The leaves are starting to fall and the mornings are getting chillier. With Autumn almost here, it is the book worms favorite time of year to cuddle up with a great book and a mug of coffee or tea. Whether you are a seasoned book reader or relatively new to reading, I have some great recommendations for you to read this Fall.
The first book I am recommending is Caraval by Stephanie Garber, and this book has a gothic whimsy vibe to it with a romance arc. Caraval follows two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, and their participation in this once-a-year game called Caraval. Scarlett receives an invitation to Caraval, but upon their arrival, Tella is kidnapped by the cryptic Master Legend. Scarlett is warned that not everything is what it seems, but if she cannot find her sister within five days, she has the risk of never seeing Tella again.
This series is the greatest for getting yourself out of a reading slump because you honestly never know what is going to happen next. All of the characters had such unique personalities that made me love and hate them at the same time. While I was reading this book, I always had an eerie feeling which makes Caraval such a perfect Fall read!
The next book is If We Were Villains M. L. Rio and this book is the perfect blend of dark academia with mystery and suspense, which also has a touch of Shakespeare to it. This book follows seven last year art major theater students who are madly obsessed with the works of Shakespeare. As the students role in their plays blend with their actual personalities, one of the seven turns up dead. The six left try to convince themselves and the police that they are innocent, but who is to blame?
I really did enjoy If We Were Villains and I think the main reason for it was its atmosphere. The dark academia vibe was really what drew me in, and I really enjoyed the characters complex personalities, even though they were mainly pretentious. I would highly recommend this book to those who love Shakespeare because the characters communicate through literary quotes and sometimes makes it a little bit difficult to understand.
Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino is a second chance romance that is heartwarming and filled with nostalgia. This book follows the story of Grace and Matt who met in college and instantly formed a strong bond, but ultimately ended up being separated due to miscommunication. Fifteen years later, they find themselves drawn back together and remember how much they meant to each other and try to see if their love can make up for all of the lost years.
This book really just touches your soul in a way and it is as if the words on the pages have real emotions. Before We Were Strangers is the perfect Fall read because of the absolute heartache and yearning it entails. The writing and the characters are easily to follow which makes it easier to relate on a personal level.
The last book I am recommending is One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, and this book is a mystery that is like “The Breakfast Club” but with a twist. Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper all become suspects in a murder of their classmate Simon, after he dies during a detention that they were all present for. With Simon being the creator of their school’s very own gossip app, he was set to expose those four students just the next day. The four students have to work together to solve the mystery of who actually killed Simon, or if it was one of them?
One Of Us Is Lying is the perfect book for those who are getting into mystery books. This book makes it easy to follow but keeps you running in circles trying to figure out the killer. I liked that it was set in high school so there is definitely still lots of drama involved. I would certainly recommend reading the second book after because it follows along with the next generation!
Whether you haven’t picked up a book in years or if you’re an avid reader, these books are a great Autumn read for you!
