my fall reading list!

It's fall, everyone—the season of reading!

Fall is the perfect season for the bookworms to get all cozy and immerse themselves in their favourite stories. Whether on campus, in a cafe, or snuggled in bed, fall is my favourite season to read and romanticize my life like I'm Rory Gilmore.

Every year, I create a list of books I want to read during the fall months. This year, my list includes the entirety of Sarah J. Maas's "Throne of Glass" series, Kristen Ciccarelli's "Heartless Hunter," Sarah R. Parker's "When the Moon Hatched," and Jennifer L. Armentrout's "Born of Blood and Ash."

Unfortunately, I've been extra busy with midterms this season, so I haven't had much time to read (or read any of these books on my list lol). However, I still wanted to compile a list of past books I've read that I think would be perfect for you to enjoy during the fall season.

My favourite genre to read is fantasy, and it's basically the only genre I explore, so I apologize in advance for the fact that all the books on this list are fantasy. Although, maybe this is your sign to spread your wings like a fairy and try something new (tehehe).

Also, I must admit that I wholeheartedly believe fantasy is the best genre to read in the fall.

Hear me out, okay? The days are getting shorter and darker, and seasonal depression might start creeping in for some of you. I'm not saying a fantasy book will be the cure, but it can definitely serve as a temporary escape. The atmospheric worlds in fantasy novels make it easy to get lost in the story, providing a much-needed break from whatever reality you're living in. Just a little magic can whisk you away, and while your problems might not be solved and you're most likely still miserable about the weather....at least you'll be reading about fairies (hehe).

Anyways... here is Caroline's ultimate fall reading list!

(Warning: all of these books contain elements of romance, some more than others. However, I'm just a girl, and if romance isn't your thing, then you can just bug off, xoxo)

The Atlas Six ~ By Olivie Black

If dark academia were a book, it would be this one, and that's why I think Olivie Blake's novel is the perfect book for fall.

If you don't know the dark academia aesthetic, do a simple search on Pinterest, and you will get the vibes. The whole aesthetic is inspired by classic literature, history, and education, often with a mysterious or gothic twist. It typically features dark, muted colours (black, brown, deep green), vintage clothing, and settings like old libraries, universities, and candlelit rooms.

While reading this book, I visualized Hogwarts, giving it a nostalgic feel. Plus, I just love Harry Potter, so this book was an automatic win for me.

I read this book in my first year of university when I wasn't active with my Goodreads accounts; therefore, I don't have a published review about the book and honestly don't remember many details. However, I do remember loving it and eating it up. I discovered this book on, of course, BookTok, and it didn't disappoint. If I had to rate this book now, I would give it four out of five stars.

This book is about six magicians invited to join a secret society called the Alexandrian Society. Only five of the six members are chosen to continue with the society, so you can imagine the tension and emotion between these six characters as they fight for their spots. The six magicians must work together but simultaneously go against each other to earn their place through different magical and psychological challenges.

If you love world-building and complex characters, add this book to your list.

Six of Crows ~ By Leigh Bardugo

Still, to this day, I haven't found a book where I loved it so much because of the writing.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo was my favourite book of 2021. I gave this book a five-star rating on Goodreads, and it is such a great book to read in the fall because of the aesthetic, the characters, and the writing. The book takes place in Ketterdam, a dark, moody world inspired by Amsterdam. I first didn't realize Amsterdam inspired Ketterdam while reading this book, which just made me love the book even more. Regardless, Ketterdam is the perfect setting for the spooky season upon us.

The book follows five friends (who are criminals, might I add) as they set out to go on a heist. The bonds between the characters are written so well, and the themes of friendship and found family make it heartwarming. However, intense moments of adventure are also tied into this book because it is about a heist, and the characters are criminals, after all. Regardless, my favourite thing about this book was the witty dialogue between the characters. It sometimes makes the book feel light-hearted, but if you read the book, you will discover this book is nowhere near light-hearted.

All I'm gonna say is Kaz Brekker is for the girls, and that's that.

One Dark Window & Two Twisted Crowns ~ By Rachel Gillig

Now, this duology...

Hands down, they are the best books I've read in 2024.

I don't know how I can put into words how much I loved these two books. First of all, I'm really pissed off at myself that I didn't save these books for the fall season. What can I say? I have no self-control when I start a book I like. The second I got my hands on these glorious treasures at the library, I read them within a week.

I wish I had saved these books for the fall because they are gothic fantasies, which would have been perfect to read for the Halloween season.

One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig are eerie and haunting as they follow dark magic, romance, mystery, and supernatural themes. The setting takes place in a cursed kingdom, and the fantasy elements in these books were refreshing, nothing like I've read before. The world-building is immaculate; chefs kiss, if you will. Elspeth Spindle is the main character in this series, and she possesses a unique power...she has a demon trapped in her head.

Yup, you read that right. Elspeth is really out here with a whole demon in her head who speaks to her.

Elspeth was plagued as a child by a dark magic curse, and this curse gives the infected (in this case, Elspeth) magical powers. The demon, known as the 'Nightmare,' trapped inside Elspeth's mind, resulted from the dark magic curse. However, Elspeth lives in a kingdom where they view people with powers as a threat and, as a result, are executed, so this means Elspeth must keep the Nightmare and her powers a secret unless she wants to be killed.

That's pretty much all I will say about the plot for these two books; however, things heat up and get intense, especially when a particular character (cough cough, Ravyen Yew) enters the chat.

Once Upon a Broken Heart

I'm not saying I've saved the best book for last, but I'm kinda saying I saved the best book for last. 

Once Upon a Broken Heart is one of the most popular fantasy books on BookTok. Like One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns, I had zero self-control while reading this book and the following two in the series.

I read the entire series in one week. That's 1,210 pages.

Once Upon a Broken Heart is part of a trilogy written by Stephanie Garber. Stephanie Garber is also known for the Carnival series, another huge fantasy series on BookTok, and it's actually recommended to read Carnival before you read this book since there are crossovers with characters.

Silly old me didn't realize this until I finished the entire series. I didn't know there was a connection to the Carnival books, but if you want more context about the OUABH series, then you should probably read Carnival first. However, I didn't notice anything strange or out of place with the plot and characters, so take this as you will.

Anyways, to get to the juicy good stuff about this book, if you haven't already guessed it.....it's a fantasy book. 

Shocker. 

This book follows Evangeline, a girl with pink hair who is very much a hopeless romantic. Evangeline gets her heart broken by some loser, and one day, a very, very heartbroken Evangeline prays to the Prince of Hearts (whose name is Jacks) and makes a bargain with him to try to stop the loser who broke her heart from getting married.

Evangeline is desperate, and Jacks takes advantage of her vulnerability. She realizes too late that this bargain has consequences and is thrust into a world of magic, curses, and schemes.

I could not put this book down. It's very much a 'whimsical' fantasy book compared to a gothic fantasy like One Dark Window. However, the romance in this book had me all giddy and kicking my feet. 

If you want to read something that has a lot of magic and slow-burn romance in equal parts, then you should:

READ. THIS. BOOK.  

Well, that's it! That's my ultimate fall reading list. If you're not a big reader, what the heck are you doing here, man? But if you love to read, then I really hope you give one of these books a shot.

I know they are not everyone's cup of tea, but you never know... one of these books might change your life, just like how reading about sparkly vampires and teenage werewolves changed my life at age 12.

Anyways, happy fall and happy reading!