter, unexpectedly becomes her savior as he helps her with repairs. As autumn settles in, Theodora and Carter discover that even the most unlikely pair can spark a beautiful romance. If you’re in the mood for a fall book this heartwarming story is just right. It’s got cozy vibes and unexpected love that’ll totally sweep you off your feet.
My name is Theodora Dy.
I’m single and live with my parents.
I may be existing, but I sure as hell am not thriving.
I want more out of life before resigning myself to decrepit spinsterhood.
I want adventures and mistakes, balmy summer nights and stirring rooftop conversations.
I want a beautiful romance.
Like something ripped straight out of the pages of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, my favorite book of all time.
But that’s all wishful thinking until I commit to a dramatic change.
So I quit my job.
Purchased a cheap old house sight unseen and booked a one-way ticket to Connecticut where autumn is in full swing and Halloween is just around the corner.
I may be living my best life, but I’m in over my head.
My fixer upper is falling apart and my big stupid gesture is sucking my bank account dry.
Fortunately, my grumpy neighbor, Carter, knows a thing or two about repairing ‘money pits’ (his words, not mine).
He’s perfectly practical in every way.
I’m a hopeless romantic.
We’re as opposite as two people can be.
But unbeknownst to him or me…
In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible.
Even the beginning of a beautiful romance.
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The Fall Back Plan by Melanie Jacobson
Summary : Jolie McGraw returns to her hometown with a new attitude and a bar to run. She’s determined to prove she’s no longer the shy girl everyone remembers, especially to Lucas Cole, the sheriff who once tormented her in high school. But when she meets his niece, Jolie starts to see a softer side to Lucas. Despite her resistance, the small-town meddling might just push them together. If you love enemies-to-lovers romance in the fall, this book is perfect. Plus, it’s also about new beginnings under autumn leaves, with a sweet and heartwarming romance.
The bad boy and the golden girl have traded places…
I’m back in Harvest Hollow after ten years to prove a point and to even a few scores. I’ve opened a new bar, and anyone expecting the old sweet and shy Jolie McGraw to be running it is in for a shock.
I’m not the only one who’s changed: when the sheriff comes to tell me I’m the prime suspect in the most ridiculous crime in town history, it’s none other than Lucas Cole, the former star of my teenage stress dreams, wearing the badge.
Seriously? The smack-talking punk I was forced to tutor in math is now one of the town’s most upstanding citizens? This isn’t what I had in mind for turning the tables on my former tormentors.
I blow him off…until I meet the niece he’s raising. I see so much of my younger self in her. But when I agree to help when she needs a woman in her life, Lucas uses it as a chance to build a case that he’s the man I need in mine.
That’s a hard no. No to love. No to Lucas.
But when Harvest Hollow’s nosiest forces combine to push us together, I’m not sure my heart stands a chance.
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The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell
Summary : Rachel Monroe has a unique gift—she can make wishes come true, but it often comes with disastrous consequences. When a wish goes wrong, she flees to Nowhere, North Carolina, where she meets Catch, an old woman with a gift for binding secrets in pies, and Ashe, a charming Southern gentleman. As Rachel tries to hide her past, wishes start to accumulate, threatening the new life she’s built. This comforting fantasy novel blends enchanting magic, perfect for capturing the essence of fall.
26-year-old Rachel Monroe has spent her whole life trying to keep a very unusual secret: she can make wishes come true. And sometimes the consequences are disastrous. So when Rachel accidentally grants an outlandish wish for the first time in years, she decides it’s time to leave her hometown—and her past—behind for good.
Rachel isn’t on the road long before she runs out of gas in a town that’s not on her map: Nowhere, North Carolina—also known as the town of “Lost and Found.” In Nowhere, Rachel is taken in by a spit-fire old woman, Catch, who possesses a strange gift of her own: she can bind secrets by baking them into pies. Rachel also meets Catch’s neighbor, Ashe, a Southern gentleman with a complicated past, who makes her want to believe in happily-ever-after for the first time in her life.
As she settles into the small town, Rachel hopes her own secrets will stay hidden, but wishes start piling up everywhere Rachel goes. When the consequences threaten to ruin everything she’s begun to build in Nowhere, Rachel must come to terms with who she is and what she can do, or risk losing the people she’s starting to love—and her chance at happiness—all over again.
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Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Summary : Sage Flores returns to her hometown, still haunted by her sister’s death and her family’s magical curse. She partners with her old flame, Tennessee Reyes, to explore the local flora, but their rekindled connection brings up old wounds. As they navigate rare plants and Sage’s complex family, including a sister who conjures lightning, they face a mysterious threat in their small town. This cozy witch book has the most gorgeous autumnal settings and a comforting plot, perfect for fall reading.
Legend goes that long ago a Flores woman offended the old gods, and their family was cursed as a result. Now, every woman born to the family has a touch of magic.
Sage Flores has been running from her family—and their “gifts”—ever since her younger sister Sky died. Eight years later, Sage reluctantly returns to her hometown. Like slipping into an old, comforting sweater, Sage takes back her job at Cranberry Rose Company and uses her ability to communicate with plants to discover unusual heritage specimens in the surrounding lands.
