The Ultimate Fall Reading Guide 2025: Cozy, Spooky, and Romantic Picks

My Fall Reading Guide 2025

Fall is officially here, and honestly? This is my favorite season to read. Give me a blanket, at least three beverage options (because who can stick with just one?), and a stack of books and I’m set. There’s just something about cooler nights and shorter days that makes me want to dive into a good story.

Some days I’m in the mood for spooky, other days it’s all about the swoony romance and honestly, sometimes I want both in the same book.

I put together a list of books on my fall TBR that I think you’ll love, too. Some are brand-new releases, some are older favorites I’m finally getting to, and some just give me total autumn vibes. And truthfully? Narrowing it down to even this list was so hard!

Cozy Classics & Returning Favorites

Sometimes you just want that comfort-read feeling. These are timeless, moody, and perfect for fall nights. To me, a “classic” can be any genre, and it’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.

• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – This story is magical and dreamy and I keep saying “This is the year” that I read it again. The whimsical, magical atmosphere is made for cooler nights, so maybe this will finally be the season I dive back in.
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë – I’ve always wanted to read this one in the fall. It’s moody, gothic, and honestly just feels like the perfect vibe for a fall read. It’s on my Kindle ready to go!
• The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah – My all time favorite book is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. and honestly, I’ve loved everything of hers that I’ve read. Somehow, though, I still haven’t picked up The Great Alone, even though so many readers have told me it’s a must. This fall feels like the perfect time to finally change that. (Also, if you haven’t read The Women…what are you waiting for?!?!)
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt – Dark academia, mysterious characters, and a college setting. I can’t think of a more “fall” read if I tried.

New & Buzz-Worthy Releases

These are the shiny new releases that everyone’s talking about and I’m so excited to dig into them this season.

• The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy is a book that I’ve seen everywhere online. It’s a story about friendships and how black women navigate their lives in America. I saw that this is a found family genre, so count me in!
• Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver I loved her Ruinous Love Trilogy, so of course I’m picking this one up. Just a heads up: her books definitely lean darker, but they’re never too much… even for a softie like me.
• Soul Searching by Layla Sage The Rebel Blue Ranch series author is back again with a new series, starting with a story about a small town and a haunted house. Call me curious!
• Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks An exes to lovers, second chance book doesn’t need to ask me twice! I’m in!
• The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham Now, Elin normally writes the perfect beach read, BUT this time it’s set in a boarding school in New England! PS, she also wrote this one with her daughter.
• Wreck by Catherine Newman I really loved her previous book Sandwich, so I’m excited to continue the story that picks up two years after Sandwich ended.
• Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Ok this book has been all over social media. I even saw a big display when I went to the bookstore. It’s about two families in a small (fictional) town in Ohio, between World War II and Vietnam. It’s received very high praise!

Worth Mentioning:

• Heart the Lover by Lily King Did you know that author (and bookstore owner) Emma Straub has a book club? This book was her first pick.
• Middle Spoon by Alejandro Varela A novel exploring queer identity, family, and class
• The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers Secrets, betrayal, and emotional fallout (exactly what I love in messy, character-driven stories)
• Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake Dark and funny? I’m intrigued. I have read that trigger warnings need to be read before starting this book.

Romantasy & Fantasy Romance

• Quicksilver by Callie Hart A enemies-to-lovers that has magic and faes?!? I can’t wait. Its on my Kindle!
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas I’ve read the entire ACOTAR series (and Throne of Glass), and now I’ve got Crescent City waiting on my shelf. This series is dramatic, romantic, and a little dark, so it’s basically perfect for curling up with in the fall. If you’ve been on the fence about diving in, consider this your nudge.
• Scared Sexy (Anthology) This collection of Halloween romance books features monsters, vampires, and supernatural powers. It has authors like Ali Hazelwood, Christina Lauren, Katee Robert and more.
• Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher A dark reimagining of Snow White!
• Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross A prequel to Divine RIvals (LOVED) but I believe this can be read as a standalone. I’ve heard that the yearning in this book is incredible and I love a romance between a god and a mortal.

Dark, Spooky & Twisty (Thrillers, Suspense & Gothic Vibes)

• 11/22/63 by Stephen King This is downloaded on my Kindle as the physical book is so BIG! I’m not a Stephen King reader, but so many reviews of this book have convinced me I need to give it a try. A time-travel storyline that involves JFK.
• Alchemised by SenLinYu This is the published version of her famous fanfiction Manacled. Important note: this is a very dark book with heavy trigger warnings. I read Manacled and had my heart broken, so I can’t wait to see how this version compares. There are romantic elements here, but they’re far from cozy — think heartbreak, not fluff.
• The Housemaid by Freida McFadden I flew through this one. It’s bingeable, addictive, and twisty without being too intense. I can’t wait to see how it translates into the upcoming movie adaptation.
• Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab A gothic horror thriller with queer romance, dual timelines, vampires, and a lush, eerie setting. I’ve wanted to pick this one up forever. I also still haven’t read The Invisible Life of Addie Larue either.

Worth Mentioning:

• So Thirsty and Play Nice I always see these books described as creepy, but also funny.
• House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen Domestic suspense with plenty of twists.
• The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Allison Heller Perfect for fans of neighborhood drama and suburban secrets.
• The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle A psychological thriller with twin drama
• Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham Her thrillers are always bingeable
• The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose A binge-worthy, twisty thriller that keeps popping up in my recs.

Comfort Reads & Cozy Romance

• People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young I LOVED her book Out on a Limb so much, so I’m really excited to read this one! I’ve started the audiobook and so far, I’m enjoying it.
• The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover This one just released, and so many of you recommended it to me. When my followers say “read it,” I listen.
• The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston I’ve lost count of how many times this has been recommended to me. That alone means it has to make the list this year.
• Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc Ok guys, my MIL insisted this one had to be on here — ha! I couldn’t argue.
• The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore She also said this had to be included. Yes, you’ve seen this series all over BookTok and Bookstagram, and yes, it’s spicy. (Now there’s the Gingerbread Bakery)
• If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia I’ve seen this book everywhere online, so I finally downloaded it. A small-town romance set in 1997? I’m intrigued. and so many people I follow online have raved about it!

Final Thoughts

So there you have it — my Fall Reading Guide 2025! Whether you’re in the mood for something dark and twisty, a swoony romance, or a classic story to sink into, this list has a little bit of everything.

💡 A quick note: All of the links in this post go through my Bookshop.org storefront. I love using Bookshop because it supports independent bookstores (and me!) while still letting you shop online easily. It’s one of my favorite ways to give back to the book community.

Now tell me — what’s on your fall TBR? I’m always looking for more recs to add to my stack!

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