“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
As the leaves turn golden and the air outside becomes crisp, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book to get into the cosy spirit of fall fully. Whether you’re sipping on a hot cup of tea or diving under a soft blanket, autumn is the season for warm and comfortable stories. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would curate some of our favourite cozy fall books. From heartwarming tales of love, friendship and connection to quaint mysteries whose twists and turns are delivered against a backdrop of changing leaves, pumpkins and warm lights, these tales all promise to whisk you away to cozy worlds filled with an autumnal charm. So, grab your hot drink of choice and dive into these cozy fall novels for the best company as the days grow shorter and the nights a little longer!
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (Dream Harbor #1) – Laurie Gilmore
First up on our list of cozy fall books is Laurie Gilmore’s small-town romance story, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe in the sleepy town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance to get a fresh start away from her dreary desk day job. Logan is a local farmer who steers clear of Dream Harbor’s gossip like it is the plague. Jeanie’s arrival disrupts his routine, and he equally wants nothing to do with her either. Except there’s something about the new girl that he can’t help but find himself drawn to.
A spicy small-town grumpy/sunshine-filled story, will Jeanie’s infectious happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan? Or has the new girl in town found herself pulled into the orbit of the one resident immune to her charms and pumpkin-spiced lattes?
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An Enchantment Of Ravens – Margaret Rogerson
With a swish of her paintbrush, Isobel conjures stunning portraits for a dangerous set of clients: the fair folk. These immortal creatures are unable to bake bread or put a pen to paper without being turned to dust. They yearn for human craft with an insatiable hunger and are willing to exchange valuable enchantments for Isobel’s service. But, when she receives her first royal patron in the form of Rook, the autumn prince, Isobel makes a grave error.
Spirited away to Rook’s kingdom to stand trial for her crime, it soon becomes clear that something is seriously wrong with this world. Isobel and Rook find themselves reliant on each other for survival. As their alliance turns to friendship and something deeper, a forbidden romance emerges. In a lush world where beauty masks corruption, will Isobel’s paintings be potent enough to defy the fair folk’s cut-throat customs?
The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) – Erin Sterling
Nine years ago, Vivinne Jones nursed her broken heart the same way any self-respecting witch would: vodka, sad music, hot bubble baths and a curse on her awful ex-boyfriend. She knows she wouldn’t use her powers in this way, but is sure that she isn’t likely to cause anything worse than a couple of bad hair days. That is until Rhys Penhallow, local legend, serial heart breaker and infuriatingly as handsome as ever, returns to Graves Glen.
What was supposed to be a simple appearance at an annual fall festival soon turns disastrously wrong with one calamity after another following Rhys around. Vivi soon realises that her silly little Ex Hex might not be as harmless as she first thought. With Graves Glen under attack from murderous wind-up toys, angry ghosts and a wise-cracking cat, Vivi and Rhys must put aside their electric chemistry to save the town in Erin Sterling’s cozy fall fantasy book, The Ex Hex.
Anne Of Green Gables (Anne Of Green Gables #1) – L.M. Montgomery
Still one of the most cozy fall books of all time, readers are whisked to the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside the town of Avonlea, in L.M. Montgomery’s classic work, Anne of Green Gables. Eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley arrives and quickly learns that the Cuthberts – the elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla – were hoping to adopt a boy, not the feisty girl they have in their care now.
But Anne’s incredible imagination and yearning for a real home soon win them over completely before they have the chance to ship her off again. The ultimate comfort read perfect for a warm reading session, Anne of Green Gables is a story of vulnerability, expectations and how place, family and love can be found anytime and anywhere.
Pumpkin Everything (An Autumnboro Sweet Romance #1) – Beth Labonte
After cancelling her autumn wedding, horror novelist Amy Fox is left with a broken heart, a serious case of writer’s block and a severe aversion to all things pumpkin-spiced flavoured. When she receives a call informing her that her grandfather has broken his wrist driving, quite literally, through a Dunkin Donuts, she is forced to make the five-hundred-mile drive home to Autumnboro to make sure he stays out of assisted living.