What should be a simple task is complicated by her partner in botany sleuthing: Tennessee Reyes. He broke her heart in high school, and she never fully recovered. Working together is reminding her of all their past tender, genuine moments—and new feelings for this mature sexy man are starting to take root in her heart.
With rare plants to find, a dead sister who keeps bringing her coffee, and another sister whose anger fills the sky with lightning, Sage doesn’t have time for romance. But being with Tenn is like standing in the middle of a field on the cusp of a summer thunderstorm—supercharged and inevitable.
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Can’t Help Falling by Courtney Walsh
Summary : In Can’t Help Falling, Owen Larrabee isn’t the hero of romance novels—he’s moody, misunderstood, and definitely not the soulmate of the bookshop-owning, romance-loving protagonist. Years ago, she confessed her love to him on his wedding day (she wasn’t the bride), and now, he’s back in Harvest Hollow just in time to rescue her from a burning house. This novel, set against the backdrop of a cozy small town, is another charming, fall romance with a touch of nostalgia.
Sometimes all it takes to start a fire is a single match. . .
Owen Larrabee is not my soulmate.
He wasn’t when I confessed my love to him on his wedding day, and he isn’t now. I should probably say that I wasn’t the bride when that happened. I don’t have the best timing.
He’s got a temper, he’s moody, and he has a history of being misunderstood and making big mistakes.
I, on the other hand, make pumpkin cupcakes, spend my Friday nights curled up with a beloved romance novel and long to be kissed in the rain.
Owen is my best friend’s older, off-limits brother and the only boy I ever thought I loved. Which is laughable because he only ever saw me as his kid sister’s dorky friend.
But that was a long time ago. And I’m over him.
Mostly.
Until he comes back to Harvest Hollow like some kind of hero, showing up just in time to pull me out of my burning house and make me feel all the things I told myself I’d never feel again.
But I have questions. Why is Owen back? And does he remember our secret friendship or the day I’ve spent the last eight years trying to forget?
I know better than to get hung up on Owen again. Especially now, when he’s sworn off relationships and thinks romance is a farce. And I’m something of an expert—at least to the people who listen to my podcast, The Hopeful Romantic.
Never mind that nobody would guess their local bookshop owner is the one doling out popular weekly relationship advice.
Never mind that I’m basing all that advice on the hundreds, (thousands?) of romance novels I’ve read over the years and not on personal experience.
And especially never mind that Owen is making me question everything I believe about all of it.
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Her Favorite Jack-O-Lantern by Rebecca Rennick
Summary : Jack Campbell returns to his New Hampshire hometown after eight years in the army, ready to settle down. His new neighbor, Sally Smithson, stands out in their small town with her gothic style, black house, and hearse. Sally doesn’t mind being the town’s oddball—she has her cats, her interior design business, and her independence. But when Jack, her high school crush, moves in next door, their attraction quickly rekindles. If you’re looking for a story that blends autumnal atmosphere with a touch of small-town charm, this book is a great choice.
Jack Campbell has just returned to his hometown after eight years away in the army, much to his family’s delight, to rent the only place available in town. He quickly appreciates his luck when he meets his new lavender-eyed neighbor.
Sally Smithson is the weirdo among the townsfolk, with her black house and hearse to match. Not many in the small New Hampshire town appreciate her sense of style. It doesn’t matter either way to her. She has her two best friends, her cats, and her interior design business, which is all she needs . . .
Until a rather dashing familiarly handsome man moves in next door—her high school crush, Jack—who finds her too enticing to ignore. She’s sweet and loves her baked goods but is different from the rest of the country club attending town. And he adores it. She intrigues, captivates, and arouses him. He can’t seem to stay away from her. So, when the opportunity to spend more time with her presents itself, he takes it.
When their relationship turns more than friendly, Jack is all in, but Sally is worried they won’t fit together. It takes the support of her friends, old and new, to learn how to move beyond the gossip, to accept the affection of a man she thought she could never have.
This is book 2 in the series but can be read as a stand alone, reading book 1 is not required. This book is intended for mature adults 18+ and contains sexually explicit material. For full content warning please go to Rebecca’s website.
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Hollow by Karina Halle
Summary : Kat Van Tassel’s life takes a dark turn when she enters the shadowy world of Sleepy Hollow Institute, a school controlled by her powerful family. Kat has always known she was destined to marry her childhood friend Brom Bones, but he mysteriously disappeared years ago. Now, as she begins to fall for her enigmatic and much older teacher, Ichabod Crane, Brom suddenly returns, bringing with him a chilling change in behavior and a wave of gruesome murders. If you want to read a fall-inspired dark fantasy book, you should check this out. The eerie setting of Sleepy Hollow, and the sinister elements of the story also make this a perfect October read. Also check out 43 swoon-worthy Romantasy Books.
