33 Atmospheric YA Fall Reads

Checkout the atmospheric young adult books for fall season.Fall-themed young adult books are my new favorite booklist.I have always gravitated towards classic fall reads such as Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre.But then I remembered that one of my all-time favourite fall reads is also a young adult novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. So that’s why this post is all about cozy fall reads that you would want to read again and again.I must say that some of these book have the book covers with the perfect fall vibes

Fall-themed YA Books to Read- My Top Picks

• ​​Heartstopper by Alice Oseman fall vibes throughout, cute gay romance
• With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo– multigenerational drama featuring so many sumptuous recipes
• If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson – interracial love story, delightful romance

Best Young Adult Books to Read in the Fall 

​​Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper is an awesome coming-of-age book about a quiet student named Charlie who accidentally crosses paths with the school rugby star, Nick. Their unique journey is like a warm, fuzzy blanket for your heart.You won’t find a more tender and sweet graphic novel to curl up with on a crisp autumn day. Plus, if you love it, there’s a whole Heartstopper book series to dive into.

Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn’t think he has a chance.

But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

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The Truth Project by Dante Medema

The Truth Project is all about Cordelia Koenig and her school project where she partners up with her crush, Kodiak Jones. But here’s the twist: the project reveals that her biological father isn’t who she thought he was!There are so many reasons whyThe Truth Project will be the perfect fall book for young adults. The themes of self-discovery and family are beautifully explored in the novel, which perfectly captures the cozy and melancholic autumn vibes.And let’s not forget the gorgeous fall cover. I would absolutely love to have this book for my cozy autumn nook.

Debut author Dante Medema explores the emotional fallout after a teenage girl discovers she is the product of an affair. Told through a series of poems, text messages, and emails, this contemporary YA is perfect for fans of Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin.

Seventeen-year-old Cordelia Koenig intended to breeze through her senior project. While her peers stressed, Cordelia planned to use the same trace-your-roots genealogy idea her older sister used years prior. And getting partnered with her longtime crush, Kodiak Jones, is icing on the cake. All she needs to do is mail in her DNA sample, write about her ancestry results, and get that easy A.

But when Cordelia’s GeneQuest results reveal that her father is not the person she thought he was, but a stranger who lives thousands of miles away, her entire world shatters. Now she isn’t sure of anything—not the mother who lied, the man she calls Dad, or the girl staring back at her in the mirror.

If your life began with a lie, how can you ever be sure of what’s true?

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With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Acevedo. Her novels are unique and really absorbing. With The Fire On High follows Emoni, a teen mom juggling the challenges of motherhood and caring for her grandmother, all while trying to avoid the charismatic new guy, Malachi. But here’s the twist: Emoni’s true escape is her kitchen. She dreams of becoming a chef, and her cooking is next-level.When she’s in that moment, her passion just pours out, and suddenly her dream doesn’t feel so distant. This book is packed with themes of harvest season. I think fall is the season for a fresh start and maybe to think about a new change in life. So I would highly suggest reading this multigenerational family drama.

Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela.

The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.

Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows that it’s not worth her time to pursue the impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.

Plus don’t miss Elizabeth Acevedo’s Clap When You Land!

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Dark And Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

Dark And Shallow Lies is a dark, terrifying atmospheric thriller that follows a young protagonist who uncovers a web of secrets in the mysterious town of La Cachette. To make matters even more spine-chilling, there’s a murderer lurking in the town, and Grey can’t trust anyone around her.Let me tell you that this is a kind of story that will send shivers down your spine as you turn each page, This is definitely a fantastic choice for the season of mystery and suspense.

A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling supernatural thriller for fans of Natasha Preston, Karen McManus, and E. Lockhart.

La Cachette, Louisiana, is the worst place to be if you have something to hide.

This tiny town, where seventeen-year-old Grey spends her summers, is the self-proclaimed Psychic Capital of the World—and the place where Elora Pellerin, Grey’s best friend, disappeared six months earlier.

Grey can’t believe that Elora vanished into thin air any more than she can believe that nobody in a town full of psychics knows what happened. But as she digs into the night that Elora went missing, she begins to realize that everybody in town is hiding something—her grandmother Honey; her childhood crush Hart; and even her late mother, whose secrets continue to call to Grey from beyond the grave.

When a mysterious stranger emerges from the bayou—a stormy-eyed boy with links to Elora and the town’s bloody history—Grey realizes that La Cachette’s past is far more present and dangerous than she’d ever understood. Suddenly, she doesn’t know who she can trust. In a town where secrets lurk just below the surface, and where a murderer is on the loose, nobody can be presumed innocent—and La Cachette’s dark and shallow lies may just rip the town apart.

