When you think of fall, some of the first things that come to mind are rainy days, warm drinks, and good books that get you into the academic mindset. As an avid reader, always having a couple of books I never get sick of helps me get back on track when I get into a book slump. Below are my top three suggestions on stories that have captured the perfect autumn feel.

‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tart

How far are you willing to go for your perception, or to put it in the characters words, “the aesthetic”? One of my all-time favorite books is “The Secret History” by international bestselling author Donna Tart. The book follows unreliable narrator Richard Papen as he navigates his new life in a small New England university in northern Vermont. Throughout the first half of the book, we see Richard scrambling to keep up with his eccentric and mysterious classmates as they study the complexity of the Ancient Greek world and language. Richard is enthralled by them all, but when a devastating mistake happens, he is forcibly pulled into a murderous plot that will upturn his whole life. I could not for the life of me put this book down! Every sentence was so meticulously chosen, there was almost nothing I did not enjoy about this book. The writing and plot building will test your moral compass and essentially gaslight you into defending despicable characters and their motives. If you want a thrilling and all-consuming book, I wholeheartedly recommend this one.

‘If We Were Villains’ by M.L. Rio

Following the same scholarly vibes as “The Secret History” is M.L Rio’s “If We Were Villains.” This book follows protagonist Oliver Marks as he begins his senior year of college as a Shakespearean theater major at a small, prestigious university called Dellecher Classical Conservatory in central Illinois. As he and his group of close friends reminisce about their time at the university and the rigor of their courses, tensions begin to rise. Romantic tension? Academic tension? Jealousy? All of these components mix until one night, something dreadful happens. Suddenly, the group is catapulted into a web-like situation of their creation, facing their greatest acting challenge yet. In my opinion, this book was heartbreakingly sad and so addictive that I could not read anything else for weeks after I finished it. All the characters felt so real and relatable that you felt as if you were experiencing the same things as them. If you like mystery and heartache with a little bit of romance, I couldn’t recommend this book more. 

‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ by Sangu Mandanna

On a softer level, we have “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandanna. This book follows Mika Moon as she navigates a modern world where witches are few and far between. Due to her magical presence, Mika must consistently be on the move in order to not attract anything that may harm her, and is unable to fully settle anywhere or form any long-lasting friendships. One day, however, Mika receives a message from a stranger practically begging her to come to their remote house in the English countryside. Mika teaches three young witches there how to harbor and conceal their magic. There is also Jamie, the handsome, mysterious librarian who would do anything to protect the children. For me, this book was very heartwarming and more of a found-family type book instead of the harsh, almost murder mystery that the previous two books were. If you like all things magical and an overall comfy Halloween read, this book is for you.