But, as she makes her return to her beloved childhood home, the only thing causing Amy more worry than anything pumpkin-spiced is a potential reunion with Kit Parker, her childhood friend, first love and the sole reason for skipping town in the first place. As the two reconnect, second chances finally begin to appear possible again. That is until Kit reveals a secret that may upend everything. Beth Labonte’s Pumpkin Everything is one of the best cozy fall books for any readers looking for their next sweet and lighthearted romance read!
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The Secret, Book & Scone Society (Secret, Book & Scone Society #1) – Ellery Adams
Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Many strangers flock there hoping that the hot springs, five-star cuisine and renowned spa will cure their ills. If those fail, these strangers may find their way to Miracle Books. There, they can tuck into a freshly baked scone from the Gingerbread House bakery and enjoy an exchange with owner Nora Pennington, who has garnered a reputation for prescribing the perfect novel to remedy a person’s pain and suffering.
When a visiting businessman visits Nora for guidance, she believes she has the perfect material for him. But, before he can see her for their appointment, he winds up dead. Shocked, Nora establishes the Secret, Book and Scone Society. This group of damaged souls hope to redeem themselves by helping others. In this cozy fall mystery, the women cram themselves into Nora’s bookstore to share stories, trade support, discover their purpose and untangle the complex web of corruption behind this businessman’s bizarre death.
A Fall Of Marigolds – Susan Meissner
One of the best historical cozy fall books comes from Susan Meissner in her novel, A Fall of Marigolds. September, 1911. On Ellis Island, nurse Clara Wood cannot bear the idea of returning to Manhattan following the tragic death of her husband. As she cares for a fevered immigrant whose losses mirror her own, she becomes transfixed on a name stitched into a scarf he is carrying and inadvertently finds herself caught in a dilemma that could either devastate or free her.
September, 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she has to work in a charming fabric store and raise her daughter all on her own. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, forcing her to relieve the fateful day where her husband lost his life, and her own life was saved by a total stranger. A Fall of Marigolds is a story of a scarf passed down through generations, which connects two women who discover how the weight of the world can be softened on the back of the love we share.
The Cafe By The Sea (Mure #1) – Jenny Colgan
Years ago, Flora fled the quiet Scottish island she grew up on and never dared to look back. Mure is a place where everyone has known her all of her life, and where no one will ever let her forget her past. Yet, in bright, bustling and busy London, she is able to be whoever she wishes.
But, when fate leads her back to the island she was born on, she is suddenly swept again into the familiar worlds of her loud-mouthed brothers and father. Amid the chaos of this reunion, Flora discovers a newfound passion for cooking, which leads to her restoring a grimy little pink-fronted shop in the cafe by the sea. However, as the seasons begin to change, Flora must reckon with her past mistakes and discover where her true future lies.
The Simplicity Of Cider – Amy E. Reichert
Focused, unassuming and committed fifth-generation cider-maker Sanna Lund has one goal in life: to enjoy a simple, uninterrupted life in her family’s apple orchard in Door County, Wisconsin. Despite business slowing and her brother’s attempts to convince their father to sell up, she remains fiercely committed to the orchard. Single father Isaac Banks has spent years trying to keep his son, Sebastian, away from his troubled mother. Fleeing heartbreak at home, Isaac takes Sebastian on a cross-country adventure where chance – or fate – leads them to Sanna’s orchard.
Isaac’s helping hands prove to be a great asset for the apple orchard, especially when Sanna’s father is injured in an accident. But, the arrival of this handsome man and his son complicates Sanna’s straightforward existence. As she finds friendship with Sebastian and something even more complex with Isaac, an outside threat soon threatens to upend them all in Amy E. Reichert’s cozy ball for fall, The Simplicity of Cider.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