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Lies Like Wildfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Here is another book to read during the Halloween night. Lies Like Wildfire is filled with creepy undertones. It has this fast-paced storytelling that will keep you on the edge of your seat. We have a group of young monsters eagerly looking forward to starting college. But they accidentally start a devastating forest fire that engulfs their hometown.For the sake of their futures, the group agrees to remain silent about what happened. But then one of the friends goes missing, and before long, the monsters are all sharpening their claws at each other in fear.

An intense high-stakes story about five friends and the deadly secret that could send their lives up in flames, perfect for fans of Karen McManus and E. Lockhart.

In Gap Mountain, California, everyone knows about fire season. And no one is more vigilant than 18-year-old Hannah Warner, the sheriff’s daughter and aspiring FBI agent. That is until this summer. When Hannah and her best friends accidentally spark an enormous and deadly wildfire, their instinct is to lie to the police and the fire investigators.

But as the blaze roars through their rural town and towards Yosemite National Park, Hannah’s friends begin to crack and she finds herself going to extreme lengths to protect their secret. Because sometimes good people do bad things. And if there’s one thing people hate, it’s liars.

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Beasts Of Prey by Ayana Gray

Who doesn’t want to read a YA fantasy book if it’s a perfect blend of mythology, romance, and action . Beasts Of Prey  is a richly imaginative trilogy that every teenager wants to read sipping a pumpkin spice latte. The story follows 16-year-old Koffi  who cares for the mythical creatures of Lkossa Night Zoo. She finds a hidden power inside her, a force that is quite uncontrollable.

Magic doesn’t exist in the broken city of Lkossa anymore, especially for girls like sixteen-year-old Koffi. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, she cares for its fearsome and magical creatures to pay off her family’s debts and secure their eventual freedom. But the night her loved ones’ own safety is threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand–and the consequences are dire.

As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six–an elite warrior–and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, a fire upends his plans. In its midst, Ekon not only encounters the Shetani–a vicious monster that has plagued the city and his nightmares for nearly a century–but a curious girl who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi’s power ultimately saves Ekon’s life, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.

Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani down and end its reign of terror, but he can’t do it alone. Meanwhile, Koffi believes finding the Shetani and selling it for a profit could be the key to solving her own problems. Koffi and Ekon–each keeping their true motives secret from the other–form a tentative alliance and enter into the unknowns of the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.

In this much-anticipated series opener, fate binds two Black teenagers together as they strike a dangerous alliance to hunt down the ancient creature menacing their home–and discover much more than they bargained for.

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Skin Of The Sea by Natasha Bowen

Skin of The Sea is a riveting young adult fantasy for you if you’re into  fans of epic, well crafted tales. The novel features a Black mermaid that changes history. Whether it’s the spooky Halloween season or a cold autumn evening, I always love to grab an enchanting story that transports me to a mystical world. So I can’t wait to dive into this highly imaginative mermaid story. 

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata—a mermaid—collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable—she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

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Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children combines, mystry and suspense in the most haunting way. First, it all begins with a collection of peculiar and odd photographs, setting the tone for the entire story. These photos, found in an abandoned orphanage on a remote island, immediately draw you into a world that’s both peculiar and enigmatic. The protagonist is a 16-year-old Jacob.

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow-impossible though it seems-they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

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One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Next in the list is a dark academia novel that tells a grim story of truths and morality. One Of Us Is Lying is going to be your go-to young adult Halloween read.  It’s the story of five students stuck in detention, each with their own secrets and hidden agendas. If you love a good eerie ya suspense story with dark academia read this book.

Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

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If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson

I always feel that the best YA books to read in the fall comes with a cozy fall cover that very much compliments the story. If You Come Softly is one such book that tells the story of Jeremiah. He feels at ease in his Brooklyn neighborhood, but when he realizes he must face up to being a black boy in a Manhattan prep school, he starts to lose his nerve. However, within a week, he meets another so-called outsider, Jewish girl Ellie. This joyful fall YA romance tells the story of a beautiful interracial love that you wouldn’t be able to put down. 

Both Elisha (Ellie) and Jeremiah (Miah) attend Percy Academy, a private school where neither quite fits in. Ellie is wrestling with family demons, and Miah is one of the few African American students. The two of them find each other, and fall in love — but they are hesitant to share their newfound happiness with their friends and families, who will not understand. At the end, life makes the brutal choice for them.