Ever since she was a child, Kat Van Tassel knew that her parents had arranged for her to marry her best friend, Brom Bones, when she became of age. That was until Brom mysteriously vanished from the secretive village of Sleepy Hollow when he was just a teenager.
Now, at nineteen, Kat is fulfilling the tradition of attending Sleepy Hollow Institute, a shadowy and prestigious school that is run by her powerful family. There she starts to fall for her new teacher, the enigmatic, smart, and much older Ichabod Crane, whose fascination with dark magic and the occult brings out a new side of Kat—in more ways than one.
Until Brom Bones suddenly appears in her class. Her childhood friend doesn’t remember what happened to him in the four years that he’s been gone, all he knows is that he’s back in Sleepy Hollow for good. The only problem is, he’s not the same man that Kat knew. Cocky and brash as a youth, this Brom is violent and prone to bouts of madness. It doesn’t help that his reappearance coincides with gruesome decapitations that are plaguing the town, with rumors swirling about a vengeful ghost called The Headless Horseman.
Determined to get to the bottom of the murders and Brom’s volatility, Crane takes Brom under his wing to study him, and they begin to grow close, just as they do with Kat. But the more that the threesome submits to their sexual desires on the path to the truth, the more dangerous Sleepy Hollow becomes. The Headless Horseman might claim them as his next victims…if something even more terrifying doesn’t get to them first.
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How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry
Summary : Emilia Nightingale inherits Nightingale Books, a cozy haven nestled in an idyllic village, after her father’s death. Struggling to keep the beloved bookshop open amidst mounting pressure from property developers, Emilia finds solace and support in the eclectic community of loyal customers who have become like family. As Emilia fights to honor her father’s legacy and keep the shop alive, she discovers that the power of books can heal the heart and bring people together. This cozy novel is perfect fall-inspired books with a cozy, small-town vibe. It’s also a cute, small-town romance to read on a fall evening.
The enchanting story of a bookshop, its grieving owner, a supportive literary community, and the extraordinary power of books to heal the heart
Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic little village, is a dream come true for book lovers–a cozy haven and welcoming getaway for the literary-minded locals. But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open after her beloved father’s death, and the temptation to sell is getting stronger. The property developers are circling, yet Emilia’s loyal customers have become like family, and she can’t imagine breaking the promise she made to her father to keep the store alive.
There’s Sarah, owner of the stately Peasebrook Manor, who has used the bookshop as an escape in the past few years, but it now seems there’s a very specific reason for all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who runs a pop-up restaurant for two in her tiny cottage–she has a crush on a man she met in the cookbook section, but can hardly dream of working up the courage to admit her true feelings.
Enter the world of Nightingale Books for a serving of romance, long-held secrets, and unexpected hopes for the future–and not just within the pages on the shelves. How to Find Love in a Bookshop is the delightful story of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has touched, and the books they all cherish.
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Death of a Neighborhood Witch by Laura Levine
Summary : Death of a Neighborhood Witch, Jaine Austen’s Halloween takes a deadly turn when her cat, Prozac, inadvertently scares to death the parakeet of Cryptessa Muldoon, the cantankerous former TV star turned neighborhood menace. When Cryptessa is later found murdered with her own Do Not Trespass sign, the entire neighborhood breathes a sigh of relief—but Jaine soon finds herself as the prime suspect. With Halloween vibes and plenty of humor, this lighthearted mystery is perfect for you if you love fall-themed cozy mysteries.
When her faithful feline Prozac unwittingly scares to death a parakeet belonging to the neighborhood’s resident curmudgeon, Jaine finds herself knee-deep in toil and trouble. The cantankerous Hollywood has-been once played the part of Cryptessa Muldoon, television’s fourth most famous monster mom. Now a bitter, paranoid old dame, Cryptessa spends her days making enemies with everyone on the street, and accidental bird killer Jaine is no exception. So when the ornery D-lister is murdered with her own Do Not Tresspass sign on Halloween night, the neighborhood fills with relief–and possible culprits.
With a killer on the loose, Jaine hardly has time to fall under the spell of her yummy new neighbor, Peter. As the prime suspect, she summons her sleuthing skills to clear her name and soon discovers that everyone has a few skeletons in their closets–and movtives for murder are endless. Could it have been Cryptessa’s next door neighbors, the barracuda husband and wife realtors whose landscaping Cryptessa bulldozed? Or the seemingly sweet old lady whose beloved dog was the object of Cryptessa’s wrath? Or perhaps the crotchety actress was done in by her own nephew in a desperate attempt to get his hands on her money?
As the masks come off, Jaine’s search for sweet justice turns up more questions than answers. And just when she thought nothing could be scarier than her run-in with a tortuous Tummy Tamer, she closes in on the killer and learns the true meaning of grave danger…
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More Books To Read This Fall
14 Books To Read On A Cozy Autumn Night
25+ Highly Anticipated Fall Releases You Shouldn’t Miss
37 Must-Read Cozy Witch Books to Curl Up with This Fall
17 Fall-themed Cozy Mysteries For Autumn
26 Book Covers With The Perfect Fall Vibes
Stephy George