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The Righteous by Renee Ahdieh

You know, there’s just something about October that makes it the perfect time to dive into dark and seductive vampire romance.If you’re on the hunt for some YA books that capture the essence of fall or you’re looking for the best reads to get into the Halloween spirit, you absolutely have to check out Renee Ahdieh’s young adult fantasy series, The Beautiful Quartet

The third book in the instant New York Times bestselling series that began with The Beautiful.

Pippa Montrose is tired of losing everything she loves. When her best friend Celine disappears under mysterious circumstances, Pippa resolves to find her, even if the journey takes her into the dangerous world of the fae, where she might find more than she bargained for in the charismatic Arjun Desai.

Renée is back with her rich, atmospheric fantasy world that will continue to enthrall readers, new romance and mystery, and lush, pacey writing.

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Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park is an epic love story set in 1986. It’s like a cozy, young adult romance that’ll take you right back to your own first love. If you’re into sweet romance tales, especially when the leaves are falling in autumn, you’re going to be head over heels for Eleanor & Park

“Bono met his wife in high school,” Park says.
“So did Jerry Lee Lewis,” Eleanor answers.
“I’m not kidding,” he says.
“You should be,” she says, “we’re 16.”
“What about Romeo and Juliet?”
“Shallow, confused, then dead.”
“I love you,” Park says.
“Wherefore art thou,” Eleanor answers.
“I’m not kidding,” he says.
“You should be.”

Set over one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

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Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnson delivers a fantastic YA Halloween read in the form of the Truly Devious book series. The first book, “A Mystery,” kicks off the series by introducing Stevie Bell. She is a young sleuth with a passion for unsolved mysteries.Now she is obsessed with chilling case of Albert Ellingham.I am absolutely sure that Truly Devious is the perfect choice for cozying up with a thrilling book on a crisp fall evening.

Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”

Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.

The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.

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Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker

Mooncakes is a fantastic YA book that’s tailor-made for autumn.We have Nova Huang, a teenage witch who works at her grandmother’s bookshop. She possesses an extensive knowledge of magic and spends her time reading and investigating paranormal occurrences in her town.And the she discovers a white wolf in the woods, who turns out to be none other than her childhood crush, Tam Lang. If you are looking for ya fantasy with magical and mysterious setting, you will love this. It’s a heartwarming story that’s sure to put you in the fall spirit.

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Cemetery Boys has got all the right ingredients for a spooky and heartwarming fall story. First off, it’s a paranormal romance with LGBTQIA+ representation. The plot revolves around Yadriel, who’s determined to prove himself by crossing into the afterlife. However, instead of his cousin’s ghost, he accidentally summons Julian Diaz, the old high school bad boy. What starts as an unlikely friendship between them soon evolves into something deeper and unspoken. The supernatural mystery, the Halloween vibes, Cemetery Boys is a perfect blend of cozy and eerie.

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

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Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire

If you’re a fan of gothic and fantasy literature, Every Heart A Doorway is an absolute must-read in autumn.It follows Nancy’s return to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.Her arrival disrupts the home’s quiet routine, and she, along with her new friends, embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries of the hidden doorways. There are so many reasons why this is a great fall-themed ya book. First of all, the setting, Eleanor West’s Home just screams fall vibes.It reminds me of a mysterious and slightly eerie old house, with all the autumn leaves falling.It sets the perfect atmosphere for a cozy autumn read.

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

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The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Next in the list is one of the best YA witchy novels for autumn. You’ll fall in love with  The Girl Who Drank The Moon, as it’s an enchanting tale with a mystical narrative. The story begins in a place called Protectorate. There is an annual tradition where they offer a newborn to the supposed evil witch of the forest.Little do the residents know that the witch, Xan, is actually a force of goodness. She rescues these abandoned children and raises them to give them a better life.This is a captivating and heartwarming tale that’s perfect for cozy autumn nights.

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule–but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her–even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

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Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

What do you think of choosing a slow-burn fairytale as a YA fall book? The story revolves around a girl named Ellerie Downing, in a small town. Life in her town is pretty stagnant.But then, something eerie begins to happen. There are monsters offering to grant the residents’ deepest desires.Now, if that doesn’t scream “deal with the devil,” I don’t know what does. The dark and frightful atmosphere of the book is just what you’d want for a fall read. It’s the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and spine-tingling suspense. 

Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range–five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned.

As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ deepest desires, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames.

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Squashed by Joan Bauer

This cozy YA novel, Squashed tells a wonderful tale of young love, perfect to read in the fall. Squashed is one such autumn story which will  make you laugh and cry and I promise you that you’ll never look at a pumpkin the same way again. It’s the story of a young girl trying to grow a gigantic pumpkin. The changing leaves, and a budding romance – it’s all so wonderfully autumnal.

Humor, agriculture and young love all come together in Joan Bauer’s first novel, set in rural Iowa. Sixteen-year-old Ellie Morgan’s life would be almost perfect if she could just get her potentially prize-winning pumpkin to put on about 200 more pounds—and if she could take off 20 herself…in hopes of attracting Wes, the new boy in town.

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House Of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

House Of Hollow is a YA novel that just screams fall vibes. First of all, it’s story about seduction and mystery.It centers around Vivi, Grey, and Iris, who are these enigmatic sisters.One night, the three sisters all disappeared. one night, these sisters disappear without a trace.And then, a month later, they return, but with absolutely no recollection of what happened during their absence.The book has this eerie undercurrent of unease that’s just perfect for the season.This thrilling, hot and steamy romance fall book is just the perfect book for the mellow season. 

Seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow has always been strange. Something happened to her and her two older sisters when they were children, something they can’t quite remember but that left each of them with an identical half-moon scar at the base of their throats.

Iris has spent most of her teenage years trying to avoid the weirdness that sticks to her like tar. But when her eldest sister, Grey, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Iris learns just how weird her life can get: horned men start shadowing her, a corpse falls out of her sister’s ceiling, and ugly, impossible memories start to twist their way to the forefront of her mind.

As Iris retraces Grey’s last known footsteps and follows the increasingly bizarre trail of breadcrumbs she left behind, it becomes apparent that the only way to save her sister is to decipher the mystery of what happened to them as children.

The closer Iris gets to the truth, the closer she comes to understanding that the answer is dark and dangerous – and that Grey has been keeping a terrible secret from her for years.

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The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood

Next up is a fantasy novel got everything you could want in a fall read. The Unspoken Name has enchanting worldbuidling , powerful older women and dead gods and so much for.It’s the story of a young priestess, Csorwe, who is sentenced to die, on her 14^th birthday.But her luck takes a surprising turn when a sorcerer offers her a chance at life. As she embarks on a quest to find a vital artifact, the death cult resurfaces.It’s a spooky, funny and richly detailed. I think it’s just the right book for cozy autumn nights.

What if you knew how and when you will die?

Csorwe does. She will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice. On the day of her foretold death, however, a powerful mage offers her a new fate.

Csorwe leaves her home, her destiny, and her god to become the wizard’s loyal sword-hand — stealing, spying, and killing to help him reclaim his seat of power in the homeland from which he was exiled.

But Csorwe and the wizard will soon learn – gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.

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White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

White Smoke is the kind of book that will give you chills down your spine. So it’s just the book to read during Halloween.It’s all about Marigold, who’s escaping her past by moving to the eerie city of Cedarville with her blended family. At first, it’s a bit creepy, with their renovated home sandwiched between spooky old houses.But then, the real nightmare begins – things go missing, doors slam shut, and creepy whispers emerge from the walls.This multilayered horror fiction for teens is the perfect pick for fall, and it’s so thrilling, you’ll get the ultimate Halloween vibe.

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

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The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado

The Fall of Whit Rivera is a warm, funny romcom. Whit Rivera and her ex, Zay, are forced to plan the school dance together. They argue. They clash. But something new sparks between them. A perfect fall romance with cozy vibes and deeper themes.


Could you plan the Fall Formal with your (hot) nemesis? Whit Rivera is about to find out.

Frenemies Whit and Zay have been at odds for years (ever since he broke up with her in, like, the most embarrassing way imaginable), so when they’re forced to organize the fall formal together, it’s a literal disaster. Sparks fly as Whitney—type-A, passionate, a perfectionist, and a certified sweater-weather fanatic—butts heads with Zay, a dry, relaxed skater boy who takes everything in stride. But not all of those sparks are bad. . . .

Has their feud been a big misunderstanding all along?

Blisteringly funny and profoundly well-observed, The Fall of Whit Rivera is a snug and cozy autumn romcom that also tackles weightier topics like PCOS, chronic illness, sexuality, fatphobia, Latine identity, and class. Funny, honest, insightful, romantic, and poignant, it is classic Crystal Maldonado—and it will have her legion of fans absolutely swooning.

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Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Kingdom of the Wicked  is a dark fantasy with murder, magic, and forbidden romance. Emilia’s twin sister is brutally killed, and she will do anything for revenge. Her search leads her to Wrath, a dangerous prince of Hell. This is a seductive, atmospheric story that blends mystery, vengeance, and a romance that burns slow and hot.

Two sisters.
One brutal murder.
A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…
And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked—princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems.

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Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle

Afternoon of the Elves is a haunting middle grade classic. It brilliantly blurs the line between magic and reality. Hillary befriends Sara-Kate, the outcast girl at school. In Sara-Kate’s yard is a tiny village for elves, carefully tended. But as Hillary spends more time there, she sees cracks in the fantasy. This is a story about friendship, hardship, and seeing the truth even when it hurts.


Hillary doesn’t believe all the mean things she hears about Sara-Kate. Sure, she wears weird clothes and she lives in a dumpy house, but if Sara-Kate’s as bad as everyone says, how could she take such good care of the elf village in her backyard? She and Hillary spend hours fixing the tiny stick houses and the miniature Ferris wheel so the elves won’t move away. But as Hillary is drawn further into Sara-Kate’s world, she learns there are other mysteries besides the elves. Why doesn’t anyone ever see Sara-Kate’s mother? And why isn’t anyone allowed in her house? This updated edition will bring new life to Janet Taylor Lisle’s best-selling novel.

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Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a chilling boarding school mystery. Sade arrives at a prestigious academy only for her roommate to vanish on the first night. Everyone whispers that Sade is guilty. But the truth is much darker. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a maze of secrets, lies, and danger. This is the kind of mystery that makes you stay up late at night.

In Where Sleeping Girls Lie ― a YA contemporary mystery by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, the New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades ― a girl new to boarding school discovers dark secrets and coverups after her roommate disappears.

It’s like I keep stumbling into a dark room, searching for the switch to make things bright again. To make me remember. But the switch isn’t there. Was it there before?

Sade Hussein is starting her third year of high school, this time at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school. After being home-schooled all her life and feeling like a magnet for misfortune, she’s not sure what will happen. What she doesn’t expect though is for her roommate Elizabeth to disappear after Sade’s first night. Or for people to think she had something to do with it.

With rumors swirling around her, Sade catches the attention of the most popular girls in school – collectively known as the ‘Unholy Trinity’ – and they bring her into their fold. Between learning more about them – especially Persephone, who Sade finds herself drawn to – playing catch-up in class, and trying to figure out what happened to Elizabeth, Sade has a lot on her plate. It doesn’t help that she’s already dealing with grief from the many tragedies in her family.

And then a student is found dead.

The more Sade investigates, the more she realizes there’s more to Alfred Nobel Academy and its students than she realized. Secrets lurk around every corner and beneath every surface…secrets that rival even her own.

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The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

The Coldest Girl in Coldtow is a dark, bloody vampire story with an original twist. After a party turns into a massacre, Tana finds herself surrounded by corpses. The only survivors are her ex-boyfriend and a mysterious stranger. To save them, she must enter Coldtown, a walled city of monsters where no one ever escapes. This is a story of horror, and survival. The perfect read if you love gothic atmosphere.

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

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Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

Where the Dark Stands Still is a haunting fairy-tale fantasy. Liska unleashes powers she cannot control and is taken by a demon warden of the forest. He offers her a bargain: serve him for a year in exchange for a wish. In his crumbling manor, she finds ghosts, and secrets. This is a dark and magical story about survival, and the monsters we fear.


Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.

Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.

Those who enter the wood do not always return.

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A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

A Far Wilder Magic is a romantic fantasy. Margaret, a sharpshooter, and Wes, an alchemist in training, must team up to hunt a legendary creature. If they succeed, glory and power await. But the hunt is deadly, and their bond grows deeper as danger closes in.


A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory—and each other’s hearts—in a magical fox hunt.

When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.

Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist—yet. He’s been fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, and his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret. She begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.

Although they make an unlikely team, they soon find themselves drawn to each other. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt—if they survive that long.

In A Far Wilder Magic, Allison Saft has written an achingly tender love story set against a deadly hunt in an atmospheric, rich fantasy world that will sweep you away.

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The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson

The Saturday Night Ghost Club is a coming-of-age story with a ghostly twist. Jake is a shy boy who spends his weekends exploring haunted places with his eccentric uncle. What begins as a game soon unravels into something darker and more personal. A nostalgic yet unsettling story that lingers long after the last page.


Step into a captivating world of mystery and nostalgia with ‘The Saturday Night Ghost Club’ by Craig Davidson. This haunting literary fiction novel weaves an unforgettable tale that NPR praised as ‘immensely enjoyable, piercingly clever, and satisfyingly soulful.’ The story unfolds against a backdrop of suburban landscapes and childhood adventures, drawing readers into its atmospheric narrative. The striking cover artwork features an ethereal nighttime scene with houses, mysterious figures, and subtle supernatural elements that hint at the story’s blend of coming-of-age drama and spectral intrigue. Perfect for readers who enjoy thought-provoking fiction that explores the intersection of childhood memories, friendship, and the supernatural. This paperback edition makes for an engaging reading experience that will keep you turning pages late into the night.

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Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow

Everything We Never Said is a dark romance with grief and secrets. Ella is mourning her best friend Hayley, but she finds herself falling for Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend. When she discovers Hayley’s journal, Ella learns Sawyer is hiding more than she ever imagined. A gripping story perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Laura Nowlin.

Dark romance, high stakes, and plot twists abound in this paperback original YA thriller that’s perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover.

What you don’t know can hurt you….

It’s been months since the accident that killed Ella’s best friend, Hayley, and Ella can’t stop blaming herself. Now Ella is back at school, and everywhere she looks are reminders of her best friend—including Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend. Little by little, they grow closer, until Ella realizes something horrifying . . .

She’s in love with her dead best friend’s boyfriend.

Racked with guilt, Ella turns to Hayley’s journal, hoping she’ll find something in the pages that will make her feel better about what’s happening. Instead, she discovers that Sawyer has secrets of his own and that his relationship with Hayley wasn’t as picture-perfect as it seemed.

Ella knows she should stay away but finds herself inextricably drawn to him—and scared of everything she never knew about him. Perhaps it’s his grief. Or maybe his desires, cut short by tragedy. Or could it be something twisted only Hayley knew about?

A dark, romantic thriller perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Laura Nowlin, Everything We Never Said explores the secrets in even the best of friendships and asks how well you ever know the ones you love.

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Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith

Predatory Natures  is a lush, eerie thriller set on a luxury train. Lara takes a summer job and hopes for a fresh start. But mysterious carriages filled with rare plants appear in the night, along with two siblings who are hiding dangerous secrets. Soon Lara realizes beauty can be deadly. This is an atmospheric book is perfect for Halloween.


A teen girl’s dream job aboard a luxury train derails when she discovers the strange cargo being transported—a mysterious and beautiful greenhouse—but its flowering façade may hide deadly thorns beneath, in this atmospheric and lush novel from the author of Those We Drown.

When Lara Williams gets a summer job aboard the luxury train the Banebury, she thinks she’s landed a five-star escape from her past. Even after she learns that her ex-friend Rhys, who she definitely did not have feelings for before their relationship imploded, is one of her coworkers, she’s determined to make things work.

But on the first day of their journey, the trip takes a strange turn. Two mysterious carriages filled with an array of beautiful and rare plants are attached to the Banebury in the middle of the night.

And with them comes a pair of siblings. Wealthy, mysterious, and charismatic, Gwen and Gwydion claim the plants they’re transporting are for research, but Lara can’t shake the feeling that there’s something . . . otherworldly about the strange blooms. Something that will stop at nothing to ensure the Banebury never reaches its destination.

Soon Lara will learn: You can’t outrun your troubles. You have to grab them by their roots. And if she can’t unearth the secrets of the Banebury, they might drag her down for good.

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If We Survive This by Racquel Marie

If We Survive This  is a gripping zombie survival story. Flora never thought she would live through the apocalypse, but half a year after a rabies mutation destroys the world, she is still alive. With her brother, she sets out on a dangerous journey across California to find safety and maybe her father. Along the way, they face rabid monsters. This is a tense and emotional story about fear, love, and what it takes to keep going.

The Walking Dead meets Yellowjackets in If We Survive This, a tense and emotional young adult horror novel from award-winning author Racquel Marie about a teen girl leading a group of survivors on a perilous journey during the apocalypse.

Flora Braddock Paz is not the girl who survives. A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, she’s always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike “rabids,” she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up―their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again.

The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: No matter how far you run, death is never far behind.

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Conclusion:

I hope you are excited to grab these cozy young adult books with magic, romance, and mystery.

Let me remind you about my top three picks from this autumn-themed ya books.

• Heartstopper by Alice Oseman fall vibes throughout, cute gay romance
• With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo– multigenerational drama featuring so many sumptuous recipes
• If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson – interracial love story, delightful romance

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